There are really music videos still?......

The FAM, with the possible exception of The Reet, was really looking forward to seeing the Reconteurs as the 'house band' at the MTV VMA awards. And when Jack Black introduced them with special guest, LOU REED, singing the Velvets' White Light, we, with the possible exception of The Reet, were stoked (yes, I was). But thirty seconds later, it was over. Why even bother.

Here's that OK GO treadmill video. Pretty cool.

Email from Jim Kane.......

Hi Guys: You never know when its the last time. So with that in mind, we went to see The Tokens last night in Lake Mary, Florida. What a treat!!!! They were just fabulous. Original singer, Jay Siegel, wowed the crowd with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". A new addition to the group was former lead singer of Jay & The Americans, Jay Trainor. He made a great contribution to the show. If you ever get the chance to see The Tokens, make sure you do it. You won't be disappointed. We are losing some of the recording artists of the 50s & 60s. So before it is too late - take in an oldies concert - you will be glad you did. We had an opportunity to speak with Billy Reed and Jay Siegel after the concert. We go way back. My son and daughter played in a band, The Fabulous Showstoppers, that The Tokens used as a back up band in Florida during the early 90s. Jay told us that my daughter, Jennifer, and my son, Jimmy, were the youngest persons to ever back up The Tokens. The Tokens have not lost a beat. They are still the gentlemen with the songs of gold. I hope to have many more chances to witness their performances. Jim

A hard rain's gonna fall.....and we lost George

Suzie had a headache, Trish had to work, Carol melts when wet, Cindy said "no way, Jose" and Vickie thoughtfully dropped off chicken wings and scooted, but on this LONG, chilly, rainy Tuesday night the hearty boyz (JohnnyK & The Reet, Johnny Gumbo, Keith & Sharie, Stevie P and George) got the job done. We tailgated on beer, hot dogs, burgers, Sharie's cheesecake (the foodstuff, not the pinups) and witty reparte right through Elana James & Continental Two and Junior Brown (we could hear the music), after which we broke down Gumbo's Nascar pop-up tent and grill to catch Jimmie Vaughn and Lou Ann Barton. Jimmie's playing was solid and gritty, backed by a second guitar, drums and Ed Bradley (I think) on the Hammond B-3 organ. Lou Ann, whom I've been waiting to see for about ten years (she NEVER tours), came out for about five songs including a nice, if safe, Sugar Coated Love. Could have used more Lou Ann, both in songs and in attitude, since I didn't feel the bluesy energy/intensity that she's noted for. And no "It's Raining"???? Dylan scared the hell out of me with his first two numbers, Cat's in the Well and Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You; he can't hit the notes he once could and at certain times in his lower register the sound is nasty. I was almost resigned to watching a legend in complete decline. But Bobby fooled me; the rest of his concert was great! "A Simple Twist of Fate" and "Tangled Up in Blue" from Blood on the Tracks were wonderful; his very tight band (with whom he seemed to have an on-going inside joke) cranked it up a few notches for "Highway 61 Revisited"; and once I figured out just what song it was (not always easy 'cause Bobby, by design and/or necessity, rearranges EVERYTHING!), I loved "Forever Young." Dylan plays keyboards these days, no guitar, and he positions himself at an angle toward the center of the stage thereby never interacting with the audience. He encored with two Blonde on Blonde hits, "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" after which the lights darkened and he acknowledged the cheering, rain-soaked crowd for the first time with an animated band bow. I feeeeel very tired, but satisfied. Photos - Htfd Courant's Eric Danton concert review

Set listing stolen from Eric Danton's blog: 1. "Cat's In the Well" 2. "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" 3. "Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum" 4. "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" 5. "Positively 4th Street" 6. "Watching the River Flow" 7. "Forever Young" 8. "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" 9. "Simple Twist of Fate" 10. "Highway 61 Revisited" 11. "Tangled Up in Blue" 12. "Summer Days" Encore 13. "Like a Rolling Stone" 14. "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" Although he did not play anything from his just-released CD, Modern Times, it seems to be getting great reviews: Dylan's new album "Modern Times" wins rave reviews (Reuters) - here

Uh oh!!!! how will it feeeeeeeeel.........

Per New Britain Rock Cats website: Bob Dylan to appear at New Britain Stadium on Aug. 29 -- RAIN OR SHINE!!!

