Thoughts From The Townedger March Edition

The Checkers Jam have started up again.  A lot of folk showed up for the Lorie Parker/David Kirksby one but somehow turnout was less when Julie and Dave hosted theirs.  Perhaps the weather sucked but I always have noticed the when the latter does the jams there's less folks.   It will probably rebound once Carl Meiners returns from Arizona next month.   The Conservative bunch always have more people it seems than the radical liberals musicians.   I couldn't stay very long for both and I thank Lorie for letting me get ahead of the crowd and do a quick three songs and then back to the salt mines.  But I was somewhat late for returning on Julie's thing, I can only get away with so much.  I will support both jams if and when time allows.  

The Doug Case celebration of Life and jam went without any incidents, tho I had to leave Kim Bean hanging on the drums after having to get back to my significant other, only to find that she would have rather have me played the jam then come back and messed up her plans.   I still get a chuckle when Kim came up and say I could played his drum without bashing the hell out his cymbals, but I told him it's all good, I don't play that demented anymore, loss of hearing with do that.  Hell of a way to start up a friendship shall we say?  He had most of his front line cymbals, (he said having them way up high is easier on his ears and did you know that he polished them up for 3 and a half hours?  That dedication, but I like my cymbals to be on the more dirtier side.  Not sure about Paistes but Zildjian K's really do sound better when they're a bit grimy.  I'm not sure who else showed up for the jam but Daddy O McMurrin was there and Al Hendricks made a quick cameo.  And of course our favorite lush Craig Dewitte, who I enjoyed jamming with at Rumors years ago, but he doesn't seem to remember me and wanted Kim to back him up for his two songs before he went out the door.  He wrecked his brain cells years ago after drinking many a beers, perhaps if he had a case he would have known me.    It's the way of the world it seems, let's start up a band one minute, forgotten the next.    Consider the source.

It was not the first time that I got passed up by somebody,  it happened earlier in the month at Rumors when some cube ball headed dude wanted Terry to back him up and it got to the point that I couldn't hang around.  Just by showing up, I support the jam and try to keep the music alive.  I do have an ego and there will be this competition inside of me always going.  A mark of a great musician to be passed up is something of an insult.  But it comes down to whatever they can play and how I can help.  In the case of Craig Dewitte, I did feel slighted, after what we could do with Green Onions how can he forget that.  I'm sure we'll cross paths again in the near future, and probably will ignore each other since his mind don't go that far back into the past.  I'm sure if I didn't document that day, I'd forget that too.

And Bruce Stanley is still missed. 

Rumors Jam-Tim Canfield Bass Player Of The Week

Can't Find My Way Home

Stone Crazy Over You

Just Got Back From Baby's 

Stormy Monday Blues

Dave Bonham-Vocals 2,3,4 and guitar on rest

Tommy Bruner-Vocals on 1 and guitar

Tim Canfield-Bass

Terry McDowell-Host

Billy Bourbon-Host

Freddy Jones-Harmonica

Bob Gleason-Harmonica

Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica

Morris-Guitar 

R.Smith-Drums

Dave rode with me to Rumors and we did a set of four blues songs.  Terry had a stripped down drumset which most of the songs were done blues style.  Three harmonica players about 5 drummers and only Dave was the guitarist that wasn't associated with the jam band.  I shared a few laughs with Al Hendricks who had Herm backing him up on drums I gather.  Al swears it wasn't him at the Doug Case jam yesterday. 

He must have an imposter out there somewhere. 

A patron paid for an extra hour of jamming which ended around 9 PM.  By then Dave and I have been long gone.   

Long Lunch With Crabby Part Two 3/25/21

Songs

Rock Me Baby

Satin Sheets

Let's Work Together

My Babe

Cinnamon Girl

Gold Dust Woman

Baby What You Want Me To Do

Guest stars

Nick Lenicka-harmonica

Julie Gordon-Vocals on Gold Dust and Baby What You Want Me To Do

Maki Dervo played Whiplash

Dave Bonham, DJ Hovenstot and Kimberly Hovenstot and Mike Frederick showed up

so did a couple other guys that I can't think of their names.

Patrick Tecklenburg was there too.  Took me a while to remember his name. 

