Thoughts From The Townedger

Ah the half way point of the year.  Where does the time go?  Anyway I haven't done much on the inside thoughts of late, I've been too busy posting the set list of songs at places that I played at.

There's has been some wonderful highs of the month:  The Stone City General Store crowd singing along Tulsa Time, Julie stealing the show with Gold Dust Woman when I played in Marion last Saturday.  And playing drums and backing up Billy Bourbon and Kim Trevillion at Aces N Eights.    And seeing my folks watching me play live for the first time ever.  And getting paid in the process by the Freedom Festival folks too.  I'm living the life.

Terry Bainbridge was asking me about starting up the next album.  It's been a year since Logic And Lies got issued into the world and I'm ready to come up with new songs to do.  It's different this time out, I usually write heartbreak songs but I've been with Julie for over a year and she has managed to turn my life inside out.    We have songs planned, I haven't gotten around record any due to playing jams and record collecting.  My place needs a good cleaning.  I have stacks of 45s that need to be put away but no storage to put them in.   And I keep collecting.  I am a hoarder, that needs to stop...oh Looky J.Geils Your Getting Even While I'm Getting Old, don't mind if I doooo.

The question remains if Martin Daniels will return to help out on the new album.  He's got a new job that has taken his attention away from the band, he's still part of The Townedgers.  But I do have Kenny Miller if need be when I start working on this album.  Really no time limit but hopefully it will be released before the snow flies.  Count Geoff Redding in, although he has no time for the weekend jams.

I haven't used Julie for my own projects, she's very busy with gigs with Dave Bonham and despite it all  Dreams Of Arcadia will keeping playing, Ryan Paul remains an enigma, but knowing Julie, she'll forgive him and they'll play on.   I'm sure she's all in favor of doing a gig with me at Ramsey's or Stone City.  But I do think she has to follow the money and have the right guys with her.  There's talk of her and Dave and Byron Stevens putting together a new blues rock band, or a new version of the Mad Dogs.  I think that will be a reality soon.  If I can help her sound better with her band I can do that.  As long as I have a full time paying job, I have to keep this part time.

With Tony Nickles starting up the acoustic jam at Urban Pie on Saturday Nights, that will be more of a place I'll be hanging around, more so than say, Whittier or Waubeek.  I have a gig coming up on July 14th that will keep me away from Whittier for another month but I do owe David Lam a visit.  It may have to wait till September, but I'll return eventually.  Stone City is five minutes away and works out great for me.  If I decide to relocate to Cedar Rapids then I'll be more at Rumors once again and the jams in town.

Patrick Lower mentioned that Julie and Kyle did made a couple songs for a forthcoming project that never seen the light of day, Kyle's passing put an end to that.  Two and a half years later, she still misses him.  I'd be in favor of a project of her and Kyle's best moments.  I'm sure something could be arranged if I would add some sort of percussion to their songs, which a few are out on You Tube.  It would be a touchy situation and it would have to be done right if at all.

Being with Julie has changed my songwriting.  I really can't go back to the days of rehashing songs about forgotten girlfriends.  When people bring up Janice or Clarice or even Lisa, I can't envision them in the present tense.  I retired the songs that was about Janice, Running In The Rain, Last Train Home, they mean nothing to me anymore.   Looking back, I really had no relationship with Janice nor Jeanette nor in the first place.  I finally found that somebody that has buried those days and times when they were in town.  Even the town we grew up no longer exists.  The train don't go through town anymore, the record store and Ole's Ham n Egger are gone, so is the OK Lounge.  Janice married her true love years ago, she served a purpose in this life and no longer figures in my life.  Julie is the one that matters, she's still devoted to the memory of Kyle and perhaps always will. It took me a while to let her in my life, after I broke up with Nicole, I really swore to a life a solitude and wasn't interested into getting into another love.  Julie somehow managed to sneak through the barriers and walls and into my heart.  I can't envision nobody else to ever take her place.

Given that, we remain friends. We tried being boyfriend/girlfriend, but I'm not Kyle.  I'll love her forever but we simply too set in our ways.

I heard stories that Belinda and Mark are back together again.  They make great music together but relationship wise? Toxic at best but I do wish them well if they want to be together.

Urban Pie Acoustic Jam  Songlist: 6/30/18  (electric show)

Songs;

Summertime Blues/Realitiesville
For What Its Worth
Everybody's Talking
Knocking On Heaven's Door

Donna Jo-Vocals and percussion on For What Its Worth and Everybody's Talking
Steve Black Wolf-Backing Vocals on For What Its Worth and Everybody's Talking

With:

Tony Nickels
Glen Gardner
Donna Jo Eisner
Steve Black Wolf
Shawn Ster
Mike Fredericks
Jay Devore
Hoppy

Donna Jo filled in for Julie on tonight's songs

Even though Steve and Donna Jo could sing it, they didn't on Knocking On Heaven's Door.

