Okay, I'll bite....

The following essay by one Johnny Hughes appeared out of nowhere as a comment to my posting of the story about the Big Bopper's son selling his coffin on ebay. I traced it to virtualubbock.com, its original posting source. Your thoughts?

virtualubbock - Historical Essay by contributer Johnny Hughes

Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Joe Ely, and the Cotton Club by Johnny Hughes, author of the novel Texas Poker Wisdom. (January 2009) Elvis Presley was leaning a against his pink, 1954 Cadillac in front of Lubbock's historic Cotton Club. The small crowd were mesmerized by his great looks, cockiness, and charisma. He put on quite a show, doing nearly all the talking. Elvis bragged about his sexual conquests, using language you didn't hear around women. He said he'd been a truck driver six months earlier. Now he could have a new woman in each town. He told a story about being caught having sex in his back seat. An angry husband grabbed his wife by the ankles and pulled her out from under Elvis. I doubted that. Earlier, at the Fair Park Coliseum, Elvis had signed girl's breasts, arms, foreheads, bras, and panties. No one had ever seen anything like it. We had met Elvis' first manager, Bob Neal, bass player, Bill Black, and guitarist Scotty Moore. They wanted us to bring some beer out to the Cotton Club. So we did. My meeting with Bob Neal in 1955 was to have great meaning in my future. I was 15. The old scandal rag, Confidential, had a story about Elvis at the Cotton Club and the Fair Park Coliseum. It had a picture of the Cotton Club and told of Elvis' unique approach to autographing female body parts. It said he had taken two girls to Mackenzie Park for a tryst in his Cadillac. - complete essay

Email from SB....

The New Record - Pre-Order Now!
The band and I have been out on tour for the better part of a week, doing our last long-distance run until our new record, 'The Stars Are Out' comes out on March 24, 2009. The album is complete, artwork and all, and we just got the word that it will be available on VINYL!!! The vinyl will be available at select independent record stores, or directly from the band when we're on tour. To pre-order your CD copy of 'The Stars Are Out', go to sugarhillrecords.com, or just follow this link. The first 100 pre-orders will receive autographed copies of the CD, so put yours in soon! Also, from amongst these, 10 lucky winners will be selected to also receive a signed copy of the limited edition VINYL LP.

The New Single
Our new single, Do It For Free, has been sent out to radio stations across the country so if you don't hear it soon, be sure to call your local station and ask them to play it!

The New Video
We wanted to share with you our brand new video for Do It For Free. We shot it in one day's time in Rochester, NY in some of the coldest weather I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing (yes, I'm being sarcastic). Our saving grace was the great crew from Film Orange and director Tim Wainwright.
Click here to watch the video!
Click here to see the photos of the shoot!

On Tour
Well be doing a large-scale record release tour throughout the entire U.S. this spring; keep checking our site for the date closest to you: TOUR DATES

NY Times Concert Review
Lastly, one of our proudest moments of 2008 (and one that we hope sets a precedent for 2009) was the wonderful review of our B.B. King's Blues Club show with the Blasters in the New York Times. Click here to take a look:

Happy New Year to all, and we can't wait to see you in 2009.
Sarah

Painstakingly searching for music for you...

When I heard that Scarlett Johansson was doing an album of Tom Waits covers a couple years ago, I couldn't waits (sorry) to hear the final product. Then it was released - one of the most disappointing products ever! Her voice sounded like it was processed through a dozen filters. Awful.

But not to worry. G-Man tells me we have another excuse to post a Scarlett photo, for she is now covering Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye for the soundtrack of the movie He's Just Not Into You.

The Sawtelles are catchy, so catch them....

