https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zavBZEGzogo
It was rough but judging by the video it wasn't that bad. Tim had a bit of nerves going on but he did a fairly decent job, since he had to sing the songs. Ben did well and I think I kept the beat, although my tempo dictated things on a more faster side. I can't explain it, when I play live I play faster than the actual song itself. Probably why I don't get gigs. Another factor, a evening job, and it pays the bills.
It's Easter weekend and we all can't seem to pull a time together to rehearse. It was bad enough to after the gig, I went out and did my walk around town and grab some supper and took the long way home to come to an irate brother mentioning Tim called twice. We agreed to do something on Saturday but Ben is out of town but can do it on Easter. No can do, that's family time and I won't be doing the popcorn jam either. My evening work hours conflicts with Ben's day hours and Tim goes to junior college but gets evenings off to do acoustic jams or get together with Ben. And it leaves me to be the odd man out, the weird hours. Only options would be to settle for morning weekend practice gigs and I'm not a morning person, I did wake up early to practice last week but Ben works days. It may have been the first and only time The Wiley Kats made it to a gig, the best option for Tim is to find a drummer with evenings off. This is why I restricted myself to the jams on weekends and an occasional weeknight. The actual musicians in town (Dan Johnson, Dennis McMurrian, Craig Erickson, Tommy Bruner) are well known enough to sharpen their craft almost every night. In my case, I'm a hobbyist, I could never make enough money to maintain my lifestyle Having a full time job, pays the bills and I have health insurance. Even The Townedgers became a hobby band, and seeing sales of my albums (?) I can't quit my job anyway. I get played on Lucky Star Radio and a couple others and that's it. Plus I'm extremely lazy, although I have been practicing on the drums every day. That has paid off.
I told Tim right off the bat of my job situation and to his credit, he's done his best to work with me. Ben have mention he can get gigs, provided if we get better. They may have to go on without me. There are no shortage of good drummers out there. I'm sure Tim can find one with no problem. I just have too much on my plate right now with work and spring procession in full swing. I'm not going to get many weekends off anyway. At least till June when things wind down. I give him credit for accommodating my messed up work nights plans while he and Ben sort the songs out.
The one thing I noticed when Tim leads the band that he's doesn't do four bars of a repeated riff. On Voodoo Chile he went into the lead after the third riff introduction. When Geoff Redding played Voodoo Chile he did the full four. Same thing with Jailbreak, he repeated the riff three times before singing. Perhaps he's more comfortable doing the songs that way. It just sounds weird. I just chalk it up to nerves, we did alright considering two practices and a 10 minute showcase. We gotten further that week in my other two bands of the past 20 years. That says something.
Promoting Fitting Finales is done. Martin Daniels is producing The Night Flowers (a band that Mark Glarington was one of the TEs, has joined up) and The TEs are on hiatus.
If I can't make this a go with The Wiley Kats, I'll stick to the jam sessions.
I'm not a fan of shaving, but I fucking hate whiskers, I always seem to get a stray hair caught in a zipper or worse, in my headphones. I'm also aware of my ever growing bald spot on my hair. Growing old is a bitch. That's Kathy Runnells next to me, Bart Carfizzi and his wife Cathy are in the foreground. Bart is a prima donna, I guess he finally cracked and quit playing and sold his keyboards Kathy has been a great supporter of my music efforts. Her birthday was Thursday and was celebrated at Rumors. Of course I had to work that night. Happy belated birthday Kathy.
I have dreams of living next to the railroad, be it in Rochelle or Kingman and even along highway 30 where the UP goes past towns such as Mechanicsville or Lowden or Clarence, where Rod Albaugh lives at. I would love to fall asleep to a Train's Lullaby.
Not a fan of Donald Trump. I don't think this country needs to be run by a failed reality TV star. Cruz is even more scary. Kasich probably keeps things honest but he damn near ran Ohio into the ground. You can't imagine how many musicians I know that love Trump. And I jammed with a few of them. They don't know shit.
I still can't bring myself to buy electric drums. Kim Bean has been kind enough for me to pound on them during Popcorn Jams but for me, I will stay with acoustic drums.
I have been getting lazy on guitar once again. But I did work up Sunshine by Jonathan Edwards and would like to play that in the next acoustic jam session. I know Julie Gordon would like to see more of me at Checkers but once again work beckons.
There is talk of a Townedgers Greatest Hits since we haven't had one out since Observations From The Forefront 14 years ago. I'm trying to simplify it to a reasonable 12 to 14 songs. I think we'll keep the songs from this century rather than the other. But then again that could change.
My good friend Peter Stark from The Dunshee Moon has switched over to Paiste PST5 cymbals. I asked him how they sound. Much softer than the Zildjians he originally used he says. Which means he likes them.
So does Cecie, his wife. She also takes great selfies. And one of the best female vocalist in town. She kinda looks like Olivia.
Our cable company continues to subtract channels and add one more rates so I told the landlord he can cancel anytime. I've been back to watching old time shows I grew up with. Can't beat Perry Mason, the final season. To which I won't get done till around Fall way things are going. Or Dragnet.
Till next time. Hoppy Easter.
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