Host: Kevin Moore
Songs:
I Know You Rider
Sundown
Go Out And Get It
Turn On Your Love Light
Stop Draggin My Heart Around
Switch Board Susan
If You See Her
Logic And Lies
Dear Lisa
Dead Flowers
Jet Airliner/Summertime Blues
Little Sister (Attempted)
All Along The Watchtower
Bobby McGee
Good Time Charlie
Ole 55
For What It's Worth
With
Mark Awad-Bass (All Along The Watchtower through For What Its Worth)
Notes:
Since the revamped Checkers Acoustic Showcases, the jammers have been very minimal. Tonight, it was just me, the host Kevin Moore and Mark Awad who showed up to play bass. There were extended bass solos on All Along The Watchtower and For What It's Worth. An earlier than usual bass solo on For What Its Worth, I couldn't remembered the second verse till later.
Julie was sick with the cold so it was Kevin's show. And he bought some nice speakers and monitors and I finally got to hear myself up close and personal. Kevin prefers doing solo songs but he did use Mark on Ain't No Sunshine as I was returning back to work on a long lunch break. With spring processing coming up next week, I will not able to take leisurely lunches like I have been this month.
It will be interesting to see who shows up next week when Julie returns with Ryan. I do wish them well and would love to be there to help out, but the weather has been terrible and cold and nobody ever goes out in this weather. And the weather is supposed to stay record cold for next week, tho' no big snowstorms are in the forecast. Still, the lack of musician support has been a casebook in frustration and nothing I can do about it. The promotion on Facebook has been limited at best and the crowd that supported Lorie and Cathy are not there for Julie. But there'll be no Acousta Kitties reunion, that bridge has been burned. Julie does her damnest to get the word out, but Facebook doesn't do shit for getting people to jams. I know that all the well.
Tommy Bruner made a cameo but didn't play. Ed Butler played Fairfield instead.
A note from Checkers'
Thank You so much Rodney. We appreciate all you do and thanks for sticking by us all along the journey - we hopefully still have some life in this Wednesday jam we just need some more great music lovers such as yourself to stop out and support it. Talk is cheap, Participation is Priceless.
Wednesday, 27 February 2019
Sunday, 24 February 2019
Rumors Sunday Funday Jam-Snowmaggedon Again
Songs played:
Tomorrow Never Knows
Roadhouse Blues
Born On The Bayou
Dreams
Bobby McGee
Proud Mary
Dyer Maker
Sweet Jane
Carmelita
Come Together
Tommy Bruner-Lead guitar and Vocals (Tomorrow Never Knows)
Randy Burgendorf-Lead guitar and Vocals (Roadhouse Blues)
Mark Awad-Bass (Tomorrow Never Knows, Roadhouse Blues)
Jeff Reeder-Guitar (Tomorrow Never Knows, Roadhouse Blues)
Tim Canfield-Bass on rest of the songs played.
Steve Stratton-Drums (Tomorrow Never Knows, Roadhouse Blues)
Dee Vieman-Vocals on (Born on the bayou, Dreams, Bobby McGee, Proud Mary)
TroyTietge-Drums (Bayou, Dreams, Bobby McGee, Proud Mary)
Ed Butler-Guitar and Lead Vocals (Dyer Maker, Sweet Jane, Carmelita, Come Together)
DJ Hovenstot-Drums (Dyer, Jane, Carmelita, Come Together)
Nick Lenicka-Harmonica on where needed
Sir Bob Miller-Drums provided
Terry McDowell-Ditto
I played drums on the songs listed
(Richard Edward Butler, Or Ed as he's better known)
Notes;
For the second week in a row, Stone City General Store decided to cancel the acoustic jam, so I fought the wind and white out conditions to play again at Rumors. Bob Miller provided an extra set of drums. So I got to sit on about six songs matching wits with Steve Stratton. He's improved a lot since becoming a regular jammer and playing in Blue Scratch. Kim Trevellion sang Gold Dust Woman, Further Up The Road and I'm A Woman with her bandmate drummer.
(Jeff Reeder)
The roll call of players, I'll fill in when the newsletter comes out. I'm terrible with names but Jeff Reeder is a visitor and played some cosmic guitar leads on Tomorrow Never Knows. I didn't talk to Mark Awad but he was used for a lot of the second set and other players. Tim Canfield returned when the girl singer and Troy came on stage. It was easy to play along side Steve and DJ but Troy was a challenge to play He didn't speed up the tempo on Bobby McGee and stumbled around the rest of the songs. It was kind of frustrating when the other drummer didn't find the right beat.
Ed Butler has been busy on the scene and our paths have crossed a few times the past couple weeks. He braved the snowstorms to play the Artisan Sanctuary, Checkers and now Rumors. He went electric on the four songs he did, and Randy thought that his guitar was out of tune. Which really isn't the case, Randy is used to doing his own songs and arrangements and is not familiar with Ed's eccentric style of playing. Randy also thought that Ed's guitar was out of tune, it wasn't, it was a half step down from Randy's comfort zone. It was a given that Dyer Maker would be the song that Ed would play along with Sweet Jame and an extended Come Together. Ed might have been too eccentric for Randy to jam with, but he and Tim did improvise to fit the songs at hand.
And I'm still surprised nobody has bothered to play any Rare Earth songs in the tenure of Randy being here. Maybe that's a no no. But I hope some day that we'll jam with Get Ready in the future.
It was a good time and there was a good crowd despite the 30 MPH NW wind and snow blown roads. It was the first time I chatted with Kim Trevellion since I guest starred for Blue Scratch in November. Likewise first time I've seen Mark since he played Checker's in November, alas I didn't get to chat with him.
(Bob Miller)
All photos courtesy of David Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Bird, Tim Canfield, Troy, Dee, Tommy, Me) Ed Butler: Photo Credit
Another weekend, another snowstorm, another cancellation. Dreams Of Arcadia decided to cancel the Grove gig. Julie was dealing with tummy issues and another cold and Ryan was burned out from playing in Skin Kandy's Acoustic show at Jimmy Z's Friday night. In essence, it rained most of the day, which helped getting rid of the 10 feet of snow piled around the mailbox. The storm took its wrath on Central and Northwestern Iowa, We just got the rain and inch snow fall and the 50 MPH NW winds.
Tomorrow Never Knows
Roadhouse Blues
Born On The Bayou
Dreams
Bobby McGee
Proud Mary
Dyer Maker
Sweet Jane
Carmelita
Come Together
Tommy Bruner-Lead guitar and Vocals (Tomorrow Never Knows)
Randy Burgendorf-Lead guitar and Vocals (Roadhouse Blues)
Mark Awad-Bass (Tomorrow Never Knows, Roadhouse Blues)
Jeff Reeder-Guitar (Tomorrow Never Knows, Roadhouse Blues)
Tim Canfield-Bass on rest of the songs played.
Steve Stratton-Drums (Tomorrow Never Knows, Roadhouse Blues)
Dee Vieman-Vocals on (Born on the bayou, Dreams, Bobby McGee, Proud Mary)
TroyTietge-Drums (Bayou, Dreams, Bobby McGee, Proud Mary)
Ed Butler-Guitar and Lead Vocals (Dyer Maker, Sweet Jane, Carmelita, Come Together)
DJ Hovenstot-Drums (Dyer, Jane, Carmelita, Come Together)
Nick Lenicka-Harmonica on where needed
Sir Bob Miller-Drums provided
Terry McDowell-Ditto
I played drums on the songs listed
(Richard Edward Butler, Or Ed as he's better known)
Notes;
For the second week in a row, Stone City General Store decided to cancel the acoustic jam, so I fought the wind and white out conditions to play again at Rumors. Bob Miller provided an extra set of drums. So I got to sit on about six songs matching wits with Steve Stratton. He's improved a lot since becoming a regular jammer and playing in Blue Scratch. Kim Trevellion sang Gold Dust Woman, Further Up The Road and I'm A Woman with her bandmate drummer.
