Zapruder Residency

So, my talented husband, Dan Phillips of Zapruder Point is smack dab in the middle of a month long residency at the Wrigleyville Uncommon Ground. He's been playing every Wednesday, along with a guest of his choosing.

First week, Eric Ziegenhagen
Second week, Justin Roberts
Third week, Deanna Varagona
Fourth week, free-for-all, hoot-esque Sad Bastards evening.

This past Wednesday with Justin was lovely. I got to sit and listen with some of my best friends in the cozy space while Justin and Dan's voices filled up the room.

only really needed one picture of the boys for the this post, but the first is better and yet I couldn't resist how happy D looks to be playing so beautifully with his buddy.

You should definitely check him and Deanna out this Wednesday. Details (And some video of last week's show) at zapruderpoint.com.

Baby Mosh Pit

Sunday afternoon, after Salvage One and after a little Indian appetizer lunch, D and I went to see our buddies Justin Roberts and Liam Davis perform at the Old Town School of Folk Music as "Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players."

They were great and we had a fun time. It's hard not to be happy happy happy when watching your friends perform a rock show for babies and tiny children.




Thus the name of the post, every show, Justin encourages the kids to run around and to form a little mosh pit up at at the front of the stage. As it turns out, kids don't really mosh. They twirl. They jump up and down. The cling to the edge of the stage and staring adoringly at the band. They hold hands and swing in circles. Kids are really really cool.

Big Dave and Little Dave. I love Big Dave's big shoes.


See. A bona fide rock show! The two little girls at the bottom of the picture holding up a sign. They weren't the only ones. Signs saying the drummer rocked. Signs claiming their favorite songs--a particularly awesome one for "Sweet Tooth" including a beautiful multi-colored brontosaurus.

You should check them out.

Vacation Day 1--Justin Roberts turns 40

Our buddy Justin turned 40 in high style, in the party room of the Devon Uncommon Grounds. Most years, Justin has a Frank Sinatra party around birthday time, because he's a little obsessed, but the big 4-0 put old blue eyes in the backseat this year.

Saw a whole host of lovely people. Ate an amazing slice of cake. And then, because this was Justin (of famous children's musician fame--if you haven't heard him, he's great. Like the early Muppet movies his stuff is awesome because it's just as great for grown ups as kids. So, it's kids' music the whole family can get behind), was lucky enough to see a bunch of his friends--Mike Hallenbeck, Eric Ziegenhagen, Liam Davis, the whole Frisbee bunch, my sweetie, Dan Zapruder--play their favorites from the Justin Roberts' catalog. Some songs going way way back to the Kenyon years before all of the fame.

the man himself

It was an amazing night. Justin and his wife are two of the sweetest people we know. And to get to celebrate his birthday with all of those other talented folks? What can I say, musically speaking, I married very very well.