Checker's Jam: 7/12/17 Benediction

Checker's Jam-

Hosts: Julie Gordon/Steve Black Wolf

Songs:

Branded Man*

Logic And Lies

Jet Airliner

Everybody's Talking

No Expectations/For What Its Worth

*debut

With:

D.J: Backing Vocals on Jet Airliner and Everybody's Talking

Skip Richards: Bass

Belinda James: Backing Vocals

Mark Randolph: Lead Guitar on No Expectations/For What Its Worth

Started today out by replacing the drums on the first version of Drawn In The Dark with a different take and it sounded better.  Then had enough time to run through versions of Southern Pacific and I Don't Need No Doctor but I think we have enough songs to compile the covers album.

The big question was if anybody was going to show up to the jam, since Bart decided to have a rival jam down at Rumors but I committed myself to the Jules And Wolf showcase.  Friends helping out friends, I bought a snare drum but didn't play that much, and certainly not after Mike Williams and his lovely companion showed up. To which she proceeded to take off most of the drum rings and didn't bother to put them back on the drum after she finished them.  Then she complained about how they sound, which really made me disgusted with her.  The rules are simple, if there's any sort of percussion at a jam, make the best of it.  If you don't like how they sound, don't fucking play them, get your own drum. But it was kind of her to provide her own drumsticks to which they made the snare sound like crap after that. 

Despite that, there was a decent crowd, a bit more people than last weekend.  Lorie Parker showed up and did her Boobieful song and I thought Steve and Julie did a very good job.  As promised Belinda and Mark showed up and helped out a lot too. Skip Richards also popped up to play bass during my segment and while I didn't debut Southern Pacific as originally threatened, I went with Branded Man, the old Merle Haggard song.    Donna Jo aka D.J. as she would like to be known helped me out on Jet Airliner and Everybody's Talking.  And the improvised No Expectations going into For What Its Worth seemed to work, especially with Mark Randolph adding lead guitar.  

Of note was Lorie Parker coming to the jam.  That does speak volumes and perhaps that might lead somewhat of the Acousta Kitties returning to play together again.  I remain hopeful, just like the rest of the folk do.

Whittier Acoustic Crabby Jam 7/8/17-Two Years On

Whittier Community Center 7/8/17  David Lam: Host

Songs

Logic And Lies*
Listen To Love
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Ring Of Fire
Everybody's Talking
The End*
Come Together (Belinda James: Vocals)

*debut


Also:

Recording songs at Hoarder House Of Hits-Jordan's Grove IA
Producer: Rodney Smith/Terry Bainbridge
Recording: Terry Bainbridge

Logic And Lies (Acoustic Version)
Distractions

Plus drum recording on 20 finished tracks.

And so begins the task of recording the drum parts to the finished songs from Logic And Lies but somehow I wanted to do an acoustic version of Logic And Lies, so basically I took care of that.  It just simply me doing the songs myself.  Distractions is a drum solo that might find its way on the new album.  I haven't done one since Pawnshops For Olivia almost 10 years ago.  Basically, Distractions was us trying to adjust the drum settings in preparation to record the finished tracks.  Once that got done, I started adding the drums to the cover versions.  A lot of them sounded good, others not so much.  In essence the best tracks from the covers will fine their way on a bonus CD once Logic And Lies the album gets finished.  Upon listening to the finished songs, some just got destined to the cutting room floor, or the part of the recorded tape to pass over.


It's July and there was plenty of bands playing around the area and therefore, the Whittier Jam didn't have too many people.  And I led things off with playing Logic And Lies for the first time and people seem to like it.  And for the first time The End was debuted, although it was very rough sounding and I didn't practice it in a while.  It was kinda of a cold take but it went over okay with the folks.  By then we lost most of the jammers and the ones that remained were Mark, Belinda, Steve and David the host. So for an encore Belinda sang Come Together. It was also Belinda that requested Ring Of Fire. And I managed to blotch the second verse.  There isn't much to the song  but dammed if i could remember how it went. so it was back to Love Is A Burning Thing.   The Taste Of Love Is Sweet,  When Our Heart Meet goes the second verse but I couldn't remember that damn lyric. Outside of those small flubs and forgotten lyrics I thought the jam went well.

