FRIDAY 11/26/21 10:15PM--I have tried to keep my Musical Life seperate from the rest of my Life, with regard to my diaries, but accidentally they seem to be merging...it would be too much hassle to edit them properly, so maybe I'll combine them...starting now...I feel like my Musical Life is over anyway, so just having ONE diary oughta be enough, right? So be it...
MONDAY 11/22/21 7:04PM--someone specifically mentioned me in a Fakebook post in the Riley's Lock Jam group...I don't intend to get involved in the conversation, if there's gonna be one...but it's kinda nice to know somebody thought of me...I think it was Beth Riley...
WEDNESDAY 11/24/21 9:41PM--so I didn't go to Dietle's on Monday and I didn't go to Willows on Tuesday and I won't be going to Hershey's tomorrow--and not just because it's Thanksgiving, although it is...SueEl has texted me a time or two to check up on me, but no one else has...kinda hurts at least a little...
THURSDAY 11/25/21 10:40AM--I don't really wanna, but I guess I should take a shower...I THINK we're leaving at 12:30-ish...in the meantime, I'm doing laundry, specifically underwear...I NEED to do that much...I'm looking forward to coming home already...I have NO idea when we'll be back...I hope we're home by 7PM, if not sooner...I think the booster shot has kicked in...I feel like I've been run over by a truck...Can't WAIT to get back home...
FRIDAY 11/26/21 7:34PM--still feeling beat up...I suddenly think my being depressed has a LOT to do with the way I feel physicaly...can't wait to go to bed...feeling less like a Musician every day...I sorta kinda in a way tried to impart that idea to SueEl at lunchtime...not 100% sure she picked up on that...I don't know when or where the next open mic is--and I don't care...
MONDAY 11/15/21 9:35AM--I don't yet feel like going to Dietle's, but a lot can happen between now and dinnertime...I don't yet know what SueEl wants to do...
3:24PM--she doesn't wanna go out tonight either, so that's that...
TUESDAY 11/16/21 7:27PM--didn't go to Dietle's and I didn't go to Willows this evening...I dunno what SueEl is up to...
11:40PM--I keep coming back to thinking about the years I wasted being a Musician...no wonder I'm depressed...I didn't go to Dietle's, I didn't go to the Willows and I'm not going to Hershey's if I can help it...
WEDNESDAY 11/17/21 11:30PM-as far as I can tell, I don't have much to do tomorrow, and I'm OK with that...I'm not planning on going to Hershey's...have yet to hear from SueEl...
THURSDAY 11/18/21 4:23PM--had brunch with SueEl...she seems to feel like she too is somewhat neglected when it comes to the MontCo music scene...neither of us is going to Hershey's tonight...
SATURDAY 11/20/21 5PM--one of the bands I WAS in is playing at Dietle's...judging from the video, *I* would say they're STILL just so-so at best...but that doesn't matter, right? it's what the audience thinks...
SUNDAY 11/21/21 6:02PM--I haven't yet heard from SueEl about going to any open mics this coming week...I dunno if she wants to go to any...I dunno if *I* wanna go to any...we'll see...
MONDAY 11/22/21--just heard from SueEl...as far as this week's open mics are concerned, she is not gonna be participating...and neither will I...and that's fine by me...
WEDNESDAY 11/10/21 8:30PM-I'm not 100% certain but I think Sue Ellen and I are going to Hershey’s… I don’t know when I’ll be able to show my face at the Willow’s open mic again… Sue Ellen says I’m overreacting… I disagree…
The good news, if you wanna call it that, is that I don’t have to put new strings on my electric guitar…
THURSDAY 11/11/21 2:35PM-if there was any doubt that I was not playing with a full deck, this might do it – suddenly I want to go to Willow’s not Hershey’s…I did contact Sue Ellen, but I haven’t heard back just yet…
5:21PM-well I changed my mind again; I’m going to take Sue Ellen to Hershey’s and she’s OK with that…for one thing, it’s closer (less gas spent) hopefully better food and what not…
9:09PM-I’m surprised at how many songs I seem to know-at least compared to the other half a dozen guitar players “onstage “…I dunno if they are drunk or high or both…or maybe they’re what they called in the old days “retarded”…I know I keep saying it but someday I WILL go to Willows again..
10:47PM--home from Hershey's...my knee jerk reaction is to not go back again...Can't wait until Monday...and for the second time in recent weeks, I embarrassed myself...I heard three guitarists playing three different but similiar songs at the same time...that's when I lost it...but shouldn't THEY have been aware of the noise they were making? And the loudest guitarist was not (IMO) very good...and there was some guy playing spoons!!! Sheesh...
SUNDAY 11/14/21 7:42PM--dunno for sure, but I plan to go to Dietle's, with or without SueEl...
9:45PM--having second thoughts about going to Dietle's...but I demand the right to change my Mind multiple times...I feel like, as far as the MonCo music scene goes, I don't exist...that sucks--a LOT...seriously leaning toward staying home tomorrow...
TUESDAY 11/16/21 8:25PM-there is an open mic going on right now at a place called the Willows Pub in Linthicum, which is my former backyard… I’ve been there once and it was OK but I didn’t go this evening because I didn’t feel like it… and I’m going to try and stick to the idea that I’m NOT going to Hershey’s on Thursday…I dunno what SueEl wants to do…
MONDAY 11/8/21 8AM-I went to Dietle’s last night to see No Part of Nothing, a bluegrass group that has Michelle in it… mandolin player Jeff, the guy who got a free telecaster outta me – unless he actually did the guitar work I asked him to do – is also in the band… He doesn’t exactly play bluegrass mandolin, not even close… But he’s a fairly good harmony singer.
SueEl and I are planning on going to Dietle’s Tavern this evening for the open mic… of the two open mics that I go to on a semi regular basis, I like the Dietle’s open mic the most…
I’m not really sure why but the open mic hasn’t caught on yet. Attendance is low, musicians and “civilians". But of course, you take what you can get…
I am trying to work out the logistics of the evening…I don’t wanna leave Gaithersburg go to Rockville, feed the cat and then go back up to Gberg and pick up Sue Ellen…I COULD leave G Burg to pick Sue Ellen up, come back to Rockville (which is where the O.M. is and then feed the cat before we go to Dietle’s… whatever’s going to happen is what’s going to happen…
12:42PM--SueEl says she's not going due to financial difficulties...it sounds terrible, but I kinda hope she DOESN'T suddenly find the money...it would be A LOT easier on me logistically...
4:33PM--I'm hoping to go back to Rville, feed the cat then have the rest of MY dinner soon, then go to Dietle's alone...kinda nervous about it actually...
MIDNIGHT- just got in from Dietle’s…I did three songs with a band…musically? the visit was fairly satisfying, socially? not all that much…
TUESDAY 11/9/21 932AM-I think I’m gonna be here in Rockville all day today and all evening and overnight… I have no plans for me to go anywhere else, and I’m OK with that…
I thought I was making some new friends last night at Dietle’s … Today, I’m not so sure about that… I suddenly found myself being left out of the conversation between two real friends, that is, I felt left out… I did run into someone I vaguely knew, but as always, he seemed rather chilly towards me…as for today, hopefully I won’t have to leave Rockville to go anywhere or do anything… and now that I’ve said that, I will probably hear from Dianne sometime this morning – oh well… maybe I can get out of doing whatever it is she has in mind;
It’s nearly impossible for me to believe it’s only Tuesday; I think I have a doctors appointment on Thursday morning, and I plan to go to the Hershey’s jam later that evening… frankly, I’d like to see what two days off in a row feels like…
Well, for starters, I’ve started thinking that, with regard to my Musical career, it’s pretty much over… I can’t be the worst guitar player in Montgomery county, or the worst harmony singer or the worst lead singer… but I think I can rightfully claim the title of worst stage presence… and of course, I can’t help what I look like…quite depressing…
5:29PM-I was thinking that theoretically I could go to Dietle’s and hear some live music…they seemingly have live music on weekdays, which is unusual…And then I heard the ringing in my ears and changed my mind…
THURSDAY 11/4/21 10:05AM--SueEl is not going tonight--like me she doesn't feel good ...and the jam isn't as much fun for her anymore either...of course, I could change my Mind--but I hope I don't...You'd think it was up to me, right? I'm not so sure that it is...
1:36PM--just heard from the guy who sorta runs the Hershey's Jam...from now on the start time is 7:30...don't matter to me, for tonight at least, I ain't going--probably...
7:36PM--I assume that the Hershey's Jam has started--without me or SueEl...I guess I could set my sights on Monday...
9:56PM--I didn't change my mind; I stayed home...*I* think it's time Steve and Craig consider using a more "traditional" approach to running an open mic...
TUESDAY 11/2/21 9:40AM--I don't understand why there's a woman in a Neil Young Tribute band, unless she's supposed to be Darryl Hannah...I don't yet FEEL like going anywhere, much less my old neighborhood...but that's where the new Max & CJ open mic is...I don't yet feel like playing Music, but I'm not driving that far to sit on the sidelines...If I go I'll bring my Bass...SueEl seems to wanna go...as of now, it's raining a little; hopefully it won't get any worse and/or stop by the time I leave--IF I go...and yes, I could be a LOT more miserable...
The open mic starts at 7:30 and I wanna get there about 30 mins before it starts...It should take 45mins or so to get there--NOT factoring in weather or traffic...that means picking SueEl at about 6:15, more or less...
WEDNESDAY 11/3/21 12:48AM--I picked SueEl up on time, but did not get to The Willow by 7 o'clock...Max got me onstage surprisingly early to play Bass...I'd give myself a "9" on a scale of Ten...I had a very good time...it woulda been better if I hadn't collapsed...But *I* think my Karma has been balanced to"atone" for my transgression last week...
I really REALLY locked in with a certain drummer...frankly *I* found it to be amazing, like we play together all the time...the songs we played were pretty much the kinda stuff we always play at CJ's open mic...I played some guitar as well, including sharing the stage with a guy I was in a band with back in 1975...IF had to do tonight again , I would...collapse included...
1:36AM--I think maybe I might have possibly impressed a few musicians at the open mic--that feels good...
8:08PM--I just found out the Hershey's Jam will be indoors...maybe that means there's no room for five or six guitar players to play at the same time...SOMEBODY needs to impose a little bit of discipline and order IMO...perhaps it's time to consider using a sign-up sheet or something...The Dietle's O.M. doesn't use one and yet it works, as far as *I* can see...
TUESDAY 10/26/21 4:10PM--I have, in the past, started (almost) counting the hours until Thursday 6PM...this week? not so much...I'll likely still go; it's a chance to play Bass; and I don't have to do anything else, except maybe sing a little...I think SueEl wants to go and she thinks it would be good for me...we'll see...
I've given up on the idea of being in a Band...like I said, my Health is deteriorating and other than Musical ability, there's stuff working against me--mostly my looks and general demeanor...
7:33PM--suddenly I kinda wish I could wake up tomorrow and it would be Thursday...go figure...I gotta get my stuff outta my car--the bags, the amp and the guitar...I'm not taking any of it to Hershey's...
9:47PM--thinking of maybe bringing the chorus pedal with me though--and hopefully a cable...
WEDNESDAY 10/27/21 6:34PM--old habits die hard--getting a little excited about going to Hershey's tomorrow...If SueEl changes her Mind, and doesn't wanna go, I just might stay home...
THURSDAY-10/28/21(time unknown) I don’t wanna be here, but I am…SueEl sometimes gets a ride home from her roommate…I want that to happen tonight… On the way to pick up her up I hit...something. And then I drove away...I don't think the thing I hit was damaged much--if any, but my car took the brunt of the impact...
SLIGHTLY LATER--So as you could imagine, the last place I wanted to be was Hershey's. I had no appetite, but I ate some chicken anyway...Eventually, reluctantly, I started playing (Bass) and put the incident behind me, for the time being...a couple I was chatting with, after advising them that they shouldn't sit too close to the front, know a LOT of the musicians I know or have known...The Man, Bob Bloomer, is Brother to Bill Bloomer--a Bass player I've known for a LONG time...Every time Bob mentioned a name, it was someone I've known--with one exception...and the conversation helped me forget the accident...
FRIDAY 10/29/21 9:12AM--it suddenly occured to me that the Universe is probably gonna wait until I've completely forgotten the acccident (if I can) and then hit me with whatever punishment it can cook up for me......
SUNDAY 10/24/21 12:30PM-I think it’s fairly obvious that the Universe didn’t want me to be here at Riley‘s lock… Major equipment problems, a disappointed roommate…a bad hair day…I ABSOLUTELY should’ve stayed home today, and if I have MY way I’m never coming back here…except that I CAN still sing a little…so who knows?
4:25PM--just got homr from Riley's...I can only imagine what people are/will be saying about my behavior at the Riley's Lock Jam, the early part of it at least...it's an Ego thing I know, but I just want people to like what I do, and it feels good when they let me know that they like what I do--but *I* wanna like what I do too and until I gave up on trying to be a guitarist and switched to vocals only, I didn't like what I was doing at all...my singing seemed to surprise people......The Jam (I think) was typical--no one was in charge and everyone was in charge...and as always, some Musicians are just better than others...the whole point of the Jam is to have fun, right?
MONDAY 10/25/21 9:05AM--if I can get the kitchen/living room straigtened up, my reward should be going to Dietle's tonight, likely with SueEl...
2;02PM whether I deserve it or not, I'm probably gonna go to Dietle's tonight...
7:30PM-should’ve stayed home tonight too…driving in the dark is hard enough, add to that a blinding rain and yer asking for trouble-and I had plenty…
8:24PM- played some Bass behind SueEl…it felt like a tree trunk…luckily I was able to switch to the “house “ Bass, which is a bit easier to play…
11:12PM--I briefly thought about going out tomorrow night, then I came to my senses...as for Thursday, I should probably stay home...that doesn't mean I will...it's OK to go to an open mic or a jam and not play or sing a single note...
TUESDAY 10/26/21 11:19AM--I came to the realization that I'm probably done being in a Band...mostly because I have lousy stage precence, lousy posture (which is a part of stage presence) and I'm far from handsome...not to mention my body is fading quickly...a kinda sad day, to put it mildly...
12:44PM--it may be wrong, it's probably an Ego thing, but I couldn't feel less like a member of the MoCo music community if I still lived in Glen Burnie...
FRIDAY 10/22/21 10PM--what *I* thought of as bossy is, to some folks, enthusiasm...OK. I'll buy that one I guess...the bossy/enthusiastic guitarist apparently recorded the whole open mic...he sent me a file (I guess that's what it's called) via e-mail...gonna make a CD for myself, tomorrow maybe...
SATURDAY 10/23/21 9PM--suddenly I wanna go to the Riley' Lock Jam tomorrow...I don't if I can get there when I want to, which is 11:30...I'm hoping to get there by Noon...there's a chance I can get there sooner...I have to go get the groceries from Giant...They're supposed to be ready at 11AM..IF they're on time I should be able to be home by 11:20...it shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to put the groceries away...my car will (hopefully) be cleaner (inside) than it is now...I'll take the Blues Jr. outta the trunk, and put the Rumble 14 in it...what I'm not sure of is whether I should take stomp boxes or the gizmo...right NOW I'm thinking "stomp boxes"--dirt, chorus and reverb...I hope to do a comprehensive test tomorrow morning...I already did a mini test to see what Butterscotch (a Strat) sounds like thru my little BASS amp...It sounded good to me...
9:47PM--judging from my research, there's nothing wrong with using a Rumble 15 as a guitar amp...I'm actually kinda optimistic about it, almost excited...
SATURDAY 10/16/21 8:55AM--A day or so ago I really wanted to form a band with a singer I met at Hershey's...now I'm not sure if it would be a good fit or not...
12:20PM-I’m thinking I might possibly maybe go to Gentleman Jim’s tonight…A former bandmate invited me to his gig and expressed the idea that he hoped I was OK… I just might go see his band (In ToneNation)... there’s a former member of the LCB in it – Joe Dyson is the guitar player…
8:00PM-made it to GJ’s, in spite of some major car trouble…ended up singing GREEN RIVER...I did a very good job, conceited as that sounds...but it's true...SueEl was there, we hung out together...I thank the Universe for Dianne…and I’m glad I have a Best Buy Visa credit card, I'm probably gonna need it to get the car problem solved...
SUNDAY 10/17/21 11:46AM--so, overnight the band leader (Dave) indicated that it's not outta the question that Joe Dyson's days in the band are numbered...I should say no more...
12:30PM--but now I'm in Fantasyland, with regards to the text message from David...
MONDAY 10/18/21 10:27AM--the Plan is to go to Dietle's tonight, with or without SueEl...I'm allowed to change my Mind though... 9PM-I was so excited about coming to DIETLE’S tonight… Now I think it was a big mistake; I DID manage to make it through Folsom prison blues and little sister, but I was not happy about the guitar sound I was getting and I used my guitar but not my own amplifier…my vocals were pretty good…I DID get to play Bass, AND drums!!! I wish I’d left the drums alone…what the f*ck was I thinking?
TUESDAY 10/19/21 9:35AM--SueEl told me that Joe D. has apparently been difficult to work with for some time...Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but I'm hoping to hear from Dave almost any day now...
THURSDAY 10/21/21 12:48PM--at this point in time, SueEl is not up to going to Hershey's tonight...I know I shouldn't be, but I'm relieved...EDIT--I spoke too soon, now she wants to go...Dianne is having a meeting with a financial advisor at 6, so I'll leave to go to Hershey's after first going to (probably) McDs to get Dinner...
7:25PM-Hershey’s used to be fun…or maybe I’m just tired…
8PM- I think I lost the possible gig with In Tone Nation…Dave tells me that he and Joe have made up, at least for now…and naturally I had my hopes up…oh well…Jeff just indicated he was going to play one more…but he’s still playing, and that’s OK…SueEl just left...
10:36PM--there's a certain guitarist who comes across to me as bossy...he's a really good player, but he sorta rolled right over Steve last night...oh well...
12:20PM--I said something on FB about not liking a lack of discipline at an open mic and Ray weighed in about how hard it is to maintain discipline, so anarchy is the natural result...it feels like Ray and I are drifting apart--AGAIN...belatedly getting bummed about not getting into InToneNation...oh well...
SUNDAY 10/10/21 3:33PM-I haven’t talked to her lately, but I think SueEl and I are going to an open mic tomorrow evening… Frankly, it’s out of my way to go and pick her up and bring her back down to Rockville, but that’s where the open mic is…
It’s some sort of “rock and roots” jam, which I think stylistically limits what I can do…I don’t expect to hear any Neil Young, Tom Petty, Bruce, Dylan…certainly no Grateful Dead… I don’t know WHAT songs SueEl and I are going to do; maybe she has some ideas… I suppose I could do Little Sister if necessary…
11:18PM--everytime I look thru Flakebook I get depressed about being one of MontCo's best kept Musical secrets...that's reason enought to avoid it...
MONDAY 10/11/21 12:45PM--and it hurts to see all the SLR vids...I think about what might have been had she been able to stay in Montgomery Co. Or maybe I wasn't as good for/with her as I thought I was...
2:25PM--SueEl and I are still planning to go to Dietle's this evening...I have no idea what's gonna happen...I don't like being in the dark, but that's where I am...
7:22PM-made it to Dietle’s…I doubt that I’ll make it a regular stop…but ya never know…seen an acquaintance from many years back…
9PM-I might be coming back after all…there doesn’t seem to be many places to play Country music in MontCo…Steve Setzer (from Hershey's) was there as well...
9:28PM-played the Fender P-bass that belongs to the guy who runs the open mic...his name is Brad…I could get used to that, if I had to…I added harmony to one of the singer's songs...luckily he didn't mind...EDIT--he and I are FB friends now...
TUESDAY 10/12/2112:11AM--just got in from Dietle's...I hope to go next Monday...with or without SueEl...I gotta brush up on my Country repertoire...I haven't done any Country music since the CSA Jamboree...it definitely feels (right now) like a new place to go regularly--and NOT be in a band of any kind...I may need some "cheat sheets" for awhile though...as loose as it is, I really like going to Hershey's on Thursdays...on the other hand I can't wait to go to Dietle's as a guitarist...
11:05PM--just got in from Hershey's...after Dinner there with SueEl, I was on the sidelines for awhile then played Bass for most of the evening...SueEl did great; eventually Doug, her roomate took her home...a female acquaintence from the recent past was there--naturally I can't yet remember her name...EDIT--her name is Dorothy...
SUNDAY 10/3/21 7:09AM- at this point I’m undecided about which Ray gig I wanna do…
9:35AM--I might make more money at S&J's, but only a litte more...I'd rather catch up on my sleep..
12:42PM--I MIGHT do both, and pay the price tomorrow...
2:26PM-I’ve decided to do the Brian Boru gig; I should be back home by 8:30 PM… I don’t expect to make more than forty dollars…actually there’s another performer’s equipment on stage, maybe Ray and I are going to be using that stuff – who knows? As far as I know we’re playing inside… That’s a good thing…mostly because it’s really hot outside…I think there’s something wrong with my phone, but I don’t have time to find out now… It’s been acting weird all weekend in various ways…
Ray seems to be running late, or because he doesn’t have to set up any equipment, he has time to kill… Those are the only answers I have;
Suddenly, I feel like the gig is in danger of being canceled… Ray isn’t here yet and HE might be the one to cancel it…I really hope the Universe doesn’t want me to go to Stan and Joe’s ; already I don’t feel like it
5 PM – if I wanna come home with any money at all, I have to go to stand in Joe’s… There’s maybe eight people here not counting the band , The tip jar is nearly empty; I think there’s a $20 bill in it
MONDAY 9/4/21 3AM--I've just spent the last 12 hours doing two things--driving and playing Music...the driving used up maybe two hours, the rest of the time I was playing behind Ray Weaver...Dianne was right of course, I feel like I've been hit by a train...
10:25AM--recovering from the TWO Ray gigs...the 2nd one went really well, except for missing a turn and taking a long way home...I made no money at the first gig and $60 bucks at the 2nd one...
11:23AM--and so I'm back to feeling like MontCo's best kept Musical secret...that is, nearly invisible in my own neighborhood...Ray expressed his opinion of the musicians who have been backing him up...I wonder what he would say about me if I'm not around…
THURSDAY 10/7/21 4PM--the plan is to go to Hershey's...I gotta bring Jeff's Bass amp back for one thing and I hope to do some Bass playing myself if possible...
10:16PM--I played Bass for roughly half of the Jam...I was quite tired when Jeff showed up with a Bass and a new amp that he just got, today I think...I did some lead singing as well...I seem to know LOTSA songs...and I even seemed to lead the Band once or twice...but I have the worst stage prescence of anyone I know, and I dunno how to change it...
The same musicians seem to show up every Thursday...*I* think the jam needs some new players...I for one feel that way...maybe the hosts feel that way too...maybe the players feel that way about ME...Next Thursday I might go to Bippy's Pub...maybe every other Thursday I'll go to Hershey's...
FRIDAY 10/1/21 9:21AM-hoping to play another gig tonight with Ray Weaver… Suddenly my fantasy is that he moves back here to America and we do this a lot more often…he HAS talked about someday possibly maybe leaving Denmark… which is kind of weird, considering his mother passed away recently…other than his sisters and a daughter in Tennessee (?) he has no reason to come back to America that I can think of…his only son is currently attending school in England, so theoretically it wouldn’t matter where Ray and his wife live...I don’t really know, but I suspect that he would do a lot better financially if he stays in Denmark… America is overflowing with musicians trying to make it to the big time; which includes lots of singer-songwriters…
NOON--the Universe is REALLY messing with me now...Ray wants me to play BASS!!! and Jeff is letting me borrow his Bass amp!!! there's no way I'm gonna get a nap now...I DO hope Ray doesn't want me to play lead guitar on anything...
1:35PM--AND Ray wants me to bring my guitar stuff as well--(sheesh) I'm not gonna tell him most of that stuff is in the car already...he says Johnny will be late...we'll just have to (as always) play it by ear...
SATURDAY 10/2/21 12:40AM--just got home from Killarney House...I played Bass until Gary John Peresta arrived; then I tried running my guitar thru the Bass amp--to me it sounded terrible, so I brought my guitar amp in and hooked everything up...I felt better after that...at the very end of the night, we did a mostly acoustic set--I didn't necessarily want to, but it was fun...the singer inside me woke up...
5:30PM--still recovering from last night's Ray gig...even if I could make it to Ray's first Sunday gig, I think it would be wiser to go to the second one--maybe...perhaps it depends on when we get back from Dianne's super duper early medical appointment in Frederick...we'll see what we shall see...doing the second gig means (probably) getting home at one or two in the morning Monday...yikes...
9:10PM--If I get up at 5AM to go to Frederick and manage to make it back home by 11AM, maybe I can catch a few Zs before theoretically leaving for Brian Boru at 1:30 or so...I suppose I could eat Lunch on the way to the gig in Severna Park...
SUNDAY 10/3/21 9:07AM--we got back from Frederick around eight o'clock...naptime is about an hour away...how long it's gonna last is anyone's guess...I'm hoping to make it to the 1st of the two shows...I should be back home by 8:30 or so...
9:35AM--I might make more money at S&J's, but only a litte more...I'd rather catch up on my sleep...
12:42PM--I MIGHT do both, and pay the price tomorrow...
MONDAY 9/4/21 3AM--I've just spent the last 12 hours doing two things--driving and playing Music...the driving used up maybe two hours, the rest of the time I was playing behind Ray Weaver...Dianne was right of course, I feel like I've been hit by a train...
MONDAY 9/27/21 11:37PM--just saw on FB where CJ says the Main Stage Grille open mic is done...He's not yet ready to announce the replacement venue...I really REALLY hope it's a bit closer to home...I don't know where CJ lives...I'm assuming the new open mic will be closer to him than me...
11:12PM--The CJ/Max open mic is moving to Northern Glen Burnie (*I* call that neck of the woods Linthicum, but maybe that's just me) which is not close at all...
WEDNESDAY 9/29/21 5:36PM-- just 24 hours before the open mic...actually getting excited about it...
10:02PM--still excited about going to Hershey's tomorrow...and Killarney House on Friday...
THURSDAY 9/30/21 9:13AM-- about 9 hrs.to Hershey's... I shouldn't be this excited--I've been there before, lotsa times, almost every week...and of course the sit-in with Ray is tomorrow...
11:48AM--SueEl wants to go to Hershey's...I intend to pick her up at about 5:45 or so...I'm tempted to call Jeff and find out what HIS plans for tonight are...but I won't, because if he gets there first, that's OK...I don't want him to even suspect that I don't want him around so I can play Bass all evening long...if that happens again, fine...if not that's OK too...I can just be the Understudy, or maybe do some lead singing...
9:55PM--turns out I was the only Bass player...Jeff was floating around, but he didn't land anywhere...SueEl sanng a couple, nearly stole the show...
FRIDAY 10/1/21 11:38AM--gonna try to catch some Z's before the cleaning people get here...I kinda hope they're a teeny bit late...
12:07PM--the nap is not gonna happen, I'm too excited--I'll be playing BASS tonight with Ray Weaver!!! I gotta go get a friend's amp; I can do that when the cleaning people get here...he gave me permission BTW...
1:35PM--the cleaning people are a bit late...suddenly I'm not happy anymore.
2:15PM--they've been here awhile, but I'm afraid they'll still be here when I wanna take a shower...Whether I want to or not, I might have to skip the shower and the shave...I'll put on clean clothes, though...
SATURDAY 9/25/21 12:47AM--just got home from the Ray gig at Brian Boru...aside from the tone I was getting, I had a pretty good time...it's roughly the same tone I've been getting lately, and I'm not crazy about it...I'm a bit disappointed to be bringing home only $40 bucks..Ray led me to believe it would be a little more than that...I think worked really hard tonight...and we played about an hour past the original end time...
Even if I didn't have a commitment tomorrow, I don't think I'd make yet another journey to wherever just for 40 dollars...Am I being selfish? *I* don't think so...
9AM--Ray texted me overnight, asking me about the money...he now says he was supposed to pay me $60...I hope to collect the other $20 next week at Killarney House...I STILL don't think I can make it to KH tonight...as always, we'll see...
7:19PM--nope, no way, not gonna happen...I'm staying in this evening...I might not sit in with Ray until Friday the first of October...and I'm OK with that...
SUNDAY 9/26/21 7:40PM-- as far as *I* know I've got nuthin' goin on Musically until Thursday...I think the Main Stage Grille Tuesday open mic is done...hoping to go to Hershey's on Thursday (as a Bass player) and Killarney House on Friday, possibly taking Dianne along...I've been kinda fantasizing about playing Bass for Ray, but incredibly enough, I can only remember a handful of titles of songs he has played...weird...and there have been HUNDREDS of songs...
11:10PM--I think I'm not as well known (in MontCo at least) is that I don't know how to act like a local rock star...and (as I'm well aware) I have no stage presence...I just dunno how to act like I'm a big deal, or at least how to act like I THINK I'm a big deal...oh well...
MONDAY 9/27/21 12:13AM--just saw on Flakebook where Ray calls the folks backing him up at KH earlier this evening "the ENTIRE Raybot "A" team"--*I* wasn't there...I think he gig might have been a sudden, last minute thing...it kinda hurts my feelings a bit, whether it should or not...I wonder if I'll ever see that $20 bucks he owes me for the Brian Boru gig...starting to have my doubts...
9:14AM--and now Tish, on FB, says "Like old times, the best"...I guess I'll always be "The Understudy"
WEDNESDAY 9/22/21 9AM-Ray doesn’t yet know this, but I am bringing my electric gear to Annapolis tonight, in spite of the fact that he wants to do an acoustic show… I will be more easily heard if I play the electric guitar, not because of the volume level but because the sound of an electric guitar is so different than the sound of an acoustic guitar… And Ray tends to play rather loudly… or at least, mix the acoustic guitar rather loudly…
I’m nervous about not telling him, but on the other hand if I DO tell him he may try to talk me out of it – and I intend to put my foot down, at least a little… other than Brian the bass player, I have no idea who else is going to be there tonight… And because of the weather I want to give myself plenty of time to get there by 7 o’clock…
1:22PM--it turns out Ray doesn't mind if his "guitar heroes" are plugged in as long as we can somehow use the "acoustic approach" (whatever that is) at tonight's show...I like jamming with Johnny V, but I'm not 100% sure we BOTH need to be there...although maybe HE needs the money too...
4:31PM--At this point in time, Johnny isn't available on Friday (or Saturday) so I'm hoping to go on Friday, and (hopefully) Saturday as well...
THURSDAY 9/23/21 2:10AM--just got in from the Ray Weaver gig...got pulled over for speeding AND the driver's side headlight being OUT...I got a warning instead of a ticket--thank you Universe...I have 30 days to fix the headlight--more work for the guys across the street...as for the gig itself, it took me awhile to get warmed up...Johnny V was there; we DO seem to connect musically...the female singers were/are pretty good...don't tell anyone, but their harmonies leave a bit to be desired if ya ask ME...but the place was packed--on a Wednesday, and a rainy one at that...
11:15AM--as much as I want to, and that's a LOT, I don't think I should go to Hershey's tonight...we'll see...it's a LOT closer and the open mic is over by 11PM if not sooner...and I DO like to play Bass occasionally, still...
