Traveling Bonfires Updates

July 29 05: Bell Chere, Rome Indie, Biggest Bonfires Gig in Asheville

2005-07-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

THE RAIN always feels good, looks good. After almost two weeks of annoying heat, while we (with Marta The Nicer Osbourne and Queen Elizabeth IX) circled all over Asheville—dropping off advertising/marketing kits and Indie copies, pasting up gig posters—rain finally wafted like an Erik Satie and Enya pre-dawn gig up here in Candler. Hey, Bell Chere starts today (Fri, July 29). The Appalachians’ seductive 3-day mountain feast tempts like strawberry ice cream on jagermeister, it’s an almost unavoidable proposition although you damn pretty well know it’s gonna mess up your system (read, anti-corporate/consumerism spirit) later on.

Me, I may just stay in The Indie Crib, finalizing the Aug issue of The Indie—but it’s not because I’m boycotting Bell Chere, not that. (Good friends Stephanie Morgan/Stephanie’s Id and Jenny Greer/Jen&TheJuice are playing, and Kim Summer & Phuncle Sam are at Bearly Edible.) You see, I may just stride downtown and soak on my usual guilty pleasures (like people-watching, beautiful women on multicolored gypsy get-ups and fascinating dreadlocks). Queen Beth may buy me another set of earrings, in exchange for my cosmic/oriental culinary magic (she just bought me seven pairs in three days!) Also, I may position my skinny ass across Renaissance Hotel on Woodfin Street, beyond the $15 fence, and savor the Blues Traveler and Derek Trucks’ rock n blues—that is, if APD allows me to. I reckon many other impoverished Asheville souls like me are planning the same smart mischief. Come on… let’s do it—I’ll open my office building’s door for the bathroom use. It’s just a block away. You can also park there, just tell Bell Chere’s parking dude that you’re with The Indie/The Bonfires (otherwise, they’ll charge you).

Meantime, I have been working, writing, reading/responding to emails, reading, cooking, sleeping (more hours), watching cable TV, DVDs, listening to library CDs up here in Candler in the last few days. I feel a quiet sense of pleasure--when I cook, the traditional way, working my fingers on chopping boards, improvising on marinades (white wine, chili powders, garlic, onions, salt/sugar, curry etc), experimenting chicken-on green mango broth and desserts (tater hallea, heard of that one?), grilling catfish and salmon on butter and lemon drops, deep-frying asparagus, spinach, carrot sticks on flour/milk/chardonnay/black pepper (works well with beer). Chill out time.

The thing is, I still have a whole lot of plans in my mind—but it seems weird to be putting them down on paper (or online), it might confuse/flabbergast people. Even before we unwind a project or two, my head is already working on the next ten or so. If half of the ten didn’t work out, I rest them (I don’t usually treat them as “failures,” I don’t believe in failures)—meanwhile, I focus on the ensuing five. So if you read some negotiations/projects/programs/plans here and suddenly I don’t ramble about them, that means, it’s just temporarily “saved,” “rested,” or “frozen” (waiting to be thawed out again later). I pretty much treat Indie/Bonfires brainstorms/ideas in the same way that I treat my writings/work—after scribbling a few words and paragraphs, notes and chord progressions etc etc, when I feel that it’s not coming through, I put them in my closet/backburner, and then work on new ones or revisit/thaw out the ones that I previously set aside. So there!

(Needless to say, that’s how I deal with Marta The Nicer Osbourne. Whenever I ask her to work on things or follow up negotiations, I always remind her that even before she picks up the phone, think and believe that the deal is already sealed. If the deal doesn’t work out today, it’ll work out tomorrow… I am sure of that. She just did an interview with the young lovely owners of Terra Diva, Helen Miller and Alcora Gardner, plus assuring herself of an ad… By the way, thanks Chris Malz for the “birthday song” on the phone…)

Now, the Updates (I’m scribbling these notes from inside Natalie Merchant’s wine glass).

