Back from vacation: The weather sux here in the Northwest -- cold cold cold.

Arrival in California 10/28/03 -- from One Nation (Under A Groove) Boardroom
References for the uninitiated -- George = George Clinton; Gig = Eric McFadden and RonKat Spearman are also members of Clinton's "P-Funk All-Stars," which played in New Orleans on Halloween, 2003; Gina Hall is a publicist for George's band and others; Atomic Dawg = Gina's dog, named after one of George's most enduring hits; "Mommy What's A Funkadelic?" is a song from Funkadelic's first album in 1970 -- featuring the vocal group "Parliament," and the combined groups' producer, 2nd Tenor George Clinton -- thus P-Funk = Parliament/Funkadelic, also known as "The Funk Mob" for it's many talented members over the years -- or "Da Mob," in street vernacular..
Ohh what a night!
After beatin' feet from Portland, Oregon, and crossing the mountains into Sonoma County, where our friends live, I barely got our newly-purchased car parked, and our vacation stuff unpacked when I called Gina Hall.
She was home, luckily, and we agreed to meet at Eric McFadden's gig at Cafe DuNord in downtown San Francisco -- the rest of the week before the New Orleans gig was going to be too crazy for visiting.
My wife was loathe to trust her virgin vehicle to the tender mercies of Market Street, so I rented a car, just at closing time, and made my way down Highway 101 for an hour or more to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Gina's directions across town were perfect, but I still got somewhat lost on the side streets while getting to my parking spot -- right across the street from the club, at a gas station -- it was worth all seven dollars!
Cafe DuNord is a downstairs joint, kind of narrow, with the bar at the bottom of the stairs and the stage set deep in the bowels of the block.
Eric was busy setting up when I arrived, and he remembered me from P-Funk's Missoula show, over two years back! I got aquainted with his fans and friends in the place, especially Couray, the lady who ran the merchandise table.
The audience were mostly couples in their early thirties. One exceptional guy was not only older than I, but he'd driven in from Sacramento -- 2 and a half hours away -- to see this band live!
The Eric McFadden Trio is James Whiton on acoustic bass, Jeff Anthony on drums, and Eric McFadden on acoustic guitar. Eric started the show with a flashy, flamenco-like arpeggio, then the band kicked in with it's HEAVY bone-crushing power trio sound for an hour and a half ("...thanks to a lovely assortment of pedals and amplifiers..." sez the "Diamonds to Coal" CD)
Eric sings well, in several registers, high to low. His voice suits these anxious songs, and manages to surf over the crashing waves of music.
"Mommy What's A Funkadelic?" was never played, nor was "Voodoo Child," but Eric's sonic train screamed over the same rails, and occasionally a percussionist and cello player rode along too.
Early in the set, Eric introduced Robin Coomer, a lovely woman who'd been dancing in the first row. She stepped up to the microphone, acknowledged the cellist, and electrified the already-enthusiastic crowd by singing a number called "Baby Doll."
I was wondering how she was going to fare, but she skied on top of the musical avalanche very well, with a high steady voice, and kick-ass delivery that cut through the roaring background.
As she stepped off the stage, they mentioned that there was yet another verse on the CD, so I made my way over to Couray's station and bought it right then.
I was drinking water and cofee, and needed 'em both badly, so when I noticed Robin a little later at the bar, she was the first to autograph my copy of "Diamonds to Coal."
Soon afterwards, George's wife Andrea (I don't know their last name, sorry) alerted me that Gina had shown up. (Which one's George Clinton?)
I went back to Couray's spot, and recognized Gina Hall by those bright, smiling eyes of hers -- after almost five years of correspondence, we finally met!
I'd warned her on the phone that I resembled a cross between Capt. Picard and Uncle Fester. She said "Look at you!" We chatted a moment about computers and silly shyt, and then we both turned our attention back to the show -- and it was good -- really GOOD!
Afterward I had a chance to talk with James Whiton a bit, I was also gabbing with a fan named Chris, and the lovely ladies at the bar who'd kept me alert and hydrated all evening. Eric signed autographs for all and sundry, and talked to everyone who wanted to talk.
I noticed the exalted Atomic Dawg at the top of the stairs, and ran up to spend a fabulous forty minutes on Market Street, in perfect weather, watching the patrons leave the club -- with Atomic Dawg's many fans greeting him by name as they came outside.
Robin Coomer, for one, made him dance by clapping her hands in rhythm. Some of us guys chimed along with fragments of the song "Atomic Dog." Enthusiasm, rather than skill held forth, but everyone, young and old, white and black, seemed to know the line "Why must I chase the cat?"
I saw Eric again, and wished him well in New Orleans -- I gave his sharpie pen back to Couray too! I bid Gina and A.D. good night, and thanked her for the Ronkat CD's she'd given me.
BTW they are fun and FUNKY -- "Little Monsters," with George and da' Mob.
I started for home at about two -- it was Tuesday night, and I only saw four other cars sharing the streets with me all the way back across the Golden Gate. When I came back to San Francisco on Halloween, it was SNOWING -- but that's a whole other story.
Y'know it was well worth driving a long way to see Eric McFadden play in his own group. His versatility still amazes me! And Gina --- Gina Hall is one heck of a fine lady and an ace cyber-pal. It was fabulous to see her operating, and having fun, on her home turf, in my favorite city on Earth!
GINA'S REPLY: it was a pleasure meeting you last week. AtomicDawg and I had a great time too.
Come back soon. gina
AFTERWORD: Look at the "Little Monsters" cover -- Gina Hall's P-Funk website is: http://www.atomicdawg.com/funk.html
Check out the rest of the site too -- the pages about RonKat Spearman and Shi' Tzu dogs are wonderful!
Eric has a website, describing his various musical projects at:
http://www.ericmcfadden.com

