Travelin' Riverside Pre-Hangover Extravaganza, pt. 1

8/14/13
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

My first official night covering for David Bell, who had hip surgery yesterday.  Wednesdays on the Roof are chock full of fun.  Happy hour specials all night, pizza specials, a general party atmosphere.  A little slow right now while the college kids get their shit together, but still a decent little crowd.  Lots of familiar faces who cheered and clapped in all the right places.  I threw in a handful of songs that Tim and I will be doing as Thunderbutt Peterson, just for practice.


I
Folsom Prison Blues
Everything Is Free
Friend Of The Devil
Let My Love Open The Door
I Can See Clearly Now
Going To California
Save The Last Dance For Me
I Second That Emotion
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) >
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
Come Monday
America
Summer In The City

II
Ring Of Fire
Drift Away
Dirty Old Town
Pancho & Lefty
The Weight
Dead Flowers
Long-Haired Country Boy
I'm On Fire
Rocky Raccoon
Solitary Man
Genesis
Lay Lady Lay
Tangled Up In Blue

III
24 Hours At A Time
Travelin' Light
We Can Work It Out
Romeo & Juliet
For No One
Midnight Afternoon

Technical problems (probably the guitar jack) forced the end of the 3rd set.  It was 11:30 or so, and the crowd was winding down anyway, so it worked out.  Damn, that's one more thing I gotta do tomorrow before work.

Northwest Georgia Music Hour

8/14/13
95.7 WATG-FM (The Ridge)
Rome, GA

Bryan Mullins hosts a great show chock full of regional music.  Super informal, two of us crammed into a control room.  Bryan played some music by other people, I played a few, and we had what qualifies as an interview, although we are good buds and talk all the time.  Oh, and I read an announcement for an upcoming event with my best radio voice.

Midnight Afternoon
River Trip
Not Yet But Maybe

2nd Annual Andy's Berfday Spectacular!

8/10/2013
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

Again, wouldn't you want to play a gig on your birthday?  Started off pretty calm at the bar, but steadily progressed as the night went on.

I
Summer In The City
Don’t Tell The Band
Friend Of The Devil
Going To California
Ripple
Melissa
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
I Don’t Love You Much Do I
We Can Work It Out
Rocky Raccoon
Here There And Everywhere
For No One
Dear Prudence
A Day In The Life
Tangled Up In Blue
 
II
I’m On Fire
Can’t Find My Way Home
Dead Flowers
No X
Paint It, Black
Wild Horses
Fast Enough For You
If I Could
I’ll Back You Up
More Than This
Under The Milky Way
Lovesong
Just Like Heaven
Wrapped Around Your Finger
One
Flowers On The Wall
 
III
The Road Goes On Forever
What I Really Mean
Gentle On My Mind
Genesis
Third Week In The Chelsea
24 Hours At A Time
Me & Bobby McGee
Pancho & Lefty
After Midnight > Not Fade Away > After Midnight

To The Moon!

8/7/13
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

Getting ready for a long string of dates filling in for David Bell.  Lon Eldridge has been in Europe, so I filled in for him tonight.  There were five people in the bar when I started.  Three songs into it, they were gone.  I knocked off, watched the Braves, picked it back up half an hour later (still to an empty bar).  People trickled in and out the rest of the night.  Sure enough, someone asked for Wagon Wheel.  I told him to write each letter on a $100 bill and I'd do it.  That's how I feel about that song. 

Benefit For Dot Foster

6/20/13
Benefit For Dot Foster
Harvest Moon Café Parking Lot
Rome, GA

Y'all know Ms. Dot, the force behind the vegetables and Sunday brunch buffet.  She had a stroke a couple months back, and has been recovering since.  The powers that be put this together -- catfish, collards, corn, hush puppies, key lime pie -- and asked us to play.  What was even cooler is that the hospital people worked it out so Dot could be with us.  We couldn't get a full band thing together, so Levi and I did some acoustic songs.  Charlie and Alex sat in on percussion.  Levi played a set first, then I did this:

The Way You Do The Things You Do
Wonderful World
Save The Last Dance For Me
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
Drift Away
Stand By Me
C'est La Vie >
That's Alright Mama
Folsom Prison Blues
Badfish
A Minor Jam with Vocals
I Can See Clearly Now
Runaway
Summer In The City
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)

Levi, Charlie, and Alex were in and out on acoustic guitar and percussion throughout.

Recordin', Sittin' In...

6/14/13
400 Block Bar
Rome, GA

I told Scott I'd record this date.  Clay Broome opened with a solo acoustic set, then continued the festivities with Scott Warren and Charlie Welborn.  They took a break, and I played a few:

Pancho & Lefty
Harbinger
Tomorrow Is A Long Time > 
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Midnight Afternoon
Not Fade Away

Schroeder's New Deli

5/31/13
Schroeder's New Deli
Rome, GA

Bryan Mullins called me at midnight the night before.  They'd just booked this since nobody was on the schedule.  Nothin' to it.

