Paul Pot Open Mic Flyer Show at Lanesplitter in Berkeley

Thanks to everybody who came out to see over 170 original cartoon drawings by musician and artist Paul Pot, promoting the over 5 year run of his Missouri Lounge Wednesday Night Open Mic in Berkeley and sent weekly to hundreds on his email list or printed as flyers to be thrust into the hands of people on the street, that are on view at Lanesplitter Pizza for the month of April. Pot shots taken at Michael Jackson, religion, baseball, turkeys, politicians, sex, horror movies, making fun of banjos, the world around us, and of course, the music and the people who play it.

Boy that's a mouthful. The opening was on April 6th, but the show is up for all of April (it comes down right before Joe Rut does his show at the Great American Music Hall on April 30th) and Paul Pot will be at Lanesplitter every Tuesday in April, from 7 to 9 pm, if you want to gab.

Joe Rut, Gail, Martha, and Rawbird at the opening. Photos by Clammity Jen

Paul Pot Takes Top Prize at Dead Meat on a Stick

Paul Pot walked off with the top prize at this Easter's 18th annual Dead Meat on a Stick Barbecue and Meat Sculpure contest for his entry, Joan of Arc. Second prize went to Elin for Car Crash (which sped down a ramp and crashed numerous times to the delight of the gathered carnivoires) and third prize went to textile artist Candace Kling and Sara Julesrud for Put Another Shrimp on the Barbie. Joan of Arc was made of a carved, grappa-soaked apple armiture wrapped in pancetta. mmmmmm.

In his acceptance speech, Paul Pot thanked his lord and saviour Jesus Christ, for had he not whispered in Joan of Arc's ear, there would have been no subject for the grand prize, a bronze trophy of a t-bone steak on a cross that the winner keeps in their kitchen for one year (kind of like the America's Cup.)

photos by Clammity Jen

Who pulled the strings at the Festival of the Puppets?

On Sunday, March 28th, the Happy Clams played the Festival of the Puppets at the Stork Club. Also on the bill were Bunny Numpkins & the Kill Blow-Up Reaction, The Clarences, Lance Burden, Trip to Dover (from the UK), the Fightin' Tinnitans, the Bottle Choir, and a performance by Stove that still defies description. Did it turn into the promised puppet orgy? No, not really. In fact, a few puppets, drinking Blue Hawaiians* at the bar, were heard to complain that they were disappointed that not enough of their friends bothered to show. I guess puppets gotta go to work in the morning like most other folks.



Still the Happy Clams were joined by Happy Clem (seen here in the puppet shop pointing out that his foot is still unfinished), who danced the night away and heckled Paul Pot at every turn. Andy DeGiovanni (Extra Action Marching Band, and a real cool mariachi band) guested on trumpet and trombone. The Happy Clams played four new songs: Late Again, Shy (both originals), Porter Wagoner's Rubber Room, and they finished the set, being joined by angels Allene Rohrer (Thread) and Melanie DeGiovanni (Yard Sale, Buckets, Catheads, and that real cool mariachi band), for a final rendition of the Sparks song, The Number One Song in Heaven.



Hopefully, we will have some pics from the show.



* Make a note. Serve Blue Hawaiians if you want lots of puppets at your next party.