Bangkok Blues Blues Jam 1-25-09 The Idle Americans

Bangkok Blues
926 W Broad St.
Falls Church, VA

I should have just set up a cot in the back and stayed the night.

I've developed a habit when I'm at jams that I'll call "Ship without a Port" (kudos to Scott on the name). Since I've been coming here a minute, I know most people that wander through the door on a Sunday night. This is, of course, amazing. There are so many people to talk and catch up with that I end up not ever staying at any one seat or table.

This is not inconvenient until you go out to just listen to music. I can not sit still in a bar anymore. I'm like a 5-year-old at a birthday party. I have to be either talking to someone at the bar, smoking outside, smoking inside, in the back writing a song, making Family Guy references with Zach, squatting down talking to Wolf and Connie, or any other number of brief enterprises.

Is it possible to develop ADHD at 25? Cause I hear that adderall stuff is pretty cool.

Also, I realized on Tuesday night that that last stint was 11 gigs in 12 days. Go Matt!

Next: These last few days off
Next-Next: Zoo Bar on Thursday AND Friday

Bangkok Blues 1-24-09 The Idle Americans

Bangkok Blues
926 W Broad St.
Falls Church, VA

Top 5 reasons why this gig was awesome:

5. We played the early show, so I could play and then start partying and listening to music. That's a much more convenient order than what typically happens.

4. It was a pretty good payday.

3. Nikki was there, but didn't have to work.

2. During our set, the dining room was full and a lot of folks stayed for the Swampkeepers.

1. The Swampkeepers were awesome. They played good songs and played them well. Ian Walters is not a totally unique animal, a completely new species (his name even sounds like an 18th-century taxonomist). I am pretty sure that if Ian and I had learned different instruments, then we could switch places.

Apehangers 1-23-09 Idle Americans

Apehangers
Rt. 301 south of La Plata
Bel Alton, MD

Apehangers is a biker bar. There are no two ways about it. Every conversation going on outside while people were smoking involved either bikes or ink. Needless to say, the Idle Americans are not standard fair for this place. The impression that I got was that most bands in there have there Marshall half stacks, Ampeg 8x12s, subwoofers on the PAs playing their Nickelback and Monster Magnet covers (for the uninitiated, REALLY loud, REALLY generic rock).

At places like this, generally the only people that like us are the doormen and bartenders because we're something different. This is also the same reason that we don't go over so huge with the regs. We did manage to make a couple new fans with our obscure covers and a couple of fans from other venues down-these-parts showed up. All-in-all though, the place was kinda empty and we don't bring heavy drinkers. But, the regulars in the back did stick around all night shooting pool and shimmying to our Ramones cover. I'd be surprised if we got another gig here, which is fine by me, but a payday is a payday.

To give you a flavor for the night, in-between songs, Zach launched into the head for AC/DC's "Hells Bells". That's funny if you're playing at, say, Bangkok where it's assumed that you won't play Hells Bells. But, at a place where it's assumed you will play Hells Bells, it just comes off as disappointing. Though, as Wolf pointed out, Zach is more than welcome to play Hells Bells if he sings it.

Zoo Bar Jam 1-22-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave.
Washington, DC

It took me a while, but I finally found it. Generally, when I go to a restaurant regularly, I order the same thing and I hadn't found that Zoo Bar dish that was to replace all others. So, perhaps in reference to the roots of the blues, I recommend the beef brisket sandwich.

Most of The Swampkeepers--the new blues band that's sweeping through the DC roots community--showed up. It made me look forward to the show we played with them on Saturday at Bangkok, but more on that later. Ian Walters is an amazing vocalist. He has a style that immediately recognizable and no note is ever out of place. It's also good to see that Alan Hoffman is back in fine form after setting the Guiness Record for Fastest Recovery from Arm Surgery.

