Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Buy Nothing Day
Not a bad idea. The day after Thanksgiving is normally the busiest shopping day of the year in the US. But is Christmas about presents? Is it worth re-thinking the holiday, focusing in friends and family?
Monday, November 05, 2007
Packing list for Alaska
1 Flannel shirt, old
2 pair of jeans, faded
1 poly-fleece vest.
1 pair hiking boots
2 pair heavy socks
a strat in a gig bag
a good, long book
a heavy jacket (packed in a suitcase)
1 warm, wool sweater from Shetland
and an early-morning taxi. It's great to be going home, even if only for a bit. I think it was Oscar Wilde that describe home as "the place tha, when you have to go there, they have to take you in". He never made it to Alaska. And I'll be there in 24 hours.
I am ~so~ ready to go home for a bit, recharge batteries and not worry about my accent.
2 pair of jeans, faded
1 poly-fleece vest.
1 pair hiking boots
2 pair heavy socks
a strat in a gig bag
a good, long book
a heavy jacket (packed in a suitcase)
1 warm, wool sweater from Shetland
and an early-morning taxi. It's great to be going home, even if only for a bit. I think it was Oscar Wilde that describe home as "the place tha, when you have to go there, they have to take you in". He never made it to Alaska. And I'll be there in 24 hours.
I am ~so~ ready to go home for a bit, recharge batteries and not worry about my accent.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
~ In the home stretch ~
Yes, yes. One week from today and it'll be all winding down, and you guys in Anchorage will be resting your feet and falling back on your favorite hangover remedy.
In case you are in Alaska but don't get out mcuh, Saturday November 10th at 7:30 is the 6th Annual Blues for My Brother benefit for the Brother Francis Shelter. Check out the poster below for the line-up and ticket outlets. If you're going to indluge in the Sumday show at the Marston, better get tickets early. It's turning out to be a popular show.
Remember this is all to help the Brother Francis Shelter provide last-ditch support services, transitional housing and counseling services to the homeless in Anchorage. It's a powerful place, and certainly worthy of your support. I'll be taking some of the musicians on a tour on Friday afternoon next week. Email me if you'd like to tag along.
Oh, and all that aside, it's going to be a great party. Great musicians, great friends, some beer, wine and food, and a big dance floor. See y'all there, stop in and say hello!
In case you are in Alaska but don't get out mcuh, Saturday November 10th at 7:30 is the 6th Annual Blues for My Brother benefit for the Brother Francis Shelter. Check out the poster below for the line-up and ticket outlets. If you're going to indluge in the Sumday show at the Marston, better get tickets early. It's turning out to be a popular show.
Remember this is all to help the Brother Francis Shelter provide last-ditch support services, transitional housing and counseling services to the homeless in Anchorage. It's a powerful place, and certainly worthy of your support. I'll be taking some of the musicians on a tour on Friday afternoon next week. Email me if you'd like to tag along.
Oh, and all that aside, it's going to be a great party. Great musicians, great friends, some beer, wine and food, and a big dance floor. See y'all there, stop in and say hello!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
That sense of adventure
Hey Gang-
Someone at a gig asked me where had the sense of adventure had gone from the band. Well (in my best Tony Soprano voice), "I got your sense of adventure right here"
We're back as a trio, it's a great change- back to the raw, primal sounds that we started with. And we'll be at Café Drummonds next Thursday, with Angus McCurrach playing drums.....
Oh, it's a special gig- Kent Duchaine is in town from the States and playing a solo gig as well on the same night. So you can double-dip, hear Kent play some great solo delta blues, and hear us play some acoustic blues as a trio, some electric blues and LOTS of new songs that will be going onto the new CD. Hmmm, that's more of a quadruple dip.
It's been awhile. Come on by and say hello, let us know what you've been up too-
Son
Someone at a gig asked me where had the sense of adventure had gone from the band. Well (in my best Tony Soprano voice), "I got your sense of adventure right here"
We're back as a trio, it's a great change- back to the raw, primal sounds that we started with. And we'll be at Café Drummonds next Thursday, with Angus McCurrach playing drums.....
Oh, it's a special gig- Kent Duchaine is in town from the States and playing a solo gig as well on the same night. So you can double-dip, hear Kent play some great solo delta blues, and hear us play some acoustic blues as a trio, some electric blues and LOTS of new songs that will be going onto the new CD. Hmmm, that's more of a quadruple dip.
It's been awhile. Come on by and say hello, let us know what you've been up too-
Son
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Chris Simmonds packs it in...
Some of you may have seen the email that came from Chris Simmonds this week. Declining attendance and consistent money-losing gigs have prompted him to pack it in, and stop booking road bands in Aberdeen.
Say what you will about venue choice or the bands that came through town. No matter how you look it, it's a huge loss for all of us. Bugs Henderson, Mem Shannon, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Lightnin Willie and a whole bunch of others never would have had a chance to play in Aberdeen if Chris hadn't made it happen.
Thanks for all you did Chris! Sorry to see you quitting, but I understand.
Say what you will about venue choice or the bands that came through town. No matter how you look it, it's a huge loss for all of us. Bugs Henderson, Mem Shannon, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Lightnin Willie and a whole bunch of others never would have had a chance to play in Aberdeen if Chris hadn't made it happen.
Thanks for all you did Chris! Sorry to see you quitting, but I understand.
Congratulations Al Gore!
No politics. Just congraulations to Al Gore for helping elevate global climate change to the national and international level.
As an Alaskan, the evidence is all around us- polar bears denning on land because the sea ice is no longer growing thick enough to support them, rapid glacial retreat. That's just for starters.
That's enough. Congrats Al.....
As an Alaskan, the evidence is all around us- polar bears denning on land because the sea ice is no longer growing thick enough to support them, rapid glacial retreat. That's just for starters.
That's enough. Congrats Al.....
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Things I'm going to do when I get home.....
In no particular order-
Eat a pizza at the Mooses Tooth.
Eat some Halibut Tacos at Humpys
Go clothes shopping at Value Village.
Climb Flattop
Drive the Seward toward Portage
Check out the view from the Glen Alps traihead
Look for Mr. Whitekeys
Have Vietnamese food with Patti and Amy so I can catch up on the gossip
Renew my driver's license
Check in with a lot of old friends
Go to Beluga Point and feel the wind on my face
Bike the Bird-to-Gird Trail
Jam with Special Ed and the guys, wherever they are
And, most of all, thank the good lord for bringing me home, even if for a short time.
Eat a pizza at the Mooses Tooth.
Eat some Halibut Tacos at Humpys
Go clothes shopping at Value Village.
Climb Flattop
Drive the Seward toward Portage
Check out the view from the Glen Alps traihead
Look for Mr. Whitekeys
Have Vietnamese food with Patti and Amy so I can catch up on the gossip
Renew my driver's license
Check in with a lot of old friends
Go to Beluga Point and feel the wind on my face
Bike the Bird-to-Gird Trail
Jam with Special Ed and the guys, wherever they are
And, most of all, thank the good lord for bringing me home, even if for a short time.
No Joey....
Sorry, gang. Tickets were just too expensive for a fund-raiser. Joey and I agreed that he'd come up next year when we've got more time.
be a man....
