As I posted yesterday I had mixed feelings doing Open Mic on 9/11. That said we had a great crowd and performers. The vibe took on the feel on New Yorkers on 9/11. Approaching what we do with the same passion, but the hint of pain and sadness that goes back to the day 7 years ago.

Our featured performer Jay Scott described feeling as if he was on a episode of Story Tellers. His performance was great, he brought passion and grittness to the music he played. He was telling us in the audience that when the vibe is like it was last night, you just have to go with it and that trying to play uplifting, upbeat tunes sometimes just won’t work. Last night Jay felt would have been one of those nights, so he went with the flow. He played some tunes that he said he hadn’t done in a while and had a bluesy sound that was fitting. If you haven’t heard Jay play, check him out.

Thanks again to all that attended and performed. A special thanks goes to Joe Iadanza for hosting the night and Chris & Karen from Whole Foods Market for bringing the treats, they had some great double creme organic fudge cookies, and drinks for everyone to enjoy.

We’ll see you Oct 9, bring a friend for another great open mic.

Tom Pellicane - Publisher, canvas Magazine

Today marks the 7th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. As a Citizen of the U.S., New Yorker and someone to had friends and acquaintances involved with the Trade Center today is always a little melancholy. The acts committed that day are unspeakable and it good to see our pols taking a time out for the day.

Unwittingly we scheduled the canvas Open Mic tonight which has always been an uplifting fun event. I have mixed emotions going into tonight. On one hand I know life continues on, on the other hand I feel guilty hosting an upbeat event on Sept 11.

Our event tonight is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attacks, the families they left behind and all the others like me who can still smell and taste the smoke from the buildings in the air.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

I watched the conventions of both parties to some degree, although I am skeptical about anything I hear either party say to win a vote, I have to say there was a great line delivered by Sarah Palin, the VP candidate of the Republican Party.

Oddly enough my favorite line that she delivered in her speech had very little to do with solving today’s problems other than trying to describe the energy she would bring to them. The line was “Hockey moms are like pit bulls with Lip Stick.” What a great line! With her delivery you could see the ferocity she wanted the listener to visualize.

Since my brain is very much occupied with here and now, I have troubling remembering one line from the Democratic convention that stood out for me. That said I heard a line yesterday, I think from one of Obama’s advisors, that stuck with me similar to the way Sarah Palin line did.

This line was very much political and meant to sting, it provide the same visual for me as did Sarah Palin’s description of hockey moms. The line was “Sarah Palin is Dick Cheney with Lip Stick.” What a great line I couldn’t help but laugh.

So to Sarah Palin and Obama’s advisor thanks for taking two long, drawn out, over the top, balloon dropping, column building, hot air filled weeks and boiling it down to two funny lines.

Now that the hoopla is over I hope they stop the parties and get to work on figuring out how they really plan to help us get back on our feet and become the country we all love again.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Earlier this week one of my colleagues invited me to play twilight golf yesterday. While excited about the idea, I was also a bit anxious since I haven’t had a golf club in my hand for about three years. Anyone who plays golf knows the game is very much about touch and feel, as well as, rhythm. My three year absence left me as rusty as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz yesterday.

I had gotten to the course with ample time to stretch and leisurely hit some balls before we went out. To my dismay one of my playing partners informed me that “A golf outing is about to make the turn and the starter wants us to tee off ahead of them.” Anyone who has played golf also knows getting stuck behind an outing is a long, painful experience. Often times outings consist of experienced and inexperienced golfers, some who have never played before in their life.

So my stretching and leisurely warm up went out the window. I hit about 10 balls, a few horribly, most ok, and some good, bent over twice, once to re-tie my shoes, called it a stretch and headed for the first tee.

Thankfully it was a beautiful afternoon, my playing partners were a lot of fun and as I did during my warm up, I played some horrible holes, most ok, and a few good. We played until we couldn’t see the ball anymore getting in 14 of 18 holes. As we drove our carts back to the garage we laughed as we recounted the day.

My body hasn’t experienced 14 holes of twisting and turning to hit a golf ball in three years. Ouch says my lower back today. As I move around I feel some familiar and unfamiliar pings and pains’, leading to moans and groans.

What a great day we had!

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Last Thursday Joe Iadanza, our canvas Open Mic host, gave me a copy of his newly released CD – Traveling Salesman. Joe has played most if not all the songs at some point during the canvas open mics. He also played a draft a couple of months ago, that was the first time we heard the songs with backing instruments and vocals. It sounded great. Now that I have the CD I hear the finished sounds - the cover is cool too!

But this post is more than Joe’s CD being released. You see over the last several months I’ve posted about canvas connections we’ve made. Joe is one of them and for me a very special one. He gladly came to our first open mic, last December, at the request of another musician and friend to canvas, Electra Jacobs. As Joe tells it, he quickly saw that me and Matt could use some help with the event, based on his experience that night he volunteered to help us.

Since that night in December Joe has delivered on his message he has helped us make our open mics what they are. During that time we’ve grown to become friends, as well as, collaborators working to make sure the night gels and everyone enjoys the experience. During this time we also got to see Joe go through recording the CD and give birth to this great musical child called Traveling Salesman.

Over the last week I’ve had a chance to listen to the CD a few times, mainly as I take my son Jake to and fro daycare. As I’ve listened to the words and music my mind continually drifts to my dad.

In his time my dad was an acclaimed musician, he was also a complex person. The timing of receiving the CD from Joe last week also spurred thoughts, I guess, because my dad’s birthday was Aug 26.

I remember my dad telling me that at some point he had to make a choice in his life; continue on the road (literally), trying to reach the next level or settling down. He chose the latter – settling down. I’m happy he made the choice or I wouldn’t be who I am today. He became a music teacher and tried to keep in touch with his first love bebop jazz through “rehearsals” with his friends. Sadly I only got to see him play publicly a few times and was too young to appreciate where he was musically.

In my dad’s time that wasn’t the way it worked – serious family men didn’t balance their life loves, they “did what they had too.” What a shame! Thinking back now I can see they difference it would have made for him. I loved my dad and think he would have been a little less complex had he been allowed to strike that balance.

Watching Joe’s commitment to his family, while balancing the importance of his music, makes me happy. I’m glad Joe has entered my life to share his life loves. Congratulations to Joe on the release of his CD and for committing to find a way to balance the act of being a great husband, father and musician.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine