It's fun when I get to talk about a band like the one I heard last Saturday night. I hear about new people and places from many sources; friends, e-mails, newspapers (Good Times Mag) , magazines (Elmore, Blues Revue), ReverbNation and facebook of course.
   I heard about Last Internationale from Elaine Duvall, someone I love calling a friend. Elaine has been talking about the young blues, alt.rock band for over a year now and I caught them once before. Sometimes first impressions are not accurate.The first time I heard Last Internationale with Delilah and Edgey was at the Pool House in Bellmore and they didn;t have their regular cast and the place was noisy and uncomfortable that night. This time we caught them at a new place (for me); Black Sheep Ale House in Mineola.
   The place was not distracting in any way, except for the strange guy who tried to seat my female friend right next to him ignoring me and the others. That was a little wierd.
   We took a table, sans the aforementioned creep, right in front and I was able to concentrate on the amazing and talented Delila; lead singer and also filling in on bass. On guitar was Edgey and he too has some chops using both rhythm and lead combinations and roles.
   Delila's vocals are as strong as you could want with perfect clarity and pitch and an edginess (no pun intended) that her range handled with ease. She easily reached some rock and roll highs and some low earthy blues. I was stunned to hear such standard blues sounds coming from a hot, young artist but it was all there.
   Guest guitarist Rich Lanahan sat in for a few numbers. The set list included some Johnny Cash and other folksy stuff and Lanahan was a perfect complement. Edgey with a sharp rhythm and Lanahan adding some country-folk lead filled out the ensemble for a a few truly euphonic (and euphoric) moments. Last Internationale left the next day for a eurpoean tour and I have little doubt it is just the beginning for them/her.
   My other stops for the week included a Wednesday night visit to Joe Vicino's jam which as usual had a great cast of guitar and other players including John Judd, Steve Farella, Guy Daniels, Rich Lanahan, Rob Jack (bass and vox) and many more.
   Speaking of John Judd (again) I caught the JD Blues Band (John and Durand Daniels with Ralph Santiago and Johnny Pizza) at Giacomo Jacks. The JD Blues guys put on an excelent blues guitar show with Judd streaming live with stunning displays of blues riffs.
   I had my share of blues last weekend and, no surprise, it was a good week!
   I give thanks this Thursday for that and for all the excellent live music around here and for good friends, an awesome daughter, family and life in general.
   I hope you all have an abundance of thanks to give and an enjoyable holiday!
bill

     It was a nice autumn night last Friday. I had a long day making sawdust and battling the southern state parkway while trying not to think about working Saturday.
   I made a dinner of leftovers and a salad and plunked myself in the big blue chair in anticipation of enjoyable entertainment on the tv for a change. That didn't last long. I channel surfed for an hour or two and after my hand cramped up and I ran out of curses I bolted out of the chair and stormed over to the computer to see if there was something going on that I didn't have to fill the gas tank to get to. I write the calendar on Monday and I edit every day but when it comes time to go out I have little recollection of what is going on out there.
   I had an old friend in Massapequa who hinted about going out last weekend so I decided on King Cobras at the R Bar, a new establishment on Merrick Rd.
   It was late-ish of course but the place had a nice crowd and the King Cobras were full throttle into their boppin blues thing. I was glad I didn't succomb to the big blue chair on a Friday night.
   I grabbed a stool, flagged down a double from the awesome Cara behind the bar and took in the entertainment I was jones'n for.
   Shane and the boys were showing off some of the stuff from their new cd, Corn Liquor Action. These guys are good! Their influences are all the Kings and everyone else with a blues name. It's shuffle and bop with some twang and some good writing. Never a dull moment with Mr. Shane at the helm and Tony and Steve bringing up the rear.
   So after trying my best with a genuine cutie (I was high on blues damnit!)and soaking up the King Cobras I headed east with some newfound ambition and stopped in on Stevie Cochran with Brian Carroll at the Corner Galley.
   That was a whole 'nother scene. It was a real "corner galley". The late nighters were all that was left but Stevie C and BC were obliging with some two-piece blues requests. Theirs was much more a metal and rock take but still some capable hands. It was a good last stop and a little closer to home.
   I finally surrendered at that point and went home for a good Friday night sleep.
   Another toilsome week beckons but there is always more music than work so I am inspired. Who knows where and when I will hear the call to wander Long Island this week Check the schedule and get some inspiration for your own selves.
   Thanks for being here.
bill
   
   
  

