Thursday, January 3, 2013
Monday, March 28, 2011
Showtime! Revised Order of Performers for Monday, April 4th.
Well folks, we're one week away from showtime!!!
Here's a revised list of the the performers, in order of performance for the April 4th Bluegrass & Beyond Showcase:
AJ will start as close to 7:30 as the audience allows. Remember, 10 minutes per 2 song slot - including set-up.
We're expecting to finish between 10:30 and 11:00 - with a jam to follow.
Come on, stay up late... it's a special night!
(Special note from Dave: Craig will be doing the sound all night with possibly as many as 30 different set-ups. Steve of Paddy's will be paying him - but not enough for what he'll have to do that evening. I think if you're performing, you should slip Craig $2-3, or a drink, so that he can walk out with an extra $40. for a long night's work. I know I will.)
1. AJ (2 songs)
2. Scott B. and Kate (2 songs)
3. Phyllis (2 songs)
4. Scottie S. (2 songs)
5. Liz (2 songs)
6. Karen (1 song only)
7. Judy (2 songs)
8. Rob (2 songs)
9. Steve (Rob's friend - 1 song only)
10. Jeanne (1 song only)
11. Steve F. (1 song only)
12. Susie & Robert (2 songs)
13. Cynthia (1 song only)
14. Dan (1 song only)
15. Kate (2 songs)
16. Kim (2 songs)
17. Bill (2 songs)
18. Tony (2 songs)
19. Sarah (2 songs)
20. Banjo Mike (2 songs)
21. FINALE w/ past and present co-hosts - AJ, Dave, Bill and Mike (1 song only)
NOTES:
a) Karen - you're moved up because of family obligations.
b) Susie & Robert (#12) - are moved back but still may be late, or not make it - depending on their airline flights. Cynthia and Dan (#13 & 14) be aware!
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Here's a revised list of the the performers, in order of performance for the April 4th Bluegrass & Beyond Showcase:
AJ will start as close to 7:30 as the audience allows. Remember, 10 minutes per 2 song slot - including set-up.
We're expecting to finish between 10:30 and 11:00 - with a jam to follow.
Come on, stay up late... it's a special night!
(Special note from Dave: Craig will be doing the sound all night with possibly as many as 30 different set-ups. Steve of Paddy's will be paying him - but not enough for what he'll have to do that evening. I think if you're performing, you should slip Craig $2-3, or a drink, so that he can walk out with an extra $40. for a long night's work. I know I will.)
1. AJ (2 songs)
2. Scott B. and Kate (2 songs)
3. Phyllis (2 songs)
4. Scottie S. (2 songs)
5. Liz (2 songs)
6. Karen (1 song only)
7. Judy (2 songs)
8. Rob (2 songs)
9. Steve (Rob's friend - 1 song only)
10. Jeanne (1 song only)
11. Steve F. (1 song only)
12. Susie & Robert (2 songs)
13. Cynthia (1 song only)
14. Dan (1 song only)
15. Kate (2 songs)
16. Kim (2 songs)
17. Bill (2 songs)
18. Tony (2 songs)
19. Sarah (2 songs)
20. Banjo Mike (2 songs)
21. FINALE w/ past and present co-hosts - AJ, Dave, Bill and Mike (1 song only)
NOTES:
a) Karen - you're moved up because of family obligations.
b) Susie & Robert (#12) - are moved back but still may be late, or not make it - depending on their airline flights. Cynthia and Dan (#13 & 14) be aware!
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A Message from Tony: Sunday Bluegrass Jam to Celebrate Paddy's 25th Anniversary.
Paddy Reilly's has long been a loyal supporter of acoustic music in New York. It has hosted Irish sessions since it's first days. For the last 16 years it has been the home of the Sunday bluegrass jam. It now has added jams on Monday nights and open mikes on Wednesday and Saturday. Many of the players from these jams have played weekend gigs at at Paddys. As many of you already know, Paddy Reilly's is celebrating their 25 anniversary this month. To help celebrate this milestone, owner Steve Dugan has asked to organize a special day of bluegrass for my weekly jam on Sunday March 20th. This also coincides with my 5th annual (but who's counting) 50th birthday bash.