To whoever has been molesting my web sites; If you've got a problem with me, then be a man about it
Friday, October 05, 2007
Gigs en France et en Allemagne, avril 2008
Nous programmons des gigs en France et en Allemagne pour avril 2008. Intéressé ? Email je !
Frankreich und in Deutschland, April 2008
Wir legen Konzerte in Frankreich und in Deutschland für April 2008 fest. Interessiert? Email ich!
New recordings
Odd how life settles into the right groove sometimes. Could it be the sunshine we've had lately? Perhaps. I'm not sure I have an explanation, and I'm not sure I really am even worried about it. It just is. That's enough for now.
Part of the evolutionary process has really been coming to terms with the new place that songs seem to come from. It's a new voice for me in a sense, the new feel is less delta blues and more, well, me. I like the songs that are developing. They're melodic, different and honest. And, as a result, the new solo record is really feeling settled to me, like water findng it's own level. It's a good thing, too, because I'm back at Buzz's studio to record next month, back in that comfortable and familiar creative environment where it all seems to have started.
For those of you that have been listening to 'Ball and Chain' or 'Sackcloth and Ashes' for the pasy 6 months, well, I think these will have good company on this disk. Most will be solo lap steel or solo electric guitar and voice, a little harp. One or two will require a little percussion or some bass to fill them out a bit. But it's all music designed to play solo. And it all connects back to a process that started on a back porch in Argentina a couple of years ago, with some cold beer, an old marching drum and John Clarke and I playing old cowboy songs for the ranch hands, while my wife sat nearby in a rocking chair knitting.
And so, constant readers, it's a beautiful day. A good one to set a burden down and feel the sunlight on your face as the days grow shorter. Taking stock, I've got friends and enemies, family and co-workers, musicians all to share the journey with, and 19 new songs that the universe has given me to sing. It's a great place to be.
flip down the visor to meet the sun rise
cold rush of wind across my face
with the radio for company
there's 800 miles left to ride
Peace all. Time to ride a bit.
Part of the evolutionary process has really been coming to terms with the new place that songs seem to come from. It's a new voice for me in a sense, the new feel is less delta blues and more, well, me. I like the songs that are developing. They're melodic, different and honest. And, as a result, the new solo record is really feeling settled to me, like water findng it's own level. It's a good thing, too, because I'm back at Buzz's studio to record next month, back in that comfortable and familiar creative environment where it all seems to have started.
For those of you that have been listening to 'Ball and Chain' or 'Sackcloth and Ashes' for the pasy 6 months, well, I think these will have good company on this disk. Most will be solo lap steel or solo electric guitar and voice, a little harp. One or two will require a little percussion or some bass to fill them out a bit. But it's all music designed to play solo. And it all connects back to a process that started on a back porch in Argentina a couple of years ago, with some cold beer, an old marching drum and John Clarke and I playing old cowboy songs for the ranch hands, while my wife sat nearby in a rocking chair knitting.
And so, constant readers, it's a beautiful day. A good one to set a burden down and feel the sunlight on your face as the days grow shorter. Taking stock, I've got friends and enemies, family and co-workers, musicians all to share the journey with, and 19 new songs that the universe has given me to sing. It's a great place to be.
flip down the visor to meet the sun rise
cold rush of wind across my face
with the radio for company
there's 800 miles left to ride
Peace all. Time to ride a bit.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Photos from Tony Winfield!
Tony Winfield sent me some copies of the Orkney festival from a week or so ago, and who would have believed it possible- he actually captured a smile. And not once, but several times!
Thanks Tony!
Be sure and check out his work by clicking here
Thanks Tony!
Be sure and check out his work by clicking here
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Kent Duchaine
Kent Duchaine is going to be at Drummonds on the 25th of October. I talked to Nathan at Drummonds last week, and it's actually going to be a double-header with your's truly. There's still a few details to work out, but it looks like the band will follow Kent and play till the early hours of the morning. So stay tuned, things may change a little.
For more about Kent, click here to go to his home page. Kent is a monster player and a great guy who puts on a good solid show. Well worth getting there for this one.
I'll have a few cool surprises up my sleeve as well.....
For more about Kent, click here to go to his home page. Kent is a monster player and a great guy who puts on a good solid show. Well worth getting there for this one.
I'll have a few cool surprises up my sleeve as well.....
Friday, September 28, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Audience Harmonica?
~ Just say no ~
I know, it's a cheap instrument and fun to learn. But, please, when you come to a gig, leave it in your pocket, ok?
Last few gigs, in all kinds of odd places, there has been someone in the room playing a harmonica. Most of the time it's not even the correct key. So, please, a small favor, don't do this? OK? It makes everyone at the tables around you mad. And all I'm going to do is take out my capo and start playing in sharp or flat keys, so the C-major marine band is going to sound bad and embarass you in front of your friends.
Please, work with me on this ok? It's all I ask. After all, there's a reason why it's called a 'solo' show.
If it's a band gig I don't care at all. We're way to freaking loud for anyone to hear you blow, so save it for the band gigs if you absolutely, positively, must treat us like a harp-less karaoke track.....
I know, it's a cheap instrument and fun to learn. But, please, when you come to a gig, leave it in your pocket, ok?
Last few gigs, in all kinds of odd places, there has been someone in the room playing a harmonica. Most of the time it's not even the correct key. So, please, a small favor, don't do this? OK? It makes everyone at the tables around you mad. And all I'm going to do is take out my capo and start playing in sharp or flat keys, so the C-major marine band is going to sound bad and embarass you in front of your friends.
Please, work with me on this ok? It's all I ask. After all, there's a reason why it's called a 'solo' show.
If it's a band gig I don't care at all. We're way to freaking loud for anyone to hear you blow, so save it for the band gigs if you absolutely, positively, must treat us like a harp-less karaoke track.....
Sorry Amy-
I got an email from my friend Amy Van Singel. She'd first heard about the plans for the Brother Francis Benefit show through a flyer at the trainstation that she picked up off the counter. Lots's of things you can or should learn about on the street, but this isn't one of them. So, a very public apology, Amy.....
Orkney Blues Festival: End of the ferry tour, 2007
So, the 2007 Ferry Tour is over. Ireland, Shetland, Orkney. Three great festivals, all required ferry trips. Odd how that all came about, but there you go.
As always I had a great time in Orkney. All kidding about seasickness aside, I love getting to the ferry terminal and the natural conversations that happen with people getting set to make the crossing. And once there, it's so much like being home for me that I find myself just relaxing in ways I'd forgotten about.
The festival was a great time. Two gigs, one at the Stromness Hotel and the other at the Ferry Inn. It was a chance to try out all the new material from my solo CD and check reactions. Also had a chance to hang out with Gerry Jablonski and Kate, Dave Amos and the tribe and a raft of other old friends.
Gerry, in particular, was in killer form. I think the gig of his at the Standing Stones was one of the best I've seen. Got a chance to see a couple of other bands as well- BlueBelly, Mean Business. Great weekend of music, sad to leave. Thanks to Walter, Graham and all the organizers for all the hard work in making this happen. If you see them, pat 'em on the back because they sure do deserve it.
Oh, on an odd note- take a couple of aging die-hard guitar players like Gerry and I and put them together over beer, and what do we talk about? Women? Wild Parties? Nope. We talked for a long time about how heavy our PA's are. If that's not a sign of the times, I don't know what is. I'm still laughing......
