I never got a full night out this weekend but I stole a lot of short looks and brief encounters with a busy week of events.

   Thursday night was the third anniversary of the ET Quiggs jam. I had to run some errands that night and found myself only a few small towns away. (Gee, what a surprise). I figured I could stop in for a quick hello but that ain't easy especially when the music is so good and friends are there.

   The place was full and busy. There were all kinds of players from the regulars to the occasional guests... and lots of friends and patrons. The guitar monsters were John Judd of course, Bill Marino visiting, Josh Allen, Johnny Cola, Jim Kolman and of course Durand Daniels. One after another almost without hesitation ripped it up good. There were other pieces of course; Ralph Santiago hosted a nice night of good music, good people and good cake. That's a dynamite jam. I hope it goes at least another three years. I ended up staying longer than a quick hello but no regrets. I still got a good night sleep and no one got hurt.

   Friday I had small windows of opportunity as I had to play Mr. Mom and drive my young teen from place to place. Once I dropped her off at place #1 I ran out to say Happy Birthday and give a listen to Pam Betti Band.

   Bobbique's in Patchogue was jammed when I arrived around 9:30. Princess Diva, Pam, was glittering in a close fitting white number and donning a tiara with pink feathers. She's an adorable diva! She was delivering some sporty blues with Jim Kolman and the boys and the energy level was high. No surprise there and it was a fun vibe as usual. I knew the phone was going to ring any minute so when they broke between sets I bolted like lightening and headed west.

   Sure enough I got the call and scooped up my vunder-teen. It seems she offered to host a little sleep-over so I dropped them off at the Bay Shore abode and found myself with another opportunity for something close. It was only 11:30 or so and weekends are valuable for someone who craves blues and live performance and needs to witness these things in order to offer you something to read.

   I would just post the calendar here but then you would have nothing but the same stale pages to look at every time you visit. I prefer to give you something to chew on when I can.

   It turns out that Sweaty Betty was at Mustang Sally's for a Leukemia Society fundraiser-gig. That place is maybe two miles from home so I shot over there and found another decent crowd. Mustang Sally's in W Islip is a large place. A good crowd there is a good crowd!

   Ms. Betty and Co. had the crowd firmly in hand for most of the time I was there. Later on some of the ladies got that lust for fame and vocals and made their way up to the stage. That Betty is too approachable for her own good sometimes. The ladies from the audience were not bad actually but Ms. McArdle is a pleasure to hear and in my short visits I get possessive of the moments I have to enjoy the talent.

   Sweaty Betty has a full arsenal of tunes and they placate any and every taste ...even if it ain't blues. No problem. If people are there enjoying it, it's working.

   Saturday was another series of short-stops beginning with a drink at The Brightwaters Inn for Phil Varca. I headed out around midnight (life's a bitch) and since the place is so close I had to stop in. I also like the furious guitar and blues/rock of Varca and Co. In this case it was Ed the Hat on drums and Pete Kiernan on bass. The were ripping it up when I walked in and they played for the whole time I was there. One number in particular (their last of the set I saw) was Angel; the Jimi Hendrix tune. It was a cool piece and they did a good job on it. I don't hear that one a lot and it's one of the reasons I like Varca. I also got a little treat as Sweet Suzi stopped in and gave us a little number. Suzi is one of the party favors you get at the Brightwaters Inn on occasion

   Speaking of Hendrix, I still had time for one more as Andy Aledort and the Groove Kings were in town for a show at The Viking. It's good to live in Bay Shore sometimes.

   I got to the Viking, carved myself out a littlte spot with a view and with a chair no less and wound down with a long set (does he do any other kind?). It was Hendrix, SRV, some other interesting stuff and all done with style and effortless expertise. Aledort delivers with a cool stamina. He just stands there and plays. No BS, never a disturbing choice of song or a bad presentation. It's a great way to end a weekend and I love that he plays into the night...when blues is dark blue.

   Tonight, and for Sundays from here on, you can take in a new jam. Brother Dave is hosting a new one at J Farrells in Bellmore. It begins at 7 and the stuff will probably be blues, some country and some rock... but feel free to bring your own genre.

