Checkers Jam 2/28/18

Setlist:  (Missing a couple of them that I played congas on)

Woman (Sensuous Woman)
She Belongs To Me
When Will I Be Loved
Logic And Lies
Everybody's Talking (Donna Jo: Co-Vocal)
Simple Man (Lorie Parker: Lead Vocal)
Can't You See (Cathy Hart: Lead Vocal)
Proud Mary (Lorie Parker: Lead Vocal)
Keep Your Hands To Yourself (David Boston:Lead Vocal)
Tennessee Whiskey (David Boston:Lead Vocal)
Sweet Home Chicago (Lorie Parker: Lead Vocal)
What's Up (Barb Myers: Lead Vocal)
Boobyful (Lorie Parker: Lead Vocal)
Fishing In The Dark (Cathy Hart: Lead Vocal)
Sweet Home Alabama (Cathy Hart: Lead Vocal)

With:
Abigail Bunker, Bart Carfizzi, Donna Snow, Joe Hutchcroft, Kathy Carfizzi, Luther Parker, Mike Spina, Jeff Gage, PJ and Pam Herrington, David Eisner

And:

Cathy Hart
Lorie Parker
Barb Myers
Mike Frederick
David Arnold
Donna Jo

It's been two months since I have frequented Cathy and Lorie's jam at Checkers.  The fact that I have been doing the Thursday's open mic at Artisan Sanctuary was one reason, the other their jams came on nights I couldn't get the the night off.  But I missed jamming with Cathy and Lorie so I took a personal night off just to say hi and rekindled the good vibes.  I did tell Cathy afterwards that I promise that it won't be 2 months before she sees me again.

It was a weird night.  Bart Carfizzi brought his keyboard and made a jam for the first time in quite a while   At times he struggled.  Hotel California was aborted after a couple verses and Lorie Parker did The Logical Song.   He's still having pain issues but for about 2 hours he did withstand the pain and stayed for a while.  Joe did sing some of the songs, just like they did when they were known as Bartsky and Hutch, but it seemed a bit awkward between them.  Joe's a good singer, and damn good drummer but I'm not sure if The Fossiltones are playing or still together.  Either way, Joe did mentioned he was looking a new band to join.  And then some black guy named Jeremiah came up and tried to sing a song playing from the juke box.  It didn't exactly worked.

Sensuous Woman made it's debut.  I forgot to bring the lyrics to Keep On Truckin but I didn't need to sing it   My performance wasn't that great, She Belongs To me, I couldn't read the lyrics very well and had to improvise   Had a couple people singing along to When Will I Be Loved, and for shits and giggles did the high end falsetto to Everybody's Talking with Donna Jo helping on vocals.  After that, I played guitar to the easy song segment of the show and then retired the guitar and played congas the rest of the way.

I got to chat with Brenda for a spell and it was fun to reconnect with her.   I really don't see her that much since relocating my Sunday jam to Stone City and for the most part she picks and chooses the ones that she wants to go to and avoid certain musicians.  I did tell her about the Stone City jam and that her and Joe should check it out.   We kinda chatted about Tommy and him going from Past Masters to the Kick It band.  Tommy has become a bit more restless since their breakup and it wasn't pretty.  The damage was done and it was extensive.

Even more so, when I was taking my guitar out to the car and putting it away, there was a couple having a shouting match at one another.  It was a strange ending to a night of positives and general weirdness.  I really didn't want to stay around and be caught in their crossfire of F bombs and other four lettered words of hatred.   And besides, my supper didn't agree with me at all.  I had to make a couple pit stops to use to the loo.

And still paying for it as I speak.