(Jeff Reeder)
The roll call of players, I'll fill in when the newsletter comes out. I'm terrible with names but Jeff Reeder is a visitor and played some cosmic guitar leads on Tomorrow Never Knows. I didn't talk to Mark Awad but he was used for a lot of the second set and other players. Tim Canfield returned when the girl singer and Troy came on stage. It was easy to play along side Steve and DJ but Troy was a challenge to play He didn't speed up the tempo on Bobby McGee and stumbled around the rest of the songs. It was kind of frustrating when the other drummer didn't find the right beat.
Ed Butler has been busy on the scene and our paths have crossed a few times the past couple weeks. He braved the snowstorms to play the Artisan Sanctuary, Checkers and now Rumors. He went electric on the four songs he did, and Randy thought that his guitar was out of tune. Which really isn't the case, Randy is used to doing his own songs and arrangements and is not familiar with Ed's eccentric style of playing. Randy also thought that Ed's guitar was out of tune, it wasn't, it was a half step down from Randy's comfort zone. It was a given that Dyer Maker would be the song that Ed would play along with Sweet Jame and an extended Come Together. Ed might have been too eccentric for Randy to jam with, but he and Tim did improvise to fit the songs at hand.
And I'm still surprised nobody has bothered to play any Rare Earth songs in the tenure of Randy being here. Maybe that's a no no. But I hope some day that we'll jam with Get Ready in the future.
It was a good time and there was a good crowd despite the 30 MPH NW wind and snow blown roads. It was the first time I chatted with Kim Trevellion since I guest starred for Blue Scratch in November. Likewise first time I've seen Mark since he played Checker's in November, alas I didn't get to chat with him.
(Bob Miller)
All photos courtesy of David Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Bird, Tim Canfield, Troy, Dee, Tommy, Me) Ed Butler: Photo Credit
Another weekend, another snowstorm, another cancellation. Dreams Of Arcadia decided to cancel the Grove gig. Julie was dealing with tummy issues and another cold and Ryan was burned out from playing in Skin Kandy's Acoustic show at Jimmy Z's Friday night. In essence, it rained most of the day, which helped getting rid of the 10 feet of snow piled around the mailbox. The storm took its wrath on Central and Northwestern Iowa, We just got the rain and inch snow fall and the 50 MPH NW winds.
I was ready to play Saturday Night after a week of Vertigo issues. I did think the weather would turn bad after midnight and the winds did pick up about a hour later as well the snow squalls but Julie and Ryan would have to drive from CR to get to Scotch Grove and left that up to them. In reality it was judgement call and my opinion, a good call just to call it a day and get a make up date. I was in need of a nap before playing but Julie called me around 4 to mention to scratch the gig tonight. The turnout would have been minimal.
2019 has been a bust in terms of playing gigs. The weather has not helped at all. We had to deal to with icy roads, polar vortex bone chilling cold, heavy winds, heavy fog, more ice and snow storms, and that was in February alone. The weather fucked us out of a good turnout at Swisher in January and even the dates with Boy Scout Hippies we had shit weather as well. And when I thought things were going well, I get vertigo and then go through two subpar performances this week and dealing with self doubt and stage fright once again. I have a handful of playing dates with Boy Scout Hippies coming up, but I may have to forgo the Waubeek show for my regular job. Ron and Dakota has a Ramsey's date coming up Thursday, but any weeknight gig they get, I can't play. So this weekend I'll have to get together with Ron and talk about me leaving their band on good terms. Ron and Dakota don't have regular jobs and can do what they want. Same with Dreams Of Arcadia, but I do need a regular steady income to pay bills and have health insurance. Plus I'm not married to a woman that will let me stay home and play music. I'm seeing a real musician, she don't have two coins to rub together half the time. But she and Ryan did score more dates to play on the week nights, any Saturday gig, I could help out if asked. But like Ron's band, they can look for a replacement.
The downtime, I could have started working on the next Townedgers album, but I've been a slave to social media and haven't done much outside of going through the songbooks and picking out songs that need a update. We have about 20 songs from the low fi years (1987-1989) that would work. It wouldn't take long to polish them up. The question remains if it's feasible, or if anybody gives a fuck. I'm not sure if even I give a shit about a new album. I'm sure it frustrates Geoff and Ken as well. But if I'm not feeling the song, it won't make a good album. Even most of Logic And Lies has lost its luster. Even when I did that song countless times at Artisan Sanctuary, Thursday's version I was suffering trying to keep interest to that song. So, I may want to take a break from playing and singing a while. The vertigo this week didn't help at all.
Side Note: Ron Lafleur had a pow wow with a deer and cause some damage to his jeep. He says it was the third one in four years he's nailed. And he just replaced a major crack on his windshield on that jeep.
Side Note: Ron Lafleur had a pow wow with a deer and cause some damage to his jeep. He says it was the third one in four years he's nailed. And he just replaced a major crack on his windshield on that jeep.
Thursday, 21 February 2019
Artisan Sanctuary Open Mic-Vertigo Part 2
Setlist:
Get It Over With
Ole 55
All Over Now
If You See Her
Logic And Lies
For What It's Worth/
Cinnamon Girl
NOTES:
Still dealing with dizziness issues and I think my stage fright is back but I managed to survive that and played a better than thought 20 Minute set. Get It Over With had a different arrangement and the riff to humble pie's I Don't Need No Doctor started out All Over Now.
And to throw a monkey-wrench into the whole set list, I went from the end to For What It's Worth into Cinnamon Girl. I'm not sure why I did it, it sounded like a good idea and actually got good compliments from the folks at hand.
I have taken 3 sick days from work due to this vertigo issue so I may not be able to participate in any more week night jams anywhere. God help us if another snowstorm comes along.
Patrick Lower had to have his left index finger removed due to a cancer concern. He's been having a worse year than me, with his junk car problems and now his finger. He's sez he's doing better. I hope he is, he's a wizard behind the sound of the artisan jams.
Dealing With Vertigo (Part 2)
From a viewpoint, it felt like stage fright was returning back to me on the Wed and especially Thursday night jam. I felt strange on stage, not practicing beforehand and went on stage cold. I had songs picked out but then my mind went blank. So I decided to throw riffs into the beginning, somehow Get It Over With was done different and not exactly better. I look into the crowd and things are blurry, my guitar is hitting the music stand and I was getting pissed off about that. Another Spinal Tap moment. All Over Now, somehow I was hearing Humble Pie's Don't Need No Doctor and couldn't remember the words, all of a sudden the All Over Now lyrics came to mind and I remembered about 80 percent of the words
Dave called out the Richie Haven's song Freedom but I opted to go with For What's It Worth, to which Ray and Barry would do their own version when they came up after me. I thought I would extend the song by going into Cinnamon Girl. Somehow that song has been cropping up quite a bit the last few times I played. I'm surprised Julie didn't come up and sing that song with me Wednesday Night. Anyway, after that I was done. I had no more to offer and was still dealing with the aftereffects of the vertigo problem and retired for the evening. Dave Bonham would do his own version of Everybody's Talking.
That night a lot of the jammers played Dylan covers, and of course yours truly had to use that Blonde On Blonde wheeze that everybody laughs at. Dave did Tangled Up In Blue (A good version) Jeff and Berry did two (Knocking On Heaven's Door and You Ain't Goin Nowhere) and Patrick sang Just Like A Woman. Looking back I should have done Spanish Harlem Incident or She Belongs To Me.
Unlike's the last Open mic, we had a few folks there and the show ended right around 10 PM. Ron and Dakota were not there but Dave and Sharon was. Dave mentioned that Vance Hanson, the freeloader who ruined Julie's car rummaged through his things and pretty much took all the drugs that was left behind. It's a sad fact that Julie trusted her car and house to a total junkie halfwit who destroyed her car and almost her place. You think she would know better by now, but she tries her best to help the fallen and the worthless and I don't think she'll ever change. She does mean well; it's a shame that the ones she tries to help ends up dumping on her.
We'll see how things go this weekend in Stone City at the next acoustic showcase. But it was a struggle to perform these past two nights.
Get It Over With
Ole 55
All Over Now
If You See Her
Logic And Lies
For What It's Worth/
Cinnamon Girl
NOTES:
Still dealing with dizziness issues and I think my stage fright is back but I managed to survive that and played a better than thought 20 Minute set. Get It Over With had a different arrangement and the riff to humble pie's I Don't Need No Doctor started out All Over Now.
