So the "holidays" are in full swing. Christmas was wonderfully non-dramatic and all went well. I have good family members visiting from afar and it is good to be with them. Work has held out and even offered me some breathing time for the holiday week(s). I would say there is a shoe waiting to drop but I have had enough shoes drop in recent years to open a thrift store. I have no fear of gravity right now.

   There is one caveat however. New Years weekend is approaching. There are some good shows for the eve and a precious few on the Saturday after but not a lot. And the real trouble I am having is with Friday, Jan 1. There are no blues shows and no rock/blues bands with bookings at night. I am disturbed by this. Are we all really anticipating being that hung over? Is there really no energy left for Saturday, the first day of 2010 ?!

   I am here and now appealing to my blues, musician friends to let me know if you are able to play and I will appeal to venues also for a night of blues.

   Suzi, Pammy, KK, S-Gun, Cobras, Bro-Dave, Chrissy, Jim M, Joe V, Phil V..., Franny, Soul Bros, Blue Roots, Nacho-guys...

   Help!

   Enjoy your remaining Holiday time and get back to me if you have any ways to help me solve this problem.

 

bill (bill@billfoolery.com)

 

   What a different landscape this Christmas brings.

   Not only a new home for my daughter and I but a new life with a new status and a new dynamic. Change is the only constant (to quote Mr. Phil in Yahoo Group/Ventilations, 12/22). In my case it has been a life of change in every aspect including religion.

   Raised Catholic I had my faith ultimately questioned when I lost a loved one  more than a decade ago. Out of that I came to realize I believe in the spirit of my faith (and others) and the man/men if not entirely the doctrine that has been created about Him/them.

   I celebrate Christmas as a celebration of the inherent goodness and sweetness of life and the relentless force of life in every place and circumstance. I have also come to believe that the "force"/god is inherent in many things and can be found, tapped in many ways.

   I found it in music among other things. At the time I was most vulnerable I heard it. I followed the influences of those artists (Jimi Hendrix, Blues/Once I Had a Woman; Patty Griffin, Living With Ghosts/Moses among others) The voices and music of people when they are tuned in/turned on carries a universality of meaning. There is something in all of us that resonates when an artist, having trained to be introspective and perceptive, feels and expresses something of that universality.

   A person can search for god in the books of faith and in the people who have written them and in churches and temples with other people who share that path or a person can find god in music or art or in nature or in their very own meditations with the people who share those paths. He is everywhere as we were told in childhood religion. That was true. I think that to realize it's full-fillment one has to nurture that which is important and make it valuable and live accordingly. The reward will be a sharing of something meaningful... I believe.

   Enjoy your celebration and I wish everyone an amazing New Year!

   Thanks for visiting Billfoolery.com. I hope you do so again in 2010 and stay tuned for my end of year Favorites list from my year of visiting many venues and taking in many performances and meeting many people.

   Be careful out there.

bill

    With the holidays in full swing it has been a busy week and a blizzard of activity; pun intended. Sorry.

   Even with that I was able to get to some pretty amazing shows in the past week. I'm a lucky guy sometimes.

   Last Tuesday was the memorial event for Lance Ong at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ. I have been doing what I can for Nicole and Lance since Lance's battle with cancer began (even if it was just posting and mentioning events on some occasions) as I have been in a similar situation and I feel their pain. 

   The event in NJ had an amazing cast and was a wonderful testament to Lance and the company he kept.

   At one point the cast on stage included Hubert Sumlin, Papa Chubby, Rod Paparazzi and Dave Keys with Jeff Ganz on bass and Chris Ebeneizer on sax. Mr. Paparazzi and Mr. Keys are a couple of NYC professionals and were both amazingly versatile; Paparizzi on harp and vocals and Keys on vocals and keys. By the way I was sitting with Tommy Keys and I was able to verify that he and Dave Keys are not related.

   After a few warm-up tunes by Mr. Sumlin he was called out for an applause and then stood and pumped his fist and chanted to the band for more. He was as turned on by the band as I was.  A few more tunes followed with Papa Chubby and that set was unforgettable. The energy brought by Paparazzi and Keys and the flavors of Sumlin and Chubby was inspiring.