Stone City Acoustic Showcase-Forgot My Songbook Julie To The Rescue

Songs:

Everybody's Talking
Lynch Party
Ring Of Fire
Gold Dust Woman

With:

Julie Gordon-Lead Vocal on Gold Dust Woman
Dave Bonham
Glen Gardner
Bill Schlatter
Lenny Drake
Aaron Carl
Lane Gaffney
Bart Bock
Maki Dervo
Rocky Smith
John Waite

(Lenny Drake in Waubeek)

NOTES:  The conclusion of the weekend jams and benefits and Stone City General Store was the place to be for me.  The original intent was to do the Rumors jam and get some up to date photos of me but since Tami Soukup and Frank Smith took some nice pictures, and Glen Gardner having hip surgery this week I decided to stay close to home.

What figured was Julie coming out with Dave to Stone City as well.  She came in handy.  I left  my lyrics notebook at home  and had to rely on songs that I knew the lyrics to.  I originally was going to debut Sensuous Woman but had to scrap that one.  Julie did close my segment with another potent version of Gold Dust Woman.   She did return back to the stage with Dave Bonham to do a very good set of songs and hoping to score a gig at the General Store this summer.   Dave is supposed to return back to CR to help become Julie's duet partner when they play and hopefully they will score gigs.   I love sharing the stage with Julie, but since I work evenings, the only way we can get together is during acoustic jams and whenever we share an afternoon together.  She's a hard worker that does her best to make polished arrangements of songs.  In my case I play by rude tenacity and going with punk rock spirit, even in country setting like Stone City, I tend to be the most rocking out of all the jammers there. I'd rather not get in her way with her bands and duos.  I love it when I playing alongside her on stage.

Aaron Carl returned from Central City to play again this week and Lenny Drake also appeared.  I know him very well from the Waubeek jams.  I'm thinking when I go back to Waubeek I'll be playing drums more than guitar and helping his collective band out if needed.

Julie mentioned that Maki Dervo graduated from Linn Mar in 1979, the same year I exited Marion High School.  Maki was two grades ahead of Julie.  You learn something new   Even during the 70s when we were in the neighborhood growing up at rival schools, I still cannot picture running into either Maki or Julie during those times.

For now I'm taking time off to recover from sawing my fingernail off while performing the last couple nights and letting it grow again, hopefully past the quick.  I seem to use my finger nail more than the guitar pick and since coming back in 2015, I haven't had much fingernail on my index finger.   I guess that's the reason why playing drums isn't as hazardous.

And finally, Frank Smith, who takes amazing in action photos of local band hung around at the Chrome Horse New Bo Bar to snap a picture of myself.  Damn, he makes me look good!  I'm basically watching every move that Rick Clay makes on Dreams I'll Never See Again.  Again special thanks to Troy Mitchell for letting me play his drums on a couple songs.

Meanwhile at Rumors (Kevin Simnacher: Photo)

Which begs the question, how many bands Terry McDowell is in?

Threshold
Toxic Blonde
FLEX
Project Floyd
Large Midgets
Lab Rats
Last Call
Justin Case
The Mandela Effect

and a few others as well.

Artisan Sanctuary Benefit Set List 2/24/18

(Barb Myers made the drawing)

Songs


All It Ever Does Is Rain
Listen To Love
Drawn In The Dark
The Life We Lead
Love's Guessing Game
Everybody's Talking
Logic And Lies

So this happened.  Jim Jacobmeyer asked me if I wanted to help out doing some music for their 3rd annual benefit, the first one they had up in Marion since moving there.  I was honored to do so and for the most part I did all but one cover as originals., In the grand tossed off style of course. And in the process pretty much sawed my fingernail down to the quick and may need to take some off to regrow my fingernail.  Stephanie Reynolds let off the show, Phil Bo King then took the stage and Stephanie returned.  I went on after her and proceeded to do a pretty interesting and entertaining set.  Barb Myers donated her time and effort drawing caricatures of people to which she drew the above picture of myself.   All It Ever Does Is Rain makes its debut, yet another song from Town's Edge Rock, which fit the mood since it was raining outdoors at the time

I was going to purchase the copy of Logic And Lies that I left up there to sell and give that one to Phil Bo as a gift since he was kind enough to give me a copy of his CD, but somebody must have bought my CD.  Whoever did that.  Thank you for supporting my music.

