Stone City/Rumors-What No Stones Today?

Stone City Song list:

Interlude In A 

Fox On The Run

For What Its Worth

It Hurts Me Too

Get It Over With

Cinnamon Girl

With: Brian Boss, Michael Murphy, Carl Meiners, Bill Schletter, Ray Larsen, Lane Gaffney, Thad Zimmerman, Sharon Robinson, Mike Fredricks and Krystina Lynn 

Rumors:

Get Back

I Have Just Seen A Face

Take Me To The River

Mr. Lucky

Yer So Bad

Bring It On Home

Long Time Gone

Tommy Bruner-Vocals and guitar

Nate Hines-Vocals and guitar

Morris-Guitar

Mark Awad-Bass

Dan Johnson-Backing Vocal on Long Time Gone

Nick Lnenicka-Harmonica

Terry McDowell-Brings the drums

Donna Jo-Brings the percussion

R. Smith-Plays the drums

(Bill Schettler-photo)

A rare double duty but in the Mandel Effect doing Rolling Stones songs, I missed out but we did a half hour of music and jams and two Beatles numbers.  Donna Jo followed me from Stone City today.

Bryan Sink  and David Schroeder came from Waterloo , first time I got to meet him in person.  First song turned out to be a instrumental since I couldn't figured out a song in that key.   Thaddeus Zimmerman followed me after my song set.    

The heavy rains from up north has got the Wapsipinicon back to its banks and then some.  A record crest in Tripoli  and Independence is looking at 16.2 feet come Tuesday.  Crest for Stone City would be 21 feet.  There might be some rain later on but none of the heavy crap that gave 14 inches of rain up north.  Somehow we managed not to get drowned in this summer here.  But we never know.

A light turnout was at Rumors, DJ Hovenstot was playing when I got there and I missed out on Midnight Rambler.  

Bill Schettler will be hosting the Tyler and Downing monthly jam September 8, with Jimmy Myers on drums one last time before he goes back to California.  Bill approached me about playing but I told him due to my work in October that will be impossible.   I enjoyed my time away from my place of employment this summer but the pay checks have been minimal and Blues Rox haven't gotten many gigs to play this summer.   Bill is a great guy, and hopefully I will help him out at some point before the year is out. 

Both jams were okay and I didn't really bust a sweat but we did have long and extended jams with Take Me To The River and Long Time Gone, to which Mark Awad did an extended bass solo on both songs. This might be the last I'll see of Mark before he goes back to his regular job in the fall.   Brian Sink is looking for a drummer for his band but he lives in Waterloo and I rather not make the hour trip up there.   Kind of like the dude at Dubuque that wanted me in his band but I didn't live in the area.

I have yet to make it to the Quad Cities jam with Sean Ryan this year.  Options are on the table for September.  But I think I'm more inclined to go to watch the River Bandits play baseball.  

Karl Hudson survived his second COVID shot.  What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  I should know.

 

Thoughts from the townedger-August 2021

In my time away from work, I have managed to make to a lot more weeknight open mics and jams, hosted a open mic (and got no credit for it) and the yearly cabin jam (and got raked over the coals for that) and tried my best to balance between the good and the bad, the Conservative and Radical left and pleased nobody in return.  After five years, and going to the sixth year the strain is beginning to show, playing gigs to people I can count on one hand and doing jams and having 10 folks show up.  Paying gigs no doubt but still the frustration is showing.  

And I have read the comments about the Cabin Jam, and how such and such bitched about not being invited but glad his long departed guitar player had an enjoyable time with the talent there.  Thank you for being concerned but rest assured that that long departed guitar player did have a good time without hearing the usual insults from his former band leader, who had a paying gig anyway.  I did miss the former band leader's pity party a couple weeks ago, running off names of band members that he had issues with and saying he was sorry for his actions.  His praising of the best drummer he's had in his band was interesting since both shared their Qnon conspiracy theories  you see on FOX news (try eating your supper when Hannity is on the tube, PUKE).  That world's greatest drummer is also a dumbshit who talked his GF out of getting vaxxed, another fair weather musician that wanted nothing to do with when found out our political views differed. My political views are nobody's concern, nor I will force my views down your throat unlike the world's greatest drummer and the jilted band leader who try to I.M me with BS Qnon videos.   The Cabin Jam also caused great friction between me and mine, but when they asked me to do this in April, I agreed and everybody agreed along with it.  With the Cabin Jam over and done, we move on to other things.

When Kimberly asked me to help her this month, she had nobody else to turn to to play drums.  And since I had no paycheck to live on, she paid me enough to keep the lights and AC on.  Somebody took exception to that.  When she hosted the jam, she had nobody to play guitar so I was a last minute add on.  Got no credit for helping and it did tick me off when she got the jilted band leader to help her on the Cabin Jam and got mentioned.  This is where I say my other is right when she mentioning about being used for their own cause but give you no credit.  Since then, Kimberly n me have not talked to one another tho we did waved at each other on Sunday.  I think I did very well in my sit in with No Limit Band as well as the Boy Scout Hippies, best drummer ever one minute, ignored the next.  It's a part of the music scene, but it also shows why they can't keep people in the band (tho the Jilted Leader has kept the female drummer in the past couple years).  My take is if Kimberly shows up to play the Checkers jam with Julie and Dave, then we give her the benefit of the doubt, but if she don't show up then we know the answer we knew all along. Which is all about them and not the cause.  I'd love to help out my favorite lead singer as well but at times I feel like a sideshow freak.   I play to a different set of other songs, I sure am in the fuck not going to play another subpar version of Jack N Diane to an audience of one, or a bunch of 10 people staring at their smart phones all night.

What to do, say yes to money making gigs with people who thought the last POTUS was the best ever, or support my fave singer who's been wronged by these Trump loving folks who threw her under the bus, or scrap everything and go it on my own or back to the Townedgers?  At this point, nobody wins and everybody loses. 