And to throw a monkey-wrench into the whole set list, I went from the end to For What It's Worth into Cinnamon Girl. I'm not sure why I did it, it sounded like a good idea and actually got good compliments from the folks at hand.
I have taken 3 sick days from work due to this vertigo issue so I may not be able to participate in any more week night jams anywhere. God help us if another snowstorm comes along.
Patrick Lower had to have his left index finger removed due to a cancer concern. He's been having a worse year than me, with his junk car problems and now his finger. He's sez he's doing better. I hope he is, he's a wizard behind the sound of the artisan jams.
Dealing With Vertigo (Part 2)
From a viewpoint, it felt like stage fright was returning back to me on the Wed and especially Thursday night jam. I felt strange on stage, not practicing beforehand and went on stage cold. I had songs picked out but then my mind went blank. So I decided to throw riffs into the beginning, somehow Get It Over With was done different and not exactly better. I look into the crowd and things are blurry, my guitar is hitting the music stand and I was getting pissed off about that. Another Spinal Tap moment. All Over Now, somehow I was hearing Humble Pie's Don't Need No Doctor and couldn't remember the words, all of a sudden the All Over Now lyrics came to mind and I remembered about 80 percent of the words
Dave called out the Richie Haven's song Freedom but I opted to go with For What's It Worth, to which Ray and Barry would do their own version when they came up after me. I thought I would extend the song by going into Cinnamon Girl. Somehow that song has been cropping up quite a bit the last few times I played. I'm surprised Julie didn't come up and sing that song with me Wednesday Night. Anyway, after that I was done. I had no more to offer and was still dealing with the aftereffects of the vertigo problem and retired for the evening. Dave Bonham would do his own version of Everybody's Talking.
That night a lot of the jammers played Dylan covers, and of course yours truly had to use that Blonde On Blonde wheeze that everybody laughs at. Dave did Tangled Up In Blue (A good version) Jeff and Berry did two (Knocking On Heaven's Door and You Ain't Goin Nowhere) and Patrick sang Just Like A Woman. Looking back I should have done Spanish Harlem Incident or She Belongs To Me.
Unlike's the last Open mic, we had a few folks there and the show ended right around 10 PM. Ron and Dakota were not there but Dave and Sharon was. Dave mentioned that Vance Hanson, the freeloader who ruined Julie's car rummaged through his things and pretty much took all the drugs that was left behind. It's a sad fact that Julie trusted her car and house to a total junkie halfwit who destroyed her car and almost her place. You think she would know better by now, but she tries her best to help the fallen and the worthless and I don't think she'll ever change. She does mean well; it's a shame that the ones she tries to help ends up dumping on her.
We'll see how things go this weekend in Stone City at the next acoustic showcase. But it was a struggle to perform these past two nights.
Wednesday, 20 February 2019
Checker's Acoustic Showcase-Vertigo
Songs:
Jolene
Old Time Rock N Roll
Rainbow In The Dark
Bobby McGee
Good Time Charlie
Cinnamon Girl
You'll Accompany Me
Fox On The Run
Let's Work Together
With
Ryan Paul-Harmonica on Bobby McGee, Piano on Rainbow In The Dark and Old Time RNR
Julie Gordon-Lead vocal on Jolene, Old Time RNR, Rainbow, Percussion on Work Together
Ed Butler-Guitar on Jolene and Old Time Rock N Roll
The past couple days I've been dealing with a sort of vertigo, which started Monday and got to the point that my place of employment had to call rescue to send me to the ER room and then back home again the same day. I have to say the folks at St Lukes did a fine job of getting me on my feet. Or so it seems.
They told me to stay home but like any musician I had to get back out there and against the wishes of the smarter kind helped out Julie and Ryan. Due to another snowstorm, only Ed and one other guy showed up. In hindsight I should have stayed home but I knew Julie would have wanted me to help them out.
I wasn't feeling the best and wasn't looking the best. This time out my performance was very rough. Julie played the congas on Work Together. Ryan banged on them on Bobby McGee and Fox On The Run.
Vertigo is not fun to have, especially during playing live. The disoriented feeling and watching the stage spin on you which kinda made a short night for me to play. I took a nap before going, which I thought would help but sad to say my nose decided to run, so I didn't get much nap time anyway.
Once again, we got another 6 inches of the white shit we call snow and another big storm coming this weekend, just in time for the Grove gig. I cannot win during this winter tour of gigs and am so fucking sick of dealing with shit weather, nobody showing up and now vertigo. It's a good bet that the next storm will give us the most snowiest February on record. To which I give a big middle finger to Mother nature and the powers to be that decided we needed all this fucking snow. And being in a bad mood due to this snowstorm crap did affect my playing tonight. I don't think I was even there, in body but not in soul. But from what I heard, I did pretty well considering the circumstances tonight.
Dealing with Vertigo (Part 1)
I was listening to Anders Osborne's Peace album driving on the way to home when all of a sudden the songs begin to sound weird and things were blurry. When I looked to the right I felt I was ready to pass out. But I was driving so I had to fight that and keep going to work. Somehow, I made it, but I couldn't walk straight. I felt drunk, not aware of my surroundings. Kathy had to help me to the desk to clear my thoughts, but I was in a state of confusion and panic. So I laid down on the hard floor trying to get right but after an hour they called the Area Ambulance and I ended up going to St Lukes.
The usual crap, getting signed in, damn paramedic couldn't find my vein for IV and poked another vein and that collasped. The guy wasn't doing it right, no wonder I hate going to hospitals and getting blood work. Got to the ER, they wanted payment up front, told em bill me later and they gave me the bill and envelope, they paid postage, how sweet of them to do that. Anyway, they gave me a couple wonder drugs and I took a catnap till they released me and gave me a cab back to work, for me to pick up my car. The ER doctor told me to take two days off and no driving. (heheheh). Once I got home I stayed there, till the next day and practiced a couple hours with Ron and Dakota, then came back home and slept most of the day away. And then on Wednesday, felt the need to go support Julie and Ryan's Jam.
Jolene
Old Time Rock N Roll
Rainbow In The Dark
Bobby McGee
Good Time Charlie
Cinnamon Girl
You'll Accompany Me
Fox On The Run
Let's Work Together
With
Ryan Paul-Harmonica on Bobby McGee, Piano on Rainbow In The Dark and Old Time RNR
Julie Gordon-Lead vocal on Jolene, Old Time RNR, Rainbow, Percussion on Work Together
Ed Butler-Guitar on Jolene and Old Time Rock N Roll
The past couple days I've been dealing with a sort of vertigo, which started Monday and got to the point that my place of employment had to call rescue to send me to the ER room and then back home again the same day. I have to say the folks at St Lukes did a fine job of getting me on my feet. Or so it seems.
They told me to stay home but like any musician I had to get back out there and against the wishes of the smarter kind helped out Julie and Ryan. Due to another snowstorm, only Ed and one other guy showed up. In hindsight I should have stayed home but I knew Julie would have wanted me to help them out.
I wasn't feeling the best and wasn't looking the best. This time out my performance was very rough. Julie played the congas on Work Together. Ryan banged on them on Bobby McGee and Fox On The Run.
Vertigo is not fun to have, especially during playing live. The disoriented feeling and watching the stage spin on you which kinda made a short night for me to play. I took a nap before going, which I thought would help but sad to say my nose decided to run, so I didn't get much nap time anyway.
Once again, we got another 6 inches of the white shit we call snow and another big storm coming this weekend, just in time for the Grove gig. I cannot win during this winter tour of gigs and am so fucking sick of dealing with shit weather, nobody showing up and now vertigo. It's a good bet that the next storm will give us the most snowiest February on record. To which I give a big middle finger to Mother nature and the powers to be that decided we needed all this fucking snow. And being in a bad mood due to this snowstorm crap did affect my playing tonight. I don't think I was even there, in body but not in soul. But from what I heard, I did pretty well considering the circumstances tonight.
