End Of Year Thoughts From The Townedger

This year was supposed to be the five year celebration of being part of the Cedar Rapids music scene. But we had two events that pretty much rendered this year a forgettable one.  One was the COVID crisis that shut the bars down in March, which ended the Waubeek and Whittier Jams.  The other was the August shitstorm that destroyed houses, down trees and rearranged everything in this town.  I'd say that the August Shitstorm was the end all.   It shut down the Cabin Jam on the Wapsi.

We did have the jams going at Rumors for a time, and Stone City had the open mic outside till November. The Artisan Open Mic has been continuing on and I've been supporting that, as well as the Pub 1848 open mic in Moline, till the Governor shut that down.  On a plus side, I got to play in front of a supportive audience and it was great meeting hanging with Sean Ryan from the Dawn.  Sean is the one with the glasses, on the bottom is Michael Brock, percussionist extraordinaire.

Through the year, I managed to stay in Blues Rox as we struggled along to find places to play during the COVID crisis, but the cancellation of the Blues Festivals and no Parlor City Blues Jam made us a bit stale over the year, with Brian racing cars on Friday Nights (before that got shut down) and Kris taking up bowling.  But we did managed to score some gigs at the Glass Tap in Monticello and J A Tap in North Liberty, tho the crowds were non existent.   With the arrival of Russ Swearingen, my best friend and part of the Paraphernalia era, we now find ourselves playing together since the OK Lounge 1984 Tyrus farewell.  Blues Rox will continue to be the main source of interest, and time will tell if Russ will hang around in the long run.  I somewhat knew we would share the stage again.  I hope that Blues Rox will get to play more in the summertime.  Kris Bries is the future of the blues in this area if he keeps to it.

The polarization of Pro Trump and anti Trump forces has put a damper on the CR music scene.  And this town has plenty of the former.  I have found myself playing in bands and musicians that thought that Trump was the real deal and helping everybody out.   Thankfully, the music spoke for itself and we kept our political views to ourselves.  To which I managed to play one gig with Boy Scout Hippies on a hot and steamy 4th of July during the COVID pandemic and managed to stay healthy.  Perhaps I could have been a bigger part of that band, but the head Boy Scout tends to have sole procession of  the players   I'll give him credit, he paid me fair and treated me nice in my tenure.   I could fill in again in 2021 but I'm not holding my breath if I do.  Kinda like Ryan Paul and Dreams Of Acadia, now on permanent hold. 

This summer, I discussed helping Kimberly Trevellion out in her quest to be a top notch band.  There was supposed to be a chance to play in a band with Stacia Roccia but a conflict of interest popped up and I opted out.  I guess that band has splintered to nothing and she's looking for some dedicated folk to help her out.   I love playing alongside her, be it the acoustic adventures or the Blues Jam that happened in September on drums.   She's a lot like the Head Boy Scout Hippie, the spotlight is on her and that's all right.  But I tend to prefer my bandmates to be more open minded and giving.  The Townedgers are one and the same, I don't place anybody above or behind me.  Kimberly is looking for a band that will fit her needs on stage.  She's free to help me on the acoustic adventures in the future.

Cyndi Mahoney, I have mixed feelings on her.  She was a distraction and during the summer of 2020 showed up at various jams and open mics and Blues Rox gigs. I gave her part of my record collection. However she got way too close in my private affairs, and things finally came to explosive end which started on the Stone City showcase with Kimberly, and tho Cyndi attended the Blues Jam at the Sanctuary (a shame nobody got a picture of her) she said the wrong thing afterwards, to which the book was closed.  She had hopes of singing once again.  Maybe somebody help her try to live that dream. She blew her chance with me. 

(Guitar Dave And JJ) 

Cyndi did managed to bring me and Julie closer together. While Jules n me have yet to work on us being a duo together on stage, (thanks to me) she did reunite with Dave Bonham for playing live again.  I still would like to get Jules to sing more darker material (Linda and Richard Thompson, hint hint) or have her sing with a rock and roll band again.  2021 will find Jules and me working toward that lineup of dark and forbidden songs.  I think she would rather have me sing the blues.   Julie went through another rough year, to which I worked on getting a replacement for her guitar that she lost in the fire last December.  She has come a long way since then.  And besides, she earned that guitar.

When I got back on stage for the first time at a jam, it was Guitar Dave and T Ray Robertson that greeted me. I think things happen for a reason, while T Ray ended up losing his life to cancer, Dave has been a part of my musical five year journey.  It's a shame T Ray didn't get a good send off at the tribute jam that was for him this August, COVID took care of that, the CR music scene did lose a good guy in T Ray.  T Ray got me inspired to seek out that Montgomery Gentry song Hillbilly Shoes to play at a future jam.  A shame we got around to play it together.

I didn't know Tommy Patterson but for that one time in March, that I became his music partner for the final set that night.  Then to find out he passed sometime in the night later.  Death is always has and will be a part of the music scene and life itself.  Losing Irene Leeson, my biggest supporter at a time I couldn't play shit was a wake up call.  I remember nights Irene would come over and sing along to records with my dad in around 1975.   It's a shame I didn't know how to play music back then, they could have played with a real band instead of scratchy records. I had a big beer can collection (still do, but in boxes) and Orbit beer can was the one Irene bought me.  Which she will be remembered for.

Jim Jacobmeyer....without his help, the Acoustic Adventures would not happen.  Like Julie, he's done more for me than I do for myself about playing, and I hope 2021 I can break myself from the computer to be more of a presence up there for open mic night and a weekend solo performance to yet I am still trying to psych myself up too.  As always, Freddy Jones, always makes me sound great when he plays harp to the songs that I play.

The Hope is to once again see the jams return in 2021, tho I think it will be at least April for Maki Dervo to even consider doing the Waubeek Jam.  Things are still uncertain, David Lam may have pulled the plug on Whittier.  Rumors might start up again in January.  I have done more playing drums this past couple years than I ever did during the Paraphernalia Tyrus years.  As long as I'm able to keep my interest in playing, I'm sure 2021 will be busy once again.  In fact, I already missed out on subbing on drums for a local Southern Rock band on New Year's Day.    That's what I get for sleeping in late.