Prologue
Fantastic (Existential Crisis?  What Existential Crisis?)
Harbinger
Saturday
Not Yet But Maybe
Surrender
River Trip
Epilogue
Too Fast For You
Midnight Afternoon

(opened for Muletide Perkins Trio)

Sittin' In (One Mo' 'Gain)

Got talked into singin' karaoke, did "Jackson" with Kali at La Marie's.  Wound up back at 400, the ever-gracious Scott Warren invited me to play a few:

5/23/13
400 Block Bar
Rome, GA

Ring Of Fire
Not Fade Away >
River Trip >
Tangled Up In Blue >
Not Fade Away

Sittin' In

5/2/13
400 Block Bar
Rome, GA

I Know You Rider
Not Fade Away
24 Hours At A Time
Tomorrow Is A Long Time > 
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
After Midnight

Scott Warren is in the Thursday night rotation at 400.  I showed up for libations, he invited me to play a few.  

2013 AllRoads Music Festival

4/20/13
AllRoads Music Festival
Fast Printing & Signs Stage
Heritage Park
Rome, GA

(Photo by Brittany Hannah)

Prologue
Saturday
Harbinger
Too Fast For You
Midnight Afternoon

APL - acoustic guitar, vocals
Tim Bowen - acoustic guitar

Tim was my only choice for this gig.  I almost felt it was an unfair advantage, having him onstage with me.  He'd charted out the songs, we rehearsed together once, he played through 'em a thousand times on his own.  Listening to him solo over those goofy changes in "Saturday" was worth the sunburn.  Lots of great people played, I recorded 19 bands over 12 hours.  With any luck, they'll do it again next year.  Anybody wanna sign on with my electric band?  Ha!

Here's the recording, downloadable for the free:
http://andylester.bandcamp.com/album/4-20-13-allroads-festival-fast-printing-signs-stage-heritage-park-rome-ga

Scott Warren & The Booze Mountaineers

1/25/13
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

APL - ac. gtr., bass, voc.
Scott Warren - ac. gtr., voc.
Clay Broome - bass, ac. gtr., voc.
James Garrison - perc., voc.

Finally got my wherewithal about me, got the night off, and screwed on my game face.  Scott sang most of it, I sang a handful, Clay sang a few (he and I switched instruments on these songs), we all sang harmonies.
Thanks to all you Romans who packed the bar, and thanks to Adam 'n' Alex for keepin' it real.  
I didn't have it together to record, so there is no set list.  

400 Block Bar

12/23/12
400 Block Bar
Rome, GA

Randy asked me to play.  A good number of folks showed up, beer pong did what it did.  Lots of friendly faces.  Happy Holidaze, y'all.

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
Genesis
Drift Away
Friend Of The Devil
Going To California
We Can Work It Out
Whiskey*
Walkin' After Midnight*
Twisted*
If It Hadn't Been For Love*
Jolene*
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay*
Just Like Heaven
Long-Haired Country Boy
Pancho & Lefty
Just Like A Woman
Midnight Afternoon
Too Fast For You
The Road Goes On Forever
Romeo & Juliet
Under The Milky Way
Willin'
Feliz Navidad
White Christmas
Blue Christmas

*Beth Brownlow, voc.

 

Harvest Moon Café Christmas Party

12/10/12
Harvest Moon Café
Rome, GA

We bartenders were responsible for music and entertainment.  We were initially going with iPods, but they asked me to play.  I brought PA and started the festivities while the party was still mellow:

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
Ring Of Fire
The Way You Do The Things You Do
Wonderful World
Save The Last Dance For Me
Dear Prudence
Runaway
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
Soulshine
Pancho & Lefty
I Can See Clearly Now
Drift Away*
Just Like Heaven**

*w/Ashley Hill, voc.
 **w/Ashley Hill, voc.; Adam Sikes, drums

The games portion of the night commenced, lots of silliness and innuendo, prizes, etc.  Afterwards, we were asked to play together.  Since we don't play together on a regular basis, other than the semi-regular freakout jam session, it would be tough.  Here's what we pulled together:

You Never Can Tell***
Jam > After Midnight***

***w/Levi White, guitar; Alex Alexander, guitar; Adam Sikes, drums

"After Midnight" dissolved into another freakout jam, I laid out.  They jammed a little while longer, then played dance music through iPods the rest of the night.