   Thanks for stopping by and keep digging on the local music.

bill

   For the last half-year or so I have been trying out new Wednesday night and other weeknight jams. There are lots to choose from; check out the calendar and jam Menu below that.

   A trend I have noticed recently is that many are starting earlier to accomodate more early-day people. Good idea. It doesn't work that great for me since I don't get out until 10ish but if it brings more people to the jams, great.

   Some of the places I have been trying lately are the Wednesday night jam at Lefty's with Papa G and friends. That one is funk, soul, jazz, bop...as they say. It gets some good players from various styles and it is a nice room with some built-in traffic. They are accomodating to newbies too...so check it out.

   Another I have been to recently is the Reflections jam in Rockville Center with Donnie Celenza and Dave Patrick. I was there this Wednesday in fact. I haven't been there in a while and I wanted to show some support. It was a good crowd there last night and Donnie C and Super Dave made some great music with a good cast. Sly Geralds was among the guests and he added some good moments. There were some good vocalists too. I recognized a few faces from the Oasis jam on Sunday nights (Debbie Napper's jam). 

   There is also the Jim Moran jam with Pam Betti (who is celebrating a B-Day this week; Bobbique's-Friday) at Overtimes in Smithtown on Wednesday nights. I was there a month or so ago and that was a good one. They get a fun crowd there and a good cast.

   In case you didn't know, Jessie's Roadhouse in Merrick is now Joey Dee's. They have a jam on Wed. also with Joe Vicino and friends. I'm due to hit that one. There were some good players last time I was there.

   Thursday nights are busy now too. ET Quiggs in Bellmore has been going on a while (three years to be exact. Happy Anniversary) and they get some great players; John Judd, Ralph Santiago, Bill Marino sometimes, Rich Thiel, Donnie C has stopped in, lots more.

   DJ Riders has a good one with Dave Burns and friends and there's new in Nassau beginning this Sunday at 7pm with Brother Dave & the Brave @ KJ Farrells in Bellmore.

   There are also the Suffolk jams on Thursday night with Ed the Hat at Bobbique's, That 70's Band at Butterfields in Hauppauge, Jim Moran at 50-Yard Line in W Bab.... check out the sched. for more. There's the Brickouse Brewery on Sunday nights which rocks!!

   These jams are fun entertainment with good musicians  and no cover charges!

   So the weekend arrives and there are lots of shows this week; plenty for you to choose from. Support some of these local artists. Many are full-time professionals and need your support. Real music from real musicians is a rich experience and it helps one enjoy life when there are so many things going on that make that hard to do.

   Thanks for checking in.

bill

   My weekend entertainment included something different. My teenage daughter is in the pit-orchestra for the Bay Shore High School theater. This weekend they presented Guys and Dolls and I had the pleasure of a performance of a talented high school theater department.

   I admit to bias here but after having spent the last five years listening to elementary and middle school level playing it was a joy to hear a high school group perform and Bay Shore has a good one.

   The actors were a good bunch of song and dance artists and there were a few good acting performances too. I found myself entertained by a few of the dancers however. There were song and dance numbers in almost every scene and there were two young ladies that stood out. Their every move was a pleasure to watch. They moved well with the music but the art was in the expression. One gal in particular, her every move was artistically riveting. Her pivots were fluid, her hand gestures were whimsically expressive of the emotion of the moment; a sarcastic lyric was highlighted by a drooping hand on cue, a victorious ending punctuated by a dramatically extended finger point. Her transition always fluid to the next movement. I was surprised to find myself entertained by dance but the performances of the two "dance stars" were as obvious to me as the performances of the lead actors.

   The orchestra was very together. They had an insane amount of music to learn and after weeks of 4 hour evening practises they were well trained and professional sounding. It was enjoyable.

   I was left with a Saturday night only for my blues and live music wanderings. Again, I got a late start so I kept it pretty close and headed to Toomey's Tavern in Amityville for Trick Bag.