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Joey Fender take 2
Blues for my Brother, Anchorage Alaska November 10, 2007?
Yeah, Joey is up for this. It's a huge party now. Better start banking sleep!
Note added: Man, I woke up laughing this morning. I spent way too much time on the phone with Joey last night getting caught up. It's like talking to my kid brother, with tatoos and profanity. This is really going to be a great gig, you sure don't want to miss this one!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Orkney Blues Weekend
Everything you need to know is right here
So great to see this festival back on-line again! I have a feeling it's going to be fun. Check out the schedule and come by and see me!
So great to see this festival back on-line again! I have a feeling it's going to be fun. Check out the schedule and come by and see me!
Sunday, September 09, 2007
3 SONGS A WEEK
That's my goal.
Three songs a week between now and November. I already have a bunch of new stuff for the band to work through (and the problem is time right now), but you can't ever have enough. Plus, there's always these ideas kicking around that need to be put on paper. Is it an arbitrary exercise, or a recognition that this is probably the number of throw-away songs that happen in the course of a day, and what I'm after is capturing at least a little more of it.
Stay tuned. I did write two songs this weekend, and I'm off to write down the 3rd. So it can be done, and it's only Sunday...
Three songs a week between now and November. I already have a bunch of new stuff for the band to work through (and the problem is time right now), but you can't ever have enough. Plus, there's always these ideas kicking around that need to be put on paper. Is it an arbitrary exercise, or a recognition that this is probably the number of throw-away songs that happen in the course of a day, and what I'm after is capturing at least a little more of it.
Stay tuned. I did write two songs this weekend, and I'm off to write down the 3rd. So it can be done, and it's only Sunday...
re-thinking my pa
OK, I'm tired of all the heavy lifting. Time for the heavy speakers to go, the only thing they ever amplify is my voice and an acoustic guitar. for most of the rooms where I need a PA I can make do with something really tiny. And light, light weight is the key.
So, the agony of not having any place to try this stuff in Aberdeen. It's not like you can just order off the web and be happy. I need to amplify my lap acoustic, but retain all the detail and clarity that I hear in the guitar. It's no small task. Great sound, light weight.
All I know is this- I need to get this worked out because my wife is sick to death of hearing me drone on and on about cabinets and power amps....
So, the agony of not having any place to try this stuff in Aberdeen. It's not like you can just order off the web and be happy. I need to amplify my lap acoustic, but retain all the detail and clarity that I hear in the guitar. It's no small task. Great sound, light weight.
All I know is this- I need to get this worked out because my wife is sick to death of hearing me drone on and on about cabinets and power amps....
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Final BFMB Line-Up
It's all settled now, here's who'll be there, the Saturday of Veterans Day Weekend in November:
Headliner: Bob Hall, amazing boogie-woogie keyboard player, one of the best in the business in fact. Played with everyone. It's going to be a great non-stop dance till you drop thing.
Melissa Bledsoe Fisher and the band. What can I say here? She's a favorite of mine, a great blues player and she brings that ultra-hip jazzy edge to things.
Lulu Small and the Aquanets. The best all-grrrl band in the business, killer harmonies, great playing and style baby. Brace yourselves.
Monica Lettner and the band- a partial reprise of the golden days of Killer Rabbit, Moni has grown to be an international headliner on her own, just back from a headline tour of Italy.
Bob Parsons- smooth, cool Bob opens things up with some solo jazzy blues guitar.
There may be a rare appearance by Joey Fender? Will wonders never cease?
Oh, yeah, I'll have my trio there too. All new material you guys haven't heard yet, all solid dance stuff. So, once again, it'll be a great night of dancin, drinkin, and singin.
And, as always, the big monster jam at the end.
Tickets go on sale soon....
Headliner: Bob Hall, amazing boogie-woogie keyboard player, one of the best in the business in fact. Played with everyone. It's going to be a great non-stop dance till you drop thing.
Melissa Bledsoe Fisher and the band. What can I say here? She's a favorite of mine, a great blues player and she brings that ultra-hip jazzy edge to things.
Lulu Small and the Aquanets. The best all-grrrl band in the business, killer harmonies, great playing and style baby. Brace yourselves.
Monica Lettner and the band- a partial reprise of the golden days of Killer Rabbit, Moni has grown to be an international headliner on her own, just back from a headline tour of Italy.
Bob Parsons- smooth, cool Bob opens things up with some solo jazzy blues guitar.
There may be a rare appearance by Joey Fender? Will wonders never cease?
Oh, yeah, I'll have my trio there too. All new material you guys haven't heard yet, all solid dance stuff. So, once again, it'll be a great night of dancin, drinkin, and singin.
And, as always, the big monster jam at the end.
Tickets go on sale soon....
As if we didn't have enough wrong in the world...
Southwest Airlines has declared war on attractive women passengers. Here's a picture of Kyla ebbert, dressed EXACTLY the way she was dressed the day Southwest Airlines attempted to get her off a flight because f the way she was dressed. They don't seem too worried about beating the living crap out of my luggage, or on-time departures. They don't seem to care about much these days. But they did make a mess of poor Kyla's trip.
For my money, she doesn't dress any differently than any college girl or young woman travelling on other airlines. Hang your head in shame, Southwest. Worry about getting your planes out of the gate on-time and getting my suitcases to me and having your gate-agents behave like members of the human race.
Until then, I'm not flying with you guys anymore. Take that!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Getting ready for Orkney
Man, do I ever love the Islands here. First Shetland, now back home to Orkney in a couple of weeks.
My friend Chris Simmonds described Orkney as a magical place several years ago, and he couldn't be more correct in my book. From the Stenis Stones to the Historical sites and the Twatt church, I love goin to Orkney.
Expect some new songs, including one or three that I wrote on the Shetland Ferry- really new songs. Some stories to tell, some friends to get caught up with.
Ahhh, what a great life. And the weather? A little rain is great with me. I'm an Alaskan, and if you need some persoective on my definition of bad weather, go read 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London
But I digress- looking forward to seeing some old friends, playing some music and drinking some beer and sitting in at the jam. See y'all soon...
My friend Chris Simmonds described Orkney as a magical place several years ago, and he couldn't be more correct in my book. From the Stenis Stones to the Historical sites and the Twatt church, I love goin to Orkney.
Expect some new songs, including one or three that I wrote on the Shetland Ferry- really new songs. Some stories to tell, some friends to get caught up with.
Ahhh, what a great life. And the weather? A little rain is great with me. I'm an Alaskan, and if you need some persoective on my definition of bad weather, go read 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London
But I digress- looking forward to seeing some old friends, playing some music and drinking some beer and sitting in at the jam. See y'all soon...
Monday, September 03, 2007
why I love my life.....
I know lots of cool people
I go to great places
I'm from Alaska, so I'm ready for everything.
I can hold my alcohol
Seasick? Me?
And, for some reason, I have an amazing wife that puts up with me.
I go to great places
I'm from Alaska, so I'm ready for everything.
I can hold my alcohol
Seasick? Me?
And, for some reason, I have an amazing wife that puts up with me.
Shetland Blues Festival
Man, just off the boat back from Shetland from the blues fetival, what a great time had by all!
