Artisan Sanctuary Showcase 4/4/19

Songs:

Good Time Charlie
Touch Of Grey
Desolation Angels
Logic And Lies
Go Out And Get It
Long Black Veil
Love's Made A Fool Out Of You

With:
Jim Jacobmeyer, Patrick Lower, Phil And Darryl, Glen Gardner, D. Harris, Bill Schlatter and others.

Observations:

(photos by Glen Gardner...I'm going to miss my good friend who takes pics of me playing)

A surprise showing by myself.  Took yet another sick day to deal with the walking pneumonia issues and doctor prescribed another antibiotic to see if this would work better.  Perhaps I should have gone in sooner than I did. The micro-plasma seems to be immune to all these cold meds I have been taking.

Unlike yesterday, I had better sound thanks to Patrick.  He knows how to make things sound pretty good.   Ron did donate that big mixing board he talked about giving the Sanctuary and he came though, however he forgot to bring the power supply chord to plug it in.    Dave Bonham was up there briefly, but left when he discovered he wasn't playing the Woodstock Fifty bash up in Lowe's Park this August, but Boy Scout Hippies are.  I'm not sure that I will be playing anyway, tho' Ron will probably ask me if I'm interested to help the band out.  By then, I think he'll have a working drummer to help them out.  However, the Elsners' Cabin Jam is on that Saturday before Sunday.

There's a bunch of bands playing there, including Winterland, the Grateful Dead tribute band that Byron Stevens and Jon Wilson play in.  Zoot and Neut with a full band and a few others. Kind of a big deal to play in.  I can't imagine why Dave was passed over, we talked about playing a couple songs but I think Jim has made this more of a actual band setting.  Whatever was said tonight, Dave just decided to head home and not take part of the open mic tonight.   He may not return again judging how things would go.

In an attempt to try new stuff, I played Touch Of Gray and Desolation Angels for the first time and concluded with Love's Made A Fool Out Of You, but still the after effects of my illness kept me to play the songs I have been playing for the past couple weeks.  They were rough but they did go over quite well with the small crowd and two little boys bopping on the floor.  One little boy made me smile at the way he was having fun, despite my playing Touch Of Gray, another sad song about getting older.  But I did Logic And Lies since I knew the words and didn't need the book of lyrics.

Glen returned back to the Sanctuary for the first time since coming back from Arizona and he's been busy packing up and selling things in between playing the acoustic circuit.  I'd love to go to Arizona and jam with him and the AZ musicians this summer but since I have taken too many sick and vacation days due to my pneumonia problem  I may have to wait till 2020 to do that.

The whole week, I have been playing with that fedora hat I found for 5 dollars at Target last year and put it to good use at various gigs and jams. It's gotten to the point that I can't stand seeing my hairs stand straight up and all over the place when I do play.  I can't control my hair, or what's left of it.  Last year when Sonya popped up to take photos of me and Julie, that I had about 20 of them standing up to give me the Alfalfa look and didn't care much to see them.   Used to be I wasn't a fan of wearing hats, nowadays I think I rather much have one around just in case.  Sign of the times, trying to look better on stage than the usual rumpled sweatshirt.

And forgot to take it off before I hit the stage.

Checker's Acoustic Showcase or Julie's Birthday Bash

Setlist:

Go Out And Get It
Good Time Charlie
For What It's Worth
Cinnamon Girl

Encore with Ernest:

Sweet Home Chicago
Bring It On Home
The Twist
Lean On me
I Got My Mojo Working


With

Julie Gordon-Backing Vocals on For What It's Worth/Cinnamon Girl
Ryan Paul-Percussion
Ernest Bynum-Guest Vocalist on the Ernest Jams

(Julie Gordon captured this shot of me, I'm surprised she caught me in a reflective mode)

Tired, Bitchy, sick of coughing, sick of everything, yep that's me.

For the past month, I have been dealing with walking pneumonia, a continual torture of coughing and a river of mucus going down into my windpipe. I played three gigs with the Boy Scout Hippies with this shit, I probably did give this to Ron by accident, but he's over it sooner than I have.  It didn't help much when I went to Unity Point to see what can be done, only to find the person checking me in, thinking I was my brother.  Turns out my brother had a better plan; he only pays thirty dollars, I get to pay 40.  And then the head nurse couldn't figure out why my blood pressure was 180/90.  It's a fucking way of life for me.

Work wasn't much better;  I split two fingernails and a wayward lead pencil tip broke off and got stuck in the feeder.  I'm surprised I can even type for my misadventures.  But it was Julie's birthday (tho I think her day was actually the 2nd of April) and I decided to support her cause one more time before we got busy at work again.  It was the first I got to see her since the Journeys Of The Heart date.  She's been under the weather as well.

