Thoughts From The Townedger-April Edition

Spring processing is gonna be the death of me yet. Got my COVID 2 shot on Tuesday and ended up sleeping two days away.  Meanwhile half of Blues Rox made it to the wed night jam with Freddy Jones and Dave Bonham.  Would have been nice to partake this jam but somehow the need to sleep won out.  There will be other chances I gather. 

Since turning sixty, I have battled my body on a lot of things.  Can't eat nothing without having the GD shits day in and day out, my blood pressure will not go under 150 and I hate the constant battle of shaving.  Every four fucking days, my brillo face returns and not amount of shaving will not get rid of the 14 hairs that get caught in my jacket zipper.  I have never looked good in a beard and the constant fighting of shaving every four days is getting tiring. Oh, but I can always cut myself shaving and still miss the fucking stubble.  Another of God's great practical joke I can do without.  Also, to add more insult, I continue to lose more hair.  The golden years doesn't seem so damn golden it seems.

But here I am still.  I managed to show up for the Sunday jams in the local area.  Due to the 12 work days, I have not played much guitar and when I do play, it's a ragged performance.   For May, it will continue to be spring processing first till the middle of the month and perhaps then I can finally get back into playing again.  But I haven't been much enthused about playing.  Music should be fun, this should be fun.  Blues Rox will be the main cause for the summer,  including playing the Jones County Fair in July, non paying of course but we'll get free admission to ride the rides.  And a August sleepover in Williamsburg.  

Spring processing has been as advertised, another clusterfuck.  Julie has been busy gardening and doing her best to plant to bring the butterflies to her yard, as well as practicing in her band and with Dave.  She's got a lot determination in the digging and planting of her seeds.  God bless her for doing her best to keep the insects around.  I haven't been much help due to my 10 hour days at work, but we had disagreements along the way.  True love travels a bumpy road.   She has once again hooked up with Ryan about playing again with Dreams Of Arcadia.  A thorny situation if there's ever was one.  The way I look at things, is that it's a choice, be it gardening or playing in bands and even being with me.  I will not tell what she should do.  Their partnership has brought some intense gigs between then.  I've been a part of some of them and some of them turned out to be one of the best gigs I've been in.  I admire Julie for her unweaving faith in negative  experiences such as Dreams Of Arcadia, but I also believe it's a toxic affair.   I want her to succeed in what she does, but so far none of her experiences has been as fruitful as they were when Kyle was alive.  I haven't done much with Ryan since last year and our political views clash tho it hasn't hampered us getting together and playing.   I think it's a lost cause, but whatever Julie wants to do with DOA, I'll support, but after spring processing.  She did get me to think about retiring in five years.  Maybe she'll get that wish....if I'm not dead by then.

My political views are mine and my own.  I will jam with folks who are as red as they can be but they will not force me to agree with their rhetoric.   I've notice that my relations with my drumming brother Rocky have cause friction between us, judging by my last conversation with him, he hightailed it after I told about getting the COVID 2 shot.  And he wasn't going to get it, nor does Sharon, who now is a part of his life.  Their life and I respect that.  But I can't change somebody who decided that since I don't agree with their Conservative views that I'm not worthy to be on their level, if that's the case, perhaps I should have left him shivering there on a New Year's Eve night when his truck failed him.   We have too many fair-weather people that want your help but when you are down and out, they'll leave you out there shivering on a cold winter's night.   I didn't care for the former POTUS or his servants such as Ashley Hinson or Joni Ernst, who are two of the most worthless congresspeople ever, but I will not bring that up to Rocky or Sharon or others.  If Rocky or Sharon show up to hear me play, I will return the favor but if he or she would rather to leave them both alone, they will get that wish. 

I am not sure what the month of May will br.  If I managed to survive the processing season and still have a girlfriend  or if I will continue the Acoustic Adventures.  Likewise, I will be all in on the Rumor's Sunday Funday jam and if time allows it, one or two of the Checker's Thursday Jams.  Promoting the new Towndger's album is done.  Maybe Jim Jacobmeyer will continue to convince me to do a Acoustical showcase but for the grand opening of the new Artisan Sanctuary in Cedar Rapids, that's not going to happen, maybe June at the very earliest.  Pat Ticklenburg will host the debut and he'll be fine.  If I can get my BP back down to normal and get some things taken care of, maybe I'll be back to help out the cause, but Blues Rox, as mentioned is number 1 on the list.  Till they find another drummer.

