This is the end
Beautiful friend
The End-The Doors
It's been a very sad ending to this month. What started out to be a promising year celebration of me playing drums in various jams, the highs of sitting in with Julie And The Mad Dogs and West 66 and with Hostage, came crumbling down, with my boss being let go, along with 10 other comrades and now me having to go to days. Out of all the bosses that I have been under in 30 plus years of working at my place of employment, Ellen was the most fun who somehow managed to get me to feel better about myself and not get so angry over the little things. I've known her since 1985 and she came to my rescue and got me into her department for three years. It has been a sad day, and I don't think I cried so much about the loss of her and Kay and Jean. Not since Dennis Pusateri's passing have I been this down in the dumps.
If anything Ellen cared about each and every one of us and till the end kept our spirits up despite the odds. It feel like my heart and soul got ripped off from these layoffs. But I did talk to her this afternoon and she seems to be quite happy now and don't have to worry about the long drive up to work anymore, nor Kay for that matter. Or Jean. Sure I butted heads with Kay and Jean but in the end they were family as well. I'll miss all of them but most of all Ellen. Nobody can ever replace her.
So I'm at the crossroads of life once again and wondering how long I can last there. 2nd shift has been the best spot for me, but 2nd shift made it impossible for me to consider joining bands and I have had offers about getting bands started with some of the finer musicians in town. Going to 1st shift will enable me to jam more often on week nights, maybe hit a acoustic jam at Checkers, or the blues jam at Parlor City on Tuesday Nights. Hell, I don't sleep nights anymore so getting up at 5:30 won't be a problem. I'm not liking changes but all I can do is roll with them.
I don't play drums, I assault them. That has been known from the past few popcorn jam sessions. But it also ushers in the fact that I am back to how I play during the glory years of the 1980s with Open Highway/Tyrus/Paraphernalia. It's a very self destructive style of playing, and nobody around here can play that way like me. Pat Geisland comes close. However, I do know that if and when I get into a band full time that I must confine myself to the way the song is played, and I do tend to play a bit faster than what the record is, be it Dreams (Fleetwood Mac) or Ramblin Man. An undisciplined style doesn't fit very well for the type of rock and roll I play, unless I get into a Who Tribute band Live At Leeds style. Then the inner Keith Moon would feel at home then. Where Rod Smith fits in remains to be seen.
Terry McDowell has done a fine job with the popcorn jam but his band Threshold have managed to score some cool opening spots for playing music. They're opening up for The Bulletboys in Moline July 28th.
When I see Tiffany Zweibohmer play drums on stage, I can see a lot if me in her playing. Like Mike Serbousek, Tiffany is a attack drummer, not subtle but driving the band in the way that she plays. Like Mike and Terry McDowell, Tiffany is a better disciplined drummer than me, more toward how the record goes. Myself I improvise all over the place and throwing odd drum roll and cymbals crashes, just like the good old days. I try my best to see her band when she is in town. Her band 50 Shades Of Rock played North Liberty and I managed to hang with Julie Gordon and Craig who hangs out at Checker's Tavern. Julie sang What's Up for a special guest star, she sang it well. 50 Shades does play the standard bar band classic rock hits and I know y'all don't care about Free Bird but I'm telling you Tiffany nailed the whole 10 minute song all the way to the drum and cymbal boasts on the jam part and even the Bolero beat coda at the end. Most drummers stumble all over the place on that damn song (I know too well about that myself), but she played it just like the record. She may be living up in LaCrosse now, but once in the while she'll pop in with her band just to let us all know she still kicks ass and remains one of the best drummers I ever heard, male or female.
I don't think I'll return to the desert this year or anytime soon. Since they're closing all the Hastings stores down there, I won't be able to find very many cheap music anymore. At least they still have Half Priced Books, but so do we. Ours is closer. And I'm not a fan of flying, especially dealing with TSA and their body searches. Allegiant Airlines is non stop, but they nickle and dollar you at every GD thing, (seat locations, early boarding, carry on baggage etc). I love the desert but the only time I'll go back there is when I move out there or rent a car and drive out there.
I will not comment on the President race. Don't like either the piss poor reality crap star nor the other one. If people want to vote for Bernie or a 3rd party candidate, then they better vote in droves. I'm sick of voting for the lesser of the evils. Sure in the hell ain't voting for Chuck Grassley either, he's out of touch and been in office way too long.
The Townedgers is my collective and creative outlet but in order to play around here, I have to resort of playing bar band classic rock songs. Which I don't mind, to an extent. I don't have problems playing Mustang Sally nor do I have problems playing Skynyrd but I grew up with 60s garage rock, soul music and 80s garage and alternative rock and not hair metal. Which means it would be what Paraphernalia Tyrus did for main songs, their set list and whatever covers The Townedgers do. But as I explain to Russ or Duwayne that if and when we want to do something on the side, it will fall under another name. The best case would be the return of Open Highway. Or I could follow Dan Johnson muse and go more into blues type of music, although I'm not a fan of that Texas shuffle. I send song selections to Russ, and he sends some back, I'm sure both or our reactions to song submissions are WTF?!
No setlist on this weeks' popcorn jam, it was all hard rock and metal and I was dealing with carpel tunnel issues so I sat this one out but did show up supporting the local musicians. Ernest The Soul Man wanted to get up on stage and do The Twist song with me on drums but since most of the musicians were hard rockers and metal heads we couldn't find a suitable guitar player and I'm sure Rick Clay didn't want to play bass to that. Had Tommy Bruner or Dan Johnson hosted this week's jam, we would have played it, me with bad wrists and all. With the likes of Karie Skogman, Stu Fondle, Rick Clay and Terry McDowell it was going to be more loud rock and roll. No shortage of power drummers too, Dawn Sedlacek even played drums for three songs, Pat Giesland damn near destroyed Terry's drums, Troy Mitchell better suited to Bonham songs than myself. There was six drummers out there that took the stage. Peter Stark didn't get up on stage, nor did I.
Perhaps if there's a storm cloud to the jam it was an half hour break that probably would have gotten more folks up on stage. With 8 drummers, even that would have been impossible. I know Terry does the best he can during these jam sessions, but Tim Duffy is missed. I think Duffy's hosting the sessions, there seems to be a bit more variety of music going around. The hard rock and metal does bring out the hardcore rock and rollers and that's fine with me. But if we have this many drummers turning out, I might consider seeing what Parlor City has for a Sunday Afternoon jam, or even Cooters. I'm sure Terry loves to end the whole shebang with Comfortably Numb, but it's getting late in the year and we're losing daylight, and I tend to enjoy my exercise. And I must get that in before the snows fly.
Not sure who would get my DW set when I'm dead and gone but Mike Serbousek would get my Paiste cymbals. Tiffany Zweibohmer would get my old Zildjians. Rod Albaugh would have my Guild Acoustic guitar. Not sure what I would give Russ, probably my Fender guitars. I also wish not to return back to Lincoln Illinois, just cremate me and sprinkle my ashes at around the Chain Of Rocks Bridge, or have somebody take them to Crookton Pass outside of Sleigman, or Kingman Arizona. I still think I'll end up having a heart attack playing on stage. That'll be a nice way to go don't ya think?
That's all for now.
notable quote
I kind-of always associated you with Keith Moon. I always thought you two
were more similar than anything. With all the egos running wild in the
Who, he had to play the way he did. When he died, so to did the Who.
Tyrus, in it's hay day was always driven by you. The rest of us jut
jumped on the train and held on tightly-Russ Swearingen
Wednesday 27 July 2016
Monday 25 July 2016
Popcorn Jam 7/24/16 Jamming With Hostage
The Lineup:
Steve Lawrence-Vocals and Guitar
Doug Bright-Guitar
Kenny Webb-Bass
with
Bart Carfizzi-Keyboards
and ME.
