Dec. 20, 2010 - The "Sort of a Holiday" Jam (with lots of great hats)

Congratulations to everyone who came last night to Bluegrass & Beyond for giving our last jam of the year such a warm, communal evening.

Tony even bought me a whiskey at the end of the evening to toast the great last year (and he doesn't even like me!).

We had both sets of Scotts and Steves, Zubie was there in fine form (representing for the 19th Century), Izzy and Brenda came for the first time in a year (I wonder if she ever found that pick?), Danny was in from Israel, Liz showed up again (taking a hiatus from the old-time scene) and, as I mentioned before, Mr. T and I decided to finally bury the hatchet (luckily for me, he missed...). And we had a quite appreciative full bar which didn't hurt the atmosphere any.

Where to begin? Perhaps with changes at Patty's itself. Since the last blog, we've lost our favorite bartender Eileen (although Steve M. would argue this back in London) - to the world of 9 to 5. In her place, we've welcomed her friend Chris, who seems to be enjoying himself working both of the Paddy's bluegrass jams - even threatening to bring own "ax" (I think he saw Tony's hatchet)!

This jam really had a nice feel to it... Starting with AJ's version of "Merry Christmas From The Family" by Robert Earl Keen, and ending with Scotty Claus passing around a beautiful, quiet instrumental version of "Silent Night".

In between, a smattering of holiday tunes, (Scotty's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", Steve's "Blue Christmas", Craig's version of Dar Williams' "The Christians and the Pagens" and John Prine's "Christmas in Prison" from Lynn) along with Judy's home-baked holiday cookies and Steve's CDs (all left over from Tony's Sunday jam) made for a festive jam with a quirky twist.

Oh, and the hats... Danny (probably because he was wearing one!) wanted me to mention the hats. Quite a collection last night, young Steve, Danny, mystery banjo man (Steve's friend, looking like Bela Fleck noir on his "Drive" CD cover), and Cynthia (not to mention Sarah, who had just bought a new hat earlier that day, and probably should have left it on for the jam) all were playing in style. Did I miss anyone?

(Oh, no... I'm having a vision of Scotty in one of those organ grinder monkey's fez hats with the tassel playing "Sweet Georgia Brown").

Zubie, making a rare appearance, was on fire last night (even prompting a brief imitation from Scotty - nobody gets that!). He did three numbers, one of which was #4 in 1830 I think he said, but he made one mistake - "Down Yonder" is definitely from the very early 20th Century. Tony liked that one.

Zubie left with some reflective remarks about last year, and promised that next year "would be the best ever"!

Tony (once the MNF game ended... about the 2nd quarter) gave us Steve Goodman's "You Never Even Called Me By My Name". (I'm not sure he knows my name either, because he does call me a lot of other things...).

Izzy and Brenda were a big hit with "West Virginia" from Hazel Dickens and "Green Pastures" (a request from Jeanne). We'll take those two anytime we can get them (and the parking meters allow).

Danny tried Django's "Minor Swing" but I think one of the ropes broke, 'cause that swing came falling down quick. Keep it up big guy, we're always looking for new stuff at B & B! (Sarah and I were ready for a little "jazz manouche", having just listened to Rudolphe Rafalli in a nightclub in Paris last week). Hey, but you did have a great hat!

Speaking of crashing and burning, Liz (at our request) tried a unique three-part version of "Cumberland Gap". We should be careful what we wish for, I think we made it through two of the parts pretty well - though we never quite made it through that final "Gap". Sorry, Liz - we're like the Donner party of old-time here at Bluegrass & Beyond.

Jeanne brought a couple of traditional old-time fiddle tunes as well.

Scotty led a nice version of "Dixie Breakdown".

As for the co-hosts (and Sarah), we all pandered to the bar crowd - rocking with "Friend Of The Devil" and "You Ain't Going Nowhere" (AJ), "So Far Away" and "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" (Sarah), and "That's All Right Mama" and the yodeling "Honky Tonk Woman" (Dave).

Cynthia only did one song, Dylan's "Buckets of Rain" - but that was enough to earn her a rare Scotty outburst of joy at her picking prowess on her break.

Scott #2 and Steve #2 went Bluegrass And Beyond with "Sophronie" and "Dead Flowers" respectively. Steve is a great flat-picker, especially on the rock numbers - and Scott will eternally be on my good side for bringing into B & B the Delmore Brothers' "The Word Broadminded Is Spelled S-I-N".

Happy Holidays to all from AJ, "Banjo" Mike, Bill, Sarah and Dave, and see you next year.


www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
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November 1, 2010 - The "Banjo Mike Takes The Reins" Jam

Hello B & Bers (or, at least those of you few beyond help cases who've nothing better to do than read these blog entries),

Well, as any past or present co-host can tell you, riding herd on a Bluegrass & Beyond jam can be like trying to control a pack of wild kittens. We throw the yarn ball out and some of you go fetch, others stare blankly at our empty hands, and most of you just wander off in myriad directions, paying us no attention whatsoever.

Welcome to co-hosting, "Banjo" Mike!

He actually had to work pretty hard on his first night (it may be his last, I haven't heard a report from him yet...). AJ was derailed by the MTA, I was recovering from a stomach ailment  on antibiotics (my jokes sounded like I felt) and unofficial host Sarah was working late - but "Banjo" Mike took it all in stride.

