Time does travel faster lately. I'm afraid it has to do with age or so I have heard.  Oh well.  I remember as a kid, like my child now, Halloween being a special day. It was partly about candy of course but it was also about being out in the neighborhood and the smell of the autumn air. I even remember once stopping and taking in the smell. It said something and I did not hear what that was. I just heard a voice. (could have been something slipped in a piece of candy perhaps?)The smell of the air was so rich and the smells carried messages and the messages still float to the surface as vague as they were then but I am always "haunted" by that knock on my sensory door. Call me nuts (gee, I never heard that one) but there is something in the wind sometimes..stop and look, smell, taste. Help me discover that...please.

    Anyway, I have been discovering some new voices lately largely because I have not always been able to get to the shows of the artists I know and like.

It is not a bad thing though to find new stuff...often.

    As I mentioned I ran into Cathy Kreger and I posted her link on the musicians page. I like her influences. Check her out when you can. She is playing in Roslyn on the 3rd. The place is Thyme.

   I also heard from Daniel Freedman and his guitar play is jazzy, acoustic, not bad. His link is there too. I will try to keep up with as many as I can but at least the links are here. You can go to the pages and click on the links of artists and places for things to see, places to go. There is nothing like live music...people performing for you....especially when they are good.  lol

    Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see many friends and players on Wednesday night...and the weekend of course.

bill

    With all the great shows and parties this weekend I was stifled by so many things and was able to finally get to a show late on Saturday night. I want to hear from some people about some of the fun I missed out there...and pictures would be a great way to tell the story...so feel free to send. I know I missed a few Halloween parties and I wanted to see some of the drunken foolishness which is always so much fun this time of year.

    Mrs. B and I did get to Elijah Churchill's in Fort Salonga because it was fairly close and at that hour it looked like the best shot at seeing something live.

Kathy Kreger was listed. I had not seen her but I saw her posted on the LI Blues site a few times. We actually got there as she finished so I bribed her and, bless, her, she stuck it out and gave us a few more tunes. Kathy did a nice job on a few tunes(Doobie Bros. for one). She has a real genuine sound and a nice voice. She has a helluva support group too. Her friends and partons were a really nice group and I hope to run into them in my travels.

    Elijah Churchills is a nice pub-like place on 25a  and a nice setting for a intimate gathering. We had a nice end to a busy weekend.

    I hope to get back to chasing some of my local favorites and some of the local headliners in the coming weeks. I need a good set of some Kerry Kearney, some Pamela Betti, Jim Moran, Joe Vicino, Dare Ya, Sweet Suzi, Phil Varca..Little Cliff, Blue Matter on and on..so many good performers here on the island...Hopefully next weekend.

    I'll be back in a jiff. Thanks for stopping by.

bill

 

   I feel like I should apologize to anyone who comes here for something new to read on a frequent basis. I have had an unusually busy week all around and journalizing had to be put off a few times. What is this life coming to?? All this work stifles passion I would think. Maybe it gets stored in my fat cells. Aha, that's why I have been storing more cells lately.

   Last night was a typically good Wednesday jam at Lefty's. Blue Matter has built a good inventory of tunes and I could sit there all night and listen. Unfortunately my body can't stay up all night. They serve drinks and stuff at these damn places and I just float away eventually...on my magic carpet. There is always such good company at Lefty's on a Wednesday night though. Thanks again, ya'll, for a good time.

    This weekend is packed with shows. I will post some in the column to the right and I will list others here in my posts. No real rhyme or reason for what goes where.

    Friday night Cadillac Moon is doing a reunion of sorts at Johnny Malones on Wantagh Ave in Wantagh. Those guys can play.. Jim Moran is at The Funky Monkey in Oceanside. Jim is also a really good show and thats a good place.

Little Cliff and the Cliffhanges are at Brookhaven Nat'l Lab for a Halloween party. That sounds like fun. Rockslide is at Giacomo Jacks in Amityville. (I hear the food is amazing there). The Smokedaddy's are at the Bayou in N Bellmore. The Blue Souls (don't know em but they are listed on the LI Blues site) are at the Villa Monaco in W Islip. Please do check the shows and events listed to the right. KK and Pamela Betti with Dirty Love have shows.