   Trick Bag was a five-piece with Johnny Anderson standing in for Dave Berg. The other members were Craig Besthoff on harp and vocals, Dave Pellegrino on bass, Dave Burns on lead guitar and Chris Grennan on drums.     

   They are a creative bunch doing good things with covers; some funky takes, some jazzy moments and some blues and soul. They are not an average garage band especially for a guitar loving fool like myself. Dave Burns has some imagination and shifted styles well. John Anderson filling in was in good form with some riffs that kept taking me one more step, one more level. Johnny rocks.

   Besthoff delivers some smooth vocals and even some charisma. Grennan on drums added the right amount of personality and good hands. Dave Pellegrino is a solid and versatile bass for this group. He adds style and gives them one of many facets.

   They are a smart, talented bunch and a good listen even for someone who hears a lot of live music because they make it interesting. Check them out at MySpace.com/trickbagny.

   Ever since Brightwaters Inn has been hosting Blues and good music, about 2 years now, I have made it a point to stop in on my way back from my travels....if my travels didn't bring me there in the first place. They are close to home and Wally (bartender and music specialist) is a blues loving mofo (the other hosts rock too). Saturday night I caught the very end of a show with Rockslide. I really didn't get much of a sample and it was the end of a long week but Mark Thomas and his cast sounded good. There was a new piece or two also. They are another example of how deep the list is of good quality groups around here. I cover a lot of bands and I only get to some of them once a year based on where they play and when. These guys always put on a good show and it's a treat to walk in and hear Rockslide any night.

   There's some real good stuff coming up next week. Thanks for checking in and stay tuned for the coming weeks schedule.

bill

  

  Saturday night I attended the Paul Butterfield tribute show at Sunset Grill in Seaford sponsored by the Long Island Blues Society.

   Paul Butterfield was a Blues vocalist/harp(harmonica) player from Chicago who basically brought blues to the white audience. He played with Elvin Bishop early on and they hung around with the likes of MuddyWaters and Howlin Wolf among many others. Later on he played with 60's era rockers like Rick Danko and with his band, Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The band played Woodstock and Paul Butterfield can be heard with everyone from Muddy Waters to The Band to Jimi Hendrix (harmonica on Blues at Midnight). He died in his his 40's (late 80's) of heart attack from a life of drugs and booze. His music and his style is a fitting blues tribute. His stuff is a big part of the fabric of blues/rock today.

   The show on Saturday night offered a lot of players from Long Island and the city. Featured local players like Joe Vicino, Tommy T-Bone, Mike Mann, and Mr. Jim Moran on guitar, joined by Aviv Roth from the city on axe and vocals and a solid Jon Sobel on bass, made up much of the string contingent and they were joined by Frank Latorre (awesome on harp) and others for a medly of tunes that were part of the Paul Butterfield repetoire.

   The show was a revolving cast and it was all cool music. It is a good theme for a blues show as it brings in guitar with harp and vocals...all represented well here on Long Island.

   The ladies from the Blues Society (Emily and Sue) did a nice job and they helped me put together some of the names for this here post. Thank you.

   The show brought a good crowd and it was an enjoyable night of blues.

   Stay tuned in the coming weeks for some other original shows. The music scene is alive around here and I'm working on keeping up with it so you can get to a show or two and support all these dynamite artists.

   Thanks for stopping by.

bill

     If you're looking for a good band with a soulful singer and a nice crowd you'd enjoy what went on at Mirelle's in Westbury on Friday night.

   The Pat Hunter Project had a nice roster with George Bouchard on horn (sax and clarinet), Mark Mancini on keys, Shinya Miyamoto on drums, Bill Marino on 6-string, Rich Thiel on bass and a very soulful Pat Hunter delivering the vocals.

   The performances were enjoyable. It was good blend of a cast;  Miyamota on drums with a jubilant beat that kept it fun, Bouchard on horn with a perfect delivery, Mancini on keys with buoyancy and deft hands who was a great fit with Miyamoto, and Marino and Thiel who also bring an easy sound. The mix brought a sort of accessability and humor to a bluesy set of songs. It was Pat Hunter stirring the sauce and she did a geat job of that.

