December 14, 2011:      Throw Off the Yoke

Here’s a great business idea for someone who has that entrepreneurial urge.    It’s guaranteed to be the next big thing.   But first let me give you some background.

The other month Lisa & I were visiting our daughter Hannah up in Ithaca NY where she’s a senior in college.    For those of you who have never been there, Ithaca is very hilly.    As we were trudging up hill back to Hannah’s house, lugging a bunch of heavy bags, I had a brainstorm on how to lighten our load.

Designer yokes.

Now I know that yokes have somewhat of a negative image (e.g., see the above).   In the Bible, we have this reference:

Genesis: 27: 38-40
 
And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father?  Bless me, even me also, O my father.  And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.  And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven above; and by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. 

Talk about bummers, man.    

However, I think enough time has passed that we can cast yokes in a more positive light.   Some bright colors, light weight aerospace materials, 21st century ergonomic designs, etc.   

But before any of that, we need a company name.   We had two ideas.  The first was “The Yoke’s on Us”;  I thought this a little too cutesy (plus your average Joe Consumer would not get the pun.)   The other possible company name is “Yokes for Folks”.  But feel free to choose either or come up with a name of your own.   Now all you need is a good clothing designer, a web site, a third world manufacturer, and a distributor, and you’re all set.

I will gladly accept a small percentage of the profits.

Apropos of nothing in particular, VD King has released a new music video which features some of the best canine choreography I’ve ever seen.   Check it out at http://youtu.be/lEIx4KnAtHU

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And speaking of Messr. King……

Dec 16, Friday, 10:00PM-1:00AM – Better Off Dead at The Great Notch Inn, Route 46, Little Falls  (973) 256-7742
This is being billed as the “Holiday Ho Ho Ho-down & Christmas Cowbell Spectacular”.   There will be a whole bunch of special guests and a whole bunch of raucous fun.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm/
http://www.agreatertown.com/little_falls_nj/great_notch_inn_new_jerseys_rockin_roadhouse_00089580

Dec 29, Thursday, 8:00PM-1:00AM – Nikki Armstrong & Whole Lotta Blues, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42 St (212) 997-4144 
I will be joining forces with Nikki Armstrong and her amazing band in the heart of Times Square.   Note that there are two rooms at BB King’s, we will be playing in Lucille’s Lounge, which is off to the left as you go down the staircase.   There is no cover charge but there may be some minimum to sit at a table.  The food is excellent but just a little on the pricey side (this is in Time Square after all); however you can also hang out at the bar and stay for the price of a beer or soda.
http://www.bbkingblues.com/index.php
http://www.myspace.com/nikkiarmstrongbands
http://www.nikkiarmstrong.com/

November 10, 2011:      Shocking News

According to wikipedia, 

Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire.

You’re noticing that I emphasized that last section.  Like many of you, we were without electricity for three days after the recent meteorological, umm,  “event”.   It was actually not too bad.   We ate out at a diner, got home, put on strap on forehead flashlights that we bought at Home Depot (watch out coal miners), got under the covers, read until 10 or so, and went to sleep.   I wouldn’t want to make a habit out of it, but for three days it was an interesting break in the old routine.

Interesting historical fact.   In the early 1900s, there was a fierce competition between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over what technology would be used for distributing electricity to households   Edison was in favor of DC current (the kind that comes out of your AA batteries), while Westinghouse was pushing AC (the kind that comes out of your wall).   Westinghouse won the day.   However, in an attempt to prove how dangerous AC current was, in 1903 Edison electrocuted an elephant using AC electricity.   As bizarre as this sounds, it actually happened.  I’m not going to link it here so as not to offend the easily offended, but they filmed the occasion – and a quick web search will bring it up for your viewing pleasure.