    Saturday night Phil Varca and the Slamjammers are at Knockouts in Bohemia. Phil can really play...one of the best around. Sly Geralds is at Chesterfields, Little Cliff and co. are at Bobbique in Patchogue, Kathy Kreger is at Elijah Churchills' in Fort Salonga, Lex Grey (yeehaa) is at Paula Jeans. Awesome show there and Lefty's has a rockin costume party with The Ammunition. They have one of the best party rooms out back at Lefty's.

My friend Ben is at Da Funky Phish  and, for now, thats it. I'm tired of typing already. I will be out there somewhere this weekend and I look forward to seeing, hearing and feeling (what the hell) (most of) you all. Have a great Halloween party and I will be looking for pictures to post here if I get enough good ones.

    Don't forget to check my new page on occasion for news and announcements.

   Thanks for coming!!!

bill

    I am happy to announce that friend and local jazz artist, Shenole Latimer, is releasing his new CD, Front and Center. The information and short bio are to be found (get this) on my new page for just that. It is included in the menu above and will carry news stories and lengthier details of items mentioned here on the "Home" page. I wanted to include the entire press release and this home page is getting too...long.

    Best of luck to Shenole. There is a link in the press release and on the musicians page here. You can get the CD there or let me know and I'll be happy to make that happen fer ya.

    Thanks for stopping by. Check out the upcoming events and keep me posted on all the good stuff you hear.

bill

    So it was a Saturday night and I had been out, like, a few nights in a row. The wife was workin late and I'm sitting home at 10:30 or so and I remember that Dare Ya Band (a recently found cool band) is playing about 2 miles away at the Viking (main St., very east edge of Bay Shore...could be Islip). Never even been to the Viking. A chance to see a good new band and a local place. So I snuck out, scarfed a few quick dirty vodkas and I enjoyed these guys. For the record, I got back just in time..about 10 minutes before the wife walks in and I didnt get ridden for "another night out??".

    She is pretty good about me going out for shows so I don't want to blow it. (of course now I'm busted...probably). But it was worth it.

    The Dare Ya Band is pretty snappy....They have a good sax player, some good original songs, a lead singer that didn't miss a freaking note and bass and drums were excellent. I like the Viking too...for a little place that is close it is a good room for a band. Good bartender too. He understood when I asked for only one olive since they take up valuable space... or maybe he was laughing at me. Anyway...

    It was a small sample and a damn short Saturday night experience but I was lucky that I was able to make it worthwhile.

    We move onward to an industrious week!

    Thanks people for the great shows and good company of the weekend.

bill

   No, this is not SNL (Weekend Update?) I am just getting back with some more info. for tonight and some news about our local headliner, Pamela Betti and Dirty Love.

    Pamela was on fire for the entire taping and the guys in Dirty Love led by Bill Marino on lead guitar, and including Rich Thiel on bass and Mike Scalzo on drums also displayed impressive stamina. It was two sets of constant high level performance and a great show. They are a nice bunch of folks and I wish them lots of success. I'll do a thorough job of covering the CD as it approaches market. Thanks to the people of Dirty Love and Eko Studios for a nice event.

    As for tonight...I got word from Suzi Smith that JP Blues is playing at Babylon Station Cafe, along with MMB3. Thats a good one added to a good list already.

    Sunday there is a blues competition at Jessie's Roadhouse in Merrick hosted by the NY Downstate Blues Assoc. Sweet Suzi (who won the recent competition in Commack) will be there helping out. Info. can be found at Jessie's (contact info on Venues page). Check the post below for all the Saturday shows.

    I'll be back with more. Thanks for stopping by.

bill

    The week ended with a crash (my Mets) and some rain is falling but, fear not, we have days off and we have music!!

   For Friday there are not a lot of listing. Musicians must be gathering in their studios and recording things.  I have images of fun times in studios...wild parties, the creative process and all...then again I'm a frustrated dreamer of so many things.