I was the recent recipient of an email from the Sawtelles containing "some rough mixes of 4 new banjo tunes nobody has heard yet." So I popped them (Accident, Letter, Lose Her, Rise) into my iTunes and gave 'em a spin. Thank you, Julie and Peter, tasty morsels indeed. I have yet to meet the Sawtelles since they appeared on my radar at the Meriden Daffodil Festival a few years ago, but I'm resolved to see them perform this year. The Plantsville powerhouse pair will be appearing at the following venues in the near future:

1/30/09 - 7PM at ASOALS at Books and Company, Whitney Ave, Hamden. Frank Critelli is putting on this special show of the local ASOALS performing their songs with the same titles. Just come to see what it is all about.

2/6/09 - 8-9PM at Borders, Meriden Mall

2/16/09 - 10PM at Beatnik 2000, Cafe Nine, State St, New Haven

Next up, the "Johnny Gumbo Spokane Wooden Nickel".....

US Mint unveils DC quarter showing Duke Ellington (AP)

WASHINGTON – The nation's capital now has its own quarter. The U.S. Mint on Monday released the coin featuring Washington native and jazz great Duke Ellington at his piano. It also has an inscription of the city's motto, "Justice for All."

Collectors can go online or to banks to buy two-roll sets and bags of up to 1,000 quarters. D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton says officials are planning an event to celebrate the coin later this month. Last year, the U.S. Mint rejected designs that included the slogan "Taxation Without Representation." That refers to the long-running gripe that D.C. residents pay federal taxes without full representation in Congress. - complete article

Monday iPod...

A Woman of the World (Laura Nyro) The Loom's Desire

Almost Blue (Diana Krall) The Girl in the Other Room

Fruits of My Labor (Lucinda Williams) World Without Tears

On Saturday Afternoons in 1963 (Rickie Lee Jones) Self-Titled

Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me (The Pipettes) We Are the Pipettes

Hey, Lordy Mama (Abby Lincoln) A Turtle's Dream

Girl (The Beatles) Rubber Soul

Lover of Love (Allen Toussaint) The Allen Toussaint Collection

Temporary Like Achilles (Bob Dylan) Blonde On Blonde

In a Whirl (Phil DeGreg) Jazziz-The Key Players

The Train Kept On 'Rollin' (The Yardbirds) Over Under Sideways Down

Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby (The Rolling Stones) Flowers

Some of These Days/Living Alone (Lanie Kazan) Body and Soul

Take Me Home Country Roads (Toots & the Maytals) Best of

Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (Nat King Cole) The Billy May Sessions

Stephen Colbert's Remix Challenge...

Stephen does not -- not -- want you to take his interview with Lawrence Lessig and remix it with a pumping k-hole groove.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Stephen's Remix Challenge

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Your Saturday morning jazz fix...

Wesleyan grad Tierney Sutton



Vocalist Tierney Sutton Is A Rising First Lady Of Jazz by Owen McNally (Htfd Courant)
When Tierney Sutton, one of the hottest, hippest singers on today's jazz scene, transferred from Boston University to Wesleyan University in the 1980s, her heart was set on mastering Russian and Russian literature. But when the Wisconsin native discovered the power and glory of jazz, she underwent one of those dramatic turning points in life.

Sutton, who has a wry wit and sharp verbal skills, stuck with her major, earned good grades and graduated from Wesleyan in 1986 with a degree in Russian language and literature. While digging Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Gogol, she also developed a passion for the jazz language of Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, thanks, in part, to her linking up with Wesleyan's renowned music department, then headed by the noted jazz saxophonist/composer Bill Barron. - complete article

And it seemed so cool...hell, they could have asked me to sit in!

Prerecorded music at inauguration causes flap
NEW YORK – To paraphrase Ronald Reagan, here we go again.

The revelation that millions of people who saw the inauguration of President Barack Obama were actually listening to recorded music instead of the actual performance of the Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman-led quartet has led to comparisons of lip-synching (though, in this case, might the correct term be hand-synching?) and drawn comparisons to other infamous cases, including Ashlee Simpson's "Saturday Night Live" debacle and perhaps music's most famous pantomimes, Milli Vanilli.

