Sister soul...

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

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

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

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

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

Tom Waits for no one...

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

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

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

I always hated yooooou.......

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

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

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

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

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

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

Screaming Irish chicks...

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

Hot August night....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shake your Botti......

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

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

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

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

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

Girl, put your records on....

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

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

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

Live at the BBC....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sarah Borges at Johnny D's...

Email report from Andy McGowan: On spur of moment, I went to see Sarah Borges at Johnny D's in Davis Square, Saturday night 7/22. $10 cover only, saw the end of Andrea Gillis' set. She sings back-up for Sarah sometimes. Andrea was great, really rocked I thought, and I told her so when we were watching Sarah's set and she stood next to me downing a Budweiser. Borges came on about 11:30. The place was pretty full when we got there. Surprisingly it thinned out thru the Borges set. (That was weird??...maybe 'cause she came on at 11:30??) There was definitely an audience, but then I turned around and it was getting less and less. Why I don’t know, this was her homecoming. The sound quality was great. (nice to find a place where you can here the music great but you are not getting BLOWN away) She was excellent, as was the rest of the group, Binky(?), and an electric pianist/guitar player who sat the whole time even when playing guitar. This guys name ---??, from Framingham apparently….Ken and I after the show never asked him who he was. Noticed Jake Brennan was there…he is only slightly bigger than Binky…remembered those two from the video Kay played at the "Xmas Music Festival" we had in Southington. She gave him props for writing one of the songs she sang.

News from Sarah's website: "Also on the horizon: demos for a new record! We'll go back into the studio next month to get down on tape what we've been working on on the road." Sarah & the Broken Singles will appear at Cafe Nine in New Haven, CT on Saturday, September 16.

Beehive soul in the Fall....

Knowledgeable sources have confirmed that the Southington Apple Harvest Festival has signed Christine Ohlman and her band, Rebel Montez, to perform on Saturday, October 7. Ohlman was a founding member of the legendary Scratch Band in the 70's and has been the vocalist with the Saturday Night Live band since the early 90's. You can catch an early dose of her deep-fried Southern soul at Blackeyed Sallys in Hartford on Saturday, August 19.

Thanks, Marsha, for a peek into your/Vin's diaries...

HER (Marsha's) DIARY:
Tonight I thought he was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed but he kept quiet and absent. I asked him what was wrong; he said nothing. I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said it had nothing to do with me and not to worry. On the way home I told him that I loved him, he simply smiled and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say,"I love you too."

When we got home I felt as if I had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there and watched TV. He seemed distant and absent. Finally, I decided to go to bed. About 10 minutes later he came to bed and to my surprise he responded to my caress and we made love, but I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

HIS (Vin's) DIARY:
I shot the worst round of golf in my life today..... but at least I got laid.

Editor note - Actually, today Vin shot one of his best rounds....... Marsha?

Damn, they didn't invite me....

As a big, Big Al Anderson fan, I was excited/disappointed to read Hartford Courant music critic Eric Danton's report of the former Wildweed/NRBQ guitarist/vocalist's impromptu performance at Sully's Pub in Hartford on Friday night. I was available.

Big Al at Sully's by Eric Danton It was supposed to have been a quick, impromptu set of ballads, but Big Al Anderson played a full-on concert Friday night at Sully's Pub in Hartford. Al and guitarist Jim Chapdelaine did 20 tunes for what was pretty much a spur-of-the-moment thing. Anderson, in town to help his friend and band member Chapdelaine promote a new piece of legislation intended to benefit the arts in Connecticut, called Chap Thursday night at 10:30 and suggested they find a gig for Friday. Voila: Sully's.

Big Al rarely performs live anymore, in Connecticut or anywhere, so the show tonight was an incredible treat. Hearing him play so many songs also showed the depth and breadth of his ability as a songwriter and, not incidentally, a guitarist. He did a few NRBQ numbers, including "Ridin' In My Car," and also played his first-ever hit, the Wildweeds' "No Good To Cry." Chapdelaine sang a few songs by his old band, Mr. Right, including the grim "Family Tradition." But my favorite song of the night was Anderson's "Another Place I Don't Belong," a contemplative song that sounded even more so played on acoustic guitar.

He also played a new tune, a devastating, sad country ballad that I didn't catch the title of. Balanced with a few bawdy numbers, including one packed with double entendre about whether size matters (he and Tim Nichols wrote it for Toby Keith, "who didn't have the balls to record it," Al said) and the wry NRBQ number "It Was a Accident," the show felt more like a well-paced, well-planned concert than a quick and dirty diversion for a Friday night. Eric Danton's blog

Does anyone really know what time it is?......

