Found this student project which used Etta James' exquisite version of the classic Sunday Kind of Love:
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
(Mark) Sanford & Some (chick in Argentina)...
Don't Cry For Me, Argentina
Possible suspects (gender has not been identified at press time):
Che Guevara (Cuban revolution)
Eva Duarte de Peron ("Evita" - politics)
Diego Maradona (soccer)
Juan Manuel Fangio (car racing)
Carlos Gardel (tango singer)
Gabriela Sabatini (tennis)
Guillermo Vilas (tennis)
Astor Piazzolla (tango composer)
Valeria Mazza (supermodel)
Rene Favaloro (surgeon, inventor of the coronary bypass surgery )
Manu Ginobili (basketball)
Angel Cabrera (golf, won US Open 2007)
Lionel Messi (soccer)
Jorge Luis Borges (writer)
Maxima Zorreguieta (princess - Netherlands)
Mafalda (cartoon) - source
Possible suspects (gender has not been identified at press time):
Che Guevara (Cuban revolution)Eva Duarte de Peron ("Evita" - politics)
Diego Maradona (soccer)
Juan Manuel Fangio (car racing)
Carlos Gardel (tango singer)
Gabriela Sabatini (tennis)
Guillermo Vilas (tennis)
Astor Piazzolla (tango composer)
Valeria Mazza (supermodel)
Rene Favaloro (surgeon, inventor of the coronary bypass surgery )
Manu Ginobili (basketball)
Angel Cabrera (golf, won US Open 2007)
Lionel Messi (soccer)
Jorge Luis Borges (writer)
Maxima Zorreguieta (princess - Netherlands)
Mafalda (cartoon) - source
Friday morning trail mix...
Creek Bank (Mose Allison) The Prestige Collection
To a Child (Laura Nyro) The Loom's Desire
Change Is Gonna Do Me Good (Al Anderson) Pay Before You Pump
He War (Cat Power) You Are Free
Red Cadillac & a Black Moustache (Brian Setzer) Rockabilly Riot Vol I
Soul Food To Go (Manhattan Transfer) Brasil
I Love You (The Pipettes) We Are the Pipettes
Bud Powell (Chick Corea) Remembering Bud Powell
Rio Grande (Dave Alvin) Ashgrove
Me & Mr. Jones (Amy Winehouse) Back To Black
To a Child (Laura Nyro) The Loom's Desire
Change Is Gonna Do Me Good (Al Anderson) Pay Before You Pump
He War (Cat Power) You Are Free
Red Cadillac & a Black Moustache (Brian Setzer) Rockabilly Riot Vol I
Soul Food To Go (Manhattan Transfer) Brasil
I Love You (The Pipettes) We Are the Pipettes
Bud Powell (Chick Corea) Remembering Bud Powell
Rio Grande (Dave Alvin) Ashgrove
Me & Mr. Jones (Amy Winehouse) Back To Black
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The King (of Pop) Is Dead!...
He had become completely irrelevant, but in his heyday...dead at 50
"When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now," Liza Minnelli told CBS' "The Early Show" by telephone. - celebrity quotes
"When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now," Liza Minnelli told CBS' "The Early Show" by telephone. - celebrity quotes
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday morning at 5 o'clock as the day begins...
Jumped into brother Jim's auto yesterday afternoon to travel up Queen to Staples. Needed a new laptop. What's this? Mr. "Neil Diamond All the Time" was listening to Lucinda Williams!!!!!! Holy shit, he's found salvation! Hey, Jim, when did you discover Lucinda? Who? Oh, he was just listening to the Margaritaville Channel on XM Satellite Radio and had no clue who I was talking about. Baby steps.
Cool show coming: Felice Brothers at Cafe Nine! Now they need to book the Strange Boys.
Cool show coming: Felice Brothers at Cafe Nine! Now they need to book the Strange Boys.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
If you come back, I'll even take the damn cat...
Charlie / OFD has left a new comment on your post "My eggs don't taste the same without you...":Rejoice Farquahr Fahns ! Several Fabulous Farquahr Melodies are now on youtube! 3 originals and a couple of tributes it can only lead to more of this talented group of rogues who taught us how to have fun, by celebrating felonious lyrics and ribald sketches while we enjoyed God's gift to youth - beer and young ladies.
Johnnykmusic note: cannot find any original Farquahr material on youtube, just tributes.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Now, that makes fifteen bands Jack White is in?...
Forecast fine for Jack White's Dead Weather
NEW YORK (Billboard) – It all started with a lost voice and a missing tour bus. Alison Mosshart sings for the Kills, the dirty blues-rock band that opened for the Raconteurs last fall, when Jack White lost his voice. White's hoarseness came near the end of a fairly cataclysmic tour for both White and Mosshart; the White Stripes/Raconteurs frontman injured his back, and the Kills' tour bus driver disappeared with the group's bus. (A week later the bus was found in a Los Angeles parking lot and the driver was arrested in February in Miami.)
"I was wearing the same clothes I'd been in for a week, because the bus still hadn't been found," Mosshart says. To get their minds off their mishaps, White suggested an impromptu end-of-tour jam session in Nashville. "We had one day left with her before she had to go to New York and we were in Nashville together so we said, 'Why don't we record a 7-inch?'" White says. "We had absolutely no energy left and were completely burned out."
And so the Dead Weather was born, with White on drums, Mosshart on vocals, Raconteur Jack Lawrence on bass and Dean Fertita -- a member of Queens of the Stone Age who tours with the Raconteurs -- on guitar. "We burned the candle at three ends, and all of a sudden we had four songs done," Mosshart says. "And then we just kept going and going, and all of a sudden, we were this new band with this new record. I couldn't believe how kind of natural it felt." The "supergroup's" album, "Horehound," comes out July 14 on White's label, Third Man Records; it will be distributed by Warner Music. For an album that was spawned from frenzied late-night sessions, it doesn't sound at all slapped-together. It's a deep, sludgy collection that recalls early Led Zeppelin and includes a dark, bluesy cover of Bob Dylan's "New Pony." - complete article
Johnnykmusic note: The Dead Weather plays Terminal 5 in NYC on 7/16 and 7/17, then the Boston House of Blues (when was that resurrected?) on 7/18 - Here they are live on Conan
NEW YORK (Billboard) – It all started with a lost voice and a missing tour bus. Alison Mosshart sings for the Kills, the dirty blues-rock band that opened for the Raconteurs last fall, when Jack White lost his voice. White's hoarseness came near the end of a fairly cataclysmic tour for both White and Mosshart; the White Stripes/Raconteurs frontman injured his back, and the Kills' tour bus driver disappeared with the group's bus. (A week later the bus was found in a Los Angeles parking lot and the driver was arrested in February in Miami.)
"I was wearing the same clothes I'd been in for a week, because the bus still hadn't been found," Mosshart says. To get their minds off their mishaps, White suggested an impromptu end-of-tour jam session in Nashville. "We had one day left with her before she had to go to New York and we were in Nashville together so we said, 'Why don't we record a 7-inch?'" White says. "We had absolutely no energy left and were completely burned out."And so the Dead Weather was born, with White on drums, Mosshart on vocals, Raconteur Jack Lawrence on bass and Dean Fertita -- a member of Queens of the Stone Age who tours with the Raconteurs -- on guitar. "We burned the candle at three ends, and all of a sudden we had four songs done," Mosshart says. "And then we just kept going and going, and all of a sudden, we were this new band with this new record. I couldn't believe how kind of natural it felt." The "supergroup's" album, "Horehound," comes out July 14 on White's label, Third Man Records; it will be distributed by Warner Music. For an album that was spawned from frenzied late-night sessions, it doesn't sound at all slapped-together. It's a deep, sludgy collection that recalls early Led Zeppelin and includes a dark, bluesy cover of Bob Dylan's "New Pony." - complete article
Johnnykmusic note: The Dead Weather plays Terminal 5 in NYC on 7/16 and 7/17, then the Boston House of Blues (when was that resurrected?) on 7/18 - Here they are live on Conan
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday morning, golf cancelled, waitin' on the US Open...
Little Feat in 1976 at San Fran's Winterland doing Allen Toussaint's On Your Way Down:  |
From Wolfgang's Concert Vault:
This concert, when Little Feat was opening for Electric Light Orchestra, remains one of their most legendary performances. Broadcast live on KSAN radio, parts of this performance were immediately bootlegged to vinyl and rapidly began circulating under various titles, the most common being "Rampant Syncopatio" and "Chinese Bejeezus," titles rumored to have been supplied by Lowell George himself.
It's no wonder that this performance became so popular, as it captures the band at the peak of the "Lowell George era," promoting the release of The Last Record Album. This album signaled the emergence of jazzier elements being incorporated into the bands sound, as well as stronger contributions from guitarist Paul Barrere and keyboardist Bill Payne, which added greater diversity to the group’s material. - concert summary
Johnnykmusic note: Allen Toussaint will play Sunday Brunch at Joe's Pub in NYC on 6/28 and 7/5. Lowell George is currently dead and not touring with Little Feat, rendering them, while not bad, not really Little Feat.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
An exclusive Daily Nugget report from G-Man...