Started at 4:30 ( a half hour early), the jam will start with an open mike. Each performer will have a 2 song opportunity to showcase their vocal and instrumental skills, on stage and through a microphone. There will be a house bass player there for anyone who wants one, plus plenty of other musicians around if anyone would like accompaniment. Each musician will receive a CD of their performance. The regular jam will follow as always at about 6:00 until the late hours.
Anyone wishing to participate in the open mike should sign up either through an e-mail to me or by showing up early on March 20th. If you have any preference to when you go on, I will try to accommodate you as best I can on a first come, first serve basis.
Thanks for all your support through the years.
Tony
Started at 4:30 ( a half hour early), the jam will start with an open mike. Each performer will have a 2 song opportunity to showcase their vocal and instrumental skills, on stage and through a microphone. There will be a house bass player there for anyone who wants one, plus plenty of other musicians around if anyone would like accompaniment. Each musician will receive a CD of their performance. The regular jam will follow as always at about 6:00 until the late hours.
Anyone wishing to participate in the open mike should sign up either through an e-mail to me or by showing up early on March 20th. If you have any preference to when you go on, I will try to accommodate you as best I can on a first come, first serve basis.
Thanks for all your support through the years.
Tony
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A Bluegrass & Beyond Showcase To Celebrate Paddy Reilly's 25th Anniversary
Please Note: The date has been changed from April 18th to April 4th!
As you were forewarned, we will be replacing our April 4th jam with a special event - a showcase of Bluegrass & Beyond talent, running between 7:30 and 10:30 - with Craig Tichy (who runs the Paddy Reilly's Wed. night "open mics") doing sound.
Here are some ground rules:
a) 6-12 minutes on stage, 1 or 2 songs for each person or group (see "f" below).
b) No more than 3 performers per group - and we encourage groups.
c) All of the performers for each time slot must all be included with each request.
d) If you want additional accompaniment, please let us know with your request (we'll do our best to find you some, including from among the leaders).
e) If you need to leave early, or start late, let us know along with your request.
f) A J, Banjo Mike and Dave will make the decisions about performers and number of songs and will try to please everyone, but promise nothing... except a good time!
g) It would be nice, since this is a B&B community event, and not just an every week "open mic" (sorry, Craig!), if people would make an effort to come early and stay late to make this a great event. Perhaps invite some friends or family.
h) A J will M.C. the event - with the inevitable help from "Banjo" Mike and yours truly. Craig will do the sound... thanks in advance, buddy!
Schedule:
1. March 7: Dave will have a sign-up sheet to take names (don't send me anything before). Also, you can ask us questions, and schmooze with each other about groupings and songs. Talk to Craig about sound issues (although you might buy him a beer while doing so).
2. March 14 (not a B & B jam night): is the deadline for submitting the name(s) of everyone who will be performing in each segment. Dave's e-mail is: d.comins@earthlink.net.
Dave will also be leading the Slow Jam at Paddy's this night, and will have the sign-up list with him. There is even a performance from 7:00-8:00 featuring AJ, Bill, Dave, Phyllis and Don (all slow jam leaders) before the jam.
Please: include the names of the 1-2 songs that will be performed, this will be helpful to us for planning the "flow" of the evening - and avoiding duplicates.
In addition, if you are requesting help with accompaniment, you will need to submit the songs, and keys, at this time - along with any suggestions (i.e. banjo, guitar, mando, dobro, lap steel, etc.). A bass may possibly be available as well, although no promises.
3. March 21: we will get back to everyone with a tentative schedule for the evening and make any final adjustments.
4. April 4: Performances from 7:30-10:30. Good Luck!
The performance will be followed, of course, by a jam. It is, after all, Bluegrass & Beyond...
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
As you were forewarned, we will be replacing our April 4th jam with a special event - a showcase of Bluegrass & Beyond talent, running between 7:30 and 10:30 - with Craig Tichy (who runs the Paddy Reilly's Wed. night "open mics") doing sound.
