Rumor's NYE Jam
Chad Johnson-lead vocals
Jeff Mattison-guitar
Mark Adams-bass
Tom Miller-Host Drummer
I played drums.
Songs;
Sister Golden Hair
Moondance
Happy Birthday Fuckface
The Middle
Cooters-KICK IT Band with Dan Hartman
With:
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Dan Hartman-Acoustic Guitar
Robby Wallace-Vocals and bongos
Mike Williams-Guitar and vocals
Eddie Jarrell-Bass
Rocky Smith-Drums
I played drums on
Luckenbach Texas
God Bless The USA
Sharp Dressed Man
It was nice to have a change of new hosts on the Rumor's New Year's Eve jam. Terry's band was playing in Wapello and put together Past Masters' vocalist Chad Johnson and the retired Tom Miller on drums plus Jeff Mattison on guitar. I have rarely jammed with Jeff but he has a very eclectic tastes by offering up on the jazzy Moondance, to which I have done before with The EGADS and Jimmy Eat World's The Middle was the first time I ever played drums too. Chad is a showman extraordinaire and it was fun to watch in and Jeff clown around on some songs. I missed Jeff Overly since I got there late, but caught up with him at The Shack when he was helping Karl Hudson and Peter Cacioppo with The Buzz and I checked out a set from them.
I thought about going to see Crazy Delicious at CRL but they had a five dollar cover charge, so I opted to head to Cooters and catch up on Dan Hartman and the Kick It band. I did two country songs with them and Sharp Dressed Man with Mike Williams doing vocals.
NOTES: for the first time ever. I went to Cooters and no fights broke out. Ernest was there and like the Rumors jam, he reprised his Bring It On Home/The Twist medley He didn't need no mic to shout out the words.
I didn't intend to play drums at Cooters but Rocky asked me if I wanted to and so I did. I opted for the country numbers just to keep it simple. Never did God Bless The USA before. It's better than doing Mustang Sally, to which Rocky did.
It was fun to see Tom Miller again. I certainly miss him in Past Masters (although Keith Lindsay does a fine job on drums). After my little set, they were wanting him back on stage, and started playing Angel Eyes without him. He finally came out of the bathroom after the first verse.
The weather was minus 20 when I got home and got a distressed note from Rocky saying his truck broke down in Springville and needed a ride back home. So I got there just in time to meet Dan Hartman, who came in from Marion and it was decided that I would take him home to Monticello. Nobody should be out in this frigid weather, especially when your thermostat quits working in your car and you blow a heater hose. That happened to me 5 years ago when I went to see Samantha Fish in Davenport and had to spend the night there. Global warming? Not here, it's the new ice age.
So I got Rocky home safe and he gave me twenty dollars in the process. Would have done it for less, but us musicians do have to look after each other in times of need. Especially when it's 20 below.
Sunday, 31 December 2017
Thursday, 28 December 2017
The Final Show Of Logic And Lies-Artisan Sanctuary 12/28/17
Song List:
Logic And Lies
Drawn In The Dark
If I Were A Carpenter
Get It Over With
Mercury Blues
The One That Knows Me Best
Teri, My Love
With:
Colton Thompson, Ed Butler, Stuart Pershing, Demerits Harris
Jim Jacobmeyer: host
Patrick Lower: Sound guy between here and the bar for some band playing next door.
What started as a year long tour of acoustic jams and gigs ends on a snowy evening at the Sanctuary in front of 10 people. I have gotten used to the musician's crowd, and since it's still a holiday week and the snow and cold has come along, I didn't think we would have much of a crowd. I think the best crowd I've seen was Whittier or Waubeek although I left the Rumors jam out of the equation.
This was basically the guitar side of things. Despite the snow and cold Ed Butler did pop up from Riverside and so did Stuart Pershing but I left during Stu's set to grab a pizza and chat with Tony Nickles before going home.
I had no problems with the first two songs and did a false take on Get It Over With while trading barbs with Colton. Colton got himself a new job detailing cars and has to get up at 5 AM just to get there, so he had to call it an early evening. Patrick had to do sound for a blues band two doors down so he didn't do any of his songs. I could have made it a headlining thing since Ed and Stuart were the only other performers (Demerits came late to the party) but decided to do a 20 minute set including the song that won Jim Jacobmeyer over right off the bat. I replaced the strings on the Ibanez and that became my go to guitar. I did bring the Guild just in case Julie felt well enough to play but the weather played a role, and she had to work so I didn't plan on her being there. She went above and beyond the call of duty last night.
The One That Knows Me Best got debut for the first time but somehow I couldn't get the final line of that song at the end of the final chorus. But I did conclude my set with a good version of Teri and then turned it over to Ed, were he surprised us with Camarillo Brillo from Frank Zappa. Stuart then did a few interesting songs (Seven Turns, Two Hangman) and even a version of Every Mother's Son from Skynyrd, a song that I have practiced singing but never did play that one live yet.
And so it ends. For 2017 that is. Next year will bring more surprises and more jams along the way. But for now I think I'll take the rest of this year off.
