New Years Eve Jam 2019-The Past, The Present And The Future

Selections include

Shame Shame Shame
Whole Lotta Shaking Going On
All Along The Watchtower
Sweet Home Chicago

With
Kris Bries-Lead vocals and lead guitar
Craig Erickson-Lead guitar and lead vocal on Watchtower
Tristen Gray-Bass
Brian Bries-Rhythm Guitar
Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica
R.Smith-Drums

Tom Giblin, Craig Erickson, Robbie Haskill  And Dan Johnson -Hosts
L to R, Dan, Craig, Rob, Gibby

With

David Lam
Joe Hutchcroft
Ed Butler
Mike Williams
Bonnie Harrison
Scott Sanborn
Mike White


And others.

The Parlor City blues jam has been a big part of the music scene, and also for me a good chance to jam with the blues oriented guys,  Gibby, Dan Johnson, Doug Ducey, Brook Hoover, Bob Dorr, Jeff Petersen, Mark Awad, Ryan Phelan,  the list goes on.   After tonight, Parlor City is putting it on a three month hiatus.   I'm sure the dwindling crowd the past couple months might have figured into that, but since I had part of the night off, I thought I would show my support for the cause.

It's always a pleasure to back up Craig Erickson, the local guitar wizard that has been a big part of the music scene for over 40 years.  But perhaps tonight we can actually witness the changing of the guard. The oncoming of new talent.  Of course Kris Bries was the guitar slinger but we had Tristan Gray, barely 12 years old playing bass.  And of course, Craig.  Me and Brian figured into this as well as Nick the harmonica player too.

We might have done five songs but I know we did four long jams, starting out with the slow burning blues of Shame Shame Shame, but perhaps the telling moment was Craig and Kris dueling it out on All Along The Watchtower and Sweet Home Chicago.  Kris wasn't feeling all the best but he did quite well with the guitar duel with Craig.

I tend to look at my time playing there, just to keep some sort of standard tempo, since Tristan was still learning how to play bass, but I don't mind playing with up and coming kids.  They are the future of music, even if playing venues are getting hard to come by. 

The surprise was seeing David Lam show up and play a few numbers during the break for the hosts.

And so, 2019 ends and 2020 begins.  We started the new year at the Glass Tap in Monticello, worked through about five gigs with The Boy Scout Hippies,  sat in for Notes From The Underground, brought drums to be part of the Waubeek jam, helped Dreams Of Arcadia play Swisher, sat in on a few numbers for Chain Reaction and Wooden Nickel Lottery.   As well, still playing acoustic jams on occasion.

There are so many highlights to remember by.  Tho I did miss out on playing with The American Legends this fall, I did managed to return to Marion City Square Park again to kick off the Freedom Festival and for the first time, did all the songs without the song book.  I managed to play six hours a couple of times at Waubeek when no other drummer showed up.  Even spelled Terry McDowell for a hour a couple times as well at Rumors too.

Julie is doing her best to get me to remember the good and overlook the slight faults that tend to bother me.  She's been through so much this year and the only thing I wish for her is that she would have better luck in 2020.

But somehow, I have managed to be part of a new band, Blues Rox with Kris and Brian picking me to hold the beat.  And got the see the youngster channel his inner Stevie Ray Vaughn in Norway last weekend.  And for 2020, I'll continue to help Blues Rox whenever I can to help them along the way. I'm but a stepping stone for Kris' future.

Overall, 2019 continued a nice musical journey through acoustics, blues and rock and roll.  I haven't done much with The Townedgers but I think I did more helping Dreams Of Arcadia, Boy Scout Hippies and Blues Rox than I could ever do for my own solo stuff and bands. 

For 2020, the road travels onward and more music adventures await.  I can't wait to see and hear the results.

Happy New Year!

Stone City/Rumors 12/29/19

Rumors

Terry McDowell and Billy Bourbon: Hosts
Tommy Bruner-Lead vocals and guitar
Randy Burghdorff-lead guitar
Ed English-Bass
Morris-Guitar
Dakota McWhortor-Guitar
R.Smith-Drums

Songs:

You Can't Always Get What You Want
Get Back
White Room


Stone City Setlist:

Fox On The Run
Does It Matter
Teri My Love
Sundown
Cinnamon Girl

Notes:

The end of the 2019 jams and it was on a high note.  Ed English, I think I jammed with him once but he had the funky feel to You Can't Always Get What You Want.  All the songs were extended tho Tommy told me that White Room had a few more bars for guitar leads.  All three songs clocked around 20 minutes thereabouts.

