You know me; I love surprises. Friday night, I copped a squat on Boulder Coffee's comfy couch to catch Tell The Cold Wall, a new rootsy project fronted by ex-BML drummer Ronnie Lickers (now on guitar). The band was incredible - not just because of Lickers' beater-to-strummer change up, or the fact that it couldn't have been more removed from BML if it had bagpipes - but also because of the harmonies, and the powerful, bittersweet Americana dirge. Old Boy followed with Brian Mason (another BML alum) playing some incredible atmospheric lap steel. Could these bands be part of an emerging trend? It'd be pretty cool.

You know me; I love a parade. Took the Pride Parade route Saturday to Bop Fest II in time to catch the master of the Telecaster, Bill Kirchen, play an extended set of twang-tastic rock 'n' roll. Toward the end Kirchen handed his guitar off to David Olny's guitar player Sergio so he could blast on his trombone and lead the little kids around the atrium. Two parades in one day.

Day two of the fest saw the Varnish Cooks laying down some exuberant bluegrass indoors due to bad weather. The Asylum Street Spankers followed with band leader Wammo sporting a slick DA. Just ask me how many people said he looked just like Phil Marshall. 'Twas a family-oriented event, so the language got dialed back a bit. I had to split before the end, so I'm not sure Wammo got to sing "Scrotum." I hope so. You know me; I like to educate and corrupt. And our children need to learn that little ditty. Hell, it's less violent than "Three Blind Mice," and a whole lot cheerier than "Clementine." Every time a sing it, I have a ball.