bottledWalter

Written: December 2, 2008
Words: Walter Koning

Originally written for Walnotes.
[http://walnotes.wordpress.com]

The long awaited review of Mia and Jonah’s 2nd Rooz Cafe show in Oakland, California.

http://www.myspace.com/roozcafe

It was June 14th of 2008 and I was at Rooz Cafe again. A year after the Rooz Cafe Grand Opening show and Mia and Jonah were back for Rooz’s One Year Anniversary show. I was invited for the entertainment and decided to write notes for a Walnotes musical review. It’s December 2nd and I’m finally sitting in Cafe Abir in San Francisco putting fingers to keyboard.

My apologies.
Not to Mia and Jonah. They’ve heard me rave on about how much I like their music before. No No. My apologies to you, the reader. There’s a good chance this is your first time hearing about the rising tide that is Mia and Jonah. I’m sorry it’s taken you so long.

For a little musical context let me reiterate that I think Mia’s vocals and delivery matched with Jonah’s steady guitar hand and equally moving vocals rival that of Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan. When it comes to powerful original music a comparison must be started. Yet it doesn’t finish there. Mia and Jonah are the sunnier, loving, hopeful, Americana version. They are their own in every way. And you should listen to them to see for yourself.

June 14, 2008
Rooz Cafe
Opener: Joni Davis

http://www.myspace.com/jonidavismusic

Joni took the stage with her piano and vocals and did pretty well for herself. There were few people there yet. Those there were not there for her, excepting a young (male)friend of hers. And when I spoke with her after the show she sounded intimidated by the crowd of strangers as she walked around trying to give out fliers for future shows. I gave her a boost of confidence. “Just tell them, ‘Hi I’m Joni. I opened tonight and I’ll be playing ____.’ and they’ll be glad to meet you.” She came back later and thanked me with one of her recorded cd’s.

Here’s the kicker of all of this… Joni Davis is holy moly powerful in recorded form. After a month or more I finally put her disc in with low expectations and now it’s on good rotation. It’s on the darker, heavier side so don’t go listening when you need a pick me up. But do listen. Ears should hear Ms. Joni Davis.

Headliner: Mia and Jonah (with accompaniment from their regular support, John and Myles)

http://www.myspace.com/miaandjonah

http://web.mac.com/mandj3/iWeb/Site/Blog/Blog.html

This review will be a mixture of their lyrics, my thoughts while listening, and a steady stream of consciousness delivery on my part. Enjoy.

Walter: “Mia, could you write in my little book how you feel right now?”
Mia (writes, in cursive): “Blessed to be here listening to good music – this is hard because feelings are so complete.”

They went on shortly thereafter. As they began I started to write.

It feels like Christmas
A reunion of friends
With hugs for hello’s
And how are you
How’veyoubeens
Anticipation
What will Santa bring
It feels like Christmas

When trouble has your heart
Just let me
Be with you

A crowd has filled the room
Standing room only
Boys in costume
Accepting, tolerant, creative friends
Homemade clothes
Home-schooled child

Whoa oh oh oh
I wish your lips to touch my face
Follow me down to the old wishing well

Everything beautiful
Everything oh oh oh
Downtown San Francisco in the rain

The duel is teamwork
And Mia and Jonah are killing it
Gold drips from the skyline like ice
Mia’s delivery accompanied by the band
Jonah’s guitar acoustically accompanies
His baritone voice

Mia has learned to play bass since a show
in Tucson. “If you make a mistake on
bass it just sounds like everyone else is off.”

Working on the rooms in my mind
We’re all struggling to get by
We’re all in our own place in this struggle

The stories are perfected
A little here, a little there
Between the songs
You can see that Mia feels
She feels the music
She feels the love from the crowd
She feels blessed to be here

I’m here alone
Surrounded by strangers
In a room full of love
Where I’ll never be alone

Troubled Mind Blues? or is it Troubled Mind?
Mmmm hmah hmah hm hm
And these are originals, amazing

Jonah is singing a fresh new version of
Coalminer tonight. It touches me a
different way this time. Almost personally.

The interludes are poignant, succinct, potent
Sometimes when you’re having sex
With someone they want to have sex
With lots of other people. And that sucks.
Right now I’m into things that suck.