Both Stone City and Rumors had jammers galore.  Lane Gaffney let me lead off the fun with a five song set that border lined on schizophrenia, Does It Matter came out of the blue in the A chord but I couldn't think of any other song to play.  Despite the original material, people seemed to enjoy the songs.  Dave Bonham, fresh from playing last night in Anamosa came out to play.  Ron and Dakota were at Rumors.  Blue Rapids, the family bluegrass group played to a enthusiastic crowd. 

Blues Rox In Norway-Rumors Sunday Funday Jam

Blues Rox made their debut at Prairie Creek Bar And Grill in Norway.  It's a small Iowa town, not much goes on, it does a baseball hall of fame for their famous Norway baseball teams of long ago and far away.  A grain elevator, a Convenience store and perhaps a bank somewhere in town.  There is a junk shop two blocks away but outside of that, it's a out of the way town that was out of the way but we had a gig to play.

We had a good crowd, not much for dancers but a few viewers who weren't watching the Rams/49ers or Iowa beating Cincinnati in basketball.

So begins another jam weekend.

Rumors Sunday Funday Jam

With

Billy Bourbon-Vocals on Caress, Before You Accuse M, Hey Bartender-Guitar
Russ Granklen-Vocal on Can't Get Enough and Margarativille
Randy Burghdorf-Bass
Tommy Bruner-Guitar on Before You Accuse Me and Caress Me Baby
Ron Lafleur-Vocal (Sweet Home, Mustang,Don't Let Me Down, Gimme,Watchtower,Sunshine
Dakota McWhortor-Lead vocal (Drive) lead guitar elsewhere
Tom Berdo-Harmonica on Before You Accuse Me, Caress Me Baby
Morris-played guitar throughout the set.
I played drums
Terry McDowell-Hosted the event as always

Songs we  played

Can't Get Enough
Margaritaville
Before You Accuse Me
Caress Me Baby
Hey Bartender
Sweet Home Alabama
Mustang Sally
Don't Let Me Down
Drive
Gimme One Good Reason
All Along The Watchtower
Ain't No Sunshine

Notes:

The Rumors jam was a long set of songs that extended for about four or five minutes and The Boy Scout Hippies debuted Don't Let Me Down.   Dakota sang Drive, and Ron really rocked the house. I'm very surprised how much he gets into the music.

Another small crowd and more drummers than musicians.  Al Hendricks got paired up with Tim Kaufmann and wasn't too happy with the results.  Poor Tim couldn't figure out some of the songs and the shuffle of Josephine was lost.  I tried to help him with the breaks to How Blue Can You Get.  I can't fault Tim for trying his best but if you can't shuffle or fake a decent shuffle, you'll be lost in the crowd.

I loved my time on stage but once again yet another fucking Spinal Tap moment happened when I was leaning over to unplug Dakota' amp after he got done playing and spilled ice all over the back of the stage.  I would love to have one day, one jam which some outrageous stupid bullshit didn't happened.  Thank our lucky stars that I didn't have pop but I felt bad enough to give the guys a 10 dollar tip.  In the meantime, I haven't helped Julie with her salvaging or cleaning up the house fire that she had Monday.  Tho' friends have helped along the way, my clumsiness would have fucked things up even more.    Even when I'm think I'm doing good, I'm not.

Saturday night was the Blues Rox debut and Kristopher amazed folks by his guitar playing, channeling his inner Stevie Ray Vaughn on the songs Texas Flood, How Blue Can You Get and two long excursions of Voodoo Chile, including a encore that went over 12 minutes including a long guitar solo towards the end  to which among gobs of feedback, he took off his hat and proceeded to walk through the crowd, playing lead guitar behind the back and even I was amazed how well he played that without missing a beat.  And the way he calmly put his hat over his head to end the show. That couldn't be topped.  I threw my sticks up in the air after that.

