Stone City-Mistaken Identity

Stone City Songlist:

Fox On The Run
Lynchin' Party
Ring Of Fire
Just To Satisfy You/
Jet Airliner
Everybody's Talking
Let's Work Together
Cinnamon Girl

2nd Set

(Two Babes And An Crabb)
Kimberly Kirzan-Vocals
Donna Jo Elsner-Vocals and Percussion
Me-guitar and vocals

Gimme One Reason To Stay Here
Gold Dust Woman
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
Country Roads
Squeeze Box
For What It's Worth
Knocking On Heaven's Door

Kimberly sang on the first three songs.
She also took the Stone City photos.

With:
Carl Meiners, Danny Trumm and wife, Maki Dervo, The two kids from Artisan Sanctuary, David Lam, Katy Merifield  and Morris.

Notes:

A nice clear and cool evening awaited us for the Acoustic get together.  The Rumors Jam was canceled due to a growing concern about the Corvid virus.   It was announced earlier this afternoon so we couldn't celebrate Mike Lint's birthday.  Looks like the indoor jams will not be taking place this month at all.  A lot of musicians are not happy about this, Tommy is ready to fight somebody.  But I did have a sneaking suspicion that some bars would close up shop for another month.  So I might as well do one more bargain hunt in Davenport before staying at home once again.  We shall see.

I couldn't remember how Just To Satisfy You went; I started it out and then couldn't pick up the melody so I went into Jet Airliner instead. I don't think anybody noticed.   I think overall the first set went fairly well.  The newlyweds David and Kimberly showed up later and so she wanted to sing some songs and I would help her out.  She liked my version of Stop Dragging My Heart Around including the power chords at the end of song.  A bit of rust was shown on the Stevie Nicks songs but the harmony vocals on the chorus made it sound awesome.  Gimme One Good Reason was flawless but Take Me One, Country Roads was rough, I missed a few key chord changes but it was the first time I sang it and I took over the vocals for the last three songs.  I hardly play Squeeze Box but I did remember about 80 percent of the words.   Not bad for a first time out.

After I got done playing the second set and sweet looking buxom woman came up to ask if we played any AC DC, I told her I did Shot Down In Flames in practice.  It shouldn't be that hard to learn You Shook Me All Night Long.   Another woman, thanked me for playing mandolin.  But I think she had me confused with Carl Meiners, he played the mandolin with Ken on guitar.  I did let the musician behind me use my guitar on his set since he broke a string on his guitar.  He did a sound job.

(Donna Jo)

The second set wasn't planned but it was billed as Two Babes And A Crabb.  Probably the closest thing to Acoustic Crabbies that we will ever have.  Unless Julie signs up for this.

Friday Night,  Blues Rox played at the JA Tap in North Liberty.  I love the stage, I love the door next to the stage for easy loading and unloading of instruments and their light system but don't like the drum shield.  I couldn't hear nor see Kristopher on the songs.  We started out not on the right page, the first set might have been the worst sets we ever done and I was beginning to wonder if we had anything left in the second set when (surprise) we got somebody to dance to Free Bird, which really did sound fairly well.  My co worker Dan Moyer paid a surprising visit and Freddy Jones came out to hang with the rest of the evening.  We got paid fairly well, which was more shocking.

I decided on this show to use the Paiste cymbal lineup and wasn't that impressed.  The 2002 Medium Crash sounded out of place.  The Signature Mellow China 20 inch was fun.  But I think I'll go back to the K's in future shows.

Kristopher was doing his extended lead break on the end of Voodoo Chile.  And he caught me  when he was wrapping up and I had to dive behind the drums and caught my shoulder on the chain lank fence.  Another Spinal Tap moment..

With not too many folks around, we opted for a more blues focused fourth set, including two Bad Company Brian Howe numbers.   Somehow, the owner of the J A Tap, said he would like to have us back there, if and when things get back to normal.

But that might be a while, way things are going.