Mia leads a beautiful tragedy love song
With Jonah adding an essence of harmonica
On Water in a Teapot, the most Damien
Rice song, lyrically, they sing

You with whom I feel this love
Wrap yourself around me and fill me up
You can show me what you know
Somehow opening the door
Sunset in your soul

[intermission]

And I’m just standing here
With a guitar in my hand
I wonder if this ocean will ever
…
Maybe I could make you smile
That about sums it up

The trouble with equal parts
And two talented vocalists
Is you can’t keep one-upping each other
Forever. So Mia and Jonah don’t
Compete with each other. They rise
Up to the top together.

Dance Dance
Coldness is sneaking in
There is nothing to touch
There is nothing at all

I’ve never known more humble musical artists
With so much talent

Even though I’ve heard Bird on the Wind
Every time I’ve seen them play
They still play it with a casual
Newness, adding nuances only a
Good winery would understand

Jonah before singing Wave, one of the most moving songs ever
“I wrote this song when I met Mia.
I was overwhelmed. I still get overwhelmed.”

Troubled Mind Blues is Mia’s remake of
Jonah’s Troubled Mind. How often does
Your own musical partner write an
Equally impressive remake of your song?
Impressive enough that you play both in
The same night, albeit different sets

Last time, a year ago at Rooz, the Bay
Bridge was closing. Tonight wasn’t quite so dire
This time the fog soaked the city, while
Oakland was sunshiney and nice

We set sail tonight
[I left sitting on a warm wind.]
I was sitting on a warm wind.

-review by Walter Koning

Written: 9/9/08
Words: Walter Koning

From time to time I miss it so
I go walking around
Wherever and everywhere
The wind takes me to and fro

Past the city skyscrapers
And streetscape bums
And suits with customized licenses
On the walls of their offices
And the plates on the cars
Parked in the stalls
That I pass
As I pass on by

I walk a mile in their shoes
Swearing that my feet hurt
From the straps
Or the heels
Or the beauty that escalates
From a whistle from a passerby
To an unwanted pass

As I pass on by
A lunchtime hotspot
Fresh sandwiches made to order
Burritos from south of the border
A sports bar when a drink is in order
They’re everywhere here
And there I am
Dropped down in the middle of this city

From time to time I miss it so
I go walking around
Wherever and everywhere
The wind takes me to and fro

From time to time I miss it so
I go walking around
Wherever and everwhere

Written: 11/3/08
Words: Walter Koning

OK. Came up with a couple things for you to consider.

1. Deflecting the truth. A politician does that. Being under scrutiny and attack for a year and a half will make a person do that. Not ideal but both sides do it.

2. Big gov’t. I’m not sure I’m against big government. I’m against inefficient big government. I’m also against bombing the war to peace. I understand the intentions of controlling the middle east. I just wish it weren’t so. Money spent by the government is spent somewhere. That creates monetary velocity when the money is then earned by someone and then later spent. This isn’t always a bad thing.

3. Taxing profits greater than $250,000 by 2% more won’t end capitalism as we know it. I’m sorry but it’s far fetched and illogical. We’ve had higher taxes in the past, and lower taxes too. Investing in your business to lower your taxable profit will grow your business and lower your tax expense. Run the math. I can help if you want me to.

4. As for the idea of him being a muslim. I’m sorry you feel that way. Here is a link you should read. http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_barack_obama_muslim.htm

5. As for substance, experience and values, I think your values are different than mine. I’m not religious and think there should be a separation between church and state.

6. The media outlets were very Bush-centric last time around. John Kerry wasn’t a qualified candidate. The media picked up on that and ran with it. I don’t believe McCain is the same person he used to be. He may have been qualified in 2000 but he’s sacrificed some of his quality to win the highest prize.

7. Why are the Middle east folks cheering him on? Because the United States, Britain and France have colonized the world and controlled the resources. McCain wants to continue to bomb them into submission. Obama talks of wanting to work with them toward a more productive solution. I’d cheer on the idea of not getting bombed too. They are people with cities, jobs and families.

8. The chance of another attack is probably quite likely. Biden was probably playing politics and trying to convince people Obama is ready for an attack.

9. I don’t support flipping people off and making them angry because they support the opposition. I’m sorry they did that to you.

10. Well, based on fraud and a close race, we probably won’t know who won… The electoral college needs to be changed, in my opinion.