Jimmy and Steve met all the travelling bands at the Ferry terminal on Thursday night to escort us on the boat (and make sure none of the sea-sick prone muso's could bail at the last minute). It was a great ride up, about 12 hours on the ferry and a smooth crossing. As you might guess, the bands closed down the bars on the ship.
I didn't get too much of a chance to touch base with the other guys till the ride home, playing 4 gigs in 3 days to crowds of great people in different rooms all over the island. Weather was kicking, just like being back in Alaska again for the summer. I think the others would have described it as cold and wet. I was looking for the sunscreen.
Had a great jam on saturday afternoon with Sandy Tweedale and Dave Arcari in the Lounge in Lerwick, a real relaxed time with beer and tunes. Nice folks there too.
Hmm, the one thing I was glad I had, well, two things? A mobile phone and a GPS to navigate with. Tools of the trade in this day and age. Lots of unmarked roads. Good phone coverage, however.
Couldn't have had a better time. Shoot, one of the organisers even moved back in with his mother so my wife and I could have the run of his house. Is that awesome or what?
Phew. Back to the big city and the crowds and congestion. I can see why people live there. Thanks guys! Let's do it again!
Jimmy and Steve met all the travelling bands at the Ferry terminal on Thursday night to escort us on the boat (and make sure none of the sea-sick prone muso's could bail at the last minute). It was a great ride up, about 12 hours on the ferry and a smooth crossing. As you might guess, the bands closed down the bars on the ship.
I didn't get too much of a chance to touch base with the other guys till the ride home, playing 4 gigs in 3 days to crowds of great people in different rooms all over the island. Weather was kicking, just like being back in Alaska again for the summer. I think the others would have described it as cold and wet. I was looking for the sunscreen.
Had a great jam on saturday afternoon with Sandy Tweedale and Dave Arcari in the Lounge in Lerwick, a real relaxed time with beer and tunes. Nice folks there too.
Hmm, the one thing I was glad I had, well, two things? A mobile phone and a GPS to navigate with. Tools of the trade in this day and age. Lots of unmarked roads. Good phone coverage, however.
Couldn't have had a better time. Shoot, one of the organisers even moved back in with his mother so my wife and I could have the run of his house. Is that awesome or what?
Phew. Back to the big city and the crowds and congestion. I can see why people live there. Thanks guys! Let's do it again!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Bellrock blues, Day 2
Life is like one of those animal shows on discovery channel. Sometimes you ride the rhino, and sometimes you get your jeep knocked around. Sunday the jeep took a beating.
I'm not sure what the deal was, but it all started to go sour with a broken string on my lap steel on the first song. From there, the rest of the first set was dogged by PA problems, and even after completely rewiring the cables it was still dodgy. So, I dod the only thing I could think of, and that was point the monitor out at the folks in the bar (it was the one working speaker) and carry on.
For some reason it all cleared up for the second set. And I touched nothing to make that hapen, just switched everything on again, and off we went.
Oh well. I got a chance to try out some new songs, a couple of odd guitars. All fine. So, thanks t those of you that stuck with us through all this! Great weekend all in all, and the fish-n-chips in Arbroath is worth the drive alone.
I'm not sure what the deal was, but it all started to go sour with a broken string on my lap steel on the first song. From there, the rest of the first set was dogged by PA problems, and even after completely rewiring the cables it was still dodgy. So, I dod the only thing I could think of, and that was point the monitor out at the folks in the bar (it was the one working speaker) and carry on.
For some reason it all cleared up for the second set. And I touched nothing to make that hapen, just switched everything on again, and off we went.
Oh well. I got a chance to try out some new songs, a couple of odd guitars. All fine. So, thanks t those of you that stuck with us through all this! Great weekend all in all, and the fish-n-chips in Arbroath is worth the drive alone.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Bellrok Blues Festival, Day 1
Well, we're one day into the Bellrock Blues festival. Thought I'd write a bit before heading back to Arbroath for my last solo slot.
It's been an interesting festival. It's a different feel from the former Smokie Blues, and I can't quite put my finger on it. But that said, it was an odd experience being on my way to a gig for an 11 am downbeat. I think we playwed well,. Mike Oxley, covering for Dino, in particular, did a stellar job, and it was a great chance to try some new stoff on the fly.
From there we packed up, finishing at 1 and me scrambling over to the Newgate bar to get set up for a 2 pm gig. Talk about a panic- lots of traffic, impossible parkin situation and one-way streets. Wasn't sure that I'd make it. But Mike, sensing the stress level, volunteered to help me get there and settled before heading for home. Talk about a friend, someone that will sacrifice a sunny day to help you move gear. What can I say but thanks Mike!
Newgate was a great time, once the football match was over. Nice to get a chance to play a solo show that's more than one set long! It was also the first time I've been able to play lots of the new solo stuff for y'all in a sitation where the acoustics and the PA were up to the task. I ended up in the sidewalk for about a half-hour playing and warming up, talking to the smokers, while we all wated for the football to end.
And then off to the Station Bar for a second 2-hour show. I like that little pub, it's hard to set up there, but you jam 100 blues lovers in there and it's a rockin good time. That show was over before I knew it.
So, 3 down and one to go. As promised I'll play some different stuff at the Newgate this afternoon, more of the new solo stuff. Grab a bottle of sun tan lotion and head on over! I'm starting at 1 pm, and there will be pleanty of time to enjoy a cold beer and some warm sunshine.
OK, gotta run!
It's been an interesting festival. It's a different feel from the former Smokie Blues, and I can't quite put my finger on it. But that said, it was an odd experience being on my way to a gig for an 11 am downbeat. I think we playwed well,. Mike Oxley, covering for Dino, in particular, did a stellar job, and it was a great chance to try some new stoff on the fly.
From there we packed up, finishing at 1 and me scrambling over to the Newgate bar to get set up for a 2 pm gig. Talk about a panic- lots of traffic, impossible parkin situation and one-way streets. Wasn't sure that I'd make it. But Mike, sensing the stress level, volunteered to help me get there and settled before heading for home. Talk about a friend, someone that will sacrifice a sunny day to help you move gear. What can I say but thanks Mike!
Newgate was a great time, once the football match was over. Nice to get a chance to play a solo show that's more than one set long! It was also the first time I've been able to play lots of the new solo stuff for y'all in a sitation where the acoustics and the PA were up to the task. I ended up in the sidewalk for about a half-hour playing and warming up, talking to the smokers, while we all wated for the football to end.
And then off to the Station Bar for a second 2-hour show. I like that little pub, it's hard to set up there, but you jam 100 blues lovers in there and it's a rockin good time. That show was over before I knew it.
So, 3 down and one to go. As promised I'll play some different stuff at the Newgate this afternoon, more of the new solo stuff. Grab a bottle of sun tan lotion and head on over! I'm starting at 1 pm, and there will be pleanty of time to enjoy a cold beer and some warm sunshine.
OK, gotta run!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Blues Hall of Fame
Well, this is cool. Got this in the mail today, here's the key details, but the rub is that I'm now a blues hall of fame'r. Today is one of those days where it's good to be me!
Thanks for the honor guys...
-------------------------
Hello Son Henry,
This is Johnny Mannion Blues Hall Of Fame® Ambassador at Large.
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that you have been inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame® as Ambassador to Alaska.
