Saturday, 31 August 2019
Don Daugherty
Don Daugherty. I met him with Troy Mitchell at Crossroads Bistro the other week. He used to play in a various CR bands but relocated to Phoenix and get away from the shitty weather. To which the Farmer's Almanac is predicting yet another shitty fucked up, cold and snowy and ice winter again. Fuck, I haven't even gotten over the fucking Bronchitis that has messed up my summer. But I wrote Don's name down so next time I see him I'll know his name.
Friday, 30 August 2019
Thoughts From The Townedger-August 2019
The Townedger replies to your questions.
This might have been the fastest August on record. Just four weeks ago, I was ready to sit back and relax a while. Alas, I ended up catching bronchitis and had to take two of the weeks off to recover. It was also a month that I lost out on playing at the Rocking Reunion at Ellis with American Legend. So going up to Waterloo to find a bunch of 45s and the Cactus World News CD was a big price to pay. I am not sure if I was slated for American Legend but D J Hovenstot is just as good as anybody else.
I did play The Cabin Jam and then with Dreams Of Arcadia in Monticello the next day. The pictures from the Cabin Jam have been few and far between and were used in a earlier blog. Lisa Harbit replaced me when DOA played Wheatland. The reviews were great on how everything sounded. Perhaps Lisa is best suited for DOA. Opinions vary on Monticello but I thought I did pretty good.
This month I had great times and jams but this month was disappointing. Missing out on money making gigs and having lines of communications fouled up. This may have been my final chance of trying to make a splash in the music scene. With September coming up, I don't foresee much jams and when October rolls around, I'll be a stranger to the music scene again. The Townedgers have been on the back burner for the past two years, I need to either make a new recordings or hang it up. I haven't exactly been playing much music lately, usually the songs I've been playing at Stone City for most of the summer. The surprise was this month I didn't even play the Artisan Sanctuary open mic at all. And it doesn't look very promising that I'll be back anytime soon.
Jim Myers is playing with the Boy Scout Hippies in New York. I've had nothing to do with them since March. This is a recent photo of BSH with their recent drummer Linda. I've always said if you can hang on to where Ron takes the song and know where the breaks are, you will fit in. I think she'll be around a while for them as you can tell by the bass drum. My time with Ron and Dakota was a lot of fun and probably a different style than Jim or Linda. Not a lot of acknowledgement from head BS master but I think ole Stone Face Smith did quite all right.
When Checker's pulled the plug on Julie this month, it felt like a kick in the teeth, especially after seeing the owner at Fas Fuel and him saying nothing about that. The breakup of the Acousta Kitties forever hurt the acoustic jam. Kevin Moore couldn't draw anybody at all and Julie tried but no matter who hosted, nobody showed up. The Wednesday Acoustic Jam was a big part of me playing guitar and doing something different Cathy Hart and Lorie Parker took over Julie's spot and nobody has said much about the outcome. I had other plans before Hart/Parker got tapped. For the most part, I was disgusted with Checker's Management decision to sever ties with Julie. So that was my gift to her, simply saying I had other plans. They threw her under the bus. Do I think Checkers will bring somebody new to the Wednesday Night Jam? I doubt it. Will I return to the Wednesday Night jam if it came back? I doubt it.
I think if there is a fork in the road, a decision that perhaps that DOA should consider moving on and having Patrick and Lisa do the gigs. I seem to be the dark cloud that hangs over the band when they play at Monticello. I had to hear from Julie telling the crowd that I made her sick all over again, even after the fact, I was feeling better than the week before. I didn't participate in their CR gig nor her solo show at New Bo because I was contagious. Had I felt the same way a week later, I wouldn't done the Monticello gig, nor the Cabin Jam.
The Facebook issue shouldn't been a big deal. Life goes on, but at the same point, while you stay cordial to that somebody, you will never ever get close to them like you once did. This is one reason why I try not to close to people, once you give them your trust they will shit on you. A sweet goodbye kiss is poison. And somebody will take it the wrong way.
And no I haven't seen or talked to Jean Gilmore for almost a year. It's better that way.
I have had good times with most of the people during the jams. And the only woman I did go out with was Julie. People continue to ask about us. We remain friends. But it's hard to get to close to somebody who lost their best friend. Julie is free to see anybody else that has more in common with her beliefs. She'll never get over losing Kyle.
Julie did finally record her song with Brook Hoover producing. Maybe they'll do a couple more. Glad to know that behind the scenes I managed to encourage her to do this.
Lisa Fox is the lead singer of Dreamer's Edge. She's a pretty good singer. Since telling her I had other commitments to other bands she tends to ignore me at jams. I never said no to starting something up if time allows. I find her to be a bit odd. But she does have a damn good band with Dreamers' Edge. I jammed with Dave Walerus a couple times on bass, he's very good. Their drummer is killer. He might be more rowdier than Mike Serbousek.
Uptown Live has been around for a year but I haven't been there since their grand opening jam. Adam Dinchell spends more time up there, but haven't seen him in a while. He debuted his new band DB2 at the Sanctuary last week. It's not in the best spot in town. It reminds me of the old Attitudes place which is now forgotten and replaced by overpriced studio apartments in New Bo.
Last month's guest sit in with Notes From The Underground was a lot of fun. Tom Berdo is super cool and the rest of the guys are like my distant brothers. I may once again sit in for Mike at a future gig.
I don't think Bubs Johannes has ever forgiven me for playing 8 songs when he hosted the Stone City Jam a couple months ago. I only did that since he was outside having a smoke. It's funny how we can all stand each other first time we all meet and then we reveal ourselves, for better or for worse. At least I didn't share my inner secrets with him like I did with somebody else. If he subs for Lane in the future, I promise just to do three Pinkard and Lowden songs to make things right.
Nate Hines, a great sound guy but kinda stuck on himself., Conversation: hello Nate, Nate: yep, have a good day Nate, Nate: Yep.
Billy Bourbon is an opportunist, he's got a big song list and can do about 300 songs off the top of his head. I remember being sick and had to cancel a benefit for a local musician. He wanted to know if he could have my gig. Told him it's a free gig. He's taken a few pics of us together but all of them have been deleted. Usually the hustlers n opportunists get the gigs. Hobbyists are outside looking in.
After 2020, there won't be any more Townedgers albums. Once I turn 60, I would have fulfilled my obligations to this world as a singer songwriter. I'm not a fan of growing old, the mind is willing but the body is F U, I'm done.
John Field, I'm afraid will not play guitar again. Russ talks highly of him but ever since he lost everything from the 2008 flood, it hasn't been the same. Neither Russ or myself wants to make the trip to Iowa City to pick him up and take him home. In 2006, this might have happened, but not in 2019. That time has passed.
Believe it or not I still listen to new music. The new King Gizzard is more fun than the new Tool and Slipknot album, The Diplomats Of Solid Soul's new effort is throwback soul, fifty years out of time but these guys believe in their music. Maybe after a couple more listens I'll get it too, they have done better. New Steve Earle and Ride albums are pretty good. I'm still waiting on the new Dream Syndicate With the passing of my other dad, I've been playing Glenn Miller and the Statler Brothers albums of late.
When people ask me who are the best drummers in town, I seem to always leave one or two off. It's nice to know there's a few jammers that consider me up there too. There's are the ones that I admire most (since I know them) Terry McDowell, Jon Wilson, Rocky Smith, DJ Hovenstat, Mike Lint, Mike Serbousek, Troy Mitchell, The Drummer From Dreamer's Edge, Miles Demarso, Kraig Spratt. I know there's more I'm missing but these stand out.
So ends the month of August and thanks to those who asked the questions. Maybe next month we'll see return for more secrets of the soul.
This might have been the fastest August on record. Just four weeks ago, I was ready to sit back and relax a while. Alas, I ended up catching bronchitis and had to take two of the weeks off to recover. It was also a month that I lost out on playing at the Rocking Reunion at Ellis with American Legend. So going up to Waterloo to find a bunch of 45s and the Cactus World News CD was a big price to pay. I am not sure if I was slated for American Legend but D J Hovenstot is just as good as anybody else.
I did play The Cabin Jam and then with Dreams Of Arcadia in Monticello the next day. The pictures from the Cabin Jam have been few and far between and were used in a earlier blog. Lisa Harbit replaced me when DOA played Wheatland. The reviews were great on how everything sounded. Perhaps Lisa is best suited for DOA. Opinions vary on Monticello but I thought I did pretty good.
This month I had great times and jams but this month was disappointing. Missing out on money making gigs and having lines of communications fouled up. This may have been my final chance of trying to make a splash in the music scene. With September coming up, I don't foresee much jams and when October rolls around, I'll be a stranger to the music scene again. The Townedgers have been on the back burner for the past two years, I need to either make a new recordings or hang it up. I haven't exactly been playing much music lately, usually the songs I've been playing at Stone City for most of the summer. The surprise was this month I didn't even play the Artisan Sanctuary open mic at all. And it doesn't look very promising that I'll be back anytime soon.
Jim Myers is playing with the Boy Scout Hippies in New York. I've had nothing to do with them since March. This is a recent photo of BSH with their recent drummer Linda. I've always said if you can hang on to where Ron takes the song and know where the breaks are, you will fit in. I think she'll be around a while for them as you can tell by the bass drum. My time with Ron and Dakota was a lot of fun and probably a different style than Jim or Linda. Not a lot of acknowledgement from head BS master but I think ole Stone Face Smith did quite all right.
When Checker's pulled the plug on Julie this month, it felt like a kick in the teeth, especially after seeing the owner at Fas Fuel and him saying nothing about that. The breakup of the Acousta Kitties forever hurt the acoustic jam. Kevin Moore couldn't draw anybody at all and Julie tried but no matter who hosted, nobody showed up. The Wednesday Acoustic Jam was a big part of me playing guitar and doing something different Cathy Hart and Lorie Parker took over Julie's spot and nobody has said much about the outcome. I had other plans before Hart/Parker got tapped. For the most part, I was disgusted with Checker's Management decision to sever ties with Julie. So that was my gift to her, simply saying I had other plans. They threw her under the bus. Do I think Checkers will bring somebody new to the Wednesday Night Jam? I doubt it. Will I return to the Wednesday Night jam if it came back? I doubt it.
I think if there is a fork in the road, a decision that perhaps that DOA should consider moving on and having Patrick and Lisa do the gigs. I seem to be the dark cloud that hangs over the band when they play at Monticello. I had to hear from Julie telling the crowd that I made her sick all over again, even after the fact, I was feeling better than the week before. I didn't participate in their CR gig nor her solo show at New Bo because I was contagious. Had I felt the same way a week later, I wouldn't done the Monticello gig, nor the Cabin Jam.
The Facebook issue shouldn't been a big deal. Life goes on, but at the same point, while you stay cordial to that somebody, you will never ever get close to them like you once did. This is one reason why I try not to close to people, once you give them your trust they will shit on you. A sweet goodbye kiss is poison. And somebody will take it the wrong way.
And no I haven't seen or talked to Jean Gilmore for almost a year. It's better that way.
I have had good times with most of the people during the jams. And the only woman I did go out with was Julie. People continue to ask about us. We remain friends. But it's hard to get to close to somebody who lost their best friend. Julie is free to see anybody else that has more in common with her beliefs. She'll never get over losing Kyle.