3:07PM--I've said to myself if the virtual appointment with my Doctor goes right (from a technical standpoint) I'll go to Hershey's...I don't know for sure but I think it's gonna happen correctly...we'll see...
10:38PM--just got in from Hershey's...had lotsa fun, played Bass all evening long...even did some singing at the same time...Jeff was in a guitar playing mood, so everybody was happy...SueEl was there for awhile as well...I DO seem to know lotsa songs, even on Bass...
11:15PM--now I can focus on the Ray gig in Severna Park...I think he starts at 7, which means I should try to leave home at about 5:30 or so...I plan to bring the same gear I've used for the two gigs I've done so far...
SATURDAY 9/18/21 1:10PM-I think I’m gonna make it a little easier on myself and NOT sell my albums at the Hershey’s flea market tomorrow… I KNOW that Litz will just give me pennies per album if I take them here to get rid of… Dianne says they don’t take up that much room, which is true; it’s physically (and maybe financially) easier to just keep them for a while…so I will…
SUNDAY 9/19/21 11:33AM-so here I am at the Hershey’s flea market… I’ve sold one copy of the nine copies of Rolling Stone magazine that I have… Dianne thinks I should hang onto the practice Bass amp; let me just say that if it doesn’t sell I won’t cry about it; if the guitar doesn’t sell, I might cry about THAT…
12:07PM—four hours to go…I guess I’ll donate whatever I don’t sell…Dianne will get the tax credit…Not looking forward to loading all this crap back into the car…
2:18PM- closed down my flea market tables…I made $ 200…Jeff got half, Dianne got the other half…and I'm keeping the practice Bass amp...
3:35PM--home at last...hoping to nap until 6PM--
6:03PM--slept until 5:30; that'll do...went down into the basement and did more than a little straightening up ...I'm pretty darn happy with my work...
FRIDAY 9/17/21 8PM-I always say I’d rather be there two hours early than 15 minutes late… I’m about two hours early…Both Kenny and Ray are here now… we pretty much ran out of room on stage as soon as Kenny set the drums up...
SATURDAY 9/18/21 3:30AM--Just got home from Annapolis...other than struggling (a lot) to find my way OUT of Annapolis, I'd say it was the best gig I've ever done with Ray, including the five or so years I played guitar in the LCB...For most of the night, my guitar playing was breathtaking...seriously...It was not a typical Ray gig, IF there is such a thing...For instance, *I* sang NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE, not Ray...not sure why...But I knocked it outta the Park...
8:50PM--still recovering from last night's gig...Dianne is concerned about being at Hershey's flea market tomorrow, all day long...maybe *I* should be too, but I have no choice, right? Dunno if we're having breakfast there or not...I suppose I could go either way...I'm gonna try to go to bed at 10PM...might be a bad idea, might not...I gotta get up at whenever o'clock to load Dianne's car...I made 2 nice looking (framed) signs...
9:44PM--all that time I spent making BASSless CDs--wasted I suppose...so now I'm gonna try to create GTRless CDs...starting with SPIRIT by SADE...
10:26PM--it turns out I already have a bunch of GTRless tracks, about 7 hours on 7CDs, most of them by the ORIGINAL ARTISTS!!!...I absolutely forgot all about 'em...wow...
THURSDAY 9/16/21 7:35PM-finally arrived at Bippy's…It was not the least bit easy to get to… I was wrong about it being easy although it looked easy on the map, and I was wrong about wanting to make this the place I go to on Thursday nights – no fucking way… maybe I’ll feel differently after the night is over, but I seriously doubt it; on the other hand, in baseball you get three strikes… Well, so far Bippy’s has one…
I’m not at all sure I wanna play anything tonight…I maybe in over my head…
11:02PM played a bunch of songs on guitar, just not as well as I wanted to…
FRIDAY 9/17/21 12:57AM--Just got home from Bippy's Pub...it was a lot easier to get home than it was to get there...right at the end of the evening, I played some Bass...I'd give myself a "9" on a scale of 10...I didn't hang around chatting TOO much...I shall return, I just dunno when...now I need to focus on the gig with Ray...
SATURDAY 9/18/21 3:30AM--Just got home from Annapolis...other than struggling (a lot) to find my way OUT of Annapolis, I'd say it was the best gig I've ever done with Ray, including the five or so years I played guitar in the LCB...
TUESDAY 9/14/21 5:08PM--to cut right to the chase, Ray apologized to me...I guess this means I'll be playing (electric) guitar with him when he comes back around...In the past I've had trouble hearing MY acoustic guitar, but not his...but an electric guitar sounds different than an acoustic, so I should be able to hear myself if/when we play together...I guess I'll always be doing some guitar work, in addition to Bass...
But for now, I'm getting ready to go to CJ's open mic, as a BASS player...gonna try a different route to get there, fingers crossed of course...the plan is to have dinner there...
7PM-No matter which way I go to get to the Main Stage Grille I have a problem… This time was no exception; I tried going straight up Rte.97 which is, among other things, Georgia Avenue and I messed up… luckily I got out of the screw up and made it to my destination…
WEDNESDAY 9/15/21 12:05AM--apparently, the Universe wasn't done with me in terms of driving incidents...I got stopped on the way home from the Main Stage Grille open mic--because of my non-working tail lights...I got a warning...one of the officer's headlights was out as well... maybe that's why I just got a warning...it wasn't the best time I ever had there, the burger was good...I played some Bass and some guitar and sang (what else) Moondance...but now I'm really looking forward to going to Bippy's on Thursday...it's a teeny bit closer and (allegedly) easier to get to...
4:08PM--finally got to spend a fair amount of time with my other Bass...sounds good, action too high, though...I think Max is gonna do some work on it, but it won't be ready in time for the Hershey's flea market...I guess I can sell it thru FB...or just keep it...
8:01PM-I think Ray Weaver is cooking up an LCB reunion of some sort for this coming Friday… To put it mildly this is quite a surprise…Dianne is interested in going, provided she feels up to it; I’m not completely sure I’m up FOR it… I was hoping that my reunion with Ray would be rather low-key… there’s a possibility that it won’t be low-key at all…I guess some part of the Universe does NOT want me to become a bass player at this time… but I’m not giving up just yet…
8:27PM-suddenly my Life has become rather hectic…I don’t like “hectic”, I’m getting too old for that…I wanna make it thru the next four days...
THURSDAY 9/16/21 12:07PM--now I can concentrate on going to Bippy's tonight...I'll worry about the flea market on Saturday...as far as *I* know there may be an LCB reunion TOMORROW night...I''ll burn that bridge when I come to it...
4:30PM--except that Mike is unavailable...as is Ray's regular Bass player...hmm...as for tonight, I'm still hoping to go to Bippy's...I hope the weather improves more than a little before I leave, around 6:30 or so; it was really raining hard a few minutes ago...of course, a lot can happen in (roughly) two hours...
THURSDAY 9/9/21 10:53PM-- I think it was an amazing night at Hershey's tonight...for the first time that *I* remember, I played first--Jeff wasn't around when the jam started, so I played first...It almost hurts to play thru Jeff's amp, I sound that good...and I played very well too if I do say so myself...I didn't overplay too much, especially once I started getting tired...my hand didn't hurt either...BTW, SueEl didn't/couldn't go...
Even if I got an amp tomorrow, I still couldn't be in a band....and I don't even have space for an amp anyway...Maybe I'll have more space after the flea market...gottta start working on playing Bass and singing at the same time...my fantasy of joining 49 Cent Dress will likely always be just that...
The Hershey's flea market is 10 days away...I probably should start prepping for it soon...I think I'm gonna need help getting ready...
FRIDAY 9/10/21 5:46PM--at least now I know when the flea market starts and ends...I think Dianne is gonna help with the signs...
9:10PM--suddenly, I feel like I gotta get moving on the flea market preperation...first, I'll design the signs...
SATURDAY 9/11/21 9:32PM--really gotta concentrate on the flea market, starting with counting the two crates of albums...
MONDAY 9/13/21 9:39PM--I hope to go to the Main Stage Grille tomorrow...I hope to have the albums counted by then...I DO wanna stop by Litz to see how much they're selling their albums for...If I have to pick up SueEl, I can stop there on the way to her place...If not, I'll make a seperate trip on Wednesday...
TUESDAY 9/7/21 2:15PM--a little while ago I suddenly got smart...I decided NOT to go the Main Stage Grille open mic tonight...I have a Doctor's appappointment at 9AM--so that's that...I've decided to be sensible for a change...I DO NOT regret changing my plans...The Thursday trip to Bippy's Pub in Ellicott City has been changed to a trip to Hershey's...Not sure why, but Bippy's has been cancelled...
5:25PM--very nervous about going to JVs tomorrow...SueEl suggests going as a guitarist, because I have been playing guitar way WAY longer than I've been playing Bass...so I'll wrestle with that question from now until sometime tomorrow--probably a few minutes before I leave...
WEDNESDAY 9/8/21 4PM--I'm gonna take a chance and just bring my Bass, and hope the Universe is kind to me for awhile...I think the open mic starts at 7:30...sign-ups probably begin at 7...that's when I hope to be there by...I plan to leave Home at 6PM...I'm also hoping the Universe will provide me with "smooth sailing" to JVs...I'm not as worried about the trip home--yet...
7:39PM-starting to wonder if I made a mistake…the first guy I struck up a conversation with seems to be a bit of a jerk…I suppose I could be wrong…not having fun yet… it’s too soon to know if I will have fun but I intend to hang in until the end no matter what…glad tomorrow is Hershey’s
9:08PM-it went better than I thought it would, so I’m satisfied… Who knows, I might be back…my offstage harmonies have been really good so far..my partner in conversation messed up the middle 8 of ONE WAY OR ANOTHER…I’m glad I played before he did…kinda sounds like HE’S getting a little cocky…don’t really expect to but I wouldn’t mind playing some more…the band onstage is struggling with CLOSER TO HOME…
THURSDAY 9/9/21 12:38AM--If/when I go back to JV's, MAYBE I'll bring my guitar, amp and three stomp boxes...other than Bob, I just might end up being the best guitarist in the place...I fully admit it's an ego thing on my part...on the other hand, I'll be able to sing a song or two or three...I haven't yet got the hang of singing and playing Bass simultaneously yet...I played Bass behind the hosts Martha and Bob...we did three songs- WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS, THE LAST TIME, and CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME...as for what three songs I'M gonna sing when/if I get the chance, I have no idea...Bob and Martha are organizers, like CJ and Max...Hershey's seems to me to be looser...I THINK I like the organized open mic/jam a little better...