If the illusions of a shitty year was a reality most of the time, it was the gigs and jams that pulled me out of my dark and ever expanding depression for a brief moment, basking in the glory till some stupid shit puts me off.   When I stuck with the walking flu most of the year I managed to keep the beat rocking for Boy Scout Hippies and in reality I enjoy playing alongside Ron n Dakota.  Just as much as I enjoy helping Julie and Ryan out in DOA.    But out of all the band this year, the Blues Rox Saturday Night show was the most fun, the most intense and most thought provoking I have ever been a part of.  When Brian asked me to play percussion for the first time, I figured I give this a shot and see where it leads.  At my age, my time is now back in the past, Kris' future is so bright he might consider to wear shades.

A rite of passage?  Oh to be thirty five years younger and knowing what I know now and take it back with me.    This year I have learn so much from Bird in how to play with authority  but with passion  and knowing when not to rush things.  But then again, it's interacting with people and constant playing to their tempos and rhythms.  It's one thing to play slow with slow blues like Texas Flood but knowing not to drag behind.  Kris' improvising on Voodoo Chile is why I believe he has a good future, he knows where to let loose, when to hold back and has become a good leader of letting us know where the breaks are at.   I do believe he's on to bigger and better things given over time.  His Stevie Ray Vaughn influence is a positive, and to a certain extent we saw the ghost of SRV in between feedback and a crowd taking notice.   Where did that come from, I can't say.  But I do believe our first gig at Prairie Creek Bar N Grill was a very good start.  And perhaps of things to come.   I hope it makes some sort of a promising 2020.

Other things:

There was this one guy who asking me who the guitar and bass player was at Rumors this afternoon.  I told him it was Billy Bourbon and Randy Burghdoff, of the Billy Bourbon Band.  Not sure who this guy was but he was playing air drums on when I played drums.  I wonder if he was a drummer but I think he texted Billy about playing a special gig later on.

It looks to be a brown Christmas this year.  Temps got into the late 40s this afternoon and I managed to do a bit of Christmas shopping and some walking around while the sun was out.  Once it the sun set it got quite nippy but by then I was on my way to rumors.  Weather is supposed to still be nice for the time being.  Let's us enjoy it.

Parlor City Blues Jam-Blue Rox and Friends

Songs:

634-7589
Shame, Shame Shame
Folsom Prison Blues
Six Days On The Road
Johnny B  Goode
Shake Rattle And Roll
Evil Ways


Doug Ducey-Guitar and vocals
Kris Briles-Lead vocals and lead guitar
Brian Briles-Guitar and vocals
Morris-Guitar
Byron Stevens-Bass
Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica

Dan Johnson, Tommy Giblin and Jim Viner-Hosts and good people

Notes:

Another small crowd (most were at Checkers for the Kevin Burt get together) but I managed to play a about a hour long set before we closed down.   I think Doug did play a couple more songs but I can't think of them right now.

This was a warm up before the Blues Rox gig on Saturday. Great job from Kris on his guitar playing.

Outside of that, it's been a bad week.  Julie and I went to watch Matilda the Musical and she managed to hang in there despite having a cold and a hurting hip. And then Monday, her house caught on fire. However, she is all right and so are her furbabies but the house is a mess.  I stopped by and it was depressing sight. Everything is blackened inside.

In this life there are folks that live a charmed life and can't do no wrong (as evidenced by the BS artist in the white house)  and there are folks that live comfortably, and some that live from paycheck to paycheck and then there are some that get kicked when they're are down.  Julie is the female version of Job.  I have never seen anybody that had such rotten luck in the four years of knowing her.  And seeing what can go wrong does go wrong.



I cannot fathom what I seen through the blackened windows and the darkness inside her house.  The guess is that the fire was a electrical malfunction.  In the meantime the Cedar Rapids City Council, all bought and paid for by Cargill, gave that place the Butterfly sanctuary and walking trail in the flood plain.

This world doesn't make sense to me anymore.  Greed is rampant, people don't care and big money and developers are turning this into a nightmare place to be.

For that 45 minutes of playing tonight, I forgot about the cruel world and jammed with my musician buddies.  A moment's pleasure in a year long of pain.

Whittier 12/14/19

Songlist:

Fox On The Run
Sundown
Fever
Good Time Charlie
Stop Draggin My Heart Around
Cinnamon Girl

Jess Toomsen joined us.