Julie did finally record her song with Brook Hoover producing. Maybe they'll do a couple more. Glad to know that behind the scenes I managed to encourage her to do this.
Lisa Fox is the lead singer of Dreamer's Edge. She's a pretty good singer. Since telling her I had other commitments to other bands she tends to ignore me at jams. I never said no to starting something up if time allows. I find her to be a bit odd. But she does have a damn good band with Dreamers' Edge. I jammed with Dave Walerus a couple times on bass, he's very good. Their drummer is killer. He might be more rowdier than Mike Serbousek.
Uptown Live has been around for a year but I haven't been there since their grand opening jam. Adam Dinchell spends more time up there, but haven't seen him in a while. He debuted his new band DB2 at the Sanctuary last week. It's not in the best spot in town. It reminds me of the old Attitudes place which is now forgotten and replaced by overpriced studio apartments in New Bo.
Last month's guest sit in with Notes From The Underground was a lot of fun. Tom Berdo is super cool and the rest of the guys are like my distant brothers. I may once again sit in for Mike at a future gig.
I don't think Bubs Johannes has ever forgiven me for playing 8 songs when he hosted the Stone City Jam a couple months ago. I only did that since he was outside having a smoke. It's funny how we can all stand each other first time we all meet and then we reveal ourselves, for better or for worse. At least I didn't share my inner secrets with him like I did with somebody else. If he subs for Lane in the future, I promise just to do three Pinkard and Lowden songs to make things right.
Nate Hines, a great sound guy but kinda stuck on himself., Conversation: hello Nate, Nate: yep, have a good day Nate, Nate: Yep.
Billy Bourbon is an opportunist, he's got a big song list and can do about 300 songs off the top of his head. I remember being sick and had to cancel a benefit for a local musician. He wanted to know if he could have my gig. Told him it's a free gig. He's taken a few pics of us together but all of them have been deleted. Usually the hustlers n opportunists get the gigs. Hobbyists are outside looking in.
After 2020, there won't be any more Townedgers albums. Once I turn 60, I would have fulfilled my obligations to this world as a singer songwriter. I'm not a fan of growing old, the mind is willing but the body is F U, I'm done.
John Field, I'm afraid will not play guitar again. Russ talks highly of him but ever since he lost everything from the 2008 flood, it hasn't been the same. Neither Russ or myself wants to make the trip to Iowa City to pick him up and take him home. In 2006, this might have happened, but not in 2019. That time has passed.
Believe it or not I still listen to new music. The new King Gizzard is more fun than the new Tool and Slipknot album, The Diplomats Of Solid Soul's new effort is throwback soul, fifty years out of time but these guys believe in their music. Maybe after a couple more listens I'll get it too, they have done better. New Steve Earle and Ride albums are pretty good. I'm still waiting on the new Dream Syndicate With the passing of my other dad, I've been playing Glenn Miller and the Statler Brothers albums of late.
When people ask me who are the best drummers in town, I seem to always leave one or two off. It's nice to know there's a few jammers that consider me up there too. There's are the ones that I admire most (since I know them) Terry McDowell, Jon Wilson, Rocky Smith, DJ Hovenstat, Mike Lint, Mike Serbousek, Troy Mitchell, The Drummer From Dreamer's Edge, Miles Demarso, Kraig Spratt. I know there's more I'm missing but these stand out.
So ends the month of August and thanks to those who asked the questions. Maybe next month we'll see return for more secrets of the soul.
Sunday, 25 August 2019
Rumors Jam-C Notes And The C Word
Songs:
One Way Out
Roadhouse Blues
Two More Bottles Of Wine
Oh Lonesome Me
Willie And The Hand Jive
Before You Accuse Me
Dreams
Born On The Bayou
Have You Ever Seen The Rain
Me And Bobby McGee
Gold Dust Woman/The Chain
With:
Dan Hartman-Guitar and vocals 1-6
Billy Bourbon-Guitar and vocals on all songs
Dee Vieman-Lead vocals 7-11
Tommy Bruner-Guitar 7-11
Terry McDowell-Host drummer
Nick Lnencika-Harmonica
Jeff Bardo-Harmonica
Randy Burdendorf-bass on all songs
R.Smith-Drums on all songs
And
Belinda James
George Melner
Al Hendricks
Sonya the bartender
Joe Hutchcroft
Brenda Snow
Plus the Rumors Regulars
Plus: I sat in with Notes From The Underground in Solon Saturday Night on Polk Salad Annie
Notes:
It wasn't a pretty weekend. First off, I got bumped from playing for Dreams Of Arcadia Saturday Night in Wheatland, and I could have made some money helping Brian and Kris Briles at The Clinic instead. Well, I got there to see how they're doing but they were packing up and yes I could have played with them after all. So I felt bad for not at least saying I was available.
What really galled me was the loss of a friend that unfriended me for reasons unknown. Thought it was a mistake, sent a request, that was rejected by her. Over the four years of jamming she was instrumental and very helping, taking pictures of me in action and a couple of us together. Then all of sudden, she was gone. Just like that, no explanation, no goodbye. I suppose Facebook is not a life or death thing, I had fellow musicians and friends that did the same thing. But this one bothered me. What the hell happened?
Of course I could have asked her that for she was at Rumors tonight, but kept my distance. I rather not cause a scene over something dumb like being unfriended, but it did frosty in there. Not a lot of jammers or drummers for that matter, Terry let me finish the forty five minute set the the gang. Joe Hutchcroft came up and chatted with me for a bit, Belinda James was there, tho she sang earlier in the evening. The question remains would there be any sort of acknowledgement between me and the woman. She had to pass me to head out the door and we shook hands and say hi and left it at that as she left. It was tempting but I didn't flip her the bird, that would have solve nothing. Best to leave her at her own devices and have fun jamming.
Bird continued to teach me not to rush my beats and it seems to work and he is doing his best to get me to play on the ONE beat and not the TWO. I didn't do the TWO cymbal crash after the one on Dreams and what he's trying to teach is not overplay but play with intensity, something he has been very adamant about. And I do have fun with him and continue to watch him like a hawk on the songs. He'll let me know if I'm rushing things by motioning to breathe and slow down. I never had a bass player that ever did that. He's a great guy and a good teacher. I did apologize to Terry about going a bit too hard on the drums but he's just brushed it off. Tain't no big thing dude he'd say. In terms of theory, Bird does prove a point that most drummers play too fast but the best ones are those that keep a beat and not get too flashy. My job to compliment the bass player and keep things swinging and not too much.
Jeff Bardo was up there and he sat in on Harmonica most of the songs. I always do my best to attend his gigs when I was off on vacation. I had fun with reconnecting with the Notes From The Underground band and Mike on drums the other night. Kraig Spratt was there today and we shook hands and said hello. He might have mellowed but he's still a beast on drums. Belinda probably did her songs Blue Bayou and Fever and Tommy probably played the riffs. My guess, Joe Hutchcroft was her drummer. She was there to see Bird. And probably myself.
So we did finish the night with Gold Dust Woman and the all out assault of The Chain, the only time that Bird let me go wild. By then the unfriending FB woman was long gone. Bird said that that was one of the best, if not the best jam he had with me. Which is saying a lot despite the uncertainly and the cold reception from her.
I wish her well but in the future I hope our encounters will be few and far between.
One Way Out
Roadhouse Blues
Two More Bottles Of Wine
Oh Lonesome Me
Willie And The Hand Jive
Before You Accuse Me
Dreams
Born On The Bayou
Have You Ever Seen The Rain
Me And Bobby McGee
Gold Dust Woman/The Chain
With:
Dan Hartman-Guitar and vocals 1-6
Billy Bourbon-Guitar and vocals on all songs
Dee Vieman-Lead vocals 7-11
Tommy Bruner-Guitar 7-11
Terry McDowell-Host drummer
Nick Lnencika-Harmonica
Jeff Bardo-Harmonica
Randy Burdendorf-bass on all songs
R.Smith-Drums on all songs
And
Belinda James
George Melner
Al Hendricks
Sonya the bartender
Joe Hutchcroft
Brenda Snow
Plus the Rumors Regulars
Plus: I sat in with Notes From The Underground in Solon Saturday Night on Polk Salad Annie
Notes:
It wasn't a pretty weekend. First off, I got bumped from playing for Dreams Of Arcadia Saturday Night in Wheatland, and I could have made some money helping Brian and Kris Briles at The Clinic instead. Well, I got there to see how they're doing but they were packing up and yes I could have played with them after all. So I felt bad for not at least saying I was available.
What really galled me was the loss of a friend that unfriended me for reasons unknown. Thought it was a mistake, sent a request, that was rejected by her. Over the four years of jamming she was instrumental and very helping, taking pictures of me in action and a couple of us together. Then all of sudden, she was gone. Just like that, no explanation, no goodbye. I suppose Facebook is not a life or death thing, I had fellow musicians and friends that did the same thing. But this one bothered me. What the hell happened?
Of course I could have asked her that for she was at Rumors tonight, but kept my distance. I rather not cause a scene over something dumb like being unfriended, but it did frosty in there. Not a lot of jammers or drummers for that matter, Terry let me finish the forty five minute set the the gang. Joe Hutchcroft came up and chatted with me for a bit, Belinda James was there, tho she sang earlier in the evening. The question remains would there be any sort of acknowledgement between me and the woman. She had to pass me to head out the door and we shook hands and say hi and left it at that as she left. It was tempting but I didn't flip her the bird, that would have solve nothing. Best to leave her at her own devices and have fun jamming.
Bird continued to teach me not to rush my beats and it seems to work and he is doing his best to get me to play on the ONE beat and not the TWO. I didn't do the TWO cymbal crash after the one on Dreams and what he's trying to teach is not overplay but play with intensity, something he has been very adamant about. And I do have fun with him and continue to watch him like a hawk on the songs. He'll let me know if I'm rushing things by motioning to breathe and slow down. I never had a bass player that ever did that. He's a great guy and a good teacher. I did apologize to Terry about going a bit too hard on the drums but he's just brushed it off. Tain't no big thing dude he'd say. In terms of theory, Bird does prove a point that most drummers play too fast but the best ones are those that keep a beat and not get too flashy. My job to compliment the bass player and keep things swinging and not too much.
Jeff Bardo was up there and he sat in on Harmonica most of the songs. I always do my best to attend his gigs when I was off on vacation. I had fun with reconnecting with the Notes From The Underground band and Mike on drums the other night. Kraig Spratt was there today and we shook hands and said hello. He might have mellowed but he's still a beast on drums. Belinda probably did her songs Blue Bayou and Fever and Tommy probably played the riffs. My guess, Joe Hutchcroft was her drummer. She was there to see Bird. And probably myself.
So we did finish the night with Gold Dust Woman and the all out assault of The Chain, the only time that Bird let me go wild. By then the unfriending FB woman was long gone. Bird said that that was one of the best, if not the best jam he had with me. Which is saying a lot despite the uncertainly and the cold reception from her.
I wish her well but in the future I hope our encounters will be few and far between.
Wednesday, 21 August 2019
Rumors 8/21/19 More Drum Sets Than Drummers
So what happened to Wildcat?