Rainy Day Women #12 and 35

Detailed Local Forecast

* Today: Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Rainfall near a half an inch.

* Tonight: Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Rainfall around a half an inch.

Ok, Bobby, here we come!.....

Getting ready for the Dylan concert at Rock Cats Stadium on Tuesday night. Tailgating at 3:30pm in parking lot; look for Johnny Gumbo's tan Blazer with 'DOC JR' plates (why he has plates on his blazer, I do not know; personally, I would go with a monogrammed pocket square). Hot dogs, burgers, buns, condiments already secured, so byob and anything else you might like to contribute.

New Dylan CD Modern Times out that day and I will try to have it for tailgating. The Courant's Eric Danton gave the new CD a lukewarm review, but suggested "... perhaps Bob Dylan's new songs will come to life in a live setting, when he performs Aug. 29 at Rock Cats Stadium in New Britain." Alternatively, All Music Guide gave Modern Times rave reviews as "...the work of a professional mythmaker, a back-alley magician and prophetic creator of mischief. It offers a view of the pilgrim as pickpocket, the thief as holy man, the lover as the fighter. And all bets are on to see who finishes dead last. What could be more confusing or so ultimately timeless as contradiction as entertainment, provided with a knowing, barely detectable grin." We shall see.

Just out is the news that Bobby will be touring with The Reconteurs (Jack White's new band) beginning in November. - complete story

Friday night I crashed your party, Saturday I said I'm sorry, Sunday came and trashed me out again...

Sarah Borges, promoting a Rock & Blues Cruise Benefit for Club Passim, performs on Boston's Fox25 Morning News-here and NECN Good Morning Live-here. Sarah has rescheduled her cancelled September 16 Cafe Nine show to Saturday, December 9.

JohnnyK II back from a Boston Rancid concert. Rave review. Heard them endlessly (and loudly) through his high school years. G-Man started his rock 'n roll thesis using them:

“Echoes of reggae comin’ through my bedroom wall havin’ party up next door but I’m sitting here all alone two lovers in the bedroom and the other starts to shout all I got is this blank stare and that don’t carry no clout at all” The house shakes. Jonathan, up in his bedroom with the door closed, pounds his 36” Easton metal-bat electric guitar as he growls the lyrics with just the right inflections. “Destination unknown, Ruby ruby ruby ruby soho!!!!!!!”

Congrats to Johnnyk and The Reet for 38 years of putting up with each other (much tougher on The Reet).

While waiting for the Yankees game to start at 10pm, I'm watching A Black & White Night with Roy Orbison and Friends recorded on September 30, 1987 at the Ambassador Hotel's Coconut Grove nightclub in Los Angeles. I've seen bits and pieces many times, but I'm always fascinated with the number of stars assembled for this thing - Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang, etc. And all his songs do that crescendo thing ('cept maybe Candy Man), but sound great! Gotta love that geek look too! Yep, got the CD in my collection.

Latest cache (for little cash)....

The Essential Sly & the Family Stone (Sly & the Family Stone)- Nobody mixed pop and funk like Sly; two-disk set featuring 35 songs

Murmur (R.E.M.)- Early REM stuff

Wrong-eyed Jesus! (Jim White)- Saw Jim at the Newport Folk Festival a couple years ago with Wild Willie Taylor and the Cottons and was blown away by him. Truly unique performer. He came out looking like a misplaced trucker and played a brand of country blues that was funny, sarcastic, and angst-filled all at the same time.

Rastaman Vibration (Bob Marley & the Wailers)- Replaces my LP version; I like it immensely even if he was a little more 'commercial' with this offering according to the critics.

John Wesley Harding (Bob Dylan)- G-man wanted to hear my LP version, but we can't get the damn turntable to cooperate. So I found him a CD copy.

Oh, by the way......

HOW 'BOUT THEM

YANKEES!!!!!!!!

Elm City jazz....

The New Haven Jazz Festival was concluding its 25th year celebration Saturday night on the New Haven Green and (thanks to some VIP passes from Stevie P) Johnny Gumbo and I were among the celebrants. We already knew we were important; the passes just confirmed it. The co-headliners of the evening were TS Monk, son of jazz legend Thelonious Monk, and Jonny Lang, a young guitarist whose connection to jazz is questionable.