I didn't dress up for the occasion since I was recording drums all day so I threw a pair of pants over my shorts and went unshaven.  Julie was in Davenport with Bart doing their show since Ryan moved back to the east coast to take care of his ailing grandmother


Rumors Jam- Terry McDowell host

With:
Bart Carfizzi-Vocals
Tommy Bruner-Guitar
Mike Clair-Guitar
Kenneth John Webb-Bass
R.Smith-Drums

Songs:

I'll Be Around
I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
Superstition

Steve Black Wolf mentioned that Julie got back into town and he was going to visit her.  I probably would have not gone there had I not seen his bike but I chatted with Julie for about an hour. If I could play lead guitar I could have replaced Ryan Paul but I don't know.  I tend to think if we did something together I would have to forgo playing lead guitar, I really don't play lead.  I can barely play guitar on my own.  She was trying to figure out how to play Gold Dust Woman, and she plays it in a different style.   I got to play Kyle's Martin Acoustic, it's has a more full bodied sound than mine but then again Martin Guitars are top of the line acoustic and Kyle went in style all the way.  Now if I could play like Kyle, then it would be a go.  But I have things to work upon in order to impress her, first and foremost to work on cutting back on my F bombs while driving when we did go out together.  I did promise her that next time I will do better in controlling that sort of profanity. I want to be a positive spark for her, not the negative angry person, but that's going to take a lot of time and effort.  But I'll do my best to impress her.

For the Rumors Jam, I backed Julie's partner Bart Carfizzi on some of the songs he sang.  And the process gave everybody a headache on the final drum shot on Superstition, including myself.  But I never pass up on jamming with Kenny Webb when he plays bass.  He's the baddest.

This week marks my second year of being back on the music circuit, something that I didn't think would still be going on.   From the humble beginnings of T Ray Robertson, Dave Bonham, Ted Reily and Peter Stark, plus Terry McDowell doing the Wrigleyville Thursday Night Jam (which was later moved to Tuesday Nights and then ended) to the more recent Rumors jams featuring the likes of Tommy Bruner, Mike Clair, Ken Webb, Bart Carfizzi, Terry McDowell again.  Along the way I managed to hang around various projects with Julie Gordon and seen her in action.  And the aforementioned of having a movie date night. Somehow she managed to get my acoustic guitar playing career a kick in the ass  I've only played the acoustic stage for a little over 8 months, but she managed to get my confidence up to the point of playing live.  I owe her that, plus Lorie Parker and Cathy Spina and the fine folks at Checkers and then I branched out to the Whittier Acoustic Jam.  I have started band collectives with Tim Wiley and Ben Banard which didn't work out but a new band collective featuring my long time jam buddies Belinda and Mark from the acoustic jams seems to have a better chance of playing live.  Russ has talked about John, the guy that we jammed with 12 years ago is moving back in.  I'd be happy to jam with them again.  Of course, I would welcome doing a band project with Julie.  Dream big and perhaps something will come of it.

But at the end of the night, when everybody has gone back home and reality, I still remain committed to making music by The Townedgers since it's the only thing I can lay claim to.  There will be more jams to go to, more acoustic showcases to improve and expand the songs that I can do and of course the Rumor's Jam where I can bash on the drums for three songs and then grab a pizza on the way home.  I'm happy to sit in on a few songs when my fellow drummers need a beer or potty break.  I might be older, and ache more and after a few songs needing a nap but still I have fun playing drums whenever is possible.

And so it goes.  Two years on and the future remains unwritten.  Where the road goes I'll continue to travel, be it with a companion or go it alone.  There'll be songs to write, songs to play and my emotional roller coaster will go way up and then all the way down again, like it has been.   And that will the be way till I'm dead.

To be continued......

Friday Night I did stop to see Tiffany and her band 50 Shades Of Rock for a few songs and managed to chat for a spell.  Fellow drummer Mike Serbousek is now drumming for Cocked N Loaded and he was playing at CRL Saturday Night, to which I couldn't make it due to the Whittier Acoustic Jam commitment.  Frank Smith took this picture of Mike wailing away on the drums.