I used the Fender Strat for the guitar of choice tonight.  I debated to even bring an amp due to the forthcoming thunderstorm that drenched the area but at least it stopped in time for me to bring the amp out to the car.

Donna Jo sang back up to Shawn on California Dreamin.  She really does have a nice singing voice to her.

Artisan Sanctuary Acoustic Showcase 6-28-18

Songlist:

Drawn In The Dark
Summer Breeze
One Track Mind
Logic And Lies


with

Jim Jacobmeyer
Patrick Lower
Glen Gardner
Phil and Darryl
Gregdon Cole
Shawn Ster
Bart and Kathy Carfizzi
Phil Bo King
Tony Nickels
Cathy Hart
Mike Spina
David Arnold
Rick Gallo
Rich and Jess Toomsen
Delayne Stallman

And

David Plond


A rare early start since I wanted to go see Wooden Nickel Lottery.  The big surprise was seeing my classmate and good friend from high school David Plond show up and although he missed my performance, we did manage to talk about the old times

I did get paid for the Saturday performance which was more than I expect.  It was the most take home money that I have ever made, which accounts for something.

All originals and the debut of Summer Breeze from Town's Edge Rock was the agenda for tonight. We had plenty of musicians to take part tonight so I only did four.  In a strange twist of events, Phil Bo ended the jam.  He's usually one of the earliest that play.  Or maybe it was Glen Gardner who starts things off.

With the exception of Ed Butler, all who played in Marion Saturday were there tonight.

Checkers' Acoustic Showcase 6-27-18

Songs;

Gold Dust Woman
Bye Bye Love
Sugar Coated Loving
No Expectations
Six Days On The Road
Dead Flowers
Tulsa Time
Stop Draggin My Heart Around

With

Julie Gordon: Lead Vocals on Gold Dust Woman, Draggin My Heart Around
and backing vocal for Tulsa Time

And

Glen Gardner
Lauren Shuster
Carl Meiners
Mike Fredericks
Dave Bonham
Donna Jo Eisner
DJ Hovenstat

I'm not sure if the Aces N Eights Wednesday Jam is cutting into the crowd participation, but I did see DJ popping in for a chat with Julie, my guess he probably went down there.   It's tough trying to support both jams but since Julie hosts this jam, I'm more inclined to support her.  As always, Glen and Carl showed up as well to play their music.  But in theory, I wonder if Aces And Eights continues to get more jammers if Checkers might jettison this jam.  I doubt that but stranger things have happen.

As in the case of the Chrome Horse closing down their Blairs Ferry location and returning full time back to New Bo.  New Bo is continuing to have more venues to play at, but whoever takes over the other Chrome Horse will probably turn that into a karaoke thing.  I also noticed that Hardee's closed their Kirkwood Blvd location which is really no big deal;  they never seem to have sweet tea when I did go there to visit them.  The Sixth Street and Mount Vernon ones are still open.  So I still have a place to eat and then get the shits later on.

Needless to say, Julie led off with Gold Dust Woman and then I debuted Bye Bye Love and Sugar Coated Love and then coasted with repeat of No Expectations from the Sunday gig.  I think I'm getting used to the workmanlike quality of the songs that I play, I'll still mess up a chord or two but then repeat the offending chord to see if anybody notices.  I doubt  if the 20 patrons really cared much of hearing the mistakes or not.  Perhaps I could have gone to Aces n Eights after my set list, and perhaps Julie would have been cool with that.  But I do think she was more happier that I was still around at the end.   Anyway, a guy came up and requested some Tom Petty so we ended things with Stop Draggin My Heart Around, but since I haven't played it much managed to mess up on the first chorus.   The argument remains had Greg and Brenda Mein doing a better version but I think when Julie & I do ours we tend to rock a bit more although I'm trying to get used to her version.

With Ryan Paul back in town, there's been a bit of friction going on to anybody that he comes across with.  He's a good player and singer, his work ethnic tends to paint him as lazy and a bit dominant.  With Dreams Of Arcadia, Julie and him does have a dynamic tension that makes the songs a bit more edgy.  But the working relationship with Julie is a bit strained.  She has no gigs with him till July 27th at the Break Room.  It's hard to say, I guess it depends on which way the wind blows.  But I wouldn't be surprised if they did play again.

Steve Black Wolf couldn't make it to the jam tonight, personal issues going on.  We really could have used him.

Stone City Acoustic Showcase 6/24/18

Stone City Set list:

No Expectations
Games People Play
Switch Board Susan
The Race Is On
Midnight Rider

Aaron Caryl: Fiddle

With

Bill Sclatter
Phil  Bo King
Diane Koening

Carl Meiners

Maki Dervo

Angie Lambert-Cox

Mae and June

Shawn Ster

Billylee Janey

Danny Trumm

Rocky Smith

Mike Fredericks

Joe Greene

Bart Bock

And 

Lane Gaffney Host.