Thanks everybody! It's been a great year!
Logic And Lies
Drawn In The Dark
If I Were A Carpenter
Get It Over With
Mercury Blues
The One That Knows Me Best
Teri, My Love
With:
Colton Thompson, Ed Butler, Stuart Pershing, Demerits Harris
Jim Jacobmeyer: host
Patrick Lower: Sound guy between here and the bar for some band playing next door.
What started as a year long tour of acoustic jams and gigs ends on a snowy evening at the Sanctuary in front of 10 people. I have gotten used to the musician's crowd, and since it's still a holiday week and the snow and cold has come along, I didn't think we would have much of a crowd. I think the best crowd I've seen was Whittier or Waubeek although I left the Rumors jam out of the equation.
This was basically the guitar side of things. Despite the snow and cold Ed Butler did pop up from Riverside and so did Stuart Pershing but I left during Stu's set to grab a pizza and chat with Tony Nickles before going home.
I had no problems with the first two songs and did a false take on Get It Over With while trading barbs with Colton. Colton got himself a new job detailing cars and has to get up at 5 AM just to get there, so he had to call it an early evening. Patrick had to do sound for a blues band two doors down so he didn't do any of his songs. I could have made it a headlining thing since Ed and Stuart were the only other performers (Demerits came late to the party) but decided to do a 20 minute set including the song that won Jim Jacobmeyer over right off the bat. I replaced the strings on the Ibanez and that became my go to guitar. I did bring the Guild just in case Julie felt well enough to play but the weather played a role, and she had to work so I didn't plan on her being there. She went above and beyond the call of duty last night.
The One That Knows Me Best got debut for the first time but somehow I couldn't get the final line of that song at the end of the final chorus. But I did conclude my set with a good version of Teri and then turned it over to Ed, were he surprised us with Camarillo Brillo from Frank Zappa. Stuart then did a few interesting songs (Seven Turns, Two Hangman) and even a version of Every Mother's Son from Skynyrd, a song that I have practiced singing but never did play that one live yet.
And so it ends. For 2017 that is. Next year will bring more surprises and more jams along the way. But for now I think I'll take the rest of this year off.
Thanks everybody! It's been a great year!
Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Checkers' Acoustic Showcase 12/27/17
Set list:
Unchained Melody
Logic And Lies
Drawn In The Dark
Mercury Blues
Poor Poor Pitiful Me
For What It's Worth
Gold Dust Woman
Lovesong
Take It To The Limit
Turn The Page
Night Moves
Good Lovin
Ring Of Fire
Folsom Prison Blues
Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys
Your Cheating Heart
Crazy Mama
Sweet Home Alabama
(and a few more songs that escaped me)
I sang on Logic And Lies, Drawn In The Dark, Ring Of Fire, Good Lovin
Julie Gordon sang and played guitar on the majority of the songs
Carl Meiners sang on Folsom Prison, Mama, Me And Bobby McGee, Your Cheating Heart
Dave Bonham sang on Take It To the Limit and Turn The Page
Richard played perucssion and sang backup
Rusty sang as well.
Julie Gordon And Dave Bonham were the hosts
Sonya Madden along with her Mom and Jason showed up. Sonya took plenty of pictures.
(Jules and Acousta Crabby)
Julie has been stuck with the flu ever since coming back from California and tonight was the first time she felt better. I'd say she was 50 percent better than she was last week, but even for a 2 and half hour jam, it did drained her as she fought through coughing and hacking and losing her voice. For being sick, she sang quite well and looked great. It was nice seeing my coworker Sonya popped up, just like she promised.
The intent was to limit Julie on singing but she sang along with me on For What Its Worth before taking over Gold Dust Woman and Lovesong. She sang Unchained Melody before I did my set and the two songs from Logic And Lies. A new guy named Richard (who plays at Stone City Sunday Jams) did a lot of percussion work and sang too. I also played along with Dave Bonham on a lot of songs that I wasn't familiar with and had to rely on him to show me the chords but Crazy Mama for a first time ever, wasn't too bad.
(with Dave Bonham)
Anyway, it was yet another musician's crowd tonight, the bonechilling weather didn't help things and people were getting ready to celebrate New Year's so hardly anybody was there. Carl Meiners didn't leave for Arizona just yet so he was drafted to do a few songs.
(Carl Meiners, me, Richard, Rusty, Julie)
(with Sonya's mom Patty)
(and Sonya too!)
Notes: Dave announced that he is going to be into the Davenport Blues Hall Of Fame in March. Congratulations!
Unchained Melody
Logic And Lies
Drawn In The Dark
Mercury Blues
Poor Poor Pitiful Me
For What It's Worth
Gold Dust Woman
Lovesong
Take It To The Limit
Turn The Page
Night Moves
Good Lovin
Ring Of Fire
Folsom Prison Blues
Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys
Your Cheating Heart
Crazy Mama
Sweet Home Alabama
(and a few more songs that escaped me)
I sang on Logic And Lies, Drawn In The Dark, Ring Of Fire, Good Lovin
Julie Gordon sang and played guitar on the majority of the songs
Carl Meiners sang on Folsom Prison, Mama, Me And Bobby McGee, Your Cheating Heart
Dave Bonham sang on Take It To the Limit and Turn The Page
Richard played perucssion and sang backup
Rusty sang as well.