Meanwhile, our street looked like a disaster area what with all the trees and branches that fell down.   The sound of chain saws has been echoing throughout our neighborhood over the last week like a bunch of drunken yodelers. I’m old fashioned and prefer to use a hand saw, but I have to confess to borrowing my neighbor’s chain saw to dispose of some large limbs that fell down in our back yard.   Dang, those things are really loud close up.   Sort of like like rock & roll…

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November 13 Sunday, 9ish to 11ish PM – Big City Blues Show,  Kenny’s Castaways, 157 Bleecker Street NYC, NY 10012 (917) 475.1323
This is sort of a combination mini blues festival & award ceremony being sponsored by the Big City Blues Magazine and hosted by Dave Fields.  I ran out of fingers but I’m counting 14 acts starting at 3:00 and each act gets roughly 30 minutes.   I am scheduled to play with Arthur Neilson at 10:00 and Nikki Armstrong at 10:35, but things could start a little earlier or later.   But no matter when you show up you will hear some great music.
http://www.bigcitybluesmag.com/
http://www.fieldsmusic.com

November 19, Saturday, 7:00-9:00ish PM – The Two Erics, Ruthie’s BBQ, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
Your host and head chef Eric Kaplan has acquired a new National Steel guitar – we’re gonna see how well it blends with my piano.   Eric picks an eclectic mix of blues & folk.  BTW – Ruthie’s got a nice review on our local Montclair blog:  http://www.baristanet.com/2011/11/pizza-for-brunch-live-jazz-and-a-ruthies-giveaway/    Unlike the summer shows, this one is indoors, so unless we have another unusual weather event, I’m expecting you.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/

November 26, Saturday, 9:00 PM -1:00 AM – Arthur Neilson at Robin’s Nest Rhythm and Blues, 3103 Tremley Point Road, Linden, NJ, 07036 (908) 290-3090
I get to play twice with Arthur in one month.  Yes!   For those of you have not been there, Robin’s Nest is this neat little club tucked away in an unpretentious neighborhood in Linden.
http://www.arthurneilson.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linden-NJ/Robins-Nest-Rhythm-and-Blues-RNRB/178750518562
http://www.robinsnestrhythmandblues.com/

September 21, 2011:      Flood

Flood
   by James Joyce

Goldbrown upon the sated flood
The rockvine clusters lift and sway;
Vast wings above the lambent waters brood
Of sullen day.

A waste of waters ruthlessly
Sways and uplifts its weedy mane
Where brooding day stares down upon the sea
In dull disdain.

Uplift and sway, O golden vine,
Your clustered fruits to love’s full flood,
Lambent and vast and ruthless as is thine
Incertitude! 

Well.    That was cheery.   I guess Joyce can get away with using “lambent” twice in one 14 line poem – I can’t recall the last time I used it even once.

I can report that we got off lightly in the recent weather.  We took in a little water in the basement – which gave us the impetus to clean out a whole swarm of unidentifiable stuff that has been lying around for years.    With any luck we’ll complete the job before we retire and move into assisted living.

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Sept 22, Thursday, 10:00PM-1:00AM – The Drunken Uglies at The Great Notch Inn, Route 46, Little Falls  (973) 256-7742
The Drunken Uglies?  (I hear you saying).   How did a nice Jewish Boy get associated with this?    Well, usually I play with VD King under the auspices of Better off Dead, but VD likes to mix things up and pull different conglomerations of musicians together – and it seems like every time he does one of these extravaganzas he gives the group a different name.    Anyway, expect to hear some raucous rock & roll and have fun.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm/
http://www.agreatertown.com/little_falls_nj/great_notch_inn_new_jerseys_rockin_roadhouse_00089580

Sept 30, Friday, 7:00-9:00ish PM – “Dueling Pianos”, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
No, not dueling banjos, dueling pianos.   This is more of a cooperative venture.  I will be double billed with Alex Richman, who plays piano and sings wonderfully.  She will shine and I will do my best to keep up.   We will likely do some boogie woogie duets as well.   If the weather is cooperative we will be out on the patio, otherwise we will shoehorn two keybaords inside.   I hear the crab cakes are excellent.  BYOB.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-Richman/157932280913389

October 8 Saturday, 8-9:30 PM – Lunatic Fringe,  Piano’s Bar & Grill, 36 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (973) 743-7208  Reservations: (973) 429-1527
They’re ba-a-ck.   It’s the first show of Lunatic Fringe’s 15th season and (if our collective memories serve us correctly) my 8th season as the ‘keyboardist in residence’.   Laughter will ensue.  I believe that the cover charge is $12, $10 with a reservation – but you can call to make sure.
http://www.pianosbarandgrill.com
http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53938723078&ref=ts

August 4, 2011:      Nature is Cruel

I’m a big fan of TV nature shows.   Give me a bunch of hyenas and lions fighting over a haunch of zebra and I’m a happy camper.   

