I happen to like Will Smith and let's face it, Miami is a hot place. I'm wishing I was there right now...all kinds of trouble down there.

   In my search for music I sometimes cannot get an mp3 version of a song I want so in the meantime I have to get creative. No problem for me. I like Will Smith's Miami. Good tune. I hope you agree.

    As for live music...this happens to be a pretty good weekend for gigs. I see a lot of people I enjoy and I'm going to try to get somewhere in between "other" activities. I have my high school reunion for one. Yeehaa.

   I'll be back. I hope you all enjoy the festivities out there.

Thanks for stopping by.

bill

   Unbelievable that we cannot cure the common cold.

   Somewhere over the holiday weekend I caught the dreaded cold virus, probably from one of the cutie nieces visiting from Queens. Funny but sensibilities seem different in there. I would have called ahead and said I had a sick kid...maybe bring her, maybe not. At least I would have made an effort to disinfect a few times. I am not "dissing" my nieces and family. They happen to be lovely in five or six ways. I am just making an observation about the slightly different culture in "other areas". I mentioned it to the parent in question and she didn't even register a reaction about me having caught a cold from her little lovely. Oh well, so much for sympathy. It don't help anyway.

   So here I am feeling like crap. It is Wednesday. I am obligated by matrimonial vow (does it count less if it was a Vegas vow?) to go out every Wednesday (or lose the privelage) and I have to find a way to enjoy myself with nose leaking, chest convulsing and general irritability running at a high level. I'll be carefully considering the correct dosages of symptom suppressants and other "pain relievers" so as to maximize the effects of the meds while maximizing the...broader effects...if that makes sense. If not feel free to ask. I can explain if really necessary. Any professional input here is appreciated. If anyone actually reads this and sees me out tonight feel free to recommend anything that may help.

   This is another case of why I need my blues. I will be taking in the vibes with added ferocity in an effort to subdue my throbbing receptors...whatever they are.

   A big thanks for stopping by.

bill

    Now that I have "experienced" a Hendrix birthday I hope to make it an annual event.

   Every act, one guitar player or band after another, was an excellent display of either their own stylings of blues guitar (Johnny Winter) or a cover of a Hendrix moment (his brother Leon Hendrix). Leon Hendrix did a slightly mellower but very personal and well done "Hey Joe". He did it as Hey "Jimi". He did a short stint and left to a big ovation after a nice performance.

   There were movie screens showing interviews with family and musicians who knew Jimi (between sets and stage changes). They offered really informative anecdotes about Jimi both professionally and personally. Like the fact that Jimi was a very generous bandmate. He always offered the other musicians ample moments in the spotlight.

   Others who I saw and who blew me away were Larry Coryell, Honeyboy Edwards, Burr Johnson,Ghetto Fighters, Commander Cody (keyboards), Buddy Miles, Harvey Brooks...so many more.

   I got there at 8, took off at around 1 and there were still two hours more of show. BB Kings is a great place to see a show too. It may be my favorite because it is small enough to be close to the music and close to the other patrons but it is a big crowd with big name acts. I was able to sit and order food too which helped me last as long as I did without any dinner before.

    If you like Hendrix and/or guitar blues check out some of the music by the artists I mentioned. You can also go to the BB KINGS site and see the complete list.

   By the way, I will post a list of jams here that I will try to leave on the home page. It seems I have enough room to make it sort of permanent. I would like to be reminded about all the jams. I have a list somewhere but since some of them are not regular I need to know those that are.

   Thanks for your help with that and thanks for stopping by.

bill

    Field trip this evening to BB Kings (42nd St., NYC) for a Jimi Hendrix celebration. There is a good line-up including Johnny Winter. Tickets are available ($81 !!, I'll be trying to sell my body for at least 1/4 of that on the corner of Broadway/42nd prior to the start) as of 3:30 so I'm heading in. Music starts at 7. Any other fans out there? Let me know if you're goin and we can celebrate a fun Hendrix Birthday!

    I found myself in East Meadow last night after meeting a friend for a drink and decided to look for Callahans. I knew T-Bone and Franny Mae were playing and I would have time for a whole set or so. Sure enough I found it in the back of the parking lot where Zachary's and Buttles used to be. I know I am dating myself using the name Buttles but I don't know the place there now...and I can't believe Zachary's is still there. I used to go there...I don't even want to say how long ago.