   The room was large with a two-story ceiling and a bar way in back. The tables and booths along the wall were full and it was an enthusiastic crowd. There were a few opening acts who I missed almost entirely as I took trains, taxi's and some hoofing from Babylon to get there. I missed Sweet Suzi doing an acapella, self-written song, I Will Not Walk Alone, and a fun set by Johnny Fetz (?) and Co. It was a successful event for many reasons and it is a notable thing for a man's memorial event to be attended by such a talented and artistic collection of people. 

   The weekend was a bit of fits and starts. I didn't get out Friday until midnight so I headed to Amityville where there were a few shows going on giving myself the best chance of still hearing some music.

   I started at Toomey's for SmokinGun and caught almost a full set of Mr. Bill, Jeannie B, Rich Theil, Ralphie Santiago and the traveling axe-man Jim Kolman was standing in for some rhythm and harmony. It was worth the trip at midnight... and afterwards I walked across the street and caught Sly Geralds with a different cast at Giacmom Jacks.

   Sly had Adam Tese on sax, Joe Bivona on guitar and Hector on skins. It was a different sound and made for a great variation... and it was just across the street.

   Saturday night, the night of the blizzard, I was invited to a surprise party for my affable and blues-loving friend Simon (owner of Europine Furniture in RVC...a great place to buy real wood furniture by the way). Simon's awesome wife, Barbara, threw a surprise party at the furniture store on Merrick Rd. in RVC and it was probably the coolest setting for a private party I have been to in recent memory. The store is big with lot's of furniture (doh) and get this; the hired music was Donnie Celenza, Danny Kean and Phil Bloom (friends of Simon as well). That's a helluva party for a guy and it begins with a wife and friends that will do that.

  Great job Barbara. You are both lucky folks. 

  So after a Sunday of shoveling a few small mountains I am hurting all over. I think I will pop in a cd or two and get revved up for the holiday home stretch.

   Monday there is an amazing show and Benefit at Mirelle's in Westbury. Check the calendar for details and sneak in one more show. It'll be worth it.

   Thanks for checking and stay tuned for the calendar and a week of some great events.

bill

   I get up every day, put my feet on the floor and start walking. I never know what the day will bring but I do my work, keep an eye and my heart on my child and look forward to Wednesday nights and weekends as a means of maintaining my peace-ilibrium.

   The stresses and the toils of the week and sometimes the news of other people's lives affect me as well. This week the local musicians lost a friend in Lance Ong. Lance was actually a NJ musician but he was the husband of Nicole Hart, a Long Island native (now in NJ) and blues singer. Lance lost a battle with cancer and it was difficult to see such a young, talented and recently married man pass away. He had so much in front of him.There will be a Memorial event and fundraiser in Teaneck NJ this Tuesday evening (see Notice above Calendar for details)with a great cast of artists.

   Wednesday night I took another look at the jam at Mirelle's hosted by Mark Mancini and Mike Nugent. The cast was again excellent and this week I walked in to the blues sounds of Gary Sellers. It was a treat to hear Gary Sellers guitar in the company of such an eclectic bunch. The music varies in styles and influences but Sellers adds a strong dose of blues ... my kind of mix.

   The weekend was sort of special as I was offered a ticket for Savoy Brown at The Boulton Center in Bay Shore. Being a blues fan it is special to have a group like Savoy Brown playing in your home town but there they were.

   The Boulton Center is a practically perfect room for a show like that. The seating is "stadium" so all seats have an unobstructed view and it is an intimate feel with a steep angle of viewing, like hovering over the stage almost. The room was just about full and the patrons were all appreciative, applauding every solo and the band was supreme!

   I caught some of Kim Simmonds (founder of SB, lead guitar) at the Riverhead Blues Festival and I enjoyed it but this was better. I was able to hear it more clearly in the confines of the theater. Mr. Simmonds guitar playing was simply beautiful. His riffs were eloquent expressions, every one exceeding my every anticipation. It was joyful guitar playing.

   The new line-up for Savoy Brown consisted of Joe Whiting on sax and vocals, Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums. All were stellar. The sax was juicy and Whiting has a wide range of vocals. The drums had a giddy bounce and bass (De Salvo played mostly an upright electric) offered some cool solos. They played a fairly long set and an encore mostly from their new CD, Too Much of a Good Thing which is a collection of pieces from various eras. The CD is a great play. I am enjoying my new purchase.

   Check out the schedule at The Boulton Center in Bay Shore. It is a great roster of artists and an up-close-and-personal and enjoyable venue.