[ ]The August issue of The Indie re-welcomes longtime/past writer-contributors – Gaither Stewart (from Rome, Italy) and Maria Lapachet (from Long Island NY). Gaither contributes an interview with Natalia Ginzburg. (Next in line, interviews with Umberto Eco, Alberto Moravia, Czeslaw Milosz etc. The Indie will also serialize his novel about Asheville starting the Sept issue.) Meantime, Maria resurrects her Spanish-language column for The Indie, “Seccion Hispana”… I have also added two regular sections—“Ashevellian Soul” (random shots of downtown Asheville’s fascinating souls) and “How’re you doing?” (random brief Q&As with everyday people about everyday issues). These may come out though starting the Sept issue.

Meanwhile, wait up for Mike Hopping’s story on Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan (Aug issue). The article is based on Mike’s and Marta’s separate (exclusive) interviews. In this piece, Hogan talks about the Taser controversy, handling of anti-war rallies, among others. Thanks to APD Lt Wade Wood for the help in brokering the interview (he also visited the last “Bonfires” event at the park, last July 16, as we loaded out).

[ ]Washington DC’s Guerrilla Poetry Insurgency (or The Rhythm Insurgency) might, after all, be able to make it to the Aug 6 “Bonfires for Peace at Pritchard Park (Event 3).” A “pick up” workshop on street poetry and hand-drumming is also being worked out, in the case they indeed get here. I am in close communication with The Insurgency’s Shahid Buttar and Laurie Blair… The lineup (with or w/out the DC visitors) are: Dashvara, Sunshine, Large Lewis, and Phuncle Sam. Since the current park-rental fee standard exists, and we are still raising enough dough to cover that up. We will be starting the show at 3 or 4pm, instead of noontime or 2pm.

Food for performers, volunteers/staff, and kids are donated by Asheville Take-Out, Boston Pizza, Bearly Edible, and Burgermeister (30 burgers—10 veges, 20 non-veges). Drinking water shall be provided by The Blue Sky God/dess (or those with a kind heart, please bring water-on-jugs to the park), soda and juice still-figuring-it-out.

Those who are interested to join the next park Bonfires: UNCA’s Alice Stegmann aka June Bugg, Asheville’s Jaimee Tomas Band, and a visiting singer-songwriter (from the Midwest) Patty Keough. (Another act from the West Coast, Mica Williams might join.) We are trying to hook up Sept 24 for Event 4. This might be a Third World Asheville-fronted event, which means, it might be an all-female/woman concert.

[ ]We are tabling at the (1st week of) September “Lexington Avenue Arts Festival.” The Indie might run a banner story on LAAF and its community vision-mission for the Sept issue. Arts2People’s Coleman Smith said he has a writer (I think the name is BJ Snow) doing the story (the article shall also discuss gentrification of Lex Av, among other sensitive downtown community concerns).

[ ]A Pinoy/Filipinos-in-America version of The Indie is slowly but surely shaping up. However, my prospective investors/financiers prefer to keep a low profile—so there! This is a sure way—or another way—for The Indie to expand advertising feasibilities and marketing network (ethnic market). (Aligned entrepreneurship brainstorms loom or should be more realizable—in the advent of a Pinoy Indie. I have been wrecking my head in the past few weeks trying mighty hard to draw a surefire—at least a 70-30 return of investment—marketing strategy to keep these madnesses above neck-deep misery. We have to find more ways and means, alternatives and fallbacks…) The co-partner of the concert-promoting tandem (based in NYC and Atlantic City) that I am referring to--also voiced interest in coproducing a Civic Center-level event in Asheville...

[ ]The Traveling Bonfires is supporting Katie Kasben’s “Hair Project” (playdates, Sept 19, 20). [Katie, just let me know when you’re ready for the Q&A. I am doing it myself. We have free beer from French Broad Brewery on the first week of Sept-- so, how’s the joint fundraise?]