For people, Buddy Archbrenner was there with his new baby daughter, Lauren and Glen Gardner were there, so was Dave Bonham and Donna Jo and Karl Hudson too. Ryan and Julie did about 35 minutes of music and Dave and Glen took over and then I popped up on stage around 8 30 and stumbled all over Go Out And Get It and lost my fucking guitar pick inside the gutiar,  I still cannot complete the whole  "I believe in a minute for every man" line, unless I'm not playing the right melody right or maybe it was the talking of the crowd that got me distracted.    Good Time Charlie was dedicated to Dave Hogendorn who passed away from cancer last Friday.  Ryan banged on a tambourine on a couple numbers, Julie sang some backup.  And then Ernest came up and we did an jam based Sweet Home Chicago and then he tore into Bring It On Home and I capo'ed on fret three and just went where he was going with it.  On Got My Mojo Working, I finally came alive and did a E chord jam and danced around the stage and responded to his call on Got My Mojo Working.  And for the first time around 9:05, finally cracked a smile.  

I do miss jamming with Ernest.  He is a entertainer.


Obituary for David Harwood Hogendorn


How can one describe David Hogendorn, born in North English, Iowa, to Bertilla (Driscoll) and Carl Hogendorn on November 14, 1939. Dave was a prankster, a good athlete, a bowler and golfer, a man who was fun and funny, a host extraordinaire, a snappy dresser, a classic car lover, a Big Band and Rock and Roll aficionado, a great dancer, Hawkeye fan (and yeller), proud Irish/Dutch man, and stubborn. He was a generous man who helped others in need, a good friend, a gentleman, a staunch Republican, an animal lover, and someone who sported a beautiful head of white hair. Or, perhaps a negotiator, dignified, courageous, a man who led by example of how to live and how to die.

But most of all, Dave was a family man. He loved his wife, Katherine, who was his rock in sickness and health. He loved his five children, Dominic, Shawn, Dustin, Shannon and Brittany, their spouses, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was an integral part of the Hogendorn sibling unit of Terry, Jo Rae, Marsha, Denise, Leslie, Honore, Kris, April and Lenny. Dave and Katherine opened their home to family and friends on many occasions at their beautiful lake home in Solon. He was happiest when surrounded by those whom he loved.

Dave spent his high school years in the mid-1950’s dancing in the many great dance venues of Eastern Iowa. He was an original member of the Danceland Bandstand Dancers, along with his sister and dance partner, Marsha. Along with his father, he also spent those years promoting rock bands in the area, and later ran a dance hall in Waterville, Iowa.

Dave began a nearly 40-year broadcast career in 1967 with the opening of KNEI-AM and FM in Waukon, Iowa. As owner, operator and manager, Dave brought music, sports and news to the tri-state area of Northeast Iowa, Southwest Wisconsin and Southeast Minnesota. Later, Dave purchased KZAT-FM in Tama, Iowa. During his broadcast career, Dave hosted a big band show entitled “The Sunday Morning Showcase” on his KNEI stations, which featured hits of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. For more than 50 years, Dave also owned and operated a private tour business which promoted group trips to such places as Ireland, Nashville, Branson, and Hawaii. Dave received numerous civic and business awards for various achievements, but the one he truly cherished was being inducted by his peers into the Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

David died peacefully Friday, March 29, 2019 at home surrounded by family. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Bertilla, his in-laws Gladys (Woolstrum) and Forrest Ryan, and his grandson, Grayson Hogendorn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 PM, Saturday, April 6, 2019 at the Newman Catholic Center, 104 East Jefferson Street, Iowa City. A visitation will be held before at noon and a lunch will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the family fund or Iowa City Hospice.

Stone City Acoustic Showcase 3/31/19 One For Bruce Stanley

Setlist


Go Out And Get It
Long Black Veil
Games People Play
Good Time Charlie

(Glen Gardner: photo, 'cuse me while I kiss the mic)

Today is Bruce Stanley's Birthday.  He would have been 60.

I dedicated my set to his memory with the Guild guitar he sold me about 15 years ago.

I cannot shake this fucking cough whatsoever and whatever I did on my set of songs I have to deal with gobs of mucus and snot running down my throat and feeling like shit.  I crashed big time soon after my set and called it a night.  I think the songs turned out well, but I fumbled through a rough go at Games People Play.  I must be getting better covering up my mistakes.  I had a few people complimenting how well I did.  But I was so out of it, that I didn't have any pizza that Donna Jo ordered. But then again even if I was well, I would have passed anyway.


