SEPTEMBER 6-8 - PIERMONT, NY/QUÉBEC CITY, QC - Long Jours

So we left Fall River around 10, hit up a sweet little diner, and headed south to Piermont, NY. We knew it would be a tough one that night: the capacity of the Turning Point is about 75 people, and the stage is roughly two square feet in size. I'm sure you are all aware of our typical, spread-out-wide set-up:

So when we got to the club, we tried to figure out how in the heck we were going to fit us Slicks in our normal spots. André had already begun the daunting task of setting up Ade's equipment in his usual center position (and it was even more difficult that night, as he had to completely re-wire everything to fit the keyboard onstage, which of course had to go right in front of me), so we had to make do, cramming ourselves around pedals and amps. I had a nice cozy nook, behind the keyboard, behind Adrian, on top of guitar amps, and behind the FOH speaker. I felt like the mysterious bass player behind the curtain. Eric arguably had it worse: the only way he could position himself he was off the stage entirely, on the floor and backed up against a foundation column, faced towards the crowd (rather than us).



To say that communication during the show was difficult would be a gross understatement. Luckily, we made it work - and it really wasn't bad at all. The sound was surprisingly great on stage, and we did have a nice meal beforehand (at the Sidewalk Café) that made the trip down pretty worthwhile:





What really made the trip invaluable was a great gift I received from Luke Sheridan (a luthier from Yonkers) who decided to give me his latest piece: a Walnut Burl-finished Zajj Bass with a purple heart neck:



Fear not, dear bassist readers, I'm still a Lakland gal, but this bass is seriously nice and I can't wait to check it out more extensively once I get home. Besides, who could refuse a free (absolutely gorgeous) axe?

After the show, we had our usual meet and greet, though we decided to do this one outside - it was a gorgeous, crisp late summer evening, after all. Well, it was probably not such a wise decision on my part, as I am pretty certain I am known as "Queen Sweet Blood" to mosquitoes worldwide. In a desperate effort to rescue my ankles from further attack, I stood up briskly as the signing ended, and wacked my head on the porch ceiling. Of course my Mom immediately panicked, "OHMYGOD! Are you ok?! We need to take you to the hospital - I don't want a repeat of what happened to Natasha Richardson!" Luckily, I convinced her I was going to fine - I have a nice layer of protection (big curly hair) and a skull made of marble - and it may be full of them too...
I spent the rest of the night with a dripping bag of ice on my head, but at least it felt better in the morning. I was actually more worried that I was ruining a good hair day, hah!

At least it felt fine in the morning...

The next day we awoke early, despite the fact that it was a day off - but for good reason: we had a long drive to make for our next gig in beautiful, familiar Québec City. We grabbed a surprisingly good (and cheap) breakfast on the way out of town (at a place called Skylark) - it was one of the few places open on Labor Day, so the choices were limited. Luckily it all worked out, and with stomachs full, we hit the road.

It was a gorgeous drive for a near-perfect day, going through the Catskills and Adirondacks:







The trip was supposed to last about 8 hours, but we weren't aware that Canadians also celebrate Labor Day (and with further research I discovered that they actually created the darn holiday!). So you can only imagine what the line was like at the border...

We finally arrived in Québec at 9PM, our stomachs feasting on themselves and churning out inhuman sounds so loud we thought we'd wake up Sasquatch - sorry - Le Sasquatch. We had a recommendation for a great resto Le 48 (thanks Patrick!), but our GPS (aka Genie) couldn't find it, so we stopped at the hotel, got directions, and raced to make it before closing time. They probably could have served us sneakers at this place and we'd have hailed it as the greatest meal on Earth, but fortunately they had a nice selection of global cuisine/fusion dishes for us to inhale. The service was also great - our server spoke great English, and even managed to make Adrian a decent Lemon Drop (though it was a bit more sour than usual). The menu was all in french, but I had fun translating it for the table. Ade ended up choosing the Filet Mignon with baby vegetables, and frites. Eric got the Baguette Végétarienne, which consisted of excellently crusty bread surrounding a homemade soy-based patty. I ordered for my Mom - Grilled Salmon with the same baby veggies and basmati rice, topped with a mango-raisin salsa. Not wanting a sandwich, and not a fan of Salmon, I got the only thing I could order (which was a little more expensive than I'd have liked to spend): Shrimp with vanilla star fruit compote, and the same accroutrements as Mama's meal. It was good, not life-changing, but definitely what we needed after that day of long driving.



The next morning, we were Slicks on a mission - Destination: Chez Victor. Challenge: Walk up hills with 45-60º inclines to get there.