Not a very long acoustic showcase, we were done by 9 30, which enabled me to catch the last part of Everlou2 with Julie making her debut with that band.

Fever and Stop Draggin My Heart Around had no female counterpoint.  But I figured to do something different.  Fever hasn't been attempted solo in over two years, Belinda usually sings it.   Julie and I have done the latter song but it's been a while.

It was a chilly night but the meteor shower was going full tilt despite a almost full moon (appropriately named The COLD moon, 5 above by the way).  I did see about 8 of them on the way to Center Point.  And a couple outside before my face froze up.

Four Day Creep played The Chrome Horse, despite Troy Mitchell's truck getting stolen.  He did eventually got it found.  A lot of fucking jerks out causing havoc, some fuck destroyed the men's sink and toilet at the Sanity Room in Independence but the owners know who did it.  Professionalism has kept them from naming the fuck that did it.  Too many stupid fucks out there, only takes one.

Sunday-Date with Julie to watch Matlida The Musical.  Despite the hacking and coughing fools and the assholes that wouldn't let me go into the parking spot (all five cars of you), it was an enjoyable musical, tho I couldn't understand what was saying half the time.  Julie was dealing with mucus issues so I took her home and went to Rumors for a spell.  I didn't play drums but they had plenty of people there.  Maybe next week I will return.

Weekend Jams-Stone City/Waubeek Dec 2019

Stone City Songlist:

Fox On The Run
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Just To Satisfy You
Everybody's Talking
Good Time Charlie
Cinnamon Girl
For What Its Worth
Gold Dust Woman

Steve Black Wolf-Backing Vocals on Everybody's Talking and For What Its Worth
Danny Trumm-Harmonica on Good Time Charlie
Kimberly Trevellion-Lead Vocal on Gold Dust Woman

Plus Hanging with Carl Meiners and Mikey Fredricks on a few numbers.

(Brian Briles: Photo)

Waubeek All Stars:

Phil Koening
Dave Bonham
Nelson Borden
Maki Dervo
Richard Budde
Lenny Drake
Kris and Brian Briles
Danny Trumm
Freddy Jones
Katy Merrifield
David Lam
Kirksey
Dave Pedersen
Jeff Schmidt
Steve Threault
Hootie
Dougie Koviak
Richard Rystrom
Lee "Big Daddy" Kohl
Crabbapple Crunchberries

Friday:  With Steve Black Wolf and Julie Gordon at Checkers, played percussion on Jockey Full Of Borbon and guitar on For What Its Worth

Notes:

The Waubeek jam this month was a lot more fun.  Richard Budde came back to play drums for a while.  Since Joe Hutchcroft still had my Rutes (and I have given up hope of getting them back  again) Richard was kind enough to forward me 20 dollars for the trouble.  Very nice of him to do that.  So he got to jam on Steve O's song as well as David and Jeff's set.   The female drum basher Chris went back to Kansas.  However, this was Maki's most time playing drums since I have been bringing them. I did need the rest.

(Diana Conwell-Koening: Photo  L to R Nelson Borden, Phil Bo King, Lenny Drake, Chuck Savage)

Again Blues Rox (Kris and Brian Briles) did a very good set, despite Brian being under the weather.  They did start early and did very well.

(L to R: Phil Bo King, Kris Briles, Brian Briles- Blues Rox in action)

There was plenty of hi jinx.  Phil Bo King's set was a lotta messing around, including my tribute to Rick Allen of Def Lepherd fame, dropping a drumstick on one song and playing with one stick, it was a slow blues number anyway.  Lotta fun.  Brian took a few interesting shots of me being a ham behind the drums.  Probably some of the best pictures of me yet.

Dave Bonham finally brought that Rod Smith for Mayor sign up there and I used it as the front for the drums.  I don't think he really wanted me to play drums in his setlist, so I just did some cymbal accents and left it at that.

Richard Budde backed up Jeff and Dave Pedersen, Dave played a Whiskeytown cover and the 100's Take The Gravel Home.  I kinda wished I could have played drums for them but since Richard was still on stage, they went with him.  He did well.