Julie made a CD demo with Dave Bonham and this showcase her talents as the best vocalist in town. Since I have been part of her life people think I continue to blow smoke up her ass and support her gigs. Sometimes, I don't feel that she feels the same for my gigs or recordings.  One of our last discussions while she was ranting and raving about my gigs, was she never took consideration that I told her this was a great CD.  In time her time and tenure she had somebody in Kyle Oyloe that could bring out the best in her or Dave for that matter, or to a lesser extent Ryan Paul.  When it comes to me, I never know where I stand.  I play guitar well enough the keep the beat on guitar but can't do leads.  Kyle n Dave can.   One of the reasons we haven't seen eye to eye on this and that my songs are not the songs she wants to play and after awhile, I concede and let her do her own thing.  Perhaps I should be more forthcoming and demand her to be at the gigs with the Bad Gurlz as she call them.  And that makes me feel as if I'm not worthy when she's not there to help me through.

Ah, the forth Bee Gee.  We connected when he showed up at a Stone City gig and I love the guy, but his nitpicking tends to grind on the nerves just like the Jilted Lead Singer.  His comment of lose the song book did play dividends and without the book and knowing the words, does makes the songs sound better.  But I cannot remember shit, trying to look for my glasses when they are on top of my head.  He hates the Stone City management but if he gets this way and books a show, I'd be there in a minute.  He means well n do love to hear him sing. Just pick a place closer and not when I had a gig going on myself.

Fred Walk passed away.  He was part of the old Iowa rock and rollers gang that I have never met.  I think he and Al were part of Danny And The Juniors at one time.  Never met him tho. R I P  Joe Proctor, was a Checker's regular.  I think he was part of the original acoustic wednesday night jams.  He paid me a good compliment on my guitar playing one night but I couldn't never remember his name. He will be missed.

With COVID cases rising once again, this will play havoc on any future jams n gigs. Which brings up my ersatz brother in arms Rocky and his anti Vax rant n raves and how much I think he's an idiot on that.  I do not force my issues with anyone, it's up to you to decide to mask up or get the shots, taking on fluid in my lungs for a painful death is not what I, nor anybody else would want.  It amazes me to see how this has divided the music scene as well as the idiot before the current POTUS was in office and made things a mockery.  My opinion which mean nutz unless I host a jam and nobody shows up to support it.   I haven't associated with Rocky since March when he abuptly left after chatting with him and I had a mask on and he didn't.  I have no contact with Ryan Paul all year,  he used to be a fine keyboard guitar player but ever since the election you cannot chat with him without him screaming about election fraud.  I'm sure he hasn't had any vaccine shots either.    But if we get shut down again, that will might be the end of the music scene, it hasn't been very good since things reopened.   We all had to get shots growing up to eliminate polio or Rubella.  I had chicken pox, that was torture upon itself. Now, the CDC is telling us booster shots should be considered as well.  Getting the two Covid shots was bad enough, the second one made me write off 36 hours but I have made it though okay.  I do not wish Covid on anybody,  if Rocky or Ryan do catch Covid and come out on the losing end, I'll be the first to their grave telling them I told them so.  But I end up getting Covid and die, they are free to remind me, if they ever find my grave and if they can ever get their head out of their arse.

Meanwhile Rocky and the gang helping out Fiddling Ashley.  Support your local cause. Music keeps us together, political polarizes and divide us.  

(Eddie Jarrell, Fiddling Ashley, Rocky, Dangerous Dan, Mike Williams) 

When I was walking around New Bo the other day, I heard a rumbling bass in the distance and I'm trying to figure if they were playing Born To Be Wild but they were playing Sultans Of Swing, yet another overplayed bar song by bar bands.  What confused me was that this bass player wasn't on the right sort of melody, as if he was lost.  Upon coming to hear said band, this bass player is one of the more better known ones.  I think he's overrated though and was off on that song played. But then again we all are off on some songs.   I may have a misguided opinion of things at times but I try to be accessible to anybody that comes up to me and talk.  I try not to be standoffish, I just rather hang in the background and listen to the songs.  Said bass player tends to be a bit full of himself.

Anything the rest of the year will be Blues Rox gigs, tho Kristopher indicated he wanted to try out for Cocked n Loaded.  They don't play his kind of music, he's a blues rocker, they can't keep guitar players, neither can the Grand Band.  He needs to focus on his strengths and not get hampered by bad Motley Crud covers.  I think he should hook up with the Gray kiddies and form a band with them.  He would be the oldest in that band but at least he's on a level band.

The Wasserbaum gig was the most fun, but we won't be back again.  The in house sound guy did made me sound very good.  In fact, probably the best this side of Patrick Lower and Mike McManus.  If we do return, I'm buying the rounds for those who showed up.   Just like I promised if Kat Blue and DJ would have been at Checker's the other night.  .....

Perry Farrell gets the last word.

Drummers are the most ensnared individuals. 

Though they are loudest, they are the last to be heard. 

They have insecurities due to the fact that everyone has their back turned on them. 

Herein lies the band’s secret; there is no greatness- without a great drummer. 

RIP  Charlie Watts. 

Checkers-Blues To You

Songs:

It Hurts Me Too

Help Me

Fever

Behind Blue Eyes

Please Send Me Someone To Love

Baby What You Want Me To Do

Wang Dang Doodle

Cinnamon Girl

Julie Gordon played harmonica

Quentin Duarte and Bill Schlatter played.

Rick Wengle bought the percussion.

Carl Meiners stopped down to say hello

Freddy Jones played earlier with Bryce Janey and Bob Miller and came to close the show.

Brett Johnson played harmonica

Dave Bonham co hosted with Julie

Donna Jo and Kimberly were no shows

That pretty much tells you who supports the jams and those who only wants you to support their causes. But not yours.