Dee Vieman-Vocals
Dan Hartman-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Randy Burgendorf-Bass
Sir Bob Miller-Drummer
Terry McDowell-Drummer
This Blogger-Drummer
Billy Bourbon-Guitar n Vocals
Songs include the ones we been doing for a few weeks.
Don't Be Cruel
Dreams
Born On The Bayou
Lonesome Fugitive
Angel Unaware
Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother
Proud Mary
Walking After Midnight
Mary Lou's Going Out Tonight
Folsom Prison Blues
I Put A Spell On You
Gold Dust Woman/The Chain
Notes:
The Set list is out of order but we did play Gold Dust Woman last. The first three songs I used Bob's drums and there's a song that had a quick beat to which Bob played rhythm and I played cowbell and percussion and his dinner bell splash cymbal. I think we did 12 songs this time out.
Bob bought his drum set up, so there was two drum sets but only 3 drummers showed up. Terry, Sir Bob and me. No Ronnie Boles, no Mike Lint, no DJ Hovenstot. Dan Hartman was the only other guitar player up there. It was the hosts of Bird, Tommy and Billy doing the majority of the work. And then Dee to finish out the set.
Randy continues to coach me through not overplaying and playing on the ONE, however with Dreams I found the chorus needs a Two beat accent. We do breathing exercises to calm me down. With the usual results. Somehow the songs I grew up listening to were more faster paced and it seems to get me out of whack. Randy is the brakeman on the songs, he'll signaled when I get too fast and does encourage me to be more relaxed and not so intense, just like last night with T Bone and Ryan Phelan.
I think I made inroads to playing more relaxed but we threw that out the window with Gold Dust Woman/The Chain song to which somehow that came together despite two drummers and a over the top ending. Randy did mentioned that he recorded that song and will be giving me a copy for use on a upcoming CD. I might use some of the songs recorded via Facebook for a forthcoming album that I need to turn in at the end of the year. I do think that this version actually is worth hearing. Randy does have a good ear for music and how they go. That's how he survived so long playing for Rare Earth. Play with intensity he says. He would have loved me about 30 years ago.
It was great to have Bob Miller play drums with me.
Checkers did have the Acoustic Showcase tonight with Cathy Hart/Lorie Parker but I didn't attend that one. I wasn't in a guitar playing mood.
Forthcoming: The Ellis Rockin Reunion
We have a great lineup this year!
Kimberli Maloy & The Sirenz 4:00pm
We are a six piece band of top notch musicians & talented vocalists who perform a wide array of music spanning several decades. We will be opening with a few tunes from the late 30s & 40s, then highlighting a few more decades' music to ensure there's something for everyone!
The VibraCats Trio 5:00pm
Doug Ducey guitar*
Dan (DJ) Johnson bass**
Eric Douglas drums*
Guitarist Doug Ducey has been playing music over 50 years. He has opened for and shared the stage with Rock N Roll icons and Country Music Hall of Famers including Carl Perkins, The Buckinghams, The Grass Roots, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jim Ed Brown and more. Doug is well known around eastern and southern Iowa for knowing a catalog of hundreds of Rock n Roll and Country Oldies, and still works up to ten gigs a month. Around 2008 Doug formed The VibraCats with original members and local favorites Keith Lindsey, Tommy Bruner, and Dan 'DJ' Johnson. The current 2019 line up is a trio, all full time professional musicians, and still includes bassist Dan "DJ" Johnson, an Inductee in both the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame AND Iowa Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. DJ has played with just about everyone around here, a virtual Who's Who of well known Iowa musicians, and still plays over 250 gigs a year. Drummer Eric Douglas is also an inductee in the Iowa Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Eric is known as one of the reliable, extremely talented 'first call' percussionists in the region, working steadily with a variety of groups for many years
Soul Sacrifice 6:15pm
Soul Sacrifice is a 7 piece band that performs the music of Santana and other Latin/Jazz based groups. The members of the band are all accomplished musicians and music educators that have been performing in the Midwest for over 25 years. If you are looking for music that will move your feet and make you feel good, Soul Sacrifice has the sounds.
Rob Wallace vocalist/ percussion.
John Hall -bass
John Reasoner- guitar
Denny Redmond-keyboard
Peter Hart-sax
Dennis McPartland-drums
Don Daugherty and the Legends 7:30pm
Don Daugherty bass
Glenn Goodwin lead vocal
Tommy Bruner lead guitar
Dennis Ketelson keys
Billy Davis sax
DJ Holverstot drums
I'm not slated to play. But just wanted to showcase the talent that will be there. Dan Johnson did messaged me about getting down there to play with The Legends, but I was away from computer and didn't get back till it was too late.
Dee Vieman-Vocals
Dan Hartman-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Randy Burgendorf-Bass
Sir Bob Miller-Drummer
Terry McDowell-Drummer
This Blogger-Drummer
Billy Bourbon-Guitar n Vocals
Songs include the ones we been doing for a few weeks.
Don't Be Cruel
Dreams
Born On The Bayou
Lonesome Fugitive
Angel Unaware
Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother
Proud Mary
Walking After Midnight
Mary Lou's Going Out Tonight
Folsom Prison Blues
I Put A Spell On You
Gold Dust Woman/The Chain
Notes:
The Set list is out of order but we did play Gold Dust Woman last. The first three songs I used Bob's drums and there's a song that had a quick beat to which Bob played rhythm and I played cowbell and percussion and his dinner bell splash cymbal. I think we did 12 songs this time out.
Bob bought his drum set up, so there was two drum sets but only 3 drummers showed up. Terry, Sir Bob and me. No Ronnie Boles, no Mike Lint, no DJ Hovenstot. Dan Hartman was the only other guitar player up there. It was the hosts of Bird, Tommy and Billy doing the majority of the work. And then Dee to finish out the set.
Randy continues to coach me through not overplaying and playing on the ONE, however with Dreams I found the chorus needs a Two beat accent. We do breathing exercises to calm me down. With the usual results. Somehow the songs I grew up listening to were more faster paced and it seems to get me out of whack. Randy is the brakeman on the songs, he'll signaled when I get too fast and does encourage me to be more relaxed and not so intense, just like last night with T Bone and Ryan Phelan.
I think I made inroads to playing more relaxed but we threw that out the window with Gold Dust Woman/The Chain song to which somehow that came together despite two drummers and a over the top ending. Randy did mentioned that he recorded that song and will be giving me a copy for use on a upcoming CD. I might use some of the songs recorded via Facebook for a forthcoming album that I need to turn in at the end of the year. I do think that this version actually is worth hearing. Randy does have a good ear for music and how they go. That's how he survived so long playing for Rare Earth. Play with intensity he says. He would have loved me about 30 years ago.
It was great to have Bob Miller play drums with me.
Checkers did have the Acoustic Showcase tonight with Cathy Hart/Lorie Parker but I didn't attend that one. I wasn't in a guitar playing mood.
Forthcoming: The Ellis Rockin Reunion
We have a great lineup this year!
Kimberli Maloy & The Sirenz 4:00pm
We are a six piece band of top notch musicians & talented vocalists who perform a wide array of music spanning several decades. We will be opening with a few tunes from the late 30s & 40s, then highlighting a few more decades' music to ensure there's something for everyone!
The VibraCats Trio 5:00pm
Doug Ducey guitar*
Dan (DJ) Johnson bass**
Eric Douglas drums*
Guitarist Doug Ducey has been playing music over 50 years. He has opened for and shared the stage with Rock N Roll icons and Country Music Hall of Famers including Carl Perkins, The Buckinghams, The Grass Roots, Little Jimmy Dickens, Jim Ed Brown and more. Doug is well known around eastern and southern Iowa for knowing a catalog of hundreds of Rock n Roll and Country Oldies, and still works up to ten gigs a month. Around 2008 Doug formed The VibraCats with original members and local favorites Keith Lindsey, Tommy Bruner, and Dan 'DJ' Johnson. The current 2019 line up is a trio, all full time professional musicians, and still includes bassist Dan "DJ" Johnson, an Inductee in both the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame AND Iowa Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. DJ has played with just about everyone around here, a virtual Who's Who of well known Iowa musicians, and still plays over 250 gigs a year. Drummer Eric Douglas is also an inductee in the Iowa Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Eric is known as one of the reliable, extremely talented 'first call' percussionists in the region, working steadily with a variety of groups for many years
Soul Sacrifice 6:15pm
Soul Sacrifice is a 7 piece band that performs the music of Santana and other Latin/Jazz based groups. The members of the band are all accomplished musicians and music educators that have been performing in the Midwest for over 25 years. If you are looking for music that will move your feet and make you feel good, Soul Sacrifice has the sounds.
Rob Wallace vocalist/ percussion.
John Hall -bass
John Reasoner- guitar
Denny Redmond-keyboard
Peter Hart-sax
Dennis McPartland-drums
Don Daugherty and the Legends 7:30pm
Don Daugherty bass
Glenn Goodwin lead vocal
Tommy Bruner lead guitar
Dennis Ketelson keys
Billy Davis sax
DJ Holverstot drums
I'm not slated to play. But just wanted to showcase the talent that will be there. Dan Johnson did messaged me about getting down there to play with The Legends, but I was away from computer and didn't get back till it was too late.
The show went on.
Kyle Oyloe-A eulogy
Today would have been Kyle Oyloe's 50th birthday.
I only knew Kyle for six weeks in 2015. We shared the stage a couple of times. Had I stayed active on the CR music scene perhaps we could have worked together. In his passing in October of 2015, I went out and found the Meekats Cds and a few choice projects he worked with Sarah Cram.
His sudden passing sent shock waves in the community, most notably from Julie, who remains his best friend, four years later. She misses him a lot. At times I wish that I could have sacrifice myself for him to live longer.
Kyle was a great guitar lead player. He was a quirky songwriter. I'm just a observationist who writes thoughts into songs. I can never fill Kyle's shoes in lead guitar. When he and Julie played together, they had a bond, a connection that was magical and true. When me and Julie play together it's a clash of the air masses, polar opposites on the musical tree. It's not Nancy and Lee, nor Johnny and June, but rather Richard and Linda Thompson, or perhaps Buckingham/Nicks. Kyle had the patience of a saint and could relate to Julie. Any song they do, they made it work, our songs is a constant clash, two trains rolling into one another on the same track with no brakes to stop the train.
Kyle had his own demons, better living through chemicals one of the songs he did that got some airplay on college radio. I have my own demons, of emotion, self doubt and wondering what purpose I have in life that connects me to Julie. I am not sure I'm a good supporter of her causes. She remains my favorite singer when she sings and plays. She loves her garden, loves animals and nature, loves Franklin and the cats, mostly Franklin is her world. And of course Kyle, in spirit.
Kyle loved Motorhead, he also loved Hawkwind, that's probably where the connection between me and Kyle lies. Had we known each other, perhaps that would our band, a hard rock, but while Kyle is more suited to any style of playing, mine is more garage rock and my dad's record collection. He was great in metal bands, but with Julie he could adapt to her songs. With me it's like pulling teeth. When you replace a special someone in their lives, there's no way you can ever satisfy their wants or needs. With Kyle and like a needle in a groove, with me, it's like the needle trying to find that groove and skating across that record. It's never the same, especially if one cannot adapt to that person's needs.
