Songs:
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Realitiesville
For What It's Worth
If I Had My Way
Sundown
Mike Moran-Harmonica on If I Had My Way
Aaron Caryl-fiddle
And: With Julie Gordon/Ryan Matthew Paul
Dreams Of Arcadia at The Office Lounge, Monticello IA
Gold Dust Woman
For What It's Worth
Julie Gordon: Lead Vocals
R.Smith-Guitar
Ryan Paul: Percussion on For What Its Worth
Plus playing percussion with Glen Gardner and Dave Bonham at Stone City
Aaron Carl on fiddle,
Julie Gordon: Backing vocals
Glen Gardner: Lead vocals and guitar
Dave Bonham: Lead Guitar and vocals
Songs:
Little Wing
Suite Judy Blue Eyes
Black Water
Can't Find My Way Home
Support group
Lane Gaffney
Carl Meiners
My Brother Rick
My other brother Aaron
Mike Fredericks
Danny Biaz
Ray Larson
Phil Thomas
Darryl Hokinson
Ryan Paul
Mako Dervo
The Stone City General Store Audience
NOTES:
Julie had the beginnings of another cold but she managed to do a very credible and very good gig at The Office Lounge, a place in downtown Monticello. My day didn't start out very well, I had a bad case of IBS just before I left and then went to the wrong bar. I thought it was the old Blue tap, that was Whiskey River instead, so my next plan was to go downtown and see if I could find it. Thankfully I did. I got there just in time for Julie and Ryan showing up there. Julie forgot her fan, so a trip to Thiesen's. That may have something to do with her getting a scratchy throat. Even with she has a cold she still sings very well. Better than me when I'm well.
For the second straight week, I have been helping Dreams Of Arcadia on providing the beats and spelling Ryan on a couple songs. I don't mind it, and had some help from Lisa who played congas most of the gig with me on Cajole. It takes a toll on my wrists but it's fun. And so far I make a few dollars too. A paying gig! YAY! But it's their band and I just find the time to help out.
The crowd I have seen in Monticello and Scott Grove have been very supportive of Dreams Of Arcadia. The folks kept buying us drinks but since I don't drink I would settled for a Pepsi. The bar owner was so impressed with DOA that she gave them a couple more gigs, including the coveted New Year's Eve bash! I enjoy this since this is closer to me than the Cedar Rapids gigs but still if I had a night off and could help them out, I still would.
We got done and I decided to head to Stone City and Julie and Ryan did follow me over, tho' they didn't play. The strain of the gigs and an oncoming cold probably bogged them down. I was surprised they did follow me over. I figured they wanted to do the Otis Tailgator's jam which hasn't exactly been taking off. But I think they just called it a night and went home.
I heard that the Rumor's jam was chock full of jammers, so was Stone City. Even on a crappy day there was a full amount of jammers and I got there about a quarter to seven. Julie ordered nachos so technically she did buy supper. I missed Darryl and Phil and Ray Larson was leaving when I got there. I played percussion on Dave and Glen's numbers and then eventually got on stage to do my songs. I did For What Its Worth on my own without Julie's vocal help. And basically continue to do the songs that I have been learning of late, the highlight was If I Had My Way done as a sermon and having Mike Moran playing harmonica. But even after pounding on the percussion and having wrists ballooned up to the size of my thighs, I still managed to do an fairly good set. But of course my brother was hamming it up in the background giving the Dio devil horns and making funny faces throughout my percussion playing with Glen and Dave. But then he and Aaron were long gone before I took my guitar out and played. I was the last performer of the Stone City Acoustic Showcase.
With a week left before fall processing I won't have much jam time. In fact only the Checker's jam with Julie and Dave is the last weeknight jam for me. It's a wait and see on the SAT returns at work but even with overtime, I have committed to the Whittier October jam. I have Madison on my mind this week but the weather for this week is total shit. Rain every day for 9 straight days. It used to be that fall was the driest month, not the past two fucking years. Floods and angry rivers and more rains. If the end of the world is coming, let's get this over with. I'm tired of the rains every day.
But it was a fun day, and I got paid 30 dollars for the effort. I have made more money playing this year than I ever did in playing in bands. Pretty bad eh? I know Julie needs the money more than I do but it is nice to get rewarded for four hours of banging on something. Even if we not a couple, I still think she's special.
Sunday 30 September 2018
Thursday 27 September 2018
Artisan Sanctuary Set List 9/27/18 One Year Later
Songs:
Logic And Lies
Sundown
If I Had My Way
We All Sleep Alone
Beyond The Sun
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover
(Barb Myers: Photo)
It's been one year since I made my first appearance at the Sanctuary. I think we came a long way. I think I have gotten better even tho' I still deal with the stage jitters.
Beyond The Sun made its debut tonight. For a song that was written 10 years ago it still holds true today. Breakups are never fun and it takes a while for me to even consider going out on a date anymore. I know Julie wants to find that special somebody, someone to help her through life and help her around the house. I wasn't much help, I'd get in the way and make things worse. But I can't compete with a ghost of somebody who passed away three years ago and left her broken heart. And truthfully, she still morns him. We still love each other but as friends. Like it has always been.
I went over Beyond The Sun last night and couldn't complete it without crying. It was written earlier about my last day with Olivia when she came to visit me in 2000 and seeing our love crumble. It also reminded of the time that I moved my last GF back to her state. It remains a depressing song and I don't know if I'll play it again.
So I had to end things on a uptempo note and went with You Can't Judge A Book. Logic And Lies went over pretty well, so did If I Had My Way, the best reaction was on Sundown. Darryl and Phil said that was a excellent version that I did.
Shawn Ster played with a cold before hand but he did stick around to see all of my set. It's funny how the special guest star for Tyrus 34 years ago has been a major part of my jams and such. He has a fairly good job of supporting. We may not agree on politics but as musicians we support the causes. That's all that matters.
Shawn and Darryl and Phil did have about six songs in their set. I entertained a thought about going into Summertime Blues from Can't Judge a Book but decided against it.
Cotton Thompson has disappeared from the open mic and has gotten very bizarre of late with his pro Christ and pro Conservative way of thinking. I do feel sorry for him, and was hoping he would do better. The Artisan Sanctuary Open Mic has always had a lot of performers that have come and gone. And will as long as Jim Jacobmeyer keeps doing it.
Logic And Lies
Sundown
If I Had My Way
We All Sleep Alone
Beyond The Sun
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover
(Barb Myers: Photo)
It's been one year since I made my first appearance at the Sanctuary. I think we came a long way. I think I have gotten better even tho' I still deal with the stage jitters.
Beyond The Sun made its debut tonight. For a song that was written 10 years ago it still holds true today. Breakups are never fun and it takes a while for me to even consider going out on a date anymore. I know Julie wants to find that special somebody, someone to help her through life and help her around the house. I wasn't much help, I'd get in the way and make things worse. But I can't compete with a ghost of somebody who passed away three years ago and left her broken heart. And truthfully, she still morns him. We still love each other but as friends. Like it has always been.
I went over Beyond The Sun last night and couldn't complete it without crying. It was written earlier about my last day with Olivia when she came to visit me in 2000 and seeing our love crumble. It also reminded of the time that I moved my last GF back to her state. It remains a depressing song and I don't know if I'll play it again.
So I had to end things on a uptempo note and went with You Can't Judge A Book. Logic And Lies went over pretty well, so did If I Had My Way, the best reaction was on Sundown. Darryl and Phil said that was a excellent version that I did.
Shawn Ster played with a cold before hand but he did stick around to see all of my set. It's funny how the special guest star for Tyrus 34 years ago has been a major part of my jams and such. He has a fairly good job of supporting. We may not agree on politics but as musicians we support the causes. That's all that matters.
Shawn and Darryl and Phil did have about six songs in their set. I entertained a thought about going into Summertime Blues from Can't Judge a Book but decided against it.
Cotton Thompson has disappeared from the open mic and has gotten very bizarre of late with his pro Christ and pro Conservative way of thinking. I do feel sorry for him, and was hoping he would do better. The Artisan Sanctuary Open Mic has always had a lot of performers that have come and gone. And will as long as Jim Jacobmeyer keeps doing it.
Wednesday 26 September 2018
Checker's Jam-Cathy Hart And Friends
Songs
Sundown
I Don't Know Why You Keep Me On
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
For What It's Worth
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover/Summertime Blues
Everybody's Talking
The Race Is On
Mike Fredericks-Banjo and Guitar
With
Cathy Hart
Rick Gallo
David Arnold
Floyd Latta
Glen Garner
Carl Meiners
Bart Carfizzi
Joe Hutchcroft
Karl Hudson
Rose Slaymaker
Tim Nemec
Jeff Gage
Cathy Hart took the pictures. I didn't know she had the camera. Carl did.