We astutely capture an on-street parking spot about a block northeast of the green and walk over under threatening skies. The north-south, treelined rectangle is completely filled with concert-goers of all ages on the interior ringed by food vendors of various ethnicity. We flash our passes to a helpful staff guy and are directed to a tent just to the left of the stage, where we are given wristbands (the kind that take an hour to remove)and enter an open area adjacent to a tent with refreshments/snacks available. Also not to be underestimated as a VIP perk was a nearby tent with portable toilets! TS is just about to begin so we grab a couple of India Pale Ales and sit at one of the cafe tables to watch the performance from the side of the stage. Monk is a drummer by trade and supplements it with some decent vocals. His group consists of a very good sax player, keyboards, bass. His performance this evening is called 'A Tribute to John Coltrane.' After a couple numbers, we go out to get some food, finally settling on mammoth burritos which we bring back to our VIP digs to eat while listening to the end of Monk's very enjoyable set. Good stuff.

Then the rains came, so we retreat to the tents, which still give us a great view of the stage. The crowd gets a little restless waiting through announcements and Pilot Pen Tennis promos (Lindsay Davenport and James Blake volley 25 'special' tennis balls into the crowd for free tourney tix). Meanwhile a woman starts chatting up a storm, informing me that she is a writer "for over 400 newspapers" and was brought up here from NYC to cover the Festival. She asks what I thought of TS Monk's performance. Strangely, while she had interviewed Monk at lunch, she blew off his show. She also asks if Gumbo and I are lovers. We reply that we like to think so, but she doesn't seem as amused as we are. Jonny Lang finally comes onstage and performs some guitar calisthenics which are initially impressive, but quickly become boring. So we say our goodbyes to Ms. NYC Writer and zip up I91 to Blackeyed Sallys to catch Christine Ohlman.

(top)TS Monk combo as viewed from the VIP cafe; (right) the packed crowd in front of the stage on the New Haven Green as viewed from the vendor area.

Sister soul...

We arrived at Blackeyed Sallys early into Christine Ohlman's first set and found her rocking the joint in a hot pink paisley outfit, backed by the three-member Rebel Montez. No shinking violet she. She ran through some songs from her albums (Strip, Wicked Time, The Hard Way) including her great version of Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away; the Beehive Queen also performed her tribute to New Orleans, The Cradle Did Rock and a new soul ballad, both of which will apparently be on her album-in-progress.

Between sets Christine chatted with us, firming up details of her Apple Harvest appearance with Gumbo. The conversation drifted to New Orleans since she has a great fondness for the Crescent City and knew we had gone there for Jazz Fest this year. We share a rather pessimistic view of a full recovery there because the neighborhood population, which gives the city its soul, has not returned. This issue is presented in Dan Baum's New Yorker piece Letter from New Orleans: The Lost Year - Behind the failure to rebuild (8/21/06). We told Christine we thought she'd be a great act to play at Jazz Fest and asked if she ever thought of playing there. No contacts was the reason, which is surprising because of her connection with the SNL band.

Christine Ohlman and Rebel Montez will appear at the Southington Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 7 at 5pm.

Everybody's workin' for the weekend....

With the Spin Doctors headlining this year's Milford Oyster Festival and Diane Mower offering her jazz phrasings at Smokin' with Chris, there are lots of music choices this weekend. But I think I'll cast my lot with Johnny Gumbo on Saturday to catch some TS Monk and Jonny Lang at the New Haven Jazz Festival, then ZOOM up I91 to catch Christine Ohlman's set at Blackeyed Sallys in Hartford. To wrap up the weekend (?), perhaps I'll try to see Julie Roberts at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den either Monday or Tuesday night. WHEW!

Tom Waits for no one...

Tom Waits has graced my record collection dating back to the 70's - Closing Time (1973), The Heart of Saturday Night (1974), the two-LP live set Nighthawks at the Diner (1975), Small Change (1976), Foreign Affairs (1977), Blue Valentine (1978), and Heart Attack and Vine (1980). I would torture guests at our home with his gravel-voiced blues that some thought were strange Louis Armstrong recordings. Then he lost me as he went experimental/theatrical. His Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis (lyrics) was the signoff cut on 2001's Johnny K has the blues this Christmas CD. Marsha V burned me a copy of his Real Gone (2004); I'm going to find it to give another listen. Here's what the man has been up to lately:

By Jonathan Cohen (Billboard) - Tom Waits opens his vaults for the first time on the three-disc collection "Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards." Of the 54 tracks, 30 are new recordings. The set, due November 21 via Anti-, also will feature a 94-page booklet. The "Brawlers" disc is dominated by Waits' more blues-leaning material and boasts contributions from Primus' Les Claypool, guitarists Dave Alvin and Marc Ribot, saxophonist Ralph Carney, harmonica virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite and drummer Brain. "Bawlers" features ballads, waltzes and Celtic tunes, including "Goodnight Irene," "Little Drop of Poison" and "Bend Down the Branches." The "Bastards" disc loads up on Waits' experimental side via such songs as "King Kong," "Spidey's Wild Ride," "Army Ants" and "Book of Moses." Waits says the album is full of "songs of dubious origin rescued from cruel fate and now left wanting only to be cared for. Show that you are not afraid and take them home. They don't bite, they just need attention."

The artist just completed a rare, short tour that featured a midnight show at Cleveland's House of Blues, Waits' first club date in 30 years.

I always hated yooooou.......

Reading Eric Danton's blog about Rolling Stone's listing of this year's top summer songs prompted me to venture to rollingstone.com. Once there I cruised through their best/worst lists and, because the Bob Dylan concert (with Jimmy Vaughn and Lou Ann Barton) is close, I'm offering the RS listing of Best Dylan breakup songs ever:

Per Rolling Stone - We think it’s time to delve even further into rock geekiness by listing the best Dylan breakup songs ever. The man indisputably owns this category (sometimes it seems he owns all categories). Blood On the Tracks: Most devestating breakup album ever. Duh. Here’s our list of his ten best but there are sooo many more. Which ones would you add?

Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right
She’s Your Lover Now
It Ain’t Me Babe
It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
You’re A Big Girl Now
Positively 4th Street
Sara
Boots of Spanish Leather
Tight Connection To My Heart
Pledging My Time

Bobby Z is set to release Modern Times on August 29, the day of the concert.

Do you love me, will you love me forever....

I was watching the BoSox pre-game show a few weeks ago (I DON'T KNOW WHY!) with Meat Loaf as the guest chatting it up with Jim Rice. Apparently, he grew up a Yankees fan, but has switched to the Red Sox. Seeing him got a conversation going about how Bat Out of Hell is one of my favorite albums of all time, consisting of great melodies, killer hooks, sly humor and over-the-top production. I recall the Hartford Advocate (when it was really alternative) picking Bat Out of Hell as its #1 album of 1979, even though it took much longer for it to become commercially successful. Bat Out of Hell is similar in many ways to Springsteen's Born to Run, both angst-filled, overblown, bombastic. But what separates the two, in my opinion, is Bat's wonderful tongue-in-cheek undertones. For example, You took the words right out of my mouth, oh it must have been while you were kissing me sung in full Phil Spector wall-of-sound; and using a Phil Rizzuto narration of an inside-the-park home run attempt on Paradise by the Dashboard Light (with a very hot Ellen Foley) is absolutely inspired! I found Meat's subsequent efforts quite boring. Unfortunately, he announced that Bat Out of Hell III will be coming out in October. But don't be sad, 'cause one out of three ain't bad.

Screaming Irish chicks...

CB touting the all-female band Screaming Orphans. Listening to some cuts on their website, I can't help but think of the Cranberries, but with some of their own interesting touches. Perhaps JR would look at them to play at the AHF. “There has been much whispering of late about Donegal four-piece, the screaming orphans. Seeing they‘re four very attractive sisters who all confidently play their own instruments and write their own songs, it's not surprising that a lot of that whispering has involved comparisons to The Corrs. But the four Diver sisters Joan, Marie Therese, Grainne and Angela, though perhaps less refined than their Dundalk rivals, are already far more accomplished songwriters….”-The Irish Times

Hot August night....

Brother Frank (The Head) going to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Meadows with daughters Kelly and Casie. Opening for them will be the Allman Brothers Band (or at least what is left of it) and the Derek Trucks Band. Saw the Allmans back in the 70's at New Haven Coliseum.

A little gris gris in them Litchfield hills....

