Loose Leaf Notes

The stage was set for a sweet date night that included good food and live folk music at Oddfella’s Cantina. Joe had a gourmet dish of salmon stuffed with crab, topped with pesto sauce.  I had toasted chicken and pesto flatbread with a Bass beer on tap in honor of Kerry, (the owner) and his favorite beer.

We had front row seats to hear Erica Joy Rising (aka Big Mama Joy) and her original tunes. The cold February night with only a handful of other diners made for an intimate serenade, in which we were able to talk directly to Erica from our seats and learn more about her songwriting and her life.

All it took was a spark … myself inside a stranger’s heart … As a lover of lyrics I was happy to learn that Erica’s were not predictable.  Her voice was smooth and natural, and her storytelling tunes drew us in.  There was a song about being homeless in Boulder, one about sake, and another called Walmart Whoopie.

The roses hold ancient love / and the scarecrow sits with the dove …  I can’t remember whether she sang the one I called Ravi Shankar meets Donovan on stage or if we heard it on the CD player on the ride home.  We heard “Gratitude’s” sweet strumming and prayerful pondering at the restaurant and in the truck.

It was a very fulfilling evening on all counts.  We held hands and skipped the dessert.

I especially liked Erica’s lingering lyric about walking the line and reinventing what’s true / out on the line where Picasso went blue. Hear it (Because of You) HERE.  She’ll be featured at the Floyd Radio show this Saturday.
__________Our World Tuesday