EGADS! Well, Tim and Rose were there. Karl Hudson and David Arnold join up on the fun.
Rose Slaymaker. Acousta Crabby on congas lurking in the background.
,
Sundown
I Don't Know Why You Keep Me On
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
For What It's Worth
You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover/Summertime Blues
Everybody's Talking
The Race Is On
Mike Fredericks-Banjo and Guitar
With
Cathy Hart
Rick Gallo
David Arnold
Floyd Latta
Glen Garner
Carl Meiners
Bart Carfizzi
Joe Hutchcroft
Karl Hudson
Rose Slaymaker
Tim Nemec
Jeff Gage
Cathy Hart took the pictures. I didn't know she had the camera. Carl did.
EGADS! Well, Tim and Rose were there. Karl Hudson and David Arnold join up on the fun.
Rose Slaymaker. Acousta Crabby on congas lurking in the background.
,
Tuesday 25 September 2018
Parlor City Jam
Songs;
Pride And Joy
How Blue Can You Get
Further Up The Road
Chris Bailes-Lead Vocals and guitar
Tom Giblin-Keyboards
Mark Awad-Bass
R.Smith-Drums
Bob Dorr, Bryan Stevens and Jeff Petersen were the hosts.
With
George Hanna
Pride And Joy
How Blue Can You Get
Further Up The Road
Chris Bailes-Lead Vocals and guitar
Tom Giblin-Keyboards
Mark Awad-Bass
R.Smith-Drums
Bob Dorr, Bryan Stevens and Jeff Petersen were the hosts.
With
George Hanna
Sunday 23 September 2018
Musician's Flea Market Jam-The Strangeness Of Days
Songs;
Can't Get Enough
Feel Like Making Love
Brown Eyed Girl
Rocky Top
Lay Down Sally
Russ From Tracer-Vocals 1-3
Mike Clair-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Mark Awad-Bass 1-3
Bird-Bass 4,5
Beth Wilson sang lead on Rocky Top
Billy Bourbon sang lead on Lay Down Sally
Terry McDowell hosted
Herman, Steve Stratton, Mike Lint, DJ Hovenstot, Randy Faulker were the other drummers
Others included Ed Butler, Leroy Munn, Mitch Smith, Tim Canfield
And;
Guest star for Dreams Of Arcadia, at The Grove in Scotch Grove 9/22/18
Songs:
I started hating cheating songs today
The race is on
Summertime Blues
Julie Gordon: Percussion and backing vocals
Ryan Matthew Paul-Congas
Rich Bryan and Pat Geasland from Harvey Headbanger showed up and sang and played on a few numbers.
(They're tearing down the Viola school for a proposed winery, the gym is supposed to be saved, this was taken at 3 AM with the harvest moon lightning things up)
Notes:
Is the harvest moon that is bringing out the freaky people? Saturday Night I played percussion to Dreams Of Arcadia and sang three country songs of no significant importance. They wanted to do their own versions of Sundown and Ring Of Fire. It was decided that I would meet them there rather than waste gas and time going over there, since I live about 20 miles from Scotch Grove. The Grove is a small bar, it's really no bigger than my basement and Ryan bought the congas, so I didn't need the snare drum, even tho' I did bring it. The best way was coming off 151 down to 38. There was a short cut, but it was mostly gravel road and not something I enjoy being on. After I got done, I return back to 151 from North 38. I wasn't taking any gravel road home. Anyway, Julie and Ryan impressed the folks and the bar owners so much that they wanted them back to play the Halloween gig a month from now. No idea if I'll help out but chances are I'll probably will.
Ryan liked my take on Tuxedo Junction with the brushes playing like tap dancing shoes. It was something that I thought up on the spot as well as other songs but it seemed to strike a chord with Ryan. The country songs were Julie's idea, I wasn't impressed with what I did, and perhaps I should retire ...Cheating Songs".
My Acupuncturist Curtis was there with his wife and they stayed for the first set before making the hour trip back to Fairfax. Rich and Pat showed up at around midnight and played a few songs.
(Crankshaft playing: Renee Clair Photo credit....The Mosquitoes were terrible)
Sunday: The first annual Musician's flea market. Steve Stratton picked up the CB Percussion drums for 50 dollars (shell cases only) but still a pretty nifty deal. I thought about selling some cymbals but never got around to it. I was too busy listening to the Cubs and they gave Ken "hawk" Harrelson a final goodbye as they beat the White Sox 6-1, With Harrelson saying naughty things about the Cubs, I wanted them to beat the Sox. And they did. Happy trails to the bitter old Hawk.
A rare occasion: the jam was outdoors and plenty of people were there. I got to play a couple songs with Mark Awad on bass. I may do that again if and when he shows up at the Parlor City Jam. Bartender Mark was up there and of course we had to do the Bad Company numbers he loved so well. Some off the wall things, Rocky Top and Lay Down Sally to which I was playing the opposite beat before getting into the right groove. I got bitten about five time from fucking mosquitoes. I'm surprised I kept a beat.
Herman, for who he is, remains a very good drummer. He surprised me by saying how good I have been playing of late. Well, after being back for over 3 years, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it, even if I'm not on the same page of what Bear or Tommy wanted me to play Rocky Top, or Lay Down Sally, but eventually I'll find the groove and stick with it. They are professionals, I'm the hobbyist, I have to find some sort of backbeat to keep people dancing. Tough job but somebody's gotta do it.
After this, I went to see how Josh was doing hosting the Otis Tailgators Jam, and nobody was there. They were playing Josh's original songs. They could have used a drummer but I wasn't familiar with his songs. Maybe next time.
Last year before Julie and I were dating, I sat with Jean and thought about asking her out. Then once Julie and I became an item we lost track of one another except she told me about a estate sale with records across from her place. With Julie and I now returning back to simply friends, I did see Jean last week to announce that I am available, Jean started dating a new guy, Randy actually. They were there at the jam and they quite cozy together so I didn't bother them. In the meantime, Tommy has once again went back to that crazy woman he's been with off and on again and Kimberly is back being single again. However on one song Kim was slow dancing with her ex hubby. It seems that the circle is small between CR musicians and women. Both Randy and Jean have gone through seeing their significant others depart this world and now ready to go back on the dating scene again. Like last week, I do think Randy/Jean make a sweet couple, he treats her like a queen.
The strangeness of days and relationships, especially what I have seen of Tommy and his reunited girlfriend was witnessed behind these eyes. When I think about what Julie and I have, I smile at the beginning of knowing her and she was very interested to get to know me. Even as her being my bestie, it was never like what I had with Nicole. All we really had was being safe friends. I know in her mind she wasn't sold on me, even though she decided to date one another. I still love her dearly but when you don't spend time and nights together you become strangers sooner than expected. But when I look at who's available to date, I realize I'm better off just being on my own. I know Julie will find somebody sooner than me, but she's remains true to my heart. Knowing myself I'd put the next woman through a lot of grief as well with my come and go ways. I'm still inclined to take Julie out on the town if something special came up. She wouldn't be the first who gave up on me but I still love her in my own special way.
Whatever that means.
Happy birthday to a couple of my former girlfriends. Penny turns 57 on Monday, she was my high school sweetheart, but we never got too far in high school. She couldn't keep me out of the record store. She did actually married her true high school sweetheart to which they are still together.
Also, to the Brat, aka Nicole. For two and a half years she was part of my life even tho' the time we were together I wasn't playing music. But I did entertain her by yelling at many ball games on the weekends.
Whatever that means.
Can't Get Enough
Feel Like Making Love
Brown Eyed Girl
Rocky Top
Lay Down Sally
Russ From Tracer-Vocals 1-3
Mike Clair-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Mark Awad-Bass 1-3
Bird-Bass 4,5
Beth Wilson sang lead on Rocky Top
Billy Bourbon sang lead on Lay Down Sally
Terry McDowell hosted
Herman, Steve Stratton, Mike Lint, DJ Hovenstot, Randy Faulker were the other drummers
Others included Ed Butler, Leroy Munn, Mitch Smith, Tim Canfield
And;
Guest star for Dreams Of Arcadia, at The Grove in Scotch Grove 9/22/18
Songs:
I started hating cheating songs today
The race is on
Summertime Blues
Julie Gordon: Percussion and backing vocals
Ryan Matthew Paul-Congas
Rich Bryan and Pat Geasland from Harvey Headbanger showed up and sang and played on a few numbers.