Clayton Jones & The Bucks

Clayton and his band have had a Thursday thing going at Havana this past month.  Tonight, via a scheduling mix-up, he had no band.  I was already going to record, he called me, asked me to bring a guitar, said we'd just do a guitar pull.  I didn't have time to think myself out if it, so here it is:

Clayton Jones & Andy Lester
11/29/12
Old Havana Cigar Co.
Rome, GA

1. Dead Flowers
2. Travellin' Light
3. Dead Man's Waltz
4. "Dig A Hole"
5. Me & Bobby McGee
6. Pancho & Lefty
7. Space Wrangler
8. Midnight Afternoon
9. Not Yet But Maybe
10. River Trip
11. Dirt Town
12. New Clayton Song
13. Desperadoes Waiting For A Train
14. L.A. Freeway
15. Going To California
16. Out Here In The Middle
17. If I Were A Carpenter
18. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
19. Christmas In Washington
20. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
21. Folsom Prison Blues

APL - ac. gtr., voc.
Clayton Jones - ac. gtr., voc.

Sittin' In

9/28/12
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

Just Like Heaven
Me & Paul
Romeo & Juliet

APL - ac. gtr., voc.
Sean Bennett - percussion

Tim McNary and Sean Bennett returned to the Moon Roof for some folky folk-rock.  Tim told me to play a few if I wanted.  At one point, a bunch of my co-workers showed up, so I had to oblige the ego stroke.  Thanks as always to Tim 'n' Sean for bringing the good vibe and sharing the stage.

Cotton Block Sundays

9/9/12
Bridgepoint Plaza
Rome, GA

I'm not the musician who shows up to jam, not knowing what's going to happen.  I prefer hours of rehearsal.  However, I've heard Scott and Clayton play enough that I knew it would work.  I showed up to play bass, but another bass player was there, so I played acoustic guitar.  I wasn't able to keep a setlist, but be assured that it was fun and great.

APL - guitar, voc.
Clayton Jones - guitar, voc.
Scott Warren - guitar, voc.
Seth Turner - guitar, voc.
Charles Otis Spann - bass, voc.
Rob Reed - fiddle, drums
Jedd Lovel - drums

Jedd was fighting the flu, so only played the 1st set.  Rob took over from there.  I was suffering from the Irish flu (Block Party kicked my ass, y'all), but played through it.  Scott sang most of the songs.  I sang a few, and we all harmonized when the moment was right.

Cotton Block Sundays

9/2/12
Bridgepoint Plaza
Rome, GA

Clayton and Scott continue to host a great Sunday afternoon music gathering.  I was in Charlotte for Phish last weekend.  Clayton asked me to host the open mic portion of this week's festivities.  Turns out there was only one other guy (Brandon Maddox) and me, so we each got a 30 minute set.  I went with originals:

Prologue
Harbinger
Not Yet But Maybe
Too Fast For You
Epilogue
Midnight Afternoon

David Bell followed, doing a song pull with Clayton and Scott, then Jerry On The Moon followed.  Good times, great weather.  Y'all keep comin', and it'll keep gettin' better!

Sittin' In

8/31/12
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

After Midnight > Not Fade Away > After Midnight
This Time
Dead Flowers

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


It was Muggs' last shift at Bella's, and Lefty was playing a solo acoustic show.  Hard to find good New York style pizza in Rome, so it was worth the drive.  Lefty asked me to play a few.  "This Time" was his call.  He said he was gonna steal it one day.  As long as it comes with a sweet publishing deal that'll help me retire once and for all, go for it.

Cotton Block Sundays

8/19/12
Bridgepoint Plaza
Rome, GA

Clayton Jones and Scott Warren put this together last weekend, just set up PA equipment and played, then got official city blessing and sponsorship.  Today they had a banner and everything.  I went to listen, they took a break, Clayton asked me to play a few.

Dead Flowers*
After Midnight* > Not Fade Away* > After Midnight*
Just Like Heaven*
Twisted**
Me And My Uncle***
Jack-a-roe***

*w/Scott Warren and Ashley Hill
**w/Scott Warren and Beth Brownlow
***w/Scott Warren

Andy's Berfday Spectacular!

8/11/12
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

Gettin' to do my favorite thing on my favorite day?  Absolutely, every time.  Inspired by David Bell's recent performance, I played an all-original first set.  Tough to play original music around here, so ya do it when ya can.

I
Prologue
Saturday
Fantastic
Wasn’t Really
Memphis
Ritual
Not Yet But Maybe
River Trip
Isles Of Ae
Too Fast For You
Midnight Afternoon
That Which We Are, We Are
Harbinger

II
Drift Away (Dobie Gray)
I Can See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash)
Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)
Friend Of The Devil (Grateful Dead)
Runaway (Del Shannon)
Long-Haired Country Boy (Charlie Daniels Band)
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Summer In The City (Lovin’ Spoonful)
Fishin’ In The Dark (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
I’m Still A Guy (Brad Paisley)

Levi White played a set, takin' us all to another place.  Then, as if the night couldn't get any better, I was joined by Rome's hottest up-and-coming duo that you haven't heard yet, Beth Brownlow* and Quincy Matthews**, collectively known as Trailer Park Feet.  