For fun, read this: My Republican friend Joe wrote it. Surprising to me he’s voting Obama. http://www.keystothebus.com/

Strange times,
walter

Written: 7/15/08
Words: Walter Koning

i remember when the best thing was
if i sold the most magazines
and kids would sell the most
and go to the front of the class to pick up their prizes

i remember when the best thing was
when my parents let me use their frequent flier miles
and i thought that someday i’d have
enough of my own
and i’d fly wherever

Written: 8/6/08
Words: Walter Koning

During the Dot Com Boom in 1999 I told everyone I knew that I didn’t think the stock market rise was based on financial fundamentals. It was just a matter of time before it would bust. Then it did.

After watching the interest only loans and Adjustable Rate Mortgages spike in recent years I told everyone I knew about the possibility of another “Great Depression”. If I remember correctly, the last time they allowed interest only loans was prior to the regulations during the post 1929 era. Then in the 90’s they started to offer them again, then promote and push them.

Now the thing to watch for is credit debt. Our economy is built on debt. Debt can also be considered leverage. When you borrow money to do things that will earn you more money than the amount you paid in interest, that’s leveraging your debt. If you’re just borrowing time to pay back your credit card debt, or business loan, but you’re not making more money back by having that debt

Written: 4/16/01
Words: Walter Koning

I see a man trapped to a wheelchair with a “no pity” button strapped to his backpack

I see a woman sharing his friendship,
A giggle now and again

I see a woman with a 90’s version of an 80’s outfit,
Black hair, pink streaks, bold red lipstick, chewing gum,
Thick-rimmed, dark glasses, wide hair tie around her wrist

I see a woman of Indian descent standing behind a stroller which
Held her child until she just picked it up to her waist

I sat next to a very tall man with skin more black than mocha or chocolate

I see a man in khaki, skin dark in color, with hair in corn rows,
He’s pleading for the BART operator to open the doors of the train

I see the doors open, an act of mercy,
An announcement of the destination of the train over the PA,
The pleading man gets back off the train

I see another man of wider body and pale skin, wearing shorts
With hair colored in a God-given natural strawberry blonde,
He steps aboard after the pleading man as a result of the Asian
Conductor’s mercy and the other man’s honest mistake of train identity

I see a woman of Asian descent, sitting by the door, fresh from college,
Or a day at work, probably not manual labor

I see a woman of Mexican or Native American descent,
Listening to music through her headphones, playing a video game on her PDA

I see myself in the window, writing about the diversity,
Enjoying some worldly peace

Written: 5/1/01
Words: Walter Koning

How to get a job when you’re homeless
Got a beard so long
It’s unkept and scraggly
No energy in me because I don’t eat well,
or often enough
Pants are dirty and stained
Happens when I roll over at night
Sleeping on my blanket in the doorway of a business
Have no pillow
But I’ve got neck problems for sure

I walk into a temporary labor office to try for a job
They tell me they want to help
Ask how they can contact me
How can they contact me?
Well I’ll wait or I’ll come back tomorrow
OK, then what’s your address?
I don’t have one
I’m living on the street
I walk around with a grocery cart

My pants are stained and I smell badly
Well can you shower for work?
Where?
I guess that’s no
What am I to do?

Written: 5/3/01
Words: Walter Koning

I now understand what the beer is good for
It’s not for health or babes knockin on your door
It’s not the way to stay up really late or more
I now understand that the beer is only good for
Paying twice the price to do what little kids do galore

The beer it helps me fit in with my friends
The beer it gives me the reason for a little sin
Depending on what ratio of time, food and innocence
The beer it give me a place to stick my tongue in

I now understand what hard liquor is for
It’s not for shooting after drinking lots of Grolsch
It’s not the way to stay sober and in the clear
I now understand that the hard liquor is only good for
Drinking half as much before you hit the floor

The beer it helps me fit in with my friends
The beer it gives me the reason for a little sin
Depending on what ratio of time, food and innocence
The beer it give me a place to stick my tongue in

Written: 4/27/01
Words: Walter Koning

Mist
Rain
I found a broken umbrella and called it Sam
Put it over my head and rain came crashing in
Tossed it to the ground next to the garbage can
Near where it was left

Man on the porch called out litterbug
Sam was still on the ground
Picked it up and set it on the can
Left for dead, never to rise again

Mist and Rain
I’d do it all again
Call it Sam
Test it out
Put it back
Left for dead
Black was it’s color
Sam
Black was the night
Mist
It was gray or white

Written: 4/27/01
Words: Walter Koning

Easily amused, my imagination gets the best of me
I let it take me where I feel I couldn’t go
Double vision, out of body observations, roll with it
Look in the mirror, look at your eyes, not one, both at the same time
Feel separated from your body. Your eyes are the passage to your soul.
Try it.
Let your escapist tendencies take over. Don’t think too much.
Relax and let it happen.