Since Nick was there on harp, he helped me through my interesting set of blues and other oddites.  Unlike last week, the clientele was different and less performers but it could have been the rainy and crappy weather keeping everybody away.   Julie popped up to sing the last two numbers, a quick run through of Gold Dust and counterpoint vocal to the last song.   When I was singing My Babe, she was blowing kisses at me and I lost my train of thought.  We both were laughing over that one.

Overall a good time. 

Stone City-Rumors 3/21/21

Stone City Song list

Fox On The Run

My Babe

Cheating Songs

Ring Of Fire

Baby What You Want Me To Do

Bubs Johannes: Host

Bill Schlatter, Ed Butler, Marki Dervo,  Dave Bonham and Barb Francisco were there.

(Shelly Foley:Photo  L-R, R. Smith, Gary Darling, Morris, Terry McDowell)

Rumors:

Big Boss Man

For What It's Worth

Knocking On Heaven's Door

Take It Easy

That'll Be The Day

Pride And Joy

Mary Jane's Last Dance 

Ain't Living Long Like This

Willin'

Brown Eye Girl 

Before You Accuse Me

Gary Darling-Acoustic Guitar/Bass/Lead vocal 1-4)

Nate Hines-Guitar Vocals on Willin

Billy Bourbon-Guitar and vocals  (7,8, 10, 11) 

Tara Primasing-Vocal (That'll Be The Day)

Tim Kaufman-Vocal (Pride And Joy)

Dan Johnson-Bass (1-4)

Morris-Guitar

Terry McDowell-Host

Al Hendricks-Himself

I'm sure there's a couple songs that escape my mind.  But anyway, I did play this time out after playing Stone City earlier in the day.  Nothing out of the ordinary, tho My Babe was dusted off.  Rocky Smith and Sharon Elbe sneaked in and sneaked out.   First time I have seen Ed Butler since the Qurantine Jam. 

I didn't have plans to go to Rumors but the five year anniversary of The Wiley Kats first and only appearance happened and so I ventured into town.  Terry let me finish the jam in grand style.  Tho Billy apologized for the odd feel of Willin' but I thought the song only needed some cymbal splashes and minimal drums, I usually play it straight beat.  Another guy at Stone City played that before Dave showed up to play.   Anyway, first time I have seen both Tami Soukup and Shelley Foley so had to say hi to them.  Tami has been working nights at Nordstorms' so I missed seeing her at the jams, Likewise Jeffrey Brown who works third shift at my place of employment.  So it was understandable that Jeffrey wasn't there. 

(which one is Gary?) 

I managed to jam with Gary Darling through this set. (see photo).  Gary was part of Madness/Akahsha band of the early 70s and 80s.  I have jammed with him one time before and he's been exposed to some of the finer drummers in Iowa (Don Timmons comes to mind).  So we did a funkier version of Big Boss Man and for Knocking On Heaven's Door he wanted to go Reggae, so we did that.  I do enjoy doing a reggae version of that song anyway, not sure if Billy Bourbon did that way or Maki Dervo (probably the latter).  Tim (Tito) Kaufman did the lead vocal to Pride And Joy and actually did a fine job.  Afterwards, I spent the time chatting with Al Hendricks.  For somebody in his 80s, he's got more life in him than me after I turned 60.    He's a great guy, and he always says if Terry lets him, he wants me to play drum behind him.  Last time I did that....March `15, 2020 before the COVID epidemic shut things down.

(Diana Conwell-Koening's photo of Daddy O at Checkers Saturday Night) 

For Saturday,  I crashed Dave and Julie's gig at The Coralville Legion and got to see them play, before heading the interstate to Checkers to see Daddy O McMurrin, play for the first time in over a year.  Got to hear Get The Funk Outta Ma Face and gave him some money in the till and a tip of the hat.  I love him too.  

Long Lunch With Crabby: The Return Of The Checkers Acoustic Jam

Songs:

For What It's Worth

Everybody's Talking

Cinnamon Girl

David Lee Kirksey: Percussion

Donna Jo-Vocal on Everybody's Talking

Lorie Parker let me  use her guitar.

(just like old times. Rhonda Morris, David, Lorie, Donna Jo) 

So it's the return of the Acoustic Open Mic at Checkers and I took a long lunch to play some songs and hang with the gang.  Great to see Cathy Hart and Lorie again.  Luther was there, as well as Donna Jo and Guitar Dave.

