End Of Month Thoughts From The Townedger

If anything The Rumors Jam has been a wonderful but frustrating event for me. Once Tim Duffy moved to Georgia and left it in the lap of Terry, it has become somewhat of a exercise in futility.  It tends to be frustrating at times to watch my fellow bandmates and friends get paired up with other drummers or in the case when Julie and Ryan come to play, the big man decides he wants to play behind them.  Nothing wrong with that but as I have come to find out, it gets to be a disappointment.  To which the big man responded with  Although I find some of your comments are judgmental and misguided I still took the time to like your page"

Okay, fair enough.and thanks for your support, it does mean a lot to me.  I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it and still support your music and your band.  That's what us fellow musicians do.   It's not for me to question who gets to play what or whom to play with on stage, and certainly the big man has a right to pick and choose.  

But at the same time, there's some fair criticism to be made  from this side of the fence.  In which we support the jams by coming out of town to the other side of Cedar Rapids to partake in the Rumors Jams on a Sunday afternoon.  It's not a misguided comment when there was times I wanted to play guitar and did bring it to a couple Rumors events only to have it used as a prop.  It's also not misguided when I want to play a Comfortably Numb or Midnight Rambler only to have the host play those songs himself most if not all of the time.  Being host of the jam, he can stay on stage for at least an hour, then to take a 15 to 20 minute break and then carve up the time between the drummers who showed up, the more drummers the less songs.  There's rarely times that I play more than three songs.  But that's the rules.

I enjoy chatting with the big guy on drums, techniques and so forth.  He knows his drums.  And he's a good guy. There are times that there might be a disagreement in how to play or what to play and the usual reaction is "whatever dude".   We do our best to support the jams, the artists as well as keep in shape by playing alongside other musicians.  But for the matter, the host is getting paid to host jams, we're not but we are donating our time and effort to keep the music flowing in a era that rock and roll bars are becoming a thing of the past and those who do managed to find gigs and keep playing are not prone to give them up, if some hobbyist drummer comes in and manages to develop a style of his own.  If the complaint is that I play too loud and too rough, I can always donate some of my least used cymbals or bring my own snare to compensate and not having the big man worry about damage done to his set. 

That said, I invest my time by showing up to Rumors to play songs, have wear and tear on the cars to get us there and back and promote the jams by sharing the events.  The big guy is a hustler, looking for gigs to keep playing and make money, he's also a competitor who wants to be the best and do the best rocking songs that appeal to him. It's easier just to pawn Can't Get Enough or Sweet Home Alabama to the lesser inclined and keep doing Comfortably Numb.  It's his gig, his rule and at times he can be fair and I will admit he has been fair in the past and even managed to get me to play a couple final songs when I got there late in the past.  But there's also times that I don't get the songs nor the lineup that I like and having my band mates paired up with somebody else.  That the way it goes but it's not so much a misguided comment.  It tends to be a fact of life from what I seen. 

I'm not going to boycott the Rumors Jam, I'll still support it if and when I can and if and when I'm in town.  If the big man wants me to play drums, I will be happy to, but I welcome a chance to play guitar and do a couple songs on my own with a backing band, the big man is invited to play drums and in fact I want him to.  I love to have Terry play drums to Let's Work Together or Everybody's Talking or What I Like About You.  

And so it goes.  But if there's more fun playing guitar and singing songs rather than playing a tired version of Wonderful Tonight or not being able to back up Julie or Ryan or Belinda and Mark, then it's better to go down to Stone City or Cooters or Just Jules and try my luck there.  The big man won't lose sleep and the Rumor's Jam will go on.  And there will still be drummers waiting in the wings to do those three or four songs when their name comes up.  Everybody will be fine. 

It's still rock and roll anyway. 

Rumors Jam-2/26/17 What's The Point?

With:

Jeff Mattison, Bass on Maggie May and Wonderful Tonight
Troy Harper: Bass on Mustang Sally
Tommy Bruner: Lead guitar and Lead Vocal (Maggie May)
Russ: Lead Vocal (Wonderful Tonight, Mustang Sally)
Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica (Mustang Sally)
Me: Doing the dirty work.

Terry McDowell: Host.


