Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

• I trust all our readers had an excellent Christmas and Happy New Year or, alternately, you are pleased that we've turned the corner and the days will be getting longer from now and until June, which, I confess, is what I find most satisfying at this time of year. I hate cold weather and I dislike long, cold nights even more.

Though January starts off rather slow in the live music department, things pick up towards the end of the month and get rolling in February and March, just in time for everybody to start thinking about Derby, one of Louisville's great treasures and pleasures. Unlike most of the rest of the country, we have a civic holiday that most folks take pretty seriously, something we share with the now-diminished and shamefully ignored city of New Orleans, which will be a long time (if never) recovering enough to stage a Mardi Gras "like it used to be."

I suggest that you make certain you go out and hear more live music this year than last; it's how musicians make their money and how we ensure that there's music to go out and hear. If you can't get out, then do tune into "The Player's Spot," running on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on WYCS Channel 24 (air) or 138 Insight Cable. For the serious geeks among you, watch for clips on Youtube.com or at www.louisvillemusicnews.net. We've been booking lots of old and new acoustic talent on the show, taped at Gerstle's Place on Thursday (excepting the occasional night of Viking football). You are most welcome to come out for the taping as well, since we need audiences to applaud in all the right places.

We continue to work on putting together a rock show also. As often happens, circumstances have conspired to delay that project but we are determined to go ahead. Keep your eyes and ears open for that.

Keep those who've gone before us this last year in your thoughts; sing a song for them if you can or toast them if you don't sing. Keep your powder dry, your keys in your pocket if you've had too much to drink and remember, happiness is a choice, so choose wisely.

CODAS

• Bernauer, Paul F., 55, of Louisville, died on Saturday, December 23, 2006. He was a drummer who played with The Tymes Band.