Notes: Glen Gardner returned back to Stone City, Other notables were Ray Larson, Bill Schlatter, Steve O, Bubs Mahones, Dave Bonham, Angie Marie, Rocky Smith, Bart Bock  Steve Black Wolf, and Donna Jo Elsner.  Lane Gaffney hosted.   Angie Marie might have taken a better picture of me, maybe she'll share it when it comes available.  And she provides this photo of me.

The Boy Scout Hippies played the Office Lounge, Dreams Of Arcadia recorded some songs with Brook Hoover producing and recording.  Ron and Dakota did arrive later to play after I called it a day.

Other events of the month (stolen from another blog)

Dan Johnson invited me to the Checker's 2nd Wednesday get together.  I told him about me helping the Boy Scout Hippies out and he asked who they were and I told them it was Ron and Dakota. Like many others he shook his head about Ron.  The guy has a notorious reputation around C.R it seems.  I'm not mentioned in any of the Boy Scout Hippies announcements, and didn't expect to be, after all, it remains their band, their vision.  I just filled in with the beat that's all.  I'm sure there's postings of us somewhere on the internet and if I can find them, I'll post them.  But I don't hold out much hope over that.   But I know Fran, Ron's wife did take some videos out there.  I'd be interested to hear how we sounded.  Despite the constant hacking and coughing, I played very well.

For five days, I struck up a conversation with Kraig Spratt's demented sister on Facebook.  I wouldn't mind hearing stories on her brother, but not at 3 AM in the morning and each day I posted something, she would reply for the praises of her brother.  The last straw was Monday, another bad day to which I almost freaked out the car wash dude trying to wash the salt off a rusting car to which she tried to hi jack my posting on Drums at Stone City.  After naming other great drummers, she insisted that her brother was the all time legend best and our opinion doesn't matter.  To which I said goodbye to Psycho and told her to piss off.   I'll grant Kraig this, he does wonders with the original Stone Garden band in town, but his tenure with Hostage, turned out an album of subpar originals and his Harvey Headbanger CD made Spinal Tap sound like Led Zeppelin.  He's good, but his originals didn't impress me much.  Kevin Sinmacher had mentioned that Kraig was the best that he's played with, that's saying something. But there's other drummers that can compete with the Wildcat, myself included. If I didn't think so, I would never post that, but you have Bruce Chadima, Don Timmons, Gordy from Cruise, Jim Viner, Bill Neff, Terry McDowell, Jon Wilson, Troy Mitchell, Tiffany Z, and a few others that I can't remember.  And to try to have somebody that I never known before come and explain otherwise will not help the argument.  I have no qualms with Christine Spratt and wish her well in her strange adventures in life and maybe she should put up a tribute page for her brother somewhere out there.  But you will not convince me of the importance of somebody, who from what I heard just didn't impress me and it waters down the significance of his contributions from a overzealous sister.  But it is hard for me to not go against my past and note of the drummers that influenced me to play.  And the best drummer from my time was somebody in high school that played in the pep band and did Ted Nugent songs better than the Nuge himself.  Only a handful of people knew about the talents of Lonnie Washburn and I kept his memory alive by playing in his style.  I'm not sure if Lon still plays drums (my guess is no) but he was the one that got me serious about playing drums.  Wildcat remains a rock legend around here, but my influences were from Lonnie and Neal Machen and the dude from Galen/Hallen band from Dubuque that played Garfields back in 1981.

Of course Wildcat's is better known than me. Life is like that. Some get their name in the lights, others toiled in the darkness of the garage.  It's too late for me to ever eclipse the legends but I have made a nice little discography of my own.

And I think I'm a damn good drummer too.

Checker's Acoustic Showcase 3/27/19 Glen's Return

Songlist:


Floodlands
Go Out And Get It
For What Its Worth
Cinnamon Girl
Let's Work Together

(Glen Gardner; Photo Credit)

Notes:


I have a mixed outlook when it comes to meeting famous people or well known musicians and radio personalities.   And it goes back of meeting Ed Podolak, the famed Iowa running back and former Kansas City Chief, now Iowa football broadcaster.   Around 1972 I think, he was down at Armstrongs or Smelokoff's and it was a meet and greet and we waited in line to see him.  He was handing out pictures and mentioning that he don't do autographs and basically was told to move on down the line.  The first disappointment that I met in my life.  After dealing with Bob Dorr's antics the other night,  I pretty much put him in the same league as Podolak.   For many years of seeing him play in the Blue Band and hearing him on the radio, I was wrestling whether or not he was a good guy or a douche cookie.  Great harmonica player indeed but his people skills leave a lot to be desired.  If you're a well known blues player or hall of famer he'll give you the time of day but if you're anybody else, you're wasting his time.  After last night and watching him scowl from the back of the bar and being anti social, I concluded he is a douche cookie.

