Zoo Bar 2-12-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave
Washington, DC

A couple weeks ago, I had the (admittedly rare) drunk idea that stood up in sober light to challenge Allan to a Desert Island Dozen, listing the 12 albums that you could not live the rest of your life without. A couldn't quite get it down to 12, but here goes nothing...

Matt's Desert Island (Baker's) Dozen

William Clarke – Tip of the Top
The Faint – Danse Macabre
Holly Fats Band – Rock This House
Ray Wylie Hubbard – Live at Stingaree 4-13-07
BB King – Live at the Regal
Little Walter - The Essential Little Walter:1
The Pixies – Doolittle
Reverend Horton Heat – Smoke 'Em if You Got 'Em
Jimmie Rivers & the Cherokees – Brisbane Bop
Raymond Scott - Reckless Nights & Turkish Twilights
Junior Wells – Blues Collection
Hank Williams III – Straight to Hell
Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life

(in alpha order)

In other exciting news, this blog's now the first hit when Googling 'Giggin for a Livin'.

Quarry House AND! Bangkok Blues 2-8-09 The Idle Americans and Pessimist Parade

My first 2-fer (2 gigs in a day) since I started blogging!

Quarry House (2-6)
Georgia Ave & Bonifont
Silver Spring, MD

onto

Bangkok Blues (7-11)
926 W. Broad St.
Falls Church, VA

I am a big fan of playing shows at The Quarry House with both bands, The Idle Americans and Pessimist Parade. One of the biggest goals I've had since starting down this tortuous musical path is to unite the Skins (young punks) and Rockabilly cats (old punks) and playing shows with both bands is a big step towards that. IA played a great set (if a little long) that turned on some of the PP fans to us. It was frustrating to tell some of the skins for months that I was in another band that was really good and get shrugged off. But, the only way to change minds is for folks to see us play.

Pessimist's set was also really good (I remembered to stay sober!) until the last 3 songs. We had folks right were we wanted them, we were getting ready for the last 3 songs ANDDDDDDDDD...Wilson's bass broke. The ground came loose. So, after fumbling around for a couple minutes, losing everyone's interest and any energy we had in the set, we played two last songs as a trio and Rio and JJ did 'She Said' as a Lux Interior (RIP) and Hazel Atkins tribute.

*scramble, scramble, scramble*

By the time we got to Bangkok and played our opening set, we were all chugging Red Bulls, trying to keep some energy up. And poor Scott, it was his 3rd gig that day after doing his Sunday church service (I know, right?) in the morning.

This was also remarkable for being the first time in 3 days that I hadn't seen Mr. Enthusiasm.

Last gig for today coming up...

Zoo Bar 2-7-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave
Washington, DC

Ok, y'all can stop givin' me shit now because I'm back with a vengeance.

And I think I even remember all the gigs I've played since then.

The last time we played a full night at the Zoo Bar on the first Saturday, I had a manic time getting down to Zoo Bar because the way I use to get out of Baltimore was blocked and I spent 30 minutes longed than I planned in downtown Brawlmer. That'll learn me to cut things too close. I've been really good about showing up on time since then though (knock on computer desk).

After showing up 15 min late and setting up, I look out in the crowd and notice DC harmonica/singer luminary Bruce Ewan was kind enough to join us. After the gig, he talked to Big Boy and some of that conversation was relayed to the band and seemed to support the reflections that I had on the Big Boy Little Band from Thursday.

Bruce confirmed that the new originals were a strong point to the band and that the flow had improved due to the aforementioned brutal practice schedule (3 times a month is intense for a blues band). I (we?) was (were?) also flattered when he said that we should skip over trying to book bars in the area and move right to bigger venues (the Wolf Traps, State Theatres, and festivals) of the DC music world. So, I managed to recover from my late start and we put on what I thought was a good show where a number of regulars that might have departed at midnight a couple months ago stayed around an extra hour or two (or three (I *heart* (parentheses))).

On to the next gig...

Country Store 2-6-09 Idle Americans

Country Store
somewhere down Medley's Neck Rd.
Leonardtown, MD

The only way I am fortunate enough to be doing what I'm doing is via the kindness of friends and strangers. I get to eat (and not just pay my rent, etc.) because of folks nice enough to drop a little in the tip bucket. Often I get to sleep because friends nice enough to let me crash at their place offer up a couch. I was fortunate enough to meet another friend at the Country Store that happened to live across the street from BFE who not only had his own place, but a full band set up.

