Popcorn Jam 10/30/16 Where It Begins Ends

I am surprised that I made it this far back into the jams without falling into stage fright or indifference.  Most likely the latter than the former.  As I sit here and await what two songs that I'll be playing on stage today I think I am more in line into going out to enjoy a late fall day with temps still in early September mode.

15 months.  When I came out of the woodwork to finally share the stage with fellow musicians and managed to keep time and then expanded on what I learned over the course of these 15 months.  It's been a wonderful ride, playing with the likes of Hostage, finally getting to jam with Ernest the Soul Man on The Twist, having the legendary Tommy Bruner and Dan Johnson on the same stage, spelling Mike Serbousek for a few in Julie And The Mad Dogs and West 66, talking tunes with Terry McDowell and seeing Tiffany Z rocking it with 50 Shades Of Rock and Motorboat.   And seeing new drummers coming in to wow the crowd.    The list of many fine musicians.  It's been such fun and this did help shape Fitting Finales into a much better album than originally thought.

For most of the year, I have made the trek into town, to Rumors almost every Sunday to horn in on my chops and get to do a few songs on stage.  While last week was a nice tribute to Kyle Oyloe, only doing two songs gave the suggestion that I could have went to work and made more money during our busy time.  But I wanted to be there simply for Kyle.  In the end, once I got done with Roadhouse Blues, I should have taken my exit and enjoy what was left of a beautiful fall afternoon.    I have no ideal what Terry will have for me to do with songs.  There are times when I do show up, when I think I'm doing well, it turns out to be not so much as great as thought (just like last week) but then there's times I don't expect much and then things turned out great.  I still cannot put my finger why things didn't work last week, good intentions perhaps but too much overdrumming.  I don't think neither Terry nor Julie thinks too much about this, but I tend to be my own worst critic.  And stay too long too.  It's a wait and see for me, with Tommy and Dan it's a good support cast.  Whatever happens after today,  I need to return back to the music and vision that I originally had before July of 2015.  And the object is to concentrate more on guitar and vocals and not so much on drums. I can drum anytime of day and can back up anybody anywhere.  But as I found out, that I am a loner that has rebel against playing the same 20 bar songs every bar band plays at the local bar.  As a famous songwriter said "Like it or not, you are in this alone and have to follow your own star.”  And that applies to the music scene here today.  It was like that when I came on board back in the early 80s and left to go into the working world.  It's still like that in my 15 months of being back.

Popcorn Jam  Lineup:  (Photo: Brenda Snow)

Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Dan Johnson-Bass
Dave Bonham-Guitar
Jeff Craft-Keyboards and vocals
Bob Gleason-Harmonica
Abigail Bunker-Vocals on  Me And Bobby McGee and Delta Dawn.
Mr. Hate And Discontent-drums 

Songs:
Me And Bobby McGee
Delta Dawn
How Long
I'll Be Around
Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight

Bart Carfizzi returned back to the popcorn jam as keyboardist but Jeff Craft was in his spot when the jammers were chosen.  I can't recall the last time I did five songs in a jam (it's been a while) but this time out I had more fun than last week.  The original thought was Belinda Christensen James was going to show up to do Fever but that never happened.  Instead I backed up a 12 year old girl who sang the hell out of Me And Bobby McGee just like Janis did many moons ago.   I don't think her parents were even born when that song came out but I could be wrong.  She also did Delta Dawn, a song that I haven't played in ages.   How Long is usually done by Bart in Past Masters and the popcorn jam but Jeff Craft plays from time to time with Karl Hudson and Bryce Janey and is a capable vocalist and keyboard player.  At least this time he didn't force us to do Margaritaville or Two Pina Colidas or God Forbid the Piano Man.  He's done the Corey Stevens Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight, a song I never heard and slopped my way through it when he pulled it out of the song selection.   As always, Terry got to do the more fun jams, with Jeremy Jacobs and Tommy Bruner playing duel guitar on You Can't Always Get What You Want and later Barb Myers joining up to do Rain, which I would have loved to play.  And got to chat with Bob Gleason afterwards and caught up on old times.

