End Of Month Thoughts From The Townedger (July 2021)

Time goes by so fast.  It did feel like July dragged a bit but here we are at the tail end of another month

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The on again off again saga of No Limits Band and Kat Blue is on again, with a Aug 8th date at a winery in Homestead and temps will be in the 90s.  It always seems this year when we played, it got hot again.  I enjoy Kimberly's singing tho a few folks may disagree with that.  I thought Tim Kauffman was going to be their drummer or Terry McDowell but looks like I will help them for the time being.  Blues Rox still come first but if there are available dates and they're not playing, it's fair game.  Bills need to be paid and I'm not working but for the final week of August at work.  Will Julie ask me to sit on percussion for her and Dave? All she has to do is ask, but alas they'll be here in my neck of the woods this friday.  I'll be in Williamsburg sad to say with Blues Rox band.

This month will be plenty of jamming on the week nights this month.  Mainly Checkers, Artisan Sanctuary and Whisky Jo's and of course Stone City/Rumors.  This month is the Eisner's Cabin Jam on the 21st. I may help out No Limits in the Checker's Jam, unless it conflicts with my regular job.  To which I have to go with the paying job.  Will Kristopher be part of the Wednesday Night jams? Or Brian?  I can't say but Kris was more relaxed without his dad the other night.

Blues Rox can play the Jones County Fair again next year, but I'm not sure if the guys want to play the free stage and have to deal with the traveling clown country rap acts and the prerecorded beats.  That was one negative of the fair.   Another negative is the countless friends that I have at another social media  that opted to go see Kane Brown or his daddy Zac Brown (insert sarcasm remark) and didn't stop at the free stage tent.  They could have popped in to say hi for a sec and listen to a song or two before moving on.  It is the frustration, to go see the other musicians play and take time off to do that, and then they walk on by or take self pictures on the way to the national acts.   But I cannot change the minds and ways of people. (insert tired Cliché remark "it is what it is" here). 

I cannot drink anymore.  When I went to see Julie and Dave play, some kind bar patron bought the bar a whole round of shots and I settled on Black Velvet and ended up getting wasted on the way home.  Gone are the days which I would drink 4 Jack and Cokes, or Long Island Teas and float on by to home and wondering how the fuck I got home.  Anyway, Julie offered a meal on her tab but I paid my way and slipped her a twenty in the tip jar.  The Goulash fries was interesting, but I had half a Little Ceasar's Pepperoni Pizza (thanks to my brother) and had to visit the commode twice and three times to deal with I B S. Growing old is a fucking bitch and then you die.  A shame about Dusty Hill but 72 years is a good ride.

I love summer and the short shorts and yoga pants of the ladies in town.  But I have no desire to go chase anybody anymore.  The reality of seeing somebody 20 years old and I'm four decades older.  To some I look like their grandfather.  40 years ago, life was ahead, now it all seems behind me now.  I have seen a few bands, not a lot mind you, this summer and I still enjoy Four Day Creep  and Wooden Nickel Lottery. I'm not into the hard rock Motley Crue tribute bands, the odious Skin Kandy (Mr. Jaxx  is why I tend to not go to their shows), Sleeze Roxx (keeping hair metal alive) or the can of corn country of Lonesome Road.   Five Of Hearts or Palomino Band    (Doug Spinler and Fred Stock, great guys) I will go see if I'm in the neighborhood.    For those who ask, there's no desire of me getting into a band with Doug again, he's good at country, I'm good at garage rock and blues.  And never the twain shall meet.

With Nicole getting her wish and getting married, I haven't talk to her since that happy day for her and at this time conclude our time together is history, just like 45 years ago of Jeanette coming down to Iowa one last time or Amy that was part of this life thirty nine years ago and I'm sure she'll be remembered for the 40th year.   History could have been different had there been a one night stand, but looking back, Amy had no choice in the matter, eventually she went back to the guy she was with anyway and got married and had his children.  It boggles the mind that Jeanette's oldest would be in his mid 40s now, but as they say, first loves never panned out.  We can go back to the days of Donna Hess in Waterloo when we were kindergarteners, or Michelle chasing me around Nevada (IA) playgrounds, or Leah Norton's being the first girl that ever kissed me or Debbie Eastridge getting a big wet kiss in 4th grade.  Why do I remember such memories that don't mean shit anymore?  I don't know but sometimes it makes a good love song.

The Truth Band is no more.  Floyd the keyboard player left to join Molly Nova and Turk Krause in their return to music circuit in town. Molly took a break to care for her folks who are now in the great beyond. Bryce Janey is slated to be the guitar player.    Turk has been one of the all time great drummers around with stints in Men Rocking, and The Blue Band.  Looking forward to see them play again. 