Marybeth off with her group of wild women to see Huey Lewis & the News and Chicago (probably promoting the dreaded Chicago XXX) at the Meadows. MB promises a detailed report (about the concert). REPORT: Marybeth reports that she and the girls met some hot young studs and made short work of them....or MAYBE she said that, despite the showers, she really liked Huey Lewis (voice in fine form and hair dyed), but was a little disappointed with Chicago (strong horns, but very few original members and weak vocals)? Hmmm, I forget exactly, but sounds like they had a great time in either case!

You've been thinking And I've been drinking We both know that it's just not right Now you're pretending That it's not ending You'll say anything to avoid a fight Girl don't lie, and tell me that you need me Girl don't cry, and tell me nothing's wrong I'll be alrightone way or another So let me go, or make me want to stay

Beatnik spirit is alive and well at club; Cheshire man makes documentary about Cafe Nine’s Beatniks

By Jeffery Kurz, Record-Journal staff
 
CHESHIRE — “AM, FM, MBAs and Ph Ds, HMO’s and ICUs, there’s nothing left but your life to lose.” Add a conga drum and you have, via the syncopat­ed patter of Floatin’ Fred, a pretty good updating of beatnik poetry. For the past seven years, the beatnik spirit of the 1960s has been alive and well every Monday night at a small club in New Haven, Café Nine. Now the venue’s revival spirit has been captured on film, in a documentary called “300 Mondays: Beatniks, Music, and the Birth of a Scene.” The 1 ½-hour documen­tary intersperses wide­ranging performances, in­cluding poetry, percussion, folk music and a healthy dose of avant­garde fare, with artists sit­ting around talking about why they do what they do.

“You always see some­thing new at a beatnik show,” observes Frank Critelli, a Meriden song­writer and performer, in the film. “And after 300 shows, that’s quite a feat.” The video was shot on a single night, the 300th “Monday,” on Feb. 17. Check your calendar and you’ll notice the date land­ed on a Friday this year, which attests at least to the quirky nature of the whole enterprise. Actually the idea, says filmmaker James Camp­bell, was to try to capture the largest turnout possi­ble, and everyone knows Friday night’s a better bet than Monday. Critelli said Café Nine typically schedules cele­brations on Friday. “When they do special shows they do a Friday night extrava­ganza,” he said. Campbell said he was intrigued by “the openness of it. You’re never quite sure what you’re going to get.” The film will show at Firehouse 12 in New Haven Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. following a reception. Afterwards, a party will take place at Café Nine, which is about a block away. Campbell will also have DVDs available for purchase. - complete article

Me, Susan, Gumbo and a few close friends...

I voted to get out to the fairgrounds early at Jazz Fest to catch Susan Cowsill, whom I had never heard but kept reading glowing reports of her music. But, NO! Everyone was too tired from the previous day to oblige. Oh well. So it seemed like a good idea to catch her on a Tuesday night early show at Cafe Nine in New Haven, CT, part of her northeast tour that included the previous night's appearance at Fenway Park to sing the National Anthem (and watch Will Farrell throw out the first pitch using his Luis Tiant windup). And it WAS a good idea, but, unfortunately, not many others felt similarly, for when Gumbo and I popped in (JUST in time to avoid the nasty thunderstorm), we found just a dozen people milling around and that included some of the band! At least we know those in attendance had good taste. But Susan and her band sucked it up and played a very solid hour+ set mostly, I assume, from her solo album Just Believe It. Cowsill, a former member of the Continental Drifters, currently lives in New Orleans and lost a brother, Barry, to Hurricane Katrina. Her song Crescent City Snow tells of the contrast of a rare peaceful December 2004 snow in New Orleans with the fury of Katrina; she dedicated Lucinda Williams' wonderful Drunken Angel to her late brothers, Barry and Billy. An odd, but enjoyable, offering was the Beatles' Baby, You Can Drive My Car. Good show, too bad New Haven was unaware. The band : Aaron Stroup (lead guitar), Tad Armstrong (bass/vocals), Susan (guitar/vocals), Russ Broussard (drums). Photo taken from Tad Armstrong's tour blog. Gumbo and I were very impressed with drummer Broussard (Gumbo was less impressed, scared even, by some of the women in attendance). - Bassist Tad Armstrong's tour blog

The chick's got soul....