Whiskey (Trampled By Turtles)*
Leaving On A Jet Plane (John Denver)**
Blue Sky (Allman Bros.)*
Midnight Train To Georgia (Gladys Knight & The Pips)**
Walkin’ After Midnight (Patsy Cline)*
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)**
Twisted (Wood Bros.)*
When You Say Nothing At All (Alison Krauss & Union Station)**
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)*
Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)**
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)***
Black Water (Doobie Bros.)***

***Beth and Quincy shared lead vocals on these.  Oh, and Beth played kazoo on "Dock Of The Bay".

Jeremy Harrison took the stage, playing a Phish medley just for me, along with some other laid-back-makes-ya-wanna-lay-on-the-beach kind of tunes.  Yes.

I closed it out with these:

III
Save The Last Dance For Me (Drifters)
El Paso (Marty Robbins)
The Road Goes On Forever (Robert Earl Keen)
Under The Milky Way (The Church)
Romeo And Juliet (Dire Straits)
Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
 

Sittin' In

7/26/12
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA


Hangin' out with some lovely folks, made our way to the Roof after dinner 'n' libations.  Clayton Jones has a somewhat regular Thursday night gig, he asked me to play a few.


Not Yet But Maybe*
Too Fast For You
Romeo & Juliet


*debut performance

Andy & Friends, 5/12/12

Andy & Friends

5/12/12

Moon Roof Bar

Rome, GA

I
Cover Of The Rolling Stone (Dr. Hook)
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) (Marvin Gaye)
Drift Away (Dobie Gray)
Wonderful World (Sam Cooke)
The Way You Do The Things You Do (Temptations)
I Can See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash)
I Fought The Law (Bobby Fuller Four)
Runaway (Del Shannon)
Summer In The City (Lovin’ Spoonful)
I’m A Believer (Monkees)
Daydream Believer (Monkees)
Lean On Me (Bill Withers)
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
Save The Last Dance For Me (Drifters)
You Never Can Tell (Chuck Berry)
Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)
Big River (Johnny Cash)
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Friend Of The Devil (Grateful Dead)
The Road Goes On Forever (Robert Earl Keen)
I’m Still A Guy (Brad Paisley)
Pancho And Lefty (Townes Van Zandt)
Desperadoes Waiting For A Train (Guy Clark)
Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Whiskey (Trampled By Turtles)*
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)*

II
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)**
Lovesong (The Cure)**
Moon River (Mancini/Mercer)**
Come Monday (Jimmy Buffett)
A Pirate Looks At Forty (Jimmy Buffett)
Angel From Montgomery (John Prine)
Melissa (Allman Bros.)
It’s Your Love (Tim McGraw)
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)

Levi White played a few, then I played some more.

Under The Milky Way (The Church)
Wrapped Around Your Finger (Police)
One (U2)
All My Love (Led Zeppelin)

Jeremy Harrison played a few, then I finished it off.

Me And Paul (Willie Nelson)
Gentle On My Mind (John Hartford)
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)***
Dead Flowers (Rolling Stones)
Romeo And Juliet (Dire Straits)
I’m On Fire (Bruce Springsteen)
Dear Prudence (Beatles)
For No One (Beatles)
Crazy Love (Van Morrison)
Empty (Ray LaMontagne)
Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan)
Rocky Mountain High (John Denver)
I Can’t Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt)
Something In The Way She Moves (James Taylor)
Tangled Up In Blue (Bob Dylan)

 *Beth Brownlow, vocal

** Kali McMillian, vocal
***repeated by request
 

Sittin' In, 3/10/12

3/10/12

Moon Roof Bar

Rome, GA

Last week, Alice asked me if I wanted to hear a song she wrote.  My answer is always "yes".  She'd sung into her phone, and asked me if I could put music to it.  We got together at her place, played through it a few times, and there it was.  I even showed her how to play it.

Tim McNary and Sean Bennett played the Roof, and brought a big ol' pile o' pro to our little bar.  Damn, these guys are good.  Alice spoke to them when they took a break, asked me if I wanted to play the song.  Done.  They introduced us, Sean played the cajón.  Blam.  

Play Me Anymore (written by Alice Gill, arranged by me)

APL -- ac. gtr.

Alice Gill -- vocals

Sean Bennett -- cajón

(photo by Charles Garrison)

Sittin' In, 2/29/12

2/29/12

Moon Roof Bar

Rome, GA

Midnight Afternoon

Me & Paul

Desperadoes Waiting For A Train

David Bell plays on Wednesday nights, and is awesome.  After he was done, they were passing around the guitar, and I got a turn.  Good times, y'all.