Music Director: Kenny Webb/Terry McDowell
Songs:
Rocky Mountain Way
I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
Ramblin Man
Terry had everybody standing on edge since he didn't finalize the lineup of jammers till Saturday until Steve Lawrence got back to him giving the go ahead to participate. Despite having Billy Davis popping up from Florida to play with the Funk Daddies at Parlor City and Michael Williams having the Cooters jam, there was a better than average crowd on Sunday. For good reason. Hostage has been one of the longest lasting bands around the Cedar Rapids area, playing together for 30 plus years and many lineups have come and gone but Steve Lawrence has been one of the mainstays of this band. I have been kinda burned out of late, working overtime at work and now I got word that I will not be let go this year (yay). With this Tennessee emergency bailout, it means that I won't have time off to partake on week night jams like I have last year. So basically I'm picking and choosing what I can and cannot do. This would have ended any tenure with The Wiley Kats by now had I chose to stick it out with them.
But to have a chance to jam with the guys in Hostage, I didn't want to pass that up. I may have to wait a while to get my turn in. Troy Mitchell, like Terry McDowell is one of the best drummers in town and he didn't disappoint. He was throwing a quadruple bass drum beat on Tie Your Mother Down. Outside of him, Terry and Mike Lint plus myself (Peter Stark and D J Hovenstout showed for musician support) only four drummers did take the stage. Thankfully, I wasn't paired up with Russ on his usual Bad Company numbers, perhaps Terry didn't want to deal with those songs this week so he basically told Russ to take a hike. Besides, I missed out jamming with Craig Erickson last week
Unlike last week, I didn't do a power walk around town. That figured greatly into me not much into jamming, the humidity last week was terrible. The front went through Sunday Afternoon so I figured afterwards I could do my walking before going home. This time out, I was drinking sugary drinks on an empty stomach and it did make me play drums a lot faster than usual. In fact, the speed I started out on Ramblin Man was too fast. It's been ages since I did that song (A speed metal version of it with Dan Hartman so to speak last year at Wrigleyville), so Kenny had to walk me down slower on the beat. The Keith Moon Syndrome was taking over me and a good bass player has to settle down the wild and crazy drummer. The beginning of the song we got the breaks right and then I started into that undisciplined fast beat, way too fast, way too reckless. Thankfully with Steve and Ken being very patient they managed to get me to a more steadfast gallop tempo. But the guitar interplay between Steve and Doug was unbelievable, it was almost like the record. For the first time all of us playing it together, we managed to pull it out with plenty of applause from the folks.
I guess leading off with Rocky Mountain Way, it has become more evident that when that song comes up, Terry has me playing that song. Hell, I've been bashing and crashing on that song since 1982 and I don't think I did anything special really. Terry doesn't have the cymbals that I have to do the song so I add more hi hat accents, rather than crashing the cymbals after certain lyrics come up. But I did get a kick out of Kenny really getting into the music with his bass playing. I had more fun watching him than actually playing it. There's parts I don't remember doing, I know I did some cymbal chokes at the last guitar break before going into the crash and bash of the coda. Afterward, Steve Lawrence said that was one of the most intense versions of that song he ever did, Doug agreed with that. I just smiled and winked at Kenny. It really says a lot when you have one of the best musicians in town saying how intense a song can be. I might have destroyed Terry's drums in the process (I have to give him a extra of sticks next time, since I may have split one of his sticks) and having patrons looking at me wide eyed (I recall glancing at Barb Myers and she had that deer in the headlights look) but I do believe this is the way that I used to play when at my best for Tyrus years ago. The finesse and swinging style last year when I frequent Wrigleyville's jam session has been replaced by a much more powerful drumming that does recall more Keith Moon than anybody else. Perhaps Kim Beam may have witness this when I was whopping his cymbals a few months ago. Back in the old days I call this drumming style "Rude Tenacity". And as I gotten more confident in my playing the past few months, I have also gotten much louder in pounding the drums. This style was evident when I sat in with Julie And The Mad Dogs. Not playing by the record but by sheer emotion, my drum playing is like watching two runaway trains on a collusion course. I think Kenny saw this recklessness on stage and managed to get me back into playing a slower and manageable beat, such as on Ramblin Man. He's very good at what he does. I might have more intense beats on past previous covers of R.M.W. but I do say that this song is in the top five all time of in your face intense rock and roll.
Certainly there are more disciplined and better drummers in town, and that's okay, but when it comes to pure intense drummers out there; I remain at the top of the mountain. Nobody can touch this sort of playing that I do. I suppose some day I will end up paying for this wild sort of playing. Keith Moon has taught me well. Hell, even I managed to do a quadruple bass roll at the end of R.M.W. To which I blame too many root beers. Hopefully next time, I'll be a bit more mellow, but the chance of playing alongside the guys in Hostage on drums had gotten me on a highest of highs too.
And of course, the encouragement from Big Mack too. I'll leave him my DW drums when I'm dead and gone.
Another great and memorable jam once again.
Steve Lawrence-Vocals and Guitar
Doug Bright-Guitar
Kenny Webb-Bass
with
Bart Carfizzi-Keyboards
and ME.
Music Director: Kenny Webb/Terry McDowell
Songs:
Rocky Mountain Way
I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
Ramblin Man
Terry had everybody standing on edge since he didn't finalize the lineup of jammers till Saturday until Steve Lawrence got back to him giving the go ahead to participate. Despite having Billy Davis popping up from Florida to play with the Funk Daddies at Parlor City and Michael Williams having the Cooters jam, there was a better than average crowd on Sunday. For good reason. Hostage has been one of the longest lasting bands around the Cedar Rapids area, playing together for 30 plus years and many lineups have come and gone but Steve Lawrence has been one of the mainstays of this band. I have been kinda burned out of late, working overtime at work and now I got word that I will not be let go this year (yay). With this Tennessee emergency bailout, it means that I won't have time off to partake on week night jams like I have last year. So basically I'm picking and choosing what I can and cannot do. This would have ended any tenure with The Wiley Kats by now had I chose to stick it out with them.
But to have a chance to jam with the guys in Hostage, I didn't want to pass that up. I may have to wait a while to get my turn in. Troy Mitchell, like Terry McDowell is one of the best drummers in town and he didn't disappoint. He was throwing a quadruple bass drum beat on Tie Your Mother Down. Outside of him, Terry and Mike Lint plus myself (Peter Stark and D J Hovenstout showed for musician support) only four drummers did take the stage. Thankfully, I wasn't paired up with Russ on his usual Bad Company numbers, perhaps Terry didn't want to deal with those songs this week so he basically told Russ to take a hike. Besides, I missed out jamming with Craig Erickson last week
Unlike last week, I didn't do a power walk around town. That figured greatly into me not much into jamming, the humidity last week was terrible. The front went through Sunday Afternoon so I figured afterwards I could do my walking before going home. This time out, I was drinking sugary drinks on an empty stomach and it did make me play drums a lot faster than usual. In fact, the speed I started out on Ramblin Man was too fast. It's been ages since I did that song (A speed metal version of it with Dan Hartman so to speak last year at Wrigleyville), so Kenny had to walk me down slower on the beat. The Keith Moon Syndrome was taking over me and a good bass player has to settle down the wild and crazy drummer. The beginning of the song we got the breaks right and then I started into that undisciplined fast beat, way too fast, way too reckless. Thankfully with Steve and Ken being very patient they managed to get me to a more steadfast gallop tempo. But the guitar interplay between Steve and Doug was unbelievable, it was almost like the record. For the first time all of us playing it together, we managed to pull it out with plenty of applause from the folks.
