Welcome Holiday Campers:
This Monday, November 2nd, against my better judgement, we'll be having another Bluegrass & Beyond Jam, 7:30 at Paddy Reilly's Pub, NYC (SW corner of 29th and 2nd).
Against my better judgement because I'll be leaving Tuesday morning for Nashville and Rob Ickes' ResoSummit - and knowing you all, I'll probably be up until 2 o'clock or so. You know how you collectively always twist my arm each time I try to leave early.
But before I progress, let me digress - with a word about Paddy's owner Steve and his Singer / Songwriter Idol Competition.
I've been attending as an accompanist to our own AJ - who has a million good songs written over the last 10 years or so - but what really surprised me was the appearance of our own flat-picking, bluegrass-singing Jon. What a great budding songwriter (and finger-picker - something I do know a bit about...). Unfortunately he's only written 3 or 4 songs - so the 6-week competition could get interesting for him. Maybe he can borrow a few from AJ!
In any case, come down on a Tuesday night, starting Nov. 10th, 8:00 or so, and support them both - Jon's writing furiously as we speak...
Well, last time the two "Obs" continued to impress.
Bob brought in Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" for our enjoyment - sounded great on banjo / mando: "... as I was a-motivatin' over the hill...".
I'll even forgive him for the Tom Paxton song (see the 2% folk and other inert elements blog entry).
Rob, meanwhile, my favorite rocker, led a cool version of Lucinda Williams "Crescent City". I'm sure there's something I should forgive him for as well, but I forgot...
Scottie returned for some more lessons from yours truly, taking us from the balmy breezes of "Margaritaville" to the cool, refreshing mountains of "Snowbird" (I never realized that Elvis covered that one).
Co-host Bill livened up the evening with Jon, Mike and Leslie, doing "Shoutin' On The Hills Of Glory" from Ralph Stanley.
Gail provided a little old-style bluegrass / country with "Steppin' Stones" - from Jimmy Martin.
Your other co-host dipped into one of his favorite wells when he covered Mick and Keith's early rocker "The Last Time".
On a more serious note, Bill and I have been taking stock of the jam after passing our first anniversary, and, I must say we are as committed to it as ever, and, in general, very happy with the jam.
We decided, however, that during this next year we will be more adamant about keeping the jam at the advanced level, as it was originally intended; and, in addition, more vigilant about keeping the song lengths down.
Running an open jam is always a bit of a balancing act between creating an environment where the majority of the participants can have fun, yet, still feel challenged at the same time - kind of like running a soap opera ("As Paddy's Turns...? "Nights Of Our Lives...?)
Check out the very first notice about the jam sent out by Bill and I in September, 2008 to get the original idea.
Anyway, enough seriousness - and may we last 50+ years like some of those soap operas!
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