Harvest Moon All-Stars, 1/28/12

Harvest Moon All-Stars

1/28/12

Moon Roof Bar

Rome, GA

The regularly scheduled entertainment cancelled four days ago, so a few of us from work decided to do it.  Jeremy Harrison brought the P.A. and played first.  Adam Sikes and Ben Harbin played drums on a few songs with him.  Levi White played a few, and Jeremy sat in on one or two of them.  I played a set:

Cover Of The Rolling Stone (Dr. Hook)
After Midnight > Travelin’ Light (J.J. Cale)
Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)
Runaway (Del Shannon)
Save The Last Dance For Me (Drifters)
Drift Away (Dobie Gray)
Can't Find My Way Home (Blind Faith)
I’m A Believer (Monkees)
Dead Flowers (Rolling Stones)
Pancho And Lefty (Townes Van Zandt)
Friend Of The Devil (Grateful Dead)
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
The Road Goes On Forever (Robert Earl Keen)
Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)
Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
Come Monday (Jimmy Buffett)
Melissa (Allman Bros.) >
24 Hours At A Time (Marshall Tucker Band)

Jeremy and Adam wanted to play a few more so Jeremy could go home and go to bed.  I'd wondered if I would take a break since the room was packed.  Can't stop the music with a full room.  They played a few more.  Alex Alexander and Adam played some wicked freaky stuff.  I played another set:

Big River (Johnny Cash)*
Me And Paul (Willie Nelson)*
Faith (George Michael)*

Romeo And Juliet (Dire Straits)
Empty (Ray LaMontagne)
I’m Still A Guy (Brad Paisley)
Just Like Heaven (The Cure)
Dear Prudence (Beatles)
Willin' > Don‘t Bogart Me (Little Feat)
Lovesong (The Cure)
Under The Milky Way (The Church)
Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan)
Tangled Up In Blue (Bob Dylan)
 

*Adam Sikes, drums

Two requests for "Wagon Wheel" went unfulfilled.  Just sayin'.

Open Mic, 12/20/11

12/20/11

333 on Broad

Rome, GA

A rainy night in Rome, GA.  The Harrison song is a holiday open mic tradition for me. I've performed "Amy" and "Genesis" in non-open mic situations, and finally got "Landslide" to where Stevie Nicks might actually enjoy hearing me sing it.  Now, to find a real gig...

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (George Harrison)

Landslide (Fleetwood Mac)

Amy (Ryan Adams)

Genesis (Hot Tuna)

Open Mic, 12/6/11

12/6/11

333 on Broad

Rome, GA

A friend and I were trying to get together to swap songs, but her keyboard wasn't working.  We thought about going to one of the chapels on the Berry campus to use their piano.  She and some other folks got distracted, so we ended up at 333 with a few other folks.  So I actually got to play in front of people I knew, who were there to listen to me play.  Yay.

Midnight Afternoon

I'm A Believer

Just Like A Woman

Harbinger

Open Mic, 11/29/11

11/29/11
333 on Broad
Rome, GA

I apparently can't get enough of playing in front of people who have no interest in hearing live music.  Not sure how the open mic has survived at this place.  Original music doesn't go over at all, so I worked up some covers, seven of which I'd never played in public.

I
Drift Away (Dobie Gray)
Me and Paul (Willie Nelson)
Still In Love With You (Thin Lizzy/Sade)
A Pirate Looks At Forty (Jimmy Buffett)

I played first, five or six more went on, then it was my turn again.

II
Romeo & Juliet (Dire Straits)
Sitting In Limbo (Jimmy Cliff)
Solitary Man (Neil Diamond/Johnny Cash)
Dead Flowers (Rolling Stones)

Chamber Concert

Blue Mountain Chamber Players
10/29/11
Ford Auditorium @ Berry College
Rome, GA

Anything At All (written by me, string arrangement by Joe)

APL - guitar, vocals; Joe Lester - violin; Samantha Lester - viola

Sam and Joe put this one together with several of their associates. There were some duos and trios. This was my contribution. We've played this song a few times with Earhorn, and it was a super thrill to play it again with them. Here's the mp3 for you to download: http://snd.sc/v0RCu4

If there was anything at all that I had left to say to you, it would probably come off as some kind of inside joke. You see, I've kept my emotions pretty close at hand the last few years; and the wall has grown quite imposing.
It's just that there's this one little matter of having it all out in the open; and it was never very easy, even when it was just the two of us. But it seemed like you were always holding court for this or that one there, and how does one holding these words come forth?
There has never been a better time than right now (well, there was that one day); just a familiar voice remembering my name. Your number is right there, I could pick up the phone at any time. Is there anything at all that you'd believe?

Open Mic, 10/25/11

333 On Broad
Rome, GA

"I wrote 63 songs this year. They're all about Joe. And I'm going to sing each and every one of them tonight."
Well, there are only four, and they're not about Joe, but the sentiment's the same. They're all relatively new, no band has played them, so I've included the lyrics.