   As for the real world...there is Jim Moran and Co at Chesterfields for a wild Friday night. I'd be going to that one if not for prior plans. Other than that it seems quiet for the headliners. Plenty of shows at your local venues though. Check out the listings on my other pages.

    Saturday has a busier slate.

   Joe Vicino and the Smokedaddy's have the big show at Vail-Leavit in Riverhead. That is a big time headline show and some great blues.

    Chesterfields has Doghouse Blues. Hmmm...I have to check that one out. Donnie Celenza and friends are at Ottos Grill in Freeport and, get this, Johnny Winter is at IMAC in Huntington (8:00). Yikes! Thats special! That came up unexpectedly. no?

   And, I almost neglected to mention, The Dare Ya Band (now playing here on the home page) is playing at the Viking in Islip (Main St)..

    There's a decent schedule for the weekend. I'll be back with some other stuff. In the meantime have a blast. Thanks for checking in.

bill

   

    There are jams almost every night of the week now and Thursday is getting good. I posted the Kerry Kearney, Bikes N Blues at Paula Jeans for one.

    I mentioned last week about Jim Moran at Chesterfields and thats a good one too.

    I also just heard that Poppa G has a nice one going at Wasabi in Farmingdale. That is a Sushi joint on Main St. and I hear it is a fun hang out.

    Another Thursday night treat is Giovanni Van Essen doing her duet at Tula Kitchen in Bay Shore from 8 to 10. Gio also has a CD coming out...any day?! I am looking forward to that. Check out Gio.

    I'll be back with some weekend stuff later. Come on back before you make your weekend plans. Ok? Thanks for stopping by.

bill

    Like I said a few months back I want to purchase and play as much of the local artists stuff as I can get. I was lucky enough to get some Pamela Betti with Dirty Love a month or so ago and I plug that stuff into the mix. Thanks PB people.

    I just recieved a bonus from the Kerry Kearney people. Thanks Joanie! I sent away for the Essential Kerry Kearney cd and, lo and behold, I recieved a bonus. The later CD in addition, Secrets From the Psychedelta.  I appreciate that very much. This is great stuff...from all the great acts I have been seeing.

    On that note a local jazz artist, and friend, Shenole Latimer(saxophone) has just released a new CD. Front and Center. Shenole is smooth. That is some good listening too. He can be found on my musicians page...and he has some gigs coming up locally.

    Last but not least our very own Sweet Suzi Smith (and the Blues Experience) won The Downstate NY Blues Association Independent Blues Challenge and is going to Memphis, TN to represent Long Island at the next level. No wonder, heh?. You gotta hear Suzi belt her stuff out. My goodness! Congrats my dear!

   I'll be back with more stuff soon. Thanks for stopping by.

bill

 

 

    Now that the week is underway and I have accepted that fact I can get back to some music biz.

    First of all I deleted the Bulletin and Comment items on the Post page because I get spammed non-stop with those things. If anyone wishes to comment or contact me please e-mail me at Bill@Billfoolery.com. I appreciate all personal and music related contact. I do not appreciate spam. You know what that is. Thank you for that.

    I also want to mention that Blue Matter is going to be jamming at the Courthouse Pub in Massapequa on Tuesday nights. That is on Park Blvd just north of the railroad tracks. East side. That is worth checking out. They are also playing at Blue Parrot on Friday night. Good gig there. 

    Blue Matter offers exceptional guitar play with intellegent vocals and drums, all tight. Their song selection is a personal favorite of mine. They do Hendrix and SRV and not just the pop stuff and they jam on a lot of songs with numerous guitars. Some good musicians jump in too. I see Josie Wales and Suzie Smith sometimes with those guys.

   Thanks again for stopping. There are a lot of good gigs coming up and I'll be back soon with more listings.

bill

    The sedation of the weekend is gone.