Mostly a 35 minute set of self indulgence, including Wang Dang Doodle which somehow never took off the way that I wanted to.

Another poor showing at the bar.  No matter how much we try to promote the gig, nobody shows.

Disappointing. 

For the most part, Jules backed me up on harmonica and light percussion and did some backing vocal to Behind Blue Eyes, but I do admit the Wang Dang Doodle song was heavy handed and a bit over the top. And then my wandered all over the place on Send Me Somebody To Love. 

I like to think the weather played a role in some of the people not coming.  Brian Bries thought about coming but the weather held him back.  Plus Kris wasn't that interested.   And I wasn't playing drums likewise.   We had ongoing storms in the area but thankfully the heavy storms stayed south and east of here.   But I think the Checkers' owners are thinking of pulling the plug since there hasn't been much of anybody showing up.  The surprise was seeing Quentin Duarte make a very rare appearance.  Which really accounts for something.  And it made Julie happy to see him.  As for me, I hoped that I did helped with the jam and the songs played. We have a way to go to get back to what we used to have.

With this open mic, this concludes the August portion of the week night jams, tho I fear come September, there will be few and far between jams and open mics.  I haven't much satisfaction with the music that I have been playing and this performance there were too many off chords which made Behind Blue Eyes a bit more extended.  But if nothing else, Julie got show her harmonica skills.

Freddy Jones played earlier at the Sanctuary with Bryce Janey and Sir Bob Miller.  And still managed to join Julie, Dave and Rick for the last few songs.   He's a real trooper and supporter of the jams.  

Next Thursday: Terry McDowell takes a crack at getting people in to jam. 

Whisky Jos-The Charlie Watts Way

Songs played

Already Gone

Can't You See 

The One That I Love

Turn The Page

You Don't Know How It Feels

Midnight Special

Kansas City

Tommy Bruner-Guitar

Billy Bourbon-Lead vocals and bass

Donna Jo Elsner-Percussion and Lead Vocal on One I Love

Terry McDowell-M.C.

Freddy Jones-Harmonica on You Don't Know How It Feels

Brett Johnson-Harmonica on Midnight Special and Kansas City

R.Smith-Drums

Nothing like hitting 10 red lights in a row and dealing with crappy traffic.  But in my final tune up at Whisky Jos' before next month getting back to work, I didn't work up much of a sweat to these half hour of songs to conclude the jam.  Matt Panek played earlier and Terry pulled double duty.  I don't think he saw me till I was heading out the door and introduced me for the next set of songs, so I couldn't leave.

There wasn't much of a tribute to Charlie Watts.  Matt played It's All Over Now and Tommy did Beast of Burden earlier.  

Donna Jo showed up and we did some songs to finish the set.  She did a rare lead vocal on The One I Love.  Outside of that, not much of a crowd.   

No Kimberly either.  Will she show up to support Dave and Julie's jam tomorrow night?  Or Donna Jo?  Or Hart/Parker?   My money is on them being no shows. 

Mark Moss played outdoors at the Chrome Horse. He got the crowd singing along but I really don't need to hear yet another version of Jack N Diane. 

Tommy mentioned after we were done that this was a very enjoyable jam.  When Tommy compliments like that, then it was a great jam.

Charlie would have been proud. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhukAdWPjI4

Artisan-Songs For The Departed Part Two

Songs:

Oh Death

Fox On The Run

When Will I Be Loved

No Expectations

Pawnshops Are No Place For A Wedding Ring

I Don't Fall In Love

Help Me

To be honest I never knew how much Charlie Watts influenced me and my drum playing till later in life, when I switched over from the Keith Moon bash and crash to a more subdued and tighter beat despite me playing things too fast or not.  It's strange how we learn how to get good till we are older.  So basically, No Expectations was dedicated to Charlie.  In fact, he still watches over me from my basement. 

We had two rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms today; one at 4 and then the other hit right around I got to the Sanctuary and made a trip to Casey's to pick up a sweet tea and a sandwich.  They had no large cups, nor tops for the drink that I got.  And I was trying to get back before the monsoon hit.  

The set list was depressing but it all fitted in with things going on.  I got there early just to avoid hearing the hip hop dude that bored the fuck out of me last time.  Due to the severe weather he wasn't there.  A small blessing upon itself.    It's not that I really gave a shit if he was there,  but I had no idea whether if Kimberly would pop up (she didn't) or if Guitar Dave would show (he didn't, still under the weather) and Julie had to work so she wasn't going to be there.  MJ was moving back to Nevada (iowa), and I wouldn't be seeing her anymore.    The only song that wasn't depressing was Help Me, done by Sonny Boy Williamson many moons ago.  Everybody got a kick out of that one, but then again, blues songs and improvising it all over the place, playing wrong notes two or three times to make people think it's part of the song, and twisting the words around.  It seemed to be a great idea, so I went with that.  Freddy Jones, who finished up played along to Junior Wells Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, I wasn't familiar but dinked around to it while the CD was playing in the background. 

I was kinda glad things wound down around 8 30.  There might have been a jam afterwards, but I was stuffed up from too much humidity and parade of storms through town.  We didn't that many jammers and I may rather be happier of the early 6 o'clock start.  But I have to pretty much to go it as a solo player and not have to rely on Julie or Kimberly to sing the songs with a female counterpoint.  Maybe Julie feels left out when I do these solo acoustic open mics, and I'd love to have her as my trusted accomplice, but she makes no money and is exposed to the germs out there.  Kimberly tends to want the spotlight on her, and that's fine but that would never work as us as a duo.  So it all comes down to me playing to an audience of one on my own.    It's always been that way.