The weather is getting warmer and I would rather much enjoy hitting the hiking trails than to do yet another pointless version of Wonderful Tonight and wasting three hours.  Over the week, I been going over Midnight Rambler and maybe thinking I was going to do that song but at the last moment Terry McDowell decided to do it instead.  Mike Lint got to do Substitute another song I would have loved to do.  It didn't help that my back decided to tighten up too, I wasn't in the very best of moods. Certainly when Terry decided to jam on Midnight Rambler that didn't help things either.  The one thing I have an issue with was after Mustang Sally I was good enough, then Mac asks if I want to do one more and I'm back on the drum stool and then he decides otherwise to play the song himself. Like make up your mind man.  Days are getting longer and I'd rather not spend the whole afternoon just to do 3 songs and a repeat of song that you can't stand playing and be bored if I stay around.  It's hard to support local music when you feel like you're getting the short end of the stick.  I end up buying a used drumset thinking of being part of hosting a jam and seven months later, the drumset is gathering dust in the basement.  I have said this in the past about taking time off from the Rumors' Jam and then coming back the next week but judging from the past two times of playing, perhaps I should back that up and take a vacation from it all.  It certainly does feel more like work rather than fun and basically my place of employment pays better.

Anyway, Terry had to clear out to do the North Liberty Tom Foraker fundraiser and Mike took over.  Mike used some vintage Pearl Cymbals beginners type and for low range cymbals they were not bad and didn't overpower the songs, but they were entry level cymbals.  But easy on the ears.  Also Trevor Worcel wasn't there this afternoon.  Highlights: seeing Mike Lint being happy being the jam host after McDowell left, Nick Lnenicka blowing up a storm on Mustang Sally and Midnight Rambler and me missing out on the latter number. And the Dunshee Moon band playing their songs and Joe Hutchcroft playing drums and rocking out to Some Kind Of Wonderful.   For myself, it was okay doing Maggie May and Mustang Sally but I'd rather not  play Wonderful Tonight ever again, although it did got a few couples out on the dance floor.  The song still  bores me to death.  Please don't make me play it again T. Mack.

Checkers Jam-The Rod Smith Acousta Guitar Phase 2/22/17

Song list:

Everybody's Talking
You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover (debut)
For What It's Worth
Knockin On Heaven's Door
The Life We Lead
Rock Me Baby
Get It Over With 
Dead Flowers
Games People Play
Ever So Much
If I Were A Carpenter

With:

Skip Richards-Bass and backing vocals (Knocking On Heaven's Door, Dead Flowers)
Tom-Congas
Lorie Parker-Backing Vocals On For What's It Worth
Belinda Christensen James-Backing Vocals on (Games People Play, Ever So Much, Carpenter)
Mark Randolph-Guitar on If I Were A Carpenter
Julie Gordon-Percussion
Donna Jo Fairley Elser-Percussion

(Photos: Russ Swearingen)

Just three days ago, I was bummed out about my guitar song at Rumors and was beginning to question if I really want to continue playing guitar ever again.  I spent the afternoon at the Nature Center, walking the trails and debating just to cancel the whole thing.  In the end I decided that I took the night off just to do this and to have my anxiety attacks keep me away would defeat the sense of purpose.   So I went on to do it.

After which Julie Gordon, mentioned about maybe doing an  acoustic duo, just like the one she used to do with Kyle Oyloe before his passing.  I was really floored by even her thinking about me doing a duo with her.  Kyle has big shoes to fill, the man can do it all.  It's an honor and I love Julie for suggesting such a thing.  Maybe some day that might come true, but I told her I'm still a drummer at heart and basically playing guitar remains a hobby.  But with David Lam talking about doing acoustic jamming with him at Maquoketa last week and Karl Hudson liking what I played, perhaps I got something going for me on  guitar and songs.  I never thought of anything else of playing wineries and small town coffee houses and get paid for it.  Perhaps I should have gotten out of the basement sooner than I did.

The surprise was seeing my best friend Russ show up for an hour and hung around to hear a few songs.  It was a small crowd, perhaps the warm weather kept most away but it was a good support crowd.  Still a rough version of Everybody's Talking started the whole thing but then I debuted my version of You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover and then revisiting For What Its Worth with Lorie Parker helping out on vocals.  Belinda and Mark came to the jam later on and she ended up helping me sing on the last four numbers and I expanded If I Were A Carpenter for an extra stab at the chorus.  Belinda has been a very good supporter of the acoustic songs that I have and it's nice to have a counter vocals, likewise Skip Richards as well.  It's amazing how the early live recordings of The Townedgers (1998 The Art Of Deception recorded live at Whittier) mirrored the ones that I do today and get applause.  But then again 19 years ago I didn't know the musicians that I know now.  Should have tested the waters sooner.  I might enjoy life more.

