It's a GIRL, again! Plus gigs at ARC and Pickin' Parlor

Dear Patrons of the Arts:

Our Latest Victim....Vicki Hill

We've been so busy of late we might as well have been practicing. (We weren't, of course.)

Instead, we've been using our time more productively, finding a replacement for mandolin whiz Matt Witler, who's off to college in a matter of months.

If he'd had any regard for the band, he could have just gone to Cal State Northridge as a townie and kept performing with us, as his grade-point average gently drifted down into Academic Probation territory -- a locale which has, over the years, produced an astounding number of bluegrass musicians.

But no, Matt has decided to make something of himself. He's going to Boston, to Berklee School of Music

Where they READ music! Like, right off the paper.

Please, PLEASE stay seated, people; there's nothing to be done about it now. It is what it is; life is about choices.

We're lucky we had Matt long enough to hopefully make him Flawed. It was our task to give the lad the musical equivalent of athlete's foot. You can still function, but you have that burning, itching sensation.

We think -- we hope -- we succeeded.

Matt's departure will leave a sizable hole in our little Flawed band, taking us down to just SIX people, and only one mandolin instead of the usual two.

But we have come across a remarkably Flawed solution: Instead of getting another mandolin player, we picked up a second guitar player who also dabbles in banjo.

We're proud to announce the descent into Murphy's Flaw Purgatory of Vicki Hill, a wonderful singer who is still apparently in shock because she's had four rehearsals and one gig and hasn't quit yet.

Before she comes to her senses, we plan two quick performances to wear her down:

Today, Saturday July 17, at the Midsummer Nights Coffee House at ARC. This is always a hoot -- professional stage, incredible talent and, to cleanse the musical palate, The Flaw about 8 p.m. A $20 donation includes dinner, and an open cash bar, which you'll want to visit both before and after our set. The cause is great and as always in these times, so is the need. We hope to see you there.

Then in two weeks, on Saturday July 31, the triumphant return of the Flaw to Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor in Granada Hills, complete with the traditional (by now) cobbler between sets. You can find the details here. This one, a massive theatrical effort, is also $20, but hey, there's cobbler.

Best regards,

Murphy's Flaw

"If it's within one fret of the proper note, it's good enough"