While writing this (Saturday night), I'm listening to WHUS 91.7fm's Soul Express w/ Dean Farrell (9-12 Saturday evenings)with guest Christine Ohlman contributing gems from her Southern soul music collection and offering informative comments for us less-knowledgable fans of the genre. Catch her live sometime, with her band Rebel Montez or guesting with the Mohegan Sun All-stars; you will be grandly rewarded. Rumor has it that Johnny Gumbo is close to signing Christine for this year's Apple Harvest Festival, subject to some scheduling conflicts with her SNL gig.

From Christine's collection:

1. STAND UP LIKE A MAN - Bettye LaVette
2. HOW STRONG IS MY LOVE - Ruby Johnson
3. HERE I AM - Jackie Moore
4. WHO WAS THAT? - Tina Britt
5. WHAT CAN I DO WITHOUT YOU? - Linda Jones

6. I'M QUALIFIED - Otis Clay
7. (MAMA COME QUICK AND BRING YOUR) LICKING STICK - George Torrance & The Naturals
8. I FOUND ALL THESE THINGS - C.O. Love
9. I'M A MAN - Timmy Willis
10. LET ME BE YOUR BOY - Wilson Pickett

11. JUST ANOTHER REASON - The Fascinations
12. BE STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD ON - Bettye Swann
13. MY MAMA TOLD ME - Inez & Charlie Foxx
14. I LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY - Mable John
15. TROUBLE WITH MY LOVER - Betty Harris

16. BEST IN TOWN - The Hodges Brothers
17. I'M GONNA LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE'S WOMAN - Roy C.
18. THE PAIN GETS A LITTLE DEEPER - Darrow Fletcher
19. LILLIE MAE - Bobby Womack
20. CRY ON MY SHOULDER - Phil Flowers

21. HE CALLED ME BABY - Ella Washington
22. ONE OF THOSE GOOD FOR CRYIN' OVER YOU DAYS - Clydie King
23. TROUBLES, HEARTACHES AND SADNESS - Ann Peebles
24. I WANT TO BE LOVED - Ann Sexton
25. AFTER LOVIN' YOU - Jean Wells

26. I DIG GIRLS - J.J. Jackson
27. I'M THE BOSS - Ernie K-Doe
28. NOTHING CAN CHANGE THIS LOVE - Z.Z. Hill
29. THE TURNING POINT - Jimmy Holiday
30. YOU'LL LOSE A GOOD THING - Kip Anderson

31. IF YOU LOVE ME - Marva Whitney
32. DON'T DESTROY ME - Margie Hendryx
33. BABY, I'M SATISFIED - Jackie Lee & Dolores Hall
34. NOW RUN AND TELL THAT - Denise LaSalle
35. I CAN'T GET OVER LOSING YOU - Jean Wells

Soul Express 2006 playlists

Yeah, it's the weekend....

Very nice comments from the crowd at the William S. Thomson Golf Scramble dinner about In It For the Money, who provided some great blues and rock during the cocktail hour and clever intro music during the awards portion.

Program aims to keep musicians in Big Easy By Doug Simpson, AP (New Orleans)- Dan Oestreicher is a 23-year-old saxophone player, not long out of college, who has lived with friends since Hurricane Katrina's floodwater drove him from his apartment. A new housing program aims to turn him into a homeowner. Oestreicher is one of dozens of New Orleans residents who have signed up to help build the so-called Musicians' Village, a collection of houses in a section of the Ninth Ward flooded after the storm, in exchange for a bargain price on a brand new house. He said he liked the idea of living near fellow musicians. He also likes the idea of paying $500 a month to own a brand new, three-bedroom house worth about $90,000. - complete article

Latest trip to Northampton...

Business travel to Chicopee on a gorgeous Friday begets a side trip north to Turn It Up for some new music:

A Tribute to Howlin' Wolf (Various Artists)- Artists include Taj Mahal, Christine Ohlman and Lucinda Williams

Grant Street (Sonny Landreth)- Sonny live!

Mixed Bag (Richie Havens)- The classic Havens disc.

Live From the American Ballroom (Donna the Buffalo)- Johnny Gumbo and I have seen The Buffalo each of the last two Labor Day weekends at Rhythm and Roots in Rhody.

Get a Buzz (The Pretty Things)- These guys were contemporaries of the Rolling Stones during the British Invasion. This compilation disc was playing all the time I was browsing and it wasn't long before I had to have it.

Dear Sir (Cat Power)- Jonathan likes her and I've read lots of good reviews, so I'll give her a go.