(Mikey on Banjo, Aaron on Fiddle, Carl sings, the other two I can't think of their name)

The OH CARL support group,  Diane Koening, took the photos, Danny Chang is the guy in the hat, Angie Cox is the woman in the hat between Mae and June

Notes:  Most of the jammers were either here or at Rumors, where they crammed into that place for some hard rock and roll.  I love jamming with Rick Clay on Dreams I'll Never See Again but Terry McDowell really does a great job playing the drums and hitting the breaks just like the true professional that he is.   I  thought about going there to jam but I was feeling the after effects of yesterday's gigs, and I took a Tyenol PM in the morning which got me to be out of it most of the day.  Therefore I stayed close to home although plenty of the faithful was at Rumors.

For Stone City, it was a rare showing by Phil Bo King and Carl came back from biking across Missouri only to get it again from the women when he sang Your Cheating Heart.  He couldn't escape the OH CARL from the ladies from Stone City.  Used to be that it was Checkers but thanks to Donna Jo and Lorie Parker from the last Stone City jam, OH CARL can be heard in Stone City as well.

I'm not sure if Billy Lee Janey played Stone City; I left during Shawn's set to get back home and make supper.  Too many flies buzzing around the General Store for me to order anything and once the Flies land on your food or drink, you can't eat it anyway. I had a pesky fly on my drink last night at Urban Pie and I didn't drink from that glass anymore.  I hate flies,especially when they buzzing and landing on your food, drink whatever.  Another reason why I'm wearing a hat now.

I had Aaron Carl backing me up on my songs.  He's a cool guy and an excellent fiddle player and yes he makes my songs sound good too.  Just like Julie.  Having guest players always does make the songs better than they are when I'm play solo.  I was frustrated I couldn't find the words to Tulsa Time or Dead Flowers so Aaron chose Midnight Rider for the final number. Although I listed 14 people as guests, there were four women that played that I didn't get their names.  The General Store was quite rocking today.

Performance At The Freedom Picnic In Downtown Marion 6-23-18

Setlist:

Listen To Love
Train Goes Nowhere
I Just Started Hating Cheating Songs Today
Ever So Much
Does It Matter
Logic And Lies
Everybody's Talking
For What Its Worth
Cinnamon Girl
Gold Dust Woman

With: Julie Gordon on Cinnamon Girl and Gold Dust Woman

The Debut of the Urban Pie Saturday Night Acoustic Showcase:

Songs:

Get It Over With
Games People Play
I'm Waiting For The Man
Gold Dust Woman (With Julie Gordon)

The Gang:

Tony Nickels
Rose Slaymaker
Sofia Chesney
Steve Black Wolf
Dave Bonham
Julie Gordon
Adam Dinshell
Elizabeth Dinshell
Anthony The DJ
Bill Bourbon


Friday Night I sat in with Karl Hudson, Peter Ciccappio and Jeff Overly at The Shack and did Ring Of Fire

(Photo Credit: Jim Roth)

It was a cloudy afternoon as I made my way to downtown Marion for my spot at the Picnic In The Park starting off Freedom Festival 2018.  Most of the Artisan Sanctuary performers did play today, beginning with Phil Bo King at 11, Phil and Darryl at 12, Shawn Ster at 1 and Richard Edward Butler taking the first half of the 2 oclock performance.  It was supposed to be a paying gig but I have yet to say anything dollarwise coming out of this, but let's just say I'm living the dream.

This week was the first full blown of evening jams, and friday I made the rounds to see Karl, Peter and Jeff at The Shack and filled in for Karl on a bathroom break and then supporting Dave and Julie with Bob Gleason in attendance.   But I was more in concern about my gig the next day.  I have been dealing with a summertime cold that did prevented me from helping out on a benefit in April, but this one was going to be special.  My parents were coming out to see me.  They have never seen me play live before  My mom and dad had to endure many years of me pounding on the drums and screaming into a microphone while playing a two string guitar but they never heard me play actual music before. I think they were very impressed upon my energetic half hour set.  I ended up playing nine songs including two with Julie popping up later.

While I think it's great to play these benefits I tend to wonder about the support of the other musicians around here.  Only Ed Butler remained at the park for the whole thing, and Shawn may have gotten the record for fastest time to clear out after he was done with his hour set, (minutes twenty seconds).   There were kids out in the park and we had vendors as well but the actual crowd watching us was no bigger than the crowd we get a open mics.   Kathy and Bart Carfizzi were there and although Russ got there too late at least he did show up to support the efforts.    Even a good friend of mine that I have not seen in years Jim Roth showed up to see me play.  That meant something.