If love can conquer all, it would be a easy world to live in. From my viewpoint, it's not the same, the growing pains, the reminder of somebody that I never be. I can never be the replacement that helps her get over losing Kyle. Somehow his passing, she found herself sitting at my table at a jam and begin a relationship that had her wondering if I was going to ask her out, so she did.
Since I didn't know them personally, I never really knew what they were like as a couple. I have known her for three and a half years now. When people ask me about us, I say we are good friends and leave it at that. If there's a connection between me and Kyle it would be that we do our best to look out for each other. And somehow we're both shy and going through attention deficient disorder, tho my mind does wonder more than I let on. And their love for each other is deep, and always will be. And if he was still alive, they would still be together and making music and playing together. I wouldn't be a second thought.
So here's to you Kyle. Hope you're having a good time jamming with Lemmy and the rest of the gang.
And Julie misses you as well.
I only knew Kyle for six weeks in 2015. We shared the stage a couple of times. Had I stayed active on the CR music scene perhaps we could have worked together. In his passing in October of 2015, I went out and found the Meekats Cds and a few choice projects he worked with Sarah Cram.
His sudden passing sent shock waves in the community, most notably from Julie, who remains his best friend, four years later. She misses him a lot. At times I wish that I could have sacrifice myself for him to live longer.
Kyle was a great guitar lead player. He was a quirky songwriter. I'm just a observationist who writes thoughts into songs. I can never fill Kyle's shoes in lead guitar. When he and Julie played together, they had a bond, a connection that was magical and true. When me and Julie play together it's a clash of the air masses, polar opposites on the musical tree. It's not Nancy and Lee, nor Johnny and June, but rather Richard and Linda Thompson, or perhaps Buckingham/Nicks. Kyle had the patience of a saint and could relate to Julie. Any song they do, they made it work, our songs is a constant clash, two trains rolling into one another on the same track with no brakes to stop the train.
Kyle had his own demons, better living through chemicals one of the songs he did that got some airplay on college radio. I have my own demons, of emotion, self doubt and wondering what purpose I have in life that connects me to Julie. I am not sure I'm a good supporter of her causes. She remains my favorite singer when she sings and plays. She loves her garden, loves animals and nature, loves Franklin and the cats, mostly Franklin is her world. And of course Kyle, in spirit.
Kyle loved Motorhead, he also loved Hawkwind, that's probably where the connection between me and Kyle lies. Had we known each other, perhaps that would our band, a hard rock, but while Kyle is more suited to any style of playing, mine is more garage rock and my dad's record collection. He was great in metal bands, but with Julie he could adapt to her songs. With me it's like pulling teeth. When you replace a special someone in their lives, there's no way you can ever satisfy their wants or needs. With Kyle and like a needle in a groove, with me, it's like the needle trying to find that groove and skating across that record. It's never the same, especially if one cannot adapt to that person's needs.
If love can conquer all, it would be a easy world to live in. From my viewpoint, it's not the same, the growing pains, the reminder of somebody that I never be. I can never be the replacement that helps her get over losing Kyle. Somehow his passing, she found herself sitting at my table at a jam and begin a relationship that had her wondering if I was going to ask her out, so she did.
Since I didn't know them personally, I never really knew what they were like as a couple. I have known her for three and a half years now. When people ask me about us, I say we are good friends and leave it at that. If there's a connection between me and Kyle it would be that we do our best to look out for each other. And somehow we're both shy and going through attention deficient disorder, tho my mind does wonder more than I let on. And their love for each other is deep, and always will be. And if he was still alive, they would still be together and making music and playing together. I wouldn't be a second thought.
So here's to you Kyle. Hope you're having a good time jamming with Lemmy and the rest of the gang.
And Julie misses you as well.
Tuesday, 20 August 2019
Parlor City Blues Jam-Still Loud And Proud
Songs:
Johnny B Goode
Tore Up
Blue On Black
Texas Flood
Emotional Rescue
Next Time You See Me
Kris Briles-Lead vocals and guitar 1-4
Ryan Phelan-Lead Guitar 5-6
Tommy Giblin-Keyboards (all songs)
Bryon Stevens-Bass (all songs, lead vocal on Next Time You See Me)
Robbie sang lead on Emotional Rescue
Frederick Jones-Harmonica on 3-6
Jon Wilson-Host drummer
This Blogger-Drums on all songs
Could I play the slow blues that they wanted me to? Yes I did. I really had to rely on Gibby's keyboard and feet tapping to the beat. Bryon Stevens was in for Dan Johnson and was on fire.
Kris handled the majority of the songs, he and his dad are playing in Alburnett this Saturday. They wanted me to play drums but I told them that I was obligated to play Dreams Of Arcadia in Wheatland on Saturday's street dance. Then Ryan then mentioned on Monday, that he forgot that Lisa Harbit was playing percussion with them. Pretty much fouled up my plans. So I lost the Alburnett gig. And a few needed dollars. I gotta get back to my regular job, bills are being paid but I'm digging into the retirement fund. I opted not to take unemployment. After this week, I'm back at work for two weeks, then another week off. That will be reserved for Madison.
It was a slow blues that Robbie sang to, and when I left he mentioned that the song was Emotional Rescue. I did managed to do two songs with Ryan, including Next Time You See Me to which I did the final gunshot beat at the end of the song to conclude my performance and being at Parlor City for a while. Ryan marveled at the Wild man behind the drums, I told him you should have seen me Saturday Night at the end of Summer of 69 when my cymbal stand went flying. That got a wide eyed look from him
Johnny B Goode
Tore Up
Blue On Black
Texas Flood
Emotional Rescue
Next Time You See Me
Kris Briles-Lead vocals and guitar 1-4
Ryan Phelan-Lead Guitar 5-6
Tommy Giblin-Keyboards (all songs)
Bryon Stevens-Bass (all songs, lead vocal on Next Time You See Me)
Robbie sang lead on Emotional Rescue
Frederick Jones-Harmonica on 3-6
Jon Wilson-Host drummer
This Blogger-Drums on all songs
Could I play the slow blues that they wanted me to? Yes I did. I really had to rely on Gibby's keyboard and feet tapping to the beat. Bryon Stevens was in for Dan Johnson and was on fire.
Kris handled the majority of the songs, he and his dad are playing in Alburnett this Saturday. They wanted me to play drums but I told them that I was obligated to play Dreams Of Arcadia in Wheatland on Saturday's street dance. Then Ryan then mentioned on Monday, that he forgot that Lisa Harbit was playing percussion with them. Pretty much fouled up my plans. So I lost the Alburnett gig. And a few needed dollars. I gotta get back to my regular job, bills are being paid but I'm digging into the retirement fund. I opted not to take unemployment. After this week, I'm back at work for two weeks, then another week off. That will be reserved for Madison.
It was a slow blues that Robbie sang to, and when I left he mentioned that the song was Emotional Rescue. I did managed to do two songs with Ryan, including Next Time You See Me to which I did the final gunshot beat at the end of the song to conclude my performance and being at Parlor City for a while. Ryan marveled at the Wild man behind the drums, I told him you should have seen me Saturday Night at the end of Summer of 69 when my cymbal stand went flying. That got a wide eyed look from him
Sunday, 18 August 2019
Our Own Little Woodstock Jam
Stone City Set list:
Fox On The Run
Hello Josephine
Good Time Charlie
Logic And Lies
Everybody's Talking (or Echoes)
Let's Work Together
Cinnamon Girl
(The Woodstock Cabin Jam, all set up and ready to go)
It was a long weekend musically for me. First off Brian Briles asked me if I wanted to help him and his son Kristopher for the Alburnett gig but I had to tell him no since I was playing in Dreams Of Arcadia for a gig in Wheatland next Saturday. That's the way it goes, I get no calls one week and then the next two or three are looking for drummers. Hate to pass on this gig, Kristopher is getting better and better on guitar.
It was Woodstock Revisited at Marion and Canned Heat did play instead of Neil Young. Also the Boy Scout Hippies played too. When I think about it, it would have been cool to play this gig, and while Ron did leave the door open to me to return, I do think in the long run this would out better for all parties. For the most part, I was playing percussion with Julie and Ryan in Monticello. Dreams Of Arcadia had returned back to The Office Lounge after six months of false starts, sickness and a closed bar. It was a small crowd but the usual regulars and everybody had a good time. And Joan put us down for another gig, in November. Here's hoping we don't have to deal with ice and snow yet. In terms of BSH, I do admit I didn't look at that as much as a temporary job. They have a capable drummer and still have Jim Myers as a backup for their New York gig. I know if I worked with them I'd be making a somewhat good living if every gig was a 100 dollars guaranteed. Can't beat that as a working musician.
This weekend, we had our own Woodstock Nation with the yearly Cabin Jam and this year had more jammers and first timers including Pinicon Drift, Dave Pedersen's project with Julie Troendle. Poor Julie was singing a song and managed to eat a bug and never quite recovered. Rich Toomsen hosted and ran the sound and I was house drummer and my main counterparts was Jess Toomsen and Mark Awad on bass and Ken McHaffery on various percussion. Dave Bonham started early, and we had a disagreement on the medley of Last Kiss/Stand By Me/This Magic Moment with Steve Black Wolf singing it. Dave's a musician brother and been a part of this return for the past four years, he means well but sometimes he gets this ideal we have to play by the record that I keep telling him that's not possible for me, I have lived by playing songs in the way I hear them. I think Dave had a guitar with a dead battery, one song had a lot of feedback which frustrated everybody involved. By the time Steve played Turn The Page it became a trainwreck and I was channeling my inner Keith Moon, not the way that Dave wanted it I guess. He would eventually pack up and head on out.
There was supposed to be a Wooden Nickel Lottery set but Delayne had to cut out early, so that left Rocky Smith to be the other drummer and he got to sit in a few songs. And then Donna Jo's son came up to do two songs with Meinfield and then bailed. So I got to be the main drummer for most of the artists that wanted drums, be it Greg and Brenda or Cathy Hart/Lorie Parker or Jay Devore and Mike Frederick, or Carl Meiners. It's noted that these musicians are not by the record as say most of the Rumors jammers or Guitar Dave, but they do play by their standards, it's a bit rough but I can adjust better to them rather what Dave is wanting or for that matter Billy Bourbon or Bird. I'll do my best to figure out what they want but if I'm not feeling it, I'll go back to my style of playing. I have lost a bit of intensity the past year and maybe over 50 might have something to do with that. But I'm beginning to think I'm playing with a bunch of crusty old men who are set in their way in how songs go. Certainly Turn The Page was a chaos of noise, a trainwreck on its own, but what Guitar Dave forgot to know this wasn't a paid gig, just a collective bunch of folks just having a good time. Hopefully we didn't get too much on each other's nerves during his time on stage.
