Wess Side Jam 5-7-17

We have come a long way from 2015, when I decided to do the jams around town, and then onward to the acoustic jams in December.  I'm not making money at all but at least I'm living the dream of doing my own music.

While the past weekend was spent working, I was rehearsing songs and even crashed Julie's house the other day to wow her with a version of Gold Dust Woman.  I've never played it live before and  she was kind enough to put up with my antics and sent me with leftovers from the lunch that we had the other day.  She even let me use her Martin guitar to play the opening riffs.  I was nervous as hell and still trying to play around with the opening, when she sang the opening verse and I quietly helped do the chorus lyrics later on.   It's beautifully strange to practice this song off and on for the past couple weeks, and we never played it together but the way Julie sang it, it seems like we were playing this song forever.  I did joked with her about maybe doing something off the wall and called it Scratchy Records, and she liked the idea.  I'm not sure if I can capture the magic of the Acousta Kitties or even Dreams Of Arcadia but it would be a departure from what she might be doing.

She's been mighty good to me in the time of playing music, she's always smiling and upbeat, even on down days, she manages a big smile and has slowly been chipping away from the negativity that has been a part of this life. I think she's reinventing me into a more positive person  on things in life.

(Diggy Kat: A n R person for my music, illustrated by Alan Wild  Matthews from U and Us)

For the most part Diggy Kat has been playing plenty of songs from the Jubilee album and has done a great job promoting the record although sales have been as good as the last ten albums. Non existent. Kudos to him for playing our version of The End by The Doors.

(Photo: Kevin Simnacher.  L to R: Kenneth John Webb, Mitch Smith, Michael Clair)
(We have dancers in the crowd, which is why you don't see Bart nor me)

Wess Side Jam-Rumors 5/7/17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQsqz2c9Tac

With

Mike Clair-Guitar and Vocals
Bart Carfizzi-Keyboards and Vocals
Mitch Smith-Saxophone and Vocals
Kenneth John Webb-Bass
Rodney Smith-Drums
Terry McDowell-Host

Songs:

Call Me The Breeze  (Vocals: Mitch and Mike)
Sweet Home Chicago Jam  (Vocals Mike and Mitch)
Runaway (Vocals: Bart)

The original keyboard player didn't show up, so Bart took over in his spot.   I think there was more of a jam vibe in all of the songs including Runaway.  The highlight was the banter between Mitch and Mike Clair when Mike popped up to play (replacing Kevin Simnacher), and forgo Sweet Home Alabama in exchange for Chicago, which had great interaction between him and Mitch.  I left soon after to take in some sunshine down at New Bo but overall, it was a fun jam.  As always.

(Photo: Kevin Simnacher)