However, you don’t have to go to Africa or some other exotic location to watch the life and death struggle of predator and prey; you can see it right in our own front yard.  I am referring, of course, to the Cicada Killer Wasp (the predator) vs. the Cicada (the prey).   Every summer we see these vicious looking wasp creatures flying around our house.    Eventually, they will catch a cicada and paralyze it with their stingers.   Then they dig a hole next to our sidewalk (leaving a large mound of dirt in the process),  lay their eggs in the poor cicada’s body, and bury it in the hole.   Then they fly around guarding their offspring to insure that a new generation of wasps will plague us next summer.   If you ever watched the movie Alien you can guess what happens when the eggs hatch.

Cicada Killers are actually harmless to humans, but they sure are scary looking.

If you’re looking for more details, there’s an informative (and vaguely amusing) article on the local Montclair blog:  http://www.baristanet.com/2011/07/sex-and-death-in-baristaville/

Now, bring on those Great White Sharks hunting the seals….

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August 5, Friday, Sometime, somewhere, some band – Private Party 
Sorry, you’re not invited.   You’re gonna miss a great time.

August 27, Saturday, 7:00-9:00ish PM – Ben & the Franklins at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
Our June show was rained out,  hopefully we’ll have better luck this time as Ben & the Franklin’s makes a triumphant return to Ruthie’s. We’ve worked up a bunch of new times, but will still do the old favorites.    “Natalie Would” anyone?  Call ahead if the weather is iffy.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/

August 31, Wednesday, 8:30-11:30 PM – Arthur Neilson,  Hill Country BBQ, 30 W 26th St, New York, NY 10010 (212) 255-42544 
Our June show was re-scheduled, so now I’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from not playing with Arthur for nearly 5 months.   Hill Country BBQ is a great listening room – and there will be some great music to listen to. There’s no cover charge.  The food is super, but if you’re not hungry you can still come and hang out.
http://www.hillcountryny.com/home.php
http://www.arthurneilson.com/

July 1, 2011:      Edges

I have a new lawn toy to play with – a battery powered string edger.  And not any old edger.  It’s a top of the line Black & Decker with an extra heavy duty battery.   Boy, do our edges look great.   People come from all over town just to admire the those neat lines delineating the boundary between sidewalk and grass.   But I digress.   This month I have a more relaxed schedule, so I can catch up on practicing the Bach 3 Part Inventions.  I’m up to number V – for those of you who are keeping track.

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July 1, Friday, 9:30PM-1:30 AM – The Rockin Daddies,  Carucci’s, 495 Saddle River Rd., Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 (201) 909-0611  
I’ve been looking to play with these guys for the longest time but our schedules just weren’t clicking.   But finally… we’ve found a date that works for everyone.  I can’t vouch that all of The Rockin Daddies actually have children, but I can report that they have sired some great music (metaphorically speaking that is).   Featuring Mike Olivieri on guitar & vocals, Dan Clark on bass, and Gary Schwartz on drums, the Rockin Daddies do a mixture of early rock & roll, rockabilly roots music, and New Orleans styles.  
hhttp://www.caruccis.com/index.html
http://rockindaddies.site88.net/

July 16, Saturday, 7:00-9:30ish PM – Eric Heilner at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
It’s a Saturday Night at Ruthie’s, the food is outstanding, and I’ll be by my lonesome self cranking out that good old boogie woogie piano.  If the weather is nice I’ll be outside, if it’s raining I’ll be likely inside.  Call ahead just to make sure and BYOB.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/

June 8, 2011:      It never rains but it pours

“…it never rains but it pours
Ee do ba be
Ee da ba ba ba
Um bo bo
Be lap“

So sayeth David Bowie and Freddie Mercury.   Very profound words indeed – or at at least in the context of the full song “Under Pressure”.

