Tuesday, November 29, 2011

RIP: Coco Robicheaux


New Orleans hoodoo bluesman Coco Robicheaux collapsed at his favorite haunt the Apple Barrel on Friday and died. To say I knew him is to way overstate it, but we did spend some time together on multiple occasions. The Apple Barrel is one of my favorite haunts as well and I have a tendency to either get there very early, or very late. Or, when the moon is properly aligned, both. One of the benefits of this is that I would often see Coco at the bar or on the bench outside and we'd get to chatting.

One time I had arrived in New Orleans a day or 2 before Charity and found myself at the Apple Barrel once again. I don't recall if it was way early or way late this particular evening, but I did notice Coco sitting at the end of the bar and said hello. We ended up talking & buying each other drinks. He had just flown in from playing a few shows in Germany and so was out of sorts with jet lag so thought he'd adjourn to the Apple Barrel.

And he kept sharing story after story with me. We talked for a very long time. And kept buying each other drinks. Finally I asked the bartender for a pen & some paper and looked at Coco and said, "Man... I'm not a reporter or anything, but I have to write some of this stuff down. Because I want to remember it tomorrow." And I still have that piece of paper that is titled "Notes With Coco" - it resides in my Soul Box.

The story I most clearly remember was when he, Jim Morrison & Jimi Hendrix were drinking an afternoon away in a San Francisco blues bar. And hippies would walk by and taunt the 3 of them by yelling, "Alcohol's an establishment drug!" Oh to have been sitting at the bar with him then...

Safe passages, Coco. In an often phony & superficial world, you were authentically & delightfully different. I am grateful for the time we spent together and at least I still have your music to go with some great memories. As the Times-Pic obituary article said:

Known for an especially gravelly voice, a swamp-blues guitar style and a fascination with subjects of a spiritual and/or mystical nature, Mr. Robicheaux lived an especially colorful life, even by the standards of a New Orleans musician.

Yep. Well done, Coco... You will be missed & I wish I could head down to your Second Line on December 12th. Am sure it will be a proper send-off for a New Orleans original.

Another good feature on Coco located HERE in which they discuss how Coco got to be featured in the lyrics to Dr. John's "Walk On Gilded Splinters."

And just stumbled across this nice remembrance site too which tells the story of how Coco hexed the bathroom door at the Apple Barrel.

"Goin' to make trouble wherever I can."

The Boys

Ready to Rock

Ready to Rock by Guzilla
Ready to Rock, a photo by Guzilla on Flickr.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Friday, November 18, 2011

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Military Appreciation Day

Military Appreciation Day by Guzilla
Military Appreciation Day, a photo by Guzilla on Flickr.
At the Pats / Jets game. Thanks to Steve and our neighbors for being great hosts! Beer, bourbon, fried chicken, clams, 2 types of sausages, burgers with grilled onions, pumpkin pie... and not beating me up for being a Pats fan! Had a great time.

Relaxin'

Relaxin' by Guzilla
Relaxin', a photo by Guzilla on Flickr.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

"Virtually Everything at Stake"

a nice piece on virtual worlds from a dynamic talk given at the New York Academy of Sciences.

Virtually everything at stake

A video game designer and a scientist explore the undeniable pull of virtual worlds

Virtually everything at stake
A new existence awaits right inside our computer screens [Image Credit: Snooze]

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Friday, November 04, 2011

High Praise, Indeed....

A wonderful quote by Comp, as relayed to me recently by Jasinski: "As Comp often says, '[Guzilla]'s friends are a collection of misfits and freaks... then you realize you are one of them.'"

High praise, indeed... To you dear friends!