The Waubeek jam started at 8 and finished around 1 30 AM and I managed to tear down and get home and unloaded the drums and still made it to bed before 3 30 AM.  The Boy Scout Hippies were playing CRL, Rocky Smith and Chain Reaction was playing Deb's Bar in Anamosa and Kimberly and Blue Scratch were at Coralville and couldn't participate.   Notes From The Underground played Solon.

Sunday:  I limited myself to stay around Stone City and hang out at the General Store.  I really didn't feel like going into town after playing the night before.  Kimberly stepped in for Julie on Gold Dust Woman (actually Kimberly has been the one singing that song in quite a while) and I let Danny play harmonica on Good Time Charlie and Steve Black Wolf on Everybody's Talking and For What Its Worth.  When I'm tired, my voice goes into a lower register.  It worked fine.  The only surprise was a thrown together Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.   It was a sparse crowd in Stone City, Sam got a encore set. (Basically I fulfilled my obligations by helping Carl on his set and besides I really didn't have many songs to play anyway).

Afterwards, I backed Carl Meiners and Mike Fredericks with their songs.  Carl is always a pleasure  to jam with.

Kimberly did make it to Rumors to jam with the guys.  As well as Ron and Dakota (Boy Scout Hippies).

The old photo above is proof that the railroad did go through Stone City next to the General Store, but the only reminder is old rail bridge reef.  You'd never know that two tracks went though town.

Off topic:  I'm not sure who Sophy Diva is and why her traffic sources are appearing over here, but this is a blog about music, not about porn.  Take it elsewhere.

Artisan Sanctuary-Fitting Finale

The Life We Lead
Fox On The Run
Logic And Lies
Nashville
Ever So Much
For What Its Worth
Let's Work Together
I've Been Down So Long That It Looks Like Up To Me

Freddy Jones-Harmonica on the last three songs. Jim Jacobmeyer took this photo.

I've been up and I been down this year.  The past couple weeks I haven't been able to get into the music that I like to play.  I have been sleepwalking through some of my acoustic sets but nobody noticed that, all the songs came out mistake free.  I've gotten too busy with the drum gigs and those bargain hunts that I have blew off playing and learning new songs.  As we slowly come to the end of the year I'm bound to at least so some interest to play new stuff next year if need be.

While the last open mic had more players, this time out there wasn't as many.  Jeff Allen and his friend played, Colton Thompson is back singing more often, and Ed Butler came up to run sound and do his set.  Stuart Pershing came down from Cedar Falls to play and then hit the road, 3 AM comes way too early for him too.  Gregdon Cole came later and so did Freddy Jones.   Pat Lower was sick with the flu and stayed home.

I wasn't feeling up to it for the first hour,  I went over a couple songs before departing to Marion to play the finale.  Last time, Nick Lnenicka was my go to guy on harmonica, this time it was Freddy to the rescue.  I keep confusing him with the blues, but Freddy can play rock and roll   So he asked if he can jam with me and I said of course, come on up.  I might have used him for the whole set but he did pop up to play on a slower version of For What Its Worth, more of a jazzier, bluesier version.  I've never played it in that slower speed but I was kinda bored with the original version.  Even the lead off track The Life We Lead was done slower than usual.  It just happened that way.

There are at least five great harmonica players in town:  Freddy is one of them, Nick is another, Tom Berdo and Bob Gleason too.  Bob Dorr, the legend of Waterloo/CF can go to town.  The Cedar Rapids area is underrated for great musicians and we discussed this at length from time to time.  Freddy is one of the more approachable musicians, he's well liked and easy to talk to.  His stories about hanging with Bo Diddley is the stuff of legends.  We talked about maybe doing something as a duo, a good reason to dust off the Alias Smith And Jones moniker.  He's very talented, and maybe I can talk Brian and Kris Briles to add him as a guest star when Blues Rox play.

It's nice to see Colton Thompson again, he requested Logic And Lies, which I was going to do anyway.  For a rare original, I played Nashville and changed the last line of that song from I would love to join her if I could only grow a beard to  If I can sell off my soul.  I think but I will not sell my soul, meaning not going to Nashville to play Bro Country EDM.  I practiced it earlier in the day and thought I'd see how it would fly.

