Everything happens for a reason. A cultural commentary with a lotta rock-n-roll, semitism, and parenting. See our Etsy Shop! Buy HeadyBands, Hoodies and more at www.wholephamily.etsy.com
It has taken his entire career to make it to Israel, but former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart will be playing in Jerusalem this August. He is performing as part of the Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival. He is the only Jewish member of the Grateful Dead.
No doubt, Jewish Deadheads worldwide are kvelling.
I have said it before and I will say it again: changes a' comin'. This gives me hope that one day, my favorite band will make it to Israel. (this isn't the time and place to say how the Grateful Dead leads me to Phish. For just one convo on that topic, go here)
It's an old-world Yiddish tune, and we love it. Here's Concealed Light on flute playing "Der Rebbe Elimelech," which, incidentally, was written in 1927. And that year is a permutation of a number we hold so dear to our hearts (yeah yeah, we know the prediction in that link didn't come true last Chanukah. Still doesn't matter. 127 totally rocks).
Here are the words (in transliterated Yiddish...Stango will be very unhappy to see "nisht oys"...not a single Hebrew letter...so it goes) if you didn't check out the Wiki link I included above
Tonight we held our now-annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta supper celebration. Exactly the type of stuff the kids are going to be embarrassed about in years to come. (Or maybe they already are?)
Just as I'm sitting down to watch some classic "Coming to America," I couldn't help but wonder: Whatever happened to Arsenio Hall?
I must have some vibe or something because just a couple of weeks ago, he posted the following video that shows him doing a focus group for his new syndicated show to appear on 9/9/13.
Doubtful that I'll watch it, but I'm glad to know he's alive and well.
Here's a relic from a couple of years ago. And the first time here on Whole Phamily you see me, Ms. Rachel Molly Loonin, on video. As I have expressed many times over, my blog is a combo of a lot of different things. Here's a glimpse into Stango and Loony's life. Let me know what you think.
I like to think of myself as a loving mama. I love my children and I love so much of what they do. I respect their privacy but I am also so proud of some of their things. Naturally, in this day and age I want to share them on the holy grail of the Internet.
For example. After test-running the following image created by my beloved near-8 year old the Wolfman with our very special kin The Nunever, I made the executive decision to share on Facebook and Twitter. The Nunever said it must have been one of my proudest mothering moments. Indeed, I was kvelling. Did the Wolfman specifically say don't share it? No. But if I asked him would he be happy? Don't think so.
This is pretty darn good stuff for your typical Phish-loving mama. Just don't tell the Wolfman about this. And, if you do, tell him it's the least he can do for his mama who doesn't even celebrate the upcoming Hallmark holiday of Mother's Day.
Growing up, I never heard the name Shlomo Carlebach. Unknowingly, I knew one of his classic tunes "Veha'er Eineinu." I think I heard it at a Chassidic Song Festival that my parents took me to in the late '70s.
Stango, my musical husband, raged this tune tonight on the piano. Not to be missed!
Here is Shlomo singing his tune, just for comparison sake. My preference is Stango's funkier one.
As I mention from time to time, this isn't a Phish blog, but as a huge fan, I feel compelled to share this wonderful 2 minute clip from a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning with Phish's lead guitarist, Trey Anastasio. It shows Trey in such a real way - he loves his fans and that they give him the ability to feel "openmindness...encouragement to take risks...a desire to go at least a little bit somewhere that is new and unexplored."
As I told the Nunever, the only persnikediness I feel is that I haven't been consulted personally on what I think are great ideas for the band, and that's no joke.
Which leads me to remembering a great lesson I learned this week..."Who is rich? One who is happy with her lot." -Pirkei Avot
And though I have heard it many times over, the lesson learned is that everyone has a lot, or a portion. No one will ever have everything. We all get a portion. So, perhaps my portion with regard to Phish is simply to enjoy where I am and what I have already experienced with this incredible musical outfit.
Trey Anastasio with CBS Sunday Morning's Anthony Mason photo courtesy of liveforlivemsic.com
I'll be truthful: I don't know much about current popular culture. For whatever reason I decided to finally catch up on the entire 8 years of Entourage, the hit HBO show about life in the Hollywood fast lane. Putting aside the profanities and sex, I am actually pretty grateful for a lot of the stuff I'm learning from it. And I'll be ready for the film they're making as a follow-up to the show. It's been green-lit, so we should hope to expect it soon!
Put aside as well the question that looms through your mind, which is, "Why does Loony really need to poison herself with this meaningless shtuss?"
I don't really feel like defending myself, but first and foremost is all of the music I am hearing for the first time. From Blind Melon to Jane's Addiction to LL Cool J, I am hearing some familiar tunes but also tons of music that I should know but don't.
With that, I leave you with some Funkadelic circa 1971, which appears at the end of Season 5. Ya'd think a girl who loves going to see music would know this stuff already. Think again. And yet it's never too late to learn new things. Indeed, I did see Bernie Worrell, an original Funkadelic member, perform a couple of years ago.
me with Bernie Worrell at a Steve Kimock show I think end of December 2011
