Thoughts From The Townedger: May Edition 2019

It's been a long wet, rainy month.  Just like April
And March
And February

We really haven't had any time to go visit the Davenport walking trails, they have have been underwater since April.  Longest lasting flood since 1927.  Climate change sucks.

Julie makes her debut as a solo artist this Saturday at La Cantina, on Edgewood Rd in Cedar Rapids. The third location for La Cantina in this area.  Not a big fan of the downtown La Cantina,  but hopefully the food is much better at Edgewood Rd.   Steve Black Wolf will be helping her on guitar.  I had obligations to host the Waubeek Jam on the same night and won't be able to support her, tho I have taken to Facebook to promote her gigs.  Julie got the gig last Sunday,  If I wasn't hosting the Waubeek Jam, I'd be helping her out.  She remains my favorite singer.



 For the Waubeek Jam, I'm bringing a new Hi Hat cymbal stand and a five dollar DW bass petal that Brooke Hoover sold me.  If it works as advertised, the Ludwig Speed King petal  will be retired.

The Mad Dogs aren't happening.  Kevin Michael is not interested and he's part of the CR Dicks band. Mike Serbousek might figure into the next band, he and her have a long history together.  As for myself......

I've been away from the weeknight jams due to my place of employment.  I don't like it but I took many sick and personal days off due to walking pneumonia issues this year so I had to cut back.  Once our work load lightens up and we don't have temps, I'm cleared to play.  I should be back at the Artisan Sanctuary next month as well as Checker's Acoustic Jam.  I may be tempted to venture up to the Blu Room in Dubuque to try something different.

There will be a Picnic Afternoon in The Park in Marion to start out Freedom Festival, but I'm working out the details on if I'm playing.  Only definite things going on are the Waubeek and Whittier Jams that I'm part of and of course the Stone City and Rumors' jams.  I have done both jams on occasion.  Either one I usually play late but Terry McDowell was cool enough to let me lead off the jam last Sunday.  Of course, it helps to bribe him with a pair of Vader Drumsticks but it was his birthday and I figured to at least give him a good pair of sticks for playing his drums every year.


I think Belinda James is holding up fairly well despite burying her son last week.  She's been through a lot in the three years I known her.  She's a tough cookie.

I'm not looking for a new romance in this life tho there have been rumors that I was looking.  I have lady friends at jams that I like to say Hi to and give them a hug.  That's as far as it goes.  I have too much going on at work and with The Townedgers and the weekend solo appearances.  I'll help a band out if they're looking for a temporary drummer if they got gigs.  Or fill in on percussion where needed.  With Julie, she has a set list of songs she wants to do, that's fine by me.  She finds my song selection a bit disturbing and darker.  I suggest songs or make a mixtape, wherever she gets around listening to them is up to her but if she doesn't care for the songs then we're wasting time.  I'll do Brown Eye Girl if people want to, but gawd I'm not a fan of Wagon Wheel, the most overplayed country song since Free Bird.  I think she's great with Ryan, I've seen the videos with Kyle and they were meant to be together.  With me and her, I love her vocals, we just look like we don't belong on stage.  It's as if American Gothic came alive

I heard The Mad Dogs version of Gold Dust Woman.  It's quite loud.  Not exactly the way I would play it.  But she's more used to the style of Kyle.

The 10th Annual World Naked Bike Ride in Madison is June 15th, same day as the make up date of Wooden Nickel Lottery playing Stone City's General Store outdoors.  I owe Rich Toomsen one.

Sunday Funday-Rumors/Stone City

Terry's Birthday Bash Jam-  Terry McDowell-host

Dreams I'll Never See
Rocky Mountain Way
Feel Like Making Love
Margaritaville

Russ-Vocals on the last two songs (duh)
Rick Clay-Vocals (Dreams) and lead guitar
Tommy Bruner-Vocals (Rocky Mountain Way) and guitar
Kenneth John Webb-Bass
I played drums


Stone City-Setlist:

Logic And Lies
The Race Is On
If You See Her
Good Time Charlie
Cinnamon Girl

Notes:

I got to play first on drums for Terry's birthday jam blast.  Kind of a polished run through of Dreams and Rocky Mountain Way was played for the first time in a couple years and not with the usual cymbal bashing.  Then Russ popped on for his usual Bad Company song and the other.  People seem to enjoy Jimmy Buffet no matter how many times it's been played.  I found a nice pair of Vader drumsticks and presented them to Terry afterwards.  He got a kick out of that.  The man, lets every drummer pound on his drumset during jams and it's just a way to tell him I appreciate what he does.  But I did stopped short of bringing him a Rude Cymbal.  They're a bit too expensive to give away.

