Dec. 14th, 2009 - The "Holiday" Jam

Happy Holidays, Everyone:

The 2nd Annual Bluegrass & Beyond "Holiday" Jam was a little more subdued than last year's - perhaps because of it's proximity to Christmas - or, perhaps because some of you continue to hold onto the age old values of being with family and loved ones at the holidays. 

Come On! It's the 21st Century, folks - Christmas... Family... Loved Ones... that's SO 20th Century! 

Next you'll tell me that you still like to hand make music on acoustic instruments - in the company of other live musicians...  Not me - give me Guitar Hero, Facebook and let me Twit? (oh yeah, John Cleese "twits", we Tweet). Virtual reality can't come soon enough for this old Rockabilly.

Anyway, between Karen's cookies (I can still taste 'em), Scotty's 1-man Holiday Spectacular (unfortunately, his Scottettes didn't show), AJ's "Christmas With The Family" and  Bill and Sarah's surf-rock, Spanish fandango version of "What Child Is This?" (I think I had a part in that one, too) - it passed for a Holiday Jam!

Oh, and even the Easter Bunny made a cameo (during the "Day-O, Banana Boat Carol"):

"The Kings see something hippity-hopping along, 

It’s the Easter Bunny, heh, you don’t belong in this song;

Bunny says you better hurry up on your way,

If  the Child not born, I got no Holiday."

Apparently we had a pretty good time because Brett followed up Bill's "All Right Now" with another Free-related song by Bad Company - which nobody at the jam that night can now recall the name of - including Brett ("Gawd, That was like 50 beers ago...").

Brett and I also tried Jerry Reed's "Eastbound And Down" - probably more of that beer thing ("The boys are thirsty in Atlanta, and there's beer in Texarkana").

Tony kept us movin' further on with "On The Road Again" from Willie. 

Karen, perhaps mindful us of the follies of our ways reminded us of life "In The Gravel Yard" (with a number for my name...).

Bill further admonished us with Ralph Stanley's "Shoutin' On The Hills" - reminding us to "make our reservations" - and not at the Rainbow Room for New Year's Eve...).

All I can say is that there'd be a lot fewer churches if there were no bars to repent from... (and probably fewer gravel yards, too).

Sarah reminded us that "All Things Must Pass" (she's been singing that a lot since she married me!).

And the jam did, too, but not before a rousing group version of "Sweet Georgia Brown".

In a final touching gesture of how the holiday spirit affects us all - even grizzled Tony - the big guy was packed up and leaving when we started playing "The Hobo Song" from Old And In The Way. He ran back in, unpacked his guitar and even managed to get a solo in. Obviously, he was so moved by my singing of it that he just had to share in the musical joy we were creating.

Funny though - he told me later that I was hacking it up so bad that he felt an obligation to come back in and set me right. I still prefer to think the holiday spirit engulfed him...

Hopefully, with Steve, Eileen, Raylene and Paddy's help, there'll be more Holiday parties to come! 

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

Upcoming Change In Newsletter Distribution

Hello all,


Starting with the next jam notification e-mail, the newsletter will not be contained within.


We're not going Cold Turkey here, I will still be sending a jam date reminder, along with a link to the blog.


I would hope that people still find my newsletters entertaining enough to continue reading on the blog site (I know I do). However, we're finding that more and more things are going onto the blog that people never know about.


We'd like you to get in the habit of checking in occasionally.


There are other reasons for this as well. 


Co-hosts Bill and A J want to be able to leave comments and know that people will see them in a timely fashion.


To this end, we've added a "Recent Comments" section on the sidebar - hopefully, making it more enticing for all to comment to the group, knowing that their comments won't languish in obscurity.


There is also now a General Discussion Board where comments can go, and remain easily accessible to all at a later date - find it under "Links".


Most importantly, for the near future, it won't be necessary to have a Google account to leave comments. Comments will still be moderated, with a word verification for spam reduction, and all must be signed (first name only please, no URL - under "Name / URL" in the "Comment As' pull=down menu).