Thoughts From The Townedger-July Edition

The CorVid Virus issues of 2020 continue to play havoc.  The Blu Room in Dubuque has closed their doors.  I was looking forward to play at their jams this year.   I will try to get back to the Pub 1848 Monday Jam before that gets shut down.  But I believe Sean Ryan will do his damnest to keep it going.  If anything I managed to see Julie and her furbabies this month.  I have to wear a mask when I go over.  It's the least I can do to show how much that I care about her.

Callie Jean  is now a CNA and working at a care place in Anamosa.  At this point, she's not singing anymore and is ready to become a first time mom.  She'll be a great mom; now let us work on her to quit smoking. She joins my ex Nicole as a CNA helper.

44 years ago....In my memories field, an old picture of Janice Tygerrsson came up, Tygerrsson is her married name, in 86, she married a guy from Iceland and have been together ever since.  Memories tend to fade but somehow she hasn't.  She remains a subconscious part of my life in the songs that I sing. I didn't take American Studies in my freshman year and had to take it the next year, to which Janice and her friends proceeded to make my life a living hell.  Back then it was a school girl crush and there were feeble attempts to go steady.  Both of us failed miserably and I still remember Colour My World by Chicago playing and somehow my feeble attempt to grab her hand to slow dance only to have her pull away, to which at that moment, the dream was shattered, and her buddy Sue stepped in.  The next day, she came into the Longfellow playground with Sue and it turned into a screamfest. Somehow she popped up with I Love You and I looked at her and sneered, yeah right.  We both cooled off and promised to make amends, which never happened.  In that time, I just couldn't get away from her.

I told the story and the aftermath so many time in other blogs that it's not worth the effort to relive the heartbreak or missed chances.  To be honest, Janice wanted a large family of her own, she couldn't get me out of the record stores or being the legend in my mind rocker at that time.  Would she have wanted me to be play music or drums?   I doubt it, but in the back of my mind when Paraphernalia was playing around the area  I did hope to see her somewhere down the line.  She moved to Texas with a classmate who passed away a while ago and found her soulmate and got that large family she wanted and now is a Grandma.  I don't see the need to post her picture of today, we haven't touched base in so long and we are not a part of each other's lives anyway.  I always told her, that I wasn't the one, you haven't met your true love.  But to be honest, when she sat on my lap one day after a date, I do admit that I kinda enjoyed that.  I just wish I was a bit more accessible and not so angry back then.

The story on John Field is getting more sadder.  Even Russ has given up hope to get John to play again, seems like he's in trouble with the law on something.  Or is in the hospital, or jail.

About Craig Morrison, one of those dudes that will promise to show up at your gig or jam and doesn't. He seemed to be more critical on musical things or opinions that I had.  He got into it with a friend of mine and then proceeded to take a photo of the exchange and unfriended me afterwards. The kind of dude I can do without in this life. To relieve him of his misery, I blocked him so he didn't get offended at everything I said on my other page.  He split one too many hairs so he can piss off.

It's not looking good for the FB Company Waubeek Jam to make a return this year.  Russ has expressed interest of playing there.  I could try to sell him the idea of playing in Blues Rox since getting a bass player would add more spice to the songs.   Not having the Parlor City blues jam has kinda taken Kristopher back a step or two but he does hold his own on the blues songs.  With the blues festivals canceled this summer, it took the wind out of our sails in getting exposure.  We could have open for Avery-Grows Band this summer.  But Brian races cars on Friday and Saturday Nights. I worry about him and always have a prayer that he will get through a race and not crash.

I still think bars will close down again if the stats keep going up for Corvid testing.  Blues Rox played  JA Tap tonight and while our performance wasn't up to par, especially for the first two sets, the owner mentioned he would like to have us back again, when things get back to normal.  I tend to think we need a bass player to help things along.  Not having Craig Erickson or Kevin Burt has rusted down what Kristopher can do, if they were around, chances are he'd be top notch again.  I still remain committed to Blues Rox, but like every band out there, there could be a change if the music gets stagnated.    They could go with a more relaxed drummer, but I'm their favorite drummer.  So I'm good for now.