THE STRANGE BOYS CONCERT!!! “Great show, man,” I said as I shook the Strange Boys bassist’s hand. He responded, “Thanks a lot”, and our conversation was almost as long as their set. I had to throw in “man” otherwise we wouldn’t have connected on such a real level. He understood so I walked away, he went back to talking to the two young females that shook his hand before I did. The Strange Boys were among many bands (Mika Miko, The Coathangers, others don’t remember) that played Saturday night (June 13) in Bed Stuy Brooklyn at The Market Hotel. They were by far the best band and played by far the shortest set. The Strange Boys, an Austin, Texas band (we think in their early-20s), are a recent find by the Kennedy family. I read about them in an interview with Patrick Carney, the Black Keys drummer. He said something to the effect of “they will kick your ass every time”… raced to their MySpace, ignored rent and ordered their debut CD, And Girls Club. I haven’t stopped listening for months straight. It’s the best music I have heard since first hearing The Black Keys and The White Stripes. I’m pretty excited. - complete concert review
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Lie down, don't walk, don't run...
Ventures Founder and Surf Rock Mastermind Dead
Los Angeles (E! Online) – Talk about a guitar hero. Bob Bogle, cofounder and lead guitarist of the Ventures, whose riffs on hits like "Walk Don't Run" and "Perfidia" defined surf rock, died Sunday at 75. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was hospitalized after falling ill over the weekend, per Washington's News Tribune of Tacoma. He had reportedly been suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which forced him to quit the band he founded five decades ago with Bob Wilson. "Even though you know it's gonna happen, when it does it's like a bomb dropping on you," Wilson told the paper.
Bogle did manage to see his band enshrined in the Rock Hall in 2008 after recording indelible instrumentals that include versions of "Hawaii Five-O," "Pipeline" and the Pulp Fiction staple "Surf Rider," and selling more than 100 million records. "If you listen to 'Walk, Don't Run' and 'Perfidia,' the lead guitar is just totally unique," said Wilson of his longtime mate. "He used that vibrator bar—they call it a whammy bar—and he used it like nobody else."
Los Angeles (E! Online) – Talk about a guitar hero. Bob Bogle, cofounder and lead guitarist of the Ventures, whose riffs on hits like "Walk Don't Run" and "Perfidia" defined surf rock, died Sunday at 75. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was hospitalized after falling ill over the weekend, per Washington's News Tribune of Tacoma. He had reportedly been suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which forced him to quit the band he founded five decades ago with Bob Wilson. "Even though you know it's gonna happen, when it does it's like a bomb dropping on you," Wilson told the paper.
Bogle did manage to see his band enshrined in the Rock Hall in 2008 after recording indelible instrumentals that include versions of "Hawaii Five-O," "Pipeline" and the Pulp Fiction staple "Surf Rider," and selling more than 100 million records. "If you listen to 'Walk, Don't Run' and 'Perfidia,' the lead guitar is just totally unique," said Wilson of his longtime mate. "He used that vibrator bar—they call it a whammy bar—and he used it like nobody else."
Monday, June 15, 2009
Weekend update...
Dined and sampled the Weekend of Music at Bonterra's on Saturday night along with the Andersons and Valentes. Advertised as jazz, funk and blues starting at nine, we got a sax/keyboards duo who frustrated owner Barry D by strolling in after the scheduled time with no sense of urgency. Once set up, they entertained the late dinner/early bar crowd with standards such as Misty, Yesterday, Satin Doll. Very nice stuff. The only problem was that the style was better suited for earlier in the evening, possibly during dinner, when folks (especially older folks with early Sunday starting times) are alert and animated. We could have used an energy boost. Received good feedback about the bands from friends who dined on Thursday and Friday, so let's hope that the news gets around. The series is scheduled for three more weeks, each Thursday through Saturday.
Meanwhile, down in Brooklyn, the youngsters stopped in at the Market Hotel to catch the recently-discovered Strange Boys, who were one of four or five bands playing that night. The Austin-based Boys played a too-short, but fabulous 6 or 7 song set, including a request for Should Have Shot Paul. Their schedule takes them abroad for awhile starting mid-July, but let's hope Cafe Nine brings them into New Haven sometime.
Finally, from Bonnaroo, a really cool moment: 1. The megapowers collide: Bruce Springsteen joins Phish on Sunday night for a three-song surprise set of "Mustang Sally" and Springsteen's own "Bobby Jean" and "Glory Days," the latter song's second What Stage performance in two nights. Springsteen lays down the groundwork; Trey Anastasio doodles circles and designs over the top. Unprecedented, and not to be forgotten. - complete Bannaroo moments
Stay thirsty, my friends...
Meanwhile, down in Brooklyn, the youngsters stopped in at the Market Hotel to catch the recently-discovered Strange Boys, who were one of four or five bands playing that night. The Austin-based Boys played a too-short, but fabulous 6 or 7 song set, including a request for Should Have Shot Paul. Their schedule takes them abroad for awhile starting mid-July, but let's hope Cafe Nine brings them into New Haven sometime.
Finally, from Bonnaroo, a really cool moment: 1. The megapowers collide: Bruce Springsteen joins Phish on Sunday night for a three-song surprise set of "Mustang Sally" and Springsteen's own "Bobby Jean" and "Glory Days," the latter song's second What Stage performance in two nights. Springsteen lays down the groundwork; Trey Anastasio doodles circles and designs over the top. Unprecedented, and not to be forgotten. - complete Bannaroo moments
Stay thirsty, my friends...
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Newspaper taxis appear on the shore, waiting to take you away...
Picture yourself on a train in a station,
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties,
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstyle,
The girl with the kaleidoscope eyes. - songfacts.com
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - The Beatles (team9 remix)
Real `Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' gravely ill (AP)
They were childhood chums. Then they drifted apart, lost touch completely, and only renewed their friendship decades later, when illness struck. Not so unusual, really. Except she is Lucy Vodden — the girl who was the inspiration for the Beatles' 1967 psychedelic classic "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" — and he is Julian Lennon, the musician son of John Lennon. They are linked together by something that happened more than 40 years ago when Julian brought home a drawing from school and told his father, "That's Lucy in the sky with diamonds." Just the sort of cute phrase lots of 3- or 4-year-olds produce — but not many have a father like John Lennon, who used it as a springboard for a legendary song that became a centerpiece on the landmark album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." - complete story
Live music this weekend at Bonterra's...
Never anything to do in sleepy old Southington? Bonterra Italian Bistro at 98 Main in Southington center will be having music on Thursday through Saturday nights for four consecutive weeks starting June 11. Jazz, funk and blues will be featured starting at 9pm with no cover and food will be available till 11pm.
Located in the newly renovated clocktower building on the town green, Bonterra loosely translates in Italian to 'good earth' which helps define both the food & drink menus. Fresh, quality ingredients, including housemade pastas & sauces, freshly squeezed juices, and wines that are created from organic grapes and processes.
What are you waiting for?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A little Delaney & Bonnie for your Wednesday wakeup?...
| Can you beat this lineup? Delaney Bramlett - guitar, vocals Bonnie Bramlett - vocals Eric Clapton - guitar, vocals Bobby Whitlock - organ, vocals Leon Russell - piano Carl Radle - bass Jim Gordon - drums Jim Price - trumpet, trombone Bobby Keys - saxophone Jim Horn - saxophone Tex Johnson - conga, bongos Rita Coolidge - vocals |
This Fillmore West performance, recorded shortly before Clapton would recruit the core band (Bobby Whitlock on keyboards, Carl Radle on bass and Jim Gordon on drums) to form his next band, Derek & The Dominoes, captures Delaney & Bonnie and Friends in incendiary form and at the peak of this particular lineup's powers. Recorded on the final night of a legendary four-night run in San Francisco, this performance is arguably superior to the official live album. Featuring several of the same songs, as well as material only released on studio albums, this group is literally a musical locomotive driven along by Delaney's charging guitar and vocals and Bonnie's peerless voice, which balances blistering and sweet at the same time. Also for this performance, Delaney's old buddy, Leon Russell, joins the already impressive lineup on grand piano throughout the set. - complete concert summary
Monday, June 08, 2009
R.I.P. Kenny Rankin...
Singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin dead of lung cancer (AP)
LOS ANGELES – Kenny Rankin, a brilliant pop vocalist and highly regarded musician-songwriter whose stylings ranged from jazz to pop to the world music influences he picked up as a child in New York, has died of complications related to lung cancer, his record company announced Monday. He was 69. Rankin died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Mack Avenue Records spokesman Don Lucoff said.
The musician, who first gained acclaim as one of the guitarists on Bob Dylan's landmark 1965 album, "Bringing it all Back Home," had been preparing to record an album of new material when he became ill a few weeks ago. Recording sessions scheduled with producer Phil Ramone were canceled as his health began to deteriorate. - complete article - Blackbird (youtube)
LOS ANGELES – Kenny Rankin, a brilliant pop vocalist and highly regarded musician-songwriter whose stylings ranged from jazz to pop to the world music influences he picked up as a child in New York, has died of complications related to lung cancer, his record company announced Monday. He was 69. Rankin died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Mack Avenue Records spokesman Don Lucoff said.The musician, who first gained acclaim as one of the guitarists on Bob Dylan's landmark 1965 album, "Bringing it all Back Home," had been preparing to record an album of new material when he became ill a few weeks ago. Recording sessions scheduled with producer Phil Ramone were canceled as his health began to deteriorate. - complete article - Blackbird (youtube)
Shouldn't we all have passionate kisses?....
