OKAY, LAST TIME FOR A WHILE… TONIGHT AT THE ISLAND MERCHANT DON MCCLOSKEY IS PLAYING A FREE ACOUSTIC SHOW!  NINE O’CLOCK!  CAN YOU THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO SPEND YOU SUNDAY?  C’MON, YOU CAN TIVO DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES!

Tonight at Grumpy’s Pub… Don McCloskey with special guest Sara Leketa!  Doors open at 9 P.M!  Be there!

Hey!  This coming Saturday (November 15) we have TWO awesome events.  First, c’mon out to the Island Merchant in Hyannis for a special musical brunch, the proceeds of which will be going to Wild Care in Orleans, which provides shelter and rehabilitation for rescued animals of all kinds, but the especially the wild kind.  Hence the name.  You’ll chow down to the soothing acoustic sounds of the Old Silver Band’s John Beninghof, Sara Leketa, and the loverly Mrs. Sarah Swain.  Bring the kids, bring your friends, bring your appetite, and bring your love of the breakfast magic that is the special C.O.D mimosa!  Need I even mention all the awesome raffle stuff?  Doors open at 11 AM!

Once you have had all the mid day fun you can handle, head home and rest up, because that night at Grumpy’s in Falmouth will be rocking out with none other than Don McCloskey!  He hasn’t been here in a few months, so get your drinkin’ and dancin’ shoes on and c’mon out!  To sweeten the pot, Sara Leketa will be opening!

Special thanks to Cape Cod Beer, Late July, and Grain and Vine for their support!

Check the slide show by clicking here!

Today’s concert was expletive inducing. It started with “Water Music” by Tan Dun. You may know Tan Dun from such hits as the soundtrack of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the official music for the Beijing Olympics. In the front of the stage were four large basins of water, with uplights shining through them onto the ceiling. Soloist Christopher Lamb, principle percussionist with New York Philharmonic, played two of the basins. The other two were played by CCSO musicians. How do you play a basin of water, you ask? Mighty fine question. But Lamb made it sound like ducks feeding and fish splashing. And then he put a wooden disk in one and played it like a xylophone. Oh, and then they all got these gongs and played them with violin bows while dipping them in and out of water. Completely and fabulously eerie, that. The music was lyrical and witty and completely entrancing on every imaginable level. I was heartbroken when it stopped.

This from someone who as a child used to watch the music and try to gauge how many pages were left.

As if that were not enough, they also played a piece composed by kids at Wixon Middle School. It was part of the education outreach that the symphony does. And it did not make me hide under my seat and refuse to come out. I don’t know what they’re teaching these kids, but I hope they’re still doing it when mine are old enough to participate.

And as if THAT were not enough, they also collaborated with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute - which I have a huge crush on. It was an homage to Jacques Cousteau and included a WHOI video.

Really, it’s a good thing I had curry for lunch, otherwise I would have run right out afterwards and kissed Jung-Ho Pak. I have a crush on him, too.

I might also have a crush on Christopher Lamb. “Water Music” was composed for him, and not in a “oh, this piece has your name all over it” kind of way. Tan Dun composed this specifically for Christopher Lamb. Who, incidentally, is a veteran of the Colorado Philharmonic (which I wrote about recently). Small world, no? Since he played with the CPO, my mom wanted to go backstage and see him afterwards. We were disappointed to find he’d gone. I usually dislike going back stage and stalking artists, but this time I probably would have feigned a fainting spell in his arms.

My mom may also have a crush on Christopher Lamb, but not because of his Tan Dun street cred. She likes the classics, thank you. For the people like her in the audience, Pak included a bit from Ma Vlast (Smetana) and Debussy’s La Mer. But please, anyone can do that. Even Boston.

- Susan Blood

Okay, not exactly.  Free music, to be more precise.

When was the last time you got something for free (well, not including a copy of C.O.D!)?  Well, C.O.D family members the Old Silver Band not only have a new website up and ready for you to wile away the hours, you can download a full live album, aptly titled Live From Glenmont.  Now, don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because there’s no charge it’s not top notch…  The guys played their hearts out for this one, and it shows!  Now get over there and start downloading!  Tell your friends!  It’s like the holidays in November!

Click HERE to download Live From Glenmont now!

Election day…  I for one, don’t want to sit at home and watch to see if the world is going to become a better place!  No, I’d rather spend it in the company of friends, shaking my booty and having a pint, watching kids frolic and mowing down two dollar burgers, Cape Cod Beer and delicious appetizers.  Where can that be done, you ask?  Read the flier silly!  See you there!

“By now you all know that I’m not smart enough to weigh in politically.

However, yesterday at Trader Joe’s I saw a minivan with a McCain/Palin bumper sticker. Next to the McCain/Palin sticker was another one that said “I heart Whales.”

I wanted to get out my sharpie marker (never leave home without one) and add “Polar bears? Not so much.”

So I was meandering around a few weeks ago, and I happened upon something that should be shared…  A new coffee shop!  Located smack dab in the midst of downtown Barnstable, (right across from the courthouse, for the judicially challenged!) Nirvana is aptly named.  Boasting their own special roast of coffee, Pain D’avignon goodies, and quite possibly one of the best roast beef sandwiches I’ve ever had, it’s a must stop for anyone cruising 6A.  To top it off, you can catch C.O.D’s newest writer extraordinaire Kara behind the espresso machine!  Click here to get some images…