So Ed did a few songs, including his Comfortably Numb parody and a few other off the wall things. Since the stage was the old Milwaukee Road Caboose I had to do a train song, so I did Train Goes Nowhere from So Much For That, a album that I don't play many songs off.  While I was trying to support the 35th anniversary of Town's Edge Rock, I only played Ever So Much.  Since my dad was out there, I went with Moe Bandy's Cheating Songs.  Julie didn't have to sing but she was gracious enough for help out on two songs, to which may have been the highlight of the whole thing if people stayed around long enough.  Those who did took notice.

(Patrick Lower running sound.  Shawn Ster on stage, I'm off to the left going over some songs)

Afterwards, we had a few people come up and complimented Julie on her fine singing on Gold Dust.  Even when Pat Lower took the video even I was amazed on how our vocals blended together.  You know we would make a great dueting duo.  But I always been more toward wanting to play drums for Julie anything else.

(Dave Bonham, Adam Dinsell, R.Smith, Sofia Chesney:Photo)

Later, the debut of the Urban Pie Acoustic jam started.  It was moved over from the Long Branch when the hotel decided to go karaoke again.  By then, I was getting a bit drained and had to deal with monitor issues and tore through Waiting For The Man before my voice gave out and Julie helped on a short version of Gold Dust Woman.   I played percussion behind Adam's Sweet Home Chicago and Sofia and Steve's set.  For the first time Steve didn't play Turn The Page or Knocking On Heaven's Door.

Checker's Acoustic Showcase and Aces And Eights Jam With Terry McDowell

Songs sang at Checkers

Games People Play
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Everybody's Talking
When Will I Be Loved
Bootyful

Donna Jo-Percussion and Backing Vocals (Games People Play, Bootyful)
Lorie Parker-Backing vocals (Games People Play)  Lead vocals on Bootyful
Cathy Hart-Guitar and backing vocals  on Bootyful
I played guitar and sang

With:
Glen Gardner
Bill Eisner
Mike Spina
Jeff Gage
Steve Black Wolf
Pam Herrington
Mike Fredericks
Jay Devore


And the debut of the Aces And Eights Jam

Terry McDowell-Host

With;

Kim Trevillion-Lead Vocals
Billy Bourbon-Vocals and Guitar
Randy Burgendoff-Vocals and Guitar
Tim Canfield-Bass and vocals
Terry McDowell: Drums
R.Smith-Drums

With:

Vic Hernandez
Kim Bean
Scott Sanborn
Trevor Worcel and his dad


Songs:  6 of em

Further Down The Road- Billy-vocals
Dust My Broom  Kim-Vocals
Just Because I'm A Woman- Kim: Vocal
Drift Away-Kim and Billy Vocals
Hit The Road Jack-Billy and Kim Vocals
Roadhouse Blues-Randy:Vocals

(Scott Sanborn, with Vic Hernandez, Tim Canfield and Billy Bourbon)

After eight weeks, the Bacon Jam ended at the Silver Star Saloon and at the last minute Terry moved to Aces And Eights for the debut of the new jam there.  Which also falls on the Checker's Acoustic Jam.  So I do my best to support both venues.

After mowing the yard this afternoon, I took a nap before a line of bad storms came and dumped about two inches of rain and flooded the ditches.  Too much rain also toppled a tree in the park near Czech Village.

First up:  Aces And Eights.  I know Terry enjoys the weeknight jam more, with enough drummers he can take the rest of the night off.  It was a very short crowd due to the last minute announcement of the jam earlier in the afternoon and everybody that showed up were drummers.  Kim started, I took over for six songs before the break and Scott did a 40 minute set and Trevor finished up as I was leaving to do the Checker's Jam.  Kimberly, on loan from Blue Scratch did a amazing four song set of blues.  The surprise was Hit The Road Jack with Kim and Billy trading vocals.  It was classic the way that they did it, the first time I ever done that song.

The highlight was chatting with the now retired Scott Sanborn, going for the David Letterman look with the beginnings of a full beard.  He complimented on my drumming and we talked about drumming in particular.  Scott has been a long time TV anchor, beginning at KCRG and then moved over to KGAN and later FOX 28, basically the same owner owns both KGAN/FOX 28,and a lot of propaganda, but I always thought Scott was one of the best anchors we had in town before he decided to retire and take up drumming.   The first song that was thrown at him was If You Wanna Get To Heaven, and I don't think he knew that one.  Scott's playing is very loose, and quite playful.  The reason why I stayed to watch him play.  And besides that, another monsoon came rolling into town and I didn't feel like getting wet.  But I still had to pay Cathy/Lorie a visit at their jams.

(Lorie Parker)

The rain stopped long enough for me to hit Checker's to jam with the gang there, even though I got there late, Cathy and Lorie were kind enough for me to do four songs.  I was worried about my singing; I have been dealing a week's worth of post nasal drip and constant coughing from a summertime cold.   Lorie and DJ helped out on  Games People Play, a song I haven't done in a while and You Ain't Goin Nowhere was debuted.  But even for four songs, it was very hot on stage and I ended up sweating up a storm. Carl Meiners was out biking in Missouri so we all did a video and sent it to him.   I'm sure he'll get a kick out of it.