Before I knew who Lucinda Williams was, there was Mary Chapin Carpenter's version of Lu's "Passionate Kisses":
The Reet, Keith, Sharie and I were at Town Hall in NYC for this version. She pulls this 'wrong key' shit alot. It's charming the first time, annoying after that. But she's still the greatest, flaws and all. She was winding up an LA/NYC tour where she played a complete album each night, followed by a guest-filled jam for the second set. We saw David Byrne, Jim Lauderdale, David Johasson. Great night!:
Hell, while I'm at it, here is the other Lucinda Williams' song I loved before I knew who wrote it. Used to wear this Emmylou Harris CD out in the office in the 1990s:
The Reet, Keith, Sharie and I were at Town Hall in NYC for this version. She pulls this 'wrong key' shit alot. It's charming the first time, annoying after that. But she's still the greatest, flaws and all. She was winding up an LA/NYC tour where she played a complete album each night, followed by a guest-filled jam for the second set. We saw David Byrne, Jim Lauderdale, David Johasson. Great night!:
Hell, while I'm at it, here is the other Lucinda Williams' song I loved before I knew who wrote it. Used to wear this Emmylou Harris CD out in the office in the 1990s:
Monday afternoon trail mix...
The Sheik of Araby (Coleman Hawkins) Body and Soul
Paris Sunset #7 (Ben Harper & Innocent Criminals) Lifeline
Promise (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) Howl
Concerto (Thomas Quasthoff etal) Dialogue Cantatas
Layin' Right Here in Heaven (Maria Muldaur/Dr. John) Louisiana Love Call
Sufferin' In the Land (Jimmy Cliff) Wonderful World, Beautiful People
Stella By Starlight (Stanley Cowell) Close To You Alone
Mollena (James Hunter) People Gonna Talk
It's Alright (Bob Marley & the Wailers) Soul Rebels
That's Not the Way It Works (Jim Lauderdale/Donna the Buffalo) Wait 'Til Spring
Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love (Veronica) Phil Spector-Back To Mono
Bubu (Milt Jackson) Early Modern
I Could Have Danced All Night (Frank Sinatra) Come Dance With Me
Lana (Roy Orbison) Only the Lonely
Paris Sunset #7 (Ben Harper & Innocent Criminals) Lifeline
Promise (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) Howl
Concerto (Thomas Quasthoff etal) Dialogue Cantatas
Layin' Right Here in Heaven (Maria Muldaur/Dr. John) Louisiana Love Call
Sufferin' In the Land (Jimmy Cliff) Wonderful World, Beautiful People
Stella By Starlight (Stanley Cowell) Close To You Alone
Mollena (James Hunter) People Gonna Talk
It's Alright (Bob Marley & the Wailers) Soul Rebels
That's Not the Way It Works (Jim Lauderdale/Donna the Buffalo) Wait 'Til Spring
Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love (Veronica) Phil Spector-Back To Mono
Bubu (Milt Jackson) Early Modern
I Could Have Danced All Night (Frank Sinatra) Come Dance With Me
Lana (Roy Orbison) Only the Lonely
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Sunday morn newspaper reading mix...
Summer of Love (John Fogerty) Revival
For All We Know (Gary Burton & Friends) Departure
Building On Fire (Talking Heads) Best Of...
Wild World (Cat Stevens) Tea For the Tillerman
Slow Motion (Jim Lauderdale w/ Donna the Buffalo) Wait 'Til Spring
The Tourist (Ray Davies) Other People's Lives
Down the Highway (Bob Dylan) The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Can't Help But Wonder Where (Nanci Griffin) Other Voices, Other Rooms
Anything Can Happen (Leon Russell) Anything Can Happen
Letter From Home (Eddie Jefferson) Letter From Home
Ice Cream Man (Tom Waits) Closing Time
For All We Know (Gary Burton & Friends) Departure
Building On Fire (Talking Heads) Best Of...
Wild World (Cat Stevens) Tea For the Tillerman
Slow Motion (Jim Lauderdale w/ Donna the Buffalo) Wait 'Til Spring
The Tourist (Ray Davies) Other People's Lives
Down the Highway (Bob Dylan) The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Can't Help But Wonder Where (Nanci Griffin) Other Voices, Other Rooms
Anything Can Happen (Leon Russell) Anything Can Happen
Letter From Home (Eddie Jefferson) Letter From Home
Ice Cream Man (Tom Waits) Closing Time
Friday, June 05, 2009
Good night for the blues...
Perfect night to venture into the Capitol City for some music and relaxation at the 10th annual Blackeyed & Blues at Bushnell Park in Hartford. The Reet is tired, but always the trooper; a brief nap beforehand rejuvenates her. Our quick trip east on I84 lands us in the midst of rush hour traffic, but we detour off Sisson and then up Capitol to, well, the Capitol! We park right across from the entrance ramp to I84 (for a quick getaway), walk up the front lawn of the Capitol, then make our way around back to the wonderful slope of Bushnell Park. Looks like they let the grass grow pretty high before cutting, leaving a hayfield look to the park lawn. C'mon, Eddie Perez, what's up with that?It's only 5:30. The Bluelights, the opening act of tonight's 5-act lineup are finishing up their set with an old Elvis tune as we enter the fenced-in checkpoint inspection (whew, the Reet's pocketbook, filled with contraband, passes muster), set up our chairs toward the back of the venue and call Keith. I find him still at his nearby office (those State employees are SO diligent!); he will be here shortly. Sharie, still under the weather, will not join us this evening. I spot a nearby beer tent and order a Red Hook lager (forgot the name), then realized I was supposed to get a band beforehand. Oh well, I put my beer down as I pulled out my ID. Now legal, I rejoin the Reet. Suddenly, Vin (now beardless) and Marsha (also beardless) appear, fresh from work with chairs strapped over shoulders.
Next up are Waterbury's Eran Troy Donner and his band. While Donner kicks ass on guitar/vocals with his bandmates Neal Hatcher on bass and Loyd Norton on drums, Keith finally joins our ranks. He's quickly off with Vin/Marsha to sample the Black-eyed Sally's offerings, while the Reet and I hold down the fort. A chap is handing out fliers for an upcoming Hartford Stage production of Yesterdays, an evening with Billie Holiday. As he offers the flyer he glances at my Anthony Jack's shirt and remarks, "Hey, great restaurant!" I now realize it's getting kind of chilly, so it's a quick trip back up the hill to the car to grab the sweater that I earlier told the Reet wasn't needed. Now it's time for some jambalya! While in line I notice a familiar piano shirt on the girl next to me. Hey, you get that at Jazz Fest? Yeah! Went the first weekend this year and raved about Joe Cocker's performance.
We're all settled in, hungers/thirsts satisfied, minding our own business when we suddenly get slammed by the Alexis P. Souter Band. This larger than life black woman from Brooklyn is fantastic, backed by two white chicks (bizarro world - 'and the white girls sing....') and a fabulous band (Bennett brothers on guitar/bass, Ray Grappone on drums and Bruce Katz on organ). The style is a little like the old Delaney & Bonnie stuff. I get down close to the stage to get the video shown below. Very cool. Keith picks up a copy of her new cd, Just Another Fool. Can't wait to hear it. A check on her touring schedule shows her appearing July 9 at the Battery Park "River and Blues Series" in NYC. The Reet decides to call it a night, so I accompany her back up the hill to the car. I'll go home with Keith, probably after Christine Ohlman. I don't think we'll make it to hear Bronze Radio Return.
We've heard Christine Ohlman, the Beehive Queen, and her band, Rebel Montez, a number of times the last few years, most recently last summer in Hamden on a bill with Los Lobos. Her biography offers ...this queen of blue-eyed rock n' soul grew up loving equally the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, whether played by Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, or Pop Staples......all the while continuing to torch clubs up and down the Eastern Seaboard in support of her recordings (Strip, The Hard Way, Radio Queen,Wicked Time, and and two new recordings, a 2008 career retrospective entitled Re-hive and, in early 2009, The Deep End, her first CD of original material in five years, featuring special guests Ian Hunter, Dion DiMucci, Levon Helm, GE Smith, Marshall Crenshaw, Big Al Anderson, Andy York and Eric Ambel) with her band Rebel Montez (Michael Colbath-bass; Cliff Goodwin-guitar; Larry Donahue-drums). "I've come here tonight to set your souls on fire," she'll tell an audience. And she will.RICK! The Rick appears out of nowhere, beer in hand. Tells us he was at a business 'function' over at Vito's and thought he might run into us here. Best of all, he forks over my pari-mutual winnings from last week's Cape golf trip (I was the ONLY one who bet on VIN! Silly Vin, he bet on me!) Beers are on me, guys! Vin and Marsha take in Christine's first couple offerings, then call it a day. Keith, Rick and I make our way down to the front of the stage to catch the end of the set. Solid show, as always and I'll be most interested in hearing the new CD. Christine will be appearing at Cafe Nine on Saturday, July 11.
It's late. We're out of here! But where the hell was Kevin Meier? Until next time, stay thirsty, my friends.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
TONIGHT!, 10th Annual Black-eyed & Bluesfest in Bushnell Park...