Afterwards, I didn't realize that I sang this many songs till I compiled the set list and found out that I did 11 songs tonight, the first time that ever happened.  And this time around conquering my anxiety attacks and self doubt brought upon me from the Rumors jam.  And got my self confidence back in a big way.  I would love to return back to Checkers once again to build upon this showing but since my workplace is getting busy, it looks like it'll be weekend jams only.  Do I envision any projects with Julie playing guitar?  I'm not quite there yet but if she wants to do a duet with me sometime in the future I'd be happy to do that.   I do think working evenings has curtailed a lot of projects that could have happen, something with Dan Johnson, or maybe Brook Hoover or anybody else.  But this has to be fun for me as well, I don't want this to become something like work.  At my place of employment they pay better for the misery that goes with my job, playing acoustic jams it's a hobby that doesn't pay but in satisfaction.  But satisfaction doesn't pay the bills.

That said. these past two months of playing guitar and singing songs  has made me feel like living again. After all, music is what I live for, be it record collecting or recording new music.  It's a shame that I waited very late in life to do this but better late than never.  But the trick is to continue to polish the rough versions of songs but fall back on the ones I can do.  I seem to know the words to songs from Town's Edge Rock and Life We Lead and Get It Over With. The more I think about it, the more that even I am amazed of the accomplishments that I have done since debuting 2 months ago.  With a good crowd and support group anything is possible.

And so it goes.

(with Lorie Parker and Julie Gordon) 

Various Jams-Spinal Tap Incident

Acoustic Jam At Gilligan's-Host: Karl Hudson

Setlist:

Lynching Party
Everybody's Talking
The Life We Lead
For What Its Worth
If I Were A Carpenter


Rumors Fun Jam:

With
Brook Hoover-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Guitar and vocals on For What It's Worth
Dan Johnson-Bass
Russ Singing Dock Of The Bay And Wonderful Tonight
Joe Hutchcroft-Singing She's A Woman and Bad Time
Trevor Worcel blowing my eardrums out on drum on For What It's Worth
I play Drums on Dock Of The Bay, Wonderful Tonight, She's A Woman and Bad Time
And play air guitar on For What It's Worth
Bob Gleason-Harmonica on For What Its Worth
Terry McDowell-host

Songs:
Dock Of The Bay
Wonderful Tonight
She's A Woman
Bad Time
For What It's Worth

Everybody's talking at me, I can't hear a word they say, it's only the echoes in my mind-Fred Neil

It was a nice day, maybe I should have done the walking of the trails rather than jam.

I don't think it was all bad, but I think in hindsight I would have been to stay doing the acoustic jam at Gilligan's with Karl hosting.  Not a lot of jammers but a select few (Belinda Christensen James and Mark Randolph, Jeff Mattison) and Karl was nice enough to let me sing about five songs of note.  The debut of Lynch'n Party and Everybody's Talking and they were rough go through. And then flying through a sloppy The Life We Lead, before I attempted the first run through of For What It's Worth. It went pretty well.  Enough to give me the courage to try it for the Rumors' crowd.

Only problem was, (and there was a few), that I couldn't hear the guitar although Brenda did say she heard it  and I was going to sing it but Brook Hoover's microphone wasn't turned on.  With Trevor bashing my eardrums into mush, and the guy's version played in a different key and style, I simply just did air guitar while Tommy sang away.   Trevor tore into a pretty good drum solo that got the crowd up and cheering.   In my case a Spinal Tap moment but at least I wasn't booed off the stage. Afterwards Dan Johnson told me to keep at it and I'm sure there'll be a next time.  Probably at Checkers at the next acoustic jam.  It's one thing to play drums and follow the band, it's another when you strap on a guitar and share the stage with the pros for the first time.  Brook was kind enough to let me use his guitar for shits and giggles but I did feel like I was out of my element jamming with them for the first time and not on the same chord and wavelength. And Tommy was ready to kill me when I leaned on his mic stand to talk to him about something.  You think I would learn by now not to mess or lean on his stuff.   But then again, that's the way it has always been in this life.  I will always be the clumsy aloof drummer with two left feet, if God wants a good laugh on my expense he sure finds it in certain ways.  Many ways actually.

