The Mall

Well, I learned of a new place this past week. It's not really new, but I call it new for me as I never really noticed it before and had never been there before. It is the Oak Hurst shopping mall on Poplar Ave out in east Memphis. Now, I had driven by it before many times on my way to Home Depot or Target or whatever out there so I had seen the sign, however it is rather hidden away so really, I had no idea what was in there. How I ended up going there, was all because of Jimbo. He had to buy a new pair of shoes and he knew about this mall and said he wanted to go there since they would have Chuck Taylor's.

As we pulled into the mall, I had some weird flashbacks, which continued even as we entered the mall from the Dillard's department store. See, growing up in SF area, we had quite a few malls. One in particular which was a definite hot spot through out pre-teen and teen years not to mention the times I was brought there with mom on her missions, was a place called Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo. They had a movie theater there too and a TGI Fridays, which actually used to be a cool place to eat. I had a B-day lunch there for my 15th. Anyhow, Hillsdale had a store called Nordstrom, where I had a summer job in 1989. That summer was a hot one, with Batman being the big movie at the mall, and the music would replay over and over. The big songs were Elvis Costello's "Veronica", Prince's "Batman" song, Paula Abdul, Bobbie Brown, etc. So these songs would play over and over in our department (Brass Plum) and we would be running around for about 8-9 hours. I remember the smells and the sound of the continually running escalator even when the store was closed. We had a big sale that summer, so a couple times we had to stay late to stock and re-tag everything. My mind keeps flashing to the upper parking deck, as that was where I usually parked. I recall the way the sun would shine on my face and head in the morning and how it would glimmer through the trees when I left. There was a little coffee bar on the first floor that I would always get a vanilla almond latte at. They had a big make up counter down there too, and I loved buying when there was a gift-with-purchase, usually with Lancome of Estee Lauder or sometimes Clinique. It was especially rewarding when that summer, I could use my store discount. Later, I also had a Nordstrom store credit card (one of my first credit cards).;

The Hillsdale mall was at that time, and I'm sure many of you can relate, not only a place of work, but a place to hang out with friends outside of school. I suppose that was just the culture then, at least for us in SF Bay Area. And if it wasn't that mall, it was the Stanford Mall (oh yeah, been there a lot too) in Palo Alto.

So on this day at the Oak Hust Mall in Memphis, I was reminded of that time. The last time I set foot in a mall like that was 8-10 years ago. A strangle thing happened to me along the way, I think I became allergic to it, because this time, not only was I overwhelmed in there, but I became really tired (something to do with the smell) and distracted. Maybe it was all the abstract memories hat came back to me too after so long, things, people and places I had not thought about in ages. Belinda Carlisle song "I Get Weak" was playing, so the stage was set. I was overcome with the need to buy some Lancome and get my gift-with-purchase and then I started looking for the coffee bar. Thankfully, I was not alone and left to my own devices! Jimbo got his shoes and we managed to get out of there before too long. I am not planning on going back, but I can say that I have had some unusual memories and dreams all week...

The Three Olgas

So this little story happened quite some years ago...I am going to say maybe even 10 years ago (s*** I am getting old!) and it is a true tale.

One day, I was sitting in the doctors office waiting for my appointment for a physical, which I usually do once a year. To no surprise, I was waiting a while and my designated appointment time came and went. In the waiting room sat two other women; one was hispanic maybe in her 40's and the other was a white eastern-european type in her late 60's. We were all reading and waiting on this day.

At last the exam room door opened and the nurse popped out, and knowing that she was behind schedule, she hurriedly looked at the name on the folder she carried and called, "Olga?". I, having grown up as "Olga", and as the only "Olga" ever at school, after school, sports, work, friends and whatever else you do in daily life, stood up and dropped my magazine on the coffee table. Alas, to my astonishment, the other two women stood up as well, thinking they were the "Olga" that was being called! We all looked at each other so astounded and curious with a "is your name Olga too?" look in our eyes, that even the nurse was taken aback. The nurse regained composure and looked down at the folder again, "Garcia, Olga Garcia". At that, I and the remaining other Olga, sat back down in our chairs half smiling half amazed.

"Wow," I said to Olga, "that was weird. I have never met so many Olgas before."

"Yes, " laughed Olga, "that has never happened to me either."


And so it went.

SXSW and other meandering news...

Heading off to Austin for SXSW tomorrow...

This will be my first time out there and Austin as well, so I am looking forward to the experience! In case you're wondering, my official showcase is March 13 at Fado Patio (214 W. 4th St) at 9pm. The lineup of other bands are mostly from New Orleans, so I am looking forward to sharing a stage with my NOLA peeps.


Spring has sprung down here in Crescent CIty and the last few days have been beautiful. Springtime is really fantastic, lot's of birds and flora and fauna bring the landscape alive with hope and promise. I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately and I feel like I have finally come to terms with myself. There is one final leap of faith I need to take, and have needed to take for quite some time. This may sound a little cryptic, but it has been a personal journey for me and I'll leave it at that.

This April and MAy I am going to record my new EP. Why not an album you ask? Well, because I feel like I don't have an EP yet and gosh darnit, I's gots to have me one! That's all. In fact the hard part is deciding which songs to use, as there are plenty of them stirring around. This next project will be very different from the rest in that the music and content is discussing things that have not been discussed much if at all on my past albums. So, not too many love songs, more about the journey of the soul and coming to terms. Cryptic again? Yeah, I guess...I may have more insight at a later date.

Okay well, got to do some work on the house today. See you in Austin!

Super Weekend

I have wanted to blog before Lundi Gras but seriously was not physically able to do so. I was really not able to do anything, except sit on a lazy boy out on the parade route this weekend. Tonight, I am taking off so I can get up at 6am for Zulu and to march thereafter in a renegade parade I cannot recall the name of right now. The name really doesn't matter, the point is you have to be in costume marching on Fat Tuesday.

As for the Muses experience, I cannot say it enough that it was simply one of the most amazing experiences in my life! There was a complete surreality to the entire ride, which for float 5, was about 7 hours that we were on the move. Count in the pre-party which was another 3 hours, it made a long evening. The pre-party consisted of only the riding ladies, who primped and dressed in their costumes while sipping nectar of the goddesses and champagne. Every float had a headdress of some sort, usually having to do with the theme of the float you were riding. There was a headdress competition, which apparently our float won 3rd place ( I was in the bathroom primping at the time). Who won first, I still do not know. The odd thing about it all though, was that since there was 768 women riding, and in costume, you wouldn't be able to really recognize anybody save for your co-riders who dressed the same as you. I felt like I was a member of some sort of bird flock that was mingling with other bird species, but yet stuck close to the same tribe throughout. It was fantastic thrill when they brought in the floats one by one for us to load on. Each time one would roll by, hundreds of female hollers were unleashed with a wave of sparkly arms and heads raised to welcome the float's arrival.

Once we got on, the immediate task of bead-organizing began. It took a lot longer than you would think. We had so much stuff that is was hard to move around. I resorted to bead surfing during that time in order to move around. The girls I rode next to we all a blast. We shard finger sandwiches and wine and combed through thousands of beads and trinkets while lining up on Tchoup. The parade suddenly pulled together on the corner of Napoleon and Tcoup when they would weave in the bands one by one in between floats. This was so organized it almost seemed like braiding hair. As soon as the bands came in and started playing, the whole thing just kicked up 10 notches and we were suddenly a real full fledged parade taking off.

The ride itself was a surreal experience. I almost felt like I was on some sort of drug, as all time suddenly ceased and you lost track of where you were. One would think that there would be a lot whooping and music on the float itself, but we were all so silent and focused on throwing, that this too, added to the slow-motion effect. In addition, the only real exchange was when you made eye-contact with a parade viewer and threw them something. To see the complete joy and thrill in their eyes was truly moving, and always followed by a "thank you". I heard from a lot of people this weekend that Muses was by far the best parade they had seen.

When we hit Canal I realized I was almost out of goods to throw (which I can hardly believe), so I had to resort to tricks and teasing to string out what was left. The only thing I did not throw, was my Snake-and-Jake's sunglasses and Cruella Deville plush toy (both I found in the throw-back stash). I hated for it to all be over, but I am so so so glad to have had the chance to do it, I am totally hooked now.

Saturday was a big time as well. I had some friends that set up camp on St. Charles, along with a margarita machine and port-a-potty-tent and loads of additional accoutrements. Sunday, I went down to a friend's house on Magazine St. for Thoth. We pulled out the lazy-boys then, and before long I was a renegade rider on Thoth for a little while when they slowed down, opened the side door and yelled, "Climb on!". I was given a tiara and a mask and rolled with them a little while too!

And let's not forget the Super Bowl, which was on during Bacchus. My friend's bar (the Delachaise) had set up a wide screen t.v. on the patio so we could watch in between floats or in between commercials. How about the Giants y'all!!! That was thrilling in and of itself! Lot's of Manning fans down here...

Time to rest up now, get ready for one last hurrah...

Re-Ride!

Due to bad weather, they postponed our ride until tonight! So, not a bad thing really, as it is beautiful today and the crowds will be huge tonight. We follow three other parades, so it will be a massive throw-down to get the big weekend rolling.

We still had our big party last night, amazing turnout (what else can you expect) and fabulous costumes! Our float had a lovely brunch in the afternoon and some great female bonding time. I found out that the wait list to ride in our parade is over 700! That is amazing! Anyhow, more to update later. I need to lay down and get some rest while I can...

We Ride!

Krewe of Muses rolls tonight!

Forecast calls for rain, but at the moment the sun is coming out. Perhaps the Goddesses above are pushing the clouds away so we can parade without bad weather. I'd like to think so. I and the other ladies have a long day ahead. Brunch at noon, pre-party at 2:30, float boarding at 5, line up at 6 and roll at 7. Then we have an after party with entertainment by The Village People. Take a guess what out theme is!