I didn't intend to use Freddy Jones outside a song or two, the original intent was to play Baby What You Want Me To Do but For What Its Worth was the same chord start (in E).  Freddy is a professional, he picked it right up even when I still messing around with the beginning.  The last time we played together was the Maury Baker Jam two years ago, but I shared the stage with him, me playing drums.   I was unsure of myself and where I was going, but when Freddy came up, things just fell into place.  I finally felt comfortable and at ease with myself.  We ended the set with Been Down So Long and just made the words up on the spot. The songbook got the night off.

Gregdon Cole finished the fun and Jim got me and Freddy to do another song before calling it a night. It was a variation on Wagon Wheel but I had another song in mind but couldn't think of it.

This concluded my Artisan Sanctuary participation for the year.  Back to work and back to the grind once again.  I like to thank Jim Jacobmeyer for his support of my acoustical adventures on guitar.  I have been blessed to have Freddy and Nick help me the past couple times I played and of course Julie on the birthday bash this year.   When I think I'm ready to hang it up, Jim has managed to find a way to keep my interest going and tho I was struggling at times, Jim, Colton, Ed, Jeff and others supported me with positive comments.   48 hours ago, I left Parlor City frustrated and questioning myself.  Tonight I found the collective groove and the encouragement to keep me going, or at least consider to keep it going in 2020.   Perhaps I'll take Mr. Jones up about being a duo.  I hear I can make 30 dollars playing Ramsey's.....

Parlor City Blues Jam-Make A Joyous Noise

With:
Brook Hoover-Guitar and lead vocals
Russ-Keyboards
Jon Wilson-Bass (Host Drummer)
R. Smith-Drums
Morris-Guitar

Dan Johnson and Tommy Giblin-Hosts

Songs

Call me the breeze
Dimples
One Bourbon, One Scotch And One Beer

(Jon Wilson-Photo Credit...Brook and Dan)

Notes:

Sparse jammers, sparse crowd, a couple songs to appease my being there.  Brookie  always goes to town on these songs,  it's best to follow him.  Fellow drummer Jon Wilson played bass.  He had the lousiest ride cymbal.  So I kept it simple with few drum rolls.  Brian n Kris were not there.

Perhaps I should have stayed at work and sealed books.  To the working musician that can do jams each I salute them.  But when I appear at these jams, it is on my dime and time away from my work. Taking unpaid leave just to hang around for two hours and finish with three short songs is not cost effective, off night and all.  I do have fun when get the chance, but this played in the last time I was there, wait around till George Hanna gets done and I get to do the grand finale with a long song or two or three short ones.   I go by the honor system of tipping when done playing, but I should start tipping by how many songs I play, one dollar for a song, two dollars for two and so on.  But if its an off night for the hosts then perhaps I should have cut my losses and went back to work.  Or go pay Franklin and Julie a visit.    In this case, taking half a night off, I lost 60 dollars just to be a seat warmer.   Time is money and both is something I don't have a lot of anymore.

But then again, it comes down on me.  I simply hung around and watched the TV for a while and George came in later, but he managed to pop up to do about five songs before another extended break.  In order to play I have to make myself known before George pops in.   Hanging in the back of the bar isn't going to get me noticed.

If I made any contribution to the jam, at least I helped Dan Johnson find his missing expensive  ear plug.  I'm as blind as a bat but when Dan was searching the floor, something caught my eye and found it.  At least he can find his, in my situation,  my ear plugs tend to walk off after four or five weeks.

And so it goes.  I'll continue to support the blues and Parlor City and Gibby's and Dan's jams whenever I can.  But it might be a while before I'll get a chance to get back there on a Tuesday Night.

And hopefully it won't be a off night.

Stone City/Rumors: Craig Dewitte-Still Alive And Well

Stone City General Store Set List:

Fox On The Run
Somewhere Down The Line
Ring Of Fire
Just To Satisfy You
Good Time Charlie
For What Its Worth
Route 66
Gold Dust Woman

Kimberley Trevallion-lead vocal on Gold Dust Woman

With: Lane Gaffney, Ken Becicka, Rocky Smith, Mike Fredericks, Ray Larson, Bill Schlatter, Carl Meiners too, plus Danny Trumm


Sunday Funday Double Drummers at Rumors

Take Me To The River
Greensleeves
Riders On The Storm/Happy Together/Cherie/Big Girls Don't Cry
Get Back
Can't Find My Way Back Home
Tore Up
Same Ole Grind (including drum solos!)