It should have been a fun night but I had to return back to work and deal with shitty scanners and shitty paper and it didn't help things that I chopped up some scan tracks and took me over an hour to repair those and another hour  to scan.

And for my reward, I hit a deer on the way home after avoiding one a mile ago.  Thankfully I bumped into it and my wasn't total.  But I very pissed at the Creator at once again subjecting me through a lot of bullshit, and through a Larry Norman best of, told God I was not pleased.

Idle Times: Rumors 3/14/21

I suppose if I could have waited till 7 30 I could have finished up the Sunday Funday Jam, but I'm more inclined to let the others drum up a storm.  Anyway, Phil Bo and Freddy Jones were up there and playing, Herman playing drums for them.  Some drunk chick came up, fell the stage twice and plastered our ears with When Will I Be Loved.  Phil Bo did three long blues rock songs.  A decent crowd.  I decided to walk around New Bo and downtown CR before heading to Rumors and got there around 5 30.  Herman and Tito were there first and Terry goes according to who's there.  I thought getting some needed exercise walking around town was the better idea.  Terry has been getting drummers to show up.  I'm sure the next time I'll get to show off.  I know had I stayed I would have finished up the jam.   But in essence I was there to support the jam by plopping my ass in a seat.

I spent the afternoon on a Zoom conference with the Blues Rox boys and we got a few things off our chest but I know Russ is still disappointed in having his songs rejected.   There was no Stone City open mic today, that will be next week.  Lorie Parker will host the return of the Checkers Jam on Thursday.  

Herman said he's talking to Belinda and she has develop a tumor behind her neck  plus she hasn't had the voice to sing of late.  He asked if I had a PDP Drum set when I played live.  No it's the old Tama set that has been in use but I haven't desired a new drum set to replace that one.  It pisses me off when the legs are not set and the drums move but it still has the best sound overall.  Think I'll stick with that drum set.

For the past five and half years I have documented the highlights of the jams that I played in.  To try to make it this a diary of being part of the music scene.  When I write things out, I tend to be judgmental or over critical, mostly to myself.  I can see the distraction that it gives the reader.  But I don't promote this blog all that much and the ratings show that.  Does it really matter that five years ago, I was driving out to Norway to practice with Tim Riley and Ben Benard in starting up a new band only to see it fizzle a month later? Does it matter, that I spent the day on my seat, in a seat watching a drunken karaoke singer fumble her way to a Linda Ronstadt song?  I give her credit for getting up on stage and doing that.  Even with earplugs, she did hurt my ears. 

I think it's amusing to read what I posted at that day and time, just like today.  All the thoughts of long ago and far away, they haven't changed that much.  I'm still the same ole same ole from five years ago. Five years ago, Tim Duffy was in charge of putting things together, today Terry McDowell.  And has done a decent job.  I continue to listen to take notes on how Herman plays the songs, or Mr. McDowell and Tito as well.  It's a crap shoot if I go walking around New Bo then head to Rumours for the jam and get put in the lineup.  Or hang at Rumors and then slide off and go walking later on, we do have an extra hour of daylight.   It depends on the way that I feel if I want to wait around. On the honor system it's encouraged to leave a tip.  I look at this, the longer I play and contribute to the cause, the larger the tip I will give them.  Up to an hour of playing, I'll throw a five spot in the till just for the wear and tear on the drum set or sticks that I use. Wear and tear on the car and not playing, that goes for a carwash then.  But I'll throw something in the tip jar. Even if I'm not up to it or would rather go home and watch a DVD or jam  with Julie.  

And so it is.   The Acoustic Adventures also needs a bit of practice as well.  Had I known Phil Bo or Freddy would be there right off the bat, perhaps I should have showed sooner.  But the only thing I'm assured of is hitting every fucking red light going out of town and every psycho driver or semi driver that seemed to be the driver from the movie Duel.  And it's getting to the point that maybe staying home more often is the answer. The hassles outweigh the positives.   It also didn't help that the Chinese take out sucked as well. Grizzle right off the bat.  Another shot of Pepto should do the trick. 