I loaded my extra beads last night, and let me tell you, I have TON OF SH**! My god, there is so much stuff, I am not sure I will be able to throw it all. The float is loaded down pretty good with everyone's stuff. If you can imagine 28 floats loaded similarly, it is no wonder we have the reputation of throwing the most. I am going to post out theme song for the parade, sung to "I Will Survive". It's pretty funny:

It’s Muses Night 2008

Once we were naive
It was our first time
Not doing Mardi Gras the right way
Would have been such a crime
But we had spent so many nights
watching men’s krewes masquerade,
we were afraid
And now we have the best parade!
And so we’re back
For number eight!
We hate to brag about ourselves
But Gambit readers say we’re great
We have even better throws
Tonight should be a stress reliever
The crowds should all be ready for a case of
Disco Muses Night Fever

Go on now – GO, Get on that mask
Hook your harness girl, And be sure to hide that flask.
We’ve spent another year of nights waiting for this one to arrive
Tonight we ride!
COLD or FLOOD, we will survive!
Oh yeah oh…
It’s Muses’ night
As long as you know how to throw you’ll do the Muses right!
‘Cause we know we will delight
And we’re lookin’ out-a-site!
It’s Muses’ night
It’s Muses’ night

It took all the strength we had
Not to fall apart
And each Mardi Gras is mending
some more broken hearts
We’re Disco Muses now
and it’s time to get it on
We took a chance
And we’ll make the whole crowd dance
And they’ll see us –
the Muses krewe
With all our disco Muses riding
And Marva in the shoe
We thought it couldn’t get much better
And the crowds will sure agree
Once they’ve gotten Muses Fever
It’s the best parade they’ll see

Go on now – GO, Get on that mask
Hook your harness girl, And be sure to hide that flask.
We’ve spent another year of nights waiting for this one to arrive
Tonight we ride!
STORM or FLOOD, we will survive!
Oh yeah oh…
It’s Muses’ night
As long as you know how to throw you’ll do the Muses right!
‘Cause we know we will delight
And we’re lookin’ out-a-site!
It’s Muses’ night
It’s Muses’ night
Hey Hey

Whack it!

It's been raining pretty much all week and I've still had this lingering sinus/ear infection/congestion that keeps giving. It's sort of become my own personal whack-a-mole in my head. Every morning I arise and do battle with it (whack with decongestants! whack with antihistamines! whack with antibiotics! whack with emergen-C! etc.). And now, on the eve of parade season, it's still hanging on. I guess it to wants to ride Muses too, and for free (imagine the nerve of that??). SO with any pure luck and divine intervention, it will have gone away before next Wednesday night. Otherwise, I guess I will have to make friends with it somehow...(sigh).


Okay, well today it begins! Tonight the first parades roll down St. Charles Avenue. I have been shut-in all week, so I am going to get my ass out to have some fun, rain or no rain. YES! They are going to roll, no matter what the weather.

The past week especially, I have had several marching bands practice on our street, marching up and down and getting their routine/walk right. It was endearing, really. This morning it was a group of middle schoolers, who I think may be marching tonight. Well, I can hear the siren's announcing the arrival of floats lining up on Tchoup, so I guess I'll go figure out my game plan. YES!!

Neti Pot

Neti Pot. Do you know what that is? Well, it freaked me out at first, just the idea of it...but I broke down and bought one for the sake of my frickin' sinuses which are driving me insane! I have been having allergy crap related sinus boofungoo for way too long I thought I would burst from the pressure. The latest rage (even Oprah had it on her show) is the Neti Pot, where you rinse your sinuses out with saline/salt water. It sort of feels like when you jump into a swimming pool and get water up your nose...not too comfortable, I admit. Plus my nostrils are larger than the spout, so there tends to be flushing every witch way. I realize it sounds gross, but after the 5th time now, I am beginning to feel a little better and getting better at doing it.

If you do a google, you will find several youtube instruction videos on "how to". It really looks ridiculous, and I usually am laughing at myself in the mirror (I find a mirror helps me to figure out what I am doing), but if you have allergies and sinus issues, you may want to try it. If I end up with some sort of miracle recovery, you will hear me taking about the Neti Pot every which way!

Rain and Muses

It's raining in New Orleans. But I would have known that, as my ear started ringing two days before. It's a not-so-new phenomenon for me, really. When I was 13-14 years of age, I went through an entire year of ear ringing that would occur prior to some sort of rain storm. Nowadays, one can explain it as something that has to do with air pressure and allergies...and all that time I thought I had a special gift!

New Orleans is gearing up for the big Mardi Gras celebration (2/5) coming early this year. It's convenient decorating-wise, as people can reuse their christmas tree but decorating them with gold, green and purple accoutrements. It is a lovely sight and one I wish we could participate in, but since we had no christmas tree this year, we also have no mardi gras tree...(sigh). However, I do have mu Muses flag lying from the window to let everyone know that there is a Muse in the house and accounted for. This is a fun time, as all krewe members hang their flags up all over town.

We had the big Muses weekend this past Saturday/Sunday. It is important because it is when we pick up all our goods we plan to throw and get to see the floats. It is also a handy time to find out your position and figure out what all you need, like hooks, cup holders, chairs, etc.. I found out that I am on float 5 passenger side, last person. It is a good spot indeed, as I have plenty of room to move around and house all my beads (and I have a TON of STUFF). The float has two layers, with the first floor having, what I would call, a raised platform on each end of the float. This is where I stand, so I am not under anything and not too high up where I have to watch for tree limbs smacking me in the head. We will have costumes and headdresses, so this position is especially helpful, because knowing me, I'd be running into limbs, roofs and whatever else all night long.

I met a few of the girls the other day at float-viewing and they plan on bringing chairs. They had ridden before and were a wealth of info for me on what to expect. Again, out spot allows for chairs, and since the ride can last 3 hours or more, there may be a need for some rest. Frankly, I'll probaly be too excited to sit, but you never know... And in case you were wondering, we have three bathrooms on the float. Obviously, this is very important.

We are having a float 5 brunch before the parade and a Muses pre-party. In addition, there are a few float meetings and I am really really really excited!

In case you don't know, we roll January 31st at 7pm. If you want me to throw you something, make a sign so I can see you!

Day 6

Days 31, 1, 2, and 3 were good. Days 4 & 5 were a bit sloppier (especially the night of 4). Day 5 and so far 6 are back on. Today is football, so it's gonna be a good one!

I never really cared about a new year starting. It meant I had to reprogram my brain to write the next year, which oft would result in checks and other legal documents I had to rewrite. It also meant a cold winter and holiday blues.

This year is so very different for me. I don't care to be a year older this year, but I was looking forward to having a fresh start. It is the first time since I don't know when, that I really want the clean slate in my life. This year will hold some big changes for me, most especially letting go of old feelings and behavior pattern that I truly have no more use for. It's just different. I am so very thankful of so many things.

Egads!

Egads!

It's already Christmas! Sheesh, I'm still on Italian time, people...

We had a great trip overseas, a whirlwind really. We ended up having more gigs than originally planned, which was good for us professionally, but left little time for R & R. The plus side though, is that we had great crowds every night and sold many a cds, so I cannot complain. My Italian is getting better, I can understand pretty well and have the basic stuff down. My biggie is verbs and conjugating, so I bought a book for Christmas and will continue to ingest grammar the next few months until our next trip.

Next stop for me is New Orleans. I'll be back for an extended stay to help fix my mother's house, which is still not repaired from the storm. It was "repaired" 3 times already, to no avail (it's dastardly with these "contractors"). So, I plan on staying untl it's done and done right. But don't feel bad, becasue I actually miss being down there and look forward to playing some shows on the side and getting back into the thick of things. It will be Mardi Gras soon and there's plenty of social activities to be had in between the headaches. This time of year, it's nicer to be as far south as possible (hello Key West!), and NOLA has always had an earlier spring, which helps. It's raining in Memphis and cold. I'm over it.

And...We're Off!

I have no idea how this year had gone by so fast. Seems like it was just July a few days ago, and even June---the last time was in Italy. November seemed so far off, but now it is here and I'm outta here heading back to Italy with a little stop in south Florida...

I have never been away for so long, at least not in many years, so packing for something like this is a whole new concept for me. In ture Libra fashion, I spent hours deciding what bags to use, clothes to take and additional acoutrements. Three weeks? I'll need like, nail clippers, band-aids, spot cleaner, eye-drops...and how many shoes do I bring? Socks? Do I bring 1 week or two weeks of underware? Should they all be in like colors so that it is easier to do a laundry load? In addition to just plain packing, I am micro organizing, attempting to pre-plan the plan. It's ridiculous of me when you look at Jimbo, who has one small bag. How on earth does he have almost a month worth of supplies in that little thing?

Well, save faith, as I got all my crap together in one bag as well, plus a giant suitcase full of cds. That, is probablly our biggest and heaviest bag (for once). The good part about the cd suitcase, is that when it gets lighter, I can replace it my Italian purchases (hehehe). And I brought bubble wrap for the wine bottles (you better believe I will try my hardest to bring back some Italian wine and olive oil...like, duh). And I decided not to bring too many shoes, becasue then I would not have room for the new ones I plan on buying in Rome. I mean, isn't that the place to acquire the hottest foot stylings in season? Okay, maybe that's in Milan, but c'mon, I'm sure there will be some kickass boots in Eternal City. So there.

We are off to Key West this week, then Miami on the weekend. That reminds me to pack some sunscreen....and a koozie...

Fall Short

It seems like Fall is the shortest season of them all. I've noticed that over the years, or perhaps it is just where I live, but Fall seems to be cut short every year by a sudden cold snap/jolt into Winter.

When I lived in the mountains, this was quite apparant with the sudden appearance of snow, often in the form of a snow storm. The snow storm would drop a few feet in early October, therby cutting off the rest of Fall, because, naturally, after a snow storm, the leaves would fall off the trees without changing their colors to their fullest capacity and the temperature would never climb back up to a pleasant Fall temp of around 70.

