Happy New Year, B & B ers:
Well, we had to compete with a mighty blizzard and holiday hangovers last week, but the place was rocking with a crowded jam, a full bar and a rowdy dart crowd to start the new year.
Scotty, Tony and Jeanne really rose to the occasion, literally serenading some Brasilian tourists at the bar with requests for "The Girl From Ipanema", "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I've got Rhythm".
Others who got big reactions from the audience included Sarah's "Can't Let Go" (Randy Weeks via Lucinda Williams), Danny's "House Of The Rising Sun" and co-leader AJ's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door".
But, by far the biggest hits of the evening came from founder emeritus, Bill - who enjoying his leisure time away from co-hosting, has become a veritable song machine. This week he came in with Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock" (although he credited bass player Dan as well) and later gave the bar a shot of good old-fashioned religion with "Crying Holy" - and believe me, some of them were on that one. Good going Brother Bill!
I don't know if I can take credit for getting the place rocking, but I did have one extremely loyal fan take a break from the dart match to help me out loudly on Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother". All right, he was only one person, but if you were there, you know that he made Paddy's sound like the Armadillo World Headquarters for one song. We sang so well... so well... SO WELL!
By the way Leslie, being from Texas, was helping us out as well - albeit in a more lady-like fashion.
Bass player Dan, when he wasn't inspiring Bill's rockabilly, gave us a rare treat when he dueted with Cynthia on "Once More" - sounding a little like George Jones and Melba Montgomery - even inspiring Scotty to direct the B & B band behind their singing.
Scotty produced another interesting moment when he led Neil Diamond's "Song, Song, Blue" - it was pretty funny watching the bluegrass picker's faces during that one!
Now, before you worry that we've changed our jam name to "... & Beyond" - rest assured that there was plenty of bluegrass picking going on as well.
Leslie, Jon, Bill and co-host Mike, by evening's end, conspired to give us most of the 2nd Avenue Mountain Boys repertoire. I love Jon's version of Grandpa Jones' "Eight More Miles To Louisville" and "Banjo" Mike brought in a new hot banjo tune to rival "Newton Grove" and "Kentucky Mandolin". I'll get the name next time - I know we'll be playing that one a lot. Leslie did a nice version of "On And On", but, I have to admit, I still miss the old Leslie of "La Bamba" fame!
Craig earlier, started off the Grandpa Jones segment of the evening with "It's Raining Here This Morning" and Scott 2, besides bringing his cool fedora wearing friend Chris 2, gave us "Molly And Tenbrooks".
Chris 1 finally got back to basics - quit playing sideways on his guitar - and knocked off Wayne "The Train" Hancock's "Thunderstorms And Neon Signs" (probably just to quiet me down for a jam or two). He also gave me the quote of the night when he told me: "... that bass player is almost too good for bluegrass, he's got to hack it up a little more to sound authentic...".
Believe me Dan, he was complimenting you! Between Chris, Bill, Scotty and Cynthia, we'll have start printing tee shirts: "I'm a Dan Fan"! Hey, you already have a band leader...
Cynthia, by the way, did pretty well without Dan as well - doing Emmylou's "Wyoming Cowboy" and Jeanne and Tony together played a beautiful version of the "Lonesome Moonlight Waltz".
Tony did a number of good ones, but I always like his version of the semi-autobiographical Merle Haggard classic "Mama Tried" (and I'm referring to Tony, not Merle).
Which brings me to my closing argument for my fellow members of the Bluegrass & Beyond Bar Association (and you know what "bar" I'm talking about).
I didn't mind it too much when a second Scott appeared on the scene - nobody would ever mistake Scotty for Scott; but then, a second Steve appeared at the jam! I know, you can say that one's tall and young, etc. - but the point remains that the blogging is becoming harder and harder. Not to mention that I still often confuse Scott 2 with Steve 2 to this day (and I won't even mention Danny and Dan)! But I've been dealing with it...
Fast forward, and now we get Chris 2, brought in by Steve 2 (see how complicated it gets?). When will it stop? I'm thinking proposing a limit of 3 on each name... and how do I refer to them all? Chris 1, 2, 3?; Scotty the Elder?, Steve the Slender? Nicknames? The "Hat", "Bass Man" or The "Bluegrass Buddha"?
Why can't everyone have a name like Zubie or Izzy? Do you think they have trouble getting good User IDs? (Zubie4001?)
Maybe we can implant the offenders with bar codes and I can scan you before your breaks?
Well, I've managed to avoid therapy so far, but don't any of you even think about inviting another "Dave" to B & B - I already have to wear a name tag to remind myself who I am!
See you next time, and check out Mary Parker's photos of the Dec. 20th, 2010 jam on Facebook (you don't have to be a member to look).
