周末

It was a MATTEO weekend.

Thursday found us in the rather chilly basement of a barn, filming with the fabulous tiger in a jar. Video to follow. For now, we will say again how happy we are to be working with these two.

(Have we told you lately we're really going to China this summer? Well we are. And we're taking this duo with.)

photo courtesy of tiger in a jar

Friday at 6:30 am, we were stuffing the back of the red subaru with sound equipment and instruments and driving south where we were the opening act for the Chinese Conference being held at UVU. We were honored to be a representation of sorts of what the whole conference was about, that of what happens at the intersection of west and east. We believe it can be a very beautiful place. At least one filled with music.

We were asked to play also after each lecture as well as the hour lunch. With lecturers from every continent (excluding, unfortunately, Antarctica) on topics ranging from the implications of China's soft power to the importance of Chinese poetry in making meaning of the status quo, it was a fascinating two days.

We were  happy to serendipitously run into one of Matteo's number one fans while walking around campus. Her enthusiasm for our band is quite something, and the next day she convinced a group of her friends to come watch us play at lunch, followed by a little private concert for their trouble. Matika, you are great.

After the end of the conference each day, it was back to SLC where we were part of the City Creek Center opening extravaganza both nights. Beautiful warm evenings and lots of people, including many family and friends.
 [thank you!]

photo courtesy of SL Tribune

photo courtesy of SL Tribune

It was the most Matteo playing we have done in a 72 hour period thus yet. Luke's fingers almost fell of. So we wrapped them with climbing tape, making bass playing less painful and guzheng plucking an adventure.