Maybe, I'll shave my head and get rid of the unwanted 450 hairs on top of my head.  Hopefully next month we'll be in a better frame of mind.   If I'm not dead yet.  God Bless Ed Cassidy.

Stone City/Rumors 4/25/21

Stone City Songlist

Fox On The Run

Rainbow In The Dark

Greenback Dollar

It's My Time 

Satin Sheets

Logic And Lies

Lynchin' Party 

Cheating Songs

Jet Airliner

Baby What You Want Me To Do/

Let's Work Together/

Cinnamon Girl

Ring Of Fire

Rumors song list;

When Will I'll Be Loved

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Johnny B Goode

You Never Call Me By My Name

Further Up The Road

Call Me The Breeze

All Summer Long/Sweet Home Alabama/Warewolves Of London Medley 

Mary Jane's Last Dance

Fast As You

Long Hair Country Boy

Before You Accuse Me

Women I Never Had

With
Morris-Guitar

Tara Primasing-Vocals (When Will I Be Loved, Hit Me)

Billy Bourbon-Guitar and vocals

Jamie Allen Vance-Guitar and vocals

Kat Blue-Vocals (Further Up the Road, Call Me The Breeze)

Tim Canfield-Bass

Terry McDowell-Drums and main host

Tommy Bruner-Sat this one out

Fab Five Freddy Jones-Harmonica

R. Smith-featured drummer on these songs.

Kat Blue is Kimberly Trevellion Sphr and from this moment on will be known as Kat Blue.

Stone City Crowd Included: Bill Lasker,  Barb Francisco, Greg Francisco and Carl Meiners, Karl Hudson, Bill Schlatter, Mike Fredericks, Dave Bonham with Rocky Smith and Tiffany Malanaphy in attendance 

Rumors had a big crowd as well.  Lorie Parker and Donna Jo was there, Steve Black Wolf was there as well as Richard Edward Butler and Sir Bob Miller.   And Al Hendricks, George Madilon, Skeeter Lewis and Brenda Snow, who true to form, sneaked out during my appearance.  I think Joe Hutchcroft is better off anyway.

No Tim Kauffman to speak of and Herm Sarduy was already done and Bob Miller was backing up Lorie and Donna Jo and Kat Blue on their song set.  Terry managed to let me finish the jam with a hour  ten minute set of songs. I remember at least 11 songs of note, with Tara singing the obvious two female lead offs.  I think Jaime plays in a country band judging by the three country songs he sang.   Somehow, I managed to get people dancing on the songs that I played.  George Madion always says I got the beat to make him dance.  It's a good feeling when I find the right swing of beat to get them dancing, which means the bartenders are happy since dancing makes people dancing.

Working 10 hour days the past two weeks has made me pretty tired over the weekend.  Still I managed to hit both open mics and jams.  I was surprised I did 13 songs from Stone City; Karl Hudson has been more than generous of granting me a half hour playing songs.  With my place of employment being very busy I have not picked up the guitar and played all that much. At least this time I didn't fuck up Fox On The Run but I did use the cheat sheet for Rainbow In The Dark.  I think the performance was a little bit rusty as they say and I couldn't remember the words to Jet Airliner, to which went to being overworked at work and not paying attention to the lyrics at the open mic.  Karl granted me an extra song to which I did a blues medley before going into Cinnamon Girl.  Ring Of Fire ended this set list and I don't usually end it with Ring Of Fire but my voice was giving out and I needed a drink.  Afterwards I chatted with my opposite brother Rocky Smith for a while and was surprised to see Tiffany in the audience.  I'm surprised she knew me from my hat n glasses.  Her band played North Liberty and was with friends so had to say hi and chat with her for a minute.  Bill Lester came from Manchester and told me about some Wednesday open mics up in Dubuque, to which I may check out once spring processing comes to an end.

Barb Francisco came down to Stone City and her hubby Greg played a couple of Bag Pipes number, which were quite loud.   I left when Dave and Mikey started to play and made my way to Rumors.

For being tired and worn out from the 10 hour days, it was fun to play a lot of songs this time out. You have to put up with the adversaries' hanging around.  Whatever the case, a lot of folk are beginning to come out of their houses and home to have fun with.  We'll see if this will continue.  

And if you read this far, Eugene Levy won the battle of the bands over the weekend.  No relation to the famed SCTV actor. 