But, before the after-hours jam that lasted till 7 in the morning, there was the CS jam. Here I was going to give an annotated slideshow of the jam, but Shutterfly won't let me d/l, embed, or nuthin.

So, screw you Shutterfly.
Comments welcome.

Suffice to say that we were graced with the company of the Big Money Experience (incluye two-way sax) and Carl-from-across-the-pond, who's a whiz on the pedal steel. Personally, I theorize that pedal steel players have an extra brain-organ that helps them deal with all those strings, levers, pedals, and bars.

Oh, so much has happened since then. I'm gonna have to go on a blogging binge.

Zoo Bar Jam 2-5-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave.
Washington, DC

Reflections on the progress of the Big Boy Little Band:

As Bret (Big Boy Little) has said out there on the interwebs, he wasn't sure what he was going to do when Rusty left: whether he would dissolve the band or try to soldier on with someone else. I was honored when I got fingered (TWSS!) to take Rusty's place in the band, but I wasn't sure whether the feel of the band would be up to BBL standards. I feared it might be a shadow of its former self and fizzle out.

After practicing with the band (OMGee! in Blues-World), playing a couple months of gigs, hearing feedback from others, and listening with my own damn ears, here are my findings:

1) We're a lot tighter band. Due to practicing, songs don't seem to all have the same structure (that is, there are separate 'parts' for every song). This gives the night a better flow, keeps people around, and takes out some of the 'drag' that blues shows can have after a while. At the beginning, BBL was making set lists, but we almost don't need that anymore, because we have a larger repertoire.

2) The band has more breadth. Because we're practicing, we can bring in some songs that take a couple minutes (hours?) to figure out. Memphis soul, New Orleans R&B, and some more arranged songs (as well as arrangements that are combinations of these) are no longer off-limits. See: 'Memphis Train', 'Down Home Girl', 'Get Out My Life, Woman'. Also, because I'm singing songs, it breaks the set up when Artie's not there (which is most of the time).

3) The originals that BBL has been bringing are not your standard fare blues songs and really add some pop to the band. People tend to respond more when they like a song and know it's yours.

4) I can not put together an epic solo like Rusty can. Rusty Bogart can solo for 12 verses and tell a story with it, making no 2 licks sound the same. When he gets brings a solo to a close, as an audience member, I felt a needed a 'phew!' kinda' breath. I can go for about 2 minutes at the max. Some people like this because they get bored with just guitar, guitar, guitar. Some see it as artistic expression that makes showing up worth showing up. I fall in the latter category.

5) In any case, we have not had a slow night at the Zoo Bar as the Big Boy Little Band. Some nights have been better than others. But, in general, bigger crowds are coming, people are staying longer, and the tip bucket and the ring reflect this. And, if anything, fewer musicians are coming compared to diners, drinkers, and fans. In blues jam world, this=good, because musicians tend to have low tabs and take up space (myself included). And, Wolf and I have only had this gig during the winter. The real test will be to show if we can sustain this good attendance into the busy months.

My New Year's Resolutions were (I know it's late, but I didn't want to jinx myself):
1) Update this blog with every gig.
2) Keep up with recording my income/expenses.
3) Go to a bar to see/play music every night.

NYR findings:
1) Grade: C- I'm about a week behind.
2) Grade: D I'm about two weeks behind.
3) Grade: A+ Haven't missed a day.

Cheers!

Tyson's Tavern 2-4-9 Ken-G Songwriter's Night

Tyson's Tavern
2112 Fleet St.
Baltimore, MD

On my Monday night pub crawl, I usually stop by the open mic at Leadbetter's in Fells Point to

a) practice new songs
b) hang out with musicians
c) fulfill my insatiable desire to play live music
d) try to hook up with the bartender
e) all of the above

If you picked (e), you are wrong because the answer was (f).



(f) only a), b), and c)

because that's not the type of guy Fonz is.

Anyway, Ken-G Shorts was hosting and he came up to me and asked if I had any plans for Wednesday, when he hosts a songwriter's night at Tyson's at Fleet and Boston. I told him I had plans before recognizing that he wanted to have me on a gig.

My first solo acoustic gig!