(Ken, Rich, Me, Guitar Dave)
I didn't play guitar but I did back most of the folks up outside of Rocky helping out for a half hour or so. Highlights was backing Pinicon Drift and Dave Pedtersen finding out I actually played drums; he's only known me from playing guitar at Stone City. It's a shame that The Drift's set was short, but Dave did particapte on a few songs and Julie sang backing vocal on one song. Hart/Parker did three songs, then Kimberly Trevellion came up to sing three others with Cathy and Lorie. And then Greg And Brenda Mein did a forty minute set after most of the jammers went home. Donna Jo's son played Breakdown and Take It Easy, he was nervous but I helped on the breaks of the former song. He was kinda scared to play at first and never seem to get comfortable with it but I thought he did fine. And then for the finale, Rich Toomsen did a few songs including Summer of 69 to which my inner Keith Moon came back to do a crazy ending to which I tried to grab the cymbal but lost control and see the cymbal stand go crashing into the ground. I hope I didn't cracked that. It was a throwback to the days of Tyrus/Paraphernalia but this time out, it wasn't intentional. The big jam ended with Crossroads, and then Ryan Paul's friend Melissa came on stage and sang four x rated comedy songs. Maki Dervo looking on with awe. Strangely, he didn't play my drums. I managed to tear the drums down and get them home before the big thunderstorm came rolling by. We had rain around the area but thankfully the rains stayed away from the Cabin Jam.
(Rich Toomsen: Photo Credit)
On this jam, I brought the Paiste Cymbals upstairs which included the Signature Flat Ride, which sounded great and the Innovations 18 inch Medium Crash and Signature Mellow Crash, both sounded fine against the open air. I used the Rude 16 inch crash/ride which was used better as a ride than crash, the crash was overbearing. Most of the cymbals stayed within the sounds coming out. I will dust them off for the Waubeek Jam in September. However, the drum legs on the bass drum continue to move and get out of alignment and the drums move out of position, which is frustrating. I don't know if the DW would be choice to go to in future gigs, I would rather get a better drumset but the Swingstar has good sound. And I rather have players playing on it than the DW set. Not that really matters.
Sunday afternoon, still having a hangover from the cabin jam, I helped Dreams Of Arcadia at the return to the Office Lounge in Monticello. Unlike last time we did play. Ryan's friend Melissa entertained folks during our breaks and I supplied playing the beats and didn't play guitar. Julie was dealing with her own bronchitis allergy problems but she sang well despite being under the weather. I can't recall the last time she played without some sort of sickness, usually when I'm sick I usually stay home. Afterward, Ryan, Melissa and myself went to Stone City to finish out the acoustic jam and I managed to do six songs, tho' they were the usual songs. Like the Cabin Jam, Melissa finished things off with a few oldies but not the X rated songs she played last night. She was on her best behavior. I'm not sure Melissa is anything but a good friend of Ryan but I don't see them as boyfriend girlfriend material.
Tho' I did bring my song book, I ended up just playing the songs I knew from memory, Hello Josephine being dusted off simply of the fact I remembered the words at that moment. I do need to start thinking about doing new songs but i continue to play Fox On The Run simply of wanting to remember the chord progressions. With Julie going home, I ended up playing Logic And Lies and Cinnamon Girl instead of Gold Dust Woman. For a guy nursing a hangover, I managed to do quite well considering the fact.
Overall, a great end to a great weekend of jams and gigs.
Fox On The Run
Hello Josephine
Good Time Charlie
Logic And Lies
Everybody's Talking (or Echoes)
Let's Work Together
Cinnamon Girl
(The Woodstock Cabin Jam, all set up and ready to go)
It was a long weekend musically for me. First off Brian Briles asked me if I wanted to help him and his son Kristopher for the Alburnett gig but I had to tell him no since I was playing in Dreams Of Arcadia for a gig in Wheatland next Saturday. That's the way it goes, I get no calls one week and then the next two or three are looking for drummers. Hate to pass on this gig, Kristopher is getting better and better on guitar.
It was Woodstock Revisited at Marion and Canned Heat did play instead of Neil Young. Also the Boy Scout Hippies played too. When I think about it, it would have been cool to play this gig, and while Ron did leave the door open to me to return, I do think in the long run this would out better for all parties. For the most part, I was playing percussion with Julie and Ryan in Monticello. Dreams Of Arcadia had returned back to The Office Lounge after six months of false starts, sickness and a closed bar. It was a small crowd but the usual regulars and everybody had a good time. And Joan put us down for another gig, in November. Here's hoping we don't have to deal with ice and snow yet. In terms of BSH, I do admit I didn't look at that as much as a temporary job. They have a capable drummer and still have Jim Myers as a backup for their New York gig. I know if I worked with them I'd be making a somewhat good living if every gig was a 100 dollars guaranteed. Can't beat that as a working musician.
This weekend, we had our own Woodstock Nation with the yearly Cabin Jam and this year had more jammers and first timers including Pinicon Drift, Dave Pedersen's project with Julie Troendle. Poor Julie was singing a song and managed to eat a bug and never quite recovered. Rich Toomsen hosted and ran the sound and I was house drummer and my main counterparts was Jess Toomsen and Mark Awad on bass and Ken McHaffery on various percussion. Dave Bonham started early, and we had a disagreement on the medley of Last Kiss/Stand By Me/This Magic Moment with Steve Black Wolf singing it. Dave's a musician brother and been a part of this return for the past four years, he means well but sometimes he gets this ideal we have to play by the record that I keep telling him that's not possible for me, I have lived by playing songs in the way I hear them. I think Dave had a guitar with a dead battery, one song had a lot of feedback which frustrated everybody involved. By the time Steve played Turn The Page it became a trainwreck and I was channeling my inner Keith Moon, not the way that Dave wanted it I guess. He would eventually pack up and head on out.
There was supposed to be a Wooden Nickel Lottery set but Delayne had to cut out early, so that left Rocky Smith to be the other drummer and he got to sit in a few songs. And then Donna Jo's son came up to do two songs with Meinfield and then bailed. So I got to be the main drummer for most of the artists that wanted drums, be it Greg and Brenda or Cathy Hart/Lorie Parker or Jay Devore and Mike Frederick, or Carl Meiners. It's noted that these musicians are not by the record as say most of the Rumors jammers or Guitar Dave, but they do play by their standards, it's a bit rough but I can adjust better to them rather what Dave is wanting or for that matter Billy Bourbon or Bird. I'll do my best to figure out what they want but if I'm not feeling it, I'll go back to my style of playing. I have lost a bit of intensity the past year and maybe over 50 might have something to do with that. But I'm beginning to think I'm playing with a bunch of crusty old men who are set in their way in how songs go. Certainly Turn The Page was a chaos of noise, a trainwreck on its own, but what Guitar Dave forgot to know this wasn't a paid gig, just a collective bunch of folks just having a good time. Hopefully we didn't get too much on each other's nerves during his time on stage.
(Ken, Rich, Me, Guitar Dave)
I didn't play guitar but I did back most of the folks up outside of Rocky helping out for a half hour or so. Highlights was backing Pinicon Drift and Dave Pedtersen finding out I actually played drums; he's only known me from playing guitar at Stone City. It's a shame that The Drift's set was short, but Dave did particapte on a few songs and Julie sang backing vocal on one song. Hart/Parker did three songs, then Kimberly Trevellion came up to sing three others with Cathy and Lorie. And then Greg And Brenda Mein did a forty minute set after most of the jammers went home. Donna Jo's son played Breakdown and Take It Easy, he was nervous but I helped on the breaks of the former song. He was kinda scared to play at first and never seem to get comfortable with it but I thought he did fine. And then for the finale, Rich Toomsen did a few songs including Summer of 69 to which my inner Keith Moon came back to do a crazy ending to which I tried to grab the cymbal but lost control and see the cymbal stand go crashing into the ground. I hope I didn't cracked that. It was a throwback to the days of Tyrus/Paraphernalia but this time out, it wasn't intentional. The big jam ended with Crossroads, and then Ryan Paul's friend Melissa came on stage and sang four x rated comedy songs. Maki Dervo looking on with awe. Strangely, he didn't play my drums. I managed to tear the drums down and get them home before the big thunderstorm came rolling by. We had rain around the area but thankfully the rains stayed away from the Cabin Jam.
(Rich Toomsen: Photo Credit)
On this jam, I brought the Paiste Cymbals upstairs which included the Signature Flat Ride, which sounded great and the Innovations 18 inch Medium Crash and Signature Mellow Crash, both sounded fine against the open air. I used the Rude 16 inch crash/ride which was used better as a ride than crash, the crash was overbearing. Most of the cymbals stayed within the sounds coming out. I will dust them off for the Waubeek Jam in September. However, the drum legs on the bass drum continue to move and get out of alignment and the drums move out of position, which is frustrating. I don't know if the DW would be choice to go to in future gigs, I would rather get a better drumset but the Swingstar has good sound. And I rather have players playing on it than the DW set. Not that really matters.
Sunday afternoon, still having a hangover from the cabin jam, I helped Dreams Of Arcadia at the return to the Office Lounge in Monticello. Unlike last time we did play. Ryan's friend Melissa entertained folks during our breaks and I supplied playing the beats and didn't play guitar. Julie was dealing with her own bronchitis allergy problems but she sang well despite being under the weather. I can't recall the last time she played without some sort of sickness, usually when I'm sick I usually stay home. Afterward, Ryan, Melissa and myself went to Stone City to finish out the acoustic jam and I managed to do six songs, tho' they were the usual songs. Like the Cabin Jam, Melissa finished things off with a few oldies but not the X rated songs she played last night. She was on her best behavior. I'm not sure Melissa is anything but a good friend of Ryan but I don't see them as boyfriend girlfriend material.
Tho' I did bring my song book, I ended up just playing the songs I knew from memory, Hello Josephine being dusted off simply of the fact I remembered the words at that moment. I do need to start thinking about doing new songs but i continue to play Fox On The Run simply of wanting to remember the chord progressions. With Julie going home, I ended up playing Logic And Lies and Cinnamon Girl instead of Gold Dust Woman. For a guy nursing a hangover, I managed to do quite well considering the fact.
Overall, a great end to a great weekend of jams and gigs.
Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Rumors Blues Jam 8-14-19
With:
Dan Hartman-
Tommy Bruner
Terry McDowell
Billy Bourbon
Randy Burgendorf
Songs:
Tush Blues
Runaway
I Hear You Knocking Blues
Suburban Homesick Blues
The Weight
Lay Down Sally
It's the blues once again. A spare crowd, not many jammers and the guys slowing songs down to that you can't tell them from the original. Somehow, I'm not picking up on when they play Lay Down Sally. I seem to be playing to the three beat instead of one. False start, do it again. It is hard to get on their wavelength of a slow down beat. Either they're getting too old or I'm getting too caffeinated and speed up the beat. Maybe Baby, they were slowing the song down. Intentional I guess, interesting for sure. Not my cup of tea tho.
There was no Checkers jam to go to, PJ has pulled the plug on that or looking for somebody to replace Julie. Good luck with that.
Looks like the Wildcat has gone back to hibernation. He wasn't there second week in a row and with my vacation coming to a close, I might opt to sit next Wednesday's jam out and chase records. The summer of jamming is winding down. We have the Cabin Jam this Saturday and Sunday the Dreams Of Arcadia thing at the Office. To which I'm waiting to see if Joan, the owner will let the band play or if she is just jacking everybody off again. I'm not pleased of going to a gig and seeing the place closed and nobody bothered to call to cancel it. And they complain about us musicians not following through. I have signed off helping Julie and Ryan on this gig and the failure of Joan not sticking to her terms, I will boycott The Office from here on out.