OLD NEWS -- what went on that same day:
This wraps up my perspective on "The Laramie Project," and I'm glad that decency prevailed on Casper's city council.

Wyoming town votes to move Ten Commandments monument
The Associated Press Wednesday, October 29, 2003

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - City leaders voted to move a Ten Commandments monument out of a public park after an anti-gay preacher proposed his own monument saying slain college student Matthew Shepard is in hell.
The Rev. Fred Phelps said displaying the Ten Commandments monument would force the city to allow other public displays as well, including his own.
Phelps' proposal was unanimously rejected Tuesday by the City Council, which then voted 5-4 to move the Ten Commandments monument into a plaza that will honor a variety of historic documents.
But the move may not fend off Phelps' plan, or satisfy a separate complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which had threatened to sue if the Ten Commandments monument was not removed from City Park, where it has been for nearly 40 years.
Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., said he chose Casper as the site for the 6-foot-tall granite display because it is where the University of Wyoming student learned it is "OK to be gay."
Shepard's 1998 murder sparked a national outcry for hate-crimes legislation. Phelps picketed the funeral.
Casper Mayor Barb Peryam said she believes the city can win any battle in court.
"If you think that we are going to put our monument someplace in cold storage, I've got another thought for you," she said to the "outsiders" involved. "We are going to put it where it will be more noticed, more taken advantage of and used for learning purposes by all families."
However, neither Dan Barker, of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, nor Shirley Phelps-Roper, of the Westboro Baptist Church, shared Peryam's assessment of the city's chances in court.
"It looks like a ruse; it looks like a trick for them to keep it," Barker said. "It would probably be unconstitutional because the intention of the city is to maintain a religious document. The reason they are doing that is to keep the Ten Commandments."
In a decision last year, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that any city displaying a Ten Commandments monument on city property must also allow monuments of other religious or political groups.
Phelps, 73, is using the decision to back his argument.
His $15,000 display would bear a bronze placard with Shepard's portrait and an inscription reading: "Matthew Shepard entered hell October 12, 1998, at age 21 in defiance of God's warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."
Phelps-Roper said her church will examine its options, including litigation.
Barker was unable to say what his organization's next move will be.
Sarah McMullen, a spokeswoman for Shepard's mother, Judy, declined comment other than to say "The Shepards and the entire community of Casper have chosen to confront Mr. Phelps' reprehensible behavior with silence."
City Manager Tom Forslund said the Ten Commandments monument will probably be removed from City Park and placed in temporary storage next month. The new plaza will include monuments honoring the Declaration of Independence, the preamble of the Constitution and other documents vital to the development of American law, Forslund said.