Charles Maas, was somebody that was in my high school class (but he didn't graduate with us).  He managed to say hi to me, and it took me a good look at his photo in the yearbook to remember him.  I do now.

It was a rare pairing of Rick and Ken on stage and I wanted to be part of this.  Steve Deforest, another great bass player came up later, as well as DJ Hovenstot and Sir Bob Miller and a few other drummers.  Again, special thanks to Terry for letting me go first.

I didn't intend to play Stone City but since I got my recycling done (no thanks to Republican Services, one of the worst recycle centers in town since they bought out City Carton) but I had time enough to make it over to the General Store to play five songs, two originals.  We had more of a crowd but most of them were outside and Steve Black Wolf and Guitar Dave were long gone when I showed up.  When I was done I decided to go into Anamosa to grab a pasta dinner at McOttos but the downtown Mexican food place was reopened so I got the Sunday special without rice and beans.  A rare occasion for that.  The teen that waited on me was nice but I couldn't understand a word he said.  So I went with what they had for the special.

Tyler And Dowling Acoustic Showcase-In Between Visitations

Logic And Lies
Sundown
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Cinnamon Girl

Went to two visitations today.  Dennis Braack passed away so I went up to pay my final respects.  Jeff Megowan was his best friend and we chatted a while, Leroy Munn from Crankshaft was there too.  Later in the day, I went to another one.  Belinda James' son had enough heartbreak in this world and checked himself out 10 days ago.  So I had to go say hi to her and comfort her.  Andrew Knight and two of the EGADS, Tim Nemec and Rose Slaymaker were there too.  Tim is set for more foot surgery tomorrow.  He's been out of the jams for a while due to his ongoing foot issues.

While I took today off, I decided to go with the Tyler and Dowling acoustic showcase tonight since Bill Schlatter was hosting it (in place of Ron LaFleur who had foot surgery of his own) and I managed to catch up and say hi to Dakota.  Lane Gaffney, who I ran into at Half Price Books would say he'd go there.  So I bypassed the Rumor's and Checker's Jams and give support to Bill.  Summer was up there, she and I met back in December at my last appearance there, she's a regular to my irregular sightings and  she kept me company in the time I was up there.  Nothing serious, just a casual conversation and joking over making bad Bob Dylan's voice imitations.

The guitar was slightly out of tune but all the songs were played pretty well and I got plenty of compliments on my playing and singing.  I decided to forgo the fedora hat this time out.  I knew nobody was going to take any pictures.

This is the final weekly acoustic jam at Tyler and Dowling, they're going for a once a month event, beginning the last Wednesday of each month.  Ron should be back to host.  By then I'll be back at Checkers.

In the meantime, the weather has been frightful, especially down in Missouri.  While we have been lucky so far of not having tornadoes in this area.  This one, scored a direct hit on Jefferson City Missouri at 11:45 Wed. Night.  Tuesday, a 1:30 AM tornado tore into Adair Iowa and destroyed a part of town and killed two people.  Storms in the night are no fun and catch people off guard.  The worst part of spring.  Tornadoes in the rainy season.

Stone City-Familiar Friends, Familiar Songs

Everybody's Talking
Ring Of Fire
Go Out And Get It
Sundown
Games People Play

Donna Jo-Backing vocals and percussion
Lorie Parker-Backing vocals on Games People Play

Encore:

Can't You See
House Of The Rising Sun

Hoppy-Vocals and Guitar
Lane Gaffney-Guitar
Lorie Parker and Donna Jo-Backing Vocals
Laurie-Backing Vocals
Maki Dervo-Panflute and percussion
I played guitar


Plus:

Hanging with 4 Day Creep at Chrome Horse Saturday Night

Cheap Sunglasses
Dreams I'll Never See Again

Rick Clay-Vocals and lead guitar
John Baughman-Bass
I played drums while Troy Mitchell Took A Break
As well as Amanda Marshall

Houby Days in town.  Of course it rained.  It rained a lot Saturday Night while I was at the nature center.  Managed to do a half hour walk before the dark clouds and storms hit five minutes later.  Then spent part of the night going to see Doug Ducey and Honky Tonk Roadhouse before going to the Chrome Horse to support 4 Day Creep and played the songs that Rick and I are familiar with.