[ ]Matthew Mulder’s various/selected poster designs for The Traveling Bonfires will be up for sale. The poster would be printed full-color, full-bleed on 100lb. gloss cover stock with UV coating. Those interested, link up with Matt -- Mulder_Matthew@hotmail.com. His website is http://1000blacklines.blogspot.com/ Once I get some moolah, I’d print majority of the posters and collate them on a scrapbook or something—or post them online, so you can view them.

[ ]Marta Osborne, The Bonfires’ associate producer and project coordinator, invites like-minded/vision-paralleled women’s organizations (and individuals) to informal tete-a-tete, soiree, coffeeshop chats in regards possible projects under the newly-conceived Third World Asheville. Debbie Metcalf of NOW Asheville said she’s fine with giving Marta valuable advice, ideas, and stuff in regards the present and future of the program. I have done prelims communication with a number of women acts, artists, performers, activists—to wit, Deborah Crooks, Mica Williams, Patty Keough, Chris Falon – who might be willing to perform for this project.

[Of course, most or almost 95% of The Indie/The Bonfires connects, associates, benefactors, agents, supporters in and beyond Asheville are women—that means, the Third World Asheville is long-time-coming.]

The pre-booked Bonfires shows at the Grey Eagle/Asheville is a twin project that primarily advocates/publicizes 3rdWAsheville. Dale Hoffman is coproducing the Dec 3 show (let me know, Dale, when we need to share details of this event)—which will feature a local act that is very popular among women’s groups in Asheville and WNC, plus a visiting blues-rock act. This could be our biggest club gig in Asheville, so far. Asheville-based Bonfires friends Vanessa Boyd, Kimberly Summer, Alice Stegmann also signified interest in being part of said women-fronted projects. [Remember Willow Branwyn? Marta just located her—I’ll convince her to join one or two gigs.]

Meanwhile, The Bonfires in Manila is also being handled, primarily by young women--Jaja Campos, Donna Pascua, Demi Pascua, with valuable advice from Cynthia Diaz and Olive Obina. Another longtime friend in Manila, club co-owner Helen Reyes also sounded a possible collaboration (so with still-yet-to-be-finalized dealings with Sazi Cosino of Mayric’s in downtown Manila) . I hope 2006 ushers parallel “Bonfires for Peace/3rdWAsheville” events in Belgium (Chris Vanherck), Dublin (Siobhan Clarke), and elsewhere. I dream but I am hopeful.

[ ]Current/upcoming gigs: Aug 11, Malaprops (Asheville)—Vanessa Boyd, Kimberly Summer, Matthew Mulder, Pasckie Pascua; Aug 20, a Bonfires benefit at Bearly Edible (Asheville) with Phuncle Sam; Aug 29, C-Note (New York City)—Half Light, Mambola, Pascal, Deborah Crooks; Sept 8, Malaprops—most likely June Bugg (Alice Stegmann) & Phuncle Sam. (I am also trying to hook up gigs for Deborah Crooks in DC and Baltimore, once she gets sure gigs in Manhattan on the last week of Aug to 1st week of Sept. She’s flying from the West Coast. Same goes with the touring Mica Williams and Chris Falon.)

[ ]I decided to move the kick off gig of “Loud&Peaceful” to a later date. Should have been started at “315” in Salisbury NC. I couldn’t get a connecting club gig in Winston-Salem or Raleigh. The dates that are being offered come far in between. Meanwhile, those who are interested to perform (esp. poets and singer-songwriters) for The Bonfires in Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, let me know. Our hook ups are The Blotter Magazine/Martin Smith and SURGE, a UNC-Chapel Hill based environmental activist organization. Matt Mulder and Patty Keough voiced willingness. [Also, for August, we have ex-deal in re banner ads with The Blotter and Chris Falon’s website.]

So that’s it, for now. Congratulations to Jason and Camella for their wedding (should be this week or next week) in New Jersey. Honeymoon in Washington DC (of all places, c’mon!) But sad hugs to those who just broke up—at least, three female friends of mine broke up—not with me, so that’s okay, I guess (I don’t even know if I have/had a recent girlfriend, whatsoever, so when they stopped seeing me, I guess they already broke up with me, am I right?)

