12/22/05

Loafing Leprechaun
Duluth, GA

Again, a crosstown round trip for my 15 minutes of fame. Craver, the coordinator of Open Mic Atlanta, is hosting this one, and burns a CD of the performances. I'll drive for a recording, fer sure.

Subterranean Homesick Blues
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
Something In The Way She Moves
Wasn't Really

12/13/05

Good Ol' Days
Cumming, GA

I Used To Love Her* > Dead Flowers* > I Used To Love Her*--another one of Lefty's medleys of songs that have the same changes. The GNR song was by request.
Subterranean Homesick Blues*
This Time*--as will happen, we lost 'em with the slow one (chatter, chatter, chatter)
Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy (I broke my G string, plowed through, then used Lefty's Taylor)
Romeo & Juliet

*w/Lefty

12/5/05

Marlow's Tavern
Vinings, GA

Subterranean Homesick Blues
Something In The Way She Moves
Waste
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)

Not much going on here. Doesn't seem like the place for it. The host was already talking about how they've given him a couple more weeks to get it going. It's outside, though they've closed in their porch, and have heaters running. But you'll never get the Vinings crowd to sit out there and listen. John and I collide w/two VERY drunk women who tried to pay their tab twice, and asked for a cab after they were told one was on the way. Learned "Give Me Love" the night before, and played it 53 times throughout the day. I think I got it, but need a slide player to really make it right.

11/22/05

Nemoe's Steak & Seafood
Norcross, GA

w/Adam Howell, bass, voc.

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Margaritaville -- No apologies here. A serendipitous barstool decision. An older crowd, getting soused, so we killed 'em with the classics.
Pancho & Lefty
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Summer Somewhere

11/15/05

Brewster's Neighborhood Grille
Marietta, GA

Prologue (first performance!)
Romeo & Juliet
Henry

11/1/05

Brewsters Neighborhood Grill
Marietta, GA

New crew running this one these days. Not affiliated with Open Mic Atlanta. Hosted by a house band with two women singing (The Atlanta Area All-Stars (AAA)). I'm the first one following their set.

Subterranean Homesick Blues
Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Wasn't Really
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Nice to have it closer to home again.

10/29/05
Moon Shadow Gardens
Sautee-Nacoochee, GA

My first paying solo gig! Easiest money ever. I only played for an hour or so, broke for the costume contest, and was done. A little campfire pickin' afterward, but that was it. The time change saved my ass, as the clock said 4:30 when I left, but 'twas then "only" 3:30. Woo! Here's the full detailed setlist:

Let The Good Times Roll (Grateful Dead)
After Midnight (J.J. Cale)
Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)
Cover Of The Rolling Stone (Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show)
Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Elton John)
Third Week In The Chelsea (Jefferson Airplane)
Box Of Rain (Grateful Dead)
America (Simon & Garfunkel)
Boots Of Spanish Leather (Bob Dylan)
I'll Back You Up (Dave Matthews Band)
Love Song For No One (John Mayer)
Restless (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan)
Magnolia (J.J. Cale)
Come Monday (Jimmy Buffett)
What I Really Mean (Robert Earl Keen)
Tougher Than The Rest (Bruce Springsteen)
Waste (Phish)

Guess I'm on my way, huh?

10/19/05

Poor Richard's Pub
Norcross, GA

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Third Week In The Chelsea
Wasn't Really
Box Of Rain
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Again, I am the first contestant on the first night of this one. The kid who was turned away from Spondivits last week (he's only 11) got to play tonight. Don't know what the letter of the law would have to say about that, but they weren't there to fret over it. He was really good too.

10/12/05

Spondivits Bar & Grill
Cumming, GA

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Wasn't Really
Romeo & Juliet
Something In The Way She Moves

Drove 100 miles round trip for my 20 minutes of fame. John Gardner is hosting this one, so I knew it would be cool. Played to more folks this night than in the last few weeks combined. Woo!