I had fun and laughs with other musicians who are well known, most are friendly and will talk music with you..  I've dealt with egotistical ones and played in some bands with them, you can't please them all, but what you try to do is be cordial around them and respect their wishes.  No matter how much of a prick they can be.

With another night at work not too busy, I managed to return to Checker's to play for the first time in a month and had to borrow Steve Black Wolf's guitar for my five song set.  It was great to see Cathy Hart again and Jeff Gage and Donna Jo and Bill.  Kevin Moore hosted and we had more jammers this time than last month when I was the only one there. Without my songbook, I went with songs I could remember the words with, which were the usual ones, tho' Floodlands led the set off.   Kevin recorded For What Its Worth.

Glen Gardner and Lauren were back in town for three weeks, basically to finalize their sale of their home, get rid of unwanted things and then head back to Arizona on April 20.  But they gave me a hat and a Navajo magnet to hang on the fridge.  I know I will miss both of them when they leave but it might give me a incentive to go visit them in AZ sometime in the future.

I did okay on the vocals, tho' a bit gruff and gravelly.  But at least I didn't cough up a lung unlike last night at Parlor City.  But this flu crap refuses to give up.  Therefore, it's back to the Nyquil and about 4 different night time cold and flu pills.  It's either going to cure or kill me.

Parlor City Blues Jam With The Cranky Blues Hall Of Famer

With:

Dave Bonham-Lead Guitar and Vocals
Tom Giblin-Keyboards
Frederick Jones-Harmonica
Mark Awad-Bass
Dan Hartman-Guitar and Vocals on Call Me The Breeze and I'm Ready
Dave Morris-Guitar

Dan Johnson, Jeff Petersen and Bob Dorr were the hosts along with Gibby.
George Hanna and The Briles Family was there too.


Notes:

Still hacking and coughing, this fucking walking cold refuses to go away.  It was a light load at work so I managed to get the night off and hang with the boys for a while.  I'm learning how to slow things down with Gibby.  I think for the first time the slower songs actually worked for a change.

I'm not sure what songs Dave sang but Mark and I started out on a little blues excursion and then Dave did a couple of shuffle blues.  I'm surprised that I did so well despite the fucking coughing every five seconds.  Sure hope nobody else gets it.

A light crowd and light jammers tho' Drum Shop Mike was there.  We chatted for a spell and then talk about musical things with Dan Johnson.   I have yet to jam with Dan, for the last few Parlor City jams, I ended up with Mark Awad, fellow Wapsi Dreamer and bass player extraordinaire.  Dave played Ramey's earlier in the evening and then came to join us.  Which meant I didn't get to play with Jeff Petersen, of the Limestoners/Blue Band.

Being a fellow drummer, I have to respect the wishes of the host drummer and make adieu with what they have and have set up.  I don't not change anything, tho' there are some that will mess up the host drums.  A big turnoff I know.  Bob Dorr's cymbal lineup is that he's got the 18 inch crash ride down below my knees, and of course he told me in no uncertain terms not to mess with that.  To which I smiled in agreement, patted him on the back and thanked him for letting me play his drums.  And then withheld giving him 20 dollars for his IPTV donation that's happening right now.

Over the years I have always been a big fan of his radio shows and supported his Blue Band from time to time and his jams, and thought about leaving a good chunk of my record and cd collection to him but he tends to be a old crank.  He certainly showed that tonight.

He's a good harmonica player, one of the best, his drumming, that's another story. His version of Good Morning Little School Girl wasn't one for the record books and the melody he should have sang Howling For My Baby/Howling Wolf.  But it's a jam.  While he did provide that one pair of matching drum sticks, I bought my own.  Just common courtesy that's all.  And I played within the constraints of a gentle blues jam, no showing off, just keep the beat and keep it down.  I could see the glare of Dorr's eyes through darken sunglasses but I kept playing.  I thought about thanking him afterwards but he seemed to be in a hurry to leave Parlor City, so I kept my distance.  When  a famous hall of famer rubs you the wrong way, you tend to not back his efforts or jams.  I like Bob's music shows but I don't foresee us having dinner anytime soon, or making it up to  the Cedar Falls Blues Jam on Thursday Nights.  

He wouldn't have the time of day for me anyway.