When I lived in SF, the Fall would be cut short by the cold damp temperatures and fog, which would often prevent one from seeing or enjoying any Fall activities (who can see through that fog?). The only locale where I lived that had a bit longer of a change over, was in New Orleans. Often the climate would stay at 70 - 80 degrees, and there are a lot of flora and fauna in NOLA, hence a lot of activity with the business of Fall's arrival. The only thing though, is that the weather would be so pleasant, that many tress opted not to change their leaves at all and many birds stuck around cause things were so...nice. And that was actually the best form of Fall I have experienced yet, even thought there really was none...it certainly made for a good Halloween.

Now in Memphis, it's just a one-day-it's-totally-over thing. We have had really nice weather the last few weeks, even hot and muggy, and then one day it freakin' cold man, and we have to turn on our heaters and the trees dump their leaves like in one day, without any sort of color changing. The birds are suddenly gone and the grabage men get lazy and don't pick everything up, beacuse it's, well, wet and cold and who the hell wants to be outside working in the rain?

So inclosing, I have felt that Fall has been the most cheated of all the seasons of really reaching it's fullest Fall capacity. And the reason I talk about it today, is because it's happened again!

Birthday Muse

Today is my brithday!

I just found out I will be riding in the Krewe of Muses Parade for Mardi Gras! I am psyched! It was a perfect way to wake up this morning and a perfect birthday present! We will roll on Jan. 31st 2008. YES!!

I am not sure what to do today, as it looks like rain outside, but I was thinking of maybe going to the Brooks museum and checking out the exhibit on Pissarro. Or maybe I'll just meander around and think about how thankful I am to be alive and healthy and even though I am another year older (yikes!), I am blessed to be able to start another one (yes!).

Plus, I'll be on float #5!!

kreweofmuses.org

Older and Wiser?

For the longest time, I wanted to be wiser and taken seriously. That did not happen until I was 25, and then it seemed people started to be interested in who I was and what I was doing, my thoughts and ideas about the future. Now I am straing another year down the barrel (34 on October 18) and I wonder if I really am all that wiser. In a way, yes. In other ways, no. The years seem to go faster than my personal development and I wonder if that is by my own fault or if life just is that way. Perhaps part of the design is to be a know-it-all by the time you're 80. That's sounds good to me, as it is something to look forward too, however, the downside is that life is much shorter then. There is not much time to fire out know-it-all advice and opinions. Then again, maybe there never has been much time all along. In reality, we are here but for a moment, and in that moment, a thousand pieces of life flow by, so that perhaps all the wisdom that it really holds, is really too much to handle too soon. No, I am not stoned!

PERFORMER MAGAZINE, September 2007

Now is the Time‘s challenge is to present songs that, with enough personality, bypass listeners’ tendency to easily put artists like Olga into the jam band category. The album inherently calls to mind the Southern rock and blues sounds of artists like the Allman Brothers Band and Alison Krauss. That’s the vein Olga works in. But does Now is the Time contain those gems that magically shed whatever drawbacks spawn from categorization?

In keeping with Olga’s style, the framework of Now is the Time is blues-oriented. While the title track kicks the album off with eerie slide-guitar ambiance and Shannon Crufman-style Southern rock riffing, “Weary” and “I Won’t Ask” stick to typical blues composition and offer little to no surprises. “Take Your Rest, Daddy” and “Gotta Keep Moving” demonstrate what Olga is capable of: inspired songwriting that captures the maturation of delicate lyricism and the excitement of arranged songs. Olga breaks the jam band mold completely with “Can You Forgive Me,” a ‘50s-esque doo-wop lullaby that wears its heart on its sleeve and, at its best, recalls the lofty melodies and electric-palm-muting sways of Roy Orbison.

At the end of the day, Olga’s vocals are what make her stand out. Country songs “What’s the Matter With the Mill” and “Stealin’” meld bluesy, acoustic picking with her always-familiar voice, which at times achieves the creamy-and-cool thickness of Norah Jones. These songs, along with a reworking of traditional classic “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” account for her distinguishing Now is the Time as more Americana than her last releases. (219 Records)
www.laolga.com
-Brian Gilton

Jessie's Headstone

funny little blogthings

Your Beauty Element is Earth

You are the epitome of a natural beauty. Your look is definitely effortless. And while you shy away from a lot of make-up and accessories, you're no granola girl either!

What's Your Beauty Element?

You Belong in Amsterdam

A little old fashioned, a little modern - you're the best of both worlds. And so is Amsterdam. Whether you want to be a squatter graffiti artist or a great novelist, Amsterdam has all that you want in Europe (in one small city).

What European City Do You Belong In?

Your Personality Profile

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant. Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle. You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important. You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection. You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Star Wars Horoscope for Libra

You are on a lifelong pursuit of justice and determined to succeed. You convey the art of persuasion through force. You always display your supreme intelligence. You have a great talent in obtaining balance between yourself and your surroundings. Star wars character you are most like: Obi Wan Kenobie

What Is Your Star Wars Horoscope?

Your Life Path Number is 3

Your purpose in life is to express your unique self. You are a creative and artistic person with an interesting view on life. Witty and outgoing, you enjoy sharing your crazy ideas with anyone who will listen. A total social butterfly, you're the life of any party. In love, you inspire and enchant your partner. You are often an object of fantasy and desire. While you are very talented, you sometimes lack the ambition to put your talents in play. And while your wit carries you a long way, you occasionally use it to mask your true feelings. Your natural abilities can bring you all the success in the world ... if you let them

What Is Your Life Path Number?

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites. And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English 15% Dixie 15% Yankee 5% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

You are "Excited"

What Japanese Smiley Are You?

Jessie Mae Hemphill Headstone Dedication Ceremony

We will dedicate Jessie Mae Hemphill's new headstone on Monday, July 30th at 4:45pm at the Senatobia Memorial Cemetery, located on Highway 51 South in Senatobia, MS. Reverend John Wilkins will officate the ceremony.

Pillows

Much better! last week I wrote about how crappy I have been sleeping and after a particularly rough night where I woke up with my back in my ears, I had had enough. I went and splurged on some new pillows, etra firm shape shifting ones that will match my neck, head, shoulders and method of sleeping no matter what. They are making a difference, as of the last two nights, now at least I am not waking up as a royal wretch of a human being.

Now the next problem, are the ants! Little things, I know, but they can really muck up a morning...

Dreams or...Nightmares?

I don't know what the deal is, but lately I have been having these insane crazy dreams. Not very pleasant, but not nightmare-ish enough to wake my ass up. They are really affecting the quality of sleep I am receiving. I would share some here, but they really are f***ed up and just not somehting I'd like to post on myspace. To get an idea, I suppose they are a confluence of waking life/thoughts/experiences with subconscious versions of the same ideas, yet mutated usually on a grander scale. So, I could say, that some of the topics are what I do wrestle with in daily life but engrossed by additional subconscious exaggerations. I should keep a diary, but frankly am not sure if I want to...

Do As The Romans Do

Okay, I FINALLY get it. Or I will get it. Because I will FINALLY be visitng Rome after all these years and trips to Italy, I had never ventured farther down the boot after Pisa. And lately, both Jimbo and I have been reading and viewing a lot of Roman stuff. We recently watched BBC's "I, Claudius"...excellent production BTW. Also been reading Claudius' book, "Claudius the God". Then there is the HBO version of the rise and fall of Julius Caeser, which I was already aquianted with, having performed in Shakespeare's "Julius Caeser" as Cassisus and the tender age of 11. I have been reading up on Roman history so as to be in the know of what to check out when I go. Now, for some people the Vatican would be the first stop. In my case, I am heading straight to the Forum. I am just so facinated with old stuff and ruins. I like to imagine what is was like and how I would live my life then.
According the the most recent book I finished, Deepak Chopra's "Life After Death", I could have very well been alive several times before. Would that explain my love for beautiful things, opera and espresso?

I head over now for a mini tour in Italy, perfomring at a few festivals, one in Rome. Glad to have some days off in the Eternal City as well. This week, I have been listening to "In Flight Italian", working on some key phrases like, "La liste de vino, perfavore" and "uno bottiglia di whiskey". Now, I must finish my cappucchino and start packing. A piu tardi!

Jessie Mae Hemphill Headstone Update

Yesterday, I was finally able to order Jessie's headstone. With many thanks to the Rodgers Funeral Home in Coldwater, MS, we are getting a large, grey, slate stone (4 feet hight 3 feet wide, base is 5 feet long) with a color photograph and two vases on each end. The back of the stone will have Hemphill etched on it, facing Highway 51, along with an eagle flying with the rising sun. The front of the stone, will have Jessie's full name, dates, and a verse from her song "Lord Help the Poor and Needy". It will take about 6-8 weeks, at which time we will organize an unveiling celebration. Timing wise, it looks like it will be early July before the stone is installed, marking the 1st anniversary since Jessie's passing.

We are especially grateful to Shonda Warner, who paid for the remaining balance of the stone and the Rodgers Funeral Home, who donated about $1500 worth so that we could get a larger stone with the little money we had. Thank you also to everyone who donated to Jessie's funeral fund last summer.

More news will follow soon...

Pumpkins!

This may sound silly, but I have incredible joy at looking at my little plants and watching them grow. Even more special, are the new pumpkin plants that sprouted up from the rotting cracases of last year. Today, they actually began flowering. I have no idea what pimpkin plants actually do, so this will be a learning experience for me. I only know them as jack-o-lanterns, who suddenly appear on the patches, where you can wander around and find the one who speaks to you. And maybe this year, with good fortune, I will have my own little patch to pick from. Hehehehehehehe!