10:08AM--looking forward to Hershey's, although I see no need to get there before the jam starts, like I usually do...assuming that Jeff will already be there, I guess I'll arrive closer to 6:30...I THINK Sue El wants to go, but I don't know that for a fact...
THURSDAY 9/2/21 10:55PM--Bob gave the Bass amp and Bass to Jeff to give to me...now I know what Bob meant when he said the Bass "needs a little love"...IF it works (and I won't know until tomorrow--maybe) I'll sell it at the Hershey's Flea Market...Jeff says I'll be lucky to get $25 bucks...so be it...Gonna try the amp out tomorrow morning as well--IF I get up early enough 7or 8 AM...it got very good reviews from Amazon customers....of course, I'm assuming 1) they weren't Amazon employees and 2) they are telling the Truth...
As for the jam itself, playing my Bass thru Jeff's amp seemed to make my playing better...I'd give myself a 9.5 outta 10...I'm factoring in the singing I did, while NOT playing Bass...I amazed myself one or twice...
FRIDAY 9/3/21-Hoping to try the amp out a little before we leave for Lancaster--fingers crossed...and unintentionally I keep finding stuff to sell at the Hershey's flea market...that's a good thing...
9:19AM--the amp works!!! and it sounds very good!!! I DON'T think I'll try it at any open mics though...but ya never know...
SUNDAY 9/5/21 6:05PM--back from Lancaster...looking forward to the open mics happening this week...I hope to go to all three of 'em...
MONDAY 9/6/21 10:30AM--taking inventory of whatever I'm gonna sell at the Hershey's Flea Market...I hope to come home with $300 bucks...Will probably come home with $200, if that much...and Jeff gets half of that...IF the only credit card bill I'll have is theBest Buy Visa, I'll seriously consider getting a Bass amp...using the BB credit card...
6:50PM--getting excited about going to (hopefully) THREE open mics in a row...I know what goes on at the Main Stage Grille and I know what goes on at Hershey's...I have NO IDEA what goes on at JV's on Wednesday...If the JV'S open mic turns out to be a bit (or a LOT) of a bummer, I'll still have Hershey's to look forward to...
TUESDAY 9/7/21 11:33AM-still planning on going to three open mics in a row this week, although I might not really be up to that…I suppose I could skip the Main Stage tonight and go to JVs tomorrow…As for Bippy’s in Ellicott City, I haven’t quite decided yet… thinking about staying home tonight, because, if for no other reason, I have a doctors appointment at 9 AM the next day… The more I think about it, the more I think it would be unwise to go out tonight…
WEDNESDAY 9/1/21 8:21AM--so, not playing ANY Bass last night was a surprise, but playing Max's guitar was fun...I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna go to JV's tonight--allegedly the weather, which is currently manageable with regard to driving, is gonna get a lot worse...I guess the Universe knows what it's doing...
2:28PM--there was a few minutes of not so good weather earlier--a preview of things to come I suppose...maybe next week I'll go to JV's...
9:48PM--it suddenly occured to me what the difference between an open mic and a jam is...Generally an open mic is more structured...usually there's a sign-up sheet or a list of some kind...the Hershey's Thursday Jam seems to me to be a lot more loose...of the two I think I prefer some structure...I made my way to a microphone Tuesday evening at CJ's/Max's open mic, more or less UNinvited...the hosts trust me I guess,,,that makes me feel good...in spite of what *I* think of as drawbacks, I'm looking forward to going to Hershey's tomorrow..
11:27PM--just added some Pomplamoose to my BASSless 6 collection..
THURSDAY12:34PM--gonna be a bit late arriving at Hershey's...gonna watch the roomie buy a fridge at Home Depot...we're taking seperate cars...I usually just hang out for the first hour anyway...I think we'll have Dinner there...I hope to be there by seven o'clock...there's a muscle in my left hand that is hurting a bit from playing my long scale Bass...Maybe MAYBE if the deal with Tim falls thru, I'll buy my own short scale bass--possibly perhaps...if Jeff doesn't mind, maybe I'll trade the long scale in for a short scale...played one at Litz...even IT hurt a teeny bit....
SATURDAY 8/28/21 2:15PM-I THOUGHT I’d already mentioned it, but the husband of a friend of mine from way back was going to give me her first husband’s bass… due to Covid concerns, the planned get together won’t be happening today, if it happens at all…
And I have yet to hear from Bob about whether or not WE are going to hook up somewhere, sometime… well that’s OK, I don’t need THREE bass guitars – I can only play one at a time, but naturally I am slightly disappointed… I guess the Universe knows what it’s doing… I guess I’m not going to JVs on Wednesday after all; I don’t think there’s a bass amp listed as part of the house equipment...
11:17PM-and again my mind has tricked me… I double checked the JV schedule and it said “open mic hosted by [whoever they are] but I had accidentally looked at Tuesday’s schedule, not Wednesday’s… so I think the trip to J V’s is still on…
MONDAY 8/30/21 9:16AM--I took my (brief) re-mix of ANGEL and extended it...I'm giving it 4 outta 5 stars...or it's a 9 outta 10 somethings, depending on which rating system you use...still very nervous about Wednesday's open mic and I haven't made it thru Tuesday's...sheesh..
12:32PM--now I can set my sights on Tuesday and Wednesday as well...it's kinda hard to believe it's Monday, Life is so good, at this minute at least...
|5:20PM--the Bass playing is getting better as long as I play songs I know reall REALLY well and DON'T try to get too flashy...gotta work on that...SueEl mentioned having Lunch on Wednesday (?) but she didn't mention the Main Stage OM on Tuesday...odd...
10:16PM--I haven't seen any confirmation that the Main Stage o.m. is actually on, but I assume it is...otherwise I'm wasting all this anticipation for nothing...
TUESDAY 8/31/21-on the other hand it’s supposed to rain buckets tomorrow; so the trip the JVs may be off after all… The plan for TODAY is to go to Woodstock, although it’s supposed to rain today as well, just not as much… I really wanted to go to JVs tomorrow; hopefully I can go next week… Although a lot can happen in 24 hours with regards to the weather among other things…
11:35PM--just got back from Main Stage...I signed in as a Bass player then didn't play a single note on my Bass or anyone else's...I talked to a guy that (currently?) plays in a certain BEACH BOYS tribute band...I imagine my less than complimentary remarks will find their way back to Gary...f**k...I bet the guy's less than complimentary remarks will not...by coincidence he too started as a guitarist...
WEDNESDAY 9/1/21 12:41AM--probably NOT going to JV's...even IF the bad weather stays away, I'm probably gonna be wiped out from being out tonight...dammit...and I have to be stingy with the gas...the $16 in my pocket might have to last until FRIDAY...and I'm going out to Lunch with SueEl and Doug later today...the trip to JVs has waited this long, what's one more week...
1:03AM--no Lunch with SueEl--I have an appointment with the Urologist...dammit...but I save a few bucks...
FRIDAY 8/27/21 11:06AM--Jeff has been extremely helpful with the Bass amp research...I'm nervous about discussing my proposed purchase with Dianne...Probably wait until Sunday...Jeff highly reccommends buying it from Sweetwater...I get pop-ups from them often enough...will likely start getting more...At one point I THOUGHT he was gonna buy it for me and I'd pay him back, monthly...now I think he's changed his Mind if indeed THAT was what he was talking about...
There's an open mic at JV'S in VA on Wednesday...I'm hoping to take the Bass and go...
10:18PM-I arrived at Hershey’s before 8 o’clock, which I realize now it was a big mistake because it’s almost 1030 and Geoff hasn’t shown up yet and it’s hard to wait – but that’s my fault… Seriously considering going home, but I guess I should wait a FEW more minutes...
10:26PM-naturally Jeff just got here… The band stops in about half an hour… So I’ll probably go say goodbye to Jeff and head home…
11:02PM--I KNOW it's wrong to be, but I'm disappointed that Bob didn't make it to Hershey's tonight...if I understand HIM correctly, I think he wants to GIVE me a Bass AND a practice amp...well, IF that's suppposed to happen, it will...
SATURDAY 8/28/21--AND due to risig Covid concerns the get together with Tin & Lil has been cancelled...Tim says he still wants me to have the Bass, but we don't yet have a way to connect and make the swap...
WEDNESDAY 8/25/21 12:28AM--I ultimately had the best time I've ever had at any open mic...my participating in it was only part of the reason...I met a guy, we were hitting it off...found Harmony was his thing, as much as it is mine...we were throwing names back and forth when I thought I heard him say "Buzzy Linhart"...it turns out he DID say Buzzy Linhart...I kinda felt like I'd been hit in the face with a baseball bat...wow...I got kinda lost on the way to the Grille and again coming home, but it was absolutley worth it...I found him on Flakebook, I hope that doesn't scare him...
THURSDAY 8/26/21 3:35PM--somewhat suddenly, I checked in with SueEl and she said "yes" to Dinner and an open mic at Hershey's...Dinner was HER idea...She cancelled...she feels outta sorts, so she's not gonna go...I'm going in spite of the fact that *I* feel outta sorts...go figure...
leaving for Hershey's at about 6...pretty sure it's gonna be raining, which should mean we'll be inside...
11:24PM--I left at about 6, but it didn't rain and we didn't play inside...I may have been premature calling Tuesday "the best time I ever had at an open mic"...I could say that about tonight's Hershey experience...I took over from Jeff at whatever time it was...tonight I would call my playing an 8.5 on a scale of 10...I played about three songs I had never even played on guitar, much less Bass...I sang (I think) MARY JANE'S LAST DANCE--to myself, while playing Bass...someone else was the actual lead vocalist...as for my Bass playing, for the most part it was pretty good...I mess up mostly when my glasses offer me a view of TWO of everything...As much as I loved the sound coming out of Jeff's amp, I'd like to get the next size up...a slightly bigger speaker and more wattage... The sound should be all that different...it's too bad Dianne will find out about the purchase, if and when it happens...*I* think it's time to start working on playing AND singing at the same time...
12:25AM--on the verge of freaking out over my evening at Hershey's...played, among others, TUESDAY'S GONE by Skynyrd; I've never ever played that on ANY instrument...I'd never heard it the way through, much less played it all the way through...And I don't think I've ever played ONE WAY OUT on Bass either...and personally, *I* think I kicked butt on MOONDANCE...and the way the Bass sounded!!! I need to get a Bass amp...but I'm NOT in a hurry...
