Saturday 30 November 2019

Thoughts From The Townedger-November

We had a white Halloween but we didn't have a white Thanksgiving.  Thanks to my mom for making the dinner, you really don't have to do that, you could have ordered up a pizza and we'll be happy with that.  Always love your Mom.  Someday she won't be around.  (and I still hope that will be a while).

I didn't do a lot of jams and gigs this month.  We're back at work and I've been in a financial bind that has prohibited me from doing the week night jams.  I did back Dreams Of Arcadia on Sunday.  I do have a couple paying gigs in December, including one more Waubeek jam.  I still haven't gotten back my regular hot rods, I may as well give up and try to find a 16 dowels pair, the 19 dowels I used on Sunday and they're too fragile to play the whole gig.

If there was a time to have kids, I might have the best chance about 20 years ago.  Olivia's daughter can draw pictures.  Olivia is still on my friends list but I respect her privacy and her life not to bother her rather than say hi and happy birthday.  At this point in life, it's too late and I'm too old. 

I suppose I had the best chance to partake the Riverside Casino Blues Jam on Wednesday Night but I wanted to support Rocky Smith and his band Chain Reaction at the Glass Tap.  The Women of Blues played the Casino and got rave reviews.  Laura Chavez blew the competition away, I would have vouched for Joanna OConnor, but those who went had a great time.  When Tommy Bruner comes away saying it was like a spiritual awakening, you have to believe it was just that.  Kevin Burt was there, so was Phil Bo King, Billy Bourbon and others.  I was half way to Riverside, I went to Coralville for a bargain hunt and found that the stores were closed.  Basically a wasted trip since Monticello is a hour away from Iowa City.

Dreams Of Arcadia played the Hy Vee on Mount Vernon Rd last night.  Julie wasn't feeling well, and it rained most of the night and the food sucked but I think DOA put on a good show when I was there.  There's a love hate between her and Ryan but when they play live, they put their differences away.  I know they'll continue on in 2020.   Julie is too kind hearted to close the book on DOA.

I haven't talked much to Brian Briles about the forthcoming gig on Dec 21 in Norway.  When I don't hear from my bandmates after a couple weeks I do get concerned.  We'll probably get together for the Waubeek Jam and I still have a Tuesday to do a Parlor City Blues Jam.  I have no gigs with DOA for the rest of the year, and Julie has a gig with Everlou on the same Saturday that we have the Whittier Acoustic Showcase.  If time allows I'll see about showing up to support her.

Matt Cameron...great drummer and really has a simple drumset.  Three cymbals and a four piece drumset.  Best Pearl Jam drummer remains Dave Abbruzzese, he really played his ass off on the Vs and Vitology album.  After that Pearl jam lost me.  Matt Cameron still plays mean drums.

The Townedgers will have one more album to do and then after that we can call it a day.  I haven't had much time to devote to The TEs since the Sunday jam sessions and acoustic showcases came around.  I'm sure the guys have been disappointed that I haven't sat down to write new music or go over the songs we have been practicing.

I got to see Pinicon Drift play finally.   David Pedersen has been a very good supporter of my musical adventures.  Thanks for the kind words Dave.  You rock too.

So much for this month, I'll be back to end it all this time next month.

Sunday 24 November 2019

Dreams Of Arcadia In Monticello




I backed up Julie and Ryan, tho I took a guitar and had my songbook ready just in case.  But Ryan played the whole gig without any problem.  A mini Egads reunion as Mark Randolph joined Belinda James on Blue Bayou and Fever and I play percussion.   Mark went bye bye after that.

A good and receptive crowd.  Talked to the new owner of the Glass Tap and we shared a few horror stories about a certain Boy Scout Hippie Master who left and didn't pay his twenty dollar tip.  He won't be back any time soon.

Afterwards, Julie followed me to Stone City, to where we missed the Acoustic Jam and Bubs Johannes hosted.  Most have vacated when we got there around 7 30.  Ended up getting a pizza and eating most of it on the way back to 151 where I guided Julie to make it back home.

That's about the extent of things.  We had fun and got paid.

Rocky Smith showed up.

Somebody played Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty.  Ryan looked quite pissed off when he heard that song.  I swear it wasn't me, it was two young ladies, that he struck up a conversation with.

Perhaps we should have gone for Chinese instead of Stone City instead.