The highlight was the Blues Jam at the Sanctuary, even with Cyndi up there and in the way, we all had a great time.  The second big highlight was having Russ once again playing bass alongside me, just like we did 40 years ago while trying to learn how to play Same Old Song And Dance.  We got better at it years later.  Throughout the years, I wondered if we could ever have that chance of playing together again and the stars aligned just right and Brian and Kris hired Russ on to be part of Blues Rox.   Paraphernalia/Tyrus may never get together again (Dennis prefers flying and AZ nights, Mike is retired, DeWayne is retired and happy being a grandpa) but Russ has always been the connection between the days of Godzilla to Blues Rox.  He's more important than he knows.

And now, the ones that I shared the stage with last year.  Thanks to them all, they made music fun.

Kris Bries, Brian Bries, Russ Swearingen, Julie Gordon, Dave Bonham, Tommy Patterson, Randy Burghdorff, Bob Gleason, Brenda and Greg Mein, Belinda James, Phil Koening, Morris, Terry McDowell, Sir Bob Miller, D J Hovenstot, Ronald LeFleur, Tommy Bruner, Michael (Bear) Clair, Nate Hines, Dan Johnson, Gary Darling, Mike Williams, Bonnie Harrison, Maki Dervo, Bill Schlatter, Steve Black Wolf, Virgina Harlow, Eric Douglas, Skeeter Louis, Jeff Craft, Rick Trumm, Lenny Drake, Chuck Savage, Nelson Borden, Katy Merrifield, Steve Thereault, Danny Trumm, Freddy Jones, Captain Kirksey, Kevin, Tristin Gray, Craig Erickson, Tommy Giblin, Jon Wilson, Nick Lnenicka, Al Hendrix, Mike Fredericks, Billy Bourbon,  Ed Butler, Doc Rudolph, Rob Merkel, David Lam, Kimberly, Trevellion, Dougie Kouviak, Mark Awad, Joe Hutchcroft, Jay Devore, Jessie Scott Hacker, Geoff Redding, Robert Knowles, Dakota McWhortor, Jeremiah Murphy, Mike Lint, Pat Giesland, Donna Jo Eisner, Lorie Parker, Ted Reily, Layne Goldsberry, Colton Thompson, Marijane Euchner, Rich Toomsen, Jess Toomsen, Shawn Ster, Rick Gallo, Cathy Hart, Brad Zimmerman, Dan Hartman, Carl Meiners, Richard Budde, Eli Snow and Dee Vieman.   Even for a COVID shortened season, I managed to jam with at least 82 people would could sing and play.  

Cali Blake gave birth to a girl on December 23,2020 Charlee Jean Blake.  All the best to Mommy and C.J.

Happy new year.  Let's hope 2021 with be a better year for all of us.

Blues Rox 2020 Summary.

 Blues Rox - 2020 Year in Review.

We actually did more gigs than I thought as I reviewed everywhere we played at this past year.  We started the  year off as a 3-piece band with Kris, Rodney, and Brian, and finished the year adding Russ Swearingen on bass to complete the group.

Our first gig was at a new bar/live music place in downtown Monticello called Glass Tap on January 19th.  Not long after this event, the state decided to shut down many businesses due to the Covid pandemic, which led us to return to Glass tap for a second event apted named Quaratine Sessions which was an online only event featuring a how-to for some mixed drinks as well as a set from the guys.

On April 25th, we held our first of 3 outdoor, garage sessions in Norway which helped bring out the neighbors, family, and local townspeople to enjoy some socially distanced music.

I then received news on May 7th that my inspiration for music passed away at the age of 66, former Bad Company lead singer, Brian Howe.

In mid-July we ran through our music outside behind Prairie Creek Saloon as a thank you to Dawn and her staff, who is a strong supporter of our band, and to help bring in additional business due to Covid.

Our next event was held at a new to us venue on July 31st as we played at the famous J & A Tap in North Liberty. Thank you to John and his staff as we look forward to returning sometime in 2021.

We then participated in the outdoor Blues Jam held in the outdoor stage behind the Artisan's Sanctuary on September 26th.  We look forward to this upcoming year for Blues Rox to do a show there when the weather turns nicer.

Our next event we introduced our newest member, Russ, as we held a practice session at Checkers Tavern prior to our final event of 2020.

Our final event was held at another new to us venue, on December 26th @ Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery.  We hope to return again in 2021 in the spring or summer months.

Thanks to all who have supported us this past year and here's to hoping for some semblance of normalcy for the local bar and entertainment industry.

Brian Bries-Blues Rox

Blues Rox at Cedar Ridge

 A surprise gig at Cedar Ridge and we had a decent crowd even for COVID issues. 

The usual Spinal Tap bullshit.  Tried using a dolly to move the cymbal stands only to have them fall out, not once but three time and I lost part of my hi hat which really set me off. 

The lack of practice has been noted.  Tho once again, we did well on the blues songs, the classic rock numbers were ragged.  I wish Brian would remember when to come in on Feel Like Making Love or Free Bird and even Can't Get Enough was missed.  Russ thought that Blue On Black was fairly slow paced, but to me it went with the live version.  For a short version of Free Bird, that was extended to around 8 minutes, but Voodoo Chile went for only five minutes since we went over time and Kris lost his vocals and lost interest toward the end.   I think we went over the 7 oclock by about 10 minutes but we were all packed up and out of the place before 8.  Maybe sooner if I didn't have the hi hat malfunction and other spinal tap bullshit that is so common with my band adventures.

The Acoustics of Cedar Ridge was wonderful.  The drums sounded quite well in the cavernous reception room.  The drawback was trying to get to the area from the main room.  The unloading area you had to carry the drums for about a 100 yards.   They had dollys that I used in the early part, but the load out, used a plastic roller that the fucking cymbal stands fell off.  I do need to retire the Ludwig Cymbal Boom stand. the fucking piece of shit didn't hold and my ride cymbal fell a couple times.  My life playing music would rival Spinal Tap.