Latest CD update from Bristol oldies guru, Jim Kane...

These are the guys involved in the new oldies CD project - Spencer Davis - Fabian - Johnny Rivers - Ben E. King - Jerry Gross - Jay Black

The concept is very simple - There will be a 4 CD set sold - entitled {The Songs that Fell through the Cracks}. This set will retail in stores and the internet for $59.00 plus shipping. The set will wholesale for $29.00 (Which includes shipping) There will be 108 songs.

Here is the best part - There will be ballots issued with the set. You rate each song from 1 - 5. Five being the best. You send the ballots to me, and the "25" highest rated songs will be put on a separate CD entitled "America's Lost Treasures", and will be shipped to the UK. There is a standing order for 300,000 of this CD.

This is a very unique opportunity - because you will be part of a process in choosing just what songs will go on this cd. It will be marketed in the UK and Australia as the songs the baby boomers chose. These songs were rarely played on the radio, so it is as if you are hearing them for the very first time. All of the artists have had top 40 hits during the 50's & 60s. These are some of their songs that didn't get much air play.

I can assure you of one thing - I have heard these songs - and they are really great. In my opinion, some are even better that the hit songs from some of these artists. So if you have a love of the oldies, this set will round out your collection. The first thousand who return their ballots will have their votes tabulated.

Your cost will be $29.00 (Shipping is included!!!) Just over 26 cents a song. This will be available to you until August 30, 2006 - for the wholesale price. After that date they will be $59.00 plus shipping. Don't miss out on this, take advantage, and buy it wholesale.

You won't be sorry - This is a fabulous collection!!!!!!!!!!! Jim Email

Jazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Well, it's not Utah jazz (go figure), but it's pretty good shit. The revitilized Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz Series has returned to Bushnell Park in Hartford with the following schedule:

Jul 10 - Clark Terry

Jul 17 - David 'Fathead" Newman/Curtis Fuller

Jul 24 - Junior Mance Trio

Jul 31 - Eddie Allen & Salongo

Aug 7 - George Coleman

Also, the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz will be held July 14-16 (Fri-Sun) at Bushnell Park. On Sunday, as part of the festival, a jazz mass will be celebrated at 10am at the Christ Church Cathedral.

Also, the annual Litchfield Jazz Festival will be held August 4-6 at the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, CT. The lineup:

Fri - Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Dionne Warwick

Sat - Robert Glasper, Terell Stafford Quintet, Trio Da Paz, Carol Sloane, Lee Konitz Quartet, Eddie Palmieri

Sun - Eddie Marshall Ensemble, Dena DeRose Trio, Bill Charlap/Renee Rosnes, John Scofield Trio, James Moody Quartet, Dr. John

"You never know what your history is going to be like until long after you're gone." - G.W. Bush

Happy birthday, George W. Bush, born July 6, 1946. Take today off (why should today be any different). Oh yeah, I almost forgot, happy birthday to Johnnyk, born on the same day.

Email (followed by voicemail message) from oldies guru Jim Kane: "Yes you have made it to elite status! You are an official "OLD FART" ! All the pain and suffering have been worth it. I think it is your love of rock n roll that keeps you going (an occasional Budweiser might also help). HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!! From one old fart to another!!!!!!" - Thanks, this Bud's for you, Jim!

Hello, Lou Ann Barton....

Bob Dylan is doing a summer tour of minor league baseball parks (a pretty cool concept in itself) and will play New Britain (CT) Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins' Rock Cats, on Tuesday August 29. But the REAL news is that Lou Ann Barton ("one of the finest purveyors of raw, unadulterated roadhouse blues from the female gender that you'll ever hear."-AMG) will be appearing with Jimmy Vaughan, brother of Stevie Ray and co-founder of the Fabulous Thunderbirds! I've been a long time fan of Ms. Barton, but she NEVER tours, so I think I'll take this one in. Also on the tour are Junior Brown and Elana James & The Continental Two.

Never slow down, never grow old, Mr. Gammons

The timing is unbelievable. Peter Gammons, ESPN baseball god, suffered a brain aneurysm on Cape Cod last week, while his new CD on Rounder Records, Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old, featuring Theo Epstein (guitar), Bronson Arroyo (guitar/vocals) and Tim Wakefield (vocals), is due out on July 4th. Here's hoping Peter actually gets to grow old. 1 Model Citizen 2 She Fell From Heaven 3 Promised Land 4 Cinderella Superstar 5 Death or Glory 6 Nyquil Blues 7 Bad Teeth 8 Love's Made a Fool of You 9 Tanqueray 10 Wake Me, Shake Me 11 Carol 12 Come, Labor On

Songfacts.com

A neat little website, songfacts.com selects listings of songs, explains why they are interesting and gives you lyrics, facts and anecdotes about each song.