Next: Hanging of the Apes

Glen Echo 1-20-09 The Idle Americans

Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom
Glen Echo Park
MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, MD

I normally abhor playing Glen Echo. Due to its swing-dancy nature, we are limited in our song choice almost to where they're dictating bpms. The place is huge, but loud, so we have to turn WAY down (Jamie-the-sound-guy, though a sweet guy, is always bringing up some sound issue with me). And you can't even drink!

I don't know if it was all the Change-love in the air, but Tuesday was actually a pretty fun gig. First of all, traffic was supposed to be redonkulous, but ended up much ado about nothing. It was the lightest Beltway traffic I have EVER seen on a Tuesday at 6pm. Musically, our oeuvre has expanded to the point where I really don't have to limit myself too much in song choice. After playing there 6 times, I finally was able to find an amp setting that I didn't hate that was low enough for them. And Scott and I found this Thai place so we didn't have to sit around the back room, cold and sober.

The waltz band that was on before us was A-mazing. It was sort of a thrown together group of pros (Jamie called them The Gigmesiters), but they were tight. Like, so tight that Rob Bamburger's a fool for not booking them when he does a live thing.

And the fact that about 300 folks showed up in everything from jean shorts to tails (we were somewhere in between) and it was a good payday for a frickin' freezin' Tuesday made it the sort of gig that makes me love what I do.

I was expecting to spend after hours in DC because the bars were all open till 4. Turns out only the bars I didn't want to be in were open till 4 and I ended up at Josh's at 2.

Up Now: Headin' off to Zoo
On Deck: Friday at biker-bar-bar-none Apehangers
In The Hole: Saturday at Bangkok with Ian, Joaquin, and Bob's band

JV's 1-19-09 The Idle Americans

JV's
6666 Arlington Blvd.
Falls Church, VA

This was our best attended and most well-received show at JV's so far. Lorraine and the bar staff are being real receptive, though we're not making a huge pull (plus they have great outlaw country type stories). The regulars all know about us by now, but the semi-regulars musician-y types still aren't coming in droves. I mean, we're young folks that play old-folks music and we play it well. Though, old folks are slow to change... Though, DC legend Billy Hancock did make it out and he gave me a compliment on the song-writing and Zach props on the picking, which was cool. Folks stayed till the end and were requesting songs, we finally pulled off "Fine, Fine, Fine", and Sariel came out with Spencer, who I haven't seen since I was engaged. All in all, a fine, fine, fine night.

Next: Obama-nation

Bangkok Blues Jam 1-18-09 Idle Americans

Bangkok Blues
926 W. Broad St.
Falls Church, VA

We need to start getting some new blood out here. I mean, all the regulars out sounded mighty fine as usual, but some of the punks (I'm looking at you, Wilson) and folks from other jams (Liz) need to start taking this thing to the next level of both musicianship and popularity. Otherwise, this one was a blur. On the upside, I did get to hang out with Nikki, Laura, and Dawn afterward. :) Oh, and Scott is starting to fit in better, both from a personality and musical perspective.

Next: JV's, INAUGURATION-CELEBRATION, Zoo...

Country Store 1-17-09 Idle Americans

Country Store
Medley's Neck Rd
Leonardtown, MD

When we decided to move the jam from Thursdays (because Wolf and I got the Zoo Bar gig), we knew we were gonna have 2 weekends a month over there and we weren't sure if we wanted to make them both jams, or one a jam and one a gig, or what.

Pros for making them both jams:
1. More musicians will come out because they can play.
2. The same number (or more) non-musicians will come out because the slight drop in musicianship won't scare them away and their friend might be playing.
3. More time to sit around, talk, smoke, and drink.

Cons for making both a jam:
1. The very few blues nazis around won't come out for a slightly inferior show.
2. We don't get to put on the best show possible.

So, I didn't really think it was a decision and both the 1st Friday and 3rd Saturday are jams now. Andy Poxon and Big Money both came out. Doug brought the whole crew. I had a good chat with the new owner. Little drunk hillbilly kept hitting on me and then had to leave with mom. All in all, a successful jam. The fact that I ended the night with a flat tire barely put a damper on my night.