Julie Gordon And Dave Bonham were the hosts
Sonya Madden along with her Mom and Jason showed up. Sonya took plenty of pictures.
(Jules and Acousta Crabby)
Julie has been stuck with the flu ever since coming back from California and tonight was the first time she felt better. I'd say she was 50 percent better than she was last week, but even for a 2 and half hour jam, it did drained her as she fought through coughing and hacking and losing her voice. For being sick, she sang quite well and looked great. It was nice seeing my coworker Sonya popped up, just like she promised.
The intent was to limit Julie on singing but she sang along with me on For What Its Worth before taking over Gold Dust Woman and Lovesong. She sang Unchained Melody before I did my set and the two songs from Logic And Lies. A new guy named Richard (who plays at Stone City Sunday Jams) did a lot of percussion work and sang too. I also played along with Dave Bonham on a lot of songs that I wasn't familiar with and had to rely on him to show me the chords but Crazy Mama for a first time ever, wasn't too bad.
(with Dave Bonham)
Anyway, it was yet another musician's crowd tonight, the bonechilling weather didn't help things and people were getting ready to celebrate New Year's so hardly anybody was there. Carl Meiners didn't leave for Arizona just yet so he was drafted to do a few songs.
(Carl Meiners, me, Richard, Rusty, Julie)
(with Sonya's mom Patty)
(and Sonya too!)
Notes: Dave announced that he is going to be into the Davenport Blues Hall Of Fame in March. Congratulations!
Sunday, 24 December 2017
End Of Year Thoughts From The Townedger
It's Christmas here and I'm trying to comprehend all of the things that happened to me this year. No I didn't get rich and famous but good enough to play at some jams and even headlined a couple on my own. They weren't paying gigs and it was mostly musician's crowds but I had the most fun sharing the stage with a lot of folks this year.
There was Logic And Lies, the album I did this spring and summer and like most Townedgers album it was about love, failed love and then redemption and amazingly finding love at the end of the dance. That has not happened in quite a while.
Somewhere in this picture lies the one that has captured my heart. Who for the most of the year was my favorite singing partner at the local jams and somehow she thought that I was somebody worth being with. I always loved her from afar, and looked at our friendship and stage presence together being something special. Those who saw us share the stage knew we had a special bond but I was out of practice in the dating field and it showed. We did finally go out on Memorial Day, but it still took time and effort for anything to happen. Mostly on her end. I guess out of all the musicians that were available I was the one that sat in the background admiring her from a distance, but history has shown that I never been lucky in love and romance and didn't want to jeopardize what we had together. She had her own gigs, her own life, and so did I. But every time I seen her play with the Mad Dogs or D.O.A, she always sang to me with a smile and a wink, I think she sang for me. She along with the other Acousta Kitties got me to sing and play guitar on stage. I never know what I did to make her fall for me but through this year we seem to draw closer together, even though there were times that we went on our lives and we go through times which we wouldn't talk. But even then, she was always on my mind and wasn't about to go away even if I did for a while. Then when she hosted the acoustic gigs, we be back together and things were just like before. I helped out when Mike Serbousek broke his finger and I played drums for about 12 songs on Labor Day Weekend with The Mad Dogs, and helped her and Ryan when they played Anamosa and Solon in October. Then on December 3rd, she became my new love. I'm still pitching myself to see if this still is a dream.
This year I continue to do the Rumors Jam, with Terry McDowell and still got to play along with some of the finest musicians in town. But once I started doing more guitar songs and stuff, I started going to other jams. The Whittier Acoustic Showcase was one, The Artisan Sanctuary in Marion the other one, the latter more on original stuff although the Whittier jams I do more obscure songs as well. The Long Branch Jams with Tony Nickels have been a positive including a epic showcase with Tony's dad Zac playing drums. And then there's the Parlor City Blues Jam on Tuesday Nights that have been fun. And then finally I did my first Waubeek jam in November, which ended in a fight and the next month I played more drums than guitar. The original thought remains that Waubeek would be drums only and Whittier guitar. But the best fun remains the Checker's Acoustic Jam be it Cathy Hart and Lorie Parker or Julie Gordon and special guest stars. Or when Jeff Overly comes up from Fort Madison to jam.
This year, i was part of the band collective known as the EGADS! (Everything Good And Decent) and while the band was me, Belinda James, Mark Randolph, Tim Nemec and Larry Axelman, we never got to share the stage together. It was Belinda, Mark and myself when we did the Vinton benefit along with guest stars Mike Clair, Rich Toomsen, Jeff Langenberg, Barth Walter and Kim Bean. And then with the Rubies Benefit, only Belinda remained. Tim Nemec ended up leaving the band due to health issues. He was surely missed.