Dealing with Vertigo (Part 1)
I was listening to Anders Osborne's Peace album driving on the way to home when all of a sudden the songs begin to sound weird and things were blurry. When I looked to the right I felt I was ready to pass out. But I was driving so I had to fight that and keep going to work. Somehow, I made it, but I couldn't walk straight. I felt drunk, not aware of my surroundings. Kathy had to help me to the desk to clear my thoughts, but I was in a state of confusion and panic. So I laid down on the hard floor trying to get right but after an hour they called the Area Ambulance and I ended up going to St Lukes.
The usual crap, getting signed in, damn paramedic couldn't find my vein for IV and poked another vein and that collasped. The guy wasn't doing it right, no wonder I hate going to hospitals and getting blood work. Got to the ER, they wanted payment up front, told em bill me later and they gave me the bill and envelope, they paid postage, how sweet of them to do that. Anyway, they gave me a couple wonder drugs and I took a catnap till they released me and gave me a cab back to work, for me to pick up my car. The ER doctor told me to take two days off and no driving. (heheheh). Once I got home I stayed there, till the next day and practiced a couple hours with Ron and Dakota, then came back home and slept most of the day away. And then on Wednesday, felt the need to go support Julie and Ryan's Jam.
Sunday, 17 February 2019
Rumor's Sunday-Funday Jam-Snowageddon
With:
Ken Webb-Bass
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Kris Briles-Guitar and vocals except Dreams I'll Never See Again
Brian Briles-Guitar
Rick Clay-Guitar and lead vocals on Dreams I'll Never See Again
Bob Gleason-Harmonica
Terry McDowell-Drummer on 1,2
Mike Lint-Drummer on 3,4
D J Hovenstot-Drummer on Dreams I'll Never See Again
Songs played
Texas Flood
Old Time Rock And Roll
Johnny B Goode
Sweet Home Chicago
Dreams I'll Never See Again
(David Price: photo credit)
NOTES:
Bart Bock canceled the Stone City Acoustic Showcase today, so I braved yet another winter storm and slip and sided into Rumors for today. I sat and talked drums with Sir Bob Miller before he took the stage to jam with the guys. Bob would eventually bring his drums in just in time for me to have another drumming partner on my segment. Always love having Terry play drums next to me. As well as Mike and DJ
It was a rare jam having Kenneth John Webb playing bass and he was the only bass player there but he got a workout till David Miller spelled him a couple songs.
DJ and Sir Bob played Midnight Rambler.
Tami Soukup was in attendance as well as Andi Clay and Jeff Brown.
Karl Hudson was there but had to leave. He was getting jittery of the everlasting snowstorm of the day.
While Kim Hovenstot was taking videos of her hubby, I ended up smacking her by mistake while she got too close to me and I did know she was that close. I do get jumpy when people get too close to me and I did know that.
They had a chili cookoff this afternoon, I had some of the leftovers. I love good chili.
It was the first time I played the Rumor's Jam since December 30, 2018.
Oh yeah...and it showed all day again.
Last night I took Julie out to The Mockingbird to see the Journey Of The Heart thingy, which one guy played flute and piano and another guy painted in action. It was the second part of her Valentine's Day gift. I have yet to get a card from her. She did get me some Valentine chocolate covered pretzels and organic soup. She said she had fun last night, we had to junk the Ramsey's supper in favor of Urban Pie. Wasn't much of a date for me, we went back to her place and I watched an early Avengers show on TV and she was trying to learn a couple new songs, till I had to leave and get to the store before the snowstorm hit. And it hit right around 11.
And still haven't stopped as of this writing.
Photos By David Price.
1) Terry McDowell playing Bob Miller's drums. It's always FUN to have Terry drum along side myself.
2) Bob Gleason harping it up with the Briles Family on Sweet Home Chicago.
3) Kyle David Miller and DJ Hovenstot jamming to Midnight Rambler
4) Kris and Brian Briles, Ken Webb, R.Smith and Tommy Bruner. Photo from the lovely Tami Soukup
5) Tommy, Bob Gleason and Mike Lint.
Wednesday, 13 February 2019
The Limited Return Of The Checkers Acoustic Showcase
Songs played
All Along The Watchtower
Wedding Song (there is love)
Greenback Dollar
Sundown
Go Out And Get It
Ole' 55
The Last Time
Hosts;
Julie Gordon and Tommy Bruner
With
Ryan Paul
Ed Butler
Donna Jo
DJ and Kimberly Kay Hovenstot
I was at the Anamosa Fareway, where two of the elderly couple who go to the Stone City Acoustic Sunday Jam came up to pay me a compliment, saying they enjoyed my songs that I played the other day. It made me smile before the snowstorm and drifting and blowing snow kept me indoors for the next two days.
The Checker's Jam has return on a month long trial run. PJ decided to give the jam to Julie in a four week run. The weather played a big role in people not showing up. Even the star power of Tommy Bruner, we couldn't draw flies. But we gave it a good effort.
Wedding Song finally made its debut. I thought the song went well.
I didn't think about using Julie, or Ryan or Donna Jo, tho' Donna Jo was disappointed that she didn't get to play and sing along with me. I couldn't find a song for Ryan to play harmonica with either. I figured I'd give Julie a break from playing the same songs that we sing together.
For some reason I kept my orange winter hat on during the set. I had a bad hair day.
I gave Julie her Valentine's Day gifts a day early. I didn't think we would see each other tomorrow, or I could have waited till Saturday on our date to do that. Since she was up at Checker's I figured just to get it over with. I gather that she did like them.
The Office Lounge remake day that got canceled, Joan, the manager gave that to Ron and Dakota. I figured that would happen but I told Ron I couldn't do it due to the Saturday date night that I had planned with Julie, to go see some new age flute player and a person who painted stuff. Julie was more into that than me, which was why I bought the tickets in the first place. This might have put a strain in my relationship with her or Ryan for that matter. Canceling a gig and then the make up, but the make up was done after I bought the tickets Saturday Night. The V day gift to Julie was probably more then the payoff from the gig. Or a while they might excuse me from the Grove Gig next Saturday. But I do commend Ron for being straightforward about letting me know bout the gigs he gets.
And for their effort and Patchy Fog canceling out, Julie and Ryan got rewarded with the Checker's Friday Night Gig from 7-10. Like Ron and Dakota's Office Lounge gig, I will be incognito. I have to work my regular job that night.
A certain exchange between a Boyscout Master and the Acousta King
AK-RALDO SCHNEIDER @ The Stone City General Store Feb 16th has been cancelled. Unfortunately due to the up-and-coming a foul weather Saturday into Sunday we have decided that is for the best interest of the General Store & Musicians and live music supporters to cancel the show for this Saturday. Raldo has been rescheduled for April 13th. Sorry for any inconvenience. But I feel it is better to be safe than sorry
BM- Still feel sorry bad for any band cancelled due to a "possible" 2 inches of snow. Sometimes, specially with certain venues, a band needs a signed contract that covers unwarranted cancellation. This is a clear example of that situation. It's also why I will not play certain venues in the area that have little to no respect for musicians. And so it goes...
AK-the reason I cancelled Raldo Schneider is out of respect for him and his fans who will be traveling some distance to the General Store. All of them are loyal to Raldo and feel obligated to show up for the show fair weather or foul weather.
AK-LOL, no disrespect intended? A word of advice for you. Speak when spoken to. Goodbye BM
All Along The Watchtower
Wedding Song (there is love)
Greenback Dollar
Sundown
Go Out And Get It
Ole' 55
The Last Time
Hosts;
Julie Gordon and Tommy Bruner
With
Ryan Paul
Ed Butler
Donna Jo
DJ and Kimberly Kay Hovenstot
I was at the Anamosa Fareway, where two of the elderly couple who go to the Stone City Acoustic Sunday Jam came up to pay me a compliment, saying they enjoyed my songs that I played the other day. It made me smile before the snowstorm and drifting and blowing snow kept me indoors for the next two days.
The Checker's Jam has return on a month long trial run. PJ decided to give the jam to Julie in a four week run. The weather played a big role in people not showing up. Even the star power of Tommy Bruner, we couldn't draw flies. But we gave it a good effort.
Wedding Song finally made its debut. I thought the song went well.
