Kingdom Dixie at the NCC

The Newport Country Club hosted Kingdom Dixie as part of the Newport VT Jazz Festival.  We were scheduled to be outside, but it was so hot that they decided we should be inside.  I think it worked out well for them, since many in the audience bought food and drink.  In the morning Richard called me and asked me to bring my PA - I worried that it might not work.  Setup was pretty frantic, and I didn't get a chance to check it much.  It barely amplified anything.

I was SO TIRED, and SO VERY RELIEVED when Richard called for a break.  We had to add a few tunes to finish out the two hours.  I had a V8 and figured out the PA (had to crank everything, including the equalizer).  Also bought a coffee.  Felt better for the second half.

We had Dan Ryan playing with us.  He did a great job, especially considering he didn't know most of the tunes.  He read Chris' music and I tried to help him with cues.  Woody hadn't played in a few days, so had Chris play a solo part in one tune.  I have GOT to learn that melody part that I have in one of the songs - I always skip it.

This may be our last gig for the year.....

Gigs on August 8

I had two gigs on August 8, 2015.  The first was at noon with the NCUHS Jazz Band.  My car was completely full of equipment, but when I arrived I found out that we didn't need most of it.  That was a hassle, but ok.  The sound guys finished setting up and we took over.  The stage was more crowded than this group is used to, and we didn't have enough stands (my fault for not telling the people absent from rehearsal; not my fault for the one who forgot).  I read music over Johna's shoulder.  In addition to her, we had Saige, Braxton, Cody, Rachel, Desiree, Olivia, Brianna, Julianna, Joe, Jon, Ely, and Chandler.  No trumpets!

• I Saw Her Standing Ther
• Piano Man
• All About the Blues
• Skyfall
• Sticks*
• American Patrol*
• Fever
• Tequila

*Time permitting

We had plenty of time to play everything.  Johna was sight-reading Sticks and American Patrol, and was missing a page from Tequila!  I think it went well though.  The sound guy in charge said another jazz band played the previous day, but we KILLED it!

Earlier in the day we went to a Bernard Purdie clinic.  I learned some things by seeing him play - he kept his left foot with the beat, even when not playing the hi-hat, and he kept his ride near his hi-hat so he could use them both easily with his right hand.

After the Jazz Band gig I rushed off to a family reunion, then rushed off to a wedding reception in Coventry.  Big Whiskey Social Club was partly set up before I got there, and I set up after eating.  It was in a big garage, and was a good crowd to play for.  Same set list we've been using.  I was going to write down the problem spots, but I don't remember much.  I know I came in on one tune with an A instead of an E because I'd just switched basses - not a mistake I'd make unless I was tired.  Gimme Two Steps was interesting - Stu didn't remember who sang it so he and John both ended up singing the first verse.  Overall we played really well.

On a BOAT!

On August 6 Kyle and I played 60's tunes on a boat.  Paul Decelles asked me to provide background music, so I asked Kyle if he wanted to do this.  We worked out a list, rehearsed a few times and performed.  I sang lots of backup, and even some lead.  Actually, I practiced more lead than I actually sang, but this was another small step towards becoming a more complete musician.  This was so much fun - looking out over the lake on this beautiful evening and getting paid for playing these fun tunes.  It was over far too quickly!

Sloop John B	Beach Boys
Help Me Rhonda	Beach Boys
Long Cool Woman	The Hollies
Down on the Corner	CCR
Proud Mary	CCR
Little Sister	Elvis
Runaround Sue	Dion
Merct Mercy Mercy	The Buckinghams
She Caught the Katy	Taj Mahal
Feelin Alright	Traffic
Michelle	Beatles
I Feel Fine	Beatles
Daydream	Lovin Spoonful
Happy Together (I sang lead on this one!)	Turtles
My Girl	Temptations
Runaway	Del Shannon
She's Not There	The Zombies
Homeward Bound	Simon & Garfunkel
I'm A Believer	The Monkees
Sittin On the Dock of the Bay	Otis Redding
I Heard It Through the Grapevine	Marvin Gaye
Good Golly Miss Molly	Little Richard

Summer Beach Concert!