I wasn't exactly impressed with my drumming today, but then again I wasn't that thrilled with the songs Russ did besides Dock Of The Bay.  Joe Hutchcroft (who seems to be playing more of a role in my music ventures) came up to do She's A Woman which I fell asleep at the beginning and did the wrong introduction to Bad Time, but recovered to at least keep around the original song Grand Funk did.   But then again it's the first time I ever played that song. What can I say, I write originals and obscure covers.   It's strange how at one place you're on top of the world and can do anything, and then at another place have  one bogus moment and it all comes crashing down.   I think it's still the newness of playing guitar in front of the crowd and still come across as a newbie, although I have done this fronting The Townedgers and had no problems, but then again, I did the songs in my own certain way.  And when things go wrong, I really question why even I bother do suggest doing a song with guys I have not played before on guitar.  There's always a first time for everything and sometimes (according to plan) things won't go well.   Certainly, I would have love to trade Wonderful Tonight in exchange for Midnight Rambler.  However, this is the second time I have taken the guitar up to Rumors and it became just something for me to rest my chin on.  Think I'll stick to the acoustic jams from here on out and focus on drumming at Rumors and just take the guitar to acoustic events.

But I had a good rapport and chatted with Tommy, Dan, Brook, Bob and Terry afterward so I wasn't totally down on the whole thing. The bass player from Rare Earth was down at Cooters and from Mark Randolph said it was a good crowd.  But I am not big on Cooters from past showing ups and it's not high on my places to jam at.    Karl mentioned that the Gilligan's Jam might have been a one off.  It's a shame really, I would have been there more often then Cooters.

Oh well, life goes on. Time to lick our wounds and practice up and get ready for the next jam. The one at Checkers.  I'm sure I'll rebound from the Spinal Tap events of the day.

I won't let you leave my love behind.......

The Whittier And Rumors Jam-Where Have You Gone B T Hooper?

The Whittier Jam  Solo Set-list 2/10/17

Let's Work Together
Ever So Much
Games People Play
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
If I Were A Carpenter



Rumor's Popcorn Jam Band:

Playing drums with

Courtney Trimble-Vocals (Bobby McGee)
Karl Hudson-Guitar and Vocals (Mary Jane's Last Dance, Rocky Mountain Way)
Ryan Roling-Guitar
Layne Goldsberry-Bass
Terry McDowell-Drummer Host

Songs:
Bobby McGee
Mary Jane's Last Dance
Rocky Mountain Way 

(Kim Madison managed to get my good side in this picture: L to R: Courtney, Layne, Karl, and Ryan who is standing in front of me)

For about a decade I have been debating about going to downtown Whittier at the Community Center to check out the Acoustic Jam that is hosted every second Saturday of the month, the first Saturday of the month they do it at Waubeek. I was going go to Davenport to find 45s but Belinda Christensen James said I promised to show up there.  So I had to go.

Next to Checkers, the vibe at the Community Center in Whittier was the most friendly bunch of musicians and jammers that I have ever met.  Mike Fredericks, Belinda and Mark Randolph I know quite well from previous jam sessions   And Whittier is much closer to my home than Rumors, I should also check out the Stone City Acoustic Jam as well.  I might find that to be more fun than the Cooters jams, but perhaps I went on a bad night when I did check out Cooters. 

David Lam hosts the Whittier jam and the guy really did a great job setting things up.  It was a circle with about 10 microphones and a small PA system.  Usually we go around in a big circle taking turns to sing songs.  With Belinda and Mark being my security blanket, I felt at home and could the songs.  Keep it simple and do the songs that I knew the words to.   Since Ever So Much is in D,C,G chords and repeated over, the folks did catch on and one even threw a steel guitar slide in for good measure.  Since Steve Black Wolf was dealing with chemotherapy issues from his cancer treatment, I then sang Knockin On Heaven's Door.  It's fun to have people sing along with it, I don't feel alone and against the world.   I tend to think that if you're in a welcomed environment, it's easier to sing the songs, rather go into a unknown crowd and not knowing.  That's the way I usually operate, if I don't know anybody, I tend to stay in the background, however if I know a crowd and place then I usually come into my own and take it from there.  That's why it took me a good couple months to get used to playing drums.  Playing guitar and singing took longer, but once I started doing the acoustic jam at Checkers and got better at it, I found out I can hold my own singing and playing guitar.  And I think I"m more proud of that.  The Whittier Jam started at 7 thereabouts but by the time I finished up If I Were a Carpenter, it was 10:45 and most of the folks headed home.  But I had a good chat with David afterwards, as well as Mark and Belinda.  Belinda said that she didn't know what's going to happen since her place of employment is closing their doors in March and we may not see much of her or Mark for that matter.  Hope it's not true, Belinda and Mark have been instrumental in getting me to play guitar a lot more often.  They're good people.

