The Pandemic continues. I played the Quarantine sessions with Steve Black Wolf and friends and got together with Blues Rox a week later. The lack of playing together is quite noticeable. We still think July 31 at JA Tap in North Liberty will be a go.
With Blue Scratch breaking up, I want to say that my time backing them up at Della Viti in November of 2018 was a highlight. When Jay was searching for a new drummer I didn't volunteer since I was working nights and there was some issues with Jordy's guitar playing. Steve Stratton did a fine job in his tenure with Blue Scratch. I had no issues with Jordy's going from guy to girl. It was a unique opportunity to jam with somebody that had a sex change. Jay Dean was a great musician to play alongside with. I think they wanted to play more blues than rock, something that I'm dealing with in Blues Rox. But with the Corona Virus pandemic happening, playing total blues is out of the question. I have no qualm against Jordy, I'll be happy to back her up in the future. I don't foresee but we never know what the future lies.
When Kimberly expressed a desire to play in Blues Rox, I wasn't exactly sure if this would be the right person for this band. She's a blues shouter and she and I have played Gold Dust Woman in the past at acoustic jams. She does a nice version. When Brian told me about doing a practice with her and then 15 minutes later she told Kris about getting serious and practicing more, I didn't think this was going to work out. It's not that I'm against Kimberly, give the right musicians and the right groove we might be able to pull it off, but Blues Rox is a band that goes by feel and Brian and me having evening jobs, we don't have the energy or time for the cause. I love Kris' guitar playing and him getting into the music he wants to play. But I think he wants to enjoy the company of his friends and go out bowling or see his dad race cars. I'm sure Kimberly meant well in her quest to get to the International Blues Competition next year and she'll get the right musicians to achieve this goal. I just don't think Kris n her would be the right combination.
I also think if Kris does get serious in really channeling his inner Stevie Ray Vaughn he could be one of the best guitar players in the state. If I had his talent, I would be playing more guitar too. But you have to work at it. But whatever he decides, we'll go along with that.
As the pandemic continues, summer is coming and yet, we cannot play at the bars. People are scared of contracting CONVID19 and for intent purposes, I still wear a mask when I'm out and about. And to be honest, I got lazy once again and whatever I had for recording the new Townedger album has fallen into indifference. I can't duplicate any CDs, thanks to my piece of shit Lenovo falling apart and I don't know if getting a new CD recorder is cost effective. I think we'll be able to return to the jams in July, but it will be a whole different story. Will people show up and take part? Or will they hide and stay home? Or will they practice being six feet apart in a crowded bar? It's strange that the last couple years I had to deal with walking phenomena and still managed to hand shake and hug a few folk. From here on out, I'll keep to myself and not shake hands and such.
I haven't talked to Russ about getting together with him and John Field, John has been in the hospital on other health issues. John was a great guitar player when I jammed with them in 2006 but 14 years can change a person. For better or for worse. I doubt if we'll get together this summer.
Pat Geisland, drummer for Superknot and Harvey Headbanger has recovered from a thyroid condition that had him hospitalized for a few days and almost killed him. It wasn't related to the Corona Virus. Here's hoping that he'll make a full mend and get back to playing again. Terry McDowell is still alive and practicing on his off time playing.
Dan Spangler was murdered in his house this weekend. He played drums and guitar but I can't recall ever seeing him play Rumors. He might have played guitar at Stone City a couple times. A good guy that will be missed.
Dakota has left The Boy Scout Hippies. He may return but Ron is moving on as a two piece band with him and Linda the drummer. She'll be playing the June 27th event after all. According to Ron, the crowd was enthusiastic when He and Lynda played.
It seems that Tommy Bruner is the new guitar player for the BSH. A very good choice but I"m not sure if Tommy will be cut out for playing in a band with no bass player. Dakota stayed with Ron for almost four years. I doubt Tommy will last that long.
9 years ago, my Michigan girl moved down here and a year later moved back home. If you love them, set them free. We still keep in touch. Since Julie has moved into her new home, I have yet to see that place. At this point in time, both of us have moved on to other things. The more you know a person, the more you realize that whatever good intentions are, you are not compatible for a life together. Or even as band mates. I never thought of it that way till I've saw the last time we played together. You can't change a person or their ways. We both found that out and for two years, we stumbled along the way up till March, at the last show and having her asking if I even was there. Yep, we had pictures taken of us together that night. I can't speak for Julie, but she made me sound good when she sang and I enjoyed playing drums for The Mad Dogs or Dreams Of Arcadia. I thought we had something special when we first got together as the Acoustic Adventures., but all of a sudden I couldn't play Stop Draggin My Heart Around right. At that point, our Johnny and June became Buckingham Nicks. And the rest they say is history.
