The Tavern

I showed up and played a half-gig on a Wednesday night with Kyle and John. Fun gig, but no set list!  We played ETA's C-F medley of Season of the Witch with Can't Always Get What You Want and two other tunes, Black Magic Woman, and several blues tunes, and some other songs I didn't really know. I played my fretless through John's keyboard amp, which they were also using for vocals. I hadn't planned on being paid, but they gave me $40. They'd like me to do the whole gig next time, too!

City Band

I guest conducted the city band on 8/1.  After having problems with weather or electricity when guest-conducting the past two years, I was glad it was pouring and not questionable weather at all.  We went inside.  There were about as many audience members as there were band members.  I had a few conducting issues, mostly based around transitions.

I felt like TROMBONE KING, MINUTEMAN and HIGH SCHOOL CADETS had excellent dynamics.  I exaggerated those gestures to help remind them, and they really pulled through.  ANNIE was a bit of a problem; in fact, we had total silence for a few seconds because some of the low instruments were off.  They were off because of my confusion - the part was written in four, but it was marked to conduct in 2, but I decided to stay in 4, and it threw them off.  It's not a great arrangement either. CLARINET HOEDOWN was weird because the 3rd clarinet players weren't coming in, but it turns out they had trumpet parts. The young alto saxes did very well on their soli in WON'T LAST A DAY.

NEWPORT AREA CONCERT BAND

2013      ~     AUGUST 1 CONCERT

O CANADA / STAR SPANGLED BANNER

THE TROMBONE KING March

OVERTURE!

Selections from ANNIE

THE PHANTOM REGIMENT

MINUTEMAN March

CLARINET HOEDOWN

ARRANGER’S HOLIDAY

WON’T LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU

THE BEATLES FOREVER

HIGH SCHOOL CADETS March

NATIONAL EMBLEM

Summer Band

Summer Band 7/8/13 went well.  I played Baritone BC parts.  We had 2 drummers, 1 mallet, 2 trumpets, 1 clarinet, 1 oboe, and 3 flutes.  Emily conducted - I sometimes had a hard time following her because the bass drummer was WAY off, but it worked out just fine.  I may put the playlist on here, but I may not - it was typical summer band stuff like "Band Room Riff," "Minor Rock," and "A Little Bit of Latin."  This was the first time I played in the group and didn't conduct it.  It was fun!

Annie

I just finished the first night of this 6-show gig at the Haskell Opera House.  We only ran the show through on two nights of rehearsal, which seems like far too little.  Much of the timing for the music wasn't exact yet.  The pit band consists of two keyboardists, a drummer, and me.  About five songs had to be transposed down a step, which isn't that hard but when in the key of Gb and you lower it a whole step, it puts you in the key of Fb, which doesn't technically exist (it's 6 flats and a double-flat) and there are all sorts of accidentals and key changes.  I found it easier to write out the transposed charts during the massive amounts of down time - rehearsals "began" at 6:00 with us not playing music until at least 7:30.  Sunday's rehearsal was scheduled from noon-5:00, but I didn't play a note after 2:30.

In the end, it's a good show and the music is fun to play.  A few of the singers project so well that we can play without the worry of being too loud.

Here are the songs we played:

• Overture – Orchestra
• "Maybe" – Annie and Orphans
• "Hard Knock Life" – Annie and Orphans
• "Hard Knock Life" (Reprise) – Orphans
• "Tomorrow" – Annie
• "We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover" – Hooverville-ites
• "Little Girls" – Miss Hannigan
• "Little Girls" (Reprise) – Miss Hannigan
• "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" – Grace, Annie and Staff
• "N.Y.C." – Warbucks, Grace, Annie, Star-to-Be and Chorus
• "N.Y.C." (Reprise) / "Lullaby" – Warbucks
• "Easy Street" – Rooster, Miss Hannigan and Lily
• "You Won't Be an Orphan for Long" – Grace and Warbucks