Tony wasted no time in making Mike feel right at home. The big guy was seen crawling around the floor on hands and knees at "Banjo" Mike's feet - apparently prostrating himself to the new co-leader. We couldn't quite hear what he was mumbling down there, but it was either, "Hail to the His Royal Banjoness, King Mike!", or "I dropped my finger-picks, I hope Dave doesn't step on them again...".

Ex co-host, newly retired Co-Founder Emeritus, Bill wasted no time in claiming a new prime seat on the stage next to Mike, and complaining that he was working harder filling in for AJ and Mike than he ever did before.

His complaining didn't last long however, because Bob handed him his 12-string and requested "Walk Right In" - surely one of Bill's all-time favorites. Judy and Gail helped out with that one.

Bob, who has the loudest Martin this side of Nazareth, Pa., apparently decided that we needed even more volume at B & B (next time he's bringing a bull horn with strings).

He did give us a collection of 12-string hits, including Creedence's "Lodi" - although I was a little disappointed that he refused my suggestion of a sing-a-long to "Kum-Ba-Ya".

I have to say that Scotty and Tony were red hot last night. We're lucky to have them both - it's like having our own "dog and pony" show - a "Scott and Tony" show!

Mr. T and The Bluegrass Buddha. It sounds like one of those guy's night out buddy movie things - complete with wisecracks and all. They certainly do appreciate each other's humor - especially concerning certain co-hosts. I'm just lucky that Bob left earlier...

Sometime after midnight, after packing up my instruments, I was listening to Tony's "Walls Of Time" - and some incredibly intense picking going on, holding only a drink. Tony, of course, calls me for a break, and him and sidekick Scotty decide that that's the funniest thing that's ever happened at Bluegrass & Beyond.

I will grant them that it was the first break I've ever (not) taken where I didn't make any mistakes!

Tony also did an incredibly swing-y version of "Nine Pound Hammer", when he wasn't amusing himself at my expense; and Scott, led a great Halloween inspired "Love Potion #9" and Fleetwood Mac's "Sweet Dreams" (no doubt wishing that I'd already packed up for the evening).

Jon, coming early to support his band-mate's ascension to the center of the NYC jam world was also particularly "on". Leading off with the Dead's "Scarlet Begonias"? Whoa... big guy. He followed it up through the evening with "Way Downtown", On & On", I'm On My Way To The Old Home" - and a couple more.

His Emeritus, Bill, used his time off constructively, coming in with a new gospel number from early Flatt & Scruggs - "A Million Years Of Glory".

Judy besides giving us a blues rhumba, and a blues shuffle - got everyone going with Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good".

Kim, when he wasn't helping Judy with the rhumba, covered the Louvin Brothers' "Long Time Gone", and Gail, responding to the B & B Halloween e-mail, brought in the Delmore Brothers' "Gotta Have Some Loving" (she didn't wear her mask though - maybe she couldn't decide which one to come as).

I almost forgot "Professor" Pete - he was still there when I left after midnight. He apparently was doing songs all night from ex-Bill Monroe sidemen, who became better known for their own work. The only one I recognized was "Satisfied Mind" - but I wouldn't have it any other way - that's why he's the "Professor".

New co-host "Banjo" Mike obviously impacted the instrumental side of things at Bluegrass & Beyond. He started off with Rob Block's version of "Cluck Old Hen" - it sounded to me like the hen swallowed a "Cripple Creek" CD, and that's why she was clucking!

He also encouraged Dave's "St. Anne's Reel" and "Red Haired Boy", Scotty's "Gold Rush", "Big Mon" and led a ripping "Fireball Mail". If you didn't know who Earl Scruggs or Tom Adams were before Mike's ascension to co-leader, you will soon. The Johnson Mountain Boys' "Newton Grove" threatens to become the new B & B theme song...

Craig, proving that losing a guitar is no problem to a real musician, played mando all night - leading "Body And Soul", among others.

Warren after threatening to do "Werewolves of London", settled for "Ashes Of Love".

As for yours truly. In my weakened state, sans alcohol, and facing ceaseless verbal abuse - I still managed to bring in "Sweet Sunny South" and "Little Sadie".

I don't know if "Banjo" Mike can top his opening jam performance next week, but it'll be fun to try.


Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
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A Changing Of The Guard At Bluegrass & Beyond

No, you can only wish - I'm still here!

But the big news is that co-founder and co-host Bill Giles wants to step down from the responsibility of leading each and every jam, because of increased work commitments. Talk about misplaced priorities... and I thought I knew him?

Of course, after 2 years of building the jam and getting to work with me every second week, it's hard for him just walk away - so he wants to continue on as an occasional guest host - not to mention gracing our masthead and poster as co-founder emeritus (and I thought that you had to be, like, a 100 years old for that honor).

Co-host AJ was willing to carry the load, Atlas-like, along with my meager help, but, fortunately, we have good news for all (especially AJ).

Through a combination of various Bluegrass & Beyond search committees, market research groups and advanced computer algorithms, an exhaustive nationwide scouring for qualified co-hosts turned up only one obvious choice.

And right under our noses, at that.

Please welcome our newest Bluegrass & Beyond co-host - "Banjo" Mike Mulhollan (He's currently undergoing an intensive 24-hour training session to be ready to step in and help out co-host AJ tomorrow night).

