Thoughts From The Townedger-July Edition

Parlor City Jam

With:
Tom Giblin-Keyboards
Jeff Petersen-Guitar and Vocals (Walking Blues, Real Gone Daddy)
Tommy Bruner-Guitar (Vocals on Jumping Jack Flash, Take Me To The River)
Byron Stevens-Bass (Little Wing, Chicken Shack, Jumping Jack Flash, Take Me To The River)
Mark Awad-Bass (On the last two songs that Jeff sang)
Tom on Harmonica
A Saxophone Player and his guitar playing buddy on (Little Wing, Chicken Shack)
Bob Dorr-Host Drummer
Dan Johnson-Host Bass Player

Songs"

Little Wing
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jumping Jack Flash
Take Me To The River
Walking Blues
Real Gone Daddy

(Bryon Stevens with Jon Wilson on drums)

NOTES:

Gibby threw a curve on me and played Back At The Chicken Shack and I didn't know the song.  So he coached me on how to play it the next time.  I should check out the Jimmy Smith version and be ready for the next time.  Gibby I'm sure can play it in his sleep.

I got to jam with Byron Stevens from Winterland fame.  He did a very awesome bass solo on Take Me To The River.  Plus I got to share two songs with my Cabin Jam partner Mark Awad too.

It was a surprise to see my boss's boss Tracy at Parlor City.  He was with his brother in law and we managed to sat and chat for a while.  I think he was surprised on how good I sounded, even on the songs I didn't know.

As always both Bob and Jeff were very gracious and great guys to hang with.   And that rare occasion...Bob and myself were the only drummers there tonight.  No Miles, nor Dr. Hanna.  So they let me play an extra two songs.   Jeff and Tommy played dueling guitar solos on Jumping Jack Flash which you had to hear to believe.

Quite a few people there tonight.  But I'm still amazed I was the only other drummer there tonight.

(Vintage photo of Bob Dorr for the first Blue Band album, taken by the late David Maricle)

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It's been a very busy month for me in the jamming department.  14 appearances at various places, mostly Checker's and Rumors.   I haven't been to Stone City the past month since I have errands and things to do around town but I think I'll be there this Sunday since I don't want to get stuck in the traffic and the crowds at the Evolve Festival next weekend.  My friends Four Day Creep will be playing there.


July has gone by so fast, it seems like everything goes by so fast anymore and we don't have time to sit back and enjoy our accomplishments.  The Cabin Jam was the moment of the month and getting to jam with everybody for almost 4 hours and keeping the mosquitoes at bay.  Having a turbo ran on me really helped a lot but I still have welts from the bloodsucking bastards two weeks later on.   It's hard to believe the month started out backing Julie and Ryan when they played Buchanan Winery.  After that, I paired up with some fine musicians, the Parlor City Blues jam with Mark Awad on bass, my rhythm buddy from the Cabin Jam.   I miss having Dan Johnson on stage with me but I enjoy backing up Mark whenever I can.

I was blown away by the comments that Craig Erickson mentioned about me.  This comes from the best known guitar player out of Cedar Rapids who managed to record a few albums for Mike Varney and Shrapnel Records.  I've known Craig off and on for many years, he sold me my first 4 track recorder back in 1989.  On my part, I'm a very shy and reclusive person, I go back inside my shell even at jams.  I am so much in awe of him that I can't figure what to say to the man when I see him at the Hy Vee at 1 AM.   But yet, he manages to say good things about my drumming on the night that we did jam at Parlor City.  I tend to feed off on other musicians and go in that direction, back in the past, my wild drumming style I tended to take everybody at warp speed, but as I found out last August, that didn't suit very well to their style, nor mine.  So, for the past couple months I decided to stick to playing a beat that people can dance to.  It's still a work in progress.

There's great guitar players out there and every one of them have their own style.  Bear Clair, Tommy Bruner, Rich Toomsen, Daddy O, Stu the Dew, Ryan Phelan, Bryce Janey, his dad too, but nobody has had that Jimi Hendrix vibe like Craig Erickson.  I look at him as more as blues-fusion player.  The Maury Baker Jam, I played guitar and sang, and he came up to help out on Spoonful.  In my usual self, I was playing around trying to get a groove, and Craig popped up and managed to I.D. the groove and went with it.  And then this month, I played drums to his guitar on Redhouse Blues and I heard from Dan Johnson that my style was like Mitch Mitchell.   Some big time compliments right there.  It helped that Rob Haskill had his drums up there and his cymbal lineup was perfect for me to play the songs right.  Rob plays with Craig when they are out and about and he plays K cymbals.  The ping ride helped a great deal too. If I'm in tune with what the other guys are playing I'll make it sound better.  In the end,  I responded to what Craig was playing and it turned out pretty good.

Another high point was Lisa Fox from Dreamer's Edge wanting to do a band too.  When you have an evening job it's hard to really play anywhere.  She's got a good voice playing the classic rock songs that I'm lukewarm to.   We're Facebook friends but I think we said two words to each other at jams. I think in trying to balance record collecting, The Townedgers, my solo stuff and the jams something will have to go by the wayside.  They still can't keep me away from the record stores or bargain hunts as Julie is finding out the hard way.