Here are some ground rules:
a) 6-12 minutes on stage, 1 or 2 songs for each person or group (see "f" below).
b) No more than 3 performers per group - and we encourage groups.
c) All of the performers for each time slot must all be included with each request.
d) If you want additional accompaniment, please let us know with your request (we'll do our best to find you some, including from among the leaders).
e) If you need to leave early, or start late, let us know along with your request.
f) A J, Banjo Mike and Dave will make the decisions about performers and number of songs and will try to please everyone, but promise nothing... except a good time!
g) It would be nice, since this is a B&B community event, and not just an every week "open mic" (sorry, Craig!), if people would make an effort to come early and stay late to make this a great event. Perhaps invite some friends or family.
h) A J will M.C. the event - with the inevitable help from "Banjo" Mike and yours truly. Craig will do the sound... thanks in advance, buddy!
Schedule:
1. March 7: Dave will have a sign-up sheet to take names (don't send me anything before). Also, you can ask us questions, and schmooze with each other about groupings and songs. Talk to Craig about sound issues (although you might buy him a beer while doing so).
2. March 14 (not a B & B jam night): is the deadline for submitting the name(s) of everyone who will be performing in each segment. Dave's e-mail is: d.comins@earthlink.net.
Dave will also be leading the Slow Jam at Paddy's this night, and will have the sign-up list with him. There is even a performance from 7:00-8:00 featuring AJ, Bill, Dave, Phyllis and Don (all slow jam leaders) before the jam.
Please: include the names of the 1-2 songs that will be performed, this will be helpful to us for planning the "flow" of the evening - and avoiding duplicates.
In addition, if you are requesting help with accompaniment, you will need to submit the songs, and keys, at this time - along with any suggestions (i.e. banjo, guitar, mando, dobro, lap steel, etc.). A bass may possibly be available as well, although no promises.
3. March 21: we will get back to everyone with a tentative schedule for the evening and make any final adjustments.
4. April 4: Performances from 7:30-10:30. Good Luck!
The performance will be followed, of course, by a jam. It is, after all, Bluegrass & Beyond...
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Feb. 7, 2011 - The "B.Y.O.C(hair)." or The "Mand-inator" Jam
Hello from Paddy's:
Some interesting things at last night's jam ... and I don't just mean Kim playing the wrong chord on a 1-chord song (which sounds remarkably like something I would've done - no wonder I like him). Luckily for us, he knew the chords to his own songs like Grandpa Jones' "It's Raining Here This Morning".
Cynthia made a grand entrance carrying a chair (what?) along with her guitar. That's right, Twin Peaks had their "log lady" and we've got our very own "chair lady". Along with her folding foot rest, she had quite a comfortable set-up, promising us a cup holder, wine cooler and picnic basket next time! I offered to sell her a permanent "parking space" next to the stage... marked on the floor with a Barca-lounge chair symbol. She politely declined...
She led some great songs (and played some nice solos), when not getting comfortable... EmmyLou's "If I Could Be There" and Hazel Dicken's " Don't Bother To Cry". Dan, although he didn't bring a chair, played some solid bass all night - and is rumored to be working on a killer Soul Stirrers' gospel number. Brother Bill watch out - it's got a 1-2-1 change in it!
The next surprise was Danny, rattling into the jam with a huge sounding resonator mandolin. Sarah thought I must have popped a hub cap during my earlier chase of "Maybelline" - and that Dan had found it and decided - "what the heck?". Meanwhile, Bob and I were having a heated discussion about whether you have to oil it, how many miles it gets to a gallon and do you take it to an auto repair shop for a set-up?
His version of Jim Croce's "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" however, showed us what that thing can do.
My wife, Sarah, always loves to kid me about discovering 70's glam and 80's arena rock at Bluegrass & Beyond - apparently I spent most of my younger days listening to Woody, Roscoe and the like. Luckily for me, and my music education, I have Scotty - although Bill ("Mr. Garage Band") comes in a close second!
Scott has totally taken up the "Beyond" banner at B & B... last week, Bread - this week, T-Rex's "Bang A Gong" (I knew neither the song, nor the group) and Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" (heard of them...). And we all learned some maj7 and sus4 chords.
Susie keeps bringing in interesting stuff. This week it was Kasey Chambers' "Sweetest Waste Of Time" - while Robert, apparently deciding his fingers weren't small enough for that little 18" inch electric bass he brings - brought out a nice camera and spent the night photographing the jam. Facebook anyone?