I guess leading off with Rocky Mountain Way, it has become more evident that when that song comes up, Terry has me playing that song. Hell, I've been bashing and crashing on that song since 1982 and I don't think I did anything special really. Terry doesn't have the cymbals that I have to do the song so I add more hi hat accents, rather than crashing the cymbals after certain lyrics come up. But I did get a kick out of Kenny really getting into the music with his bass playing. I had more fun watching him than actually playing it. There's parts I don't remember doing, I know I did some cymbal chokes at the last guitar break before going into the crash and bash of the coda. Afterward, Steve Lawrence said that was one of the most intense versions of that song he ever did, Doug agreed with that. I just smiled and winked at Kenny. It really says a lot when you have one of the best musicians in town saying how intense a song can be. I might have destroyed Terry's drums in the process (I have to give him a extra of sticks next time, since I may have split one of his sticks) and having patrons looking at me wide eyed (I recall glancing at Barb Myers and she had that deer in the headlights look) but I do believe this is the way that I used to play when at my best for Tyrus years ago. The finesse and swinging style last year when I frequent Wrigleyville's jam session has been replaced by a much more powerful drumming that does recall more Keith Moon than anybody else. Perhaps Kim Beam may have witness this when I was whopping his cymbals a few months ago. Back in the old days I call this drumming style "Rude Tenacity". And as I gotten more confident in my playing the past few months, I have also gotten much louder in pounding the drums. This style was evident when I sat in with Julie And The Mad Dogs. Not playing by the record but by sheer emotion, my drum playing is like watching two runaway trains on a collusion course. I think Kenny saw this recklessness on stage and managed to get me back into playing a slower and manageable beat, such as on Ramblin Man. He's very good at what he does. I might have more intense beats on past previous covers of R.M.W. but I do say that this song is in the top five all time of in your face intense rock and roll.
Certainly there are more disciplined and better drummers in town, and that's okay, but when it comes to pure intense drummers out there; I remain at the top of the mountain. Nobody can touch this sort of playing that I do. I suppose some day I will end up paying for this wild sort of playing. Keith Moon has taught me well. Hell, even I managed to do a quadruple bass roll at the end of R.M.W. To which I blame too many root beers. Hopefully next time, I'll be a bit more mellow, but the chance of playing alongside the guys in Hostage on drums had gotten me on a highest of highs too.
And of course, the encouragement from Big Mack too. I'll leave him my DW drums when I'm dead and gone.
Another great and memorable jam once again.
Sunday 17 July 2016
Popcorn Jam 7/17/16 You Can't Always Get What You Want
Russ-Singer
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
?-Lead Guitar
Dan Johnson-Bass
Me on drums
Setlist:
Dock Of The Bay
Stormy Monday
Mustang Sally
Music Director: Terry McDowell
This jam featured the debut of Craig Erickson on lead guitar, joining Tommy Bruner, Dan Johnson and Terry McDowell. Erickson is an national recording artist, he's the sole remaining original person that still works at Music Loft and still plays as a solo artist or with the Funkdaddies. I thought about sitting this one out but since Craig was showing up, decided to show up and support the cause.
The highlights of the jam was Tommy Bruner and Craig Erickson playing dueling lead guitars on their songs, be it Can't Always Get What You Want. Craig is one of the best guitar players out there but he always plays loud lead guitar, which complaints of him being too loud was commonplace. The Loudness Police were complaining about everybody, drums, vocals and guitars. Even Dan was getting disgusted of being told to turn it down and he almost shut his amp off on our set. Of course the finale of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb it turned to be a major duel between Craig And Tommy and I'm sure somebody did record it and might post it on You Tube. Nobody could top that so the jam concluded 15 minutes early. I think Terry was tired of hearing the noise complaints and decided to close it down.
While DJ Holvenstot and Mike Lint managed to log some jamming time with Craig Erickson on some cool numbers (Erickson did Shaky Ground, to which Mike Lint really did a fine job on drums) and DJ and Barb Myers got to jam on the obligatory What's Up and Healter Skelter, I supported Russ (last name I'm not sure of) and some other dude on lead guitar on our set list songs, with Tommy Bruner helping out on lead guitar. So I didn't share the stage with Craig this time out. For the performances, it was okay. Nothing to break out of a sweat although I did play around the beat with Mustang Sally. Afterwards Dan did ask me if I was playing in a band and I told him, I'm just a hobbyist. He told me to keep playing the way I have been. This is why I like jamming with Dan, he's always positive.
L-R Terry McDowell, Dan Johnson, Craig Erickson (Photo: Barb Myers)
Sunday 10 July 2016
Popcorn Jam 7/10/16 King Of The Drums (That would be Terry McDowell)
Lineup:
Dakota McWhortor-Guitar
Troy Harper-Bass, lead vocal (Tush, Cinnamon Girl)
Tommy Bruner-Lead Vocal ( Rockin In The Free World, Rocky Mountain Way)
R.S. Drums
Music Director: Terry McDowell
Songs:
Cinnamon Girl
Rockin In The Free World
Tush
Rocky Mountain Way
The circle is small but the friends in this circle are the best of friends.
One year into playing at jams, and the music keeps on coming, the memories are made and sometimes things come out of left field to make an interesting jam session. In the past few months, I felt like documenting the results. At times they seems to be like Almost Famous, mixing with the musicians and being part of the gang, other times it's like a Spinal Tap moment.
I originally was going to stay home and mow the yard but somebody said there was a drumset down at the Goodwill for 40 dollars I should take a look at. Plus it started to rain, so off I go.
But alas, by the time I got to Goodwill, the drumset was long gone, or perhaps Dave Bonham playing a practical joke. But that didn't stop me from meddling into Record Collector for music (nothing) and Stuff Etc, had a couple CDs of note, and I picked up a Cure Best of, judge in case I get cornered into doing any of their songs.
With two other jams going on at the same time, there was a much smaller crowd than usual. But there have been a couple newer jammers on the scene, Randy Faulkner and Tim Canfield, who played in The Hosers with Tommy Bruner back in the early 80s. Faulkner is more of a swinging jazzier type of drummer, more finesse than the all out crash and smash of yours truly. Faulkner does add a more smoother style too, his control of the drum sticks are unbelievable, even while twirling his sticks he never misses a beat. On the other side of the spectrum is Terry. He can play aggressive and not lose the beat, he can do wonders with the double bass petal. The highlight of this jam was him taking on War Pigs, the Black Sabbath FM classic, he nailed the whole song all the way down to the hi hat taps on the lyrics and complex beats. Perhaps Black Sabbath should come calling.
Nevertheless Terry McDowell and Tommy Bruner have dedicated themselves to this rock and roll jam and living on the stage. Going far away as Savannah Illinois Friday Night, then The Chrome Horse in town last night and then host the jam, it goes to show that Terry lives for rock and roll and the love of playing it and dedicating his time and life to it. Tommy as well. Who else can play Riverside one night and then return home to play an acoustic show at Czech Village before coming to Rumors? Two examples of ironmen rockers. Still Terry can still play drums at full tilt and dead on. Which is why he's one of the best if not the best in town.
As for me, I teamed up with Mad Dogs guitarist Dakota McWhortor on a couple Neil Young songs. Cinnamon Girl has always been one of my favorite songs to play; I got too used the Mad Dogs version instead of the shorter Crazy Horse version and extended it a bit. I continue to rave about Dakota's guitar playing, I'm sure hanging with Julie and her band has really sharpened his skills on the classic songs made long before he was born. He's a natural to play Neil Young. Rockin In The Free World, I didn't go full tilt like Terry does, I mirrored more of the Arc Weld Crazy Horse version. But for the first time, Tommy Bruner came up stage, he sang lead vocals rather than played guitar. Troy Harper sang Tush and Cinnamon Girl.
If I could get the Townedgers to do Cinnamon Girl that would be nice too. But still, I still love to play Rocky Mountain Way and do it in my own destructive way. I know Russ isn't too fond of playing it, but since this song defined my music career I tend to call this a must do song. But anyway, since somebody left the song lists of Julie And The Mad Dogs from the Friday Night show, we all picked the best songs off there to do. Mike Lint with Terry did Kypnoite (sic), the 3 Doors Down song and Mike also did his Ain't No Sunshine song too. If he played drums it had to be before I got there at five. Once I got in the door, Terry put me to work.
That was all right by me.
Dakota McWhortor-Guitar
Troy Harper-Bass, lead vocal (Tush, Cinnamon Girl)
Tommy Bruner-Lead Vocal ( Rockin In The Free World, Rocky Mountain Way)
R.S. Drums
Music Director: Terry McDowell
Songs:
Cinnamon Girl
Rockin In The Free World
Tush
Rocky Mountain Way
The circle is small but the friends in this circle are the best of friends.