Stone City-Return Of The Open Mic 2021

Songs:

Satin Sheets

For What Its Worth

Good Time Charlie

Cheating Songs

Jet Airliner

Cinnamon Girl

Bubs Johannes: Host

Maki Dervo: Assistant

Mike Fredrick-Last Man Standing

Bill Sclatter, Sharon Ebie, Dave Bonham, Ray Larson: has left the building.

Julie has been dealing with a tooth ache and stayed home.  Dave showed up and helped Bill with his songs.  Sharon showed up later and it was awkward to see her and Dave.  In fact she didn't seem to be too interested of hearing what he had to say but Dave left before I sang and Sharon left in mid set.   

Satin Sheets was used instead of Fox On The Run.  Maki was trying to find the right settings for me to sing and played and he got it right around Jet Airliner.  For a song that I never done live, Satin Sheets actually sounded good.  Jet Airliner was extended so that I can remember how the first verse went.

Dave says that Ryan N Julie will be hosting the Checkers' Acoustic set in a couple weeks and perhaps Dreams Of Arcadia will be back sooner than thought.  Which will put the kabash on any Acoustic Crabbies project.  It seems the winds of change are blowing back to Ryan than Dave anyway.  But we all know the winds will blow back in the other direction.

The Stone City acoustic open mic will be a every other week thing till it is warm enough to play outdoors.

Due to the lateness of my performance,  I didn't make it to Rumors.  Maybe next week. 

Notes From The Z Barn

Songs:

Fox On The Run

I Won't Back Down

Ring Of Fire

Jet Airliner

Cinnamon Girl

Poor Poor Pitiful Me

(solo with some female friends helping out)

Plus  backing up Terry McCauley on a few songs.

Tequila Sunrise, She's just my style.  Lyin Eyes, Ventura Highway, Horse With No Name, Sister Golden Hair, Sandman, Blue Bayou, Pink Houses, and Little Drummer Boy to name a few?!

Terry McCauley-Vocals and guitar

Guy Peterson-Guitar and vocals

Mark Johnson-Vocals

I got locked out of the house prior to going to the Z Barn  But thankfully my brother got home, so I threw a guitar and snare drum and roared down to the Z Barn, an out of place venue that hosted a acoustic hootenanny.   Our favorite troubadour Terry McCauley invited me to hang out and I did that.  While the guitar numbers were good, (despite some off key female singers) I think they liked me having the snare to play the songs too.  

Terry McCauley has been a good friend of mine since we ran into each other at Stone City a couple years ago.  He has a great musical knowledge of the soft rock bands of America, Eagles, Jimmy Buffett etc etc. but his musical act is just him and guitar.  He's been a regular on the music scene for over 40 years and then some.  You can count him doing Bee Gees music (he says they are his favorite band) and he didn't disappoint.  To Love Somebody, Islands In The Stream were a couple.  But mostly America songs, we attempted to do To Each His Own but perhaps next time we'll do that.  We ended things with Sandman, a song I have done one time before and we both smiled that we both knew the breaks.   We almost lost him from a serious illness from October thereabouts.   But he's still feisty as ever but I enjoy sitting in with him on drums.  We get the ole boy to rock out when we can.

Of note, was two Christmas songs played including a take on Drummer Boy, People seemed to enjoy that.  Guy wanted to hear wipe out but I told him that's a pay to play song ;)  

Farewell To The Artisan Sanctuary In Marion.

Songs:

Oh Death/

Please Don't Leave Me

In The Wind Tonight

Cheating Songs

Logic And Lies

Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever.

For the past four years, I have been a part of the Marion Sanctuary and I have shared some fun memories of playing there.  Highlights are plenty, Gold Dust Woman really has been a part of my set list, sometimes with Kimberly but most of the time, Julie Gordon sang that song and blistered the competition.   The Benefit for Julie last year which gave us the last time the Egads! played together.  Colton Thompson deciding to sing Logic And Lies and the countless jams at the end with Phil Bo and Fab Five Freddy Jones.   The Blues Jam in September is the cherry on top. Or perhaps the Maury Baker Jam back in 2018.

The building's owner has decided to sell to another entity, which meant that Jim Jacobmeyer had to find a new place and found one across from Coe College on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids.  I have shared my songs on a stage which was about six feet wide and perhaps six feet across, not much to have a drum set on stage but perfect for that intimate setting with people.   But that small stage was like home to me. 