George Floyd was murdered. No excuse. For his actions this country is having major riots in big cities. I never thought I would see and relive 1968 all over again but we are. The events will postpone any bargain hunts in the big cities. I doubt if we'll ever get back to what it used to be. If God is going to send Jesus down here to bring peace back into the world it better be soon. This country is falling apart.
Finally, Jean and Randy Faulkner did get married in October of 2019. I wish them both the best.
Sunday 31 May 2020
Monday 25 May 2020
Backsliding Fearlessly-The Beginning
Forty years ago. Me and my best friend Russ went out and bought our first music instruments; he bought a Music Man bass, and I purchased a Zickos drumset and it became the start of a long and pot filled road of bumps and bruises and plenty of music along the way. When we got together when Russ was on vacation from the Marines we recorded four songs of subpar note. Not that nobody is going to remember the clunky one time takes of Godzilla, Same Old Song And Dance and a Blues jam number. I'm sure it's cringe-worthy but we all have to start from somewhere.
During the recording of the first get together this was the cymbal lineup. At that point, I couldn't afford to buy the best cymbals so I relied on what was available. The only Zildjian I had was this 20 inch crash ride. Behind that cymbals was one of two Zym Cymbals 16 inches, one had a clang sound, I'm guessing a china type but it sounded terrible and the other had a nifty ride sound but if you hit too hard it would bend out of shape. Then a Camber 16 inch crash to go with the 13 inch Camber High Hats, which gave it a trashy sound. The two splashes are junk. I got one for 10 dollars at Otteingers' music and the other was a throw in. The seven inch splash I still have for some reason. I did have a nice professional drumset but alas, the cymbals were beginners. And sounded like that.
Over time, all of the cymbals would be replaced except for the Zildjian 20 inch. The original intent was to buy Paiste Cymbals but nobody had them and I did find a 404 16 inch crash later on. So, I ended up getting a 18 inch Camber Crash, which had no projection whatsoever. But hey, they looked cool in the picture.
After Russ returned back to the Marines, I continued to work vigorously on getting better. I had no coordination on the foot petal but a bit on the hi hat side of things. This posed a problem if I was going to play live. It seems to me that I took my frustration out on the cymbals that I had. Going back to my early toy drums, the poor cymbals would be bent, cracked and destroyed. I really don't know why the cymbals suffered, it may have something to do with seeing Frosty, Lee Micheals drummer wail away on flying cymbals on a song way back when I saw him in 1969 on a forgotten music show The Music Scene. Even back then, I don't think I played drums, but rather being angry at the world.
The bass drum was the last thing I mastered and it took a good three months to even do a straight four four. I think that would have made me more in line of being a percussionist rather than regular drums but somehow I kept pushing on the idea that when Russ returned home, we would start the band up.
Since I didn't know anybody in the music scene, I kept to myself. I did jam with Doug Spinler and his dad in 1981 once I finally felt comfortable enough to play. Eventually, in 1982, I begin to play more freely with Mike Swearingen and a few co horts in the Open Highway Band.
Looking forty years onward, my music journey was like anybody else, Big hopes and dreams and driving my mom up the wall with my wayward drum solos while living at home. Somehow I got better along the way. That young dude in the picture would not know what was lying ahead, and to be honest I didn't think I would be around still playing 4 decades on. Only time will tell if he would have made the right decision despite it all.
During the recording of the first get together this was the cymbal lineup. At that point, I couldn't afford to buy the best cymbals so I relied on what was available. The only Zildjian I had was this 20 inch crash ride. Behind that cymbals was one of two Zym Cymbals 16 inches, one had a clang sound, I'm guessing a china type but it sounded terrible and the other had a nifty ride sound but if you hit too hard it would bend out of shape. Then a Camber 16 inch crash to go with the 13 inch Camber High Hats, which gave it a trashy sound. The two splashes are junk. I got one for 10 dollars at Otteingers' music and the other was a throw in. The seven inch splash I still have for some reason. I did have a nice professional drumset but alas, the cymbals were beginners. And sounded like that.
Over time, all of the cymbals would be replaced except for the Zildjian 20 inch. The original intent was to buy Paiste Cymbals but nobody had them and I did find a 404 16 inch crash later on. So, I ended up getting a 18 inch Camber Crash, which had no projection whatsoever. But hey, they looked cool in the picture.
