Artisan Sanctuary: Five Years To This Day.

Realitesville
Smiling Faces Sometimes*
For What It's Worth
Everybody's Talking
Street Fighting Man*
Ring Of Fire
You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover
Logic And Lies

*Debut

Colton Thompson-Lead vocal on Logic And Lies. (I'm not a big fan on this photo, it makes look like the Robo Cop dude with the red eye, which is my readers on so I can read the songbook)

With: Jim Jacobmeyer, Dave Bonham, Phil Bo King and MJ.

(five years ago, the stranger came up to play drums. the Female keyboard player I can't remember the name but Dan Hartman, Dave Bonham and T Ray are the other jammers)

Five years ago to this date, Dave Bonham and T Ray Robertson welcomed me into the jams.  T Ray has passed on but Dave was at the open mic tonight in Marion.

We had to deal with two monsoon storms this afternoon, thus curtailing my mowing the yard and me going over a few songs.  Still annoyed with a certain somebody Sunday at Rumors, I started learning the Undisputed Truth's Smiling Faces Sometimes, and added a bit of Keith Richard's riffs.  For a naked first run through, it went quite well.  Dave requested Everybody's Talking so I did that one and Colton  wanted to hear some Johnny Cash, so Ring Of Fire was offered.

Earlier in the day, I was going over Sail Away To A Brand New Day, and starting playing that riff but it turned into Street Fighting Man so I decided to do that song instead for the first time ever live.  I'm surprised went better than expected.  But I still would have do a bit of tweaking around to make it sound better.  Had some sexy woman dancing along to that. But she had her husband with her, She mentioned that she worked at the Stone City General Store a few years ago.

Tonight's showcase I played the Silvertone guitar, which Julie gave me last year.  Needless to say it stayed in tune through the show (unlike last year when the new strings kept going out of tune) and it sounded quite good through the monitor.  Very light and easy to play, it's not a heavy guitar like the Telecaster and Strat.   Since Julie has quarantined herself from people, it's the closest thing I have that reminds me of her.   I gave that guitar her name just for the fact that I helped her through some trying times last year. 

In terms of theory, I wanted to do more originals but I had requests to do other songs such as Ring Of Fire and Everybody's Talking.   MJ and Phil Bo did All Along The Watchtower before me, so I had to cross that one out.  I figured Dave wanted to do Everybody's Talking but he wanted me to play that instead.  Cotton requested Logic And Lies, but he wanted to sing it, so I modify it a bit so he could sing it his way.   He sang the chorus twice after the verse.  I sang backup as a guide vocal.  For somebody who hasn't heard it in a year or so, he did better than average.

(Dave, five years after Wrigleyville)


Not a lot people due to the CORNY epidemic, but I had my mask and put it back on my face after singing.

Colton did some karaoke singing afterward and Steven Berry concluded the jam at around 9 30.

(Phil Bo and MJ with Patrick Ticklenburg)

So five years ago, I came up to the Wrigleyville jam in an attempt to see if I could play alongside others.  I was nudged on by the fact that Forthcoming Trains was great enough to get play on the radio and spirited up my courage to play once again, thanks to Rod Albaugh's encouragement.  The drums took a while but I finally found my groove and the guitar playing came later, tho I did play some rough songs at the Wrigleyville Jam.  Being a part of Stone City and Sanctuary open mics, I finally found my voice and guitar playing.  I don't expect much to come out of this but as a hobbyist gigging, I'm still having fun with this.

And time goes by way too fast.

(the slimline photos are from Marijane Euchner aka MJ)

Weekend Jams-Five Years Onward

Friday Night Birthday Bash with Meinfield and Wooden Nickel Lottery.

Songs

Can't You See/Heard It In A Love Song
Copperhead Road
Losing My Religion
Tequila
Wanted Dead Or Alive
Listen To The Music
Long Train Running
Ain't No Sunshine

With:
Rich Toomsen-Guitar, bass and vocals
Jess Toomsen-Bass Guitar and Vocals
Shawn Ster-Lead vocal and guitar (Wanted, Listen To The Music, Long Train Running)
Rick Gallo-Vocal and guitar (Ain't No Sunshine)
Cathy Hart-Lead Vocal (Long Train Running)
Donna Jo Elsner-Vocals and percussion
Delayne Stallman-Drums
Rodney Smith-Drums
Phil Bo King-Guitar


Notes:

Wooden Nickel Lottery provided most of the entertainment Friday night.  I helped out Shawn Ster on the Bon Jovi/Doobie Brothers number, we tackled Copperhead Road with precision, and attempted Tequila for the first time ever. Greg and Brenda announced that this would be their final Fourth Of July party and are moving to Utah once Greg retires.