Till next time.

 

Checkers-Kat Blue And The No Limits Jammers

Songs played:

Greenback Dollar

You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover

Solitary Man

Wang Dang Doodle

Me And Bobby McGee

Drift Away

Kat Blue sings lead on those two songs

John Stephenson played bass

Jam time

Keep Your Hands To Yourself

Further On Down The Road

Call Me The Breeze number 2

Craig Erickson-Lead guitar

Lou Roccio-Guitar and Vocals

Stacy Roccio-Guitar

Kat Blue-Percussion

John Stepenson-Bass

Love Me Like A Man Featured Freddy Jones and Tom Berdo on Harmonica

Brett Johnson and Julie Gordon were in attendance.

I suppose I should have packed the snare drum or Cajole, no drummer was there but I took my acoustic and went from there. It is always fun to see Craig Erickson there.  I played along to All Along The Watchtower from afar and he was gracious and kind about my music selection.

The crowd was fairly decent and Julie joined up later and bought Franklin to visit.  

Kimberly was talking about wanting me to help them out on August 8th in the Amanas (on drums).  I know Blues Rox has Williamsburg that Friday and Julie and Dave plays Stone City that night (GD conflict of interests).   I guess we will see but I'm thinking Kimberly will help out on the next Artisan Open mic night.

For Gold Dust Woman and Stop Dragging My Heart Around, they used a rhythm track and Stacy played guitar.  I played offstage.  And was comfortable with that.

Whisky Jo's-Half A Blues Rox Better Than Nada

Songs:

The Sky Is Crying

Pride And Joy

Further On Down The Road

Texas Flood

You Don't Know What It Means

Kristopher Bries sang and played lead guitar on the first four numbers

Billy Bourbon-Sang and played bass on the last song

Freddy Jones-Harmonica

Mark Awad-Bass

Tommy Bruner-Guitar

Braden Carden played guitar on the first four numbers

Adam Montgomery-Bass on the last song. 

Terry McDowell-Host

(Tom and Adam Montgomery, Guitar Dave looks on)

Of course, the support group was Tom Berdo, Greg Nost, Joe Mullenix, Billy Whalen, Dave Bonham, Kimberly Hovenstot, Tammie Unash, and Brett Johnson who offered me his guitar to play if I wanted to play guitar.

Sometimes a little me time will help you out.  Especially when it is a father/son blues band.  This is the second week that Kris and his buddy Braden came up on stage to do a couple songs.  Of course Kris had his pick of great drummers there, Terry, Sir Bob, DJ but he chose me and we did some of the blues songs that Blues Rox usually does.  Tommy helped give Kristopher some guitar space.  There were plenty of drummers there.

It was another hot and humid day as I made my way to the jam.  I was surprised to see Kris make it there but he was very relaxed and did quite well.  Alas, the waitress thought he was the ghost of Stevie Ray Vaughn, or just a ghost,  she kept waltzing past him as he waited to get served.  At least my waitress did check up on me.  I didn't order anything tho, too many fucking flies in the place.

Adam came down to visit, he lives in Seattle.

Artisan-Rappin' Garage Blues

Setlist:

Please Send Me Someone To Love

Ever So Much

Knock On Your Door/

Baby Wanna Dance

Logic And Lies

Let Your Love Flow

I Just Want To Make Love To You

I Fought The Law

Wang Dang Doodle

Encore:

House Of The Rising Sun

Bad Boy Blues

Demetrius Harris-Vocals on the Encore Numbers

Eric Paul-Guitar and vocal on House On The Rising Sun

Mike McMeins-Drums

Blues Boy Billy-Guitar

Notes:

Coming back to Maquoketa and resting up a bit.  The Sanctuary didn't have many folks but they had a guy that did a half hour of rap music and Virginia Harlow, our biggest fan, couldn't stand any more and left.  

Tonight was mostly originals and some blues covers, starting out with the little used Please Send Me Someone To Love to counter the earlier rap stuff.  I think there are times with nobody around that I can just say fuck it and just experiment with songs such as Wang Dang Doodle which is becoming a song all of its own.   Which lead to a improvised blues jam at the end as Demetrius made up words to Bad Boy Blues with Mike on drums.  Well, it least it wasn't free bird. LOL

Monday, Joey Jordinsen, the drummer that used to play for Slipknot passed away in his sleep at age 46.  He died way too soon, 

Stone City-Acoustic Adventures

Songs:

It's Just A Notion

Cheating Songs

For What Its Worth

Logic And Lies

Wang Dang Doodle

Cinnamon Girl

Rick Wengle played percussion 

After a day playing at the Jones County Fair, I decided to stay close to home and play a few songs with Dave Bonham hosting.  Jim the drummer from California came down to play and lost his song book in the process.  Ed and Tanya English came to showcase a few of their best blues songs.  Last time I saw Ed was at the Rumor's jam a couple years before.   Rick backed me up on percussion.  Carl Meiners was there, so was Phil Bo and Ed Butler too.  Ray Larson was there too.  Freddy Jones played harp with Dave  and Tanya and Ed English.  There afterwards, Freddy Jones took me on a half hour trip through the past with his insights.  Don't think I heard half of what he said.