After Russ returned back to the Marines, I continued to work vigorously on getting better. I had no coordination on the foot petal but a bit on the hi hat side of things. This posed a problem if I was going to play live. It seems to me that I took my frustration out on the cymbals that I had. Going back to my early toy drums, the poor cymbals would be bent, cracked and destroyed. I really don't know why the cymbals suffered, it may have something to do with seeing Frosty, Lee Micheals drummer wail away on flying cymbals on a song way back when I saw him in 1969 on a forgotten music show The Music Scene. Even back then, I don't think I played drums, but rather being angry at the world.
The bass drum was the last thing I mastered and it took a good three months to even do a straight four four. I think that would have made me more in line of being a percussionist rather than regular drums but somehow I kept pushing on the idea that when Russ returned home, we would start the band up.
Since I didn't know anybody in the music scene, I kept to myself. I did jam with Doug Spinler and his dad in 1981 once I finally felt comfortable enough to play. Eventually, in 1982, I begin to play more freely with Mike Swearingen and a few co horts in the Open Highway Band.
Looking forty years onward, my music journey was like anybody else, Big hopes and dreams and driving my mom up the wall with my wayward drum solos while living at home. Somehow I got better along the way. That young dude in the picture would not know what was lying ahead, and to be honest I didn't think I would be around still playing 4 decades on. Only time will tell if he would have made the right decision despite it all.
Saturday 16 May 2020
Five Years Onward-A Retrospective
Five years ago.....Dennis Lancaster bought himself a new car and was coming through town and invited us to get together. A mini band reunion, we didn't play but this was the start of yours truly and the journey back on stage.
(Kim Barely:photo)
Along with Dennis, it was DeWayne Schminkey, Russ Swearingen, our sound guy Randy Hartwig and me. Mike Swearingen didn't show up but Dennis did put the word out. Also of note, was the woman that I took out in high school, Penny Johnston would marry her high school sweetheart Karl and had the reception at the same place we had our band reunion. Five years later, Karl and Penny are still together. I did try to reunite with Penny twice, and thought about settling down with her but she knew me better and didn't think that would be a good idea. In essence, Penny was my high school sweetheart but in reality Karl was hers.
But this is not about Penny and Karl. We talked about getting the band back together in some aspect but we all knew that Dennis wasn't about to quit his job as airline pilot just to move back here; he's a transplanted Arizonian and is living the good life. In July of 2015 on the urging of Karen Tipton (no longer a FB friend but was instrumental of encouraging me to play) I returned back to a Thursday Night jam at Wrigleyville and played three songs, not sure which ones they were but my guess was Sweet Home Alabama, Mustang Sally and perhaps Hold On Loosely. The original jammers was T Ray Robertson, Guitar Dave Bonham, Ted Reily and a female keyboard player. Back then I didn't take notes or set lists. I didn't figure I was going to continue to play. The official date of playing was the third Thursday of July 2015 but due to the Corona Virus pandemic, jams and gigs have been placed on hold and I don't know if they will be lifted in time for my five years of playing.
There were highlights in the first month. Russ Swearingen came out to play bass on a couple Wrigleyville dates, including one to which we played Rocky Mountain Way and I sang that song. Dewayne Schminkey also showed up for a few gigs. The only two from Paraphernalia/Tyrus that did share the stage. For the first year, I was pounding on drum sets and trying to be the rowdy rocker from a long time ago. Kim Bean yelled at me for whopping his cymbals and then my brother from another mother Dana "rocky" Smith then played ten times harder than I did.
I was kinda hoping that I could write up a nice retrospective of these past five years and where it has taken me. There were highlights-meeting future Egads singer Belinda James and playing a jazz tinged version of Fever, being part of the Maury Baker jam and singing and playing guitar and having Phil Koening aka Phil Bo King and Craig Erickson helping out with the former Janis Joplin, and Ars Nova drummer Maury playing drums. Helping Julie Gordon and her projects, DOA, the Mad Dogs and her being a special guest star on a couple songs of note. Sitting in with Blue Scratch at Della Viti and the Boy Scout Hippies in the winter of 2019, then Notes From The Underground later on. And then becoming the host drummer for the F B Company Waubeek Jam for the past year. And the countless times of the Stone City Sunday Afternoon jam playing songs and getting applause. And, of course, the two acoustic shows at the Marion Fair On The Square at the start of the Freedom Festival.
