When I went back to school in the late 90’s to get my degree in Music Education at EWU, I was in a band called Anita Feedback.  We did all original music and created two CDs.  Our music was funk and jazz and just plain groovy.  It’s sad to me that all of those songs are now in the ether, so I am sharing some of them here with you.  I am going to try to create acoustic versions so you might hear me playing them at one of my impromptu concerts around Spokane.

Here is “Marvel Man” 

Marvel Man

Marvel Man

Standin’ up to his stomach in

Right free good and true

Do you understand that the hero never planned on

Takin any other road but to you

Fightin all of that evil

No Rest

Works late hours and weekends

Still he can’t get any good press

And he’s so tired

He’s not quite himself

He’s not even

Half of who he was last year

Marvel Man

His life is always threatened and every day might be his last

And in the calm his fans always forgettin’

Who it was that got us past that last

Fightin’ all of that evil

No rest

Works late hours and weekends

Still he can’t get good press

And he’s so tired

He’s not quite himself

But he used to be the Night Idol

Not even when he’s killin’ with a reason

He’s hurt

My oh my yeah

But he used to be the Night Idol

So tired

Believin would release him

My oh my yeah

He used to be the night idol

He’s killin with his armor

He is dying for a reason

He’s hurt

My oh my yeah

You said “It doesn’t matter what life throws at us”

I said, “You say that now, but what happens if…”

You said, “It will never matter”

I said, “I’m going to hold you to that”

Then we turned a corner

I died

You didn’t

I was buried

You watched

You wept

I came back

With a new kind of craving

Are you still at peace with what comes next?

Stalking with Death

Death first noticed me

When I was close to twenty

We ordered the same drink

I made an innocent comment

He’s been stalking me since then

Next I saw him in a car

Outside of my apartment

It was only his silhouette

He was smoking a cigar

Now I see him every day

I didn’t know him as death

Until the profile hit

“Mending the Population”

He was reducing it

Everyone was grateful

We last met this morning

He is exactly the same

I have aged badly

I greeted him by name

He smiled at me

I will be playing somewhere in Riverfront Park July 5.  My friend Flor will be with me playing her drum.  I hope to see you there

Hi All

I had another successful outing tonight.  I played for two hours outside of Hastings.  I chatted with a few people and even got to speak with a girl who is just falling in love with music and singing and wants to do something with it.  It’s cool to feel inspirational.

I don’t know when or where I will next be out in Spokane, but it will be soon.  I’ll be the one wearing long pants and singing away.  Probably Saturday.  Keep checking back for updates.  Please contact me if you are interested in receiving an email with my “concert” plans.

If you know a place that would welcome live music, especially outdoors, please pass me the information.

Take it easy and enjoy the holiday tomorrow.

Frankie

I’m going to start playing in a few minutes outside of Hastings on 29th. Come on over

Where can you find Frankie Ghee performing for free this summer? 

Okay, here’s the deal.  There are a few places I have found hospitable to spontaneous performances.  Thus far, I’ve been hitting them randomly.  Sometimes when I get to the place I planned to play, someone else is already there, or there is construction or a toxic gas spill.  You know? 

If the Universe works it so my first choice of venue is a no-go.  I go to the next spot. 

At this moment, I am thinking I will try outside of Hastings and the Dollar store on the South Hill tomorrow 5:30-7:00pm. 

I’ll send a tweet when I get there.

If, for some reason, that plan needs adjustment, I will tweet the location of my landing.

Today, I ended up playing outside next to the Jimmy John’s near Trader Joe’s on the South Hill.  I had lots of really nice people stop by and even got to chat a bit with an up and coming singer/guitar player and future busker.

Again, thanks for all the kindness.  Man, I love this Town.

FVG

UP THE STAIRWAY DOWN

The petit wedding planner in the bright blue tank top and the fitted yoga pants walks up the black, metal stairway that begins where Spokane’s 8th Avenue South abruptly ends. The stairway is almost brand new, a definite improvement over the crumbling wreck of a thing it replaced last year. The stairway is new, but the thing that has followed her all the way from the house she rents on the north side, over the Monroe Street Bridge, through Down Town Spokane and finally up Sherman Street’s steep climb is older than ancient, and it is hungry.

This monstrosity that dogs her step for step and breath for breath was once something like a massive bird or bat like thing. Millennia of travel, abuse and aggression have distorted and maimed the creature rendering it gangly and impatient.

The woman walks purposefully up the stairway, absent mindedly gripping the railing as she counts each step. At the top, she stands firm and reaches out a small manicured hand. The creature opens its mouth and extends a purple, plump and pitted tongue roughly the size and coloring of a loaf of moldy wheat bread. There is a moment of shared affection. Then, together the small woman and the beast sit at the top of the stairway and wait.

The two of them always wait, sometimes hours for a lonesome traveler. When the meal finally arrives, usually wearing something with a zipper and sporting headphones, they set upon it together with a ravenous fury befitting the giant mongrel thing and belying the dainty, fresh faced siren with whom it dines.

Only when the meal is done and the stairway has been licked clean of gristle and gore might one hear the playful banter of a young woman and her pet.

“Who’s a good boy?” she asks with good humor in a sweet mother’s voice.

“I am. I am a good boy.” It growls back at her.

They play for a few moments on the stairway and then head back down.

Street Music

Street Music is a pretty spontaneous thing. I get motivated, and I go out there. Sometimes though, I plan ahead by a few hours. Contact me on this site if you would like to be informed of my next stop. If I have something planned, you’ll be among the first to know. You can also follow me on Twitter for on-the-fly updates. Let’s have some fun with this.

CALENDAR
Wednesday, July 2– I plan to play outside of the Dollar Store and Hastings on The South Hill in the evening from around 5-7pm. I will confirm on Twitter when I get there. If the spot is already taken, or if I feel lonely, I’ll tweet my alternate plan.