For this, I bought out my 18 inch Session Dark Crash and used the 17 inch K Dark Crash and 16 inch S Trash Crash.  The K Session Crash has been used on the Townedgers recordings, the 17 inch came from a trade with Rocky Smith and ended up getting a damn dent when the cymbal stand fell and I didn't catch it in time.  Rocky mentioned that it never fit in with his collection when I traded my K Hybrid Crash for his.  The Trash Crash has been used a few times with The Boy Scout Hippies and for a budget line priced Zildjian cymbal, it really holds up well with the K's.  I tend to think that the S crashes do sound somewhat like the Paiste 2002.  Mike Eastman uses the S cymbals for Palomino Band and Tom Miller had them the last time he played.  I'm not a fan of the ZBT's, which is the low priced Zildjian (or perhaps the ZBT's were tossed in favor of the Zildjian I's or maybe renamed Planet Z, which are bottom line and a step up from Cambers).  I don't think I'd be a fan of the I's or Planet Z but if I was starting out, the S series would have been perfect as I worked my way up to the A's or K's. 

For hi hat's I did a mismatch, using the K 14 inch dark crash over the imported 13 inch K splash that has been in my collection since 1984. This would have been the perfect chance to play the dry hats that I bought earlier in the month. I think I subbed one of the quick beat cymbals for the 14 inch dark crash and it sounded okay. 

We played well enough to get a few tips.  Still rough around the edges. But for improvision we did a lot better than we did for the Checker's practice. 

The Townedgers 2020 Album

The Townedgers (the 2020 album)

Songs:

Buckingham Nicks (Smith/Redding/Knowles/Gordon)  5:19

Cheating Songs (A.L.Owens/S.Shafer) 3:20

Willin' (L.George) 2:23

Tomorrow's Girl (Smith/Redding/Knowles) 1:44

Just To Satisfy You  (W.Jennings/D.Bowman)  3:25

Stupid The Dog (Smith/Knowles)  3:30

9 Pound Hammer (M.Travis)  1:30

Knock On The Door (Smith)  2:07

Jeanette (the last go round) (Smith/Redding/Knowles)  4:25

Please Send Me Someone To Love (P.Mayfield)  3:27

Distant Early Morning Light (Smith/Redding)  3:53

Stepping Razor (J. Higgs)  5:20

If You See Her (R.Smith/G.Redding)  4:21

She Belongs To Me (B.Dylan)  2:51

Rainbow In The Dark (Dio/Appice/Campbell/Bain)  3:43

At The Crossroads (D.Sahm)  4:00

Produced By Terry Bainbridge And Rodney Smith for what its worth

Recorded By Terry Bainbridge with Rodney Smith  

Recorded At Hoarder House Of Hits, Fairview IA  April-Nov. 2020

Mixed By The Seat Of Our Pants Incorporated Waspi City IA by The Band.

Mastering: Wapsipinicon Recordings By Sam Goody Taylor

Diggy Kat-A n R

Mr. Smith-Lead Vocals, Guitars and Drums

Mr. Redding: Backing vocals and other guitars

Mr. Knowles-Bass and lead vocals on Stupid The Dog

Mr. Bainbridge-Percussion and Vibrato Slap

Special thanks and much love to Julie Gordon for her help and for the Silvertone Guitar. 

And:  Phil Bo King, Steven Reschow, James Jacobmeyer, Maki Dervo. Dave Bonham, Brooke Hoover,

Blues Rox, Russ Swearingen, Sonya Marie, Rod Albaugh, David Lam, Freddy Jones, Mom n Dad, Brother Rick,Steve Willard and GOD for not striking me down.  And everybody else who helped along the way at various jams and open mics.   Also thank you to The Glass Tap (Monticello), The Artisan Sanctuary (Marion), FB Company (Waubeek) and the Stone City General Stone (guess) for your support and place to play at during these times.

This album is dedicated to the memory of Irene Leeson, who didn't mind listening to my old crappy coffee can recordings of long ago and kept encouraging me to keep at it.  We have come a long way baby.

And to the memory of Tommy Patterson and T Ray Robertson, who was there when I came back in 2015.

R. Smith plays Fender and Guild Guitars, Pearl/DW Drums and Zildjian Cymbals.  Any brand can work wonders but for the past six years  K Zildjian Cymbals have been the signature sound.  Thank you Joe Greene for suggesting I return back to them, whereever he may be. 

(C) 2020  The Townedgers Music Emporium licensed to Maier/Phillips Records.

PMR-32020 

Blues Rox At Checkers-Practice Live

36 years ago, Paraphernalia/Tyrus played the Ok Lounge.  And for the first time in over five years Russ Swearingen was onstage with me.  Along with Brian and Kris Bries, which we haven't played since the Blues Jam in September.

I wasn't in the best of moods when I got there and found that nobody had arrived.  And then for most of the set I had to deal with a fucking moving kick drum.  And then had to deal with the usual playing too loud complaints and continuing to alter my drums so I can feel comfortable playing them.

I think Russ did very well considering that he didn't know the set list and we were basically trying to get the feel of things.  The Tinnitus issue is also bothering me.

We did quite well on Ready For Love and Russ helped on Rocky Mountain Way.  The free form Free Bird got complaints of being too loud once again.

It was a very small and supportive football crowd.   We did play better than the J A Tap gig but for a band that hasn't seen each other in two and half months  we did well.

Thanks PJ and Pam for putting up with the noise.  

Nevertheless, the criticisms continue.  I play too loud, too fast or too loud and fast.  I cannot win for the life of me.  I cannot change the way that I play, either adapt with me or find somebody more suited to the slow and soft safe sounds then.  We both will win out in the long run.  

Artisan Sanctuary 12/3/2020 Spill The Wine

Songs:

Buckingham-Nicks

Knock On Your Door

Nine Pound Hammer

Cheating Songs

She Belongs To Me

Wandering Mind (instrumental)

The Road You're On

With:

Jim Jacobmeyer, D. Young, Phil Korning, D.C.K, Katy Merrifield, Freddy Jones, Jeff Brown.