So on Sunday, I worked up a version of Rock N Me on guitar and hoped to play that in front of a full band but played drums instead, backing Courtney on Bobby McGee and Karl and company on the other two songs.  I am not a fan of Mary Jane's Last Dance, it's one of those songs I turn the dial to something else but faked it enough to get through it and suggested Rocky Mountain Way just the fact that I knew that one and so did they.  I love jamming with Layne, he's a very much in charge bass player and all I had to do was follow him on the lead guitar breaks.  I also like playing alongside Karl Hudson, although I think he's more into the 80s song I rather not play. Which was why Trevor played Wanted Dead Or Alive instead of me.   

Herman, bought up a 22 inch Sabian Carmine Appice Vintage Rock Ride, to which I don't think Terry cared much for, he replaced that once he reclaimed the drummer's throne.    Granted, I'm not a big Sabian fan, I didn't care for the Neil Peart Paragons Series, and the B8 Cymbals are one step above a garbage can lid but the ride cymbal had a nice wash and ride sound and you could crash it at times.  But as for myself, since getting back to Zildjians, I endorse the Dark K Crashes, but who knows.  I might dust off the Paistes for future jams and band projects.  We talked about his cymbals but somehow the subject came about knowing Kathy who works at Pearson and how I come to know her. Basically I told him, Kathy is a good supporter and somebody I can chat with during idle moments, nothing more.  I'm not at jams to find a woman or a one nighter, I'm 56 years old and after jamming I want to go relax, have a meal somewhere and go home and put in a DVD or a CD or just trying to learn a new song on guitar.  I know there's a bit of history between those two and it's their life, I'm not going to pry in Herman's love life or who he goes out with.  And I just as soon leave our conversations to drumming and music.  He's free to try my drums out anytime at any jam however.

But after that, I ended up at Lucky's on 16th for a return bowl of Mac N Cheese but somehow instead of mushrooms, I mentioned onions.  And then promptly lost 6 dollars trying to get my car washed and the fucking door wouldn't open so I couldn't get my car washed. Another reminder that outside of music, my regular life is a fucking joke.

In conclusion, I had a facebook friend (or thought I did) B T Hooper, who would post bad jokes and observations  and I gotta good laugh and other times I'd tease him to a bad joke by saying BOO HISS, but put up a laughing icon somewhere.   It was all in fun. Whereever you may be B T, I still love you. 



  

Still The Loudest Drummer In Town Like It Or Not-Popcorn Jam 2/5/17

Daddy who? DADDY COOL!
DADDY WHO??? DADDY COOL!

DADDY COOL DADDY COOL

That song has been stuck in my head all day as I put together the latest edition of Townedger Radio. I didn't have The Rays version but instead had the Diamonds' cover of The Rays song. It was a day of going to Furniture Row to pick up some new waterbed sheets to replace the one that has a big rip in it. Yesterday I managed to go to Moondog Music and pick up about 12 used 45s of varying shapes and sounds. The big find was getting Just Go Wild Over Rock And Roll By Bobby Dean on Chess Records.  I think it's in VG shape.  Nothing is better than doing laundry and playing those scratchy 45s of long ago and far away.  Rock and roll is here to stay sounds better on a scratchy 45 than CD.

(L to R: Stu Fondle, Karie Skogman, James Gritman, Terry McDowell, Ted Reily and Rick Clay added on: Photo courtesy of Karie)

The Lineup;

Karie Skogman-Lead vocals and guitar
Stuart Fondle-Lead Guitar
James Gritman-Bass guitar
Terry McDowell watches helplessly as Crabby destroys his drumset in front of his very own eyes.