Stone City-Tribute For The Departed

Fox On The Run (For Tom T Hall)

Good Time Charlie Got The Blues

I Fought The Law

When Will I Be Loved (For Don Everly)

Cheating Songs

Cinnamon Girl (For Kyle Oyloe)

With Carl Meiners.

Yesterday was Kyle Oyloe's birthday.  Julie told me about it was his birthday but it was on my timeline of things popping up.https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154197142/kyle-dean-oyloe

While Julie had her gig with Dave, I promised that I would find a song that would honor him and chose Cinnamon Girl  I barely knew Kyle when I came back to the music scene, and probably looking back, it might have been Julie that convinced him to add me as a friend six weeks before he passed away.  He would have been 52.  And still would be with Jules.   

We connected at Rumors during the Honey Badgers Jam, but Julie n I never knew each other very well. I never thought we would connect later on,   I did jam a bit with Kyle one more time on a couple songs, but I still couldn't find my groove very well and I think people looked at me as an imposter.   Perhaps Jules still looks at me as a chameleon but four years on, we'll still around each other.

I didn't really want to do any drumming today, so I stayed close to home and did a fairly simple six song segment, including a faithful bluegrass version of Tom T Hall's cover of Fox On The Run, one of the best all time blue grass numbers not written by Tom T.  He wrote lots of classic songs, some that Dave Dudley covered (Mad) as well.  Faster Horses, Sneaky Snake, Shoeshine Boy, That's How I Got To Memphis (covered by Pinicon Drift last night) and Everything From Jack Daniels to Jesus.  He could do it all.  When Will I Be Loved was dedicated to Don Everly who died Friday.  Haven't done that one in a couple years and it sounded like it.  All of the songs I knew the words to and didn't need the songbook.   Carl followed me and I played guitar off stage. 

Lane Gaffney hosted the open mic, and the first time I chatted with him in over a year.  I didn't have to worry about helping out Kat Blue, Lane accomplices  her on the KT Turnstull number (I hated that song anyway).  But I didn't share the stage with her.  Which Julie could sleep better at night knowing that.  Strange.  I did waved and said hello to her on stage but it's odd that we were a team for Thursday Night, hosting the Checker's jam and become strangers three days later.

It's not right, but I'm used to it. 

Rumors didn't need me, they had plenty of drummers to back Terry up, Herm Sarduy, Mike Lint, D J Hovenstot and Rick Wingle were there to help out.   Billy Bourbon is getting very good at taking them photos and posting them.  I'm still waiting to see who took any of the Cabin Jam photos. 

Ron LeFleur is moving back to the East Coast to help care for his ailing father. 

Eisner's Cabin Jam Setlist

Songs played

Turn The Page (Steve Black Wolf)

Stand By Me

Knocking On Heaven's Door

Long Hard Road (Carl Meiners)

Grandpa Was A Carpenter 

Paradise

Can't You See (Brenda And Greg Meinfield)

Heard It In A Love Song

The Weight

Bobby McGee

American Pie (Cathy Wildcat)

Dreams (Pinicon Drift)

Drift Away 

That's How I Got To Memphis

You're No Good

Sitting On Dock Of The Bay

Pride And Joy (Blues Rox)

Tore Down

Ready For Love

Texas Flood

Wipe Out

Free Bird

Turn The Page (Karl Hudson and Jeff Overly)

Rick Wengle-Play Congas 

Steve Black Wolf-Guitar and vocals

Carl Meiners-Guitar and Lead Vocals

Brenda Hoskins Mein-Keyboard, Flute and vocals

Greg Mein-Lead Vocals

Cathy Wildcat-Vocals

David Peterson-Vocals

Julie-Vocals

Scott-Guitar

Kristopher Bries-Lead vocals and guitar

Brian Bries-Guitar and vocals

Russ Swearingen-Bass

Mark Awad-Bass

Karl Hudson-Guitar and vocals

Jeff Overly-Saxophone

Mike Fredericks-Banjo 

Donna Jo-Percussion

R. Smith-Drums

Plus

Bill Sclatter

Jim Myers  (Thanks for buying supper)

Brett Johnson

Mak Dervo

Sandy Black Wolf

Gary Markley

Barb and Greg Francisco (who played bag pipes in between Steve and Carl's set) 

And others. 

True to her word, Donna Jo did give me a nice bonus for bringing the drums out and being part of yet another chaotic Cabin Jam.  Karl Hudson bought his own PA and Jeff came to play with his various saxes but they only played Turn The Page to conclude the Jam, which ended at around 10 30.  I think Karl did his best to make things sounded good but I think he just got tired of it all.   Maki Dervo never did play his set.  Nor I did mine, no thanks to a fucked up version of American Pie.  I enjoyed the hell out of playing with Brenda and Greg Mein up to The Weight to which I followed Brenda's keyboard work to keep what she wanted for the beat.    However, with Wildcat, half drunk decided to take on American Pie for 8 tedious minutes to which I bailed out to get a drink.  I think the performance of Meinfield was much better than the Rumor's farewell, and this will be our last get together before they relocate to Mesquite, Nevada.  Maybe they should take the Wildcat girl with them.

Each year, the Cabin Jam has become more ragged and more out of focus.  2020 didn't happen due to the hurricane Shitstorm but the Troy Mills Access area got off better than Cedar Rapids, at least they didn't lose that many trees   But the Wapsipinicon River is very low, the lowest it's ever been, 2021 has been the driest summer ever.  On a positive,  I didn't get bit at all by the Mosquitoes or gnats but on a downside, I hardly saw any butterflies and one solitary dragonfly.  But had plenty of them GD fucking flies everywhere, especially where the food was at.

Blues Rox did so so, but Russ fought a losing battle with the fretless bass and on Free Bird, it turned out quite badly for him.  He felt bad about it but we just chalk it up to a off night.  Kris was on fire and turned in some great playing on the blues numbers.  While he considered going home after the performance, he was still playing guitar by the fireside as I packed up and went home. I think he was having a good time.