   The woman has had some heaviness to deal with personally (health issues among other hardships) but her presentation was all there. She's a tall, lean and statuesque beauty, no doubt. She was flowing in a close fitting, brown lacy gown and curly locks...a mocha vision... serving soul with some salt and some real blues for dinner.

   I missed the first set unfortunately, which was originals but the set I heard was a couple of good takes of covers like Hound Dog which got down pretty good. 

   That's some good blues and soul and it's Long Islands own. Next time I plan to get there for the whole show...as if...

   Thanks for checking in and get out there and enjoy some more live music tonight.

bill

    Where to begin...

    Saturday night; my night started at Bobbique's where a nice crowd was enjoying Todd Wolfe and Co. I arrived mid-show and I stayed for a few sets.  

   Todd Wolfe on lead vocals and six string was a player and co-writer (California) with Cheryl Crowe. Sat. night he played with a power trio; Suavek Zaniesienko on bass and Roger Voss on drums and they offered some originals and rock covers. TW delivers with considerable style both musically and visually. I am always impressed with the completeness of Mr. Wolfe's presentation from the look, to the "metallic" abstractions he colors his rock with. He treats a classic rock form with an interpretation that uses some of the stylings of metal rock. It's a cool impression and the songs are both smart and youthful. I was also enjoying the bass and drums.

   I am more naturally inclined to hear a six string. I have come up with a new theory that bass and drums appeal to feelings and lead axe and vocals appeal to thought. I am more a thinker than feeler so I hear accordingly. I got a good feel from the ryhthm guys in addition to a killer drum solo by Voss and I dug the lead voices of Wolfe which I am more tuned into. It was all good! Quality stuff!

   I could have stayed to the end and more but I had an ambitious agenda for the night. There was the Big Daddy's Jam at Tailgaters which I wanted to get to especially to greet Karl "Big Daddy" Reamer a Happy Birthday. I see Big Daddy all over the place and he has been hosting shows for...ever.

   So after enjoying Todd Wolfe and Co. for a few sets which included a cool number with Ms. Diva-liscious Pam Betti and his own California I made like lightening and bolted a few blocks east to Tailgaters.

   Another good crowd and a lot of happy people were there to jam and to enjoy some birthday cake with Big Daddy Karl at Tailgaters Sports Bar.  The company included a number of rock bands playing in succession and a lot of blues musicians hanging out including The Hitman Russell Alexander, Pam Betti, Diane "Sweatty Betty" McCardle, Sly Geralds, Nancy Bahnsen, Emily from LIBS, Sue "Lady Blues" and Lori of Lori Productions. The Big man hosted a nice party with fun people, a delicious free buffet, cake and gifts. 

   It was a fun Saturday night and a nice community of people to enjoy it with.

Stay tuned here for the all the great music happening on the island and keep sending me your gigs. I appreciate it.    Thanks for stopping by.

bill

   Even with snow on the ground there are signs of spring.

   Besides spring-training baseball and all the drama of A-Rod and the Diva-Yankees I am getting notices of summer music schedules including shows at beach venues and festivals and for some reason Happy Hours are picking up. I don't know if that is the bad weather, the bad economy or a sign of spring but there are a few new additions to the schedule for Friday after-work events. Check them out.

   I admit I have a small problem with Happy Hours and the people who frequent them. I often call people to come out for shows at night and many of my friends are early birds. These odd creatures favor the Happy Hours and other early events and give me a hard time about coming out for events at 10:30 pm. I know many people get up early for work but weekends are for the more normal lifestyle choices...like sleeping in. There are those that do take advantage of weekend hours and come out at night but there are those that do not. Some people are stuck in the early-rise mode. I think there needs to be a re-hab for these poor people. They can have their Happy Hours and I will be trying one or two in the coming months myself but there is time in between for dinner and coffee. The weekend approaches. We need to re-create. We need to socialize and we need to satiate our emotional needs.

   So enjoy a drink or two and a few fancy hors d'oeuvres and trying to relax in your suits but go home, caffeinate and come out for some of the spicier, more inspiring entertainment that happens at night.

