Open Mic

12/6/10
Arena Tavern
Duluth, GA

Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy, Gentle On My Mind, Midnight Afternoon*, Tomorrow Is A Long Time > The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

*debut performance

Riders rehearsal got cancelled, had to spend that creative juice somewhere. I know I've said the open mics aren't my thing anymore, but this guy records your set and puts a video on his youtube channel. I don't know how well my folkiness translates to video, but it's another way to spread the word, huh? I will, however, travel across town to get a free recording.
Paul runs a good show. Good guy, good gear. The cold chased away a lot of people. Normally you need to get there early to get a good spot. I got there early to get a good spot like I always do, but 'twas unnecessary. Would have loved a crowd while I was playing, but was more interested in letting the songs run around in the yard, especially the new one.
I guess I haven't sworn off the open mics for good after all.

Open Mic

9/22/10
Rev Coffee
Smyrna, GA

That Which We Are, We Are
Third Week In the Chelsea

There's a theme. "Third Week" seems to come out whenever I go somewhere for the first time. 'Twas the first song in my open mic campaign of ought-five. And "That Which" is written in a similar vein. Not that I was going to leave the band. Not when we'd just started the band (which is when I started writing that song). There was plenty of time to leave (like the two times I did). Besides, nothing like playing an original song to people who've never heard it. I heard one, maybe two, other originals. Too loud and echoey in there, and there were plenty of people who weren't there to hear us play.
Now am home with the Braves losing to the Phillies (again), listening to the Grateful Dead (again), though this time it's the Warner vinyl box set. Just finished "Anthem" and it's still amazing.
Tough to play open mics anymore. The band is better. All of the bands are better. The bands' audiences are better. Blech.

Ashley 'n' Charlie's Wedding, 7/3/10, Sullivan House, Powder Springs, GA

Two fine folks, Bella's regulars even, got married. They asked me to play a few things for the ceremony, and about a half hour of tunes beforehand.

Prologue (APL)
Let Your Love Flow (Bellamy Brothers)
I Don't Love You Much Do I (Guy Clark)
Go My Way (Gordon Lightfoot)
Magnolia (J.J. Cale)
Too Fast for You (APL)
If I Needed You (Townes Van Zandt)
Genesis (Hot Tuna)
Something In The Way She Moves (James Taylor)

My first solo wedding gig, and first solo gig where nobody asked if I did requests. I stuck with a theme, threw in a couple of originals (at the bride's request). Somehow, I got 'em all in.
Then, for the processional: Imagine (John Lennon); for the bride: Going To California (Led Zeppelin); for the recessional: Crash Into Me (Dave Matthews Band). I ended up doing these three as instrumentals. Packed up the gear, changed out of my monkey suit, joined the reception for food, fun, and fellowship. Gave the wedding coordinator a stack of business cards. Network, baby, network.

6/5/10, Jessie 'n' Paul's Wedding, Mt. Zion UMC, Marietta, GA

Jessie Sanderson, the youngest of the Scott family cousins, got married to a great guy, Paul Kraft. Joe, Sam, Trevor (a groomsman/friend of the groom/guitarist), and I put together some music for the prelude, unity candle, and recessional. Can't remember the order, but here it is:


Joe and Sam started with some classical-type duets, then Trevor and I joined in on:
I Will, In My Life, Thank You

Trevor joined the groomsmen to prepare for the ceremony, and I played guitar on a few more classical-type pieces with Joe and Sam.

We all played an excerpt of Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" for the unity candle, then for the pièce de résistance, an arrangement of "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers Band for the recessional, with Joe and Sam doing the dual guitar line on violin and viola. Got a good rock star reception on that one.

A grand time, to be sure.

Whole Lotta Muggs (Muggs' Birthday Extravaganza)

4/10/10
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

Andy Lester Band
Prologue
Saturday
For The Turnstiles
Magnolia >
Carousel >
Too Fast For You
Epilogue

APL - ac. gtr., vocals; Muggs DeMayo - el. gtr.; Karl Knott - drums; Robert Nichols - bass, voc.

