First: a plug for Mixology, the band in which my future brother-in-law Andy plays bass. They're a pretty tight bar band playing good ol' rock and roll with a bluesy feel who play the area between Boston and Providence "or wherever else they have beer". They've got a demo MP3 file (10 MB) online if you want to hear what they sound like.
Just two Filipinos, havin' a beer.
They've got a gig this Saturday at Cher's in North Providence, Rhode Island (86 Waterman Avenue). I'd catch the show, but I live 800 kilometres due west.
Andy plays a bazillion instruments, many of which are stringed, and many of those aren't your run-of-the-mill instruments here in North America. He's an accomplished balalaika player and he's even performed at Carnegie Hall!
Here's Andy on balalaika, going with an unshaven, edgy look. (Taken from Mixology's website)
On the other coast is Cookie, who's married to my cousin Tina. I thought I'd be the first person in my extended family to perform at his own wedding reception, but after looking through some old photos, I was reminded that Cookie beat the skins at his reception back in late 2000.
(Wendy's parents very kindly set a condition on the band playing at our wedding: they are required to let me join them on accordion any time I want. I'll probably do a number or two, and I'm seriously thinking of doing my rocked-out version of Who Stole the Kishka?)
Cookie and Tina, December 2000.
My cousin Ivan -- one of Tina's brothers -- came up for a visit last week. He told me that Cookie reads this blog daily and keeps the rest of my kin in the Bay Area apprised of my activities. Hey Cookie -- glad to have you as a reader, and hopefully, I'll see you in September!
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