Rick Wengle played the congas but  I told him he can take over for me anytime he felt like it, but being a true professional, he didn't want to do it.  Jimmy Graves and his offbeat humor made me rolled my eyes, especially when he promised me a free supper if he could help Bill.  Of course, Jimmy could play anytime too.  But anyway, thanks for supper Mr. Graves, I will return the favor for you next year.

It was great to have Steve Black Wolf sharing the stage, but he lost so much weight, I don't think he weighs over 100 pounds at best.  Pinicon Drift, was a lot of fun.  I get a kick out of hearing their vocal harmonies.  Two seasons ago, they had a bad outing; they got their set list cut down to two songs and I didn't think they would return.  But they did and playing their music was heaven.  While he is cancer free (ATM) he continues to smoke.  Can't make him quit if he likes it so much but I do believe at the way he looks, he may not be around much longer.  Cancer always has a way to come back for the final and fatal time. 

A lot of no shows and a few boycotts were in place.  Julie and Dave managed to get the Stone City General Store gig after Wooden Nickel Lottery had to cancel due to illness from somebody.  Shawn Ster was down river at Dharma's  in Troy Mills, Lorie Parker along with Mike Williams and Bonnie Harrison were at Rubie's in Center Point and Kat Blue was doing her No Limit Band show with Ron LaFleur at the Red Frog.   As much I like jamming with Kat Blue, I tend to think she tends to use people and throw them away once our usefulness is done.   Then again, the Cabin Jam was signed off in April, which I had to decline helping others due to my involvement.  

Still, the musicians that committed to this were way down and it was the earliest that we stopped playing.  Karl did his best but after Turn The Page, we all looked at each other and called it a night. Besides, he had more stuff to haul away in the darkness.  Russ helped me packed my things before he went home.  He wasn't comfortable with Mark's bass amp and the fretless bass didn't help much.  I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to do Free Bird and let Mark take over but Russ is part of Blues Rox.  At least Mark Awad didn't have to play the full four hours of jamming and songs, but he was used for the other bands. 

While Kris asked me to do a drum solo, I threw a sloppy three minutes of bash and crash before leading them into Wipe Out.  And somehow, that got the most applause.  Kris did steal the show in the aftermath.  Actually, I wouldn't have turned him down, it would make me look like a fool and not a team player.  People  seem to like drum solos.  

The Paiste Signatures were used, just like in 2019.  The Mellow Crash sounds so 2002ish. I tend to have these out for jams, they are not my frontline cymbals but if anybody wanted to sit in, they would do fine.  I always have great sounding cymbals.  That's essential. 

A facebook friend of mine bitched about not having anybody at a sponsored jam at the Hot Dog Bar MOCO or whatever the hell they call it.  First of all, I knew nothing about it and second of all, I had other things going on.  I do feel his pain; I have seen and played to people I can count on one hand.  It is not fun but since this is the era of COVID, it is easy to see people not at gigs and concerts.  The Blue Oyster Cult me an Russ went to, that was like a funeral.  And it's frustrating to say the very least that the bands come in and have to deal with less than capacity crowds.  But then again I have yet to see him at any of our jams or gigs.  Paybacks are a bitch.

Cymbal lineup:

13" Paiste Signature Heavy Hats

18" Paiste Signature Mellow Crash

18" Paiste Innovations Medium Crash

20' Paiste Signature Flat Ride

A three cymbal lineup is easier on the back.  I have yet to try a whole Rude lineup.  But then again Terry McDowell uses the medium thin Crash/Ride Rudes that I tend to use as rides for the Rumor's jams. 

I have participated the Cabin Jam for four years (five had the 2020 jam went through) and managed to have a fairly good time, despite not being able to play guitar the last two times they had it.  Not having Maki Dervo play was a bit frustrating, since we were subjected to 8 minutes of a pointless American Pie song that robbed me of playing the songs.   Not having Julie or Dave to support the efforts figured as well.  Unless Dave n Julie returns next year, I will take a pass.  As much as I tried to explain my situation and my reason, I still got raked over the coals.  This was announced in April of 2021 and I said yes with the blessings from my band and friends.  With the conclusion of Cabin Jam 2021, I have fulfilled my obligations to The Elsners and to Kimberly for her jam and fill in.

I'm about to walk away once again due to too much drama and whatever remedy I tried to do didn't help.  I am wore out from the load and unloading and four hours playing.  I could have induced more money but my standard fee was met and I went home happy but tired. 

Once upon a time, my Grandpa Smith could have made a living playing the major leagues in baseball but the love he had for Grandma was more and he gave that up to be with her and raise a family, to which I would figure later.   I'm willing to take myself out of the jams and open mics to appease the one that I love,   Will it make a difference I don't know, but love will make us do foolish things.  But I don't care for driving ten miles on the gravel back roads and hoping I don't get a flat tire in the process.  I think I'd be better off at the record store, looking for cheap music to take home to listen to.  Which will be the only time I don't get in trouble. 

Checker's-No Limit Band With Special Guest Townedger Smith

With Kat Blue, Carl Meiners and Bill Scletter 

And David Kirzan

Brett Johnson bought the amp

I got electrocuted 

That rare occasion that I hosted being the guitar player and not the drummer.   This was the guitar of choice,  as well as the Blue Brat.  It was classic rock favorites.   Kimberly had to rely on me playing guitar since nobody else was there.

I helped out Carl Meiners on a few songs.  And managed to finally get Your Cheating Heart right.

Bill and I jammed to Knocking On Heaven's Door/Helpless and Please Come To Boston.

Kimberly and I did the usual songs.

The crowd was small (as always)

Jeff Brown came out to support. 

That's about it. 

