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MyWeek in Music-Sven-Erik Seaholm and Butterface at Cosmo's
by Scott Zensen

Well after popular demand it seems I will continue to blog about my music scene experiences. At least here on MySpace. Many people commented and said I was crazy if I stopped, sooo here goes.

This may run long so if you want the short version try my friend Gina's Blog

OK on last Saturday I was getting ready to go to the Comedy Club with friends I had acquired a bunch of tickets and passed them out like candy. (they were complimentary) By mid afternoon everyone I gave tickets to said they werent going except one friend. I asked repeatedly that day and they said it was a go. Then late afternoon I get another email my friend tells me she has gotten an email from Sven-Erik Seaholm. He is going to play at Cosmos in La Mesa and would I like to go he was playing from 7 to 7:30pm. Giving up I said sure why not. So I take one bus and two trolleys to meet her there and I get there first. LOL I cant believe it. In fact I meet up with Sven on the street as he is heading for Cosmos, which being the first time I have been there I walked right past. Looking for a sign on the other side of the street.

We go inside and I chat with Eric for a second and go order a large 20 oz Caramel Macchiato my favorite coffee drink. I give it a taste and its really really good but not better than Lestats. So I am a coffee critic. As I look at the menu I see a few sandwiches that sound interesting but I ate earlier. I sit down and Sven is still setting up but now there is a drummer setting up. I think hmmm. I have not heard Sven play acoustic before so I am thinking he brought along a guy from The Wild Truth. A band he also plays with. But since he was the guy I came to see when I saw him and The Wild Truth perform at The Jumping Turtle in San Marcos. I just figured he was his drummer from The Wild Truth because I never got a good look at him. Sven sits down and the guys from Cosmos brought him a sandwich and a coffee. While he eats we chat and I ask him if his name is the same heritage as mine and he confirms it. I tell him my name is kinda like Smith, but in Northern Europe. Zensen is very common name there, but uncommon here in the states. He asked if I had ever been to Sweden and I tell him I have barely been away from the West Coast. Basically, So. Cal and Portland, Oregon. So my friend Shows up and orders some coffee and a sandwich. I dont remember which one a Tuna Melt I think and I say to myself these sandwiches that she and Sven had look really good. So I have to remember next time I go to Cosmos not to eat before I come. I see some other guys come in and I think it is the rest of The Wild Truth, but my friend says no. She doesnt know them.

Sven starts his set and he is great I am so happy I came now, but he is by himself nobody else is playing? Sven belts out his tunes but there is one lady who is oblivious that he is playing and is trying to talk over the music, while the rest of us strained to listen. The place was packed including a bunch of children who are just dancing away to the sweet melodies Sven is playing. I am pleased that he sounds as good acoustically as he does with his band and playing this way he sings much softer as well. These songs and vocals are more appropriate for the acoustical venue. One of the reasons I like Sven Erik Seaholm so much is The Wild Truth is one of the few bands I get to see who really rock. Svens wife Gail comes in and I wave her over to basically the only seat left to sit on which is next to me. I chatted with her quietly a few times but since I usually dont like talking during music I tried to keep it to a minimum. Which is especially hard since I cant keep my mouth shut any other time. So after Svens set we were gonna jet back down to downtown to go to the Comedy Club. But that changed once we found out those other guys I mentioned were another band. Cool.

Their name is Butterface now I had never heard of these guys but they said this was their first time playing acoustically and they werent too sure about it? So they started playing there were three guys two acoustic guitars and a drummer. We all sat back and got blown away. These guys were good, really good. They play loud acoustically which was interesting because Sven-Erik Seaholm usually plays really loud when he is plugged in but plays very nice melodies acoustically. Butterface was playing like they were plugged in and I really rocked the place. The songs they were playing were acoustical versions of their electric rocking sounds. I thought that maybe a few of the older folks listening might be turned off and decide to leave, but they didnt they liked it too. Sven brought over a large cookie bowl for people to drop money into and people were sending cash up there via kids almost faster than Jerry Rig and Butterface were playing. The kids were jumping to his tunes and really enjoying themselves it was really fun and sweet to see them up there dancing and listening to the music. There was even a baby who was enjoying it not one peep from them during the entire night. The next generation of rockers all set to go. So my friend and I said our good byes as Butterface had finished their set (quite a few songs) and I got a card from Jerrys wife I believe. So I could get on their mailing list. You can also find Butterface on their main website at Butterface.co.nr. You can also find Sven-Erik Seaholm at his main site Svensongs.com . Whatever you do, dont miss either of these music makers wherever they are playing, in whatever form because if you do, then all you are doing is missing some of the best music San Diego has to offer. From some of the most talented singer songwriters out there. Music is happening in San Diego. Get out and find it. It will enrich your lives. Im Out

Ciao