Not a lot going on.  Next month will be a handful of acoustic adventures shows and the Cabin Jam.  But till then.

Rumors-The China Syndrome

Songs

You Can't Always Get What You Want
Working Man Blues
Take Me To The River
Mercury Blues
Can't Find My Way Home
I Used To Work In Chicago
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Dirty Water


Tommy Bruner-Lead Vocals and amazing slide guitar
Mike (Bear) Clair-Guitar and Lead Vocal (Working Man Blues, Peaceful Easy Feeling)
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass
Morris-Guitar
R.Smith-Drums
Terry McDowell-Drums and host

Notes:

Jeffrey Brown cleaned my clock about doing yard work yesterday and getting heat exhaustion.  Yeah, I wanted to get the yard work done but killing myself in 105 heat index and a dew point of 83.  So I basically stayed home and contented with sleep and Perry Mason reruns.

With Stone City jam not going through, (the storms never did came) I went to support the Rumor's cause and it was a large crowd.  The highlight was The Bear and Renee Clair popping up for the first time since December of 2018 and playing about 8 songs and goofing off on a couple others.  Semi retired, Mike doesn't come down from Vinton all that much, I think he did a couple times last year but didn't play. 


For the most part, it was Tommy Bruner that did the majority of songs and he was on fire today.  Probably some of the best playing he's done this year, and that's saying something.  His slide work on Mercury Blues really got the crowd going.  For Can't Find My Way Home, I played more of a jazzier type of melody rather than what Terry would play. Very much improvised   I could not find a regular beat. With Jeremiah's expertise in jam bass guitar playing, I let him do the major rhythm while I did some ride cymbal accents.  I think It went okay.

Morris returned for the first time since open heart surgery and being away for two weeks was record time.

While the Bear doesn't venture out much, his sense of humor was in tact, and somehow we were talking about china cymbals and the china effect, which got me cracking up.  Terry has a nice 2002 china crash which is nice n mellow.  So we had a lot of bad jokes and concluded with a major china cymbal accents on Dirty Water.   I told the guys I can bring about five other china cymbals if need be next time.  They didn't think that was funny.

Alas, this day marked the day that my Discman finally died, after playing the Peter Frampton Blues Band album, the motor died.  So I guess I will try out my Jensen discman, found for 2.88 at goodwill.  I hope I can find another Discman before too long.  I had this for about 16 years.  Time to recycle it.

From The Sanctuary-Emporium Of Hits

Fox On The Run
Logic And Lies
Cinnamon Girl
Free Bird (Extract)
Good Time Charlie
Dear Lisa
Please Send Me Somebody To Love
High Heel Sneakers/Used Car Blues
The Last Time

(Diana Conwell-Koeing, Fab Five Freddy Jones, Me, Cyndi Mahoney, hiding behind me)

I worked part of the day and then joined the folks at the Sanctuary for a evening of songs and fun.  Cyndi Mahoney complained I never play guitar enough but she wanted to hear me uninterrupted.
She got her wish.  Without Virginia Harlow screwing me up, I could play the songs without problems.   Jim mentioned that was my best performance ever.

Wow!  That's saying a lot.  I choked on the last chorus on Fox On The Run, and needed a drink.   Cinnamon Girl usually gets played last but it was third on the list.  Without Colton Thompson around I reclaimed Logic And Lies.  It's a Sanctuary favorite.  Used Car Blues came about when
I couldn't remember Hi Heel Sneakers so I went with that.    The Last Time, Phil Bo was singing the backing vocals from the crowd, and perhaps a couple others.  We don't get much of a crowd but the ones that do show up make it a fun night.


I'll go with that.

Rumors-Gaslighting

Songs played:

I'm Free

Tennessee Whiskey

Bitch

Still My Guitar Gently Weeps

Whipping Post

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Billy Bourbon-Lead vocals on all but Tennessee Whiskey and guitar

Tommy Bruner-Guitar and vocals

Ted Reilly-Bass

R.Smith-Drummer

Terry McDowell-Rumor's MC and provider of drums

The female singer was Sandy I think and sang the Chris Stapleton song.