This is Abigail Bunker, the 12 year old that sang Bobby McGee and Delta Dawn.  She has done the acoustic jam from time to time and now has started showing up during popcorn jam sessions.  Something tells me that she'll be leading some band in the near future.

Afterwards, Wooden Nickel Lottery played a surprise gig at Parlor City but I missed it for a good reason.  The Chicago Cubs finally made it to the World Series and Sunday Night was the first time I got to watch them on TV and at Wrigley.  I started out at Naso's Pizza and ended up having a Schlitz with a few friends at Wrigleyville.  Which the Cubs won 3-2.  Here's hoping they can win the next two games.

As I said before this jam was a lot more fun than last week.  We'll see how I feel for next week but I do want to start playing more guitar than drums at jams just to see if I can do it.  I always tend to threaten to quit playing the jams and then come back the next week.  The right combination of folks will determine if I will be back next week.  If Tommy or Dan is there, that's favorable.

Stay tuned. 

Thoughts From The Townedger October Edition

I spend way too much time on the social media circuit and never get nothing done in real life.


I've been dealing with the usual falltime allergy crap, scratchy throat, plugged up nose and it does play havoc with music.  I been getting back to guitar and trying to learn the basics and what better guy to take lessons than from Brook Hoover.  I threw a 20 in his direction and he showed me how he plays guitar, which is far different than me.  I can't seem to untie my ring and pinky when it comes to trying to stretch on the fret board but I did stumbled upon the basic chords of Cinnamon Girl.  I hope to somehow play this on stage myself rather than Geoff Redding or Rod Albaugh.  I could never touch Brook or Rod on their guitar playing, I can only improve on the songs that do come out for later albums, or in front of people.

It was a year ago last Sunday that Kyle Oyloe departed from this world and although I had better jams, the overall vibe was fairly positive, with Kyle's mom and family coming down.  15 months into the local scene, I'm beginning to find my place in the music world of CR and what the future holds for me I don't know.  Our job situation is more brighter, which means playing for bar gigs are not going to happen anytime soon and the only available time would be acoustic jams or Popcorn Jams. Last Sunday's jam was a big deal enough for me to get time off from work but hanging around just to do two songs was a disappointment.  But in the end, it's their call, be it Terry who had planned for me to do at least one more later in the jam or Julie wanting Mike to get back up on stage; he remains The Mad Dogs drummer and had to watch the first hour of Terry jamming with the songs that Mike has done time and time again.   And Mike did make a statement by playing some spirited drumwork on Fairies Wear Boots and managed to nail that opening to We're An American Band.  In reality I'd rather much back Mike up on Johnny B Goode (which we thought would happened but didn't), then to overdrum on Rocky Mountain Way.  Still people thought it went pretty good and it's nice getting compliments, even if it wasn't one of my better efforts.  Still I waited around for that final song which never came, once Trevor came up on stage and jammed with the new guy Ron La Fleur that was all she wrote.    And perhaps I stayed too long, especially hearing Buddy complaining about helping his son moving things back to Anamosa.

I think when you don't play in a working environment, you tend to be looked at as an outsider.  Terry can work and play in three other bands, Dan Johnson and Tommy Bruner stay regularly busy, as well as Brook or Jon Wilson and all do managed to host a jam session or two.   In my efforts to maybe host a jam session I ended up buying a pickup four piece drumset for further inclusion but since buying that set, it's only drawn cobwebs.  Questions still remain.  Is there's any hope for putting a new band together with some of the elite musicians in town?  Is it feasible to give The Wiley Kats another shot?   Or revamp Open Highway or Paraphernalia Tyrus with my best friend and Dewayne in tact?  Or hold down a barstool waiting to do three songs at a popcorn jam?

I don't think I ever played the rock and roll game quite right even during the Tyrus tenure.  I wanted to do originals and obscure songs right off the bat and basically had the right set of guys at that time. But it's hard to think you're making any effort dusting off something nobody plays but even while pulling off a rocking bunch of Montrose tunes, nobody's dancing but fart away on Free Bird and Maragaritaville and people dance to it.  And I think that was one reason why I walked away from it all three decades ago.   Playing Welcome To The Jungle or Crazy Train or Garth Brooks Friends In Low Places is just like working at a thankless job, only my thankless job pays the bills better.