One year into playing at jams, and the music keeps on coming, the memories are made and sometimes things come out of left field to make an interesting jam session. In the past few months, I felt like documenting the results. At times they seems to be like Almost Famous, mixing with the musicians and being part of the gang, other times it's like a Spinal Tap moment.
I originally was going to stay home and mow the yard but somebody said there was a drumset down at the Goodwill for 40 dollars I should take a look at. Plus it started to rain, so off I go.
But alas, by the time I got to Goodwill, the drumset was long gone, or perhaps Dave Bonham playing a practical joke. But that didn't stop me from meddling into Record Collector for music (nothing) and Stuff Etc, had a couple CDs of note, and I picked up a Cure Best of, judge in case I get cornered into doing any of their songs.
With two other jams going on at the same time, there was a much smaller crowd than usual. But there have been a couple newer jammers on the scene, Randy Faulkner and Tim Canfield, who played in The Hosers with Tommy Bruner back in the early 80s. Faulkner is more of a swinging jazzier type of drummer, more finesse than the all out crash and smash of yours truly. Faulkner does add a more smoother style too, his control of the drum sticks are unbelievable, even while twirling his sticks he never misses a beat. On the other side of the spectrum is Terry. He can play aggressive and not lose the beat, he can do wonders with the double bass petal. The highlight of this jam was him taking on War Pigs, the Black Sabbath FM classic, he nailed the whole song all the way down to the hi hat taps on the lyrics and complex beats. Perhaps Black Sabbath should come calling.
Nevertheless Terry McDowell and Tommy Bruner have dedicated themselves to this rock and roll jam and living on the stage. Going far away as Savannah Illinois Friday Night, then The Chrome Horse in town last night and then host the jam, it goes to show that Terry lives for rock and roll and the love of playing it and dedicating his time and life to it. Tommy as well. Who else can play Riverside one night and then return home to play an acoustic show at Czech Village before coming to Rumors? Two examples of ironmen rockers. Still Terry can still play drums at full tilt and dead on. Which is why he's one of the best if not the best in town.
As for me, I teamed up with Mad Dogs guitarist Dakota McWhortor on a couple Neil Young songs. Cinnamon Girl has always been one of my favorite songs to play; I got too used the Mad Dogs version instead of the shorter Crazy Horse version and extended it a bit. I continue to rave about Dakota's guitar playing, I'm sure hanging with Julie and her band has really sharpened his skills on the classic songs made long before he was born. He's a natural to play Neil Young. Rockin In The Free World, I didn't go full tilt like Terry does, I mirrored more of the Arc Weld Crazy Horse version. But for the first time, Tommy Bruner came up stage, he sang lead vocals rather than played guitar. Troy Harper sang Tush and Cinnamon Girl.
If I could get the Townedgers to do Cinnamon Girl that would be nice too. But still, I still love to play Rocky Mountain Way and do it in my own destructive way. I know Russ isn't too fond of playing it, but since this song defined my music career I tend to call this a must do song. But anyway, since somebody left the song lists of Julie And The Mad Dogs from the Friday Night show, we all picked the best songs off there to do. Mike Lint with Terry did Kypnoite (sic), the 3 Doors Down song and Mike also did his Ain't No Sunshine song too. If he played drums it had to be before I got there at five. Once I got in the door, Terry put me to work.
That was all right by me.
Saturday 9 July 2016
Julie And The Mad Dogs-Rumors 7/8/16-One Year
Band:
Julie Jules Gordon-Lead vocals and good vibes (music director)
Dakota McWhortor-Lead Guitar
Buddy Z. (Dakota's Father on Johnny B Goode)
Kevin Michael-Bass
Mike Serbousek-Sings lead on Johnny B Goode
Some guy that showed up later due to work issues-Drums
Songs:
Stop Draggin My Heart Around
People Are Strange
Knockin On Heaven's Door
Johnny B Goode
For the past three months I have been going to see Julie And The Mad Dogs play, simply of the fact that these musicians are fun to be around with and they're a heck of a great band. This was supposed the finale of their band, but with Mike saying on board, they will continue to rock through this town off and on. It's no secret that I love Julie's vocals and the way she can work the crowd. She's had plenty of years perfecting her craft with The Mad Dogs and The AcoustaKitties and with the late Kyle Oyloe. It was with Kyle she started the Mad Dogs, with Mike and Kevin on board, Dakota came later after Kyle's passing and with the intentions of honoring his memory to keep the band going. And in some wicked way, I crashed their party.
I don't think there's much difference between my playing and Mike Serbousek. I've been pretty close to Mike the past couple weeks, helping him out in West 66 last week and when Julie mentioned about me doing a block of songs, I went with what she had for songs. Mike plays loud and more to the song, I throw drum rolls around and cymbals accents like the evil ghost of Keith Moon. And hope that she doesn't throttle me for going all out. The Stevie Nicks cover, I added four more bars to the beginning, and shouted the count to four, so that Kevin and Dakota can end on the beginning of the first verse. They have played this song for many a gig and know it inside out, I only started to listen to the song to get a feel on how it goes. Since I've never been in any bands that actually played this, the first time I did at a popcorn jam, I was nowhere near how the beginning went. This afternoon for some reason I practiced it, just in case I was called to do this song. I may have to pull that Stevie Nicks best of out to listen to it once again.
People Are Strange was the first time I played this song ever. Fortunately, I was familiar with The Mad Dogs' arrangement and it doesn't stray from The Door's Version. Of course, Knockin On Heaven's Door has been in the Townedgers' song list and I could play it slow. Julie and company does the Dylan version, the TEs version is G D to A. But it's nice to hear the harmonies of Kevin Michael and Dakota with Julie's vocals, their version that the song slows down to a mellow ending, whereas the TE's version is more drastic. But I continue to play around that song during the Townedgers' summer get together. I'm not sure what's in store should we decide to do a live take of that song in the future.
Which lead to the finale and Mike's chance to sing lead on the Chuck Berry staple. I think I played it enough times that Dakota and Kevin know where the breaks come in. Usually Dakota (or this time out, his dad Buddy) starts the riff and dictates how fast we'll do the song. I know when we tried it in Anamosa last month, that may have been the fastest I've ever done it but this time out, the beat was slightly slower. And I do get a kick out of seeing Mike having a great time singing this song. One of the reasons why I show up to support him and Julie and the band.
Mike plays very aggressive drumming, but he manages to get the best drum sounds of what he has. I sit and tune my set up and my 4500 dollar DW's still sound like cardboard boxes to his PDP set. I may have to quiz him on if I need to get better drum heads or trade my set in for something more manageable. After my block of tunes, it became more of a jam session with a few musicians popping up for a more heavier sound, to which things finally wound down with Voodoo Chile Due to work issues, I didn't make it there till the final set at around 11 30. To my surprise, Ernest The Soul Man, showed up and we managed to talk for a while. It was great to see him once again. But there were a interesting sort of dancers out there, especially one woman who mentioned something about everybody getting naked. I politely declined, I did enough of that at a bike ride in Madison last month.
Once is enough.
(thanks to Julie, Dakota, Kevin and Mike for letting me have some fun on stage-Much love to everybody)
And with that, it makes the one year since returning back to the music scene. Behind my wildest expectations I never thought I'd see a year playing drums behind Julie and her band. One year ago, I was in Wrigleyvile and didn't know anybody and played a couple of Skynyrd songs and hung around and then later on moved over to Rumors and maintained a high profile of popping up on a couple songs with the finest players in town and later on documented the whole thing via this blog. It's a shame that social media wasn't around when Paraphernalia Tyrus was around, that would have been interesting to read about my thoughts of what was going on back then. If nothing else, it would have contradicted the R Smith of 1984 and the R Smith of today. The chances of jamming with these wonderful guys and musicians affirms my belief that Tyrus was just as good as a band as anybody in town and that Dennis Lancaster was the most underrated member of that band. We threw him into the fire after other guitar players didn't work out and he rose to the occasion. My life long friendship and association with Russ Swearingen, a bass player very picky with the songs played (Cocaine (the song) makes people get off their butts and dance) but even after years of not playing alongside one another we can still knew each other well enough to play off the old songs we once did. And the pleasant shock of seeing DeWayne Schminkey at a couple jam sessions, like Russ, he brings a special meaning to my heart as well as connecting the present to the past. Who thought 35 years later D.W and Russ would still be jamming with me. Some things never really change. And it took a mini band reunion in May to get the ball rolling.