(Jeff  Gage)

This is the second straight night I got to jam with Billy and am beginning to get familiar with some of his songs, namely Five Long Years, the old Buddy Guy/Eddie Boyd number to which at the end he does something like this.

It's been five long years.

And she had the nerve to...

I think I gotta say this one time (BAM)
No no, let me say it two times (BAM BAM)
She got me hurt so badly I gotta shout it three times (BAM BAM BAM)
Oh, we gotta make it four time (BAM BAM BAM BAM)

pause.

She had the nerve....to kick me out.

Billy Bourbon really brings the blues.  He was from Houston Texas and has come up here for a spell. And already he got a gig lined up at Rumors next month.

He might be here awhile.

PS:  While they have said that the Bacon Jam might be back in the fall, I seriously doubt that the Silver Star will live up to that promise.  For 8 months, the Bacon Jam was a steady flow of jammers to participate.  I did enjoy my only time being up there.   The Aces And Eights Wednesday Night Jam will be more of a continual jam, but jammers will have to pick and choose between that and the Checkers Acoustic Jam or start at one place and finish up at the other.  The Silver Star Saloon has been notorious for starting jams and pulling the plug and the Bacon Jam after two months was the longest lasting jam that they have.  Can't blame the jammers or Terry for that matter, they do get the word out and people do come.   And I'm sure Silver Star did turn a slight profit.  But I know the owners' are been suffering of late and the end of the Bacon Jam might be their last gasp before closing their doors.  I wouldn't boycott them, but they are a bit out of the way in my destinations to jam at than Checker's or Aces And Eights.  A shame Silver Star don't support the music better, I actually like the acoustics of that place.  Not as harsh as Aces And Eights.  

Parlor City Blues Jam-Smooth Grooves

Thank you Miles for letting me play your drums.  I try my best to treat your set as well as mine.

Songs:

On Broadway
Dead Flowers
The Olivia Groove
Baby What You Want Me To Do

With:

Bryce Janey-Lead Guitar and backing vocals (On Broadway, Dead Flowers)
T Bone Giblin-Keyboards
Dan Johnson-Bass and lead vocals on Baby What You Want Me To Do
Billy Bourbon-Lead vocals and guitar on On Broadway and Dead Flowers
Bob Gleason-Harmonica
And the twin guitar attack of Anderson Coates and Mark on Olivia And the Jimmy Reed number

Brook Hoover and Steve Deforest were in the audience but didn't play.
Laurel Henshaw was there too.

George Hanna was not there.


I have been so focused on my acoustic guitar jams that I almost abandoned my drum playing in town.  I suspect that will change more often than not.

I have known about the Ramsey's Acoustic Showcase on Tuesday Nights but not usually my night to go jam and if I do go jam it's to Parlor City for the blues jam.  Tom Giblin has really gone out of his way to get me to play drums on the songs and Dan Johnson keeps me locked in the inner groove.  In my tenure of playing there, they have sharpen my ability not to overplay but keep it simple and keep it tight.

Bryce Janey....what I can say about him that hasn't been said before.  His dad taught him a lot on guitar but he has become one of the best guitar blues players on the scene.  He did mention how he liked my drum playing after playing Dead Flowers, but he did a nice scat singing on On Broadway ala George Benson.  I only wished I could have played more songs with him.

However the two guys, Mark and Anderson both took lengthy guitar leads on the Olivia Groove, a song I remember only by the words Anderson sang was about Olivia.  And then another lengthy blues jam came and Dan sang some Jimmy Reed lyrics that turned into Baby What You Want Me To Do. For the first time in quite a while I jammed with Bob on harmonica.  I get a bit lax on the drumming and missed certain drum rolls but perhaps only me and Miles knew that.


It was the first time I jammed with Billy Bourbon who has popped up on the jam scene the past week and he did a speedy version of Dead Flowers, more faster than I'm used to.  But Dan coaxed me into playing the song with his bass playing.   Billy was responsible for On Broadway as well, and I think that was a bit more faster than George Benson's version but it all in good fun.


After which  a group of people complimented me on my playing to which I thanked them.  It's always to be humble and thank them when they made compliments.  Even in fun, I still like to play my best if and when I can.  The days of over the top drumming are over.  One of the guys actually gave me a three dollar tip.

Imagine that.  It was a paying gig.