10/11/05

Locos Deli & Pub
Atlanta, GA

I
Boots of Spanish Leather*
Like A Rolling Stone
This Time

II
Althea
I Know You Rider

III
Down (Widespread Panic)
Chilly Water
I'm Fine
Dead Flowers
They Love Each Other

APL-guitar, vocals
Jason Williams-guitar, loop station, vocals (except*)

In all likelihood, the last one at Locos for a while. Recent weeks have had poor showings (of patrons and performers), but tonight set a new record. A few cats came and played, but nobody was hanging out in our room. A few folks came in and sat at the bar to smoke, but they paid us little attention.

10/4/05

Locos Deli & Pub
Atlanta, GA

I
Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Little Boxes
America
Box Of Rain

II (w/Lefty)
Montana
Wish You Were Here
Subterranean Homesick Blues
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Dead Flowers
Fearless
Chilly Water

Looks like this open mic is doomed. They gave 'em the 2 week notice, as there just aren't many folks coming out to play. The place was full of drinkers and smokers, but only a few players. Two more first-timers. If we could get everyone who's ever done it here to show up on the same night, it would be rockin'.

9/30/05

Bigg Daddy's American Tavern and Music Club
Helen, GA

Lefty's gig. I didn't think I'd play as much as I did, but there I go thinking. Lefty played one long set, and I was in and out, along w/a couple others.

I
Improv Song (Lefty set a loop, I played along, and he made up words)
Fearless
One More Cup of Coffee (someone requested a song from Desire, Lefty handed it over to me)
Chilly Water
Talk Dirty To Me
Simple Man (Skynyrd)
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
Learning To Fly
Tequila Sunrise (someone requested an Eagles song, Lefty didn't have any, but I did)
Dogs (Keller Williams) > The Land Down Under > Dogs (Lefty realized last week that these two songs have the same changes, so a medley seemed the way to go)
Sweet Angeline (Fortin's request)

II
No Expectations*
Wish You Were Here*
Walking Under Ladders*

III
The Joker**

Jason Williams-vocals, guitar, bass, loop station
APL-guitar, vocals, bass on **
*w/Michael Blair- guitar
**w/Bob Fortin-vocals, guitar

9/27/05

Locos Deli & Pub
Atlanta, GA

I
Lawyers Guns and Money
Don't Bogart Me
These Days
Restless
Tangled Up In Blue
Henry (w/Lefty)

II
Too Fast For You (w/Robert Nichols)

I have a paying gig Oct. 29th! Used tonight to play some that I've never played out in preparation. Again, only a few folks hanging out (in the smoking section), and even fewer playing. Lefty did some, I did my 1st set, another group played, then Lefty again. Robert showed up, he and Lefty did a few, then Robert and I did "Too Fast".

9/21/05

Brandyhouse
Atlanta, GA

Muffin Man
Subterranean Homesick Blues

APL-bass, vocals
Jason Williams, guitar
Adam Cain, guitar
Scotty Philips, drums
Andy Hauge, conga

Finally, some folks showed up to play! Lots of good players, even some rappers who were backed up by Lefty and the house band. I brought "The Slab" in off the bench.

9/20/05

Loco's Deli & Pub
Atlanta, GA

Run For The Roses
Rocky Mountain High
Montana*
Something In The Way She Moves
Triad

*w/Jason Williams, ac. gtr., voc.

Still not much going on here. Just a few of us playing for each other. They even closed the bar down on our side. A few folks drifted in and out, as we're in the smoking section.

9/13/05

Locos Deli & Pub
Atlanta, GA

I
Subterranean Homesick Blues
I Know You Rider
All The Roads
Use Me
And She Was
Your Time Is Gonna Come
Midnight Rider*
Give Me One Reason

APL-guitar, vocals
Jason Williams-guitar, loop station, vocals
*w/Lance, vocals

II
100 Years Ago
Southern Cross

APL-harmony
Jason Williams-guitar, loop station, vocals

III
Romeo and Juliet
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

9/6/05

Loco's Deli and Pub
Atlanta, GA

No Expectations

APL-voc., ac. gtr.
Jason Williams-voc., ac. gtr.