Lions On The Lam

Here, in the jungle, lions -- there!
We could escape anywhere

Free as the north wind blowing through
I can’t believe I found you

Or that you found me -- wandering, lost
Tossed to the side -- hungry, ghost

I’ve heard the legends
I’ve had the dreamsYou, and now me
So it seems

Fire on the mountain -- home, almost
Wires strewn about -- signals crossed

Seen very clearly through the mist
It must be something like this

Dark, now the darkness -- home, safe, found
Start, it’s like this -- right here, now

So it begins
There is a way
Sleep, now awake
Into the day
 
Night's Watch (Holding Pattern)*

It's a rainy night in Georgia, and I wish you were here
One more night (like so many others) that's going nowhere
Too much excitement for one man to bear
Keeping the night's watch -- there are dragons out there

I hear the rumbling, hope that it's you
Turns out the thunder has brought no news
Bright-eyed wonder gives way to the blues
Standing in silence is the way that I choose

Fell into sleep, fell out again
So hard to keep, but what do I do with it then?
First thing this morning, a moment of Zen
Served with black coffee, a curious blend

The New One 

Went back in time to find that one old song
Saw myself as I was then, sat down to play along
Suddenly, it seemed, (somehow) it seemed the same

She comes to me after all these years
Like it was yesterday, right before I disappeared
That one is gone, this one comes to stay

tear down the walls that surround us all
praise the moon, praise the sun 
question yourself so the head is ruled by none

There was a word, it filled a space
And now the song is in its place
The strangest of gifts has been right here all this time

I come to her, and I give it my best
It's better than that, or anything else
Must have been the wind that's blowing my mind

the moonlight smiles on the palace we've built
this strange new world i've never seen
you made me your king, i made you my queen

After some time in the darkest of places
Here's a little light to read the story so far
What once was but a dream now stands before you in full bloom

I walk with her through shifting sands
And watch the sun go down again
A whisper speaks, and suddenly, the moon...

remember nights of starry skies 
the campus green, the downtown bar
it comes from me to where you are

As For Me

Everybody's always somewhere else
"Hey, whatchadoin'? I'm so damn bored."
As for me, I'll always be right here
"Come back. Stay."

Everybody here's from somewhere else
Down to the ocean, wash it all away
As for me, everything comes from right here
Please, make yourself at home

And we'll laugh at the world when they tell us to stop 
Who needs them anyway?

Everybody does what they say they won't do
The other shoe falls like rain
As for me, I'm still who you thought I would be
You can sleep, trusting the roof over your head

I still remember the dress that she wore

But I can't remember what happened before

Everybody says "I love you"
It doesn't always mean what they think it means
As for me, it's so simple -- I'll say it again...

You can't be afraid if there's nothing to fear
What is fear anyway?

*debut performance

The host summed it up perfectly when I was done. The girls wanted to hear some dance music, so they were going to take a break from the open mic format. There were only three or four of us tonight. I usually stick around to play a second set, but tonight wasn't the night for that. Oh, and all lyrics and music are written and owned by me.

Open Mic, 10/18/11

10/18/11
333 On Broad
Rome, GA

I decided to debut a couple of songs. I put the final touches on "Lions" this afternoon. "As For Me" has been finished for a while, but it's hard to play the slow ones in front of an unfamiliar crowd. But, since most of 'em weren't there to hear original music anyway, I figured it was the perfect time to debut it.
I played first, six or seven people played after me (including the "comedian" from Lindale), then I played a few more.
A note on the recording: I've not been happy with the quality of the recordings this guy makes, and I asked him if his machine would record at a higher bitrate. He did it, but found the problem lay elsewhere. Unlistenable is the word I'll use.

I
Lions On The Lam*
Midnight Afternoon
As For Me*
The New One

II
The Road Goes On Forever
Pancho & Lefty
Amanda
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Just Like A Woman

*debut performance

Sittin' In Again

10/15/2011
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

Scott Thompson invited me to play during his break. This is pretty much how I got my job. The Rome Derby girls came up and packed the place. It was nuts. Nothin' like playin' to a packed house.

The Road Goes On Forever
Pancho & Lefty
Melissa
Romeo & Juliet
Just Like A Woman
Tangled Up In Blue

Sittin' In

9/23/11
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

Toodlin' 'round downtown, lookin' for the music scene (which is here, but keeps itself well-hidden). Spoke with Scott Thompson, whose gig it was tonight. He invited me to play a few. His keyboard player jumped in on the Cash songs. The booking guy found me afterwards, said he liked what I did, we exchanged numbers. Hold on to your nuts, Rome. I'm comin' for your milkshake.

Desperadoes Waiting On A Train, Pancho & Lefty, Folsom Prison Blues*, Ring Of Fire*

*w/Keith Tressell, piano

Open Mic 9/20/11

9/20/11
333 on Broad
Rome, GA

Even fewer people playing than last week. The Lindale crowd is here again, supporting their buddy who is trying to be a comedian. Unfortunately, they're not interested in music, and are outside while we are playing. They all come in for his act.
I continue to come up with songs that I haven't played here.

I
Fantastic/Existential Crisis? What Existential Crisis?, Wasn't Really, Memphis, Summer Somewhere

II
Pancho & Lefty, For The Turnstiles, Tomorrow Is A Long Time > The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, These Days

I put a lot of time into preparing this set, and they were all out on the deck until it was their friend's turn again. It turned into a roast when another friend joined him onstage and they proceeded to call each other "faggot" for fifteen minutes. There wasn't even any polite applause after the songs, so I cut it short and went home. The host recorded it again tonight, but I'm not at all happy with it, nor am I happy with last week's recording, so they'll not be shared.