Two originals were played and I played around with Wang Dang Doodle and added bits of Spoonful and All Night Dancing for shits and giggles.  Rick followed me without any problem.  Great drummers will do that.  Especially when the guitar player is a drummer himself.  Rick did fine. 

Jim's song book was found.

Carl Meiners usually participates in the RAGBRAI that happens this time of year but he didn't go.  He was part of the acts that played Sunday.

Half of Blues Rox made it to Whisky Jo's Wednesday Night when I actually had work to do and missed it.  At least one quarter of that band should be there the next Wed night. 

Blues Rox-Jones Country Fair

I've never been to the Great Jones Country Fair.  Every third or fourth weekend in July, the place gets packed.  Neighbors looking to make a quick buck will offer their driveway or yard for you to park at for 10 to 15 dollars.  I managed to luck out and get a spot right next to the free stage.

It wasn't a paying gig but we got in for free and I got to see Evan Stock Band rock on after we closed up our set.  Their drummer was amused that I used a car floor mat to keep the GD bass drum from moving, I still didn't have it set all the way down but it kept in place most of the night. 

(Tom  Bowler and  Barbara Koch, part of the folk that came down to see us)

It was nice to have a crowd.  My classmate and good friend Tom came down to see us play and stayed through the set.  Kris has his family of admirers  and he managed to entertained the crowd with him going out into the crowd with long guitar solos on Texas Flood, Further Down The Road and of course, the show stopping Free Bird to which we took about 14 minutes off the set of Evan Stock Band (sorry about that). Opening act was Studio 30 Dancers, which were 10 to 12 year old girls doing cheerleading stuff, which is what the County Fair was all about.

This was Kris' show and he delivered big time.  This was our best performance this year.  It was hot, it was brutal but we all knew that if we put on a good show, this might open the door for other concerts in the area.  The issue was trying to stay in time with the band while country hack Kane Brown was pumping rap beats that was overpowering us.   For Wipe Out, I was mimicking to the beat but found myself out of the drum roll that starts that song. So I improvised and told Kris to stick with me till I found my groove.   What I thought was mistakes, people thought they were part of the song.  But even with a fan, I was still sweating buckets out there.  For the set list, Further Up The Road replaced Shame Shame Shame and with Texas Flood, Brian didn't pay much attention to the stop break, which got Kris to throw dagger eyes at him and went for an more extended lead till he returned back to the stop break, to which Brian got right.\

(Deb Swearingen:Photo)

The mistakes were slight and even Can't Get Enough got through without problems.  As much as the dreaded Free Bird can be, it is our finale, the show stopper that brings out the jams in everybody tho I wish they could bring back Voodoo Chile.  What does the future hold for Blues Rox?   I still see Kristopher keeping the legacy of the Stevie Ray/Kenny Wayne Sheppard type of rock and blues that he grew up listening to.  While I think my time with Blues Rox might be on the setting sun phase, I still have fun watching him go all out.  He is one of a kind and once he realizes his potential, well the future remains unwritten. 

I did see a couple of jam buddies at the Evan Stock gig.  Joe Hutchcroft was there, I think he's looking a bit more happier nowadays since he isn't seeing a certain woman.  Pat Geisland might have been there for a few.  I doubt that he saw me under my hat n glasses.

As a band, we really don't hang out much together anymore.  Once the gig is done, we pack up gear and go on our merry ways.  Sometimes Russ n I will grab something before a gig, but he and Deb went to Shooters afterwards, Brian and Kris hung around to catch a couple songs from Evan Stock and since I had access to the fair, managed to walk around the grandstand area and the rides and hearing the band Restless Road start to play.  I got to hear Evan Stock play Hear My Train A Comin' and TNT to conclude things, packed up my gear and made it out of the maze of exit roads to get out of the county fair.  To which I treated myself a Mexican dinner at the grand opening of a new Anamosa Mexican place.  

And then did the laundry and mowed the yard.