Thursday, June 4th, 2009, 5 PM-11 PM
Bushnell Park Pavilion, Downtown Hartford, CT
Admission Absolutely Free!!!
The Bluelights (5:00-6:00 PM)
They are like “Roots Music in Overdrive.” They draw on a wide variety of traditional music to create a new style infused with the energy of the rock ‘n’ roll music of our generation.
Eran Troy Danner (6:15-7:15 PM)
This band is a stripped down, no frills, back to the basics Blues band that has won the acclaim and admiration of true Blues fans everywhere. This red hot trio performs straight forward honest Blues and has opened up for Blues legend BB King, Lucky Peterson, Eddie Turner, Eddie Kirkland, and Blues Traveler.
Alexis P. Suter (7:30-8:30 PM)
Alexis P. Suter has a big voice and knows how to use it. Whether singing about spiritual ecstasy or earthly troubles Alexis makes every song she performs her own. Suter and her top-notch band regularly open Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles, twice-monthly house parties at Helm’s home and studio in Woodstock NY. That is also where all the tracks on her latest album were recorded last year.
Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez (8:45-9:45 PM)
This beehive knows how to rock, from NBC’s SNL to many festivals around the world, Christine really touches her audience. She just keeps lighting up clubs with her hot guitar and eclectic live shows. Be prepared for a night of big time music.
Bronze Radio Return (10:00-11:00 PM)
Brandishing a soulful, bluesy and highly engaging brand of rock, this hard-working Hartford quintet has been making a lot of noise outside of the Nutmeg state, with tour dates currently on the books from upstate New York all the way down to Virginia. The music will make you dance, sing along and feel good.
Bushnell Park Pavilion, Downtown Hartford, CT
Admission Absolutely Free!!!
The Bluelights (5:00-6:00 PM)They are like “Roots Music in Overdrive.” They draw on a wide variety of traditional music to create a new style infused with the energy of the rock ‘n’ roll music of our generation.
Eran Troy Danner (6:15-7:15 PM)
This band is a stripped down, no frills, back to the basics Blues band that has won the acclaim and admiration of true Blues fans everywhere. This red hot trio performs straight forward honest Blues and has opened up for Blues legend BB King, Lucky Peterson, Eddie Turner, Eddie Kirkland, and Blues Traveler.
Alexis P. Suter (7:30-8:30 PM)
Alexis P. Suter has a big voice and knows how to use it. Whether singing about spiritual ecstasy or earthly troubles Alexis makes every song she performs her own. Suter and her top-notch band regularly open Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles, twice-monthly house parties at Helm’s home and studio in Woodstock NY. That is also where all the tracks on her latest album were recorded last year.
Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez (8:45-9:45 PM)
This beehive knows how to rock, from NBC’s SNL to many festivals around the world, Christine really touches her audience. She just keeps lighting up clubs with her hot guitar and eclectic live shows. Be prepared for a night of big time music.
Bronze Radio Return (10:00-11:00 PM)
Brandishing a soulful, bluesy and highly engaging brand of rock, this hard-working Hartford quintet has been making a lot of noise outside of the Nutmeg state, with tour dates currently on the books from upstate New York all the way down to Virginia. The music will make you dance, sing along and feel good.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
They say we're young and we don't know...
Did you know that Dr. John (real name Mac Rebennack) was a session musician backing up Sonny and Cher?I Got You, Babe (1965)
Cher, Bono heirs sue Universal Music over royalties
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Cher has sued Universal Music Group, claiming that the label's creative accounting has shortchanged her and the heirs of her late ex-husband, Sonny Bono, to the tune of $5 million. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims an audit of UMG's accounting to the singer-actress from 2000 to 2003 showed that UMG executives "engaged in wrongful tactics" designed to hide revenue from two hit compilation albums.
The five-count, 22-page complaint claims breach of two recording contracts Cher had with UMG predecessors, one with MCA division Kapp Records in 1972 and a 1987 deal with the David Geffen Company. Cher claims that those deals entitled her -- and, in the case of the 1972 deal, Bono -- to receive up to 50 percent of net royalties received by UMG. The complaint alleges that UMG later made a deal with Warner Music U.K. to distribute a 1999 compilation called "Cher The Greatest Hits," then funneled the money through UMG's international arm to conceal the amount of royalties owed to Cher and the Bono heirs. - complete article
Here is a very touching clip of their last appearance together, an unrehearsed performance in 1987 on the David Letterman Show after Letterman prodded them into singing:
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
We thought you Sox fans would want to know...
AL East Standings
New York Yankees 30-21 .588 -- Gwen Verdon in "Damn Yankees"
Boston Red Sox 29-22 .569 1.0 Dropkick Murphys doing "Dirty Water"
Toronto Blue Jays 29-24 .547 2.0 Buck 65 - Roses & Bluejays (Live at the ECMAs)
Tampa Bay Rays 25-28 .472 6.0 Sympathy For the Devil (1968)
Baltimore Orioles 24-28 .462 6.5 The Orioles singing "Baby, Please Don't Go"
New York Yankees 30-21 .588 -- Gwen Verdon in "Damn Yankees"
Boston Red Sox 29-22 .569 1.0 Dropkick Murphys doing "Dirty Water"
Toronto Blue Jays 29-24 .547 2.0 Buck 65 - Roses & Bluejays (Live at the ECMAs)
Tampa Bay Rays 25-28 .472 6.0 Sympathy For the Devil (1968)
Baltimore Orioles 24-28 .462 6.5 The Orioles singing "Baby, Please Don't Go"
Monday, June 01, 2009
Just another manic Monday...
I know it's not an original thought and Susanna Hoffs plays up her 'eyes thing' way too much, but it's a really catchy Prince song...
Sunday, May 31, 2009
If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air...
Just back from four days of golf/eating/drinking at Old Cape Cod with Vin, Keith, The Rick and guys from The Hartford (isn't that name a little pretentious, like THE Ohio State University?) in Ryder Cup-style format. The weather sucked (except for Saturday afternoon), the golf was generally less than stellar (except for Vin's solid 75 on Friday which propelled him into 'he got some game' status), but the camaraderie was thoroughly enjoyable. Worked tirelessly on our list of Twitter's 3wordsaftersex (no, I will not reveal the details). Also, since we were always too tired by evening, we never got the chance to get out to any clubs and piss off a band with our smart-alec comments like we did a few years ago with The Generators. Didn't have much wi-fi access (or time), so nothing posted here. Stay thirsty, my friends.Music for the drive: The Strange Boys/The Kooks/Bettye LaVette/James Hunter
Somehow, during the week the conversation turned to Johnny Ray, so here he is:
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Strange, boys...
The boys from Bay Ridge popped home for the Memorial Weekend and brought along The Strange Boys from Austin, Texas. Sure, we always have room for friends, strange or otherwise. No, Dad, you jerk, it's a new CD and they're really good, recommended by the Black Keys' drummer in an interview G-Man caught.And, after listening to And Girls Club, I agree. We think 60's garage rock, early Kinks, a touch of Strokes. Should Have Shot Paul may alienate the McCartney fanatics, but get over it, enjoy! They will be performing at the Market Hotel in Brooklyn on Saturday, June 13. No CT dates appear on their MySpace page. What's up with that, Cafe Nine?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Congrats!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations from all the management and staff of johnnykmusic
to ELIZABETH KENNEDY, 2009 graduate of Boston College
to ELIZABETH KENNEDY, 2009 graduate of Boston College
Friday, May 22, 2009
From Gumbo (Mr. eHarmony) in Vegas....
In Las Vegas finishing up a show, staying at the LV Hilton which is Barry Manilow's anchor show site. Sitting at the breakfast counter and happen to overhear a conversation between two women who are in town for the BM Fan Club conference. One happens to mention she is the secretary of the club. Had thoughts of suggesting they log on to johnnykmusic to post their love of Barry but on second thought, just didn't want to get into the conversation of how Barry (no relation of course to the Barry of the infamous PHS's duo) still rules the music world.
More Farquahr memories...
I have been a "Farquette" forever and the panties to prove it! I have an album titled 'Farquahr' and their first 'Fabulous Farquahr' album, as well as, cassettes for the First, Second, Third and Country Farquahr. You couldn't ask for nicer people and greater friends. We love you guys, Patty & Dave Jones
(comment on previous posting)
Farquahr albums - Happy Hour Parrott
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What, no Queen?....
According to the Associated Press, the following songs were loaded onto Queen Elizabeth II's iPod gift from President Obama:
"Oklahoma!"