Sunday 17 November 2019

Stone City/Rumors; Foggy Notion

Stone City Songlist: Host Lane Gaffney

Fox On The Run
For What Its Worth
Everybody's Talking
Logic And Lies
Cinnamon Girl

Plus four songs with Carl Meiners on vocals and guitar
I played rhythm and sang a bit.

Paradise
Long Hard Road
North To Alaska
Your Cheating Heart


And Rumors Jam

With  Terry McDowell,  and Tommy Bruner host

with

Randy Swift-Lead guitar and vocals
Randy Burghdorff -Bass and vocals on Going Down and Roadhouse Blues
Morris-Guitar
Dave Bonham-Lead guitar and vocals
Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica
Randy's GF sang on Love Me Like A Man
Billy Bourbon-sang on One Way Out.
This Blogger on drums

Songs included

Roadhouse Blues
Fool For Your Stockings
I Walked To Dallas
Buddy Guy Blues Thingy
Love Me Like A Man
Going Down
The Sky Is Crying
Stormy Monday
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
One Way Out


(Billy Bourbon: Photo)

A little bit of everything tonight.  Started out at Stone City and played to a pretty receptive audience, one woman was singing along to For What Its Worth and everybody had a good time.  I later made it up to Rumors to play the final hour.  Usual shenanigans, but I had Bird cracking up over hitting the dinner bell cymbal at the end of the last few songs.  Bird mentioned that he did record the songs played last week and was floored on how well we played Dreams I'll Never See Again.  He might be right, it might be the best version of that ever.  That's saying a lot.

Lane is still hosting the Stone City jam, he decided to lose the FB page and can't blame him for that.  I ended up backing Carl on his set.  It was rough in spots but I kinda followed though on his finale Your Cheating Heart, with the Stone City Faithful, yelling out OH CARL in the bridge.   I have bailed on Carl the last couple Stone City jams, but I wanted to help him out, since he asked.

Ron and Dakota were up there at Rumors beforehand.    As far as I know there was one more drummer playing this week outside of me and Terry.  But I still managed to play almost a full hour. Not bad considering that I had a full day playing at both jams.

The vertigo issues that started this year is beginning to effect the way that I play.  After doing a couple of jump blues we went into a rough blues of Love Me Like A Man but I couldn't relate to the beat that's is heard on Rock Me Baby (BB King) or I Pity The Fool (Bobby Blues Bland) and way playing still a jump shuffle which was off the wall and not exactly to the beat of the song.   In a odd sort of way it did sound like part of the song but I know when I'm off, I'm really off but hardly anybody noticed, except perhaps Bird.   Out of the the bass players that I have jammed with, he's the most disciplinarian sort of bass player who's best at the slowed down songs in order for me to  hang with him.  It's usually a crawl but I find it a welcome challenge.  Anybody can play fast, but the best know how to keep a slow beat. Or have their rhythm partner play that slowed down riff.    At times I can't figure what Bird is hearing in his mind and it clashes with mine but once I found what he's looking for, it's a blast.


The weather was typical November, cloudy, foggy and misting drizzle.  But at least it wasn't snow.

After the Rumors jam, I chatted with Morris, the quiet guitarist that played off the side of the stage and he asked about Julie not being a part of the jams.  We both agreed that she was the best vocalist on the female side and perhaps in the future she'll return.  I know I haven't done much with Julie lately, we kinda gone in different directions music wise but she's still a part of this life.  The Variety show that was to take place yesterday got canceled since Ryan pissed off the comedian.  Dreams Of Arcadia still has a few dates remaining, but there is no word about my participation on percussion.  Julie will lobby for me to play in Monticello but if that happens, I will have to forgo the Rumors jam since its in town.    In other words, another wait and see event.

PS.  Cathy Hart and Lorie Parker had a acoustic jam going on at the Eagles Club from 4 to 7 but I didn't caught wind of it till it was too late.  Perhaps next time.