The NCUHS BAND played at Prouty Beach on August 5, 2015.  Alex C and Zach R helped bring stuff over and setup went pretty fast, with on and off rain.  The rain started at about the same and got REALLY bad a few times.  I got soaked, but most of the kids did not, because they weren't on the edge of the tent - except Dasha & Brianna, who got pretty wet before I had them move back a row. It was really nice that we had community members Judy, Ron, and Jason playing, as well as college student Brianna on clarinet. Torie was the youngest musician there, on xylophone & bells.

In the last rehearsal Nathan B. had a melody by himself, which made him pretty nervous.  I promised him that he'd have help, and when we got to that spot Joe joined him and played nice and loud.  Great moment. When the wind blew the drummers music just as a soli began, they dealt with it and got through. The trumpets kinda missed a section in the Hobbit.

Jumpin’ at the Woodside - Basie, arr. Lowden

When I’m 64 - Lennon/McCartney, arr. Jennings

Procession of the Sorcerors - Robert Buckley

Symphonic Chorale for Band - Eric Osterling  <>

Suite from the Hobbit, Mvt 1, 3, 4 -  <>
Howard Shore, arr. Douglas E. Wagner

Our Director - FE Bigelow, ed. John Boyd

Happy - Pharrell Williams, arr. Ishbah Cox

BWSC at CCC

Big Whiskey Social Club played for "Ron's Fire Recovery" fundraiser at the Coventry Community Center for about 75 people.  It was a good gig, even though we hadn't played together in quite some time.  I found out the their alternate bassist has not been able to rehearse with them, and I agreed that I'd stick around.  I'm not a big fan of the music, but I enjoy playing with these guys.  The set list was the same as the last few gigs.  I think I played really well, with only a few issues:

• Honky Tonk BeDonkadonk - used the Fender, tuned down and screwed up some of the low F#'s and G's.
• There's an ending with a run that I left out because I couldn't remember it, but I'm not convinced it's being done correctly.  I'm going to have to figure it out.

Great night, though, overall.

Conducting the NCAVB

Last night I conducted the Newport City Area Volunteer Band.  I rehearsed with them on Monday, sight-reading the scores because Peter was sick.  He was hoping he felt better by Thursday and I planned on playing trumpet but he did not feel better, so I picked up the equipment and music and was able to study the music a little in the afternoon.

O CANADA / STAR SPANGLED BANNER

SABRE DANCE - Everyone repeated!  There was just a little blip when someone attempted to play.  It went really well, although the decrescendo at the end didn't really happen.  Dynamics don't really happen much with this group, I suppose.

SING FOR AMERICA

THE GENIUS OF PAUL SIMON (new) - This is a pretty big arrangement, and I was concerned about the different tempos but it went fine.  The flutist came in on the wrong beat at one point and the clarinet had tried to stay with me but most of the band followed her.  I ended up adding a beat - not sure if anyone noticed.  Maybe Saige.

SEMPER FIDELIS March

SHENANDOAH

THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Very big arrangement, over ten minutes long.  I listened to it on Youtube and that helped.  I think the trumpets started in 4/4 but it was in cut time, so we didn't  We skipped some measures to make it a bit shorter and almost got through unscathed,

THE SYNCOPATED CLOCK - I love this tune.  The "alarm" section was supposed to be with a triangle, but they hit the cymbal instead, which was fine I suppose.  We rushed the ending a bit, since it had started to rain.  As soon as we were done, the clouds opened up and dumped buckets of rain down, causing a little panic.  I calmly turned and announced to the few people still on the benches that we'd be ending!