While it was fun just to mess around with the beat, I had to once again practice on my own to recapture what I used to know and how to play. And to research songs that I wouldn't listen to originally just in case somebody sprang them on me during jams or band sit ins. The players may change but the music will always be there and of course great players will come to replace the great players who moved on. In a day and age of Corporate Crap music, I'm very surprised to see how many bands continue to play the old time rock and roll that I grew up listening to. But it also surprises me to hear how many bands do play What's Up. I never envisioned myself to listen to that song, much less back up Tiffany Zweibohmer, a super drummer herself, on a Sunday afternoon. That speaks volumes of how I finally managed to get my drumming back to where it used to be. It's still not a pretty picture to see me throwing off the wall drum fills or cymbal accents but if it adds some sort of originality and getting people to dance, then that's the best compliment of all. It's not rocket science but a great drummer will get people to dance.
While there many musicians out there, there's a select few that became good friends along the way through various weekend jams and otherwise, which you formed a bond between one another. Terry McDowell, Tommy Bruner, Dan Johnson, Tim Duffy and Julie Gordon all figured greatly into this. Since I managed to show up at gigs and jams they have been very gracious and tolerant in letting me sit in and pound on a few songs. And a musical bond gets formed at some point. There has to be, otherwise I would have been thrown out of the bar months ago. Sharing the stage with Jess Toomsen, talking tunes with her hubby Rich, rocking out with Ernest on The Twist, having Kevin Schamacer taking the most recent pics of me playing drums. Or backing up Mike Serbousek on Johnny B Goode and talking drums with him afterward. It's these things that have made this year of drumming something to remember by. Why did it take so long to come back from a self imposed retirement, I really can't say. But I think it's better this time out to actually do it, then waste away another year thinking what if. The only difference is that Terry, Tommy, Dan, Julie all live for the music and stay very active in playing in bands, for me since I have an evening job playing for the fun of it whenever time allows...or until I start working on The Townedgers next project.
One year, another revolution around the sun and we've come full circle. What will the second year have in store for me? It's hard to say where I'll be at or become a distant memory. The hope is that I made a good impression on those that I share the stage with and that they had a good time with me playing the drums or singing to Born To Be Wild or trying to play guitar to one of my own songs. It's been a good ride so far. As long as it's fun, I'll still be around a while longer.
Julie Jules Gordon-Lead vocals and good vibes (music director)
Dakota McWhortor-Lead Guitar
Buddy Z. (Dakota's Father on Johnny B Goode)
Kevin Michael-Bass
Mike Serbousek-Sings lead on Johnny B Goode
Some guy that showed up later due to work issues-Drums
Songs:
Stop Draggin My Heart Around
People Are Strange
Knockin On Heaven's Door
Johnny B Goode
For the past three months I have been going to see Julie And The Mad Dogs play, simply of the fact that these musicians are fun to be around with and they're a heck of a great band. This was supposed the finale of their band, but with Mike saying on board, they will continue to rock through this town off and on. It's no secret that I love Julie's vocals and the way she can work the crowd. She's had plenty of years perfecting her craft with The Mad Dogs and The AcoustaKitties and with the late Kyle Oyloe. It was with Kyle she started the Mad Dogs, with Mike and Kevin on board, Dakota came later after Kyle's passing and with the intentions of honoring his memory to keep the band going. And in some wicked way, I crashed their party.
I don't think there's much difference between my playing and Mike Serbousek. I've been pretty close to Mike the past couple weeks, helping him out in West 66 last week and when Julie mentioned about me doing a block of songs, I went with what she had for songs. Mike plays loud and more to the song, I throw drum rolls around and cymbals accents like the evil ghost of Keith Moon. And hope that she doesn't throttle me for going all out. The Stevie Nicks cover, I added four more bars to the beginning, and shouted the count to four, so that Kevin and Dakota can end on the beginning of the first verse. They have played this song for many a gig and know it inside out, I only started to listen to the song to get a feel on how it goes. Since I've never been in any bands that actually played this, the first time I did at a popcorn jam, I was nowhere near how the beginning went. This afternoon for some reason I practiced it, just in case I was called to do this song. I may have to pull that Stevie Nicks best of out to listen to it once again.
People Are Strange was the first time I played this song ever. Fortunately, I was familiar with The Mad Dogs' arrangement and it doesn't stray from The Door's Version. Of course, Knockin On Heaven's Door has been in the Townedgers' song list and I could play it slow. Julie and company does the Dylan version, the TEs version is G D to A. But it's nice to hear the harmonies of Kevin Michael and Dakota with Julie's vocals, their version that the song slows down to a mellow ending, whereas the TE's version is more drastic. But I continue to play around that song during the Townedgers' summer get together. I'm not sure what's in store should we decide to do a live take of that song in the future.
Which lead to the finale and Mike's chance to sing lead on the Chuck Berry staple. I think I played it enough times that Dakota and Kevin know where the breaks come in. Usually Dakota (or this time out, his dad Buddy) starts the riff and dictates how fast we'll do the song. I know when we tried it in Anamosa last month, that may have been the fastest I've ever done it but this time out, the beat was slightly slower. And I do get a kick out of seeing Mike having a great time singing this song. One of the reasons why I show up to support him and Julie and the band.
Mike plays very aggressive drumming, but he manages to get the best drum sounds of what he has. I sit and tune my set up and my 4500 dollar DW's still sound like cardboard boxes to his PDP set. I may have to quiz him on if I need to get better drum heads or trade my set in for something more manageable. After my block of tunes, it became more of a jam session with a few musicians popping up for a more heavier sound, to which things finally wound down with Voodoo Chile Due to work issues, I didn't make it there till the final set at around 11 30. To my surprise, Ernest The Soul Man, showed up and we managed to talk for a while. It was great to see him once again. But there were a interesting sort of dancers out there, especially one woman who mentioned something about everybody getting naked. I politely declined, I did enough of that at a bike ride in Madison last month.
Once is enough.
(thanks to Julie, Dakota, Kevin and Mike for letting me have some fun on stage-Much love to everybody)
And with that, it makes the one year since returning back to the music scene. Behind my wildest expectations I never thought I'd see a year playing drums behind Julie and her band. One year ago, I was in Wrigleyvile and didn't know anybody and played a couple of Skynyrd songs and hung around and then later on moved over to Rumors and maintained a high profile of popping up on a couple songs with the finest players in town and later on documented the whole thing via this blog. It's a shame that social media wasn't around when Paraphernalia Tyrus was around, that would have been interesting to read about my thoughts of what was going on back then. If nothing else, it would have contradicted the R Smith of 1984 and the R Smith of today. The chances of jamming with these wonderful guys and musicians affirms my belief that Tyrus was just as good as a band as anybody in town and that Dennis Lancaster was the most underrated member of that band. We threw him into the fire after other guitar players didn't work out and he rose to the occasion. My life long friendship and association with Russ Swearingen, a bass player very picky with the songs played (Cocaine (the song) makes people get off their butts and dance) but even after years of not playing alongside one another we can still knew each other well enough to play off the old songs we once did. And the pleasant shock of seeing DeWayne Schminkey at a couple jam sessions, like Russ, he brings a special meaning to my heart as well as connecting the present to the past. Who thought 35 years later D.W and Russ would still be jamming with me. Some things never really change. And it took a mini band reunion in May to get the ball rolling.