And then: with  FOUR DAY CREEP at New Bo
https://www.reverbnation.com/fourdaycreep

Dreams I'll Never See Again
Waiting For The Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago.

Troy Mitchell is a bad ass rock drummer. He does so much to the music and hits those breaks just right.

Of course we did Dreams I'll Never See Again.  I love playing that song with Rick.  I don't think I ever played with anybody who is more harder rocking than with him on guitar.  He's a joy to watch.

Tami Soukup took the photos.  One of the most Conserative rocker girls I've known and a total sweetheart.  I got to hang with her and her husband and Rick's wife Andi for a spell. Above. another photo of Troy Mitchell

Below: Rick with his weapon of choice.  I actually attempted to do the Waiting For The Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago medley and for a first time of not doing that song (in about 2 years I think, it went pretty well.  People seem to enjoy it when I play drums.

Nothing wrong with playing acoustic but sometimes I need to rock out.  Tonight was that case.

Artisan Sanctuary Acoustic Showcase 2/22/18

Songlist:

She Belongs To Me
In The Wind Tonight
We All Sleep Alone
Logic And Lies
Get It Over With
Listen To Love

Notes:  Not a lot to report.

Who was there.

Jim Jacobmeyer
M.J.
Colton Thompson
Patrick Lower
Phil Bo King
Gregdon Cole

And nobody else

In The Wind Tonight made it's debut.   It was a disappointment not having many folks up there and there certainly no crowd to speak of, so I added two more songs and the whole thing ended at 9 PM.
I basically had time to grab a Naso's Pizza and watched a couple of basketball games.

Colton was stuck with a sore throat.

Gregdon plugged in and did three noisy little rock and roll numbers, Phil did four songs including Joe Walsh Welcome To The Club. Colton did four karaoke songs. I think we shorted Patrick's set, after I got done, he did The Wind Cries Mary Karaoke Version.   I didn't have my glasses on so I blotched up part of She Belongs To Me but people still liked it.  I guess.

(The Dawn)

The next night The Dawn came up from Davenport to play The Mockingbird in front of a small but appreciative crowd.  Welcome to our neighborhood guys!

checker's acoustic jam-In the key of Sweet G

Songlist (incomplete)

Knocking On Heaven's Door (Dan and Steve; Vocals)
She Belongs To Me
When Will I Be Loved
Gold Dust Woman (Julie: lead vocals)
Southern Pacific
Behind Blue Eyes
I Won't Back Down (Attempted)
Summertime Blues
I've Just Seen A Face (Steve: lead vocal)
Turn The Page (Steve: lead vocal)
Margaritaville (Steve's idea)
Everybody's Talking (Fred Neil's version)
Everybody's Talking (Nilsson version, Steve and Glen: vocals)
Eve Of Destruction (Steve: Lead vocal)
For What's It Worth
Let's Work Together
You Don't Know Me (Glen; Lead vocal)
These Days (Glen:lead vocals)
Pink Houses (Julie: Lead vocals)
Spooky (Julie: lead vocals)
Blue Bayou (Julie: Lead Vocals)

I'm missing a few songs of note: I sang on the songs that isn't credited to anybody else
I played guitar on the songs I sang, I either played guitar and did some vocals or played percussion elsewhere.

With:

Julie Gordon
Dave Bonham
Glen Gardner
Steve Black Wolf
Dan Moyers

Notes:  Dan Moyers came up from Burlington tonight to do a few high octane songs.  If memory serves me correct, I think I played drums behind him when he came up to Rumors.  And did Rocky Mountain Way.  Dan did Last Kiss before Steve popped up to add Stand By Me as a medley.  Dan added more of a Guns And Roses Vibe to Knocking On Heaven's Door. Dan is not to be confused with Dan Moyer, who is my co worker and goes to see the rock and roll bands playing in town.