I am surprised that I did start building up a band resume. I didn't figure upon playing in any bands since I worked evenings and have no time to be fully committed to bands. With the Boy Scout Hippies, I might have made a steady income, Ron Lafleur, was great at getting gigs with his high octane stage presence and Dakota McWhortor was a super fine guitar player. I found the BSH gigs to be very exhausting and very intense but I always had fun helping Ron out. And he was always welcome to request for me to play at Rumors when the BSH were in town. The Egads, were another fun band and to be honest, this band never played with a set lineup, usually Belinda and myself were the ones that kept it going, Mark Randolph was a decent guitar player but he had a split personality that caused him to leave the band (and Belinda) not once or twice but about four times. Larry Axelman, Rose Slaymaker and Tim Nemec were very important too, but when we did make it to the stage, which was the Vinton benefit for Veterans' we had to employ guest stars to make this go. It seemed like when I signed up to play in a band, to be in a band, we would play one gig and then break up. This goes all the way back to the days of Paraphernalia and the Routers, I was wondering if me being in a band would be a curse. The Wiley Kats, practiced and then imploded on a Rumors Popcorn Jam day.
We lost a good amount of musicians as well. Ron DeWitte, Tommy Patterson, Kyle Oyloe, Don Timmons. Kyle's passing would connect me with Julie for a wild ride, we would go out on the town, watch a movie or play and sometimes played guitar together. The night she sang Walking After Midnight while walking me out to the car makes me smile when I think about that. Best singer in town I still say.
The Townedgers took a back seat to my acoustic adventures and playing in other bands. I did record three albums of note and still working on a new effort but I have come to find out that I had more fun playing drums live with fellow musicians than with the TEs. It used to be that when Tyrus was playing, I wanted to do more original material. Nowadays, it's the opposite. I basically achieved what I wanted to do in the time after the breakup of Tyrus and the 2015 comeback, which started with Forthcoming Trains, an album that gave me confidence to finally shed the stage fright and indifference that has plagued me throughout life.
Time goes by way too fast. This shouldn't be five years now, but I think being on the internet has sped time up to the point that tomorrow is yesterday. When I started documenting the jams and gigs, this was my notebook, a reference guide to see what works and what didn't. I also added the folks who I shared the stage with and thankfully most of who I played with were cool people. Even if Kim Bean might have been a bit direct, he was right about my playing destroying his drumset and cymbals. I was trying too hard to find my groove and it would take the likes of Terry McDowell, Randy Burghdorff, Dan Johnson, Al Hendricks and Tommy Giblin to fix my shortcomings and get me to play the song right and not rush things. I may not agree with what they said but I did adjust my style to play the beat and for their efforts, I played my best drumming in 2019. Nevertheless, these past entrees of five years shows the good and the bad and sometimes the ugly. In the five years back, I have not gotten any one night stands, just like it was back in 1984 I'd be going home alone, and came to accept that since I'm always been the lone wolf.
Alas, the COVID19 pandemic has shut down the bars. I knew somehow this was going to be the big issue of the year, even as I was playing the the final weekend of March jams that we would be sidelined. To be honest, I cannot predict if things will ever return back to normal again. Or if there will be a music scene. I am winding down in my music career and perhaps life. I am playing with Blues Rox, which is Brian and his son Kris Bries and I hold the beat. This was supposed to be our year to make ourselves known. I hope that the notion that any band I play in would be a one and done deal will not be true. Kris Bries is probably the best guitar player I have been associated with, which might be a stretch since he's only 19, but he is so damn good with the blues guitar playing of a Stevie Ray Vaughn that in another time, he'd be on the same stage with a Samantha Fish or Walter Trout. I might be a stepping stone but as long as Blues Rox wants me around to help them, they are my number one priority band. Anybody else will have to take a number.
Looking back, my regret (outside of losing the girl in my PR class at Kirkwood) might have been not sticking with playing drums after the OK Lounge gig in 1984. I just wasn't interested of playing second rate Motley Crue crappy songs or country music, I always been on the garage rock side of things, and original material, tho 60 percent of songs I did write were subpar (no commercial potential) anyway. Three decades later, I return to embrace my inner strengths and not only gotten my groove back on drums but also managed to play and sing my best songs at acoustic jams. If we survive this pandemic, I might be able to pick up where I left off. As I mentioned before, I remain an outsider to the CR music scene. If I can keep my interest up, I might last another five years. Then I'll be 64 and perhaps that might be my last hurrah. But I'll be a musician at heart till the day I die
Too many people to mention but I thank each and every one of them that I shared the stage with. Even the grumpy DJ who had his ride cymbal down to my knee and challenged me to keep it that way he had it, I played the drums like the host had them. And I think I did a damn good job improvising that too.