Saturday Night: FB Company-Boy Scout Hippies

Ron LaFluer-Lead vocals and guitar
Tommy Bruner-Sang Dirty Water, and played guitar
R.Smith-Played Drums

Since I missed out on the Epic Center gig last week, Ron offered this Fourth Of July fireworks gig at the last moment and I took him up on it.  Tommy says he enjoys this sort of gig, where Ron does most of the singing and he can sit back and play. Except for a messed up Gimme Shelter, I think we did very well.  First time being part of the BSH since March of last year.

No AC inside FB company, so I sweated off about 10 pounds and played a varied set with Tommy and Ron.  With Dakota it was anything goes but with Tommy it's very restrained.  Not that I minded that much.  The fireworks show during breaks was kinda disappointing, plus I bit by about 10 mosquitoes in the process.


Stone City Song list; Maki Dervo Host, with Bill Schlatter, Carl Meiners, Danny Trumm and Guitar Dave Bonham and Bart Bock

Songs

Fox On The Run
Jet Airliner
I Always Wanted To Be With You
For What It's Worth
Logic And Lies
Get It Over With
Good Time Charlie

Small crowd but I got an early slot to play and managed to add a couple more than I usually do.  Get It Over With was sped up for some odd reason.  The highlight was singing I always wanted to be with you and have a hummingbird come up to hear the song flying over me.  And a couple of monarch butterflies that appear later on Logic And Lies.  I guess my winged friends want to hear more originals in the future.


Rumor's Wess-Side Jam, Brought to you by Terry McDowell and Friends.

Songs:

You Can't Always Get What You Want
Good Morning Little School Girl
Before You Accuse Me
Running Down A Dream
Knocking On Heaven's Door
Never Been To Spain
Black Magic Woman
Turn The Page
Ain't Living Long Like This
Brown Sugar


Billy Bourbon-Sang on most of the songs and played guitar
Tommy Bruner-Sang on The Rolling Stones numbers and played guitar
Ted Reilly-Played Bass
Morris-Rhythm guitar
I played drums on this segment.


After playing the Stone City acoustic jam, I bopped into Rumors to conclude this jam.  To which Ted played bass.  He was the first guy I jammed with on bass in the first Wrigleyville jam and my first jam actually.  Tommy got a double dose of me, since we played Saturday night in Waubeek.

I got there around 6 15, just in time to chat with Cyndi Mahoney for a spell and got to see a strange segment with Logan Arnold and Layne Goldsberry with Sir Bob Miller trying to figure out what the hell Logan was on and was trying to play.  Their version of Sunshine Of Your Love was different, Sir Bob not exactly playing the off beat right but rather a straight beat.  Layne relieved Logan with Rebel Yell and then Logan botching up I Want You To Want Me.  I wasn't sure what other songs they played, it all was noise to me.  Usually Logan is better than this, it sounded like he hadn't picked a guitar up in about a couple years.

Moving on, the Sunday Funday band attempted to do Running Down A Dream, a song I tend to overplay and too fast as well but it sounded okay,  Black Magic Woman altered from the Fleetwood Mac stomp to Santana to the Open Highway band.  Brown Sugar was dusted off for the first time, Tommy sang it but was not too impressed, but for a first time ever with this band, it went well.  And then after that, Cyndi' spilled her drink on my lap afterwards.   I guess she was too excited to hear how good we play.

Anyway, five years onward from my first jam and Ted returns to be my rhythm mate.  His wife Karen was there, she was the one to convince me to play live once again.  To which I raise my glass to her in a toast.

We have turned full circle again.

Thoughts From The Townedger-End Of June Ramblings

So here it is.  Summer's here and the time is right for fighting in the street boy.