    How brutal at times is Monday? This one stings and "I want to be sedated". If I had that song digitized I'd post it right now. On occasions like this I feel like another cup of coffee but that seems cruel. Doesn't it? When I just want to plug my i-pod into my head and go to the places the music takes me coffee will make the experience less...sedate.  But for some reason the little buzz that coffee brings is helpful. The stimulation seems to be what is needed. It feels like the anti-music... the way to walk away from the pull of the experiences of the weekend. It is the fuel of the work-week. Damn!

   The moments one gets from experiencing music, in my case blues, are so theraputic that I feel it is worth discussing in places like this. It is important to compartmentalize of course. One does have to roll up ones sleeves and make sawdust, so to speak, but the part about living ones life is at least as important.That has to be celebrated or we will become hyper-industrialized as a country and as people. We will be numb to our experiences. Not to get too serious...I know we are a successful culture in many good ways but the pressures to keep up and to "own" are great.

    I try to stay focused on the day at hand. That which I feel now and how much there is to enjoy. The balance of commerce and, lets call it "art", is critical. Consider this just an observation of the effort to maintain the balance; to help keep the other side of the scale even with the work load.

    For today's particularly difficult effort I need coffee...and I may need a second cup this time. For that I have the really good musicians I heard this weekend to thank... among others.

   Thanks for listening. Ya'll come back now. ok?

bill

    I anticipated a great show last night at Chesterfields. I love the room and Pamela Betti and her Bluebloods always give it up...and it WAS Saturday night.

   To put it mildly I was not disappointed! It seems when Ms. Betti has a black moment (and yes, she was wearing black last night)she adds a dimension somehow and there's an additional wave emanating from her deceptively diminutive frame. (That begs the question,"what might the other colors generate?") And from creamy delicate blond hair all the way down to her (ok, black spike heel'd) toes she busted out some soul. With the use of her rich voice and a warm personality she touched the whole room. Last night, with the help of Jim Moran, Tim Smith and Ed the Hat they moved the whole room. They were electric!! They were all "on black" apparently.

    Jim Moran was wailing on Hendrix, Mellencamp...everything. Tim Smith did some really credible Mellencamp vocals and Ed the Hat was even burning.

One song after another. Too bad Saturday nights have to end. (Thank god for my liver Saturday nights have to end.)

    Let me also say here that Jim Moran and Co. will now be jamming at Chesterfields on Thursday nights. That's a great freaking jam going to be happening between the people and the place. Check that out and check out Pamela Betti whenever you can.

    Thanks for checking in.

bill

   After some more searching I came across a few more entertainment options for tonight. Don't forget about the list of Saturday shows in the post below this one. And, as always, many of the clubs are listed (as links) on the music venues page. Page links are found at the top of the page.

    Lefty's in Lindenhurst has 5 Stone and Cherrywood in Wantagh has Blue Ruin. These are two bands I do not know but given the venues they should be worth a shot.  

   With the good options for tonight I can't decide but the distance to travel may be an issue...as always. If anyone knows any blues or related shows not listed here feel free to let me know and if anyone wants to come along let me know that too. I always welcome company.

    Have a great Saturday night and I hope to see familiar and friendly faces.

bill

    I spent a Wednesday night at my old fave Lefty's and it was much needed. Believe it or not I find some sort of balance there. Maybe it's Arty Panico's guitar or Blue Matter music. I know the regulars and employees will probably wonder what the hell is he talking about. "Balance, Lefty's?".

    It is good to search for new music and places and people and I always will but after disappointing attempts and the built-in need for the escape of blues, I get better when I find my stuff. 

    It is also good when, among my familiar faces and friends I get little bursts of spice and glitter. Just scratch the surface of just about anyone and you'll find something shiny or fun. There I was getting retarded like the Black Eye Peas told me to do. I was chattin up with Tiffany and T Bone and I overhear that Ms. Tiffany (the barmaid with a bad case of cute) had just made a purchase of some 20 pairs of Stiletto's. My goodness. Who knew. Ms.Casual Met fan(bless her) enjoys some fetish cheese. That was an unexpected little pop. Gotta say that that erased the image of the mystery face from the weekend before. Or do I now have two distractions? Hmm...oh well...back to blues.

