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