We had to pause a few times to help out Mom, but we finally made it (after a mere 30 minutes... of torture for our poor progenitor on cholesterol medecine). Luckily, it was worth the pain:





The walk back was obviously much easier, and it was such a picture perfect day:





When we got to the bottom, we met up with Ade, who was to drive us over to the Théatre Petit Champlain for sound check. More fun ensued, as we came to realize that Genie does not speak fluent French, or understand non-US roads. We were apparently one minute from the venue when she told us to make a seemingly innocent right off a nice, big boulevard to "arrive at destination." Well, we soon noticed the ground beneath us changed into a rocky cobblestoned alley, and that we were surrounded by pedestrians - senior tourists with name tags, who glared into our van as if they wanted to beat us with a wet noodle. Trying to escape, we (foolishly) took Genie's advice to make another left. Now we were really stuck. We were surrounded! I really wish I could have gotten a picture, but we were blue in the face, laughing so darn hard and I simply forgot (d'oh!)

We somehow made it out without running over any blue-haired rubberneckers, and pulled up to the Théatre as if nothing had just happened. I finally caught my breath through the chortling and ran up to the club to set up my gear...

The show was one of the best of the tour, despite some slight inital gear malfunctions. What made it so special was a group of exuberant youngfolk in the front row, who screamed approximately 10-20 times per song, and 2-3 times randomly between songs. Their energy reciprocated back to the stage, where we laughed and jammed away with sheer glee. It was one of the best crowds we've ever played for, hands down. I wish we could hire those kidlets to follow us around to each city and howl like that every night...

September 5 - FALL RIVER, MA - Hide the axes!

So this morning my brain feels rather wrinkly, as we played a most excellent show at a packed Arts Center in Fall River. Now I know many of you are thinking (as I was), "Fall River? Why does the name of that town sound familiar?" Well, I'll tell you, as I Wiki'ed it once we got to our lovely rooms: It's the infamous place where young Lizzie Borden brutally murdered her parents with a hatchet in the late 19th century. The main attraction here is actually the house in which this unspeakable crime was committed - and guess what? It's a freakin' BED AND BREAKFAST. Now I'm all for spooky stories and the like, but staying in murder house? No, thanks! It's bad enough a kid we grew up with killed a struggling actor/vagabond down the street from our house... but really, it's a nice neighborhood, I swear.
Anyway, the show itself was a HOT one, literally. It was a crisp and cool pre-fall evening, so I foolishly decided to wear quite possibly the warmest garment I now own: a long sleeved flannel dress-y thing (see, I'm a terrible "girl"). I didn't realize that there was no A/C in the building, and that the lights would make me feel like a convenience store hot dog, wrapped up in a salty, billowy pretzel, spinning round and round, roasting me to rubbery perfection:

But really, I can't complain: the crowd was wicked awesome. As mentioned earlier, it was packed in that large steam room and though it was a slippery one for us trio members, I think we charmed our crowd pretty well. These Massachusetts fans are really great - they're not afraid to yell and dance, but they also "shush" each other during quieter sections - it's truly a different experience, but one that I definitely enjoy.

Many thanks to everyone: Jason, (for the killer homemade strawberry salad and hummus!) Patrick, and others for havin' us!

SEPTEMBER 4 - MASHPEE, MA - Schmoozin' on the Cape

Last night was a really fun gig on the Cape at the Cotuit Arts Center. Playing these kinds of places can either be great, performing to a well respected audience, or awful, with a disdainful crowd running for the doors in horror (ahem, Villa Montalvo).
Well, we lucked out here in Mashpee - we had not only a nicely sized intellectual group, but also a rather boisterous bunch. Perhaps they were one is the same - it's difficult to know... but we did have an interestingly unique meet and greet PRE-show. An hour before we were set to take the stage, we took to the floor and shook hands, discussed music, and signed things while dedicated fans sipped wine and munched on cheese. It was defintiely different, and I don't know that I hated it - it was actually pretty neat to play for an acquainted audience for once (besides playing in Philly, of course). I just wish I could have had some of that wine and cheese...
Ade played another great show, despite an ailing ankle - hopefully it's better today. And Eric swears he needs to lay off the cheese, as it makes his joints sore (google lactic acid + fibromyalgia). I need to lay low, for I fear I'm next... I'll just keep taking vitamins and avoiding sharp objects or risky activities.

So with that, I leave to eat a nice Brekkie at Persy's Place next door. The free cornbread, though - now that could be risky...