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Too Fast For You*
Wasn't Really

APL-voc., ac. gtr.
Adam Howell-bass, voc.
*w/Jason Williams-ac. gtr.

Third Week In The Chelsea

Just us and the bartenders and servers tonight. A couple other guys got up and played, but that was it. No good for the ego, but fun all the same.

8/30/05

Loco's Deli and Pub
Atlanta, GA

Pancho & Lefty
This Time*
Summer Somewhere (the song formerly known as "Blue Diamonds" now has a name! I kicked this title around for a while, and it finally fell into place)

w/Adam Howell, electric bass, vocals
*w/Jason "Lefty" Williams, acoustic slide guitar

8/24/05

Brandyhouse
Atlanta, GA

All Along The Watchtower >
Cortez The Killer >
All Along The Watchtower

APL-bass, vocals
Jason Williams-guitar
Adam Cain-guitar
Scotty Philips-drums

8/23/05

Loco's Deli & Pub
Atlanta, GA

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Wasn't Really
Box Of Rain

What I Believe*
Montana**
Too Fast For You**
Travellin' Light***
*Jason Williams, vocals, guitar; APL, harmony (sort of!)
**APL, vocals, guitar; Jason Williams, guitar, harmony
***Jason Williams, vocals, guitar; APL, guitar

8/17/05

Brandyhouse
Atlanta, GA

Mixed Up & Confused* >
Farmer John >
Working Class Hero >
Cowboy >
Mixed Up & Confused*

APL-bass
Romin Dawson-gtr, voc
Jason Williams-gtr, voc
Scotty Phillips-drums
*Robert Nichols-gtr, voc (he and Lefty switched off during the song)

Yes, Romin and I played together. First time we'd seen each other since I left the band. Strange, yes.

Merrymaker
No Expectations

same as above, w/out Romin, plus Tripp on tabla, and Ryan on drums (no Scotty)

8/10/05

Howdy y'all.
It's now my birthday (25 again, if you're wondering).
Home from the Brandyhouse, where Lefty is now hosting a Wed. night jam.
Here's what I played on:

I'd Rather Be Blind
Katy
This Time
No Expectations

APL--bass, vocals
Lefty--gtr., vocals
Adam Cain--gtr
Scotty--drums
Trip--tabla

Weird playing a Romin song w/out Romin, but a cool song is a cool song. Lefty knows all the words (I know most of 'em). "This Time" comes home again, tho' Libby is no longer there.

8/9/05

Loco's Deli & Pub
Buckhead, Atlanta, GA

Tangled Up In Blue
Henry
Third Week In The Chelsea

Lefty's debut as Open Mic Atlanta host. I had to be there. And I went first. Not really an open mic crowd (noisy Buckhead types), but a cool place.

8/3/05

Little River Grill
Canton, GA

Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Desperadoes Waiting For A Train
Ripple
Wasn't Really
Romeo & Juliet

8/2/05

Brewster's Neighborhood Grill
Marietta, GA

w/Adam Howell, electric bass, vocals

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Pancho & Lefty
Montana
Wasn't Really
True Love Will Find You In The End
Too Fast For You

7/27/05

Little River Grill
Canton, GA

Hotter than hell tonight. They had it outside for the first time (it's been crappy weather since they started it here), and wouldn't ya know, it was just gross.
Just me and Kristen again. Mike showed up as K was finishing her 2nd set, and I'd already decided to go. Actually, some kids got up and sang "Happy Birthday" to their grandfather. Cool!

The setlist:
Pancho & Lefty
Too Fast For You
The One--blew the dust off this one to see how it stood the test of time. I was a wide-eyed, precocious Lit major at GSU when I wrote this one. Am now doing it w/out the middle part. Need a band to play it for that long.
Wasn't Really--the 1st performance! Just finished this one last week. Rehearsed it w/Adam yesterday. Gonna be a good one.
Something In The Way She Moves--went w/no lyric sheet tonight. Flawless until I realized it, then clammed a beat.
Third Week In The Chelsea--was going to do "Henry", but the folks w/the kids were there, and I decided that a song about a pot smuggler just wouldn't have been right.