Rumors-Three To Go

Songs:

Gold Dust Woman

Call Me The Breeze

Further Up The Road

Kat Blue (Kimberly Kirzan)-Vocals

Tommy Bruner-Guitar

Jeff Reeder-Guitar

Jeff Taylor-Keyboards

Tim Canfield-Bass

Morris-Guitar

Bob Gleason-Harmonica

Freddy Jones-Harmonica

Nick Lneickia-Harmonica

Terry McDowell-Host

Billy Bourbon-Host

The Drummer on these songs: Ed Cassidy The Third 

Notes:

Bob Miller told the story of that when he played Lisbon last night, he packed everything up except he forgot his cymbals and had to make a half hour run back to CR to pick them up.

I made a brief appearance and played three songs with Kimberly doing the vocals.  I think Jeff Reeder replaced Billy Bourbon on Call Me The Breeze.  Got asked to leave for yelling at the Cubs game to which they were getting destroyed. 

Woooooo...mr breeze. 

The Ed Cassidy reference was to a idea about shaving my head after going through an extending loss of hair the past five or six years.  It's been said that 85 percent of men do EXP hair loss over time and alas, I am no exception.  I still have most of my hair at 50 but around 54, it decided to go south or on the floor and basically I don't like it much.  The remainder of the hair seems be stand up due to static in the air.  My good friend Tracy aka Tad, shaves his at the start of spring.  I think he's more into that than I am.  As for the God's great practical joke of hair loss,  I wish I can keep what's left but I don't think hair transplants would look good anyway.

Nevertheless, the Sunday Funday jam had plenty of people there and I may have scared Herm away from my yelling at the Pathetic Chicago Cubs getting blown out once again as Kyle Hendricks was getting whiplash for seeing his pitches sail out of the park.  The Cubs have sucked from day one it seems.  Pat Ticklenburg came up to do some songs with the band and as mentioned, I did three songs before returning back home to finish up laundry and prepare for yet another fun filled work week of 10 to 12 hour days at work this week.  I hope Bill Bourbon found some pics of me smiling on the songs that I did play.  But I'm not holding my breath. 

Stone City/Rumors: A Rehearsal For Retirement

Stone City Set:

Fox On The Run

It's So Hard

Goodtime Charlie Got The Blues

My Baby

Switch Board Susan

Logic And Lies

The Life We Lead

Just To Satisfy You 

Ring Of Fire

Cinnamon Girl

Baby What You Want Me To Do

With:

Carl Meiners, Karl Hudson, Katy Merrifeild, Bill Schlatter, Sarah Boyle and Bart Bock

(Ed Butler, Freddy Jones, Me, Nate Hines-Billy Bourbon's photo collection)

Rumors:

Everything Is Gonna Be Alright

I Don't Worry About A Thing

She Caught The Katy

With:

Nate Hines-Lead vocals and guitar

Brian Laurio-rhythm guitar

Freddy Jones-Harmonica

Ed Butler-Bass

Billy Bourbon-Keyboards on She Caught The Katy

Terry McDowell-Host

Dan Johnson, Jeff Taylor and Tommy Bruner-Sunday Funday Band

Julie has talked to me about thinking of retiring from my place of employment.  With the onslaught of spring processing and 21 straight days of working (not looking forward to that) I figured this would be another day of doing open mics and jams before owing my soul to the company store.  

A sparse crowd of jammers at the General Store and Sarah Boyle stole the show with her run through of Blown Away.   Carl Meiners returned back from Arizona to help out.  Karl Hudson hosted and had to pretty much play more than an hour's worth of songs before I got up there to play.  My performance was shaky, even while I went through Fox On The Run,  I messed up most of the chorus line and mumbled most of the words to It's So Hard. I finally found the groove on a blues version of Switch Board Susan and I did four originals to past the time.  The lack of being prepared didn't help and my GD guitar tuner fell apart while I was trying to tune up.  Thank goodness I have another Snark ready and willing to take the place of the one that I was using.   In hindsight, I should have went home after playing but I promised I show up for the Rumors Sunday Funday Jam.

(Brian Laurio, Ed Butler and half a Crabb) 

The place was packed and there more musicians at hand, including Bear Clair, Jeff Taylor back visiting folks and Ed Butler playing bass.  I'll try to post the rhythm guitar player's name but he was a cool cat.  Basically blues based songs from Nate, tho Billy popped up on keyboards and didn't have a clue on She Caught The Katy.  Then again, being a drummer, I didn't have to worry about chords, just how to play the beat and Everything Is Gonna Be All Right I got thrown for a loop on the stop start breaks of that song.  I admire Nate's throwing new songs our way.  The Mose Allison one was the kicker.   With a hour left, Terry had to pencil in Sir Bob Miller (now clean shaven) and some other guy, who didn't have an idea how to play Keep Your Hands To Yourself.  Tim Kauffman played before me, and was playing too soft so we told him to hit a little harder.  So he did much the chagrin of Nate who shot him a couple of dirty looks when Tim hit the power crashes a bit too hard.  I still had daylight to do a bit of a power walk around New Bo when I got done with my songs.