Sunday:  Brook Hoover still had the DW 2000 bass drum petal and he sold to me for five dollars.  I'm sure it will come in quite handy. He took the picture.  And got five dollars for his trouble.

Back to Stone City and I was joined onstage by Lorie and Donna Jo, first time we shared the stage together since Checker's of last year.  I basically changed the songs I wanted to sing in favor of the ones that Donna Jo was familiar with. Since they were around I could do that.

Carl Meiners played Your Cheating Heart with the girls doing their OH CARL tag at the end of the bridge.  I think it made him smile when they do that.

Tami Soukup did take a couple pictures of me playing drums Saturday Night with Four Day Creep.  They are being  held hostage.

Eric Moore, the guy behind The Godz, passed away from bladder cancer at age 67.  The Godz were one of my favorite bands of my high school years.

Stone City Acoustic Showcase-A Mother's Love

Lonely Weekends
All Along The Watchtower
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Rainbow In The Dark
Fox On The Run
Summertime Blues
My Girl

Dave Bonham-host

with

Danny Dias
Bart Bock
Carl Meiners
Rocky Smith
Sharon
Richard Edward Butler

(My mother before I changed her life)

Notes:

A very small crowd of pickers and grinners.  Dave did give the option for me to do an encore number but I had to get to home to celebrate Mother's Day with Mom.  In a twist of irony, my dad got the same card that I bought Mom.

Lonely Weekends made it's debut.  And then I went down the lyric book to see what I could play.  No word if Ron came down to save the day with his hour long acoustic set.

I was disappointed that there was no jammers to help Dave, but perhaps they came later in the day.  Hard to tell.  But this was the first jam that I could hear Carl Meiner's sing clearly.  Usually the mix in there is quite muddy but somehow Dave and Bart made everybody sound crystal clear.  Even I could hear myself.


My Girl is dedicated to my mom.

Whittier Acoustic Showcase 5/11/19

Dead Flowers
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Rainbow In The Dark
Brown Eye Girl (Stuart Pershing-vocals)
Amazing Grace (The Whittier Consortium-Vocals)
Fox On The Run
Rumble (Extract)
Been Down So Long
Comfortably Numb
Love's Made A Fool Out Of You


Notes:

Very small crowd of jammers and the next door neighbors bringing their hyperactive kids into the building,  it proved a night of firsts.  First time I have done Been Down So Long and Comfortably Numb with me singing that song.  Plus the fact that I didn't practice neither songs amazes me how they sounded pretty good.

Stuart Pershing did the Van Morrison song and I followed along on guitar and sang back up. Amazing Grace was done by the runaway kids and it works best in a A,E,D pattern. Since Stuart had to get up at 3 AM, he had to cut his performances short.

I was surprised that Carl Meiners didn't show up with Sue Ellen tonight.  She has been dealing with stage fright issues and has disappeared from the jam circuit.

It wasn't a very long jam.  It started late and finished up early.  I haven't done a lot of going over songs of late and basically stick with the ones that I have been doing, Good Time Charlie is now a staple in my set list.  I have to credit Julie for the version of Rainbow In The Dark, Dreams Of Arcadia have done it in their song list and it was one song that I did take with me.  I don't play the Cure's Lovesong anymore, it doesn't benefit me much and Julie owns it anyway.

The Blue Brat guitar was used again tonight.  Slightly more in tune than last week.  I may used it again for Stone City tomorrow.

Despite promoting the Whittier Jam, we only had 7 players. The Boy Scout Hippies didn't play Waubeek but at a private party in Monticello..

From last week's snafu, it seems that the new drummer added BSH in the number 8 position behind Greg and Brenda Mein when the Waubeek lineup was announced. If that's the case then perhaps Ron jumped the gun with his tirade against the host of the jam.  I'm not in charge who goes on first, I just provide the drums and support for those who need a drummer for their songs.  But it did help having the new BSH drummer. give me a rest for Ground Chuck and BSH's set.  Doesn't mean I'll crash Ron's BBQ summertime party anytime soon but he did pay well for playing in that band.