Southern Pacific made its debut.

While messing around with Pink Houses, Glen showed me how to do the sweet G chord, basically putting the ring and pinky fingers on the last two strings on the guitar. It makes a world of difference.

This time out Gold Dust Woman was restored to the b minor chorus and even Julie prefer that version.  Nothing wrong with trying different chords or arrangements.  Kinda like Everybody's Talking, which the Nilsson version was demonstrated by Dave and Glen.  I don't know, I think I rather much do it the way I have been doing all along, although my arrangement is a bit more chords. I am simply more used to that arrangement.

A disappointing turnout, Quentin showed up but opted out after not feeling well.  Dan had to return back to Burlington and left around 9 30 and Steve left soon afterwards.  But Glen and I stayed the whole night, Julie and Dave started the jam and finished with Blue Bayou.

Belinda had to stay home due to the flu.

Stone City Acoustic Showcase: 2/18/18

Songs:

She Belongs To Me
When Will I Be Loved
Fox On The Run
Jet Airliner.

Hosted by Bubba Johannes

With:
Glen Gardner
Bill Schlatter
Ray Larson
Aaron from Central City
Mike Frederick
Bart Bock
Maki Dervo
Dusty The Piano Player
John Waite
Richard Budde on drums
Julie Gordon

(Photo: Glen Gardner-County Home Rd looking west)

Notes:  A very bluegrass slanted jam of sorts tonight. The crowd wasn't as big as last week and it got to be a musician's crowd when I took the stage.  She Belongs To Me and When Will I Be Loved made their debut.

Glen Gardner did a version of Everybody's Talking instead of me.  So I did Jet Airliner instead.  We talked about it earlier and he wanted to do a version of it.  His was more closer to Nilsson's version than mine.  I thought he did a good job of that song.

For four songs, it was a very short set.  About 10 minutes worth.  Bart Bock ran sound while Bubba was on break.

Maki Dervo, played a set with six year old Madison being guest vocalist.

Richard (Dick) Budde, bought drums up to assist the fellow jammers up on stage.  He has played at Whittier and Checkers on occasion.  I didn't use him on my songs, since the first two songs were debuts and I didn't have any rock songs to suit him.  But perhaps on future jams I'll tap him to play drums on a few songs.

On the local scene Ron Dewitte lost his battle with cancer on Sunday.  He was 68.  Dewitte was a legend among the music scene in Cedar Rapids with Flock Of Funk and also part of The Blue Band. He eventually married Lynn Rothrock in 2005 and they became a duo of sorts.  Dewitte continued to play guitar till November of last year and by then the cancer became too painful for him to continue. I didn't know Ron personally but I have heard great things about him and people always give him a high regard.  He will be missed.

Stone City Acoustic Showcase 2/11/18 Solo

Songlist

We All Sleep Alone
Midnight Rider
Everybody's Talking
No Expectations

With

Bill Schlatter
Glen Gardner
Lane Gaffney
Maki Devo
Big Mo
Greg Mein
Brenda Hoskins-Mein

Brenda in the Marti Gra spirit.

NOTES:

For the first time since her shoulder surgery Jan 23rd, Brenda played live on stage with Greg on a few numbers.  She did pretty good.

Bill and Glen did a version of The Weight, then Greg and Brenda did their version.  Yes it was need of some drumming

There was a pretty big dinner crowd of about 100 people, the most folk that I witness in playing live. I decided on We All Sleep Alone and watched the reaction from the people. Some surprised looks, some indifferent but most were generous in their applause.

I've seen Joe Greene, a high school buddy there in attendance.  He didn't seem to be too interested in talking to me and disappear once The Big Chief and Little Indians band took the stage at 7.  But then again, I really much friend support from my high school classmates.  Most unfriended me from the social media networks anyway.  Guess I don't  have good high school friends after all.  Joe is supposed to be a good guitar player.  But he didn't play at all tonight.