So, after apologizing for not being able to hang out on Wednesday, I show up and there's another fine, fine singer/songwriter named Kristin Watts. In a unique format, the three of us trade songs all night, filling in when we can. Ken-G has a really great ear for chords, so he can usually find something on some instrument (mandolin, lap guitar...) to fit.

After doing all our originals and a couple odd covers, Kristin had to leave at 11. Ken asked if I wanted to stay till 12 and I wasn't doing anything, so I said sure.

That's when the fun started.

We ended up trading songs back and forth as more late-nighters wandered in until 1:30. The owner, Dean, really seemed to enjoy us and Ken knows so many songs, both common and un-, that he could pick things that were predictable or memorable enough to follow along with (sorry, sorry, sorry!!! --with which to follow along) that we could both play/sing all night. The bald contingent (Rucker, Dr. Pimpenstein, and Dean) made for a good time with odd requests, Mr. Enthusiasm (Pino) showed up to keep the night interesting, and I met a bunch of remarkably cool people (well, mainly 1). The night did not end until well into the morning, which made it hard to run errands on Friday. Speaking of errands, I must split. Will be back with the weekend wrap-up next time.

Next: Need to blog Thurs., Fri., Sat., and, oh shit, fucking SUNDAY!

Cat's Eye 2-3-09 The Idle Americans

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

This was the first full set (that I remember) that IA had played in some time and, from the reactions of the band and several folks who have seen as on numerous occasions, probably our best show ever. Sadly, owner-bartender Tony was not there due to a wicked hand injury, but Dave Palmer filled in.

The people that wandered in liked us, stayed, got on the e-mail list, bought a CD, and vowed to be back in a month. The number of fans that we bring in that go out of our way to see us is steadily growing (shout-outs to Josh Lieberman and his whole crew (Duke, Liz, etc.), Kim & Bob, Kingsnake, Steve Kierns, Bonnie & Andy, The Trossbachs). Even the day-time bar staff (hi Jackie!) even stayed 'till the end of the night. The only notable absences were Chris, Dora, and Allison.

The originals were tighter than they'd ever been. Wolf and I were pretty unanimous on the set list. And once my hands got warmed up, Zach and I were firing on all cylinders (or some other mixed metaphor).

Tomorrow: First ever solo acoustic gig at Tyson's in Canton!

Bangkok Blues Blues Jam 2-1-09 The Idle Americans

Bangkok Blues
926 W Broad St.
Falls Church, VA

Apparently, there was some soccer game today that most folks watch, so instead of 7-11, the jam was from 2-6.

So, after seeing (Dave)^4 (The Swinging Daves at Cat's Eye), I got a ride back with Chris & Josh to my house. I woke up with enough time to spare--if my car had been at my house instead of on the other side of Baltimore. So, I frantically scurried the streets of Baltimore looking for a cab and, for the first time since I started blogging, I was late for a gig; which is pretty good for me.

So, thanks to Wolf for starting the jam without me. The one 3 song set we did play as The Idle Americans was held to a very responsive crowd that, for a remarkable number of people, were champs and stayed from 2-6. When I showed up at 10 past 2, the place was as crowded as I've ever seen it at 7 on jam night.

Also of note, Rt. 7 looks very different in the day light. Who would've known?

Next: Cat's Eye on Tuesday

Zoo Bar 1-30-09 The Idle Americans

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave
Washington, DC

I remember everything that happened before the gig. I hung out with Nikki, went to Chris's, we had a jam and he drove my car to the bar.

I remember everything after the bar: Chris driving my car back, getting pulled over at the traffic stop, eating chicken soup, crashing in the guest room.

But, the gig itself is a total blank.

Could not tell you a single song I played.

And while alcohol was a factor, I wasn't black-out drunk. Any suggestions, please comment.

Next: Tomorrow off, Stupor Bowl Sunday at Bangkok

Zoo Bar 1-29-09 Big Boy Little Band

Zoo Bar
3000 Connecticut Ave
Washington, DC

Ode to the Back Room:

Bastion of the tired
Manager of our respite
From the noise at the bar
That so often holds us despot

Not that you aren't good
But we do this all night
And we just want a break
Or to have a little light

To eat our bacon cheeseburger
Or opine on what we're sick of
And where else in the bar
Am I gonna' read this week's Savage Love?

So farewell Back Room
And here stops my bitchin'
Cause while we don't have our space
At least Steve gets a bigger kitchen

Next: Zoo Bar, take 2