(Kim Barely:photo)
Along with Dennis, it was DeWayne Schminkey, Russ Swearingen, our sound guy Randy Hartwig and me. Mike Swearingen didn't show up but Dennis did put the word out. Also of note, was the woman that I took out in high school, Penny Johnston would marry her high school sweetheart Karl and had the reception at the same place we had our band reunion. Five years later, Karl and Penny are still together. I did try to reunite with Penny twice, and thought about settling down with her but she knew me better and didn't think that would be a good idea. In essence, Penny was my high school sweetheart but in reality Karl was hers.
But this is not about Penny and Karl. We talked about getting the band back together in some aspect but we all knew that Dennis wasn't about to quit his job as airline pilot just to move back here; he's a transplanted Arizonian and is living the good life. In July of 2015 on the urging of Karen Tipton (no longer a FB friend but was instrumental of encouraging me to play) I returned back to a Thursday Night jam at Wrigleyville and played three songs, not sure which ones they were but my guess was Sweet Home Alabama, Mustang Sally and perhaps Hold On Loosely. The original jammers was T Ray Robertson, Guitar Dave Bonham, Ted Reily and a female keyboard player. Back then I didn't take notes or set lists. I didn't figure I was going to continue to play. The official date of playing was the third Thursday of July 2015 but due to the Corona Virus pandemic, jams and gigs have been placed on hold and I don't know if they will be lifted in time for my five years of playing.
There were highlights in the first month. Russ Swearingen came out to play bass on a couple Wrigleyville dates, including one to which we played Rocky Mountain Way and I sang that song. Dewayne Schminkey also showed up for a few gigs. The only two from Paraphernalia/Tyrus that did share the stage. For the first year, I was pounding on drum sets and trying to be the rowdy rocker from a long time ago. Kim Bean yelled at me for whopping his cymbals and then my brother from another mother Dana "rocky" Smith then played ten times harder than I did.
I was kinda hoping that I could write up a nice retrospective of these past five years and where it has taken me. There were highlights-meeting future Egads singer Belinda James and playing a jazz tinged version of Fever, being part of the Maury Baker jam and singing and playing guitar and having Phil Koening aka Phil Bo King and Craig Erickson helping out with the former Janis Joplin, and Ars Nova drummer Maury playing drums. Helping Julie Gordon and her projects, DOA, the Mad Dogs and her being a special guest star on a couple songs of note. Sitting in with Blue Scratch at Della Viti and the Boy Scout Hippies in the winter of 2019, then Notes From The Underground later on. And then becoming the host drummer for the F B Company Waubeek Jam for the past year. And the countless times of the Stone City Sunday Afternoon jam playing songs and getting applause. And, of course, the two acoustic shows at the Marion Fair On The Square at the start of the Freedom Festival.
I am surprised that I did start building up a band resume. I didn't figure upon playing in any bands since I worked evenings and have no time to be fully committed to bands. With the Boy Scout Hippies, I might have made a steady income, Ron Lafleur, was great at getting gigs with his high octane stage presence and Dakota McWhortor was a super fine guitar player. I found the BSH gigs to be very exhausting and very intense but I always had fun helping Ron out. And he was always welcome to request for me to play at Rumors when the BSH were in town. The Egads, were another fun band and to be honest, this band never played with a set lineup, usually Belinda and myself were the ones that kept it going, Mark Randolph was a decent guitar player but he had a split personality that caused him to leave the band (and Belinda) not once or twice but about four times. Larry Axelman, Rose Slaymaker and Tim Nemec were very important too, but when we did make it to the stage, which was the Vinton benefit for Veterans' we had to employ guest stars to make this go. It seemed like when I signed up to play in a band, to be in a band, we would play one gig and then break up. This goes all the way back to the days of Paraphernalia and the Routers, I was wondering if me being in a band would be a curse. The Wiley Kats, practiced and then imploded on a Rumors Popcorn Jam day.
We lost a good amount of musicians as well. Ron DeWitte, Tommy Patterson, Kyle Oyloe, Don Timmons. Kyle's passing would connect me with Julie for a wild ride, we would go out on the town, watch a movie or play and sometimes played guitar together. The night she sang Walking After Midnight while walking me out to the car makes me smile when I think about that. Best singer in town I still say.
The Townedgers took a back seat to my acoustic adventures and playing in other bands. I did record three albums of note and still working on a new effort but I have come to find out that I had more fun playing drums live with fellow musicians than with the TEs. It used to be that when Tyrus was playing, I wanted to do more original material. Nowadays, it's the opposite. I basically achieved what I wanted to do in the time after the breakup of Tyrus and the 2015 comeback, which started with Forthcoming Trains, an album that gave me confidence to finally shed the stage fright and indifference that has plagued me throughout life.