I, of course, will continue in my useless, non-capacity as color commentator, Scotty's straight man and occasional DobroCop (as Sarah sometimes chastises me with).

See you Monday, Mike et al,



Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
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October 18, 2010 - The "Paddy's Pirates of Kip's Bay" Jam

Yo-ho-ho, Mates,

I must've been watching too much Johnny Depp while being sick last week because when I walked into Paddy's the other night night, I felt as if I was aboard a ship in Frenchman's Cay in the 1700's - instead of a bar in Kip's Bay, 2010.

Co-host AJ greeted me wearing his new pigtail, bandana and facial hair - and as I looked around all I could see was ponytails, pigtails, beards and stubble (and that was only the women...). And so began the Kip's Bay Pirates Of Paddy's jam...

Craig (who would fit in sailing under any Jolly Roger) started us off with "You're No Longer A Sweetheart Of Mine" - surely a pirate classic.

Long, tall Steve didn't lead any songs, but certainly fit the image sporting his new stubble. Give him a cutlass and he'll pass.

Scottie, who would have to be the cook on our ship (with the obligatory mischievous monkey) - sailed into uncharted bluegrass waters with Elvis Costello's "Allison" (in F - I guess his compass was broken) and James Taylor's "Fire And Rain". 

Cabin boy Scott (...the younger), stayed the bluegrass course with "Little Girl Of Mine In Tennessee" and "Molly And Tenbrooks".

Judy, who would probably stay ashore, gracing a seedy sailor's joint in some hellish pirate port, gave us a little Spanish flavor with a bluesy rhumba. Scotty helped her with that one (I haven't reached the "Latin Rhythms" chapter in my Scrugg's book yet). She also pumped out "Got Your Mojo Working" - almost working the crew into a mutiny.

Even a pirate ship needs a "Professor" (look at Gilligan's) - and our's has "Peg Leg" ("Pistol") Professor Pete, who forgot to wear his bandana, but came instead with numerous barely known country songs from who knows where (but ask him, and he'll tell you... at length). His voyage started with Harlan Howard's "Too Many Rivers", veered into the doldrums with The Stewart Family's "Just Out Of Reach (Of My 2 Open Arms) and he lowered his sails with Charlie Walker's "Who Will Buy The Wine?".

Bob doesn't need an eye patch or a hook, nobody'd mess with Bob on our ship - he's seen it all. Although while he led "Are You Tired Of Me, My Darling?" - I couldn't help thinking that a bright-colored parrot would look good with that Martin. Ay-y-y-y-y...

Cynthia would be carved in wood as our mast head - long hair flowing in the Carribean breeze - cutting through the waves, just like her voice cuts through the bar with EmmyLou's "Montana Cowgirl" or Warren Zevon's "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me".

Co-host (and First Mate) AJ, along with helping Sarah out of trouble with "Dallas", when her sails floundered, contributed Johnny Cash's "Big River" and a crowd-pleasing "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?".

It's too bad that "Banjo" Mike and (2nd Mate) Mr. T were serving time in the brig and missed this one - they would've fit right in, having enough hair between them for a whole motley crew. I always pictured Tony on the bar, with a barrel of rum hoisted on one shoulder, waving a sword in his other hand leading the bar in "A Pirate's Life For Me".

As for the rest of you (including me, I'm afraid) - shape up, or ship out! You look like a bunch of landlubbing port dwellers who've never scraped a barnacle in your lives... Paddy's doesn't have a plank to walk, but if you've never seen the basement - beware, it's just as scary!

Not that the rest of us didn't try to get aboard...

Karen led great versions of "Rain And Snow" and "Rider" - although keel-hauling her would be too good for leading it in the key of E.
 
Chris finally put down his dobro for a song (at least I know one person reads these things) and led Elvis' version of "Blue Moon Of Kenturky", while later Gary led "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane".

Kim and co-host Bill led a nice "Arkansas Traveler" (with Scotty providing the harmonics at the end... What?? I'd like to see him do that with a hook!). Steve led the Stone's "Dead Flowers" - say, didn't Keith have a part in one of those Depp movies?

Sarah pulled out a new one, Lucinda William's "Howling At Midnight".

I managed Vince Gill's "Give Me The highway" and almost started more mayhem with Sam The Sham's "Wooly Bully". We lost a couple overboard on THAT one...

We'll be back in port in two weeks, see you then - who knows what the crew'll look like by then!

May the trade winds be at your back, and your cutlasses stay sharp,


Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
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The Oct. 4, 2010 Jam

Hi folks,

Well, thanks to the miracle of being married, I'm able to reconstruct the last jam from Sarah's copious notes - even at this late date, and after being under the weather... as well as showing early signs of dementia.

Sarah's notes claim that I even enjoyed myself. Even though I only led one song all evening, it was a winner - "Sinner Man" - with a raucous reaction from the crowd. I guess finding sinners at a bar is about as hard as fishing with dynamite in a pond. You're bound to find a few!

My fellow co-hosts really stepped up big to compensate for my overall uselessness. (Some would argue that this is the normal state of things at B & B).

Bill, besides practicing his German with Zubie's wife, Ingrid, did Ralph Stanley's "Hallelujah, I'm Ready To Go", and one of the hits of this, or any night - Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World".