Bob led a couple with his usual Bob style - I liked Johnny Bond's "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight?". He left early though, probably tired of smelling the exhaust fumes from Danny's mando!
Dave #2 (gotta be #2 at this jam) led his first song that I can remember and it was a good one - Townes Van Zandt's "The Ballad Of Pancho & Lefty" - causing quite a stir with both "Banjo" Mike and Scotty (that's some high-powered stirring right there).
"Banjo" Mike also caused a stir with his "double time" break on Sarah's version of "I'm Going Down" by Springsteen. She also led an earlier "Orphan Girl" beautifully. What she sees in me, I'll never know...
AJ, hosting the earlier half of the jam with songs like "Big River" and Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go", so seamlessly passed off the hosting to "Banjo" Mike that Bill, catching me yawning, accused me of being bored during my own jam.
What can I say? Guilty, I've got nothing to do anymore - AJ and Mike are too good! I don't even know who's leading the jam anymore half the time - and very time I open my mouth, I get Mike's "you're not the boss of me!" or Sarah's micro-management lecture. Hey, Bob doesn't even laugh at my jokes anymore!
Brother Bill ("Mr. Emeritus"), enjoying his retirement, and perhaps hearing the same gospel rumors about Dan that I heard, decided to stir a few souls of his own with a new "Keep On The Firing Line" - balancing that in fine Bluegrass & Beyond fashion with The Band's "Up On Cripple Creek". Bill, got room in your retirement home for one more?
Instrumentals? We had 'em... Jeanne's "June Apple" medley, Bill's "Angeline / Old Joe Clark" medley (in different keys), Mike's "Salt Creek" (I left at midnight, so I probably missed another hour or so of 'em - Jon had just pulled in).
And Craig, what's the name of that Dixie Rose song you do?
See you next time, perhaps I'll bring my own recliner - I might as well be comfortable while doing nothing! I guess I could go out in the street and steal hub caps for Danny...
Some interesting things at last night's jam ... and I don't just mean Kim playing the wrong chord on a 1-chord song (which sounds remarkably like something I would've done - no wonder I like him). Luckily for us, he knew the chords to his own songs like Grandpa Jones' "It's Raining Here This Morning".
Cynthia made a grand entrance carrying a chair (what?) along with her guitar. That's right, Twin Peaks had their "log lady" and we've got our very own "chair lady". Along with her folding foot rest, she had quite a comfortable set-up, promising us a cup holder, wine cooler and picnic basket next time! I offered to sell her a permanent "parking space" next to the stage... marked on the floor with a Barca-lounge chair symbol. She politely declined...
She led some great songs (and played some nice solos), when not getting comfortable... EmmyLou's "If I Could Be There" and Hazel Dicken's " Don't Bother To Cry". Dan, although he didn't bring a chair, played some solid bass all night - and is rumored to be working on a killer Soul Stirrers' gospel number. Brother Bill watch out - it's got a 1-2-1 change in it!
The next surprise was Danny, rattling into the jam with a huge sounding resonator mandolin. Sarah thought I must have popped a hub cap during my earlier chase of "Maybelline" - and that Dan had found it and decided - "what the heck?". Meanwhile, Bob and I were having a heated discussion about whether you have to oil it, how many miles it gets to a gallon and do you take it to an auto repair shop for a set-up?
His version of Jim Croce's "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" however, showed us what that thing can do.
My wife, Sarah, always loves to kid me about discovering 70's glam and 80's arena rock at Bluegrass & Beyond - apparently I spent most of my younger days listening to Woody, Roscoe and the like. Luckily for me, and my music education, I have Scotty - although Bill ("Mr. Garage Band") comes in a close second!
Scott has totally taken up the "Beyond" banner at B & B... last week, Bread - this week, T-Rex's "Bang A Gong" (I knew neither the song, nor the group) and Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" (heard of them...). And we all learned some maj7 and sus4 chords.
Susie keeps bringing in interesting stuff. This week it was Kasey Chambers' "Sweetest Waste Of Time" - while Robert, apparently deciding his fingers weren't small enough for that little 18" inch electric bass he brings - brought out a nice camera and spent the night photographing the jam. Facebook anyone?
