Avi Avital

Avi Avital at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

Friends Itay and Rotem joined us tonight at the Musical Instrument Museum for a performance by Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital. Another great performance where sadly our favorite 299-seat intimate venue was not sold out. Something is wrong with the population of the Phoenix area as with 3.5 million people in Maricopa County events like this should sell out, but only the most well-known groups fill this place and the jazz ensembles seem to pull the north Scottsdale white wine crowd in. I can consider myself lucky that this guy who has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Berlin Philharmonie, and the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing has now played Arizona and we were there for it.

The Triplets of Belleville Live Soundtrack

The Triplets of Belleville soundtrack performed live in Arizona

I’ve worked a lot this year and Caroline and I have found only the rare moment to spend quality time together: this is one of those opportunities. The animated film, “The Triplets of Belleville” has been a favorite of ours since it first came out, not only for the beautiful animation but the story and soundtrack too. Tonight the composer and a small ensemble of musicians came to Mesa, Arizona to offer us a live rendition of the soundtrack and for this, I just had to put work on hold.

Haircut and a Concert

Sydney Wedge and Caroline Wise in Scottsdale, Arizona

Meet Sydney, I might have posted a photo of her some years before back when she worked at Starbucks. When we first met her she was studying to be a hairstylist and now she is one. My apologies for not posting very often, I work too much. Sydney is helping out here on relatively short notice because Caroline is heading for Germany shortly and wants to look her best.

Tinariwen live at The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

While I’m probably working too much to the detriment of our personal life, we still take time to visit the Musical Instrument Museum to see the important acts coming to Phoenix such as tonight’s concert featuring Tinariwen from Mali.

Lost Texas – Day 7

El Camino Family Restaurant in Socorro, New Mexico

Tampico Steak for breakfast, Mr. Wise? Of course, only the best breakfast for me. I could have opted for eggs and some other shite, but come on, we’re in Socorro, and the El Camino Family Restaurant may not be around forever, so I need to have my favorite dish every time we stop. As a matter of fact, I believe I could eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for at least a few consecutive days.

Very Large Array in Datil, New Mexico

Sending this one via satellite, as stated over the previous six days; this post is coming at you from the future, as in February 2023, because back in 2015, your’s truly were distracted by all manner of things and failed to blog about many things, this being just one of those things. The photo is from the Very Large Array in Datil, New Mexico.

John Wise and Caroline Wise in Pie Town, New Mexico

We are in Pie Town, New Mexico, and it just so happens to be one of those ultra-rare occasions where something is open in Pie Town. Coffee, pie, and ice cream don’t get better than here in Pie Town, well, unless you are at the Thunderbird Restaurant at Mt. Carmel Junction in southern Utah for some “Ho-Made” pie because who doesn’t like some authentic Ho-Made pie?

Caroline Wise at Arizona State Line

Yay, we survived Texas, the flooding, fiber shops, too much barbecue, green chilies, pie, and unfocused John, who should have brought his DSLR and taken notes so things wouldn’t simply be lost.

Niyaz in concert at The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

After getting back to Phoenix, there was no rest for the wicked, as we had a concert to attend at the Musical Instrument Museum. Niyaz was playing, and we certainly didn’t want to miss this opportunity to see them.

Now that I’m finally done with this post, it’s sad, tragic even, that this trip lay fallow for all these years. It was a big mistake to allow it to fall between the cracks and its memories to largely be lost, but such is life for most people. The problem is, I never wanted to be “most people,” and so I suffered a certain amount of regret that I allowed work to consume most everything over the years I felt I was following my dreams. Dreams should be multi-dimensional, just like the virtual reality I was attempting to create. Don’t forget to live while you work and love someone else. I don’t mean to imply things weren’t great, but I should have been managing my private life better during these years.

Tal National Live at The MIM

Tal National Live at The MIM in Phoenix, Arizona

Caroline and I were at The Musical Instrument Museum this evening to see Tal National. Not only do we feel great about supporting the international artists who have the opportunity to pass through Phoenix, but we also hope we are encouraging The MIM to bring us more artists from around the world. During the last song, the band invited a bunch of people on stage to dance with them and while Caroline enthusiastically joined them, I failed in capturing a halfway decent photo.