AJ, not to be outdone, gave us John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery" and the Carter Family's "Gospel Ship".

Sarah lead off the evening with Lucinda Williams' "Crescent City" and later did her "Get Right With God" as well.

Am I the only one seeing a mini gospel theme here? Is Bluegrass & Beyond really home to that many sinners?

No wonder we always have such a good time!

And speaking of repenting, Scotty showed no signs of it last time - starting off with Bread's "Guitar Man", veering off into BJ Hooker's "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" for no apparent reason, and then culminating in a 1 chord wonder song "Rock On" (Hey, kids roll and roll...) from the 70's. I was almost able to play on THAT one, but I couldn't find the chord...

Zubie made a rare appearance, showing off for his wife, with "San Antonio Rose", "Down Yonder" and "The 1919 Flu Epidemic" (or was it 1918?).

Speaking of showing off, Liz's boyfriend borrowed a guitar and led John Prine's "Paradise" - with some help from Liz on fiddle, Craig and co-host Bill.

Despair and sorrow were well represented as usual with Gail's version of Jimmy Martin's "Steppin' Stone", Jonathan's Stanley Brothers' "Highway of Regret", Steve's covers of Merle's classic "Mama Tried", along with George Jone's "The Race Is On" - not to mention Judy's 1930's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out".

And if you weren't sad enough after all that, Craig pulled out John Prine's "Christmas In Prison". I don't know what's more depressing, being in prison, or the fact that there are only 68 more shopping days until Christmas!

On a more positive note, Kim did Tim O'Brien's heartwarming "Nellie Kane".

Instrumental to the jam, literally, were Dan's "Cherokee Shuffle", Banjo Mike's "Hucklin' The Berries", Bill's "Big Sciota" - and, as I was leaving, a weird double banjo version of "Cluck Old Hen" with Bill and Banjo Mike, helped by Scottie and Danny on fiddle - sounding like a mix of "Zorba The Greek", "Arabian Nights" and the Stone's "Paint It Black".

By the way, I have to point out on an instrumental note, that Chris - even though he knows he's breaking my heart by not leading any more Wayne "The Train" Hancock songs - is really kicking on the resonator guitar these days.

As I walked down 2nd Ave. late after another fine jam, I heard the melodious strains of Tony (talk about sinners!) wafting into the night air - "I'm only walkin' after midnight, searching for you..."

Well sinners, you don't have to search at all... every odd Monday at Paddy's... Bluegrass & Beyond...

See you next time, let's raise some hell! (and repent in song...),

Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
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The Sept. 20, 2010 Jam

Happy Fall to you all:

Well, Paddy's was filled on Monday night - I didn't know that so many Saints and 49er fans liked Bluegrass & Beyond. We tried to time our songs to the game, so that we could imagine that the cheers were for us. The boos? They were for the game...

There were two older Irishmen who stayed the night - seemingly voluntarily (or at least I don't remember bribing them) - and actually seemed interested in the music. Turned out they they were old session and football buddies of Paddy's owner Steve - from the old home town back in Ireland.

They were pretty effusive in their praise of our music - except that one of them told me that I was holding my guitar wrong - he'd never seen a dobro. I told him that if I play it flat like that, I can get drunk, fall over backwards and I'll be holding straight up like everyone else. It just takes me a little longer!

Steve rolled his eyes and pretended that I wasn't there any more...

Right from the get go, I knew it would be a good one. We started with Sarah's "No Expectations" and followed it with my "The Cuckoo" - before bluegrass and beyond bluegrass - that's what I'm talking about. Bob, however, looked more than a little skeptical during my extended yodelling (some might call howling) on the latter (I was channeling my inner Hobart Smith).

When he played, Bob stuck to bluegrass, perhaps previewing his upcoming Thursday night (Sept. 23) Paddy's show as a member of "The Linemen".

Judy played up to the large crowd all night, starting with a quiet Joan Baez ballad and ending the evening with a mellow Judy Collins song (at Tony's request - or "The Maestro" as she calls him - I prefer other names). But, somewhere in the middle, she wailed on "T for Texas" and the Jimmy Reed number "You Got Me Runnin'".

This number set off an extended ripping, all hands on deck, jam pleasin', crowd participating set .

I tried to follow Judy (who can?) with Elvis' "That's All Right, Mama", and co-host Bill pulled out the number of the night with Canned Heat's "Goin' Up The Country", morphing into "Roll Over Beethoven" and then "Blue Suede Shoes" - all this for the price of one ticket! Even Judy was impressed, and the crowd loved it - although there was a 49er field goal at that precise moment...

Co-host AJ calmed everyone down with Dylan's "She Belongs To Me" - while I got my oxygen mask out, and took a few deep breaths.

Lynn kept the mellow vibe going with Emmylou's "Precious Memories".

Mr. T, or, should say, The Maestro, after Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" - led a long jam on "Ragtime Annie" - conveniently forgetting to tell me that it was my break until it was nearly over. Tony said that it was one of the best breaks he's ever heard me play - I can't believe I later bought him a whiskey.

Besides Bob holding up the bluegrass end of things, Craig, co-host Bill, and Jon all gave us classics from Jimmy Martin, Reno and Smiley and Flatt and Scuggs.