But Carole Florman, a spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, says she doesn't understand what the fuss is all about. "I think this is a whole lot of nothin'," she said on Friday. "These are world-class performers who are playing in 19 degree weather and the technical requirements of their instruments made it impossible for them to have their music amplified and know that it would be in tune. So they made, what I think, was probably a difficult decision to play to tape." - complete article

Listening to...

Yawn. Woke up QUITE early this Thursday morn. Cup 'o jo. Decide to don the earplugs and do some work. The Playlist:

Look at Me (John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band) Self-Titled

The Moon (Cat Power) The Greatest

Neptune's Call (The Duke Spirit) Neptune

Sitting Still (R.E.M.) Murmur

Where Water Flows (Calexico) The Black Light

Old Enough (The Raconteurs) Consolers of the Lonely

Are You Down (Lucinda Williams) Essence

Good Lover (Lou Ann Barton) Read My Lips

1 2 3 4 (Feist) The Reminder

Ride On, Baby (Rolling Stones) Flowers

Last of the Steam-Powered Trains (The Kinks) The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

Can't Believe You Want To Leave (Lou Ann Barton) Read My Lips

I Want to Love You (Delbert McClinton) Best of Delbert McClinton

Without Your Love (Al Anderson) Pay Before You Pump

Venus In Furs (Velvet Underground) Velvet Underground & Nico

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

JOHNNY GUMBO!

Yeah, he's old 'n ugly, but he's ours.

Music at the Mall...

Lady Soul Aretha Franklin (nice hat!) sang My Country 'Tis of Thee The old girl doesn't have the chops she once had and didn't come close to getting the place rocking, but did a decent job. Grade B

Rock star Yo-Yo Ma on cello, Itzhak Perlman on violin, Gabriela Montero on piano and Anthony McGill on clarinet performed John Williams' Air and Simple Gifts. Wonderfully done. Grade A+

Poet Elizabeth Alexander read Praise Song. The reading was a bit choppy. Grade B. Alexander is the fourth poet to read at a presidential inauguration, joining Robert Frost, Maya Angelou and Miller Williams.

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce ("I always wanted to sing at the Super Bowl....just after my album came out.")....

Bruce Springsteen's 'Working On A Dream' will begin streaming on NPR today at 11:59PM
Bruce Springsteen's return to pop production (and the E Street Band) on his 2007 album Magic left him wanting more. Although he hadn't pushed himself to complete back-to-back albums in more than 30 years, The legendary singer's longtime producer, Brendan O'Brien, urged Springsteen to keep recording. "I thought, 'No, I haven't done that since my first two records came out in the same year,' " Springsteen says. "Usually, I don't write that quickly. But I went back to my hotel in Atlanta, and over the next week, I wrote several songs that formed the beginning of the new album (Working on a Dream). I found there was more than enough fuel for the fire to keep going."

Working on a Dream, which will stream in its entirety here starting Jan. 19 — a week before its official release date — is Springsteen's 24th album. It was recorded with the E Street Band during breaks from the group's 2007 tour. "I hope Working on a Dream has caught the energy of the band, fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we've ever done," Springsteen says. "All the songs were written quickly. We usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end."

Working on a Dream contains 12 new Springsteen songs and one bonus track, "The Wrestler," which is featured over the closing credits of Darren Aronofsky's 2008 film of the same name. The track also won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

Flight of the Conchords- Season 2 Premiere...

The entire first episode of HBO's hit comedy series "Flight Of The Conchords."

No, they are not playing today. But word has it that LeBron James is donning not his gay apparel, but a Cleveland Browns uniform for a State Farm commercial. - story - here's the commercial

Let k.d. lang entertain you on a snowy Sunday morn...Sunday from BBC Four Session, St Lukes Church, London (2008)

Live from Daryl's House-episode 15: Company of Thieves - Everytime You Go Away

Listening to:
Roll With You Eli Paperboy Reed & the True Loves - The Noise article - Live @Jools Holland

Big O alert....