Time goes by way too fast. This shouldn't be five years now, but I think being on the internet has sped time up to the point that tomorrow is yesterday. When I started documenting the jams and gigs, this was my notebook, a reference guide to see what works and what didn't. I also added the folks who I shared the stage with and thankfully most of who I played with were cool people. Even if Kim Bean might have been a bit direct, he was right about my playing destroying his drumset and cymbals. I was trying too hard to find my groove and it would take the likes of Terry McDowell, Randy Burghdorff, Dan Johnson, Al Hendricks and Tommy Giblin to fix my shortcomings and get me to play the song right and not rush things. I may not agree with what they said but I did adjust my style to play the beat and for their efforts, I played my best drumming in 2019. Nevertheless, these past entrees of five years shows the good and the bad and sometimes the ugly. In the five years back, I have not gotten any one night stands, just like it was back in 1984 I'd be going home alone, and came to accept that since I'm always been the lone wolf.
Alas, the COVID19 pandemic has shut down the bars. I knew somehow this was going to be the big issue of the year, even as I was playing the the final weekend of March jams that we would be sidelined. To be honest, I cannot predict if things will ever return back to normal again. Or if there will be a music scene. I am winding down in my music career and perhaps life. I am playing with Blues Rox, which is Brian and his son Kris Bries and I hold the beat. This was supposed to be our year to make ourselves known. I hope that the notion that any band I play in would be a one and done deal will not be true. Kris Bries is probably the best guitar player I have been associated with, which might be a stretch since he's only 19, but he is so damn good with the blues guitar playing of a Stevie Ray Vaughn that in another time, he'd be on the same stage with a Samantha Fish or Walter Trout. I might be a stepping stone but as long as Blues Rox wants me around to help them, they are my number one priority band. Anybody else will have to take a number.
Looking back, my regret (outside of losing the girl in my PR class at Kirkwood) might have been not sticking with playing drums after the OK Lounge gig in 1984. I just wasn't interested of playing second rate Motley Crue crappy songs or country music, I always been on the garage rock side of things, and original material, tho 60 percent of songs I did write were subpar (no commercial potential) anyway. Three decades later, I return to embrace my inner strengths and not only gotten my groove back on drums but also managed to play and sing my best songs at acoustic jams. If we survive this pandemic, I might be able to pick up where I left off. As I mentioned before, I remain an outsider to the CR music scene. If I can keep my interest up, I might last another five years. Then I'll be 64 and perhaps that might be my last hurrah. But I'll be a musician at heart till the day I die
Too many people to mention but I thank each and every one of them that I shared the stage with. Even the grumpy DJ who had his ride cymbal down to my knee and challenged me to keep it that way he had it, I played the drums like the host had them. And I think I did a damn good job improvising that too.
Tuesday 5 May 2020
Backsliding Fearlessly-Gold Dust Woman
July marks my fifth year of being back on the Cedar Rapids music scene. While we have no gigs or jams forthcoming this month, I'll be looking in the archives for magic moments in the sunshine.
It was three years ago, while playing random notes on Julie's guitar, I stumbled upon the melody of Gold Dust Woman, a song that link me and her for the next couple years. I was still finding my way through the CR music scene and took up guitar as basically as a hobby, making my debut at The Acousta Kitties Checker's Wednesday Night acoustic jam. I had this blind ambition to play more guitar eventually, usually Checkers' and Gilligan's where Karl Hudson hosted that for a couple months.
To be honest, I tried to record Gold Dust Woman on my own during the Logic n Lies sessions and didn't do a very convincing take on that song. The original intent was to conclude the album with a version of Gold Dust Woman done live at Checker's. Either Mark Randolph or Belinda James recorded it. We played around with it and Terry Bainbridge, the producer of the album, nixed it. Too many voices in the background. Another idea was to get Julie to sing it at the studio be it at home or at the Sanctuary in Marion. But time was never found to do that.
There are at least two versions that I'm aware of, the one version done at Checker's had Belinda James singing softly in the background. I thought it kinda enhanced the song but in the end, it didn't even make the covers album Eminent Dormain (Released 2018). Both sung by Julie.
In my time back, I have at least four other singers sing this song. Dee Vieman has done it for the Rumors Wednesday Night Jam a couple times, with Randy Burghdorff adding the ending to The Chain for shits and giggles. Belinda James did sing it once at Whittier, mostly as a favor for me since Julie couldn't make it. An unknown woman at Rumors and then most recently on my Acoustic Adventures, Kim Trevallion, her version is closer to Lizzy Hale and Halestorm than Stevie Nicks. It has been Kim that's been the singer of this song the last few times. Last time Julie and I played it together was the Acousta Kitties Reunion of July last year.