Next: Keep on chuggin'

Stan & Joe's 1-16-09 Idle Americans

Stan & Joe's
37 West St.
Annapolis, MD

This was both our first time at Stan & Joe's and our first time in Annapolis. Remember that show "Wild On.."? I remember seeing on of those for Annapolis and I thinked to myself, "How could Annpolis, MD be that wild of a time?" Then, I played Stan & Joe's.

The place is tiny. We had to set up our mics on the floor because the stage was so small. The place was shoulder to shoulder all night. People were dancing in the aisles because there was no place else to dance (note to self: Don't bring your mic-stand drink holder to this gig unless you prefer your beer on the floor.) The bar staff seemed like they were used to the fights outside and drunk chicks passing out on the curb (I don't know how their asses didn't freeze to the concrete...). We played an ok set, but that was less important than the impression that we made that I'm pretty sure will lead to another gig here.

And that was all before closing time.

After hours, we met a traveling politico named Dan who went with Connie, Wolf, and I to the Double-T diner down the street. Dan was the type of cool guy (with an extra bed in his hotel room) that make it possible for me to lead this lifestyle that I've carved out for myself. We were up till 5 trading stories about Reverend Horton Heat, polishing off a bottle of wine, and trying to hide his black lab from the hotel staff.

The next day, I had to go to Leonardtown, so if I went home and showered and stuff, I would have basically had to have turned around and gone right back out again. Oh, and Obama was speaking in Baltimore on his whistle-stop thinger, so I wouldn't have been able to get into town anyway. So, I headed straight down to Country Store...

Next: busy week...working every day except Wednesday.

Zoo Bar Jam 1-15-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave.
Washington, DC

This has been a rock 'n' roll week. Now, if I could just get the sex and drugs up to this level, I'd be well on my way to fulfillment of the Trinity.

So, to start from the beginning, Zoo Bar was packed on Thursday, filled with some of the finest things that have ever stepped foot on Connecticut Ave to smoke a cigarette in the single digits. I showed up my usual 10 min. before the gig, hustled all my stuff in, parked, went to the Back Room to get that chair I put my amp on..

..and I were devasted.

The Back Room was gone!

It just fucking disappeared!

Apparently, Steve is expanding the kitchen at the expense of the Back Room. Now, I really respect the man, his business sense, and any decision he makes for his Bar, but that doesn't mean I didn't cry a little tear on the inside.

I can't very well read-Dan-Savage-on-the-day-it-comes-out-in-City-Paper if there's no Back Room. I can't very well sit and talk with Robbie about how I fucked up "Get Out My Life, Woman". And I can't very well have only two choices: the loud, dark Bar (which is generally where I prefer to hang out in general, but, sometimes, it can be a bit intense) or Outside, which you may have noticed is fucking Arctic lately.

But, I'll manage.

On the upside, the Band is starting to sound a lot tighter and we're working in a lot of new stuff due to practices. This is not your grandfather's Big Boy Little Band.

I didn't realize this would take that long; See you at JV's tonight.

Next: JV's tonight and I post about the poetic seaside town of Annapolis...Annapolis Gone Wild. Oh, and Glen-Echo-InauguraDancefest.

Bangkok Blues Jam 1-11-09 Idle Americans

Bangkok Blues
926 W Broad St.
Falls Church, Va

I meet someone for the first time and the conversation almost inevitably goes:

Random Person: How long have you been playing guitar?
Matt with the Hat: *feigns thought* Well, I started when I was 12 or 13, so about.....12 years.

RP: Why did you pick it up?
MwtH: Well, originally I wanted to accompany myself on vocals, but then I got better than on guitar than I was at singing, so I just sorta rolled with that.

RP: But, you seem to be doing alright on vocals now.
MwtH: Yeah, I started coming to blues jams and I started singing again because I got to pick the songs if I did it that way.