We welcome you to the BHF family and invite you to become involved in the BHF. You were nominated for Ambassador and your nomination went before the BHF Ambassador Board of Directors. You received the unanimous yes vote required for ambassadorship. Congratulations.
Congrats,
Johnny Mannion
Thanks for the honor guys...
-------------------------
Hello Son Henry,
This is Johnny Mannion Blues Hall Of Fame® Ambassador at Large.
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that you have been inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame® as Ambassador to Alaska.
We welcome you to the BHF family and invite you to become involved in the BHF. You were nominated for Ambassador and your nomination went before the BHF Ambassador Board of Directors. You received the unanimous yes vote required for ambassadorship. Congratulations.
Congrats,
Johnny Mannion
Monday, August 20, 2007
Big time in Larne
First Chaine Folk and Blues Festival is now just an aftershock after the big rumble. What a great shakin time it was, and never mind the weather.......
So, we left town Friday night and drove to a hotel close to the ferry terminal to be ready to catch an early ferry the next morning to Ireland. Picture a van with an Alaskan, and Englishman and a Scotsman all unsure of the need for a passport when getting off the ferry. Talk about an interesting conversation, it was like that millionaire game show where your last lifeline is phoning a friend. We did finally get the answer, it's a little embarassing how many people we needed to call to get a definitive one!
But, be that as it may, we made it. Plenty of time, ferry crossing was a snap and it was a short hop to the venue and the hotel.
Thanks to all of you that came to my workshop on slide guitar. I hope that you goet something of value from it. I know I enjoyed hanging out with you all and talking guitars and slide technique.
The gig? Great fun, and we did over-run the curfew by a *bit* I supose. But hey, what were they going to do, arrest all of us that were making too much noise?
See y'all next year. In the meantime, keep in touch!
So, we left town Friday night and drove to a hotel close to the ferry terminal to be ready to catch an early ferry the next morning to Ireland. Picture a van with an Alaskan, and Englishman and a Scotsman all unsure of the need for a passport when getting off the ferry. Talk about an interesting conversation, it was like that millionaire game show where your last lifeline is phoning a friend. We did finally get the answer, it's a little embarassing how many people we needed to call to get a definitive one!
But, be that as it may, we made it. Plenty of time, ferry crossing was a snap and it was a short hop to the venue and the hotel.
Thanks to all of you that came to my workshop on slide guitar. I hope that you goet something of value from it. I know I enjoyed hanging out with you all and talking guitars and slide technique.
The gig? Great fun, and we did over-run the curfew by a *bit* I supose. But hey, what were they going to do, arrest all of us that were making too much noise?
See y'all next year. In the meantime, keep in touch!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Goin Back to Alaska!
Yeah, it's true, but only for a visit!
Plans are coming together for this years Blues for my Brother benefit for the Brother Francis Shelter. The show will be November 10, starting around 7. I'm not giving anything away at this point, but it sure is going to be a good show. Spread the word!
Plans are coming together for this years Blues for my Brother benefit for the Brother Francis Shelter. The show will be November 10, starting around 7. I'm not giving anything away at this point, but it sure is going to be a good show. Spread the word!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Ireland, here we come!
Off to the Chaine Folk and Blues festival in Larne real soon. It's our first trip to Ireland, and I've always wanted to go there. Am I excited about this? Yeah!
The Festival Web Site is here: http://www.chainemusic.com/index.cfm
As part of the festival I'll be doing a lap steel and slide guitar workshop at 2:30 on Saturday the 18th. Check the festival web site for the location. For all you guitar players it'll be a change to pull apart some of the the basics of electric slide guitar, in the styles of Elmore James right through to Duane Allman.
See ya'll there, be sure and say hi!
The Festival Web Site is here: http://www.chainemusic.com/index.cfm
As part of the festival I'll be doing a lap steel and slide guitar workshop at 2:30 on Saturday the 18th. Check the festival web site for the location. For all you guitar players it'll be a change to pull apart some of the the basics of electric slide guitar, in the styles of Elmore James right through to Duane Allman.
See ya'll there, be sure and say hi!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Blues Matters Burnley Review
From the June/July issue of Blues Matters Magazine, one of our favorites, a review of the set we played at the Burnley National Blues Festival:
We headed upstairs to the auditorium in time for the main stage program, which began with the Son Henry Band. Son heralds from Alaska and is now living in Scotland from where he has recruited a powerful rhythm section. Together they have formed a unique sound, mainly down to Son's first choice of instrument; the lap steel guitar. The Blues they played were authentic stomping down and dirty and the slide threw in a different dynamic, at times having the force of a sledgehammer and at others a melodic subtlety. A couple of highlights were Muddy Waters 'I can't be satisfied' and a stunning rendition of 'Voodoo Chile'. We must get to see them again
Thanks Tony and Sue! Glad you enjoyed the set, and we'll cross paths again real soon....
We headed upstairs to the auditorium in time for the main stage program, which began with the Son Henry Band. Son heralds from Alaska and is now living in Scotland from where he has recruited a powerful rhythm section. Together they have formed a unique sound, mainly down to Son's first choice of instrument; the lap steel guitar. The Blues they played were authentic stomping down and dirty and the slide threw in a different dynamic, at times having the force of a sledgehammer and at others a melodic subtlety. A couple of highlights were Muddy Waters 'I can't be satisfied' and a stunning rendition of 'Voodoo Chile'. We must get to see them again
Thanks Tony and Sue! Glad you enjoyed the set, and we'll cross paths again real soon....
Friday, July 20, 2007
in mid compostion.....
Ever wonder what it looks like? This is the look of intense creativity that you get in mid-song. Strange face, no?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Blues for my Brother, Nov, 2007
My annual benefit for the Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage Alaska is going to happen this year. There were some doubts and concerns, but I think we have it nailed. As you might guess, Alaska is a hard place to be homeless. This is a worthy cause, and this year we'll be gathering a collection of local and international people to the same stage for a couple of great nights of music!
It's going to be a big blow-out, partially to make up for last year, but mostly because we can. The Saturday of Veteran's Day weekend will be the main show, with a smaller acoustic show at the Marsten Theater on Friday night.
So far, Bob Hall the brittish piano legend has agreed to headline. More bands and performers to be announced. Stay tuned there. And if you're interested in performing, drop me a line!
Big show, really big show....
It's going to be a big blow-out, partially to make up for last year, but mostly because we can. The Saturday of Veteran's Day weekend will be the main show, with a smaller acoustic show at the Marsten Theater on Friday night.
So far, Bob Hall the brittish piano legend has agreed to headline. More bands and performers to be announced. Stay tuned there. And if you're interested in performing, drop me a line!
Big show, really big show....
Saturday, July 14, 2007
airport blues
There's nothing like a long plane trip to make running into unexpected security hassles seem worse. So, this will serve as a warning that if you're flying to Atlanta with a guitar you need to either plan on entering the US somewhere else, or be sure your guitar goes as carry-on luggage.
I have ma acoustic guitar with me, it rides around in a really serious hard shell case. Indestructible. That means I can check the guitar and know that if I see it on the baggage trolley I'm ok. Until, that is, landing in Atlanta.