Tommy Bruner has decided to leave The Past Masters.  Mike Clair is slated to take over as guitarist for Tommy.  Look for Tommy to continue to play at various jams in the area.

Whittier Acoustic Showcase-EGADS! And Julie Too

Songlist

Sundown
She's A Beauty
We All Sleep Alone
Blue Bayou
Gold Dust Woman
Stop Draggin My Heart Around
Ain't No Sunshine
Lovesong
Ring Of Fire
Fever

With:
Julie Gordon: Guitar, lead vocals (She's A Beauty, G.D.W. S.D.M.H.A, Lovesong)
                        Backing vocals (Ring Of Fire, Sundown)
Mark Randolph: Guitar
Belinda James: Lead Vocals (Fever, Blue Bayou, Ain't No Sunshine), Backing vocals (Gold Dust Woman)
Tim Nemec-Bass and acoustic guitars
I played guitar and sang lead on Ring Of Fire, Sundown and We All Sleep Alone, did the counter lead vocal to Stop Draggin My Heart Around.

David Lam-Host

NOTES:

It was a small set of Jammers.  Jeff Overly couldn't make it due to the weather and the passing of his wife's father.  As for the snowstorm, this was the seventh straight night of snow.  Which actually after I dropped Julie off back at her place.  Thankfully, the snow didn't start up till after I got home.

It was the first time that The EGADS were in the same room together (except for Larry Axleman who wasn't there and perhaps we'll never jam with again).  It was the first time Tim Nemec joined us since he had his toes amputated and he sounded pretty good.   It was the first time that Julie did the Whittier jam.  She was kinda surprised how laid back the jammers were, but I did remind her that this jam was more acoustically based than the Checker's Jams she hosts.  Julie did two originals, the first one i wasn't sure of the name but the second one was the lovely She's A Beauty.  I think the jammers were amazed on how well she took Gold Dust Woman to near heights. Last month, I attempted to do Lovesong and Stop Draggin My Heart Around from the male perspective, which didn't work very well.  This time out, Julie did superior versions of both songs.  We tried a different arrangement of Gold Dust Woman and worked on Stop Draggin My Heart Around before leaving.  Over at her place I went over Every Mother's Son and Fox On The Run but didn't get around doing them.

We All Sleep Alone was debuted for the first time.  I have not sang that song ever live since coming out of retirement and while it made number 1 on the Lucky Star Radio charts, I didn't feel comfortable enough to play it till tonight.   It got a good response so I'll reprise that for the Artisan Sanctuary Open Mic Night, weather permitting of course.

Mark Randolph backed up Belinda on all of their songs.  I did rhythm guitar to Ain't No Sunshine and Fever.  With Belinda going through surgery that will keep her out of the spotlight for about a month, she was very active this week in the acoustic jams across town. I did the basic melody to Blue Bayou but still can't figure out the chorus chords.  It's very off the wall and only Mark can play it.

Tim did For What Its Worth instead of me and he plays that too in a different chord.  I basically did backing vocals (for what it's worth).  It doesn't bother me if somebody does a song that I usually do in a regular basis.

With Julie with me, the focus was on the songs that we play together rather than the original songs that I usually do when I play solo but  I wanted to do We All Sleep Alone.  We could have done Rainbow In The Dark, since she sings it as a ballad and I could play that without any problems. I know we have a great working relationship on stage and what the future holds, I'm sure that will continue.  The emphasis is that she wants to start up Julie And The Mad Dogs and go further into a more blues rock sound.  With Ryan back on the east coast, the future of Dreams Of Arcadia is up in the air, Dave Bonham had to take over Friday Night in Coralville and as always does a fine job. I do think with the Mad Dogs, she better off finding a power drummer for that band.  My drumming has  deteriorated over the past couple months, I'm no longer the bash and crash pounder of years ago but rather content to keep a beat close to the song and not over do the drum rolls.   Terry McDowell can get away with that.  Troy Mitchell likewise. But I'm beginning to feel and look my age on drums.  Eventually, she'll find the right person for her band.  And I'll continue to support her any way I can. After all, I am seeing her.  It's slow going but we'll still continue to feel each other out in being closer together in life. Learning to adapt, learning to love, she's always been a good person with a good heart and she has managed to calm me at times when I usually would have flown over the edge.  When it comes to love and anything other, I'll let her decide when the time is right.  I'm happy just to be around her and playing music together on stage.

