Unlike the facebook experience your BiLLfOoLeRy.CoM experience will not include political propaganda. I do want to make one point however.
    I go on facebook to gather information for this website and to write to friends. It has become a form of US Mail and telephone service for personal communications. The use of facebook and other social media for the utterance of political views is so annoying I feel pain now when I try to read daily posts and have to sort through that crap. Most who post political opinion do so without any concern for the other sides view and don't tell me the other side doesn't matter. We are basically a two party system. The current set of laws is a result of two political views and those participants hammering out ideas and voting out bad ideas. To try to argue with someone who hates the other side or thinks the other side is evil is pointless. In order to understand something one has to be open-minded and vice-versa. Please don't tell me Democrats are socialists or liberals are anti-American or that Republicans are racists. I know too many in both party's who are neither. To generalize is ignorance and it inhibits understanding. I am a promoter of civil discourse and the adoption of ideas from both sides of the aisle in order to achieve a balanced system that helps the truly needy and frees the truly independent to achieve without limits both economically and artistically.
   It is an important issue for me but I do not feel like discussing it with those who hate my position because of how I register or because I disagree on the degree of governance by only a few degrees. Get past the simplistic messages our party leaders are trying to sell us and think for yourselves. Vote for yourselves.  
   
    As for music I had a busy week. My weekly jam night included a visit to John Judd's Wednesday jam at McBrides. JJ had a good bunch of players including some new names here like Steve Farella, Ed Canova and Johnny Cola... and quite a few others. Judd alone is worth the trip by the way. He launches into some trippy riffs almost every time. It's a good idea to get to McBrides early (8:30ish) and then you can move on to one of the numerous other excellent jams on Wednesday nights. Check the calendar. Wednesday night has gotten good!
   Friday night I headed east to Grey Horse Tavern in Bayport. That's a nice room; not huge but wide open and comfortable. I caught Joseph (Felicetta) & Friends for a fun couple of sets of classic rock and folk in various guitar and vocal harmony's, all well done. It was a nice crowd and an excellent show! Check out Joseph and Friends and Blues Box, both collaborations by Joseph and Co.
   I still had some energy on Sunday night so I checked out the jam at Cafe Oasis in Baldwin by Debbie Knapper and Company. The place was full as usual and there were lots ofs talented vocalists and players. The guitar and bass; Al Cone and Sean Whitley held down a vast array of styles and singers with some nice grooves. It was a fun jam. That's another one to check out when you have a Sunday night free.
   The coming week has another full schedule. Being partial to blues I'd like to point out Mike Nugent and Co, Chrissie O'Dell and One Hot Mess, Coco Montoya, Frank LaTorre, Amos Lee.  
   Thanks for stopping by and feel free to correspond (bill@billfoolery.com). I would love to post some relevant pieces by some of you.
bill