In Atlanta when you come through the International Terminal from suspect places like Paris or London, you need to collect your bags, go through customs like normal. When you leave customs, however, you need to put your bags back on the trolley to collect them at the FAR end of the airport in an un-secured area open to the public. Yeah, I understand it's a safety thing, and I'm ok with that.
Here's the snag: Guitars go on the oversized baggage trolley, suitcases go on the normal one. So, right off you have 2 different places in the airport to collect things. OK, fine, in the interest of security I can hang with that. What they don't tell you is that the oversized bag trolley goes through the part of the airport where all the boxes and other cargo is processed. Suitcases? They were there when we arrived, waiting for us. Not a problem. The guitar took 6 hours to make it to the same area. SIX hours. And that's normal, BTW.
People were leaving their golf clubs, etc, and coming the next day to collect them. But this is where all the kids car seats, guitars and other essentials of life go. Can you imagine? Six hours to collect your kids car seat after a 9-hour flight?
If this is the world we now live in, making parents wait that long for a car seat to take a tired infant home from the airport, it's hard not to feel like the terrorists are winning. Either that, or they've changed jobs and are now designing all the draconian proceedures we need to live by at airports.
Really, I'm totally fine with the extra security, and always thank the TSA people for what they do. But this is a little extreme, no?
I have ma acoustic guitar with me, it rides around in a really serious hard shell case. Indestructible. That means I can check the guitar and know that if I see it on the baggage trolley I'm ok. Until, that is, landing in Atlanta.
In Atlanta when you come through the International Terminal from suspect places like Paris or London, you need to collect your bags, go through customs like normal. When you leave customs, however, you need to put your bags back on the trolley to collect them at the FAR end of the airport in an un-secured area open to the public. Yeah, I understand it's a safety thing, and I'm ok with that.
Here's the snag: Guitars go on the oversized baggage trolley, suitcases go on the normal one. So, right off you have 2 different places in the airport to collect things. OK, fine, in the interest of security I can hang with that. What they don't tell you is that the oversized bag trolley goes through the part of the airport where all the boxes and other cargo is processed. Suitcases? They were there when we arrived, waiting for us. Not a problem. The guitar took 6 hours to make it to the same area. SIX hours. And that's normal, BTW.
People were leaving their golf clubs, etc, and coming the next day to collect them. But this is where all the kids car seats, guitars and other essentials of life go. Can you imagine? Six hours to collect your kids car seat after a 9-hour flight?
If this is the world we now live in, making parents wait that long for a car seat to take a tired infant home from the airport, it's hard not to feel like the terrorists are winning. Either that, or they've changed jobs and are now designing all the draconian proceedures we need to live by at airports.
Really, I'm totally fine with the extra security, and always thank the TSA people for what they do. But this is a little extreme, no?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
more about junk mail
I must have hit a nerve here, I've had 3-dozen emails about junk mail. At least I'm getting email from people I know for a change. And we're talking about Viagra, and other slightly off-color topics. Odd, no?
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE LAP STEEL
1. Man buys a really poor quality guitar
2. Neck warps.
3. Too lazy to buy a new one, he lays it down and plays it on lao, also uses it as a TV-tray for beer.
4. Everyone lived happily ever after, until he realized he could plug it in.....
2. Neck warps.
3. Too lazy to buy a new one, he lays it down and plays it on lao, also uses it as a TV-tray for beer.
4. Everyone lived happily ever after, until he realized he could plug it in.....
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
the junk mail blues
enlarger pumps
and cut-rate viagra pills
free credit card offers
to cut my telephone bills
i get nothing but junk mail
every time I turn my computer on
wonder where these people
got my address from?
nuf said. quit sending me this crap. I mean it.
and cut-rate viagra pills
free credit card offers
to cut my telephone bills
i get nothing but junk mail
every time I turn my computer on
wonder where these people
got my address from?
nuf said. quit sending me this crap. I mean it.
Bellrock Blues Festival, Arbroath
Just in from the folks organizing the Bellrock Blues Festival in Arbroath. Here's our schedule so far-
1. 11am sat 25 Aug in the Central- da band
2. 2pm sat 25 Aug in the Newgate- solo
3. 8pm sat 25 Aug in the Station- solo
4. 1pm sun 26 Aug in the Newgate- solo
Should be fun, I love Arbroath, foods great, people are fantastic and the band is hot these days...
1. 11am sat 25 Aug in the Central- da band
2. 2pm sat 25 Aug in the Newgate- solo
3. 8pm sat 25 Aug in the Station- solo
4. 1pm sun 26 Aug in the Newgate- solo
Should be fun, I love Arbroath, foods great, people are fantastic and the band is hot these days...
I want to try this too.....
BEND, Oregon (AP) -- Last weekend, Kent Couch settled down in his lawn chair with some snacks -- and a parachute. Attached to his lawn chair were 105 large helium balloons.
With instruments to measure his altitude and speed, a global positioning system device in his pocket, and about four plastic bags holding five gallons of water each to act as ballast -- he could turn a spigot, release water and rise -- Couch headed into the Oregon sky.
Nearly nine hours later, the 47-year-old gas station owner came back to earth in a farmer's field near Union, short of Idaho but about 193 miles from home.
"When you're a little kid and you're holding a helium balloon, it has to cross your mind," Couch told the Bend Bulletin.
"When you're laying in the grass on a summer day, and you see the clouds, you wish you could jump on them," he said. "This is as close as you can come to jumping on them. It's just like that."
--------
Yeah, a parachute is a good idea. But a GPS? That's a little high-tech for me...
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Moorings Bar, Saturday Night
What can I say, there's a certain type of bar or pub that I really like.
A little on the edge, dodgy part of town. Reputation for being a little on the rough or wild side. I'm there. Perfect place to play blues.
And that's what we did again last night at the Moorings Bar in Aberdeen. It has everything I like in a pub, and on our second trip through the Moorings we kicked it pretty hard. Great to play for an enthusiastic crowd, a room full of SHB regulars and new faces. Oh, and some really loud lap steel, played with a steel overhead door and a bucket load of feedback. Some blues too.
If you're new to the band, you should get on my mailing list by clicking the link about (to sign up) and I'll send you stuff so you can catch us again!
A little on the edge, dodgy part of town. Reputation for being a little on the rough or wild side. I'm there. Perfect place to play blues.
And that's what we did again last night at the Moorings Bar in Aberdeen. It has everything I like in a pub, and on our second trip through the Moorings we kicked it pretty hard. Great to play for an enthusiastic crowd, a room full of SHB regulars and new faces. Oh, and some really loud lap steel, played with a steel overhead door and a bucket load of feedback. Some blues too.
If you're new to the band, you should get on my mailing list by clicking the link about (to sign up) and I'll send you stuff so you can catch us again!
So where is Joey Fender?
Any ideas? Joey, are you still out there?
Website is down, and he's gone with out a trace. The Alaskan Rockabilly-blues king, vanished. Odd.
If you know where Joey is or how to get in touch with him, send me an email ok?
Website is down, and he's gone with out a trace. The Alaskan Rockabilly-blues king, vanished. Odd.
If you know where Joey is or how to get in touch with him, send me an email ok?
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Boss FDR-1 Pedal
It's supposed to be a Fender Deluxe Reverb in a box. So, how's it stand up to the hype?
