I forgot to take the sign up sheet with me as I left on Wednesday, so the order of the performers might be a little off, but I think I at least remembered everyone who played. Read on…
1. Jarrod Schafer – J-Rod’s always good for helping me out with a sound check and this week he did his best Keith Lewis impression. I think a duet is in the works (or should be).
2. Ben Garvey (host) – I played “All My Dreams are in Cartoon” and Nirvana’s “On a Plain,” and then later played Beck’s “Lord Only Knows” and Johnny Cash’s “Big River.”
3. Matt – Snagged the walk-in slot to play some electric guitar and sing his songs.
4. Adam Huber – My good friend Adam played “We’re Going To Be Friends” by the White Stripes and “Starkville City Jail” by Johnny Cash, starting off a night with a few Johnny Cash covers.
5. Steve Flocco – Played some folk tunes on his Ovation.
6. Sarah Allen – I can’t remember what she played exactly, but everyone loved it. Little comments come flying at her from the audience every time I introduce her like, “I want to have your baby” or “I’m choking on your awesomeness.”
7. Phil – Phil played some great, hard, acoustic rock. He and Joe/Jadis have a big chess rivalry going and I’m not sure who is winning.
8. Jadis/Joe – It seems he has to fit that crazy scream into all his songs, or maybe I just didn’t notice it was the same vampire song from the previous week. I’m not sure which name he’d rather go by.
9. Bob Michel – Bob played two good songs on one of his many guitars.
10. Willie Tapps – Told the audience he had to beg me for a third song. He didn’t have to twist my arm too hard.
11. Johnny Q – This week John played an interesting original and a Sinch cover. He even squeeze the word “crunk” in there.
12. Barry Dwier – Barry played his awesome version of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails (via Johnny Cash)
13. Forest Greens – Mike of the Forest Greens began their act as he usually does, by introducing the band and informing the audience that the Forest Greens play Celtic music. This week Mike also meant to say their violin player couldn’t make it due to illness, but instead it came out as “Our girlfriend couldn’t make it tonight because she is sick.”
Now I know why they’ve been practicing so much!
14. Roz King – Has Roz gotten better in the last year? Has anyone else noticed this?
15. Jason Vertucio – Last week I incorrectly stated that Jason borrowed my guitar. This was completely false. In the interests of truth and accurate reporting, I will verify everything I say about Jason in the future, including the fact that he was in a movie with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Source.
16. AJ – Played a blues number that I enjoyed. He and his friend requested a Beck song, but sadly I don’t know any too well from Mutations or Sea Change. I feel like I already play too many Beck songs to justify learning a few more.
17. Jack Sparks – Jack’s “Karma Police” cover always entertains. He mentioned he’s never been to this website and I was surprised since he’s been coming to the open mic for so long.
I forgot to take the sign up sheet with me as I left on Wednesday, so the order of the performers might be a little off, but I think I at least remembered everyone who played. Read on…
1. Jarrod Schafer – J-Rod’s always good for helping me out with a sound check and this week he did his best Keith Lewis impression. I think a duet is in the works (or should be).
2. Ben Garvey (host) – I played “All My Dreams are in Cartoon” and Nirvana’s “On a Plain,” and then later played Beck’s “Lord Only Knows” and Johnny Cash’s “Big River.”
3. Matt – Snagged the walk-in slot to play some electric guitar and sing his songs.
4. Adam Huber – My good friend Adam played “We’re Going To Be Friends” by the White Stripes and “Starkville City Jail” by Johnny Cash, starting off a night with a few Johnny Cash covers.
5. Steve Flocco – Played some folk tunes on his Ovation.
6. Sarah Allen – I can’t remember what she played exactly, but everyone loved it. Little comments come flying at her from the audience every time I introduce her like, “I want to have your baby” or “I’m choking on your awesomeness.”
7. Phil – Phil played some great, hard, acoustic rock. He and Joe/Jadis have a big chess rivalry going and I’m not sure who is winning.