   This weekend there's some good stuff...as always. The regular cast around here has some impressive players and bands. There are also some of the traveling types who fly into town for an occasional show like Todd Wolfe who's at Bobbique's Saturday. Todd Wolfe is a seasoned blues/rock guitarist with style and substance. He puts on a good show and Bobbique's is an excellent place for well, Bar-B-Que, as well as blues and a nice crowd.

   So thanks for checking in and get out there and dig on some live music...and enjoy the change of season. It isn't always pretty but it's welcome.

bill

  

   Wow! Stanton Anderson at Mirelle's Friday night was a show and a half!

   I am hard pressed to even remember when I last saw Stanton Anderson in full band mode. I've seen some of the players in recent years but having been a left-coaster for a decade (the 90's basically) I missed their segway from heyday to present.

   Friday night was a helluva show and the venue, Mirelle's, was a beautiful fit for Stanton Anderson. The cast is Mark Fowler; vox and harp, Rick Silecchio on lead axe, Larry Luby: bass and vox, Tom Pecoraro on axe as well, Bobby Simons on keys, Linda Mackley on drums, Ian Platt: sax (bari. and tenor), Mike Guido: tenor sax and Mr. Pete Tursi on trumpet.... with some added flavor by Grace Tursi on sax

   The energy was dynamite and SA has those valuable assets, experience and showmanship. Mark Fowler is a totally convincing vocalist with a strong and gritty sound but contained and polished. If I was a singer I would want that voice. The arrangements were well done with a flavorful brass section, some tasty guitar and a drummer (Ms Linda M) that lit me up a few times with a contagious vibe. The material was mostly Stanton Anderson originals with some Tower of Power, and Highway 61-type stuff sprinkled in to give you an idea.

   Mirelle's is a good size room with tables for seating over a hundred I would guess (not to mention a bar area for watching and standing room for many more) and a stage; a classy room. They had a nice crowd Friday night and Stanton Anderson had the energy up and kept it up for the entirety of a dynamite show. That's a good time and with shows like that Mirelle's is going to remain a centerpiece for live music on Long Island.

   After my rousing experience in Westbury I ventured southward to Amityville for some gritty blues served up by The SmokinGun Band at Giacomo Jacks. Unfortunately I missed most of the show but I caught a few soulful numbers with Jeannie B on vocals, the smooth Mr. Bill Marino on guitar, Mr.style himself, Rich Theil on bass and a solid drummer who was a new face and I don't have a name for yet SGB were fun and always a solid blues show. Look for them at joint near you.

   There are blessings to be had in this life as I got a Saturday night out after a highlight like I had on Friday.

   I ventured to Cedarhurst for George Bouchard and Friends at Harvey's Lounge.  I was lucky enough to visit another show of the highest quality here on Long Island.

   George Bouchard is a smooth wind player. He takes every tune to a beautiful place and his cast is equally amazing with Donnie Celenza on guitar, Mario Stoiano on skins, Larry Ross on bass, Danny Kean on keys /vocals, Carolyn Harding on vocals and Ajax on horn. 

   GB&F offered up a mix of originals from their new CD,  Mellow LA, and some jazzy covers like Route 66. Ms. Harding stole my heart with that and others. She is a velvety package with angelic moments. 

   Danny Kean on keys is more magical every time I hear him both vocally and instrumentally. His range is expansive and his talent effortless. Kean is beautiful to watch.

   I can, and do, rave about Donnie Celenza every time I hear him. He's a wonderful artist who constantly creates. He uses imagination; the best tool an artist has.

   Ross' bass was a cool pocket. He keeps a laid back demeanor with a jazzy bounce. The show, the event was so good it is a shame I don't live in Nassau. Harvey's didn't charge a cover and they have a nice set of barmaids. It's a cool music room with the best stuff around. I suggest you get there early for a weekend show. The room is cozy and good seats are a valuable commodity. There are good shows during the week as well. Check here and the Harvey's site for the schedules.

   Thanks for the great nights of music and thank you for stopping bye here. Keep on living the live music. It's the happiness that's often missing from the rest of the day.

bill