The Weblog of Daniel Tashian

Did the long dog walk, and Posh is wearing her backpack again. This is good because it’s more of a workout for her, and she doesn’t pull so much. Home and finally finished the Melissa Mathes mix. It’s called “The Law of Attraction” (posted under mp3s). She came by to get a cd and we went to lunch at Woodlands ($15) and Renee French was there. I mean, every time I go there, the chances of seeing some massage therapist or another are pretty much 100%. I had to explain to Renee why I wasn’t at her party and I said I didn’t feel good, and she understood, but she also said that if you feel that way, and go ahead and go to the party anyway, you will most likely cheer up. Which I think is true. Melissa found a great car for $1200 and i’m happy for her. Mary called and I got a check in the mail for some jingle work. To the bank and Starbucks and Ricky was there, so my SVL was free. He said he’s tired of seeing the same rhythm sections in every band in Nashville, and he wants to have a real band. Home and Liz called and she said Rachel and Haley were coming over for dinner and Rachel made rice and I had some chardonnay and it was fun. Oh, and I forgot, the Bees signed our licensing deal with Cheap Lullaby records in LA. I went down to the End briefly to see Judson Spence and i’m glad I did. Spencer Campbell was playing bass, and he’s like the best i’ve ever seen. He was playing a Fender p-bass through an SWR rig. Talked to Bill McKiness and he’s a nice guy. He says we can go and get in the duck blind with him, and film it. (laughs)

Thought about going to church, but I sort of chickened out. I’m trying to hook up Callahan with Helen and Jay for a potential nanny gig, but I have to remove myself from this middle-man stuff.  Went for a walk with Mary and we went to Marche’ for lunch, which was good. Had 2 glasses of Chardonnay. (Light, Citrus-y, $10) and when I went home I took a king-size nap.  Grimey called and said El Mariachi was on. Went there and Emily and John Deaderick were there, and Mark Deaderick and Jen Masselli just came back from Europe and we looked at their travel photos. I like looking at photos without someone’s explanation. “This is the Eiffell Tower”, etc. Sarah and Amy Patterson were there, and they were smoking in stereo. Also Grimey and Mindy of course, and Kat and Bill, and Kate and Kristy West showed up for a minute. Lisa York and I can’t think of anyone else. Had 2 beers and shrimp and vegetables. ($16) Home and watched a great movie: “The Station Agent” and I realize I had beers with that guy Peter Dinklage in New York once, because he’s a friend of Ethan Hawke’s. I loved this movie. Great tone, great feeling. It was absolutely exactly what I wanted to be watching. Put it on pause, and to make something great even better, I went to Kroger’s and got mango and lemon sorbet and ginger snaps and some other stuff for the house ($38) To bed at 11 and read the end of “Goodbye Mr. Chips”

Walked early and my mom suggested we go over to the Clayton house and do some yard work. So we all went over there and mainly worked on the magnolia tree in the front yard. We took out the “volunteer” trees that had sprung up and sort of pushed the leaves back. It was hot-ish when we finished and David Mead called and asked if I was going to Jason White’s party and I told him I wasn’t really an outdoors-type person. I mean, I probably should have gone, but I elected to stay and do some Feng Shui, which I did, and Mary Sartain called and we made plans to walk in the AM. Went to Hopkins and let the dogs play, and we had dinner over there from Istanbul Cafe, then I went to Mel’s house and tracked down my missing Jacques Tati DVDs and went home and watched some of Bottle Rocket and that movie has such an absurd plot, but some very funny moments. The colors are fantastic.

Kind of hungover so I didn’t walk, but no matter what time I go to bed, I always wake up at 7:15. So I have to go to bed early. Finally listened to the Tim O’Brien record Mary Beth Sartain gave me, and damn it’s good. “Farewell Angelina” may be one of the best vocal performances I’ve ever heard. Did some errands to get street legal, and Posh and I went to the pet store and got some new toys and D. food. ($120) and I messed up my bank balance somehow, and now i’m $1000 poorer than I thought I was. Got my headlight fixed ($14) and took the caddy for a car wash and an oil change ($41.96) and then home and did some more mixing. Then Jody called and we went and shot a track meet at Vanderbilt, and I did some Street Magic in Hillsboro Village. I hope it will come out good. He had to go see his folks so we quit about 7. Went to meet David Mead at Bosco’s and we had a few beers. Then went to The Taproom and I talked to Jerry Douglas for a minute. His son was playing drums in a sort of “Jam Band” there. Then we went to East Nashville and went to the Alley Cat and it was fun. I saw Dave from Glazer’s shop and Randy Bowles was showing me his new club space behind the cat. Somebody said Niko’s was finally open, and we were going to go, but I chickened out and had to go home. Played PSP til 2.