SEPTEMBER 2 - MASHPEE, MA - Playing Ketchup

So as many of you know, we've been on tour for the past couple of weeks. Since operation and maintenance of my Twitter and Facebook pages have become so easy (thank you iPhone - will you marry me?), this blog has fallen by the wayside. I'm still eating tons of great stuff and having an absolute blast on the road, but since we're playing familiar places like Philly and New York (and nary a day off), it's hard to get inspired enough to write a full entry. I'm torn about what to do! I'm wondering if I should just save this space to keep an archive of my recipes, or if I should really try and take the time to keep it updated (although doing so with the fear of sounding redundant). I guess the best way to find out is to just ask you guys, my loyal readers...

So what do ya think? Where would you like to see this blog go?

AUGUST 3 - PHILADELPHIA - Korean Chile-Garlic Tofu Stir Fry

I'll start by saying that this was a recipe I made up on a whim the other night. So you may wonder why my pictures don't match the recipe. Ok, ya got me: since this was the first time I made this, I learned that I should have done the frying another order. So really you should disregard my photos, but you do get to see the chopped pieces and browning that I'm talking about, so I find that they are helpful (and ultimately why I chose to publish).

KOREAN CHILE-GARLIC TOFU STIR FRY

serves 4

2 scallions, sliced into rings on a bias

1/3-1/2 cup soy sauce (I used Tamari)

2 tablespoons dry white wine

1 tbsp ginger, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tbsp agave nectar

1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

1 tsp Korean crushed pepper flakes

8-10 oz tofu, cut crosswise into 1/2" thick pieces, then on a diagonal to create tofu triangles

Whisk together all of the ingredients )except for the tofu) in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. When it's nice and hot, add the tofu all around the pan (do not overlap pieces) and press down with a spatula to push all of the liquid out. When the smoke stops and the bottoms turn light brown, flip the tofu and repeat. When the other side is just as dry, add the tofu to the marinade. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or until ready to cook the stir fry.

2-4 tablespoons coconut oil (or any healthy lipid)

4 scallions, sliced into rings on a bias, 2 tablespoons reserved for garnish

1 red bell pepper, julienned

1 large carrot , julienned

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 head Napa cabbage, sliced crosswise into ribbons

3/4 cup green beans, chopped into 1" pieces

3/4 cup sugar snap peas

1 tsp cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tsp water, optional

basil, julienned for garnish

chopped honey roasted peanuts, for garnish

Heat the oil in a large non stick pan or wok over medium high heat. Add the tofu, shaking to remove excess marinade, directly to the skillet. Cook 2-4 per side, until well browned. Move to a plate and set aside.

If necessary, put a bit more oil in the pan, and add the scallions, bell peppers, and carrots. Cook 5-10 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften.

Add the napa cabbage, green beans, and sugar snap peas. Cook another 5 minutes, or until vegetables are spotted brown.

Add the reserved marinade and cornstarch mixture (again, optional).

Cook until mixture thickens, about 2 minutes.

Serve with steamed rice and topped with chopped basil, reserved scallions, and honey roasted peanuts. I also put some sweet chile garlic sauce at the table... being the hot sauce lovers that we are, we expectedly added some of that for extra sweet heat.

MT JULIET, TN - Back to cooking - INDIAN VEGETABLE STEW

As many of you know, whenever I go down to Casa Belew, I try to cook as many meals as possible. I've developed a few standards (which I've featured on this blog): hummus, pita toasts, vegetable curry, some sort of mexican feast, pan-roasted chicken... But this time, I wanted to use some of those ideas and lighten them up. See, we had each lost a bit of weight on this last tour, and I wanted to help us keep the ball rolling.

On the first night, I decided to tackle one our favorites: Vegetable Curry. Now I know what you're thinking: vegetables - must be healthy, right? Well most Indian recipes call for a drastic overcooking of this fabulous food group, which in turn, drains them of a lot of their nutritional value (hence the popularity of raw diets). They also usually call for a good amount of ghee (clairified butter) or oil, and then are finished with cream or coconut milk (which is a "good fat" but still a fat, nonetheless).

My solution? I decided to cut the fat (by reducing the amount of oil and coconut milk) and the cooking time, so that the vegetables were more "crisp-tender" and therefore more nourishing. I also made it more of a soup-y stew (aka more seasoning and more water) so that it would be more filling for a lesser amount of calories - and money!

INDIAN VEGETABLE STEW
serves 6-8

Curry Paste
2 tbsp mild curry powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp garam masala
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed (1 tbsp)
1 tbsp ginger, grated
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 serrano chiles, minced (you can use less, but I like my curries to have some kick)
1 tbsp agave nectar

Toast the spices in a large stockpot over high heat for about a minute, until they darken slightly and the kitchen fills with their aroma.
Transfer to a small or medium sized bowl (or better yet, a mortar and pestle) and add the remaining ingredients until it forms a nice, thick paste.
Set aside (if making the curry immediately), or refrigerate until ready to use.