Overall, Julie remains the best singer for this song, she prefers the Stevie Nicks sound, Kim goes for the over the top Lizzy Hale shout. First time Julie and I played it together it was wonderful and special moments came of it. I find it hard to believe it has been three years ago, while fucking around the chords that Julie caught on and sang the whole song without missing a note and sideswiping the flubbed guitar notes. No, it wasn't as polished or pretty as when Kyle was alive and they were singing it together with the Mad Dogs. But I guarantee you when she came out on stage at the Sanctuary in January 2019, she sang it with angst and viciousness that it was a shame we didn't get that recorded. She'll disagree with this but I thought it was the best damn version she ever did of Gold Dust Woman.
And God bless her for that.
It was three years ago, while playing random notes on Julie's guitar, I stumbled upon the melody of Gold Dust Woman, a song that link me and her for the next couple years. I was still finding my way through the CR music scene and took up guitar as basically as a hobby, making my debut at The Acousta Kitties Checker's Wednesday Night acoustic jam. I had this blind ambition to play more guitar eventually, usually Checkers' and Gilligan's where Karl Hudson hosted that for a couple months.
To be honest, I tried to record Gold Dust Woman on my own during the Logic n Lies sessions and didn't do a very convincing take on that song. The original intent was to conclude the album with a version of Gold Dust Woman done live at Checker's. Either Mark Randolph or Belinda James recorded it. We played around with it and Terry Bainbridge, the producer of the album, nixed it. Too many voices in the background. Another idea was to get Julie to sing it at the studio be it at home or at the Sanctuary in Marion. But time was never found to do that.
There are at least two versions that I'm aware of, the one version done at Checker's had Belinda James singing softly in the background. I thought it kinda enhanced the song but in the end, it didn't even make the covers album Eminent Dormain (Released 2018). Both sung by Julie.
In my time back, I have at least four other singers sing this song. Dee Vieman has done it for the Rumors Wednesday Night Jam a couple times, with Randy Burghdorff adding the ending to The Chain for shits and giggles. Belinda James did sing it once at Whittier, mostly as a favor for me since Julie couldn't make it. An unknown woman at Rumors and then most recently on my Acoustic Adventures, Kim Trevallion, her version is closer to Lizzy Hale and Halestorm than Stevie Nicks. It has been Kim that's been the singer of this song the last few times. Last time Julie and I played it together was the Acousta Kitties Reunion of July last year.
Overall, Julie remains the best singer for this song, she prefers the Stevie Nicks sound, Kim goes for the over the top Lizzy Hale shout. First time Julie and I played it together it was wonderful and special moments came of it. I find it hard to believe it has been three years ago, while fucking around the chords that Julie caught on and sang the whole song without missing a note and sideswiping the flubbed guitar notes. No, it wasn't as polished or pretty as when Kyle was alive and they were singing it together with the Mad Dogs. But I guarantee you when she came out on stage at the Sanctuary in January 2019, she sang it with angst and viciousness that it was a shame we didn't get that recorded. She'll disagree with this but I thought it was the best damn version she ever did of Gold Dust Woman.
And God bless her for that.
Sunday 3 May 2020
Quarantine Sessions-With The Black Spy
Hosted by Steve Black Wolf
and Featuring.
Virginia Harlow
Steve Black Wolf
Richard Edward Butler
Tommy Bruner
Guitar Dave Bonham
Donna Jo Eisner
And the Black Spy
(Ed and the gang, Tommy is out of the picture. Ed took all photos)
For the first time since 1997, I returned back to N St since moving to Viola from here. The place hasn't changed all that much. Steve lives across from the old duplex, which is up for sale. I wonder if it's still an sauna in the summertime.
(Virginia, DJ, Black Spy)
For songs, basically the usual suspects. Donna Jo helped on Sundown, Ed played cornet on For What's It's Worth, and Dave sang Willin' Ed sang I Shot The Sheriff. Tommy played a few numbers and yours truly did Fox On The Run. And we did two versions of Turn The Page, the second ended the jam, right before 6 oclock.
(Black Spy and Guitar Dave)
The neighbors gave me five dollars to play Wagon Wheel. I knew the chords but not the words. I didn't figure this to be a paying gig but I scored 10 dollars for the fun and effort. To which I blew up on a cashew chicken supper at the Mt Vernon Road Chinese Place.