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE

THE SLOOP ‘JOHN B’ 

Theme from SUPERMAN 

STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER March 

Independence Day 2015

My day started with organizing music and loading my car with boxes of music and lyres, drums, and a bari sax.  I also loaded Deb's car with my amplifier and the acoustic bass.  We dropped that car off at NCUJHS and then went to the Elk's Club.  There I opened up the trunk and waited for everyone to show up.  The last member showed up with only two minutes left, and he had to walk from Louis Garneau. He played bass drum, so I'm really glad he made it.  When we first got going, the drummers couldn't remember the very simple soundoff that they've used since the fifth grade, but after a few tries they got it....and the band didn't come in.  So I decided to count off.  That worked, and everyone started, though at different speeds.  It didn't take me long to realize they needed me conducting, so I walked backwards and conducted them through Happy, Louie Louie, and 7-Nation Army.  They sounded better than last year, although there weren't as many students (we had 18 this year, 25 or so last year).  The band was made up of a 7th grader, a parent, two 2015 graduates, one 2014 graduate, and the rest were current students.

When we finished the parade, I was pretty tired.  I sat in the car with my bass gear and tried to sleep, but really couldn't.  I found where Kingdom Dixie was going to play and got set up.  I only used the bottom speaker, and it's still overkill.  I need an amp that will fit under my chair.  This lineup of Kingdom Dixie is the regular lineup (Howie/clarinet, Richard/trumpet, Woody/trombone, Pete/Tenor, Chris/Guitar, me/bass) but with Brett playing drumset.  He used a really small kit with no toms.  He had a splash and a cowbell, though, and used those effectively.  John has basically quit KD at this point, because he doesn't want any summer weekend gigs. Brett's tempo is really solid, and his fills are great, so I really like having him playing.

Sleep All Night - Harry, Chandler, and Alex

My last gig as a member of Soul Kingdom happened later that night, at Gardner Park.  During the KD gig, Chandler texted me that there was no PA system.  This was a big deal, since Kyle had another gig and had his PA with him.  I had a hard time believing that there was no PA, but when we went down to see Sleep All Summer (formerly the Session Guys), I could see and hear that they'd cobbled something together.  They sounded fine, although their volume was really low.  We listened to three songs (they did a "punk-pop" version of Cruise, but nobody got the joke!) and then headed to NCUHS, where Deb & I dropped off the marching stuff and picked up band's PA system, which is really only used for rehearsal, but would hopefully be better than nothing.  I was lucky that I found out there was no PA before 5:00, when my key to the school would no longer work.  We got back to Gardner Park at about 6:30 to see that the band before us, the Hit Men, had a pretty complicated setup.  Larry Beaudry was playing guitar, and they sounded good (esp Larry and the keyboard player).  It rained quite a bit during their set.  Partly because of their age and partly because this was their first gig, the Hit Men took forever to tear down.  They had already played about 20 minutes longer than their time, but that wasn't their fault.  Jess asked them to play longer so the hula contest could have music.  She wasn't concerned about time to switch bands, figuring it was no big deal.  Travis and Gene both said not to bother with monitors, so I turned the speakers in just a bit.  Gene didn't have a mic and brought this up after almost everything was set up, but luckily I'd grabbed the clip-on mics from the school.  Travis didn't have a tuner, so tuned with my pedal, which didn't quite work right, probably because it's made for bass.  Because of that time, and tear down/set-up, we started after 9:00 and only played a fraction of our songs.  The PA couldn't put out enough volume for Travis' voice, even though we kept turning it up.  Brett and I grooved, though, and if everything had been balanced things would have sounded great.  However, people still got into it.  The crowd was dancing and loving it.  Especially the guy who always leans on the corner of the stage and a 12-year girl who stood in front of Gene and screamed the whole time.  I'm glad we grooved, because I was concerned about our lack of guitar - Travis played, but he's just not a lead guitarist - and our lack of practice.  Brett really knows his stuff, and I'd practiced plenty.  I think Gene was reading Emily's music instead of playing his parts, although I'm not sure.  Emily lost her lip at one point, I think, but got it back again.  In the end we only played SIX SONGS.  It reminded me of two years ago (http://mrprue.blogspot.com/2013_07_01_archive.html) when the bed races cut us off, but this was much worse.