Songs;

You Got Another Thing Comin
Crazy Train
Bad Motor Scooter

There's a part of me that wants to settle down and just play light rock and roll.  The Townedgers and Wapsipinicon Dreamers are garage rock but not as hard rock as Karie Skogman and Stu Fondle play.  They're hard rock, Karie plays in Lipstick Slick, Stuart is in The Rumors and Shock Treatment Band and James Gritman and Terry McDowell also figure into other bands as well. There's another part of me that if I revisit the songs that I did with Paraphernalia Tyrus, the inner Keith Moon comes out and somebody's drum set pays the price.  For somebody who's 56 years old and should be playing light rock and country, I tend to become the Jekyll/Hyde persona on drums, which other drummers look on with horror.  Thankfully Terry McDowell understands my thought process and lets me attack away. It's not rocket science if you think about it, but today's show brought be back to the days of Paraphernalia/Tyrus at the OK Lounge on a very cold December night and exploding all over the place.  In reality I have not played the above mentioned songs very much.  For Judas Priest it was Living After Midnight but since Rob Haskell got assigned to that song, I decided to try out You Got Another Thing Coming.  In reality, I didn't know it very well, I missed the breaks and the accents but got the last bass drum beat at the end, when it's just Stuart and me.    Herm got the Joan Jett tracks, Rob also got The Beastie Boys  and I ended up with Crazy Train.   I should consider checking out Lipstick Slick more often in the future to figure out their songs and be ready the next time I decide to do the rock jam.

Karie Skogman is a long time veteran of the hard rock music scene and recently got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame (Iowa version that is) and she's a tough as nails vocalist in the Lita Ford vocal style.  I think she's seen most of what goes on in the metal rock in town more than I do but I have to marvel at her comment after the jam that I was the loudest drummer she's ever heard on stage playing.   That really floored me, it wasn't that I was trying to derail Trevor as all time loud drummer, I was trying to find my own groove between James's bass playing and Stu's guitar work. I must have been in such of a zone that I hardly noticed that I was bashing away.  There's so much improvisation to what I do that I tune the whole world out while looking at cues from Karie or James to figure where the breaks are at.  I have Crazy Train at home but I rarely play it on the CD player, much less playing it in a band.  Last time I did that was 1982 in FOAD with Mike Swearingen and Dave Kelsey. I must have been doing something right Karie smiled away on that song.

After Another Thing Comin, Herman kicked me off the drumset to do The Twist song with Ernest the soul man. While James has done the song before Stuart looked a bit lost throughout the whole thing and the Bring It On Home medley but I think he did fine.  Herm commented me on how my drumming has improved over time (Really?!) especially on the Judas Priest song which I never did before.  I thanked Herm and mentioned that I never played it before tonight.  I doubt if Herm looks at me as a threat to the other drummers but there's a way you can tell if you might have gotten a bit under his skin.  He usually suggest watching You Tube and seeing Ringo or John Bonham, and Herm still kicks ass on drums.  But we come from two different planets when it comes to playing drums. He's the more by the book, I'm more playing by feel and not playing to the record.  It might not work as planned but if you can away by making a song your very own and make the crowd take notice then you have done your job.

So Karie thought a few songs (Rock You Like A Hurricane), I thought up of Godzilla  and we decided on Bad Motor Scooter, the song that I did years back in Paraphernalia Tyrus and turned the whole thing on its ear.  I haven't done that song since the OK Lounge and was raring to try that one.  I was so used to our own fast metal version that I try to keep in the guitar and bass framework but then slowly took it back up to Paraphernalia speed.  To which the usually docile Terry got off his seat and really took notice of the crazed drummer on his set bashing away up toward the train-wreck ending and total annihilation of that songs.  To which I decided that was good enough for me to end my segment of the jam.

So I guess nothing chances much anymore.  The hope of being a more restrained drummer playing a softer tone, done in by harder rock numbers and a fuck you attitude of being in the zone.  To which I apologize for my actions and promised Terry I would donate a new pair of drumsticks the next time we jam.  To which next week, Karl Hudson will co host.  Which means there won't be no hard rock and metal songs to spring out to the crowd and blow all the eardrums out in the audience.  I certainly blew my ear drums out for sure.  To which I rewarded myself with some Mac And Cheese garnished with mushrooms at Lucky on Sixteenth in Czech Village.

It was quite yummy.

And now a few words about Karie Skogman, the new inductee in the Iowa Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  She's the face of hard rock in here,  she's a combination of Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Pat Benetar, fire and passion.  And her passion of hard rock can rub off on anybody that shares the stage with her. I found that out this Sunday.  I congratulate her on her induction into the Iowa Rock Hall.  Much love and keep on rocking Karie....Oh and BTW, sorry about the photo bomb in this picture. ;-)