DO NOT DISTURB!

The Reet currently experiencing multiple orgasms watching Barack Obama make his way by train from Philly to D.C.

Marcia Valente emails that The Reet might not be alone in her ecstasy. Oh, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy...

WTF's up with my peanut butter? They are probing it! Yuk.

To lend more depth to this serious issue, here's It's a Happening Thing by The Peanut Butter Conspiracy from the 1967 album The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading. Former Westie Punk and 60s music aficionado Gus Peverada would know all about these guys.

The PBC, according to the impeccible Wikipedia, "formed in Los Angeles in 1966 out of a folk-rock group, The Ashes, who included John Merrill (guitar/ vocals), Alan Brackett (bass/ vocals), Barbara "Sandi" Robison (vocals), Spencer Dryden (drums) and Jim Cherniss (guitar/ vocals). The group had earlier been known as The Young Swingers, who released two obscure singles. The Ashes released one single in 1966 on the Vault label, "Is There Anything I Can Do?" written by Jackie DeShannon. Dryden then left The Ashes to replace Skip Spence in Jefferson Airplane, Robison left to give birth, and the group temporarily disbanded. Alan Brackett hooked up with a new guitarist, Lance Baker Fent, and a new drummer, Jim Voigt, naming the new trio The Crossing Guards. Merrill and Robison rejoined, and the five-piece band became The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.

The group signed with Columbia Records in late 1966, releasing a single "It's A Happening Thing", produced by Gary Usher, which reached #93 on the national pop chart. The band's first album, The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading, followed, also produced by Usher who brought in studio musicians including Glen Campbell and James Burton to bolster the group's sound. Their late 1967 single "Turn On a Friend (to the Good Life)" failed to chart. However, they toured nationally, added a new guitarist, Bill Wolff, and recorded a second album for Columbia, The Great Conspiracy, generally regarded as their best."

PHS Marky G announces change in Jazz Fest schedule - to go first weekend because he's " tired of pounding the old pool hustlers @ Ryans."...

Well, if "Will Farrell lite" must avoid his annual second weekend embarrassment at Ryan's Irish Pub (it doesn't make him a bad person, just a wimpy one), he might as well take advantage of seeing Booker T. playing with the Drive-by Truckers on the first weekend:

Booker T. rocks with Truckers, Neil Young by Jeff Vrabel
SAVANNAH, Georgia (Billboard) - Booker T. Jones' resume on the renowned Stax/Volt soul labels reads like a field guide to American music. But for his first solo set since the '80s, the 64-year-old musician went with a different kind of Southern sound, enlisting Georgia rockers the Drive-By Truckers as his backing band for an album of all-new instrumentals. "Potato Hole," due April 21, marks Jones' debut on independent label Anti-. Neil Young, who Booker T. and the MGs backed on 2002's "Are You Passionate?," handles lead guitar duties, and the 10-song set includes covers of "Hey Ya," Tom Waits' "Get Behind the Mule" and the Drive-By Truckers' "Space City."

"It was a matter of finding people to help me interpret these ideas," Jones told Billboard. "In the public's mind, it's gonna be a new sound for me. In my mind it's not. I've loved rock for a long time. In the '60s I wrote a few songs for Otis Redding and Eddie Floyd that were rock songs, but it was too soon for us to be doing that kind of music." Jones and the Truckers will play New Orleans' Jazz Fest in April and will announce other festival appearances in the coming weeks.

Cleveland rocks!...