     As usual the jam/open-mic landscape is ever changing. I usually take my weekly jam on Wednesday nights and I have been having some good times at Joe Vicino's jam at Sunset Grill where the cast has been good including visits from Andy Aledort, Mike Nugent and John Judd, Dave Patrick and the regulars like Rob Jack can who do a lot of things.
   The oldie but goodie jam with Don Celenza (and Dave Patrick ) and Randy London is moving to Mickey Mo's in Lynbrook from many years at Harveys. This will be easier to find I'm sure.  There is also a new home (and night) for John Judd at McBrides in Bellmore. That makes for some good variety in Nassau and it should help all events as more people get used to a happening night on Wednesday. Make the rounds and tell your friends.
   Thursdays don't suck either. I checked in on Ed the Hat and Jim Moran at Pete's Place on Church St in Bohemia last week. JD Leonard was in the house and there was a fun crowd and a good jam going on.  Jim Moran is not only a good player but he has a good stand-up act. His one-liners were worth the price of admission.
   One other new twist on Thursdays is Scott Ross Trio at Behind Bars in  Bellmore. Thats a jazzy trio but they cover a wide range with some real good players including Papa G on bass. The Thursday list always has John Haseth at Bobbique's which I am over-due to attend. Haseth and friends are good players (rock, blues and more) and a good bunch of guys.
  Speaking of new twists I stopped in at The High Note in Amityville recently to hear B-Side with Clem Allen, with kim Allen (vocals) and a good cast including John Willis on guitar. I could only stay for a few numbers but they have a great (R&B, Soul) sound and the High Note is a great room for music.
   I hope the owners keep booking it and promoting the place. The success of a room has more to do with the owners than what the bands bring since the bands change weekly... of course. It is often brought up after a quiet night who is supposed to do the promotion. Well how about both party's promote. Often bands play in new areas and fans don't all travel the miles that the band does. Venues can do many things to keep the music crowd interested like jams/open-mics, charity events, food, a variety of good bands and musicians. Good old advertising doesn't hurt either. Hint; I sell spots here on the home page, cheap! 
   Last but not least I attended the LI Blues Society fundraiser for the IBC (International Blues Competition) Long Island winners, Gary Sellers Band and T-Bone & Mr. Bill (Tommy Mezzapella and Bill Quinn). The event also featured Chrissie O'Dell, Motu and Dog House Blues Band. The Viking in Islip was an excellent host for a really nice afternoon of music.
   It was a diverse expression of blues with Motu and Co. dishing some delta, Dog House with some sweet rockin blues, Chrissie O'Dell with some dynamic blues-soul vocals, Gary Sellers and his stylin blues guitar and T-Bone and Mr. Bill's piano-boogie,good-time tasty blues... all put forth by the Long Island Blues Society.       
    Support your local blues group. The LIBS get little support, little praise and they do it because they love blues and live music. Get involved if you love blues, blues rock and be part of the music scene.
   As usual the coming weekend has some excellent events including BB King!! Check out the calendar, and take in some live music...will you please!!
   Thanks for checking in.
bill
  

   An aspect of the music scene like other creative cultures, I suspect, is that new stuff happens and the old stuff evolves... thank god.
   I have been posting new collaboratiions of some of our local regulars like Rattlesnake Dawn with Diane McArdle, Adam Tese (sax) Pete Kiernan (bass) and Frankie Gee (drums. It's a country take with some good players.
   I ran into Johnny Dunn playing with Kane Daily and was also turned on to Mr. Dunn's Band which is also a good collaboration with Mike DiMeo and Frank Latorre.
   Last week I was notified of the birth of a new band. They are a blues band so I went to hear The Rohling Band at Cafe Oasis in Baldwin.
   The cast for Rohling Band is Gary Rosa (guitar), Mark Sanders (vocals), Bob Fischback (drums), Rich Marans (keys), Tony Rohling (bass) and joining them last Friday was Tony C  on harp. They were all good for the entirety of three sets. The set lists included standards like Mannish Boy, Reconsider Baby, Hoochie Coochie, Before You Accuse Me and others and some originals that  fit the set list seamlessly. It was a good show and a welcome new band to the local blues scene.
   Speaking of local blues I spent another Wednesday night at Joe Vicino's jam at Sunset Grill. It was a solid cast of regulars including John Judd and Steve Farella and surprise guest, Dave Patrick (bass) added some real juice for a few numbers including a memorable Little Wing with an inspired Joe Vicino on guitar.
   To round out my week I stopped in on my olf friends Blue Matter at Giacomo Jacks. The jam boys had some good players visiting including Clem Allen on bass and some new faces for a good mix of some good ole rockin blues. 
   Speaking of Clem Allen his band B-Side will be at The High Note in Amityville this weekend. Clem's wife Kim is a dynamite vocalist and they put on a cool show of R&B, Soul and some funk n blues.  I, for one, would love to see the Amityville establishment succeed as they have a good location and a perfect room for music.
   There's lots on the calendar this week including Don Celenza celebrating a birthday at his show with Danny Kean.
   There's so much going on and thanks for the info I get from ya'll. The calendar gets better every week. I hope you enjoy.
bill