Didn’t write much while I was in Champaign, but here is a little summary to get you all caught up.

Went out to see The Bourne Ultimatum on Friday with Virginia. Jason Pankoke was supposed to go, but he didn’t make it. Lots of action. Not a bad movie, but could have used a little more substance.

Saturday was a Springfield trip to work on Brian Crowdson’s documentary about the riots that happened there in 1908. Interesting story, but pretty sad that stuff like that happened.

Sunday was another movie with Virginia, this time The Simpsons. Liked it a lot, but I was expecting a little better from them.

Turns out that if I were in a Star Wars movie, I would be Obi Wan Kenobi. I always thought of myself as a Han Solo, but I guess I will have to take what I can get.

Down in Champaign again. Went to dinner with Chris at the Cowboy Monkey. It was a beautiful night. The breeze kept it enjoyable. The show is really coming along. We should have a product by next month.

Jason Pankoke came by and we sat and talked for awhile. He seems to have some interesting projects going on now. After a beer, we went over to Esquire for some darts. Reminded me of old friends. I used to go to the Esquire all of the time with Julia. We would get some food and play some darts. Michael Roth was usually there, and we would talk with him for a while. His passing really hit me hard. He was a really good guy, and I was glad to have known him.

Jason won 2 of 3 games of darts. My dart game has really gone to shit in the last 5 years or so. We played a fourth game for shits and giggles. I won that one, so I got both the shits and the giggles. Much better than winning the real match. 🙂

Classes today. Improv was fun as usual. Getting more into object work. Still working on Trusting each other. Enjoyed the “This is how you get Down” exercise. The class is like being in Kindergarten again. We are just playing, but at the same time it is very freeing to be like that.

Writing Class went really well tonight. This was the best one so far. I feel like things are turning a corner in there. So really good insight, and I am feeling confident that I will get some skills out of it.

After class, Collin, Drew and I went to the free improv show at the e.t.c. These guys were amazing. It was so much fun to see improv done by people who were on their game. This leaves me with a better feeling than the student show last night. I know that I will just have to put in the time to get that good.

Went to the level 5 class performance at The Second City. This is where I will be in 2 years. There was some funny stuff in there. Probably about half of the things worked. Singing worked well, current references were really good, and keeping it short was always good. I don’t know if I can wait two years to get to this level. I think that I need to get out and do some work outside of class.

Lucky me tonight. I had to leave for the show before the Bears game was over, but it turns out that they were rerunning it when I got home. It was at the same point in the game as when I left, so I got to see the Bears win their first pre-season game in the last minute of play.

Went out to iO for the show, Cupid’s got a Heart On. It was directed by Brian Posen; he told the class about it on Tuesday. It was He-Larry-Us. Funny shit. I have to go find my ass tomorrow, because I laughed it off tonight. Musicals are fun.

After the show, there was a free improv show: The Improv Match Game. It had some fun times. Nice to see some quick on your feet fun.

Went out to Ravinia to celebrate Meg’s birthday. So glad to be friends with here. She is such a nice person. I am glad that I get to see here more, since I have moved up to Chicago. Still not enough time with here though.

Nickel Creek was playing with guest Fiona Apple. Loved the music. Fiona is one of those great voices that just moves me in a spiritual way. This night moved me in so many ways. First let me tell you about Ravinia. We just had lawn seats, so couldn’t really see the concert. This lawn was amazing. So much grass, and lots of trees around. It was the closest that I have been to nature in a while. A little while into the concert I got a chance to lay back and just absorb everything. I could feel the dew on the grass, the cool earth beneath my back, the trees looking over me, and the start going off into every were. All this while hearing such great music. People brought in all sorts of stuff for their picnic on the lawn, but imagine 2000 people at this picnic. Some of the people around us had candles, and that provided our only close light. Earth, Air, Fire and Water all came together with music and a beautiful night. Even got to see a couple of shooting stars. All of this was magnified by so many people being entranced by the music. One of the great things about live concerts is that everyone comes together and feels the music. Tonight there was so much positive energy that I was recharged to overflowing with mountains of new momentum.

Truly an amazing, moving, spiritual night. All topped off with Pancakes on the way home. Perfect.

I have been to the mecca of music, and it is Schubas. Man that place sounds good. Imagine the energy of a live band, but the sounds of a professional recording. That was what this place was like. I could make out all of the instruments, hear the vocals, and was amazed at the clarity of it all. And to top it all off, the rawkus noise of rock was still there. Hands down the best sounding room that I have ever been in.

Went there to see Ryan Groff, who started off the night. I got there right at posted start time, 9:00, and he was already into his set. Big difference from Champaign zone, where shows always start a half hour late. I love the schedule. Ryan was amazing as always. Even better because of this beautiful room.

Next up was Butterfly Assassins. Started kind of flat. Drummer was having trouble with his snare, but there was a cute girl with a Cello. I think working with Barbra Hedlund for so many years has given me a weakness for Cello Girls. I was thinking that maybe Cello Girl was going to be the only good thing about the band, but I was mistaken. A few songs into the set, and the band really started to take off. They had a great energy that grew as the crowd continued to fill up the venue. By the end everyone was full on crazy with the full on sound of the Assassins. To my knowledge no butterflies were harmed in the making of the music.

Third up was Death Ships out of Iowa City. Ryan sat in on Keys; apparently he is doing a little tour with them. They had a nice new feel to some old sounds.

Last up for the night was The Foundry Field Recordings. Really loved these guys. Nice mix of energy and sound. I have to look into finding out more about them. Check them out if you get a chance.

Some say that music is dead. I think that I might have just seen a sign of life here in Chicago tonight. I will definitely be checking out more shows at Schubas.