While it was fun just to mess around with the beat, I had to once again practice on my own to recapture what I used to know and how to play. And to research songs that I wouldn't listen to originally just in case somebody sprang them on me during jams or band sit ins. The players may change but the music will always be there and of course great players will come to replace the great players who moved on. In a day and age of Corporate Crap music, I'm very surprised to see how many bands continue to play the old time rock and roll that I grew up listening to. But it also surprises me to hear how many bands do play What's Up. I never envisioned myself to listen to that song, much less back up Tiffany Zweibohmer, a super drummer herself, on a Sunday afternoon. That speaks volumes of how I finally managed to get my drumming back to where it used to be. It's still not a pretty picture to see me throwing off the wall drum fills or cymbal accents but if it adds some sort of originality and getting people to dance, then that's the best compliment of all. It's not rocket science but a great drummer will get people to dance.
While there many musicians out there, there's a select few that became good friends along the way through various weekend jams and otherwise, which you formed a bond between one another. Terry McDowell, Tommy Bruner, Dan Johnson, Tim Duffy and Julie Gordon all figured greatly into this. Since I managed to show up at gigs and jams they have been very gracious and tolerant in letting me sit in and pound on a few songs. And a musical bond gets formed at some point. There has to be, otherwise I would have been thrown out of the bar months ago. Sharing the stage with Jess Toomsen, talking tunes with her hubby Rich, rocking out with Ernest on The Twist, having Kevin Schamacer taking the most recent pics of me playing drums. Or backing up Mike Serbousek on Johnny B Goode and talking drums with him afterward. It's these things that have made this year of drumming something to remember by. Why did it take so long to come back from a self imposed retirement, I really can't say. But I think it's better this time out to actually do it, then waste away another year thinking what if. The only difference is that Terry, Tommy, Dan, Julie all live for the music and stay very active in playing in bands, for me since I have an evening job playing for the fun of it whenever time allows...or until I start working on The Townedgers next project.
One year, another revolution around the sun and we've come full circle. What will the second year have in store for me? It's hard to say where I'll be at or become a distant memory. The hope is that I made a good impression on those that I share the stage with and that they had a good time with me playing the drums or singing to Born To Be Wild or trying to play guitar to one of my own songs. It's been a good ride so far. As long as it's fun, I'll still be around a while longer.
Monday 4 July 2016
Misadventures In Rock In Roll Or A Year Back Into The CR Music Scene
I can safely say it's been officially a year since I return back into the C.R. Music scene. I guess I can say that at this stage of life, I have come to appreciated it more than I did when Paraphernalia/Tyrus was around. I also have a different mindset, back in 1983 we had aspirations to make it big in the music world, only to have endless practices and very few gigs and when we finally get that gig of note, we broke up.
Throughout the years, I went into the working world, on occasion to drum up a new album under The Route 66 or Townedgers name just to show the world that I was still around. I only got lucky when Diggy Kat started his net radio station and managed to keep The TEs alive by playing selected songs. Even in 30 years exile, nobody knew that I played drums or compose depressing songs about love and loss. At times, I found myself in bands that either Mike Swearingen or Russ formed and they managed to convince me to get off the couch and play.
Except for The Routers, the band that Greg Nutter drafted me in and I/O the 2009 reunion of me and Russ, I have stayed away from gig playing. Simply of the fact that I worked evenings and wasn't looking for any bands. Looking back, had I been on days I might have drawn up a cred of playing. But then again, I didn't know anybody and I tend to shy away from people and places that I'm familiar with. The only time I showed at a jam, I hid behind most of the people and then went home soon afterwards.
Last year, a couple things happened. One was the Tyrus/Paraphernalia reunion at a sports bar, on the same day my high school sweetheart married her high school sweetheart. Another was jamming with Rod Albaugh after work, we did a few off the wall songs and it put a thought into my head about maybe participating in a weekend jam. And then I got invited to a uptown jam session and I managed to overcome my stage fright and not knowing anybody to do a couple of songs. A very shaky start but the people at hand were very supportive. And I returned back to that bar on nights I didn't have to work and slowly but surely I was trying to shake off the rust from not playing alongside people. Eventually I managed to be lucky enough to jam with some of the finest folks around, and even played drums behind some of the most talented drummers as they took their turn at singing in front of people and not behind the drum kit. How I managed to play the song behind Tiffany Z remains one of the most cherished moments of my comeback.
While there have been great moments, there are not so memorable moments: The Wiley Kats. Ernest The Soul Man, which we tore up the floor one week and then the next he quit talking to me when I explain the reasons why I couldn't join up the band due to my work commitments, I never said no, I said I'd jam with him at future jams. It shouldn't come down to not talking if you just want to have fun and do music on the weekends. In the long run, Rick Nelson was right, you can't please everyone so you got to please yourself.
Being 30 years removed from the music scene, I found myself totality outdated. I have seen bands playing classic rock along the likes of Blink 182, Pearl Jam and Eve 6. I've seen country bands play more Bon Jovi than Buck Owens, and I have seen bands continue to play the same old bar standards of long ago and far away, the likes of Skynyrd or Folsom Prison Blues which give me the blues to play. I went to see my jamming buddies and their bands to get a feel of what songs they play and if and when there would be a chance for me to join them on stage if need be. Or perhaps give them my phone number if in case their drummer went MIA or needed a night off. And then go home and practice on the drums just to keep in shape with the time keeping. Just in case. But the one song I do notice most bands play is What's Up by 4 Non Blondes. What is the secret to that song that people love about? I will have to ask somebody from the Acousta Kitties or Tiffany herself about that one.
In some ways I still feel like I'm on the outside looking in, but not as the total stranger that came in from the cold when I gathered up the courage to head to Wrigleyville on the first Thursday night jam.
I have surrounded myself with some great players and managed to hang around them for a while and talk music. It's a beautiful feeling to be on stage with the likes of a Tommy Bruner, a Kenneth John Webb, a Jess Toomsen, or Julie Gordon, or to help out fellow drummers like Terry McDowell, a Mike Lint or Tiffany Z and Mike Serbousek. It's a special feeling to have old bandmates like DeWayne Schminkey or Russ Swearingen show up for a song or two, and I really wish that would happen more often. Or even the day Dennis Lancaster flies from Phoenix with guitar at hand to play a popcorn jam. To which my bucket list would be completed. Knowing what I know now, it's a shame that Dennis and I couldn't keep the old band going, looking back we both should have taken on jam sessions and improving our craft. I can't say we would be rock and roll stars but at least we'd be better known on the local music scene.
It's funny how fast a year can go by. And it's been a long strange but somehow a fun trip. And I may as well sign up for another year of misadventures and rock and roll from a middle aged rocker who never did grow up.
Another strange adventure begins.
Throughout the years, I went into the working world, on occasion to drum up a new album under The Route 66 or Townedgers name just to show the world that I was still around. I only got lucky when Diggy Kat started his net radio station and managed to keep The TEs alive by playing selected songs. Even in 30 years exile, nobody knew that I played drums or compose depressing songs about love and loss. At times, I found myself in bands that either Mike Swearingen or Russ formed and they managed to convince me to get off the couch and play.
Except for The Routers, the band that Greg Nutter drafted me in and I/O the 2009 reunion of me and Russ, I have stayed away from gig playing. Simply of the fact that I worked evenings and wasn't looking for any bands. Looking back, had I been on days I might have drawn up a cred of playing. But then again, I didn't know anybody and I tend to shy away from people and places that I'm familiar with. The only time I showed at a jam, I hid behind most of the people and then went home soon afterwards.
Last year, a couple things happened. One was the Tyrus/Paraphernalia reunion at a sports bar, on the same day my high school sweetheart married her high school sweetheart. Another was jamming with Rod Albaugh after work, we did a few off the wall songs and it put a thought into my head about maybe participating in a weekend jam. And then I got invited to a uptown jam session and I managed to overcome my stage fright and not knowing anybody to do a couple of songs. A very shaky start but the people at hand were very supportive. And I returned back to that bar on nights I didn't have to work and slowly but surely I was trying to shake off the rust from not playing alongside people. Eventually I managed to be lucky enough to jam with some of the finest folks around, and even played drums behind some of the most talented drummers as they took their turn at singing in front of people and not behind the drum kit. How I managed to play the song behind Tiffany Z remains one of the most cherished moments of my comeback.