Bob led a couple with his usual Bob style - I liked Johnny Bond's "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight?". He left early though, probably tired of smelling the exhaust fumes from Danny's mando!
Dave #2 (gotta be #2 at this jam) led his first song that I can remember and it was a good one - Townes Van Zandt's "The Ballad Of Pancho & Lefty" - causing quite a stir with both "Banjo" Mike and Scotty (that's some high-powered stirring right there).
"Banjo" Mike also caused a stir with his "double time" break on Sarah's version of "I'm Going Down" by Springsteen. She also led an earlier "Orphan Girl" beautifully. What she sees in me, I'll never know...
AJ, hosting the earlier half of the jam with songs like "Big River" and Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go", so seamlessly passed off the hosting to "Banjo" Mike that Bill, catching me yawning, accused me of being bored during my own jam.
What can I say? Guilty, I've got nothing to do anymore - AJ and Mike are too good! I don't even know who's leading the jam anymore half the time - and very time I open my mouth, I get Mike's "you're not the boss of me!" or Sarah's micro-management lecture. Hey, Bob doesn't even laugh at my jokes anymore!
Brother Bill ("Mr. Emeritus"), enjoying his retirement, and perhaps hearing the same gospel rumors about Dan that I heard, decided to stir a few souls of his own with a new "Keep On The Firing Line" - balancing that in fine Bluegrass & Beyond fashion with The Band's "Up On Cripple Creek". Bill, got room in your retirement home for one more?
Instrumentals? We had 'em... Jeanne's "June Apple" medley, Bill's "Angeline / Old Joe Clark" medley (in different keys), Mike's "Salt Creek" (I left at midnight, so I probably missed another hour or so of 'em - Jon had just pulled in).
And Craig, what's the name of that Dixie Rose song you do?
See you next time, perhaps I'll bring my own recliner - I might as well be comfortable while doing nothing! I guess I could go out in the street and steal hub caps for Danny...
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Jan. 31, 2011 Jam
Nice jam last time, everyone!
Well, it turned out that our little Face-book discussion on the various uses of a banjo in the colder climes was prophetic. It started snowing halfway through the last jam, and by the time we left at 1:30, I needed all my instruments to get home... it must've made for some interesting tracks, wearing a banjo on one foot and a dobro on the other!
Karen, who made it in from the 'burbs, has the right answer for handling winter - 2 trained kids, who shovel for cheap - she always gets here. Hmmmm... I've got to get me one of those! Where do you get them? Do they come with shovels, or do I have to buy them separately?
Thinking ahead to the spring, as I'm sure most of you are by now, Paddy's owner Steve has announced the celebrations surrounding the 25th anniversary of Paddy Reilly's Music Bar will take place during March and April. For our part, we'll be having no jam on April 18th - instead mark your calendar for a special fun event for our jam participants - a Bluegrass & Beyond Showcase Night. More details forthcoming.
As for the latest jam, I can't help but think that my wife, Sarah, was a bit of a star - starting off doing a duet with Phyllis on "Please Help Me I'm Falling", following it up with Ralph Stanley's "The Darkest Hour Is Just Before The Dawn", and finishing with a rockin' version of "I Asked For Water" (Chester Burnett via Lucinda Williams - herself a major song-writing talent, just ask our Cynthia).
Dan, graciously giving up his bass for long periods to Robert and Joe, made good use of his down time, grabbing a Martin and playing lead on Cynthia's version of "Poor, Poor, Pitiful, Me". Cynthia however, didn't need any help on Hank's "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You".
AJ, hosting the early part of the evening got things rolling with Johnny Cash's "Big River" and Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain".
He had lots of help early on. Judy led a couple of good blues numbers, while Jon kept the bluegrass fires burning with "On & On", before giving us "Rosalie McFall". (Neither him, nor AJ, can seemingly go through a night without a Dead tune...)
Bill ("Mr. Emeritus") used Dan's rockabilly bass for Elvis' "All Shook Up", and Reno and Smiley's "Love, Please Come Home".
Newbie Susie kept it coming with her own version of "The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and a another good one - "Runaway Train".
Scotty, as usual, was ever vigilant in his pursuit of "Beyond" - but after an early scare with a song by Bread, came back down to Earth with Don Reno's "Long Gone".
