Rolling Along

For those of you that have been wondering about me (and I'm sure that number is quite large), I'm alive and well and rolling right along.

Like a stone, as one might say.

Autumn always seems to bring a lull with it. Things have certainly slowed down. Guess that's why they call it the fall (whoever "they" are).

The summer, for both the working player and the weekend warrior that undercuts the working player, is and was lively and full of action. Lots of fun was had by yours truly. I had a great deal of work with both the Lonnie Brooks band and the BMR4, as well as the fine Mississippi Heat and Matt Stedman bands. I did a gig with an old pal, Vince Agwada, and another with an even older set of pals (Ron Shanaver, Buzz Kilman, Pat Brennan, "Dangerous" Dave Forte, and the All Bubba Blues Band/Heirs of Moe.)

Neil Young wouldn't have been prouder.

I also did a few clunkers. You know, the gig was average, the band (and the dough) was only average, the venue was average, and the wardrobe was average (if you look like a hack...)

But that was then, and this is now, and there's only looking forward. And even though things drop off a bit right about now, meaning the bread gets lighter in concert with the workload, it's by no means a disaster. Simply an adjustment in lifestyle.

And it is a lifestyle, not just a job.

Which is why it kills me that some of these younger cats out there can be so shortsighted. As you have by now surmised, I recently did a gig with a young bass player (always with the bass players.)

Green as a frog.

To again quote the late, great L.C. Walker (it's becoming routine these days, it would seem): "Let me elucidate."

You gotta do what you gotta do, and I understand that. But if you're gonna go ahead and take that $50 or $75 gig (yeah, I hate it too, but sometimes...,) the first thing to remember is that it's not really a good idea to bitch about it while you're on the gig. Nobody wants to hear it. Not the other guys in the band (they're getting screwed too, don't forget,) not the band leader, and certainly not the boss at the gig (even though he knows he's screwing you.)

Complaining will only give you a bad reputation in your young professional life. And since I am looking over at the kiddie table, remember that you don't exactly have one yet. We all deserve to make more, but we took the gig and that's that. If you really don't dig it, then don't do it (and believe me, I've turned down as many cheap-o gigs as I've taken.)

I know you think you're Jaco (who?), but, um, you're not. Maybe someday though.

Doesn't really matter if you're perceived as a whiner right out of the gate.

It's easy to find someone who'll do that $75 hit for 50, know what I mean?

The other thing you shouldn't do is spend half or more of your dough at the bar. It's not the smartest thing to be doing, don'tcha think? I mean, if you're complaining that the money's low, and you deserve this and that and such and such and your rent is due Monday and you gotta pay your over charges on your phone bill, then it's probably not a good idea to just give your paltry salary back to the boss.

Like I said, he knows.

As for me, I just roll along. Taking the good with the bad. Keeping my complaints close to the vest. Staying in the good graces of band leaders for the side work that fills in some of my blank spaces (which means I've got dates to fill. Don't be shy in calling.)

So it goes...

Semi- Live Blogging: On the Road w/ Mississippi Heat

The final stop on the tour was Allentown, PA, headlining the Mayfair Festival of the Arts.

And, yes, Allentown is also the name of a Billy Joel song.

The Heat rolled into town Sunday afternoon, after enjoying a welcome day off, ready for the 90 minutes of face-melting.

We only had to do 60 minutes, though, so that was a bonus (less work for the same bread- the American way.) Apparently, the schedulers didn't take into account the time it takes to change over the stage from one group to the next. I gotta say, for a festival of that size (it was big, believe me) it was very poorly organized.

Since everyone working there was a volunteer, I guess the old saying "you get what you pay for" rang very true. It seemed that all of the workers really didn't know what was going on, where the various stages were, or who was in charge of what.

Even the cops directing traffic were clueless (big surprise there.)

Despite the minimal organizational short-comings, the set was awesome. It was really nice to have the big stage that I like so much. The clubs are fun, don't get me wrong, with the intimacy and all. But the festival stages are the best. I get my own monitor mix (more kick, please,) everything has a big sound, big lighting, and smoke machines are the norm.

Gotta love the smoke machines.

The show started with an uptempo, instrumental shuffle. Pierre took the head of the tune, blowing his harp (that's a harmonica for those of you who don't know) loud and proud. Carl was on, as always, tearing into his Gibson with reckless abandon, and bass-man Steve Howard was holding the pocket like a new pair of Levi's.

We played two up front before we called up (relatively new) vocalist, Rhonda Preston. She's a small woman with a big voice. She's probably not 100 lbs. wet. But she's strong. We brought her up on Dirty Deal, the first track off the Glad You're Mine CD. It's a swinging shuffle with a nice hook, and an interesting ending (a sus chord, for all the music geeks out there.) We followed with the rockin' Handyman (RIP George Baze) before slowing it down a little bit with some "down in the alley" blues. The set finished with the boogie fan-favorite Johnny Boy to raucous applause and a standing ovation (no encore, no time allotted.)