2nd annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic

Last July’s inaugural North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic was a resounding success, drawing over 1,000 people to a rural site in Potts Camp in Marshall County. The festival demonstrated the vitality of the contemporary blues scene in North Mississippi, and in light of the tremendous public response this year’s event has been extended to two days. Potts Camp is located off of Route 78, about halfway between Memphis and Tupelo.

The festival celebrates the legacies of departed North Mississippi blues legends including R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Othar Turner, and the festival will once again feature many of their children and grandchildren. These include Duwayne Burnside, and his band the Mississippi Mafia; the Burnside Exploration, featuring Cedric and Garry Burnside; David Kimbrough; the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, led by Othar Turner’s 17-year-old granddaughter Sharde Thomas.

Other “second generation” acts returning to the event include Kenny Brown, R.L. Burnside’s longtime guitarist and “adopted son;” and the Reverend John Wilkins, son of pre-WWII recording artist Robert Wilkins, whose song “Prodigal Son” was covered by the Rolling Stones. Also returning to the festival are soul-blues legend Bobby Rush, Jimbo Mathus and Knockdown South, T-Model Ford, Cary Hudson with Blue Mountain, Jocco Rushing with Fried Chicken & Gasoline, and John Barnett.

Additions this year include the North Mississippi Allstars, whose leader Luther Dickinson grew up listening to R.L. Burnside and attending Othar Turner’s fife and drum picnics; the Oxford-based Taylor Grocery Band, which features Junior Kimbrough’s son Kinney Kimbrough on drums and vocals; and Alvin Youngblood Hart, Danny Lancaster, and Olga Wilhelmine Mathus.

Potts Camp resident Kenny Brown, who has been playing Hill Country blues since he was a young boy with artists including Mississippi Joe Callicott and Johnny Woods, conceived the festival. “The original idea for this thing was to get all the Hill Country acts we could together at one time here in North Mississippi,” says Brown. “I know from first hand experience how popular the music is all over the world, but we previously didn’t have an opportunity to celebrate our shared heritage here on our home turf. Last year we had a better turn out than we expected and it was wonderful for the performers to be able to hang out together and see the audience having such a great time. Sara Davis and the other organizers did a great job of getting everything together. This year we’re adding another day and some more acts, and we’re looking forward to an even greater turnout. Last year we had people from seventeen states and three foreign countries and I’m sure it will be even better this year. We’ll have plenty of food and a camping area.”

The festival is run by the non –profit organization North MS Hill Country Picnic, Inc., and enjoys great support and sponsorship from North Mississippi communities. Camping will be allowed both nights, coolers are permitted, and vendors will sell local delicacies including barbeque and fried catfish. A portion of each ticket will be donated to MusiCares©, a charity run by the Recording Academy that provides free health care for musicians in need. Sponsors to-date include Flick’s Country Restaurant, R & B Feder Charitable Foundation, Paragon Casino, Freeland & Freeland, One Day Signs, Holly Springs Tourism, Oxford Tourism, and Budweiser.

For more information visit the website www.nmshillcountrypicnic.com

wet one

daaaaaaamn! it's a wet one today in NOLA! we are pretty much washed away in uptown. every street is flooded in some parts a foot and a half. i walked, no, waded my way to the coffee shop to check email and was pretty astounded at how much water there is! the good news is that our street is dry (don't worry mom). at times like these, you can really see the difference in ground levels, which are hardly noticeable in dry times.

as i sit, another storm cell is cutting loose....

...the good part, is that i won't have to wash my hair today!

219 Records Juke Joint Showcase 5/1 Jazzfest

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2007

219 RECORDS JUKE JOINT SHOWCASE
Tuesday, May 1, Cafe Brasil, Frenchman Street, New Orleans

9:00 'til you can't stand up no 'mo

LIVE! funky rump-shakin' boogie down blues and groove...

Jimbo Mathus & Knockdown South
John Lisi & Delta Funk
Lynn Drury
Olga
Cashman
Davis Coen
Tate Moore

come out and see all your lovely 219 artists...for one night only, all together, all in one place!

click on the following link for more info, links and pics!

http://www.219records.com/showcase.htm

or go to www.219records.com and click on the "219 Records Juke Joint Showcase" button

FREE ENTRANCE with RSVP
email touchbase@219records.com
(subject "put me on the list")

beware, Cafe Brasil is a cash-only bar, leave those credit cards at home...

Hope to see you there!


As Always,

Olga

myspace.com/laolga

www.laolga.com

G'morning!

I've been up since 5. Another night of insomnia. I think I get one decent night's sleep a week. Maybe it's the wine. HA!

It usualy is my mind. I do quite a bit of yoga to try and tame it, but it seems to be the most challenging, more challenging than standing on my head or warrior 3. I keep thinking things will get easier and settle down, but the reality is, the more you do, the more challenges you are faced with... almost as if God keeps putting them out there for you, harder, higher, farther away...I do not know or understand why, I just know that I have to keep going.

This week, we finished the lobby of the studio for the JMH Foundation. It was a real relief for me. There are still details to do, but overall, it's ready to see. But the reprieve is only momentary, as next I must rework the foundation website, create goals and language for visitors to understand what we are trying to do, among other things. I didn't set out to do this, but it is what evolved out of my time in north MS and with Jessie Mae. Now that she is gone, it seems more important to continue...I just am overwhelmed sometimes. Maybe that's also God's way of saying, "take a break, take a breather...do nothing for a minute and collect yourself". It's like hiking and getting to the top only to find you are staring at an entire mountain range that goes on for miles and miles...well, it's a good thing that I like to hike! As long as I have sunscreen and a bottle of water!

"Paula Abdul of the Blues"

Yup that's me! The last three nights I've been a judge for the International Blues Challenege that is held every year on Beale street in various clubs. I actually liked the gig, though they were certainly looong nights, but the perfomrances were much better this year than in years past. Don't ask me who won though, by that time I was at large on Beale with my friend Nat getting into shenanigans. Well, Paula is supposed to be "lovable and loopy" right? So I was just fullfilling that portion of the comparison!

Blues Today Symposium Feb. 15-17 to Focus on Blues Women

OXFORD, Miss. - Women were the first recorded blues singers, and the first decade of recorded music featured females almost exclusively. It is therefore fitting that Living Blues magazine's Blues Today Symposium, Feb. 15-17 at the University of Mississippi, focuses on blues women.

The fifth annual event, titled "Blueswomen Today," brings to the forefront women who sing the blues, play the blues, write poems about the blues and engage in scholarly investigations of women's blues.

This year's symposium is scheduled in conjunction with two other conferences held on campus at the same time: the Southern American Studies Association meeting, which focuses on blues tunes and blues texts, and the Southern Anthropological Society meeting, with a foodways theme.

"Our keynote speaker, whom we're sharing with a concurrent meeting of the Southern American Studies Association, is Farah Jasmine Griffin, a professor at Columbia University and author of an innovative study of Billie Holiday," said Blues Today chair and co-founder Adam Gussow, a UM professor of English and Southern studies. "Wanda Coleman, a brilliant blues performance poet, will also be making her Mississippi debut."

Griffin's book "If You Can't Be Free, Be a Mystery: In Search of Billie Holiday" (Free Press, 2001) is not so much a straightforward biography of the eminent jazz singer, but instead, according to Library Journal, examines "how Holiday's music spoke to listeners and celebrated and reflected their lives." At Columbia, Griffin is an English and comparative literature professor who received her B.A. from Harvard and her Ph.D. from Yale.

Programming for the symposium kicks off at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at the Powerhouse in Oxford, with "The Mississippi Blues Trail: A Public Introduction" featuring Scott Barretta and Alan Hammons. Following at 3 p.m. is a screening of Robert Mugge's "Blues Divas," a documentary film of some of the world's most soulful female performers, filmed at Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Miss., and narrated by actor Morgan Freeman.

At 6:30 p.m., Blues Today, SASA and SAS participants can enjoy a tamales and champagne reception at the Longshot Bar and Grill in Oxford.

The symposium also includes a tribute to the late Jessie Mae Hemphill, a hill country blues guitarist from Como, Miss., who died in July. Hemphill was a blues music legend and her music was an inspiration to music players and lovers around the world.

"David Evans, scholar and folklorist, will be here to talk about Jessie Mae and play a few of her songs, as will young blues woman Olga Wilhelmine," Gussow said. "Paul Garon, a founder of Living Blues magazine and co-author of a biography of Memphis Minnie, will also share his thoughts. We'll have several workshops with the performers and, of course, our annual jam session, open to members of the audience."

Mark Camarigg, publications manager for Living Blues magazine, said that the major role women have played in the development of blues music may not be well known.
"Fortunately, writers participating in our Blueswomen Today symposium, such as Gayle Wald and Farah Griffin, should provide enlightening and timely discussion about topics in blues music sometimes neglected by the mainstream press," Camarigg said.

Coinciding with the symposium, Thacker Mountain Radio is to host its annual blues show at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Off Square Books in downtown Oxford. The show will feature scholar Gayle Wald, author of a forthcoming biography of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and others to be announced.

On Friday, symposium lectures and panel discussions, held in the Tupelo Room of Barnard Observatory, include UM assistant professor of journalism Mark Dolan's noon Brown Bag Lecture "Selling Women's Blues in the Chicago Defender," and W.C. Handy Award-winner and teacher Gaye Adegbalola's 4:30 p.m. multimedia presentation "Wild Women Do Get the Blues."

Also at noon Friday, in the Triplett Alumni Center's Butler Auditorium, blues musician and poet Wanda Coleman presents "Between Sisters: Poetry and Dialogue About Soulful Women."

Other lectures, tours of the Blues Archive, and a poem and song swap are also planned.

Just as important as discussions of the blues are live performances, including a concert Friday night at the Big Truck Theater in Taylor, Miss., featuring Di Anne Price and Venessia Young, a pair of acts that represent two generations of Southern-born blues women. Catfish dinners will be available for sale from Taylor Grocery across the street.