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Well, we had to compete with a mighty blizzard and holiday hangovers last week, but the place was rocking with a crowded jam, a full bar and a rowdy dart crowd to start the new year.
Scotty, Tony and Jeanne really rose to the occasion, literally serenading some Brasilian tourists at the bar with requests for "The Girl From Ipanema", "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I've got Rhythm".
Others who got big reactions from the audience included Sarah's "Can't Let Go" (Randy Weeks via Lucinda Williams), Danny's "House Of The Rising Sun" and co-leader AJ's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door".
But, by far the biggest hits of the evening came from founder emeritus, Bill - who enjoying his leisure time away from co-hosting, has become a veritable song machine. This week he came in with Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock" (although he credited bass player Dan as well) and later gave the bar a shot of good old-fashioned religion with "Crying Holy" - and believe me, some of them were on that one. Good going Brother Bill!
I don't know if I can take credit for getting the place rocking, but I did have one extremely loyal fan take a break from the dart match to help me out loudly on Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother". All right, he was only one person, but if you were there, you know that he made Paddy's sound like the Armadillo World Headquarters for one song. We sang so well... so well... SO WELL!
By the way Leslie, being from Texas, was helping us out as well - albeit in a more lady-like fashion.
Bass player Dan, when he wasn't inspiring Bill's rockabilly, gave us a rare treat when he dueted with Cynthia on "Once More" - sounding a little like George Jones and Melba Montgomery - even inspiring Scotty to direct the B & B band behind their singing.
Scotty produced another interesting moment when he led Neil Diamond's "Song, Song, Blue" - it was pretty funny watching the bluegrass picker's faces during that one!
Now, before you worry that we've changed our jam name to "... & Beyond" - rest assured that there was plenty of bluegrass picking going on as well.
Leslie, Jon, Bill and co-host Mike, by evening's end, conspired to give us most of the 2nd Avenue Mountain Boys repertoire. I love Jon's version of Grandpa Jones' "Eight More Miles To Louisville" and "Banjo" Mike brought in a new hot banjo tune to rival "Newton Grove" and "Kentucky Mandolin". I'll get the name next time - I know we'll be playing that one a lot. Leslie did a nice version of "On And On", but, I have to admit, I still miss the old Leslie of "La Bamba" fame!
Craig earlier, started off the Grandpa Jones segment of the evening with "It's Raining Here This Morning" and Scott 2, besides bringing his cool fedora wearing friend Chris 2, gave us "Molly And Tenbrooks".
Chris 1 finally got back to basics - quit playing sideways on his guitar - and knocked off Wayne "The Train" Hancock's "Thunderstorms And Neon Signs" (probably just to quiet me down for a jam or two). He also gave me the quote of the night when he told me: "... that bass player is almost too good for bluegrass, he's got to hack it up a little more to sound authentic...".
Believe me Dan, he was complimenting you! Between Chris, Bill, Scotty and Cynthia, we'll have start printing tee shirts: "I'm a Dan Fan"! Hey, you already have a band leader...
Cynthia, by the way, did pretty well without Dan as well - doing Emmylou's "Wyoming Cowboy" and Jeanne and Tony together played a beautiful version of the "Lonesome Moonlight Waltz".
Tony did a number of good ones, but I always like his version of the semi-autobiographical Merle Haggard classic "Mama Tried" (and I'm referring to Tony, not Merle).
Which brings me to my closing argument for my fellow members of the Bluegrass & Beyond Bar Association (and you know what "bar" I'm talking about).
I didn't mind it too much when a second Scott appeared on the scene - nobody would ever mistake Scotty for Scott; but then, a second Steve appeared at the jam! I know, you can say that one's tall and young, etc. - but the point remains that the blogging is becoming harder and harder. Not to mention that I still often confuse Scott 2 with Steve 2 to this day (and I won't even mention Danny and Dan)! But I've been dealing with it...
Fast forward, and now we get Chris 2, brought in by Steve 2 (see how complicated it gets?). When will it stop? I'm thinking proposing a limit of 3 on each name... and how do I refer to them all? Chris 1, 2, 3?; Scotty the Elder?, Steve the Slender? Nicknames? The "Hat", "Bass Man" or The "Bluegrass Buddha"?
Why can't everyone have a name like Zubie or Izzy? Do you think they have trouble getting good User IDs? (Zubie4001?)
Maybe we can implant the offenders with bar codes and I can scan you before your breaks?
Well, I've managed to avoid therapy so far, but don't any of you even think about inviting another "Dave" to B & B - I already have to wear a name tag to remind myself who I am!
See you next time, and check out Mary Parker's photos of the Dec. 20th, 2010 jam on Facebook (you don't have to be a member to look).
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
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