In music, and especially in a jam atmosphere, the song exists independently of the people playing it. When a person calls a song, it's the job of the people up there to play THAT song. Not to show how many meedlies or weedlies or minor chordlies you know. If you want to revel in your own shit, then please, stay at home and masturbate. By way of Scott, I recommend this pr0n site. Hell, you can even rent a practice space for $50 an hour, play as loud as you want and not bother Nikki ordering your appetizer and waters all night.

I'm not saying I know every song ever, but if I get up there and someone calls something off the wall, then I'm gonna do my best to find SOMETHING that fits THEIR song. On Sunday, a wonderful young lady (who's name escapes me) knew she was going to play a set with me, and, in a very courteous move, came up to me and talked before the set to make sure I knew what the songs were gonna' be so it wasn't a train-wreck.

So, I would suggest, if you're a moderately considerate musician with a moderately sized ego, that when you're up there with Johnny Wanks-a-lot and a solo gets thrown to you, instead of playing the at-this-point-standard two choruses of solo, you play one, make your point, and get the fuck out. Blues songs on 78s and 45s only had 3 minutes in the first place, which wasn't time for two choruses of solo, so for an example of a beautiful one chorus solo, look at almost anything T-Bone Walker, Guitar Slim, or Pee Wee Crayton ever did.

(end rant)

I had a ridiculous amount of down-time this week, having Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off and I hated it. I'm gonna' go try and book some early-in-the-week gigs.

Next: Jam tonight at Zoo

Frisco's 1-9-9 Idle Americans

Frisco's
somewhere in
Columbia, MD

I suppose Columbia's an ok town. I certainly know enough cool people from there (Chuck and Chana come to mind). But, damned if it isn't all identical strip malls and office parks. It's like the background of a Tom & Jerry cartoon. Rucker's now spent upwards of 2 hours wandering around the town looking for Frisco's, being successful only 1/2 the time (last night was not a success (Joe: "I guess that depends on how you look at it.")).

Frisco's is an ok gig, I guess. The bartenders are certainly cool enough. A lot of people that won't come to see us anywhere else catch us here (mostly Baltimorons restricted to weekends out). Last time we clicked with a few folks from the crowd (it's where I debuted all of "Hot Rod Lincoln" by request). But, we just didn't click on Friday.

In fact, I'm not gonna' say anything else about this shit before I talk to the band.

I gotta go to Bangkok anyway.

At least Laura & Angel were nice enough to let me blow off steam with Glenn after-hours.

Next: BB jam, now

Zoo Bar jam 1-8-09 Big Boy Little band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave
Washington, DC

As Bret would say, Thursday was "another night of fine, fine music at the Zoo Bar".

After stopping by Hobo Manor*** for a chill, I ordered the beef brisket sandwich (which I think is my new favorite). Oh, the quality of music later in the night almost made me forget the first set that would never end. Bret started "Don't Start Me To Talkin'" in A instead of G. Right at the onset of "It's My Life, Baby", which is my fav song to play, my amp stopped making noise. No pop. No squeal. No smoke. Just stopped. So, I plugged into (Joaquin's?) Pro Junior that was up there and the reverb wouldn't turn off. Then, at the end of the set, I plugged into my Harmony again and everything worked fine.

Anyway.

Doug Jay and El Torro Gamble came out for a rare appearance and Steve and I were lucky enough to get to play a set with them. Doug is universally recognized as one of the finest harp players to come out of the area. Then, they torridly (get it?) left together.

Alan said his arm might be good enough to play next week after being out of commission for weeks, so that's good news.

And we wrapped up the night with (another) "It's My Life, Baby", so I got my fix.

Next: IA at Frisco's in Columbia

***Hobo Manor deserves a shout out here. It's where JJ, Doug, and Alex live in Takoma Park. If these guys weren't as cool as they are, I would never be able to do this like I do (well, it would certainly be a hell of a lot harder (Zach: "That's what she said.")). It's in-between gigs and Bmore in a lot of cases and these guys have gone out of there way to loan me a couch to crash on when I need it. But, why is it called Hobo Manor? I thought you'd never ask. So, we'd be there all day hanging out with Doug and someone would call and ask where we were and someone would say, "Oh, we're at JJ's" even though nobody had seen J all day. So, I was lucky enough to be able to neutrally dub the place "Hobo Manor" after the fire-barrel with the skull that's a fixture of the driveway.