Act II

• "Maybe" (Reprise II) – Annie
• "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" – Bert Healy and the Boylan Sisters
• "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" (Children Reprise) – Orphans
• "Easy Street" (Reprise) – Rooster, Miss Hannigan and Lily
• "Tomorrow" (Cabinet Reprise) – Annie, Roosevelt, Warbucks and Cabinet
• "Tomorrow" (Cabinet Reprise II) - Roosevelt and the Cabinet
• "Something Was Missing" – Warbucks
• "I Don't Need Anything But You" – Warbucks and Annie
• "A New Deal for Christmas" – Warbucks, Grace, Annie, Roosevelt and staff

________________________________________________________________________________

The next two nights of the show went well, in fact getting better with every playing.  Notice in the picture that I'm wearing a fleece?  It's VERY cold in front of the stage when the AC is on.
 

Kingdom Dixie at Westmore Field Day

Kingdom Dixie played outdoors for Westmore Field Day 7/6/2013.  We had two sets, 11-12 then 1-2. In between our sets a fiddle player performed, as well as a ukulele singalong and a singing duet that was quite good.  It threatened to rain the whole first set, but never did (KD had played in the pet parade without me and got soaked the night before!). During the second set it got so bright that I had a hard time reading my music. It's nice playing with this group, because I can just read and listen. Sometimes staying focused can be a problem, though. For this gig we got payed about twice as much as usual, and we got fed. Fun gig!

11:00 to 12:00

 

1 Panama

2 Blizzard Head Blues

3 High Society

4 I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

5 Millenberg Joys

6 Muskrat Ramble

7 Basin Street Blues

8 Randolph Street Strut

9 Dixie Down Beat

10 South Street Rampart Parade

 

1:00 to 2:00

 

1 Sensation

2 When My Sugar Walks Down the Street

3 Darktown Strutters Ball

4 That’s a Plenty

5 Livery Stable Blues

6 Fidgety Feet

7 Coney Island Washboard

8 Louella

9 Maple Leaf Rag

10 Don’t Mean a Thing

July 4, 2013

Soul Kingdom - the highlight of the day, at least for me

This was a great day of gigs, but it didn't go perfectly.  It started off with phone call asking if I was playing our regular gig on the boat....  I didn't remember having the conversation with her!  Apparently, I did mention it to the Kingdom Dixie bandleader, and he said that I told him we were waiting for her call but never received it.  It still sucked.

 

NCAVB on the float

FIRST GIG was with the Newport City Area Volunteer Band (NCAVB), riding the float through the parade.  I played euphonium, and as usual each time we played the three pieces I got better but my lip didn't hold up too well.  Sounded pretty good though, I think.  It's fun to play for this appreciative audience.  At the end we have always turned right and looped back to our cars.  This time, we couldn't get through so had to wait until the very end, meaning we sat there for about 1-1/2 hours.  Glad I brought water!

The Session Guys - Alex

2nd GIG was with The Session Guys (Chandler (set/vox), Alex (gtr/vox). I was subbing for Eli (bass/vox) because he had to work.  I had learned all of their songs, which are all originals, the day before, and we had no rehearsals.  I wanted to be there a little earlier, but the parade held us up.  Kyle and Chris arrived with the sound equipment shortly after we did, so we were able to help set up the PA, and I was able to use Chris' bass amp.  It took a while to set up, but I was told the sound was great.  I used my earplugs the whole time, because the bass amp was very loud.  Chris changed the stage volume after a bit, though, so it got more comfortable. My effects board really didn't change much when I used the overdrive, but it may have been the earplugs.  I didn't dare use the flanger.  The octaver sounded great on an introduction.  I wish I knew the songs a little better, so I could have relaxed.  It's ALWAYS fun to play a gig with Chandler!!