No, the Brownies are not suddenly grandfathered into the playoffs (PLAYOFFS?). The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the 2009 class yesterday. Here are the lucky ones:
The Regulars:

Run-DMC (Jam Master Jay will not make the ceremony, since he was shot to death in his recording studio in 2002) Walk This Way
Metallica - Enter Mariano Rivera
Jeff Beck I'm a Man (w/ Yardbirds)
Bobby Womack - Harry Hippie
Little Anthony & the Imperials - Tears on My Pillow
The Early Influence:
Wanda Jackson - Funnel of Love
The Sidemen:
Spooner Oldham
Bill Black (bassist w/ Elvis Presley, leader of Bill Black Combo) - Don't Be Cruel
D.J. Fontana (drummer w/ Elvis Presley)
The Snubbed:
Neil Diamond (He's not, they said, to everyone there, and everyone heard it all, even the chair) - Love on the Rocks

Run-DMC, Metallica lead list of 2009 Rock Hall - AP article

Pick up my guitar and play, just like yesterday...

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and greet the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

For a quick second, I felt like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, again sitting next to The Reet at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill on a wintry night, waiting for my co-chair Trish and hubby George to plan the Southington Rotary's 2009 Mardi Gras Night (see last Wed). But wait, is that not George at the bar nursing a beer? It is! Well, then there's at least a 25% chance of Trish actually showing up!

We grab George and drag him over to our table. He tells us Trish said she'd meet us here. We've heard that before, haven't we?. As GW once said, "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." Let's hope not. OMG, is it? Well, I'll be!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya? - songfacts.com - YouTube

Johnny Gumbo looking in new direction...

Australia offers 'best job in world' on paradise island
Johnny Gumbo, of the supergroup The Johnny Gumbo Party Band, considered 'candidate-to-beat" says search committee.

SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months. The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of "a few minor tasks" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates. The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English. "They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas. - complete article

Let's have a party! Wanda Jackson, Billy Mecca to be inducted!....

Congrats are in order to Wanda Jackson for her selection to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I caught Wanda at Cafe Nine (posting) back in 2005 when she was touring with Rosie Flores. YouTube clip

I was also pleased to receive a letter this week announcing that Billy Mecca has been selected to the Quinnipiac University Athletic Hall of Fame. The former men's head basketball coach and current senior associate director of athletics (whew!) is also the color man on QU Bobcats' radio/TV (there are those who say he looks much better on radio). Mecca is also the founder of the Quinnipiac Roundball Golf Tournament, as well as director of the exclusive Mecca Golf Tour. Rumor has it that QU is looking into a new title for Mecca which would bring him even CLOSER to Athletic Director without actually BEING Athletic Director (it's an "approaching infinity" thing). Suggestions include Senior Associate Athletic Director - Emeritus, Not Director of Athletics - But Really, Really Close, Senior Associate Athletic Director of the Highest Caliber.

Whew, George, that was a close one!...

NYC eatery grants freedom to lobster centenarian (AP)
NEW YORK – A 140-year-old lobster once destined for a dinner plate received the gift of life Friday from a Park Avenue seafood restaurant. George, the 20-pound supercentenarian crustacean, was freed by City Crab and Seafood in New York City. "We applaud the folks at City Crab and Seafood for their compassionate decision to allow this noble old-timer to live out his days in freedom and peace," said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA spokesman Michael McGraw said the group asked City Crab to return George to the Atlantic Ocean after a diner saw him at the restaurant, where steamed Maine lobster sells for $27 per pound. George had been caught off Newfoundland, Canada and lived in the tank for about 10 days before his release. Some scientists estimate lobsters can live to be more than 100 years old. PETA and the restaurant guessed George's age at about 140, using a rule of thumb based on the creature's weight. He was to be released Saturday near Kennebunkport, Maine, in an area where lobster trapping is forbidden.

Tribute to George:
The B-52's perform Rock Lobster at the Downtown Cafe in Atlanta, Georgia in 1978, about a month before the release of their first album. very cool YouTube clip

Interesting combo, Queen & Stephen Curry....

The best Stephen Curry YouTube you'll ever see by Eammon Brennan

Over at The Mid-Majority, hoops maven and all-around smart dude Kyle Whelliston had a simple request for his readers: Make him a YouTube video. But not just any YouTube video. It had to be a video of Stephen Curry highlights backed by Queen's "Flash."