Kim returned from Western Canada with a lot of music stories and a new song (for him). I think that he was the only person in the bar who didn't know "Mountain Dew" - he spend most of his own song laughing at how badly it was coming out. Fortunately, Sarah graciously helped him through it - along with half the crowd. He'll be back - and with his "A" game! See what Canada does to you? Even Neil or Joni would struggle with "Mountain Dew", eh?

Sarah led a nice "Congratulations" from The Wilburys, and "Dirty Old Town" as the last song of the main jam.

As usual, the after jam was just beginning - or, as "Banjo" Mike pointed out in a comment last week - after midnight, we let it all hang out...! (And it was Steve who spilled the Guinness apparently...)

Great jam, all (even you, Tony),


Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC

The Sept. 6, 2010 Jam

Hello Everyone,

Well, we labored hard and long during the Labor Day jam - co-host Bill said something about 2 am - before he fell asleep while talking to me on the phone the next day.

We walked in to find our Caribbean contingent, Walter - making his yearly West Indian Parade Day pilgrimage to Paddy's and Bluegrass & Beyond. Sarah quickly worked up Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers To Cross" in the back room for him.

Paddy's owner Steve spent a good part of the night explaining to him that Ireland is nowhere near Antigua!

Steve also started us off on the right foot by requesting the opening song - Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds" - and who's going to argue with Steve? Certainly not co-host A.J...

The last day before school started brought out the teaching corps en masse (Liz, Mark and Chris - school starts tomorrow, oh, no...) and the mothers (Karen - school starts tomorrow, yeah...).

Liz led a rousing version of "Cluck Old Hen" with some stepping - one of the few times that we've done a song "old-time" style (What! No breaks?). Co-host Bill did a little fancy stepping as well - but it was mostly to save his banjo from Mike's spilled Guinness on the stage.

Phyllis did "Sea Of Heartbreak" and Lynn tried "Silver Dagger" and Alison Krause's "Sleep On" - very ambitious. Phyllis astutely pointed out that we seemed to be doing a lot of songs that didn't end on the tonic chord.

Hey, nobody claimed that B & B was your average jam - maybe at Tony's jam they end on the tonic, but not here!

By the way, Tony and I spent the better part of the evening comparing our stunning legs in shorts. Funny, though, the women didn't seem as impressed as we were... Oh, well, there's no accounting for taste.

Mike, much to my delight, finally tackled Pete Wernick's "Huckling The Berries" again- perhaps inspired by the current cover of Bluegrass Unlimited.

Mike also reprised his 2009 awarding-winning "Best Break In An Unnatural Banjo Key Above The 12th Fret - Uncapoed", when Karen started up "Rider" - in E. (Gulp!!!)

Jon liked my version of "Will The Roses Bloom In Heaven" so much that he announced his intention to steal it - thus, making up for Craig's stealing of his version of "Rosa Lee McFall" last jam. I didn't quite follow the logic of that - but I never was the sharpest pin in the cushion.

Bob returned back from the summer break with "We Could" and "Way Downtown" - and, just in time to pass judgement on my new Martin. I felt like I was in "The Godfather" - getting Marlon Brando's approval. Bob is, after all Mr. Martin at our jam!

St. Bob of Nazareth (Pa.) - it has a ring...

Later on, both Chris and Mark checked it out at length in the back room, but it didn't feel like "The Godfather" anymore - more like... a Mutt and Jeff comic strip (I'm only kidding, of course - you know I love you two guys).

Mark did do Woody's "Hard Traveling" - I should have asked him if it was to commemorate my trip to Michigan to pick up the guitar (you try to eat roadside in Pa. and Ohio... and what about that interstate vending machine coffee? Woody wouldn't have lasted a hour with me...)

Craig and I got into a John Prine oldies competition, and he trumped my "Spanish Pipedream" with his version of "My Flag Decal Won't Get Me Into Heaven Anymore". Remind me not to do that anymore - it's like getting into a Scruggs contest with Banjo Mike...

Great jam, I can only guess what happened after midnight.

And no, I didn't find a cut-off Martin headstock in my bed that night - the Bob-father must've liked it!


Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC

The August 30, 2010 Jam

Well, the first half of our "end of summer", back-to-back, Bluegrass & Beyonds went swimmingly last night - especially after Scotty arrived from his early evening aquatic awards gig!

He showed right at the beginning of the "after jam", in time to lead an amazing version of "Rocket Man". I know he's a virtual one man orchestra, but this was ridiculous - he was singing, playing and directing the B & B chorus throughout his solos. I got a couple of glances because I was "oohing", when I should have been "aahing" - but, luckily he got distracted by a couple of his famous augminished demented 8th chords - and let me off the hook.

Oh yeah... and later he led us in a minor version of "Bury Me Beneath The Willow". It sounded like the Carter Family doing a Russian Vodka ad!

"Professor" Pete (although the nickname thing is still undecided, because I still prefer "Pistol", seeing him on a horse in a 40's cowboy movie, with one of those big old wide brimmed cowboy hats...) sang us a version of a Johnny Bond tune "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" with some of the weirdest chords this side of Scottie.

He also had a nice song about where have all the honky tonks gone - possibly from George Jones - I don't remember exactly (that's why he's the Professor and I'm not...).