A sluggish performance.  Started off quite well with lead off track Buckingham Nicks and Knock On Your Door, but fucked up most of Nine Pound Hammer and people talked throughout Cheating Songs and then proceeded  to wander all the place.  Wandering Mind was a barrage of songs of riffs that I couldn't remember how they went so I just went with a instrumental.   And then closed with the seldom heard The Road You're On.  Katy and Phil played extended sets.  I was dealing with tennis elbow and carpel tunnel issues from sealing too many books at work.    Supper was at Ramsey's to which they might have the most hot and spicy chilli around, it was quite filling but perhaps I should have stick with a Taco Salad.  That may have played a role in my subpar playing tonight.   A couple folk were there but it is strange eating at a place at 6 o clock when there should be more people there eating.  Per usual, I always tip the waiter and waitress who wait on me at various places.  

Diana taped a few of the songs and then proceeded to spill her glass of wine on the carpet, therefore giving me a title to the night's events.   Phil Bo and Freddy played the encore.

Thoughts From The Townedger-November Edition

 Well, another month and we got shut down by the jams.  I'm finishing up the new Townedgers album and once I get a damn CD Duplicator going, I'll send it out to my 10 biggest fans.   Talk about a loss leader, Maier Records are full of Townedgers albums.

Against Julie's wishes, I have gone out and played at open mics, not because of being selfish but keeping promises that I would show up.  I never had a woman that worries so much about me while in the meantime, she's been under the weather.  I promised that the Dec 3 open mic would be my last for 2020, intill the COVID vaccine is available.  I do think Jim Jacobmeyer has gone out of his way to sanitize the mics and place down.  Blues Rox does have a practice for this month, we got canceled out of Cedar Ridge this month but they might have us next month.   Just in time for snow and cold. 

 

Our former singer of Boyscout Hippies, Cali Jean Blake has been keeping us posted with her forthcoming new daughter, due sometime in DECEMBER.  She decided to shoot some photos and she looks marvelous. Also our very own Dewayne Schminkey is a grandpa times two, with twin daughters from his son n wife.  I think he'll be  granddad a few more time before this is over. (I need to proofread this shit, she's due in Dec not September). 

The COVID epidemic took out the Sunday Funday jam after two weeks of putting it back on.  I don't expect it to start up till next year now.  Terry and the boys put their best effort into making this happen.  It is drum practice for me to interact with other musicians.  I haven't done that with Blues Rox all month.  Chances are good we will be idle for a while.

Three and half months from the shitstorm, Cedar Rapids still looks like a bomb went off inside. The Sinclair Park walking trail still has tree limbs up and down and the old oak tree is still there. Things are improving tho, But the way it used to be is now long gone. 

Contrary to what Russ believes, I get annoyed with him saying that I have all this money and I should spend it more on crap I don't need, aka Neil Peart Caress Of Steel drums that's up for bids.   I'd love to have my own house, own space and do whatever I want to do.  I have to put up with his ignorance on this for most of my life.   I did bid a 1,000 dollars  just to make Paco happy.  The bid was rejected.   Looks like he won't get that as a Christmas present from me. 

Blues Rox has played at The Glass Tap twice this year, once at J and A Tap, once at the Norway bar, four times in their home and once at the blues jam in Marion this year.  I have hosted the Waubeek open mic three times, helped the Boy Scout Hippies twice this year.   We have gotten canceled three times this year as well.  For Acoustic Adventures, one paying gig and plenty of Stone City and Artisan open mics as well as four times at the Pub 1848 in Moline.  With no forthcoming gigs, I am finally finishing up the Townedger's new album and am considering to do a live TE album.   But only if I start feeling better. 

If I had to do it all over again, I would have taken music theory and lessons in order to understand how to play guitar or drums, but in the past I was quite hyperactive and attention deficit disorder which nobody knew or gave a shit about.  I was always the so called smart child, and could figure it out for myself.  I always thought once I got the drumset or guitar I could start playing right away but it never happens that way.  I was always lax on practicing part and even today I have moods of being lax on things in life.  You can get easily taken advantage of, which explains why I seem to fall for the slight things in life.  Sometimes I think that's how life has made me out to be.   And the reason why I look like this below.  

Sorry to scare y'all. 

So, that's it for this month.  Not a lot going on.  A couple of Open mics for next month and then we'll see how 2021 will be.  Stay tuned. 

Elegy-The Latest Townedgers Compilation Album

 The Songs:

The End (The Doors)  9:33

Fool For Your Glasses (R.Smith)  3:38

Molly's Folly (R.Smith/K.Miller) 6:24

Saving Grace (R.Smith, G.Redding)  3:15

I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song (J.Croce)  2:46

Jimmy Brown The Newsboy (M.Wiseman)  2:05

Drawn In The Dark (R.Smith/G.Redding) 4:07

Walk In Solitude (R.Smith) 3:25

Six Days On The Road (D.Dudley) 3:25

Slippin' Away (Bill Anderson)  2:45

Ain't No Grave (Trad; Arr by The Townedgers)  5:34

Rodney Smith-Lead Vocals, Rhythm Lead Guitar, Drums

Geoff Redding-Guitar, Backing Vocals

Robby Knowles-Bass, Backing Vocals 9-11

Martin Daniels-Bass 1-7

Compiled By R.Smith.

Produced By Terry Bainbridge and Rodney Smith

1.3,4 Produced By Rodney Smith And Richard Dennenbaugh

A+R: Diggy Kat 

Notes:

With the completion of the new Townedger album, our record company asked if there enough material left in the vaults.  Usually the line of thinking when I did Logic And Lies, we had a bunch of covers left to make another (which lead to Eminent Domain) to satisfy our fans (all three of them).  But 2020 has been a crappy year.  We started work on the new album right before the COVID outbreak and after a couple week, I got lazy and then in August, Mother Nature gave us a Shitstorm that changed the landscape around the area.   In the meantime, I was gigging with Blues Rox and helping The Boy Scout Hippies and Julie at various open mics around the area,   And The Towndgers got stuck on the back burner.   8 months later, the album finally got done and mixed and ready to continue the musical journey. 