Blues Rox

Announcer: Doug Langston

Setlist:

Pride And Joy

Blue On Black

Further On Down The Road

Ready For Love

Proud Mary

Johnny B Goode

Wonderful Tonight

Can't Get Enough

Pink Houses

Brown Eye Girl

Wipe Out

Tore Down

Whole Lotta Shaking Going On

Texas Flood

Feel Like Making Love

Free Bird

Checkers-Red Moon Blues

Songs:

Wang Dang Doodle

Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover

What Goes On

Sundown

Gold Dust Woman

Bobby McGee

For What Its Worth

Cinnamon Girl

Baby What You Want Me To Do

Free Bird

With:

Julie Gordon-Harmonica, Guitar and lead vocals on Bobby McGee, Gold Dust Woman

Rick Wingel-Percussion

Dave Bonham-Guitar

Brett Johnson and Murray Showing support 

Call it what you will but I made it  eventually and ended up playing to an empty bar.  Basically it was Julie playing the harmonica and singing on a couple songs.   I think it was stress free for Julie to play harmonica.  But it was mostly blues based songs.  Brett from the Rumors/Whisky Jo's jams came down to support.  Patrick Ticklenburg was there too.  Molly Donohue took the red moon photo. 

Blues Rox At The Sanctuary and the return of the Bear n Earnest

Rumor's set of songs.

Another Trainwreck

Sweet Home Alabama

Roberta

Ramblin Man

Billy Bourbon-Vocals and guitar

Jeff Taylor-Keyboards

Dan Hartman-Guitar and vocals

Tim Canfield-Bass

Morris-Guitar

Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica

R S. on drums

Terry McDowell-Host

Billy said the first song was a Townes Van Zandt song.  It might have been.

Ed Butler sang Beat It, Wicked Game, I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You

Rick Wengle played drums

Ernest did the Twist and Bring It On Home

Mike Lint played drums

Mike Clair Played guitar on Ernst's songs

A decent crowd was on hand.

(Jim Jacobmeyer adding some effects to our photo, which gave Kris nightmares afterward)

Saturday Night, Blues Rox played at the Artisan Sanctuary in front of 10 people including the band members and sound guys.  Two women popped in for five seconds and then left when Jim asked them for a donation. Maybe they wanted to use the restroom.  A disappointing crowd but those who attended got treaded to a decent song capped by a 11 minute Free Bird that keeps getting better with each performance. Kris shown his SRV and KWS influences with the blues numbers.  Once again Brian, couldn't figure out how the hell Can't Get Enough went or Feel Like Making Love.  Kris wasn't too happy with him.  Neither was I.  We been doing these GD songs for the past year and half, we shouldn't be fucking them up.  But then again my mind was elsewhere on Can't Get Enough, I messed it up just as bad as they did.

Russ thought the show was good, but it was Kris' show and he strutted down the stage and around the Sanctuary since we didn't have a crowd, he could do it.  Him, Brian and Russ did a trio jaunt on Free Bird which turned to be 11 minutes of chaos.   Being disappointed in the turnout did have something to do with me not being on top of my game.   Being Saturday Night we had to compete with other bands playing but you get three or four people saying they will show up and they don't.  Julie couldn't make it due to car problems and who knows where everybody else.  Only Virginia Harlow made good by showing up. 

Afterwards, Jim came up and asked if we wanted to do a three song recording for later, to which we might do that.  Jim has been on my case for my own recordings as well.  I told him I might take him up on that.  I thought about doing a Acoustic Adventures at the Sanctuary but since we had a poor turnout, I doubt if that take place.  

Shawn Ster hosted the Stone City open mic this afternoon.

Ernst made a rare showing at Rumors today and even the beloved Bear Clair came down to sit in and play.  Ed Butler would have liked to have me play during his set but per usual I got there late and he was placed in the capable hands of Rick Wengle, a total vegan person.  I came on board with Dan Hartman and we did four songs of no inconsequential value.  Ramblin' Man has been a problem song since I don't swing it as well as the song should be played and I have trouble trying to keep the straight beat to the redundant Sweet Home Alabama.   Roberta was the best song played, Jeff Taylor providing a decent boogie woogie beat.  For some reason I couldn't get the GD accents right.   Perhaps I need a break from the open jams?   Would have enjoyed playing alongside Ernst, but I got there too early.

But at least I can play another version of Sweet Home Anamosa.

Ernst Bynum doing the twist, or perhaps Bring It On Home To Me.

Marie Clair was asking me about Belinda James, the second person outside of Herm Sarduy.  I have heard about her being in the hospital but she is home but has not made the music scene for over a year and a half.  She's still grieving over the loss of her son a few years ago.  I do miss hearing her voice over Fever, maybe I'll see if I can entice her into coming out to sing again.  I just hope she hasn't walled herself up into isolation in this life.