With

Tommy Bruner-Vocal (River,Can't Find My Way Back Home) and guitar
Nate Hines-Vocal (Tore Up, Same Old Grind) and guitar
Dan Johnson-Vocal (Riders, Get Back) and Bass
Tim Kauffman-Drums (Riders, Get Back)
Eric Douglas-Drums (Can't Find My Way Back Home, Tore Up, Same Old Grind)
Terry McDowell-host
R.Smith-Drum soloist and let the other guys had the main beats.

Notes:

An expanded set list of songs, tho I slopped through Somewhere Down The Line.  Instead of Cinnamon Girl, I had Kimberly sing on Gold Dust Woman.  People love to hear her sing.

I'm not too impressed with that waitress at the General Store.  She didn't bothered to ask me if I needed anything so I helped myself to a glass of water.  What drives me crazy is that the place isn't packed and she's too damn preoccupied of singing songs with Lane.  Always the good waitresses that go on to other places are we're stuck with snooty bitches.  Guess I don't tip them enough.  At least make a fracking effort to see if I need anything or a menu.  That also came into play after playing Rumors and going to the La Hacenida on first avenue and waited 5 minutes for the hostess to seat me. So I went down to Los Campendros.  The food wasn't that great but the waitress did her job.  She got a two dollar tip.

My laziness has affected my guitar playing to the point I couldn't remember the words to Somewhere Down The Line.  Route 66, the song got played for the first time.  Kind of a change of pace in trying new songs or revisiting old ones.  I haven't been very inspired in trying to come up with new songs for the next Townedgers album and it has been one big long struggle to do new music.  I hope this is not the end of things for the TEs  but I'm not feeling it at all.

I was surprised to do 8 songs for the Stone City Jam (Lane was very giving of time tho we didn't have many jammers and I opted to do both this and Rumors jam) despite the struggles.  Thankfully people liked what they heard, which is good.  Makes me believe I can still continue to do this.  And Kim was there so I can practice on Gold Dust Woman, the song.   I have no idea if and when Julie will be around to sing that song.   Maybe soon.

Craig Dewitte is still alive and doing fine.  It was the first time I saw him in over 4 years, tho he didn't play guitar at all.  I don't think he can.  I don't think he remembered me from the jams we did together, since I got my hair cut and was wearing a hat and glasses.  I think his fondness for booze destroyed a few brain cells.   He was gone after we got done playing.   He could play a mean guitar  when sober.

It's fun to have another drummer up to play and Tim Kaufman, I helped on the arrangement of Riders On The Storm, to which Dan Johnson went into a oddball melody of sorts.   I signaled Tim on where the breaks were at and he adapted very nicely.    Eric Douglas came up to add more beats to the last three songs, the last to which I got corralled into a drum battle with him on Same Ole Grind.  The lineup of Nate Hines, DJ and Eric have their own arrangements of songs and it turned out the last song was DJ doing a bass solo and then a drum battle.  I'm not much into drum solos, so in the long run Eric won the drum battle.  Eric is one of the best drummers out there, his steady beats provide whatever Nate and DJ do for songs.  Mine was Keith Moon sloppy (as always).    Sloppy but good.

Friday Night, I managed to catch Dreams Of Arcadia play Hy Vee.  Got paid for the Glass Tap gig but gave it right back to Julie to catch up on her bills.  She was more in need of it more than I was.  Saturday, I went to the Winery in Mount Vernon to pay a visit to see Pinicon Drift, I've been owning Dave Pedersen to see them play at some venue.  The place was packed and I had to watch from afar.  I hate going to packed places and bumping into strangers and all that sort of stuff.   When I finally found a decent seat, they had about three songs left to play but I did stay around long enough to chat with Dave, he's got a vocal like Brian Hennenman from Bottle Rockets and I love that band.  He's also done some good albums with the 100s.

We managed to stay clear of the major winter storm of Thanksgiving and the weekend but we did have snow showers on the way to CR.  But not enough to ice up the roads.  We got away with a couple this time out.  We may not be so lucky in this month.