(They're tearing down the Viola school for a proposed winery, the gym is supposed to be saved, this was taken at 3 AM with the harvest moon lightning things up)
Notes:
Is the harvest moon that is bringing out the freaky people? Saturday Night I played percussion to Dreams Of Arcadia and sang three country songs of no significant importance. They wanted to do their own versions of Sundown and Ring Of Fire. It was decided that I would meet them there rather than waste gas and time going over there, since I live about 20 miles from Scotch Grove. The Grove is a small bar, it's really no bigger than my basement and Ryan bought the congas, so I didn't need the snare drum, even tho' I did bring it. The best way was coming off 151 down to 38. There was a short cut, but it was mostly gravel road and not something I enjoy being on. After I got done, I return back to 151 from North 38. I wasn't taking any gravel road home. Anyway, Julie and Ryan impressed the folks and the bar owners so much that they wanted them back to play the Halloween gig a month from now. No idea if I'll help out but chances are I'll probably will.
Ryan liked my take on Tuxedo Junction with the brushes playing like tap dancing shoes. It was something that I thought up on the spot as well as other songs but it seemed to strike a chord with Ryan. The country songs were Julie's idea, I wasn't impressed with what I did, and perhaps I should retire ...Cheating Songs".
My Acupuncturist Curtis was there with his wife and they stayed for the first set before making the hour trip back to Fairfax. Rich and Pat showed up at around midnight and played a few songs.
(Crankshaft playing: Renee Clair Photo credit....The Mosquitoes were terrible)
Sunday: The first annual Musician's flea market. Steve Stratton picked up the CB Percussion drums for 50 dollars (shell cases only) but still a pretty nifty deal. I thought about selling some cymbals but never got around to it. I was too busy listening to the Cubs and they gave Ken "hawk" Harrelson a final goodbye as they beat the White Sox 6-1, With Harrelson saying naughty things about the Cubs, I wanted them to beat the Sox. And they did. Happy trails to the bitter old Hawk.
A rare occasion: the jam was outdoors and plenty of people were there. I got to play a couple songs with Mark Awad on bass. I may do that again if and when he shows up at the Parlor City Jam. Bartender Mark was up there and of course we had to do the Bad Company numbers he loved so well. Some off the wall things, Rocky Top and Lay Down Sally to which I was playing the opposite beat before getting into the right groove. I got bitten about five time from fucking mosquitoes. I'm surprised I kept a beat.
Herman, for who he is, remains a very good drummer. He surprised me by saying how good I have been playing of late. Well, after being back for over 3 years, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it, even if I'm not on the same page of what Bear or Tommy wanted me to play Rocky Top, or Lay Down Sally, but eventually I'll find the groove and stick with it. They are professionals, I'm the hobbyist, I have to find some sort of backbeat to keep people dancing. Tough job but somebody's gotta do it.
After this, I went to see how Josh was doing hosting the Otis Tailgators Jam, and nobody was there. They were playing Josh's original songs. They could have used a drummer but I wasn't familiar with his songs. Maybe next time.
Last year before Julie and I were dating, I sat with Jean and thought about asking her out. Then once Julie and I became an item we lost track of one another except she told me about a estate sale with records across from her place. With Julie and I now returning back to simply friends, I did see Jean last week to announce that I am available, Jean started dating a new guy, Randy actually. They were there at the jam and they quite cozy together so I didn't bother them. In the meantime, Tommy has once again went back to that crazy woman he's been with off and on again and Kimberly is back being single again. However on one song Kim was slow dancing with her ex hubby. It seems that the circle is small between CR musicians and women. Both Randy and Jean have gone through seeing their significant others depart this world and now ready to go back on the dating scene again. Like last week, I do think Randy/Jean make a sweet couple, he treats her like a queen.
The strangeness of days and relationships, especially what I have seen of Tommy and his reunited girlfriend was witnessed behind these eyes. When I think about what Julie and I have, I smile at the beginning of knowing her and she was very interested to get to know me. Even as her being my bestie, it was never like what I had with Nicole. All we really had was being safe friends. I know in her mind she wasn't sold on me, even though she decided to date one another. I still love her dearly but when you don't spend time and nights together you become strangers sooner than expected. But when I look at who's available to date, I realize I'm better off just being on my own. I know Julie will find somebody sooner than me, but she's remains true to my heart. Knowing myself I'd put the next woman through a lot of grief as well with my come and go ways. I'm still inclined to take Julie out on the town if something special came up. She wouldn't be the first who gave up on me but I still love her in my own special way.
Whatever that means.
Happy birthday to a couple of my former girlfriends. Penny turns 57 on Monday, she was my high school sweetheart, but we never got too far in high school. She couldn't keep me out of the record store. She did actually married her true high school sweetheart to which they are still together.
Also, to the Brat, aka Nicole. For two and a half years she was part of my life even tho' the time we were together I wasn't playing music. But I did entertain her by yelling at many ball games on the weekends.
Whatever that means.
Wednesday 19 September 2018
Donna Jo's Birthday Party Songlist
Songs
Sundown
If I Had My Way (the sermon of samson)
Fly Away Home
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Julie Gordon-Percussion and backing vocal on Sundown
Carl Meiners-Mandolin on Fly Away Home and Good Time Charlie
Also with
Steve Black Wolf
Dave Bonham
Rose Slaymaker
Tim Nemec
Glen Gardner
Laurie Shuster
Mike Fredericks
Barb Myers
Lorie Parker
Luther Parker
Donna Jo Elsner
David Elsner
D J Hovenstot
P J Harrington
Pam Harrington
(Acousta Crabby and Julie too)
Notes;
I played percussion on Steve Black Wolf's set as well as part of Tim and Rose's set.
Barb Myers came up to play While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Dave Bonham playing guitar
Lorie Parker did her Bootyful song to close things out.
I returned back to play Sundown in the original format, the way that Gordon Lightfoot played it. Julie sang backup.
The next three songs made their debut, including Sermon Of Samson, one of the more off the wall songs I have done. I capo it at the 3rd fret to break up the G C D method that most of the new songs played. Due to time restrictions, I only did four songs, but I did play percussion from the rest of the night on.
The surprise was seeing Luther and Lorie show up tonight as well as Barb. It was Donna Jo's birthday so that was as good as any reason to show up.
They have started a blues jam down the Avenue of the Saints to Riverside at the Casino where Bob Dorr and Jeff Petersen have been hosting a new blues jam. Problem remains that Riverside is further here for me than it is going to Dubuque and maybe one day I'll venture down there. As long as Julie has the Checker's jam going, I'll support her jam. But they do get some major blues superstars down there (Ernie Pendleston, Kevin Burt) the past month. I just don't feel ready yet to play blues guitar, drums no problem. But I don't look at myself as a bluesman as say, Kevin or Bob Dorr for that matter. My heart belongs to the garage rock, although I find playing country songs is very very easier than originally thought.
I messed up the beginning of Fly Away Home so I redid it again. Nobody paid much attention to it.
Sundown
If I Had My Way (the sermon of samson)
Fly Away Home
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Julie Gordon-Percussion and backing vocal on Sundown
Carl Meiners-Mandolin on Fly Away Home and Good Time Charlie
Also with
Steve Black Wolf
Dave Bonham
Rose Slaymaker
Tim Nemec
Glen Gardner
Laurie Shuster
Mike Fredericks
Barb Myers
Lorie Parker
Luther Parker
Donna Jo Elsner
David Elsner
D J Hovenstot
P J Harrington
Pam Harrington
(Acousta Crabby and Julie too)
Notes;
I played percussion on Steve Black Wolf's set as well as part of Tim and Rose's set.
Barb Myers came up to play While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Dave Bonham playing guitar
Lorie Parker did her Bootyful song to close things out.
I returned back to play Sundown in the original format, the way that Gordon Lightfoot played it. Julie sang backup.
The next three songs made their debut, including Sermon Of Samson, one of the more off the wall songs I have done. I capo it at the 3rd fret to break up the G C D method that most of the new songs played. Due to time restrictions, I only did four songs, but I did play percussion from the rest of the night on.
The surprise was seeing Luther and Lorie show up tonight as well as Barb. It was Donna Jo's birthday so that was as good as any reason to show up.
They have started a blues jam down the Avenue of the Saints to Riverside at the Casino where Bob Dorr and Jeff Petersen have been hosting a new blues jam. Problem remains that Riverside is further here for me than it is going to Dubuque and maybe one day I'll venture down there. As long as Julie has the Checker's jam going, I'll support her jam. But they do get some major blues superstars down there (Ernie Pendleston, Kevin Burt) the past month. I just don't feel ready yet to play blues guitar, drums no problem. But I don't look at myself as a bluesman as say, Kevin or Bob Dorr for that matter. My heart belongs to the garage rock, although I find playing country songs is very very easier than originally thought.
I messed up the beginning of Fly Away Home so I redid it again. Nobody paid much attention to it.
Sunday 16 September 2018
Thoughts From The Townedger-Diamonds In The Skies
With no gigs coming up, I thought I make myself known that I'm still alive and surviving.
