Thoughts from the Townedger-April Edition

Well, this is the final blog of the month.  I'm working this weekend so no jams to speak of.

(Steve Black Wolf took this photo 4/26/17 at Checkers)

It's been a fun time jamming with the Acousta Kitties on the Wednesday Nights that I can sneak on down there. Cathy Hart, Julie Gordon and Lorie Parker; what can i say that hasn't been said many times before?  Julie has been busy with her new band Dreams  Of Arcadia with Ryan Paul, she'll be bringing the Mad Dogs back to Rumors next month, plus various Acousta Kitties showcases around the town.   I have entertained thoughts about taking her up on a offer to do something together.  I'm thinking of calling it Scratchy Records, a tribute to 45's and record collecting. I'd love to draft Mike Serbousek to play drums on it.

Speaking of The Townedgers, I have begun work on the next album although I have no idea if we'll make it a new album, or just revisit songs from previous albums and bullshit the public into thinking they are new songs.  In theory they are.  I rather not do cover versions but I managed to come up with a version of Tom Waits' I Don't Want To Grow Up.  The version of Everybody's Talking is very beautiful.  There are new songs with melody but no words.  And so far I haven't come up with any noteworthy lyrics to any of them although I tacked on the words to Lee Dorsey's Ya Ya on one of them.  The projected song is called Mystery Wind.

The days are getting longer, not exactly getting warmer though but there'll be plenty of bands outdoors eventually. There's plenty of acoustic jams forthcoming, Karl Hudson's Gilligan's Acoustic Jam on Saturday Afternoon, Whittier Jam second Saturday, Rumors Jams.  There's talk of a Maquoketa Jam but that's not confirmed yet.  Our place of employment might be adding new people this fall.  I just might make it to 30 years there next year. That is if I don't die of a stroke or heart attack.

I have been told that I don't do enough love songs on my gigs, so I was going through some of the better known stuff, Undying Love and Spark Of Life have been practiced but both have a line about never leaving you behind.  Turns out that Spark Of Life was a rewrite of Undying Love.   Be With Me has always been a favorite of those who heard it and I'm trying to update the words so that I don't scare people off  about looking for a wife in the final verse.  That may have scared off the intended person of that song but it was written back in 1983.

I'm debating about getting another K Zildjian cymbal (a 16 inch dark crash) but I have about 30 other cymbals laying around.  I'm not into mixing Zildjians and Paiste cymbals together.  It's one or the other.  Chances are I just put the old Rock Crash back up.

Last June, I did the unthinkable and took off all my clothes for the Madison World Naked Bike Ride Day around the Capital and it was liberating and it was off the wall fun but I don't think I'll be back to do a return trip. I ended up getting major leg cramps afterwards and I haven't rode a bike since.  I doubt if I will be up in Madison before June. Once is enough anyway. 

An interesting thought that came to be about being naked.  I'm sure doing naked bike rides are one thing but baring your soul to anybody is much harder to do, you never know about being ridiculed or looked at like a freak.  Basically I have been using site, not only to tout The Townedgers but also baring my soul and looking at things from a different point of view.  It is hard to let people into my world since I spent more time being the loner.  I am not sure about love, does it exist?  or Friendship? Are we here one day and gone tomorrow, the object of somebody's heart and disires one day, thrown out in the trash the next.  The one thing that eludes us, to be loved and loved back  I guess it can be done, but in my lifetime when I give myself to someone I tend to open up way too much, say too much and then watched them run away.  Which makes me wonder if I said too much. Writing songs is another method of opening up my heart and soul on things. Most of the time people don't care, they don't buy the CD to hear them anyway so it's all a moot point.  

The Townedgers and myself have never played as good as we do now.  Everytime we start recording something things click and we all get along.  Same thing with acoustic jams, when you're charge of the song and arrangements it's all in good fun.  And I'm getting used to a lot of the jammers that I have been associated with.  I'm hoping in the future that I'll be using them more on the songs that I play, Belinda James has been helpful with her singing, so has Julie Gordon.  In fact I think we made it known that Julie should sing more often,   Julie has the New Wave rocker type of vocal, Belinda is more blues and country based.  Cathy Hart is more country sounding, likewise Lorie.