"If I Loved You," Jan Clayton, "Carousel"
"You'll Never Walk Alone," Jan Clayton, "Carousel"
"There's No Business Like Show Business," Ethel Merman, "Annie Get Your Gun"
"Once in Love with Amy (Where's Charley?)," Ray Bolger
"Some Enchanted Evening," "South Pacific"
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," Carol Channing, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
"Getting to Know You," Gertrude Lawrence, "The King and I"
"Shall We Dance?" Gertrude Lawrence, "The King and I"
"I Could Have Danced All Night," Julie Andrews, "My Fair Lady"
"I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," Rex Harrison, "My Fair Lady"
"The Party's Over (Bells Are Ringing)," Judy Holliday
"Maria," "West Side Story"
"Tonight," "West Side Story"
"Seventy Six Trombones," "The Music Man"
"Everything's Coming up Roses," Ethel Merman, "Gypsy"
"The Sound of Music"
"Try to Remember," Jerry Orbach, "The Fantasticks"
"Camelot," Richard Burton
"If Ever I Would Leave You," Robert Goulet, "Camelot"
"Hello, Dolly!" Carol Channing
"If I Were a Rich Man," Zero Mostel, "Fiddler on the Roof"
"People," Barbra Streisand, "Funny Girl"
"On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)," John Cullum
"The Impossible Dream," Richard Kiley, "Man of La Mancha"
"Mame," Charles Braswell
"Cabaret," Liza Minnelli
"Aquarius, Ronald Dyson, "Hair'
"Send in the Clowns," Judy Collins, "A Little Night Music"
"All That Jazz," Chita Rivera, "Chicago"
"One," "A Chorus Line"
"Tomorrow," Andrea McArdle, "Annie"
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina," Patti LuPone, "Evita"
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," Jennifer Holliday, "Dreamgirls"
"Memory," Elaine Paige, "Cats"
"The Best of Times," George Hearn, "La Cage Aux Folles"
"I Dreamed a Dream," Aretha Franklin, "Les MisDerables"
"The Music of the Night," Michael Crawford, "The Phantom of the Opera"
"As If We Never Said Goodbye," Elaine Paige, "Sunset Blvd."
"Seasons of Love," "Rent"
"Oklahoma!"
"If I Loved You," Jan Clayton, "Carousel"
"You'll Never Walk Alone," Jan Clayton, "Carousel"
"There's No Business Like Show Business," Ethel Merman, "Annie Get Your Gun"
"Once in Love with Amy (Where's Charley?)," Ray Bolger
"Some Enchanted Evening," "South Pacific"
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," Carol Channing, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
"Getting to Know You," Gertrude Lawrence, "The King and I"
"Shall We Dance?" Gertrude Lawrence, "The King and I"
"I Could Have Danced All Night," Julie Andrews, "My Fair Lady"
"I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," Rex Harrison, "My Fair Lady"
"The Party's Over (Bells Are Ringing)," Judy Holliday
"Maria," "West Side Story"
"Tonight," "West Side Story"
"Seventy Six Trombones," "The Music Man"
"Everything's Coming up Roses," Ethel Merman, "Gypsy"
"The Sound of Music"
"Try to Remember," Jerry Orbach, "The Fantasticks"
"Camelot," Richard Burton
"If Ever I Would Leave You," Robert Goulet, "Camelot"
"Hello, Dolly!" Carol Channing
"If I Were a Rich Man," Zero Mostel, "Fiddler on the Roof"
"People," Barbra Streisand, "Funny Girl"
"On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)," John Cullum
"The Impossible Dream," Richard Kiley, "Man of La Mancha"
"Mame," Charles Braswell
"Cabaret," Liza Minnelli
"Aquarius, Ronald Dyson, "Hair'
"Send in the Clowns," Judy Collins, "A Little Night Music"
"All That Jazz," Chita Rivera, "Chicago"
"One," "A Chorus Line"
"Tomorrow," Andrea McArdle, "Annie"
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina," Patti LuPone, "Evita"
"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," Jennifer Holliday, "Dreamgirls"
"Memory," Elaine Paige, "Cats"
"The Best of Times," George Hearn, "La Cage Aux Folles"
"I Dreamed a Dream," Aretha Franklin, "Les MisDerables"
"The Music of the Night," Michael Crawford, "The Phantom of the Opera"
"As If We Never Said Goodbye," Elaine Paige, "Sunset Blvd."
"Seasons of Love," "Rent"
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Bonnie Raitt circa 1974 at the Palace Theater in Providence...
From Wolfgangsvault:
Which brings us to this January 1974 performance, recorded on the Takin’ My Time tour at Providence, Rhode Island’s Palace Theater, headlining a bill with Roomful of Blues. With her longtime cohort, Freebo on bass, she was now working with her first band, featuring Dennis Whitted on drums, who would anchor Raitt’s bands for years to come and the phenomenal piano player, David Maxwell, who had performed with the likes of Freddie King, Otis Rush and James Cotton. Raitt focuses on the strongest material from her first three albums, with several choice covers thrown in for good measure. The set opens with Sippie Wallace’s "Special Delivery Blues" followed by a lovely cover of Jackson Browne’s "I Thought I Was A Child, recently recorded for her Takin’ My Time album. The new album is also well represented by a smoldering performance of Chris Smither’s "I Feel The Same,” Fred McDowell’s "Write Me A Few Of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues,” which features some of Raitt’s trademark slide guitar work, and a unique interpretation of Randy Newman’s "Guilty.” - complete concert summary
Which brings us to this January 1974 performance, recorded on the Takin’ My Time tour at Providence, Rhode Island’s Palace Theater, headlining a bill with Roomful of Blues. With her longtime cohort, Freebo on bass, she was now working with her first band, featuring Dennis Whitted on drums, who would anchor Raitt’s bands for years to come and the phenomenal piano player, David Maxwell, who had performed with the likes of Freddie King, Otis Rush and James Cotton. Raitt focuses on the strongest material from her first three albums, with several choice covers thrown in for good measure. The set opens with Sippie Wallace’s "Special Delivery Blues" followed by a lovely cover of Jackson Browne’s "I Thought I Was A Child, recently recorded for her Takin’ My Time album. The new album is also well represented by a smoldering performance of Chris Smither’s "I Feel The Same,” Fred McDowell’s "Write Me A Few Of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues,” which features some of Raitt’s trademark slide guitar work, and a unique interpretation of Randy Newman’s "Guilty.” - complete concert summary
Tuesday morning trail shuffle...
Warm Baby (Lovin' Spoonful) Daydream
Turd On the Run (Rolling Stones) Exile on Main Street
Good Love Is on the Way (John Mayer) Try!
F.E.E.L. (The Animals) The Complete Animals
Traveling Riverside Blues (Eric Clapton) Me & Mr. Johnson
Burn One Down (Ben Harper) Fight For Your Mind
Black Cross (Bob Dylan) Gaslight Tapes
Big River (Rosie Flores) A Tribute To Johnny Cash
Miss Nickelodeon (Kinky Friedman) Kinky Friedman
I Wish I Didn't Love You So (k.d. lang) Shadowland
Turd On the Run (Rolling Stones) Exile on Main Street
Good Love Is on the Way (John Mayer) Try!
F.E.E.L. (The Animals) The Complete Animals
Traveling Riverside Blues (Eric Clapton) Me & Mr. Johnson
Burn One Down (Ben Harper) Fight For Your Mind
Black Cross (Bob Dylan) Gaslight Tapes
Big River (Rosie Flores) A Tribute To Johnny Cash
Miss Nickelodeon (Kinky Friedman) Kinky Friedman
I Wish I Didn't Love You So (k.d. lang) Shadowland
Monday, May 18, 2009
Oh, so that's the song from the Heineken commercial...
I started throwin' bass, she started throwin' back mid-range
But when I sprung the question, she acted kind of strange
Then when I asked, 'Do ya have a man?' she tried to pretend
She said, 'No I don't, I only have a friend'
Come on, I'm not even goin' for it
This is what I'm goin' sing
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
And you say he's just a friend, oh baby
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend, oh baby (lyrics)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Quick pre-Celtics walk/run on the trail...
All Through Cryin' (James Hunter) People Gonna Talk
Blind (Talking Heads) Best of Talking Heads
Hound Dog Man (Roy Orbison) Only the Lonely
Mambo Caliente (Arturo Sandoval) Mambo Kings
Living In Babylon (Donna the Buffalo) Live From the American Ballroom
You Don't Understand Me (The Raconteurs) Consolers Of the Lonely
Makin' Whoopie (Portia Nelson) Sunday In New York
God Must Be a Boogie Man (Joni Mitchell) Mingus
Blues About You Baby (Al Anderson) After Hours
Blind (Talking Heads) Best of Talking Heads
Hound Dog Man (Roy Orbison) Only the Lonely
Mambo Caliente (Arturo Sandoval) Mambo Kings
Living In Babylon (Donna the Buffalo) Live From the American Ballroom
You Don't Understand Me (The Raconteurs) Consolers Of the Lonely
Makin' Whoopie (Portia Nelson) Sunday In New York
God Must Be a Boogie Man (Joni Mitchell) Mingus
Blues About You Baby (Al Anderson) After Hours
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Daryl Hall looks back to a year-and-a-half of Live From Daryl's House with retrospective, performing influential covers...
If you have not yet checked out this online series of informal concerts with Daryl Hall, this is an excellent sampler (link).
19th edition of landmark webshow features highlights from first 18 episodes, with Daryl performing songs that formed his musical roots:
NEW YORK, May 11, 2009 - A year and a half ago, Daryl Hall launched his monthly webshow Live From Daryl's House with an eye towards opening up the music-making process to his fans by collaborating with both established artists who've had an impact on his music and new artists that have, in turn, been influenced by him. This month, Daryl takes a look back at the previous 18 episodes, featuring musical highlights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, in a brand-new episode which debuts May 15 at livefromdarylshouse.com, where it can be seen along with archived footage of past episodes.
"It's been an incredible run so far, and this is just the beginning," says Daryl about the experience. "This has been one of the most rewarding musical experiences of my life working with all these different people and sharing it with the world."