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-080685
My 1991 album Diamonds In The Skies is still up and available as a crappy sounding free download. This was the album that got me out of my first retirement. 27 years ago, my drums were gathering dust and I wasn't playing at all, simply put I wasn't interested in playing hair metal or classic rock and thought that being original was the way to go. Upon my rustiness on drums, Greg Nutter asked me to help out his band and I did that. We recorded a sloppy covers album that Maier Records sat on but it did inspired me to write again. The inspiration became Diamonds In The Skies, with Geoff Redding helping out on guitar. A bass player was credited (Robert Knowles) but it was basically me and Geoff, mostly me.
So I rediscovered the album and Julie gave me her two cents worth. Not much variation between Getting To This and Back To Marion and I'm pointing out my observations on the subject. Both songs were jams and both songs were being making up as we went along. It really was flying by the seat of my pants and no idea of where the songs would lead up. A far cry from today where we go over the songs and polish them up before recording today. Julie laughed and said that she should do that to her songs of the past, like some ole rock legend such as me. I told her to have at it. I may not have her vocals nor having hall of famers in her bands but I think I can listen to my old albums and be proud of what I did. If they still sound good, play em. Thus ends another episode of The Thompsons,
Back then, I wasn't playing anywhere. I look at this album as a hobby, and even as this is available to download or listen to, I make no money off this. I'm sure there might be some band out there that might be playing it. In my music career, I had to fight to get these songs recorded, many takes and do overs just for the sake of getting it sound worth hearing. And even in later years, I'm still taking notes on how to make the songs sound better. So my songs are not Hotel California or For What Its Worth but they do have meaning at that place and time.
If making DIY albums for 35 years makes me a rock legend, so be it but only in my mind. Dennis Lancaster was right, this was a hobby and nothing more. But it was a attempt to put out original songs and doing things my own way. But everybody is a rock legend in their own mind when they were putting together their own basement and bedroom tapes. The music would have never gotten me a record deal, if it did, it would have made a beeline to the cut outs and the dollar section of many others who tried and failed. I love the dollar section and get to listen to those forgotten artists. And of course the local artists. The Meekats' CDs can be found there, that's how I discovered Kyle and Brook Hoover or Sarah Cram. I know if Diamonds was issued there would be multiple copies in the cut outs or dollar section.
To dismiss an album with no thought or variation with listening to the whole thing is speculation. There are surprises in store if your attention span is more than 10 seconds. Getting To This was a song expressing my hatred of the morning rush hour, The Road You're On an uplifting note of wishing the best to people. Jayne, another song about a failed relationship to the riff of Martin Briley's Salt In My Tears, to which he got writing credit for. Still Strangers a song about breaking up with somebody on a love that didn't come through, Sweet Melissa, a song about the stripper from Denver that I dated and saw on her last time through town. When The Day Is Done, a love song. Being There, written as an response to Greg thinking I had a better life than he did (he might have been right). Oh Momma, a tongue in cheek about my mom crashing a recording session, One In A Million Girl about a girl in a class I had that she had a crush on me, only to be crushed to death when I didn't go over and say hi to her when I saw her at Kitty's at a gig and thinking I would see her again. Victim Or The Crime about my encounter with the Marion PD on a Sunday Night walk alone around town. Back To Marion a song about wanting to go home and Many Happy Endings was a song about turning down a married woman on a one night proposal. No thought or variation? Think again.
Diamonds In The Skies begins with a song here and there and sessions are recorded. Brian Mullahan co produced, Richard Dennanbaugh recorded it and I filled in the blanks as needed. Broken guitar strings, broken drum sticks, countless takes and countless swear words and sweat were there. It's to the discretion to the listener of what he or she thinks of it; not everybody is going to like it but you hope like hell that it won't be ridiculed or looked at the same way as Vanilla Ice, Poison, or Florida Georgia Line. It took about six weeks to commit this to tape.
The drums used were the Yamaha stage set, the cymbals were Zildjian but at the time I was into power crashes. I used a 16 inch Impulse Crash and a 18 inch Impulse China Boy and a 20 inch Impulse Ride, to along with the 18 inch Z Power Crash and 16 inch Rock Crash which was a mainstay of my cymbal lineup. I used an 1988 Fender Telecaster made in Japan and a Yamaha acoustic guitar.
Upon my disagreements with certain folks about the songs having little variation, Diamonds In The Skies ushered in a new era of music for myself. Somehow I found the vibe to continue to make music and albums. It's a shame I didn't commit more to practicing and perfecting the songs, but at that time I had little desire to play in other bands or to suffer through another hapless version of Free Bird or At The Hop. I don't think I ever had as many ballads as I did on any other album than Diamonds In The Skies.
But it does sound better on analog tape than compressed MP3 files though.
Sunday Funday Jam with Terry McDowell and the Two B's At Rumors
Songs:
Willin
Summertime Blues
I Drink Alone
Beast Of Burden
Betty Lou's Getting Out Tonight
Fat Bottom Girls
Blue On Black
Wagon Wheel (Gag)
Turn The Page
Billy Bourbon-Lead Vocals, Guitar
Randy Burghoff-Bass
Me-Drums
There's a couple other songs that escape my mind but I did play a good half hour. Billy did a countrified version of Fat Bottom Girls and Beast Of Burden, but after the constant pounding of Herm Sarduay earlier, it's best to have a drummer swing and play without the showing off.
A very small crowd and not a lot of jammers, 81 year old Tim Fairchild joined up to do a medley of Chuck Berry songs and a novelty about chickens. Dan Hartman joined later. Randy Faulkner played drums for them. He has a light touch when he plays drums, that I actually borrowed his style when I play. It's very light and very tight and not much showing off.
Upon arrival, Brenda and Jean were up there, we got the usual hugs and miss yous, but when I got there I was quite sweaty from walking around New Bo. Jean says that she's now dating Randy. They do make a good couple.
Steve Black Wolf went to the open mic in Stone City, and Glen Gardner went to Starved Rock for jams and trail hiking.
Shelley Foley went fishing.
Since you asked, this is Isabella Marks (she called herself Rosselini after the actress) to which 20 years ago I managed to spend time with and seen the good and the looney side. She was fascinating when we got together in July of that year. What impressed me was that she had a cd collection that could rival mine and I managed to find her the Ray Manzerek Carmen Burita album on CD. She was a great lover in that short of time. Next time in October, something happened and she wasn't much fun to be with. Being a Gemini and that double personality came into view and it turned into one of the longest week. When she lost her meds at a pizza joint, I had enough and took her home and spent the rest of the Spokane trip hanging at Hastings. Came home to have her telling the social media outlet we both were in, that I left her for somebody new. To which I promptly set her straight (it would be 8 years before I dated again) and bid her goodbye as she went back to her better half. She may be still working the Spokane Theater and acting circuit. Not to be confused with the real Isabella Rosselini.
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-080685
My 1991 album Diamonds In The Skies is still up and available as a crappy sounding free download. This was the album that got me out of my first retirement. 27 years ago, my drums were gathering dust and I wasn't playing at all, simply put I wasn't interested in playing hair metal or classic rock and thought that being original was the way to go. Upon my rustiness on drums, Greg Nutter asked me to help out his band and I did that. We recorded a sloppy covers album that Maier Records sat on but it did inspired me to write again. The inspiration became Diamonds In The Skies, with Geoff Redding helping out on guitar. A bass player was credited (Robert Knowles) but it was basically me and Geoff, mostly me.
So I rediscovered the album and Julie gave me her two cents worth. Not much variation between Getting To This and Back To Marion and I'm pointing out my observations on the subject. Both songs were jams and both songs were being making up as we went along. It really was flying by the seat of my pants and no idea of where the songs would lead up. A far cry from today where we go over the songs and polish them up before recording today. Julie laughed and said that she should do that to her songs of the past, like some ole rock legend such as me. I told her to have at it. I may not have her vocals nor having hall of famers in her bands but I think I can listen to my old albums and be proud of what I did. If they still sound good, play em. Thus ends another episode of The Thompsons,
Back then, I wasn't playing anywhere. I look at this album as a hobby, and even as this is available to download or listen to, I make no money off this. I'm sure there might be some band out there that might be playing it. In my music career, I had to fight to get these songs recorded, many takes and do overs just for the sake of getting it sound worth hearing. And even in later years, I'm still taking notes on how to make the songs sound better. So my songs are not Hotel California or For What Its Worth but they do have meaning at that place and time.