Additionally, there is also now a (sometimes) working "Search The Blog" function, so you can find out who said or sung what - and when.


Also, an expanded "Links" page and a "Jam Calendar" (updated for all of 2010!) are available on the Bluegrass & Beyond NYC Web Site - with links from the Blog.


I will still e-mail occasionally with time-sensitive items about special events, etc. - but I would like most everything else to happen on the Blog and Web Sites. 


We're also going to be doing some photography and recording during some jams in the new year - not too fancy, but enough to give people who come to the Web Site an idea of what goes on every second Monday at Paddy's.






Dave Comins
www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com 

Ray ("California") Has Left The Building!

This is a sad one for me: 


"California" (Ray), after having snuck into our lives early this year, has finally left for good on Dec. 15th - back to the ranch in California.


I know, you're thinking that he "left" us once before in July, and we had a good going away party for him - and, an even better one after he'd left (but not before he'd camped with us at Grey Fox - and blew Mike's mind on "Cherokee Shuffle" , or, at least, that's what Mike was trying to play...).


Here's what I sang at the time (to "California Girls"):

"Well, Ray came into New York City,
To work in the movies blowing up cars;

But, he soon discovered Bluegrass and Beyond,
Now he hanging out in Paddy’s bar.

But, he’ got him a ranch out in California,
With plenty of horses, kids and such;

And with his pretty wife Kim, this is all he needs,
So, New York, thank you very much."

We went through a lot with Ray... 

He and his wife Kim celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary with us (I got on his case about that one) and he was nervously playing the night before leaving for California as wildfires burned within a couple miles of his ranch.


He survived the "Deluge" jam - when Paddy's was leaking like a sieve.


Even though I always considered him an easy target for newsletter barbs, I'm really going to miss him at these jams - he really contributed to the great atmosphere that prevails throughout.


We even did a song together once (no, not "California Girls"). I bet you want to forget that night, Ray.


One final note, those of us who camped with him at Grey Fox heard a different Ray on guitar. We know that he can't play mandolin - but he really kicks on jazz guitar. It's a pity that he never got to showcase it for the group!


Keep in touch, "California", give our best to Kim, and stay in touch (there's always the "General Discussion Board")!


Dave (and many others at Bluegrass & Beyond )

2nd Ave. Mountain Boys (...& Girls?) This Tuesday At Paddy's

Folks:

I just received this gig notice from co-host Bill today:

"Hey Dave - Here's the info on our gig. The Second Avenue Mountain Boys (consisting of John, Leslie, Banjo Mike, and me) will be playing this Tuesday, December 22 at Paddy Reilly's, 2nd Ave at 29th St.... Time is 8:30 p.m.

So its a big music week coming up at Paddy's...Bluegrass & Beyond on Monday, and then our gig on Tuesday. I better stock up on coffee!

Bill"

In addition, A J and I (DC) will be performing a brief cameo at this Saturday (12/22) night's 2nd Annual Holiday Hootenanny - hosted by The Itinerants at Paddy Reilly's - 9 p.m. to about 2.

We-re scheduled to do our three-minute version of Robert Earl Keene's "Christmas With The Family" at 11p.m. +/-. Don't blink or you'll miss us, amongst the chaos of a full holiday choir, a 12-piece lady's accordion orchestra (in full costume, no less), reggae, rockabilly and, did I mention, "The Chipmunk Song"? (And this is only the first hour...!)

Dave Comins

www.bluegrassandbeyondnyc.com

General Discussion Board - Post Your Jam Comments Here

Use this board for any general jam comments, song info, observations or queries (and praise for hosts...).


The link to the board will be in the Links section of the blog.


In case you're unfamiliar with how to post a comment, click the "Post A Comment" link at the bottom of a post or comment, type your comment into the box, and sign it by clicking on "Name / URL" under "Choose An Identity", entering your first name only after "Name" (nothing after URL) - "Preview" it, then hit "Publish Your Comment". Don't forget the word verification at the end of the process.


Bill and I will also be posting here on a semi-regular basis. A J on an irregular basis.