Stone City Acoustic Showcase 6/10/18

Songs:

Knockin On Heaven's Door
Turn The Page

Listen To Love
The Race Is On
She Belongs To Me
Fox On The Run
Logic And Lies


Steve Black Wolf: Sang and played on Knocking and Turn The Page


Then

Proud Mary

With  Donna Joe and Lorie Parker
Steve and I sang bass vocals

(Lane Gaffney: Photo)

Then  Sat in With Angie Lambert-Cox singing her songs

Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Wagon Wheel

With

Carl Meiners
Lorie Parker
Donna Jo Elsner
Sharon
Mike Fredericks

Plus:

Lane Gaffney
Bill Schlatter
Glen Gardner
Mike Moran
The Reddoors (Jared and Nicole)
Mike Elsner
Mike Serbousek and his brother
May and Janeen
Bart Bock

(Steve Black Wolf: Photo)

They say if you dress up, your performance will be ten times better.  I didn't believe that but I guess that is true.  Even the mistakes you don't notice that much. I still do though. Anyway the Sunday Stone City get together was spirited, I managed to dress up better than I usually do.  However I didn't do anything off Town's Edge Rock but started out with Listen To Love and ended it up Logic And Lies.  I played guitar to Steve's two song before my set and I do think I probably now wing it on Turn The Page.  I did four songs with Angie and Carl with Lorie and Donna Jo helping out, but can't think of the third one that we did.  Angie was a sweet woman, she asked me to help her out on her songs but I didn't know any of them but I should.  She gave me some new song ideals for anything new.  I can really do without Wagon Wheel but people were singing along with it.  So I had to go with it.

A surprise was seeing Mike Serbousek up there with his brother and we talked about drums of course.  Mike has been going through a rough time, but he was in good spirits.  It was the first time he got to hear me play guitar and sing.

Lane was surprised I didn't do Tulsa Time since it went over great the last time I was there. I didn't think we had the country crowd that was there last week so I didn't play it.

Glen gave me a watch, it was of a vinyl record and he thought it would look nice on me.  Thank you for the gift.

Another surprise was seeing Lorie Parker joining the Stone City faithful for today.  With Donna Jo, they did five songs of note including Let Me Be There and Proud Mary to which Steve and myself took the stage to sing the back up bass vocal. It was a hoot.

Of course Carl did Your Cheating Heart but with Donna Jo and Lorie in the house they added some more volume to the shout out of OH CARL when he got to the coda, you'll cry and cry and and call out my name  OH CARL!!!  Carl denies this but I know he turned three shades of red on his face.   It's all in good fun.

I enjoy the General Store but as with summertime coming around the flies are beginning to get thick inside the place.  I take issue when they constantly try to land on your food or glass. A couple of them found out the hard way it's best not to mess with me.

On Saturday Night, Julie and Dave played Ramsey's and since I'm going up to Madison next weekend I decided I had to forgo the Whittier Jam and support her cause.  This time out, she suggested about dressing better than my usual corduroys and T shit and I shocked her by dressing up, all the way down to dress socks and shoes.  I can't recall the last time I did that.  The look on her face was priceless, half shocked, half glad and really knocked out, it was like a celebration of us dating for a year  She made the initial move, and there was a few false starts but that's all water under the bridge.  For putting up with me for this long I found her a nice music necklace, to which she loved.   I think it looks good on her.  I guest starred on Gold Dust Woman, borrowing Dave's guitar and playing without a pick.  It was a short version but I had a couple came up to me and marveled how well I played.  So perhaps dressing up to play makes you sound better.  I never thought it that way.  With The Townedgers, I employed my look of ragged clothes and a tossed off attitude kinda worked in my favor.   Julie has always dressed up in her gigs, I know our date at The Class Act, I stood out like a sore thumb, She had a beautiful dress on, I wore a Doors T Shirt and black jeans (at least they weren't corduroy).  So I updated my clothes and shocked her.  I also shocked Carl and Mike in the process.  Carl went past me to talk to Steve and it took Mike about 15 minute to realize it was me.  

Perhaps I should surprise them more often then. ;)


Update: I got back from Madison and made it to the General Store but didn't play.  Angie didn't recognize me from our performance of last week but then again I didn't get dressed up for the occasion.  I'm sure she forgotten me after we did performed.  Story of my life.

STONE CITY ACOUSTIC SHOWCASE 6/3/18

Songs

The Race Is On
Fox On The Run
I Started Hating Cheating Songs Today
Tulsa Time
Everybody's Talking

With:

Bill Schlatter
Glen Gardner
Carl Meiners
Rocky Smith
Mike  Moran
Bart Bock
Donna Jo and Mike Eisner
Bubba Johannes
Jarad and Nicole Reddoor
Bart Bock
Lane Gaffney

Notes:

The fifth and final straight day of jamming and I went for a country feel and did country songs to which the crowd gave big round of support, especially on Tulsa Time.  I never had anybody clap with the beat and sang along to the chorus of any song but it was so much fun having the crowd participated

The crowd did dictate the songs it seems.  It wasn't all perfect, a few lines were missed, my fingers got tied up in knots on Fox On The Road and deciding to yodel at the end of Everybody's Talking didn't go as well.  But with the folks having a good time on Tulsa Time, I can't think of any other time that people got involved with the songs.  This is why I love playing at Stone City.  It's close to home and the crowd are very supportive.