I didn't think about using Julie, or Ryan or Donna Jo, tho' Donna Jo was disappointed that she didn't get to play and sing along with me. I couldn't find a song for Ryan to play harmonica with either. I figured I'd give Julie a break from playing the same songs that we sing together.
For some reason I kept my orange winter hat on during the set. I had a bad hair day.
I gave Julie her Valentine's Day gifts a day early. I didn't think we would see each other tomorrow, or I could have waited till Saturday on our date to do that. Since she was up at Checker's I figured just to get it over with. I gather that she did like them.
The Office Lounge remake day that got canceled, Joan, the manager gave that to Ron and Dakota. I figured that would happen but I told Ron I couldn't do it due to the Saturday date night that I had planned with Julie, to go see some new age flute player and a person who painted stuff. Julie was more into that than me, which was why I bought the tickets in the first place. This might have put a strain in my relationship with her or Ryan for that matter. Canceling a gig and then the make up, but the make up was done after I bought the tickets Saturday Night. The V day gift to Julie was probably more then the payoff from the gig. Or a while they might excuse me from the Grove Gig next Saturday. But I do commend Ron for being straightforward about letting me know bout the gigs he gets.
And for their effort and Patchy Fog canceling out, Julie and Ryan got rewarded with the Checker's Friday Night Gig from 7-10. Like Ron and Dakota's Office Lounge gig, I will be incognito. I have to work my regular job that night.
A certain exchange between a Boyscout Master and the Acousta King
AK-RALDO SCHNEIDER @ The Stone City General Store Feb 16th has been cancelled. Unfortunately due to the up-and-coming a foul weather Saturday into Sunday we have decided that is for the best interest of the General Store & Musicians and live music supporters to cancel the show for this Saturday. Raldo has been rescheduled for April 13th. Sorry for any inconvenience. But I feel it is better to be safe than sorry
BM- Still feel sorry bad for any band cancelled due to a "possible" 2 inches of snow. Sometimes, specially with certain venues, a band needs a signed contract that covers unwarranted cancellation. This is a clear example of that situation. It's also why I will not play certain venues in the area that have little to no respect for musicians. And so it goes...
AK-the reason I cancelled Raldo Schneider is out of respect for him and his fans who will be traveling some distance to the General Store. All of them are loyal to Raldo and feel obligated to show up for the show fair weather or foul weather.
BM-Sir, there's the net isn't it? That "better safe than sorry" mentality kind of covers every single situation that could ever comes up, doesn't it. Thank God, explorers and artists don't feel the same way. Too deep? Sorry. No Disrespect intended.
AK-LOL, no disrespect intended? A word of advice for you. Speak when spoken to. Goodbye BM
Sunday, 10 February 2019
Weekend Gigs-Waubeek/Stone City
Saturday Night it was The Boy Scout Hippies back at F B Company in Waubeek, and tho' we had no major snowstorm, the crowd was less than last month. Danny Dias, played harmonica on Hungry Heart, Summer played tamborine and Jim Jacobmeyer showed up with M.J. for the first couple sets.
It was a fun night but Ron wasn't in the best of moods, especially when the owner short changed and didn't pay the extra 75 dollars promised for last month's gig. He wasn't pleased with the card game in the back. However he did pay as promised and I made 125 dollars plus tips. The most I made ever at a gig.
It was a year ago that I took Julie up to Whittier for the Acoustic Showcase and in the process she made her debut there. Plus The EGADS were there. Belinda and Mark and Tim and Rose were there. I do miss the Whittier Acoustic Jam; but I do admit that it has been fun playing drums for Ron n Dakota. Plus it pays better.
Lot of bands were playing that night. Four Day Creep was at Aces N Eights, The Pork Tornadoes was at the Paramount, Mike Serbousek's band Cocked N Loaded was playing.
Jim did mentioned that nobody showed up at the Artisan Open Mic Thursday Night due to the weather. I sat out too, however around 10 PM Julie called and said that Ryan's flight got canceled in CR and so he had to take a different one to Dubuque. I told her to meet us at Springville and I'll go get him. Needless to say 151 wasn't all that great, some white out conditions and black ice on the Wapsi River Bridge before Shooters. And the Airport entrance was solid ice. However I managed to get there, just as Ryan came into the airport and we listened to Louis Jordan along the way, to which Ryan fell asleep. We beat Julie by about 10 minutes at the Casey's in Springville. Going back home, Springville Rd was 100 percent ice. But we all made it back home okay.
Ron's wife was not very pleased with him when he left without her. That might explain the big mushroom cloud I saw out east of here before 2 AM. Woman logic 101, always tell your woman goodbye before you head home at a gig. She'll let you know how she feels about that when she gets home.
Stone City Acoustic Showcase Set list 2/10/19
Six Days On The Road
Switchboard Susan
Logic And Lies
Go Out And Get It
Greenback Dollar
Long Black Veil
Encore:
Everybody's Talking
You'll Accompany Me
Woman/Listen To Love
Another snowstorm, another short crowd and a rare encore of three songs.
The cancellation of the Dreams Of Arcadia at the Office Lounge in Monticello was the reason why I did the Stone City Showcase. The roads were too wicked to go into town and I'm sure the Rumors Sunday Funday Jam had some great jammers. Stone City had Guy Petersen, Dan Dias, Dave Bonham, Mike Frederick, Maki Dervo and Lane Gaffney joining me. Ron LaFluer joined later and he did admit that his wife was not happy with him leaving her behind last night. As I originally mentioned from last night's thoughts. (Read above)
Long Black Veil made it's debut. I was going to save Good Time Charlie for last and have Dan played harmonica but he decided to leave before I got back up there. For some reason I tried to segment Woman Sensuous Woman into Listen To Love but couldn't find the melody to that so I threw some choice words to make it seem like a song. I think I'm getting good at improvising songs now.
Dave Bonham asked about if I was interested into helping his band this summer and I said okay. I wouldn't mind helping him out. That makes four bands I'm not into, DOA, Boy Scout Hippies, Sirenz and Dave's band and of course The Townedgers. The TEs are basically me,sometimes Geoff Redding and not exactly a touring band.
DOA did secluded the make up date of canceled Sunday show, This Saturday, which was the night that I got tickets to see Journey Of The Heart, a band playing at the Mockingbird in Marion to take Julie to see. An honest mistake of course. It was to be a surprise but I now feel bad that Julie had to cancel the make up date. Or did she? I don't know. Whatever the case it means DOA is still free to play that night, But I am still going to see Journey Of The Heart at the Mockingbird, tho' it was supposed to be a Valentine's Day gift for her. Maybe it might open my eyes to see something different.
If that ain't enough we have yet another snow storm on the highway of snowstorms coming through the area to dump another foot or two of the white shit, but nobody can't escape this. Not Seattle, not Tehachapi, not St Louis, or Arizona or Bangor Michigan. Austrailia is getting drowned in floods and rain and 115 temps and here we are on one of the busiest snowstorms in about 12 years. I know it's winter but this is ridiculous and just when I got the Corsica out of the snow drifts here comes yet another storm. I think we are all just sick of this shit but you can't escape it. Ain't good weather out there, just crap. And they said it was going to be a short winter.
Yeah right!
It was a fun night but Ron wasn't in the best of moods, especially when the owner short changed and didn't pay the extra 75 dollars promised for last month's gig. He wasn't pleased with the card game in the back. However he did pay as promised and I made 125 dollars plus tips. The most I made ever at a gig.
It was a year ago that I took Julie up to Whittier for the Acoustic Showcase and in the process she made her debut there. Plus The EGADS were there. Belinda and Mark and Tim and Rose were there. I do miss the Whittier Acoustic Jam; but I do admit that it has been fun playing drums for Ron n Dakota. Plus it pays better.
Lot of bands were playing that night. Four Day Creep was at Aces N Eights, The Pork Tornadoes was at the Paramount, Mike Serbousek's band Cocked N Loaded was playing.