8. Jadis/Joe – It seems he has to fit that crazy scream into all his songs, or maybe I just didn’t notice it was the same vampire song from the previous week. I’m not sure which name he’d rather go by.
9. Bob Michel – Bob played two good songs on one of his many guitars.
10. Willie Tapps – Told the audience he had to beg me for a third song. He didn’t have to twist my arm too hard.
11. Johnny Q – This week John played an interesting original and a Sinch cover. He even squeeze the word “crunk” in there.
12. Barry Dwier – Barry played his awesome version of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails (via Johnny Cash)
13. Forest Greens – Mike of the Forest Greens began their act as he usually does, by introducing the band and informing the audience that the Forest Greens play Celtic music. This week Mike also meant to say their violin player couldn’t make it due to illness, but instead it came out as “Our girlfriend couldn’t make it tonight because she is sick.”
Now I know why they’ve been practicing so much!
14. Roz King – Has Roz gotten better in the last year? Has anyone else noticed this?
15. Jason Vertucio – Last week I incorrectly stated that Jason borrowed my guitar. This was completely false. In the interests of truth and accurate reporting, I will verify everything I say about Jason in the future, including the fact that he was in a movie with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Source.
16. AJ – Played a blues number that I enjoyed. He and his friend requested a Beck song, but sadly I don’t know any too well from Mutations or Sea Change. I feel like I already play too many Beck songs to justify learning a few more.
17. Jack Sparks – Jack’s “Karma Police” cover always entertains. He mentioned he’s never been to this website and I was surprised since he’s been coming to the open mic for so long.
I recently rented The Last Picture Show with Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd. It’s about a town slowly fading away and it’s really interesting. Don’t get turned off by the black and white. It was made in the 70s, but made to look like it was filmed in the 50s. Everything about it feels like an older movie except for what the characters are actually doing. Also, I’ll always remember the middle aged Cybil Shepherd for her work on TV and in the movies, but she’s only 21 in the Last Picture Show and she is gorgeous. She plays the only character you can’t feel sorry for and does a great job with it.
I recently rented The Last Picture Show with Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd. It’s about a town slowly fading away and it’s really interesting. Don’t get turned off by the black and white. It was made in the 70s, but made to look like it was filmed in the 50s. Everything about it feels like an older movie except for what the characters are actually doing. Also, I’ll always remember the middle aged Cybil Shepherd for her work on TV and in the movies, but she’s only 21 in the Last Picture Show and she is gorgeous. She plays the only character you can’t feel sorry for and does a great job with it.
Open mic was fun tonight. The recap will come later, but we had 17 performers once again. I’m begining to think that 15-17 is the perfect number for a 3 hour event. Plus, lots of people seemed to be buying stuff which is good for the house. If you support your local coffee shop, it will stay in business!
I think the Tree House should bring back the Jungle Nut flavored coffee. The Black Velvet just isn’t as good, although a red-eye with the House Blend is still excellent. In case anyone has ever wondered about the various drinks you can get at a coffee shop, here are the basics:
Espresso – A shot of strong coffee brewed by forcing steam under pressure through darkly roasted, powdered coffee beans.
Cappuccino = Espresso + Foamed Milk
Latte = Espresso + Steamed Milk
Americana = Espresso + Hot Water (Who orders this?)
Red-Eye = Espresso + Cup of Coffee
Black-Eye = 2 Shots of Espresso + Cut of Coffee
There are other variations, but most are Espresso + something else.
Open mic was fun tonight. The recap will come later, but we had 17 performers once again. I’m begining to think that 15-17 is the perfect number for a 3 hour event. Plus, lots of people seemed to be buying stuff which is good for the house. If you support your local coffee shop, it will stay in business!
I think the Tree House should bring back the Jungle Nut flavored coffee. The Black Velvet just isn’t as good, although a red-eye with the House Blend is still excellent. In case anyone has ever wondered about the various drinks you can get at a coffee shop, here are the basics:
Espresso – A shot of strong coffee brewed by forcing steam under pressure through darkly roasted, powdered coffee beans.