While going through the archives, I found that what was left behind, most were tossed off ideas or demos for consideration.  Walk In Solitude, done for the 2020 album was a quick idea that I never followed through.   I added drums later for inclusion for something like this.  Jimmy Brown was the basis for The Way Life Used To Be for Logic And Lies, but I didn't think it fit even for Eminent Domain, the odds and ends record after Logic And Lies.  The Jim Croce number is a sweet little love song that I could never come with myself,  so I recorded it and then forgot all about it.    The End, is the original version that was on No Exit (later dropped when No Exit was replaced by Thirty) and even with the Weird Scenes Inside The Gold Mine part,  I get a kick of revisiting this part.    And get the play the Dminor strum for 9 and half minutes  

Fool From Your Glasses is from Jubilee and was left off that album due to length of the CD.  We could have added it but there's a part on there that my vocals got erased.  Listening to this version of Drawn In The Dark is much more harder edge and probably could have been used for Logic And Lies but we thought the lead vocal was lost forever due to a poor recording tape.  However, Terry Bainbridge found it and compressed it back to at least you can hear it.   The last three songs are from the 2020 sessions that didn't make it to that album.  We didn't see the need for another Six Days On The Road and Slipping Away was left off due to the fact we didn't want the new album to be an hour long.  Perhaps in hindsight we should have left Jeannette (the final act) and Just To Satisfy You as well, but they were requested by our A and R guy.  Who usually knows best.

Ain't No Grave, like Walk In Solitude, was a rough draft.  I hear this from an old Gospel CD that I found up in Madison and wanted to explore using that song but our version is night n day.   I threw the drums on one take and it's rough but then again we always do things rough.  The Townedger way.

Molly's Folly and Saving Grace are from a 2007 live recording date.  The latter, originally done on 1989's Moonlight Chronicles, is cleaned up and somewhat true to the original, except for the sloppy ending, we did another version on a cancelled odds and sods CD with Fade out but in 1989, Geoff and I had plenty of ideas.  Saving Grace here was sped up and was faded at the end.    Not one of my proudest moments but it does rock.

Going through archives, there was some songs I was trying to look for but couldn't find them.  The 2004 Garth Richardson produced Long Time Forgotten that had Rolling And Tumbling which found its way on a TE best of that got withdrawn.   The tapes to the 20 album have disappeared as well.  Most of the Pawnshops For Olivia outtakes found themselves on Townedger Country in 2009, As for the No Exit outtakes, I only could tolerate The End and the tapes  used to record were shit.  Forthcoming Trains had two versions of It Was Nice That It Lasted but neither one really floated my boat, the second version had a cool middle part where Martin Daniels' bass line led the song but otherwise we felt that song was boring.  For Logic And Lies, only Drawn In The Dark first version was used, we had a bootleg recording of Teri with Jeff Overly on soprano sax but the vocals are muffled (it was a cell phone recording from Belinda James, who at that time was my vocalist in The Egads!) and a partial of Gold Dust Woman with Julie Gordon singing, another Belinda James recording where she was singing backing vocals.  There was a Who Do You Love Jam, where we were just messing around.  Fitting Finales had Bring It On Home and a alternative version of I Know About Me and Fitting Finales but I wasn't happy with the way the drums sounded and by the time we got done with Ain't No Grave, we were at the 47 minute mark and called it a day.  Loverman, an outtake from 2020 was simply too silly with the words.   

Elegy sums up the majority of this decade, tho Molly's Folly and Saving Grace was from the late 00's.  We were quite rusty from the five year layoff between Pawnshops For Olivia and No Exit/Thirty but it was Forthcoming Trains that opened the door the return to the CR music scene and left the Townedgers on the back burner, except for the occasional albums that came out afterward.  Who knows what would have happened had I applied myself earlier (like about 1984) then later.  If I'm still living twenty years from now, Elegy will be the 2010's answer to Observations From The Forefront, outtakes that actually got better with age.  I doubt the whole world will be listening, but as long as I have  a decent copy, I'll return to the scene of the crime to hear what the fuss was all about.  

R.S.

11/20/2020

Artisan-Covid Cooties

 Songs

Rainbow In The Dark

Logic And Lies

Good Time Charlie Got The Blues

At The Crossroads

Please Send Me Somebody To Love

Won't Get Fooled Again

Cinnamon Girl

Encore

Rocky Mountain Way

Honky Tonk Woman

Lady (Little River Band Version) 

Teach Your Children

The Needle And The Damage Done

Dixie Chicken

Chuck Savage-Vocal and guitar on the Encore numbers

Phil Koening-Vocal and guitar on Cinnamon Girl and Encore numbers

Jeff Brown came down to support the cause.

Lee Kohl along with Eliot Snodgrass was the opening act.  I made a quick stop at Half Price Books to pick up a couple of scratchy forty fives while they performed.

One month after Moline, the acoustic adventures came back on stage and this time I did play unplugged.  the acoustic wasn't going through the PA system or monitors.  I think I liked it that way.

Since Jeff was there, I played Rainbow In The Dark and Won't Get Fooled Again and dedicated those songs to him.  He forgot about the Olympic Jam at New Bo but I'm glad that he showed up.  He is a true supporter of live music.  God bless him.

I did take the songbook with me and opened up to songs that I have not played.  Despite being out of sync with the songs, I did fairly well. 

For the encore, Chuck and Phil came on stage and we did a few songs that I never played before.  I know I never attempted Dixie Chicken on guitar at all but Chuck made it easy to follow. 

Rumors-The Second Coming Part Two

 Songs include

Blues Interlude

Mary Jane's Last Dance

Honky Tonk Women 

Lie To Me

One Way Out

Jumping Jack Flash

Sweet Home Alabama

Taxman

Johnny B Goode

Bye Bye

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

She Loves My Automobile

With
Billy Bourbon-Lead Vocals, Guitar

Tommy Bruner-Guitar and vocals

Layne Goldsberry-Bass

Nick Lenicka-Harmonica

Terry McDowell-Drums and host

Rodney Smith-Drums. 

Notes:

A lesser crowd and participants, probably due to the 70 degree temps and sunshine.  One of the reasons I didn't do the Stone City open mic, which is the last of the year.  Bird Dog was in for Maki Dervo who was under the weather.  There are beginning issues with people having COVID and as the toll once again goes up from people having this, this a change things may get postponed again.  The Madison bargain hunt will hinge on this should I decide to go there in the next few days.