Jump inside your head and scurry around for awhile.
Just because you can see doesn’t mean you have to.
Don’t close your eyes at all
Let them roll back a bit and start thinking
Concentrate on the subject and
Go swimming in your own little stream of consciousness
Get caught in a daydream
Let it drag you in headfirst

Picture an orange and wonder about it
Eat it
Pull it apart
Puncture the skin
Let the juice run away
Apply the skin to your lips or teeth
To make an orange grin

Think of the seeds
Attack the orange sphere fortress
With it’s peel for a force field
Skinned pieces like colonies
White rind up the middle a municipality
Seeds are ecosystems
Watersheds and deserts
Mountains and plains

Written: 6/29/01
Words: Walter Koning

So it’s expected that I will be like a dog for you.
I’ll be poked and prodded.
You’ll tickle my side.
I’ll laugh as it’s fun.
You’ll say things to me when I’m not listening.
I’ll look at you funny.
You’ll make fun of me.
Or criticize me.
You’ll tell me to lay down.
I’ll do it, hoping to have my tummy rubbed.
You’ll rub it a couple of times then forget about me.
I’ll roll over or stand up and you’ll tell me to sit down.
I’ll do it out of respect but nothing more.
You’ll assume I want to sit there because I was so willing to do it.

What an assumption.
I’ll be taken advantage of,
forgotten about,
used, abused, and left to recover alone.
You’ll do everything you want to do,
while I’ll be expected to be ready for sitting,
laying down, being rubbed, poked, prodded, and
tickled when you’re ready.

I may like these things,
but not every time you want to do them.
I may like them at times that aren’t convenient for you.
So be patient with me,
and open for rebellion.
It may not be personal,
sometimes I’m just not ready for living
at the same time as you.

So if I have to, I will be like a dog for you.
But if you treat me like you treat a dog,
you’ll be left with only a dog to treat.

Written: 4/26/01
Words: Walter Koning

Put your best foot forward, all the time
Dress up for a wedding, and for suppertime

Sound intelligent, to pick up girls
Be intelligent, for the rest of the time

No reason to be immature toward those around you
Show your left foot, if it’s your best foot
There’s nothing wrong with being impressive
No need to gloat
No need to show off

Sometimes your best is when you listen and just kick back
Just do it well
Give of yourself
Allow others to vent to you
Allow others to be harsh with you
Just take it in
Let it slide

Ask them to give a disclaimer
So tomorrow you can vent right on back
Preceded by your own disclaimer,
“This isn’t me. I’m not trying to be mean.
I just have some stress to relieve.”

Put your best foot forward, all the time
Dress up for a wedding, and for suppertime

Sound intelligent, to pick up girls
Be intelligent, for the rest of the time

Written: 6/18/01
Words: Walter Koning

When you see them – observe them first
– keep your thoughts in your head
– ask yourself why
– maybe they like it this way
– observe them first
– it’s like a life size experiment
– and you’re the standard to measure against

Even though they’re not the same as you
Even though they don’t live the way you do
They may be happy with their lives
So don’t even bother if you only plan to criticize

When you see them – don’t be offended when they yell
– notice how they push but not in angst
– Hate man may or may not stand out
– they’ll be sitting in the round
– they’ll already have a system figured out
– be careful of what you say
– maybe they really like it this way

Even though they’re not the same as you
Even though they don’t live the way you do
They may be happy with their lives
So don’t even bother if you only plan to criticize

Written: 7/5/01
Words: Walter Koning

I long for brown
I long for long
Curly, straight, orange or red

I long for wavy, blonde, black or gray
I long for brown

Coarse, soft, greasy, grimy, dirty
I long for brown

Thick, thin
Not thinning, not gone
I long for brown

Brown as the mud
Brown as my pants
I long for brown
Full, flowing, feathered
Brown

Written: 5/3/01
Words: Walter Koning

I don’t wanta dance
No not tonight, don’t push me out
I don’t wanta dance
I’m not in the groove tonight
Bay-beh
I don’t wanta dance

My headaches gone
Only now that I’ve, drowned in this bar
My headaches gone
A beer washed it away,
Bay-beh
My headaches gone

I’m all dressed up, no place to go
Don’t have a date, none to show off for
I’m all dressed up, no place to go
No interview it’s just casual,
Bay-beh
No place to go

I can’t say no
Not to you babe, that you should know
I can’t say no
Be careful of what you ask for,
Bay-beh
I can’t say no

My minds a mess
Can’t say it’s from, lighting up grass
My minds a mess
Like jello it jiggles,
Bay-beh
My minds a mess

I don’t wanta dance
It’s not my thing, don’t force it on me
I don’t wanta dance
Except with you and you alone,
Bay-beh
I don’t wanta dance

Written: 4/26/01
Words: Walter Koning

Seven voices chanting at me in different ways
Yet all the same

Be like us. Be yourself. Do what you want. Do what I ask.
The oldest should be the one to lean on
The most mature view. Founded in wisdom.