When I talked to Andy after packing up, he mentioned that he really liked the band.  He didn't have the check ready, and it could be a week before we get paid.  I already wrote checks to the bandmembers because that way they wouldn't have to chase down any money.  I'm going to meet with him to suggest the city rent sound equipment.  I'd be willing to do sound.  It sounds like he definitely wants Soul Kingdom to headline again next year.  I won't be with the band, but there needs to be a guarantee that they can play their allotted time!

KINGDOM DIXIE setlist
We skipped some at the end, since the crowd was breaking up and 3/4 of the lips were getting tired.

1 Panama

2 Muskrat Ramble

3 Mapleleaf Rag

4 Blizzard Head Blues

5 High Society

6 Basin Street Blues

7 Livery Stable Blues

8 Darktown Strutters Ball

9 Sugar Foot Stomp

10 When My Sugar Walks Down The Street

11 Tin Roof Blues

12 Don’t Mean a Thing (if you don’t have that swing)

13 Millenburg Joys

14 That’s a Plenty

15 I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

16 Randolph Strut

17 High Society

18 After Your Gone

SOUL KINGDOM setlist

1. Soul Finger (good groove, weak beginning, Gene was a bit confused when we got to the guitar/bass break)
2. In the Midnight Hour
3. Got to Get You into My Life (felt like it ended quickly)
4. Ain't to Proud to Beg {DID NOT PLAY}
5. I Got You (I feel good)  (Horns didn't hear that we were skipping this one)
6. The Chicken  (sounded great.  I even threw in some double-stops)
7. Let's Stay Together {DID NOT PLAY}
8. Hold On! {DID NOT PLAY}
9. Higher and Higher
10. Low Rider {DID NOT PLAY}
11. Knock on Wood {DID NOT PLAY}
12. Feeling Alright {DID NOT PLAY}
13. Soul Finger outro {DID NOT PLAY}
14. Sweet Home Chicago (added; not sure we were in the key that Emily had)
15. Star-Spangled Banner (Gene played on his soprano.  Had a few squeaks, but sounded good)

The Gig that Wasn't

I was asked to sub with ETA for a gig at the VFW in Hyde Park.  I met Kyle at his house and we rode down together.  At this point I'd quit Soul Kingdom so we were able to discuss that at length.  However, when we arrived the bartender told us there was no party there.  Kyle tried calling people, but no word.  Travis and Adam arrived and they both tried calling people too.  It appears like there was a party but it was at the VFW in Morrisville, and they had a DJ.  Not good! I was surprised to learn that this was the 1st time this had ever happened to ETA.

Travis headed home, but Kyle, Adam and I stopped in at Lost Nation for food & beer.  Still a good night.

BWSC at the Elk's Club

Big Whiskey Social Club's gig at the Elk's Club on 6/12/15 was interesting.  Setup was easy, since we went in through a loading door.  Andre was raised up behind us.  I didn't get a monitor - it was on the other side of Stu.  The gig happened after a long day of grading exams.  I was so tired by the end of this gig.  Only like thirty people were there.  We won't get another gig there.  I only have three gigs left with BWSC.

SET ONE
Drink in my hand - Stu
Watermelon Crawl - Stu	Something weird happened at the end.
Little less talk - Stu
Cocaine Blues - Stu
I hold on - John
Sweet Home Alabama - Andre
Born on a Bayou - Stu
Sunshine and Whiskey - Andre	We didn't get the right order of words, but it didn't matter.   Just follow Andre!
Big Green Tractor - Stu
Friday night - Andre
God bless Texas - Stu
Six days on the road - Stu

SET TWO
Neon light - Andre
Cruise - John
achy breaky heart - Stu
Something about a truck - Stu
Country Girl - John
Folsom Prison - Roger
Can't You See? - Stu
How I got to be this way- Bill
Take a little ride - Stu
Wagon Wheel - Stu	too slow
My kind of night - Andre
Booze Cruise - Stu