Took Posh to my mom’s and went to meet Melissa and I told her she was starting to hurt my feelings the way she is late all the time. She apologized and said “how can I make it up to you?” and so she took me to lunch at Marche’ after the rehearsal. It was nice. I like that place. Then home and worked a little and had a short nap and the house keeper came, and now the house looks great and Jody came over. He said he showed his brother the short we made at Centennial and he liked it. He went to see Sheryl Crow and I went to the Basement to play with Melissa. Jared Reynolds was there and he’s on the rocks with his wife, I guess. I forgot my music stand and had to go home and come back and Sara Beck sounded really great. Smith Curry was playing steel and he’s really good. I mean, everybody is really good in Nashville, I guess. Emily West was there and she said I looked skinny. I saw Kelly Archer, and a Hawaiian girl said she liked my Uke show. I’ve gotten more mileage out of that one gig than anything else I’ve ever done, I swear. I broke Adam Wright’s keyboard and I felt bad. Just one key on it. My amp didn’t sound very good, but everything else was okay. Home about 12, played some PSP and crashed.

Went to Corner Music to see if they had any guitar pedal compressors, but they were out of Keeley’s, so I went to Rock Block and found one there (traded one Memory Man, one RMC comp. and one Super Overdrive) My new keyboard arrived, and I recorded it immediately on a song for Melissa. It sounds great. Went to Alex the Great for a session with Chuck Prophet. He was fun to work with and he’s a nice guy. We played a song called “Freckle” which was a “One-Chord Johnny”. My new pedal sounded good and I played through an old Silvertone of Brad’s, which is a great rock amp. Went to dinner at Athens and Jessica was there. She said she was bored. I asked her what was happening, and she said Trevor threw his back out moving a keg for somebody. I told her she was the most attractive waitress at Athens (laughs). Worked with Chuck til about 10. Jody called and I really wanted to do more film stuff, but I was too sleepy.

Rainy and so cold. The dogs were bothering each other in the night, so not the best sleep. I let Posh out about 3 and she wouldn’t come back in so I had to go out there in the rain in my boxers and drag her by the ears. She really pissed me off. Then Sula was on Posh’s bed and wouldn’t let her on. Then the parakeets started freaking out and going crazy in the cage. What the hell? It was like some kind of funny farm where nobody gets any sleep. Went to Starbucks and got the NYT and there was an amazing article about predicting cultural trends in the Times Magazine. Home, and Sara Beck came over and Bo and Rachel were here and they helped me with the script reading. I’m really glad we had the reading, although it made me painfully aware of how bad the dialogue sounds. It was like some kind of fiendish nightmare. Talked to my brother and Jody Spence said I could come to the office later. Tidied up and went to El Mariachi and Mike’s friend Tyler was there, and Mindy and her sister from California, Natalie. Mike and I came up with another hit sitcom idea: “Grandma’s Boy”; about a guy in his 30′s totally spoiled by his adoring grandma (laughs). Home and figured out the coffee maker, and it has a timer on it…Couldn’t get in touch with Jody, then I realized I had to make a quick mix for Melissa. To bed at 12. Posh slept with Liz.

Woke up at 6:30 and took B&H to the airport. Went to Starbucks with my gran, and she got an Earl Grey and I got a V.S.L. ($5.85) But now that I got my PSP last night, and had to buy some games, memory cards, etc., I have to limit the Starbucks visits, lest I become brizoke fizast. Made egg salad sandwiches and Gran and I ate them with Bob and his granddaughter Lain. She was one of those funny kids that talks in complete sentences: “I live in Gray, Indiana, with my mother and my sister Chalene.” Took a short nap and played some PSP, then it was almost time to go to dinner. We all went to Athens. Jessica was there and she was asking about Leslie. I had fish over Greek salad ($7.95) and it was excellent. Then we all went to the Belmont Players production of “Guys and Dolls”. They were fantastic! It was an amazing show, and my gran was singing along and smiling at every song. Home and had a nightcap, played some PSP and hit the hay.