Whiskey Jo Blues Jam

Songs were

Tin Pin Alley

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Criss Cut Saw 

Tube Snake Boogie

Jesus Just Left Chicago

After Midnight 

Country Blues

The Weight

All Along The Watchtower

Never Been To Spain 

Mary Jane's Last Dance 

Willie And The Hand Jive 

Knocking On Heaven's Door

Kansas City 

Sympathy For The Devil

(Taz) 

Taz Grant sang on Tin Pin Alley, Mary Had A Little Lamb

Matt Panek sang on Tube Snake Boogie, Jesus Just Left Chicago, After Midnight,  Country Blues

Billy Bourbon sang on the rest of the songs and played bass

Tommy Bruner played guitar

Donna Joe played percussion

Terry McDowell got the night off

Brett played Harmonica on Kansas City 

Freddy Jones played harp on the Taz and Matt Panek numbers

I played drums

(Tom Berdo took the photos) 

Not sure who Taz was, but he was from Chicago and started things out with Tin Pin Alley, a slow song that he asked me to speed it up later on.  Tonight was the first time I ever got to play alongside Matt Panek, a guy that played with Kevin Burt and other blues bands.  The Country Blues was a ZZ Top song but not sure what it was.  

Not many jammers were there due to the bad weather and tornadoes that were ripping up parts of rural Iowa.  When I bailed out, I asked Jeff Brown if he wanted to go chase some storms and he gave me a funny look.  Steve Sttratton was there but I don't think he played.

Tom Berdo took some unflattering pictures of me to which he threatened to post.

A lot of blues was played tonight and thanks be to Tommy, Billy and Terry for the practice.  I am seeming to feeling more rusty than I should.   I think I played more than 14 songs and eventually they will come to light.  It took me a good three hours to remember we played CrossCut Saw. 

Artisan-Free Bird

Songlist

Summer Breeze

Free Bird

It Hurts Me Too

What Goes On

Fever

For What Its Worth

Mike McMeins-Drums on Free Bird

Mike Zhome-Backing Vocal on For What Its Worth

For all my time of playing, the dreaded Free Bird has been played.  Halfassed by Paraphernalia Tyrus, attempted with FOAD and somewhat getting used to from Blues Rox but I have never played it as a solo artist.  So basically this week, I discovered that it was much more easier to play than originally thought. But I thought I would dust it off as a straight forwarded version and not a slam.

Free Bird probably is more about me than originally thought.  It probably deals with my way of life with everybody that I have known and Asperger's or not, it is a damning assumption of my life and those who get stuck being my lover.  This goes back further, around the time with Penny during the high school years.   And has never changed.

Nevetheless Free Bird is overplayed, every bar band has to play it and some fucking drunk will request it.   Russ detests that song and I thought I did for a while too, but Blues Rox has played it better over time.  I'm sure people thought I was being funny but in all honesty, I wasn't. 

Summer Breeze was the lone original, It Hurts Me Too an What Goes On, were debuted.  And trying not to waste time, I did a shaky version of Fever but got Mike Zhrome's girlfriend to dance along with it.  And he got invited to sing on For What Its Worth.

Last time I used Virginia Harlow's Marshall amp but this time I opted to go into the board.  It had a tinny sound to it, the board that is, so perhaps I used the amp instead.    

Not a lot of jammers tonight but Ed Butler followed me and then Mike Zhome played a few covers and that was it for tonight.  I continue to experiment  and play around, with mixed results tonight. 

Rumors-Remembering Amy

July 10, 1982.  

I didn't date much in my life.  Not that I really wanted to.  I have been a failure when it came to love, even in high school, my first love was 500 miles away and already barefoot and pregnant before she turned 15 and Janice never panned out.  At least Penny took a chance and we did go out a couple times before I ended things.  And found out later on, you can't go back to the innocent days.  With that Penny was the most truthful one, she knew we were not going to work out.

Oh I had infatuations with some of them, when I worked at the gas station.  Nobody panned out.  I did write a song called Molly's Folly about a girl that came to the station but later on, she did have a boyfriend who eventually married her. 

So, I was at Show Biz Pizza, pissing away quarters on video games and suddenly, this petite black hair girl came up and bothered me for a bit, saying her boyfriend left her and took off and could I drive her home. So I did and this started a strange three week affair to which I got late night phone calls which my irate mother would lecture about calling late.  Amy and me did a couple trips up to Lindale and played video games.  None of my friends were impressed with her, nor my folks.

But it had to end and it did later underneath the full moon to which we managed to watch a softball game or two.  I think at that moment later around 11 30 and a rising moon, she revealed how much she had fallen in love with me.  I originally shrugged and asked if she wanted to make love and she said Could We?.