Jim did mentioned that nobody showed up at the Artisan Open Mic Thursday Night due to the weather. I sat out too, however around 10 PM Julie called and said that Ryan's flight got canceled in CR and so he had to take a different one to Dubuque. I told her to meet us at Springville and I'll go get him. Needless to say 151 wasn't all that great, some white out conditions and black ice on the Wapsi River Bridge before Shooters. And the Airport entrance was solid ice. However I managed to get there, just as Ryan came into the airport and we listened to Louis Jordan along the way, to which Ryan fell asleep. We beat Julie by about 10 minutes at the Casey's in Springville. Going back home, Springville Rd was 100 percent ice. But we all made it back home okay.
Ron's wife was not very pleased with him when he left without her. That might explain the big mushroom cloud I saw out east of here before 2 AM. Woman logic 101, always tell your woman goodbye before you head home at a gig. She'll let you know how she feels about that when she gets home.
Stone City Acoustic Showcase Set list 2/10/19
Six Days On The Road
Switchboard Susan
Logic And Lies
Go Out And Get It
Greenback Dollar
Long Black Veil
Encore:
Everybody's Talking
You'll Accompany Me
Woman/Listen To Love
Another snowstorm, another short crowd and a rare encore of three songs.
The cancellation of the Dreams Of Arcadia at the Office Lounge in Monticello was the reason why I did the Stone City Showcase. The roads were too wicked to go into town and I'm sure the Rumors Sunday Funday Jam had some great jammers. Stone City had Guy Petersen, Dan Dias, Dave Bonham, Mike Frederick, Maki Dervo and Lane Gaffney joining me. Ron LaFluer joined later and he did admit that his wife was not happy with him leaving her behind last night. As I originally mentioned from last night's thoughts. (Read above)
Long Black Veil made it's debut. I was going to save Good Time Charlie for last and have Dan played harmonica but he decided to leave before I got back up there. For some reason I tried to segment Woman Sensuous Woman into Listen To Love but couldn't find the melody to that so I threw some choice words to make it seem like a song. I think I'm getting good at improvising songs now.
Dave Bonham asked about if I was interested into helping his band this summer and I said okay. I wouldn't mind helping him out. That makes four bands I'm not into, DOA, Boy Scout Hippies, Sirenz and Dave's band and of course The Townedgers. The TEs are basically me,sometimes Geoff Redding and not exactly a touring band.
DOA did secluded the make up date of canceled Sunday show, This Saturday, which was the night that I got tickets to see Journey Of The Heart, a band playing at the Mockingbird in Marion to take Julie to see. An honest mistake of course. It was to be a surprise but I now feel bad that Julie had to cancel the make up date. Or did she? I don't know. Whatever the case it means DOA is still free to play that night, But I am still going to see Journey Of The Heart at the Mockingbird, tho' it was supposed to be a Valentine's Day gift for her. Maybe it might open my eyes to see something different.
If that ain't enough we have yet another snow storm on the highway of snowstorms coming through the area to dump another foot or two of the white shit, but nobody can't escape this. Not Seattle, not Tehachapi, not St Louis, or Arizona or Bangor Michigan. Austrailia is getting drowned in floods and rain and 115 temps and here we are on one of the busiest snowstorms in about 12 years. I know it's winter but this is ridiculous and just when I got the Corsica out of the snow drifts here comes yet another storm. I think we are all just sick of this shit but you can't escape it. Ain't good weather out there, just crap. And they said it was going to be a short winter.
Yeah right!
Wednesday, 6 February 2019
Thoughts From The Townedger-February
The winter of suck continues.
I haven't worked a full five day in the past four weeks. It seems that we have ice storm after ice storm after snow storm and polar vortex and I'm fucking tired of it all. Everybody in the state is tired of this shit. You can't play in it, you don't want to go out to a jam and participate. I haven't done much with Julie either. It's a can't win situation
Craig Dewitte is still alive. He found his way home after being stuck in Walford without a ride home. Took him long enough to get home.
Glen Gardner has liked the Arizona scene so much this winter is that he's announced that he and Laruen will be moving there this year. I'm happy for them to leave for a warmer climate but I'm saddened that we lost a valued jammer and guitar player up here. Stone City will not be the same without him. Or the Artisan Sanctuary. I don't blame him for leaving this hell hole state, perhaps I should have gotten a ride with him down there this winter. Did I mention that this winter sucks?
The use of vacation days during the Winter Suck year of 2019 will limit me into playing on weeknights and I'm not happy about this. But I refuse to drive on ice covered roads. Of course they can always come get me. If they dare. There'll be no open mic jams for me at the Artisan Sanctuary this month. The days I had planned on have been used for the shitty weather this month, and we're not even into a week of February yet.
I got into a dispute with one of the Smokin Guns guys about the dim wit White house impostor. I take exception about somebody telling me, that Trump Is My President. No he's not, I didn't vote for him, just like I didn't vote for Phony Joni Ernst nor Chuckles Grassley, Russian puppets who don't care about my opinion or voice and always goes against my principals. That said, I try not to talk politics, both sides suck, it's just the the Republicans suck even more and care less about us. We have a right to free speech, it annoys me when this dude talks about us Socialists, it has nothing to do with Socialism but rather have a government that cares for the people and takes care of the Veterans who fight the dirty wars for Big Oil and Big Pharma. We have disagreements and the country is getting further split apart. I suspect this dude spent all day drinking GMO made Bud Light and getting drunk. Again, Trump is not my President, I disavow anything he does, I voted against him. Perhaps if the economy stays great and gas prices stay under 2 dollars a gallon and we get reduced drug prices I might cut him some slack. So far, he continues to annoy the fuck out of me. So I went against my better judgement and took the bait he dished out. Later we both offered that in the heat of the moment we didn't think things out clearly and had a good laugh about it. But I don't expect to play drums for them anytime soon. Even if Mike did ask me to sub, I would have bow out, due to creative differences.
I love Bear Clair but had to censor him due to his Democratic bashings of late. For somebody who sez both parties are nobody's friend he seems to forget when he went to Des Moines to speak for the veterans, for the Iowa Senate, they couldn't bother to listen to him. Most were Republicans but he'll blame the other before he blames the GOP.
Julie remains a formidable music ally with me. On her music of course. She's had a good history with Ryan and of course nobody will compare to the times of Kyle Oyloe and her were part of the music scene. Yes, I wish that Kyle was still alive, he died way too young. One can imagine that the Mad Dogs will still be intact. And I wouldn't figure into the equation had he lived. Kevin Michel and Mike Serbousek are vital to that band and spirit. Still is today, but Kevin is now part of the CR Dicks band and Mike plays in a couple other bands, Smokin Guns being one of them. I don't know if the Mad Dogs will arise from the ashes. Kyle is not replaceable and anything will be a facsimile of the original band. I'm not sure if I'll be any help, she hasn't exactly warmed up to any of my originals and odd covers. The better logic is to keep her and Ryan going in Dreams Of Arcadia. They're fun together. The Acousta Crabbies I doubt will take off.
I've been asked time and time again if I'm looking for somebody new and I'm not. I love Julie to pieces but you have to understand that we're not the conventional boyfriend/girlfriend, we are safe friends. I let her decide if I should spend the night with her or not. I think she's a beautiful soul, I think she's good looking and sexy as well but that's my belief. I know she's not happy about me playing drums for Boyscout Hippies this winter or helping the Sirenz this summer at selected dates, but as I told her, DOA or anything she does is first on my list. Ron has done a good job paying me in my sit ins with his band and 100 dollars for three hours work is pretty good to a hobbyist. I enjoy jamming with Greg n Brenda Mein as well. As long as I play good drums why not grab the chances to make money and be heard right?
Throughout all this, The Townedgers had to take a back seat to Boy Scout Hippies, and the Acoustic Jams and so forth. We have the songs to record the next album but time hasn't been allowed to really get things done. I suppose the ice storms and other shit that kept me home, I should have committed a few songs to tape. The reality is that nobody is really clamoring for a new Townedgers album. Only ones that give a shit are Geoff Redding, Terry Bainbridge and Diggy Kat, I don't have that support from my musicians jammers and band mates. We have things in the archives that can be released retroactive to 2018. But I need a week to find the good stuff and have Terry add his two cents to the mixes. He's done great on the last three TE albums, he's been involved in.