Many things can make a song interesting. It could be why it was written, the circumstances surrounding it, the effect it had, or any number of other factors. The songs on this page give us something to talk about. Some of them inspire, others teach, and some broke new ground. These are some of the songs that inspired this website. Click on the title to get the Songfacts. example - Across The Universe - The Beatles One of John Lennon's last efforts with The Beatles. He made a meditation refrain sound beautiful.

Congratulations to Kyle & Jennifer on their wedding!!!!

They plan to stop in Cleveland on their journey to Chicago and, if they choose to stop at the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, they can catch the new Tom Petty exhibit.

Who's next...

This should make Keith's day! First, Van Morrison issues Pay the Devil, a CD of country music which I've come to like, but he HATED. Now, another of his fav boys, Solomon Burke, who opened for Van at Oakdale a few years back, has also issued a country music album called Nashville. The album is due out in September and features duets (doesn't EVERY album these days?) with Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Patty Loveless. - Article from Reuters

They walked Fogerty to get to Dylan....

Bob Dylan in Baseball Hall of Fame AP

COOPERSTOWN, NY- Bob Dylan has played at historic Doubleday Field — music, that is. Now, he's back, and for good, just a block down Main Street in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The museum has added the baseball episode from the famed singer-songwriter's weekly music show, "Theme Time Radio Hour," on XM Satellite Radio to its archive, it was announced Wednesday.

The one-hour episode contains Dylan singing an a cappella rendition of "Take Me out to the Ball Game," along with classic baseball-announcing calls, such as Curt Gowdy's description of Ted Williams' home run in his final at-bat with the Boston Red Sox. It also contains several original baseball compositions, including Buddy Johnson's "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" and "The Ball Game" by Sister Wynona Carr. The CD will be added to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library archive, which features more than 10,000 hours of recorded audio and video, and will be available for researchers.

Paul Simon in concert at Doubleday Field on July 4th - article

Another list - top 100 bands...

To celebrate the pending tenth anniversary of AVRev.com on July 1, 2006, AVRev.com has compiled its list of the top bands in rock history.

The Judges
The group of five judges included three Baby Boomers and two Generation Exers. The Boomers include former Dire Straits guitarist Jack Sonni, as well as University of Southern California Thornton School of Music professor Ken Lopez and AVRev.com’s music editor Charles Andrews. Desktop speaker company XHi-Fi president Howard Schilling and AVRev.com founder and publisher Jerry Del Colliano, Jr. round out the group.


The Results
1. Led Zeppelin
2. The Beatles
3. Pink Floyd
4. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
5. Van Halen
6. Queen
7. The Eagles
8. Metallica
9. U2
10. Bob Marley and the Wailers
11. The Police
12. The Doors
13. Stone Temple Pilots
14. Rush
15. Genesis
16. Prince and the Revolution
17. Yes
18. Earth Wind and Fire
19. The Bee Gees
20. The Rolling Stones
21. The Beach Boys
22. Soundgarden
23. The Who
24. Steely Dan
25. James Brown and the JBs - Complete listing

No jesters, kings or bosses need apply....

Rock 'N World conducted fan surveys to establish the Top 100 Artists/Albums/Songs of All Time. Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Presley did not make the cut for top artists.

ARTISTS The Beatles Aerosmith Rolling Stones Metallica Nirvana Led Zeppelin Pink Floyd The Eagles Queen Guns n Roses Bad Company Korn The Doors Ozzy Osbourne AC/DC Fleetwood Mac Pearl Jam Beach Boys David Bowie Black Sabbath - Complete list

ALBUMS Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Black Sabbath- Paranoid Nirvana- Nevermind Metallica- Black Album Led Zeppelin- IV Michael Jackson- Thriller ACDC- Back in Black Pearl Jam- Ten Guns 'N Roses- Appetite For Destruction Bruce Springsteen- Born In the USA - Complete list

SONGS Led Zeppelin- Stairway to Heaven John Lennon- Imagine Metallica- Enter Sandman Nirvana- Smells Like Teen Spirit The Eagles- Hotel California Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze Pink Floyd- Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 Rolling Stones- Satisfaction The Doors- Light My Fire Beatles Revolution Beach Boys- California Girls Sex Pistols- Anarchy in the U.K. Black Sabbath- Paranoid The Who- Baba O'Riley Michael Jackson- Billy Jean Beatles- Yesterday Aerosmith- Dream On Boston- More Than A Feeling Guns N' Roses- November Rain Rolling Stones- Paint it Black Complete list

A great day in Harlem...