    Lotsa stuff coming up.

    Tonight (Thursday night) Mr. KK is at Paula Jeans for the Bikes n Blues thang. I see Mr. Jim Moran is at Chesterfields. That could be a good thing if it gets regular somehow.

    Friday Circus Minds is stepping up to Chesterfields. Good one. Whiskey Life (I don't know them but I really like the name) is at Mr. Beery's, Ms. Pam Betti  with Dirty Love is at Diggers in Riverhead and Little Cliff and his Cliffhangers are at The Bayou in N Bellmore.

    Saturday Lewd Buddha is at Da Funky Phish, Pamela Betti and the Bluebloods are at Chesterfields (love that combination) and another busy blues act, Kerry Kearney, is at Bobbique in Patchogue. That is a lot of options and it covers a good geographic footprint...hopefully something for anyone wanting some live entertainment.

    I'll be out there looking for interesting people, places, acts and ideas...Feel free to fill me in on whats goin on and what looks good. K? Thanks again for stopping by.

bill

   

    My friends may laugh at that."What, Bill dizzy ?? Noooo".   Well I'm admitting it. Lately this life is making me a bit, ummm, pensive. How's that?

    The details of my social life are way too mirky and unconventional for digestion by any number of the public. It is a situation only translatable in a one on one discussion and with the help of some mind bending catalysts. Suffice to say pretty much everything is unconventional from my relationships to my work to my hobby's. That being said, my weekend confused and stimulated me in a number of ways..not all can be discussed here and now.

    I was at a Sunday jam enjoying the music and atmosphere. It was blues and the crowd was just right in terms of age and...demographics (a cold and technical term, I know, but it works). A group of gals walks in and one in particular catches my glance.(I think I now know the source of my vertigo...a female). The face was one I either knew or had seen. That face emitted something that vibrated internally somehow(not THAT kind of vibration...well maybe).  I sat, listened and assessed the effect.  I pondered how I was going to approach, explore and not monopolize her evening with her friends. I am, after all, involved. I was, after all, a bit older. I was, in fact, already on a higher floor of the building...so to speak. Taking the elevator down doesn't always work. Know what I mean? So, I waited.

    Mistake. Before I could act, the object of my confusion had left. Not only that but the music turned ugly. I was hearing stuff from the 80's that I used to turn off as fast as I could reach the dial. My whole consciousness had changed and I was shaken. I scarfed my last olive and bolted. The changes in atmosphere were too hard to adjust to and my night was over.

    The effects the next day were tough. I had a spinning head. Rare even for me. I had a face in my mind that I knew not how to compute and I still had bad music in there that I needed to erase.

    Sorry to corrupt the site with something negative but this is a place to share observations. Consider this a warning of what can happen if you don't act on your impulses...quickly.

    I'll be out again Wednesday trying to right the ship, trying to regain balance, trying to figure out what, if anything, I should do about that face.

   Thanks for listening.

b

    Being a lifelong Met fan I use the word "amazing" with careful consideration. It was an amazing event in 1969 when the Mets first won a championship and since then it has been rare that we have a shot at another. It is also scarce that the Yankees have a meltdown like what we saw this weekend so I think the word "amazing" fits the weekend past... as far as baseball goes and it is rich...by all counts. Nuff said.

    It is Sunday night. Monday is a holiday for a lot of people and there are jams out there. Good ones.

    The Oasis in Baldwin (on the north side of the Baldwin RR station) has an amazing (theres that word agan) jam with lots of blues artists.Get there early if you want to see anything up close.. In fact you better leave now. (sorry, late post)

    There is the Dirty Martini in Ronkonkoma with Jim Moran which is a great jam location and good artists and I may get to that one tonight...if all goes well. There are others listed on the Long Island Blues Society site (see Helpful links page here) like the on at Giacomo Jacks in Amityville but I can only discover one at a time. I look forward to checking out the others and I will report what I find. In the meantime feel free to let me know what exciting events are coming up or have happened and I'll be happy to spread the word. 