Kimberly did get Ron LaFleur to help her out for her Red Frog debut on Saturday.  In the meantime I got the Cabin Jam to deal with on that night.  While there has been harsh criticism of me jumping in to help out Kim on the Checkers' open mic, it was a paying gig.  If the price is right, I can help anybody out in need. It's what we call making a living the ole hard way.  I wasn't exactly pleased about not being announced as part of the Checker's Open Mic, I still got paid being incognito. 

All photos were taken by Kat Blue. 

Rumors-Anita's Birthday Bash

Songs:

Mustang Sally

Brown Eye Girl

Margaritaville 

Feel Like Making Love

Can't Get Enough

Love The One You're With

Russ-Gracklin-Lead vocals (the first five)

Mike Clair-Guitar

Morris-Guitar

Tommy Bruner-Guitar

Jeff Taylor-Keyboard and Lead Vocal on Love The One You're With

Billy Bourbon did vocals on Feel Like Making Love and Love The One You With (i think) 

Layne Goldsberry-Bass

R.Smith-Drums

Second Set:

Johnny B Goode

The Fireman

Bad Boy (Blues in A) 

You Can Leave Your Hat On.

Jeff Taylor-Keyboards and lead vocal on Bad Boy and You Can Leave Your Hat On

Dan Hartman-Guitar and lead vocal on J B Goode

Mike Clair-Guitar and vocals

Barb Farnstrom-Bass on  JBG, Fireman, and BB, Lead Vocal on The Fireman 

Tim Canfield-Bass on You Can Leave Your Hat On

Morris-Guitar

Tommy Bruner-Guitar on Leave Your Hat On

R.Smith-Drums

Terry McDowell Host

(Mike Dyer took this photo) 

Anita Skelton happy birthday!

(Tami Minnick took the photo of Bear, Billy Bourbon,Layne, Tommy, Crabby, Keys)

That rare Sunday at Rumors where there were no drummers there except for me, tho I did leave around 7 after the second set so that Terry can get back to work.

Bear always has a smile for the faithful, and Billy is getting better at taking pictures.

Morris and me,  Guess the ole stone face is cracking up a smile.

Whisky Jo's-Tiffany Our Favorite Drummer

Songs:

Turn The Page

Up On Cripple Creek

The Midnight Special

Honky Tonk Woman 

Green River

Suzie Q

Billy Bourbon-Guitar and vocals

Tommy Bruner-Lead Guitar

Ed English-Bass

Donna Jo-Percussion

Terry McDowell-Host

Brett Johnson and Freddy Jones-Harmonica

R. Smith-Drums

Tiffany Malanaphy, our favorite drummer from La Crosse, made the trip to play drums for most of the evening.   Tom Berdo bought some old scratchy Forty Fives for me.  Sad to say, all of the 45's seen better days and I couldn't use them. 

The Cubs stunk up the tube.  And I got to jam with Ed English on bass.  Damn he makes this so much fun when he is at a jam.

Kristopher hasn't been back since getting ignored by the waitress a couple weeks ago and I'm surprised that Kimberly was a no show but maybe she is back to reset the No Limit Band.

Nobody bothered to take any photos of Tiffany playing.  So Ole Stone Face added a random photo from the Homestead gig with No Limit Band.  More forthcoming when the situation arrives 

Technical notes:

Terry's cymbal lineup include 2 Paiste Rude Thin Crashes (17 and 18 inch), a 22 Z Ride, a 10 inch A Splash and Z hats.  For this lineup, I tend to use both Rudes as rides sometimes while the Z ride is a modified Earth Ride, great for the ping ride, but not for crashing.   

Artisan: Thank You For Staying Around....

....and now I will drive away the rest of y'all with my music.

Songs:

Sweet Melissa

In The Wind Tonight

Willin'

Satin Sheets

Driving At Night/

For What Its Worth

Wang Dang Doodle

Cinnamon Girl

Jim Jacobmeyer provided the photos. 

I am so glad that I can support the local acts and make time for them to go see them.  It's a fucking shame that when I get to play, they're out the door.

So anyway, I followed the Hip Hop dude again for the second straight time.  And played a rare version of Sweet Melissa, which was thought up after a woman named Melissa did her songs  (she'll be playing the Iowa State Fair at 10 AM next Wednesday if anybody is interested). 

A wandering mind had me singing Driving At Night and moved it into a faster than usual For What Its Worth and somebody requested Wang Dang Doodle so I did that.  Last request was Cinnamon Girl over Logic and Lies.   Larry, concluded the soloists set with his originals which was part Christian and part Contemporary.  I think he did the best of the stuff that I heard.

There was a jam at the end but I was not feeling up to it and left.  I did enough damage for one night. 

Weekend Of Rawk N Blues With Blues Rox and No Limits Band

It's been a very busy week for me, so I really didn't get down to write out the notes of both shows.  For the past few months Blues Rox has been working on getting a gig at the Wasserbaum Waterpark and Resort Center outside of Williamsburg. 

(Brian Bries photo credit-The Wasserbaum stage)

For days on end I have heard about how great this place was for music and fun.  Strange to find myself coming into this place from highway 151 and seeing them doing some sort of construction work around the place.   I got there way earlier before the rest of the guys did, so I got myself checked in and got my room and then try to find a place to eat.  Only place I could find was Pino's Sicilian Pizzeria, to which I got a medium pizza and forgot to pay the man.  Pizza was so so but I went back for a malt later on.  That was better.

If nothing else I didn't think much of the waterpark, it was geared for kids anyway and I forgot to bring swimming trunks but that would have been fun anyway.  Russ's motel room had no AC so he left, but mine worked fine. I slept in 62 degrees and a cool room and it was paid for by performing.

