I was blindsided by the obvious in a news report this morning. The result of the November election will likely determine the fate of marriage equality in California. The Federal suit to overturn Proposition 8 involved the Governor and Attorney General as the public officials who have to defend constitutionality of Prop 8. The Federal court ruled that the proposition was unconstitutional. The incumbent Governor (Schwarzenegger) and Attorney General (Jerry Brown) both told the court that they agree that Prop 8 is wrong and that they do not want to appeal. The Prop 8 forces are scrambling to find a [...]

San Francisco, CA at the Rrazz RoomVonda Shepard It's the voice.  Powerful, melodic, energetic, expressive, varied, beautiful.  Did I mention powerful? Vonda and two perfect accompanists wowed a packed Rrazz Room last night in the final of her two appearances in the 175-seat house.  There is just something about how she sounds that works whether it is a nostalgic riff from her days on Ally McBeal, a sizzling cover of an Aretha Franklin lightening bolt, or an original musical poem from her most recent album  from the Sun. Of course it is all about the music, but the evening was helped [...]

San Francisco, CA at the Rrazz RoomSam Harris There was nothing about hearing Sam Harris sing at the Rrazz Room that called out to me.  He's the big winner of Star Search from 1984 -- a fact I neither knew or cared about.  He's known for having a big Broadway voice which doesn't do much for me, and, as a rule, I prefer women singers. I didn't have low expectations about the show.  Rather I expectations that there'd be a wonderful show in a style I didn't care for. Variety/Broadway singing generally makes me yawn and check my watch. But, wow!  Harris [...]