I haven't talked to Rod Albaugh about going back to record any more new music, he's been helping out another band featuring his soon to be son in law.  It's a wait and see (just like it's been the past year or so).

That's it for now. We'll continue this mystery novel next month (around this time) 

Learning To Love Again

We never know what's going to happen in this life.  We move from place to place, drive on many roads and people come and go.  Kinda like that playing in bands.  The situation is always the same, we come into this planet alone, when we die we die alone.  And in between we try to make sense of it all.

I think as I grow older that love is harder to find, even harder to maintain.  But then they find out you're a musician and see your drumset in the music room they decided it's not in their best interests to stick around.   And then I'm left out in the cold, back on my own again.  It's been that way as long as my band projects have been around.   Probably the only one that could tolerate me would be another musician.

Working on the new album (Logic And Lies) I have been taken into task going back to old songs and seeing which ones need a upgrade.   And then having bits and pieces of lyric fragments coming into view.

"if we can hold each other tight enough, we can exchange our hearts"  (something that was thought up on the way home and I managed to remember it)

Another song was Sanctuary, a song that Dion wrote but I didn't much like his lyrics, I thought they were about love and finding somebody and maybe they are.  Basically I been ping ponging ideas to Geoff and vice versa.   It's still in a embryo stage and the melody is still not there.

"I got everything, Sanctuary, to protect you from harm
                                                a safeway in my arms
                                               a shelter from the storm  etc etc etc.


It's frustrating how songs take forever to take shape.  It used to be I can write one down and have it recorded within  a couple of hours.  Nowadays, I have distractions that take away writing songs.  Jam Sessions, my regular job, acoustic jams, Popcorn Jams, bargain hunts, getting in the car to look for old scratchy records.  It never ends.  And then trying to write something other than the usual dark songs in favor of a more loving thought. Me writing love songs?  Unheard of, but I have done it before. But I need some sort of inspiration, somebody that has made this life worth living.  It would help to learn how to love again.

Let's face it we are all damaged goods, I have come from a long line of failed relationships  that has made me some sort of damaged in heart but do have some sort of good intentions.  To be kind to somebody, to become a friend with somebody and watch it blossom into something unique.  I may deny of ever wanting somebody in my life but in reality there's a longing for somebody to be with, to understand with and to love with.  But there's no guarantee that they will love you back.  Unless you get lucky with somebody that will.  Which does take time.

My best friend has been married for 16 years to a woman that knows how to tolerate him but love him just the same.  In his younger days he could get just about any woman and I've seen it first hand.  I'm not that way, I dream from afar, love from afar and write songs about it.  I wrote Be With Me with the hope of scoring a date with somebody, that didn't work.  For 1983 standards I thought it was sweet.

"and if you feel like I do, wouldn't you like someone to love you too"?  Be With Me

"I got a undying love for you, for as long as you want me too?
And I'll never leave you far behind, never leave you far behind
Cuz my love will see ya through"  Undying Love

"you are the one that makes my dreams come true
I never thought it would ever be you"  Listen To Love

"she's like the wind, I can't hold her but I'll keep trying"  She's Like The Wind

And somewhere among this jumbled mess of lines and lyrics lies a song in waiting.  In the meantime, I'm pulling out Weather On The Nines to see how Undying Love sounds and how to improve on that. I think it needs a revisit.

Session Two: 4/26/17 At Hoarder House Studios, Stone City IA.

Recorded I Don't Wanna Grow Up (T.Waits/K.Brennan)
with Geoff Redding and Mel Strobie
Producer: Rodney Smith/Terry Bainbridge
Recorder: Martin Daniels/Terry Bainbridge

Various Jams 4/23/17-It Wasn't Planned That Way

Gilligan's Acoustic Pub Set list:

With:
Karl Hudson: Host and borrowed his guitar
Belinda James
Jeff Overly

The First Cut Is The Deepest (Jeff Overly-sax solo)
Love's Made A Fool Out Of You
Teri (Jeff Overly-Sax Solo)
Come Together (Belinda James Vocals)

(Kenny Webb and Ed Butler)


Rumors Popcorn Jam:

Terry McDowell-Host
Ed Butler-Guitar and Vocals (Wicked Game)
Bart Carfizzi-Keyboards and Vocals (I Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You, To Love Somebody)
Kenny Webb-Bass
R.Smith-Drums

Setlist:

I Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You
Wicked Game
To Love Somebody

(Greg Mein)

It may have been Record Store Day Weekend but I ended up hitting the jams in the area.