The professional vs the hobbyist in song played...When Tommy showed me how to play a slow version of I Hear You Knocking, I really thought it was too slow and I felt like I was dragging along. He did said it sounded good. The Weight went pretty good and Billy dusted off the End theme song from Austin City Limits. And then Lay Down Sally with me on the GD off tempo. I did rebound and found the beat on the second take.
I wasn't in the best of moods, watching the Chicago Cubs stink up the tube and getting blown out didn't help much. Ann Mishmash was talking to me about her daughter's problems getting moved down in that U of Iowa for fall classes but I couldn't hear her talk half the time. I think tonight's had highs and some lows, just like most of the jams. But when they're playing a song, I'm thinking it's a different song and it sounds odd. And at the same time I'm not trying to hit the cymbals full blast. It does give Tommy a headache.
And me as well.
Dan Hartman-
Tommy Bruner
Terry McDowell
Billy Bourbon
Randy Burgendorf
Songs:
Tush Blues
Runaway
I Hear You Knocking Blues
Suburban Homesick Blues
The Weight
Lay Down Sally
It's the blues once again. A spare crowd, not many jammers and the guys slowing songs down to that you can't tell them from the original. Somehow, I'm not picking up on when they play Lay Down Sally. I seem to be playing to the three beat instead of one. False start, do it again. It is hard to get on their wavelength of a slow down beat. Either they're getting too old or I'm getting too caffeinated and speed up the beat. Maybe Baby, they were slowing the song down. Intentional I guess, interesting for sure. Not my cup of tea tho.
There was no Checkers jam to go to, PJ has pulled the plug on that or looking for somebody to replace Julie. Good luck with that.
Looks like the Wildcat has gone back to hibernation. He wasn't there second week in a row and with my vacation coming to a close, I might opt to sit next Wednesday's jam out and chase records. The summer of jamming is winding down. We have the Cabin Jam this Saturday and Sunday the Dreams Of Arcadia thing at the Office. To which I'm waiting to see if Joan, the owner will let the band play or if she is just jacking everybody off again. I'm not pleased of going to a gig and seeing the place closed and nobody bothered to call to cancel it. And they complain about us musicians not following through. I have signed off helping Julie and Ryan on this gig and the failure of Joan not sticking to her terms, I will boycott The Office from here on out.
The professional vs the hobbyist in song played...When Tommy showed me how to play a slow version of I Hear You Knocking, I really thought it was too slow and I felt like I was dragging along. He did said it sounded good. The Weight went pretty good and Billy dusted off the End theme song from Austin City Limits. And then Lay Down Sally with me on the GD off tempo. I did rebound and found the beat on the second take.
I wasn't in the best of moods, watching the Chicago Cubs stink up the tube and getting blown out didn't help much. Ann Mishmash was talking to me about her daughter's problems getting moved down in that U of Iowa for fall classes but I couldn't hear her talk half the time. I think tonight's had highs and some lows, just like most of the jams. But when they're playing a song, I'm thinking it's a different song and it sounds odd. And at the same time I'm not trying to hit the cymbals full blast. It does give Tommy a headache.
And me as well.
Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Parlor City/Four Day Creep Guest Star and Jam Star
Songs:
Dreams I'll Never See Again
Cheap Sunglasses
Down In The Flood
Evil Ways
With:
Rick Clay, Amanda Marshall, Jon Baughman and Troy Mitchell (Four Day Creep)
Doug Ducey, Chris Brailes, Frederick Jones, Tommy Giblin, Jim Viner (Parlor City Jam Band)
And a few others that I didn't get their name.
Notes:
I basically showed up incognito, wearing my trademark fedora hat and sunglasses and nobody knew me. Well except for Amanda Marshall who waved at me on stage. I saw Jim Ottaway, my class mate from the class of 79 and promptly forgot who he was. I did give Troy a break on the the two songs I usually do, declining to play Waiting For The Bus/Jesus Left Chicago Medley, I wasn't sure on the breaks. I figured I just stay with the ones I know best. They came out all right.
Tami Soukup wowed the crowd with some of her cheerleader things she used to do in high school. She did the splits quite well and did some amazing cartwheels. And revealed purple undies as well. All Reet! She still got it!
Terry McDowell was there tho he declined to play drums, it's not a paying gig and he has to host tomorrow's Rumors Jam. He won't have to worry about competition from Checkers', there won't be an acoustic jam any more. From what Murray, the Checker's regular, said, Julie was there but nobody showed up and P J sent her home once and for all.
I was off to Parlor City after Four Day Creep ended, met Troy's friend from the Chinese place last week and dammed if I forgot his name. I managed to order up a Chef's salad and ate that before completing the Blues jam with two songs with Doug Ducey, who also didn't know me since I had my hat on. I'm guessing the base player was from the Roadhouse band, tho the guy who played bass was clean shaven.
Healthwise, I didn't cough all that much except for having a dry throat at Julie's place when I visited her afterwards. Seems like everybody was happy to see me, Franklin, Benny, even Sabrina managed to rub up on me for the time I was there. Even Julie.
I think I'm finally turning the corner on this GD bronicitus crap, but I'm sure by the time that I go to bed the coughing will return.
The Madison bargain hunt I think I'm going to postpone till September. Last week was the best time to go up there before school started but my back spams coughing prohibited that to happen. If it don't rain I'll just go to Dubuque and then to Davenport to watch the Kernels/River Bandits play Monday. I haven't been that enthused of going to Madison anyway. I'm sure 151 is back to four lane but the Verona exits will be fucked up getting into Mad City. It could be my illnesses of the year has made me stayed closer to home and having better success finding 45s here rather than drive up there. I'm sure there's plenty of turnover of music since I haven't been there since June of last year. Once I get to feeling better I may consider going sooner. But for now, it's not a go.
Dreams I'll Never See Again
Cheap Sunglasses
Down In The Flood
Evil Ways
With:
Rick Clay, Amanda Marshall, Jon Baughman and Troy Mitchell (Four Day Creep)
Doug Ducey, Chris Brailes, Frederick Jones, Tommy Giblin, Jim Viner (Parlor City Jam Band)
And a few others that I didn't get their name.
Notes:
I basically showed up incognito, wearing my trademark fedora hat and sunglasses and nobody knew me. Well except for Amanda Marshall who waved at me on stage. I saw Jim Ottaway, my class mate from the class of 79 and promptly forgot who he was. I did give Troy a break on the the two songs I usually do, declining to play Waiting For The Bus/Jesus Left Chicago Medley, I wasn't sure on the breaks. I figured I just stay with the ones I know best. They came out all right.
Tami Soukup wowed the crowd with some of her cheerleader things she used to do in high school. She did the splits quite well and did some amazing cartwheels. And revealed purple undies as well. All Reet! She still got it!
Terry McDowell was there tho he declined to play drums, it's not a paying gig and he has to host tomorrow's Rumors Jam. He won't have to worry about competition from Checkers', there won't be an acoustic jam any more. From what Murray, the Checker's regular, said, Julie was there but nobody showed up and P J sent her home once and for all.
I was off to Parlor City after Four Day Creep ended, met Troy's friend from the Chinese place last week and dammed if I forgot his name. I managed to order up a Chef's salad and ate that before completing the Blues jam with two songs with Doug Ducey, who also didn't know me since I had my hat on. I'm guessing the base player was from the Roadhouse band, tho the guy who played bass was clean shaven.
Healthwise, I didn't cough all that much except for having a dry throat at Julie's place when I visited her afterwards. Seems like everybody was happy to see me, Franklin, Benny, even Sabrina managed to rub up on me for the time I was there. Even Julie.
I think I'm finally turning the corner on this GD bronicitus crap, but I'm sure by the time that I go to bed the coughing will return.
The Madison bargain hunt I think I'm going to postpone till September. Last week was the best time to go up there before school started but my back spams coughing prohibited that to happen. If it don't rain I'll just go to Dubuque and then to Davenport to watch the Kernels/River Bandits play Monday. I haven't been that enthused of going to Madison anyway. I'm sure 151 is back to four lane but the Verona exits will be fucked up getting into Mad City. It could be my illnesses of the year has made me stayed closer to home and having better success finding 45s here rather than drive up there. I'm sure there's plenty of turnover of music since I haven't been there since June of last year. Once I get to feeling better I may consider going sooner. But for now, it's not a go.
Sunday, 11 August 2019
Stone City 8-11-19 The Kids Are Alright
Songs:
Fox On The Run
Long Black Veil
Tulsa Time
Cinnamon Girl
Lane Gaffney-Part time vocal on Tulsa Time
With Carl Meiners, Mike Fredericks, Dougie, Guitar Dave Danny Dias, and Lenny Drake on 4 songs on percussion
Long Hard Road
Old Hippie
A John Prine Song that escapes my mind.
Paradise
And then with Angie Cox, Dougie, Lenny Drake, Guitar Dave, Mike Fredericks and Carl Meiners on 4 songs on guitar
Rollin In My Sweet Baby Arms
You Ain't Gonna Nowhere
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Wagon Wheel.
Notes:
Plenty of talented kids joined the Stone City stage today. Most notably Blue Rapids, a family bluegrass/gospel band. Wish I could play like that.
A lot of jammers today, which meant I did four songs and then vacated the stage. I did take the lyrics to Veil and Tulsa Time up but the other songs I pretty much know by heart now. I managed not to cough up a lung this time out. I think I'm finally over this bronchitis attack or close to it. Per usual the flies were terrible in doors. I played percussion for Carl and then on guitar for Angie's set. The Wagon Wheel song I did reggae style.
Fox On The Run
Long Black Veil
Tulsa Time
Cinnamon Girl
Lane Gaffney-Part time vocal on Tulsa Time
With Carl Meiners, Mike Fredericks, Dougie, Guitar Dave Danny Dias, and Lenny Drake on 4 songs on percussion
Long Hard Road
Old Hippie
A John Prine Song that escapes my mind.
Paradise
And then with Angie Cox, Dougie, Lenny Drake, Guitar Dave, Mike Fredericks and Carl Meiners on 4 songs on guitar
Rollin In My Sweet Baby Arms
You Ain't Gonna Nowhere
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Wagon Wheel.
Notes:
Plenty of talented kids joined the Stone City stage today. Most notably Blue Rapids, a family bluegrass/gospel band. Wish I could play like that.
A lot of jammers today, which meant I did four songs and then vacated the stage. I did take the lyrics to Veil and Tulsa Time up but the other songs I pretty much know by heart now. I managed not to cough up a lung this time out. I think I'm finally over this bronchitis attack or close to it. Per usual the flies were terrible in doors. I played percussion for Carl and then on guitar for Angie's set. The Wagon Wheel song I did reggae style.
Saturday, 10 August 2019
Whittier 8-10-19
Yet another bronchitis attack. I can't think of any other year that I have been hit with some sort of hacking and coughing issues and it has forced me out of the 319 Fest and playing with Dreams Of Acadia in Cedar Rapids tonight. For a musician, being sick is not an option, but in my case I have been sick half the year. It makes me hard to be with.