Blues Rox played fairly well, tho lack of a crowd bothered me once again.  They had a sound guy and for 15 minutes I was pounding on the snare and floor tom to have him get the readings.  He threw his hands up in the air when I changed over to Hot Rods for a song so I went back to regular sticks.   We threw in two ZZ Top songs (Tush, Sharp Dressed Man), I did an extended drum solo that wowed the band and the two people out in the crowd and perhaps an overindulgent Free Bird, complete with Kris playing the finale lead for about five minutes.  For an encore, it was Purple Rain, the first time Blues Rox ever played it and a medley of ROCK In the USA that lead into Cherry Cherry and What I Like About You.    I don't think we will be back there to play again, we didn't draw enough people to attend, but then again most of my so called facebook friends showed up as empty seats (they opted to wait a day and go see Last Call Band), but the owner paid us well and I got a free room for the night.  I think it worked out well for me. 

Julie and Dave played in my neck of the woods at Stone City and had a decent night.   Tuesday, they sat down with Mike McMenus at Artisan Sanctuary and put together a nice 13 song album of their favorite songs to play.  I think this shows that Julie is a fine singer.   But then she raked me over the coals about me playing the Cabin Jam two weeks from today.  They scored a gig with The Chrome Horse on that Saturday as well, but the Cabin Jam was on my gig list for the past half year.  I'll try to support her shows as much as I can, but the last couple gigs she's had, I have mine to do.

For No Limit Band, Kimberly has had this band going for over a year and can't keep a lineup down to do a gig.  She had friends that run the Koru Aronia Berry Farm, just outside of Homestead, which is about 8 miles from the Waterpark.  It is a very picturesque looking place with the highlight an animal farm to which Billy Goats laid on a trampoline.   And was in view of the stage.  When Kimberly needed some people to help her get this band going (she almost said the hell with it and disband), I told her that I would be happy to fill in.   We never did practice, the regular bass player Bill  hit his head in a fall and had to go the hospital overnight, but he never did show up, but David knew a guy Perry.  Stacia Riccio had played a few times with Kimberly, but she gotten Craig Erickson to come and sit in.  It was a make shift lineup, we barely knew the songs and the arrangements, but the weather wasn't looking too promising, but the skies cleared off and we played from 1 to 4.

Odd thing about this was that time flew by.  Sure, there were some missteps and Stacia might have some trouble remembering some of the riffs but she held her own and Craig got to do some of his fiery blues guitar leads he is famous for.  The surprise of the day was Layla, to which we did the Derek And Dominoes version and both of them really played it fine. 

The fact of the matter is that Kimberly has the vocals to make the songs rock out and she has fun playing on stage with everybody.  She does one of the more louder vocals, she's certainly not shy to belt them out.  She's a good singer, but in my profession I am here to help out on the drums or try to make sense of the songs played.    With her band No Limit, she does have collective bunch of folk that do lay it down and make her sound good in the process.  With the situation with Bill Stephenson up in the air, I have no idea what the future holds.  I did have fun helping her out when things looked as if it was going to be canceled.   Stacia did get Craig to help out.  Which is cool, jamming along side one of the best in the CR area.

(David and Perry)

Robby Haskill came out to support  He could have come up and played a couple songs.  I'd let him.

Patrick Lower helped out with expert sound. 

Perry was an exception bass player.  He helped me out when I couldn't figure out some of the songs played, but like myself, this was the first time we all got together.  Given the situation, I think we did pretty damn good.

Photos from the Homestead Gig are by David Kirzan and Kimberly. 

Technical bullshit:

For the gigs, I used  Zildjian cymbals.

Blues Rox

19' Arumnd Ride used as a ride

20' A  Sizzle/Crash as a Crash

18 K Dark Session Crash

16 S Trash Crash

For the No Limit gig

The Armund Ride was used as a crash

the Sizzle/Crash was used as a ride

14' K Dark Crash replaces the S Trash Crash

18' K Dark Session Crash.

14 inch A Quik Beat High Hats for both gigs. 

This lineup worked better for the No Limit gig.  Being outdoors these cymbals blended in with the guitars and bass.  It used to be that I was a bash and crasher but as time and age progressed onward, 

my style has changed to a more finesse style with a more lighter set of drumsticks used.  The Trash Crash is for more louder and harder rock and roll, but when used for Blues Rox, it sounded more in tune with a china sound.   future shows I may take the Oriental Crash Of Doom for Blues Rox.

The No Limit Band was a fill in at the last moment, Terry McDowell has been the go to drummer if and when they play but Terry had other commitments (Rumors)  and the lineup with Bonnie Harrison and Mike Williams didn't pan out.   But Kimberly and David had connections with Koru Berry Farm, plus I was available to do the gig.  If things fall into place, I would help out if Kimberly can't find anybody, just like this gig.  And having Craig Erickson on stage is a major big deal to me.  If Kimberly host a Checker's Jam, I may bring a snare on stage if asked.  But a full drum set will not be cost effective.  Unless I get to have a couple bucks thrown in for good measure.  

Rumors-Last Dance With Meinfield

Songs:

The Weight

Breakdown/

Mary Jane's Last Dance

It's Too Late

Against The Wind/

Still The Same

With

Greg Mein-Vocals and guitar

Brenda Hoskins-Mein-Piano and keyboards

Morris-guitar

Mark Awad-Bass

Donna Jo-Percssion

Terry McDowell, Jeff Taylor  and Tim Canfield-Hosts

Billy Bourbon took the photos. Even when not playing he was behind the scenes in pic taking. 

Ole Stone Face-Drums

It's been a rocking weekend with Friday Night gig in Williamsburg with Blues Rox and today's gig with Kat Blue (Kimberly Kirzan) and the No Limit Band, more about those shows in the next installment.