"Di Anne Price, singer and piano player, is sometimes called Memphis' best-kept musical secret," Gussow said. "She combines the soulful vocal stylings of Ernestine Anderson and Carmen McCrae with the barrelhouse power of Katie Webster. In concert with her juke-lounge quartet, The Boyfriends, she is the most amazing blueswoman you've ever heard.
"Opening for Price is another prodigy, Clarksdale native Venessia Young, a fiery electric guitar-slinger. She'll be rocking the house with her band, Pure Blues Express, which features her sister Fazenda on bass."
Saturday night the symposium concludes with Blues on the Square in Oxford, featuring different artists at local venues, including the Bill Abel Band with Adam Gussow at Two Stick.
"All in all, Blueswomen Today promises to be a fantastic and enlightening experience," Gussow said.

Symposium sponsors include UM's Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and departments of English and African-American Studies, as well as Living Blues magazine, the Mississippi Arts Council and the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Registration for the Blues Today Symposium is $50. UM faculty, staff and students can attend the symposium lectures at no charge but pre-registration is advised due to limited space.

For more information, including a complete schedule of events, or to register, visit http://www.bluestodayonline.com. For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-5993.

Blues Cruise

Well, we are off next week onto a boat full of blues people to the carribean. I am quite excited because neither Jimbo nor I have ever been on a cruise before, and certainly never to the virgin islands. The only thing that concerns me some is this whole "charge card" thing on the boat, that everything is overly priced and must be purchased. That pretty much tossed my plan to pack my own mini-bar for the trip, which sucks. But we will try and not rack up too much...yeah right!

I was talking to my friend Necha last night, and she and her husband have been on a few cruises for the Jamband Cruise. She said they had racked up a 500 dollar bar bill on the last one (about a week ago)! Well for a week, I guess that's not too bad...haha! Anyhow, I'm sure well have fun. Now all we have to do is pack!! It's raining in Memphis today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jimbo Mathus
Delta Recording Service
662-526-9997
jimbo@jimbomathus.net


PRODUCER, INSTRUMENTALIST AND RECORDING STAR JIMBO MATHUS
RE-OPENS DELTA RECORDING SERVICE IN COMO, MISSISSIPPI

Full-service studio is home to Grammy® and Handy award-award winning artists.

Lobby houses new, unique archive of Mississippi hill country blues artists.

COMO, MISSISSIPPI—Jimbo Mathus, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has re-opened his popular Delta Recording Service in Como, Mississippi.

The studio, previously located in Clarksdale, Mississippi, produced over 70 projects in just over a year, including Grammy and Handy award-winners and nominees Elvis Costello, Big George Brock, and Duwayne Burnside.

The facility brings together top-tier Mississippi and Memphis producers, engineers, writers and session men and women in a dynamic, energetic environment. The result is a recording studio that enables artists to create fully-realized recordings that are affordable and high-quality.

“It’s a one-stop studio for clients,” Mathus says, noting that the facility can supply musicians from genres as varied as “south Memphis rappers to North Mississippi fife and drums to old-school rhythm sections.”

Mathus says that the Delta staff specializes in roots music of all kinds and bring insight and skill to projects.

“When clients walk through the door and need it, we’ve got it,” he said. “And they have a ball working with the staff here, too!”

Established in conjunction with Olga Wilhelmine and 219 Records, Delta Recording Service also offers a full spectrum of services for do-it-yourself artists, including CD art, manufacturing and national distribution via 219 Records.

Unique Mississippi hills country blues archive graces lobby

The facility houses a new exhibition, sponsored by the JMH Foundation, in the lobby area that features an archive of photographs, recordings and memorabilia honoring traditional musician families from Northern Mississippi: Hemphills, McDowells, Burnside, Kimbroughs, Stricklands, Pratchers, Youngs and Turners.

The collection also includes face casts of local musical legend Jessie Mae Hemphill (after whom the JMH Foundation is named), Othar Turner, RL Burnside and T Model Ford.

CDs by local artists are on sale, with proceeds going to the JMH Foundation for the preservation and archiving of the music of North Mississippi. For more information on the JMH Foundation, visit www.jmhemphill.org.

About Delta Recording Service

Delta Recording Service provides a full range of talent and services to musicians seeking to produce cost-effective, high-quality recordings. Located in downtown Como, Mississippi, Delta Recording Service brings a unique, Southern sensibility and creativity to every client’s project. Visit Delta Recording Service on the Web at www.deltarecordingservice.com.

The Coffee Club

As I sit on my bed, slightly hungover (I emphasize slightly because I would never drink too much on a Saturday night, sheesh!) on a Sunday afternoon just poodleing around on my laptop, I had some sudden flashes of a time long ago. LONG ago it seems, all the way back to 1994ish. I was thinking about a job I has, as assistant manager for a coffee house called "Coffee Club". There was actually 5 stores in SF bay area, and this was before Starbucks hit big.

My boss was a man named Jim Chelossi, from San Carlos, CA (which is where I lived and worked at the time). We would have lines out the door for hours with people waiting to get their java fix. I would litterally be headfirst in the espresso machine slinging lattes and whatnot from 6am until noon before there was any real break in customer flow. Naturally, the drinks would be hot and customers would ask to "double cup" their beverage as to not burn their hands. This mean of course, that we would go through twice as many cups as was needed and Jim Chelossi was not too happy about the added expense. So he came up with an idea. He created a "sleeve" for the cups, that was just like having a second cup wrapped around the first, but only a portion of one. This would cut down on waste, storage, and expense of using extra cups. He invented and patened (in 1995) the sleeves used in every Starbucks shop and otherwise out there known to man, who imbibes in hot beverages. So, even though Starbucks basically ran him out of the coffee business by taking all the customers away, I'm sure he is having a laugh on a yacht somehwere in St. Tropez.

Next time you're at Starbucks and they hand you your latte, you'll know that my former boss is the guy who invented that sleeve around your cup!

String of thoughts and where they go...

Don't know really how this popped up in my mind, but I was just on hold now with my bank, and they were playing a Mozart piece as the hold music. After I hung up, the melody lingered in my mind and I thought "how nice to have that as hold music...much better than being on hold with United Airlines and having that annoyingly redundant UA theme playing." Then I thought "well they use their theme so that they don't have to pay royalties...." THEN I thought, "wait a minute, who pays Mozart HIS royaties? More importantly, where do they go? Who gets it? Does he have any relatives? I mean the guy is 250 years old and died in poverty, buried in an unmarked grave...how DO they track these things down? Is he with ASCAP or BMI? Or is he just a special case? And further, what about Schubert, Brahams, Chopin, Hayden and Beethoven and all the other guys? Do they have living relatives? If so, where are they and do they have a myspace page??"

Anyhow, a rather long string of thoughts that I have no answer for, only speculations and provocations for further inquiries this early morning...

Studio News, JMH Foundation

The studio is open and already recorded two bands: Bakealite 78's and now Sugarfarm last week. We still have finishing touches to do, namely the lobby, office and breakroom. I feel really blessed, as the Alan Lomax archive granted the JMH Foundation rights to use photos in their archive, which will be hung in the studio lobby. The photos can also be used to promote the JMH Foundation. In addition, we discussed using some of the field recordings to make a new compilation CD to benefit the foundation. I consider this one of the highest honors, and thank Anna Lomax Wood and archive director Don Fleming for their graciousness and support.

In addition to lomax photos, we will have some incredible artwork from an artist from Sante Fe, Sharon McConnell (www.sharonmcconnell.net) who is giving on permanent loan to the foundation, several of her face masks, which include Jessie Mae Hemphill, RL Burnside, Othar Turner and T Model Ford. Sharon is also a dear firend of mine. She loved Como so much that she is moving from Sante Fe to be part of the north MS experience, and I am seriously happy to hear about it!

Long time friends of the hill country, Yancey Allison and Bill Steber will also donate some of their wonderful prints to showcase our local musicmakers and life in and around Como, MS. All in all, this will be an impressive lobby to say the least! I hope and plan to eventually create a musem downtown for the JMHF at some point, to house the archive.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony in January, date still to be set. A press release will come out shortly. See you in MS!!

Delta Recording Service
PO Box 12
Como, MS 38619
www.deltarecordingservice.com

Jessie Mae Hemphill Foundation
(same address)
www.jmhemphill.org

Hammertime

Yes, indeed, we are still hammering, drilling, gluing, moving, painting, flooring, sanding, carpeting, sheetrocking, sweeping, door-ing (is that a real term?) freaking, drinking, praying and then more all over again. Never thought this would take a so long to do, but it has and really, we have been working every day. We will be done with the big stuff soon, but the datils of the studio will take more time. There is still much much to do and we are all beat. This has really been the most challenging and most stressful experience I have ever had, and I think it's been for Jimbo too. We have put much sweat equity and monetary equity into this, and I believe that the outcome will be all that much more sweeter for it. If it was too easy, I don't think we would believe in it as much and enjoy it as much when all the struggles are over.

Jim Dickinson and Mary Lindsey came by last Thursday to check out our operation. Big Jim was quite enthhused and declared he would be bringing in bands to prodcue and record out of our place! There is nothing better than to get the stamp of approval from our local Guru ("World Boogie is Coming!") and yesterday, Jimbo decided we had to find a zebra pattered carpet for the control room for Big Jim...to be sure we " don't think about the zebra", as he says.

Great news too, the major of Como wants to have a ribbon cutting ceremony! So that was some fun news and additional encouragement to keep going, no matter how tired you are, nor how discouraged at times. I have really begun to fully understand the phrase "blood, sweat and tears" because I have experienced all of the above, litterally. But I am really excited about the prosperity it will bring to everyone around it, and that joy is waht both Jimbo and I look forward to. It also gives us something to really believe in and get up every day.

