It was Johnny Cash tribute night at the Tree House and the man in black was tributed a single song, by me. Oh well, maybe we should have a Roz King tribute next week.
1. Leo – He traded in his old guitar for a new one and it sounded awesome.
2. Cynthia – She played a few slower songs than she has in the past
3. Ben Garvey – I worked on Johnny Cash’s “Big River” for two days, but couldn’t put it together in time so I played “Folsom Prison Blues.” Maybe Big River will be ready next week. I also played “I Hope I Die on the Moon,” “Thesis,” John Prine’s “That’s the Way the World Goes Round,” and “Why Now Satan” for the soundcheck.
4. Sarah Allen – Sarah brought out a bunch of people and sounded great as usual.
5. Bob Michel – I was glad to see Bob come back again. I had trouble getting his guitar sounding loud enough through the mic and I think its because the bass boost was off. Next time I’ll know.
6. Chris Emerle – Chris helped me out with the sound in the begining and likes to have the mic turned up so he can sing down into it. He was making songs up on the spot and toyed with the idea of playing “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails, but decided not to.
7. Willie Tapps – He busted out a few protest songs to show his disapproval of the war. By then I had the bass boost turned on and the guitar sounded great.
8. Jack Sparks – I made a lame joke about how Jack and I went to the same high school and that I used to give him wedgies in the locker room. Jack played Toad the Wet Sprocket’s “Walk on the Ocean” and half of “Runaway Train” by Soul Asylum, which reminded me of how my old roommate said he used to want to have Dave Pirner’s hair.
9. Dom – I feel like a jerk because Dom stops by the Tree House open mic all the time, but I have yet to attend his at Port City Java in Deptford.
10. Tony Desantis – Tony also played a few protest songs along with this original where he sings in French. I bought his CD, but I haven’t listened to it yet.
11. Maria – It was nice to see Maria out again. Tony and I were talking during her first song and Tony said she reminded him of a young Ani Difranco. I smiled when she followed the first song with an Ani cover. I’ve barely listened to Ani Difranco at all, so it’s all new to me. I liked it.
12. Ete – He did one song that had a Jeff Buckley vibe.
13. Lisa – Ete and Lisa came up to do a song and despite the tiny bit of feedback coming through, they sounded great together. I got the impression they don’t play very often and I think they definitely should.