Open Mic 9/13/11

9/13/11
333 on Broad
Rome, GA

Not as many players tonight, so I got to play more. Hooray. I was third, and played mostly originals again:
Isles Of Ae -- written with Joe for Earhorn; Jason McWilliams came up with the middle part.
Ritual -- I had some music and some words; pillaged some old notebooks and put it all together.
The New One -- This one first came to life while I was a Literature student at GSU, feeling oh, so poetic. I've always liked the music. Most of the words weren't relevant all these years later. Re-wrote it this past Spring. 
Desperadoes Waiting For A Train (written by Guy Clark) -- Saw Guy do this one at Live Oak a few times, I've done it a few times at open mic. One of my favorites.

After everyone had played, they started over. The host offered me the closing slot. I could have played for at least another hour. Originals and covers mixed up together:
Romeo And Juliet (Dire Straits) -- an open mic staple. I play it up a step from the record, it strums well and sits comfortably in my range.
24 Hours At A Time (Marshall Tucker Band) -- I didn't think this one was too obscure, but the host said nobody recognized it. I need a band for this one.
Surrender -- Never found its feet with the band. I'm gonna keep playing it 'til it finds its way.
Prologue -- The recorded version is all acoustic instruments. The only electricity we used was to power the microphones.
Midnight Afternoon -- This one came out last Fall. Really needs a band to let it run around in the yard.
Harbinger -- Wrote this one for the band. Always played it just the way I wanted it. The end jam was always worth the price of admission.
Henry (New Riders of the Purple Sage) -- Where's Garcia and his pedal steel when I need him?

*debut performance

Open Mic 9/6/11

9/6/11
333 on Broad
Rome, GA

My first open mic in the new town. A couple of people played, then I played some originals:
Midnight Afternoon; That Which We Are, We Are; Too Fast For You; Saturday
They wrapped up the list, then started the rotation again. I played some covers to appease the drunken rowdies:
The Road Goes On Forever; Cover Of The Rolling Stone
A woman sang "Georgia On My Mind" a capella, nailed it. One guy sounded straight out of Nashville, with some Eric Church/Jamey Johnson-style covers. Excellent. Good crowd, lots of compliments. Thanks, Rome, for makin' a guy feel welcome.

Kennedy-Scobbie Wedding

5/28/11
The Inn at Serenbe
Palmetto, GA

Joe, Sam, and I got this one together at the proverbial last minute, 11 days out. Apparently, the bride was having trouble getting the DJ to play what she wanted for the ceremony. Well, never send a DJ to do a musician's job, and never settle when it comes to your wedding music. She's a friend of our cousin whose wedding we played last year, so she knew what we could do. We do a contemporary take, custom arrangements of pop/folk songs, with some classical classics thrown in.

Personnel: APL - acoustic guitar, vocals; Joe Lester - violin; Samantha Lester - viola

Prelude: Here, There, And Everywhere; Morning Has Broken; Misty; I Will; Queen Of The Earth, Child Of The Skies; Crazy Love; It's Your Love; I'll Back You Up

Ceremony: In My Life (Processional); Crash Into Me (Bride); All You Need Is Love (Recessional)

Nice place for a wedding. Farm atmosphere. Walked through the woods from the wedding site to the reception pavilion. Llamas, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs. And if you're looking for a different take on your wedding music, call us.

Lefty Williams' Jam

4/4/11
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

Lefty is on vacation, so Preston hosted. Romin and Cassidy put it together, got me involved. Fun, fun, fun.

Eyes Of The World > Thirteen Days > All Along the Watchtower

APL - bass, vocals ("Eyes"); Romin Dawson - guitar, vocals ("Thirteen Days"); Cassidy Wall - guitar, vocals ("Watchtower"); Hayden Wall - drums

Shell Stamps And Friends

3/31/11
Moonshadow Tavern
Tucker, GA

Trip sat in the whole night. David Bard sat in on a couple of songs, including "Hot Girls Covered In Drugs". Amazing.
In no particular order: They Love Each Other, Don't Do It, Cold Rain And Snow, The Maker, Sweet Angeline, Johnny Too Bad, Deep Elem Blues, Long Black Veil, Jack-a-roe, Walking Under Ladders, Loving Cup, Tidy Up, Tell It To Me, Althea, 100 Years Ago, Friend Of The Devil, Skywater, Magnolia, I Fall Off The Wagon, Blackjack Davey, Don't Let Go, Midnight Moonlight, Henry*, Hot Girls Covered In Drugs*, Here Comes Sunshine, Lay Down Sally, You Ain't Goin' Nowhere, Althea

APL-bass, vocals; Robert Nichols-keyboards, vocals; Shell Stamps-guitar, vocals; Trip-mandolin, vocals.