Bangkok Blues Dance Weds. 1-7-9 Idle Americans

Bangkok Blues
926 W. Broad St.
Falls Church, VA

If all the night's got together and raced, Wednesday night would have come in dead last.

That's not to say that it wasn't a good gig. The 2-3 couples that were there to dance stayed the WHOLE night and were up for 3/4 of songs. Someone (who may want to remain nameless) from a record label based in MN stopped by and showed some interest. Though, in his words, we were "sleepwalking through" most of the first set. But, then we picked it up with what I thought were good versions of "Winter of Broke" (thanks Dawn and Lisa for the nice things you said about this'un) and "Sometimes I Think". Nikki brought out Laura, Dawn, and a few other friends of hers. And I finally got to meet Border's Ashley.

So, I keep reminding myself that every show should be the best one you can put forward no matter how many folks are there.

And Wednesday proved it.

Next: Zoo jam
Then: Frisco's on Friday

Cat's Eye Pub 1-6-09 Idle Americans

Cat's Eye Pub
1730 Thames St.
Fells Point
Baltimore, MD

For a shitty, rainy Tuesday in January, this was a pretty good gig. We did a lot in the tip jar, I got my jar tipped, and (as usual at Cat's Eye) everyone came to dance.

Special appearances were made by Bonnie Boswell from Waterfront (who danced her ass off), Nelson who gave me a CD he had promised, Billy Hogg saw me electric for the first time, and the crazy-haired guy from WTF who seemed to really dig us.

But, the night was stolen by Josh Lieberman, the pimp of the Cat's Eye, for having the two finest looking women there.

We played a solid set, song after song. From what I remember. Which is not a whole lot. Apparently, I ended the night by saying to Scott, "See ya later, FATSO!"

Next: Dance Wednesday @ Bangkok Blues

Heaven and Hell 1-4-09 Pessimist Parade

Heaven & Hell
18th St.
Adam's Morgan
Washington, DC

Everyone once in a while, I give up an Idle Americans gig to play with Pessimist. This was one of those days.

So, I texted my phonebook about the gig tonight and Tara reminded me that there was a hardcore matinee show at The Quarry House and so we all went down there beforehand to promote and get a bunch of people from there over to Heaven & Hell later on. And a bunch of people did come.

Thankfully, they got there after the rappers.

Dave Murray, who bartends there on Sundays, had been doing an open-mic hip-hop night so a bunch of those guys "opened" for us. And it was surreal had bad they were.

Anyway, we got up and played our set (and I managed to stay sober long enough to, you know, remember the songs and stuff) and thankfully we had a bunch of Pessimist's regulars out there that knew the songs and were dancing. So, then all these brothers get up and start dancing too. Even to the Johnny Cash-type stuff!! You haven't lived until you've seen four thugged-out brothers with their arms around each other's shoulders moving their feet to punkabilly.

Good show all around.

Later on, I was getting my last drink and there was some confusion about the price 'cause it was late and the guy standing next to me offered to pay for it. Turns out he knows my old roommate Scott and he asked me if I knew Nick Curran.

I was floored.

I'm the guy that asks you if you've heard of Nick Curran. Nick Curran is a big part of the reason I'm doing what I'm doing. He showed me that you can get into the whole punk thing and still stay a roots player.

Anyway, he had booked some shows for Kim a while back and had toured as merch guy for Deke Dickerson (another of my top 10 guitar players) when he was 18. So, nice meeting you, Chris. Hope we meet up again sometimes.

Next: tonight at Cat's Eye w/ Idle Americans

Zoo Bar 1-3-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave
Washington, DC

Young kids don't need no there music to be hippin' and hoppin' to dance to it.