Sunday 10 November 2019

Rumors/Stone City: Tami Soukup's Birthday Bash

Rumors, Songlist

Gold Dust Woman/The Chain
Further Up The Road
I'll Play The Blues For You
Walking After Midnight
Two More Glasses Of Wine
Dreams
Me And Bobby McGee
Dreams I'll Never See Again
Cheap Sunglasses




Kim Trevillion-Lead Vocal (1-4,6,7)
Dan Hartman-Lead Vocal (5), Lead Guitar 1-7
Dave Bonham-Guitar (1-7)
Rick Clay-Lead guitar and vocals (8,9)
Tommy Bruner-Guitar (8,9)
Randy 'Bird' Burghdoff-Bass (all tracks)
R.Smith-Drums (all tracks)
Terry McDowell-Humble Host


(R.S, Maki, Donna Jo, Freddy Jones, Paul Nugent,Phil Bo, David Arnold)
Diana Conwell-Koening: Photo credit

Stone City:

Ventura Highway
Wagon Wheel
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Tequila Sunrise
Red House Blues
Another Blues In A
For What It's Worth

Bill Sclatter-Vocals and guitar (1-4)
David Arnold-Guitar and vocals (5-7)
Dan Nugent-Bass
Freddy Jones-Harmonica
Mike Frederick-Banjo
Maki Dervo-Pan Flute
Phil Koening-Piano
Carl Meiners-Mandolin
Donna Jo Elsner-Backing vocal and percussion
R.Smith-Lead vocal (For What It's Worth)







NOTES:

The fourth snowstorm in two weeks has hit the area again but I managed to play both jams.  The surprise was that when I was up at Rumors, I was the only other drummer there.  So I got to play a full hour set.  Julie did show up but by then I was on my way to Stone City to finish that jam.  Phil Bo was the host and I jammed with a few of the guys and only did For What Its Worth.  The waitress was in a hurry to get home so she lifted me drink.  Joe had my hot rods but he wasn't there at Rumors.  Nor did I get a Rod Smith for Mayor poster.


(B.Bourbon.Photo) Bird and Kimberley

The snow finally hit at around 8:45 PM. Getting up the Stone City Hill even when wet was a bit hard to do.  I could see the waitress being in a hurry to leave, but I left no tip.  At least let me finish up my drink before doing so.

In terms of theory, the Stone City set was me interacting with other players on guitar.  Bill Schlatter was gracious enough to thank me for donating my time to him and Donna Jo, but I got there too late to really provide a songlist I could live with and with David and Dan up there plus Phil Bo, it was better to have them onstage. I love having Freddy Jones play harmonica, I never have the right songs for him to play.  For What Its Worth was simply the last song and a fitting finale. Somehow I managed to figure into 7 songs at Stone City.  I played on 9 selections at Rumors and didn't feel like singing much anyway.  Somehow I do feel guilty that I didn't hang to see Julie show up.  But  I made it clear that I was going to both jams tonight.   Usually in hindsight it's better to play Stone City first, then Rumors afterwards.



For Dreams I'll Never See Again, we're still chopping off about three measures of the beginning and I tore into the second part after four bars, missing one more but I don't think Rick minds it that much.  If anything, Rick n I still nailed the last part every time for the past 10 times we tried it.  Tommy and Bird were left in the dark on that.

Rumors Photos taken by the lovely Tami Soukup.  Billy Bourbon took this one.



Saturday 9 November 2019

Whittier Acoustic Showcase-Nov

Fox On The Run
Lynch Party
Somewhere Down The Line
Just To Satisfy You
Spanish Harlem Incident
Every Mother's Son
Dear Lisa
Sundown
Cinnamon Girl
Good Time Charlie Got The Blues
Drawn In The Dark
Venus


(Olivia, she hasn't changed at all)

I kinda dig deep into the archives for this session.  Half the songs I haven't played in a long time.

It was twenty years ago next weekend that I had a long distance relationship with Olivia.  I remember going out to Portland on a nice sunny day and then the next five days we had wind and rain storms and a cold dinner cruise on the river but it was such a fun time.  She came out here during New Years and caught walking Pneumonia.   Eventually she found somebody closer to home.  In my life she has come out once in a while to say hi.  She became facebook friends with me again.

I went out to see The Boy Scout Hippies last night at Rumors.   First time that I caught Ron and Dakota playing live but I got there just in time for them to take a 45 minutes and then Chris (remember her from Waubeek?)  came up and bashed away on about five numbers.  She is a basher, a lot of missed breaks, too many cymbals hits and gave me a headache even when wearing ear plugs.  I only caught Linda doing Gimmee Shelter on drums but as far as I know she does it differently than I would have.  Chris' overplaying on Hard To Handle, was hard to handle.  She probably had about four or five beers beforehand.  I'm sure she'll be back to bash on the drums in Waubeek next month. That is if I'm up to having her bash on the drums.