Today, a reader delivered. Words fail to describe how awesome this is:



(It's okay, not unbelievable.)

Well no one told me about her, the way she lies...

Well no one told me about her,
how many people cried

Zombies reference (YouTube clip). It was nice 'n toasty at Anthony Jack's on icy Center Street last night to plan the Southington Rotary Mardi Gras Night party. The Reet and I showed up at 5:30pm, secured a big, comfortable booth in the main dining room, said hello/chatted Jazz Fest 2009/discussed Mardi Gras Night with proprietor/chef/Pool Hall Stud Barry D, then waited for co-chair Trish and hubby George to arrive.

5:45pm Ordered drinks. Looked at watch.
6:00pm Nibbled tasty bread. Looked at watch.
6:15pm Ordered appetizers. Looked at watch.

Well, no one told me about her,
What could I do?
Well, no one told me about her,
Though they all knew.

The Reet and I looked like we were dating, sitting side-by-side in the big booth. "Not to worry, they will be here soon," we whisper confidently to our server, who gives us a smile and a sure-they-will-suckers look. Cell phone call gets only cheerful voicemail. Hmmmm. Barry brings over a plate of tasty gnocchi, while telling of possible plans to play Pebble Beach with co-Pool Hall Stud Marky-G (very nice, but they should be chalking up their cues a bit more often, ya think?). Still no Trish/George. We order dinner, now almost full from drinks, bread, appetizers. Sue and hubby John, saxophone player for Dr YaYa's Gumbo Party, stop by to say hi and chat about upcoming Mardi Gras Night. They are deeply saddened to hear of our dinner snub. Dinners arrive piping hot. Mighty delicious, but we only manage small portions. Good news is the leftovers for today!

We say good night and slide out into the blustery January chill. Upon arrival home, we retrieve a Trish voicemail telling us she had a better offer, but would be glad to reschedule. Only satisfaction- got her good with the latest obnoxious, but clever phone message. aHA!

But it's too late to say you're sorry
How would I know why should I care
Please don't bother trying to find her
She's not there

But one fact remains, you really should get your asses out to this great event! Tell all your friends. If you have no friends, tell anyone else you know. The 5th annual Southington Rotary Mardi Gras Night will be held on Fat Tuesday, February 24th at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill. In addition to fine food and interesting people (if YOU come, of course), you will be thoroughly entertained by Dr. Ya Ya's Gumbo Party. To quote New Orleans' own Dr. John - "SUCH A NIGHT!" Just imagine, all this and support for the Southington Rotary Club's community programs, too! Just the facts, Ma'am: Date/time: Fat Tuesday, February 24, 2009 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm Where: Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill, 30 Center Street, Southington, CT 06489 - directions Cost: $65/person, includes food stations, beer, wine, entertainment Why: To support the programs/scholarships of the Southington Rotary Club Reservations: Co-chair John Kennedy @860.276.8025, Co-chair Trish Walden @860.378.1226, Anthony Jack's @860.426.1487

Stay in touch, Dad....

Big Bopper's coffin to be sold on eBay (NME.com)
The son of iconic '50s rock n' roller the Big Bopper has said he plans to sell his late father's casket--which he was buried in for 48 years--on eBay in the next few weeks. The Big Bopper, real name J.P. Richardson, died along with Buddy Holly and Richie Valens in a plane crash in 1959. The accident has since become known as "the day the music died" after Don McLean recalled the incident in his massive-selling 1972 U.S. number one "American Pie." The 16-gauge steel casket was exhumed from its original resting place in 2007, because Richardson's son wanted to move his father to a more visible location, reports The Beaumont Enterprise. "I have no personal use for the casket," Richardson said. "When you get down to it, it is just a metal box. More important is what this particular metal box represents. complete article

Yes, the Sawtelles are alive in 2009!...