It's hard to keep a positive spin on things this year and with dealings from a careless administration, a clueless governor and everything else going on.  Going up to Madison last week only to find that the fools tore down statues and going around with bullhorns and basebats to proclaim how unfairly they have been treated.   I try to leave politics out of things but what I have seen this summer and the CORVID virus shutting things down again, let's just say I'm pissed at the world

There's pros and cons of playing with your better half..  We have clashed on our musical direction.  When you haven't played together for almost a year, that says a lot.  Looking at our pictures together it's sad to see that in the beginning there was a closeness that made the songs fun to play together.  I see the photos from 2019 and there's a invisible wall, even our last photo together it felt like the end of a chapter.  There are a couple things that stand out.  One was when she played Checkers'  and I bought my guitar up just to sit in on a number, and I played one song and got rushed off the stage, something to the effect that I was driving away the customers.  There was only 10 people in there and they were heading toward the door before I sang one song, the other was the March gig, when she asked if I was at her gig.  Unless there was a clone there, I was.   Since then, we haven't spoken much to each other.

That said, I do love to hear Jules  sing.  Walking After Midnight when she walked me to the car that night was so romantic I almost had tears in my eyes.  She inspired me to write the album Logic N Lies, to which the album did have a happy ending.  It was a joy taking her to the movies, backing her up in Dreams Of Arcadia and Checkers' jam.  On the date Elvis passed away 41 years after the fact, the spell was broken.  Despite our efforts, it never would be the same.  She has her share of bad luck the past couple years, I'm the least of her worries.  She's slowly getting back on her feet after the house caught fire and has a new place.  I haven't been there but they tell me it's a nice place.  And I do miss playing and singing alongside her, if it means anything. But I can tell when she doesn't respond to the things I write or promoting her band that she's moved on.  I'd settle for a simple hello and thinking of you once in a while.  We still remain as friends, and people do split apart.  I still love her to pieces but together, it wasn't working.

Finally, it's a blessing that she's in a working band, The Truth (formerly Everlou).  They are playing July 18th at Hy Vee outdoors.  The same day Blues Rox is playing Norway again.  I'll pass the word wherever she plays, because I care.  Another of my faults.

On the situation with Ron and the Boy Scout Hippies:   I guest drummed for them last year. There could be some summer gigs but with the regular drummer into place, I don't see myself with them anymore.    With Dakota breaking away, Ron has become unstable and flies off the deep end more than he should.  Dakota should get severance and hazard pay from being with him for so long.  Ron is blessed with a good wife, who also makes great money too.   She's helps him living the rock and roll dream.  Dakota is a very talented guitar player.  I'd love him to be in my band any time.

It was great to get back playing at the jams this month but the COVID19 plague is still around and playing indoors means wearing a mask.   I've been lax on recording the new album and each passing day gets me less inclined to finish it.  Terry Bainbridge says we do have enough songs to make an album.  It just wouldn't be very long.

As I look back upon my youth, it pains me to see my old self during the high school years.  The goofy smile, the long extended nose and the look of a poor white trash boy from the other side of the tracks.   I hated high school with a passion, I got beat up every other day, getting stiffed on dates and for thirty plus years thinking of the one that got away, who chased me in my sophmore and junior year and we could never muster the habit of asking one out to date.  I was watching My So Called Life about the high school dance and seeing the awkward dude telling his original date he was going to take somebody else and watching her fall apart. Somehow I felt like the rejected girl when that happen.  I tried asking Janice out, but it came out so fucking clumsy I retreated back to my safe zone. I suppose in the long run, every boy and girl still has to grasp the habit of asking for dates. But in My So Called Life, Brian Krakow was me.  That show still hits home harder than anything else.

It was great to see the jammers at Rumors Sunday, and I'll continue to support their jams (as well as Stone City and the Artisan Sanctuary)  but if the virus spikes high again next month, we'll be staying home.

Congrats to my used to be significant other Nicole for deciding to get married to her long time BF Steve.  I always told her whoever stayed with you longer than I did, you should marry him.  Guess she took my advice.   This weekend, Kim Travillion will tie the knot with David Kurzen, they been together for a couple years.  Alas, the chance to play the Blues Festival Tryouts this year has been canceled.  Hopefully she'll get a chance with a band next year.

To which on that, we're done for another bunch of pointless observations.   We're halfway through a shit year.   And still alive but playing to an audience of one.

The Return Of The Wesside Jam-Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog

With:

Terry McDowell (Drums)
Tommy Bruner  (Guitar far right)
Billy Bourbon  (Guitar to the left)
Jeremiah Murphy  (Bass)
Dakota McWhortor
Nick Lnenicka
DJ Hovenstot
Mike Lint

and Myself on these songs.