Three originals were played, Somewhere Down The Line came off as the best of the bunch and Dear Lisa went over quite well.  Drawn In The Dark along with Good Time Charlie were the encore number.  Venus was played along with David Lam.  Sundown I sang backing vocals and was planning to do that song till the couple before me played it.  The Whittier gang contributed to the backing vocal to Fox On The Run.

Again a light amount of jammers which is the reason why my set list is long.  But we all stayed till the end.  I rather deal with the last jam at 10 PM  rather than 2 AM.






Sunday 3 November 2019

Weekend Jams-Waubeek Two Years Onward

Waubeek All Stars:

Dave Lam
Dave Bonham
Ground Chuck
Nelson
Phil Bo King
Lenny Drake
Kris Briles
Brian Briles
Captain Kirksey
Freddy Jones
Doug Kovarik
Ron Lafleur
Dakota McWhorter
Richard Budde
Maki Dervo
Steve Thearux
Danny Trumm
Hootie

And more


Brenda and Greg Mein didn't make the jam, so they went home early
Carl Meiners was there for support.


(Blues Rox aka Kristopher and Brian Briles, Photo By M. Dervo)

NOTE: I was disgusted when I first posted this, my emotions always get the best of me. Edited to a certain point.  This was my second anniversary of being part of the Waubeek Jam.  Unlike the 2017 debut, no fights were witnessed.  Brenda and Greg did help me in my slot which started at 12:30 AM.  To which afterwards I decided just to play drums for future shows.

This might have been my most disgusted appearance this month.  Richard Budde and some woman name Chris came up to play drums, Richard helped out Lenny and Ground Chuck.  Ron and Dakota have been more frequent at the jams and I played two songs with them and Chris took over the next two.  She was a pounder on the drums. Richard was left handed so he ended up messing  up my drums to the point that they were out of alignment, plus the fact he took both, my good pair of Hot Rods as well as my bad pair.  He might have forgotten.   It wouldn't be an issue but since I'm out of a pair of them things I have to reach into my change jar to invest another 40 dollars for two pairs of Hot Rods.  They are not cheap.

We had a large crowd, but a lot of wanking around and wasting 10 to 15 minutes getting the next act up to play was a pisser.  Again the major complaint that the usual folks played way too long in their sets.  The guy they called Hound Dog wasted about 25 minutes getting set up and having his rhythm box set just right.  The Boy Scout Hippies got the place a rocking but the best was saved for last when the newly renamed Blue Rox came on to play five long rock blues song including a wild The Sky Is Crying to which Kris did his behind the back guitar solo.  It was better than the Voodoo Chile song last month.  Dave Bonham played bass.

I also helped Dave Bonham play his blues songs.

I wasn't exactly pleased of Dick nor Chris the female drummer fucking around with my drumset.  Still I carried on.  After Richard and Chris bolted and not say goodbye I ended up putting the 2002 Paiste Sizzle Crash on for the Blues Rox set.  I was surprised on how well it sounded in a live setting but then again it should not be that big of a surprise since I have never heard a bad 2002 sounding cymbal.  I think Dave got tired of the loud guitars and drums and called it a evening before 1.  But I'm still a bit livid about losing the sticks after needing them.  I may take the next Waubeek Jam off and go spend some sort of quality time with Julie.

In terms of theory, respect the host drummer's tools.




Sunday Funday Rumors Jam With Terry McDowell

With
Al Hendricks-Lead vocal and guitar (In photo)
Dan Hartman-Lead Guitar
Randy Burghdorff-Bass
R.Smith-Drums
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica

Songs:

Truck Driving Man
Six Days On The Road
How Blue Can You Get
The Bottle Let Me Down
Bad Moon Rising
All Shook Up.

Notes.

I had to come into town to pick up a pair of Hot Rods at Guitar Center this afternoon before venturing out to Rumors and hang with the guys.  Terry was gracious enough for me to play early, so I got to jam with Al today.  The songs were fairly mellow and I didn't have to break a sweat.  Ron and Dakota have been very busy of late, this was their third straight showing at Rumors, as well as playing as Waubeek last night and they bought their female drummer with them. Ron also said that Chris, the other girl drummer would be there as well.  I didn't hang around to hear that.  I had to pick up a chair from Julie for my computer room after my old computer chair broke.  Of course I might have an hand in its demise.

DJ Hovenstat played drums for Dreams Of Arcadia at Dirty Shirley's Friday Night.

Dedicated to the memory of Holly Bixby, co worker and all around sweetheart. (1979-2019)