He rode shotgun and we caught up to her fast. I saw the terror in her eyes in the rearview mirror 'cause I was driving with the ghost of Johnny Cash (The Sawtelles)
Yeah, it would has been easy to just lay around the
shanty (mama) on a frigid Friday night, but we are hearty (if tainted)
souls, so our party of four, absent Vin/Marcia who picked cross-country skiing in
Vermont with Gus/Sue over us, make the trek over to Typhoon on Main Street,
Middletown (The Reet's hometown) for some tasty Thai and equally tasty Sawtelles. We're on a tight schedule. We have reservations (no, not about the food or entertainment) at seven and the early Friday night traffic was dense, but Sharie insists we stop at the Red Dog for old times sake 'cause she used to date this big hairy biker guy (I think she met him online and they had a thing for awhile) and they hung out there. Okay, Sharie, cheers. Two shot limit, one for the road, and we resume our journey, arriving on time at Typhoon, but with no place to park. The Reet suggests the girls be dropped in front and then, whatever - and we comply. Parking accomplished, Keith and I enter Typhoon to find it bustling, people briskly coming and going, The Sawtelles entertaining from their perches at the front of the main dining room. We point out our dates to our hostess (I think the owner), but she tells us they requested we not be seated with them. We know better, though - they adore us. Typhoon is a b.y.o.b. establishment, so Keith stuff a beer into his jacket, while I brought along a bottle of pinot noir for Sharie and me. The Reet opts for Coke. I guess news of The Sawtelles' appearance has swelled the numbers significantly for our hostess commandeers the microphone, thanking us for coming, urging us to be patient, to drink, to converse, to enjoy the music while the chef works diligently. We toast to something clever.
As we order our appetizers (crispy dumplings and....I forget the other), fellow Plantsvillain and Sawtelles drummer/percussionists/vocalist Julie Riccio graciously stops by to welcome us. The Sawtelles, Peter and Julie Riccio,
Husband and wife duo the Sawtelles are a balance of four elements, alternate-tuned guitar, stand-up drum kit (ala Velvet Underground’s Mo Tucker) and two voices. Sparse but intricately arranged pop that is as lush as it is threadbare makes what is played as important as what isn’t. Their self-produced DYI philosophy aligns them more with the hand painted Sun Ra LP’s of 1950’s and 60’s than it does with those striving for mainstream commercial success.
perform monthly on first Fridays at Typhoon from 6-8PM. The word is getting around. Another word on the street, and you didn't hear this from me- understood?- is that they will be performing at a nearby annual rite-of-Spring festival, but if I told you which one, I'd have to kill you. Dinner is finally served as we make our way through the pinot. Delicious. It's nearing 8:30 and The Sawtelles are still playing! What troopers- I hope they're getting overtime! Dessert, yes for Keith (a coconut something) and me (fried banana). Check, please. Before we exit, we pick up from Julie copies of Tryptych, the title of which I am not hip enough to figure out. And we are OUT!
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