Checkers Jam 7/5/17

Songs:

Jet Airliner (With Lorey Parker on Backing Vocals)
Everybody's Talking
Get It Over With
No Expectations/For What Its Worth
Midnight Rider

Hosted By Cathy Spina/Lorey Parker

With:

Shawn Ster
Carl Meiners
Jeff Gage
Donna Jo Eisner
Mike Fredrichs
David Arnold
Mark Awad
Jay Devore


It was the first time I actually got to talk with Shawn Ster after so many years.  He mentioned that he was thinking of showing up more in future jams.

I've been battling tooth pain, and looks like the one that I had a cavity is beginning to annoy me. May have to get that looked at although my dentist mentioned since it's the far tooth in the back he may have to yank it out.  Not exactly news to these ears.

Still, tonight's performance went pretty well, and I decided to segment the ending of No Expectations right into For What Its Worth, something out of the ordinary.  The jam started out slow but as the night wore on a few more folks showed up, Jay has a new job so his jam appearances have been few and far between.  Get It Over With managed to sound pretty good since I played the right chords and not mess that up. Afterwards I did chat with Cathy for a spell and she did said that she still loves Julie and hope things are fine with her.  There might be hope that they can share the stage together but for now Barb Myers has settled in with Cathy and Lorie and the name is called Sirenz.

Despite it all, we were missing a few folks, namely Belinda and Mark and Steve Black Wolf.  And Skip Richards as well.   Of course it had to rain at the end of the jam.  The third straight time it has rained.   So it goes.

But on a good subject it looks like Penny and Karl have kissed and made up. He took her to Texas this week to meet the relatives.  The Townedgers wish them all the best and make it their love last.

Rumors Jam-7/2/17 Wicked Willie

Rumors Wess Side Jam Hosted By Terry McDowell

With:

Willie Wells-Lead guitar and vocals
John Hernandez-Bass
R.Smith-Drums

Songs:

Redhouse Blues
Long Train Running
Voodoo Chile

(Willie Wells and friends, Willie is the one with the hat, Photo courtesy of W.Wells)

I'd never jammed with Willie Wells before so this was going to be a first.  We kinda stumbled around for a few minutes before going into Redhouse Blues and a very fast version of Long Train Running. It was almost speed metal.   Another few minutes of wondering what to do before I suggested Voodoo Chile and this was the highlight of the jam.  The song was about 8 minutes long and Willie did just about everything imaginable using his assortment of guitar effects.   Except when he hit a wrong switch and the guitar amp went up to 11, he really got into playing lead, including playing a bunch of sound effects that sounded like invaders from outer space.    John Hernandez from Full Circle helped out on bass.

Good to see my former co worker Brad Milner popping in. I was surprised to see him up there so we chatted for a spell. He mentioned if I ever want a job, they're always hiring up where he's at in Le Mars.  He also said they do a lot of firing too. Eventually Brad got canned too.  He's now working in Orange City.

Side Note: Willie Wells had a 1996 album of metal songs out that I saw in the 2 dollar section at Half Priced Books.  Always amazing how these guys looked like they used a half a can of hairspray back then to show off their metal side and then later changed into a mountain man look.


Appendix:  Blues Jam at Parlor City 7/4/17

With:
Tony Brown-Vocals and guitar
T Bone Giblin-Keyboards
John Heim-Bass
Jon Wilson-Drums

Songs:

Can I Change My Mind
Baby What You Want Me To Do
Green Onions
She Caught The Katy.

The blues jam is a whole new affair.  More on blues and soul rather than rock and roll.  Leave it to Tony Brown to dust off Can I Change My Mind, the old Tyrone Davis song, and it done a bit more faster than the record.  I know the guys do a different arrangement of She Caught The Katy and I didn't get with the breaks of the song till the end.  Jesse Carruthers, fresh from the Rumors jam also played drums but Dr.  George Hanna, the dentist playing drummer decided to go home early, which was a good thing.  Had he stayed I probably would have done 2 songs tops.  I wasn't into fireworks so that what my fourth of July was.