Karen's summer engagements appear to have ended, as she came roaring back into town with a new version of "Folsom Prison Blues".

Craig led a kick-ass version of "Ragtime Annie" in the after jam, after stealing "Rosa Lee McFall" from Jonathan - who stole it from whom? 

Jon said that he was going to steal "A Three-Legged Man, With A Two-Legged Woman, Chased By A One-Legged Man" from Craig - but that he couldn't even say it - let alone sing it!

Sarah performed a sweet  version of Utah Phillips song "Rock Salt and Nails" for her visiting friends from Colorado and N.J. (after representing Bluegrass & Beyond in Ellsworth, Maine at an open mic during our recent vacation).

Steve went "Beyond" most of the evening with The Stones and The Dead - he may have done some Dead Stones In The Middle Of The Road, as well - things were a little hazy during that part of the evening.

Co-host A.J., enjoying a breather after last leading last jam solo, gave us "Dixie" - neither Bluegrass, nor Beyond - an ampersand number, as co-host Bill likes to say.

Jeanne and Scottie lead a ripping tempoed version of "Sweet Georgia Brown" (yeah, I made up that word...).

They also were instrumental, along with Pete, Gail and myself in the late night "Paddy's Waltz Time" show - featuring the waltzes of most states in the Union.

Co-hosts Bill and I barely had time to lead any ourselves, but highlights would include "Deep River Blues" and "Hallelujah, I'm Ready To Go" from Ralph Stanley.

See you in a short week,


Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC

The August 16th, 2010 Jam

Hi there,

Well, co-hosts Bill and I left A J to his own devices to run the last Bluegrass & Beyond jam - and he obviously let it get out of hand.

I'm putting Scotty on probation for one jam - the offense being playing an old TV theme song without Bill being present (see the "TV Nostalgia Night" Jam blog entry).

I can't believe that you guys encouraged him by singing along... maybe everyone should be on probation.

"Family Ties"? Where did that come from? I might have to talk to Time Warner about having Scot's service suspended...

Otherwise, reports filtering back are that the jam went well - kudos to A J!

See you soon (at full strength),

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

A New Bluegrass & Beyond Poster!

Unless you're just waking up and haven't quite reached for a coffee yet, you will have noticed the new addition to our blog and website...

Our Art Department here at Bluegrass & Beyond was up late last night creating a new official poster for our 3rd year in existence!

Thanks especially go out to Sarah Galloway (who had to ignore my back seat editing most of the night...).

We figure that with the NYC Health Dept. putting letter grades in all the restaurant windows - that bar patrons should have some form of quality assurance as well.

Look for our poster in the windows of the finest drinking establishments in NYC (say Paddy Reilly's Music Bar) - and rest assured that the music that accompanies your drinking experience will be the finest in quality!

The Come Aways and The 2nd Ave. Mountain Boys to play at LaGuardia Corner Gardens

The Come Aways at JUNTO Space, Bushwick, 2010

The Come Aways and The 2nd Ave. Mountain Boys are performing at one of our favorite venues - the LaGuardia Corner Gardens (right in the heart of Greenwich Village).

Bluegrass & Beyond NYC  at the LaGuardia Corner Gardens, 2010 (Bluegrass & Beyond NYC are AJ Bender, Dave Comins, Sarah Galloway and Bill Giles)

See, I told you it was beautiful... and free!

Mark the date and place - Saturday, July 31st, 2010, 5:00 - 7:30 pm at the LaGuardia Corner Gardens, 511 LaGuardia Place (between Bleecker and Houston - closer to Bleecker).

The show will start at 5:00 with an hour of duets from an eclectic variety of sources - by The Come Aways (Sarah Galloway and Dave Comins), performing a capella, as well as with banjo, harmonica, National guitar and guitar. Blind Willie Johnson to Nanci Griffith... and back.

The 2nd Ave. Mountain Boys at Paddy Reilly's Music Pub, 2010

Following The Come Aways, from 6:15-7:30 pm will be the strictly bluegrass sounds and wonderful four-part harmonies of the 2nd Ave. Mountain Boys  - featuring  Jon Buchalter on guitar, Bill Giles on banjo, mandolin and guitar, Leslie King on mandolin and "Banjo" Mike Mulhollan on vuvuzela (I hope I'm kidding about that).

Hope to see all of you there...

July 19, 2010 - The "Zen" Jam

Well, it's good to be back, jamsters:

According to co-hosts Bill and AJ, the July 5th jam went off without a hitch - but I haven't heard a thing about it.

It's kind of like a tree falling in the forest while one hand claps... you never really know what it sounded like. I'll go with the flow and assume it happened!

Maybe I'll just call it the "Zen" jam. I wonder if anyone sang any Leonard Koan?

Speaking of koans and other mysteries, can anyone explain to me what Craig was singing about - a guy steals another guy's wooden leg (plus his wife) and then spends the rest of the song as a three-legged man - with a two-legged wife - being chased by a one-legged man? You can't make this stuff up!

He also did a nice version of "The Fox" (which I did understand...)

Scottie, sporting some natty shorts and socks, gave us "Summer Breeze" - apparently feeling a little breezy himself. I loved his introduction to the song's introduction: "The simple C to A is a gateway into a gorgeous pop tune...". I thought I was in an episode of "Star Trek".