The Session Guys -Chandler

3rd GIG was Soul Kingdom.  This was the highlight of my day, for sure.  I got there at about 4:40, knowing things would be a bit behind, but the 4:00 band was on their FIRST song.  The rapper who went before them had gone on too long, and had to get kicked off the stage!  So we waited until they were done, set up quickly, and got started.  It felt great to play the music I've actually been rehearsing.  My stage sound was weird though.  Way more bass was out front than from the amp, and I felt like I wanted more - but on the plus side, my ears weren't bleeding by the end.  Using Chris' amp made things much easier for me, but gave me far less control.  I didn't bother using my effects board.  The songs were played very well except for two little things I need to watch out for - first was that Brett played a triplet fill that threw me off for a second.  It shouldn't have surprised me; I should have just solidly hit the one as usual.  There was only a slight hesitation on my part, but I noticed it.  Also, we had a problem on the intro to Black is Black - I started in D, someone else started in E, and then I saw Kyle going back and forth, as in the verses.  Now I'm doubting myself - who's right?  I'll have to check.  The rest of the song was great.

NCAVB at Irasburg

4th GIG was with the NCAVB again, in Irasburg this time.  We played in the town square, beside the small but tall gazebo.  Since Chandler wasn't there, I played bass drum.  The audience was appreciative and we had a good time.






The Session Guys (all originals):

I was 16
Maggie Rae
27
5 Years Gone By
Send me to AZ
Bleach Blonde Hair
Call It Quits
Confined
Ballad of Ms. Jones
Over and Out
Wannabe
Brand New
One Way

Soul Kingdom:

Soul Finger
The Letter

In the Midnight Hour
Higher and Higher
Black is Black
I Got You
The Chicken
Midnight Confessions
Knock on Wood
Got to Get You Into My Life
Vehicle
Hold On
I Wish

Newport City Area Volunteer Band at Irasburg:

STAR SPANGLED BANNER (only)

THE LIBERTY BELL March (Red book “Marches of Fame”)

Highlights from THE MUSIC MAN

SING FOR AMERICA

OUR DIRECTOR March (red book)

SHENANDOAH

GASLIGHT GAIETIES

SALUTE TO THE DUKE

SYNCOPATED CLOCK

THE ENTERTAINER

BEACH BOYS ON STAGE

12^TH STREET RAG

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER

Kingdom Dixie on the water

Kingdom Dixie - July 4, 2012

For the past two years, on July 4, the Kingdom Dixie band has played on the Memphremagog Belle, while boating around the lake.  A smallish audience is on the boat with us, and there were hors d'oevres.  Fun, outdoor gig.  People along the shores love it.  in 2011 I played trombone, and in 2012 I played bass.  We don't have in lined up for this year yet, but hopefully we'll do it sometime this summer.

Here's a typical playlist, though not necessarily what we played in 2012:

1 Dark Town Strutters Ball
2 Maple Leaf Rag
3 After You’ve Gone
4 When My Sugar Walks Down The Street
5 Basin Street Blues
6 Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans
7 Millenburg Joys
8 I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
9 Muskrat Ramble
10 Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay
11 High Society
12 Sugar Foot Stomp
13 Who’s Sorry Now
14 I Can’t Give You Anything but Love
15 Don’t Mean a Thing (if it Don’t have that Swing)
16 Tin Roof Blues

Kingdom Dixie - July 4, 2011

NOMAD at Hellbilly Hideaway

So mid-afternoon on April 27, 2013 I got a FB message from Tom, the drummer for Nomad (and several other groups including the NKIWS) saying they were desperate for a bass player for THAT EVENING.  So I printed out a bunch of stuff, played a few, packed up and headed to the Hellbilly Hideaway.  It was the first time I'd played there, so I was surprised at how small it was.  Not much room on stage, and the dance floor wasn't much bigger.  These guys are real pros - drums and PA were all set up, banners were hanging, cards on the tables, t-shirts & sweatshirts for sale.  The guitarist was really hesitant about having a sub, and didn't think it was going to work.  We went through the list of songs and cancelled some:

Set 1                                      Set 3

1: Hard to Handle                1: Pour Some Sugar on Me       

2. Honky Tonk Woman                2. You Give Love a Bad Name

3. All Summer Long                3. I Love Rock n Roll

4. Long Train Running                 4. Young Lust       

5. Hands to Yourself                5. Summer of 69

6. Save a Horse                    6. Enter Sandman

7. Kryptonite                       7. Seven Nation Army

8. Are You Gonna Go My Way            8. La Grange   

9. Any way you want it                9. Driven to Tears

10. Johnny B Good                   10. Crazy Train

11. Running Down a Dream            11. She hates me

12. Shook Me All Night Long            12. Fight for Your Right, to party

Set 2                                       Set 4

1: TNT                                   1: Teen Spirit

2. Fake It                                 2. You Really Got Me

3. Talk Dirty to Me                3. Have a Drink on Me

4. Sweet Child of Mine          4. Mony Mony

5. Bad Girl Friend                5. Panama

6. Just Like You                      6. Lick it Up

7. Figured You Out                7. American Band

8. My Sharona                         8. White Wedding

9. Play that Funky Music       9. Man in the Box

10. Miss You                            10. Smoke on the Water

11. Twilight Zone                    11. Come Together

Reserve

1: Old Time R n R            13. Rocky Mountain Way       

2. Crazy Bitch                  14. Paranoid

3. Flirtin with Disaster        15. Pride and Joy

4. Tush                           16. Whiskey in the Jar

5. Helter Skelter             17. Don’t want to miss a thing

6. Dirty Deeds                18. Every Rose

7. Highway to Hell          19. Gimmie Three Steps

8. Mustang Sally             20. Roadhouse Blues

9. Rock n Roll           

10. Sweet Emotion

11. Walk this Way

12. Bad Case of Loving You

So we cancelled some and switched some.  This band was definitely heavier than most bands I've played with.   I think the guitarist was happy with the final product, especially since we made $150 each, and if I'd been unavailable they'd have got zero.  I had the most trouble during guitar solos, since I was on my own!  The band brought quite a contingent of family and friends.  The bar must be really happy with them.  The singer was charismatic, often going right out into the audience.  He helped me out quite a bit.  Tom was really good with cues, too.  It was fun, and it marked the beginning of a string of substitute gigs.

Monami at the Gateway (with playlist)

Last night I got to watch my son's band, The Session Guys, play a gig at the Gateway Center in Newport and it reminded me of Monami's gig at the same location.  His band was playing upstairs, and ours was downstairs....

The Session Guys upstairs at the Gateway

Monami downstairs at the Gateway

This was June of 2012 (really hard to believe it was just a year ago!)  I remember the gig being very strange, because we were TOTALLY the center of attention, and people were sitting down enjoying the music.  It freaked me out a little bit, and I think the others too, because we all made some weird little mistakes at first (I remember specifically having a problem on Rhiannon).  It took us quite a while to get in the zone.  The were a lot of people in the audience, and it took me a long time to go around and talk to everyone when we had a break.  During our final set (bands always have to be done by 10:00pm there) I had these killer stomach cramps.  I'm not really sure how I kept playing!  It's the only time I've experienced that.

I haven't posted a Monami setlist yet, so here's a typical setlist:

-- SET 1 -- Need You Now Here For the Party Before he Cheats Don’t Misunderstand Me Jet Airliner Paris (Ooh LaLa) Gimme 3 Steps My Kinda Party Don’t Stop Believin’ To Make You Feel My Love Long Train China Grove Carry On Wayward Son -- SET 2 -- Who Knew U Give Love Bad Name That Smell Dream On Sweet Emotion Workin...Weekend Sunshine of Your Love Right Here Waiting

SET 2 (cont.) Relentless Hot Blooded Crossroads Kerosene I Run To You Alright Now -- SET 3 -- White Room Goodbye to You Heartbreaker Down on the Corner Heartache Tonight Sober Everybody Wants You Runnin Down a Dream The Thrill is Gone Black Velvet Wild Thing --  Rhiannon?