 by Chris Wilhelm February 23, 2004
The Monthly Grind kicked off with The Ladybugs as hosts: Humbug, played by Chaz Staunton; Lovebug, played by Marleen Kuehl, and Computerbug, played by Valerie Brooks. They were supreme in their various renditions of Beatles numbers rewritten for the Grind. Their backup band was High D and the Beetles (Heidi Hays, Arne Tollfeldt, Austin Hays and Nelson Hays). Cherry Rice mixed the February Grind.  Monthly Grind founder Peggy Hovik (left) Tom Le Compte (middle) and Mary Larson (right)... The house band opened with a tribute to Carolyn Stallings. The band led the audience in one of Carolyn's favorite songs. Chorus as follows: Some sing low and some sing higher Some sing out loud on the telephone wire Some just clap their hands or paws or anything they got now.  Four singers - Frances Klein, Calli Olmstead, Deb Turnbull and Elizabeth Nelson - from the FIRST CITY PLAYERS Jazz and Cabaret Workshops performed individual solos, with Sarah Corporon accompanying on the piano.       Kay and Tim Long delighted the audience with two Simon and Garfunkel numbers, 'April Come She Will' and 'The Boxer'. They were joined by Grind guest hosts Rudy Saccomanno and Mary Kowalczyk for a CSNY cover of 'Helplessly Hoping'.  Mary and Rudy continued with a series of very funny songs, including a caribe/Southeast song featuring a kazoo orchestra that finished the first half.   The second half began with classical pieces, five beautiful flute and guitar duets by Harvey Hansen, guitar, and his wife, Annette, on flute. Hansen amused the audience by announcing a piece to be a 13th century French song about winter, then proved incapable of pronouncing its title. The next piece had a Spanish language title, which he did successfully pronounce, only to announce that he had no idea what the title meant! Their music was very well received.  Professor Lubosh (Louis Bartos) amazed the crowd with magic tricks. He declared his act to be a college course, Statistics 201. After taking two volunteers from the audience, he caused playing cards to disappear and reappear inside sealed envelopes before the crowds' very eyes. It was quite amazing.  Finally, Mike Truax of Juneau closed the night with a half dozen very clever guitar songs about love, Hell, and the criminal mind. The sell-out crowd left the
building at 10 pm.
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