Wasn’t Really (A.P. Lester)

Looking back on Vicksburg
Mississippi, say goodbye
Oxford’s just a dream I had
Everybody wants to fly

Somewhere on a windy highway
You blow through my mind
Nowhere is a long, long way
I know we’re right on time

Old as the river
A steady rolling scene
Wasn’t really nothing
Wasn’t just a dream

All along this dark path
Signal fires to lead me home
Among the raving thousand
One man, but not alone

Your kiss is strong and certain
I live for just one more
Your hands are made of music
A song, waiting to be born

What now, inspiration?
Hazy as it seems
Wasn’t really nothing
Wasn’t just a dream

The road goes on forever. Excelsior!

7/19/05

At long last! Adam Howell and I got our act together, and got to play out. Back to Brewster's. John Gardner is now the host. Where this guy finds time to do anything else but host open mics is beyond me. Here's what we did:

True Love Will Find You In The End
Magnolia
Too Fast For You
Pancho & Lefty

A drummer named Stefan joined us. He sat in w/everyone tonight. Brought a great vibe to the whole thing.
Not that the vibe needed any help. Adam is a great guy, and a great bass player. We ran through the stuff in my living room prior to heading to the bar, and he'd actually practiced the songs. A true pro. More to come from our partnership. Guess this was my first real performance as a bandleader. Pretty cool.
Peace y'all!

7/18/2005

M'Vorneen's Irish Pub
Cartersville, GA

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Third Week In The Chelsea
Romeo and Juliet
Capt. Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Too Fast For You
Box Of Rain

Got to play all I wanted, as it was just me and the host. Cool place, a bunch of locals. More folks came in after I was done (ain't that how it goes?). The bar is in the basement level of the same building that used to house Shakedown Street, where Earhorn played a couple of times. More to come this week! Slainte!

7/13/05

Little River Grill, Canton, GA

24 Hours At A Time
"Blue Diamonds" (Summer Somewhere) --still waiting for the title to show itself. Will keep playing till it does.
Tangled Up In Blue--the servers made a couple of requests during Kristen's opening set; I requested "Just Like A Woman" for her next set; did this one for conceptual continuity.
Something In The Way She Moves--almost got it right. Been workin' on it for a week or so. Lyric sheets are a distraction. Will have it from memory soonly.
Box of Rain--always with a message of peace, love, and hope.

Only a few of us tonight. Still a new thing. Some of the Brewster's folks have found this place.

7/6/05

Little River Grill
Canton, GA

Third Week In The Chelsea
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Cover of the Rolling Stone
Romeo & Juliet

Nothing new tonight, other than the locale. The first night for this place. Kristen is a great host, who sounds like Stevie Nicks (she knows this, and does some Mac tunes).
The train keeps a-rollin' y'all.

6/29/05

Jake's Toadhouse, Decatur, GA

Again, mellow, organic evening. Here's what I was involved in:

Fingerprint File*
I'd Rather Be Blind*
Ain't Wastin' Time No More**
A Month Of Sundays***

*APL, bass, vocals; Jason Williams, guitar, vocals; Robert Nichols, keyboards, vocals; Terry (same cat from last week), slide guitar; Scotty, drums
**add Jim on fiddle
***APL, backing vocals; Tony Scott, bass

I'm sure more could come of this. Maybe it will.