In July, Donna Jo hosted the annual Cabin On The River Jam and that was my first stage appearance as a solo artist. Wooden Nickel Lottery was the host band and I managed to sat in on drums on a few songs, but for my set Rich Toomsen played guitar and Mark Awad played bass and Delayne Stallman played drums. The interaction between Rich and Mark on For What Its Worth was worth the price of admission. Too bad nobody recorded it.
During Rumors jams I managed to play drums with some of the best in town. Rick Clay is one of the most bad ass guitar players out there and we connected on the song Dreams I'll Never See Again to which I managed to play in his band Four Day Creep. Terry McDowell doesn't usually have a full drum set but he did on this late August sessions to which I found myself sharing the stage with Ryan Paul, Kenny Webb and even Tim Wiley from the old Wiley Kats band that we had going in 2016. A speed metal version of Crossroads was in order. Poor Ken was trying to keep it all steady.
Four Day Creep in June 2017 at Wild Hogs
In September, I decided to take a venture into the open mic nights at the Artisan Sanctuary and managed to be a hit when I performed Logic And Lies the song and it turned into an anthem of sorts. I enjoyed the variety of people who performed, actors, poets, comedian, karaoke singers and other musicians, Phil Koening in particular. And Colton Thompson an youngster that had the best vocals I have heard from a teenager. Having time off from work made me available to do these weeknight jams, including the Long Branch Friday Acoustic Jam.
For all intent purposes, it was the Checker's Acoustic Jam that I was better known at. It started out with the Acousta Kitties and then after the breakup it became one week Hart/Parker, next week Julie Jules and Friends While I had fun jamming with the gang, the one omission was that I only did one get together with Russ Swearingen at his place while playing guitar and there was misunderstanding with Dewayne on a Rumors Jam appearance and he opted out. Russ did show up to take some pictures at a acoustic gig and managed to get the only picture of me and Julie together on stage all year. Perhaps our shining moment was when we did Gold Dust Woman for the first time and she knew where to sing the lyrics during my primitive guitar playing. Certainly there's other that can sing this song. Julie has always made Gold Dust Woman her own.
Among the more eccentric guitar players, Ed Butler has the best songlist that I have heard in the times he done the Rumor's Jam and one epic performance at the Long Branch. His version of Wicked Game you have to hear. Plus he did Matty Groves one day. Ed knows music.
A year after coming out of the bedroom to play guitar and the results were beyond my wildest dreams although it's all exposure and no money to be made. Karl Hudson was kind enough to tip me 10 dollars on his acoustic jam at Gilligan's this spring. The Whittier Jams were fun to participate in. David Lau a great host. The stage fright has always been there but the support of friends and fellow musicians I could overcome that fear. I think I made a list of each and every musician whose names I knew I gave thanks tor sharing the stage with. They did manage to make me sound that much better in due time.
As for The Townedgers, I thank Geoff Redding and Martin Daniels for their support in turning my ideas into great songs. Terry Bainbridge instrumental in capturing that drum sound that's hard to get. I thank Diggy Kat for his support of the music of the TEs and myself.
Here's hoping that 2018 will continue to bring out the surprises and good vibes that I enjoyed in 2017. The future looks bright.
This year, i was part of the band collective known as the EGADS! (Everything Good And Decent) and while the band was me, Belinda James, Mark Randolph, Tim Nemec and Larry Axelman, we never got to share the stage together. It was Belinda, Mark and myself when we did the Vinton benefit along with guest stars Mike Clair, Rich Toomsen, Jeff Langenberg, Barth Walter and Kim Bean. And then with the Rubies Benefit, only Belinda remained. Tim Nemec ended up leaving the band due to health issues. He was surely missed.
In July, Donna Jo hosted the annual Cabin On The River Jam and that was my first stage appearance as a solo artist. Wooden Nickel Lottery was the host band and I managed to sat in on drums on a few songs, but for my set Rich Toomsen played guitar and Mark Awad played bass and Delayne Stallman played drums. The interaction between Rich and Mark on For What Its Worth was worth the price of admission. Too bad nobody recorded it.
During Rumors jams I managed to play drums with some of the best in town. Rick Clay is one of the most bad ass guitar players out there and we connected on the song Dreams I'll Never See Again to which I managed to play in his band Four Day Creep. Terry McDowell doesn't usually have a full drum set but he did on this late August sessions to which I found myself sharing the stage with Ryan Paul, Kenny Webb and even Tim Wiley from the old Wiley Kats band that we had going in 2016. A speed metal version of Crossroads was in order. Poor Ken was trying to keep it all steady.
Four Day Creep in June 2017 at Wild Hogs
In September, I decided to take a venture into the open mic nights at the Artisan Sanctuary and managed to be a hit when I performed Logic And Lies the song and it turned into an anthem of sorts. I enjoyed the variety of people who performed, actors, poets, comedian, karaoke singers and other musicians, Phil Koening in particular. And Colton Thompson an youngster that had the best vocals I have heard from a teenager. Having time off from work made me available to do these weeknight jams, including the Long Branch Friday Acoustic Jam.