Big Boy Little's monthly Zoo Bar gig was pleasantly besieged by Dancin' Sheila and her ilk for her birthday on Saturday. Events coordinator Connie Warner ensured that there was cake. Even before she got there, the chillun' were up dancin'.

We did a pretty good "How Blue Can You Get" and "Get Out My Life Woman" went off hitch-less. As Bret said, "It's amazing how much practice good does." Or some spoonerism.

Predictably, the night ended with female drama, but that's for quite another blog.

Next: Tomorrow w/ Pessimist at Heaven & Hell
Later: IA @ Cat's Eye on Tuesday

The Country Store 1-2-09 Idle Americans

Country Store
Medley's Neck Rd.
Leonardtown, MD

This shit is getting huge.

The Country Store is literally the only business within 5 miles. It's a blues jam in the outskirts of Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, MD for fuck's sake.

And we get 150 people coming through the place. Most of them aren't musicians.

A mom-less Andy Poxon came out and wowed.

Gay: "Does he stop the room because he's 14?"
Matt: "No, he's just that good."

We were treated to THE BIG MONEY EXPERIENCE. Words do not do it justice.

And Will sounded better than I've ever heard him sound.

On the down side, the new management stopped giving me free beer. But, that's probably good for you as I fuck up fewer songs sober.

So, I'd say that if you live within 15 miles of Leonardtown High School that you should come down. But, I think everyone that that applies to already does.

Also, I'd welcome any opinions: IA's next CD: "Pomade & Cigarettes".

Next: Tomorrow at Zoo w/ Big Boy Little
On deck: Sunday at Heaven & Hell w/ PP
In the Hole: Tuesday at Cat's Eye

The Sidebar 1-1-09 Pessimist Parade

The Sidebar Tavern
Corner of Lexington & Lombard
Baltimore, MD

So, on nights that I'm not gigging, for fun I gig with Pessimist Parade. Punkabilly's what we call it. JJ Damage is the frontman's frontman. If you wanna' see a guy own a stage, come out and see Pessimist.

So, the best laid plans..., right? We had a really good practice the day of, where we play the set we're gonna play and everyone agrees on the order of things. Get to the club in plenty of time. See Alex Fine's new instrumental band and The Arkhams (thanks for the CD, man) play fine, fine sets. Oh, and that other band from NYC I forget the name of was good, too (sick upright). Then, I get drunk on Natty Boh* and Jagermeister** and forget half my licks and can't play the other half right.

My bad.

Though the thing about the punk stuff (that I don't really like) is the reception is generally the same. Still, I wanted to OWN those songs.

Next: Friday night Country Store jam

*Best Beer in the World
**Satan's negotiator

Scott's II 12-31-08 Idle Americans

Scott's II
7070 Port Tobacco Road
Welcome, MD

Our fabulous drummer, founding member of IA, Mike O'Donnell played his last gig with us on New Year's Eve of '08. Responsibilities got the better of him and playing as much as IA does wasn't possible anymore. Thanks for sticking it out as long as you could, Mikey!


Oh, and Scott gave me shit for not mentioning him yet, so I'd like to welcome for the world our new drummer Scott Rabino. Perty, huh?

New Year's Eve gigs are unavoidable and dreaded. Unavoidable because everyone has one and the pay is usually double. Dreaded because it's amateur night at the Apollo.

Take Wednesday for example. In between our sets, there was a DJ that played the sort of songs that I would be forced to endure when chaperoning 7th grade dances in my previous life. We played a good set but the fact that the song that had the most dancers was "Electric Slide" (5 hops this time!) had my shoulders shrugging their hardest.***

All in all, from the meatballs (which were good!) to the grinding hillbillies (which were not good!) to the bikers that came out to see us (which was awesome!) to waking up staring at a 100-year old carousel horse (which was not awesome!), a surreal night.

Next: Thursday w/ Pessimist at Sidebar

***Apologies to Dancin' Doug--you're the man.