Self-described "obsessive-compulsive" record collector Tom Kohn introduced the duo Susanna & the Magical Orchestra at the Lutheran Church Friday night. I tried to like it. I really did. Susanna Karolina Wallumroed had a Bjork and Tori Amos type of voice. For the first song I couldn't see keyboardist Morten Qvenild, but it sounded like he was playing a pipe organ. Ah, and then he popped out from behind a screen and he had been playing the church's pipe organ. Nice use of whatever's at your disposal. She had double mics with a lot of reverb on one. It was all trance-like and moved at a snail's pace. I kept thinking that the next song would pick up. She sang with her own prerecorded backup voice, or perhaps a program that harmonized with her?

Qvenild looked like he was in pain. And maybe he was, because instead of sitting he bent over his instrument. Even the AC/DC song they covered sounded like Joni Mitchell on valium. To steal a quote from my co-blogger, Frank - it was a yawn fest. Five songs in and I could see not that much was going to change. Maybe I just couldn't get in touch with my Nordic roots. It felt like the background music for a David Lynch film. I left while they slaughtered Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright".

I strolled on over to Abilene where Bryan Lee et al was holding Blues Court. As usual, the first set was packed, and we all got to know our neighbors real good, real close. This was some heavy-duty, well-worn-in, I've-been-livin', and-with-your-momma! blues. There was down and dirty dancing going on, almost as dirty as the back door slammin' in the dark of the morning music.

I then headed to Chestnut and East where the Booker T crowd was packed like sardines. I couldn't even catch a glimpse, but they sounded great.

Tomorrow The Lawnmowers are on my plate.