I know I played more than the 11 songs that we did but can't  remember the song between Mary Jane and Lie To Me.  Bye Bye was a Billy Bourbon original.   Johnny B Goode was done in the Peter Tosh style.  Jeff Brown hated it.  He also hates being called Jeffrey. 

Some poor guy had too much to drink and was wobbling all over the place and his female friend left him behind after getting fed up.  Eventually he did disappeared around the close of the jam.  George Madison, and Tami Soukup were there.  Some pictures were taken, just like last week but I have yet to see any.

Rumor's-The Second Coming

Superstition

Man-eater 

Can't You See

Simple Man

Suzy Q

Mercedes Benz

Take It Easy

Mustang Sally (of course)

The One That I Love

Purple Rain

One Way Out

Before You Accuse Me

Redhouse Blues

Commit A Crime

Get Back

Let It Bleed

With:

Terry McDowell and Tommy Bruner-hosts

Dakota McWhorter-Guitar, lead vocal on Get Back. 

Billy Bourbon-Guitar and  Lead Vocals 11-14,16

Dee Vieman-Lead Vocals 1-10

Jeremiah Murphy-Bass

Nick Lennicka-Harmonica

R. Smith-Drums

Notes:

After a three month layoff, it was decided to try the Rumor's jam.  A decent turnout, tho a lot of the Trumpers were out and about.  Had some fuck in a white pickup and Trump flags run three red lights in Marion.

Dakota took over for Tommy in my appearance. 

I got there later, so I went on later.  Dave Bonham played along with Kimberly Trevellion on her songs. In usual fashion, she lamented that she would liked me to play but Bob Miller and DJ Hovenstot did a good job as well.    And she and her husband were gone by the time I got to play.

Tami Soukup, I love her and everything but Julie is still the one that I love.  Tami chatted about wanting to leave the state due to her situation.   I'd miss her but I do feel for her.

Despite the high COVID numbers, I think we had a good crowd, tho I did practice social distancing and wearing a bandana mask, hat and glasses.  Billy was commenting on a woman's pair of boots, to which she was talking up a storm.  Billy got showered with some spit from the excited woman.

DJ an Sir Bob did their trading of the drumstool and never missed a beat. Kimberly thought I should do that, but I didn't think that was feasible.   And besides, Terry left me finish the jam, playing a hour and fifteen minutes.   I did think Let It Bleed wasn't exactly done according to the record.  We played it too fast. 

It was the first time I played Purple Rain with Dakota since the Boy Scout Hippies two years ago.  Dee sang it like Prince did.  However Billy was happy that we got the guitar lead part just right.  I'm surprised that I could remember how it went.

Jenna B from work stopped up to say hi.

Thoughts From The Townedger-October 2020

 There has not been any gigs or jams happening due to cold weather and work at my place of employment. So it's basically time to reflect on happenings at the moment.  We can't wait for Election Day to be over. I'm sick of refreshing You Tube with their fucked up political propaganda crap.

(The Never Late After Lunch Gang, Mike Eganhouse, Dan Hartman, Jeff Taylor, Steven Bray, Steve Jennings, Bruce Chadima, Jeffrey Brown, R.Smith, Nate Hines, Tom Krecji, Dan Johnson took the pic)

COVID has been the main issue since March when we ain't had much to show for gigs.  I had Stone City and then Moline and that after that, nothing.  Pub 1848 has moved their open mics indoors.  Stone City General Store has not.  So we are all planning to wait till 2021 to see what happens.  The Blue Rox band could have played a Friday night at JA Tap but they picked the wrong night.  I can't afford to pass up work just to make  50 dollars playing from 9 to 1.   If we get shipped out to Packaging next month, then we can open up once again.  I do enjoy the 2nd Wed of the Month club with Dan Johnson at Checkers.  It's kinda like everybody getting together again to see what's going on in their music life.  Mike Eganhouse has a better idea, move to Arizona, to which he will be doing at the end of the month. Glen Gardner moved there a couple years ago, best choice he's made.  At least they won't be dealing with the ice and snow shit. 

After receiving Cyndi's last message that I disappointed her tremendously (even after giving her part of my record collection) I finally cut that last cord of communication with her.  I should have bounced her out a couple months sooner, but in my own caring way, I kept talking with her and trying to help her sing again.   She got mad at Russ for not talking to her when Blues Rox was playing one night, she wanted nothing to do with Julie when she offered a olive branch and Cyndi chopped the damn tree down.  I don't have time to be anybody's love interest,  I barely have time for Julie.  I wasn't too pleased when Cyndi decided to sit with the Blues Rox boys as well.  

I think in life we try our best to help people and make a impression that anybody can sing at open mics if they put their mind to it.   I didn't see Cyndi at the open mic when I played there last, and Julie mentioned that Cyndi wasn't there either.  I'm sure when Rumors opens up their jam, she'll be back. In terms of her being tremendously disappointed in me, my reply is No expectations, no disappointments.  She should have known better.  

When I turned 50, I still have a ton of hair on top of my head and I could still hear.  In the 10 years I have aged 30 years in 10 an can't figure out what the fuck happened. As I approached 60, I have lost over 75 percent of my hair, can't see without glasses and now I can't hear out of my left ear.  I'm not sure of the dangers of rock n roll or other things played a role.  It's frustrating to try to hear what Julie says and me going What, only to have her get annoyed with me.  The tinnitus has gotten worse since my return to play despite me wearing earplugs. I'll look into hair replacement but it's another of the benefits of living too long.   I am not prepared for this.

Update on John Field, he's out of jail but has developed cancer and will not seek treatment.  He's given up on life.  Sometimes I feel like him but since Julie is in my life I got to keep on even if I turn deaf, blind and bald.  John never recovered from the Flood of 2008.  I enjoyed jamming with him on drums back in 2006 and looking back, I should have unretired then till of waiting.  He was a damn good guitar player.

The Rumor's Sunday Funday Jam returns in November like I figured it would. But questions remain about playing.  People are still afraid to show due to COVID but wearing a mask is encouraged for the faint of heart and if you get sick easily then you are better off staying away.  Once I get the drum trax to the new album done, I'll be back.