Not the case.

The youngest hasn’t a clue who to follow
Be like us. Be yourself. Do what you want. Do what I ask.
Stuck in the middle, wiser than the years suggest.
Yet inexperienced and desperate for someone to trust

J.D. Konye did so much, he’ll never ever know how much.
Jessica Hollister did so much good without even trying
Without intention she also broke my heart, the one she mended,
The one she owned, the one I gave to her, but she couldn’t give back.

Memories prevail, some positive, some hatred, some disgust,
Some joy, for some people, for some things, behind me, memories.

The seven voices have stopped, now they’re one, my own.
I don’t know if I could hear another voice and listen to it daily,
Be like me, be yourself, do what you want, do what I ask
Don’t ask too much and I’ll do my best
Don’t expect too much, you’ll get what I have
Love it or leave it

Written: 4/26/01
Words: Walter Koning

Timbuk 2 designs bags
Messenger bags with a neat little logo
Why a Timbuk 2 bag
Why no other
Is it the logo
the design
the materials and warranty

Are they the first
the best
the only ones who make them

Go shopping for a bag of the style
What do you find
Stores stock what they can sell
Timbuk 2 sells well
All stores will have Timbuk 2

About the brand
the name
the bags

Who are they
Where’ve they come from
What about Vans
Do they have a messenger bag

Written: 4/25/01
Words: Walter Koning

Tall woman on Spear St.
How old are you?

You’re beautiful and wholesome
How old are you?

Blonde hair and high heels
How old are you?

Our paths crossed at Howard
How old are you?

You’re twenty-nine or thirty-three
Just like all the rest
When I’m your age you’ll be gone
And I’ll still be looking West
Hoping to find a woman my age
But there’ll be none found cause you were the best

Written: 4/24/01
Words: Walter Koning

I’ve got this pessimistic optimism about me.

Forward looking I’m a little weary. Maybe not pessimistic. If I were pessimistic. I’d think the future holds a plethora of bad things in a box, a gift for me. When the future becomes the present, this gift for me will be opened and a torent of negativity will pour over me. This pessimism is both negative and silly. The future may always be saddening, and the present may currently be saddening, but a negative view of it all will only make it worse.

If I were optimistic I’d think the morrow brings nothing but presents filled with figurative sweets. The future is something to look forward to; Not as an escape from today, but as a continuation of the joy currently enjoyed. Optimism stretches reality in awkward ways to hide the fear of tomorrow being as dismal as today. The future may be wonderful and cheery but an optimistic view covers up the need for honest preparation for impending doom.

So am I a realist? Maybe. If I am, that’s frightening. The realist is stuck with empathizing with the hopelessness felt by so many people; with the founded worries of how to make ends meet; with the constant fear of WWIII. The realist is also fortunate as they get to share in the joy of a first at bat, in any league; of a successful career; of a happy family; of a well rewarded effort.

But I’ve got this pessimistic optimism about me.

Written: 4/25/01
Words: Walter Koning

As I took my lunch today
Had some time to stroll along the beaten path
The Embarcadero was filled and I was thrilled
Because the sunshine filled the air

Beautiful women, talkin’ to men
Coworkers, they must’ve been
Business attire, hair up in buns,
Lunch break or day off, it’s all so much fun

As I took my lunch today
Had some time to stroll along the beaten path
The Embarcadero was filled and I was thrilled
Because the sunshine filled the air

A woman my age, just up ahead
She’s sitting and gaming, an LCD game
I can’t help from staring, she’s calling my name
Slow and steady, I walked further away

I couldn’t approach her and she was all alone
I had a pickup line ready but I walked away
Why? Why? Why didn’t I say hello?
Oh! Jeez! She was all alone, but I walked away

As I took my lunch today
Had some time to stroll along the beaten path
The Embarcadero was filled and I was thrilled
Because the sunshine filled the air