In addition, Daryl takes a trip down his own musical memory lane, playing a set of songs with longtime collaborator T-Bone Wolk that formed his own musical roots, including incredible covers of Ruby and the Romantics' aching "Our Day Will Come," Paul Butterfield's blues classic "In My Own Dream" Bob Dylan's "You're a Big Girl," from Blood on the Tracks, The Four Deuces' doo-wop novelty hit, "WPLJ" ("White Port and Lemon Juice"), which gave the N.Y. station its name and was later covered by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, and Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Neither One of Us," from Daryl Hall and John Oates' Our Kind of Soul album.
Sitting around with his band, Daryl talks about previous episodes of the groundbreaking web series, including how he discovered guitarist/songwriter Monte Montgomery on YouTube playing an incredible version of "Sara Smile," then invited him to play it with them on the show.
Past episodes of Live from Daryl's House have featured a mix of well-known performers like The Doors, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy, Finger Eleven's James Black and Rick Jackett and the Bacon Brothers, along with newcomers such as Philly soul singer Mutlu, Canadian techno-rockers Chromeo, MySpace pop-rock phenom Eric Hutchinson, Cash Money rocker Kevin Rudolf, Wind-up Records' Chicago rockers Company of Thieves and Bay Area singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson.
Live from Daryl's House started with Daryl's "light-bulb moment" idea of "playing music with my friends and putting it up on the Internet," and the show has subsequently been praised by such varied publications as Rolling Stone, Daily Variety, Yahoo and the influential Lefsetz Letter.
19th edition of landmark webshow features highlights from first 18 episodes, with Daryl performing songs that formed his musical roots:
NEW YORK, May 11, 2009 - A year and a half ago, Daryl Hall launched his monthly webshow Live From Daryl's House with an eye towards opening up the music-making process to his fans by collaborating with both established artists who've had an impact on his music and new artists that have, in turn, been influenced by him. This month, Daryl takes a look back at the previous 18 episodes, featuring musical highlights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, in a brand-new episode which debuts May 15 at livefromdarylshouse.com, where it can be seen along with archived footage of past episodes."It's been an incredible run so far, and this is just the beginning," says Daryl about the experience. "This has been one of the most rewarding musical experiences of my life working with all these different people and sharing it with the world."
In addition, Daryl takes a trip down his own musical memory lane, playing a set of songs with longtime collaborator T-Bone Wolk that formed his own musical roots, including incredible covers of Ruby and the Romantics' aching "Our Day Will Come," Paul Butterfield's blues classic "In My Own Dream" Bob Dylan's "You're a Big Girl," from Blood on the Tracks, The Four Deuces' doo-wop novelty hit, "WPLJ" ("White Port and Lemon Juice"), which gave the N.Y. station its name and was later covered by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, and Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Neither One of Us," from Daryl Hall and John Oates' Our Kind of Soul album.
Sitting around with his band, Daryl talks about previous episodes of the groundbreaking web series, including how he discovered guitarist/songwriter Monte Montgomery on YouTube playing an incredible version of "Sara Smile," then invited him to play it with them on the show.
Past episodes of Live from Daryl's House have featured a mix of well-known performers like The Doors, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy, Finger Eleven's James Black and Rick Jackett and the Bacon Brothers, along with newcomers such as Philly soul singer Mutlu, Canadian techno-rockers Chromeo, MySpace pop-rock phenom Eric Hutchinson, Cash Money rocker Kevin Rudolf, Wind-up Records' Chicago rockers Company of Thieves and Bay Area singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson.
Live from Daryl's House started with Daryl's "light-bulb moment" idea of "playing music with my friends and putting it up on the Internet," and the show has subsequently been praised by such varied publications as Rolling Stone, Daily Variety, Yahoo and the influential Lefsetz Letter.
Picked up at Borders last night....
Maestro (Taj Mahal)1.Scratch My Back backed by Phantom Blues Band
2.Never Let You Go with Los Lobos
3.Dust Me Down with Ben Harper
4.Further Down the Road with Jack Johnson
5.Black Man, Brown Man with Ziggy Marley
6.Zanzibar
7.TV Mama with Los Lobos
8.I Can Make You Happy with the New Orleans Social Club (Ivan Neville, George Porter, Leo Nocentelli, Henry Butler, Raymond Weber)
9.Slow Drag backed by Phantom Blues Band
10.Hello Josephine with the New Orleans Social Club
11.Strong Man Holler
12.Diddy Wah Diddy backed by Phantom Blues Band
Piety Street (John Schofield) - New record with New Orleans musicians Jon Cleary, George Porter Jr, Ricky Fataar, John Boutte, Shannon Powell, who put on a wonderful show in the Blues Tent at Jazz Fest a couple weeks ago.allaboutjazz.com review - "Scofield's blues roots have never sounded this good. With the rock-solid support of bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Ricky Fataar, the album grooves with a comfortable, in-the-pocket vibe ranging from the buoyant "That's Enough," with Jon Cleary's wonderfully supportive piano work, to the ambling groove of the substantially rearranged "Motherless Child," one of vocalist John Boutte's best performances. The up-tempo "It's a Big Army" evokes images of deep south churches, with an entire congregation taken up by the sheer joy of the music, while the funky "His Eye is on the Sparrow" is driven by Fataar's visceral, behind-the-beat pulse. "Ship of Zion" is a slow, simmering blues that features a lengthy opening solo from Scofield filled with nuanced bends and gritty, Wes Montgomery-style octave work."
Saturday breakfast (remembering the Fabulous Farquahr)...
From HappyHour Parrot - A song about the perils of Divorce...and keeping the damm cat! This is a small tribute to "The Fabulous Farquahr" a group that entertained a generation of Happy Hour goers throughout New England, especially summers on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. "My Eggs Don't Taste the Same Without You" is one of their original classics and this cover is attempted by a huge fan... HappyHourParrot.com in an attempt to keep some of their music alive! Thanks guys for all the memories and laughs!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Beehive Friday...
Ronnie Spector, Christine Ohlman and Amy Winehouse...
Ronnie Spector: Who didn't have a crush on Ronnie Spector in the 60's. While hubby Phil Spector took 'crush' a little too literally, Ronnie seems to have survived quite well, currently living in Connecticut and performing occasionally in the area. songfacts.com for Be My Baby
Christine Ohlman: This queen of blue-eyed rock n' soul grew up loving equally the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, whether played by Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, or Pop Staples. Teased her blonde hair into a beehive in honor of Ronnie Spector and never looked back, picking up a guitar and forging a career as a songwriter in the process. She's the current, long-time vocalist with the Saturday Night Live Band, who sang at SNL's 25th Anniversary telecast, Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary bash at The Garden, and the Central Park Summerstage Tribute To Janis Joplin; appears on Grammy nominees A Tribute To Howlin' Wolf (with Taj Mahal and Lucinda Williams) and Charlie Musselwhite's One Night In America. Catch her shows at Cafe Nine in New Haven. You'll be glad you did.
Amy Winehouse: What else can you say about her - brilliant and self-destructive. Will she live long enough to record a followup to her amazing Back to Black? - article
Ronnie Spector: Who didn't have a crush on Ronnie Spector in the 60's. While hubby Phil Spector took 'crush' a little too literally, Ronnie seems to have survived quite well, currently living in Connecticut and performing occasionally in the area. songfacts.com for Be My Baby
Christine Ohlman: This queen of blue-eyed rock n' soul grew up loving equally the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, whether played by Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, or Pop Staples. Teased her blonde hair into a beehive in honor of Ronnie Spector and never looked back, picking up a guitar and forging a career as a songwriter in the process. She's the current, long-time vocalist with the Saturday Night Live Band, who sang at SNL's 25th Anniversary telecast, Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary bash at The Garden, and the Central Park Summerstage Tribute To Janis Joplin; appears on Grammy nominees A Tribute To Howlin' Wolf (with Taj Mahal and Lucinda Williams) and Charlie Musselwhite's One Night In America. Catch her shows at Cafe Nine in New Haven. You'll be glad you did.
Amy Winehouse: What else can you say about her - brilliant and self-destructive. Will she live long enough to record a followup to her amazing Back to Black? - article
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Quinnipiac University Mecca Roundball Golf Tournament -
2nd place gross (60)...
Some boys never grow up...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Allen Toussaint to play Village Vanguard...
I've listened to Allen Toussaint's music since my high school days in the 1960's, even though I had no idea who he was back then, with Ernie K-Doe's Mother-In-Law, Lee Dorsey's Working in a Coal Mine, Chris Kenner's I Like It Like That and many more, through the 1970's with Little Feat's On Your Way Down on the classic Dixie Chicken album and Robert Palmer's Sneaking Sally Through the Alley, until I finally discovered him for myself by sampling his albums from cutout bins. Been a big fan ever since, catching him lately at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Since Katrina, he has relocated temporarily to NYC where he has played a series of Sunday Brunch shows at Joe's Pub in Manhattan, but I haven't been able to get The Reet and friends down there to see him.Starting next Tuesday through Sunday (May 19-24), Toussaint will play a series of shows at the legendary Village Vanguard supporting his new jazz album The Bright Mississippi with The Bright Mississippi band: Don Byron, clarinet; Christian Scott, trumpet; Mark Ribot, guitar; David Pilch, bass; Jay Bellerose, drums. I've listened to it a couple times already. Very tasty. Hmmmmmm. Reet, what do you think? Anyone?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day, all you mothers!...