If making DIY albums for 35 years makes me a rock legend, so be it but only in my mind. Dennis Lancaster was right, this was a hobby and nothing more. But it was a attempt to put out original songs and doing things my own way. But everybody is a rock legend in their own mind when they were putting together their own basement and bedroom tapes. The music would have never gotten me a record deal, if it did, it would have made a beeline to the cut outs and the dollar section of many others who tried and failed. I love the dollar section and get to listen to those forgotten artists. And of course the local artists. The Meekats' CDs can be found there, that's how I discovered Kyle and Brook Hoover or Sarah Cram. I know if Diamonds was issued there would be multiple copies in the cut outs or dollar section.
To dismiss an album with no thought or variation with listening to the whole thing is speculation. There are surprises in store if your attention span is more than 10 seconds. Getting To This was a song expressing my hatred of the morning rush hour, The Road You're On an uplifting note of wishing the best to people. Jayne, another song about a failed relationship to the riff of Martin Briley's Salt In My Tears, to which he got writing credit for. Still Strangers a song about breaking up with somebody on a love that didn't come through, Sweet Melissa, a song about the stripper from Denver that I dated and saw on her last time through town. When The Day Is Done, a love song. Being There, written as an response to Greg thinking I had a better life than he did (he might have been right). Oh Momma, a tongue in cheek about my mom crashing a recording session, One In A Million Girl about a girl in a class I had that she had a crush on me, only to be crushed to death when I didn't go over and say hi to her when I saw her at Kitty's at a gig and thinking I would see her again. Victim Or The Crime about my encounter with the Marion PD on a Sunday Night walk alone around town. Back To Marion a song about wanting to go home and Many Happy Endings was a song about turning down a married woman on a one night proposal. No thought or variation? Think again.
Diamonds In The Skies begins with a song here and there and sessions are recorded. Brian Mullahan co produced, Richard Dennanbaugh recorded it and I filled in the blanks as needed. Broken guitar strings, broken drum sticks, countless takes and countless swear words and sweat were there. It's to the discretion to the listener of what he or she thinks of it; not everybody is going to like it but you hope like hell that it won't be ridiculed or looked at the same way as Vanilla Ice, Poison, or Florida Georgia Line. It took about six weeks to commit this to tape.
The drums used were the Yamaha stage set, the cymbals were Zildjian but at the time I was into power crashes. I used a 16 inch Impulse Crash and a 18 inch Impulse China Boy and a 20 inch Impulse Ride, to along with the 18 inch Z Power Crash and 16 inch Rock Crash which was a mainstay of my cymbal lineup. I used an 1988 Fender Telecaster made in Japan and a Yamaha acoustic guitar.
Upon my disagreements with certain folks about the songs having little variation, Diamonds In The Skies ushered in a new era of music for myself. Somehow I found the vibe to continue to make music and albums. It's a shame I didn't commit more to practicing and perfecting the songs, but at that time I had little desire to play in other bands or to suffer through another hapless version of Free Bird or At The Hop. I don't think I ever had as many ballads as I did on any other album than Diamonds In The Skies.
But it does sound better on analog tape than compressed MP3 files though.
Sunday Funday Jam with Terry McDowell and the Two B's At Rumors
Songs:
Willin
Summertime Blues
I Drink Alone
Beast Of Burden
Betty Lou's Getting Out Tonight
Fat Bottom Girls
Blue On Black
Wagon Wheel (Gag)
Turn The Page
Billy Bourbon-Lead Vocals, Guitar
Randy Burghoff-Bass
Me-Drums
There's a couple other songs that escape my mind but I did play a good half hour. Billy did a countrified version of Fat Bottom Girls and Beast Of Burden, but after the constant pounding of Herm Sarduay earlier, it's best to have a drummer swing and play without the showing off.
A very small crowd and not a lot of jammers, 81 year old Tim Fairchild joined up to do a medley of Chuck Berry songs and a novelty about chickens. Dan Hartman joined later. Randy Faulkner played drums for them. He has a light touch when he plays drums, that I actually borrowed his style when I play. It's very light and very tight and not much showing off.
Upon arrival, Brenda and Jean were up there, we got the usual hugs and miss yous, but when I got there I was quite sweaty from walking around New Bo. Jean says that she's now dating Randy. They do make a good couple.
Steve Black Wolf went to the open mic in Stone City, and Glen Gardner went to Starved Rock for jams and trail hiking.
Shelley Foley went fishing.
Since you asked, this is Isabella Marks (she called herself Rosselini after the actress) to which 20 years ago I managed to spend time with and seen the good and the looney side. She was fascinating when we got together in July of that year. What impressed me was that she had a cd collection that could rival mine and I managed to find her the Ray Manzerek Carmen Burita album on CD. She was a great lover in that short of time. Next time in October, something happened and she wasn't much fun to be with. Being a Gemini and that double personality came into view and it turned into one of the longest week. When she lost her meds at a pizza joint, I had enough and took her home and spent the rest of the Spokane trip hanging at Hastings. Came home to have her telling the social media outlet we both were in, that I left her for somebody new. To which I promptly set her straight (it would be 8 years before I dated again) and bid her goodbye as she went back to her better half. She may be still working the Spokane Theater and acting circuit. Not to be confused with the real Isabella Rosselini.
Sunday 9 September 2018
Rumors Sunday Funday Jam-Shelly Foley Birthday Bash
Songs
Sharp Dressed Man
Fire
Wild Night
Far Away Eyes
I Saw Her Standing There
Message In A Bottle
Raven-Lead vocal on Sharp Dressed Man
Billy Bourbon-Guitar and Vocals on (Fire, Wild Night, Far Away Eyes)
Tommy Bruner-Guitar and Vocals (I Saw Her Standing There, Message In A Bottle)
Mike Clair-Bass and Vocals (I Saw Her Standing There)
R.Smith-Drums
Terry McDowell-Host Drummer
Terry let me finish the jam by doing Message In A Bottle, which I do a more choppy version than Terry did.
Shawn McDonald made a appearance at Rumor's tonight. It's the first time I have ever seen him anywhere that Russ and Deb were not around.
Don't know who the guy Raven was but he was the dude that sang Sexy And 17 a couple weeks ago.
A new drummer Andy English came on board to play a bunch of blues tunes and turned the jam into a dance party.
Basically I had to follow him. Imagine that.
So I kept it simple and kept it rocking and played around Message In A Bottle with many different types of drum accents and playing. It's somewhat of a reggae beat but I was messing with the offbeat. But I do think Message In A Bottle did work even though I only played it one time before. The key is to focus on the off beats and provide a reggae beat like Stu Copeland did with The Police.
Since it was Shelly's and Steve's birthday I decided to do the jam. By the time I got the stage and played the birthday guy and girl already left as well as Dave Bonham, Drum Store Mike, Herman and a few others. But I got there late and was the last drummer to play.
Drummers: Terry, Steve Stratton, Mike Lint, Andy English, Herm Sarduay. Rob Haskill and Randy Faulkner were there but didn't play.
Thankfully Shelly didn't take any pictures of me.
I wish Tommy the best on his new girlfriend. She's seems to be a bit more grounded than the last one. The last one kinda made a fool out of herself when she showed up but still danced with a couple other dudes.
The Cedar River was out of its banks due to the big rains we had last week (as well as the Wapsi at around Stone City) and I couldn't take Otis Road, usually that's the scenic view of the river, this time, the road was the river. The sump pump still is working over here, a week after the last big rains which caused some bit of leaking from the old sump pump in the storage room. Good thing we had the basement waterproofed, Otherwise I would be coming home to a watery mess. Thankfully those days are gone. Eight thousand dollars well spent.
Sharp Dressed Man
Fire
Wild Night
Far Away Eyes
I Saw Her Standing There
Message In A Bottle
Raven-Lead vocal on Sharp Dressed Man
Billy Bourbon-Guitar and Vocals on (Fire, Wild Night, Far Away Eyes)
Tommy Bruner-Guitar and Vocals (I Saw Her Standing There, Message In A Bottle)
Mike Clair-Bass and Vocals (I Saw Her Standing There)
R.Smith-Drums
Terry McDowell-Host Drummer
Terry let me finish the jam by doing Message In A Bottle, which I do a more choppy version than Terry did.
Shawn McDonald made a appearance at Rumor's tonight. It's the first time I have ever seen him anywhere that Russ and Deb were not around.
Don't know who the guy Raven was but he was the dude that sang Sexy And 17 a couple weeks ago.
A new drummer Andy English came on board to play a bunch of blues tunes and turned the jam into a dance party.
Basically I had to follow him. Imagine that.
So I kept it simple and kept it rocking and played around Message In A Bottle with many different types of drum accents and playing. It's somewhat of a reggae beat but I was messing with the offbeat. But I do think Message In A Bottle did work even though I only played it one time before. The key is to focus on the off beats and provide a reggae beat like Stu Copeland did with The Police.