It has been a very long weekend of playing, starting with the Friday Night Blues Rox gig at Checkers, to which I posted pictures but no comments.  It was the first gig with Russ that we finally sounded good together, tho there was guitar glitch issues with Feel Like Making Love and the vocals not up to par.  Kris played great and really came out with How Blue Can You Get before ending the night on a noise filled guitar ending to Voodoo Chile.  Kris tends to freak out when I tend to play too fast so I have to focus on him during Pride N Joy.  Of course, Kris' mom always wants to hear me play Wipe Out, so I grit my teeth and play on, but if people want to hear a drum solo, who am I to argue.  But on a good note, we didn't play Free Bird.  A win-win for all.

With spring processing happening, I have to put the jams and open mics on hold for another three weeks.  With co workers retiring, I have noticed that my time is forthcoming, that the wear and tear and dealing with incompetent inexperienced help and bitchy seniors has drained the energy out of me.  It showed a lot during the Stone City open mic.  I thought hanging another eight years but Julie believes that I should retire a lot soon after that. We're getting older each day and time is getting short. A lot of good musicians and people have passed away in the time I have been back.  Being a musician I still believe I have another good 10 years to play music, tho I don't move as well as I used to be.  I'm surprised I haven't gotten arthritis in documenting my musical adventures and playing drums and guitar strumming.  65 seems to be the right number, by then I won't have to deal with the constant fighting traffic, red lights and other bullshit just to earn a paycheck and take more bullshit.  And to finally come together to live with Julie in harmony, tho us being introverts we tend to get on each other nerves.  My folks have been together for over 60 years, a remarkable feat upon itself.   I pray they will still be around a while longer.    I do look toward the day, that I can finally retire, go back home and live my life out the way I have been doing.  Music and records and more music.  With Blues Rox, I have a band that still can make an impact, the The Townedgers and Acoustic Adventures, my own outlet.  

For now, I have to get a paycheck and save up towards summer when we have time off.   But in five years we won't have to worry about that no more.    

 

Blues Rox At Checkers 4/9/10

Photos are by Jim Jacobmeyer, Marijane Euchner and Judy Brehm-Bries

First four are promo shots.

1)

2)

3)

4)

Easter at Rumors 2021

Songs:

The Weight

Have You Ever Seen The Rain/

409/

Barbara Ann

Use Me

People Get Ready

Mustang Sally

Bring It On Home

Billy Bourbon-Bass and Vocal on The Weight and Bring It On Home

Russ Glackin-Vocal on Mustang Sally

Roger Adams -Sang on the CCR and Beach Boys number.

Tommy Bruner-Lead Guitar and vocals

Skeeter Louis Hughes-Lead Vocals on Use Me and People Get Ready

Nick Lniceka-Harmonica

Morris-Guitar on all songs. 

Terry McDowell-Host

The Easter Crabb-Drums

(Deb Adams: Photo)

I'm not sure who the vocalist was on the CCR and Beach Boys number (Roger Adams)  so we'll wait till Terry puts out the roll call on how did what.  Sir Bob Miller, DJ Hovenstot and Tim Kaufman were the other drummers. Bob Gleason and Freddy Jones were in attendance. 

Al keeps bullshitting me about all of his guitars that he has at his house.  He also threaten to play Tossin n Turning the next time he hits the stage LOLOL.

With Dan Johnson out in California working on some projects it was down to a trio of Billy, Tommy and Terry, Nick filled in on Harmonica

I really didn't think that I was going to play  but Terry got me on stage at around 6 15 and I got to play with a few guest vocals, one of which played a back to back Beach Boys number to throw everybody off.  Skeeter Louis sang his two best known numbers (Use Me, Damn that James Gadsen for all them high hat accents)  and People Get Ready, the Curtis Mayfield/Chambers Brothers song.  I love the way he sings that song.  And then of course, Russ and his GD Mustang Sally, (thank God I was spared of the Bad Company numbers, Terry took care of those earlier in the afternoon).  Anyway, I had to think of an excuse to tell Mom of being late, working OT works since we are busy at work.   Alas, having Easter with the folks brings cat allergies and Bud gave me a dose of that tonight.  But I still love him, just I take two allergy relief meds and call it a night.