Whole Lotta Muggs
1st Set
I Can't Explain, Nowhere Man, Sunshine Of Your Love, Time, Substitute, Edie (Ciao Baby), Big Me, Sometimes Salvation, The Way It Is, Love Song, Runnin' Down A Dream, Comfortably Numb*
2nd Set
Tie Your Mother Down, The Ocean, Heartbreaker > Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just A Woman), Ziggy Stardust

Muggs DeMayo - gtr., vocals.; Preston Holcomb - drums; APL - bass, vocals; Jeff Sprayberry - gtr.
*Robert Nichols - vocals

Muggs wanted to play on his birthday, so we put it together. We weren't sure if we'd be able to put together enough music for one band, so the ALB opened. We put together a song list, recruited Jeff and Preston, and got to work. It became apparent that we wouldn't be able to have enough full rehearsals to play some of what he wanted (King's X, Queensryche), so we tweaked the set a little and kept working. Muggs and I picked at it a good bit in the living room, he and Jeff got together a few times. Preston is Preston. Some of it was a little rough, we had to re-start a couple songs, but it was a ton of fun. A lot of folks came out and hooted and hollered. Always fun to play on your birthday. Thanks to everyone who made it.

Ridin' The Wayside

In the grand tradition of this band, we've gotten another lead guitar player. Shell Stamps of Ancient Harmony has come in and brought the sound that we've been wanting to hear. He'd booked this gig as an opener for another band, but it all turned into a big ol' misunderstanding, so he needed a band. He'd been with us for a couple weeks, so we decided to do it. Practiced a bunch, made it sound good. We married some of our P.A. gear with the house gear, ran it ourselves. Sounded better onstage than most of the recent gigs that had professionals running the sound. Good crowd from start to finish, screaming for more, more, more. Thanks to everyone who came out.

Wayside Riders
3/13/10
Moonshadow Tavern
Tucker, GA

Set 1
Fate
Katy
Can You Feel My Love
The Maker
Big Sky
Come Along*
Major Jones
Silver Stallion*
Harbinger
I Can See Clearly Now*

Set 2
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Hold On
Too Fast For You
Vampire
Foolish Heart*
Jesse James
Chance It
One More Shot
The Way She Is
Althea*
Id
Walking Under Ladders

Set 3
Lookout Joe
On The Farm*
Year In Hell
Long Black Veil*
Castaway
Dream The Night Away
Don't Let Go
Sweet On Me
Big RR Blues

Encore:
Merrymaker

*1st time played

Romin Dawson - gtr., voc.; Preston Holcomb - drums; APL - bass, voc.; Robert Nichols - keyboards, voc.; Shell Stamps - gtr., voc.; Rick Welsh - drums

Night Of The Dead

3/12/10
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

Set 1
Cold Rain & Snow, Deep Elem Blues, Sugaree, They Love Each Other, Althea, Don't Ease Me In, Friend Of The Devil, Jack-a-roe, The Maker, Midnight Moonlight, Peggy-O, Alabama Getaway, That's What Love Will Make You Do, Let It Rock^^, Mr. Charlie^^

Set 2
Jack Straw, Scarlet Begonias# > Fire On The Mountain#, Eyes Of The World#* > Cassidy#*, Iko Iko*, Loser*, Beat It On Down The Line*, Foolish Heart*, Bertha*@, Brokedown Palace*@, Tangled Up In Blue*@

APL - bass, vocals; Robert Nichols - kbd., ac. gtr. (^^), vocals; Steve Saunders - drums, vocals; Shell Stamps - ac. gtr., vocals

Steve Baird - percussion (2nd set); Tony Giordano - keyboards (#); Romin Dawson - ac. gtr. (*), vocals (Brokedown Palace); Preston Holcomb - drums (@).

Chef John's 40th Birthday Party

2/19/10
Krog Jam
Atlanta, GA

Andy Lester Band
Prologue, Saturday, For The Turnstiles, Magnolia > Carousel > Too Fast For You, Epilogue

APL - ac. gtr., vocals; Muggs DeMayo - el. gtr.; Karl Knott - drums; Robert Nichols - bass, harmony vocals

Also: Electric Codpiece, Deep Blue Sun

Night Of The Dead

1/9/10
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

SET I
Cold Rain & Snow, Deep Elem Blues, Loser, Don't Ease Me In, Friend Of The Devil, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Beat It On Down The Line, Jack-a-roe, The Maker, Midnight Moonlight, Peggy-O, Ripple, Alabama Getaway, Let It Rock*, Mr. Charlie*, Don't Let Go*
SET II
Bertha**, Eyes of the World** > Cassidy**, Sugaree**, Tangled Up In Blue**, Althea, Man Smart Woman Smarter, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Viola Lee Blues***,Not Fade Away** > Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad** >And We Bid You Goodnight


APL - ac. gtr. (1st set), bass (* and 2nd set), vocals; Robert Nichols - kbd., ac. gtr. (*), vocals; Steve Saunders - drums, percussion (***), vocals; Shell Stamps - ac. gtr., vocals

Romin Dawson - ac. gtr. (** & ***); Steve Baird - percussion (2nd set), drums (***)