Oh well, I just watched Samantha Morton in an indie film, “Morvern Callar,” and Marta is seriously watching “Mystic River,” Beth enjoyed a silly movie on sci-fi channel, “Prince of Darkness.” I am having Bud Light on this weird-looking, elongated fancy-lager glass…

Ciao! Wherever you are, love the one you’re with but don’t forget those who are forever in your hearts, love isn’t enough to compensate the absence. Peace, and please—those who are going to Bell Chere, bring drinking water with you, don’t overdrink beer and soda. Love good, live good, eat good!

--Pasckie
Candler NC
3:30am. A Friday.

July 09 05: Appalachian Humid, Black Mountain Bonfires, A Pinoy Act Called Apo

2005-07-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

THE SUN WAS GLORIOUSLY up yesterday, with some drizzling rain. Almost picture perfect day—although I admittedly hoped for longer rain. As we start another week, an hour or two of gentle downpour should be a blessing—following a weekend of flesh-sticky humid and searing midday heat. But then, that’s what we asked for, right?—respite from the rain so we can hold our “rock journey and sublime madness” without much trouble. So for the weekend moments of sun – we thank the Blue Sky God/dess. No rain during the “Bonfires for Peace at Pritchard Park” last Saturday, July 16; no rain, still, in The Indie’s intimate 3rd-year birthday gathering last night at Rosetta’s Kitchen in Lexington Av. (But we pray for safety of those places/people who are within reach of hurricanes and typhoons...)

Thanks to those who volunteered, donated, give out, shared, contributed their time, resources, creative energies, and warm vibe to the park event and the Rosetta’s get-together. The “Bonfires” last Saturday earned close to $110 in tip-box donations, tabling fee, Bonfires/Pasckie CD & book sale; the “benefit-dinner” earned a net profit of almost $200. Modest income, very modest, I know… but then, that’s okay, because we always count our blessings, not from financial/material output, but from the peaceful vibe and family/community spirit that we infect on those who listened, danced, enjoyed the events and convergences. Each new soul that approaches us, and express how she/he feels good about what we do—is enough to assure us a good night’s sleep, and pumped-up zeal and enthusiasm to do better next time.

As I said last night on the mic, “I don’t know how to justify or rationalize or explain all these… all I know is I feel good doing these. When I feel good, I feel peace within—or the other way around. When I see people—young and old, from divergent even contrasting cultural and political standpoints—gather `round and have fun, I feel peace, I feel happy, I feel worthy of this life. Maybe these people will sit down and talk and hook up and do something good also to make others happier and more peaceful… My life has become that simple, I just want to have fun. I am not doing these because I am an activist, a Communist, a democrat, or a free-spirit – there is no agenda, whatsoever. I am just one human being, I just want to be happy and not angry, anymore—I try my best to go past the rage and hardship. It also makes me feel happier to know that money doesn’t really count that much, after all, as I pursue these quixotic endeavors—such as The Indie and The Traveling Bonfires. It’s the selfless, giving, lovely creative energies, emotional warmth, material contributions that each and everyone freely shared that make these beautiful efforts possible, pleasurable, and enjoyable.”

I didn’t exactly say these words, but I somehow knew that I conveyed the same message.

But then, of course, I also want to reassure one and all that the practical and the realistic aren’t being consigned to forgetfulness in favor of the madness. We aren’t doing a one-time thing, as I always reiterate, so we are very confident that blessings in the form of dollar bills will slowly but surely come, and at least, help us pay for the nagging bills and financial responsibilities. The Indie and The Traveling Bonfires are just three years down the line… We have faith, we are still here, and we still have a million of glorious projects and wonderful ideas to implement and realize.

Before the Updates—I’d like to thank friends, volunteers and well-wishers who were present in one or both of The Traveling Bonfires events this weekend, and lent their heart and hand to the moments.