Or maybe I was blowing hot air when I suggested if the Mad Dogs wanted to continue I would be happy to play drums for them, if Mike couldn't do it.  Once Mike said he wanted to continue The Mad Dogs and his other band, that was it. I love Mike Serbousek like a brother. If he needs me, I got his back.  Same with Julie.

But as for myself, I tend to renew going to jams by a week by week basis. I've been disappointed before, but I also had some memorable jams as well.  And been able to document the good and the bad as well.  Next jam will have Tommy Bruner and Dan Johnson, two of best musicians that I feel the most comfortable with and I'm committed to the next jam.   Somewhere down the line, Tim Duffy might be back to hang out too.  I do miss Tim Duffy a lot.  Terry McDowell has done a very good job continuing the popcorn jam, with Tim Duffy, he managed to bring a more diverse and eclectic lineup from time to time, (Jon Wilson, Brook Hoover have been missing from the Sunday jams).  I'll do my best to promote whatever Terry has for Sunday Jams, on the other side I need to revisit my own band, my own roots, and my own way to play music and that would be more acoustic jams with me playing guitar and getting better at it.   I enjoy hearing compliments on how I play drums, but the ultimate goal is to get kudos about playing acoustic guitar on my own compositions.


But I know that I have been a fragile sort of dude, the difficulties of stage fright and self doubt continue to plague me and the past couple jams it's gotten to the point that I'm not sure if I want to continue to popcorn jams fighting myself and the insecurities that took me out of playing live for a few years.  Perhaps it's time to walk away from it all once again and just continue as The Townedger and thinking up new music on my own.  Even in my most downward state, I can put on Pawnshops For Olivia or Diamonds In The Skies and the songs remind me that I'm a very good songwriter and drummer.  I shouldn't have to punish myself for forgoing hair metal overplayed stuff just to play originals and garage rock classics nobody else plays.   In the meantime I still do.

Fellow musician Jim Reisner has come up with his own application on chords and playing the guitar. Anything helps. http://jimsplayground.azurewebsites.net/Home

Falling in love with somebody new will never happen.  I know by now that I have blown chances of finding anybody that can put up with me longer than 2 hours.  Nicole did the best she could and I still love her the same way that when we first met and she did give me 11 months of her life to be with me too.  Does it bother me when she talks about a new guy in her life and makes me happy?  Not really, I always hope for the best for her, even if she's very active on the dating scene.  I do miss the fun that we did have, in those special times in St Louis.  But I do wish her well on this stage we call life.  

Popcorn Jam 10/23/16: Kyle Oyloe Tribute

Lineup:

Dakota McWhortor-Guitar
Kevin Micheal-Bass
Dave Bonham-Guitar
Rocky Bumgardner-Vocal (Roadhouse Blues)
Julie Gordon-Vocal (Rocky Mountain Way)
Ryan Matthew Paul-Harmonica (Roadhouse Blues)
Tom Listenbarger: Keyboards  on Rocky Mountain Way
Buddy Aschbrenner: Guitar On either RMW or Roadhouse Blues
D.J. Holvenstot-Percussion 
This Blogger-Drums

Music Director: Julie Gordon and Big Mac (Below)  Photo: Julie G.

(L to R: Tom Listenbarger, Kevin Micheal, Terry McDowell. myself, part of Dakota McWhortor)

The return of Julie And The Mad Dogs with Terry McDowell playing drums most of the set since he host the popcorn jam.  First time I got to hang with the return of Julie And The Mad Dogs. Not one of my better efforts, I crossed Julie up on the a drum roll in the guitar lead on Rocky Mountain Way and tripped over a drum roll as well.  Sorry about that.  After Roadhouse Blues, my time was done. If you look at the above photo, note the where the cymbal is on the right.  By the time Trevor Porcel joined up, he managed to relocate that cymbal next to the acoustic guitar.

Photo: Julie Gordon (L to R: Old Harry Hippie, Mike Serbousek, D. J. Holvenstot)

It was one year ago Sunday that Kyle Oyloe was taken from us.  But his music and memory lives on with the musicians in town.