But as I continue to to play more guitar, I'm finally beginning to frequent the places closer to home, Whittier, Stone City, Waubeek, The Sanctuary etc. What and where the future holds for me, I have no idea.  But as tonight's Whittier Showcase proved that I'm at home jamming with my two favorite vocalists, playing the songs that make people go wow.  

When things go well, I simply smile and count my blessings.   Like I have been  since July 2015.

One year ago.  I made my debut at Whittier.  Time flies.

Checker's Acoustic Showcase 2/7/18

Songs:(incomplete)

Cinnamon Girl (Julie and Rodney-vocals)

Stop Draggin My Heart Around (Julie lead vocal, Rodney-Counter vocal)
Let's Work Together (Rodney-lead vocals) 

Everybody's Talking  (Rodney-lead Vocals) 

A Melissa Ethridge Song that escapes my mind (Steve Black Wolf-lead vocals)

I Still Love You Now (Steve Black Wolf-Lead vocal)
Lodi (Steve Black Wolf-Vocals)

I Shot The Sheriff  (Ed Butler-Vocals)

Fever  (Belinda James: Vocals)

Blue Bayou  (Belinda again on vocals) 

Kansas City Blues  (Lorie Parker Lead Vocals, Julie Gordon and Donna Jo:Backing Vocals)

Bell Bottom Blues  (Ed Butler-Lead Vocals, Rodney Smith and Dave Bonham-Backing Vocals)

Knockin On Heaven's Door/Helpless (Steve Black Wolf and Ed Butler Vocals)

Turn The Page (Steve Black Wolf: Vocals)
Proud Mary (Julie Gordon: Lead Vocals, Lorie Parker and Donna Jo: Backing Vocals)

Bootyful  (Lorie Parker-Lead Vocals) 

Sweet Home Chicago (Julie Gordon lead vocals, Donna Jo and Lorie Parker: Backing vocals) 

With:

Julie Gordon 

Steve Black Wolf

Dave Bonham

Glen Gardner

Ed Butler

Lorie Parker

Donna Jo

Belinda James

Quentin Duarte 

And 

Tim Canfield

Tommy Bruner

PJ and Pam Harrington

Luther Parker

I played guitar on some songs and did percussion on others.

Julie Gordon and Dave Bonham were hosts of the jam.  Lorie Parker took this photo of Me and Julie. She always has the perfect smile for picture.  As for myself I need about 10 pictures to get at least a decent one of me. This is the best one taken of us.  It's been documented that it's hard to get a picture of her and me together.  I had to locate this one from Lorie's FB page.

(L-R: Glen Garnder, Dave Bonham,Steve Black Wolf, Donna Jo, Ed Butler)

Stone City General Store Acoustic Performance 2/4/18

Setlist:

Fox On The Run
Branded Man
All Along The Watchtower
Ring Of Fire
Lynch Party
Everybody's Talking

With

Lane Gaffney
Bill Schlatter
Maki Dervo
Dana Rocky Smith


It was a busy week for me.  Saturday, I played percussion for Dreams Of Arcadia in Solon.  It was fried chicken night and I'm not a big chicken eater but did buy the dinner and had mostly potatoes and pork n beans, not exactly a great idea but oh well.  Pat Geasland took over on percussion on some songs and I backed Julie up on Gold Dust Woman.  Belinda James sang  on a couple numbers.  I really didn't need to bring my guitar, I used Ryan's.  Anyway, the Legion Hall guy said that they served 443 pounds of chicken to feel the starving masses and that place was packed and stayed fairly packed through most of the DOA performance.   My wrists were killing me after pounding on the Cajole most of the night.  Hand drums will kill your wrist if not careful.  But that was my decision to keep the beat for them.  And it did get people out dancing.