We got most of the website ready, thanks to Little Miss Strange, who has been hosting and building the North MS Allstars fansite as well as Jimbo's site. I also have to send love to Will Dawson, who is/will be the studio manager and has been here every step of the way. We have many people in Como and Senatobia who have really stepped in and been there for us and helped. It is a great feeling to see people brought together, and a beauty all within itself to behold.

www.deltarecordingservice.com

Construction Junction

Whoowee, we are heavy in construction for the new studio in Como. But for the first time, it has suddenly become a reality for us and everyone is very excited. Aside from the obvious historical value and draw of Como, we are really liking the people in the community, who all seem very helpful and also excited that something new and different is coming in. The fun part for me is I'll get to decorate (eventually). For now it's mostly painting, runs to Home Depot or Lowes, drinkin beer...oh wait, that's nothing new there...uh, let's see...we got a cool fridge yesterday which is compact and cute! I was very excited about that (cold beer!!)... it's the delight in the little accomplishments that are creating the bigger picture...everything that gets done and installed just brings the dream so much closer to reality.

My friend Sherman Cooper was by all afternoon yesterday. He cooked us greens and cornbread, which was absolutely delightful. The weather has turned strangely warm again, as if the fall is trying to squueze out the last bit of summer weather it can before it freezes us to death (and it does get quite cold down here, you wouldn't believe it). Sherman showed me some back roads (to the beer stores) and we discussed ideas for the back patio area, which will really be cool. Shame the winter is coming, so we won't be able to really finish and use it... it will be a process anyway, but by the spring it will be a project to play with.

As for indoors, well, pearlings, blackboard, 2x10s, 2x4s, SDS drills, self drilling hex screws, roofing nails, shop vac...I don't know much about this stuff, but I am learning. Maybe I can ad carpentry to my list of skills someday...

...but things are moving along and bringing about curious vistors and oddities....ha!

(visit www.deltarecordingservice.com for more studio info)

Telluride Blues & Brews, OnlineRock.com

What a week! Maybe I should have read my horoscope or something, as things have really been looking up for me, musically speaking...

First, the Chris Isaak show was kick ass! Sold out at the House of Blues and the crowd was digging my music. I played by myself and amazingly, I was not really nervous at all. It was strange! I get more nervous thinking back about now than I did the moment of. Anyhow, Chris and his band really loved the show. He said I better return the favor to him and let him open for me, which I laughed at and he was like, "no, I'm serious!". Anyhow, his show was fabulous. I have always been a big fan of his music (which I had on cassettes mind you) so I need to get some itunes stuff now on him. With any luck, we'll pair up again sometime. In the meantime, everyone got Olga lipbalm (always a hit) for the road.

Found out the same day of the show, that I was selected as 1 of 6 finalists for the Telluride Blues & Brews Blues Competition, which means I get to go to Telluride next week! Never thought that would happen, but it did. Lucky for me, my man will be out there too, as he's playing the actual festival. And, I am psyched to see Bruce Hornsby who I have not seen in about 6 years. I met him a long time ago in SF and always enjoyed hearing him play, especially solo. He's truly anointed with musical abilities.

And this monring, I find out that I am a featured artist this month on www.OnlineRock.com Take a moment to check it out!

Opening for Chris Isaak!

Got a call today to come open Chris Isaak's show at the House of Blues in NOLA in September...sheesh, I loooove him!

Olga's Music Video Here At Last

Here is is! The music video for the song "Now Is The Time" drirected by J. Michael McCarthy

Saying Goodbye

These past two weeks have been the most difficult for me, I think in my life. Someone close to me passed, and I had helped organize the funeral with the family...which I was glad to be part of, honored really, that her relatives asked me to do that... Only later, have I been able to grieve. My sadness is great... I miss her so much...

The service was beautiful, on a hot sunny day... Jessie was wearing her white mink fur coat...we laughed at the thought of how hot it was...and that she would be ready for the winter with her coat on. She looked good...I know she would be pleased. She had many flowers. I had suggested we use all colors, every hue possible, because Jessie was a colorful woman. She liked to paint, and her paintings reflected the rainbows in her heart. She had painted a chirstmans tree once, and gave it to me for christmas. It has all kinds of shapes and colors...I can look at it for a long time, and find monkeys and birds, trees and of course, flowers lurking somewhere in there...I told her, I could see them, and she laughed and said, "yeah, yeah theys in there".

B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt were among the ones who had sent flowers. The Rising Star Fife & Drum Corp. played as she was carried to her final resting place... "Glory glory, Hallelujah...since I lay my burden down..." ...and we laid our final flowers on Jessie and said goodbye...

I am so happy she is at peace. I know she is happy and free. I am weeping because I miss her and I won't be able to see or talk to her anymore...but when I close my eyes, I can see her laughing that big ole cackle of hers... I know she will always be there.

Jessie Mae Hemphill Funeral Arrangements

Hello everyone

We finally have the arrangements for Jessie made, with a viewing and funeral this weekend, July 29th and 30th in Senatobia MS.

Viewing and Reflections 5-8pm
Sat. July 29
Felix Cauthen Funeral Home
13653 Hwy 4 West
Senatobia MS 38668
662 562 4773

Service for Jessie Mae Hemphill at 2pm
Sun. July 30
Church of Christ
401. West Gilmore St.
Senatobia

There is a real need to raise money to pay for the expense of the funeral, burial, and tombstone. We are in the process of setting up a bank account to accept funds and I will send out another email later today with that information. This information will also be available at www.jmhemphill.org

If you can make a contribution, please email me back with the pledge amount so that we can keep track of where we are.

Jessie Mae is truly blessed to have many friends out there who love her and are fans of her music. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your love and respect for Miss Jessie Mae.

Jessie Mae Hemphill Passes, July 22

Yesterday, I played at the farmers market in Memphis. When I finished, I noticed I had four missed calls form a strange number. When I tried to return the calls, I got the recording that the number was not a working number. It dawned on me that I need to call the hospital. When I did, they told me Jessie was in critical condition and that I could see her but only for the next 20 minutes. I went to the hospital and sat with her for the remainder of visiting time. She was worse than the day before and I new she would not make it through the night. I prayed with her, sang to her and told her how glad I was to have been able to know her and share many a times with her...how much I would miss her, but that I knew she was looking forward to going home...to being with her family again, who she had been missing terribly for so long.

Jessie Mae Hemphill passed away yesterday evening, sometime around 7pm. I am so happy that she is at peace now, but so sad cause I will miss her. She knows as do I, that she will always be with me...with us...in our hearts.

Jessie Mae Hemphill Hospitalized

Jessie Mae was addmited to The Med hospital in Memphis and is in the critical care unit. I went by to see her this morning and she was unconscious and in "guarded" condition. The nurses would not divulge any further information to me about what had happned (as I am not a relative), but, it looked pretty grave to me. I tried to talk to her but she was unrepsonsive. She is hooked up to a bunch of machines and I do fear the worst.

If you are a fan or friend of Jessie Mae, please send her your well wishes and prayers.

The Med Hospital
Critical Care Waiting Room:
Jessie Mae Brooks
877 Jefferson
Memphis, TN 38103

North MS Hillcountry Picnic July 3rd

So, we are STILL rather slow around here, after Monday. What was that all about, you ask? Oh, just a little throwdown Kenny Brown and Miss Sarah organzied in Potts Camp, MS that involved a virtual who's who of north MS music and the little scene we got going on up here. First of all, it was HOT AS HELL LITERALLY LIKE I AM NOT KIDDING HOT swealtering heat, oh Lordy. Mix in beer, water, BBQ and gatorade and it's the makings of something serious. I shot film for the first time in 2 years cause I knew most of the folks there, and knew they would not have a problem with my camera in their face taking pictures. I forgot how much I enjoy that! And I got some great, great pics that will definately go down in history for us (now, I need to save up the moolah to print 'em up! well, 5 rolls of black and white is 'spensive).

But anyhow, here's who played (and I know I'm forgetting...)

John Barnett, Lil Joe Ayers, Rev John Wilkins,Rising Star Fife & Drum Band, Bobby Rush, Carey Hudson, Jocco Rushing & the Heatseekers, Robert Belfour, T Model Ford, Burnside Exploration, Cody DIckinson, David Kimbrough, Jimbo Mathus & Knockdown South, Olga, Luther Dickinson,Duwayne Burnside & the Mississippi Mafia Kenny Brown & Hill Country Jam
Fireworks,

Melvin and Cody Burnside provided security, and I learned in the process they were both bounty hunters! Cedric had bought his young kids with him, which was nice to meet them at last. Jim Dees was the emcee for the day/night and Amos and Colter Harvey, Lynn Drury, Necha Dickinson, Amelda Lee, Joey Lauren Adams, John Beifuss, Tom Speed, Bill Steeber and a slew of other characters were in the mix. To tell the truth, this was one of those events where maybe we could've benefitted from "Hello my name is..." tags....NAH!

I ate a bunch of rib tips that were to die for, made by a local father-son team from Bedford, MS. We did miss a few friends who could not attend, but most importantly, the spirit of the late great RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough were definately felt that night. Heck, Mr Belfour hung out till way after late, he was clearly having a ball. Somewhere along the line, I lost the bug spray, so my feet itch from skeet bites...(sigh)...well, the white lightnin' helped make me forget about that, though! Actually, it's probably what made me not feel the bites happening in the first place...

The great thing is, the event will most likely happen again next year. It will most definately be the same line-up with maybe a few additonal MS musicians, but they want it to be a real north MS thing. As Amos said, "Well, it's about time! What took so long??"

Sleepless Nights

Another sleepless night...I used to have a radio show by that name when I lived in Boulder, CO. It was freeform eclectic and ran from midnight to 3am. That wasn't all that tough, it was the first shift when I first began DJ-ing, from 3-6am, called Restless Mornings, that was the brutal one. You had to either just stay up until 3, or wake up at 2:30am and roll over to the station. I was fotunate enough that I only lived 2 blocks away, so I could litterally roll into the station from bed in my pajamas. I could not drink coffee though, as my stomach just could not take it that early...so I was really half out of it when I'd do these shows.