I was mowing the yard when I got word that Karl was freaking out about not many jammers showing up, so I quickly washed my hair, threw a shirt on and grabbed a guitar and headed into town for the first of three treks.  I couldn't get my guitar tuned right so Karl Hudson was nice enough for me to use his.  I started out with First Cut Is The Deepest and Jeff came up from Fort Madison to help out on sax so I used him a great deal on that song and Teri,  Come Together was rehashed again, but with Belinda doing the vocals since Julie Gordon was getting ready for her gig later in the day.

And I did plan to go to Cooters to watch her and Ryan Paul's new project called Dreams Of Acadia, but I tend to think that Cooters has bad vibes. Saturday was no exception.  Eventually Julie contacted me they had a party going on over at her place, so at the last moment I decided to join in the fun.  For the most we jammed up till about 1 or 2 AM to which afterwards after everybody went home, me and Julie discussed music till sunrise.  It was quite nice to really sit down and get to know Julie one on one about her music tastes. In the past year and a half, she remains one of more giving people that I have known.  Back in the 1990s she was into a more hard rock/metal sort of thing with Kyle Oyloe and as the more we talking her music and Kyle, had I been more "known", there may have been a good bet we could have worked together.  Maybe even this late in life had Kyle lived on. The complaint has been that Julie doesn't sing enough, but her early 90s  stuff she does sound like Grace Jones. Julie blew me away by nailing Dominance And Submission by Blue Oyster Cult on a live tape her band did.  Nevertheless, she did get me to sing one song at the party, a dark cover of Knockin On Heaven's Door. I forgot to bring my guitar but Ryan had his bongos and there was a drum set in the basement, the bass petal didn't work but I made good use out of the snare.  Despite the Cooters's snafu, I think Arcadia might be worthwhile. But any band or group Julie is in, I'll support her all I can.  Or help her get through the night for support if something adverse happens.

In the afternoon, Julie cooked up some organic pizza and I was off to see the Cedar Rapids Kernels win their baseball game 11-2 and got late to the Popcorn Jam which paired me up with Ed Butler and Bart Carfizzi on three numbers, the Alan Parson Project song, then Wicked Game and a cover of To Love Somebody, the last two were  mellow numbers, but Julie did sang Wicked Game Saturday Night and I'm sure it's a part of her and Ryan's set list.  As you can tell in the picture I looked pretty damn ragged but I didn't want to miss out jamming with Kenny Webb on bass.  Upon that, Robert Wallace was hamming it up on stage big time on All Right Now with Trevor Worcel playing powerhouse drums.  But the drummer with the most drive outside of Terry, would be Rob Haskell.  Rob has played with Craig Erickson's band so he knows how make the beat rocking.  People love Trevor and he's a great drummer but he still remains loud and I always keep forgetting to bring my ear plugs when he shows up.  Also, when Kevin Simnacher shows up for jams, he brings his camera.  Which means there'll be plenty of pictures being taken.  He always takes  some crazy shots of me playing drums.  Except for the Julie/Ryan picture, all shots are courtesy of Kevin.

Recording the New Album Plus Checker's Jam Highlights

Session One-Recording The New Townedgers Album 4/19/17

Songs:
Drawn In The Dark (Version 1)
Everybody's Talking
Cocaine Train
Drawn In The Dark (Version 2)
Who Do You Love Jam

Production: Rodney Smith with Terry Bainbridge
Recording: Terry Bainbridge and Martin Daniels

With: Geoff Redding and Mel Strobie

I really didn't think I was going to start working on a the new album.  In fact I wanted to get the song of Drawn In The Dark down, so I did two takes.  One is a bit nosier and the second one not as loud.   It's easier just to wake up, grab a cup of tea and get situated before going into recording. And the hope is to find some sort of common ground to record the songs.  Since reconnecting with Terry Bainbridge, he has found a way to get the best drum sound possible from the previous albums (Jubilee and The Wapsipinicon Dreamers) and not overpower the vocals and guitar.  Trying to record guitar and vocals at the same time remains a pain in the ass and a chore.  So the hope was to get close to the microphone and sing accordingly. But also to get Geoff and Mel to figure into the songs and arrangements as well.