So I'm day late putting the set list up.  I spent most of the day Sunday reconnecting with Julie as she watered and tended to her garden with Franklin providing comedy relief.  He might be an old puppy but Julie remarks that the only time Franklin ever plays is when I'm over there.  He got rewarded with a couple of chew toys and cleaned up holey socks.  Julie says perhaps it was better that I didn't wash them.  Both of us do make some sort of clumsy attempt to rekindle the love that we still have.  It's true that we love each other but more in a casual side.  Just when we think about moving on, something happens and we'll around each other.  Even in Corvid times, there's a bond that keeps us going.   

Julie finally gave me the Mac for a gift and I'm trying to figure out how to program it.  The junk Lenovo doesn't work CD duplicating anymore and it's been a year.  I have got to get my music and CDs out once again.

Saturday Night, I passed on playing with the Boy Scout Hippies in Central City on a real paying gig, for a night of going over songs with Blues Rox and five new Bad Company songs were played.  I knew the guys loved Brian Howe but if this keeps going, we may have to rename ourselves Blues Company or Bad Rox. And there's a German band called Blues Company.  This was supposed to be a garage event but it's was too fucking hot and humid and I ripped my crotch out of my good pants and hit my head twice on the low ceiling to the basement.   So I wasn't exactly in the best of moods. Kristopher discovered Blueberry Ale, two half glasses and he was blitzed.   No money but we got a lot of laughs and four pieces of pizza. 

While the afternoon was filled with chasing Franklin around the house and having a good time, I got to Rumors later than last Sunday.  The return of the former Kimberly Trevallion now known as the more easily to write Krizan, she was up and singing away when I got there.  The loudest voice in CR and she can belt them out.   Since Ted was playing bass, Karen was up there and we did say hi but she hasn't responded to the FB friend request that she made a fuss about a couple weeks ago.

With Morris out, the musicians were less than last week, tho' DJ Hovenstot did stay on to play the last half hour.  Billy did most of the singing and came up with new songs that I haven't played much, and by all means not a fan of Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.  But Billy's version of Whipping Post is not as intense as the Allman Brothers version. I think I like it that way.  Bitch was thought up on the spot, we never done that Rolling Stones number before.  In the two years that Billy Bourbon has been here, I come to find he knows a good 200 songs right off the bat.   

For myself, while trying to appease everybody by going to the Sunday jams,  Stone City has been omitted the past couple weeks.  I need to get back up there to support them.   Since the pandemic started, we haven't seen Randy Burghdorff playing bass or Al Hendricks at Rumors.  This has been the forth jam since the okay was given to play and there hasn't been an increase of players. Mike Lint sat this one out, so did Sir Bob Miller, Kimberly has returned for the first time, her and David got married last week.   Given as a whole, I don't believe Kimberly and me haven't been the same, not since Blues Rox told her that her services were not needed.  For the record, she can sing and I have not heard anybody like her.  She really doesn't need a microphone.   I do think with us being opposites on the political scene, it may play a role in being a part of her band.  I am always up to help her on the rumors jam if need be.  But that's Terry that has to decide who plays what and when.  He does accommodate me and my hectic jam routine.    I just haven't done the Stone City in a while.

For the most part, I had a good time trying to piece the numbers together and see how the boys play the songs and go with that.   If the weather is still humid and hot, I may have to take a pass on Stone City next Sunday.  But for the time being, my time will be spent on seeing Franklin n Julie and doing the Rumors jam afterward.

Billy Bourbon decided that I needed a picture wearing full PPE to shy away from drunks.  He took a nice picture of the lone stranger. 

Pub 1848 Acoustic Adventures Debut

Fox On The Run
Jet Airliner
Logic And Lies
Cinnamon Girl
For What Its Worth

With Sean Ryan, Mike Brock and others.


Going to Davenport and looking for records and cds and then spending the evening debuting at the Pub 1848 Monday Night Acoustic Get Together.  The guitar wasn't fully plugged in on during Fox On The Run but Sean did figured out it was a bad connection and took care of it.    It's nice to branch out and see how the new crowd would respond.    They all were quite nice to me.