* with David Bard, mandolin and vocals. I hope I didn't forget anything. Thanks to all the beautiful freaks who came out.

Lefty Williams' Southern Rock Night

2/28/11
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

The Legend Of Wooley Swamp (CDB)
Dreams I'll Never See (Molly Hatchet)
You Got That Right (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Freebird*

APL - bass, vocals ("Wooley"); Nathan Fink - keyboards, vocals ("You Got That Right"); Kris Gloer - guitar, vocals ("Dreams"); Preston Holcomb - drums; Benji Shanks - guitar; Jason "Lefty" Williams - guitar
*add Barry Zion, guitar; Eric Gant - vocals; no Kris

A few groups played before us. We did our thing. A few more groups played. We played "Freebird". Grand time, y'all. I was glad to be in a band with these guys. Thank you.

Shell Stamps & Friends

2/17/11
Moonshadow Tavern
Tucker, GA

I fell down on the job, and didn't keep an accurate setlist. We played most of what we played at Ibex a couple weeks ago. Our good buddy Tripp sat in on mandolin for a good bit of it. Thanks to all the fine folks who came out. We will do it again real soon.

APL - bass, voc.; Robert Nichols - Keyboards, voc.; Shell Stamps - gtr. voc.

Lefty Williams' Love Jam

2/14/11
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

We picked some off-the-path doozies. A whole lot of people went with it as well. Some excellent choices throughout. Hayden came on board at the last minute and made the King's X song his bitch.

Candle In The Wind (Elton John), Magnolia(J.J. Cale), It's Love (King's X)

APL - bass, voc.; Muggs DeMayo - gtr., voc.; Mark vines - gtr.; Hayden Wall - drums

Shell Stamps & Friends

2/5/11
Ibex Atlanta
Decatur, GA

What was once an Ethiopian restaurant has been transformed into a bar/restaurant/pool hall/music venue. It's a new place, so it was up to us to promote it. Thanks to the six people who made it. It's a start. Shell, Rob, and I have been playing together for a while now, so it was easy to put it together.

1st set
Deep Elem Blues, Chance It, Tangled Up In Blue, Jack-a-roe, Don't Let Go, Cold Rain & Snow, That's What Love Will Make You Do, The Maker, Blackjack Davey, Tell It To Me, They Love Each Other, Jesse James

2nd set
Midnight Moonlight, Pigs On The Wing, Skywater (Ancient Harmony), Johnny Too Bad, Tore Up Over You, Don't Do It, Lay Down Sally, Harbinger, Loving Cup, Tidy Up, Queen Bee, Come On Baby Let's go Downtown, I Fall Off the Wagon (44 Long), Walking Under Ladders

APL - bass, vocals; Robert Nichols - keyboards, vocals; Shell Stamps - guitar, vocals

1/24/11

Lefty Williams' Jam
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City

APL - bass, harmony voc.; Muggs DeMayo - el. gtr., voc.; Steve Saunders - drums, harmony voc.

Whimsicality, y'all. Muggs and I hang out, picking on songs, dreaming rock star dreams. Nice to have an outlet so close to home.

Lefty's Hendrix Jam

1/17/11
Bella's Pizzeria
Smyrna, GA

Are You Experienced?
Stone Free
Crosstown Traffic*

APL - bass, voc.; Muggs DeMayo - voc., el. gtr.*; Mark Vines - el. gtr.; Alan Crowe - drums

Big thanks to Preston for hooking us up with Alan. Mark, Muggs, and I worked on the songs together over the weekend. We made sure we were on the same page as Alan, hit the stage and made 'em ours. Hendrix is one of my personal all-time favorites. I picked the songs, so that made it extra fun for me.

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 (***)

12/19/09

T-Dawg's Holiday Hoot
Zuffy's Place
Atlanta, GA

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge were supposed to play, but Larry and Jenny got snowed in wherever they live. I heard they actually had to hike home in the snow. Somehow, their banjo player (Jason Flournoy) made it. Stick spoke w/T-Dawg the night before about putting this together, and it happened. Timmy Cruz opened, as he was originally scheduled. Stop Drop and Roll started with a couple songs, then I got up and played with them. Y'all know that's not my thing, playing songs I don't know with people I don't know, but it was mostly folky-bluegrassy stuff in or around the key of G, and I've been playing with Romin Dawson for a long time, so I know how to follow along. 'Twas much fun.
Robert, Shell, and I had already scheduled a practice session that afternoon for our Grateful Dead tribute night, so we hauled some gear to the place and played for a while with Don (SDR's drummer), the aforementioned Jason Flournoy, and Zebulon Bowles on fiddle. Again, a ton of fun.
A few other folks got up and played -- John Marsh played bass, Rory sang a few of her tunes. Good stuff. T-Dawg paid the musicians and comped our tabs. Very kind.