SET THREE
Parking Lot Party - Andre
Save a horse - John
Homegrown Honey - Stu
Aw naw - Bill	Started on the wrong pitch.  Couldn't hear well.
Sweet Caroline - Stu
5-1-5-0 - Stu
In the AM - John
Turn the Page - Stu
Boys 'round here - Stu
Red Solo Cup - Andre	skipped
Family tradition - Stu
Honky Tonk Be-donk-e-donk - Stu

SET FOUR
Copperhead Road - Stu
Ain't Worth the Whiskey
Chicken Fried
Coming to your City - John
Gimme Three Steps - Stu (FILL)
Good hearted woman	skipped
Move it on over (G) - Stu	skipped
That's alright momma - John	skipped
Call me the Breeze - John	skipped
Who do you love - John (FILL)	skipped
REPEAT
REPEAT

Pops Concert

I was blown away at the students' enthusiasm for dressing up in costumes!  Anyhow, here's my post regarding the concert: http://pruemusic.weebly.com/mr-prues-band-blog/pops-concert-recap.

It says this:

I was definitely surprised and impressed with all of the movie costumes!

STAR WARS
We started out of tune, especially the intro and every time we jumped up in the melody.  A bit messy at the coda.  I didn't think we'd be able to hear the trumpets when they got the melody alone, but they got there.  Dynamics are definitely present.  We can do even more though!

ROCKY
I surprised our recorder - I meant to tell him that we strung the songs together!  I love hearing applause at the beginning of the piece.  That surprised me!  Trumpets were quite loud, although I think it was mostly due to one trumpet holding up his bell.  Love the dialogue between brass & woodwind.  We started slowing down a bit in the end section, but fixed it.  We must have been loud, as I could not hear the fire alarm going off.

LOTR - the Two Towers
Nice dynamics.  Good following on the dynamic changes.  The oboe solo comes through nice and clearly.  Trumpets played triplets instead of 16th notes (we're the only ones who would know that!)  It builds up nicely to the gong.  I wish the gong was bigger and a bit lower-sounding.  Nice sax melody on the slow, quiet part.  French horns & flutes did well with Gollum's tune.  I conducted it pretty freely, and the group followed well.  The ending worked out nicely, especially in the timp & trumpets.

SHAFT
Good rhythm in the beginning from the tenors & clarinets.  We may have been a bit fast - flutes/clarinets had a hard time with the quick rhythm.  Nice bongos.  Good entrances from everyone.  Nice roll & fill.  Trumpet echos a bit weak.  Great trombones.  Nice staccato melody.  Awesome trombone countermelody!  Good dynamics in Soulsville.  Good bass solo.  Good balance throughout.  Nice 16th note rhythm in the trumpets, and I love it when the flutes & 1st clarinets come in!  Trumpets, we needed to work on those hits more - you seem hesitant.

DRY YOUR TEARS, AFRICA
I was surprised at how well-balanced this was.  We missed a lot of the rhythms, but the chorus covered for us!  Well-done watching on this.  Great ending.

NCUHS Spring Concert

Well, I think it went alright.  People say it was the best ever, but I've heard that before.  As I think about it, the band really did do quite well.

• GRAND SERENADE for an AWFUL LOT OF WINDS & PERCUSSION was written by Peter Shickele as PDQ Bach.  Comedy piece.  I ran out to conduct after the band started without me.  As I started conducted, a weird little soli would happen.  So I pretended to be confused, and turned pages,etc.  It went over pretty well.  In the 2nd mvt a few odd things happend - the french horns didn't play a note, and it was only supposed to be them but the clarinets came in anyhow.  Whew.  Also, the piccolos cam in two measures early, but EVERYONE in the band adjusted with me.  The 3rd movement was the best we'd played it, although a bit slow.  Couldn't really hear the trumpet fanfare that's stuck in towards the end.  Splash cymbal didn't get played; he used the big crash instead ("I couldn't find it!")  The percussion nailed the ending, and that was a big relief.  I think the audience got the joke, too.
• JIHAD BIS SAIF - Saige's piece.  Maybe a little weak start.  Sounded very strong overall, with dynamics that were good (could've done a bit more).  A bit slower than I wanted to go.
• SERENADE FOR SOLO CLARINET, featured Maggie on clarinet.  VERY well done all-around.  I got lost in one part, though.  My mind wandered a bit and I thought SHE was lost.... Being lost then meant that I didn't cue the 3rd trombone or the horns.  I heard the horns come in and it helped me get back on track.
•  METAMORPHOSIS - I didn't conduct.  It was all the Q.  The band played this piece REALLY well.  Dynamics were top-notch.  A few wrong notes here and there.
• UNDERTOW - Didn't get a recording of this one, which is too bad since it was the best we'd played it.  I need to put some instructions on the recording device.  I included the rehearsal recording from the day before.  You hear the front row a bit too much, and the tenor starts to run away at one point, but it's still really good.