   I am grateful that there is another club in that neighborhood hosting some good blues. I am surprised there are not more in that location being so busy with nightlife and clubs. There is Mr. Beery's but that is further east and is a younger crowd on weekends generally.

    Anyway, T-Bone and Franny Mae are a really good act. He (T-Bone) does some damage on lead guitar. Fast, good. Franny Mae has an effortless, clear, great voice. Relaxed. The girl can sing. The band can play and they have a nice personality. I recommend them for a Saturday night somewhere. Callahans was actually a good venue. The stage is high so they can be seen from the back and it is just big enough to hold a decent crowd. I hope they host more blues there. I heard the place has been around for a while but I never (in the last year or so) came across a blues act there.

    That is another band I hope to see gigging their glutious' off this winter.

Keep me posted ya'll...and thanks for stopping by.

bill

   I'm finally able to get out after a busy holiday weekend, geesh.  If I don;t get out I have less to comment on.

   I have only a few new items to offer for entertainment. There are plenty of shows around but they are acts I do now know that well.

   That can be good but I can't get to more than one to check out what they are doing.. Do me a favor and let me know if you see something really good. I love hearing from people about shows they have seen and also about upcoming events. I can be e-mailed at Bill@Billfoolery.com.

   Thanks...and thanks again for stopping by. I'll get back with some information about what I find tonight.

   Not only am I grateful for family, health, kids, and American life in general, I am grateful for the music I follow here on Long Island. There is a rich musical culture here with real talent and good people. Thanks to all the people who make that happen from the musicians, to the bar owners, to the people who come out and support it all.

   As for the weekend there are many shows at all the places that always have shows but I have not seen as many of the the acts that are playing this weekend. For that reason I don't promote as much. Check out the gigs listed here and at the clubs you usually go to and let me know who you like and keep me posted on places that are fun too.

   I'll be back with more that I find but there's a start on the list to the right.

Thanks for stopping by.

bill

    Happy Holiday eve music fans. I trust you will all be out there celebrating your gifted lives and ample blessings. As crappy as some days get the alternative sucks...so I will be giving thanks with hands folded and lips smacking.

   There are a few things out there to see and if I missed anything bluesy or local please let me know. I have not had much time to do my usual searches yet...for gigs to see.

   I'll be back with more but do have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

bill

    Just for the record I plan most Saturday nights around social interests primarily. If there is a choice about where we can go I look at the gigs and see what might be of interest to the group I am with...assuming I am lucky enough to be with people.

   Last night we were meeting a friend who is staying in Queens so we decided on a gig closer to her. We caught Pamela Betti and Dirty Love at CJ Wellingtons in Floral Park. Our friend is visiting from out of the country and wanted to see a fun place and a fun show. We know PB & Dirty Love are a fun show and we figured the location was good logistically. It worked out great and the band delivered on a really fun night.

   I know I see that band a lot but they happen to offer some blues interest for me and some dance and upbeat Saturday night stuff for Mrs.Bilf. Pam Betti was exceptionally on last night and Bill Marino and the guys in Dirty Love also put on a great show. They also had a guest guitar, Howie Haber of Breakaway, and he rocked. Our friend and us  had a greeat time and that is one of a number of great shows to see on a Saturday night.

   By the way there are a lot of great acts that we would go just as far to see and I would love to see them booked more. I don't know who it is I should bug, the bands or the bar owners. Along with PB & Dirty Love, and Kerry Kearney (the ones I mention the most) along with Blue Matter, I would love to see Dare Ya Band, Chrispy Chicken, Suzi Smith and Blues Experience,Lex Grey, Cadillac Moon, Frannie Mae, Sam Taylor, Gary Sellers, Donnie Celenza, Poppa G, Giovanni VonEssen, Shenole Lattimer, Juice, the list goes on. Check out the list of musicians on my page here and bug them all to book shows. It's always a fun night.

   Don't forget the Sunday night jams. Check the list to the right.

   Thanks for stopping by.

   I  have been trying to post about some shows for the weekend and my site access has been denied due to Technical Difficulties. Very Frustrating.

Anyway, there is a lot going on for a Friday. Unusual and what a bummer that I could not get online until now.

   Check the list to the right for some stuff to do and I hope you all have a wonderfully escapist weekend...as I am going to try.