For me, “it never rains but it pours” has a very different meaning this month.  This Friday, June 10th, I am doing a rare double header.   At 7:00 PM sharp I will be playing at Ruthie’s BBQ in scenic central Montclair with Jump, Shuffle, and Moan..    At 9:00 sharp I will cease playing, pack up my gear, rush uptown to the Great Notch Inn on Route 46, set up my equipment and at 10:00 sharp (or thereabouts) I will be playing with Better Off Dead.  In preparation for this epic event I have been in intensive training.   Perhaps you’ve seen me jogging around town, doing extra sit-ups & pushups, running up the steps of the Montclair City Hall (cue in the theme song to Rocky)…

Not.

BTW – All political leanings aside, am I the only one who has heard enough of Anthony Weiner on the news to last several lifetimes? 

June 10, Friday, 7:00-9:00ish PM – Shuffle, Jump, & Moan at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
Lead singer & guitarist Rob Signorile always pulls together a great band.  This Friday we will have the dynamic rhythm section of Matt Patuto on drums, Adam Gustavson on bass, and yours truly on keys, along with Larry Lipshultz on harmonica.  We’ll be doing mostly mid and up tempo blues classics mixed in with a few obscure gems. As always, the shows at Ruthie’s are outdoors, so if the weather is uncertain, so please call first and BYOB.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/
http://www.shufflejumpandmoan.com

June 10, Friday, 10:00PM-1:00AM – Better off Dead at The Great Notch Inn, Route 46, Little Falls  (973) 256-7742
If the weather is good, “The Notch” is gonna be jumping this Friday.   Bring your dancing shoes and your happy face.
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm/
http://www.agreatertown.com/little_falls_nj/great_notch_inn_new_jerseys_rockin_roadhouse_00089580

June 11 Saturday, 8-9:30 PM – Lunatic Fringe,  Piano’s Bar & Grill, 36 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (973) 743-7208  Reservations: (973) 429-1527
It’s the last show of the season (sob) and it’s the last chance before the fall for “Big Daddy” Carl to get his act together, walk three blocks, and come see his good buddy play.  I don’t know quite why, but I’m anticipating some “weiner” jokes during the course of the evening.  Cover charge is $12, $10 with a reservation. 
http://www.pianosbarandgrill.com
http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53938723078&ref=ts

Jan 18, Saturday, 9:00PM-12:30ish AM – Better off Dead at Robin’s Nest Rhythm and Blues, 3103 Tremley Point Road, Linden, NJ, 07036 (908) 290-3090
It’s a Better off Dead extravaganza this month.    
http://www.betteroffdead.com/home.htm/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linden-NJ/Robins-Nest-Rhythm-and-Blues-RNRB/178750518562
http://www.robinsnestrhythmandblues.com/

June 24, Friday, 7:00-9:00ish PM – Ben & the Franklins at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair  (973) 509-1134
After a lengthy lay off, Ben & the Franklin’s makes a triumphant return to Ruthie’s.   This version of “the Franklins” will feature the same dynamic rhythm section as Shuffle, Jump, & Moan (you’ll have to look back to the June 10th show if you’ve forgotten) along with Rich Reiter on sax and some other special guests.   Call ahead if the weather is iffy.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/
http://www.shufflejumpandmoan.com

June 25, Saturday, 7-8:30ish PM – “Just Janis” – Janis Joplin Tribute, Café Wha, 115 MacDougal Street New York, NY 10012 (212) 254-9393 Ext. 7  
Café Wha is the legendary hangout for many seminal Musicians from the 1960s & 1970s.   This tribute to the life and music of Janis Joplin will feature the incomparable Nikki Armstrong who will welcome in the “Summertime” and grab a Piece of your Heart!  Doors open at 6:15 PM and the show starts at 7:00 PM.   $10 in advance, $12 at the door
http://www/cafewha.com/
http://www.myspace.com/nikkiarmstrongbands
http://www.nikkiarmstrong.com/

June 29, Wednesday, 8:30-11:30 PM – Arthur Neilson,  Hill Country BBQ, 30 W 26th St, New York, NY 10010 (212) 255-42544 
I’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms from not playing with Arthur for nearly 3 months.   Hill Country BBQ is a great listening room – and there will be some great music to listen to.   There’s no cover charge.  The food is super, but if you’re not hungry you can still come and hang out.
http://www.hillcountryny.com/home.php
http://www.arthurneilson.com/