Thoughts From The Townedger June Edition

It's summertime and yes we have tornadoes.  Kim Moorman took this shot of the tornado that went from Alburnett to Central City to Prairieburg.  This thing was on the ground for a good half hour at least.

I've been documenting the set list of songs that I have for past few months and there seems to be a turning away from original stuff to crowd favorites. I really do not think that the songs from the new album Logic And Lies will get anybody to listen to the album.  That's okay as long as net radio continues to promote the efforts.  I know Tommy Bruner and I have had spirited discussions about trying to get bar gigs, and he knows better than I do that in order to get people to dance and drink you have the play the time tried and tired songs.   I never doubt Tommy's wisdom, he's been doing this for almost 50 years, and he does challenge me when we jam together. Somehow he managed to get me to actually play I Shot The Sheriff in a reggae type funky mode. It must have been the Bob Marley T Shirt that inspired me to play that way.  Or Carlton Barrett.

I still hold out that I can jam with Russ on stage once again, but he's been dealing with some health issues as well.  Nothing is certain when you get this far in life.  I wish it was about 20 years ago, maybe then I would have gotten myself to do the jams sooner than I did.

Same thing with Dewayne Schminkey. I think being a grand parent he likes more.  Enjoy your grandkids and hang with them.  I dropped the ball on backing Dewayne up when he wanted to come to Rumors to do a set with me last month but I promise that I'll be there if he wants to do a couple songs together.

I hate to admit it but I am getting bald and it is sad I can't do anything about it. It's hard to believe that 20 years ago I still have a full amount of hair on top of my head but nowadays it seems it is all going south, in places I'd rather had no hair at.  But I didn't think I would make it this far in life, even less still playing music.

Quite honestly, I have never gotten into Radiohead, nor Interpol  Or Wilco, I tend to think they are a bit overrated.

The new band collective I'm doing has some fine musicians in it. Mark Randolph is a very good guitar player, Tim Nemec is a solid bass player and Larry Alexman is the new guy but he has plenty of guitars and even a drumset too.  What's not to love about that.  It means saving wear and tear on my back.  Belinda James does some vocals too.  I've known her long enough to play her songs quite well.  You won't believe the quality of how some of our local female singers can sing.   Belinda can really put the emotional wail into Stormy Monday and make you feel the blues and the way she sings it.  I have the honor of backing up the two best female singers in the area, her and Julie Gordon.  Jules has more of a rocking voice, she can belt them out with the best of Stevie Nicks or Pat Benetar but she can be subtle too.  I could listen to her sing all night.  And, she has the softest and greatest kisses too. That said, I look at her as a musical partner.  She can adapt to anything, if she can adapt to my style of music then she has to be somebody special.  Or is an excellent musician. Or both.  I still would love to add her to this new band collective.

(Lusus Greene Photo from the early 90s. Photo: Thomas Duggerby)
(I still cannot remember that name no matter how hard I try, every picture helps though)
The guess is Aaron Webber is the drummer.

Bart Carfizzi has had major back pains thoughout the whole year and he had to retire from the Past Masters due to his back issues. I believe he still wants to play in a band but without the long distance traveling that the Past Masters have to do.  Nevertheless that is a big paycheck he's leaving behind.  I wish they can heal his back so he wouldn't have those issues.

The Chicago Cubs have been a major disappointment this year. I doubt if they will make the playoffs since nobody knows how to pitch or get timely hits when they're supposed to.  On a related subject I do not miss TV, too many Pharma Commercials, and too many commercials and the news channel are bullshit.   If I'm subjected to TV, I'll watch TCM or Me TV or outside of that my TV stays off.

Some of Belinda James Demos: https://myspace.com/belinda.james/music/songs




Tune in next month for more pointless banter and observations.

Checkers Jam-Riding The Storm Out Part 2

Checker's Acoustic Jam Hosted By Dan Hartman

(Photo: Cathy Spina)

Songs:


Everybody's Talking
I Fought The Law
If I Were A Carpenter
Let's Work Together
Ring Of Fire

(Eddie Jarrell from Wild Bill And The Pony Express Band)

With:
Mike Frederich-Banjo
Eddie Jarrell-Bass

Also I helped play guitar for.