    It is difficult to do, though, when you work at home..as I do. I get up and the clues to what lies ahead regarding work are laying all over the house. Lists of chores, calls I have to make, sawdust all over the kitchen floor from trapsing in and out of the shop.  A shop geek's work is never done I'm afraid especially when work and life are so closely intertwined. A long time ago this life seemed like a blessing. Actually it is but weeks like this remind me of the old days out in the corporate world. Stress sucks. Recreation is good. Nuff said.

   Let me get on with the mundane business of my Wednesday night travails.

   I tried to fit in way too much beginning with a damn business appointment somewhere deep in Nassau which led me to the decision to stop in at Blue Parrot where I promised myself (and my friend who reminded me of the Blue Parrot jam) I would have one drink and then head off to Lefty's where I could end my evening closer to home.

    Well one drink led to...more. The problem besides a potential drinking habit was that Poppa G was jamming with a good bunch of guys (and Suzi Smith belted one out). I have this problem where, while sitting listening to music and drinking vodka with olives, I get stuck on my stool. If the band stops I then get to talking and...whatever(!) and I get lost up in the, um...whats the level above cumulonimbus clouds, there, and I forget the time and circumstance. Hell, it's Wednesday night. So that happened and I got to Lefty's as they were carrying out the instruments. My bad, but I enjoyed Poppa G and the jam over at Blue Parrot. I also heard that a lot of people stopped by Lefty's but no one stuck around. They should put out some food when people start leaving...or something. Why did you all leave there, people?

    Anyway, there are good jams out there and unless you start early and/or stay off the vodka and olives (must be the olives) it is tough to catch two of them in one night. Lesson learned.

    I'm glad I heard Poppa G's new Bacon Strips jam which included Pearl on drums, Greg Jaffe on vocals (with Poppa G chanting  a few tunes) and...I need to get more names. Good guitars. A good night of music.

    I'll be back soon with more stuff for the weekend.

   It just so happens that my other work is squeezing me like a lupini bean and I barely have time to billfool. This shall pass and I'll post some gigs if I have to pull an allnighter...which would be a lot easier if I had some more mp3's to listen to while I'm here banging on these keys.(I consider myself a master of the subtle hint).

   Thanks for stopping by.

bill

 

    Wednesday already...and the posting has been scarce this week...

Freaking work gets in the way of everything. Who made up this plan anyway?

   Well it is Wednesday and I'm going out for my fix tonight. I suggest you do the same.

    I have been asking, no begging, for some music from some local bands and I may start getting proactive (yikes,that word is so threatening).

   I have been talking with some studio owners and recording time is not that expensive. I might have to start busting balls and sending out invitations in order to get some recorded music...and I may.  Just a warning.

   In the meantime I look forward to seeing some faces out there tonight. I might bounce around and try to spark some interest in some collaboration. I hear so many good artists and I have these little dreams of Mr.A playing with Mr. B and C and Ms. D and who else sounds good. So many possibilities..so many good players. Oh well...I'm just a listener. What do I know?

   Thanks for listening.

bill

    After a full Saturday, day and night I had an opportunity on Sunday to check out the kick-off of Perpetual Toxins .(see announcement to the right). It is a good pain that I feel after a full weekend of music events. Sleep will come during the week and I recently read that coffee heals the liver. Maybe sleep won't come so easily afterall.

   At the Sunday kick-off event they had a good number of young bands putting on a great show at Live Trax in Bellmore. Thats a good size room by the way. Decent place and good location. I caught a few acts, Code Anchor, and Blind Robbery. Both are good young bands that rock pretty heavy with good lead singers and good musicians.

    The periodical looks well done and a good read and I wish them luck. It is free so check it out and enjoy. Got that!?

    This week I will be chasing down some music from the locals. I want to play more local stuff here. Help me out, people. I use Mp3's only.  I will be buying cd's as I find them but it is quicker if you send me the mp3 first.

   I am not looking for freebies although I accept them. I will buy a cd if you send me an mp3 that I can use here. Fair enough?

   Thanks for stopping by.

bill

 

    If you had been at Lefty's from 2pm  to 2am on Saturday you would have heard an amazing array of blues and met a wonderful variety of people and musicians.