For all intent purposes, it was the Checker's Acoustic Jam that I was better known at. It started out with the Acousta Kitties and then after the breakup it became one week Hart/Parker, next week Julie Jules and Friends While I had fun jamming with the gang, the one omission was that I only did one get together with Russ Swearingen at his place while playing guitar and there was misunderstanding with Dewayne on a Rumors Jam appearance and he opted out. Russ did show up to take some pictures at a acoustic gig and managed to get the only picture of me and Julie together on stage all year. Perhaps our shining moment was when we did Gold Dust Woman for the first time and she knew where to sing the lyrics during my primitive guitar playing. Certainly there's other that can sing this song. Julie has always made Gold Dust Woman her own.
Among the more eccentric guitar players, Ed Butler has the best songlist that I have heard in the times he done the Rumor's Jam and one epic performance at the Long Branch. His version of Wicked Game you have to hear. Plus he did Matty Groves one day. Ed knows music.
A year after coming out of the bedroom to play guitar and the results were beyond my wildest dreams although it's all exposure and no money to be made. Karl Hudson was kind enough to tip me 10 dollars on his acoustic jam at Gilligan's this spring. The Whittier Jams were fun to participate in. David Lau a great host. The stage fright has always been there but the support of friends and fellow musicians I could overcome that fear. I think I made a list of each and every musician whose names I knew I gave thanks tor sharing the stage with. They did manage to make me sound that much better in due time.
As for The Townedgers, I thank Geoff Redding and Martin Daniels for their support in turning my ideas into great songs. Terry Bainbridge instrumental in capturing that drum sound that's hard to get. I thank Diggy Kat for his support of the music of the TEs and myself.
Here's hoping that 2018 will continue to bring out the surprises and good vibes that I enjoyed in 2017. The future looks bright.
Wednesday, 20 December 2017
Acousta Crabby Acoustic Jam At Checkers 12/20/17
Song List:
Heard It In A Love Song*
The Last Time
For What Its Worth
Everybody's Talking
Life
Long Hard Road
Your Cheatin Heart
Folsom Prison Blues
Boobyful
With:
Greg Mein-Lead Vocals*, backing vocals, lead guitar
Brenda Hoskins-Mein-Piano on The Last Time
Donna Jo Eisner-Backing vocals (For What It's Worth, Everybody's Talking)
Carl Meiners-Lead vocals and guitar (Life-Folsom Prison Blues)
Lorie Parker-Lead vocals on Boobyful, backing vocals; Your Cheatin Heart)
Cathy Hart-Backing vocals, mandolin and guitar (Life-Boobyful)
I played guitar and sang lead on The Last Time-Everybody's Talking) Congas on the rest.
Also:
Steve Black Wolf and Sofia Chesney did a couple songs earlier, which I played congas
It's A Heartache
Daydream
Feliz Navidad
Tommy Bruner was there to sing a few numbers including a Steve Earle cover, Someday.
Tim Canfield stopped over to say Hello.
Donna Jo with a friend of hers Teri Johnson
(in the back is Lorie Parker, Myself, Greg Mein and Brenda Hoskins-Mein. I'm thinking we just got done Heard It In A Love Song)
It was Carl's birthday celebration and plenty of folks were there. There was a teenager that was there two weeks ago and came back and did about a half hour of covers. Greg and Brenda were on hand, and Brenda was under the weather, just like so many people. Her voice gave out after Stop Draggin My Heart Around.
Due to the lateness of the jams, I limited myself to three songs to which Greg helped out. Basically the three songs that I could remember the lyrics except for one flubbed line. Donna Jo popped up to help sing the backing vocals to For What Its Worth and Everybody's Talking. And then the birthday boy Carl relieved me and of course he had to do Your Cheating Heart, to which Cathy Hart had to be her funny self and had us all laughing with her antics.
(Teri Johnson: Photo. D.J., Carl Meiners, Greg Mein)
The jam lasted longer than usual, ending at 10 25 actually. A good time was had by all.
Notes: This jam marked one whole year since I started playing guitar on stage in front of people after 35 years of learning how to play guitar. It's amazing how far I have come to play songs and getting kudos from other people. Joe Hutchcroft and Skip Richards were the original guys to back me up and they remain a vital part of my music history. I have come a long way.
Heard It In A Love Song*
The Last Time
For What Its Worth
Everybody's Talking
Life
Long Hard Road
Your Cheatin Heart
Folsom Prison Blues
Boobyful
With:
Greg Mein-Lead Vocals*, backing vocals, lead guitar
Brenda Hoskins-Mein-Piano on The Last Time
Donna Jo Eisner-Backing vocals (For What It's Worth, Everybody's Talking)
Carl Meiners-Lead vocals and guitar (Life-Folsom Prison Blues)
Lorie Parker-Lead vocals on Boobyful, backing vocals; Your Cheatin Heart)
Cathy Hart-Backing vocals, mandolin and guitar (Life-Boobyful)
I played guitar and sang lead on The Last Time-Everybody's Talking) Congas on the rest.