I'm not a big fan of the tired rock classics,  I rather not play Don't Stop Believing or Wagon Wheel or (for F**k' sake's) Sweet Chile O Mine.  Once I go to see Dreamer's Edge and figure out what songs they play I'll get a good idea of what Lisa plays for songs.  I don't think they vary much from what Julie plays (or for that matter Toxic Blonde).  It remains a chore to play the crappy songs but if it gets people to sing along and dance, then who am I to judge?

Not only Julie is my favorite singer, she's also a damn good cook.  I know she's doing her damnest to make me embrace the vegan way of life but I just can't get into everything that's green.   She gave me two Basil plants, which are good for pizza toppings but not as a salad. The taste is kinda harsh.

I haven't been to Ellis Rocking Reunion but if they want me to help out on the jams I'll be happy to.

John Shultz passed away Tuesday.  He was one of the best keyboard players in town.

I cannot tolerate Donald Trump, he's an idiot and I didn't vote for him, he's not my POTUS but he is a big headache.  I have band mates that worship him.  It shouldn't deter me from jamming with them, as long nobody brings him up.

Since I document my set list and who I play with on certain nights, I have to learn to keep the gossip out of my music site.  There's  plenty of drama going on with certain members and my theory is this: if they're happy with one another, that's all that matters.   I'm happy with what I have with Julie.

I'm certain I'll be very busy in August with the jams and acoustic showcases.  As long it's fun, why not continue.  And have fun?

Music is a blessing.  So is a good woman.

Rumor's Jam 7-29-18

3 Songs

Feeling's All Gone
Good Morning Little School Girl
Hootchie Cootchie Man

With

Jeff Taylor-Guitar and vocals (Feeling's All Gone and Hootchie Cootchie Man)
Billy Bourbon-Guitar and vocal (Good Morning Little School Girl)
Mike Clair-Guitar and Petal Steel Guitar
Randy Burgdorff-Bass
Me-Drums

Notes;

Drummers in attendance:

Herm Sarduay
Steve Stratton
Bruce Chadima
Mike Lint
Terry McDowell
Randy Faulkner

Tommy Bruner; Host Guitar player

Artisan Acoustic Showcase 7/26/18

Songs

No Expectations
The Race Is On
In The Wind Tonight
For What Its Worth
Logic And Lies


With

Jim Jacobmeyer
Shawn Ster
Stuart Pershing
Dave Bonham
Phil and Darryl
Phil Bo King
Demetrius Harris
Patrick Lower

(Jim Jacobmeyer: Photo)

Lisa Fox is the lead singer of Dreamer's Edge a classic rock band.  I became friends with her this afternoon and she told me she was reuniting an old band and wanted me to play drums for her.  I thought it was cool that she thought of me.  But I did tell her about me working evenings.  So, it still could happen.  But it amazing to see how many folks want me to play drums for their band, even in my late age.

I spent part of the evening at New Bo, the usual Yoga folks were out there doing exercises and things like that.   Daddy O McMurrin was ready to set up his blues show at Parlor City but I had to move down to the Sanctuary for my performance.

Same old story, no crowds and everybody but Jim, Dave and Demetrius left.  So nothing left to do is to rearrange songs to see if they worked.  For What Its Worth was done in a more faster uptempo than I usually do.   Plus, I was fighting the sounds of the Kris Lager Band playing next door at the Mockingbird, they were sold out.  One of the reasons why I wasn't planning to play tonight but ended up getting there late. Phil Bo had a blues concert he had to go see and had to be up at 3 AM.  Likewise Stuart who kinda tossed and turned over a version of Crazy Circles, the Bad Company number.  Dave did originals tonight and Shawn had fun with his voice tone pedal, hit a button you got a robot voices helping you out on the songs.  Julie uses that too, but I'm not a fan of it.  I thought some of the songs made Shawn sound a bit silly, but if you program it right, you don't need other singers.

I don't know.  I am getting kinda bored with the songs of late and performances on guitar.  I'm wanting to play more drums in the future;  I haven't been to Stone City for about a month now and do miss playing there. But this month has been more drum playing and whatever I have been playing at, I been having a good time and getting offers to join new bands and projects.  I still need to get to work on the next Townedgers album.  I have songs but have yet to power down to polish them up.  I'm also giving more time being with Julie and having us to grow together as well.  The Checker's acoustic showcase, we played more songs together and new ones as well. Perhaps a future of doing our thing in a live setting and get paid for it.  My eccentric/erratic side comes out too often, a punk rocker playing acoustic songs and trying to pull the wool over people's eyes and ears.  She's my girlfriend but she's also the boss when I'm in her house, follow the rules, put up after myself and help whenever I can.  I'll forever love her, even if she decides to go to Dancing Rabbit Commune in Missouri and move on.  But I also think she's not giving up being a part of my life either.

I have no idea why I sped up For What Its Worth into a more uptempo song, perhaps it was band competition from next door or basically trying to add some new energy to it.  It actually sounded pretty good.  Logic And Lies was a bit mailed in.   In the end, I did okay but I have better showcases.


Tony Nickles decided to end the Saturday Night Acoustic Jam at the Urban Pie in Marion.  A financial decision, not enough money was coming in to make it successful.  There were the usual regulars there (Glen, Steve, Anthony, Dave, Shawn) but I don't think we had that many more than we did at The Longbranch. Tony will return to trivia sort of thing beginning next week, he seems to draw a better crowd there.  But as they say if it didn't make money, it won't last long.