WolfgangsVault Mother's Day Mix:
# 1. B.B. King | Nobody Loves Me But My Mother
# 2. John Lennon | Mother
# 3. Steve Goodman | Mother, Queen Of My Heart
# 4. Rubinoos | Mothers Always Know
# 5. Raw Soul | Song For My Mother
# 6. Traffic | Every Mother's Son
# 7. UFO | Mother Mary
# 8. Alabama | Mamas Don't Let You Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
# 9. Alela Diane | Oh! My Mama
# 10. B.J. Thomas | Mama
# 11. Jason and the Sco… | Pray For Me, Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now)
# 12. Joan Armatrading | Mama Mercy
# 13. The Rowan Brothers | Mama Don't You Cry
# 1. B.B. King | Nobody Loves Me But My Mother
# 2. John Lennon | Mother
# 3. Steve Goodman | Mother, Queen Of My Heart
# 4. Rubinoos | Mothers Always Know
# 5. Raw Soul | Song For My Mother
# 6. Traffic | Every Mother's Son
# 7. UFO | Mother Mary
# 8. Alabama | Mamas Don't Let You Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
# 9. Alela Diane | Oh! My Mama
# 10. B.J. Thomas | Mama
# 11. Jason and the Sco… | Pray For Me, Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now)
# 12. Joan Armatrading | Mama Mercy
# 13. The Rowan Brothers | Mama Don't You Cry
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Revisiting Piano Shirt Friday at the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...
This is what happens when you think you're taking photos, but actually have the camera on "movie." It does, however, give you a feel for the 3rd annual Johnny Gumbo Piano Shirt Friday (always the 2nd weekend) at Jazz Fest. The point is to have Johnny Gumbo take a photo with everyone we meet wearing the famous piano shirt (yes, we now know it is actually an accordian shirt, but we've gone way to far with this thing to change it now).
Friday, May 08, 2009
Long distance information get me Memphis, TN...
30th Blues Music Award Winners Announced (Blues Foundation)
Acoustic Album of the Year: Mississippi Number One - Eden Brent
Acoustic Artist of the Year: Eden Brent
Album of the Year: Skin Deep - Buddy Guy
Band of the Year: Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year: Janiva Magness
Best New Artist Debut: 2 Man Wrecking Crew - Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year: Skin Deep - Buddy Guy
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year: Buddy Guy
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year Janiva Magness
DVD: M For Mississippi: A Road Trip Through the Birthplace of the Blues - Broke & Hungry Records, Cathead Blues & Mudpuppy Recordings
Historical Album of the Year: Albert Collins Live at Montreux 1992 - Eagle Records
Instrumentalist-Bass: Mookie Brill
Instrumentalist-Drums: Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
Instrumentalist-Guitar: Sonny Landreth
Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Billy Gibson
Instrumentalist-Horn: Deanna Bogart
Instrumentalist-Banjo: Otis Taylor
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Marcia Ball
Rock Blues Album of the Year: Mess of Blues - Jeff Healey
Song of the Year: “Let Life Flow” - Kenny Neal
Soul Blues Album of the Year: Simply Grand - Irma Thomas
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year: Etta James
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year: Bobby Rush
Traditional Blues Album of the Year: One Kind Favor - B.B. King
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year: B.B. King
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year Koko Taylor
Acoustic Album of the Year: Mississippi Number One - Eden Brent
Acoustic Artist of the Year: Eden Brent
Album of the Year: Skin Deep - Buddy Guy
Band of the Year: Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year: Janiva Magness
Best New Artist Debut: 2 Man Wrecking Crew - Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year: Skin Deep - Buddy Guy
Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year: Buddy Guy
Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year Janiva Magness
DVD: M For Mississippi: A Road Trip Through the Birthplace of the Blues - Broke & Hungry Records, Cathead Blues & Mudpuppy Recordings
Historical Album of the Year: Albert Collins Live at Montreux 1992 - Eagle Records
Instrumentalist-Bass: Mookie Brill
Instrumentalist-Drums: Willie “Big Eyes” Smith
Instrumentalist-Guitar: Sonny Landreth
Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Billy Gibson
Instrumentalist-Horn: Deanna Bogart
Instrumentalist-Banjo: Otis Taylor
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player: Marcia Ball
Rock Blues Album of the Year: Mess of Blues - Jeff Healey
Song of the Year: “Let Life Flow” - Kenny Neal
Soul Blues Album of the Year: Simply Grand - Irma Thomas
Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year: Etta James
Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year: Bobby Rush
Traditional Blues Album of the Year: One Kind Favor - B.B. King
Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year: B.B. King
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year Koko Taylor
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
We're home...
Well, all of us get home except Gumbo, who texts Mark that his plane was hit by lightning upon arrival in New Orleans and was not available for his flight out. One more night in the Crescent City for the young man who has been on the road for the past three weeks. We suggest a nice dinner at Mother's.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Johnny Gumbo pissed, announces boycott of Mother's...
It's official! Johnny Gumbo, in response to a perceived disrespect given him (and his shrimp po boy order) at Mother's Restaurant on Saturday evening, announced today, through his press secretary, that he is leading a boycott of the famous New Orleans landmark. He hopes to use his considerable influence as one of the country's leading event planners to teach Mother's that there are some people you just don't want to mess with. Johnny Gumbo is them people. "Saturday dinner (at Mother's), some low-rent sandwich place with very poor service, the meal was disgusting, would never eat there again, others need to know how bad it is."
When asked to comment on the boycott, a Mother's representative replied, "Who the fuck is Johnny Gumbo?" Stay tuned folks, this could get ugly.
We're outta here...
Tuesday is getaway day. Shove all your dirty shit into your bags and stow them in the lobby after checkout. We don't fly out until almost five, so we walk up Decatur to Central Grocery. I walk a couple doors down to find a little something for The Reet at Java House Imports. While I listen intently to the owner's description of jewelry he created for his wife, Barry gruffly interrupts, saying he has to get somewhere and wants to pay for his item. It makes my purchase of The Reet's opal earrings much quicker. We grab a cab over to MiLa, where we meet stay-in-bed-forever Mark for lunch. According to their website, MiLa is the culmination of both the marriage of chefs Slade Rushing and Allison Vines-Rushing and their respective home states cuisines-Mississippi and Louisiana. With a seasonal menu driven by fresh picked produce from Lujele Farms, MiLa delivers a new style of Southern fare with a lighter touch using French techniques in an elegant yet relaxed setting in downtown New Orleans. The restaurant is surprisingly large, with a very cool lighted bar at the entrance. Service is slow and a bit disjointed, but my entree of local grouper followed by homemade banana ice cream was very good.
Not much time left. Gumbo and Barry/Larry retreat to the hotel, while I accompany Mark back to Java House Imports. It's time. Everyone piles into a cab (no Garland, he left Sunday night for Houston) for the airport. And what is the airport food of choice? LUCKY DOG! On the flight back to Detroit, while the Pool Hall Studs relaxed, I had to nurse a shaking, teary eyed young lady (she ran out of her medication) through our somewhat bumpy flight to Detroit.
Monday, May 04, 2009
It's Monday, Jazz Fest over, but still lots to do before leaving tomorrow...
A Monday morning tradition - walk to Cafe du Monde. No busy schedule to adhere to. The Louisiana Music Factory has hourly in-store concerts set up (with $2 coupons for Abitas!):
noon Tom McDermott
1PM Cyril Neville
2PM Alex McMurray
3PM Glen David Andrews
4PM Marc Stone
5PM Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show
6PM New Orleans Nightcrawlers
7PM John Boutte
Cyril Neville performing at the Louisiana Music Factory on Monday afternoon.
The Twin Towers (Mark & Larry) leave for lunch at the Red Fish Grill, while we head to Johnny's Po-Boys. We all rendezvous at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, where we waste away for a spell with margaritas and mojitas. On the way back, I realize that I have not yet sampled that French Quarter delicacy, the Lucky Dog!
Barry (or Larry, as he is now known), after numerous reminders from Gumbo, books us for dinner at Lüke, "an authentic brasserie on St. Charles Ave. combining German and French Old World cooking techniques. Located adjacent to the Hilton St. Charles in the heart of the Central Business District on St. Charles Avenue, Lüke’s space is as warm and nostalgic as the menu. Brasserie features include blackboard specials, and newspaper racks. There are also elaborate pulley-and-belt driven ceiling fans, an early air-conditioning system first admired by visitors in the 1880s that has been re-created for the restaurant. Lüke is John Besh’s homage to old brasseries that once reigned in New Orleans." Great food and drink, no-drink toasts, interesting conversations about origins of common slang, command appearances by our chef, our bartender and "Ratdog."
Post-dinner we cab it up to Frenchman Street one more time to d.b.a. to catch the Pine Leaf Boys. The bar books a full lineup of bands during Jazz Fest, usually two per night, often more. Glen David Andrews opened here at six o'clock. Steeped in music since children and hailing from farms and towns in Cajun country, the Pine Leaf Boys have preserved the traditional Cajun sound, while allowing it to breathe and stretch with those who play it. They present their music in multiple configurations such a twin fiddle, duo accordion/fiddle, bass, drum, and foot-stomping jurés (myspace). I hear they have two Grammy nominations, too. Gumbo is dancing up a storm. Finally, after a couple 'one more song' turns, the PLBs call it a night after one o'clock. And so do I.
noon Tom McDermott
1PM Cyril Neville
2PM Alex McMurray
3PM Glen David Andrews
4PM Marc Stone
5PM Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show
6PM New Orleans Nightcrawlers
7PM John Boutte
Cyril Neville performing at the Louisiana Music Factory on Monday afternoon.