Despite the CORNY virus going around, I was the only one that had a mask on.  I did see a lot of scantly clad women, especially one red head that wore a very loose fitting dress and having her boobs fall out.   I have no idea how I managed to go through Cinnamon Girl and watching them fall out as she bend over.  She did mentioned I did a great job with the songs. To which I tipped my hat and thank her for being part of the crowd that hung around.

Another woman, threw off her shirt and paraded around with her bra still on.  There were a couple other women that dressed to kill, tho I don't see many woman looking as groupies.  Still I find it interesting that during these strange times, you'll find women pushing the boundaries.  Makes me wish we go back to the days of free love and sex during the jams.  But I don't think that ever happened.  If it did I probably slept through it.

Or went home.

Rumors-Reunion With Julie

Songs:

First Mini Set

Black Magic Woman
Sympathy For The Devil
I can't get no Satisfaction
Comfortably Numb

Mini set two

Do It Again
Message In The Bottle
Join Together
Long Train Running
Low Rider
Get Back
Cocaine


Terry McDowell-Host and drum provider
Billy Bourbon-Lead singer and guitar
Tommy Bruner sang on  Message, Get Back and Comfortably Numb
Layne Goldsberry-Bass
Nick Lnencki-Harmonica
Morris-Guitar
Rod Smith, Sir Bob Miller, DJ Hovenstot-Drums n Percussion.

(Sir Bob Miller, Kimberly Hovenstot, me, George Melchner, Mike Lint, Morris-Billy Bourbon:photo)

I'm sure there might be another song that we did but what stands out that we did Join Together by the Who.  On Long Train Running, me and Sir Bob traded drum stools, and I took over the main drum set while Bob reclaimed his drum set.   Plus DJ and me double drummed on Comfortably Numb, to which Tommy always plays his butt off on that song.

Oh yeah, the drummers were too loud.  Nobody could hear over the drums.  Of course I patterned Sympathy for The Devil from the Get Your Ya Yas Out Rolling Stones version.  Of course I was gonna get yelled at anyway.

Logan Arnold gave me a nice compliment after I got done playing, he's related to Travis Arnold and Logan has played the jams a couple times. 

It did help having another drummer up there, I wasn't in the best of shape.  I spent the afternoon seeing Julie and playing with Franklin once again.  First time I saw her since March.  Since her bass player tested positive for the CORNY virus, The Truth Band had to cancel their gigs for the weekend. We did practiced social distancing from one another tho.  No hugs, no kisses.

Friday Night, Tiffany Z came into town with her band Bad Dog 2020 in North Liberty.  This is her forth band in five years, playing with Motorboat, Fifty Shades Of Rock, Freeport Social Club and now Bad Dog 2020.  They have a couple rough spots, Sweet Emotion the example, but the two guys were pretty cool to hang with.

Saturday, we got hit with straight line winds that knocked trees over in celebrating my best friend's B day.  The power was still off at Waubeek when I paid Ron and Tommy a visit, Lynda playing drums.  I didn't play, I was there to watch and have fun.  Lynda holds her own on drums, she's perfect for what Ron plays anyway.

The CORNY virus has kept a lot of musicians away from Rumors' since its indoors and a lot of musicians (including Julie) do not want to go into a bar full of drunks and not social distancing. All of the guest stars were drummers and I'm guessing that's why I haven't seen Al Hendricks or Greg Nost or others show up.  I take a mask and put it on at various times and wash hands.  At the moment, the jams will continue but without other guitar players, the owner might think to pull the plug despite our best efforts.

For the most part the Rumors jam hadn't have much for other players, tho Logan Arnold did play last week, and Dakota the week before.  The guess is gonna to see what will happen next week.  There may be a rethink of continuing the jams but as for me, I'm still all in.

Finally Morris says afterwards, that he has to get open heart surgery on Tuesday and will be out of action for a while.   I hope and pray that he will return.  We don't need to lose any more musicians around here.