I haven't ventured over to the Litchfield Jazz Festival in the last few years. Not sure why, perhaps too many choices around. Held each year on the first weekend in August at the Goshen Fairgrounds, it features a solid mixture of the various jazz styles (and even, to the chagrin of purists, some artists not ordinarily associated with jazz) in a relaxing, well-run format. In my absence, Chuck Obuchowski of the Hartford Courant summarizes this year's events:

Litchfield On The Bayou? Festival Honors Fallen City by Chuck Obuchowski, special to the Htfd Courant

Dr. John's eclectic musical gumbo might rankle the sensibilities of jazz purists, but he had no trouble winning over the crowd at the Litchfield Jazz Festival Sunday night. The 65-year-old New Orleans vocalist and keyboardist led his quartet, the Lower 911, through an entertaining set that touched on an array of American musical styles. The good doctor brought the 11th annual Litchfield fest to a wild close with a rockin' version of "Mess Around," a tune long associated with Ray Charles. Drummer Herman Everest invited audience members onstage to dance, and the platform filled quickly with at least 40 enthusiastic hip-shakers.

A Dr. John original, "Sweet Home New Orleans," a blues homage written shortly after Katrina struck last year, was an emotional highlight. His band members, all New Orleans residents, sang the refrain, "Ee're gonna come back twice as strong," with wrenching conviction. Sunday's rendition was enhanced by a gritty sax solo from Don Braden, musical director of the annual Litchfield Jazz Camp. The Lower 911 performed only two selections from Dr. John's new recording, "Mercernary," a tribute to songwriter Johnny Mercer. Much of the set featured old favorites ("Right Place, Wrong Time") and different takes on standard material including a dirge-like arrangement of "When the Saints Go Marching In" and a super-sanctified "Lay My Burden Down."

Most of the other featured artists at Litchfield - excepting Dionne Warwick - fit more readily into the jazz mainstream. - complete article

But Keith, I was only foolin'......

Kasabian, a band hired to open for the Rolling Stones on their current tour, drew much sympathy when lead singer Tom Meighan told a television audience that his band was being forced to pay for tickets to see the Stones. What kind of bullshit is that? "It's quite incredible," ranted Meighan. "We're fucking supporting them! So if we get kicked off the stage we've got to buy a ticket, which is about 200 quid. It's probably Americans who are running it, not Jagger. And Richards isn't going to know what's fucking going on, is he?" Right on, bro!

Only problem is - it apparently was not the case. Oops. The band has issued an apology, but I bet Keith would kick their asses if he could just get out of that tree without falling on his head again. - complete article

Shake your Botti......

The Little Guy scores tickets for Earth, Wind & Fire and Chris Botti, but finds that when he and Sharie get to 'will call' at the Mohegan Sun Arena to pick them up - oops - the concert is at Oakdale!!!!! Not to worry, the lovebirds race back to Wallingford in time to catch a couple Botti numbers and report seeing a very energetic EW&F show. I was told it was Sharie's fault.

I want a Sunday kind of love.....

Still curious why the theme song for Kentucky Fried Chicken is Sweet Home Alabama!

After golf, Keith/Sharie off to Oakdale to see Earth, Wind & Fire and Chris Botti

You would do well to check out the Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris collaboration CD All the Roadrunning.

Girl, put your records on....

UPDATE: Zipped over to COSTCO this afternoon to buy steaks, golf balls and Snapple and found/purchased Corrine Bailey Rae for $9.99. My first reaction is that it's a little mellow (yes, in the Norah Jones sense, but I became a convert to her). Thinking Lauren Hill, while Garrett says Macy Gray. I like the third cut, Put Your Records On. Lots of hype about R&B wunderkind Corrine Bailey Rae from the UK, who has been compared to Norah Jones and even Billy Holiday, but tries to downplay that niche. Listening to some cuts on her site, I come away thinking very likable, but a little too mellow. CBR hits the area in August to play the Paradise Rock Club in Boston and Webster Hall in NYC.

This could be interesting.....First Friday in New Britain!

First Fridays at the New Britain Museum of American Art From 5:30 – 8 p.m. each month, First Friday features live jazz music performed by local and nationally-known musicians, an opportunity to view the Museum’s premier permanent collection of 300 years of American art, a chance to mix and mingle with other art and jazz lovers, a selection of light hors d’oeuvres, and wine, beer, and soda. The cost is $7 for Museum members and $12 for non-members and includes two drink tickets with a cash bar thereafter. This Friday, the New York-based Christine Spero Group performs Latin-flavored jazz composed by Ms. Spero. The quartet: Christine Spero- piano/vocals Elliott Spero- saxophone/percussion Mike Woinoski- bass Jody Sumber- drums

Live at the BBC....