All in all, a great show, and a fitting end to a fun tour. Despite life in the van (we drove home through the night directly after the gig,) this was a fun group to spend the weekend with. And believe me, the most important thing to have in a touring band is good vibes between the members. Everyone out on the road can play, make no mistake. But can they all get along?

Hopefully they'll call again. I'm into it.

So it goes...

Semi- Live Blogging: On the Road w/ Mississippi Heat

Washington D.C. was a blast.

Who would've thought?

I don't know about you, but every time I'm in D.C., I always feel like I'm being watched. For some reason, my brain seems to notice many people wearing trench coats (it was 80 degrees) and sunglasses (it was dark), pushing a finger into their ears.

In this cesspool of scum and corruption, I hold everyone suspect.

Aside from that, though, it was smashing.

Madam's Organ is a really cool little dive. Dark and (formerly- how sad) smoky. It's actually not little. There are 5 bars on 4 floors, so it's quite huge. The music, and all things cool, were on the ground floor, right when you walked in the door. The stage was small and cramped, but it was good enough.

One thing that I noticed (which really stood out) was that the crowd was very diverse and mixed: Black, white, Asian, Latino. It was really a melting pot of cultures and peoples. Quite the opposite of Chicago, really.

We saw everyone coming through the door.

They saw us.

Really, it was a killer dance party. Everyone was into what they were into (read: wasted,) and they were all movin' and shakin' and dancing on tables and swinging from chandeliers.

The band was cookin'. We really had it together, especially since it was only my 2nd time with the band, ever (had I mentioned that I've never worked with this group?)

Like riding a bike.

This tour is featuring Carl Weathersby on guitar. I've been knowing him for years, yet this is the first time working with him. He's a really nice guy: military vet, former cop, and smokin' guitar- man. He used to be Albert King's rhythm player for a few years in the late '70's, early '80's.

Really, he's excellent. He's got a large vocabulary, able to pull out songs that go beyond the straight blues realm (when he's given the mic to lead the show, which is for about half of each set.)

We played "Cowboys to Girls" by the Intruders. You gotta be kidding me.

Sings as well as he plays, too.

After the show (a grueling 3-setter ending at 3am), it was back to the band house. Oh, joy. I've decided that instead of a take-it-or-leave-it attitude towards band houses, I'd just assume leave it, bite the bullet, and just get a room.

Sometimes it's worth the dough. Especially when there's a day off, like today.

Not only did the band have to share a fairly small space, but it turns out that other people lived there, too. So there were basically 9 people there. Unreal. They (the residents) had the upstairs, and the band had the downstairs, which consisted of a living room with 3 beds, and two bedrooms with a bed apiece.

Not exactly a bastion of privacy.

At least the hosts cooked us breakfast. I gotta say, it was quite a spread: eggs, bacon, sausage, ribs, chicken, grits, biscuits, and syrup. Wowee Zowee. Indeed, it was a major redeeming quality.

Should have gotten a room.

So it goes...

Semi- Live Blogging: On the Road w/ Mississippi Heat

Madam's Organ in Washington, D.C., is, the blues capital in the nation's capital.

I made that up, by the way.

The drive from Williamsburg was quick and easy. We even had time for breakfast, compliments of the leader, Pierre Lacocque (gracias.)

"Washington DC has always been rich with Blues, R&B and Jazz and Madam's Organ Blues Bar is the place to find it! Madam's Organ is an authentic Soul Food Restaurant & Blues Bar located in Adams Morgan, DC! ALL LIVE MUSIC - SEVEN NIGHTS A WEEK!"

This is the quote on their Facebook page. They build (and bill) themselves as the place to be. In fact, someone that works at the club said that the strip that the Madam works (made that one up too,) will be filled with about 10,000 people tonight.

A typical Friday night, I suppose. We shall see what we shall see.

Well, anyone who's been here knows that D.C. is kinda crappy. Homeless people camping out (living) in front of the White House and all.

Traffic is horrible, too. It took us almost 30 minutes to drive the 2 miles from the club (set up early. Sweet.) to the band house.

Band house?

That's right folks, yours truly is not only back in the van, but back in the band house. It's not nearly as cool as the Slippery Noodle's pad, but it could be (and has been) worse.

So it goes...

Semi- Live Blogging: On the Road w/ Mississippi Heat

Well, today is the first day of a three-day east coast tour with the renowned Chicago Blues band, Mississippi Heat.

This band has been a fixture on the Chicago Blues scene for nearly 20 years. Led by harmonica player Pierre Lacocque, there have been many names and faces that have shared the stage with the group, both as subs and regulars.

This weekend, I'm one of those names AND faces (thanks, Diff.) This is my first time playing with the band. I've been called by Pierre several times over the years (usually later than last minute,) and this is the first time I've been able to say yes.

Very exciting.

Right now, we're in Williamsburg, VA. I'm in the hotel room listening to the tunes that MIGHT be played. I've got 5 CD's and little time.

But the blues is the blues. It should be a piece of cake.

I'll be leaving in 2 hours for the first show, and I'll keep you updated all weekend.

So it goes...