6/22/05

Awright.
Just home from La Casa del Sapo (Jake's Toadhouse). Open mic hosted by Lefty. 'Twas a good night of mellow, organic "jamming" (some free-form, and some impromptu groups workin' their way through songs). Here's what I played on:

100 Years Ago*--one of my favorite covers from my Riders days. Always loved to rip it to shreds with Rick and Preston.
Cover Of The Rolling Stone**--Sorry y'all. I know this one like the back of my hand, but wasn't enough of a bandleader to get through this one. D'oh!
This Time**--more of my slow truck-drivin' songs, not performed by the Riders in forever.
Don't Do It*--Robert just sings his ass off on this one. We even get through the transitions without falling apart.
Subterranean Homesick Blues*--I remember all the words, but flub half a line. Rippin'.
They Love Each Other*--Lefty sings his ass off this time. We all have slightly different arrangements in our heads, but get through alright.

Personnel:
*APL-bass, vocals; Jason Williams-electric guitar, vocals; Robert Nichols-pianet, vocals; Steve Saunders-drums; Terry (what's his last name?)-slide guitar.
**APL-acoustic guitar, vocals; Jason Williams-electric guitar, vocals; Robert Nichols-Pianet, vocals; Steve Saunders-drums; Tony Scott-bass.

In search of love and music
My whole life has been
Illumination
Corruption
And diving diving diving diving
Diving down to pick up on every shiny thing
Just like that black crow flying
In a blue sky

Here's the whole text of that song:
http://www.jmdl.com/lyrics/song.cfm?id=BlackCrow

Yup. Pretty cool night.
Rah-hoo!

6/15/05 (now)

Hey y'all. Just home from open mic at Jake's Toadhouse, hosted by Lefty. Robert Nichols showed up, along w/Tony (my replacement in the Riders), and Steve Saunders (a former Rider). Interesting.

Third Week In The Chelsea
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Romeo & Juliet
Montana*
Too Fast For You*

*w/Lefty (mandolin [Montana], electric guitar [Too Fast For You], vocals), and Robert (electric guitar, vocals)

A real thrill playing w/those guys again. Something I've been waiting for since 3/17 (the night Lefty and I had our conversation about leaving the band). Will do more fer sure. Peace!

6/7/05

One more time at Brewsters. Turns out Darrin and Tim are packing it in after tonight. Big bummer. The crowd turned sour on 'em, and it wasn't as fun anymore (I know where they're coming from).
Tonight was a round of Open Mic Atlanta's songwriter competition. I, in my non-competitive way, entered "Too Fast For You". Got a $25 gift certificate to Brewsters out of it (a random drawing, not because of my songwriting prowess). Also did Marshall Tucker's "24 Hours At A Time", in my tradition of doing something new every week. And that song pretty much sums up where I am right now, along w/"Too Fast". Heading for Bonnaroo this weekend for a shitload of killer music. Awright. The open mic adventure will probably head to Jake's next week, as Lefty is hosting one starting tonight. Gotta get back to playing w/that guy.
See ya!

5/31/05

Brewsters Neighborhood Grille

True Love Will Find You In The End
Too Fast For You
Run For The Roses

A real thrill tonight, as Darrin and Tim celebrate their 2-year anniversary as open mic hosts at Brewsters. The joint was jumpin'. Packed before anyone started playing. The real thrill for me was that the person who inspired "Too Fast For You" was in the audience tonight. I don't know for sure if she knows (or thinks) this song is about her, but we shall see. I was definitely giddy while playing it, and clammed a few times for good measure. Hee-hee!

5/24&26/05 (after the fact)

5/24/05
Brewsters
Marietta, GA

Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Poncho and Lefty
Tangled Up In Blue

Determined to repeat as few songs as possible. These guys are great, and create a mellow vibe. Heard some singing along during "Cover". Love that response.
Huzzah!

5/26/05--More with Adam Howell. This guy is great. Picks up on songs, and adds his vibe to 'em. Definitely kept me from flying off with the tempo. Thusly, with the tempo more solid, I can stretch the vocal phrases out like I like to. Excelsior!

5/19/05

Worked with Adam Howell again. Looks like we're narrowing down a few songs to do at open mic in a few weeks. Will see if I can draft anyone else. A cool mellow vibe fer sure.