Casper Local News: Ten Commandments issue divides Casper City Council
By BRENDAN BURKE Star-Tribune staff writer

A debate of biblical proportions brewed Tuesday at a work session of the Casper City Council as council members parted like the Red Sea over whether to keep a Ten Commandments monument in City Park.
After about 45 minutes of sometimes fiery conversation between the council members, it was decided that the city will look into the possibility of selling the small portion of the park on which the monument sits to some private party.
The legality of keeping the stone monument, which was donated to the city by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in 1965, was challenged last month by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based group that advocates the separation of church and state.
In a letter to the city, the group requested that the monument be moved from the city-owned property at the southwest corner of Center and Seventh streets. Having such a monument in a public park is a violation to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, the letter contended.
Before the council discussed the matter, City Attorney Bill Luben and City Manager Tom Forslund explained the legal options the city had regarding the monument staying in the park.
According to the ruling, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals -- which has jurisdiction in Wyoming -- made in the case of Summan v. Ogden, a city that wishes to have a Ten Commandments monument on public property must also allow other monuments that espouse differing religious or political views, Luben said. These views may include hate speech or other unpopular rhetoric, he added.
Based on this legal precedent, the city has basically two options, Forslund said. The council could vote to keep the Decalogue and risk monuments of hatred and intolerance being placed in the park, or the Ten Commandments could be removed and given to a private party to display in a public manner, the city manager said.
"I hate this situation because it has been there for a long time and no one has complained" to the city about it, Councilwoman Mildred Lamb said. However, she added that she was unwilling to keep the monument and risk hate speech being written in stone in a Casper park.
Councilwoman Renee Burgess agreed with Lamb.
"It galls me to no end to vote to remove it," Burgess said. "And I would challenge anyone who has been hurt by it to come forward publicly" and say so. But like Lamb, Burgess was unwilling to risk hate speech in the park in the name of keeping the 38-year-old monument.
Council members Lynne Whalen, Paul Bertoglio and Jacquie Anderson, however, said they are sick of bowing to groups such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation and that they were willing to take a stand and keep the monument in the park.
"I am very upset that just the threat that someone might put up hate speech" will make us take down the Ten Commandments, Whalen said. "If they want to sue us, then come let them sue us," she added.
"I won't support moving it," Bertoglio said. "I think at some point we have to stand up to these people. Take a stand and let them come," he added.
"Our nation's motto is 'In God We Trust,'" Anderson said. She asked if Americans are going to have to take that off of every coin eventually.
Conversely, council members Guy Padgett, Barb Watters and Mayor Barb Peryam all expressed their desire to remove the monument.
"I am not offended by this monument, but I am not willing to risk hate speech" like that of Rev. Fred Phelps, who preaches and protests against homosexuals, to be put on a monument in City Park, Padgett said.
"Given the fact that Rev. Phelps comes here it seems every year" we may be taking that risk, Peryam added.
When asked if it were possible to sell the small chunk of City Park to a private party so that the monument could stay where it is, Forslund said that option would be difficult to accomplish.
The land on which City Park sits was donated to the city by former Wyoming governor Joseph Carey in the early part of the 20th century, Forslund said. "And there is (a) restriction placed on the property and if we were to sell off a portion of it then we would open ourselves up to losing the whole City Park complex. That has been litigated in the state Supreme Court twice in years past. The Carey estate, which I think is located in New Jersey, takes it very seriously," he added.
Whalen suggested that the city try to contact the Carey estate and see if they would allow this small portion of the park to be sold. "We do not know how this family would feel about this issue," Whalen said.
Anderson, Bertoglio, Lamb, Burgess and Councilman Ed Opella agreed with Whalen that the city should contact the Carey estate.
Watters, Padgett and Peryam, however, thought the monument should be removed regardless, they said.
Luben said his office would look into the legality of selling a piece of public property so a monument like the one in City Park can remain there, he said.
Forslund, however, warned that it may be some time before the city hears back from the Carey estate as correspondence in the past with it has always been written and has always been slow.