    Thanks for stopping by.

    There are not only some good choices of music for Friday and Sat. but we have another opportunity for some Sunday night entertainment. Columbus comes through again.

    Friday night Little Cliff and the Cliffhangers are at One Eye Jacks in Whitestone. I know its a bit west but that group puts on a great show... worth the trip. There is also Donnie Celenza and The South Street Band at Chesterfields. Another good one. Check out the Li Blues site (Helpful Links page) for more listings of the good stuff. I post the ones I know or can make an educated guess about.

    Saturday night Kerry Kearney is at Paula Jeans Supperclub. If you've never eaten there you're missing some good food ..not to mention Mr. KK on guitar. By the way order the Oyster Orgy. It's amazing.

    Sunday night there are the usual and very good jams. The Oasis Cafe in Baldwin and Dirty Martini in Ronkonkoma and this week it's a night off...again.

    I'll keep looking and posting as I come across things for the weekend. Thanks for stopping by and have a fun weekend.

bill

    I'll be back with some info for a busy weekend approaching but there are a few things worth mentioning for tonight and Friday morning.

   As I mentioned earlier Giovanni Von Essen is doing a little duet tonight at Tula Kitchen in Bay Shore. Kerry Kearney is doing the Bike nBlues at Paula Jeans and I just saw that Jim Moran is playing Chesterfields tonight. Thats a new one I think...but a good one.

    I also found out that my (and your) friend Suzi Smith is doing a radio gig (WUSB 90.1) on Friday morning 9 to 11. Check out Sweet Suzi and that big bad voice of hers.

   I'll be back with some weekend fare.

bill

    Actually it may not be autumn yet but the weather is showing signs of the coming fall season and it is a favorite time of year for me. Okay, it may have something to do with my Mets being in the playoffs but even when they suck I look forward to the changing weather and sweet cool air.

    Anyway, I have some weeknight gigs for anyone interested in live entertainment during the week...as I am.

    Our local, soulful jazz singer, Giovanni Von Essen has a performance at Tula Kitchen in Bay Shore on Thursday night. 8:00. I was there a few weeks ago for the last one and it is a nice setting. Tula Kitchen is a chic, new restaurant on Main St and 3rd (corner). I sat at the bar and had some wine and loved the show. There are tables also. Gio is performing with Reggie Padilla, a nice pianist. Check out Gio on the Bands/Musicians page here for a sampling of her stuff.

    Also Thursday, Kerry Kearney is at Paula Jeans Supperclub again. He did a Thursday night; Bike N Blues night, there a few weeks ago and I guess it went well. He will also be at Paula Jeans on Saturday night. I may get to that one. Thats a fun place for good food, good music and great atmosphere.

    I'll be out tomorrow night, of course, and heading to Lefty's probably. I don't usually get out until 11 or so on Wed. nights so unless there is something out there I don't know about, starting that late on a Wed., it is my best bet. Let me know if I'm wrong...

    Thanks again for stopping by...

bill

    It was a holiday Sunday night and I had to take advantage so I finally got up to The Dirty Martini in Ronkonkoma. It was a good place and a good jam.

    The place was a good size. The crowd was older (over 30 mostly) and the barmaid was friendly and a beauty. Good combination.

    The jam was Jim "The Hammer"(nothing subtle about that guitar)Moran, Tim Smith (bass)and The Hat (drums) . Keyboards were good too but I didn't get the name. The place was jumping when I got there.

   I was hanging, enjoying the jam with a new friend, Jessica, and I thought of my friend Suzi Smith who loves to sit in and belt out a few so I called her. Lo and behold she shows up. It got even "funner". I wish I had a way to spontaneously record these jams in a way that would do justice to the sounds.

 Suzi has some real depth in her voice and she brings it out seemingly easily although I know she works hard and sings often.

    It was a fun jam and I'll try to get back there with some regularity. Exit 61 in the LIE is not that far.

    Thanks for stopping by and keep me posted ya'll on what's goin on and I'll keep doing the same.

bill