Owen McNally has a review of the 2-DVD re-issue of the 1994 documentary about the most famous group photo in jazz history, but I cannot find it to link from the Hartford Courant website. In August of 1958, in front of a Harlem brownstone, Art Kane assembled 57 of the greatest jazz stars of all time and snapped a picture that would live forever. It was Kane's first assignment as a professional photographer and is considered the single most significant jazz portrait taken in the 20th century.


To purchase a copy of the photogragh
A Film Review by James Berardinelli

Good Will(iams) Hunting...

Holy shit! Good news: Lucinda Williams playing two gigs with John Fogerty on 9/2 and 9/3. Bad news: They are in Cali. Oh well.

Rainy Saturdays give me the blues....

Trish/George (or is it George/Trish, I can never remember) just returned from their hideaway in Maine where they attended the first annual Maine Blues Festival, sponsored by the Maine Blues Society. They report a nicely staged festival with local acts and a "pub-crawl" format.

Also, just returning from a brief respite (eating, drinking, lounging, golfing, canoeing, collecting hard-to-find erotica) at The Cape, the swashbuckling Valentes rave about Tony Roberts and the Saints of San Carlos, caught at the British Beer Company in Falmouth. The band hunkers down in Key West in the winters and migrates up to the Beantown area for the summertime. The Valentes, meanwhile, keep their migrating habits secret.

While browsing the net, I happened upon a glowing review of Dion DiMucci's (yes, THAT Dion) latest album, a blues effort called Bronx in Blue. Dion always had a good deal of soul in even his early rock/doo-wop stuff (excepting the schmaltzy Abraham, Martin & John & Bobby & Tupac) and he pops up every now and then with critically acclaimed, if not popular, product. In his website notes about the album, Dion explains his introduction to the blues thusly: "Some people think I grew up on Rock & Roll (not so). When I was a kid, there was no Rock & Roll. In the early Fifty’s – late at night, I’d tune into some southern radio station that somehow reached the Bronx, listening to The Blues, Howling Wolf’s How Many More Years, Jimmy Reed’s Bright Lights, Big City." Going to have to give this one a try.

Heather Mills McCartney on Sir Paul 18 years ago per interview with Peter Wilson (her co-star in infamous porn book shoot): "Everyone knows John's the one with all the talent and Paul's the window dressing."

Disappointed to have missed Jim Kane's annual Bristol Friends Reunion at Marinelli's Supper Club for reasons beyond my control. Next year for sure, Jim!

The rain, the park, and other things...

Missed Susan Cowsill at Jazz Fest because she was on earlier in the day than these cowboys could make (she was one of my hot picks), so I'm pleasantly surprised to see she will be performing on July 18 at Cafe Nine. Interestingly, she will sing the National Anthem at Fenway Park the night before. Her area schedule is:

7/16 at Mercury Lounge, New York City, NY
7/17 at Boston Red Sox, National Anthem, Boston, MA
7/18 at CafeNine, 8pm, New Haven, CT
7/19 at The Beachcomber,Wellfleet, Cape Cod, MA
7/20 at Johnny D's, Somerville, MA
7/21 at Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA

Beehive at Cafe Nine.....

Planning to go down to Cafe Nine with Johnny Gumbo this evening to see Christine Ohlman and Rebel Montez, who will be performing for the first time since the death of guitarist Eric Fletcher. The appearance is in conjunction with New Haven's Arts and Ideas Week. Ohlman appeared Thursday at The Nine's Southern Gospel Night with The Sin Sisters and Nelson Adelard.

UPDATE: Great show last night by CO&RM!!! Tried some Brooklyn Lagers and noticed Renee Zellweger at the bar (although Johnny Gumbo was a disbeliever). Picked up a copy of Wicked Time. Off to the US Open today.

Those oldies but goodies remind me of you.....but I like them anyway

Bristol oldies guru Jim Kane is at it again - and he needs your help. The keeper of the oldies flame is compiling a new "hard-to-find" oldies collection:

Hi guys: I need your input! I am embarking into another CD project with some oldies rock n roll artists, and I need your input. All you have to do is ......SEND ME A LIST OF YOUR "5" FAVORITE GROUPS OF THE 50'S & 60'S. (YOU MAY ALSO INCLUDE FIVE SONGS FROM THESE GROUPS.) I'm not looking for big hit songs. I'm looking for songs you liked and would like to hear again. This request is going out all over the USA. We will take your requests and tabulate the numbers, and then we will produce a 4 cd set entitled "The songs that fell through the cracks!" There will be 110 songs of your favorite artists.