"Banjo" Mike handled the later hosting chores, and after making sure that everyone else had gone, unleashed a barrage of his greatest hits - Tom Adam's "The Village Bear", Bill Monroe's "Kentucky Mandolin" and Richard Underwood's "Newton Grove" - all in the course of an hour! Chris behind the bar, was seen pulling out the CPR kit - just in case.
By the way, Craig, I know you were there, but since I can't remember any of your songs from Monday, I will compliment you on "The Hobo Song" that you led at Tony's jam on Sunday.
We had some late arriving first-timers as well, Corby gave us "Way Downtown" and Casey, besides some fine flat-picking sang "The Cuckoo" and "Down In The Willow Garden" (anyone that picks on a sunburst Martin always gets my attention!). They were still there (along with Jon, Bill, Mike, Scotty, Craig and myself at 1:30 - so they must've enjoyed themselves...).
And finally, just because I let AJ and "Banjo" Mike do all the work at B & B, don't think for a moment that I was relaxing. I got everybody "All Prayed Up" early on, got the bar "Running Down A Dream" midway through the evening - and fell in love with my wife all over again when "I Saw Her Standing There"!
Oh, did I mention that owner Steve was still there at 1:30 as well, buying drinks for everyone? Combined with my naturally declining memory skills and staying out late on work nights, having people buy you drinks in the early morning (see Tony from last jam) is probably not the most conducive for blog writing...
But it sure is fun trying!
Well, it turned out that our little Face-book discussion on the various uses of a banjo in the colder climes was prophetic. It started snowing halfway through the last jam, and by the time we left at 1:30, I needed all my instruments to get home... it must've made for some interesting tracks, wearing a banjo on one foot and a dobro on the other!
Karen, who made it in from the 'burbs, has the right answer for handling winter - 2 trained kids, who shovel for cheap - she always gets here. Hmmmm... I've got to get me one of those! Where do you get them? Do they come with shovels, or do I have to buy them separately?
Thinking ahead to the spring, as I'm sure most of you are by now, Paddy's owner Steve has announced the celebrations surrounding the 25th anniversary of Paddy Reilly's Music Bar will take place during March and April. For our part, we'll be having no jam on April 18th - instead mark your calendar for a special fun event for our jam participants - a Bluegrass & Beyond Showcase Night. More details forthcoming.
As for the latest jam, I can't help but think that my wife, Sarah, was a bit of a star - starting off doing a duet with Phyllis on "Please Help Me I'm Falling", following it up with Ralph Stanley's "The Darkest Hour Is Just Before The Dawn", and finishing with a rockin' version of "I Asked For Water" (Chester Burnett via Lucinda Williams - herself a major song-writing talent, just ask our Cynthia).
Dan, graciously giving up his bass for long periods to Robert and Joe, made good use of his down time, grabbing a Martin and playing lead on Cynthia's version of "Poor, Poor, Pitiful, Me". Cynthia however, didn't need any help on Hank's "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You".
AJ, hosting the early part of the evening got things rolling with Johnny Cash's "Big River" and Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain".
He had lots of help early on. Judy led a couple of good blues numbers, while Jon kept the bluegrass fires burning with "On & On", before giving us "Rosalie McFall". (Neither him, nor AJ, can seemingly go through a night without a Dead tune...)
Bill ("Mr. Emeritus") used Dan's rockabilly bass for Elvis' "All Shook Up", and Reno and Smiley's "Love, Please Come Home".
Newbie Susie kept it coming with her own version of "The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and a another good one - "Runaway Train".
Scotty, as usual, was ever vigilant in his pursuit of "Beyond" - but after an early scare with a song by Bread, came back down to Earth with Don Reno's "Long Gone".
"Banjo" Mike handled the later hosting chores, and after making sure that everyone else had gone, unleashed a barrage of his greatest hits - Tom Adam's "The Village Bear", Bill Monroe's "Kentucky Mandolin" and Richard Underwood's "Newton Grove" - all in the course of an hour! Chris behind the bar, was seen pulling out the CPR kit - just in case.
By the way, Craig, I know you were there, but since I can't remember any of your songs from Monday, I will compliment you on "The Hobo Song" that you led at Tony's jam on Sunday.