I haven't made much of a big deal out of the new album but I haven't had much luck in recording the DW Copper snare and went back to using the more trustworthy Pearl Snare.  I may put this one up for sale in the future but in the decade of having it, I only used it for live shows.  Drum tracking on the new album will be done within a week, then the song selection and eventual release.  To which copies will be given to family and friends, just like the other albums. 

The situation with Blues Rox continues to be complicated.  I have been in the band for a year now and we have some great moments and not so great moments.  The issue at hand remains keeping Kristopher interested enough to mature and play.  Lately he has backed out of a couple gigs,  last Friday Artisan's gig he could have played as a duo with his dad but he didn't want to do that.  We have a Halloween gig at a private party that he's wavering on.  I cannot speak for him, I love his guitar playing but I think he is getting bored with the whole thing and at age 19 maybe he's looking for something else to do with his life. Not having the Parlor City Blues jam might have something to do with that as well.  Hell, if I could play guitar like Kristopher, I would def keep playing and keep learning the blues.  Kids have a short attention span it seems or tend to get bored with playing with their dad.    As I stated before, I'm in this band for the long haul but usually band I play in last about a year tops anyway.  Perhaps we have struck midnight with Blues Rox?

I don't know about you but I can't wait for November 4th.  We can say goodbye to the fucking political crap ads for another six months.  And then there's Kanye West. 

Till next month.  Franklin says hello. 

Pub 1848-Thank You Moline and See You In 2021

 Songs played

Light My Fire

I'm A Man/Rock Me Baby

Jet Airliner

Cinnamon Girl

Notes:

The end of the five year celebration comeback ended with a return to Moline to play a few songs and hang with Sean Ryan and friends down there.  Thankfully, I didn't have to deal with Natty Dreadlocks this time out.  This also concludes my monthly get together at Pub 1848 in Moline till next springtime.  This was held indoors.  I don't think Dave or Julie would have been happy to sing in front of folk not wearing masks.

The songs got a good reaction especially the last two.  The blues medley kinda left them bored.  

The blues song got a better reception at Blues Jams, not so much at rock open mics.  Sean Ryan is a great person, who  I have known from his being part of The Dawn.    I'm not a big regular on the Quad City Music scene but Sean and most of the musicians made it feel like home to me.

Michael Morcada was there.  He was part of Whiskey High back in CR.  While singing my songs, I kinda glanced at his stolic looks but I didn't play much attention to it.  Mike Flack, the aces n eights owner would like to have a few words with him since he canceled a couple dates there back in 2017 before relocating to Davenport.  I'm the outsider, and just sat back and watched before I had to return back home.  This was my fourth appearance in Moline and I plan to return soon.  Once they have it back outdoors, indoors is a bit cramped. 

I could have played drums if asked, but they know me better as a guitar player.   I'm surprised nobody helped me out on drums.  I could have used the company to experiment on the songs.  But then again the way I play guitar, they figured they didn't need drums since my guitar playing was drumming on guitar.  Makes sense?  Not exactly.

Earlier the day I found a bunch of CDs and LPs at Goodwill.  Somebody dumped a bunch of classic rock albums from the likes of American Blues, Slade, Paris, Refugee, Piper, Scorpions, Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Woody's Truck Stop.  Plus Cds from Hank Mobley, Travelers 3, Flat Cat, Faces, Billy Cobham, BR549 and a few others.  The forth straight month of finding a bunch of music I didn't think I would.   Keeps me out of trouble.  I think.

The Artisan Open Mic will have to do without me next couple of weeks.  Julie and Dave will take over for me and then play Friday at Ramsey's at 6 30.  If I didn't have to work, I could have played percussion with them.  The intention is to finally get around playing more with Julie on guitar but I still think playing drums behind her is the way to go.     I need to really spent more time with her and not so much on the bargain hunts that have ruined my past relationships.  It's hard to break away from something that you have been doing all your life; finding music.    She's my last GF.  If I fail her, I'm not dating anybody in this life.

I got off subject it seems but thanks to all that I shared the stage and songs with.  I do wished I could have gotten over my stage fright years ago.

About 35 years ago.  Maybe then, people would know me by now. 

Stone City-Final Jam Of The Season?

 Songs:

Down In The Bottom

Mannish Boy/Rock Me Baby

Jet Airliner

For What Its Worth 

Cinnamon Girl

(The banks of the Wapsipinicon 

Notes:

Hosted by Bird Dog.   While a lot of other folks played for 15 to 30 minutes my set was about 10.  Down In The Bottom was yet another thought up blues which Howlin Wolf did the right version. 

Like the last time, there was technical problems from the soundboard.  The electronics were not working properly.  However, Bird Dog's songs seem to not have this problem whereas  Guitar Dave and myself had to deal with buzzing from the speakers, I finally had to not strumm so hard on the last two numbers.   

The black biting no see um's and Yellow Jacket Wasps were terrible.  Got bit about four times by the no see ems and killed three yellow jacket wasps after they kept getting into Carl's drink.  Something sweet attracts them.

This could be the last outdoor open mic in Stone City.  Temps were around 78 degrees when we started and once the sun went down, lost about 10 degrees.  

More Pictures from the Blues Jam

 

Artisan Sanctuary-Harvest Moon And You

 Songs:

Yeh Yeh (extract)

Logic And Lies

Fox On The Run

Sail Away/Gloria

Knocking On Heaven's Door

Rainbow In The Dark (Extract)

Ring Of Fire

For What It's Worth

Baby What Do You Want Me To Do

Encore

Crossroads

Let's Work Together

Get Back

With

Phil Koening-Guitar help on Ring Of Fire-Get Back

Dakota McWhortor-Guitar help on Baby What You Want Me To Do-Get Back

Freddy Jones-Harmonica on Crossroads-Get Back

R.Smith-Guitar and lead vocals

Also

Julie Gordon

Dave Bonham

Patrick Lower

James Jacobmeyer

Heather Stephens

D. Young

Diana Conwell-Koening

Patrick Tecklenburg

Knocking On Heaven's Door was dedicated to the memory of Diana Klimes Willard.