Popcorn Jam 10/16/16 Guitar Dave''s Return

Lineup:

Mike Lint-Vocal on Ain't No Sunshine
Dave Bonham-Guitar on Aint No Sunshine, The Things That You Do
Steve Black Wolf-Bass
Jeff Craft-Keyboards
Tommy Bruner-Guitar on Two Pina Colidas and Stormy Monday
Al-Harmonica 
The Mop Up Artist-Drums

Songs:
Ain't No Sunshine
The Way You Do The Things For Me
Two Pina Coladas
Stormy Monday Blues


Terry McDowell-The dude that holds it all together

I guess Dave didn't hang around Davenport too long.  He told me he now lives in Marengo.

As jams go, this was the more pieced in with Terry working with Steve Black Wolf on bass, who doesn't play bass very often.  I can't think of the song that Dave did, it was blues song that's all I know but my brain short circuited on me, so I don't know.  Jeff then thought up on The Things That You Do, then on to Two Pina Coliadas   by Garth Brooks (yuck) and then ending with Stormy Monday Blues which Al sang and played harmonica.   For an October day, it was so damn warm inside the bar it felt like a sauna.  I basically did a more jazzier take on Ain't No Sunshine and faked it through the rest of the set.  I didn't even know Two Pina Coladas for that matter.  Probably be a while before I do that song again.

Photo: Brenda Snow (L to R: Jeff Craft, Steve Black Wolf, Terry McDowell, Tommy Bruner-Lurking in the background R. Smith)

Popcorn Jam 10-9-16 No Grunge Intended

Lineup:
Ben Orone-Guitar
Steve Black Wolf-Bass
Ole Crabby-Drums

Songs:
Improvisation In A
Spoonful
Cissy Strut

Dude extraordinaire: Terry McDowell

Terry's band FLEX hosted the jam since nobody was interested in hosting a jam and Tommy Bruner and Dan Johnson had other commitments.  FLEX is very heavy on the hard metal numbers from the likes of Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Temple Of The Dog, even Creed.  Ian Jacoby is very good at doing vocals for those song, he almost busted a vein hitting the higher notes to Hey Man Nice Shot.

It was a very small crowd, only three other drummers showed up, Pat Geasland, the original FLEX drummer came on board to play a few songs, Mike Lint showed up later to do Gasoline by some grunge band (3 Doors Down).  Since I wasn't very interested in doing Alice In Chains etc etc, I basically wanted to sit this one out but Terry did pair me up with Ben Orone, who I have played alongside in previous times, usually Hendrix, but he wasn't much into jamming so we did a couple instrumentals such as the Meters' Cissy Strut.  I have practiced that song from time to time at home but it was the first time I done it on stage.   Spoonful was another extended jam, I have done that song with The Townedgers from time to time. This time out, I've been playing with a little less intensity of the summer months and when I overplayed Kim Bean's set during the early spring.  It's best just to leave the drum skills and styles to Terry and Patrick and keep the beat the best way possible. It was fun being Keith Moon Junior but I rather much get back to a more less intense style although I'm sure Geoff or Martin or even Russ would say "I'll see it when I believe it". 

The rival jam down the road Cooters had the more laid back or country classic rockers hanging out over there, The AcoustaKitties were hosting that affair and as I drove past that place it was fairly busy.  Two weeks after the flood came through, there's plenty of sandbags, Hesco barriers and earthen dams all around Cedar Rapids,  Rumors was no exception.  There was a Led Zeppelin tribute band playing at the Paramount that might have gotten a couple more jammers, or people are staying home till the sandbags and flood protection things are put back into place.  The bike trail was sealed off by Hesco barriers, and the Cedar River dropped about two feet of sand underneath the 3rd Avenue Bridge.  The guess is that it might be a while before the trails get opened up again.

Overall, I was kinda bored by the grunge and hard rock numbers but that's what FLEX plays, but Terry did managed to find a couple of jammers to do the older blues rock numbers that I'm so good at playing of.  But it was fun to jam to Cissy Strut.  Zigaboo, I salute you.
http://www.zigaboo.com/

Plenty of pictures were taken, but none of  me were in them.  This is Terry McDowell, Ian Jacoby and Jim Reisner rocking out to Torn by Creed.  Karie Skogman photo credit.