    I got there late during the first event which was the Fundraiser for the US Troops hosted by Sweet Suzi and the Blues Experience. The bands with them (listed on page 2 here)including Little Cliff and the Cliffhangers, Breakaway and Blue Matter were all really good. Some I had not heard before like JP Blues (so young and so good . Kick-ass guitars and song writing) and some of Blues Experience were new and they played with Chrispy Chicken (I am sorry I do not have Chris's full name. I'll get it). I have heard Chris with his Sax and keyboards and vocals before and every time I hear him I am impressed and entertained. He is a real "creator". I'll post whatever I see him doing and I hope it is often.

     Suzi and Blues Experience were so "on" and she just gets better and better. Blues Experience too. It was a great show and it seemed to be doing well in the fundraising department.

    Later on Saturday night Pamela Betti and Dirty Love made their first appearance at Lefty's and I hope not their last. Even with some extra "rasp" in her voice from gigging her fanny off Pam Betti was right-on especially with her Stormy Monday. I know she loves black (and looks damn good in it) I love her in blue. Blues that is...The bluesier the song the more she has me. But thats just me. She belts out the upbeat stuff really well and gets the fanny's off the seats and thats what most people are there for. It was a fun show and nice to see them in the friendly confines of Lefty's.

    My only regret is that I missed Blue Matter. These guys offer some gritty stuff I am sorry I missed them in "prime time".  I'll make sure I see that soon!

    I will be back later with more jam stuff and upcoming events. Thanks to Suzi and The Blues Experience for hosting a great event and for all the musicians. There is a lot of really good local music and I feel lucky to be able to hear it.

Thanks for stopping by.

bill

    I always cringe when I search the listings for events and I see that I missed listing something that I wanted to mention. Please be aware that life is pretty damn busy and I am not always able to keep up with all the gigs of all the artists that I enjoy or want to promote. You can and should remind me a few days prior to any event you would like me to mention here. This is not a billboard at Times Square but I know it is getting to some people who want to go out for live music. I get a couple of hundred visitors a day around the weekends so it could help share your music.

   I am listing most of the events in the column on the right. So check that out for whats going on but do check around the other pages and links pages. The list of clubs and bands are links. You can click on them and see the calenders to see what else is out there. There are also announcements on page 2 like the one for the Boatsies Charity event on Saturday at Lefty's. You can bring kids to that by the way. I will be doing that if my lovely daughter doesn't have some other vitally important social event planned then. But it sounds fun.

   Have a great weekend of music and please let me know what else you have coming up.

bill

    Good Wednesday nights make for some tough Thursdays. Thank god for sushi. Something in the Japanese cuisine seems to heal the aching, hung over body. Try it!

   Anyway, did anyone find my glasses? I seem to have lost them and they cost me a bundle. They are prescription reading glasses. Let me know or bring them to Lefty's.

    Lefty's was a blast last night. Blue Matter rocked their blue butts off and it seemed to be a good time for all.

   Speaking of Lefty's I am posting an article by Rob Lepano who works there as bartender and band booker. Rob frequents New Orleans and the music scene down there and wrote a nice piece for Aural Fix Communique. He was nice enough to  let me show it here. I invite you all to send (e-mail) me pieces that might be interesting for us all to read.

   Enjoy the piece (Essays Page, see above) and thanks for stopping by. I'll be back later with some stuff for the weekend.

bill

    A Wednesday approaches and for me that is more than hump day. It is "celebrate every way you can" day. It is to celebrate enjoying life.. day. Find a way to make yourself smile and do it...at least once a week...day. Get it?

Okay. So I discovered all these jams out there and the bluesy ones I gravitate to...especially the bluesy ones that are close to home and that have guitars...good guitars, many guitars...and singers. I like singers too.

    It turns out that there are lots of jams, lots of jammers and quite a few nights with jams. This is all good. I will keep posting the stuff I find and let you, whoever the hell you are, decide where you want to go for your jam needs. Did you know that jam spreads much better than jelly. Sorry, that was kind of like a funk moment. Poppa G and his "bacon" thing got me thinking food.

    So come on down to the Lefty's jam or any of the jams you find listed on my page here, on the right. I suggest you go to a jam every night you have during the week. It is a good way to hear the good stuff with no cover charge and to play often if you are a player...and if you are a musician too.

    If you hear of any other good jams let me know. I have room here to post many jams. It can be a jam orgy. Doesn't that sound fun!!

    By the way, any of you local bands feel free to send me an mp3. I play them here from time to time and I will buy CD'S that I like and play more stuff here.

    Thanks for stopping by and happy jamming.

bill

    Just a note to all you voters. Vote.