   Thanks for reading and thanks to the bands who are sending me their schedules. Enjoy the holiday season with some great live music.

bill

  

   I have so many little notes from my past weekend as I attended four or five shows. I got out for both nights and even Sunday for a few shows but I have little time for writing about it.

   My highlights included some cool blues performances by one Chrissie O'Dell at the old Blue Matter jam on Saturday night (Brightwaters Inn) and also some surprise percussion numbers with Ralphie Santiago and a new (and welcome) guest named Zeus (Jesus) on a pair of congas. The two of them got it revved up real good on a few numbers and it was a percussion special. That ended up being a fun night.

   Prior to that I ran out to hear Rondinelli again at Stadium Pub and in the short time I was there I enjoyed Hitman on some rock vocals and axe. Mr. Rondinelli is generous with his stage. That rock party is at Dirty Martini this coming weekend...a fun place if you ask me.

   I also caught some good jamming at the Bad Moon Christmas (charity) party. The cast included Big Daddy and the Bulldogs and Mamafunk (& the Mudcats) and the jam after included Adam Tese, Ms. O'Dell, Dave Nesdall and many others. It was a festive night and I heard that the wildly enthusiastic, gregarious and benevolent Elena of Bad Moon along with Big Daddy, Karl Reamer put together a very successful charity event. The Bad Moon has been quite a hot spot of activity and I am glad to see it has been revolving around blues!!!!

   Sunday I stopped in at Big Daddy's and was pleasently entertained by the King Cobras. It has been a few years since I caught them and they have gotten even tighter with a straight forward and by-the-book blues act with real chops and crafty playing. It was a blues blast that I was not expecting. The best kind.

   At midweek I am anticipating perhaps another look at the quality jam at Mirelle's this week (Mike Nugent, Ralph Raiola, Fred Piscop, Don Moffa, Neville LeGreen, Shawn Murray, Mark Newman, Bruce Dixon, Lester Saldinger and many more...

   There are the jams at Bad Moon, Candlelite, Harvey's, McGuires, Quiggs and more.

   The weekend is a whole other story and I will get ot that later in the week.

   This piece was written before I heard today about the passing of Land Ong (on the 7th). Lance was a gifted music professional, a kind person and husband of Nicole Hart. Lance and Nicole were recently married and his life was a wonderful looking thing. It is a huge loss for Lance, for Nicole, both their families and all who knew him. Cancer has taken another life and it screams for our continued attention.

   There is a fundraiser and memorial event in Teaneck,NJ on the 15th of this month. I plan on driving my minivan and as of now it has a few empty seats. I am happy to take a few folks who may wish to come along.

  Thanks for stopping by and please keep me posted on anything I miss on the calendar.

bill

   There are some good signs this week of an expansion of sounds.

   Check the calendar for Wednesday nights for example. There is a new jam at Mirelle's in Westbury with Mark Mancini  and Mike Nugent. If you want to jam with some talented dudes check that out. Mr. Mancini is one of the best keys players on this island of ours and with the two of them there's a good chance you'll be able to find a couple of your favorite tunes to jam along. Mirelle's is a nice room too. I'll be checking that out this week or next.

   There is also a good one in Bayport with Jim Moran who has Hitman, Russell Alexander and Ed the Hat with him this week. I need to get to that one too. I love having new jams to check out.

   The ongoing ones still rock too. Candlelite Cabaret in Amity is fun. The Bad Moon in Merrick with Sly Geralds and a cast of dynamite singers, and Adam Tese lately, and Dave Nedall is a great jam...not to mention two of the baddest guys on the island, Donny C and Danny K in Cedarhurst at Harvey's. The list goes on and it's getting better.

   Another encouraging sign of the life of music around here is the amazing calendar of events at The Boulton Center in Bay Shore. This week The Subdudes. Recently; Tommy Castro and Coco Montoya. The Vail Leavitt Music Hall in Riverhead has also been hosting blues! That's a cool place to take in a show.

   I am optimistic about the things happening and now I look to find a few homes for some of the more upstart blues acts around here. There are some great players in embryonic stages and they and players of other genre's need places to play and develop their voices. It's good listening but it is not funded  or marketed in any way. Stuff like this needs the help of the venue. I'll be brainstorming to try and come up with a way to host this stuff even if it involves a new venue. Feel free to offer any ideas.

   In the meantime check the calendar and take a listen and enjoy... and thanks for stopping by.

bill