Dave Bonham mentioned this tonight:  Tonight I went and saw Charlie Morgan and Craig Erickson... Hadn't talked to Craig in almost 20 years... It was nice to talk with him again. Craig had great things to say about Julie Jules Gordon and Rodney Smith for his drumming!!!

Craig is a professional through and through, one of the best guitar players ever.  So nice of him for saying good things about me.   You rock!

Checker's Acoustic Showcase 7/25/18 She Loves The Rain

Songlist (my segment)

It's My Time
The Race Is On
Six Days On The Road
When Will I Be Loved
She Belongs To Me
The Last Time
I Hear You Knocking

With Julie Gordon on  lead vocals, Except Cinnamon Girl and Knocking on Heaven's Door which the vocal duties fell on me.

Gold Dust Woman
Hey Yeah
Dreams
Knocking On Heaven's Door
Stop Draggin My Heart Around
Cinnamon Girl
Wicked Game
What's Up
Sweet Home Alabama

Dave Bonham: Lead Guitar
Glen Gardner: Guitar and vocals
D J Hovenstat: Guest

(Photo by Julie)

Notes:

Another night of a crowd that I can count on one hand that showed up.  Dave and Julie's version of Come Together is done in the key of C rather than the usual D that I play.

It had to happen. The Blue Brat broke a guitar string on I Hear You Knocking but I kept playing. I was surprised that the string didn't broke sooner.

Felt under the weather but I managed to play for a full hour and fifteen minutes with my setlist and since nobody was there managed to come up with a few new ones with Julie singing.   I don't think she sees the humor in my reggae version of What's Up.

Julie recorded The Race Is On, and I was surprised that my high vocal actually worked.  Dave was trying to get a setting on the mic and of course I kept moving away and not pulling up to the mic to make myself heard.  I actually sounded like John Hiatt more than George Jones or Dave Edmunds.  For somebody feeling like crap and dealing with back spasms I really sounded great.

I didn't participate in the Aces And Eights Jam tonight.  I knew that Julie would appreciate me being there at Checker's, but I also knew that they wouldn't have much of a crowd.  Carl is out doing RAGBRAI, Steve is out protesting the coming of our worthless president tomorrow and wanted to get a head start.

I dumped a few CDs over at my second home Half Priced Books and got 35 dollars for my effort.  And some much needed space on my shelves in the process.

The Aces And Eights Wednesday Jam had a couple more folks there,namely Steve Stratton and Scott Sanborn on drums and Mike Clair helping out Terry, Jeff, Bird and Billy.  And John Hernandez was in attendance.  Tami Soukup did take a few photos and videos before all was said and done.

Parlor City 7/24/18

6 Songs

Including: Hootchie Cootchie Man, How Come My Bull Dog Don't Bark, Moon Over Mississippi, 2 blues jams and You Can't Always Get What You Want

Bryce Janey-Lead Vocals, You Can't Always Get What You Want and Hootchie Cootcie Man
Jeff Taylor-Lead Vocals (Bulldog, Moon) and keyboards
Mark Awad-Bass
Me-Drums

Hosts
Tom Giblin, Dan Johnson and Jon Wilson

Tommy Bruner, Miles Demarso and Frederick Jones were  the other jammers.

Notes:  A very small group of jammers.  Bryce joked that he may have scared them all away.  I doubt that.  He lead us into a extended blues song before launching into a wild You Can't Always Get What You Want, which turned out to be a battle royal between him and Jeff Taylor on keyboards.  The rhythm section was me and Mark again.

Jeff did two songs I wasn't familiar with, How Come My Bulldog Don't Bark and Moon Over Mississippi.  Jeff and Bryce are steeped more into the blues than I am.

Tommy did Gimme Shelter and Miles played a off rhythm which did not fit the song but I commend him for trying a different sound.

Since there was no other jammers after I played, Bryce played drums and Jon Wilson played bass.

Somebody donated a bunch of promo copy records to Goodwill on the SW side and I managed to find about six of them including Alan Price, The Price Is Right and an unopened Mary Hopkin Those Were The Days LP on Apple. I decided to pass on Wings' Wild Life since what I recall of that album I didn't care much for.  However I did chat with a fellow record collector and I seen a copy of The Association Waterbeds In Trinidad! to which he admired and I ended up giving the album to him.  Another collector snagged The Mugwumps, a folk band featuring Zal Yakousky and Mama Cass on a promo Mono Warner Brothers album.  Both albums I had on CD and didn't see the need for those.  The one LP that got away was The Robbs S/T album for Mercury, it was too moldy for consideration.  I did get a promo of Belly Up from Dr Hook on a rush release label, namely a while label acetate which I have never seen before. It could worth something.  I also found a two LP set of Willie Mitchell's Greatest Hits on Hi, but that too was a bit moldy and warped.  So that was another one that got away.

Since I found albums at the SW Goodwill and Mount Vernon store, I decided to see if there was any donated albums at the Council St Goodwill and there wasn't any.   I guess you can't win them all.  But I might check out the Marion Goodwill store come tomorrow.  When I did a return visit to the Mount Version Rd Store, a lot of the vinyl was snapped up but the ones I did put back were still there, a Lesley Gore California Nights and  Donovan's 7Tease.  Overall, I found 24 LPs in three days, a record upon itself, even this late in record hoarding/Collecting.    Since the vinyl revival, finds are few and far between but this weekend and today it was much different.  If you can find Lee Hazelwood sealed, The Electric Prunes Mass In F Minor in good shape and Those Were The Days by Mary Hopkin still sealed for under 2 dollars...well you had a pretty good day in finding new music.