That's actually not so bad, cause you find yourself in this zone of sorts...kinda like how I get when I play music. I used to tape redcord about every show I did, which was great to listen to after the fact and try to remember what the hell I played and how I got there. Over the years those shows added up and I probablly Dj-ed over 100 of them. You could play whatever you wanted.

I rememeber one night, it was in the middle of winter. I was doing the Sleepless Nights show (12-3am) and I had just put on a song by Stevie Wonder. Back then, the front door would automatically stay locked until the morning news crew got there, so when you did a shift change, you'd have to open the door for the next person waiting outside. Tehre were actually two doors, one for the office and one for the door leading into the office building, both locked at night. So, here I was, answering the door, and when I answered, no one was there. I had put a book in the door jam so it would not close on me, and I leaned out to see who was there in the parking lot. Mind you, it was about 11 degrees outside (no kidding) so cold as freaking hell frozen over. The next thing I know, the book had fallen away from the doorjam and the door slammed shut! Great, I thought. Locked out, in the cold, my keys, jacket, etc. were all inside and the next DJ who suddenly appeared right then, was locked out from his show as well.

"Well $%*#!," I said, "this CD should last about 45 minutes, and then, I guess that will conclude our broadcast day untitl 6am."

The fellow DJ said, "$#@*^, well, that's happened to me before too. They'll figure out what happened when 6am arrives". And at that he drove me home in the below freezing weather in my pajamas and I had fortunately, left the door to my house unlocked so I could get in.

So on those nights where I can't sleep, I think back to my radio days of late night DJ-ing and wish I could do it again...I mean, what else is there to do at 3am??

name acronym

O	Overwhelming
L	Light
G	Gorgeous
A	Amazing

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

Los Lobos, DJ Logic, Jurassic 5 at Jazzfest show

ahhh...meant to blog a few days again, but I had to get back on track after all those late nights in N.O.

So Friday I was at the fabulous Los Lobos show at H.O.B. If anyone of you has NOT seen them, you are really really missing out on an american institution of music. Vince (David's son) and Jason (Conrad's son) is on the road with them now as techs. It was great to see them cause the last time I saw any of the kids was, sheesh...at least 7 years ago, at least. Everyone is grown up. It's crazy how fast the time went by. It has now been 12 years since I've know Lobos and, wow, still felt like old times though...

...and I got a shout out and a dedicated song..."Not Fade Away" into "Bertha", cause well, I'm married now! A lot's changed in my life since we last caight up in N.O.

During the last tune there were a bunch of folks on stage. I played moraccas and sang some harmonies with Cesar for "Cumbia Raza", in spanish no less! My friend Ashley was with me, and she said she had a blast, especially being on stage and dancing at the end. SO again, I remind everyone to go see that band.

...there is a new album out in September I'm told, and I hear Tchad Blake has been mixing it. Also hear that is has a "Kiko" vibe to it, most likely cause Tchad's at the board. I don't think Tchad's on myspace, but Mitchell Froom is and so is Lobos, so go check out their pages. In he meantime, I think I'll have to scoot of to Dallas in July and see them again for another charge. YAY!

Somthing else that was really of the hook was the J5 show late night (3am). DJ Logic spun a set before hand and it was great catching up with that crew again after so long. And FYI, Logic did a special mix for Jessie Mae Hemphill, called "Porch Logic". He did it a few years back and it's really damn good. He was involved in that recording project we did with her, "Jessie Mae Hemphill & Friends" and told me Saturday, it was one of the best experiences in his life, and how much he appreciated me turning him onto the blues. You may want to check out the song on itunes. otherwise, the album is for sale at www.219records.com and other lil CD places on the internet.

Well, that's all for now. I have to mail 475 packages with Jimbo's new CD in it.

Thacker Mountain

Hey y'all

Yesterday, I was in Oxford to play their Thacker Mountain radio show. It is recorded in the Off Square Books, which is, off the square, but not by much! Thacker Mountain had litereary readings form authors and musical guests in between, I was excited to be back on the show, which I have been lucky enough to do every season.

Strangley, and I don't know why, but when ever a tape recorder is involved I get butterflies and worms. You know, live is one thing, casue once it's out there and out of your mouth... it just flies away and dissipates like a bubble once it pops. But when you got a tape recorder rolling...well...it's on tape!! So then you go back and listen to all the warts of the performance and that, my friends, is where my hangup is. Jim Dees ( the host) said that we're always our worst critic and that it's terribly difficlut to go back. Frankly, I probably won't for my own sanity. I know it sounded great as many people told me so, so thank God for that!! But still, as I stood up there singing and playing a couple songs by myself to a quiet room, I had to use every Jedi mind trick in the book that I knew to calm my nerves down. "You were nervous?" Jim said incredulously. "You do this all the time! Well, I couldn't tell a thing!" So I guess, my Jedi mind tricks worked yet again! (these are not the nerves you're looking for...)

Anyhow, the highlight for sure was our rockin' rendition of Memphis Minnie's "What's the Matter with the Mill" which I dueted with Duff Dourrogh. Jim Dickinson also got on the piano and yelled "done broke down" in between verses and I could tell the audience was lovin' it. Nothing like a dirty blues song to get blood flow up! uh, no pun intended there.

for your reading pleasure I am going to post the lyrics, This is the version we did on my record:

WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH THE MILL?
by Memphis Minnie

J: Say Miss O
O: What you say Jimbo?
J: Where are you going?
O: I’m going to the mill to have my corn ground
J: Aww, that mill’s broke down
O: How do you know?
J: I went to get my corn ground
O: What’s the matter with the mill?
J: It done broke down

O : Can’t get no grinding, tell me what’s the matter with the mill

Well, I had a little corn, I put it in a sack
Brought it to the mill and come right back
What's the matter with the mill? (It done broke down)
What's the matter with the mill? (It done broke down)
I can't get no grinding
Tell me what's the matter with the mill

Well, people keep a talking all over town
Tell me that the mill had done broke down
What’s the matter with the mill…

(spoken: Ahw, grind it)

Now listen here folks, I don't want no stuff
You can't bring me my meal, bring me the husks1
What's the matter with the mill…

Well, my papa sat and cried, my brother did, too
They both been to the mill, they can't get nothing to do
What's the matter with the mill…

Now listen here folks, I want you to bear this in mind
If you're going to the mill, you're just losing time
What's the matter with the mill…

Today's the day

I just don't know where the time goes...been trying to figure that out now for the last few years! I guess it's the never ending answer I shall seek for the rest of my days...hmmm...

Anyhow, today is the day my new CD "Now is the Time" is released in and stores near you! Here's a blurb from teh "one-sheet":

Produced by Olga and Jimbo Mathus. Recorded at Delta Recording Service, Clarksdale, Mississippi, Olga’s third album, “Now is the Time”, features performances by Memphis and Oxford, Mississippi’s hot new generation of roots and blues players. The album includes, Jimbo Mathus, Paul Taylor, Jack Yarber, Steve Malcolm, T. Bryan Ledford, Max Williams, Darren Dortin, Will Dawson, Brandon Hughes, and Justin Showah.

We got a lot more news in development, which I will drop a line on soon...in the meantime, find an A/c quick cause we're cooking' down here!!

Radioio.com

Hey Y'all

I'd like to let you know about a free internet radio station that is playing both mine and Jimbo's music quite a bit. It's called radioio.com and you can tune in on your computer at work or home or wherever y'at.

check it out!

reConstruction

I've been in New Orleans again this past week, mostly just supervising repairs/construciton on my mom's house. There are workers crawling around in every nook and cranny of this three story home and popping out of doors and stairwells. There is nowhere to hide! Things are going smoothy enough but it seems like everything just takes so much longer to do...

It's been a little depressing as the city is still mostly vacant and dogged out in most of the neighborhoods. It's something especially notcieable at night, cause there are very few lights if any at all, and the waterlogged buildings and homes just look like empty discarded shells of what once housed someone's home or business. It's pretty creepy.

Jazzfest is around the corner and I have no idea who all is planning to come or how it's going to be. On the one hand I am glad to keep things somewhat normal, but on the other, it will be the most abnormal experience for tourists and visitors--heck, everyone really. I am glad that people will be coming and witnessing first hand what a freaking mess it is because it will keep the situation in the forefront of people's minds when they leave to go back home. But at the same time, where are people going to stay? What are they going to do? Most places close at night, there is no street car, no city park, not a whole lot to pick from and do...

See, Mardi Gras is mostly on one street (St. Charles) or in the Quarter. Jazzfest is all over the city...but the city is not there, just one small part of it.

Video Shoot part II

Yes, part II ! Had another inertesting day of shooting...
This time, it was just Mike, Tom, myself and Kasey at work. We had twenty shots to do and unusual weather to say the least! The morning was filled with smoke form a nearby raging fire by the MS river. Bill Talbot (shack proprietor) said there was some uncertain drama behind it all. Basically, it was not a planned fire and they were unsure if it was set to cover somthing else up like...a body? He said there was a car involved and engulfed in flames and several people. You never know down here in the delta especially where arson runs rampant as does deperate measures.

The first and most important shot of the day was the "train shot". Mike had enlisted Reggie, a local locomotive engineer to drive his locomotive through Hopson, of which he usually does anyhow on certain days, but this time he stopped for the camera. At this point in the day it began to rain. Reggie's wife beagn to explain the dangers of hopping the train, and that I might lose my legs if I don't make it up in time. Well, I had a couple bad visions naturally before "action" was called. I wasn't scared to run next to the train and even reach out for it.. But i had a guitar case in hand, dumb shoes (an ongong problem for me it seems...) and rainy weather, so I was a little unnerved about having to hop the train with all the elements at work.