But this night was strange.  She mentioned that her boyfriend have given her an engagement ring to which I looked at her and ask why the hell am I here then.  She then proceeded to have a wanting to make out and in a split second told me she loved me.   And I was thinking...oh shit.  I didn't bring the rubbers.  The big red flag was waving at me, I didn't fell compelled to be a rebound relationship or a one night stand, tho she was hot.   I told her, I like you but don't feel the same about you.  She was disappointed but we held hands for about 10 minutes and then went home in separate directions    Oh, she called a couple times then after that moved on.   I did ask about her about a year later but was told she moved out.   I would run into her one more time, six years later, with the guy she was with all this time and two daughters.  We didn't acknowledged one another, she probably didn't know who I was under the glasses and hat but I'm sure I was wearing the same shirt that I did back in 82.  

Paraphernalia did a song called You Were With Me, and while it might have been dedicated to her at that time, it came from a song called Heart Of Stone with different lyrics.  I don't play it that much, I don't see the need.  But Amy was not on the scene when Heart Of Stone was recorded on July 2 of 1982.

I did write a couple songs that were about Amy, one was indirect, Summer Breeze, which the final verse was "Tried to call you, but it's nothing at all, leave a message don't you say that I called" but Looking For A Way Out was more direct and told the story of  about that fateful night in 82, that I didn't score, simply of the fact that she was engaged and I wasn't about to sample the dish, tho had she made the first mood, it might have been a different story.  I never played Looking For A Way Out live and not about to, it's off the First And Last Reunion and very wordy, but Geoff Redding did include a two note ominous tone that ended the record on a decent note.  Perhaps I'll revisit that song and album in another time.

39 years ago and I can't remember what I was looking for when I go into the next room but I can still see clearly that night at the Centipede game and having this girl hang around for no particular reason at all outside that her bubba boyfriend was showing off his 4 by 4 and she wanted a change.  And for almost three weeks, she realized that what she was looking for, she had all the time. 

(Monte Olsen: Photo Credit)

Songlist at Rumors

Turn The Page

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Summertime Blues

I Wanna Be Sedated

With

Billy Bourbon

Tommy Bruner

Jeffrey Taylor 

Tim Canfield

R. Smith

Terry McDowell

And Phil Bo (in photo) 

Tammie Unash's birthday bash had plenty of drummers, and Terry did a decent job pairing people up. Brenda and Greg Mein were there and their songs were done by Sir Bob Miller.  DJ Hovenstot, Herman Sarduy, Rick Wengl and Tim Kauffman were the others holding down the beat.  The guys wanted a more heavier beat to Turn The Page, to which I complied and did so.   The Ramones song was Tommy's suggestion.   Would have loved to help Greg and Brenda out more but that was not my call and Bob and DJ were already there.   I was there for the potluck and sandwiches. 

Six Years

Time flies way too fast.  Way too fast for my liking.  

Back in 2014 I made Forthcoming Trains, an album that borrowed some of my original material that didn't fit the original sound that I had in mind.  Except for Knocking On Heaven's Door which Bob Dylan wrote and somehow I thought covering that would score some cool cred.  But as the record got played, mostly on Lucky Star Radio (We All Sleep Alone made number 1 for three weeks off and on), but this started up the idea of playing one more time in a local band, to play the original songs in front of people and one last attempt to play rock star before I turned 60.

Karen Waters was the one that suggested that I get back to playing again.  I'm not sure what processed her into saying that but I did venture out to Checkers earlier in the year and hung out at the back while Bart Carfizzi scoured for people to play, but I made no effort to play.  I was still dealing with stage fright that wouldn't go away (or Asperger's for that matter) but one night after work, I jammed with Rodney Albaugh on a couple of songs and well, he's the one that got the ball rolling.

I eventually made my debut at Wrighleyville on this day in 2015, playing to the house band of T Ray Robertson and Guitar Dave Bonham,  I did a couple songs on drums, undisciplined as hell and playing too loud and too fast.  But the house drum set was terrible, a warped pair of hi hats, a couple of trash can lids as cymbals (there was a Paiste 302 bronze that actually sounded decent) and a twenty dollar drumset that made me long for my old Ohio Arts flashing light toy drum set.  31 years removed from the OK Lounge and occasional sighting, mainly 1991's jam with The Routers, a band that my former boss Greg Nutter was part of.  A 1993 Attitudes jam with a husband wife group, to which my lack of playing slowed down their groove.  Then after that, back to the basement, back to the music room to record as The Townedgers.  But in 2015, I was the newbie, a veteran of the original music and band but to the rest of Cedar Rapids and other places, just another unknown.