We had some late arriving first-timers as well, Corby gave us "Way Downtown" and Casey, besides some fine flat-picking sang "The Cuckoo" and "Down In The Willow Garden" (anyone that picks on a sunburst Martin always gets my attention!). They were still there (along with Jon, Bill, Mike, Scotty, Craig and myself at 1:30 - so they must've enjoyed themselves...).
And finally, just because I let AJ and "Banjo" Mike do all the work at B & B, don't think for a moment that I was relaxing. I got everybody "All Prayed Up" early on, got the bar "Running Down A Dream" midway through the evening - and fell in love with my wife all over again when "I Saw Her Standing There"!
Oh, did I mention that owner Steve was still there at 1:30 as well, buying drinks for everyone? Combined with my naturally declining memory skills and staying out late on work nights, having people buy you drinks in the early morning (see Tony from last jam) is probably not the most conducive for blog writing...
But it sure is fun trying!
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Jan. 17, 2011 - The "Women's" Jam
Wow, the 3rd great jam in a row - we're in the midst of a hot streak to start the new year.
The first thing that Sarah and I noticed was return of the prodigal jammers - Howard, Phyllis, Karen, the Professor, and Bob (well, he's not really so prodigal) - where have you been? We missed you...
Then Phyllis, before launching into her first song, made the astute observation that the jam was loaded with women - as if the guys hadn't already noticed!
Co-host AJ had his hands full right from the get-go (suspiciously eyeing Howard as he pulled out his uke) - mostly involving the "Great 2011 Electric Scare". That's right, new jammer Robert showed up with an electric bass - there, I said it - electric! Luckily, channelling my inner Hillary Clinton, I offered him diplomatic immunity and steered him over to Dan, who making nice, shared his stand-up all night.
I think Dan actually enjoyed the time off, taking the opportunity to play the "Martin horizontal 6-string bass", while leading "Don't This Road Look Rough And Rocky".
Cynthia got rave reviews from Scotty for her version of Linda Ronstadt's "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me".
Robert's co-newbie companion, Suzie, didn't bring anything electric, but she produced some electricity with her great voice on Utah Phillips' "Rock, Salt & Nails" and another great song about gambling.
Karen, back from the 'burbs, gave us a bluegrass version of Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" via Johnny Cash.
Sarah got Phyllis' attention with "Please Help Me I'm Falling" from the 60's, after which Kate followed with "Wagon Wheel".
Wow, there were a lot women there (and Lynn didn't even lead a song).
Scott #2, sporting a new buzz cut for work, unfortunately is taking a leave of absence from B & B for a while, but not before he gave us "Little Cabin Home In Tennessee" - leaving yours truly to wonder if he'll ever hear "The Word Broadminded Is Spelled S-I-N" again!
The first thing that Sarah and I noticed was return of the prodigal jammers - Howard, Phyllis, Karen, the Professor, and Bob (well, he's not really so prodigal) - where have you been? We missed you...
Then Phyllis, before launching into her first song, made the astute observation that the jam was loaded with women - as if the guys hadn't already noticed!
Co-host AJ had his hands full right from the get-go (suspiciously eyeing Howard as he pulled out his uke) - mostly involving the "Great 2011 Electric Scare". That's right, new jammer Robert showed up with an electric bass - there, I said it - electric! Luckily, channelling my inner Hillary Clinton, I offered him diplomatic immunity and steered him over to Dan, who making nice, shared his stand-up all night.
I think Dan actually enjoyed the time off, taking the opportunity to play the "Martin horizontal 6-string bass", while leading "Don't This Road Look Rough And Rocky".
Cynthia got rave reviews from Scotty for her version of Linda Ronstadt's "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me".
Robert's co-newbie companion, Suzie, didn't bring anything electric, but she produced some electricity with her great voice on Utah Phillips' "Rock, Salt & Nails" and another great song about gambling.
Karen, back from the 'burbs, gave us a bluegrass version of Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" via Johnny Cash.
Sarah got Phyllis' attention with "Please Help Me I'm Falling" from the 60's, after which Kate followed with "Wagon Wheel".
Wow, there were a lot women there (and Lynn didn't even lead a song).