I did partake the Rumors Jam since I felt well, and I did stop in to say hi to Jim and the folks at the Sanctuary Thursday Night tho I didn't play. Boy Scout Hippies were playing and of course Ron had to marvel about the female drummer that plays with them now and Jim Myers flying to play the New York gigs. I'm happy for him, however their best shows were done in March with a guy that had Bronchitis that month too. Imagine what I can do when I play healthy.
Friday, I stopped in to say hi to Tom Berdo and the guys from Notes From The Underground with Bob Gleason being guest star. Kevin Wymer did his best to recruit me to play drums for Full Circle since Mike Sebrousek and them parted ways. I'm sure I disappointed Kevin by saying that I didn't have time to dedicate to play in Full Circle. Kevin is a great guy, I love jamming with him in NFTU, but I would have issues with Vic about them playing songs like the record does. John Hernandez is a marvel on bass even at age 70. Plus they're more country than I would like to play. It wouldn't work out very well.
I am seeing a lot of folk when I'm out and about. Frederick Jones and Jeffery Brown were at CRL with the Zewt And Noot show, Maki Dervo was at the KCCK jazz under the stars Thursday Night and ran into Doug Schrum at New Bo last night as well. Nice to be known when I'm out and about. I wish I could be more sociable.
For the past week I have been hacking and coughing again. It never ends. I can't be healthy the whole fucking month, this time out if it wasn't the back spams, it's the GD nasal drain down the throat and constant coughing. The reason why I haven't played guitar all week. I just don't feel like doing that. I'm debating if I should try tonight's acoustic jam at Whittier to see if I can sing and play. I haven't touched the guitar in about two weeks, so basically I'm taking allergy meds, pain meds, zinc, cold meds and anything to get over this fucking shit once again and getting more discouraged by the moment. I did not envision my vacation to be stuck in bed but it's getting to be that way. Simply sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Whittier Song List:
Fox On The Run
Tulsa Time
Race Is On
Wagon Wheel (False Start)
Summertime Blues
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Slipping Away
No Expectations
Good Time Charlie
With David Lam
Six Days On The Road
Greenback Dollar
Marie Laveaux
Thing Called Love
With Carl Meiners
Country Bumpkin
Long Hard Road
The Ballad Of The Green Marines
Me And Bobby McGee
Old Hippie
Paradise
There's a couple which I can never get their names but they were a part of the small crowd that included me, Carl, Steven and David Lam and while I thought we were going to be done before nine we actually did a full 3 hour jam. I actually went back into the archives and played Slipping Away for the first time in a few months and No Expectations too. I was trying to figure out how to play You Ain't Going Nowhere but somehow came up with Wagon Wheel instead, False start indeed, Summertime Blues got played instead. I managed to keep my coughing down quite a bit as well. Thank goodness Carl was there.
Had a interesting couple pop in and took a few pictures before popping out. Never saw that before.
I missed out watching Julie play this afternoon at the 319 Fest and at Della Viti tonight but didn't have the energy to go into town. They also had the Cedar Valley Bluesfest at Czech Village as well. I figured if I stayed away from people I might get better come tomorrow. We'll see if that come true.
I did partake the Rumors Jam since I felt well, and I did stop in to say hi to Jim and the folks at the Sanctuary Thursday Night tho I didn't play. Boy Scout Hippies were playing and of course Ron had to marvel about the female drummer that plays with them now and Jim Myers flying to play the New York gigs. I'm happy for him, however their best shows were done in March with a guy that had Bronchitis that month too. Imagine what I can do when I play healthy.
Friday, I stopped in to say hi to Tom Berdo and the guys from Notes From The Underground with Bob Gleason being guest star. Kevin Wymer did his best to recruit me to play drums for Full Circle since Mike Sebrousek and them parted ways. I'm sure I disappointed Kevin by saying that I didn't have time to dedicate to play in Full Circle. Kevin is a great guy, I love jamming with him in NFTU, but I would have issues with Vic about them playing songs like the record does. John Hernandez is a marvel on bass even at age 70. Plus they're more country than I would like to play. It wouldn't work out very well.
I am seeing a lot of folk when I'm out and about. Frederick Jones and Jeffery Brown were at CRL with the Zewt And Noot show, Maki Dervo was at the KCCK jazz under the stars Thursday Night and ran into Doug Schrum at New Bo last night as well. Nice to be known when I'm out and about. I wish I could be more sociable.
For the past week I have been hacking and coughing again. It never ends. I can't be healthy the whole fucking month, this time out if it wasn't the back spams, it's the GD nasal drain down the throat and constant coughing. The reason why I haven't played guitar all week. I just don't feel like doing that. I'm debating if I should try tonight's acoustic jam at Whittier to see if I can sing and play. I haven't touched the guitar in about two weeks, so basically I'm taking allergy meds, pain meds, zinc, cold meds and anything to get over this fucking shit once again and getting more discouraged by the moment. I did not envision my vacation to be stuck in bed but it's getting to be that way. Simply sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Whittier Song List:
Fox On The Run
Tulsa Time
Race Is On
Wagon Wheel (False Start)
Summertime Blues
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Slipping Away
No Expectations
Good Time Charlie
With David Lam
Six Days On The Road
Greenback Dollar
Marie Laveaux
Thing Called Love
With Carl Meiners
Country Bumpkin
Long Hard Road
The Ballad Of The Green Marines
Me And Bobby McGee
Old Hippie
Paradise
There's a couple which I can never get their names but they were a part of the small crowd that included me, Carl, Steven and David Lam and while I thought we were going to be done before nine we actually did a full 3 hour jam. I actually went back into the archives and played Slipping Away for the first time in a few months and No Expectations too. I was trying to figure out how to play You Ain't Going Nowhere but somehow came up with Wagon Wheel instead, False start indeed, Summertime Blues got played instead. I managed to keep my coughing down quite a bit as well. Thank goodness Carl was there.
Had a interesting couple pop in and took a few pictures before popping out. Never saw that before.
I missed out watching Julie play this afternoon at the 319 Fest and at Della Viti tonight but didn't have the energy to go into town. They also had the Cedar Valley Bluesfest at Czech Village as well. I figured if I stayed away from people I might get better come tomorrow. We'll see if that come true.
Wednesday, 7 August 2019
Rumors Hump Day Jam-No More Checkers Acoustic Jam
Songs
Lodi
Walking After Midnight
Simple Man
Born On The Bayou
Gold Dust Woman
Rocky Mountain Way
Bobby McGee
Chains
Last Kiss
Little Sister
Dee Vieman-Lead Vocals
Dan Hartman-Guitar and Lead Vocals on Chains, Last Kiss and Little Sister
Tommy Bruner-Lead Guitar
Tim Canfield-Bass
This Blogger-Drums
Terry McDowell-Drum King
Randy Burgendoff- Spared from playing this time around.
Notes:
Upon going to Faus Fuel to get a cup of tea and finding out they had unsweetened, my disgust was shown to the world. Then saw PJ Harrington popping in for a couple of Miller Lites to which I thought was kinda odd since he should've been over to Checkers'. No where in our conversation did he mention that the Acoustic Jam on Wednesday Nights was over. Really nice of him to throw Julie under the bus. With that and after five years it was time to shut the jam down since nobody came out to participate in it. Donna Jo was the only person there that greeted me with the bad news.
In essence, the jam was forever changed after The Acousta Kittes parted ways with Julie and the split difference did hurt people from showing up. Sides were drawn tho' I did my best to support both Julie and Cathy and Lorie, when they both took turns hosting this. When Cathy decided to retire hosting the jam, Kevin Moore took over but he had no support whatsoever. Julie did her damnest to keep it going but except for the Acousta Kitties reunion, I could count on one hand how many performers we had.
To be honest the Rumor's hump day jam didn't steal any performers away. This summer I figured I go help Terry first and then go over to Checkers to finish the jam. And done that. Terry has been very helpful of getting me on early as he did tonight. And he was in need of drummers, I was the only there for the first hour, so I got to play a few songs and let the big guy take a needed break. I ended up getting myself and Tommy a major ear ring headache on the final crash to Rocky Mountain Way. In the words of Dan Johnson, cymbals are weapons if you hit them too hard, especially the power crashes. I actually have lighten up playing on Rocky Mountain Way over the years, tho Dee couldn't remember the words, it's a jam moreorless but without the cheat sheet or smart phone, going from memory can cloud up your memory of the song.
The lack of drummers was quite surprising but it may have been the humidity that drove most of the folk away. I did a hour power walk to try to work out the back spams but couldn't stop the fucking hacking and coughing. Therefore it was to my benefit not to play guitar and sing. For the first time in a month and half The Wildcat wasn't there. Neither was Mike Lint. So I got to play as many songs as I wanted to. Can't complain to that.
Despite the low Checker's crowd turnout, the Rumor's crowd has been better, tho they're not packing the place. Problem remains more drummers than anybody else that shows up at these jams. I really can't say if things can change, the usual jammers are pushing sixty or over sixty, the youngsters are not coming out to play. And reading these blog postings the lineup hardly ever changes. Billy Bourbon was not there, so Tim Canfield came to play bass and Bird played guitar and bass. Since changing my drum playing, Terry has been more receptive of me playing more songs. It's getting to the point that even four years onward, my ears have taken a toll, even with earplugs, I am still dealing with loads of ringing and beginning to lose hearing. I continue on because it's fun and I enjoy playing onstage with the elite.
But once again it seems that Walking pneomia back in my life again I haven't been much fun to be with. Especially after having a 9 oclock mushroom and swiss and have to drive 90 miles in hour to get home so I don't shit my pants and the fucking coughing won't go away once again. I already postponed Madison twice so far this summer due to a summertime cold. And I'm not happy about it. But I was more annoyed at P J not even saying that the Checker's Jam was canceled and he was looking for a new host. And to be honest, I don't know anybody that want to host it for a percentage of the food they served that evening.
And I guess on that note, we'll be looking at Checkers in the rear view mirror on my way to the next acoustic jam somewhere in Iowa.
Lodi
Walking After Midnight
Simple Man
Born On The Bayou
Gold Dust Woman
Rocky Mountain Way
Bobby McGee
Chains
Last Kiss
Little Sister
Dee Vieman-Lead Vocals
Dan Hartman-Guitar and Lead Vocals on Chains, Last Kiss and Little Sister
Tommy Bruner-Lead Guitar
Tim Canfield-Bass
This Blogger-Drums
Terry McDowell-Drum King
Randy Burgendoff- Spared from playing this time around.
Notes:
Upon going to Faus Fuel to get a cup of tea and finding out they had unsweetened, my disgust was shown to the world. Then saw PJ Harrington popping in for a couple of Miller Lites to which I thought was kinda odd since he should've been over to Checkers'. No where in our conversation did he mention that the Acoustic Jam on Wednesday Nights was over. Really nice of him to throw Julie under the bus. With that and after five years it was time to shut the jam down since nobody came out to participate in it. Donna Jo was the only person there that greeted me with the bad news.
In essence, the jam was forever changed after The Acousta Kittes parted ways with Julie and the split difference did hurt people from showing up. Sides were drawn tho' I did my best to support both Julie and Cathy and Lorie, when they both took turns hosting this. When Cathy decided to retire hosting the jam, Kevin Moore took over but he had no support whatsoever. Julie did her damnest to keep it going but except for the Acousta Kitties reunion, I could count on one hand how many performers we had.