Like the previous albums, it's a feeling out period, and of course I embarked on some cover songs as well.  Everybody's Talking has been a part of the acoustic Jam set lists and I do believe that I did a good cover of this song that even Fred Neil would be proud.  I favor his version over the more successful Nilsson hit song.  But I'd rather not do another album of covers like the Wapsipinicon Dreamers album, I want to have more of original songs and I'll be revisiting my songs to see which ones would need a new arrangement.  I have no timetable on completing the album, after all Jubilee is still being  promoted and Diggy Kat has been playing my cover of The Byrds' I Feel A Whole Lot Better.  He paid me a nice compliment saying it's a very good version somewhere in the style of the original band, but when he plays the song on Lucky Star Radio, it makes me feel good, for anytime my songs get played anywhere, particularly cover versions it means a lot.  Diggy has always been a very good supporter of my music and as A and R, has been spot on promoting my music.  Even if it doesn't translate into sales.   I have always said in order for me to cover a song I have to live the song.  I tend to think I did that on Feel A Whole Lot Better and even more so on Everybody's Talking.  Since Forthcoming Trains, my music has taken on new meaning and each jam that I do I get better at what I do.

Cocaine Train was a run through, I'm not sure if it will make the record or not but I wanted to see what direction I could take this song.  Originally done in 1983 and then Russ and Dennis rewrote the music to fit the lyrics a year later Cocaine Train remains one of the few songs that Paraphernalia Tyrus has done live.  Who Do You Love was an after thought and a jam, that might not see the light of day but it was fun re-channeling my inner Ronnie Hawkins growl on that song.  Anyway it's the new start on the new album.

(Photo: Lorey Parker  L to R: Ryan Paul, Jay Devore, Steve Black Wolf, Donna Jo)

Checker's Acousta Kitties Jam (Missing Cathy Hart)

Setlist:

Love's Made A Fool Out Of You
Everybody's Talking
For What It's Worth
Come Together  (Vocal: Julie Gordon)

With
Bart Carfizzi-Keyboards
Joe Hutchcroft-Percussion and vocals
Lorie Parker, Belinda James, Julie Gordon: Backing Vocals

Plus
Carl Meiners
Greg Mein
Ryan Paul
Steve Black Wolf
Jay Devore
Mike Frederichs
Donna Jo Fairley
Mark Randolph (in spirit)

There was storm clouds around the area and there was a thought we might have some severe weather but thankfully that stayed away from Checkers Tavern as I returned back to the acoustic jam for the first time in three weeks.  And I have to say that although I started late that the songs that I did Wednesday Night were almost perfect.  I didn't do any originals but started out with the Bobby Fuller/Buddy Holly song.  Of course it did help that I went over Love's Made A Fool Out Of You and Everybody's Talking before going to Checkers.  That helped a great deal.  And then had Bart did a piano solo on For What Its Worth.  Somehow Ryan Paul became clock watcher and wanted to move on to other acts, but then again, I can't do these jams every week like he can so basically I managed to get one more song to do and it turned out to be Come Together.  And for that song I drafted Julie Gordon to sing it.  First time I played it since the Paraphernalia days and Julie said it was the first time she sang it in years.  For that the tandem of Bartsky and Hutch helped out.  It's interesting to note that Joe has played more of a part of these jams more so than other folks but he's professional and really adapts quite well to whatever I play, be it Feel A Whole Lot Better or For What Its Worth.  But in the four months of acoustic guitar playing the small circle of friends that I made, (Julie, Lorie, the missing Cathy, Steve, Jay and Mike) have been instrumental in helping me shape the songs into something special.  To do Come Together, Julie was much better suited to sing this song than me and for the first time we played together she did a outstanding job.  And I think she's a very special sort of singer/woman, in the time of knowing her we have a sort of chemistry on stage.  Certainly Ryan Paul is a great musician and I must check her act with Ryan if and when I get some time to do so.  One thing that Ryan doesn't bring is a sort of eclectic and eccentric sort of songs and arrangements that I bring to my songs.  He's good, he can play the harmonica and keyboards. But I bring a more garage rock and off the wall attitude then he does.  The weird guy with the big record collection and obscure choice of covers.  That would be me.