5/17/05

Brewsters again. Cool place, cool people. Their limits are tested tonight. "King David" (noisy guitar-bass/drums duo) pushes the volume envelope even after being asked to abide by it, and is cut off. He throws his guitar down (ooooo!) and proclaims that "[he] will never play here again". I don't think anyone cared. I recognized two of the three songs from last week anyway.
My setlist:
Romeo & Juliet--got it right after last week's brutal reading. No cheat sheets at all this week.
Untitled ("Blue Diamonds")--keeping this one under my fingers in case I can find a band to do it how I want it done. Now I have a recording!
Mad Mission-a Patty Griffin song that I play w/no capo (she capos at the 7th fret). No way I'll ever be able to do it like she does, but she'll never be able to do it in my range either.
Bigger crowd tonight. Only got 15 minutes. But it's 10:30, and I've been home for 45 minutes. Get me out of the friggin' bar.
Awright. Stay tuned!

5/10/05

Brewsters Neighborhood Grille, Marietta, GA

I get to go first again, just the way I like it. They have brought drums this time (a couple guys after me use 'em). It's pretty low key, but I think I'm just early, because more folks show up after I'm done playing.
The setlist:
Magnolia--a J.J. Cale song I've been doing for a while. J.J. does it even more laid-back than I do, which makes me wonder how he remains upright.
Romeo & Juliet--my apologies to Mark Knopfler for tonight's "performance". Butchered the chorus everytime. I've practiced it several times already since. Must get it w/out cheat sheet.
Montana--went for the recording tonight. Not much to this one, but now have a recording to pass around to collaborators.
Triad--wasn't going to do it tonight, but what the hell. Actually turned out better than any of the other songs tonight. There is hope. Now if I could only sing it more like David Crosby or Grace Slick...
Sloppy performance tonight, but less practice leading up to it (coincidence? I think not). Mainly to stay in shape, and keep those guys familiar with my face. Going back next week. Will try to draft an audience. Stay tuned!

5/4&5/05 (after the fact)

A few days late, but here goes:
Wed. 5/4/05--jammed with Muggs (a Bella's bartender) on guitar and Rob on drums, at Sav's place in Smyrna. A dumpy outbuilding behind Sav's house. Smelled like a band's room fer sure (nag champa, etc.). Muggs and I got there first, and jammed on some Zeppelin tunes. He really has a great voice. My first contact with the bass since Remerton in March. Once Rob got there, we ran through the Zep tunes again, and did some bluesy, psychedelic freakout stuff. Good clean fun.
Thurs. 5/5/05--"observed" cinco de mayo by taking the Gibson over to Adam Howell's house (Adam was the original bassist in Drive-by Truckers, and is a cook at Bella's) for some wooden music. Adam played electric bass this day, but plans on getting his upright repaired. Ran through about ten songs in my repertoire, and killed a few PBR's as well.
A great week for me and music. Full and satisfying. I am on the path again.

5/3/05--awright, awright, awright...

Brewster's Neighborhood Grill, Marietta, GA
Finally, a bar! If not for the somewhat modern shopping center, this could be any ol' local watering hole. Got a big pile of meat loaf w/smashed taters and mac 'n' cheese (my traditional pre-show meal), and got my groove on. Got to be first tonight. I like that, so I won't have to sit around and wait to play and get horribly drunk and play like ass on a stick.
The set:
Third Week In The Chelsea
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Too Fast For You
Box Of Rain
Nothing new tonight, other than the locale. They record you, and give you a CD on the spot (awright!). And it's close. A few more times, and I'll have the whole repertoire recorded (for better or worse!).
Peace!

The Tour...