I suppose if I wanted to, I could probably move downstairs under Steve's place. I spend more time here in CR than I do at my own place. Dave has moved back into town and once again is Julie's roommate. Do I miss being in that part of town? At times, yes. The N Street neighborhood is fairly safe and not too much of the ghetto riff raff. But I do enjoy the peace and quiet of Stone City. And that town and Waubeek isn't too far away either.
While the Corona Pandemic is raging non stop, a lot of the folks around the area have started to return back to a normal way of life. A record number of people cruising 1st avenue, something that we have not seen since the early 80s and last night's cruise was 10 times as many. My brother said it took him an hour and half to go from the Williams/16th Ave to the Town n Country Shopping Center last night.
When it comes to opening up the state to return back to playing live or bargain hunt, I'm on the fence. While the Corvid19 virus is out and about, taking people left n right, I also think there's other ways of dying. I'm certain I will be silenced by a heart attack mowing the yard. Death is a part of life and someday I will be dead. No running away from that. But all I can do is continue to live my life the best way that I see fit. Today's jam, we did social distancing and stayed six feet away from each other.
I'm not going to win over people with my guitar playing. I play rhythm and it goes right for the Townedgers and all the songs I do solo. If I don't get too self conscious and being ultra critical, I can still play and sing. This year, I actually more concerned about playing drums since the March shut down. But where the road leads, I will continue to follow it till it leads me back to my couch and the endless DVDs of old TV re runs.
But till then, I still got a new album to complete and find some sort of art work to make decent CD copies of the next album. The self doubt is growing, but I refuse to let it dictate my life at the moment. Once the new album is done, I'll weigh the pros and cons of playing.
By then we'll know the answer to that equation.
and Featuring.
Virginia Harlow
Steve Black Wolf
Richard Edward Butler
Tommy Bruner
Guitar Dave Bonham
Donna Jo Eisner
And the Black Spy
(Ed and the gang, Tommy is out of the picture. Ed took all photos)
For the first time since 1997, I returned back to N St since moving to Viola from here. The place hasn't changed all that much. Steve lives across from the old duplex, which is up for sale. I wonder if it's still an sauna in the summertime.
(Virginia, DJ, Black Spy)
For songs, basically the usual suspects. Donna Jo helped on Sundown, Ed played cornet on For What's It's Worth, and Dave sang Willin' Ed sang I Shot The Sheriff. Tommy played a few numbers and yours truly did Fox On The Run. And we did two versions of Turn The Page, the second ended the jam, right before 6 oclock.
(Black Spy and Guitar Dave)
The neighbors gave me five dollars to play Wagon Wheel. I knew the chords but not the words. I didn't figure this to be a paying gig but I scored 10 dollars for the fun and effort. To which I blew up on a cashew chicken supper at the Mt Vernon Road Chinese Place.
I suppose if I wanted to, I could probably move downstairs under Steve's place. I spend more time here in CR than I do at my own place. Dave has moved back into town and once again is Julie's roommate. Do I miss being in that part of town? At times, yes. The N Street neighborhood is fairly safe and not too much of the ghetto riff raff. But I do enjoy the peace and quiet of Stone City. And that town and Waubeek isn't too far away either.
While the Corona Pandemic is raging non stop, a lot of the folks around the area have started to return back to a normal way of life. A record number of people cruising 1st avenue, something that we have not seen since the early 80s and last night's cruise was 10 times as many. My brother said it took him an hour and half to go from the Williams/16th Ave to the Town n Country Shopping Center last night.
When it comes to opening up the state to return back to playing live or bargain hunt, I'm on the fence. While the Corvid19 virus is out and about, taking people left n right, I also think there's other ways of dying. I'm certain I will be silenced by a heart attack mowing the yard. Death is a part of life and someday I will be dead. No running away from that. But all I can do is continue to live my life the best way that I see fit. Today's jam, we did social distancing and stayed six feet away from each other.
I'm not going to win over people with my guitar playing. I play rhythm and it goes right for the Townedgers and all the songs I do solo. If I don't get too self conscious and being ultra critical, I can still play and sing. This year, I actually more concerned about playing drums since the March shut down. But where the road leads, I will continue to follow it till it leads me back to my couch and the endless DVDs of old TV re runs.
But till then, I still got a new album to complete and find some sort of art work to make decent CD copies of the next album. The self doubt is growing, but I refuse to let it dictate my life at the moment. Once the new album is done, I'll weigh the pros and cons of playing.
By then we'll know the answer to that equation.
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