MATTHEW LARSEN

This Friday, I have the opportunity to open for Western Massachusetts singer/songwriter, Mark Schwaber. I’ve known Mark for a long time now as most musicians in the valley do, having common friends and acquaintances. Mark writes a great music blog called Feedback for MassLive (where I work), he ran Night Owl Records in Easthampton where I purchased many a cd, and over the twenty or some odd years we’ve both been making music in the valley, we’ve been on the same bill a few times and attended many of the same shows. Aside from my normal appreciation that Mark is a ‘valley musician’, I can honestly say that Mark Schwaber is one of my favorite musicians anywhere. There are some of his songs that just absolutely floor me every time I hear them… ‘Dignity in Death’ for example.

Mark has been performing with Sara Gomes lately, and from what I hear, it’s nothing short of magic. Sara Gomes is the wife of Tom Gomes, who who used to play drums in a band called Killswitch Engage (and now owns his own drum company). The main guitar dudes in Killswitch are Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel.

Adam and I got together when Killswitch was still in its infancy to record the Smokejumpers album. (more…)

Last week, Kristen and I went with our friends to La Casita Azteca in Easthampton. The space was previously occupied by The Pirate’s Den and Mi Casa. Both of the previous places were mediocre at best, but I’m happy to report that La Casita Azteca is FANTASTIC. Here’s a copy of their menu!

Today is election day. Kristen and I voted early, stopping at our polling place in Holyoke on Appleton St. We did not get the ‘I voted!’ stickers however, but at least this time I went in the correct door… For the primary election way back when, I entered the building through the incorrect door. The grumpy old man behind the desk didn’t let me forget it!

I can’t get over how inconsistent the voting process is across the country, and I’ve been intrigued by all the little facts and figures that are all over the news today about the history of voting. I learned from a co-worker in Oregon today that Oregon residents vote by mail. There is no polling place! I also learned that Minnesota residents can register the same day as they cast their ballot. Besides that, I realize several states have changed their voting rules and regulations since the last major election. All of this makes me wonder what’s to come.

The way I voted today was with a little black marker on a piece of cardstock that I fed into a machine afterwards.