To be honest the Rumor's hump day jam didn't steal any performers away. This summer I figured I go help Terry first and then go over to Checkers to finish the jam. And done that. Terry has been very helpful of getting me on early as he did tonight. And he was in need of drummers, I was the only there for the first hour, so I got to play a few songs and let the big guy take a needed break. I ended up getting myself and Tommy a major ear ring headache on the final crash to Rocky Mountain Way. In the words of Dan Johnson, cymbals are weapons if you hit them too hard, especially the power crashes. I actually have lighten up playing on Rocky Mountain Way over the years, tho Dee couldn't remember the words, it's a jam moreorless but without the cheat sheet or smart phone, going from memory can cloud up your memory of the song.
The lack of drummers was quite surprising but it may have been the humidity that drove most of the folk away. I did a hour power walk to try to work out the back spams but couldn't stop the fucking hacking and coughing. Therefore it was to my benefit not to play guitar and sing. For the first time in a month and half The Wildcat wasn't there. Neither was Mike Lint. So I got to play as many songs as I wanted to. Can't complain to that.
Despite the low Checker's crowd turnout, the Rumor's crowd has been better, tho they're not packing the place. Problem remains more drummers than anybody else that shows up at these jams. I really can't say if things can change, the usual jammers are pushing sixty or over sixty, the youngsters are not coming out to play. And reading these blog postings the lineup hardly ever changes. Billy Bourbon was not there, so Tim Canfield came to play bass and Bird played guitar and bass. Since changing my drum playing, Terry has been more receptive of me playing more songs. It's getting to the point that even four years onward, my ears have taken a toll, even with earplugs, I am still dealing with loads of ringing and beginning to lose hearing. I continue on because it's fun and I enjoy playing onstage with the elite.
But once again it seems that Walking pneomia back in my life again I haven't been much fun to be with. Especially after having a 9 oclock mushroom and swiss and have to drive 90 miles in hour to get home so I don't shit my pants and the fucking coughing won't go away once again. I already postponed Madison twice so far this summer due to a summertime cold. And I'm not happy about it. But I was more annoyed at P J not even saying that the Checker's Jam was canceled and he was looking for a new host. And to be honest, I don't know anybody that want to host it for a percentage of the food they served that evening.
And I guess on that note, we'll be looking at Checkers in the rear view mirror on my way to the next acoustic jam somewhere in Iowa.
Sunday, 4 August 2019
Waubeek/Rumors Weekend Jam-More Cowbell Or Terry's Big Bad Drum Set
Not a lot of jammers to play Waubeek last night but that was okay. I was dealing with a minor flu ailment and took half my drum kit with me but for the most part we did fill out the 8 to Midnight jam with songs from Chuck Savage, David Lam, Maki Dervo, Lenny Drake and Virginia Harlow, who made her first Waubeek debut. She played Checkers a couple times and Rumors once. We helped her along the way with Dougie on harmonica and Kirksey on guitar. Even with Kirksey there we played till about quarter after twelve and then got everything tore down and back in the house before 1 AM. The way I like it.
This month's jam, I just took a three piece drum set there. One of the toms was not in tune. The S Trash/Crash was the choice of the night and the Armand Ride the other cymbal. no floor tom was used. I just didn't feel up to bringing the whole set there. It kinda threw Maki off with the missing other tom. Next month the whole set will be back.
This weekend, Terry had his full drumset and cymbals up for grabs and I got to play five songs with this extended lineup. He's gradually going to a Paiste lineup, adding a 22 inch Reign Power Ride (in conjunction with Dave Lombardo I gather) and 20 inch Rude Thin Crash/Ride which is like the 2002 Rude 20 inch cymbal that I have in storage. He had 14 cymbals, the most ever in a jam. Not everything was Paiste, he still had the Z Power Hats (since the Rude sound edge ones got cracked) three A Zildjian splashes and a couple of Sabian Trash China Effect cymbals. Certainly Wildcat Spratt took full advantage of all the cymbals and bashed away, so did birthday boy Mike Lint. I wasn't overpowered by so many cymbals and Terry McDowell did point out the cowbell for me on Gold Dust Woman, a song that I don't use the cowbell, since I don't play with one.
The Songs;
Born On The Bayou
Gold Dust Woman
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Santa Maria (attempt)
Hard To Handle (False start)
What I Am (another false start)
Me And Bobby McGee
Proud Mary
The Players;
Terry McDowell-Host and drum provider
Dee Vieman-Lead Vocal
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Rick Clay-Guitar and bass vocal on Proud Mary
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass
Bob Gleason and Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica duo
this blogger played drums
Kimberly Trevellion popped in with her boyfriend today. She did go down to Stone City to play a few songs with Lane Gaffney but she didn't play on any songs at Rumors.
But for a big event of Terry bringing out his whole drumset there wasn't that many drummers up there outside of me, Wildcat and Mike. I think Terry probably played Dreams I'll Never See and Cheap Sunglasses earlier in the say since I was backing Dee up. We did three false start songs before moving into Bobby McGee, after a pointless Wanted Dead Or Alive. I'm not into Bon Jovi, but I have played this in the past (Wrigleyville with a bunch of drunk chicks singing it no doubt and somehow that version was better, go figure). I did discovered the cowbell on Born on the bayou since Tommy suggested more Cowbell
I've been dealing with a sinus problems this weekend, somebody gave me their fucking cold (after four months of Walking Pneumonia, guess I wasn't sick enough) and I've been hacking n coughing since Friday. I didn't feel like singing and playing guitar. It didn't help when I ended up getting back spams after my appearance playing drums. With Madison coming up, the next acoustic excursion would be this week at Checker's providing if they have it going on. Ed Butler did go to Stone City along with Carl Meiners and Ken. I've been meaning to take a break and go and enjoy the sunshine before we all go back into darkness again. It's August and we will be losing 74 minutes of daylight this month.. It's not dark yet but it's getting to be as summer winds down.
Jeremiah stepped in for Randy as he's touring with Rare Earth this week. He should be back shortly. Billy Bourbon had a paying gig somewhere, as well as Jeff Overly and Karl Hudson. Tim Canfield stopped in briefly after playing at Checkers with Tom Miller and the Oldies guy.
Slowly, Terry has been having more Paiste cymbals in his lineups and his RUDE rides are not cheap. the 22 inch Reign Rude Ride is at least 400 dollars when bought online. I haven't played the Rudes since returning back to a K lineup but I do find that the 20 inch Rude Crash/Ride has the best ping and crash for songs. It's not a complete Paiste lineup, the Z power hats replaced the Rude Soundedge hats (a manufacturing defect may have cause his upper hat to crack, or maybe Terry opted not to let people play those hats. Why I never chose to get soundedge hats for the fact that they may crack. I did sell my 20 inch power ride Rude to Mike Serbousek a few years ago and I have never seen him play that one live at a gig. Power crashes are not idea for acoustic settings unless you're planning to use them more as a ride cymbal. The Sabian Trash Can Lid was a hoot to hit, tho on that side of the drum set I usually have my crash of doom. Overall, I liked Terry's oversized cymbal lineup. 14 cymbals, which is half of what I use on a good night.
This month's jam, I just took a three piece drum set there. One of the toms was not in tune. The S Trash/Crash was the choice of the night and the Armand Ride the other cymbal. no floor tom was used. I just didn't feel up to bringing the whole set there. It kinda threw Maki off with the missing other tom. Next month the whole set will be back.
This weekend, Terry had his full drumset and cymbals up for grabs and I got to play five songs with this extended lineup. He's gradually going to a Paiste lineup, adding a 22 inch Reign Power Ride (in conjunction with Dave Lombardo I gather) and 20 inch Rude Thin Crash/Ride which is like the 2002 Rude 20 inch cymbal that I have in storage. He had 14 cymbals, the most ever in a jam. Not everything was Paiste, he still had the Z Power Hats (since the Rude sound edge ones got cracked) three A Zildjian splashes and a couple of Sabian Trash China Effect cymbals. Certainly Wildcat Spratt took full advantage of all the cymbals and bashed away, so did birthday boy Mike Lint. I wasn't overpowered by so many cymbals and Terry McDowell did point out the cowbell for me on Gold Dust Woman, a song that I don't use the cowbell, since I don't play with one.
The Songs;
Born On The Bayou
Gold Dust Woman
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Santa Maria (attempt)
Hard To Handle (False start)
What I Am (another false start)
Me And Bobby McGee
Proud Mary
The Players;
Terry McDowell-Host and drum provider
Dee Vieman-Lead Vocal
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Rick Clay-Guitar and bass vocal on Proud Mary
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass
Bob Gleason and Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica duo
this blogger played drums
Kimberly Trevellion popped in with her boyfriend today. She did go down to Stone City to play a few songs with Lane Gaffney but she didn't play on any songs at Rumors.
But for a big event of Terry bringing out his whole drumset there wasn't that many drummers up there outside of me, Wildcat and Mike. I think Terry probably played Dreams I'll Never See and Cheap Sunglasses earlier in the say since I was backing Dee up. We did three false start songs before moving into Bobby McGee, after a pointless Wanted Dead Or Alive. I'm not into Bon Jovi, but I have played this in the past (Wrigleyville with a bunch of drunk chicks singing it no doubt and somehow that version was better, go figure). I did discovered the cowbell on Born on the bayou since Tommy suggested more Cowbell
I've been dealing with a sinus problems this weekend, somebody gave me their fucking cold (after four months of Walking Pneumonia, guess I wasn't sick enough) and I've been hacking n coughing since Friday. I didn't feel like singing and playing guitar. It didn't help when I ended up getting back spams after my appearance playing drums. With Madison coming up, the next acoustic excursion would be this week at Checker's providing if they have it going on. Ed Butler did go to Stone City along with Carl Meiners and Ken. I've been meaning to take a break and go and enjoy the sunshine before we all go back into darkness again. It's August and we will be losing 74 minutes of daylight this month.. It's not dark yet but it's getting to be as summer winds down.
Jeremiah stepped in for Randy as he's touring with Rare Earth this week. He should be back shortly. Billy Bourbon had a paying gig somewhere, as well as Jeff Overly and Karl Hudson. Tim Canfield stopped in briefly after playing at Checkers with Tom Miller and the Oldies guy.
Slowly, Terry has been having more Paiste cymbals in his lineups and his RUDE rides are not cheap. the 22 inch Reign Rude Ride is at least 400 dollars when bought online. I haven't played the Rudes since returning back to a K lineup but I do find that the 20 inch Rude Crash/Ride has the best ping and crash for songs. It's not a complete Paiste lineup, the Z power hats replaced the Rude Soundedge hats (a manufacturing defect may have cause his upper hat to crack, or maybe Terry opted not to let people play those hats. Why I never chose to get soundedge hats for the fact that they may crack. I did sell my 20 inch power ride Rude to Mike Serbousek a few years ago and I have never seen him play that one live at a gig. Power crashes are not idea for acoustic settings unless you're planning to use them more as a ride cymbal. The Sabian Trash Can Lid was a hoot to hit, tho on that side of the drum set I usually have my crash of doom. Overall, I liked Terry's oversized cymbal lineup. 14 cymbals, which is half of what I use on a good night.
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