Email direct from Plantsville:
Jan 8 (THU)- Two Boots Cafe
Come Thursday, the snow will be long finished up falling so come out and see this awesome show at the Two Boots Cafe, Bridgeport:

Co9 @ 9:00-9:30

Christian Marrone @ 9:30-10

the Sawtelles @ 10:15-around 11

Smooth Medusa @ 11:15
Jan 9 (FRI)- Cafe Nine
friday nite is beatnik #450 at cafe nine; 50 or so musicians and poets will be on from 8pm til 2am. we're on 11ish. could be 10:30, could be 11:30. just be there for the duration and you won't miss a thing.
BEATNIK 2000 ANNIVERSARY SHOW! Episode #450, with host Edward Leonard, with a special Friday night show • 450 Mondays in a row - AMAZING! Come celebrate the state's longest running music and poetry showcase series!! Fifty singer/songwriters and poets will perform.
Feb 6 (FRI)- Borders, Meriden
we've also got a borders, meriden gig first friday in february.

check our myspace.com/thesawtelles site to see our upcoming dates.

Ipod shuffle walking the neighborhood at halftime of Ravens/Dolphins...

Underdog (Sly & the Family Stone) The Essential Sly & the Family Stone

Unnecessarily Mercenary (Bonnie Raitt) Souls Alike

Until (Cassandra Wilson) New Moon Daughter

Until I Met You (Manhattan Transfer) Anthology: Down in Birdland

Until the End (Norah Jones) Not Too Late

Until the Real Thing Comes Along (Erroll Garner) The Complete Savory Master Tapes

Up Above My Head (Ruthie Foster) The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster

Uptown (The Crystals) Phil Spector's Back To Mono

Use Me (Esther Phillips) Jazz Moods- Hot

Use Me (Holly Golightly) God Don't Like It

Used To Get High (John Butler Trio) Grand National

She's My Scorcher (Toots & the Maytals) Best of Toots & the Maytals

Someday My Prince Will Come (Ben Sidran) That's Life I Guess

Serious goals/objectives for the year of the ox...

1. Continued bone-crunching, ego-deflating pool bashings of the Pool Hall Studs (with able assistance from partner/gadfly Johnny Gumbo) at Ryan's Pub during Jazz Fest. It's mind-boggling that we should dominate year after year because those PHS guys are REALLY, REALLY GOOD! Another couple of Abita Ambers, barkeep, for me and my distinguished friend in the accordian shirt!
   
2. To work hard to eliminate my bad habit of procrastination (but more about that later)
   
3. To finally have my caption chosen as one of the three finalists for the weekly New Yorker Cartoon Contest. I would then count on riding the tidal wave of voting by my loyal readership to claim the prize. This is doable, people, I just have to be a wee bit cleverer (erer).
   
4. To win the Wednesday afternoon Apply Valley golf league with my immensely capable partner, Jim Hennessey, not for the glory, for we are kind, humble human beings, but rather to fund our golf trip to Ireland. We've already won about $100 over the last two years and I've been investing the winnings with a very astute gentleman who was recommended highly by Kevin Bacon. I don't know what our current balance is, but the last time I talked with Mr. Madoff, he said our account was faring QUITE well!
   
5. Not to appear greedy, but I'd love to win the United Kingdom National Lottery. That would be way cool! OMG! You WON'T believe this! I just checked my email and saw this notice. OMG OMG OMG! All I have to do is fill in the verification form below. I'm really nervous and excited, but I have to do my best. Here goes, wish me luck and DON'T TELL ANYONE!
   