MONDAY 8/23/21 6:06PM--of the 18 songs I created for BASSless 3 (re-do), I can only play about seven of them without feeling like maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew...so maybe I'll sick with those seven until my fingers get used to running up and down the fretboard easily...it's entirely possible that a long scale bass isn't the best bass to start learning on...but that's what I've got, so I'm gonna keep working with it...and now that I wanna watch Bass players up close on youTube, such vids seem to be rather rare...
10:33PM--so I was at the Hershey's jam last week when a guitar player (who seemed to know me) showed up and joined in the fun...He led the band through an obscure McCartney number--I knew the guitar solo better than I knew the bass part, but I was playing Bass at the time...turns out it was the BASSIST (?) from 49 Cent Dress!!! SHEESH...how embarrassing...I wonder if I should even tell hin?
TUESDAY 8/24/21 9:48AM--after I go to CVS to get Prilosec, I'm hoping to go down to my practice space for a little while...then I'm gonna do other stuff, but I'm gonna try to sneak in some more practice...I think I'm gonna have pizza for Dinner at the Main Stage Grille--maybe,,,I'm also considering skipping Lunch altogether--breakfast was unhealthy enough...
11:30AM--I need to learn to be more economicable when I'm playing Bass...nervous about going to the Main Stage open mic with just a Bass, but if I had to, I think Max would let me play thru his rig...I guess the only Bass player I'll be closely watching is Ruth, unless some other real Bassists show up...and I might have to go out to see other Bands on the weekend more often...before we get back to being quarantined...
2:16PM--the more I practice, the better I'll get...the better I get, the less I'll wonder if I made a mistake thinking I could play Bass...
SUNDAY 8/22/21 4:48PM--I tried practising along with my "BASSless" CDs...it did not go well; I THOUGHT I knew most of those songs better...I guess I was wrong...the good news? the practice space is set up, so I accomplished that much...
6:36PM-On the other hand, I discovered that I could create my own BASSless recordings!!! Thanks to Virtual DJ… The first song I recorded without a bass track is BIG LOVE by Fleetwood Mac…The older the original recording the harder (I think) it’s going to be to get rid of the bass part…I guess that’s what I’ll be doing for a while after dinner; gonna try a CSNY song next—maybe…
7:29PM--it turns out DE JA VU was a good choice after all...I think MARY JANE'S LAST DANCE might be as well..
8:10PM--still building the BASSless 3 CD...it's a bit of a patience test...In theory, ANY recording can have the BASS guitar part removed...I've got thousands of songs to choose from...first I pick a song from my iTunes Library and (hopefully) send it to Virtual DJ...then I record the song as a file, removing the Bass part...then I go to iTunes and name the song, adding the word BASSless to the title...then I add the song to the "BASSless 3" playlist...it has taken me at least an hour and a half just to put together a 22 minute (so far) playlist...
9:11PM--working on getting DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW recorded...I wanna make a conscious effort to practice playing Bass to songs I know/like REALLY well...with some songs/recordings, it's kinda hard to tell when the Bass part has been removed, like MIDNIGHT ROCKS by Al Stewart, to name one of a growing number of songs...gotta be sure to pick the right "join" or else the songs may be in the WRONG order--SHEESH...I changed my Mind about practising along to an 8 minute recording...but I'm hoping to add UNDER THE MILKY WAY to BASSless 3 shortly...
10:10PM--adding FREEDOM by Bread...I THINK I'm getting addicted to the process...and having thousands of songs to choose from is intimidating, to say the least...
10:42PM--one final song for tonight, hopefully-KEEPIN' THE SUMMER ALIVE by the Beach Boys...it's an innaresting bass line, even though Brian probably had nothing to do with it...
MONDAY 8/23/21 12:53AM--having trouble stopping my latest project...even the FIRST "Hydro" didn't help..maybe the second one (a smaller dose) will help me fall asleep...and I'm making too many mistakes--it's time to cool it until later today--I wanted BASSless 3 to have about hour's worth of songs on it--it has 57 minutes on it...that oughta be good enuff...
3AM--I've been up for the past hour or so STILL working on BASSless practice CDs...did I take the wrong pill(s)? I suspect that the Hydroxyzine is gonna knock me on my ass, and I'll be sleepwalking when I wake up later...
FRIDAY 8/20/21 6PM--seriously considering buying a bass amp and conentrating on becoming a Bass player...I need to work on playing Bass and singing at the same time...dunno when I'm gonna start working on that, maybe Monday, temporarily using my guitar amp for practice situations until I (possibly) get a Bass amp...I wanna know why Jeff got what he got (a Peavey) and how much did it cost...Litz has a used one similiar to Jeff's for roughly $250 bucks I think...
I've hardly ever sung lead guitar riffs when listening to songs in any manner, at home or in the car...but I think in terms of Bass parts--like now, listening to Tori Amos and Zappa...I DO wonnder if a 66 year old dog CAN learn a new trick?
Maybe I imagined it, but I think someone expressed surprise last night that, after playing Bass for a couple of hours, I switched to guitar...what I think I might have possibly heard was "You don't play Bass like a guitar player..." SOME guitar players DO play Bass the same way they play a guitar, which generally means NOT thinking like a member of the RHYTHM section...
SATURDAY 8/21/21 3:44 PM--as expected the Bass doesn't sound all that good (to me) coming outta a GUITAR amp, but that's what I have, so it will have to do, for the time being...a lot can happen between now an and TUESDAY, but I'm planning to take the Bass to the Main Stage...I dunno what Ruth uses there, but I guess I'll find out...I might have a bit more value as a Bassist if I incorperate singing into my Bass playing, on the other hand, Jeff doesn't sing and neither does Ruth--as far as *I* know...
SATURDAY 8/14/21 8:17PM-I made it to Hershey’s…arrived at about 7:30 or so...how long I’m gonna stay is anybody’s guess…I’m kinda bored…*I* think SR3 needs a 2nd guitarist or a keyboard player…yes I think *I* would make it a better band…
9:34PM--I stayed until about 9:10, more or less...I guess The Universe wanted me to come home, so I did...but not before stopping at Giant to get Klondike bars and some other stuff...socially, I was unfulfilled...I DID get the dessert I had a desire for, more or less...but I felt lonely...
11:23PM--apparently, had I stayed at Hershey's longer, I woulda seen Jessica, for whatever good THAT would do me...but the Universe had other plans...I guess it wanted me to be lonely and depressed...so I am...
SUNDAY 8/15/21 11:10AM--I have no (fun) plans whatsoever for today...gonna be doing laundry--oh boy...
MONDAY 8/16/21 1PM--I MIGHT go to the Main Stage Grille tomorrow, but I don't know why...apparently nobody in MontCo wants me in their band...and of course with the return of the Pandemic (which never went away in the first place) clubs will likely be shutting down again soon...so maybe I SHOULD go out while I still can, right? the more I think about it, the more likely I am to go...I'll probably just bring Butterscotch and the BritBag full of pedals...it's pathetic, but I need to be where I feel appreciated, even if it's (in MY head) less than genuine...
TUESDAY 8/17/21 8:39AM--I don't yet feel like going to the Main Stage Grille...it seems like quite a ride to the place...Forty miles, 45 minutes--and that's one way...probably WON'T go...Hershey's is a LOT closer--that's about the only thing it has going for it...
NOON--still don't feel like going to CJ's jam...For one thing I have a 9AM appointment tomorrow at All Day Medical...I don't wanna use the gas to get there and back, I don't think I can afford to eat dinner there, and I don't wanna have to replace the gas I would use--whether I use my car or Dianne's...and I don't think I'd feel that much better than if I went...
11:37PM--guess where I just got back from? It took awhile, perhaps, but I'm glad I went...what took awhile was for other musicians to show up...Dinner was cheaper than I thought it would be...I was starting to wonder if I drove all that way just to eat dinner...thankfully, I got to play--quite a lot...it is VERY frustrating to (after many MANY years) still have trouble connecting my pedals...
Both Max and CJ seem to have the same opinion of my Musical abilitiy...it's a rather positive opinion...I choose to believe that they're being honest...I'm not sure, but I might have stepped on some toes last night, but not deliberately...I'm wasn't the only scat-singing guitarist in attendance last night (think George Benson) but I may have been the only one who used feedback like Hendrix...THAT made me feel kinda special I seemed to connect with a certain drummer though...he left before I could chat with him...Max told me that he told Max that I (paraphrasing) was a valuable asset to the Jam...naturally, that made me feel good...dunno how long that feeling will last...a lot can happen between now and Thursday afternoon, but I'm still hoping to go to Hershey's--I think SueEl wants to go as well...
10:10PM--SueEl is going, but she doesn't need a ride from me...an early Dinner probably means an early Lunch...if I wanna get there at 5:30, I need to leave the house at five o'clock, which means having dinner at 4:30--whatever I'm gonna eat...and that means being outta the shower by 4PM...
THURSDAY 8/19/21 9:25AM--the Plan is to take my amp AND the Gizmo to Hershey's...I THINK I'd rather play outside, but it's not up to me...
10:21PM--just got home from Hershey's...I'm glad I went...spent the first hour or two (?) playing my BASS...Jeff did some work on it...and he bought a good case for it...altogether I owe him about $100 bucks...now it's a bass worth having, even more than it might have been before...after I changed the batteries, the Gizmo performed admirably...the Jam was held outside...that means what I lost in comfort (temperature -wise) I made up for in having plenty of room...once I switched to guitar, I ended up singing a couple of songs...ONE WAY OUT, MARY JANE'S LAST DANCE and mayvbe one other one I think...there weren't a whole lotta Musicians in attendence...the audience wasn't all that big either...but I'm glad I went...
SATURDAY 8/21/21 6:08PM--I THINK I "lost" an entry in this diary...not the first time, and probably not the last...anyway, I cooked up another pair of BASSless CDs...that's (I think) easier than trying to find the ones I created months ago...so now I've got about two hours of songs I can use to practice Bass playing AND singing too...dunno for sure, but I might get started practising tomorrow...