Cappuccino = Espresso + Foamed Milk
Latte = Espresso + Steamed Milk
Americana = Espresso + Hot Water (Who orders this?)
Red-Eye = Espresso + Cup of Coffee
Black-Eye = 2 Shots of Espresso + Cut of Coffee
There are other variations, but most are Espresso + something else.
If you’re viewing this site in the default theme, you’ll notice a new title graphic. I like this better than the old one, but I’m still not sold on this one. Taking pictures of myself feels really vain and narcissistic, but I guess that’s having a website about yourself is.
Site traffic has been rocking, partly thanks to a new site called PhillyFuture.org. Make sure you check it out.
If you’re viewing this site in the default theme, you’ll notice a new title graphic. I like this better than the old one, but I’m still not sold on this one. Taking pictures of myself feels really vain and narcissistic, but I guess that’s having a website about yourself is.
Site traffic has been rocking, partly thanks to a new site called PhillyFuture.org. Make sure you check it out.
14 artists are already signed up for tonight’s open mic at the Tree House coffee shop in Collingswood, NJ. It runs from 8:00PM – 11:00PM. You can sign up in advance here or just come to hang out, play chess, drink coffe, etc.
It’s looking like a 2 song night, since so many people are signed up. See you tonight.
14 artists are already signed up for tonight’s open mic at the Tree House coffee shop in Collingswood, NJ. It runs from 8:00PM – 11:00PM. You can sign up in advance here or just come to hang out, play chess, drink coffe, etc.
It’s looking like a 2 song night, since so many people are signed up. See you tonight.
For anyone who reads this site in an RSS news reader, I now put the full text of my posts in the news feed.
I also made some changes to the sign up list, so let me know if you have any problems with it.
Lastly, I moved the topic icons to the right of the text. What do you think?
For anyone who reads this site in an RSS news reader, I now put the full text of my posts in the news feed.
I also made some changes to the sign up list, so let me know if you have any problems with it.
Lastly, I moved the topic icons to the right of the text. What do you think?
The Dave B Trio posted some pictures of our recent show over at Bamboo Bernies.
They also got a new computer after their old one had an iDeath.
The Dave B Trio posted some pictures of our recent show over at Bamboo Bernies.
They also got a new computer after their old one had an iDeath.
I recently finished Stephen King’s Wolves of the Calla, the 5th in a series of 7 following the path of Roland the Gunslinger on his way to the Dark Tower. I read the first book years ago and really enjoyed first four, but #5 was almost embarrassing to read. Read on for my review, because I can’t talk about it without giving away the plot. If you’re going to read it, don’t read the review.
I recently finished Stephen King’s Wolves of the Calla, the 5th in a series of 7 following the path of Roland the Gunslinger on his way to the Dark Tower. I read the first book years ago and really enjoyed first four, but #5 was almost embarrassing to read. Read on for my review, because I can’t talk about it without giving away the plot. If you’re going to read it, don’t read the review.I loved The Gunslinger because it was so different from any Stephen King novel I’d read before. It didn’t follow his standard formula and had only one main character instead of the 5-8 in all his other novels. He ditched that idea by book 2, but I was ok with that because I liked the setting, the characters, and the overall story arc of this gritty, impossible quest to find the dark tower.
I heard a lot of people didn’t like Wizard and Glass (#4), because it was almost entirely a flashback. I disagree and thought the story needed to flesh out more backstory before continuing on. It’s my 2nd favorite of the series.