From this set - you will be able to purchase the set at "Wholesale", and then a questionaire will be sent to you in the set- asking for your ratings on each and every song. The top " 20 ' will be made into a single CD, and then sent to Great Britain, with the explanation that these were the top twenty songs (as chosen by oldies fans in the states). This will be distributed throughout the United Kingdom. You will also receive a copy of this cd, with our thanks. If the song was in the top ten of this era, we are not interested. If you can't think of any songs - then just send me the name of the groups. YOU will be joined in a process of choosing what will go into a cd project, which will be distributed all over the globe. Its just like "rate the record" on the old American bandstand with Dick Clark. It should be a lot of fun. So get out those oldies, and help us with this rock n roll project.!

Jim - (Email Jim or post here as comments and I will forward them to him.)

Some Johnnyk offerings:

Wildweeds And When She Smiles/No Good To Cry

Bruce Channel Hey, Baby!

Troy Shondell This Time

Bobby Freeman Do You Wanna Dance

Etta James At Last

UPDATE FROM JIM KANE
Wow! I had no idea just how many oldies fans are out there. There were 10 of us who sent out emails to every state in the USA about this new project. It has been less than a day and combined we received over 2300 emails. I had to clean out my computer twice today. No complaints - keep em coming. Remember the concept - your 5 favorite groups (include 5 songs if you wish also). Top ten hits will not be considered. We are looking for the great songs which slipped through the cracks. If you like a song, tell us about it. We will record 110 songs that you request. I'm happy that I don't have to pick them. If you are receiving this email - this is your music. Joey Dee once told me something about our generation -..."Be proud of this fact - You started rock n roll!" We will accept your nominations for the next 7 days. Then the counting and choices will begin. Thanks for this great response. Jim

Heeeeeeeeey, baby........

Most everyone knows that Delbert McClinton played the famous harmonica on Bruce Channel's 1962 gem Hey Baby, so when he pulled out his trusty old mouth harp at Mohegan Sun's Wolf Den tonight, I half expected to hear that riff. Not really, but it would have been cool. Delbert has a few miles on him since 1962 and his voice strains mightily on many occasions, but he knows all that and gets the job done in very fine fashion. Backed by a stellar band of keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and sax, McClinton turned a noisy casino into a rowdy West Texas roadhouse. The vocals were pure Delbert and the keyboard/guitar/sax solos were hot and tasty; I wish Delbert showed off more of his harmonica talents, but he kept it low key. Dreams to Remember showed off his slow-dancin' side, while Back to Louisiana had the good old boys (and girls) dancing in the aisles and Givin' It Up For Your Love sounded great as I was leaving (alas, not my choice). Maybe I should pull out my old Delbert and Glen LP tomorrow or, better yet, go out and buy Delbert's latest - Cost of Living 2005 New West.

What's going on?....

Strokes cover Marvin Gaye with Vedder, Homme by Jonathan Cohen (Billboard)

The Strokes have recorded a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme, sources told Billboard.com. The track is slated as the B-side for the "You Only Live Once" single and is expected for a mid-July release. Homme joins the Strokes' Fabrizio Moretti on drums on the track, while Vedder and Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas share vocals. (A band spokesman could not confirm details.)

The Strokes have become fast friends with Vedder of late: the artists teamed up for a performance of the Strokes' "Juicebox" last month at Rolling Stone's 1,000th issue party in New York, and the Strokes were seen rocking out at two of Pearl Jam's recent Big Apple shows. As for the "You Only Live Once" video, it was shot in late April in Los Angeles by director Sam Bayer, famed for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Clips from the shoot posted on the Strokes' Web site show Casablancas submerged up to his neck in filthy water. The Strokes are in the midst of a summer international tour and will perform Saturday in Mountain View, Calif., as part of radio station Live 105's BFD festival. Franz Ferdinand, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, AFI, Wolfmother and Echo & the Bunnymen are also on the bill.

Excelling....