I tested it two ways, the first was through my amp, a Fender Pro Reverb. I set it so it was clean sounding, the EQ was flat and the reverb was off. The pedal was set so that the volume was a little louder when the pedal active and the gain set around 6. I set the tone controls to be fairly flat as well. So, when played hard and driving the the amp pretty hard it's not a bad tone. Is it a clone of a Deluxe Reverb? Not quite. The pedal does have a gritty-ness in the mids that's typical of these COSM-type devices. The PODS have it too, to my ears. No matter, is it usable as an extension of my signal chain? Yeah, I think it has a place to that Derek O'Briend tone, a little louder and still clean but with a bit of hair and bite to it. I'll use it at a gig for sure.
The real reason that I bought this was to be able to plug my lap steel straight into a PA and not need to drag an amp to a solo gig. It's actually a respectable tone, again, it's not perfect and sounds a little processed. But it means that I can get on a train with an acoustic guitar and a steel guitar and play solo gigs on the road.
Over-hyped? For sure. Useful, once you strip all that away? Yeah, I think so. I'll take it to my gig at the Moorings Bar tonight and see if I can get a better tone out of the big bad-ass Marshall stacks they have for the back line.
Bottom line? My wife liked the sound and actualy commented on it as I was testing it this morning. That hardly ever happens....
I tested it two ways, the first was through my amp, a Fender Pro Reverb. I set it so it was clean sounding, the EQ was flat and the reverb was off. The pedal was set so that the volume was a little louder when the pedal active and the gain set around 6. I set the tone controls to be fairly flat as well. So, when played hard and driving the the amp pretty hard it's not a bad tone. Is it a clone of a Deluxe Reverb? Not quite. The pedal does have a gritty-ness in the mids that's typical of these COSM-type devices. The PODS have it too, to my ears. No matter, is it usable as an extension of my signal chain? Yeah, I think it has a place to that Derek O'Briend tone, a little louder and still clean but with a bit of hair and bite to it. I'll use it at a gig for sure.
The real reason that I bought this was to be able to plug my lap steel straight into a PA and not need to drag an amp to a solo gig. It's actually a respectable tone, again, it's not perfect and sounds a little processed. But it means that I can get on a train with an acoustic guitar and a steel guitar and play solo gigs on the road.
Over-hyped? For sure. Useful, once you strip all that away? Yeah, I think so. I'll take it to my gig at the Moorings Bar tonight and see if I can get a better tone out of the big bad-ass Marshall stacks they have for the back line.
Bottom line? My wife liked the sound and actualy commented on it as I was testing it this morning. That hardly ever happens....
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Monday, July 02, 2007
Dundee Blues Bonanza (phew)
Another one come and gone. Seems like I spend all year in anticipation of thie great festival, and then it's over before I know it. Was it a good one? Nope, it was flat out amazing.
Our involvement started on Thursday with a warm-up party at Cafe Drummonds in Aberdeen. Late night, and a great chance to run through the material we're taking to the festival. Out the door around 1 a.m., and then up early to start getting organized.
4 hours sleep.
Friday night Tim Aves arrived from London. His flight was running late so we dropped his things at the airport and immediately left for a rehearsal. It was a good chance to meet, run through his songs and talk logistics for the weekend. I think we quit around 11, back at my place around 12, and stayed up late talking. New guitar strings on my strat. Up the next day a 6 a.m. to start packing the truck, printing maps and working out the logistics of moving 5 people and a ton of gear.
4 hours sleep again.
OK, now the fun starts. Tim and I hit the road around 11:30 and met the guys we were staying with at our block of self catering flats. Dr. Bendix, the Lyndon Anderson Band and a couple of others were all staying there to. Lots of gear being moved up a narrow flight of stairs. By 1:30 we have the gear shifted, our guitars in the truck, stage clothes on and we were off to the Bond for the first of Tim's gigs, as the Jalepenos.
The Bond is a great room, kinda small and at the south end of the Marketgait area. It was empty, echo empty as we were setting up. Dino, Tim and I ran off to get a quick to-go meal and by the time we were back, it was jammed with bodies. We had to be well over fire-code capacity. Tim kicked it off with a Howlin Wolf tune, 'Riding in the Monlight' and the room was instantly jumping. Tim's a great front person, real energetic and a solid guitarist and harp player (nice guy too, go figure). 45 minutes later, it was 'smoke 'em if ya got em' time to take a break and hang outside with the smokers-in-exile and cool off. Most of the conversation revolved around my snakeskin cowboy boots and how rattlesnake really does taste like chicken.
Our second set was better than the first, and played for an even larger crowd. When we ended with Tim's son 'Wageslave', it was 5 pm, time to break down the gear, pack the truck and run off to the Abode for our solo gigs.
I was supposed to start at 6:30. It wasn't hard to find the club. Parking was miserable. So I double-parked in a taxi rank and we forced our way through a standing-room only crowd to get the guitars up to the small area reserved for the solo performers. Oh, I had to park about 1/2 mile away.
As it turned out I started bang on time. I had my acoustic lap steel with me and played all the new songs on my acoustic CD, and one or two standards on an electric guitar. It's magic playing for an audience that knows you and looks forward to seeing the new material that you bring to a show like this. Intimate isn't really the right word, but it was singing in close quarters for sure, and a wonderful room full of friends, both old and new. Interestingly enough, 12 people asked me where Louise was, why didn't I bring the national with me? Simple, no room in the truck. Next year, I missed that guitar as much as y'all did.
I was done at 8 pm and Tim took over. I could only stay long enough to get him settled and then I had to walk back to the truck and head back to the flat so Dino and I could load up the PA. 3 flights of stairs, I might add. And then we were off to the Old Bank Bar to follow the GrooveCats for a 10 pm show.
The Old Bank Bar is huge, and by the time we started there were easily 500 people there. Easily. Our soundcheck song was 'Love my little baby' a jumping west-coast shuffle. I'd thought to make a quick one just to check levels, but the room just burst into dancing and so we finished the song and went straight into that Bo Diddley-style version of 'Who do you love', slightly Cajun-ized. The rest of the set was a blur. Band was as solid as ever. Great to see Paul from Glasgow, Anna, Eric, Lovat, Marion, Alan and the rest of you trouble-makers!
We were suposed to quit at 12, but by the time we were finished playing encores it was much closer to 1 am. Last song? A really swinging version of 'Reconsider Baby'. What a great time. Phew. Time to shift the gear again, up 3 flights of stairs and finally get something for dinner. Nothing like a late-night Kebab and a beer. Off to bed around 3 am. Dino snores. Dave does too. No curtains on the window, so the sunlight hits early too. Up at 6.
3 hours sleep.
Spent most of the morning watching the news about the Glasgow airport. Puts everything in perspective. At noon we all shuffled off for a breakfast for members of the Blindman's Blues forum. 16 of us in all from all over the world. Great people, all good friends. Known some of them for years and still meeting them for the first time.
Back to the gear shuffle. Tim had another gig at Satchmoes. I know the PA and the Parking situation there so it was much less stressful. Leon Hunter and the gang always take good care of us there. True to form, 5 minutes before we start the room fills up. It's a room full of faces that we've seen at every gig. How great is that? Good gig, by now I'm starting to get a little tired. Slamming Red Bulls in pairs to keep moving. 2 hours later (5 pm) it's time for more gear moving and a quick run over to Alleycats for my last gig.