Also:
Steve Black Wolf and Sofia Chesney did a couple songs earlier, which I played congas
It's A Heartache
Daydream
Feliz Navidad
Tommy Bruner was there to sing a few numbers including a Steve Earle cover, Someday.
Tim Canfield stopped over to say Hello.
Donna Jo with a friend of hers Teri Johnson
(in the back is Lorie Parker, Myself, Greg Mein and Brenda Hoskins-Mein. I'm thinking we just got done Heard It In A Love Song)
It was Carl's birthday celebration and plenty of folks were there. There was a teenager that was there two weeks ago and came back and did about a half hour of covers. Greg and Brenda were on hand, and Brenda was under the weather, just like so many people. Her voice gave out after Stop Draggin My Heart Around.
Due to the lateness of the jams, I limited myself to three songs to which Greg helped out. Basically the three songs that I could remember the lyrics except for one flubbed line. Donna Jo popped up to help sing the backing vocals to For What Its Worth and Everybody's Talking. And then the birthday boy Carl relieved me and of course he had to do Your Cheating Heart, to which Cathy Hart had to be her funny self and had us all laughing with her antics.
(Teri Johnson: Photo. D.J., Carl Meiners, Greg Mein)
The jam lasted longer than usual, ending at 10 25 actually. A good time was had by all.
Notes: This jam marked one whole year since I started playing guitar on stage in front of people after 35 years of learning how to play guitar. It's amazing how far I have come to play songs and getting kudos from other people. Joe Hutchcroft and Skip Richards were the original guys to back me up and they remain a vital part of my music history. I have come a long way.
Thursday, 14 December 2017
Artisan Acoustic Showcase 12/14/17
Setlist:
Listen To Love
Be With Me
Get It Over With
Logic And Lies
(Photo gallery by Jim Jacobmeyer)
Tommy Bruner showed up and really gave some words of encouragement. He said that I should consider playing more guitar at future shows rather than just drums only. He was in the neighborhood checking out the Sirenz at Ramsey's then came down to the Sanctuary to play a couple songs, although he didn't have his own guitar I offered the Guild but he opted for Phil Koeing's Fender Stat instead.
It was a musician's crowd. nothing but musicians supporting one another but I thought it was one of the best showcases that we had, including Colton Thompson and his amazing vocal on the karaoke songs. He talked about going on the X Factor and doing something there. I think he got the vocal chops to pull it off.
Note: Stuart Pershing was one of the newcomers to the jam. But I have seen him play the Whittier Jam a couple months ago.
Phil Koening
Jim Jacobmeyer mentioned that this was the best open mic jam ever even though we had a musician's crowd. There was a couple of flubs on my part but my set got a good reaction from the folks who showed up. I know having Tommy close the jam was the perfect ending. He does quite well with the Past Masters and covers but his originals are even better.
On the way home, I made a brief hello at Ramsey's to see Sirenz, the band of Cathy, Lorie and Barb who finished up their set and still were up there.
Rumors Sunday Jam
Two Songs
Kim Trevellion-Lead vocal on Drift Away
Tommy Bruner-Lead guitar, lead vocal on Superstition
Mike Clair-Lead Guitar
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass Guitar
I did drums.
Thanks to Jean Gilmore, Brenda Snow, Rick Wiegal, Tim Canfield, DJ Hovenstat, Herm Sarduy, Kim Mishmash, Mike Lint, Jim Reisner and Terry McDowell for the fun.
Julie Gordon was missed.
Listen To Love
Be With Me
Get It Over With
Logic And Lies
(Photo gallery by Jim Jacobmeyer)
Tommy Bruner showed up and really gave some words of encouragement. He said that I should consider playing more guitar at future shows rather than just drums only. He was in the neighborhood checking out the Sirenz at Ramsey's then came down to the Sanctuary to play a couple songs, although he didn't have his own guitar I offered the Guild but he opted for Phil Koeing's Fender Stat instead.
It was a musician's crowd. nothing but musicians supporting one another but I thought it was one of the best showcases that we had, including Colton Thompson and his amazing vocal on the karaoke songs. He talked about going on the X Factor and doing something there. I think he got the vocal chops to pull it off.
Note: Stuart Pershing was one of the newcomers to the jam. But I have seen him play the Whittier Jam a couple months ago.
Phil Koening
Jim Jacobmeyer mentioned that this was the best open mic jam ever even though we had a musician's crowd. There was a couple of flubs on my part but my set got a good reaction from the folks who showed up. I know having Tommy close the jam was the perfect ending. He does quite well with the Past Masters and covers but his originals are even better.
On the way home, I made a brief hello at Ramsey's to see Sirenz, the band of Cathy, Lorie and Barb who finished up their set and still were up there.
Rumors Sunday Jam
Two Songs
Kim Trevellion-Lead vocal on Drift Away
Tommy Bruner-Lead guitar, lead vocal on Superstition
Mike Clair-Lead Guitar
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass Guitar
I did drums.