Urban Pie Acoustic Showcase 7-20-18

Songlist:

Not Fade Away
Logic And Lies
Get It Over With
Let's Worth Together
For What It's Worth
Everybody Talking

Steve Black Wolf added vocals on For What Its Worth and Everybody's Talking
I played guitar

Later I played percussion behind Glen Gardner's songs  Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Black Water
Tony Nickels added some mandolin and guitar here and there


And then, backed up The EGADS
Basically Rose Slaymaker and Tim Nemec on their songs.

Sofia Chesney was there
So was David Lam but he didn't play.
And a banjo player whose name I didn't get.


Notes:

Once again I forgot that Wooden Nickel Lottery was playing in the neighborhood, two doors down at Ramsey's.


"Rodney is a metronome on steroids!"-Glen Gardner


Wess Side Jam with Terry McDowell and friends 7/22/18


Knocking On Heaven's Door
Before You Accuse Me
Tulsa Time
Secret Agent Man
Some Kind Of Wonderful
Ain't Living Long Like This
Caress Me Baby


Dan Hartman-Guitar  Lead Vocal on (3,4)
Billy Bourbon-Guitar  Lead Vocals on 1,2,5-7)
Mike Clair-Bass
Jeff Taylor-Keyboards
Bob Gleason-Harmonica

Notes from the Parlor City Jam

As I sit here and type this out to document the jam tonight, I'm just awed by getting to jam with the legendary Craig Erickson, the  wizard on lead guitar at Parlor City.  I also reunited with Mark Awad from Saturday's Cabin Jam to which he said he was still sore from playing about five hours onstage and then some around the campfire before he decided to head home before the sunrise.

(Matt Burger, Darwin from 965 Guitar, Anderson Coates who won the guitar, Dave Lindal, Kris Brailes and Dan Johnson,  Matt, Anderson and Kris participated in the blues guitar slinger contest-Jeff Craft took the photos)

Kris jamming with Gibby on keyboards and Miles Demarso on drums)

We played two songs, with two other guitar players who I didn't get their name.  They did Red House and Call Me The Breeze and I got to use Rob Haskill's drumset.  I complimented Rob on his cymbals, he had a nice juicy 22 inch ping ride that I used most of the time and a 16 inch K Dark Crash.  They had other drummers up there, the youthful Miles Demasco and Dr George Hanna who jammed with the winner of the best young guitarist and won a guitar from 365 Guitars and did a jam song with the Dentist and Mark Awad.

Craig knew me from the Maury Baker Jam earlier in the year and associated me with playing guitar, but I told him I was a drummer by trade and remains my first love (although that love is tested when I have to tote them to gigs and jams though).  Craig has Rob in his band and Rob compliments Craig very well.  I would never want to replace Rob ever, he swings very well.  But as I get older I'm beginning to find that there are some things I can't do like I used to do and time and laziness played a role in that.  Ever since the August event at Rumors, I finally had to put to rest my hard over the top playing of smashing and crashing cymbals.   I guess being 57 years old has something to do with that too.  But in the third jam in four days of playing drums I finally found a groove to keep and maintain for future jams and gigs and the next Townedger album.

The rule is simple.  Don't overplay.  And yes I have done that time and time again.  The early recordings proved that,  See how many cymbals I can bash in a single setting.  Or go over the top on drums.  I find myself into trouble if I experiment on trying some off the wall and then finding myself on the wrong beat.  Certainly John Bonham and Keith Moon could go over the top and make it sound great but even both of them got burned out towards the end, Moon more so.  Still he managed to make the mistakes sound as though they belong in the song.  The original version of Trick Of The Light, the cymbal boasts on In A Hand Or Face.  But a Charlie Watts holds the raggedness of the Rolling Stones with his surebeats, just like Al Jackson Jr did with Booker T And The MGs and later his recordings for Al Green on Hi Records.

I finally came to the conclusion that after 30 years of playing cymbals and switching from Zildjian to Paiste and then back to Zildjian and discovering that I had the cymbals all along with me.  The dark crashes in particular. The K's.  I found that for hard rock RUDEs were the way to go but they tend to overpower everything on acoustic shows.  Same thing for 2002s, the novochina.  Paiste makes great cymbals but in my almost 4 decades of playing drums Zildjian has managed to give my music its  own I.D.   Even when I question about my purchase of the K Hybrid crash it sounded great with the Cabin Jam, out in the open by the Wapsi River.

I continue to search for a sound that will compliment the bands that I play in, the albums that I make and I tried different variations.  The Impulse Cymbals of the early 1980s, the rock crashes, the power crashes and then when I had money to bid on Ebay which enabled me to try the Paiste Rudes and then the 2002 and 3000. They did change the sound on Pawnshops for Olivia and it did work, not much so on No Exit/30   When I went back to Zildjians on Forthcoming Trains that worked better.

I suppose had I kept my original Z's from Town's Edge Rock I would have been happy with what I had.  But there are so much out there to choose from, so many brands and sounds that can change your sound for the better, or some case worst.  The power crash didn't come in handy when The Routers played live.  I wasn't thrilled with the Paiste collection when I did the jam with Brenda and Greg so this time out I took my favorite cymbals to Troy Mills.  And they worked fine for me.