While there have been great moments, there are not so memorable moments: The Wiley Kats. Ernest The Soul Man, which we tore up the floor one week and then the next he quit talking to me when I explain the reasons why I couldn't join up the band due to my work commitments, I never said no, I said I'd jam with him at future jams. It shouldn't come down to not talking if you just want to have fun and do music on the weekends. In the long run, Rick Nelson was right, you can't please everyone so you got to please yourself.
Being 30 years removed from the music scene, I found myself totality outdated. I have seen bands playing classic rock along the likes of Blink 182, Pearl Jam and Eve 6. I've seen country bands play more Bon Jovi than Buck Owens, and I have seen bands continue to play the same old bar standards of long ago and far away, the likes of Skynyrd or Folsom Prison Blues which give me the blues to play. I went to see my jamming buddies and their bands to get a feel of what songs they play and if and when there would be a chance for me to join them on stage if need be. Or perhaps give them my phone number if in case their drummer went MIA or needed a night off. And then go home and practice on the drums just to keep in shape with the time keeping. Just in case. But the one song I do notice most bands play is What's Up by 4 Non Blondes. What is the secret to that song that people love about? I will have to ask somebody from the Acousta Kitties or Tiffany herself about that one.
In some ways I still feel like I'm on the outside looking in, but not as the total stranger that came in from the cold when I gathered up the courage to head to Wrigleyville on the first Thursday night jam.
I have surrounded myself with some great players and managed to hang around them for a while and talk music. It's a beautiful feeling to be on stage with the likes of a Tommy Bruner, a Kenneth John Webb, a Jess Toomsen, or Julie Gordon, or to help out fellow drummers like Terry McDowell, a Mike Lint or Tiffany Z and Mike Serbousek. It's a special feeling to have old bandmates like DeWayne Schminkey or Russ Swearingen show up for a song or two, and I really wish that would happen more often. Or even the day Dennis Lancaster flies from Phoenix with guitar at hand to play a popcorn jam. To which my bucket list would be completed. Knowing what I know now, it's a shame that Dennis and I couldn't keep the old band going, looking back we both should have taken on jam sessions and improving our craft. I can't say we would be rock and roll stars but at least we'd be better known on the local music scene.
It's funny how fast a year can go by. And it's been a long strange but somehow a fun trip. And I may as well sign up for another year of misadventures and rock and roll from a middle aged rocker who never did grow up.
Another strange adventure begins.
Sunday 3 July 2016
Popcorn Jam 7-3-16: West 66 Otherwise
I didn't think about doing any drum cameos when I told Mike Serbousek about coming down to Hot Shots to sit in on some songs, but I think he wanted me to do just that. I guess he was serious about playing the last set too. Had I known What I Like About You and Mama Let Him Play was on that list, I would have signed off on that.
While Mike plays in Julie And The Mad Dogs, he also is in West 66, a band that's a bit more classic rock than the Mad Dogs. I suppose getting up at 5 AM does take a toll on you if you're working days and perhaps Mike looked somewhat tired but he managed to do a good job. We hung out and talked a bit during breaks and I told him if I do show up at other gigs I'd be happy to help out on a few songs, however I joked if I had to do a set, I'm requesting the usual union fees for musicians. I think he got a laugh out of that.
To play in classic rock covers bands, you have to really do it for the fun, the money really isn't there. And I'm not sure if Sweet Home Alabama is a requirement for playing at bars, but at least we were spared of Folsom Prison Blues. I could work with the band if need be, after all, I did first time takes of Hey Bartender and a slow song that I'm not sure of the name, so I really had to follow the bass player. I think I did okay, although I'm sure Herm Sarduy would have stormed the stage to play Hey Bartender.
Hot Shots in Anamosa has its regulars and of course if you're a stranger you have many pairs of eyes staring at you. Mike had a friend who works with him, and he's pretty cool guy. He bought me a drink and we bullshitted a while. Somehow I got dragged into the dance floor with his wife I think (or mom maybe?) and I can't slow-dance worth a shit and after half way she gave up on me. But we got back to the dance floor on Call Me The Breeze. I think I'm done dancing for a while. Anyway, this was this bearded fellow who kept staring at me at times, some say he was a homeless dude, and he talked to me after I did Johnny B Goode, but I tried to avoid him, he was really creepy. But afterwards I did thank the guys in West 66 for playing drums, and gave Mike a hug on the way out. He did mentioned that next week, he won't be sleeping much when Julie And The Mad Dogs play Rumors next Friday Night, he'll have to get back up at 5 AM on Saturday to go into work. I wished him luck on that.
Saturday, I did an half acoustic, half electric thing to try to sharper up my skills for the next live Townedger album and trying to go without the lyric sheet. I have to conclude that no matter what I do, the shows are not going to be perfect and there will be words messed up, guitar notes messed up and not a thing I can about it. I suppose it's the power of rock and roll although The Townedgers are making The Replacements sound like Rush. While there were plenty of songs taken off certain albums (Town's Edge Rock, Pawnshops For Olivia) some albums got left out in the cold, Wapsipinicon Dreaming and Diamonds In The Skies for that matter. After years of singing about a certain girl from high school, I decided to bury her in the past by not singing Running In The Rain anymore, I think I did that with the other high school sweetheart too. Songs that once served a purpose, don't mean nothing and it reminds me of somebody I'll never see or know anymore. These songs had a place and time that is now history. Why I chose to do Listen To Love is that it's easier to sing, it has a catchy melody and it isn't directed toward anybody in particular. Or Ever So Much, which started on TE Rock and then found its way on Pawnshops For Olivia, the latter version a very pretty type of song celebrating love. Everybody should be in love at least once in their life.
For many years I have tried my best to find the right one, only to come up short or wasted three weeks of this life on idiotically ill-advised thoughts from the heart. The heart has no conscience. When things don't go as planned, the heart breaks. The mind knows better, if my heart would have listen to my mind about forty years ago, I wouldn't be this leery about love. Even today, I still fall into that trap, and I'm sure till the day I pass on, that will go on. Even in my own cynical ways, I still believe in love and still believe somebody would be fool hardy and willing to share their life with me. Being a hobbyist musician drummer and record hoarder doesn't make me that attractive to anybody. But let's face it, the majority of women out there today at my age do not want to come to a place where the first thing that greets them is a five piece drum set and 7 cymbals staring them in the face. Or three guitars.
And so it goes. I have friends that do matter, band mates that do care and the blessings from the Lord. As I continue my musical adventures, I remain on a road that is like Arizona highway 66. Once in a while I'll hook up with good friends to jam a song or two and then it's back to Solitude, driving but with good music in the background. Whoever I come to find down the road is invited to come along for the ride..............
Popcorn Jam Set list:
Spooky (Atlanta Rhythm Section Version)
Dead Flowers
Gimme Shelter
Lineup:
Tommy Bruner-Lead vocals on Dead Flowers, Gimme Shelter
Ted Reilly-Bass
Tom Craft-Keyboard, vocals on Spooky
R.S.-The Drummer
Music Director: Terry McDowell
Tommy Bruner is a very dedicated person who plays for the love of rock and roll. Who else can hi tail it back from Davenport and playing at the new Rhythm City Casino And Resort the past two nights to forgo sleep and play at the popcorn jam? Next to Terry who has hosted the jams, Tommy has played about three or four of them since Tim Duffy moved out of town.
Once again, the jammers were mostly drummers, only Tim Canfield (Bass) and Stuart Frondle (Guitar) were not drummers, (Oh forgot about the bass player that showed up to do Bad Motor Scooter). I think this is the first time Canfield was at the popcorn jam in a player's mode. Despite it being the forth of July weekend and plenty of other band happenings going on around the town, we had a nice turnout. Karie Skogman from Lipstick Slick, Ted's main band came on with Stuart to do a version of Bad Motor Scooter, the famed Montrose song that we took to speed metal in Paraphernalia years ago. I did wish I could played that song just for old time's sake but it's Terry's jam and his call and I'm sure the guys felt more comfortable with him behind the drums. They did a nice version of it.