That was only the beginning for Scott. He also gave us a highlight of the evening - the Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" - I think that was the song that had a B11 - causing Steve to ask: "Isn't that a vitamin?" Scotty was aghast... (for other memorable Scotty chords - see the "Disco" jam blog entry).

I can honestly say that Scott's a treasure to have at any jam - and especially at ours!

Well, I guess Westchester was closed for the evening because half of the Westchester Bluegrass Club showed up for B & B...

I'll blame Mike, Bob and Karen for that.

Mike gave us "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" by Tom T. Hall and Karen went Canadian on us, with Gordon Lightfoot's "For Lovin' Me".

Northern newbies Deborah ("I'll Fly Away") and Pete (I think, Jim Reeves "Blue Side Of Lonesome") both sang it with a Westchester accent - although both claim to hail from NYC - fancy that!

Liz spent most of the evening looking for banjo parts at the bar - I think she almost resorted to using a Guiness bottle as a bridge... we'll have to wait until next jam to hear her play.

Gail was back again from the South, leading "Another Night" and others.

Lynn's "Bartender's Blues" by James Taylor was fun.

Sarah kicked last night with a bar-bashing version of "Sweet Home Alabama", followed by "Hey Joe".

The co-hosts didn't take their job lightly either. AJ's "Dire Wolf" from the Dead and my own "The Old Crossroads" from the father of bluegrass, as well as "Give Me The Highway" from Vince Gill (the great-grandson of bluegrass?) rounded out a good evening.

See you in two weeks, and get on the mailing list if you're not on it already.

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

June 21, 2010 - The "Men In Shorts" Jam

Hello all,

Well, the last jam was on the summer solstice, and we celebrated with an abundance of hairy legs! Not just any hairy legs - but Bluegrass & Beyond pickin' hairy legs. 

Ladies, you missed your chance - we had tall legs, short legs, skinny legs, fat legs, ugly legs and humbly speaking, of course - some pretty good lookin' ones (at least according to Tony, Bob and myself). 

The extra ventilation seemed to help the music as well.

We started off with Jeanne and co-host Bill leading us in the "Pig Ankle Rag" - not your normal instrumental (nor body part, come to think of it).

Judy was well received by both the bar and the dart leaguers in the rear room - especially on her B.B. King blues' shouter.

Although, I was a little worried later when we forgot to do "Wagon Wheel" for the dart crowd - that I'd leave Paddy's looking like a pin cushion...

Outside of the normal fiddle tunes, bluegrass standards and pop classics, the highlight for me was the impromptu Beatles segment.

"I Saw Her Standing There" on the banjo was so well received by all, that immediately all thoughts turned Beatle (although, in fairness to Bob, he had done "Act Naturally" earlier, but I guess that counted as a Buck Owens tune...)

Kim's a veritable encyclopedia of interesting tunes - teaching us "Thing We Said Today" and "I Feel Fine" (a nice bluegrasser).

Bill kicked in "Drive My Car", and I picked up my banjo again for "Back In The U.S.S.R.".

By midnight, the hard core jammers were just settling in...

As I left I had two thoughts - "Does Scotty ever wear shorts?" and "I'm glad it wasn't a Pool Party Jam (B + B ers in Speedos?)".

See you next time (and ladies, save us, please - we need some better looking legs there!).

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

June 7, 2010 - The "TV Nostalgia Night" Jam

Hey There, Hi There, Ho There Jamateers *:


Well, the A/C was working again last night (although, it turned out we didn't need it). Howard stayed away - apparently still de-humidifying his electric uke from last week - while Karen and her kids were safely back at home, sobering up from all that Sprite they drank during their wild Memorial Day evening at Paddy's.


Nonetheless, enough people showed up to make for a good jam, one that unexpectedly turned great later on - but more on that later...


Bob came in announcing that he couldn't sing because of sinus problems - and wound up doing more songs than anyone. Man, if I could sing like that, I'd give you my sinuses Bob! (Although you might have to throw in that big old Martin).

Steve, besides doing a kicking version of "The Race Is On", brought along a fine guitarist whose nickname may go down as "Best In Show" for Bluegrass & Beyond 2010 - "Topher" (from Christopher). I'll just call him "The Toph"...

Co-host Bill revived Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Taking Care Of Business", a highlight, and Sarah did cool versions of "Little Wing" and George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass".

Not to be outdone, the other two co-hosts brought in the Dead's "Friend Of The Devil", Carl Perkin's "Honey Don't" and Jerry Reeds' "Eastbound And Down".

Mike threw in Jim Croce's "Leroy Brown", and Kim "Bye, Bye Love" before the jam went even a little further "Beyond"...

Craig picked up "Ball And Chain" from California punk rockers, Social Distortion, and Scotty chimed in with Elvis' "Alison" and Micheal Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".

There were plenty of bluegrass standards, including "Knocking On Your Door", "Dark Hollow", "Foggy mountain Top", etc. - and plenty of fiddle tunes - "Down Yonder", "Kentucky Mandolin", "Gold Rush" and "Big Mon".

All in all, a fine night - but the "Twilight Zone" part was yet to come - literally!

It started off routinely enough, a little Eagles tribute by Scotty, Bill and Steve ("Lying Eyes", "Taking It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling") - when suddenly I hear... What the heck? That's no fiddle tune. 