It was nice outside so once I got done with the Stone City jam, I drove down to an roadside park outside of Martelle and took the blue brat  guitar out and worked on some more songs as the sun set.  There was wind blowing so the gnats were not bothering me.   I was thinking about Julie since she was busy tending to her garden and missing her.  It has been half a year that we been dating and while I think things are going good, in the back of my mind I wonder if she can do better in her search for love.  In my deepest thoughts, she has inspired me to believe in my playing, she has inspired me to at least look into changing my eating habits and talked about us growing old together, in the time we have left on this planet.  I know in the back of her mind, she wonders if I do care about her, I know I do.   Maybe I don't show it enough but my waking hours she's always on my mind.

Perhaps on our date night I have failed to dress up and look good.  She went all out for the Class Act and looked like the radiant angel that I fell in love with.  I put on a Doors T shirt and black jeans and I thought I dressed up for the occasion.   Her smile, her beauty...why am I hanging around her.  I feel that I don't deserve a woman like that.  Am I doing the best I can to win her over?  I like to think that I am. I don't want to lose her on a technicality.  And  lose what we had in playing together on stage in the process.  That would end my playing days and I'll retire back to be bedroom.   These feelings are the undoing of me at times.  She might be a bit too radial on her political views but she is a Cedar Rapids music staple and the best damn vocalist right now;  even if I wasn't dating her, I knew she always had the talent and vocals when I first seen her sing when I came out of retirement.  I know she misses Kyle and always will.   I never really had that special someone like she had in Kyle.  I have always stumbled in my relationships, and doing the wrong things at possible but I do know I have never cheated on any of my relationships, even as the walls were crumbling down and seeing my loves move on, I remain loyal.  Some say it's a blessing, it could also be a curse, but I'd never would cheat on Julie.  I need to spend more time with her though.  I may opt out of Whittier next Saturday to dress up and go out on the town. I do owe her that. Whatever the case may be, she'll be my last girlfriend.  I don't plan to be available to anybody if we part ways. The emotional roller coaster is killing me.

It's late night as I enter this blog and put down the set list and happenings and thoughts and didn't intend to go off topic.  The beginning of the jams on Wednesday at Checkers and then the finale at Stone City and then going to the roadside part and just playing guitar serenading the robins and scaring away the redwing blackbirds, in a cool 20 mile an hour northwest wind.  Beginning with Dead Flowers on Wednesday and ending with Hole In The Head tonight, I did a wide variety of songs.  And there were good moments, seeing Julie with Lorie and Cathy on Seven Bridges Road and Sweet Home Chicago, playing Town's Edge Rock songs at the Artisan Sanctuary and getting rewarded with a paying gig three weeks from Saturday, closing down the Long Branch jam and having Belinda James singing Fever and Come Together as well.  And then having the crowd sing along to Tulsa Time at Stone City.

When I think that my life has no meaning, it's these little things that I noted that make me smile an keep me looking for the next gig. And the high point, Julie saying Love You.

Maybe I am blessed.

The Final Long Branch Acoustic Jam And The Reunion Of The Egads

Songs;

One Track Mind
Hole In The Head
Nowhere City/Turn On Your Love Light
Let's Work Together
The Last Time
Come Together
Fever

Belinda James-Lead Vocal on Come Together and Fever

Ain't No Sunshine
Moondance


With The Egads!

Belinda James-Lead Vocals
Rose Slaymaker-Backing Vocals
Tony Nickels-Mandolin
Tim Nemec-Guitar
R. Smith-Percussion

With

Steve Black Wolf
Tony Nickels
Adam Lee Dinschel
Elizabeth Dinschel
Sofia Chesney
Julie Gordon
Dave Bonham
Glen Gardner
Ryan Matthew Paul

Notes:  I played a couple of songs with Steve Black Wolf and Sofia Chesney with Adam playing guitar and his girlfriend/wife playing bass.  Sofia has a nice smoky, jazzy voice.

Tonight's jam I played the Fender Telecaster with new strings and the newness of the strings would make the guitar go out of tune in a hurry. The majority of the songs came from the Town's Edge Rock album since I'm doing the 35th anniversary of that album by playing songs off that album.  The songs themselves didn't dictate the mood that I was in.  This time out, Hole In The Head and Nowhere City got dusted off, and I included a bit of Turn On Your Love Light for shits and giggles.   Nothing wrong with adding some sort of variety to that song.  I could have used What I Like About You, Cherry Cherry and Middle Of The Road as well.   I gather the next two jams the songs from Town's Edge Rock will get more attention, since that album came out in June of 1983.  Plus I know the words as well.