   The United Kingdom National Lottery wishes to inform you that the results of the E-mail address ballot lottery international program by Great Britain held on the of 2nd January. 2009. Your mail account have been picked as a winner of a lump sum pay out of Eight hundred and ninety-one thousand, nine hundred and thirty-four Great Britain pounds (£891,934.00 pounds sterling's) in cash credited to file REF NO.REF:UKL/74-A0802742008. please contact your Claims Agent: Mr.Mark Cole, (Email:cgnlgroupwinsdept-uk@live.com CALL NOW: +44-703-192-1861) KINDLY FILL THE VERIFICATION FORM: 1.Full name: johnnyk music 2.Sex: This is a strange question, but I must be truthful or else I might be eliminated. Pretty tame for the most part, but I admit to being tied up just that ONE night. 3.Address: Well, of all the ones I've read or heard, I guess the Gettysburg Address is my favorite. Or, perhaps JFK's "Ask not what your country can do for you..." inaugural speech. 4.City: April in Paris (chestnuts in blossoms, holiday tables under the trees) 5.State: For the most part, despite some bumps in the road, I'd say UPBEAT. 6.Postcode: I don't know the code, so how would I know what comes after it? Jeez. 7.Country: Tough one, because I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll. Okay, I'm going with Merle Haggard, if only as a show of solidarity for his trying to kick his pot habit. 8.Tel: Never! They'll have to torture me with feathers before I'd utter a word! 9.Nationality: I'll go with Sarah Palin on this one, the nation of Africa (but they have SO many states over there!). 10.Occupation: I suppose Iraq for the (hopefully) short term. 11.Choose your claims option- (1)Courier Delivery (2)Bank Transfer: This is a no-brainer. I definitely want delivery via Jim Courier!



6. Whew! Okay, I think I'm composed enough to continue. Next on my list: To break 80 from the tips at Beth Page Black before they close it down for the US Open. Yes, I know we've been saying that for three years and now I'm afraid it's way too late. And, oh yeah, the 'break 80' part MAY have been a bit of a stretch (read '100').
   
7. To drag The Reet down to Cafe Nine to listen to some cool bands in a great crowded, unbearably loud, beer-soaked atmosphere. She LOVES that stuff (and she's a helluva designated driver).
   
8. To fly out to Omaha with Gene Zurolo/Billy Mecca/Steve Signor to watch the Dan Gooley-led Quinnipiac Bobcats (really Braves) baseball team compete in the 2009 College World Series. Rumor has it that, as a tribute to their legendary status, QU would fly out the entire 1968 championship team (god, what a marvelous shortstop they had...I forget the guy's name, he wasn't all that great, but what a truly amazing human being). And finally (are you listening, Mr. Mecca?), when is QU going to renovate that baseball field and rename it Dan Gooley Field (also naming the backstop for Mr. Zurolo, who visited there SO many times to retrieve passed balls)?
   
9. To watch the cash-strapped NY Yankees FINALLY win the World Series again (there is a whole generation of grammar school kids who have never seen this happen!). Can they EVER get a runner in from third with less than two outs? I meant the Yankees; I know the grammar school kids could do it.
   
10. To continue the tradition (started this past Christmas) of meeting former Westie Punk Gus Peverada in Macy's women's dept to discuss life.
    
11. Last (but least), to watch the Brownies win the Super Bowl!. Think 1964 (The Championship!), not 1986 (The Drive) or 1987 (The Fumble). Think Jim Brown, Frank Ryan, Paul Warfield, Gary Collins. Actually, I would like to see them score an offensive TD, since they are at 25 consecutive quarters and counting.
    
12. And finally (I promise!), to appreciate a wonderful family, close friends.....and even you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, PEOPLE! (a tip of the hat to all you oxen, too...and you know who you are!)

'Cause there's a man down there, he might be your man, I don't know....

Allman Brothers Band sets March shows at Beacon

NEW YORK (Billboard) – The Allman Brothers Band will play 10 shows at New York's Beacon Theater in March after scrapping the 2008 edition of its annual residency while frontman Gregg Allman recovered from hepatitis C. The veteran southern rockers will kick off the 2009 edition on March 9, and will also play March 10, March 12-14, March 16-17 and March 19-21. Ticket information will be unveiled in mid-January. The band has played the Beacon 175 times since 1989, according to a spokesman.

(johnnyk comment: that is not my arm at left; mine wouldn't have enough surface for the tat.)

You don't deserve this, but...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!