OK, by now I really am wiped out. It was supposed to be a low-volume acoustic gig with Billy Allardyce and Davey Blair on drums and bass. As it turns out I was in the zone and wantedto play lots of lap steel. So, with Tim sitting in on the harp, we played our first set to a small crowd of folks that had followed us over. Small because we had our start time changed from 7 to 6, so low pressure out of the gate. By 6:45 the room was filling up and by the time I started at 7 it was standing room only. we ran through the solo CD material again, and then I brought Tim, Dave and Billy up for a lap-steel romp through some originals, old blues covers and some odd stuff too.
There's something that happens when you get that tired. It's as though the creative barriers all melt away and you tap into a reservoir of energy and creativity that wasn't there before. It was euphoric, the guys did a great job tagging along, and we took turns pushing each other. Although we were supposed to finish at 8, we played later, much later in fact.
Ok, blah blah blah. More gear to move after cleaning out the flat. Home around midnight, in bed by 1am and then up a 6 to get everyone ready for school and work.
5 hours sleep, finally.
This afternoon I fell asleep on a city bus, and the bus driver woke me up at my stop. I'm still dead on my feet. But I wouldn't trade weekends like that with so many friends for a bag of money. Dundee is how I mark my anniversary of living in Scotland, where I go to recharge my creative batteries and reconnect with all my friends.
See you next year!
Our involvement started on Thursday with a warm-up party at Cafe Drummonds in Aberdeen. Late night, and a great chance to run through the material we're taking to the festival. Out the door around 1 a.m., and then up early to start getting organized.
4 hours sleep.
Friday night Tim Aves arrived from London. His flight was running late so we dropped his things at the airport and immediately left for a rehearsal. It was a good chance to meet, run through his songs and talk logistics for the weekend. I think we quit around 11, back at my place around 12, and stayed up late talking. New guitar strings on my strat. Up the next day a 6 a.m. to start packing the truck, printing maps and working out the logistics of moving 5 people and a ton of gear.
4 hours sleep again.
OK, now the fun starts. Tim and I hit the road around 11:30 and met the guys we were staying with at our block of self catering flats. Dr. Bendix, the Lyndon Anderson Band and a couple of others were all staying there to. Lots of gear being moved up a narrow flight of stairs. By 1:30 we have the gear shifted, our guitars in the truck, stage clothes on and we were off to the Bond for the first of Tim's gigs, as the Jalepenos.
The Bond is a great room, kinda small and at the south end of the Marketgait area. It was empty, echo empty as we were setting up. Dino, Tim and I ran off to get a quick to-go meal and by the time we were back, it was jammed with bodies. We had to be well over fire-code capacity. Tim kicked it off with a Howlin Wolf tune, 'Riding in the Monlight' and the room was instantly jumping. Tim's a great front person, real energetic and a solid guitarist and harp player (nice guy too, go figure). 45 minutes later, it was 'smoke 'em if ya got em' time to take a break and hang outside with the smokers-in-exile and cool off. Most of the conversation revolved around my snakeskin cowboy boots and how rattlesnake really does taste like chicken.
Our second set was better than the first, and played for an even larger crowd. When we ended with Tim's son 'Wageslave', it was 5 pm, time to break down the gear, pack the truck and run off to the Abode for our solo gigs.
I was supposed to start at 6:30. It wasn't hard to find the club. Parking was miserable. So I double-parked in a taxi rank and we forced our way through a standing-room only crowd to get the guitars up to the small area reserved for the solo performers. Oh, I had to park about 1/2 mile away.
As it turned out I started bang on time. I had my acoustic lap steel with me and played all the new songs on my acoustic CD, and one or two standards on an electric guitar. It's magic playing for an audience that knows you and looks forward to seeing the new material that you bring to a show like this. Intimate isn't really the right word, but it was singing in close quarters for sure, and a wonderful room full of friends, both old and new. Interestingly enough, 12 people asked me where Louise was, why didn't I bring the national with me? Simple, no room in the truck. Next year, I missed that guitar as much as y'all did.
I was done at 8 pm and Tim took over. I could only stay long enough to get him settled and then I had to walk back to the truck and head back to the flat so Dino and I could load up the PA. 3 flights of stairs, I might add. And then we were off to the Old Bank Bar to follow the GrooveCats for a 10 pm show.
The Old Bank Bar is huge, and by the time we started there were easily 500 people there. Easily. Our soundcheck song was 'Love my little baby' a jumping west-coast shuffle. I'd thought to make a quick one just to check levels, but the room just burst into dancing and so we finished the song and went straight into that Bo Diddley-style version of 'Who do you love', slightly Cajun-ized. The rest of the set was a blur. Band was as solid as ever. Great to see Paul from Glasgow, Anna, Eric, Lovat, Marion, Alan and the rest of you trouble-makers!
We were suposed to quit at 12, but by the time we were finished playing encores it was much closer to 1 am. Last song? A really swinging version of 'Reconsider Baby'. What a great time. Phew. Time to shift the gear again, up 3 flights of stairs and finally get something for dinner. Nothing like a late-night Kebab and a beer. Off to bed around 3 am. Dino snores. Dave does too. No curtains on the window, so the sunlight hits early too. Up at 6.
3 hours sleep.
Spent most of the morning watching the news about the Glasgow airport. Puts everything in perspective. At noon we all shuffled off for a breakfast for members of the Blindman's Blues forum. 16 of us in all from all over the world. Great people, all good friends. Known some of them for years and still meeting them for the first time.
Back to the gear shuffle. Tim had another gig at Satchmoes. I know the PA and the Parking situation there so it was much less stressful. Leon Hunter and the gang always take good care of us there. True to form, 5 minutes before we start the room fills up. It's a room full of faces that we've seen at every gig. How great is that? Good gig, by now I'm starting to get a little tired. Slamming Red Bulls in pairs to keep moving. 2 hours later (5 pm) it's time for more gear moving and a quick run over to Alleycats for my last gig.
OK, by now I really am wiped out. It was supposed to be a low-volume acoustic gig with Billy Allardyce and Davey Blair on drums and bass. As it turns out I was in the zone and wantedto play lots of lap steel. So, with Tim sitting in on the harp, we played our first set to a small crowd of folks that had followed us over. Small because we had our start time changed from 7 to 6, so low pressure out of the gate. By 6:45 the room was filling up and by the time I started at 7 it was standing room only. we ran through the solo CD material again, and then I brought Tim, Dave and Billy up for a lap-steel romp through some originals, old blues covers and some odd stuff too.
There's something that happens when you get that tired. It's as though the creative barriers all melt away and you tap into a reservoir of energy and creativity that wasn't there before. It was euphoric, the guys did a great job tagging along, and we took turns pushing each other. Although we were supposed to finish at 8, we played later, much later in fact.
Ok, blah blah blah. More gear to move after cleaning out the flat. Home around midnight, in bed by 1am and then up a 6 to get everyone ready for school and work.
5 hours sleep, finally.
This afternoon I fell asleep on a city bus, and the bus driver woke me up at my stop. I'm still dead on my feet. But I wouldn't trade weekends like that with so many friends for a bag of money. Dundee is how I mark my anniversary of living in Scotland, where I go to recharge my creative batteries and reconnect with all my friends.
See you next year!
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