Dan Hartman
Cathy Spina
Lorie Parker
Skip Richards
Mark Awad
Donna Jo Eisley
The Cello player
Derek: The Trumpet Player

(Central City/Prairieburg tornado 6/28/17: Deb Zumbach: Photo)

Leave it to mother nature to throw her wrath at us once again.  We had a tornado that tore through a path from the outskirts of Alburnett to Central City and then to Prarieburg to which part of that town got leveled.  It might have been a EF 2 tornado, I don't know.

(Praireburg Tornado 6/28/17: Photo Courtesy of KWWL)

For the jams, Bart hosted one at Rumors but by the time I got done with the Checkers' showcase and made it there, he was already packed up and gone. It really doesn't make much sense to have two jams on the same night.  That was tried three times before and none of them worked out.  Also the tornadoes in the area and severe weather didn't help either.  Whatever the case may be, the next time he attempts to do this will be when Dreams Of Arcadia hosts the Checker's jam. I like Bart but I'm more dedicated to the Checker's one.  I like the atmosphere better at Checkers.

(Jordan's Grove Tornado 6/28/17)

Once again, I played a safe song list, no originals this time out.  It's getting to the point that doing songs like Everybody's Talking or Ring Of Fire works better than say anything off the new album.  People seem to like the played songs better too.   This doesn't exactly bode well for any debut of new originals but I'm sure I'll try a few out on the next Whittier Jam.

It's the first time I got to jam with Eddie Jarrell on bass.  He's a veteran of many bands (most recently Wild Bill And The Pony Express) and pretty much followed me without any problems. Usually Mike helps me out on one or two songs but this time out he played banjo to all of the songs.  Mark Assad and Skip Richards would later show up, leaving us with three able bodied bass players.

The only drummer that was there.  Your's truly

(Aftermath of Central City/Prairieburg Tornado 6/28/17)

Rumors Jam 6/25/17

Terry McDowell Presents The Rumors Jam

Songs:

I Shot The Sheriff
I'm Going To Move To The Outskirts Of Town

With:

Mike Clair-Guitar
Tommy Bruner-Lead Vocals and lead/slide guitar
Jeremiah Murphy-Bass
R.Smith-Drums

Upon that, I been drafted into a new band featuring fellow jammers Mark Randolph, Belinda James, Tim Slaymaker and Larry Alexman  who has his own space and drumset for me to pound on.  Which means I don't have to haul my drums anywhere.  He lives on Northview Drive in Marion, about six blocks away from my folks house.  And it's easy to get to.  We basically worked on some of the songs that we do at acoustic jams, plus some interesting stuff (Beds Are Burning).  I think this might have some sort of band potential of playing places although the guys are not too keen of doing bars all the time. After all, we all over 50 I think.  This should not hamper anything planned with Julie or get in the way of recording the drum tracks to Logic And Lies.

For the Rumors Jam, a packed house and plenty of drummers but Terry was gracious enough to pencil me in toward the end which for the first time I attempted to do a reggae styled version of I Shot The Sheriff.  Since I wore my Bob Marley T Shirt they thought they should do it that way.  It actually went very well and Mark Randolph managed to document that performance.  The other song was a more bluesy take on the Louis Jordan chestnut I'm Going To move To The Outskirts Of Town.  Belinda and Mark did a couple songs earlier on, one with Trevor on drums and another featuring the eccentric Bill Brown on drums.

Having Tommy Bruner and Mike Clair on stage and also the great bass playing of Jeremiah Murphy made it possible that I Shot The Sheriff turned out great for a first time playing it in that style. Great musicians will make me sound that much better.  Thank you guys.

From T.B.

 I enjoy co-hosting jams and here's why. My main money gig is a classic pop show band that's been very successful. I enjoy playing the songs, I enjoy the travel and the money is good, enough to pay for recording and releasing my own CDs. But it's a show, a product, and I know the show, so well I could do it in my sleep with my eyes closed. The jams are what keep me in touch with improvisation, thinking on my feet and adapting to playing with people I don't play with on a regular basis and sometimes music I'm not used to playing. To me that is well worth taking less pay for than I would make at my regular gig, because the things I mentioned are the life blood of any guitarist who doesn't want to become sterile.