After a hot, exciting day of pivot tables at an advanced Excel seminar in Springfield, I treated myself to a quick trip up to Northampton center. The results: Other People's Lives Ray Davies Coleman Hawkins Body and Soul Aftertones Janis Ian Let Me Play With Your Poodle Marcia Ball A Honky Tonk reprise Rosie Flores Dance Hall Dreams Rosie Flores

Do you remember the New England Fiddle Contest?

I was listening to the radio while driving to work this morning and was jolted by news that the New England Fiddle Contest (used to be the Peace Train NEFC) was to be held on Saturday, June 10. Brought back memories of huge crowds at Bushnell Park in the 70's before the immensely popular event imploded because of financial and artistic disputes with Peace Train Foundation founder Paul LeMay. A history

Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin', you gotta have somethin' if you wanna be with me....

Beatles/Stones keyboardist Billy Preston has died at 59 after a long battle with kidney failure related illnesses. According to Reuters, "....He entered the Beatles' orbit in 1969, as the band was on the verge of breaking up, and helped to soothe some of the tension. He performed on both sides of the Get Back/Don't Let Me Down single, which was credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston" - the first time the band had shared the spotlight with a sideman. He also accompanied them during their last concert that year, the famous rooftop gig in London.

In the early 1970s, he topped the charts as a solo act with the Grammy-winning instrumental Outa Space, Will It Go Round in Circles and Nothing From Nothing. He also wrote Joe Cocker's 1974 hit You Are So Beautiful. At the same time, he was becoming a fixture with the Rolling Stones, recording such tracks as Can't You Hear Me Knocking and Heartbreaker, and playing on several tours."

Glowing AMG review of Billy Preston's obscure 1970 album Encouraging Words

Guitarist Eric Fletcher....

Upon returning from the Cape, I was saddened to read the following on Christine Ohlman's website:

Eric Fletcher, 1954-2006: A Personal Remembrance

On Saturday, May 27, the members of the band assembled on the beach in Madison, Connecticut at one of our favorite hangouts, the Wharf, for what was to be a Memorial Day blowout. Eric Fletcher, with whom Michael Colbath and I have worked for the past 22 years, and Larry Donahue for the past 11, was late--very unlike Eric. As time rolled on we became increasingly concerned and began searching for reasons. We found there were no traffic tie-ups, no evidence of an accident on the road. We called the hospital in his home town and, finally, the police, asking them to go to Eric's home. There, they found him. He'd quietly slipped away, apparently in his sleep. Just like that. Our friend, gone.

Eric was first and foremost a gentleman, and a gentle man. He was also a great, inventive guitar player, totally dedicated to his craft, steeped in the lifestyle, way into it, which is the only way to be if you're truly "in" it.--and he was. He let the guitar do the talking, which, in our business, earns you respect. He had that, from Michael, Larry, and myself--his musical brothers and sister--and from the many, many fans, fellow musicians, and admirers who dug his playing and his stage presence, honoring him with the nickname "The Blond God."

Calling hours are Wednesday, May 31 from 5-8 at The Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main Street, Manchester, CT, with the funeral on Thursday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m.; service to be held at the funeral home. Visit the Hartford Courant at to sign in and post reminiscences beginning on May 30.

Remember our brother, who has left us so soon. Christine

Htfd Courant obituary

Tummies that should not be bared....

After a couple days of just golf, eating and drinking at the Cape, the boys felt a need to get out and listen to some live music. The Rickster, our gracious host, took us over to the Irish Pub in Harwich to see the Slackers, but we found the Generators playing to a sparse, early Friday bar crowd instead. Their banner read "...rock, pop, blues and a drop of reggae." The Generators are mostly a cover band, although their website has several CDs for sale - Van's Domino, Paul Simon's Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard, Aretha's Chain of Fools, a strange Elton John The Bitch Is Back, a bad rendition of Labelle's Lady Marmalade, Wings' Band On the Run. A very tasty mix.

The band is fronted by Carolina Restaino (left), who sings with lots of bravado, lots of uncovered tummy, but little texture. We were impressed with hubby Steve, the apparent bandleader, on guitars/vocals and keyboard player Sam Simcoe. Rounding out the band are Steve Andreasson (drums/vocals, but no relation to Keith Andreasson) and the weathered-looking bassist, Paul Fazzina.

An Elaine Benes-type dancing display by one of the 40-something women at a nearby table kept all others away from the dance floor, while a very stupid young lad was observed doing a couple dozen jello shots to impress his friends and might be still recovering at press time. Despite Keith's queasiness about Carolina's oft-bared tummy, a good night out.

At right, three unidentified Irish Pub patrons are shown watching the Elaine Benes-dancing.