    Also...can I plead with you all to please, please vote for people, ideas, and principles and not Party. The idiocy of both parties as we approach the election has been staggering!

    Both parties are being run by shallow thinking idiots and the candidates sound like idiots. They rather try to make the other party sound dumb than make a statement of how to fix anything.

    Either party represents half the country. Either party can make a true statement, does make true statements (I know they are impossible to find) and neither party is always wrong or always right.

    The particulars of the issues matter. The way the person talks or who they pray to or who they, um, date, matters not at all. The issues matter. The present matters and the future matters. The past...I don't even remember the past.

   Don't fall into the trap of buying either party's agenda of electing a party. We need both party's (and independents) represented and may the candidates with the best ideas win.

Thank you for listening.

bill

    What an interesting night at Lefty's I had.

    Brother Funk was tight all night. Poppa G (bass)and brother Tom Palermo (6string), Billy "Roc" (6 string also), Henning and Paul on drums, Bubba (acoustic guitar and some nifty vocals) on acoustic...all had it going on with their funk and junk. There were some good cameo's with Rob on vocals, Tim Dorsey(keyboards), and Ms. Jeanine on bass. It made for an interesting and varied night of music. Mostly funk but some rock, blues, jazzy stuff...never boring!

    Another good thing about a night at Lefty's is the good people hanging out and working. Head outside and you'll find a group or two of some familiar players and patrons huddling around a fire and spending the night in a great atmosphere. It is almost tough to decide where to go but I do lean toward listening even though I regret missing time hanging out with friends.

    There are more good shows coming up at the Lindenhurst venue. Check here for dates. I know there is the great show and fundraiser coming up next weekend and Pamela Betti with Dirty Love will be there later on the same night. Nov. 11.

    I'll be back with more stuff for the coming week. Have fun and check out a jam tonight. There are some good ones on Sunday. Check the list to the right as well as the Long Island Blues Society page for shows. Thanks again for stopping by.

bill

    See? Even if you have not a soul to hang with it is still worth checking out a show. I invited a few "longshots" including Ms. Bilf  to come with me to see Pam Betti and Dirty Love last night and I ended up hanging by my lonesome. Not a problem for me, music fans. I get to sit and listen to music and that is the point.

    Last night was great. I checked out the Cherrywood Cafe. At first glance inside I thought it was going to be small. It has a warm feel and a nice bar area. The stage area is actually a good size and I was able to see and enjoy the show in a good size crowd.

   Pamela Betti and Dirty Love sounded great no doubt in a celebratory mood from their success in the LI Blues competition last weekend.

   As an added bonus I caught Dee Harris and his guitar. That Dee is a nice player. I really enjoyed a few songs from him and I will be trying to keep up with his schedule now that I know his stuff up close and personal.

    Tonight there are a few good options. I am going to try and get out for another show, perhaps Brother Funk at Lefty's. I had better get going and start kissing up around the house today if I am going to get a second night out. Wish me luck and have a blast tonight...with or without me.

bill

    Congratulations to Pamela Betti and Dirty Love on winning the "band" competition of the Long Island Blues Society, IBC Blues Challenge. That took place last weekend at Buchmann's Radio Grill in Smithtown and they will represent Long Island in Memphis, TN  in February. That is impresssive and well deserved for a hard working and talented group. The band also recently added a keyboard player, Tommy Keys. Great addition. You can see them all this weekend. Their gigs are posted here on the right. Check out these guys. They put on a great show.

    The Long Island Blues Society is listed on my Helpful Links page and that is a great site for finding quality live music shows on Long Island.

    Happy Thursday blues fans.

   Wednesday night was freaking wonderful. Blue Matter jammed, Suzi Smith belted out a few, the place had olives...and pretzels too. There you go...even a little rhyme to start the weekend eve...so to speak. By the way, I am just discovering the food at Lefty's. This could jeapordize my boyish figure. Better watch out!

    I am looking for (and getting) some items of a textual nature to post on some upcoming new pages here. If other people want to cover events and journalize them I am thrilled to post relevant and creative stuff. I am also looking to scratch out some interviews with some local artists. Those can be short "20 question" type things or even some introspective "whats your favorite sock color"(wow) kind of stuff. So if anyone has some event or publication to promote and would like to consider that kind of thing let me know.

    In the meantime...keep sending me your gigs and etcetera. Thanks for stopping by.

bill