It's Hoss, Little Joe, Adam and Ben Cartwright, Virginia City - and we're rockin' - like it's 1962!

Bill's "Bonanza" theme had started off a half hour tour de force "Name This TV Show" - mostly Scott and Bill (with help from Steve, Craig and myself). Besides, the obvious "Twilight Zone" - we hit 'em all: Hawaii Five-O, Batman ("Splat!" "Pow!!), Star Trek (that one had to be Scottie, of course), Mash, Secret Agent Man, Gilligan's Isle (a rousing Bill sing-a-long), Rawhide, The Munsters, Cheers, I Dream Of Jeannie, Mary Tyler Moore - even the lowly Patty Duke Show (...at times they even think alike, What a crazy pair! Yes, they're cousins...).


The "Toph" was in shock by this point, I think. Steve had to help him out at the end of the night.

I wonder if 40 years from now they'll be playing the themes to "Dancing With The Stars", "24", "American Idol" and "Lost" in late night Paddy's jams? Do they even have theme songs?

It made you glad to be alive. Who needs the upcoming World Cup when you've got Scotty and Bill?

See you next jam.

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

* For all you non-geezerly type B & Bers, this is obviously a reference to the Mickey Mouse Club Shows from the late 50's. (Neither Scotty nor Bill knew that theme song... although I understand that Scotty still has his pair of Mouseketeer ears!).

May 31, 2010 - The "Sauna" Jam (part deux)

Hi everyone:

Well, I just got done wringing out my shirt from last night's jam - which seemed vaguely familiar to a similar situation last summer (see "The Sauna Jam").

It's the first time that I've ever had to put my instruments back in their cases with a de-humidifier! 

Because of the Memorial Day holiday, things were a little more relaxed than usual - Karen brought some of her family down for the fun - and Steve sold a few more Sprites than he normally would on a jam night.

Her son Rex (who I call "T-Rex", because of his love of the Natural History Museum) put on a pretty good show dancing and just being plain curious. Don't feel bad staring, Rex - nobody else knows what that thing that Howard plays is either! (And it IS about your size...)

He seemed a little perplexed about the dobro as well - why play a guitar on it's side? Hey Rex, now if I played it upside down - that would be weird! (Although some might argue that it would sound better - right Tony?)

Howard did manage to put down his toy for a minute and revive an early Bob Dylan's "Let Me Die In My Footsteps" - a highlight for me:  "...And some people thinkin' that the end is close by, 'stead of learnin' to live, they are learning to die."

Craig continued to impress throughout the night, with Loudons' "Dead Skunk" and a Yonder Mountain String Band song - now, if he would only become an A/C technician, as well as a sound guy - he would really kick!


Steve took a break from his favorite - "June Apple" - to lead Steve Earle's "Mercenary Song" on mando, just to show his diversity.

After co-host AJ's first half of the evening, which heavily featured "Beyond" songs - "Running Down A Dream", "So Far Away", "One After 9-0-9", "Hey Joe", "Goodbye Heart" and "Midnight Rider" to name a few - co-host Bill took over vowing to play fiddle tunes and banjo instrumentals with John, Kim and Mike until the A/C started working again...

Appropriately enough, our own Big Man - Mr. T - led it off with "Big Mon" - followed in short order by "Bill Cheatum", "Newton Grove"  and "Red Haired Boy" - at which point, I passed out from the heat! (I did have a dream about a uke solo on "Cherokee Shuffle" - nah, it couldn't happen...)

When I revived, Bill was leading "Jumpin' Jack Flash" - the heat must've gotten to him finally as well. 

Lynn continued her quest to lead famous Alison Krauss classics - this time "Steel Rails" - and rather successfully at that.

Finally, the holiday brought out an old friend Gerald - who lead a song for the first time - Townes" "Ballad Of Pancho And Lefty" - and left us all wondering why this was the first time? If I could lead like that, I wouldn't have AJ and Bill doing all the work at these jams. He probably can blog better than me as well.

See you next Monday, and Craig, night school classes start on Wednesday!

Bluegrass & Beyond NYC @ LaGuardia Corner Gardens, Greenwich Village for Make Music 2010

Bill, Sarah, Dave and AJ at the LaGuardia Corner Gardens - Make Music NY 2009

AJ Bender, Dave Comins, Sarah Galloway and Bill Giles will be performing as Bluegrass & Beyond NYC as part of Make Music NY 2010.

LaGuardia Corner Gardens, Greenwich Village, Make Music NY 2009

We'll be performing again this year at one of our favorite outdoor venues - the LaGuardia Corner Gardens - right in the heart of Greenwich Village.

Here's the info:

Sunday, June 20th, 2010 between 5:30 and 7:00pm 

at

LaGuardia Corner Gardens  - between Bleecker and Houston St. (much closer to Bleecker).


It's a free event!

LaGuardia Corner Gardens, 2009

We'll be playing an acoustic set - mostly non-bluegrass numbers - for an hour and a half.

Hope you can make it!

AJ Bender, Dave Comins, Sarah Galloway and Bill Giles

Bluegrass & Beyond NYC 

Below are some shots of us playing at Make Music 2008 on the Upper West Side at the 2nd Presbyterian Church as part of the NY Pinewoods Folk Music Club :