Anyway, Craig did let the other two guitar players do their thing and he did play a fiery lead on Redhouse Blues to which I countered his lead with some off the wall beats.  Gotta kick out Dan Johnson saying that sounded like Mitch Mitchell playing behind Hendrix.  I just simply smiled and thanked them for the kind remarks.

Complimenting the band, this is what I do best.

From Tom Giblin

Craig is always committed when he puts on his guitar. There is no "off night." Glad our youth get a close look at what dedication is up close. I get to play with Craig Erickson every month for the past twenty some years have to tell you how unbelievably lucky I am to be part of these gigs! I've been lucky in life to get the chance to play with some greats, and that's what HE IS!

From Craig Erickson

You are all way too kind,but I thank you anyway..I think it is my road travelled that has led me to be even more grateful to be alive and able to play.... and thats where my love of giving whatever i can musically etc. comes from.Now carry on, and seriously it sounds cheesy,but thank you for the love everyone and backatcha....cant wait till our next musical summits!

Rumors Jam 7/15/18

Songlist:

Wicked Game
Little Sister
Rhiannon
Knocking On Heaven's Door


Julie Gordon: lead vocals
Mike Clair: lead guitar
Randy Burghoff: Bass guitar
Ryan Paul: Keyboards
Jeff Overly:  Sax on Knocking On Heaven's Door
I played drums

Terry McDowell: Host
Jeff Taylor: Host on keyboards

Guests:

Billy Bourbon
Dan Hartman

The Other drummers

Steve Stratton
Randy Faulkner
Herm Sarduy
Rocky Smith
Trevor Worcel

With:
Kathy Runnells
Ann Mismash
Laruen Henshaw
Drum set Mike
The White hair guy that I keep forgetting the name
Tami Soukup


Notes:

Billy Bourbon played a 45 minute set on announcing his new band with Randy on bass and Herm Sarduy on drums.

After I got done playing and went to the car Randy asked me if I was playing with any band right and told him about my situation: I work evenings and unless I make the big time I'll have to stick with my regular job.  He said he understood the situation, he was working at the K mart in Iowa City when they closed that down and since then has been a regular on the jam circuit.  He still plays in Rare Earth but I told him if he needs a fill in on drums he can always look me up.

Jeff came down from Fort Madison to jam and we didn't play together.  Julie and Ryan showed up later and Terry paired us together, Jeff did play sax on Knockin on Heaven's Door.  I do miss playing guitar alongside Jeff so we may have get together and do that.

Not a lot of rocking on this set list. The Bear added a new introduction to Little Sister and he wanted to play Rhiannon and Wicked Game.   When Ed Butler did a version of Wicked Game earlier in the year I thought he did the best version but tonight Julie reclaimed that song.  Everybody just loves how she sings.

Jeremy Jacobs had his two guitar stolen from his car 10 days ago,  He finally got all of his gear back after they arrested a 17 year old trying to pawn his stuff off.  Jeremy is one of the lucky ones, he left his car unlocked one night and that cost him.  Hopefully he'll learn to lock the car up or bring his guitars inside.

Jeff finally got his wish to play Radar Love, with Terry playing drums.  It sounded neat.

It was a pretty big crowd for today's jam.  Before my cameo, somebody wanted to hear a drum solo and Trevor gave it to them.  It was a good thing that I had my earplugs with me.  I'm not much into drum solos but I may have to work one up since people keep requesting them.  Namely Ryan.

I know there were photos and videos posted but have yet to see any.  I know Tami took a video of Wicked Game.  Here's hoping that she captured a nice stage moment with me and Julie on stage.

Yesterday, I did the Cabin Jam.  Pictures are posted but I will eventually post them this week since I'm idle with no jams to speak of, we'll be busy at work.

Wapsi Cabin Jam Photos

Last Saturday, I packed up my Tama set and ventured out to The Elsner's cabin somewhere on the Wapsipinicon River north and west from Troy Mills. His wife Lauren took a few photos.

1)    Glen Gardner and Dave Bonham

2)  Mike Frederick, Mark Awad, R.Smith, Dave Bonham and Maki Dervo on a jam song.

3)  I'm thinking this was Maki playing his original song Cool Water and Dave adding some electric guitar counterpoint.  For our first time ever playing together, it did came together quite nice.

4)  Darren Barker (Half in picture to the left) provided the PA sound and mics,  David Arnold adds a bit of sax to the songs.

5)    Unlike last year, I opted to play drums only and managed to play for a good four and half hours.  The simple reason was that I had a big turbo fan blowing on me and it kept the goddamned mosquitoes away from me, although I got a kick out of seeing the mayflies come off the river and land on the cymbals.  They would bounce off after I hit the cymbal.   Since I loaded the car up with drums and percussion, I had no room to bring my guitar.

When I did the jam with Brenda and Greg, I took a couple of Paiste cymbals with me but this time out, I took a couple of my favorite K's with me and for the first time the K Hybrid Crash sounded great when I played it life.  I also took my trusty Armand Ride and K Session Dark Crash too.  The last cymbal I used was the 16 inch rock crash, that bridges the past to the present, that cymbal was used on the 1984 OK Lounge gig I did with Tyrus/Paraphernalia.  I originally replaced the snare head on my DW copper snare but decided to use the Pearl snare, which also was used in the OK Lounge show too.  To add more nostalgic value, I used a Ludwig Speed King drum petal, complete with that famous squeak that is associated with John Bonham.  At this point, I will probably sell the Paiste cymbals in my collection and probably trade up for a couple more K Zildjians.  Which means I'm going to be more committed into playing drums in the near future.