The Twin Towers (Mark & Larry) leave for lunch at the Red Fish Grill, while we head to Johnny's Po-Boys. We all rendezvous at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, where we waste away for a spell with margaritas and mojitas. On the way back, I realize that I have not yet sampled that French Quarter delicacy, the Lucky Dog!
Barry (or Larry, as he is now known), after numerous reminders from Gumbo, books us for dinner at Lüke, "an authentic brasserie on St. Charles Ave. combining German and French Old World cooking techniques. Located adjacent to the Hilton St. Charles in the heart of the Central Business District on St. Charles Avenue, Lüke’s space is as warm and nostalgic as the menu. Brasserie features include blackboard specials, and newspaper racks. There are also elaborate pulley-and-belt driven ceiling fans, an early air-conditioning system first admired by visitors in the 1880s that has been re-created for the restaurant. Lüke is John Besh’s homage to old brasseries that once reigned in New Orleans." Great food and drink, no-drink toasts, interesting conversations about origins of common slang, command appearances by our chef, our bartender and "Ratdog."
Post-dinner we cab it up to Frenchman Street one more time to d.b.a. to catch the Pine Leaf Boys. The bar books a full lineup of bands during Jazz Fest, usually two per night, often more. Glen David Andrews opened here at six o'clock. Steeped in music since children and hailing from farms and towns in Cajun country, the Pine Leaf Boys have preserved the traditional Cajun sound, while allowing it to breathe and stretch with those who play it. They present their music in multiple configurations such a twin fiddle, duo accordion/fiddle, bass, drum, and foot-stomping jurés (myspace). I hear they have two Grammy nominations, too. Gumbo is dancing up a storm. Finally, after a couple 'one more song' turns, the PLBs call it a night after one o'clock. And so do I.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
It's Sunday already?...
Saved
No Lucy's today, for Gumbo and I are off to the Jazz Mass at St. Augustine's Church. Went alone last year and it was pretty cool. We finally hail a cab, but our driver has no clue. We finally get there and ease into our pew. Gumbo is game for this with one condition - he refuses to do the "lean to the left, lean to the right, stand up, sit down, fight fight fight" thing. It is a traditional Catholic mass, but with some great horns and percussion to back up the piano and choir. No collection plate here, but rather a big 'ol wicker basket is placed up near the alter and everyone parades up under the watchful eye of the priest as the band and choir rock the house. Good start to the day.
After church, we walk over to Port of Call on Esplanade to meet up the the Pool Hall Studs for lunch. No contact with them yet, so Gumbo goes inside to find them. I turn around and a woman, who was reading the back of my shirt, asks, "Who is Johnny Gumbo!" Perfect timing - the Man strolls out the front door. This is Johnny Gumbo. The woman is amused. A call from the PHS explains they are JUST getting started, so we'll eat and catch them at the Fest. Monsoon is the signature drink at Port of Call. For Gene's sake, I'll not describe what we eat. That finished, we're out on the street to hail a cab out to the Fairgrounds. One of our cabmates from San Clemente tells us he has some extra tickets and only want $25 for the $50 tickets. Cool. We pick up the cab fare.
John Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen are first up for us on the Gentilly Stage followed by Allen Toussaint over at Acura. Both do not disappoint. Gumbo's pick for the day is an all-star collection called The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars featuring Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux and Dr. John. The Pool Hall Studs finally arrive on the scene and catch the end of the set. Excellent call, they're great (Tab is a bit long-winded toward the end explaining the need to curb the destruction of the area wetlands)!
Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you (no, Neil, you ARE him!)
Next up is Neil Young at Acura, so we work our way through the huge crowd to friend Marshall's spot to the right side of the stage. Neil sounds good, his thin voice hasn't eroded too much. Drags out all the hits. Here's Cinnamon Girl:
Now that I have my Neil Young check mark, I head out to sample Luther Kent & Trickbag in the Blue Tent and The Rance Allen Group in the Gospel Tent. Good thing, too, for it suddenly pours like hell! Give me an AMEN!
Who to close with? We go with the Radiators over the Nevilles (it's not just me who thinks they kinda mail the closing set in after all these years) and the Rads, looking grizzled, give us a solid show. Hadn't seen them live since Tipitina's on my first trip to Nola in 1989. Wow, it's over. This is where we've usually gone to Shell Fest, a gathering at a nearby Shell Station for beer, tunes & camaraderie, but that has lost some of its lustre lately. Hey, here's a novel idea, let's get back to the hotel and rest up for a change! Gumbo and I do, taking a cab back with a couple from NYC who just arrived today to volunteer for Habitat For Humanity next week.
Cleaned up and refreshed, J-Gum & I head out to Lucy's, but decide to stop at the steakhouse near our hotel for a nice romantic dinner al fresco. It's a gorgeous evening. Order up a couple of steaks, a bottle of wine, some tasty bread. Nice. Well, nice until the Twin Towers come along and plop themselves down to spoil the mood. They're on their way over to Cochon further up Tchoupitoulas Street. After our respective meals, we rendevous at Vic's Kangaroo Pub to watch the Celts clinch and resume our pool grudge matches. The Studs MAY have edged us out, but I don't remember exactly. We catch up with Elisa, a current resident of New Orleans about to relocate to Colorado. Where's Gumbo? Mark, it was your turn to watch him! Well, I'm too tired to worry. Going to bed.
No Lucy's today, for Gumbo and I are off to the Jazz Mass at St. Augustine's Church. Went alone last year and it was pretty cool. We finally hail a cab, but our driver has no clue. We finally get there and ease into our pew. Gumbo is game for this with one condition - he refuses to do the "lean to the left, lean to the right, stand up, sit down, fight fight fight" thing. It is a traditional Catholic mass, but with some great horns and percussion to back up the piano and choir. No collection plate here, but rather a big 'ol wicker basket is placed up near the alter and everyone parades up under the watchful eye of the priest as the band and choir rock the house. Good start to the day.
After church, we walk over to Port of Call on Esplanade to meet up the the Pool Hall Studs for lunch. No contact with them yet, so Gumbo goes inside to find them. I turn around and a woman, who was reading the back of my shirt, asks, "Who is Johnny Gumbo!" Perfect timing - the Man strolls out the front door. This is Johnny Gumbo. The woman is amused. A call from the PHS explains they are JUST getting started, so we'll eat and catch them at the Fest. Monsoon is the signature drink at Port of Call. For Gene's sake, I'll not describe what we eat. That finished, we're out on the street to hail a cab out to the Fairgrounds. One of our cabmates from San Clemente tells us he has some extra tickets and only want $25 for the $50 tickets. Cool. We pick up the cab fare.
John Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen are first up for us on the Gentilly Stage followed by Allen Toussaint over at Acura. Both do not disappoint. Gumbo's pick for the day is an all-star collection called The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars featuring Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux and Dr. John. The Pool Hall Studs finally arrive on the scene and catch the end of the set. Excellent call, they're great (Tab is a bit long-winded toward the end explaining the need to curb the destruction of the area wetlands)!
Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you (no, Neil, you ARE him!)
Next up is Neil Young at Acura, so we work our way through the huge crowd to friend Marshall's spot to the right side of the stage. Neil sounds good, his thin voice hasn't eroded too much. Drags out all the hits. Here's Cinnamon Girl:
Now that I have my Neil Young check mark, I head out to sample Luther Kent & Trickbag in the Blue Tent and The Rance Allen Group in the Gospel Tent. Good thing, too, for it suddenly pours like hell! Give me an AMEN!
Who to close with? We go with the Radiators over the Nevilles (it's not just me who thinks they kinda mail the closing set in after all these years) and the Rads, looking grizzled, give us a solid show. Hadn't seen them live since Tipitina's on my first trip to Nola in 1989. Wow, it's over. This is where we've usually gone to Shell Fest, a gathering at a nearby Shell Station for beer, tunes & camaraderie, but that has lost some of its lustre lately. Hey, here's a novel idea, let's get back to the hotel and rest up for a change! Gumbo and I do, taking a cab back with a couple from NYC who just arrived today to volunteer for Habitat For Humanity next week.
Cleaned up and refreshed, J-Gum & I head out to Lucy's, but decide to stop at the steakhouse near our hotel for a nice romantic dinner al fresco. It's a gorgeous evening. Order up a couple of steaks, a bottle of wine, some tasty bread. Nice. Well, nice until the Twin Towers come along and plop themselves down to spoil the mood. They're on their way over to Cochon further up Tchoupitoulas Street. After our respective meals, we rendevous at Vic's Kangaroo Pub to watch the Celts clinch and resume our pool grudge matches. The Studs MAY have edged us out, but I don't remember exactly. We catch up with Elisa, a current resident of New Orleans about to relocate to Colorado. Where's Gumbo? Mark, it was your turn to watch him! Well, I'm too tired to worry. Going to bed.
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