The Stew
2-3 tbsp oil
3-4 leeks (or 2 onions), chopped into 3/4" pieces (or if using onion, diced fine)
2 cups (1 1/2-2 lbs) red bliss potatoes, skin-on, and diced into 3/4" pieces
Curry Paste (recipe above)
1 small head (or 1/2 large head) of broccoli (or cauliflower), florets chopped
1 1/2 cups pureed tomatoes (preferably fresh, but if using canned, use organic diced tomatoes and puree in a blender or food processor)
2-3 cups water
salt to taste
2 cups chickpeas (cooked fresh al dente or from a can - again,if using canned, try to use organic and rinse well)
1 cup frozen peas
1/4-1/2 cup light coconut milk
fresh lime wedges and cilantro

In the same large stockpot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and potatoes and cook 10 minutes, or until they start to brown (or caramelize).
Add the curry paste, and stir well (with a non-metal spoon) for about a minute.
Add in the broccoli florets and move them around, ensuring to coat them with the delicious (and now very fragrant) curry paste (about a minute).
Add the tomatoes, 2 cups water, and salt (I recommend starting with a 1/2 tsp). Scrape the bottom of the pot with your spoon, to agitate and release all of that yummy frond (residual flavor left from the caramelized vegetables).
Add in the chickpeas and frozen peas.
Bring the mixture to a boil (covered - you'll hear it start to bubble) and reduce the heat to medium.
Cook for about 10-15 minutes - until the vegetables are just cooked through.
Add in the coconut milk and cook for another 2 minutes.
Taste for seasoning and adjust thickness by adding more water, if necessary.
To serve: Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Squeeze a lime wedge over each one and serve with more cilantro and lime on the side (I like lots extra).

I served this with a curried red pepper salad (just use my recipe for lemon agave vinaigrette, and substitute lime for lemon and add 1 tsp curry powder) and faux naan (aka warmed multigrain pita drizzled with melted garlic butter - sorry, couldn't resist there!)

July 25 - MT JULIET, TN - An unrelated rant about female bassists

I apologize to my foodie fans at this point, but I just wanna put this out there, since it's been on my mind lately...

I picked up the bass guitar when I was 11 years old because, yeah, the one my guitar-collecting Dad happened to own had four strings (but it was also fretless... and a long scale Gibson Ribber... but that's besides the point). I wanted badly to play music with my drumming brother, because I felt we were moving apart at that age: he was my best friend, and I didn't want to lose him. I had tried to play guitar, but the closeness of the strings and idea of chords and solos didn't appeal to this shy little girl. Of course adults questioned my decision making, "Julie, isn't that instrument going to be hard for you? Aren't your hands too small?" I shrugged, and never even doubted my thought process for a moment: I had no desire to be in the spot light. I just wanted to have common ground with Eric again, and I thought that picking up the bass would be the best way to make that happen.

Over time, my competitive streak broke through. My Dad taught me Cream songs like "Politician" and "Sunshine of Your Love." He also tried to influence me by putting on Stanley Clarke vinyls (to which I'd sob and sake my head, thinking his lines were impossible to ever play). Eventually though, my competitive streak broke through, and I thought "Why can't I learn this stuff? Why can't I just practice and become just as good at bass as my brother was at drums?" I never saw boundaries - no differences in approaching the bass as a girl. If anything, I wanted to be the best as I could be - female or male. And that's not to imply that I think I'm the best by any stretch - but I'm always working harder...

Anyway, I just don't appreciate hearing things like "Yeah, she's good... for a girl." And that's not to say that I receive these sentiments personally... well, ok, I used to... and why is that whenever I tell someone I play an instrument that they also ask if I sing? I just like to think that listeners don't even consider gender when they hear ANYONE play. Perhaps it's a Utopian idea, but for now the prejudice undeniably exists, and it sucks. If a player is good, then he/she is flat out GOOD. Adrian Belew is an amazing guitar player. Eric Slick is an amazing drummer. Perhaps it is harder for them as men to make a mark in the Music Business, but maybe it isn't, since it is so male-dominated, it's almost expected.

So I guess my point is this: women should not have "the fear." Who says you can't shred, slap, tap, loop...? The guys? Really, we have to put the slimy he-men to rest and prove that we are capable of rocking (in many ways... including the kitchen) - but just don't get better than I am, because as said, I am competitive and might have to kill you...

Thank you, and good night!

PS - The ABPT's album is available now at StoreBelew... there's a sample of the title track available at http://www.reverbnation.com/adrianbelewpowertrio