Kimberly and David were at the Chrome Horse watching the Retro Rockets and somehow, Patrick Lower, our sound guy was there too,  So I followed Kimberly and David to Rumors, where Kimberly was spared of me on drums (D J Hovenstot got the nod), but I managed to score the last set with Greg and Brenda, the couple known as Meinfield and we did a six song segment that doesn't really do much justice, we usually are pretty tight with the arrangements, but perhaps a bit of too much drink and not familiar with Jeff Taylor's keyboard.   Greg n Brenda added a Tom Petty n Bob Segar medley that threw me off on the latter, took me about four bars to figure it was Still The Same.  Usually Mark Awad catches on, but he was lost on those songs, I don't think he ever heard It's Too Late.   I don't think The Meins knew that they were going to play, so they had to make with the instruments provided. 

I always wanted to play The Weight one more time with Greg n Brenda and got that wish.  By then Kimberly and David were long gone, going home probably wore out from all the playing and singing that she did today.  Perhaps somewhere down the line, maybe I'll take up the Mein's offer and jam with them if and when I make it out to Nevada.    It may be a while tho. 

(last three photos are from Tami Mannick)

Whisky Jo's-Where Is My Band?

Songs:

Born On The Bayou

Gold Dust Woman

You Don't Know How It Feels

Long Time Gone

In The Midnight Hour

Night Moves

Crosscut Saw

Wildwood Weed

Dee Vieman-Lead Vocal (Born on the bayou, Gold Dust Woman)

Billy Bourbon-Bass and lead vocal, guitar on Night Moves, Crosscut Saw, Wildwood Weed)

Tommy Bruner-Guitar and lead vocal on Long Time Gone

Freddy Jones-Harmonica

Mark Awad-Bass (Night Moves, Crosscut Saw, Wildwood Weed)

Terry McDowell-host

R. Smith-Drums

First time I have jammed with Dee since the days of Bird and Rumors and she did the two best known songs.  She later returned for her version of Bobby McGee.

Bill Sclatter bought the guy from California (Jim Myers) to play drums on his set.  Andy Pasker finished up on drums for tonight.  

Matt Panek was there but didn't play.  Tom Berdo later replaced Freddy on harmonica on the final set.  Brett Johnson did the Midnight Special/Kansas City medley.

Kristopher may have been put off by the lack of service from last week and wasn't there.  Neither was Kimberly who I have been drafted to sit in on the drums 

Rumors-Idol Threats

Songs:

Gold Dust Woman

Dreams

Drift Away

Me N Bobby McGee

Kat Blue-Vocals

Donna Jo-Percussion and vocals

Billy Bourbon-Lead Guitar

Tommy Bruner-Lead Guitar

Ed Butler-Bass

R. Smith-Drums

Terry McDowell and Tim Canfield Hosts

(Mr. Idol via way of Ken Smith) 

Billy Idol was in town tonight so the thought was that there wouldn't be many jammers, but 7 drummers showed up to play (all after six o clock). Last week, Terry seemed to be the only drummer, this week he didn't have to worry about playing.

Prior before the jam I did a New Bo walk about the area and discovered a shaker of salt in the ground. I returned it to the Gaucho table, but somehow it connected with Margaritaville song.  To which Russ Gracklin continued to lament of his lost shaker of salt.  Perhaps I should have taken it to Rumors to present to him.  That would have been a funny.  Guess which song he was playing when I walked into the bart.

Ed Butler did guitar and entertained folk with his songs of oddball. Ode To Billy Joe, Battle Of New Orleans, Stairway to Gilligan's Island and of course his wonderful destruction of Wicked Game. and D'yer Maker, Bob Miller played drums.  Terry gave me the choice to perform with Ed or wait till Kimberly got on stage, but I told him whatever he wanted to do was fine with me.  Kimberly did her songs of note.

The jam went over past eight oclock, what got done in, was a short break that turned into a thirty five minute break.  At that time, we didn't have Rick Wengle, Birthday boy Mike Lint and DJ Hovenstot in the house.  In defense, nobody thought it would get busy, due to Billy Idol being in town.

Herman got to play a while with Randy Swift but he had no swing to his shuffle and got lost in the shuffle on a blues shuffle.  Seems like while the band playing was like from Venus, while his drumming sounded like he was from Uranus.  Bob was like that with the eccentric Ed on guitar and playing Dyer Maker.  Perhaps I should have played instead, but I know if Bob knew the songs he would worked out great too.  It was the third straight week that Ed and I followed each other to the jams in the past three weeks.  Nobody mentioned who was hosting the Stone City open mic, so I went into town instead.  Nothing out of the ordinary on my drum playing, just to the beat and to the point, tho I did messed around with a tom beat to Gold Dust Woman.  There was more tom accents to Gold Dust and Dreams and leaving Tommy Bruner to start the latter song.  If I do the Fleetwood drum roll intro, it throws everybody off a half beat.  

Mike Bear Clair and Renee and family did a four song acoustic set during break number 2.

Kimberley Hovenstot sang Already Gone and amazed people along the way.  I knew she did sing Karaoke from time to time but she did fine.  DJ Hovenstot backed her up on drums with Bear, Mark Awad, Billy Bourbon and Tommy Bruner in tow.

Next week, I take a break from the Rumor's jam and Stone City to help Kat Blue and the No Limits band in Homestead.  Temps will be in the 90s, just like it was in Monticello last weekend.   I will have to break a fan and a couple towels and a couple shirts along the way.  

And shorts.   

As of Monday, the salt shaker was still on the table at Gauchos'

Charles Connor....I never knew who this guy was but he was the drummer on the Specialty Recordings of Little Richard.  I've seen him in the old movies like Don't Knock The Rock, but it is his chugging train beat shuffle that drives Lucille and Good Golly Miss Molly.  He also drummed for Sam Cooke and James Brown, who always seem to get the most funky drummers in his band at some time.  He was a lefty but still a fine drummer who influenced me just like Earl Palmer did.  I need to put him in my top 100 drummers of all time.