I think the keyboard player played the jam a while back but I can't think of his name. He mostly did Billy Joel numbers and threw out Spooky the ARS version rather than Dennis Yost and Classics IV. He'd later join Tim Canfield and Kevin Faulkner on Get Together, Barefootin and left soon after. After that Tommy dusted off the Rolling Stones song book to do Dead Flowers, to which his version is much slower than the Townedgers and I had to fall back on the groove between him and Ted. Gimme Shelter was another Stones number that Tommy sings in his bands but this was the first time I attempted it in any band. It was kinda jamming with plenty of sloppy drums to go along with that. Still in good fun.
I suppose I should take a look at the Cooter's Acoustic jam with Mike Williams hosting. I know Dan Hartman plays a role and helps out a lot down there but since there's no drums I tend not to be that interested. Or stay close to home and check out the Stone City Acoustic jams. Problem is all three of them start at the same time on Sunday Afternoon's 4 and ends at 7, although the Cooters jam might go on for another half hour or so.
Next commitment will be the July 8th Julie And The Mad Dogs gig at Rumors. After that I may take the next week off and do my annual walk from New Bo to Cedar Lake and back again. But I have a sneaky feeling that Mike Serbousek might need a bit of emotional support that Friday Night.
Any way I can, I help him get through it. As soon as I get off work.
http://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/
While Mike plays in Julie And The Mad Dogs, he also is in West 66, a band that's a bit more classic rock than the Mad Dogs. I suppose getting up at 5 AM does take a toll on you if you're working days and perhaps Mike looked somewhat tired but he managed to do a good job. We hung out and talked a bit during breaks and I told him if I do show up at other gigs I'd be happy to help out on a few songs, however I joked if I had to do a set, I'm requesting the usual union fees for musicians. I think he got a laugh out of that.
To play in classic rock covers bands, you have to really do it for the fun, the money really isn't there. And I'm not sure if Sweet Home Alabama is a requirement for playing at bars, but at least we were spared of Folsom Prison Blues. I could work with the band if need be, after all, I did first time takes of Hey Bartender and a slow song that I'm not sure of the name, so I really had to follow the bass player. I think I did okay, although I'm sure Herm Sarduy would have stormed the stage to play Hey Bartender.
Hot Shots in Anamosa has its regulars and of course if you're a stranger you have many pairs of eyes staring at you. Mike had a friend who works with him, and he's pretty cool guy. He bought me a drink and we bullshitted a while. Somehow I got dragged into the dance floor with his wife I think (or mom maybe?) and I can't slow-dance worth a shit and after half way she gave up on me. But we got back to the dance floor on Call Me The Breeze. I think I'm done dancing for a while. Anyway, this was this bearded fellow who kept staring at me at times, some say he was a homeless dude, and he talked to me after I did Johnny B Goode, but I tried to avoid him, he was really creepy. But afterwards I did thank the guys in West 66 for playing drums, and gave Mike a hug on the way out. He did mentioned that next week, he won't be sleeping much when Julie And The Mad Dogs play Rumors next Friday Night, he'll have to get back up at 5 AM on Saturday to go into work. I wished him luck on that.
Saturday, I did an half acoustic, half electric thing to try to sharper up my skills for the next live Townedger album and trying to go without the lyric sheet. I have to conclude that no matter what I do, the shows are not going to be perfect and there will be words messed up, guitar notes messed up and not a thing I can about it. I suppose it's the power of rock and roll although The Townedgers are making The Replacements sound like Rush. While there were plenty of songs taken off certain albums (Town's Edge Rock, Pawnshops For Olivia) some albums got left out in the cold, Wapsipinicon Dreaming and Diamonds In The Skies for that matter. After years of singing about a certain girl from high school, I decided to bury her in the past by not singing Running In The Rain anymore, I think I did that with the other high school sweetheart too. Songs that once served a purpose, don't mean nothing and it reminds me of somebody I'll never see or know anymore. These songs had a place and time that is now history. Why I chose to do Listen To Love is that it's easier to sing, it has a catchy melody and it isn't directed toward anybody in particular. Or Ever So Much, which started on TE Rock and then found its way on Pawnshops For Olivia, the latter version a very pretty type of song celebrating love. Everybody should be in love at least once in their life.
For many years I have tried my best to find the right one, only to come up short or wasted three weeks of this life on idiotically ill-advised thoughts from the heart. The heart has no conscience. When things don't go as planned, the heart breaks. The mind knows better, if my heart would have listen to my mind about forty years ago, I wouldn't be this leery about love. Even today, I still fall into that trap, and I'm sure till the day I pass on, that will go on. Even in my own cynical ways, I still believe in love and still believe somebody would be fool hardy and willing to share their life with me. Being a hobbyist musician drummer and record hoarder doesn't make me that attractive to anybody. But let's face it, the majority of women out there today at my age do not want to come to a place where the first thing that greets them is a five piece drum set and 7 cymbals staring them in the face. Or three guitars.
And so it goes. I have friends that do matter, band mates that do care and the blessings from the Lord. As I continue my musical adventures, I remain on a road that is like Arizona highway 66. Once in a while I'll hook up with good friends to jam a song or two and then it's back to Solitude, driving but with good music in the background. Whoever I come to find down the road is invited to come along for the ride..............
Popcorn Jam Set list:
Spooky (Atlanta Rhythm Section Version)
Dead Flowers
Gimme Shelter
Lineup:
Tommy Bruner-Lead vocals on Dead Flowers, Gimme Shelter
Ted Reilly-Bass
Tom Craft-Keyboard, vocals on Spooky
R.S.-The Drummer
Music Director: Terry McDowell
Tommy Bruner is a very dedicated person who plays for the love of rock and roll. Who else can hi tail it back from Davenport and playing at the new Rhythm City Casino And Resort the past two nights to forgo sleep and play at the popcorn jam? Next to Terry who has hosted the jams, Tommy has played about three or four of them since Tim Duffy moved out of town.
Once again, the jammers were mostly drummers, only Tim Canfield (Bass) and Stuart Frondle (Guitar) were not drummers, (Oh forgot about the bass player that showed up to do Bad Motor Scooter). I think this is the first time Canfield was at the popcorn jam in a player's mode. Despite it being the forth of July weekend and plenty of other band happenings going on around the town, we had a nice turnout. Karie Skogman from Lipstick Slick, Ted's main band came on with Stuart to do a version of Bad Motor Scooter, the famed Montrose song that we took to speed metal in Paraphernalia years ago. I did wish I could played that song just for old time's sake but it's Terry's jam and his call and I'm sure the guys felt more comfortable with him behind the drums. They did a nice version of it.
I think the keyboard player played the jam a while back but I can't think of his name. He mostly did Billy Joel numbers and threw out Spooky the ARS version rather than Dennis Yost and Classics IV. He'd later join Tim Canfield and Kevin Faulkner on Get Together, Barefootin and left soon after. After that Tommy dusted off the Rolling Stones song book to do Dead Flowers, to which his version is much slower than the Townedgers and I had to fall back on the groove between him and Ted. Gimme Shelter was another Stones number that Tommy sings in his bands but this was the first time I attempted it in any band. It was kinda jamming with plenty of sloppy drums to go along with that. Still in good fun.
I suppose I should take a look at the Cooter's Acoustic jam with Mike Williams hosting. I know Dan Hartman plays a role and helps out a lot down there but since there's no drums I tend not to be that interested. Or stay close to home and check out the Stone City Acoustic jams. Problem is all three of them start at the same time on Sunday Afternoon's 4 and ends at 7, although the Cooters jam might go on for another half hour or so.
Next commitment will be the July 8th Julie And The Mad Dogs gig at Rumors. After that I may take the next week off and do my annual walk from New Bo to Cedar Lake and back again. But I have a sneaky feeling that Mike Serbousek might need a bit of emotional support that Friday Night.
Any way I can, I help him get through it. As soon as I get off work.
http://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/
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