Travelin' Riverside Pre-Hangover Extravaganza, pt. 4

9/4/13
400 Block Bar
Rome, GA

I
The Weight
Wild Horses
Willin'
Prologue >
Harbinger
River Trip >
Too Fast For You >
Not Yet But Maybe
Midnight Afternoon
Going To California
Change Partners
Tomorrow Is A Long Time >
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Solitary Man
Keep Me In Your Heart
Wonderful World
Friend Of The Devil

II
And It Stoned Me
Can't Find My Way Home
Come Monday
Romeo & Juliet
Rocky Raccoon
A Day In The Life
Dear Prudence
We Can Work It Out
Fishin' In The Dark
Flowers On The Wall
Dead Flowers
Just Like Heaven

III
Empty
The Maker
Midnight Moonlight
Henry
After Midnight >
Not Fade Away >
After Midnight
Tangled Up In Blue

Travelin' Riverside Pre-Hangover Extravaganza, pt. 3

8/28/13
Moon Roof Bar
Rome, GA

Started off to a small but enthusiastic crowd, including the owners of Harvest Moon.  A good mixture of well-known and obscure.

I
Drift Away
Can't Find My Way Home
I Can See Clearly Now
If I Needed You
Keep Me In Your Heart
Let My Love Open The Door
Little Wing
Wonderful World
The Way You Do The Things You Do
 24 Hours At A Time
Boots Of Spanish Leather
Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Amy
Box Of Rain
Don't Worry, Be Happy

A few people rotated in and out, so I busted out the originals.  More enthusiastic folks showed up, so some more well-known ones made the list.

II
Ring Of Fire
Dear Prudence
Melissa
Mother Nature's Son
Pancho & Lefty
Friend Of The Devil
Everything Is Free
Change Partners
Prologue
Too Fast For You
Midnight Afternoon
Rocky Raccoon
Come Monday
A Day In The Life
Dead Flowers
Faithfully
Fishin' In The Dark
Flowers On The Wall
Tangled Up In Blue

Someone had requested some originals, so I obliged.  The Van Morrison song was another request, as was the Johnny Cash.

III
Not Yet But Maybe
Saturday
River Trip
And It Stoned Me
You Never Can Tell
Going To California
Folsom Prison Blues
Midnight Moonlight
After Midnight > Not Fade Away > After Midnight

Thunderbutt Peterson, Episode I

8/24/13
Old Havana Cigar Co.
Rome, GA

We kicked around a bunch of variations on the Thunderbolt Patterson name.  This one is close enough that you might not notice the difference if you saw it written outside the venue.  That being said, you find out just what kind of musician you are when you play with Tim Bowen.  The man is a guru, y'all.  We got together a couple times to make a list and sketch out some arrangements.  Most of these are Thunderbolt songs that I knew I could learn, but I added a few of my own.

I
You Never Can Tell
Friend Of The Devil
Let My Love Open The Door
The Race Is On
Everything Is Free
Franklin's Tower
Crossroads
The Last Time
Sweet Virginia*
Ring Of Fire*
Tangled Up In Blue*

II
Folsom Prison Blues
Just My Imagination > Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
Let It Rock
Down By The River
Pancho & Lefty*
Dead Flowers*
Carmelita
Don't Worry, Be Happy**

III
Willin' > Don't Bogart Me
Wild Horses
Dirty Old Town***
It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry***
All Along The Watchtower

APL - ac. gtr., tenor uke**, voc.
Time Bowen - ac. gtr., mandolin*, lap steel***, harmony voc.

Travelin' Riverside Pre-Hangover Extravaganza, pt. 2

8/21/13
400 Block Bar
Rome, GA

I
Amy
Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy
For The Turnstiles
Althea
Boots Of Spanish Leather
Desperadoes Waiting On A Train
Mother Nature's Son
Torn & Frayed
Gentle On My Mind
America
Change Partners
We Can Work It Out
Third Week In The Chelsea
These Days
Something In The Way She Moves

II
Ring Of Fire
Me & Bobby McGee
Rocky Raccoon
For No One
All My Love
Going To California
Dear Prudence
I'm On Fire >
River Trip >
Too Fast For You
Midnight Afternoon
Harbinger
Drift Away

III
Whiskey*
Walkin' After Midnight*
If It Hadn't Been For Love*
Twisted*
Jolene*
Suspicious Minds
Loving Cup
Fishin' In The Dark
Tangled Up In Blue 

*Beth Brownlow, voc.

 

4/5 The Strange

8/16/13
Schroeder's New Deli Courtyard
Rome, GA

The Strange booked a semi-acoustic gig (their drummer had to go to the Bahamas or something, ain't that a bitch).  They asked a few of us to play in an open-mic format.  JonRoss Maddox and Justin Brown each did a set, then I did a set:

Prologue >
Harbinger >
Not Yet But Maybe >
Saturday
River Trip >
Too Fast For You
Anything At All
Epilogue
Midnight Afternoon

The Strange brought the strangeness in a great stripped-down format.  Always fun to play original music in front of people.  The cat and my bedroom walls get bored with it.

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