Songs:

Mary Jane's Last Dance
You Can't Always Get What You Want
I Shot The Sheriff
Jumping Jack Flash
Fire
Midnight Rambler
Pink Houses
Cross Roads
Take Me To The River

Billy Sang Mary Jane, I Shot The Sheriff, Jumping Jack Flash, Fire, Pink Houses
Tommy sang the rest of the songs.  He also took this photo below.

Kimberly Trevillion-Missing in action

Notes:

The return of the Rumors Wess Side jam and like the rest, a lot of folk stayed away but a few folks did show up.  Jeremiah was in place of Randy Burghdorf who decided to stay home.   It was the first time we got together since the second week of March.

The song ideas were interesting. For I Shot The Sheriff, they called for a reggae beat and I ended up trying to play the one Carlton Barrett plays for Bob Marley.  It was quite rough but Terry mentioned that it sounded good.

It was the first time I reconnected with Dakota since he broke away from Ron's Boy Scout Hippies.  He was doing temp work for Bob Gleason's Electric.  I didn't really want to grill him about the exit from BSH, but he just simply had enough of Ron's antics.  So it was a clean break.  I was supposed to play for BSH last night at Marion but the girl drummer came back and Tommy Bruner played guitar in Dakota's place.  Dakota played a long second set with Mike Lint on drums.

Tommy likes to play You Can't Always Get What You Want in a more funkier arrangement than the Stones and more slower versions of Take Me To The River n Crossroads.  With that, I had to follow Tommy's lead on that. I have played Crossroads to a blazen fast beat and River got a more faster beat.  Despite the blotched beginning, Midnight Rambler might have been the best version that we ever did.

Terry mentioned that they did the Peter Tosh version of Johnny B Goode.  I think due to not being around the guys, I got a bit stiff on the beats but I really think, while it didn't sound that convincing, it didn't stand out with off beats.  Jeremiah, is well versed in playing more of a funkified beat, being part of Dr. Z's Experiment with Ryan Phelan.   The trick is not to overplay.

The song selections were extended.  Dakota came back up and it was guitar wars with Tommy n Billy on the last four numbers.  The version of Fire (Pointer Sisters, not Hendrix) was basically straight ahead beat and watching Billy for the breaks.  Pink Houses was done in a more blues shuffle than the original version.  I thought that was kinda odd.

The finale was Take Me To The River, a bit slowed down but we bumped it up toward the end with a triple guitar duo and then seeing Mr. Murphy pop up on top  of his bass amp and jumping like a frog. It was hard for me to keep from laughing after seeing this.  To which afterward DJ Hovenstot took over for me.  I couldn't top that one.

(The Rumors gang:  Ann, David, Tami and Shelly)

Saturday we had the Quarantine Jam Part 2 at Steve Black Wolf's place and while Dave Bonham and Tommy Bruner had paying gigs, they were replaced by Barb Francisco and her hubby Bob and Tim Nemec and Rose Slaymaker (part of the Egads band).  Donna Jo came by later and she helped on For What's Its Worth, Steve Black Wolf and I did a few songs together and Ole 55. Virginia Harlow arrived later.  Somehow she derailed a couple songs from me to which after messing me up on Sundown, I put my guitar away.  I think she got the impression that I wasn't too happy with her but I told her don't worry about it.  Jams are jams.  Nobody is going to remember them the next day...unless I write about it.  In typical fashion, Julie and Molly Jennings  didn't take part in the Q 2 jam.  I didn't expect either one.


I didn't take part in the Stone City Acoustic Jam.  Since I played guitar yesterday, I decided to go with a drums only jam participation.   We think there'll be a jam next week, I don't see why not, but if Cedar Rapids gets hit with another CORNY virus part two, lets just say we had fun with this.

Billy Bourbon took the two photos of Jeremiah jumping on top of his bass amp.  The man comes through with some of these pictures that he takes.

Artisan Sanctuary: Six Feet Apart Distance Between Members

Songs:

Fox On The Run
Please Send Me Somebody To Love
I Rather Not Cry
Logic And Lies
Baby What You Want Me To Do/
I Just Want To Make Love To You/
Rock Me Baby
Lets Work Together
For What Its Worth

Freddy Jones-Harmonica on 5-9

With:
Jim Jacobmeyer (who took the photos) , M.J. Damertri Young, Phil Bo King, Patrick Lower

For What Its Worth dedicated to Devaone Johnson.