Some highlights of note: Steve Black Wolf really did a fine job on Knocking On Heaven's Door and Turn The Page although he turned the high notes over to Lori and Donna Joe.  Carl was back from Arizona and he too did a great job, so did Bartsky and Hutch although Bart was having a bit of programming problems on some songs.  Mark Randolph was out due to carpel tunnel surgery but Belinda came up to support the cause and even had Bart and Ryan play dueling keyboards on It's Been A While.   Julie told me about having a couple of dates playing with Ryan at Cooters this weekend but did mentioned she had Friday off. *sigh*  I told her I have to work and take a raincheck but perhaps there'll be a time we can get together to go check out a band or work on some duets for a forthcoming jam.  I'm certain there'll be a next time.  I told Belinda that if Julie isn't at Whittier or Gilligan's she's drafted to sing Come Together.

It's been a long day and I'm tired and it's 3 AM in the morning.  Time to file this puppy away.

From Diggy Kat

I don't say this lightly but your cover of I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better...good job. i was so scared when i saw you had covered it because to me the song is soooo perfect!!!!! just everything about it!!! it's in my top 3 Byrds songs but i heard your version and i was like "wow...good job, i like it"

From Julie Gordon:

Its always a better jam when your there.

"love ya Julie"

Rumors Jam 4/16/17-Easter Brookie

With

Terry McDowell-host
Brook Hoover-Space guitar and vocals
Tommy Bruner-Down to earth guitar and vocals
Dan Johnson-Somewhere in between on bass
R.Smith-Hanging on for dear life

Songs:

Tired Of Waiting For You (vocals: Brook)
Jumping Jack Flash (Vocals: Tommy)
Ride Captain Ride (Vocals: Dan)
Take Me To The River (Vocals: Tommy)

Easter Sunday and not a lot of places open, and I did the record store day thingy a week early.  So basically it was on to Rumors to do the weekly jam and see what we can come up with.  A lot of bikers and drinkers but this time out, only me and Trevor were the drummers present.  Ian Jacoby came on board later.

You never know what Brook is going to do for songs and as per course he continued to dig deep into his big note song book for Tired Of Waiting For You to which after a false start and trying to feel our way into the song managed to get into the first verse.

Brenda Snow did post a video of Ride Captain Ride but alas, the sound didn't come through, but if you play the Blues Image song to the video you will find that we came close to performing it right.

Again Jumping Jack Flash was dusted off for jamming purposes. Tommy is the master of picking the Rolling Stones songs and making them his own.  It's fun watching Tommy and Brook trade leads and Dan throwing a bass lick in for good measure. Somehow Brook managed to pick up the tag ending to Can't You Hear Me Knocking at the end of Jack Flash, he's the master of improvising on the spot, throwing feedback into the mix as well as effects as well.

It ended on a epic note when the guys did Take Me To The River and I do wished somebody would have recorded that song.  Brook and Tommy managed to trade leads at mid beat, DJ also got in some funky licks and I guess I kept things in check till the ending when I mixed it up a bit.  Brenda told me afterwards I was really hitting the drums hard, but in reality I was a bit more laid back then usual.

Overall, the jam was epic and fun. The lineup of Hoover/Bruner/Johnson is why they are Hall Of Famers.  I'm happy just to hang out with them and take part of the proceedings.

Various Jams 4/8/17

At Gilligan's

Songs:

Baby Wanna Dance
A Stranger To Himself
The Life We Lead
Everybody's Talking
For What Its Worth

With Jeff Overly on alto sax
Karl Hudson: Host


Whittier Acoustic Jam

Teri
Jet Airliner
No Expectations
If I Were A Carpenter
Love's Made A Fool Out Of You

With
Belinda James
Mark Randolph
Mike Fredericks
Jay Devore
David Lam: Host


Continuing the long extended jam of the songs at Gilligan's I had help from a dude that looked like Bill Goldberg from the WWE  who was actually recording the songs on a cheap cassette. It'd be interesting to hear how they sound.  While complaints were that this dude was obnoxious and tended to be a pain in a butt later on, I figured he would add something to the songs.  Overall, since I was recovering from working 10 hour shifts the past two weeks and working both Saturday and Sunday I was kinda out of it.  With the dude adding some mad, all over the place lead, it actually worked on Baby Wanna Dance and Stranger To Himself but not so much on The Life We lead.  Another guitar player, (don't know his name but when I do, I'll post his name) then came on to the extended workout of For What Its Worth  I didn't intend to turn it into a 8 minute song but I dig having guitar leads over the song.  Afterward, I managed to chat with Jeff Overly who plays in a band called East Of Omaha and his band has opened up for Johnny Winter and Kenny Wayne Shepard. He plays bass in his band but said he enjoys playing alto sax a bit more.