Hey y'all.
Just got in from open mic #3 in the current campaign.
Again, at Buffalo Wild Wings in Kennesaw.
They had a special on big-ass Sam Adams, so I had two (one before playing, one after). Jeez!
Awright, the set:
Box Of Rain--been reading Phil Lesh's book. It came w/a CD of GD "rarities" (mainly "Cardboard Cowboy" from '66). The others are readily available via trade or download. Each song is preceded by comment from Phil. The last track is "Box of Rain" from Soldier Field '95 (the last song of the encore of the final show). Jerry had done "Black Muddy River" (a sad, sad song), and Phil wanted to bring some hope to end of the "tour from hell". I've been doing this song off and on for a while, and am bringing it back for the band I haven't put together yet.
Anything At All--An Earhorn song, not performed since '03 sometime. It really needs the strings, but it's in my key for good singin', so...
Montana--1st public performance of this one. Tried to bring it into the Riders, but the group had yet to get to the stage where we could pull off slow ones (which is why "This Time" took a back seat), so it rode the pine till tonight.
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy--I love it when piano guys write a song in a guitar key. This is an Elton John/Bernie Taupin song (another about the perils and pratfalls of the music business--"weak-winged young sparrows that starve in the winter...broken young children on the wheels of the winners"), and I decided to go for it tonight.
Am congested like a mad bastard from the pollen, so I sound like Dylan from "Nashville Skyline", but had to get out and play some more. Am close to putting a band together for a show of folky stuff. Bringing it all back home for a while. Awright, awright, awright.

Omphaloskepsis

Note! There is nudity (gasp!) if you follow this link. No porn, just flesh. You have been warned!
Omphaloskepsis

Came across "omphaloskepsis" while reading Phil Lesh's book. I think we've all engaged in it from time to time.

4/21/05--The Grand Open Mic Tour!

2nd open mic in two nights. Buffalo Wild Wings in Kennesaw. Had to get a couple under my belt. Haven't been behind a P.A. in a month, so 'twas time.
An 11-year old girl got up w/the host and sang "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. Gutsy. A family place, not a "bar", and her folks were there, so it was cool.
The setlist:
Third Week In The Chelsea--a guy who knows Rick Welsh from a message board came up to me after I played. He does "Genesis". Nice to know people are out there who know these songs.
Too Fast For You
True Love Will Find You In The End
Untitled ("Blue Diamonds") ("Summer Somewhere" --ed.6/15/08)--Found myself w/time for one more, so here goes.
Nice comments from a few people.
More to come!

The spoils of rock stardom! Always liked this picture. Backstage at Smith's Olde Bar, Atlanta, GA. Not nearly as squalid as it appears here, and definitely nicer than many around the Southeast. I just love the crap on the floor all around me. Opposite this angle is the "Wall of Poop", where band names are altered by using the word "poop" ("Poop Jam", "Gladys Knight and the Poops", etc.). Excelsior!

4/20/05--1st "real" post...

A friend brought up that 420 is a term of "the man". How revolutionary is that? Guess I'll think on that a bit.
10:15 p.m.--Just got in from playing my first post-Riders open mic. Bogey's in Duluth. Open Mic Atlanta lists it as Bogey's Neighborhood Grill and Bar, but their sign says Bogey's Sports Bar and Grill. Probably wouldn't have gone if I'd known that. The host was playing when I got there. I was the only other music person there. Otherwise, there were about 20 folks at the bar, bathing in the light of about 5000 TV's. Almost all of them had a different baseball game (almost heaven). But a sports bar just the same. Nobody paying attention to the music. Worth a shot. At least got the first one under my belt.
The setlist:
Third Week In The Chelsea--planned this one for weeks as the opener. How much of a badass is Jorma Kaukonen, getting the band to record his letter of resignation?
True Love Will Find You In The End--bought the Beck recording from iTunes. Simple tune. Look up Daniel Johnston, and learn more about this guy. Great songs.
Too Fast For You--I reclaim my original arrangement. Still must find another person to do this with me. More to this song than that one guitar part.
So I did it. Hooray for me.

Day One: Is This Thing On?

provando, provando...

Howdy y'all.
Nothing here yet, just falling in line w/the blog thing, so's I can post some adventures.
Huzzah!
Peace,
Andy