I didn't keep a log of what I did back then.  It was usually crap like Hold On Loosely, Mustang Sally, Brown Eye Girl or the all time drunkard's fave, Free Bird.    When Russ Swearingen finally joined me in August, we jammed to Rocky Mountain Way and perhaps Rock Me Baby.  Russ and I tried to get something going off and on but we never did get off the ground.  Perhaps in 2006 with John Field, we could have gotten something going, but the flood of 2008 ended that, John Field lost everything and his sanity and Russ and I tried with another bunch of folk in 2009 but I didn't think we had much going.

While the first jam was a case of getting over the jitters, I didn't shy away and returned back to the basement, instead I continue to go to various jams and interact with more players and beginning to fit in musically, tho the usual complaints of too fast and too loud was commonplace.  Bart and Tim Duffy hosted the Rumor's jams till Bart quit and Tim moved to Georgia and Terry McDowell took over.  And somehow I was always there, ready to pick up and practice with the legends of this town.  And there are many legends that I did play along with,  Dennis McMurrin, Craig Erickson, Tommy Bruner, Dan Johnson, Rare Earth bass player Randy Burghdorf, Brook Hoover, Al Hendricks, Tommy Giblin.... all figured into me finding my own groove. 

While I finally got over the stage fright on drums, the next step was to play guitar and sing, which then The Acousta Kitties got me to play a few songs later on.  Eventually one of them, Julie Gordon would become a bigger part of this life, but in a perfect world Kyle Oyloe would still be alive, and they would still be together.   But nevertheless, Julie has been a musical partner tho, they have been few and far between.  But I have shared the stage with her with Dreams Of Arcadia or The Mad Dogs or even The Acousta Crabbies. I have shared the stage with Lorie Parker, Cathy Hart, Belinda James, Tiffany Mahenery, Cecie Stark and Kimberly Kat Blue, but my fave moments remains when Julie Gordon sings the songs.  

When you're a musician, music is a part of you till the day you die.  Oh, I could retire and return back to my old life but the urge would come back and take over again.  Why it took 31 years is a matter of ambition.  To be honest, I didn't have much of that when Paraphernalia/Tyrus closed up shop.  Wrighleyville no longer has music jams, and we lost fellow people along the way, Kyle Oyloe, Tommy Patterson, Ron Dewitte, David Bosier to name a few.  Bands come and go and somehow we came full circle.   I did managed to play in some good bands that never pan out, The Wiley Kats, with Timothy Wiley, good guitar player, Ben Benyard, underrated bass player but didn't have the ambition to keep playing.  The Egads, with Belinda James and Mark Randolph, Larry Alexman had a great batch of songs to play but family life kept him from the stage and Mark's bi polar issues doomed him from the beginning. And The Boy Scout Hippies, which will always be Ron LaFluer's band.  Now I'm in Blues Rox, with Kris and Brian Bries for over a year and a half and it's fun to watch Kris branch out to be one of the better blues guitar players in town.  With Russ playing bass, it's like Paraphernalia all over again. Out of all the bands, Blues Rox is the last great hope for me to be in a band that might turn out to be something special.  Kris is only 20 and he has his life ahead of him, I'm sixty and on perhaps my last go around.   But the last go around has been going for  six years.  As long as I'm not dead, I look to the next day that I take the stage, behind the drums or with guitar in hand.

I hate to think the next six years will go by this fast, by then I'll be 66.  But as long as it's fun and as long I can hold a beat (be it fast and loud) I'll continue to play the rock star.

 

' 

Checkers-With Mark Awad, Jeff Taylor, Dan Hartman, Jeff Craft.

Songs:

For What It's Worth

Good Time Charlie Got The Blues

Wang Dang Doodle

Switch Board Susan

I Fought The Law

Spoonful

Cinnamon Girl

Let's Work Together

Dead Flowers 

Willin'

Rolling And Tumblin'

Encore:

Amie

I played guitar

Mark Awad played bass 

Eddie Jarrell replaced Mark on Willin' and Rolling And Tumbling

Jeff Taylor played keyboards on 2, 3,4 sang lead on 9, 10 and played National Guitar

Jeff Craft played keyboards on Willin' and Dead Flowers 

Dan Hartman-Sang and played guitar on Amie

Kat Blue added backing vocals on Amie

Carl Meiners was there.

Murry, gave a nice tip on Spoonful

Jeff Taylor, usually known as the keyboard player got out the old steel guitar for his numbers.  His version of Willin is closer to version 1 than the Sailing Shoes version.  He knows how to sing the blues.

And the Cubs stunk up the tube again. 8-0.  They suck. 