Tuesday evening, after a leisurely stop at the Raw Bar for marguaritas, peel-your-own-shrimp and chowder, we cruise on over to Falmouth to one of our favorites, the British Beer Company, for some light dinner fare and entertainment. Of course, it's packed to the gills (unavoidable sea reference); we stalk the bar for an available table, but no luck, so we just sit and wait, occasionally drifting into the bar for a look at the Indians/Red Sox game. It's a long wait, so I order up a Dogfish (as a nod to our Chart Room friend). Tastes a bit like Blue Moon; not crazy about it. Finally, assuming a classic box-out-your-man position at the far end of the bar, I snag a table from three women who have just finished their meals. But NO! Sorry, sir, we have to remove this table for the band. DAMN! Back to the bench, until we finally get seated at the very beginning of the dining area (a good request by Judi and The Reet so we can hear, if not see, the band). The band, collectively known as Ian Richardson (if one goes by BBC's website), launches into what seems to be the entire Beatles' White Album. Sounds good, instrumentally, but the vocals are very muted. We listen to Martha, My Dear etc. as we dive into fish & chips, bourbon ribs and a shared burger. (Judi/John as viewed from the other side of table at BBC August 1, 2006) Additional note: JK/JH played the Ocean Course at New Seabury earlier in the day with Jim and wife/girlfriend Sil (who kicked his ass at golf). Sil informed us that after golf they were off to see the sold out Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders show at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. Jealous. (The Pretenders reissue first 2 albums with bonus discs- story here)

Reet's got 'dem "what the fuck are we doing in this joint" blues...

After exiting the Chart Room, we headed over the Bourne Bridge for the Onset Bay Blues Club, which holds blues jams Sunday-Wednesday each week. This club was recommended by blogger Bill Ives on his Portals and KM blog. When we finally arrived, after some directions mismanagement, we found one table of blues patrons, three musicians (two guitars and a keyboard player), a woman with a tamborine (band chick) and a ponytailed bartender. B.B. King looked down over us from the side wall. The Reet was not impressed. One of the guitarists, Calvin Jackson, was our blues jam host. Things were pretty slow at first, as long blues jams can be a bit tiresome to non blues fanatics. But we ordered a round, sat down and listened awhile - and things perked up (a couple vocals helped- JH with a good call on Tracy Chapman's "Talkin' About a Revolution"). More people dropped in. And a young kid (circa 20-21) arrived and volunteered to fill in on bass and the drums on a nice version of "Stormy Monday." Bathrooms were interesting - imagine opening the door and having to actually squeeze in by stepping over the toilet. Smallest bathrooms EVER! Not to worry, we will be back (of course, we can't tell The Reet where we're going).

Sing us a song, you're the piano man....

We arrived at the Chart Room on the waterfront in Bourne without dinner reservations and were relegated to a dark corner table with little of the wonderful view of the harbor that all other patrons enjoyed. But not to worry. Good food, good company and, because our lousy table was located right next to the piano, good music.

According to the menu, the Chart House building is a "...New Jersey Central Railroad Barge built around or before the turn of the century. This covered cargo barge was surveyed out of the railroad fleet and towed along with five other barges to Red Hook Harbor in 1953 where this particular barge was used as a machine shop to aid in the production of vessels for the Army and Navy during the Korean War."....."The piano is in the diesel engine rebuilding area."

Well, it sure was hot enough at our table, one given out sparingly (and reluctantly) for dining. Marguaritas, wine, Cajun pork chops, baked stuffed shrimp, sliced marinated sirloin. We notice a bespeckled gent take a seat at the well-worn piano and start to play a medley of New York-themed tunes - New York, New York; Sidewalks of New York; New York State of Mind - Eddie Sheed certainly has a sense of humor. Our applause was acknowledged with a nod and a request for suggestions. I offered Fats Domino; he responded with "Ain't That a Shame" and "Whole Lotta Lovin' For You." Judi's suggestion of Simon & Garfunkel brought "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard." He accepts our drink offer by ordering up a Dogfish Head. Beatles, Broadway show tunes, some blues - Sheed has an impressive catalog of songs which he plays in an easy, interesting style. Thoroughly enjoyable. Next time we'll eat outside for the view during dinner and then inside for the nightcap and entertainment.