THURSDAY 8/12/21 11:23PM-my first gig in a year and a half is history… Bob Walsh and friends closed the show… in fact, I think *I* closed the show with a rendition of Further on up the Road… I don’t know exactly why, but Neil GAVE me his guitar tuner, saying he had more than a few of them… I saw quite a few people that I hadn’t seen in at least a year and a half if not longer…Stoney and I actually chatted a little, that was a bit of a surprise…
The parking situation wasn’t as much of a problem as I thought it might be…I had dinner at Wendy’s, which was the plan to begin with…After the show I stopped by the grocery store and bought a bottle of soda…Bob Walsh gave me a five dollar bill, I don’t know why…But it helped when it came time to buy the bottle of soda…I only had a couple of dollars on me…Of the $200 dollars I started out with on Sunday(?), I have $110 left…
TUESDAY 8/10/21 5:40PM-Butterscotch has new strings on it… I’ll be using it at the Jon Reeve Memorial show… I’m excited about that, sad occasion though it is…I have to get through Wednesday first…I’m having Lunch with Dianne…
WEDNESDAY 8/11/21 4:23PM-actually, I didn’t have lunch with Dianne… I’m going back there tomorrow morning to do the kitty litter and the trash and take a shower… oh I THINK the gig is closer to Rockville than it is to Gaithersburg, so I want to be back in Rockville by 4 o’clock tomorrow…
7:14PM-I’ve been instructed by Eileen not to arrive at the VFW before 6:45… The show starts at seven… I don’t have a whole lot of setting up to do, but I do have some… I’d like to be there by 6:30… That gives me time to feed the cat at 4:30 and then get myself something for dinner- a Wendy’s burger for instance…
8:54PM-in addition to being nervous and/or excited about tomorrow night’s gig, I’m now starting to feel pressure…I guess the pressure is of my own making; but knowing that doesn’t help put a stop to it…
THURSDAY 8/12/21 11:55AM--I'll be playing my first gig since before March 2020 later today and I'm understandably nervous...One of the other members of the "band" seemed surprised that I'd be nervous...someone (me?) once said that if yer NOT nervous before going onstage, maybe it's time to think about giving it up...or (more likely) the person who seemed to be surprised was lying about not being nervous..people DO lie about stuff...all the time...
7:45PM-I almost wish I had been excluded from this event…but I’m gonna try to make the best of the situation…
SUNDAY 8/8/21 11:30AM--Arrived at the Riley’s lock Jam with my lunch, a guitar, the Brit bag full of stomp boxes-and NO chair-DAMMIT…
1:15PM-now I kind of know why my friend Jeff quit coming to this thing… it’s loud, and as guitarists are prone to do, there’s a lot of competition going on… Maybe it IS competition, but I don’t think Music SHOULD be competition…dunno how much longer I’m gonna stay…
4:40 PM-I guess I left about 15 minutes after writing that last section… I left the Jam and went to the grocery store and bought most of the groceries that I need to have in Rockville…
Ultimately I found the jam to be unsatisfying…I guess Jeff was right… maybe it was better when fewer people knew about it; but there was a time when *I* was one of those fewer people…
9:15PM-looking at the photos taken by somebody (Beth Riley?) at today’s Riley’s Lock Jam, it’s like I wasn’t even there… and that’s OK, I didn’t really feel like a part of it anyway…I dunno for sure if I’m ever gonna go again…
MONDAY 8/9/21 12:25PM--almost forgot that there's a Jim&Eileen practice today at 5:30...the gig is on Thursday...
1:08PM--and there's the Main Stage Grille open mic tomorrow night...I might NOT go...Dunno what Lou or SueEl are gonna do...
9:39PM-well, the Jimandeileen rehearsal is behind me… I’m not happy with the amp sound that I’m getting from Jim’s amp but maybe my EQ stomp box will make the difference… and I’ve been thinking I should use my guitar, which is an idea that Eileen came up with independently of what I was thinking…
WEDNESDAY 8/4/21 11:52AM--well, all it took was checking out Angela's FB page to make me feel like MontCo's best kept secret, where Music is concerned that is...so my euphoria lasted about twelve hours...I'm grateful that I had 12 hours worth...she's "working" with John Trupp...So of course, I'm GREEN from my head to my toes...I'm a pretty good singer, decent guitar player, an OK Bass player and, given the proper adjustments to the drum set, a dammed good drummer...I'm really hoping to go to Hershey's tomorrow...And *I* would rather the Jam be outside, but I imagine it won't be...
6:39PM--I read on FB a post by one of the guys running the Jam that it will be outside...I'd like that...
THURSDAY 8/5/21 2:37PM--the plan is to leave the house at 4:30 to pick up Sue El and go to Hershey's...other than a monentary scare when I couldn't find my amp--it was in the basement, camouflaged--it's still a good day...
3:12PM--just killin' time until I leave the house...just finished a single hot dog AND a gorgeous grilled cheese sandwich...I guess that's Dinner...the Brit Bag is full of cables and stomp boxes, the amp and guitar are in the living room...it IS hot outside, but not as humid as it has been...there's more room outside Hershey's than inside--I like that...
10:43PM--just got home from Hershey's...the cord to my amp has lost its' ground "stem"...a guy said NOT to touch any metal...but nothing happened...Craig, being an electrician, says he can fix it...I honestly dunno when I'll need it back; I dunno if the Memorial Band will be having any rehearsal before the 12th...
11:24PM--I had some fun at the Jam; SueEl sang a few...Craig'e significant other can be a pain in the ass...maybe she had had too much to drink...*I* choose whatever sox I wanna wear, and how...I keep forgetting tomorrow is FRIDAY; I'm glad it is...Dianne is looking forward to going to the Gtown flea market on Saturday, which is the day AFTER tomorrow...
FRIDAY 8/6/21 10:10AM--there are a couple of vids from yesterday's Jam...you can hear me more than see me...I guess that's OK...I could tolerate watching myself if I had been wearing at hat onstage...but it's so hot outside, even in the shade...
12:37PM--got my amp back about an hour ago...Craig fixed it for $10 bucks...maybe I'll use it at the Lock Jam IF I go...
SATURDAY 8/7/21 7:30PM--I plan to go...hope to leave the house by 11:30AM--
TUESDAY 8/3/21 11:40AM--SueEl has decided to stay home tonight...I know I shouldn't be, but I'm kinda relieved...I'd better tell Lou...
3:52PM--getting ready to go to Lou's...I'm gonna stop at McD's for dinner I think so I can eat on the way to Damascus...planning on going the "back way"...he knows about SueEl not going...I dunno for sure if he cares either way, but I suspect he's breathing a sigh of relief...He has three songs on the setlist, none of which are NY Mining Disaster...
11:00PM--just got back from Damascus...Lou and Scott did pretty good (not great) at the open mic...*I* did better as a member of the back-up band...and that was just as much fun...Max seems to sing my praises more than a little...it feels good, but is also a bit embarrassing...I finally got to jam with a certain guitar player...He said he enjoyed it...I hope he wasn't jivin' me...considering how different we look, we seemed to jell really well musically...*I* think we did anyway...
Lou says he wouldn't be surprised if there WASN'T an open mic at the Grille next week, because of the return of Covid...I agree with him...
SUNDAY 8/1/21 12:02AM--rather suddenly I'm having second thoughts about going to the Riley's Lock Jam...Audience participation seems to be automatic...but not every member of the audience is an even semi-professional Musician...judging from the few videos I've seen, it's one big communal singalong...Call it whatever ya want, ego or conceit, but I'm not sure I wanna be a part of that...it kinda feels like I'm lowering myself a bit...Like I said, it's an ego thing...
8:18AM--and now I'm having second thoughts about my second thoughts--sheesh...
9:44AM--I WANT to shave and shower but the roomie is still asleep...and I still dunno what, if anything I'm bringing with me...
11:20AM-I deliberately left any guitars at home… I think I’m at the location of the jam itself, watching some kayakers floating down the Potomac…I’m about a half an hour early but I don’t care – yet…
11:43AM-found it… how long will it be before I regret leaving my guitar at home?
12:20PM-maybe MAYBE I’ll bring the Blues Jr next time-there are 3 generators here...
2PM--just got back from the cancelled Riley's Lock Jam...So I was there for more than two hours...hopefully I can go next week...One of the guys in charge was prepared to let me use HIS guitar and amp...that PRS felt good in my hands...I would have loved to have jammed with a certain busy ( as in works a lot) guitar player, but it was not meant to happen--yet...
MONDAY 7/26/21 10:05AM--for some reason I was thinking that today is Tuesday...I'm SO glad it's not; that gives me one more day to finish straightening up the house before the cleaning ladies come to clean it--on Wednesday...Lou is considering going to the open mic on Tuesday...I wonder how he'll feel if SueEl comes with me..
4:52PM--I just realized earlier today that I may have left a verse outta my rendition of STUCK IN THE MIDDLE.last week...Lou kinda sorta in a way suggested doing that one tomorrow evening...we'll see...
TUESDAY 7/27/21 10:57PM--got back from Lou's about thirty minutes ago...the trip to the Main Stage Grille was a success on pretty much all levels...he seemed to like the place...I think he appreciated the way the open mic was being run...*I* was recruited by Max to play alongside two guys I didn't know...the older of the two was the featured performer; me and the younger guy backed him up...the Lou & Scott set (three songs) went well enough...the surprise is that Lou thought so too...he's usually more critical than I am...we could return next Tuesday...I'd like that...
WEDNESDAY 7/28/21 7:30PM--I WAS looking forward to going to Hershey's tomorrow, until I was reminded that there's a Jim&Eileen rehearsal tomorrow...except that there might NOT be a J&E rehearsal after all...Bob can't make it, seemingly...If I had MY way, I think I'd rather go to Hershey's, Musical anarchy though it may be...I guess I'll know more tomorrow...unless I get the schedule this evening...
9:30PM--I sent an FB message to Eileen...I have no idea when I'll get a reply...pins and needles until then...
11:44PM--the J&E Project is at this point in time scheduled to practice tomorrow at 5:30...we'll be w/o our main singer, but Eileen wants to "muddle through"...
THURSDAY 11:07AM--practice is still on, as of now..
3:07PM--rehearsal is a "go" as far as *I* know....
10:10PM--in spite of the fact that I forgot my stomp boxes, the J&E rehearsal went well enough...I borrowed Jim's Strat...there was considerable tension afterwards--turns out both Mike and Jeff hate the Government telling them what they can and can't do...sheesh...if the pandemic starts up again, the gig will likely get postponed...but I did a bunch of substitue singing...I was pretty dammed good if you ask me...
FRIDAY 11:29PM-- what I would LIKE to do is take this new voice to the Riley's Lock Jam on Sunday...
5:30PM--starting to think about the Lock Jam--what songs would *I* sing? I AM afraid it's gonna rain tomorrow--in fact, I expect it to...but I'm still gonna look at my SOLO song list for the hell of it...if the Universe is gonna make it rain, let it be at dinnertime...
50 YEARS AND THEN SOME
This is Part Two of my Musical History, the way *I* remember it...I suspect it's only marginally accurate due to the passage of time...
THE COMBUSTIBLES--I joined a group led by Barry Fantle called the Combustibles...The name made sense, we changed drummers at least once and Bass players too...Barry was a good song writer, but IMO, not the best singer...he wasn't the worst either...