   Living in suburbia was a lot easier as a married person... for material and practical reasons. The challenges of managing details like bills, domestic and automotive upkeep, childrens education and health, etc are consuming and keeping up with the latest information and methods is harrowing when the stakes get magnified with all the modern media.
   For emotional reasons there are advantages to being single; not having an opposing agenda to contend with, not having another persons schedule to mind and not having any criticism is sometimes heady when I think back on certain times in the past.
   These are just some general observations but when I factor in the challenges of the economy I realize why lately I (we?) feel like I (we) have spent the day walking through molasses. I climb into bed with an appreciation for solitude and the opportunity to turn off the "machinery" and turn on some music. I would not know what to do without the whiskey voices of blues emanating from my iPod and soothing my wounds.
   This partly explains why music matters to me and live music not only provides the substance but it provides some emotion and people and faces to reflect on and relate to. It is a network of people living and sharing some similar and other experiences.  
   I hope to invite more people, single and attached, to take part and live a richer life among their fellow Long Islanders.
   Speaking of which... I had a few opportunities in the past week to visit some live music.
   Last Wednesday I stopped in at Donnie Celenza and Dave Patrick's jam at the new location, Mickey Mo's in Lynbrook. On the north side of Sunrise Highway the location is easy to find. The room is big and bright with good sightlines and a nice upscale feel.
   The cast also included Randy London on drums and some good guests including Mel "guitar" Williams and Rootman on harp... among others.
   It was a fun show. Don Celenza weilded his magic guitar and the busy jam had a fulltime buzz of blues and other good tunes. 
   Saturday I had a brief experience with a mercurial date and for a short time I enjoyed Kerry Kearney and Co at The Maples out in Manorville. The place is cozy, warm and there was an appreciative crowd for KK, Sly Geralds, Tony Campo and Mario Staiano... a fun bunch!
   Like I said it was a brief moment of weekend bliss but it's about quality not quantity and I got some good stuff last week.
   This week has a good slate of events including Friday night's Hearts Across America. Check out the list of venues taking part and support one of them... and catch a great show!
   Thanks for checking in.  I thank those who help me with information and who seem to appreciate the calendar and those who organize music and events. I have been dabbling a little and trying to place blues acts and it isn't easy! Have a great week.
   Enjoy.
bill

     In an effort to promote blues I have been getting involved in some booking recently. A few people and bands have asked me to help get them gigs and some I have offered to help because I want to generate market for the music I love and for the music scene in gereral.
    I have had mixed results.
    It will not be a full time endeavor and I will do what I can but I continue to take part in the music scene for altruistic purposes mainly. I have a worthy challenge keeping up with life as a single parent and that takes all of my resources.
   I had an experience recently that may be useful to share. In booking a gig at a club in Baldwin. I negotiated terms for payment with the gal who books Friday nights. We agreed (in numerous texts) on a full payment and a lesser payment in the event of them being disappointed. That was the term used. If they were "disappointed" the lesser payment was "x" and we both agreed and booked the gig.
   The show was a blast and there was a little more than a half-full room for about half the show and less for the rest. So after the show I acted as go between and was given $50 less than the agreed lower payment. The band showed up  based on my word that they would get a minimum of "x" amount. They got less. I guess I trusted the wrong person!
   I am putting my word on the line and that involves trust. There are repercussions when you do shit like that.  I guess she/they didn't care. I for one am never going to book there and won't be attending the venue until something changes there. I heard that others have had trouble booking there. Feel free to write or ask and I will be happy to t ell you who the shady party is.
   If anyone has anything useful to say about the matter please feel free. (Bill@billfoolery.com).
I will share responses.
   My musical escapes this week were few.  With a late start I stopped in at a Wednesday night jam; Joe Vicino at Sunset Grill. That was another quality turnout . 
   My weekend consisted of my "disappointing" night in Baldwin (albeit a great show) and that was it. I was otherwise  pre-occupied with life and other intrusions... not all bad.
   The current calendar has good stuff for the weekend but also numerous new mid-week jams. Weeknights are getting crazy. I hope I can figure out a way to get out more. A noteworthy venue recently is 841 Lounge (841 Jericho Tpke., Hunt) hosted by Rich Rivkin on Wednesday night this week. The show invloves live fine art coinciding with jazz fusion (Fusion Collective) and thats a nice room. Nice to see something different going on. 
   Check out the calendar and get your bad selves out for some live music, And thanks for stopping by.
bill