Stone City and Rumors Jam-Before And After The Storm

Stone City songlist:

Ring Of Fire
Long Black Veil
Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
Summertime Blues
Love's Made A Fool Out Of You


Sharon Eide sang backing vocal to Ring Of Fire

Notes:


Thought about going to see the Kernels play this afternoon, but too many cars were there, so I decided to walk around New Bo and buy a few 45's from Analog Vault.  And then went off to Chad Johnson's benefit at Rumors.  There was an war of words between Herm and a couple of old biddies that called the cops on him for harassment.  Since Mike Lint and Herm were ahead of me, there was too many people there for me to hang so I went home to fight a thunderstorm and got wet in the process on the way to Stone City.

Last night Ron blew a gasket about the Waubeek Jam (Read May The Forth Blog for more info) and they played the Mount Vernon Chalk The Walk, but they were at Stone City and all were there.  Cali Jean waved from the audience, Ron said hello from the stage and his wife Fran per usual ignored me on the way to greet somebody.  I suppose it's hard to see with her nose up in the air so far.   So much for that.

And Maki was there too, but no words or punches were exchanged or thrown.

But in the usual style of  The LaFleurs  I expected them to leave before my set came up and they did that two songs in.   The talk of peace and love seems to not hold much thought to the head Boy Scout Hippie Master.  Or supporting the other acts.  If they did stay the whole set, I'd been shocked.

A very safe list of songs.  I bought the wrong guitar with me, the Blue Brat and it was sadly out of tune, so I didn't capo.  Sharon added some backing vocals to Ring Of Fire but after that it was a solo performance.

Since I played drums most of last night and felt tired, I didn't feel up to hang around, much less play drums but I had to say hi  to Al Hendricks.  Chad Johnson can be full of himself, another FB friend that otherwise ignores me most of the time.  Joey Arnold managed to incorporate a few more lesser known songs played, Blister In The Sun, I Wanna Be Sedated, The Middle.  White Wedding (yawn).  And so on.  While it's cool to have a benefit to pay off Chad's hospital bills, it doesn't help much that he continues to smoke a lot.   We'll help him along the way but if he can't quit the smokes it's like throwing money down the drain.  And I rather not bury another musician since they can't give up their bad habits.  But then again, I have plenty of my own bad habits.  I just don't smoke or drink booze.

Yeah the 3 AM getting home and 9 AM wake up call really put me in a zombie state, tho not as bad as it hit Maki Dervo last night.  He was actually was more awake today at the General Store.  The war of words between Herman and the two old bats really put things in a awkward state.  I told Kathy Runnells I was going out supper and would be back, but I kept going further and further away.Then decided that a Mushroom and Swiss at the General Store would do the trick.

And it did, I had to run to the bathroom at the end of the BSH Sweet Home Alabama, which was extended by a few more minutes.  Ron is getting pretty good at extending the songs if he's on a limit of four or five songs at open mics.  He did that with Purple Rain as his final song of the Waubeek Jam ever.  Or so he says.

It's been a long and tiring weekend from co hosting the Waubeek Jam and then popping into town to pay a visit to Rumors and then back to Stone City to play.  I didn't think I was going to play guitar and sing.  I have to take a look to see if anybody else showed up to played drums at Rumors later on when Terry makes out the flyers.    It will be an early bedtime for me tonight.

The Waubeek Open Mic Jam-May The Fourth Be With You Till You Are Full Of It

But first this from the head Boy Scout Hippie Master

The story on the open mic's that are run by people with no ethics, code or honor are obvious ....they suck and they know it but they could really could care less. It's incredible how pathetic they treat some people and they honestly think nobody notices. Well, let him have his little power play if he believes it gives his life purpose or it makes him feel that he's in momentary control of others. In reality it only shows his smallness, his pettiness and his lack of love for others. We try to support fellow musicians who are on the path to getting work but we can no longer support the unethical behavior of the open mic we went to tonight. The open mics that are run by ethical people, like Lane at The General Store, are the gold standard. Where we were tonight, will never see us again and we are sorry to have to say that because we love the owner and staff but they have a unethical and dishonest person running their open mic.

(since the original posting, the above paragraph has been deleted from their website but for historical and reference purpose, it was decided to keep this up.  It was decided that he had issues with people signing up and not being there at the onset.  I still think Ron will return back to the Waubeek jam once things cool down, but if not, it will still go on).


