March 15th, 2010 - The "Irish" Jam

Good day to you, lassies and laddies:

Well, being a bluegrass-based jam in an Irish Pub has it's moments - usually surrounding St. Patrick's Day in NYC! But, being appreciative of owner Steve's continuing support, we again did our bit for the Irish this week.

We started a half hour late, as we walked on a full-fledged Irish pub crawl / singalong to Raylene's IPod - which apparently was programmed in Dublin.

Even Scotty couldn't compete with that... although he later tried (along with half the bar).

Co-host A J really bailed us out this jam - with his enormous repertoire including enough Irish songs to keep the place rocking all night. We did 'em all (with a lot of help) - "The Irish Rover", "The Fields Of Athenry", "Whiskey In The Jar"...

Scotty pitched in with "Danny Boy" and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" - duetting with about 20 others (while A J waltzed with a pretty lass - ah, the things he does for Ireland!).

Co-host Bill, Mike, Jon and I did the best we could to contribute on the instrumental side - leading "Red-Haired Boy", "Whiskey Before Breakfast" and a host of others to keep the atmosphere festive. 

Bill actually scored the second biggest hit of the night with that old Irish classic "Love The One You're With" - they loved it! We even did an encore ending for the bar - and they nailed it again - da-da-da-da-da-da,  da-da,  da-da-da...

In between all this, we even had a jam...

Sarah got a good response with U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - hey, it's Irish.

Karen's "Handsome Molly" didn't hurt either.

Craig ("Mr. Sound") picked a good night for his B & B debut - laying down "Dead Flowers" for me - and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" for everyone else.

Lee made his way up from Washington Sq. Park and did the Stones" "Factory Girl".

I got some reaction with "Honky Tonk Woman" - although it seemed to be more like laughter at my yodelling prowess. I'm sure my Carter Family's "No Depression" knocked 'em dead as well (I wisely didn't yodel on that one!).

Sarah also did her great version of Washington Phillips' "Denomination Blues" - sans zithers.

Jon did a request for Lyle Lovett's "If I Had A Boat" (it wasn't from me this time).

Jon also was involved with me in Scotty's theatrical production of the night . Perhaps in recognition of the Ides Of March (March 15th) - Scott came up with "That's Amore!". Jon and I provided the falsetto background singing for that one - sounding straight out of one of Jon's old high-school production numbers (see The "Wedding Singer" Jam blog entry for their "Fiddler On The Roof" ).


Yes, I can see it like it was yesterday, a young Jon (as Brutus) stabs Caesar (a young Scotty?), and they break into song with "That's Amore!".


Mystery man Tony ("Mr. T") sang us a great waltz-time country number - which he introduced as having no title, and written by no one. That's why we call him the mystery man.

Bass player Dan took the evening as a whole in stride - Irish and all - and is getting called on more and more frequently for bass solos, I've noticed. I suspect Cynthia isn't far from leading a song soon as well.

Finally, a note from Andrew, laboring away in the N J political world: "Dave - This article mentions the B & B. You're viral!"  Thanks for remembering your people Andrew - we'll see you this year at Grey Fox!

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

The March 1, 2010 Jam

Hello All,

Well the March 1st jam is in the books.

Co-host Bill, possibly inspired by Neil Young's Olympic Closing Ceremony performance, gave us "Rockin' In The Free World" - bringing down the house.

Although, upon reflection - probably not. This IS the same Bill who thinks luge in a city in Belgium, skeleton is something that politicians find in their closet, and curling is something you do when you put your hand around a Guinness. 

But the choice was inspired nonetheless!

Bill later also pulled out a fun one for the audience, with the Stone's "Get Off My Cloud" - glad I didn't have to do a banjo solo on that one... I think Mike went and got a beer.

Scottie went old country on us with Mac Davis' "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me".

Tony went country country on us with "The Perfect Country Song" - David Allan Coe's "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" - written by Steve Goodman.

"...WELL, I WAS DRUNK THE DAY MY MOM GOT OUT OF PRISON,

     AND I WENT TO PICK HER UP IN THE RAIN;

BUT BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE STATION IN MY PICKUP TRUCK,

     SHE GOT RUNNED OVER BY A DAMNED OLD TRAIN."

Hum-m-m... Mom, prison, pickups, trains - if it wasn't for bad luck, wouldn't have no luck at all - that's as country as country gets.

War-ren ("Mr. Post-It") Peace gave us some hard core bluegrass with "Teardrops In My Eyes".

"Slow Jam" Sue came to check out the competition, and show off her new versions of "Salt Creek" and "Bill Cheatem".

Sarah did a beautiful number - a version of "The Blackest Crow" via Uncle Earl.

Co-host A J did a traditional one with "Leavin" Home" and finished off his co-hosting half of the night with Peter Rowen's "Midnight Moonlight".

Jon and Mike did some nice numbers during the course of the jam - of course, I can't remember any of them - can you say Ginko Biloba?

At least I remember what I did (I think). 

"I'll Cry Instead" went swimmingly, until I gave everyone the wrong chord during Scotty's break on the bridge; and during "I'm Knockin' On Your Door", I don't think Karen ever stopped laughing at my opening Peter Rowan imitation. I was, actually, trying to be serious!


Karen also caught co-host Bill and I with our fingers in the cookie jar, when she walked in on our version of her favorite "For What It's Worth" by Steven Stills.


We had come up with a funky version that we were going to try out behind her back. So, after posting look-outs all up and down 2nd Ave., we decided to give it a go. Of course, no sooner had the first harmonics rung out - when Karen snuck in through security - it WAS fun to watch Bill squirming all through the remainder of the song.


Karen joined in with us and took it in stride... although that's the last time we'll pay off our look-outs with Guinness!


We'll have better luck next jam,

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com