Since it was Shelly's and Steve's birthday I decided to do the jam. By the time I got the stage and played the birthday guy and girl already left as well as Dave Bonham, Drum Store Mike, Herman and a few others. But I got there late and was the last drummer to play.
Drummers: Terry, Steve Stratton, Mike Lint, Andy English, Herm Sarduay. Rob Haskill and Randy Faulkner were there but didn't play.
Thankfully Shelly didn't take any pictures of me.
I wish Tommy the best on his new girlfriend. She's seems to be a bit more grounded than the last one. The last one kinda made a fool out of herself when she showed up but still danced with a couple other dudes.
The Cedar River was out of its banks due to the big rains we had last week (as well as the Wapsi at around Stone City) and I couldn't take Otis Road, usually that's the scenic view of the river, this time, the road was the river. The sump pump still is working over here, a week after the last big rains which caused some bit of leaking from the old sump pump in the storage room. Good thing we had the basement waterproofed, Otherwise I would be coming home to a watery mess. Thankfully those days are gone. Eight thousand dollars well spent.
Saturday 8 September 2018
Whittier Acoustic Showcase Set List 9-8-18
Songs
Slipping Away
Me And Bobby McGee
Green Onions (Interlude)
Rainbow In The Dark
Summertime Blues
Peter Gunn (Interlude)
Bring It On Home To Me
Peace Love And Understanding
Rumble/Stop Draggin My Heart Around
Sundown
Tulsa Time
NOTES;
My original intention was to go take in the first game of the MILB division championship but at the last moment decided to stay close to home and do the Whittier Jam instead. Good thing I did, The Cedar Rapids Kernels blew the lead and lost the game 5-3, I would have been a angry mood had I went to watch the game.
I scared off Belinda from joining tonight, I told her I was going to the game but changed my mind and told her of my intentions. But she didn't get the memo in time. So we did not do What's Up. She would have been used for Fever and Come Together and probably a couple other songs that she does. I miss her but it's probably better for her not to make the 45 minute trip on a hurting knee.
Not a lot of musicians tonight, the Idiot Jam in Garrison probably took a few of them up there but we did play the full three hours. Bill, who lives up north helped play lead guitar on a couple numbers mainly Stop Draggin My Heart Around and Sundown.
I think I threw a couple curves in this set list. One playing Stop Dragging My Heart Around without a female vocal and Rainbow In The Dark, a song that Ronnie James Dio played, Julie sings with Ryan Paul and I took her arrangement and did the song in her way. We both worked on that song but I have never played it live with her with me on guitar and her singing.
Peter and Green Onions were done as time killer between songs between the jammers. I did play Rumble to the beginning of Stop Dragging My Heart around. Bill said he would like to do that song again next month when he's back at the jam. We'll see if I can get a female singer to help out next time.
Bring It On Home To Me, I don't think I played it live but one time, usually somebody else does that song. But in a attempt to do more songs people can relate do. It's done in a C G F but i didn't play the F chord till the chorus. Peace Love and Understand got undermined by missed chords so I extended it to try again, only to mess it up again. I shall continue to play this song till I get it right. Somehow I wasn't happy with the result although the folks there liked the song. Appentarly, I finding that when I make the mistake I repeat the mistake and let people think it's part of the song. I must have done a good job to mask the mistake. If people don't know I won't tell them.
Tim Nemec joined about a half hour before 10 and did three songs and continued to play after we all got done. Rose Slaymaker stayed home due to a cold. She might have pawn her cold off Julie Wednesday Night.
I went electric, bringing the Fender Tele and Gorilla amp for the night's jam. It sounded good.
Slipping Away
Me And Bobby McGee
Green Onions (Interlude)
Rainbow In The Dark
Summertime Blues
Peter Gunn (Interlude)
Bring It On Home To Me
Peace Love And Understanding
Rumble/Stop Draggin My Heart Around
Sundown
Tulsa Time
NOTES;
My original intention was to go take in the first game of the MILB division championship but at the last moment decided to stay close to home and do the Whittier Jam instead. Good thing I did, The Cedar Rapids Kernels blew the lead and lost the game 5-3, I would have been a angry mood had I went to watch the game.
I scared off Belinda from joining tonight, I told her I was going to the game but changed my mind and told her of my intentions. But she didn't get the memo in time. So we did not do What's Up. She would have been used for Fever and Come Together and probably a couple other songs that she does. I miss her but it's probably better for her not to make the 45 minute trip on a hurting knee.
Not a lot of musicians tonight, the Idiot Jam in Garrison probably took a few of them up there but we did play the full three hours. Bill, who lives up north helped play lead guitar on a couple numbers mainly Stop Draggin My Heart Around and Sundown.
I think I threw a couple curves in this set list. One playing Stop Dragging My Heart Around without a female vocal and Rainbow In The Dark, a song that Ronnie James Dio played, Julie sings with Ryan Paul and I took her arrangement and did the song in her way. We both worked on that song but I have never played it live with her with me on guitar and her singing.
Peter and Green Onions were done as time killer between songs between the jammers. I did play Rumble to the beginning of Stop Dragging My Heart around. Bill said he would like to do that song again next month when he's back at the jam. We'll see if I can get a female singer to help out next time.
Bring It On Home To Me, I don't think I played it live but one time, usually somebody else does that song. But in a attempt to do more songs people can relate do. It's done in a C G F but i didn't play the F chord till the chorus. Peace Love and Understand got undermined by missed chords so I extended it to try again, only to mess it up again. I shall continue to play this song till I get it right. Somehow I wasn't happy with the result although the folks there liked the song. Appentarly, I finding that when I make the mistake I repeat the mistake and let people think it's part of the song. I must have done a good job to mask the mistake. If people don't know I won't tell them.
Tim Nemec joined about a half hour before 10 and did three songs and continued to play after we all got done. Rose Slaymaker stayed home due to a cold. She might have pawn her cold off Julie Wednesday Night.
I went electric, bringing the Fender Tele and Gorilla amp for the night's jam. It sounded good.
Wednesday 5 September 2018
Checkers' Acoustic Showcase 9/5/18
Setlist:
Peace Love And Understanding
Please Don't Leave Me
Games People Play
The Race Is On
Fox On The Run
Rainbow In The Dark
For What It's Worth
Summertime Blues
You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover
Rose Slaymaker; Backing vocal on Fox On The Run
Julie Gordon: percussion on Rainbow, For What it's worth, Summertime blues, Book
encores:
Six Days On The Road
Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old
Hard Luck Woman
Turn The Page
Ventura Highway
Steve Black Wolf-Lead Vocals, guitar
Donna Jo Elsner-Percussion and backing vocals
Rose Slaymaker-Backing vocals
Can't Find My Way Back Home
Black Water
Suite: Judy Blues Eyes
You Don't Have To Cry
Glen Gardner: Lead Vocals and guitar
Dave Bonham-Lead Guitar and vocals
Donna Jo Elsner-Backing Vocals and Tamborine
Scott Sanborn-Cajole
Carl Meiners and Tim Nemec: In The House
I played Coffee can percussion and sang backup believe it or not on the encore numbers.
(Laura Shuster; Photo Credit)
(L-R-Dave Bonham, Glen Gardner, Scott Sanborn, Donna Jo, Myself, Julie Gordon)
Julie noted that I was playing louder than usual on percussion. Even more so than at the winery a couple weeks ago. I suppose if I did play louder I did although it didn't sound anything different than I usually do.
Scott Sanborn was the surprise guest and he bought his own percussion. He's been quite busy since retiring as a new anchor from FOX 28 and 40. I let him dictate the beat and I would throw some accents around to see what happens. I do enjoy and welcome him on the stage always when he wants to play drums or percussion.
Basically my set list was continue to polish up the songs that I have been doing the past couple weeks, namely Peace Love And Understanding. Please Don't Leave Me was the original thrown in. I didn't play Slipping Away or I Don't Know Why You Keep Me On, I wanted to not do the darker numbers, at least not this time around. Julie helped on percussion and sang some backup on Peace Love And Understanding. Rainbow In The Dark was the first time I played this live and I went on a blind take, no rehearsal. It's probably better suited for Julie to sing but I did it anyway.
I had to make this a long lunchbreak instead of hanging for the full three hours. Our senior had car problems so I had to take over her workload for tonight and managed to get everything done at work.
Very productive from both the jam and work.