And to Steve Willard

Notes:

The sad news of the day was Steve's wife of 42 years decided to end her life.  I remember the shock when Steve mentioned it to me.  I might have differences with Diana on some things but overall, I liked her.  Hoping for the best for Steve and Yanni. 

It was a full moon night up in Marion as we begin our last Open Mic for the month.  I didn't revisited Mannish Boy but rather tried to focus on some of the better known stuff that I did.  Julie did her set of songs with Dave but started out the show with her Stealing Time song with Dakota playing guitar.  A new arrangement, Julie has been tinkering with it.  It started out a folk song, then we turned it into a reggae number when we played Swisher but it has become more standard rocking song. While some of the jammers went outside for a smoke, I remained hearing it.  I think she did well.

It was a small turnout, Eliot (Eli Snow) wasn't there but Pat Tecklenburg was there and started out.  Come to think of it, Lee Kahl wasn't there either.  Julie didn't sing with me but took a couple of videos and I got Philbo and Dakota to help out.    There wasn't much to my songlist that stood out, tho people did dance to Baby What You Want Me To Do.   Since we were light on talent, we had a jam for the last three numbers, Dakota singing on Crossroads and Get Back and me singing Let's Work Together and Freddy Jones came up to play harp.  

I did paid 25 dollars for the blues jams but gave it back as a donation.   Something to remember me by, as I return back to work for the rest of the month. 

Thoughts From The Townedger-Sept Edition

 End Of The Month already.  The Harvest Moon is shining.

The passing of Gregdon Cole does hit hard, tho he had cancer the past three years,   I will miss his charm and approach to the music and his puppet acts.  Children did get a kick out of his puppets.  

The Blues Jam last Saturday was interesting for how everybody came together.  Kimberly might have a big falling out with Dave Bonham earlier in the year but he did pop in on stage to back her up on bass.  That's him on bass, Freddy Jones plays harmonica.  MJ is playing guitar.  Kimberly is singing.

DJ, Me, Dakota, Julie 

Love is complicated.  Through my adventures of the past five years back playing on the music scene, finding love was not on my list of things to do.  My breakup in 2012, made me not even wanting to try again.   I had a couple of women that I chatted with at jams but they didn't make me feel that I should ask them out.  Especially one woman who I chatted with who got angry when I told her about the Rumor's jam and she mentioned that the bartender woman stole her husband.  The above photo is Julie and Donna Jo singing Dreams.  Dakota McWhortor was playing the main riff. I was doing my best trying to make the best of a shitty amp and broken guitar plugs. 

If anybody has been playing attention, you would have read the up and downs and feelings that I had during this time of being a part of Julie's life.  It's really a nice love story that starts out that she lost her bestie just about five years ago, and I played the benefit but never got around to express my sympathy. I think five months later, she somehow invited herself to an empty chair at my table and we exchanged hellos.   I managed to catch her Mad Dog shows and AcousticKitties at that time.  I remember after a Mad Dogs gig that I was in her way as she was packing her things and she asked why I haven't ask her for a date.  Caught me off guard.   Told her I would think about it.  So on Memorial Day 2017, she asked me out.    And that became a new chapter in my life.   I continued to stumble around and wonder and wander about.  On Dec 2, of 2017 she walked me to my car singing Walking After Midnight.  I think I was floating on air on the way home.

I don't remember much of her in the first couple months of coming back to play.  Kyle Oyloe and I were FB friends and were friendly to one another in the two jams that he was there, but Julie and I didn't associate, outside of maybe a hello.    But nobody could predict that five years later on, I would finally win her heart, despite my mistake of not using her at the Stone City open mic earlier in the month.  In the time that I have known her, she was my favorite singer.  It still remains a mystery of what she saw in me that made her want to be a part of my life.  There were times that I thought that we were over n done with and I always said if it wasn't meant to be, she's free to find another.  Julie never did look at anybody else even when we were apart;  life happened and dealt her a bad hand but she kept moving forward, kept going after her musical dream and devoting her time to her furbabies.   And wasn't about to lose me to anybody else.    She remains my fave singer, she can do better,  but for me there's nobody else that comes close to her.

The big shame of the Blues jam was that Joe Hutchcroft wasn't used that much outside of providing drums.  Looking back, he should have played on a couple of Blues Rox numbers, he should have helped Dave and Julie and MJ and Kimberly.    He was supposed to back me up on my numbers but Eli Snow decided to play drums instead.   I do believe Eli provided a great beat to Mannish Boy.

I still love the sound of K Zildjian cymbals but my latest gigs with Blues Rox, I was using The Paiste Signature and Innovations cymbals.  They really do sound great in live settings.  Joe's cymbal lineup are Paiste, 2 2002 cymbals, a 505 Ride and a 404 Crash.  I had a 404 Paiste back in 1980 but got rid of that for a song.  I wouldn't turn out an cymbal endorsement from Zildjian or Paiste.  But I think I take the Paiste cymbals with me since the host K's are upstairs and still on the DW set.  To which i have no intention of taking out playing live anytime soon.  I may sell it in exchange for a Yamaha set but would keep the DW hardware.

I still don't know if Russ will be a part of Blues Rox, tho it was clear that having a bass player really helped the sound at the Blues Jam.  Either way, I still remain to be a part of Blues Rox for a while. 

We love Donna Jo but I can really do without her calling me her brother when she is three sheets to the wind.

Having wrist cramps during the Blues Crabb segment really sucked.  I suppose in hindsight I should have drank more water as Julie told me too.  Someday I will learn to listen to her more.

Julie and me still need to work on getting together a decent play list if we are going to venture out on our own (as Acousta Crabbies, It's Complicated, or Jules and the Crabb).  While I consider Mannish Boy to be a one off on the blues, I still have my originals and my favorite songs to do.  The consideration factor of coming to a happy medium remains to be seen.  While I can back up anybody that comes along, it is decided that if Julie is there, she will be the one that I play along with.  And basically who can sing Gold Dust Woman better than her (outside of Stevie Nicks). 

As you can tell, most of these pictures are from the Sanctuary Blues Jam last Saturday.  MJ, Diana Conwell-Koening, Julie Gordon, Donna Jo and James Jacobmeyer took these photos. 

Until next time.  If you can't be  with the one you love honey, love the one you're with.