This was the second time I have played the Tama set live and I have to say it sounds pretty good, sometimes even better than the five thousand D W set that has been calling the bedroom its home since 2005.  The Tama set was a shell pack without hardware that I got for 125 dollars, a steal if you ask me.  The drum heads sound mighty good.  I did bring some of those moon dampers to put on the snare to deaden the ring and I couldn't tell if their was much ring since they tend to carry a but further than when I'm indoors.

6)    Steve Black Wolf and Donna Jo Elsner joins Mike,Mark, Glen and Dave on Turn The Page I believe.   Or maybe not.  Donna Jo has hosted the Cabin Jam to benefit the kids at Tanager Place so that they can learn how to play music via donations.   Mark Awad played bass the whole five hours without any breaks and fell ill for a bit, but managed to recovered and when I left to go home at 1 30 AM he was playing guitar around the campfire as Cathy, Donna Jo, Lorie and many others sing songs till sunride.  It really was a fun time.

7)  Steve Black Wolf, Mike Fredericks, Donna Jo, Glen Gardner, Dave Bonham and Maki Dervo

8)  Even we had a few four legged puppies joining in on the fun.  This furball kept following me around when I was grabbing a hot dog and felt compelled to give him one.  He almost bit my finger off.  (Darren Barker, Steve Black Wolf, Mike Frederick, Donna Jo, Glen Gardner, Dave Bonham and Maki Dervo)

9)  Sunset on the Wapsi as Lorie Parker and Cathy Hart played their songs, Darrell played drums on this segment while I was getting eaten up by the Mosquitoes.  The Tiki thingy weren't helping much.

10)  Finally Lauren gets credit for taking the photos that have been posted.  She's is Glen's wife and avid supporter of the music scene as well.  Glen has been very busy with his acoustic songs as well, he plays a lot at Checkers, Urban Pie, sometimes The Artisan Sanctuary, Stone City and Ramsey's.

Artisan Sanctuary Acoustic Showcase 7-12-18

Setlist:

Logic And Lies
Baby Wanna Dance
Get It Over With
Listen To Love
No Expectations

With

Jim Jacobmeyer
Patrick Lower
M.J.
Glen Gardner
Gregdon Cole
Phil Bo King
Dave Bonham
Shawn Ster
Richard Campagna

(One broke musician)

Notes:

I'm still feeling the aftereffects of yesterday's nausea and dizzy spells, so I'm thinking I'm going have to tough this out till after the Stone City Jam on Sunday and get checked out.

Tonight I was more focused than last night; at least I didn't have a loss of melody like I did with Dead Flowers, but Logic And Lies got dressed up a bit more at the beginning.  And in typical fashion I closed the acoustic showcase jam with five songs and a cover of No Expectations. Afterwards, the two women that stayed till my final song marveled at the way I play guitar, I told them that I'm a drummer by trade and I need to have some sort of rhythm to help me through the songs.

For a while, I talked to Dave about his electric band with Julie.  I told him to continue to convince Julie to go into a more electric blues band, I think she sounds great with her smokey and bluesy vocals.  They could then get into playing at the Mockingbird, or Dick's Tap and Shake Room or even Parlor City.  She's got a hall of famer playing in her band.  I think she might have potential to at least make a bit more money than the duos that she's been favoring.  I enjoy our time together on stage but I tend to drive her crazy with my off the wall/thrown together rough sound.  And I'm not musically stable enough for her tolerate me through a whole set,  much less a gig.  Unless I'm playing drums. Then it might work better.

Nevertheless I need to work on more original songs for the future.  I was toying with the riff to Just Enough Love but that's a bitch to play even on electric guitar.  So I stuck with the familiar songs and since everybody left, I could do my own songs just to see what flies.  Patrick did a fine job with the sound recording tonight and Jim is always been gracious and supportive of my efforts.  I hope to eventually convince him to let me do a full show before the snow fall and if I get to feeling better.

There were pictures of the other artist there but none of them had me in it.  Therefore  I'll  leave you with some blooming flowers in my backyard this morning.

Checkers Acoustic Jam 7/11/18

Songs:

I Always Want To Be With You
Six Days On The Road
Dead Flowers/Jet Airliner
Get It Over With
Tulsa Time
Everybody's Talking

Encore:

Last Kiss/This Magic Moment/Stand By Me Medley
Eve Of Destruction
Can't You See

Donna Jo-Vocal and tambourine on Tulsa Time and Everybody's Talking
Steve Black Wolf-backing vocal on Everybody's Talking

Encore;
Julie Gordon-Guitar and vocal Last Kiss etc
Donna Jo-Percussion and vocal Last Kiss
Steve Black Wolf-Vocals and guitar Eve Of Destruction and Can't You See
Dave Bonham-Guitar on Can't You See
I played guitar


Plus

Julie Gordon
Dave Bonham
Dave Eisner
PJ Harrington
Carl Meiners


Notes:

Not many.  I was dealing with dizziness before coming out, but a diet of ice water and greasy food got me to return from the living dead.

