As I write this I am bristling with anticipation because I’m going to be on my way to see DAVE ALVIN and LOS STRAITJACKETS at Club Helsinki in Hudson in an hour. As my regular readers know, I’ve been touting the merits of this show for the last 3 weeks, and now it’s finally here. I’ll be looking forward to seeing my old friend, Dave, and the guys in Los Straitjackets, again, who are also friends, but there will be a touch of sadness in it for me because this is the first time I’ve hung with Dave since the passing of our dear friend, Chris Gaffney, a few years ago. Chris was Dave’s partner in crime for many years, and I am proud to have counted him as a friend. We had a lot of good times together all over the country, and Chris was also a major talent in his own right (check out his band, Chris Gaffney and The Cold Hard Facts). Chris and The CHF were one of the bands that kept my own band, The Brooklyn Cowboys, out of the #1 position on the Americana Music charts, a few years back, but after that we met and became fast friends. I owe my friendship with Dave to Chris, and I really miss him. RIP buddy.
We’ve got a couple of cool shows coming up this week at The Bearsville Theater, starting tonight, June 23, with TODD RUNDGREN. Todd will be bringing his crack band with him, which includes area resident Jesse Gress on guitar, longtime bass player, Kasim Sulton, and Prairie Prince, formerly of The Tubes and Jefferson Starship, on drums. Every one of these guys is world class on his instrument, and this will be rockin’!
Two days later, on June 25, TUBA SKINNY, returns to The Bearsville Theater. Tuba Skinny is a new band, at least to me, but I have heard amazing reviews of their past shows, so I’m very interested in checking these guys out. I don’t know what to expect, but from what I’ve heard, you won’t be disappointed.
And if you’re in the mood for a road trip, WILCO brings it’s SOLID SOUND FESTIVAL to North Adams, Mass., on the weekend of June 24-26. Wilco, The Levon Helm Band, Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth, and 20 other bands, comedians, and other interesting acts will be appearing. For more info, visit www.massmoca.org.
For you musicians out there, there’s a pretty cool open jam that takes place every Friday night in the summer at the home of my friends’ Steve and Dona Crawford in Olivebridge. All are welcome. They have drums and a PA, so all you have to bring is your axe and amp. On the third Friday of every month, Charlie Blumstein brings his home made, portable pizza oven and serves up the best pizza this side of Brooklyn! In nice weather, the stage is outside, but last week, the third Friday of this month, it rained, so the Pizza Jam will be this Friday night, June 24. Steve and Dona’s address is 49 Weber Lane, Olivebridge, NY 12461 and the jam starts around 7:30. More information can be found on Facebook at the Pizza Jam page. Once on Facebook, just search for “Pizza Jam”, and it will come up.
That’s about it for this week. It’s time to turn off the computer and get ready to rock!
We’ve got a couple of cool shows coming up this week at The Bearsville Theater, starting tonight, June 23, with TODD RUNDGREN. Todd will be bringing his crack band with him, which includes area resident Jesse Gress on guitar, longtime bass player, Kasim Sulton, and Prairie Prince, formerly of The Tubes and Jefferson Starship, on drums. Every one of these guys is world class on his instrument, and this will be rockin’!
Two days later, on June 25, TUBA SKINNY, returns to The Bearsville Theater. Tuba Skinny is a new band, at least to me, but I have heard amazing reviews of their past shows, so I’m very interested in checking these guys out. I don’t know what to expect, but from what I’ve heard, you won’t be disappointed.
And if you’re in the mood for a road trip, WILCO brings it’s SOLID SOUND FESTIVAL to North Adams, Mass., on the weekend of June 24-26. Wilco, The Levon Helm Band, Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth, and 20 other bands, comedians, and other interesting acts will be appearing. For more info, visit www.massmoca.org.
For you musicians out there, there’s a pretty cool open jam that takes place every Friday night in the summer at the home of my friends’ Steve and Dona Crawford in Olivebridge. All are welcome. They have drums and a PA, so all you have to bring is your axe and amp. On the third Friday of every month, Charlie Blumstein brings his home made, portable pizza oven and serves up the best pizza this side of Brooklyn! In nice weather, the stage is outside, but last week, the third Friday of this month, it rained, so the Pizza Jam will be this Friday night, June 24. Steve and Dona’s address is 49 Weber Lane, Olivebridge, NY 12461 and the jam starts around 7:30. More information can be found on Facebook at the Pizza Jam page. Once on Facebook, just search for “Pizza Jam”, and it will come up.
That’s about it for this week. It’s time to turn off the computer and get ready to rock!