Peace Love And Understanding
Please Don't Leave Me
Games People Play
The Race Is On
Fox On The Run
Rainbow In The Dark
For What It's Worth
Summertime Blues
You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover
Rose Slaymaker; Backing vocal on Fox On The Run
Julie Gordon: percussion on Rainbow, For What it's worth, Summertime blues, Book
encores:
Six Days On The Road
Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old
Hard Luck Woman
Turn The Page
Ventura Highway
Steve Black Wolf-Lead Vocals, guitar
Donna Jo Elsner-Percussion and backing vocals
Rose Slaymaker-Backing vocals
Can't Find My Way Back Home
Black Water
Suite: Judy Blues Eyes
You Don't Have To Cry
Glen Gardner: Lead Vocals and guitar
Dave Bonham-Lead Guitar and vocals
Donna Jo Elsner-Backing Vocals and Tamborine
Scott Sanborn-Cajole
Carl Meiners and Tim Nemec: In The House
I played Coffee can percussion and sang backup believe it or not on the encore numbers.
(Laura Shuster; Photo Credit)
(L-R-Dave Bonham, Glen Gardner, Scott Sanborn, Donna Jo, Myself, Julie Gordon)
Julie noted that I was playing louder than usual on percussion. Even more so than at the winery a couple weeks ago. I suppose if I did play louder I did although it didn't sound anything different than I usually do.
Scott Sanborn was the surprise guest and he bought his own percussion. He's been quite busy since retiring as a new anchor from FOX 28 and 40. I let him dictate the beat and I would throw some accents around to see what happens. I do enjoy and welcome him on the stage always when he wants to play drums or percussion.
Basically my set list was continue to polish up the songs that I have been doing the past couple weeks, namely Peace Love And Understanding. Please Don't Leave Me was the original thrown in. I didn't play Slipping Away or I Don't Know Why You Keep Me On, I wanted to not do the darker numbers, at least not this time around. Julie helped on percussion and sang some backup on Peace Love And Understanding. Rainbow In The Dark was the first time I played this live and I went on a blind take, no rehearsal. It's probably better suited for Julie to sing but I did it anyway.
I had to make this a long lunchbreak instead of hanging for the full three hours. Our senior had car problems so I had to take over her workload for tonight and managed to get everything done at work.
Very productive from both the jam and work.
Sunday 2 September 2018
Stone City Acoustic Showcase 9/2/18
Songs:
Me And Bobby McGee
Slipping Away
Peace Love And Understanding
Lynch Party
Summertime Blues
Also:
Waubeek Jam.
With:
Stevie O
Chuck
Kirksey
Glen Gardner
Carl Meiners
Dakota McWhorter
Ron LaFluer
Shawn Ster
David Lam
Maki Dervo
Notes:
A very busy weekend. Watched Four Day Creep at New bo and then made off to Waubeek for the monthly jam. I ended up playing drums for the majority of the night,taking a break during Shawn's set and part of Carl's.
When Stevie O and Chuck play, they tend to stick with honky tonk numbers, which I don't break out much in a sweat to play, even on a hot and humid night at FB Company where there's no air conditioning. I did have a fan on me during the whole time though. Stevie O's song are Family Tradition, Tennessee Whiskey (George Jones, not Chris Stapleton) Suicide Doors, and Little Red Riding Hood. Chuck has more originals but they're somewhat more ragged. Ron is a different story, since he's a professional musicians, his songs are more tougher and energetic. I try to channel him through songs like Gimme Shelter or Hush. Purple Rain is one song I have never played until last night. It's not that I don't like the song, it's just no band I've been in has played it. He's a disciplinarian to the point that when you go to his band practices, he expects you to be there on time and ready to play. I love the songs he plays and it was fun to interact with him and Dakota, to which I've known from Julie And The Mad Dogs days. If Ron asks me to help him out with me on drums, I would not turn him down.
I have to hand it to Ron, he knew what would gets the crowd. All of sudden I saw all these dancers on his 20 minute set. I might have waltz my way through the sets from Chuck and Stevie O, but Ron did make me work it that much harder on drums. Not complaining.
The Waubeek crowd wasn't as big as it usually is, but by the time Carl was done, it was time for the house band to rock on out and we had two hours to do just that. Me, Maki, Dakota, Kirksey and a bass player who's name I can't think of, we tore through two hours of extended jams. All Along The Watchtower went on for about 7 minutes, Maki and Dakota trading lead riffs, (Maki on Pan Flute BTW), You Don't Know How It Feels went on for about 10 minutes, Mary Jane's Last Dance was another 8 minutes and I Shall Be Released was another 8 minutes too. Even somebody wanted to hear Mustang Sally but we played it anyway, although I can't tell how many times Dakota's eyes would roll. But we had four couples on the dance floor, you might hate that song but if it gets them dancing you must swallow your pride and do it. Could be worse, it could be Wagon Wheel. or Free Bird. Maki concluded the Saturday night jam with No Woman No Cry to which I played a shaky one drip reggae beat. Harder than it sounds. They shut the lights off and we played under neon bar signs for the next five minutes and 34 seconds of that song.
It rained all weekend. During the set with Ron, there was a nasty lightning crack and thunder rumbled through the bar. I jokingly said that wasn't me making that racket. By the time I got done, the rains were done.
But the rains continued on the next day on my way to Stone City. Again, the usual folks were there, Carl Meiners, Glen Gardner, Lane Gaffney, and Steve Black Wolf appeared as well. Julie wasn't there but Kyle Oyloe's family was there and after my set which I did a version of Summertime Blues one of them asked me who did the original version and I answered Eddie Cochran of course. One of them called me by my name, so I got to chat with Kyle's dad for a bit. Julie has never really introduced me to them, they did stop at the winery last month and was part of the ones who was up there at the final Long Branch Acoustic Jam. We never formally introduced before today. We did say goodbye when they went home. If I knew where Kyle was buried at, I'd go visit him.
I'm trying to find the right songs to sing and keep them in my set list. Again, Bobby McGee, Slipping Away and Peace Love And Understanding were trotted out to the audience, with mixed results. I was surprised that the audience gave a great reception to Slipping Away,the 1974 Jean Shepherd song recorded for United Artists after being on Capitol for many years. This time, I came up with set list beforehand and got the lyrics out instead of bringing the book up with me on stage. It seemed to work better this way. But I do think from here on out, I need to still work on these songs, Peace Love And Understand still gets me all screwed up on the final chorus. But it seems to be a better Nick Lowe song to do rather than I Don't Know Why You Keep Me On. But since that song and Slipping Away has the same chords, it's better to do Slipping Away since people seem to know it better.
Steve Black Wolf really played his overall best today. He nailed Ventura Highway and ended things with a good version of Turn The Page. He's getting better with each performance and a bit more confidant too. I think hanging with Glen Gardner and having Sofia Chesney as a duet partner helped him a great deal.
Since I did four hours of playing drums last night, I decided to go acoustic and stayed close to home tonight. I'm guessing Rumors had a pretty good crowd there on Shelly Foley's birthday bash. I know Herman was drumming there today. Rocky Smith was up in Stone City tonight. Dave Bonham played Rumors, so did Scott Sanborn, who I jokingly mentioned that he filled in for my absence. Herman and Steve Stratton were also up there drumming. Probably a few others. Barb Myers was there as well as her bagpipe playing hubby. I think they're married. That kinda blew Billy Bourbon away. He swore he never played with anybody that played bagpipes. Perhaps we should get Maki Dervo up there to play pan flute? That would be a mind blower for Billy.
Jeff Overly came up from Ft Madison to help out Karl Hudson at the Sag Wagon in between thunderstorms and gully washers.
They tore down The Music Loft and Bryan's on 4th street in Waterloo/Cedar Falls is closing. They been having the blue Thursday jam nights up there with Bob Dorr and Jeff Petersen aka The Limestormers. No ideal what's going to happen. Meanwhile in CR, Uptown Live opened their doors this Saturday with a Blues jam of sorts.
Well, it's baseball playoffs, and we're stuck in a fucking rainy pattern for the next week. Nothing more frustrating than trying to dictate where to go for baseball games and not have to worry about rain. This crap is more April/May than September. We shouldn't be too busy at work so I can probably catch a jam or two and baseball as well.
I'm not sure if I'll go see the Idiot jam at Garrison, bur opting to do the Whittier Jam instead since it's closer. Shawn Ster plays Ramsey's this Thursday, and Glen Gardner is playing Ramsey's on the 20th and then Checker's on the 21st of September. I'll see if I can assist Glen on something one of those nights. I kinda wish I had a gig to play at, but for the most part I'm not exactly outgoing in playing at places. The best I can do is something at the Artisan Sanctuary but I need to work up a list of about 30 songs to pull it off. And it would be a solo gig, maybe a guest star or two on a couple songs, but at the moment, I'm not banging down the door. I have to be in the mood and in good health.
