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.