Stone City 3/24/19

Songs played

Good Time Charlie
Let's Work Together
Tulsa Time
Bobby McGee
Ring Of Fire

With

Richard Budde-Drums
Sharon Eide  sang on Bobby McGee

(While Angie Marie didn't take any of my performance, she managed to snap this photo of Dave Bonham, Lenny Drake, Richard Budde and Danny Dias playing together-it's always fun to catch Lenny Drake playing a song or two)

That rare occasion that I played earlier than usual.  Had to, I was going to meet Russ and Debby at the Cancun so they can celebrate my birthday, two months later.  Weather and illness were the reason why we didn't get together sooner.  I don't hold much hope that John Field will join the band; he's living in Iowa City and can't drive and neither Russ and myself want to drive the extra miles to pick him up back and forth.

But we had a good dinner despite shitty service.  Good thing Russ knows most of the owners of the Cancun. This was the third straight time I got lousy service from the waitress.

The original plan was to go to Rumors and hang there but at the last moment I decided to bop on over to Stone City and do a early set.  Dick Budde bought his drumset, so I used him on my set list.  Mostly 4/4 stuff with let Budde play to the guitar and provide the beat.  As a drummer, I don't mind other drummers playing alongside me, in fact I actually enjoy it.  Dick was a bit loud and erratic on other's songs, but I think he did quite well on the songs I sang.

Again, I chose songs that people would enjoy hearing and yes everybody sang along to Tulsa Time and Ring Of Fire, and I even had Lane Gaffney cracking me up from behind the soundboard playing drums to Let's Work Together.  On Bobby McGee, Sharon popped up to help on backing vocals. Kim Trevillion was in the house and we could have done Gold Dust Woman to finish things up, but I decided on ending with Ring Of Fire, and left Everybody's Talking to Dave Bonham to play on his own.

Those in Attendance: Bill Schlatter, Danny Dias, Guy Petersen, Dave Bonham, Sharon, Maki Dervo, Lenny Drake, Angie Marie, Adam Keith, The Smith Kids.

Next week, Glen Gardner said he'll be back in town to play Stone City.  Carl Meiners will follow in a couple more weeks.  The hope is to hang with Glen a few more times before he returns back to the desert. I'd love to go visit him out there this summer.  Doubt if I'll get there tho'.

Boy Scout Hippies-Whiskey River 3/23/19

With

Ron LaFluer
Cali Jean Blake
Dakota McWhorter
Nick Lenicka

Cymbals Used:

14 Inch K Dark Crash
16 A Zildjian Rock Crash
16 S Zildjian Trash/Crash
19 Armand Ride

Quick Beat hi hats.

(Diana Koening Photo Credit)  (Ron Lafleur and Cali Jean Blake)

I changed to a smaller cymbal lineup simply of the fact of looking for some accented cymbals than what the 18 inch Crash Ride and 20 Sizzle Ride could offer.

I used ear plugs simply of the fact that I deal with tinnitus on a constant basis and I've been playing the price ever since crashing cymbals left and right 40 years ago.  Plus, the band is known for playing loud.

We had a good crowd and the place was 3/4th full. A few people danced, plenty of young drunk chicks also made it to the floor but to this old coot, I'm too old for them anyway.  I might be too old for their moms.

I think we did the best version of Can't You See, tho' I'm sure somebody recorded it and stuck it out there on the net.  Perhaps Fran LaFleur managed to capture the moment.  She captured a few others but they were not playing in my instant messenger. Except for one missed cymbal crash I managed to keep up with Ron on that rare occasion.

I remain committed to my regular job which I had to bow out of future gigs with The Boy Scout Hippies, Ron scored a couple more in May and July.  I'm remain adamant that I was there on a temporary basis and maybe if Ron catches me at a weak moment I may return to help them again.  I want to complete the next Townedger album as well as continue to do my acoustic guitar adventures. But I'm a lazy sod at practice and leery of any more drum openings, it's a shame that I didn't have this many offers about 35 years ago, but somewhere down the line, I'll be pounding away at a BSH gig this summer.  But I did tell Ron to give the new drummer, whoever he may be, a fighting chance.  If he's available to practice and play on weeknights go with him.  It seemed that Jeff, the drummer who played CRL didn't do a good job.  I would suggest Mike Lint, but he's more schizophrenic about his commitments more than me.   I had to turn down a offer to play for another AC DC tribute band.  I rather not play Back In Black since radio plays it every day.   Still, it's nice to be considered to play for another band since people think I do pretty good playing drums.  So far, Ron has promised at least a 100 dollars for everytime we play and delivered.  And he's been fair.   Which somewhere down the line, I'm sure we'll be on stage sooner than later.

Phil Bo and his wife, plus Katy Merrifield showed up.

I went into town earlier to catch Chain Reaction, the local band with Rocky Smith playing drums and managed to sit in on one song.  Can't You See was the song. ;)