I guess I'm too eccentric, or too eclectic to care to even play gig outside of jams. Perhaps it's laziness or a fear of failing after going outside my comfort zone of 5 to 6 songs. Or stage fright returning, I don't know. I still help Dreams Of Arcadia if needed but I just don't have that much enthusiasm to branch out on my own. I kinda need a band element to get me going. I thought The EGADS would been the best outlet but they're a splintered group given the fact we never played as whole band together. Regardless, Belinda remains the vital part of The Egads, Rose and Tim too and of course Mark and Larry. Still, I guess I'm truly a starving artist, even when I do good and get high marks for playing, it doesn't translate into money.
Got plenty of exposure, just no money coming in.
Monday Night, I spent walking around New Bo when the sirens came roaring on about a quarter till five. There was a tornado spotted near Vinton and stayed on the ground past Alburnett and Central City. Straight line winds came crashing through Cedar Rapids at 9 PM. This morning we had five inches of rain in three hours and our newly installed sump pump keeping water out although there was seepage coming through the old sump pump. The basement remained dry.
Ed Butler had a guitar party going on, so me and Glen Gardner came over and had supper with Ed and his family. We did a few songs and shared a few laughs. Thankfully the rain and tornado weren't not in his neighborhood.
Me And Bobby McGee
Slipping Away
Peace Love And Understanding
Lynch Party
Summertime Blues
Also:
Waubeek Jam.
With:
Stevie O
Chuck
Kirksey
Glen Gardner
Carl Meiners
Dakota McWhorter
Ron LaFluer
Shawn Ster
David Lam
Maki Dervo
Notes:
A very busy weekend. Watched Four Day Creep at New bo and then made off to Waubeek for the monthly jam. I ended up playing drums for the majority of the night,taking a break during Shawn's set and part of Carl's.
When Stevie O and Chuck play, they tend to stick with honky tonk numbers, which I don't break out much in a sweat to play, even on a hot and humid night at FB Company where there's no air conditioning. I did have a fan on me during the whole time though. Stevie O's song are Family Tradition, Tennessee Whiskey (George Jones, not Chris Stapleton) Suicide Doors, and Little Red Riding Hood. Chuck has more originals but they're somewhat more ragged. Ron is a different story, since he's a professional musicians, his songs are more tougher and energetic. I try to channel him through songs like Gimme Shelter or Hush. Purple Rain is one song I have never played until last night. It's not that I don't like the song, it's just no band I've been in has played it. He's a disciplinarian to the point that when you go to his band practices, he expects you to be there on time and ready to play. I love the songs he plays and it was fun to interact with him and Dakota, to which I've known from Julie And The Mad Dogs days. If Ron asks me to help him out with me on drums, I would not turn him down.
I have to hand it to Ron, he knew what would gets the crowd. All of sudden I saw all these dancers on his 20 minute set. I might have waltz my way through the sets from Chuck and Stevie O, but Ron did make me work it that much harder on drums. Not complaining.
The Waubeek crowd wasn't as big as it usually is, but by the time Carl was done, it was time for the house band to rock on out and we had two hours to do just that. Me, Maki, Dakota, Kirksey and a bass player who's name I can't think of, we tore through two hours of extended jams. All Along The Watchtower went on for about 7 minutes, Maki and Dakota trading lead riffs, (Maki on Pan Flute BTW), You Don't Know How It Feels went on for about 10 minutes, Mary Jane's Last Dance was another 8 minutes and I Shall Be Released was another 8 minutes too. Even somebody wanted to hear Mustang Sally but we played it anyway, although I can't tell how many times Dakota's eyes would roll. But we had four couples on the dance floor, you might hate that song but if it gets them dancing you must swallow your pride and do it. Could be worse, it could be Wagon Wheel. or Free Bird. Maki concluded the Saturday night jam with No Woman No Cry to which I played a shaky one drip reggae beat. Harder than it sounds. They shut the lights off and we played under neon bar signs for the next five minutes and 34 seconds of that song.
It rained all weekend. During the set with Ron, there was a nasty lightning crack and thunder rumbled through the bar. I jokingly said that wasn't me making that racket. By the time I got done, the rains were done.
But the rains continued on the next day on my way to Stone City. Again, the usual folks were there, Carl Meiners, Glen Gardner, Lane Gaffney, and Steve Black Wolf appeared as well. Julie wasn't there but Kyle Oyloe's family was there and after my set which I did a version of Summertime Blues one of them asked me who did the original version and I answered Eddie Cochran of course. One of them called me by my name, so I got to chat with Kyle's dad for a bit. Julie has never really introduced me to them, they did stop at the winery last month and was part of the ones who was up there at the final Long Branch Acoustic Jam. We never formally introduced before today. We did say goodbye when they went home. If I knew where Kyle was buried at, I'd go visit him.
I'm trying to find the right songs to sing and keep them in my set list. Again, Bobby McGee, Slipping Away and Peace Love And Understanding were trotted out to the audience, with mixed results. I was surprised that the audience gave a great reception to Slipping Away,the 1974 Jean Shepherd song recorded for United Artists after being on Capitol for many years. This time, I came up with set list beforehand and got the lyrics out instead of bringing the book up with me on stage. It seemed to work better this way. But I do think from here on out, I need to still work on these songs, Peace Love And Understand still gets me all screwed up on the final chorus. But it seems to be a better Nick Lowe song to do rather than I Don't Know Why You Keep Me On. But since that song and Slipping Away has the same chords, it's better to do Slipping Away since people seem to know it better.
Steve Black Wolf really played his overall best today. He nailed Ventura Highway and ended things with a good version of Turn The Page. He's getting better with each performance and a bit more confidant too. I think hanging with Glen Gardner and having Sofia Chesney as a duet partner helped him a great deal.
Since I did four hours of playing drums last night, I decided to go acoustic and stayed close to home tonight. I'm guessing Rumors had a pretty good crowd there on Shelly Foley's birthday bash. I know Herman was drumming there today. Rocky Smith was up in Stone City tonight. Dave Bonham played Rumors, so did Scott Sanborn, who I jokingly mentioned that he filled in for my absence. Herman and Steve Stratton were also up there drumming. Probably a few others. Barb Myers was there as well as her bagpipe playing hubby. I think they're married. That kinda blew Billy Bourbon away. He swore he never played with anybody that played bagpipes. Perhaps we should get Maki Dervo up there to play pan flute? That would be a mind blower for Billy.
Jeff Overly came up from Ft Madison to help out Karl Hudson at the Sag Wagon in between thunderstorms and gully washers.
They tore down The Music Loft and Bryan's on 4th street in Waterloo/Cedar Falls is closing. They been having the blue Thursday jam nights up there with Bob Dorr and Jeff Petersen aka The Limestormers. No ideal what's going to happen. Meanwhile in CR, Uptown Live opened their doors this Saturday with a Blues jam of sorts.
Well, it's baseball playoffs, and we're stuck in a fucking rainy pattern for the next week. Nothing more frustrating than trying to dictate where to go for baseball games and not have to worry about rain. This crap is more April/May than September. We shouldn't be too busy at work so I can probably catch a jam or two and baseball as well.
I'm not sure if I'll go see the Idiot jam at Garrison, bur opting to do the Whittier Jam instead since it's closer. Shawn Ster plays Ramsey's this Thursday, and Glen Gardner is playing Ramsey's on the 20th and then Checker's on the 21st of September. I'll see if I can assist Glen on something one of those nights. I kinda wish I had a gig to play at, but for the most part I'm not exactly outgoing in playing at places. The best I can do is something at the Artisan Sanctuary but I need to work up a list of about 30 songs to pull it off. And it would be a solo gig, maybe a guest star or two on a couple songs, but at the moment, I'm not banging down the door. I have to be in the mood and in good health.
I guess I'm too eccentric, or too eclectic to care to even play gig outside of jams. Perhaps it's laziness or a fear of failing after going outside my comfort zone of 5 to 6 songs. Or stage fright returning, I don't know. I still help Dreams Of Arcadia if needed but I just don't have that much enthusiasm to branch out on my own. I kinda need a band element to get me going. I thought The EGADS would been the best outlet but they're a splintered group given the fact we never played as whole band together. Regardless, Belinda remains the vital part of The Egads, Rose and Tim too and of course Mark and Larry. Still, I guess I'm truly a starving artist, even when I do good and get high marks for playing, it doesn't translate into money.
Got plenty of exposure, just no money coming in.
Monday Night, I spent walking around New Bo when the sirens came roaring on about a quarter till five. There was a tornado spotted near Vinton and stayed on the ground past Alburnett and Central City. Straight line winds came crashing through Cedar Rapids at 9 PM. This morning we had five inches of rain in three hours and our newly installed sump pump keeping water out although there was seepage coming through the old sump pump. The basement remained dry.
Ed Butler had a guitar party going on, so me and Glen Gardner came over and had supper with Ed and his family. We did a few songs and shared a few laughs. Thankfully the rain and tornado weren't not in his neighborhood.
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