Thanks to Jean Gilmore, Brenda Snow, Rick Wiegal, Tim Canfield, DJ Hovenstat, Herm Sarduy, Kim Mishmash, Mike Lint, Jim Reisner and Terry McDowell for the fun.
Julie Gordon was missed.
Sunday, 10 December 2017
Sunday Funday Rumors Jam
With
Greg Mein-Lead Vocals and guitar
Brenda Hoskins-Mein-Keyboards and vocals
Michael Clair-Guitar
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass
R.Smith-Drums
Songs:
Mary Jane's Last Dance
Breakdown
Little Wing
The Weight
Host: Terry McDowell.
Tommy Bruner-Host Guitarist
Jeff Overly-Sax and vocals beforehand.
A quiet get together today. Not a lot of jammers and Rob Haskell and Trevor Worcel were the other two drummers on board today. Jeff Overly came up from Ft. Madison to play and had to leave at 6 to get home so we didn't partake in any jams.
Greg and Brenda showed up at 6 and relived a tired Tommy Bruner to finish the final half hour of this jam. They started out with The Last Time and Stop Draggin My Heart Around to which Trevor didn't quite to make of the melody. He also sat in on Amie and the forth song which escapes me. Could have been a Tom Petty song.
The first two numbers were Tom Petty numbers of course. Brenda didn't bring the flute so we basically stayed with the other numbers. Plus we got to do The Weight. I've been chompin at the bit to play that song live with them.
I chatted with Jim Reisner from Flawed Logic for a bit and then Greg and Brenda before checking on Julie's puppy as I made my way back home. Now that Julie is a regular part of this life we been trading song ideas to do. She decided on Unchained Melody, the old Righteous Brothers hit that made the charts on the Ghost movie many years ago. This comes from a woman that used to do Warm Leatherette by Grace Jones or Dominance And Submission by BOC. Nothing ever surprises me from Julie and knowing what she can do.
For the past year I been documenting the live shows and jams as a reference of what songs to play and the people have come into this musical journey. And document The Townedgers but as the year passed by, it seems I have shifted over to a solo career and leaving Geoff and Martin in the past. The different jams, Whittier, Waubeek, The Cabin Jam, and the Rubies Benefit Part 1 to which part 2 I was too ill to play. And of course The Checker's Jam. Somehow in me documenting this year's journey that somehow Julie became much more involved in the music, as well as life itself. Never saw that coming. I knew we had a good musical connection on stage. But never thought that she would set her sights on me. Somehow she would not let me go quietly into the night. While jamming with the rest of the musicians out there, I made no secret of who my favorite singers are. The EGADS! may have been my own band but I felt a sense of pride of playing a half set with Julie And The Mad Dogs and enjoyed sharing music together with Julie most of all. I might have participated on jams and songs with other singers but Julie was the one that I had the most fun with. She made it a priority to get me to smile and she succeeded.
More than she knows.
(Thanks Terry for letting me close the Sunday Jam)
Greg Mein-Lead Vocals and guitar
Brenda Hoskins-Mein-Keyboards and vocals
Michael Clair-Guitar
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass
R.Smith-Drums
Songs:
Mary Jane's Last Dance
Breakdown
Little Wing
The Weight
Host: Terry McDowell.
Tommy Bruner-Host Guitarist
Jeff Overly-Sax and vocals beforehand.
A quiet get together today. Not a lot of jammers and Rob Haskell and Trevor Worcel were the other two drummers on board today. Jeff Overly came up from Ft. Madison to play and had to leave at 6 to get home so we didn't partake in any jams.
Greg and Brenda showed up at 6 and relived a tired Tommy Bruner to finish the final half hour of this jam. They started out with The Last Time and Stop Draggin My Heart Around to which Trevor didn't quite to make of the melody. He also sat in on Amie and the forth song which escapes me. Could have been a Tom Petty song.
The first two numbers were Tom Petty numbers of course. Brenda didn't bring the flute so we basically stayed with the other numbers. Plus we got to do The Weight. I've been chompin at the bit to play that song live with them.
I chatted with Jim Reisner from Flawed Logic for a bit and then Greg and Brenda before checking on Julie's puppy as I made my way back home. Now that Julie is a regular part of this life we been trading song ideas to do. She decided on Unchained Melody, the old Righteous Brothers hit that made the charts on the Ghost movie many years ago. This comes from a woman that used to do Warm Leatherette by Grace Jones or Dominance And Submission by BOC. Nothing ever surprises me from Julie and knowing what she can do.