ACME BAND COMPANY/ IN TONE NATION--both were led by Dave Koplow...In fact ITN, was TWO bands--a Montgomery County line-up and an Anne Arundel Co. line-up...I was the guitarist in the MontCo line-up...The guitar player in the other band was Joe Dyson, who had actually been in the Last Chance with me, if only briefly...The two bands also shared a drummer...
THE SNOWDAWGZ--I joined a band formed by Stu Judd, we gigged some but, the way *I* remember it, we just sorta drifted apart...But not before I could record a pair of gigs...It may have been the least stressful of any of the MontCo bands I was in, other than MSR...
THE FULL HOUSE BAND--we intially came together as the house band at the OTWC Open Mic...I believe *I* came up with the name...I would say it was possibly the best of all the MontCo bands I'd been in since leaving Glen Burnie in 1985...but I also think there was room for improvement...we had "philosophical" differences, musically speaking... I don't WANT to be in a cover band that plays the songs EXACTLY like the record...and of course, my guitar skills DO have limits...I couldn't play a Van Halen solo if you held a gun to my head, for instance...
A pandemic in the Spring of 2020 put a complete stop to what seemed like EVERYTHING, including the bands...it's could be that I had actually left them of my own free will...with the possible exception of the FHB...I think I was fired from that one...it may have been fun when I joined, but as time went on, the fun slowly eveaporated...
FRIDAY 7/23/21 8:21PM-I think Ray is coming here in September…I guess I’ll have to tell Dianne what has happened between me and him…not looking forward to THAT…
I will not apologize for doing what Ray wanted me to do-TELL THE TRUTH… and I don’t expect him to ever admit that perhaps he made a mistake…I’m assuming our friendship will not be repaired…I don’t intend to fix it…
In the meantime my friendship with SueEl is developing nicely, but it will never be a romance...And I'm fine with that and I think she is too...seriously, I mean it...
SATURDAY 7/24/21 8:12PM--told SueEl that I'd thrown out a bunch of setlists--trying to "be here now" I guess...but today I found a binder full of 'em...
11:36PM--Lou has expressed interest in going to the open mic on Tuesday...it may complicate things, but I bet SueEl will wanna go...*I* think Lou&Scott are gonna knock 'em dead...
SUNDAY 7/25/21 12:51PM--My guess is that IF SueEl goes with me, Lou won't be happy...I really think it would be unwise (to put it mildly) to surprise Lou, so IF SueEl wants to go, I'd better check with Lou...
THURSDAY 7/22/21 1:50PM--my plan to attend the Hershey's Jam has been superceded by another event--rehearsal with Jim and Eileen and whomever tonight at 7PM...my whole schedule went out the window, but I'm FINE with that...
4:46PM--on the other hand I kinda feel like somebody's understudy, I guess because I am understudy to an unknown number of players...Eileen might think I should feel honored, but frankly, I don't exactly...
11:39PM--rehearsal at Jim & Eileen's went way better than I thought it would...I sang three or four songs I've NEVER sung before--except in the car, drivin' around...like 867-5309(Jenny) and STUCK IN THE MIDDLE...and I didn't have any kind of cheat sheet...I'm not sure that I'll be singing them at the gig, but IMO I should be...I didn't feel like an outta practice guitar player, or an understudy to Neil or Jim...frankly, vocally at least, I kicked serious butt...I didn't really screw up any of the lyrics to any of the songs I sang,WITHOUT cheat sheets BTW...in addition to the aformentioned songs, I also sang TAKE IT EASY and MARY JANE'S LAST DANCE, also w/o cheat sheets...although I apparently won't be singing THOSE songs at the gig either...but, if they haven't already, Jim&Eileen could replace our departed friend in however many bands they were in together with...me.
FRIDAY 7/23/21 11:39AM--I think the roomie and her sister are going out somewhere tomorrow...depending on when they go, I might go see a band at the Elks Lodge in Rockville...I like a fair amount of 80s Music...any more modern than that I could take it or leave it...
TUESDAY 7/20/21 5PM-- Barry asked me for my reccommendation regarding keyboard players..."Putting a band together?" I asked optimistically? His reply? "Kind of...Got a new guitar player..." I have mixed feelings about being excluded, naturally...I guess I dug my own grave that time...I doubt that Barry has gotten that much better than he was before the pandemic...
9:43PM--there's gonna be a Memorial for a friend of mine who passed away suddenly and somewhat recently...I heard from one of the organizers...she wants me to be part of the group of Musicians who are gonna play at the service...She says there's not much room "onstage" and not much time to have the service...the actual date is 8/12 I think...
10:51PM--I asked her if her band needed a guitar player...she said "no" of course...pretty dammed depressing if ya ask me...
WEDNESDAY 7/21/21 11:26PM--finally, I can start thiking about the Hershey's Jam...we might not a keyboard player--he's got a gig somewhere...
THURSDAY 7/15/21 11:30PM--just got in from the Hershey's Jam...the "Gizmo" performed admirably, but it was a b**ch to hook up, I dunno why...as it turns out, the reason I initially couldn't get a signal is because I didn't have one of the three (?) volume knobs properly adjusted...SHEESH...I AM glad we were inside...I might not have played at all if we had been outside...
Eventually I got warmed up, and I stayed onstage for quite awhile...I played Bass for a bit and even had a go at playing LET IT BE on the piano...I think I'd give the evening a 7 on a scale of 10...a pretty good vocal performance on ONE WAY OUT was marred only by my forgetting the lyrics to the 2nd verse...SueEl is already asking about next Tuesday, but it's way too soon to know what's gonna happen...
SUNDAY 718/21 6:27PM--still feeling somewhat left out of the MontCo Music Scene...the Crimestoppers added a 2nd guitarist--whether it's true or not, I strongly believe Stoney was responsible for my being excluded from the auditions, if there were any...or, based on my poor performance at Branded '72 years ago, they just decided I am a bad guitarist...I'm not a bad guitarist, but I AM inconsistent...I think that's partially because I'm not in a working (busy) band...I believe Liz Springer's band also added a 2nd guitarist...As for Tuesday, I still dunno what I wanna do...
MONDAY 7/19/21 10:20AM--I'm leaning towards going to the Main Stage Grille tomorrow, but I'm not 100% sure about it...dunno what SueEl wants to do yet...I can't assume that I'll be able to use Dianne's car...I think my car can make it there and back...but I dunno for sure...
11:13AM--there seems to have been an explosion of live gigs going on recently, all over the place... apparently club owners think the pandemic is behind us...*I* don't believe it is...I GET that they have to make money...*I* don't think they can make back what they LOST, but I think that's what most (all) businesses are trying to do...
7:25PM--got my CRETONES CD today..apparently it's quite rare...was able to find a certain PHISH song online...glad I remembered how to install it into my iTunes Library...
IF I go, I think I'll just bring my guitar and use whatever amp I can...
10:31PM--it took awhile but I uploaded (?) an alternate version of SAIL ON SAILOR with Carl singing lead vocals...I tried to used the (2nd) MP3 converter I installed on my laptop, but it wouldn't load...and yet somehow, it did...I tried to find it in iTunes, but I DIDN'T find it...
SUNDAY 7/11/21 5:50PM-Lou and I are discussing going to the Main Stage Grille on Tuesday… I think we’re gonna knock ‘em dead… as of today, the plan is for me to be at his house early enough that we could rehearse a little bit before we go… I suppose we could have dinner there…
7:26PM-Lou just contacted me… he says he can’t go this Tuesday or next Tuesday but we will go eventually.
WEDNESDAY 7/14/21 7:45PM--I didn't go to the MSG yesterday, but I'm hoping to go to Hershey's tomorrow...By the time I get used to open mics that start at five o'clock, they might go back to a "normal" start time--like 9:00PM...I'm thinking of (maybe) taking the Gizmo instead of the stomp boxes...but I gotta check the batteries first...
THURSDAY 7/15/21 11:15PM--getting nervous/excited about the Hershey's jam...I hope somebody has the good sense to have it INSIDE...It was held inside two weeks ago...I won't be as happy if they have it outside...in fact, I might not participate, I'll just spectate...the weather is not (IMO) ideal for any outdoor activities...
3:42PM--having Dinner now...hope to be on my way to Hershey's soon...
THURSDAY 7/8/21 9:43PM-until just a few minutes ago, I had gotten used to the idea that Ray and I were finished as friends… but now I’m kind of thinking about it again , and it makes me sad… but life goes on, and my plan is to go to Woodstock on Tuesday, either with or without Sue Ellen…
FRIDAY 7/9/21 4:30PM-there is an open mic tonight at the Rockville American Legion Post 86, just like in the olden days… I think Howard is running things; that’s OK, I’m gonna try it out anyway – there doesn’t appear to be anything good on TV… My car is all packed up and ready to go… I’ll be leaving in a few minutes…
7:17PM-I could be playing BASS at the open mic, hell I might even get to play DRUMS…there are four guitarists here so far…
10:32PM-The first night of Howard’s open mic at the American Legion Post 86 was in just about every way a bit of a failure..it takes time to build up an open mic… I DID get to play some drums and a lot of bass… I believe *I* was the best Bass player AND the best drummer...In fact I didn’t play guitar all evening long…SO glad I left my amp in the car – I didn’t need it…
I think I would’ve been the second best guitar player at the Legion this evening, technically at least… The guy from Columbia (I didn’t catch his name) was WAY better than me in terms of technique IMO… but I do like the style that I’m developing…hopefully Howard's open mic will catch on...dunno when/if *I* will be back...
11:06PM-I wonder how many of the people that I’ve met through Ray will desert me… Or maybe the question might be – will I desert THEM? I get a funny feeling reading Facebook posts from Denisa, among others…Dunno if Ray has told her anything about the break-up...she of course witnessed the conversation that eventually led to the spilt...
FRIDAY 7/2/21 11:03PM--a half an hour ago, maybe less, I was browsing thru my iTunes library when I came across SPEED OF SOUND by Margot MacDonald...I was about halfway thru it when it hit me--let's do a remix of THIS...I got it right on very the first attempt--I couldn't have been more surprised...I would say it's a 9.5 if not a "10"...
11:44PM--Then I got cocky...I tried connecting my remix to the original four minute version...the "join" is a 9.75 on a scale of 10...unbelievable...
SATURDAY 7/3/21 6:38PM-- I wrote a post on social media expessing my thoughts about the break-up between me and a certain singer/songwriter...frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if one of our mutual "friends" is able to send him the post in some manner...so, whatever...