I have to use a different mindset for the Townedgers, it's my music and it's the way I dictate how things will sound. Dreams of Arcadia or Mad Dogs are Julie's and Ryan's. Boy Scout Hippies, Ron n Dakota. Meinfield Greg n Brenda and so on and so forth. I have no idea about The New Paraphernalia Band. I haven't fully explained to Julie what The Acousta Crabbies are all about or if she's wanting to depart to a another level of craziness. I like the song selection that Ron has for Boy Scout Hippies, the question remains if and when Ron reverts to his evil self that has dispense the other drummers to leave. Julie has a eclectic song selection too, so far I haven't gotten her to sign off on the songs I would like us to do. And it's frustrating when the one you love doesn't care for the songs that have been suggested. I am dealing with alpha singers, the ones that want to do their songs. Which helps their band but not the Townedgers. But I have dates with both bands coming up. The Boy Scout Hippies partnership ends in March, but the option remains open for future dates if they haven't found the right replacement for me by then.
The tentative title is Forward Looking Back and it turns out that there's many songs from Tales Of The Red Caboose or Postcards From The Edge we could use to update. For new songs there will not be many new songs, unless I sit down and write lyrics. The archives of lyrics waiting for melodies are just about used up and what remains was sub-par anyway. But I've been trying some off the wall ones, including the infamous Long Story Short, which clocked in at over nine minutes originally. Terry implied that Tales Of The Red Caboose has some fine rocking songs that didn't turn out due to primitive recording means. I still have Tommy Bruner's lyrics to Brief Shining Moment that we need to finish out the arrangement of the song.
Behold, my new Menil Bongos that I got for 90 dollars and will be put to use at future unplugged shows with Dreams Of Arcadia. That way Ryan doesn't have to tote his congas all overt the place.
That's it from the winter wasteland. Only 30 more ice and snow storms to go before springtime. I took a bunch of pictures in the studio, Since Facebook was down for the count, I decided to post them all here. The latest glamour shots so to speak.
I haven't worked a full five day in the past four weeks. It seems that we have ice storm after ice storm after snow storm and polar vortex and I'm fucking tired of it all. Everybody in the state is tired of this shit. You can't play in it, you don't want to go out to a jam and participate. I haven't done much with Julie either. It's a can't win situation
Craig Dewitte is still alive. He found his way home after being stuck in Walford without a ride home. Took him long enough to get home.
Glen Gardner has liked the Arizona scene so much this winter is that he's announced that he and Laruen will be moving there this year. I'm happy for them to leave for a warmer climate but I'm saddened that we lost a valued jammer and guitar player up here. Stone City will not be the same without him. Or the Artisan Sanctuary. I don't blame him for leaving this hell hole state, perhaps I should have gotten a ride with him down there this winter. Did I mention that this winter sucks?
The use of vacation days during the Winter Suck year of 2019 will limit me into playing on weeknights and I'm not happy about this. But I refuse to drive on ice covered roads. Of course they can always come get me. If they dare. There'll be no open mic jams for me at the Artisan Sanctuary this month. The days I had planned on have been used for the shitty weather this month, and we're not even into a week of February yet.
I got into a dispute with one of the Smokin Guns guys about the dim wit White house impostor. I take exception about somebody telling me, that Trump Is My President. No he's not, I didn't vote for him, just like I didn't vote for Phony Joni Ernst nor Chuckles Grassley, Russian puppets who don't care about my opinion or voice and always goes against my principals. That said, I try not to talk politics, both sides suck, it's just the the Republicans suck even more and care less about us. We have a right to free speech, it annoys me when this dude talks about us Socialists, it has nothing to do with Socialism but rather have a government that cares for the people and takes care of the Veterans who fight the dirty wars for Big Oil and Big Pharma. We have disagreements and the country is getting further split apart. I suspect this dude spent all day drinking GMO made Bud Light and getting drunk. Again, Trump is not my President, I disavow anything he does, I voted against him. Perhaps if the economy stays great and gas prices stay under 2 dollars a gallon and we get reduced drug prices I might cut him some slack. So far, he continues to annoy the fuck out of me. So I went against my better judgement and took the bait he dished out. Later we both offered that in the heat of the moment we didn't think things out clearly and had a good laugh about it. But I don't expect to play drums for them anytime soon. Even if Mike did ask me to sub, I would have bow out, due to creative differences.
I love Bear Clair but had to censor him due to his Democratic bashings of late. For somebody who sez both parties are nobody's friend he seems to forget when he went to Des Moines to speak for the veterans, for the Iowa Senate, they couldn't bother to listen to him. Most were Republicans but he'll blame the other before he blames the GOP.
Julie remains a formidable music ally with me. On her music of course. She's had a good history with Ryan and of course nobody will compare to the times of Kyle Oyloe and her were part of the music scene. Yes, I wish that Kyle was still alive, he died way too young. One can imagine that the Mad Dogs will still be intact. And I wouldn't figure into the equation had he lived. Kevin Michel and Mike Serbousek are vital to that band and spirit. Still is today, but Kevin is now part of the CR Dicks band and Mike plays in a couple other bands, Smokin Guns being one of them. I don't know if the Mad Dogs will arise from the ashes. Kyle is not replaceable and anything will be a facsimile of the original band. I'm not sure if I'll be any help, she hasn't exactly warmed up to any of my originals and odd covers. The better logic is to keep her and Ryan going in Dreams Of Arcadia. They're fun together. The Acousta Crabbies I doubt will take off.
I've been asked time and time again if I'm looking for somebody new and I'm not. I love Julie to pieces but you have to understand that we're not the conventional boyfriend/girlfriend, we are safe friends. I let her decide if I should spend the night with her or not. I think she's a beautiful soul, I think she's good looking and sexy as well but that's my belief. I know she's not happy about me playing drums for Boyscout Hippies this winter or helping the Sirenz this summer at selected dates, but as I told her, DOA or anything she does is first on my list. Ron has done a good job paying me in my sit ins with his band and 100 dollars for three hours work is pretty good to a hobbyist. I enjoy jamming with Greg n Brenda Mein as well. As long as I play good drums why not grab the chances to make money and be heard right?
Throughout all this, The Townedgers had to take a back seat to Boy Scout Hippies, and the Acoustic Jams and so forth. We have the songs to record the next album but time hasn't been allowed to really get things done. I suppose the ice storms and other shit that kept me home, I should have committed a few songs to tape. The reality is that nobody is really clamoring for a new Townedgers album. Only ones that give a shit are Geoff Redding, Terry Bainbridge and Diggy Kat, I don't have that support from my musicians jammers and band mates. We have things in the archives that can be released retroactive to 2018. But I need a week to find the good stuff and have Terry add his two cents to the mixes. He's done great on the last three TE albums, he's been involved in.
I have to use a different mindset for the Townedgers, it's my music and it's the way I dictate how things will sound. Dreams of Arcadia or Mad Dogs are Julie's and Ryan's. Boy Scout Hippies, Ron n Dakota. Meinfield Greg n Brenda and so on and so forth. I have no idea about The New Paraphernalia Band. I haven't fully explained to Julie what The Acousta Crabbies are all about or if she's wanting to depart to a another level of craziness. I like the song selection that Ron has for Boy Scout Hippies, the question remains if and when Ron reverts to his evil self that has dispense the other drummers to leave. Julie has a eclectic song selection too, so far I haven't gotten her to sign off on the songs I would like us to do. And it's frustrating when the one you love doesn't care for the songs that have been suggested. I am dealing with alpha singers, the ones that want to do their songs. Which helps their band but not the Townedgers. But I have dates with both bands coming up. The Boy Scout Hippies partnership ends in March, but the option remains open for future dates if they haven't found the right replacement for me by then.
The tentative title is Forward Looking Back and it turns out that there's many songs from Tales Of The Red Caboose or Postcards From The Edge we could use to update. For new songs there will not be many new songs, unless I sit down and write lyrics. The archives of lyrics waiting for melodies are just about used up and what remains was sub-par anyway. But I've been trying some off the wall ones, including the infamous Long Story Short, which clocked in at over nine minutes originally. Terry implied that Tales Of The Red Caboose has some fine rocking songs that didn't turn out due to primitive recording means. I still have Tommy Bruner's lyrics to Brief Shining Moment that we need to finish out the arrangement of the song.