I have been trying to come up a nice finale to end my association on that stage.  So I started out with a vocal only of Oh Death, which the crowd kept the time and pace.  Then went into Please Don't Leave Me. Six songs for almost 25 minutes on stage and  I was the last act to play and sing. Kimberly followed with a couple of karaoke songs, her hubby David did a couple and Mike Frederick, who came out of a year long hibernation, (namely due to working at Cargill) and finished up with a few banjo numbers with Freddy on harp and a fiddle player.  All songs were originals except the the first song and Cheating Songs.  No blues, hardly any country and plenty of garage rock on acoustic.  The finale was Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever, a song that Nicole Passmore co wrote with me a few years ago.  It's a shame she never got around to hear me play live. Ten years ago, she moved down here to be with me and we never did anything musically.  She inspired and add some lyrics to a couple songs,  Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever one of them.  I don't think she was happy with the end results.  The first verse was basically me going back home after returning her back to her home state when things fell apart.  The  Chorus suggested that perhaps we may return back together, but eventually she found a better man to share her life with.  In my case, it made a nice song that I played for the first time live tonight.

Overall, we had the best turnout in over two months.  Barb Francisco came out to play and sing, Phil Bo was there, so was Dave Bonham and Mikey Frederick.  Plus Kimberly and David too.  I suppose looking at the songs I could have done one or two more but Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever was the final song for me when I played it.  

Checkers is starting up their acoustic jams on Thursday with a round robin hosts doing the Thursday night shows.  Julie and Dave have one,  Lorie Parker will have another and two more spots need to be filled up, I'm guessing Kevin Moore will be one, maybe Kevin Burt the other.  If there's any time off, The Artisan will be the first choice.  

I have heard that the host band at MOCO have been lousy hosts.  A friend wanted to do a cover but the host band didn't know the cover nor didn't want to do that.  Perhaps the guys in Rumors can help out.  That is if they do know the song or how it goes.  I remain drums only when I do the Sunday jam at Rumors.   Perhaps if Blues Rox gets their act together they can do medley jam, just like the Lost In America band did last Sunday. It was a misunderstanding.  Evan Stock Band has always been a great band to play music with.  

It's been a year ago that FB and Company did the Waubeek Jam.  Maki says perhaps June if we all get vaccinated.   But till spring processing gets done, I won't be doing much jams anyway.  Except weekends only.

Ryan has reached out to Julie about starting up Dreams Of Arcadia.  I can see Julie signing off to do this, if Ryan keeps his political views to himself.  They do work together quite well, but Julie has Dave and the electric band and perhaps something with me involved.   But then again, I'm the most stubborn mule ass crabb dragging my feet on that.  She has great musicians, I just happen to be dating her.

Speaking of which.  While I posted pictures of past gigs and open mics, I have been accused of hamming it up to get attention.  Which really did hurt me since it came from my fave singer.  This doesn't come from insecurity or wanting recognition, these photos from the past is a reminder that I did make the stage and sing and play and most of the pictures that I repost mean a lot to me.  The picture from last year caught me in a perfect time and place.   There's a 30 year empty place between the Tyrus 1984 gig and the 2015 Wrigleyville jam.  I did mention to Julie that it took me over thirty five years to be comfortable on stage just to allowed to have somebody take photos of me.  I can also quit in a second if this doesn't appease to her.    

When you have depression and be your own worst critic, the last thing you need is to have somebody tear you apart, especially the one that is your significant other.  Given the fragility of my own critique at these gigs, it gives the feeling of me against the world and does figure into even starting up new projects like the AcoustaCrabbies.  Sometimes, when you say something at the wrong time, it is duly noted. It might have been her way of saying I'm spending too much time on social media.  Sometimes speaking in jest, we might take it the wrong way and we'll punish them for that.  I may not be Kyle or even Guitar Dave but I do have my own way of playing music and it works for me.   We all are guilty for saying the wrong things.  Perhaps the next time, it's better to delete the comment rather than hit the post button.  Capture and celebrate the moment, and not damn it.  One day, we will not be around to create the good music and vibes.  Even if it looks celebratory of oneself.    

Farewell Marion Sanctuary.  You'll be missed.