Another first was checking out the Stone City Acoustic Jam.  I live 5 miles away from the General Store and this was my debut.  Since it was super bowl Sunday, only two other guitar players showed up and Rocky Smith appeared later.  I decided on a more country/folk type of songs this time out, nothing too complicated outside of Fox On The Run.  and a botched note on a couple of songs.  Lane Gaffney was there at the Maury Baker Jam on Wednesday so we shared a few stories along the way.  Maki entertained us with some interesting songs, namely Whiplash, a original that was requested.  For the sing along, I chose Knockin on Heaven's Door.

It seems to me that when I announce that I'll be playing a jam, I go to the ones that nobody shows up.  Usually Stone City jam has plenty of pickers, it may have been the weather as well but when I ventured in, I wonder if they did had a jam.  Lane was hosting this one  and we connected well. I decided to go Stone City after I came home after crashing at Julie's place and had to deal with a clipper making rural driving a pain in the ass to get home around noon.  However, the sun and winds came out soon after that but thankfully died down once the sun had set. Maki and Rocky both were at Waubeek last night and they said the place was packed.  I settled on a mushroom burger at the General Store and they were excellent.  We did have about 10 people in the audience and they seemed to like the music.

That's all that matters.

Notes:  The Rumors Jam continued, but since I made it home, I didn't see the need to make a second trip into town. For the near future I'm sure I'll be back sooner  if I'm not doing things with Julie in town.  I know Carl was doing his best to get me to go to Stone City and I knew I would get there eventually.   I didn't figure I would wait this long to actually do this.  The Rumor's Jam still remains special and I'll support Terry's efforts to keep it going.   My priorities remain the same, support Julie and the nights she hosts the acoustic jams and her bands.  At the same time the 2nd Saturday of the month is Whittier Jam. Anything else will have to wait.

Oh, I got to play guitar on Dervo's version of Whiplash.  That was awesome!

Solon Legion Hall-Dreams Of Arcadia

Feb 3, 2018

Julie Gordon and Ryan Matthew Paul are Dreams Of Arcadia
I sat in and played percussion and did guitar on Gold Dust Woman

Donna Jo Elsner, Belinda James and Pat Geasland were guest stars.


a few photos from Ryan Matthew Paul who was happy to share them for us.

Dreams Of Arcadia, perhaps the best picture of them, since the rest were quite blurry.

Pat joins on percussion.  I think they call them Cajoles but it's more like a beat box anyway.  The Solon Legion Hall had a pretty good crowd once again.  A few rowdies did make things a bit interesting but the owner Cliff was a pretty cool guy.

For the most part, I should have left my own guitar at home since I only used it on a couple songs unplugged of course, but bringing the beat box did provide a nice beat through their song list. It did kill my wrists for a few days but I wanted to play along with them as much as I could.  When I couldn't, Pat took over.  There is talk about a new version of Julie And The Mad Dogs with him behind the drums.   He's more suited to their style than mine.   He's better looking too.

As usual, once the party started going, Julie wanted to keep it going and withhold taking breaks. A couple songs were done twice (Wagon Wheel of course, What I Like About You) and people loved them.  Plenty of encores came into play as well.  We started around 8:40 and ended before 1 AM.  One thing about Julie is that she keeps playing until they shut the lights off.  She lives for the music. But anyway, the picture above is most of the gang who played,  Belinda had to leave early to do Bible class the next morning and couldn't make it to the group portrait at the end.   As for myself, I look more of the anti rocker than anything else and most of my photos I look like I photo bombed them.   Nevertheless it was a great time and I got to share it with some of my favorite musicians.