Most especially, to the entire Phuncle Sam and their family and friends for donating their music, PA/sound equipment, and very-positive aura and peaceful fervor.

[At the park, last Saturday—thanks to Rosetta, Malaprops, and Coleman Smith, and Arts2People for the tent, chairs, table. Hippie Shitzu for the lights. Waynesville’s anti-election fraud activist, Kenneth Dickson, for tabling and for giving me a lift to the Crib after the event. Mellow Mushroom, Old Europe, Asheville Take-Out for the food. Frank Marrero for the photo documentation. Katie Kasben for the handheld cam. And, yes, thanks to the bands The Savage Project, Large Lewis, Hippie Shitzu, Vince Junior, Dashvara, Phuncle Sam. At Rosetta’s, last night—thanks to Dale and Loretta Hoffman, Jason and Camella Klein, Chris Malz for donating their time (dishwashing, cashier-job, door responsibility, food tending, rides), the entire Phuncle Sam family for being there, Bob and Molly Brown, Jim Brown and his friend, Mike Hopping, Elizabeth Mason and sister Peggy, Rosetta’s Kitchen’s Drew for being the cook, and to those who were there as visitors of those were there, and the walk-ins… and those who weren’t there but whose spirits are always with us.]

Now, the Updates. (I am writing this as Lilith Fair’s wonderful women—Paula Cole, Abra Moore, Lisa Loeb, Susanna Hofts, Joan Osborne, Indigo Girls, Yungchen Lhamo, Sarah MacLachlan etc etc—keep me company…)

[ ]”Bonfires for Peace Camp in Black Mountain.” Sept 9, 10, 11. Let us try to heal the wound of 9/11, the ongoing Iraq Invasion, and other painful memories of war, violence, hatred, and greed with a fun weekend of family, community, multicultural culinary magic, cook-out, music, poetry, children’s games and kids open mic, on-the-spot installation art, yoga and martial arts classes, mime and theater, lots of dancing, and more (and, YES, at long last! finally a real BONFIRE). The dates are 99 percent final. We will be posting details (camp-out fee, beverage/food sale, list of performers, logistics as we near the event. The property is owned by Mark (don’t-know-his-last-name) of Bearly Edible; says he, “You guys inspired me a lot this year.” Proceeds go to The Bonfires, The Indie, and other ancillary community (and overseas projects). If this proved to be successful, we’ll do another one around Halloween, then a bigger one in spring.

Start of clean-up and site preparations is Aug 12, 13, 14. Volunteers or those who are interested to help—we can camp out later, cook food, sing/read poetry around a bonfires etc—please let us know. I am actually thinking of “decorating/jazzing up” the property with art installations, wood sculptures, colorful drapes, paintings/drawings etc. Everybody--bands, poets, acts/performers, friends, families--are invited. This is gonna be a lot of fun!

[ ]Bonfires gigs/events upcoming: (a) Aug 11, Malaprops—Vanessa Boyd, Matthew Mulder, Pasckie Pascua, Kimberly Summer; (b) Aug 20, Bearly Edible—Phuncle Sam; (c) Sept 3 (tentative), 315 Club, Salisbury NC—“Loud & Peaceful, Event One” [Featuring, as of this Update, Charlotte’s Chop Top, + bands recommended by Chris Harris of Boone’s Avow and Jon Lutmer (if this gig is finalized, we might have a poetry/acoustic set in Durham or Chapel Hill on the same weekend, c/o Indie/Bonfires friend Martin Smith]; (d) Sept 8, Malaprops—Phuncle Sam. “Bonfires for Peace at Pritchard Park, Event 3”—Aug 6, a Hiroshima Bombing Observance Day. Acts/bands—Dashvara, Large Lewis, Phuncle Sam, Sunshine (Chris Malz’s 3rd band). Food donations—Boston Pizza, Bearly Edible, hopefully Well Bred Bakery and Asheville Take-Out.

