Feb. 15, 2010 - The "Wedding Singer" Jam

Hi Everyone,

This last jam was quite a barn-burner - lots of old, familiar faces showed back up again, Bob, Karen, Phyllis, Warren - and with plenty of good material. I half expected "California" or Andrew to walk into the room...

I, myself, had a slow night. 

I don't know about you, but I'm won't be sleeping properly again until the last stone from the Curling medal round has been sent down the ice. It takes me an hour to get to sleep after each match (just like Bluegrass & Beyond). Not knowing whether the stone will begin curling too late - Will the sweepers will be allowed to do their work? - Is the stone thrown with the right weight? 

I've got no fingernails left. My wife can't live with me! What will I be like during the Skeleton events?

Luckily, you guys don't have to live with me, and Sarah pretty much ignores me - which explains how she was able to come in with songs like U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way" (Scotty loved that one!).

Karen got the bar rockin' as well with a reprise of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth".

Judy proved that she beats to a "Different Drum (Mike Nesmith)" by doing Dolly's "I Will Always Love You".

She also brought in some leftover chocolate birthday cake, which we proceeded to eat while Bob led a bluegrass "Happy Birthday" to both Karen and Judy.

Bob (when he wasn't pointing out the political incorrectness of my "More Pretty Girls Than One"), led a couple of good ones, including the standard "Ashes Of Love". 

Lynn answered my song about womanizing with Kitty Well's "I'm Thinking Tonight of That Great Speckled Bird Who Made Honky Tonk Angels". (I think that's a mixed-up metaphor).

Phyllis called on Kris Kristofferson to "Help Us Make It Through The Night" - although I doubt that even he could help.

Warren led "All The Good Times Are Past And Gone". Well, he should watch the Olympics with me - I defy him to sing that one during the Biathlon!

Gary went back to 1919, and Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller, for "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate".

Thanks to Dan for the bass playing and cool solo -  and I want to mention Mary, who's photos are starting to adorn the Bluegrass And Beyond Web Site.

Co-host AJ, reveling in all the good singers available - had an easy night leading the jam, but, still managed to squeeze in "The Weight", before turning it over to co-host Bill.

Bill was on fire, with Elvis' "Too Much", the Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Big Sciota" - and ending with a slowed down version of CCR's "Bad Moon Rising". Or, as we at Paddy's affectionately call it - "There's A Bathroom On The Right"...

He was also a contributor to my "Pickaway" and Banjo Mike's "John Henry" - before playing a part in the strangest part of the evening...

Scotty was showing off his sun tan from the Jewish wedding that he'd just returned from playing at in Florida, when I asked him for a sample. Well, Scotty started in on the whole she-bang -  and, co-host Bill joins in on banjo!

Just when I thought I was in a production of "Fiddler On The Roof" - I WAS...

All of a sudden Scotty starts in on "Sunrise, Sunset", and Jon, of all people starts singing it! It turns out he was the lead in his high school's production of it...

Oy vey, such problems did Earl and Lester never have...

A great jam, see you soon. (Oh, and Bob, you were right, if you had sung "More Pretty Girls", you never would have heard the end of it).

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

The Feb. 1, 2010 Jam

Hello Everybody,

Well, before I begin this week, I'm sad to report another loss to our Bluegrass & Beyond family - Andrew - who's been a stalwart contributor both to the jam and the website (see his "Bluegrass Tao" and "Fiddle Tune Chord Sheet"). 

He wrote to say that he's taking a new job in New Jersey and was moving there - I thought he was taking a paper route or some such job as I would get - but it seems that he had something more important in mind - something about being N.J. State Treasurer!

Hardly an excuse for missing Bluegrass & Beyond, but everyone has their own priorities... I'm sure going to miss him at Grey Fox this year - as I wrote last year: "Highlights included... Andrew's fashionable handling of the rain wear dilemma - he should be the cover model for the new "Grey Fox" line of camping wear and fashion accessories".

Maybe we will see him this year - he'll have the only mud-covered black limousine in the parking lot - and a chauffeur to carry his instrument cases. What a life!

Speaking of recent departures and Grey Fox, with an irony that would make Ray ("California") smile - after teasing him mercilessly about wreaking Mike's "Cherokee Shuffle" at last year's Grey Fox campsite by mistakingly playing "Bill Cheathem" in the middle three times in a row - I committed a similar offense myself. And it even involved Mike again!

Returning from the back room, I proceeded to play a "Fireball Mail" break two times through when called - unfortunately being the only one in the room not aware that Mike had instead earlier called "John Henry". Well, at least I didn't do it 3 times in a row - R a a a y! But I DID get a look from Mike...

Banjo Mike's going to think the bluegrass world's against him - with friends like these...

It didn't really pick up from there for me, as I spent most of the time during my version of Charlie Monroe's "When The Angels Carry Me Home" trying to figure what other song it reminded me of. Co-hosts A.J. and Bill promptly picked up with "Mountain Dew" as my last banjo note faded... thus putting me out of my misery.

I've got to hand it to both my co-hosts though, they always bring their "A" game to pick me up when I'm down.

Bill came in with The Young Rascals' "Good Lovin" and Neil Diamond's "I'm A Believer" (via The Monkees) - both in most lists of the top 100 singles of all time.

A.J., taking his leadership role seriously (as opposed to yours truly), brought it on with Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" and Emmylou's "Satan's Jewel Crown". 

Sarah got Scottie worked up to a frenzy with Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" from the Motown era .

Isn't it nice to have Scottie? Any time you need an extended break on a song in whatever key - there he is - the Bluegrass Buddha... waiting patiently, smiling...

During "Midnight Moonlight" did played both Jerry and Vassar's parts (on the guitar) during the endless "Bb - G" break, and the fade out on Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down A Dream" - "Eb - F - G"? No problem (we just added the whoo - whoos). Eventually he ran out of frets and we ended the song!

Kudos to Lynn for her attempting Alison Krauss' "Endless Highway" - a song that we should make a Bluegrass & Beyond standard. Look it up - it's only got 4 chords - I told her to do it again next time, when more people know it.

Jonathan, perhaps being in a bluegrass state of mind these days, what with the 2nd Ave. Mountain Boys and all (Friday, Feb. 5th, 8 pm @ Paddy's), brought in a plethora of standards in "Rosalie McFall", "Let Me Love You One More Time" and "I Feel The Blues Movin' In" - leaving me waiting yet another jam for Parts 2 and 3 of the Dead's "Terrapin Station Suite"...

Liz did a nice "Sitting On Top Of The World', and Warren (without his usual GIANT wall-sized "Post-It" note) did "Rocky Top".

Recent newbie Steve contributed with a swingy version of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

A nice jam (hopefully I'll be a little sharper next time) and Andrew, if the State needs a loan - don't call me!

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com