I did managed to check out the Olympic Thirsty Jam, but nobody was there.  Karl Hudson and Robin Banks were on a long break, so I venture out to downtown to see what's going on.  Seen Pat Geisland and Stu Fondle outside the bar there, I seen Stu give the ole number one, not sure who he was flipping off and I don't believe he knew me from my hat and glasses,  but I winked back and blew him a kiss from afar.

We love Stu the Do. 

Whiskey Jo Jam-Bird Is Back

Songs played

Love Me Like A Man

Me And Bobby McGee

Gold Dust Woman

Midnight Special

Superstition

The return of Randy Burghdorf

However  Mark Awad was my bass playing buddy

Terry McDowell-Host

Kat Blue-Vocals on the first three

Billy Bourbon-Guitar and Vocal on Midnight Special

Tommy Bruner-Guitar and vocal on Superstition

Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica

Brett Johnson-Harmonica on Midnight Special

With:

David Kirzan, Greg Nost, Bill Whelan, Tammy Unash, Anita Skelton Andy Pasker, Bill Schlatter, Bob Miller and others. 

Tammy Unash:Photo.  Mandela Effect all together since March of 2020.

It's also Kimberly and David's 1st year of being married together.  Congratulations.

This is Randy's first time being out and playing bass since March of 2020.

I am too used to play Superstition in a faster mode than what Tommy plays it,   I think he has more of a set and funkier way than the Beck, Bogart and Appice version which includes a oddball time kinda like Whole Lotta Love.   I will have to relearn how to do that once I rekindle my friendship with Randy in the future.    But then again, i tend to follow Tommy more than I do with Mark on bass since Tommy knows where he's going with said song.

Bill Schlatter managed to crash the jam for the first time with Terry helping him singing the songs.  I think Terry made Bill a little more lively than Bill is for the acoustic open mics.  

Bob Miller and Andy Pasker were the other drummers on hand.  No Wildcat Spratt to speak of. 

Fourth Of July

It's been ten years since the passing of Dennis Pusateri, my coworker friend and co conspirer and all around great guy.  And yesterday, my former love tied the knot with her long time boyfriend.  10 years ago, she was with me when Dennis passed on.  I managed to go to his celebration of life before joining her to hear John Anderson at the fair.  I don't know if there's irony or a passing thought but it could mean life has gone full circle for her.  I did tell her ten years ago, she'd be married before I did.  And that came true. It's not that I became Nostradamus, when she did move down here, all of a sudden we didn't have that great of a relationship anymore.   I do regret that she never got to see me play live in a band. 

Rumors Jam Song list (incomplete)

Brown Eyed Girl

Margaritaville

Mustang Sally

Blue Swede Shoes 

Jumping Jack Flash

You Never Call Me By My Name

Under The Boardwalk

Dead Flowers

Casey Jones

Superstition

Chain Of Fools

Proud Mary

Me And Bobby McGee

Horse With No Name 

Midnight Rambler

Russ Glacklin-Vocal on the first three numbers

Amanda Marshall did three songs of note Chain of Fools, Me n Bobby McGee, and Proud Mary

Tim Canfield played bass and sang on Under The Board Walk

Tommy Bruner played guitar and sang on Superstition an Midnight Rambler

Terry McDowell Host got most of the night off

Nick Lnenicka played Harp

Morris played guitar throughout

Mark Awad came on board to play bass

I did it for the glory of drum playing. 

(Amanda Marshall took this photo)

So I ended up going to my late friend Dennis Pusateri's graveyard site and chatted with him for a half hour in spirit.  His whole family is now there, his mom passed away 22 days after he passed away. I wished he was still around, I miss him terribly.

Brian McKenna, our 3rd shift senior was in attendance.   Good to see him.

Billy surprised me by asking if I wanted to play guitar today.  Didn't plan on it but told time he sees me I might do that just.

Being a smart ass, I pulled a reggae beat to Horse With No Name.  Which kinda threw me off the beat when we concluded with Midnight Rambler.

(Tami Mannick: Photo Credit) Billy, Mark,Amanda, me, Tommy

Amanda from Four Day Creep did three songs, including a wacky Proud Mary and Bobby McGee. I had to follow Tommy's playing on Chain Of Fools, which is more slower than I play it.  Then again I play things too fast anyway (but I was drinking water).

Jeff Allen took this photo of the Surf Zombies Sunday Afternoon)

Upon walking around New Bo, I chatted with a dude in a wheel chair for about a half hour.  Above at the Bohemian, Brook Hoover saw me on the street and was waving at me.  He's  always fun to listen to.  Fab Five Freddy Jones was there too, but he didn't see me.