Here's the band portion of our Spring Concert. If you'd like the whole concert on a CD, they're available with a $10...
Posted by NCUHS Band on Monday, March 30, 2015

Big Whiskey Social Club at Mona's "Fifty and Fabulous" Party

Big Whiskey Social Club was lucky enough to play at Mona's fiftieth birthday party at the Irasburg Town Hall on 3/14/15.  Overall, we played pretty well.  Our tempos were better than at Brewski's and our set was rounded out by Mona singing some tunes.  However, there was too much space between a lot of songs and as the last set went on we got tired - I'd conducted the jr high festival the night before.

SET ONE

Drink in my hand - Stu

Watermelon Crawl - Stu

Little less talk - Stu - It seems like this one started weird, like John started it instead of Stu.

Cocaine Blues - Stu

I hold on - John

Sweet Home Alabama - Andre

Possibly at this spot in the set Mona joined us.  She started with Landslide, which was just her and John.  Then we played Melissa Etheridge's "Come to my Window."  I read Mona's music.  I think we followed that with Rhiannon.  Mona asked if I was going to sing backup on it and I responded with "Hell, no!"  Even if I could hit the right note, the bass part would have kept me from doing it.  Her last one at this point was Summer of 69.  She read my music, but it was printed so small!

 

Born on a Bayou - Stu

Get rhythm - Stu - I think we skipped this one again.

Big Green Tractor - Stu

Friday night - Andre

God bless Texas - Stu

SET TWO - There was great energy in the room when we played this one.

Kickit in the Sticks - John

Neon light - Andre

Cruise - John - People loved it.

achy breaky heart - St

Something about a truck - Stu

Country Girl - John

Folsom Prison - Stu

Can't You See? - Stu

How I got to be this way- Bill - Much better with the stops and everything.  Still not sure I got the bridge, but Deb even admitted that I sounded ok.

Take a little ride - Stu

Wagon Wheel - Stu - We played this one too slow

My kind of night - Andre

Booze Cruise - Stu- Great one.

SET THREE

Parking Lot Party - Andre

Save a horse - John - people like this one

Homegrown Honey - Stu - much better tempo.  Got all the hits

Mona came up again, and we played Long Train Runnin' and Black Velvet.  Black Velvet was weird because I'm pretty sure we got some chords wrong.  Through all of her pieces, Mona sang with such confidence and strength, even if we weren't playing that way.

Aw naw - Bill - I would still like to hear myself better.  Pretty sure I started on the wrong note (still fit into the chord, but...)

Sweet Caroline - Stu - We switched keys back to Neil's key, but we were getting tired.  John & I kept disagreeing on chords.

5-1-5-0 - Stu

In the AM - John

Turn the Page - Stu - This went well.  I focused on hearing the vocals during John's solo.

Boys 'round here - Stu - Too slow

Red Solo Cup - Andre - This tune isn't going over very well anymore.

Family tradition - Stu

Honky Tonk Be-donk-e-donk - Stu

Copperhead Road - Stu

Ain't Worth the Whiskey

Mona asked us to do Wagon Wheel again.  She jumped up and sang harmonies.  During the tune, I lost power to the effects board.  I unplugged from it and went directly into the amp.

At this point we could have ended, but we played one more, and it was a good one:

Coming to your City - John