Steve was one of the protesters that were yelling at the arrival of worthless congressman Rod Blum and VP Mike Pence.  However, Tami Soukup was on the opposite end welcoming them to Rockwell Collins but in typical GOP fashion she couldn't get to see them since she didn't work there.   That's her in the welcoming committee.  Steve took the photo, and the doggie response.

Since Geoff Redding is not part of my acoustical adventures, it was decided to end the long jam ending to Gold Dust Woman.  If I could play guitar like Geoff and do leads like him or Kyle I could continue to do that, but Julie mentioned that extending the end of the song kills off the momentum without any lead.  So next up trying to arrange the song to keep it exciting and not overstay it's welcome.

Three Years:

Sunday:  Playing alongside Dreams Of Arcadia at the Buchanan Winery 7/8/18

Julie Gordon-Vocal and guitar
Ryan Paul-Keyboards, guitar and vocals
I played congas
Julie and I did Cinnamon Girl and Gold Dust Woman together.

It went 2 to 5 and we had a nice turnout,despite it being out in the boonies.

On a last second thought, I decided to move her music gear to my car.

Kyle's folks were out there cheering her on.

It was three years ago that I made my return back to the jam circuit by playing at Wrigleyville in Marion on a Thursday Night Jam.  I think I did three songs and sang to You Really Got Me.  I was quite rusty and didn't quite fit in very well but T Ray Robertson, Dan Hartman and Dave Bonham did complimented me on my playing.  Also, Peter Stark were Terry McDowell was in the audience.


I  always make it a habit to thank my supporters, they did help me eventually find my groove and later on helped me start playing guitar and singing my songs in public.

My thanks to the people who made this possible again to jam three years down the road.

Karen Tipton did start the ball rolling by telling me to get on down and start playing again.  I'll give her that for her encouragement.

Rod Albaugh really was the first person to convince me to give music another shot.  My first jam was with him at work and we played guitar to a few songs.

Terry T Ray Robertson, my second jam brother next to Rod Albaugh.

Terry McDowell, host drummer to the best jams in town and finding time for me to play a few songs, and talk drums for a while as well.

Russ Swearingen and DeWayne Schminkey:  The guys that connect the present to the past as we managed to jam together a couple times in 2015 and 2016

Doug Spinler: I enjoy jamming with him be it on drums or guitar, which happened for the first time ever this year.

Tim Wiley.  I had some good times jamming with him and being in the Wiley Kats.  I only wish he improvised a bit more.

Kyle Oyloe.  Gone way too soon.  Had he stayed alive we would have changed the sound of the Mad Dogs to something more alternative and more sinister.

Brook Hoover:  Next to Richard Edward Butler one of more eclectic artists out there.

Tim Duffy.  Very open minded on jams

Wooden Nickel Lottery-Rich and Jess Toomsen, Delayne Stallman, Rick Gallo. Rich is the best on guitar, why he chooses to play drums behind me is beyond me.

Lorie Parker and Cathy Hart.  Two of the three women that somehow got me to play more guitar on stage.  If I didn't Lorie provided the congas.

The Blues jammers out there:  Tom (T Bone) Giblin, Dan Johnson, Jon Wilson, Dennis McMurrin, Craig Erickson, Bryce Janey, Bob Gleason, Nick Lenicka, Mark Awad, Dr. George Hanna, Kim Trevillion, Jay Dean,  Stacy Roccio, Dave Bonham, Kevin Burt, Tony Brown, Byron Jackson and the Parlor City Faithful.  Gibby has been very good at getting me on stage to play a few songs when I take a long lunch break.

The Rock Jammers:   the gang from Hostage, Rick Clay, Amanda Marshall, Jon Blaughman and especially Troy Mitchell for letting me jam with them when they play live as Four Day Creep.   Jeff Overly, Karl Hudson and Peter Ciciappio, Karl was very good to me when he host the Gilligan's jam last year.  Kevin Sinmacher, Ryan Paul,  Brenda and Greg Mein,  Peter and CiCi Stark, the list goes on and on and I'm sure I'm missing a few.  Plus some great drummers too.  Trevor Worcel, Mike Lint, even Herm Sandry figures into this, Rob Haskill, Jessie Carruthers,  Bart Carfizzi, Mike the Bear Clair, Billy Bourbon.

Kenneth John Webb, my favorite bass player to jam with, he's so damn funky it hurts.

Mike Serbousek:  One of my favorite drummers and a damn good friend.

Ernest (Sippie) Bynum: When he sings The Twist, people take notice.

The EGADS! (Larry Axelman, Mark Randolph, Belinda James, Tim Nemec, Rose Slaymaker) We never played with everybody in tow but the talented Miss B as I call her has a nice silky vocal.  When Terry McDowell paired us up two years ago, I never thought that she would play a role in my music. I still think when Belinda is on stage, she does the best version of Fever out there.

The acoustic jammers that helped me sound better on my acoustic adventures:  Carl Meiners, Mike Fredericks, Jay Devore, Aaron Carl, Mako Dervo, David Lam, Phil and Darryl, Phil Bo King, Jim Jacobmeyer for believing. Shawn Ster, Donna Jo Eisner, Jeff Gage,  Luther Parker, Bart Bock, Lane Gaffney. Colton Thompson, Patrick Lower.  PJ and Pam Harrington.  And of course Tony Nickels too, he did his damnest to keep the Acoustic Jam alive, going from the Long Branch to Urban Pie.