With Rose and Tim in tow, we had a EGADS reunion at the tail end of the acoustic showcase. Belinda joined me in a version of Come Together and Fever, but I think she wanted to do the reggae version of What's Up but I failed to go over that song before heading out.  So it shall be done at a later date and I bet it will sound cool.  If Julie isn't around, I still have a great vocalist in Belinda to make these songs come alive.  It's the first time I've seen Tim since the February Whittier Jam.  Rose was at a Rumors jam last month but I think it was the first time I jammed with Tim since last year in Marion.  Since I didn't play For What Its Worth, Tim and Rose did. I'm fine with that.

Adam actually played more tonight than he did Wednesday and we jammed on a couple songs that Steve Black Wolf sang including the Last Kiss/This Magic Moment/Stand By Me Medley. His wife played bass (or was it his girlfriend?  either way...)

One of the more dedicated players of this year has to be Glen Gardner.  He has played at a lot of these jams and continues to amaze me with the songs that he plays. We have became good friends as time and the jams go on.

Sophia is a photographer and she did manage to corner me and take a few poses.  Hopefully she did burn the negatives.

After Moondance, it was all over.  In the end it was me, Rose, Tim, Ryan and Tony to close the whole thing down.  For one year, the Long Branch Motel gave Tony a year of Friday Nights to bring music to the bar, which used to be one of the best venues to play music but Kitty's (the bar it's called, just in the old days) don't book bands anymore.  In fact, they are going back to Karaoke, which will probably bring out more people I guess but in my observations, karaoke with real instruments is the only way that I will sing to any song.

While the Long Branch Jam ends, a new one will start up later in the month.  Tony has said he is moving the jam over to his pizza eatery Urban Pie and will have the jams on Saturday Night rather than Friday.  Which will probably free a few more Saturday Nights up but in the meantime it will take a back seat to the Whittier Jam or whatever Julie has planned for her projects or date night. When you're dating a musician you have to plan for their gigs and hope they do the same for you.  At the same time you have to blaze your own trail and keep rocking while they are working.  It's complicated to know where our future might be in music and in love and try to find a common ground.  If we grow old together and be in love forever that would be fine.  But I'm realistic to the fact that we may come to a fork in the road and decide if we're better off together or simply realize this is not in the cards and bow out gracefully.  I know Julie doesn't want that. Neither do I.   She is happy working in a band and if it came to that,  I wouldn't stand in her way if she dedicated her life back into playing music full time.   Six months later we're still together.   That's a good thing.

Finally, Enrique (Bugs) Gonzalez plays drums for Los Lobos and I got to meet him back in 2012 at a meet and greet.  The guy is absolute hoot to be around with and he used to play for Gloria Trevi before joining Los Lobos.  Today was his birthday and Vic Salazar gave him a nice tribute and I commented that Bugs is the best on drums.  Bugs was kind enough to say "thank you kind sir" in a reply.  Bugs really is a great guy.  And hopefully I'll see him when Los Lobos is back in town.

Saturday 6/2/18  Checker's Benefit/F B Company Monthly Jam

On the fourth day, I played percussion and sat in a few songs at Checkers.  The highlight was the reunion of the Acousta Kitties, Julie did share the stage with Lorie and Cathy and they did Sweet Home Chicago and Seven Bridges Road.   Julie sang with Dave on a few numbers, and Ryan on a couple more.  I finally got to meet Steve Black Wolf's son, and he looks like his dad.

Julie told me she's learning a new song called I Like Onions, since she's a big onion fan and I'm not.  Carl Meiners bought a jalapeno pizza and thanks to him I saved money for buying supper. Julie ended up going to see Flex with Ryan after watering her yard. Sometimes she drives me crazy the things she does, especially the Onion Song, but I still love her anyway.

Then off to F B Company, where I sat in on one song with a guy named Roger, who is a drummer by trade too.  He played a couple novelty song Peanuts and the other song called Corn, to which Maki Dervo played drums.  I sat in on drums on Roger's version of All Along The Watchtower.   And we talked for a little bit.  He also plays Cocktail drums with a guitar playing buddy.  I have to look their band up sometime soon.

Ron Lafleur was up there with Dakota, who's getting better on the vocals and of course Ron had to do his own version of All Along The Watchtower.  Of course the F B company approved.

I was not a fan of the electric drums that were provided. the cymbals didn't work, the high hat sound even worked less and the snare sound was all over the place.  Acoustic drums are much better.

Finally Karl Hudson has been back in town for almost two years and is thinking of moving back to Florida.  I think the music scene has left him behind although he did his best of having his own acoustic jam of last year at Gilligans.  Plus he's been having health issues of late.  I feel sorry for him not getting accepted back into the music scene and he's a great guy.  I enjoyed playing alongside him during jams.  But if his calling is back to Hurricane and Alligator Land, he should return there. I'll miss him.