I have not a clue what transpired as I was the host drummer for the first time and Maki Dervo was basically the main host,  David Lam filled in for him.   Ron asked earlier in the evening of who made the lineup of who played first and I really had no clue.  I saw a yellow paper with the order of jammers that took part, The Boy Scout Hippies took the stage later than usual.  While I was setting up the drums, I noticed Ron and the band plus his wife showing up around 8 or so but on the paper they were after Greg and Brenda Mein.  Perhaps Ron's ire was directed towards Maki for not being on earlier.  But I know Ron well enough by now, that he tends to blow up at the slightest thing, if he doesn't get his way and has to wait a while he will explode.  This tends to get him banned from playing at places.  Stone City for one.  I think I'm still on the level with Ron; if we are not, then that's on him.  But he might have a point, Steve Thereault did play six or seven songs, like wise Chuck.   Last time I participated with Ron, we did play more songs and the BSH was limited to just four songs this time out.  And I do feel his anger.  But on the other hand, open mic jams are basically limited to about three or four songs per band, and performer, especially if you have a full crew of jammers there. It's good etiquette not to say anything since it's not a paying gig, unless you're the host.  And even then, it's gas money to get me home.

Ron has  got a new drummer, and the guy is likable, very good player, he'll fit in well if he can handle the head Boy Scout Hippie Master's tirades.  He'll be the one that will help the Boy Scout Hippies when they play New York and the Woodstock Revisited at Lowe Park.  I didn't jam with them tonight, I figured if they wanted me to do a song or two I'd would have said yes. I'm sure Cali Jean would love that, in fact she gave me a nice big hug when we seen each other.  Ron was cordial and we shook hands and Dakota said hello too but outside of that we didn't do much association, but I did dance with the woman that usually showed up at the BSH gigs and open mic jams.  I'm sure she was disappointed that we didn't, but I welcomed a nice break from it all as James, the new guy played drums.  I think Ron was promised they could do six or seven songs but Maki told him no more than four, and we all knew the end result.  They did some new songs,  I never did play Ooh la la or Evil Ways with them and I think that was a work in progress but I don't think the new guy knew how to approach  Hard To Handle, but they did a more varied take on the final song Purple Rain, after which Ron  stormed off the stage for a few more choice words and off into the night they went.  Vowing never to come back at the open mic ever again , but they will be back next Saturday as the resident house band.   By then I should be back at Whittier next week, providing that we don't get slammed at work.

For the jam itself, David asked me to bring the drums up there and I did that.  I missed out on doing a bargain hunt in Dubuque or Waterloo but helped him out instead. Maki Dervo usually hosts it, and I came under the impression that he was not going to be there but he was, although in a zombie, sleep deprived state.    The jammers were the usual Waubeek Motley Crew, Steve, Chuck, Nelson Borden, Lenny Drake.  I backed up most of the gang with the exception of Boy Scout Hippies and Ground Chuck.  The Mehaffey Bridge Boys, were a bluegrass group and needed no drums, some other hippie was up there and played a couple songs by himself. I then backed up Meinfield and Guitar Dave Bonham and Maki Dervo.  Since this was a drum event for me, I didn't play or bring a guitar.  We did get dancers, mostly when Greg and Brenda played and then Ron and his gang, but once Ron and company left, most of the people did.  Lenny Drake took over and then Captain Kirksey and David Lam ended things around 2 AM.   Frederick Jones, Kim Trevillion, Katy Merrifield and Carl Meiners were the supporters that didn't play.  Phil played bass till his wife raised a big stink and finally left, tho' she managed to hang around for another 15 minutes.  By then, it became just me, David, Nelson and Kirksey after everybody started dropping off like flies and went home.

Afterwards, I spend chatting to Maki before loading everything in the car and going home.  Maki crashed out in the van outside of F B Company when I left.  In the process, I ended up breaking a cymbal stand after tossing it back into the car.  China don't make anything worth a shit anymore, so gotta get that replaced.

The Core Band:

Phil Bo King-Bass and Guitar
Guitar Dave Bonham-Bass and Guitar
Ground Chuck-Guitar
Nelson Borden-Steel Guitar
Rodney Smith-Drums

Plus

David Lam-Guitar and Bass
Captain Kirksey-Guitar
Greg Mein-Keyboards
Maki Dervo-Guitar and Pan Flutes
Lenny Drake-Guitar and vocals

Selected Songs Of Fun

Me And Mister Horener-Lenny Drake
Tangled Up In Blue-Guitar Dave Bonham
Wearing a Dead Man's Shirt-Maki Dervo
Colour My World-Meinfield
Bring It On Home To Me-Lenny Drake

and many more.