Richard Edward Butler: I was so impressed on his choices for songs that I wanted him to play at the Marion Showcase a couple weeks ago. I'm always attracted to oddball singer songwriters. He's one of the best.  At least I think so.

Glen Gardner:  One of my closest jam buddies, Was part of KRNA and Jif And The Choosey Mothers but has come into his own as a great acoustic guitar player. Oh I wish I can play like him.

Steve Black Wolf:  My most radical music buddy, who isn't afraid to do protest music.  With Sofia Chesney,they have become a good musical duo.

Carl Meiners:  One of the most loved jammers out there,   He was going to drag me kicking and screaming to Stone City if I didn't get there and eventually I did.  I enjoy playing percussion to his songs or even a second guitar.

Greg and Brenda Mein-I love jamming with them especially on The Weight.  They do inspire me to play my best on certain songs.

In the three years of coming out of retirement, I continue to play on a week by week basis.  If I quit having fun, I would retire once again.  I do have days to which I get bored by things and opt out for a while or just play drums. But for the most part, the one special person who came out of nowhere during my second year of being in circulation.  I didn't know her till after the passing of Kyle  and for some reason during one night at Rumors, she took a seat alongside me and hung for a while.  I started going to watch her band The Mad Dogs play or when she sat in with Blue Scratch.  Even then, I considered her my favorite vocalist, but somehow she became my girlfriend against the odds.  She makes me sound great, even when I'm not but she did steal the show on my show in Marion.  I swore I would never fall in love ever again, but somehow Julie Gordon wouldn't give up and eventually she did capture my heart.  I know if I never played music again, our paths wouldn't cross.

To which the biggest thanks goes to Julie.  She's the reason why I keep playing today.

(Iowa's answer to Linda and Richard Thompson)

Three years.  A short but strange journey that kept getting better as the days rolled on.
And even if I forgot a few folks, they did help me become a pretty good musician.

Let's see if I can do this for another year.

Ramsey's Acoustic Showcase 7/3/18

Songs;

Does It Matter
Everybody's Talking
Ring Of Fire

With

Glen Gardner
Dave Bonham
Anthony
Steve Black Wolf
Joe Joyal

I borrowed Glen's guitar since I didn't bring mine and thought I was going to play drums at Parlor City.  Only problem was, there was no drummer there and no drum set.

Brenda and Greg Mein had their own jam going on at their place but I was afraid I wasn't going to find a parking spot so I didn't go there.  I owe them another one it seems.

It was a very short set and basically from songs that I knew the words to.  Does It Matter was done a lot slower than usual

I gotta laugh over Dave telling Steve where he now lives and as he told Steve the address, Steve mentioned that he didn't know where that was at.  I told him, sure you've been there, it's Julie's house, Dave lives there in the basement now.  We got a good laugh over that.


Fourth Of July Jam at Aces And Eights

Billy Bourbon-Lead Vocals and Guitar
Dan Hartman-Lead vocals and Guitar
Tim Canfield-Bass and vocals
Terry McDowell-Host Drummer
R.Smith drums

Five songs.

Billy's Blues Song
King Of The Road
Wagon Wheel
Runaway
All Along The Watchtower

NOTES: Due to the holiday a very small turnout.  Randy Faulkner, Herm Sarduy and Trevor Worcel were the other drummers to showed up.  One guitar player Jeff Taylor  was there and Kathy Runnells from work was there.  From what Billy mentioned he'll be working with Herm on future gigs.

Terry did show me the crack on the top of Rude Hi Hat, and the only guess I could come up is perhaps the soundwave bottom hat had a sharpness to it that enabled for 3.5 cm crack.  I didn't see it Sunday but it revealed itself last night.   And Terry didn't have that hi hat for very long.  Probably the reason why I shied away from soundedge hats.

When Guitar Center had their cymbal sale on 2002 soundedge hats I thought the 200 dollar price was for both cymbals,  Should have known better, it was for one cymbal.  Both would have cost over 400 dollars.

Rumors Jam 7/1/18

Songlist:


Bring It On Home
I Got My Mojo Working
The Twist
Five Long Years
Get Back
Roadhouse Blues;

With:

Terry McDowell: Host
Ernest (Sippie) Bynum-Vocals on Bring It On Home, Got My Mojo Working, The Twist
Billy Bourbon-Guitar and Lead Vocal on Five Long Years
Tommy Bruner-Guitar and Lead Vocal on Get Back
Randy Burghoff:Bass and Lead Vocal on Roadhouse Blues
Bob Gleason: Harmonica on Roadhouse Blues


NOTES:

Terry talked about a having a crack on his RUDE high hat top cymbal, but I didn't see it very well. Ya think they would hold up to Terry's playing.

It was the first time I jammed with Ernest since January of this year. And had to say that this version of The Twist was very different and very oddball this time out.  Shelly Foley recorded our version and I can't figure why I'm playing the upbeat rather than the downbeat.  Ernest doesn't exactly follow the 4/4 pattern and somehow I was off the whole damn time.

Billy dusted off Five Long Years and did the 1234 break at the end. I was ready for the break at the end, when Billy did the tag ending.

I used the wrong sticks on my showing tonight.  The plastic 5B sticks are better suited for light rock and jazz but I think I did okay.