"Action!". I run along with the train, reaching out, running running....then I hurled the guitar case on board grabbed the rails and jumped up. Lo and behold I made it! The wind picked up and my hair blew with the train and rain and we rolled on through Hopson and finished the shot. Well, okay, we had to do it two more times. And I was still nervous each time about making the jump, but it worked out fine and I kept my legs in tact.

We had several other shots to do this day. Funny enough, the fire stopped for a while so we could breathe again and so did the rain. By the time we did the "mailbox" shots, it was sunny! "Sunblock anyone?" I asked. Us fair skinned people you know...

Mike says that he'lll never be able to shoot another blues video as he used up all the images. Let's see...we have sharecropper shacks, trains, train tracks, cotton, a burnt down movie theater on the "other side of the tracks", a commisary, tractor, plow, plantation, graveyard and indian mound all in the video. Yeah, I think that just about cover the subject!

Fat Tuesday

Ah, another beautiful day! Actually, the last three days have been warm and sunny....perfect parading days!

Sunday had a staggering 5 parades roll, including two of the biggest, Endymion and Baccus. I was on the route starting at 11am and left after 10pm...almost 12 hours of BBQ's, beer and bloodies, I'd say an incredible feat for most. I also caught 3 bags full of loot (would have had 4 had not one bag gone mysteriously missing).

Last night we had two parades roll and a huge crowd. SInce Sunday litterally kicked my ass, I had to be more of a spectator for Lundi Gras. And lord knows I tried to get my butt up this morning for Zulu..and I missed it again! In addition, I did not have a costume this year...my bad, I know...

...there were some great ones out there though, carousing up and down St. Charles and naturally,many were Katrina influenced. There was a family of three who had created rotten refridgerator hats and many wearing "chocolate city" inspried creations. I REALLy dropped the ball on costuming this year....(sigh)...

Rex was long and beautiful. A little excitement too, as one of the tree limbs knocked the top off one of the floats and stopped the parade for a few minutes. No one was hurt and Rex rolled on. I was happy to get a bunch of Rex cups this year and crown beads and enjoyed most of the parade stnading on top of a root of a giant live oak tree, which heightened my viewing pleasure. Next year I will definately get a ladder! Nothing like being up high in bigs crowds to see and have plastic stuff thrown at you. I still marvel at how many people are delighted by throwing plastic or scrambling for it on the ground...young and old alike... it awakens the inner child!


Well, I am a bit sad it's all over now, but it was a good year and obviously very needed for the spiritual well being for the local denziens. Now the only thing left is....how do I fit all this loot in my car??

aMUSEment

hey y'all

posting here from amidst the big weekend with some parade news to report...

first of all , Muses was a blast! i attended the ball this year too, and met many a great muses and became one myself! they had parlament play the party, and there were about 100 people on stage, mostly muses i think, still masked and boogie-ing down with george and crew.

as far as the parade goes, it was beautiful and long, 22 floats! great bands and throws to boot. i got a couple of muses barbie dolls, a muses manicure set, a muses baseball, tons of beads, frisbees, blinky beads, lost of shoe beads, etc. etc. did pretty damn good this year...


the rolling krewe of elvi also rolled in their parade, and i put some beads around the neck of one elvis and he gave me a kiss and his scarf! i told jimbo that i though he should join their krewe and go as a rolling elvi next year...he'd be perfect for that!

chaos was also quite beautiful and somehow, i always get a ton of cups from chaos.

last night for hermes and krewe d'etat, they were throwing glass beads! i actually got entire bags full of 'em! it was thrilling to have the glass beads thrown in the mix and they are quite gorgeous. made in india too! then in morpheus, they had one float full of young soap stars, one i recognized immediately from "all my children", he plays adam chandler, jr. anyhow, i ran up to the float and yelled "i love all my children" and he looked down at me, grabbed my hand and gave me some ABC soap beads. hahaha! i can't believe i met a soap star!

anyhow, today i am trying to de-puff my eyes...looks like the sun in peaking out and it's bloody mary time. kick off is at 11am, which i am already late. we got iris, tucks and superkrewe endymion today...and we're bringing my friend's dog to come and play...

that's all for now!

The Time Has Come...

...the walrus said, to talk of many things
of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings,
and why the sea is boiling hot and wether pigs have wings!

Off to NOLA for Mardis Gras and to play my monthy gig at Dos Jefe's. This is the time every year, where I crawl out from under my big black cloud of winter muck and get back into life, with the celebration of the coming of spring, and the king!
It's some sort of annual thing I go through, but after Fat Tuesday, life goes on, my spirit picks up and I can start cleaning out the crap in my head left there by the ice and cold...

So, I joined a Krewe this year, the Krewe of Muses, which I have been wanting to do for a while now. I won't be able to ride this year, but i will be at the afterparty, which should rock! For those of you who don't know, Muses is the only all female Krewe that parades at night. They roll tomorrow evening up Napoleon, down St. Charles, over Canal and around Poydras.


Check list:

coozie
beer cooler
beer! (must plan ahead as my usual stop has not reopened yet)
plastic bags (for the beads, naturally)
change of clothes (for the Krewe party, naturally)
positive attitude

http://www.myspace.com/olga

Hi y'all

I received some emails regarding hearing sample of my new music. I have not been able to update this site yet, but you can hear 3 complete songs on http://www.myspace.com/olga to whet your audible appetite! Please sign up as a friend whilst there...

Happy valentines Day!

Video shoot

I finally fiured out what makes celebs like J Lo et. al. look so good, like they have washboard abs....it's all about the lighting, baby!

We shot a video for "Now is the Time" in Clarksdale. MS this past weekend. At the helm, was Michael McCarthy, AKA Guerilla Monster, who had a whole crew of cameras and lights and reflectors and whatever-you-call-it-gadget with him. I was able to see a couple photos, that really made me look damn good! Like washboard abs! no lines! no zits! no problems! I think I can dig the whole camera thing now...

I am looking forward to seeing the finished product. We had a great time doing it, albeit cold, but great. It was mostly on location at Hopson Commissary and Shack Up Inn, though we did have a graveyard sequence and shot footage inside the old Roxy Theater, that litterally was falling down around us. But hey, it looks cool!

You can check out some of Michael's other work on his website, www.guerillamonster.com, and even see me in his Jim Dickinson video, that was shot about a year ago. Hope to have photos up on the site soon and of course the finished video streaming.

For now, I am practicing my close ups with much more zest, as we can fix it all with osme lighting, makeup, and post production!

Sale!

Hi y'all

Well, I sure hope everyone pulled out of the holidays a-o-k and back on track. I know for myself it took a while to shake out of the food-wine-party stupor and wrap my brain around a new year (I also had to practice writing 2-0-0-6).

And with 2006, I finally have my new CD, "Now is the Time" hot off the press and available for pre-release sale and downloads off my website,www. laolga.com (The actual release date is April, 18, 2006, where the new album will be in retail stores both online, like itunes and amazon, and offline, like Tower, Virgin and Borders).

However, just because the holidays are over, does not mean there are no gifts! Many of you know, that I am a big fan of the whole gift-with-purchase thing, and now, for a limited time, every order of "Now is the Time" will come with a free OLGA lipbalm.

But that's not all! Any order of both "Now is the Time" and "Kiss Your Blues Away" will receive an additional surprise gift! Yessir, indeed!

All songs and albums can also be downloaded off laolga.com for those of you needing music asap.

In the meantime, many thanks in advance and keep those lips happy!


xoxOlga

\

An Invitation

Dear Roots Music Lover


New Orleans music has inspired many of us in the world of roots music, blues and jazz. With the devastation of Katrina, the city is facing its biggest challenge in history. While rebuilding is underway, it will take years to reconstruct what was once our beloved Crescent City.

The JMH Foundation sponsored a benefit concert in Memphis on October 14, 2005, resulting in the live recording When the Levee Breaks: A Benefit Concert for Katrina Survivors. The event, which featured notable musicians from the Memphis and north Mississippi area, was recorded and filmed with the intention of releasing a benefit CD/DVD to assist local non-profit organizations in their ongoing effort to rebuild the greater New Orleans area.

Featured on the recording are Jim Dickinson, Jimbo Mathus, the Bo-Keyes, Luther and Cody Dickinson, the Bluff City Backsliders, Jack Oblivion & the Tennessee Tearjerkers, Monsieur Jeffrey Evans, Tate Moore & Ken Hart, Amy & the Tramps, Paul Taylor, Duff Dorrough, Jimmy Crosthwait, Jim Dees of Thacker Mountain Radio, Bill Ellis, Johnny Vomit & the Dryheaves, Lynn Drury, Larry Frye & the Livewire Band, and Olga Wilhelmine.

Kevin Houston will donate mixing of the album and Larry Nix & Co. are generously donating the mastering. Live from Memphis is graciously donating the filming and editing of the project.

All proceeds will be divided amongst different organizations including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Covenant House-New Orleans, the LA/SPCA, and Tipitina’s Foundation. With these proceeds, the JMH Foundation hopes to continuously provide funds for the on-going relief and rebuilding efforts in the area.

When the Levee Breaks: A Benefit Concert for Katrina Survivors CD/DVD is scheduled for release in May 2006 on New Orleans-based record label 219 Records, distributed by Redeye Distribution. The project will be available on digital download sites as well.

The JMH Foundation would greatly appreciate your support in the form of a tax-deductible donation. Your contribution will go towards manufacturing and promotion of the project. The goal is to raise $5,000 by March 2006. The JMH Foundation will keep an online progress report as relates to the project, culminating in its release date of May 2006. Donator’s names will be included in the liner notes of the release.

The JMH Foundation has been recognized under section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code for charitable organizations. You may donate by sending a check or money order payable to JMH Foundation. Receipts will be sent for all donations. Thank You!

JMH Foundation
Post Office Box 12
Como, MS 38619
USA