For the past year I been documenting the live shows and jams as a reference of what songs to play and the people have come into this musical journey. And document The Townedgers but as the year passed by, it seems I have shifted over to a solo career and leaving Geoff and Martin in the past. The different jams, Whittier, Waubeek, The Cabin Jam, and the Rubies Benefit Part 1 to which part 2 I was too ill to play. And of course The Checker's Jam. Somehow in me documenting this year's journey that somehow Julie became much more involved in the music, as well as life itself. Never saw that coming. I knew we had a good musical connection on stage. But never thought that she would set her sights on me. Somehow she would not let me go quietly into the night. While jamming with the rest of the musicians out there, I made no secret of who my favorite singers are. The EGADS! may have been my own band but I felt a sense of pride of playing a half set with Julie And The Mad Dogs and enjoyed sharing music together with Julie most of all. I might have participated on jams and songs with other singers but Julie was the one that I had the most fun with. She made it a priority to get me to smile and she succeeded.
More than she knows.
(Thanks Terry for letting me close the Sunday Jam)
Saturday, 9 December 2017
Whittier-Set List 12/9/17
Songs;
Logic And Lies
Tulsa Time
It's My Time
The Race Is On
Summertime Blues
Notes:
An electric show, I used the Gorilla Amp along with the Fender Telecaster.
Carl Meiners helped out on Race Is On and Tulsa Time
Logic And Lies
Tulsa Time
It's My Time
The Race Is On
Summertime Blues
Notes:
An electric show, I used the Gorilla Amp along with the Fender Telecaster.
Carl Meiners helped out on Race Is On and Tulsa Time
Sunday, 3 December 2017
Waubeek Jam-Clean Up On The Main Stage
Songs:
Spoonful
Mercury Blues
Cinnamon Girl
For What Its Worth
I'm A Man/Rock Me Baby
With:
Kirksey: Vocals and guitar on For What It's Worth/I'm A Man
The Waubeek jam Band (With John Hein (Big Mo), Phil Koening, Kirksey, Carl Meiners)
To finish this week's gigs, I did Waubeek at F B Company and Mark Devo bought some real drums, so I helped out the gang on some songs but couldn't figure out how to play Dixie Chicken. It just didn't happen. But on the plus side they did mentioned that the songs I did drum on that I knew really gave them that added edge missing. They all played pretty good.
Of course, like the last time, I ended up being the next to final act to play guitar and sing and by then, most of the regulars went home again (sigh). Perhaps they had too much fun on the drum numbers, I know we extended Bring It On Home to the point of being excessive but the guys put on a great groove. Phil Koening and I jammed a bit on the songs and while Big Mo may not be the best drummer, he is a ferocious bass player.
The songs I sang I didn't need cheat sheets to. They were improvised like I'm A Man and Rock Me Baby to which Kirksey sang I'm A Man and I added some Captain Beefheart/Tom Waits growls on Rock Me Baby. I think there were a couple of hecklers in the audience but they basically left after Spoonful. I guess I made some nice background noise while the patrons drank a few beers and watch television.
Overall, more fun when I was playing drums and having a few folks on stage but it was worthy of practicing in front a live audience, even if I wore myself out playing drums earlier.
For the first time in months, I passed on the Rumors Jam, and spending the afternoon with Julie and playing songs together on guitar. D J Hovenstat had his birthday today and I'm sure he had a great time jamming with Bruner,Bear,Bird and Terry. For myself, it was nice to hang with Julie more. She really does have a way to make me smile. Especially when she was singing Walking After Midnight, walking with me to the car in the moonlight light.
And then gave me a goodnight kiss.
Spoonful
Mercury Blues
Cinnamon Girl
For What Its Worth
I'm A Man/Rock Me Baby
With:
Kirksey: Vocals and guitar on For What It's Worth/I'm A Man
The Waubeek jam Band (With John Hein (Big Mo), Phil Koening, Kirksey, Carl Meiners)
To finish this week's gigs, I did Waubeek at F B Company and Mark Devo bought some real drums, so I helped out the gang on some songs but couldn't figure out how to play Dixie Chicken. It just didn't happen. But on the plus side they did mentioned that the songs I did drum on that I knew really gave them that added edge missing. They all played pretty good.
Of course, like the last time, I ended up being the next to final act to play guitar and sing and by then, most of the regulars went home again (sigh). Perhaps they had too much fun on the drum numbers, I know we extended Bring It On Home to the point of being excessive but the guys put on a great groove. Phil Koening and I jammed a bit on the songs and while Big Mo may not be the best drummer, he is a ferocious bass player.
The songs I sang I didn't need cheat sheets to. They were improvised like I'm A Man and Rock Me Baby to which Kirksey sang I'm A Man and I added some Captain Beefheart/Tom Waits growls on Rock Me Baby. I think there were a couple of hecklers in the audience but they basically left after Spoonful. I guess I made some nice background noise while the patrons drank a few beers and watch television.
Overall, more fun when I was playing drums and having a few folks on stage but it was worthy of practicing in front a live audience, even if I wore myself out playing drums earlier.
For the first time in months, I passed on the Rumors Jam, and spending the afternoon with Julie and playing songs together on guitar. D J Hovenstat had his birthday today and I'm sure he had a great time jamming with Bruner,Bear,Bird and Terry. For myself, it was nice to hang with Julie more. She really does have a way to make me smile. Especially when she was singing Walking After Midnight, walking with me to the car in the moonlight light.
And then gave me a goodnight kiss.
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