Scott #2, sporting a new buzz cut for work, unfortunately is taking a leave of absence from B & B for a while, but not before he gave us "Little Cabin Home In Tennessee" - leaving yours truly to wonder if he'll ever hear "The Word Broadminded Is Spelled S-I-N" again!
Co-founder Bill, speaking from experience, actually thought Scott's hair might be a little too long for the banking world! Hey, I could've putted on that hair if it was a little flatter. Get back here soon, Scott.
Bob showing up unarmed, but still ever dangerous, borrowed a guitar for a song or two.
Bill again took advantage of Dan's bass playing for an Elvis number "Too Much" and Tony followed it up with a be-bop-a-lupin "Boppin' The Blues".
Co-founder Bill didn't disappoint on the gospel front either, coming in with yet another new (old) one, Ralph Stanley's "Home Far Away".
I finally got the name of co-host "Banjo" Mike's hot new banjo piece - "The Village Bear" - why couldn't I remember that? Next time, I'll find out where it came from. Do I really want to know?
Howard, besides providing really hot guitar solos all night, sang a beautiful ballad "The Bramble And The Rose" - and then raised a few eyebrows with his lighting fast ukulele break on Banjo Mike and Scotty's "Gold Rush". Yeah, I said ukulele!
Scotty was busy, as usual. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" gave Howard, Tony, Bill and Kim ample room to stretch out on. Later, after the jam, the unlikely hillbilly duo of Scotty and Dave combined for an ad hoc harmony duet on "Rocky Top" - causing a minor commotion at the bar (and with Kim).
But, this is where it gets interesting... how many jammers can follow up "Rocky Top" with Bach's "Prelude #1"? Well, Scotty can (and no, Segovia never played "Rocky Top, Tennessee" - as least while sober).
Jon, as usual, shone at the after jam - premiering a new bluegrass tune or two.
Co-host AJ, Professor Pete, Craig, Bob, Kim and Phyllis all did great songs - I just can't remember them. Oh, did I mention that Tony was buying me whiskeys at 1:30?
See you in two weeks, and thanks all for coming - from co-hosts AJ, "Banjo" Mike and,
Bob showing up unarmed, but still ever dangerous, borrowed a guitar for a song or two.
Bill again took advantage of Dan's bass playing for an Elvis number "Too Much" and Tony followed it up with a be-bop-a-lupin "Boppin' The Blues".
Co-founder Bill didn't disappoint on the gospel front either, coming in with yet another new (old) one, Ralph Stanley's "Home Far Away".
I finally got the name of co-host "Banjo" Mike's hot new banjo piece - "The Village Bear" - why couldn't I remember that? Next time, I'll find out where it came from. Do I really want to know?
Howard, besides providing really hot guitar solos all night, sang a beautiful ballad "The Bramble And The Rose" - and then raised a few eyebrows with his lighting fast ukulele break on Banjo Mike and Scotty's "Gold Rush". Yeah, I said ukulele!
Scotty was busy, as usual. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" gave Howard, Tony, Bill and Kim ample room to stretch out on. Later, after the jam, the unlikely hillbilly duo of Scotty and Dave combined for an ad hoc harmony duet on "Rocky Top" - causing a minor commotion at the bar (and with Kim).
But, this is where it gets interesting... how many jammers can follow up "Rocky Top" with Bach's "Prelude #1"? Well, Scotty can (and no, Segovia never played "Rocky Top, Tennessee" - as least while sober).
Jon, as usual, shone at the after jam - premiering a new bluegrass tune or two.
Co-host AJ, Professor Pete, Craig, Bob, Kim and Phyllis all did great songs - I just can't remember them. Oh, did I mention that Tony was buying me whiskeys at 1:30?
See you in two weeks, and thanks all for coming - from co-hosts AJ, "Banjo" Mike and,
Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The January 3rd, 2011 Jam
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
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
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.
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Sunday, October 31, 2010
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Saturday, October 23, 2010
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Sunday, October 17, 2010
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
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
Facebook / Bluegrass & Beyond NYC
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
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?
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
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
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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),
Monday, August 9, 2010
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!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Come Aways and The 2nd Ave. Mountain Boys to play at LaGuardia Corner Gardens
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| 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).
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| 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.
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| 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
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