A bit of downside after the “Bonfires” last Saturday. Because we went overtime (for two consecutive events), till 10:30pm or so, and we overparked vehicles within the park’s area—Ms Janet Dack of Parks&Recreation lifted the City Govt’s discounted park permit rate to The Bonfires. So that means, me and Marta The Nicer Osborne will have to triple-work finding more ads to The Indie—to cover for the “$100 1st 3 hours/$25 each hour” rate. Weird, isn’t it? We “overplayed” because the crowd wanted more music… we “overparked” because we had heavy equipment to lift and there’s no accessible parking for those who rent the park. Some victories, some setbacks… but the victories felt better, so we are fine. (Thanks to Bonnie of the Phuncle Sam group for her pledge to donate some of her plumbing work earnings to The Indie… so anybody with plumbing needs out there? Let us know.)

[ ]I have just “reactivated” my rock-writing/music-entertainment/publicist sidejob for the Filipino community to help beef up Indie/Bonfires budget. For a start, I am doing the media PR job/chores for the Atlantic City concert of Apo Hiking Society and Joey Albert, two popular Pinoy acts. Gino Inocentes’ Rubberband is opening. Tickets sell from $50 to $150, I reckon… Producers of the AC concert is Rensun Entertainment, based in NY and NJ. Rene Sese, one of the head honchos of Rensun (and a veteran concert impresario in the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area), is planning to produce a huge concert here in Asheville—featuring either an Asian/Filipino act or American act. If you have any suggestions, pls email me.

[ ]Good friend Katie Kasben’s tribe is having a “Hair Ball” on August 21—which is, apparently, geared towards the Sept playdates of “Hair” (which she directs) here in Asheville. The Bonfires will probably help with food stuff (via community donations), but I haven’t sat down with Katie yet about the mechanics and stuff. I hope to meet with her this week.

[ ]French Broad Brewing Co. (c/o Heloise) is donating a keg or two of local brews for a 1st week of September Indie/Bonfires gathering. Honestly, I still don’t know what activity/event to hold on that day—but the free beers are too cool to refuse. They said we can sell them to fundraise, we will run an ad for them but that’s not obligatory. I am thinking of just a chill-out time somewhere, maybe filmshowings in The Indie Crib, just like our “Dark:30” gatherings a year ago…

[ ]Maria Lapachet (Long Island NY), my long-lost Spanish-French sistah, is again writing for The Indie… Journey (or John F aka Journey) of Asheville volunteers/donates work and time to do Bonfires/Indie art/poster/flyer needs. (I first met him three or four years ago in one Mosaic Vortex gathering at Carolina Lane.)

[ ]In re the pre-booked/arranged Bonfires nights at the Grey Eagle on Nov 18 and Dec 3… Aside from a featured concert by a big local act and a visiting band, we might also make any of the dates as the “concert night” for the “Bonfires for Peace Songwriting and Poetry Competition” (something like that). I am hoping that this project happens every year—overlying themes is global peace, community and family. We hope to find sponsor for the grand prize (cash) + Bonfires trophies to the finalists. Mechanics will be ironed out later… We are still brainstorming though. Women community leaders Debbie Metcalf of NOW Asheville, Susan Ohler of WNCPC, among others, have expressed willingness and interest in collaborative projects, so let’s see. I am pushing Marta The Nicer Osbourne to fasttrack a big project for the Third World Asheville.

Okay. I am actually, also, thinking of a one-weekend bowling fundraise-tournament when winter cold starts to seep through… or maybe fall. Marta is thinking a “Bonfires scary hayride cum costume party” for Halloween. But—let’s deal with the above-mentioned projects first, I guess.

I will be celebrating my 120th birthday in Candler this weekend (the 23rd). Please come over, it’s potluck, but I’ll also cook some Filipino food, ingredients are donated by Beth Mason.

Ciao!
--Pasckie
12:13midnight. July 19 05.
Asheville NC