Longbranch Acoustic Jam 7/21/17-On The Way To Yesterday I Passed Today

Acousta Crabby Jam-Hosted By Tony Nickles

At The Long Branch Supper Club-Marion Iowa

Songs:

All Along The Watchtower*

There May Not Be A Next Time*

Logic And Lies

Does It Matter/Everybody's Talking

The End

*Debut

For the third straight day we had to contend with more storms, more tornadoes, more monsoons, more flooding in a never ending cycle. The way it goes, especially if I decide to partake in acoustic jams.

I have to hand it to Tony Nickles and the staff at the Long Branch Supper Club.  The acoustic jams that I have seen the past two weeks, we managed to keep it going past 11 and with Mike Roc's after jam comedy routine (which he got into a shouting match with a couple of hecklers, who left after 10 Minutes) which ended about 10 after midnight. 

For a small group of jammers, we did have plenty of songs to sing and play.  Shawn Ster has been going to these jam sessions on a regular basis for the past two weeks.  Belinda and Mark were there along with Andrew and his bride, still in love and managed to do a song together. Sofia Chesney sang her Hallelujah song and Dream A Little Dream Of Me.  Jay Devore and Mike Fredericks were there, so was Tim Nemec and Rose Slaymaker.  Most of the New Folk and Rock AARP Group was in attendance too.  

Usually at this point I can experiment with new songs and originals that nobody has heard.  All Along The Watchtower was slowed down to almost late night blues riff before I returned it to the garage rock that could be heard on the 2013's 30 album by The Townedgers.   I think it was done better than the rag tag May Not Be A Next Time, which I did a trial practice run before taking it upstage and screwing up the damn chords.  And for another surprise Does It Matter went into Everybody's Talking.  For the record May Not Be A Next Time came from Fitting Finales and I always wanted to do that song live.  It did get some airplay on Lucky Star Radio but it made its debut at the jam Friday Night.   I can't say if I would reprise three originals at Checker's next Wednesday Night but I may take a deep long look at some of the new songs from Logic And Lies   And then to conclude the whole set list was another attempt of doing The End, to which I managed to get most of it right.  And Belinda requested that song.  I have to say I admire her for her support of the music that I have been playing and having an open mind to request some of the more darker numbers.  But in the past week of fighting depression and uncertainly of things going on, it's tough trying to keep a smile on your face when you feel like going home, locking all the doors and just simply hide from the rest of the world, especially when things go wrong.  But in the end all you can do is simply do your best.  Your best friends will continue to be there for you, the fair weather ones, not so much.  You can't change them, they are who they are.  

And so am I.

The Rumors Jam-Peter Stark's Birthday Party

With-Terry McDowell host and the Dunshee Moon host band

Jay Devore-Guitar and vocals
Mike Fredericks-Banjo
Adam-Bass
R.Smith-Drums

I usually play guitar along with Mike and Jay but this time out I played drums. I knew two of the three songs that Jay plays, the uptempo song and the last song but I don't know the titles.  I was surprised that these guys showed up at Rumors rather than Stone City, which was closer.  This time out there was a full drum set with 8 cymbals, Peter Stark provided two of the crashes but since I was playing country I really did not go full tilt.  A pretty good crowd including Mike Serbousek who needed to get away from his family for a while.  He has mentioned he now plays in Smokin Guns and Cocked And Loaded along with the Mad Dogs, so I have to give him grief on that.  Good to see him when he does show up.