I've finally pried my journal out of the tiny but shockingly powerful hands of the great Mike Nastri. Thanks for filling in for me, pal.

More on the weekend: while a conflict prevented me from joining the rest of Scamper for the daytime show at the Head of the Charles event, I was able to show up just in time to join my other band French Lick as we played a charity show late that night for the terrific Year Up program. We were fortunate enough to share the stage with Mr. Boombastic himself - Shaggy. A few highlights:

- Shaggy put on a great, energetic show, but I've got to say - he's really pulling a fast one on everybody. Every single one of his songs without exception is based around a very prominent sample of some major hit song. I'm sure the original artist gets royalties and all that, but still - of course everybody will love your song if your song is essentially a Marvin Gaye or Bob Marley song with a few different lyrics. It's pretty shameless.

(By the way, stay tuned for Scamper's new reggae hit "No Woman No Pants." Coming soon to iTunes.)

- After the last show's unfortunate banter incident, I was told in no uncertain terms that there was no time for banter this time around. Apparently, there was a band meeting about it and everything. Our drummer Wyc (who happens to be the owner of the Celtics) pulled me aside and gave me the "no banter" speech, leading to the following conversation:

Wyc: No banter.
Me: But what if there's a delay?
Wyc: No banter.
Me: If there's dead silence on the stage for five minutes - you want me not to say anything?
Wyc: No banter.
Me: Come on, man. I'm a three point shooter and you're asking me to spend the whole game in the low post.
Wyc: I cut two guys this morning. Don't test me on this one.
Me: Yes sir.

Being the team player I am, I didn't talk the entire show. But don't get any ideas, rest of Scamper. You need me on that wall.

- Since I couldn't make any of the rehearsals before the show, Pete "The Applesauce Master" Galea ably sat in on bass for the show. As a result, I just sort of showed up, sang some harmonies and danced around the stage like a white non-gold toothed version of Flavor Flav. I wasn't sure what to do with my hands, so I grabbed a tambourine from Wyc's drumset and went to town.

Well, apparently I'm a much more enthusiastic tambouriner (tambourinist? tambourinologist?) than I had previously thought because I woke up the next morning with ENORMOUS purple bruises on my right thigh and the palm of my left hand. And they weren't the usually Saturday night activity-related bruises. I went to town on myself. Really, I don't know how Susan Dey managed it.

So big thanks to my friends in French Lick for allowing me to come have a blast with them and BIG thanks to the Year Up people for inviting us to their great event. It really is a terrific organization - check out what they do.