I did managed to catch a bit of Joe Hutchcroft's band The Fossiltones before wasting thirty minutes trying to get the Arby's Lady to take my order but since she was too busy, ended up going to the Ghetto McDonalds and then wolfing down to Filet O Fish before making it to Whittier.  And getting there just in time for it to start up.

Belinda and Mark were down at Gilligans too, but on the late set I debuted Teri for the first time and it went well, The guitar ate my pick on Love's Made A Fool Of You for my final song so I basically was finger strumming, which didn't help the blisters on my fingers.  Then it took about 10 minutes to get the fucking pick out of the guitar.  Next time I will bring the  electric guitar.   Jet Airliner made its debut too.  Although I was threatening Belinda for passing the song of Come Together on her, I decided maybe next time.  There was a guy that played flute on Teri, don't know his name and he did some percussion on Jet Airliner as well, when his turn came up he sang gospel songs.   I did talk to Mike and Jay afterwards about how the Marion Jam went last night and they said the jam was packed and they only got to do one song.  Which might have defeated the sense of purpose but all the Acousta Kitties were there as well.  Since Carl Mainiers is back from his Arizona vacation they intending to hit Stone City Tomorrow, but for me it will be Rumors and watching the Cedar Rapids Kernels play baseball.  Providing if the stadium isn't too busy.


Popcorn Jam-Rumor's 4/9/17

With
Mike (Bear)  Clair-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Guitar and Lead Vocals
Bob Gleason-Harmonica
Kenny Webb-Bass
R.Smith-Drums
Terry McDowell-Host

A extended version of Jumpin Jack Flash, with Kenny Webb playing bass guitar.  Funny how he told me he was going to take it easy but instead played a few songs.  If he told me to quit my job and play in his band I would do that.  He's that good.

A large crowd was there since it was a nice day, with no fewer than 8 drummers and John Hernandez with Ken on bass participated.  Jumpin Jack was the only song I played on, but it was extended for about 6 minutes long.  It was a pretty good version I thought.


Notes:

All of the other drummers that showed and played were spot on.  I like the way Rob Haskill can lay down a driving beat. One drummer was missing, that was Herman.

There were great moments from various jams.  The extension jam of For What Its Worth, which is turning out to be a long jam song from previous occasions. It would be great to have a drummer show at these jams just to add a basic beat and see where it leads.  Perhaps the next Whittier Jam I'll bring a snare drum.  Second best moment, was jamming with Tommy and Kenny and the Bear man.  Tommy continues to mine the Rolling Stones Catalog for songs and that's a great thing.  It's even better watching Mr. Webb rock out on the bass guitar.  Certainly there are great bass players around, DJ, Jeremiah, Benton, Russ, Layne, John Hernandez, Kevin Michael, but Kenny Webb adds a special sort of inspiration.  It's guys like Kenny Webb that really make jamming on the weekend something I look forward to.

The best moment was playing Teri for the first time.  It's a long song and a bit hard to do but it came together thanks to a guy playing flute on such song.  I'm slowly beginning to add more of my songs to these jams, after all I have 35 years of originals to choose from.  It's not going to became originals only but rather the ones that I think would work.  And I don't play the song the same way twice, I have to come to accept that there's going to be a messup so I have to find a way to make the people know that the messup was part of the song.  While I'd love to do the whole song solo, having other folks come in and add their own touch has made the songs sound a bit better, even if the dude at Gilligans overdid it a bit on Life We Lead, but I noticed a couple of his lady friends were dancing to the song.  As well as No Expectations, I let Jay do a couple lead on a extended eight bars.   You never know what's going to happen at these jams, sometimes things work, sometimes they don't.   Saturday was just that.  But when something stands out, I do take notice.  And I had a few of them as you can tell.