Behold, my new Menil Bongos that I got for 90 dollars and will be put to use at future unplugged shows with Dreams Of Arcadia. That way Ryan doesn't have to tote his congas all overt the place.
That's it from the winter wasteland. Only 30 more ice and snow storms to go before springtime. I took a bunch of pictures in the studio, Since Facebook was down for the count, I decided to post them all here. The latest glamour shots so to speak.
Sunday, 3 February 2019
Waubeek Jam Notes
60 years ago, after playing Clear Lake at the Surf Ballroom and tired of dealing with a piece of shit bus that kept breaking down, Buddy Holly took his chances of renting a charter plane to get to the next show. He had J P Richardson and Richie Valens in tow. Roger Peterson was the pilot. And they took off into the teeth of an Alberta Clipper and lost the battle. They are all part of the rock and roll and Iowa Folklore. They remain a musical part of my journey and life and music.
60 years later, I'm driving on a foggy road over to F B Company to partake on the Waubeek Jam; a last second decision made. It turns out that my presence was required.
I backed up Lenny Drake, Chuck, Greg And Brenda Mein, Dave Bonham and Maki Dervo. Nelson played steel guitar and bass, likewise Dave Bonham. Due to the fog, we didn't have that many jammers, Ron LaFluer graced us with his presence, Katy Merrifield helped on vocals and Captain Kirk played guitar and Sharon sang too.
I ended up playing for about 3 and half hours backing everybody up, but I didn't play guitar this time out. Greg and Brenda did an encore which we did some ragged run throughs on Stop Draggin My Heart Around and The Weight. Dave introduced some new songs Every Little Things She Does Is Magic was one song I never played before and just improvised around Dave's playing. He said I nailed the song.
A new kid was in town and wanting to play drums, and Nelson told me about him. I basically thought that the new guy would talk to Maki about that but since I was playing drums, he probably thought I was part of the set up. Not really but I went over and despite Ron trying to give me a charley horse, I introduced myself to Ben and give him the basic rules of playing, be yourself. Ben was quite shy, kinda like me when I was his age and chatted with him about his influences and his likes and gave a bit of input and what to expect. And told him I'm always willing to help out the new drummer, unlike Rumors where you're competing with 10 other drummers, only Maki was there and he's mostly into playing guitar and pan flute. Sometimes I need a spell, this is actually 3 and half hours of practicing. No money is made, but basically sharpening up my skills with the other guys. Which is why Ron didn't play today. I have to return back to Waubeek next week with BoyScout Hippies. I enjoy matching wits and playing alongside Ron. He's somewhat professional, Chuck and Lenny are more ragged players, they're not exactly polished but more, like me, hobbyists that have good songs.
As I gave Ben, my wise old-man musician musings, I told him just to be yourself. You're dealing with musicians that are not exactly the best but you can find ways of making them sound that much better. I've been doing this on a regular basis for some time. Dave has his ways, Brenda/Greg likewise. and of course Chuck, Nelson and Lenny. I told him it's your first time, just go with it and have fun. And when you had enough, I'll come back up and take over. Ben, on his debut,lasted two songs. Fire on the mountain and Roll Over Beethoven. After that he had enough.
First time debuts are always going to be rough. Ben didn't do anything different or wrong, he might not have an ideal on how Roll Over Beethoven went, it was a bit slower, but hey, he came up on stage and did his best. That's all you can do. Whether or not, this retreats him back to the bedroom forever remains to be seen and I wished I could have talked to him afterwards. Interaction with other musicians is key and don't get frustrated. You'll improve with each performance. One song at a time.
Being with eccentric and erratic musicians at Waubeek, there's always cause to adapt to their way of playing. Good drummers can do that, and at the same time, provide a beat so that the others get to play better themselves. When you do a large variety of songs, some known, some I have no idea on how to play, you have to prepare on how to approach a song that doesn't have drums. Dave threw a few songs I never played before (Thank You, Every Little Thing...) and they're songs I don't play for recreation either. Lenny did a Steeldrivers song that usually don't have drums but I had the album and faintly recalled bits n pieces of it. And the question on how to play Still My Guitar Gently Weeps, do I do a faster version or the Beatles's slower beat? Fire On The Mountain, I decided to speed it up during the jam part, it's boring to play the same beat over n over, so I experiment with things. The ever creative mind of a drummer will do that.
It's strange to see that I accomplished more since returning to play in 2015, then I ever did in the thirty five years prior to playing drums. I suppose being in the bedroom and garage didn't help my chances of being a Hall of Famer but then again, I never cared much for the limelight, preferring to play in the background, just like I'm doing with Dreams Of Arcadia or Boyscout Hippies. It's their band, I'm just helping whenever I can. I can adapt to just about any style, after all, my music isn't exactly polished either; the imperfections that I have to adapt to make the music sound better and I had to learn that the hard way during the 1980s when I was home recording and had a cassette player that wasn't the right speed at all. It seems like I always do things the hard way. But in the end the imperfections did make me a better musician in the long run. And get ready for the challenges the other musicians bring to the jams. The novices, the professionals and the dreamers.
I was at Half Price Bookstore before going to Waubeek, when I heard a familiar voice behind me. And I turned around and Jeff Overly was there, he was in town helping Karl Hudson at some place in Van Horne. Jeff has been putting mileage on his car on the 2 hour drive up from Fort Madison. I do miss having him back me up on sax when I play guitar but I sure sometime this year we'll do that again.
Stone City Songlist: 2/3/19
If You See Her
Not Fade Away
Love's Made A Fool Of You
Go Out And Get It
Greenback Dollar
Satisfied Mind
Good Time Charlie
The fog continue to hinder and keep people away, but I managed to go down to the General Store and hang out there instead of going to Rumors. Alas, Brenda and Greg Mein got paired up with a bad drummer and bummed them out. They would have benefited from me being there. I will have to see who played there and if there were other drummers that could help out. Funny how that drummer who was bashing and crashing was the same person who chastised me for bashing his cymbals hard a while ago. I'm surprised he was doing just that. Brenda mentioned there wasn't much to choose from for drummers anyway.
Since Buddy took an ill fated plane ride with The Big Bopper and Richie Valens, I thought I play a couple of songs in their honor. Mostly Buddy. Satisfied Mind made it's debut, in very rough form.
The fog kept away Dave and Sharon unlike last night.
Bill Schlatter played a encore set as well as couple of new musicians. Maki Dervo finished the night up. He did a version of Whip Lash and Me And Julio and 20 seconds of My Sharona.
The jam ended at 7:15, and I was home by 7:30. The road was still quite foggy.
PS. It was one year ago, that I make my Stone City debut. Lane Gaffney, Rocky Smith, Maki Dervo and Bill Schlatter were in attendance back then. And all of them were there today. Imagine that.
Stone City Songlist: 2/3/19
If You See Her
Not Fade Away
Love's Made A Fool Of You
Go Out And Get It
Greenback Dollar
Satisfied Mind
Good Time Charlie
The fog continue to hinder and keep people away, but I managed to go down to the General Store and hang out there instead of going to Rumors. Alas, Brenda and Greg Mein got paired up with a bad drummer and bummed them out. They would have benefited from me being there. I will have to see who played there and if there were other drummers that could help out. Funny how that drummer who was bashing and crashing was the same person who chastised me for bashing his cymbals hard a while ago. I'm surprised he was doing just that. Brenda mentioned there wasn't much to choose from for drummers anyway.
Since Buddy took an ill fated plane ride with The Big Bopper and Richie Valens, I thought I play a couple of songs in their honor. Mostly Buddy. Satisfied Mind made it's debut, in very rough form.
The fog kept away Dave and Sharon unlike last night.
Bill Schlatter played a encore set as well as couple of new musicians. Maki Dervo finished the night up. He did a version of Whip Lash and Me And Julio and 20 seconds of My Sharona.
The jam ended at 7:15, and I was home by 7:30. The road was still quite foggy.
PS. It was one year ago, that I make my Stone City debut. Lane Gaffney, Rocky Smith, Maki Dervo and Bill Schlatter were in attendance back then. And all of them were there today. Imagine that.
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