Julie's Birthday Bash-Parlor City And Checkers

Parlor City Blues Jam

(Frank Smith: Photo from the 4DC show 3/17/18)

Hosted by Tom (Gibby) Giblin, Dan Johnson, Kevin Burt, EG Madison

With:

Julie Gordon-Lead Vocals
Dave Bonham-Lead Guitar
Tom Listebarger-Keyboards
Mike-Fett-Guitar
Byron Stevens-Bass

Songs;

Cold Shot
Runaway
The Letter
Blue Bayou

Notes:  Kevin Burt hosted the jam, which bought out a lot of people at Parlor City.  It was standing room only and I really didn't think I'd be jamming at all,especially when I had to get back to work.  Thankfully Gibby managed to get me to play before I had to leave and the best part he paired me up with Julie and Dave.  Tom Listebarger and I jammed a couple times back at Rumors (usually when Dan Johnson took part in that) and I come to find he's very smooth on the keyboards.  He really nailed the keyboard part on The Letter, even though he nor I played that ever before.  Julie and Dave performed that song last Sunday with Rob Haskill on drums.

EG Madison is a very expressive drummer and his cymbal line up is all over the place.  He had a Saluda Crash next his Paiste 602  21 inch heavy ride and Paiste Dimension 18 inch crash.  He had a K high hat but his favorite was the Sabian Paragon Splash. I liked his 602 Ride the best.

This was the first time I was at Parlor City since August of last year.  I thought I was there later in the fall but I guess I didn't.

Julie's birthday was Tuesday and to keep things low key, I wished her a happy birthday from the Townedgers Music Site, since nobody hardly goes over there.  I do think we both have a positive effect on one another, she really has helped me find my inner true spirit again. I know she misses Kyle even two and  a half years after his untimely passing, there's plenty of memories and music that they made together out there.  At the same time, Julie also fills a void that was missing in my life, that special somebody to make music and hang out with.  At that stage in life, I gave up after my last relationship ended in 2012 and opted to settle into a life of obscurity before my music comeback, which begin with No Exit/30 and to better effect with Forthcoming Trains and then back on the music scene again. And then somehow fate bought us together.   I do wish that Kyle was still alive, I would have learned a lot from him, and I'm sure the songs that we would play would be quite astonishing. And off the wall.

While Parlor City was packed, Ramsey's had their Tuesday Night Acoustic jam going on.  Tony Nickels, Lenny Drake, Ed Butler and Glen Gardner all took part.  I have yet to visit Ramsey's on acoustic night.

(Jules and Guitar Dave)

Checker's Acoustic Jam 4/5/18

Setlist (incomplete)

Can't You See
Knockin On Heaven's Door/Helpless
Lyin Eyes
Turn The Page
Last Kiss/This Magic Moment/Stand By Me
All Along The Watchtower
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Six Days On The Road
Stop Draggin My Heart Around
For What It's Worth
Gold Dust Woman
Ring Of Fire
Everybody's Talking
Eve Of Destruction

With:

Julie Gordon: Lead Vocals, percussion
Donna Jo-Backing Vocals
Steve Black Wolf: Lead Vocals, Guitar
Dave Bonham:Vocals, guitar
Kip Webb-Guitar and shouting (Knockin On Heaven's Door)
Tommy Bruner:Guitar And Vocals
Kim Trevillion-Lead Vocals

Plus:

Ken Webb
Brenda Hoskins-Mein
Greg Mein
John Hernandez

(Jules and Crabby)

Sofia Chesney photo of a clean shaven Steven Black Wolf, who's actually smiling.

I think I was more disappointed that the turnout was low than Julie was, but we made the most of what we had, with a extended set from Steve.  For All Along The Watchtower, Dave did the Dave Mason version rather than the garage arrangement that I usually do.  The first five songs I helped play along with Dave or Steve, and then my segment I started out with the debut of I Heard It Through The Grapevine.

My set list could be considered the beginning of the Jules and Crabby show. If she wasn't singing lead, she was singing backing vocal, to which the only song I sang by myself was Six Days On The Road.  Dave and her are still working out the kinks of their duo and they'll be fine with more practice and more familiarity.  Julie is very compatible with anybody she pairs up with, she adapts to any and everything.  Even before dating her, we always had our own style.  Her life revolves around music, so does mine, she is more inclined to be a dynamic performer with a original voice, she is more of a entertainer than myself.  I tend to be happy behind the scenes or just playing guitar and let her sing the songs.  And I'm very happy with her, when she sings alongside me.

NOTES:  A surprise to see Kenneth John Webb and John Hernandez up at Checkers' I can't recall seeing either one of them at all at Checkers but it was to reconnect with them.  Ken's son Kip played a few songs and added something different to the equation.   Brenda and Greg also popped up after work, although they didn't play anything but we chatted a spell.  Greg is talking about leaving Crazy Delicious to simplify things with a new band.  I would love to rearrange my nights to actually be in their band or help them out.

My original intent was to let Tommy and Kimberly sing Gold Dust Woman after I finished up my set, but they were still eating so we kept going on and Julie suggested doing that song.  They both came up with a couple cool songs, one of note was Sonia Dada's Lover Lover You Don't Love Me Anymore.   They wanted to do their version of Gold Dust Woman which they really didn't need my permission.  Kimberly really does a good job on that song, We did that song at the Artisan Sanctuary jam last year.  Tommy was thinking of doing some songs with Kimberly for a forthcoming project. Worth a listen once they get done with that.

Finally, once we got done, I went over to say goodbye.  Dave's doggie, Eli, who was a bit shy and skiterish greeted me with a jump on my lap and I got a barrage of doggie kisses.  First time that ever happened.

Maybe I'm becoming a positive influence on the furbabies too?