Notes:

A return to the open mic night at the Sanctuary and we only had five performers.  Freddy Jones came by later to conclude my set and the show with a blues medley thought up on the spot.   Poor Phil Bo had to deal with a guitar that wouldn't stay in tune.

Everybody had a mask on inside the Sanctuary. I had to pull my off just to sing.  I did cover up when Freddy came on stage but the mask slipped on down anyway.

I shared my Madison bargain hunt encounter with the protesting crowd and everybody was shocked about the statues falling down due to the arrest of Devaonte Johnson, the troublemaker of the State Street who badgered patrons at a bar with a bullhorn and baseball bat.  To which he got arrested.  For What Its Worth was dedicated to him in a offhand way.

In the end, it was an interesting return but I won a six month membership at the Sanctuary to do work on the next album I gather.  Thanks Jim.

Stone City-The Return Of Acoustic Adventures

For the first time in three months, I had a weekend with a gig and then Sunday's Acoustic Jam outdoors in Stone City.  But first.

Blues Rox played Prairie Creek Saloon outdoors.  The weather was quite nice (tho a bit windy) and the people were quite giving.  It would have been a perfect performance, when once again, another Spinal Tap incident happen.  On the end of Voodoo Chile I tried to grab my cymbal, only to watch it fall in the opposite direction and it hit the pavement and got a nice dent in the process.  Another of God's practical jokes I could do without.  The luck I have been having hasn't been great, in fact it down right sucks.  Till the day I die I don't foresee anything changing for the best.

But anyway, The Norway folks, mostly friends of the Bries came out and supported Blues Rox.  Some woman popped a twenty in the tip jar and requested Wipe Out, so we did.  First time I played it since 1983.  I think we made her happy.

Since our long layoff, we sounded quite good and even the classic rock stuff that we had trouble with came out pretty good.  It was supposed to be a 3 hour gig, but we started late and finished around 9.  I can see why the guys like playing Norway, it's their home and they got the town supporting them.

Sunday Acoustic Showcase-Stone City General Store 6/14/2020

I Fought The Law
I Just Want To Make Love To You
Ring Of Fire
Let's Work Together
Fox On The Fun

Encore:
Last Kiss,Stand By Me,This Magic Moment

With Steve Black Wolf, Donna Jo and Lorie Parker

Bubs Johannes-Host
With

Carl Meiners, Steve Black Wolf, Lorie Parker, Donna Jo Eisner, Bill Schlatter, Katy Merrfield, Guitar Dave Bonham, Adam Keith, Danny Trumm, Ken Becicka

For the first time since March, I played Stone City, this time outdoors.  Very off the wall and making it up as I went searching for a song to play I decided on I Fought The Law.  I just want to make love to you was improvised on the spot as well.  Ring Of Fire was suggested by Ken Smith who had to leave before I took the stage but he and his wife came by to chat a while.   It was the first time that I seen Lorie Parker since the Sanctuary tribute to Julie this year.

Basically, this was a solo set.  We couldn't find a woman that could sing Gold Dust Woman.

Overall, this weekend, the jam and gig were fun outside of denting my cymbal.  I was surprised how well the acoustic set went.  I'm sure I'll do it again next weekend.......

T Ray Robertson

Terry (T Ray) Robertson lost his battle with cancer Thursday.

T Ray was instrumental in getting me back to playing when I came back into the Cedar Rapids Music Scene in 2015.  He played in the KICK IT band with Dan Hartman and Herm Sarduy but also in a few more classic country bands of the 80s, 90's and beyond.

We jammed together at Wrigleyville with a few musicians and support from the late Gary Fletcher.  When Wrigleyville decided to end the Thursday, then Tuesday Night jams, he took it to Rumors in 2016.

I will miss T Ray's nimble guitar playing leads and good time humor.  He also got me back into working on songs by Los Lonely Boys and Montgomery Gentry.   I will celebrate his memory by continuing to play on.  Maybe in the afterlife, we will get to jam on the big stage in the great beyond.

God gained himself a excellent guitar player.

" He always looked forward to playing with you Rodney. He would say all the time that IA is the home to some of the most talented musicians there is and how honored he was to get to play with them."   Brandy Herman