I had high hopes for Wolves of the Calla after reading the first chapter online months ago. Stephen King released it as part of the book’s promotion. The story about wolves kidnapping children and a robot messenger seemed interesting, and it was, but King threw so much utter crap into this story that it made the Wolves plotline almost irrelevant. Father Callahan from Salem’s Lot shows up, and not as a minor character. He’s a full fledged member of the gang now. What the hell? I understand Stephen King is using the Dark Tower series to connect some of his works and I’m ok with that, but couldn’t he leave it more in the background? It’s like in the Phantom Menace. There are “ET” aliens in the Republic’s legislature and you see them very briefly. Do they end up fighting along side Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi? Even Lucas knows this would be an idiotic idea and he makes some of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen! Up until now, the connections to other novels had been brief and unintrusive.
The absolute worst part was when the Wolves finally show up wielding light sabres, Dr. Doom masks, and Harry Potter sneetches. Not things like “light sabres” and “sneetches,” but the actual things. The sneetches had a label that read, “Sneetches: Harry Potter model.”
Not only does Father Callahan show up, but they end up finding a copy of Salem’s Lot at a book store. I felt like I was reading Space Balls the book when that happened. It’s a shame, too, because the Wolves story was kind of cool when it started out.
It’s obvious where Stephen King is headed with this. Stephen King himself is at the top of the Dark Tower and no more stories will be left to tell when Roland gets there. The Crimson “Stephen” King represents failure, his accident, depression, critics, and anything that keeps King from finishing the series and Roland from reaching the Dark Tower.
The sad part is that I loved Breakfast of Champions.
I’ve been keeping track of how many performers we have each week at the open mic and as of last Wednesday the record for the most was 17. I think we matched this 2 or 3 times, including last week’s open mic. This week, we smashed the record with 19 performers and did it in the middle of winter! I just finished Wolves of the Calla and 19 is an important number…
1. Ben Garvey – I played Beck’s “Lord Only Knows,” “99%,” and a “All My Dreams are in Cartoon.”
2. Mike Martin – I believe it was his first time playing the open mic and he mentioned an upcoming gig opening for Ziggy Marley! He was really good and I hope he stops back in some time.
3. John Shaughnessy – After a few starts he played John Faye’s “Deathbed” and a great version of “Punk Rock Girl” by the Dead Milkmen (this guy’s old band). “Punk Rock Girl” is probably the best song ever written by a Philadelphia band, but I think that says more about Philadelphia than the Dead Milkmen.
4. Barry Dwier – I love it when this guy plays the open mic. He put a new pickup in his guitar that put out so much juice I had to turn his gain and the mix all the way down so it sounded normal. He did an awesome cover of “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals.
5. Jason Vertucio – He borrowed my guitar and played a few good tunes.
6. Steve Flocco – He played a few folky/hippie songs and his friend joined him on the harmonica.
7. Sarah Allen – She rocked as usual and the crowd lover he for it. The sound guy from Bamboo Bernies, who I met last week at my gig there, stopped by and said he was really impressed with her.
8. Bob Michel – Bob and I had a conversation about the mini-disc recorder he uses sometimes at the open mic. He said to check out minidisc.org for more information on it. If I registered that site, it would be called, minidisco.org.
9. Willie Tapps – Willie rocked the audience with a couple of his usual crowd pleasers.
10. Johnny Q – He used to be the guitar player for my old high school band, Stickfigure. He did a pretty cool original and then “Crucify” by Tori Amos.
11. John Brennan – It’s too bad John didn’t bring a small amp, because I think his guitar would have sounded better through that than through the PA. It didn’t sound bad though.
12. Forest Greens – A solid night by the greens, this time with Eric back on guitar.
13. Matt Winn – I hadn’t heard Matt in a while and he was really good.
14. Sara O’Brien – She and Cyndi did a few good songs together, alternating the lead. Sara also played a few verses from her requested “New Jersey” song.
15. Cyndi Harvel – She has such strong voice and it’s great to hear Cyndi and Sara play together.
16. Jack Sparks – He did a john Mayer cover, but it took me a while to get his guitar sounding good, so blame me for any tone problems.
17. Keith Lewis – UI and System Modeler by day, acoustic rocker by night.
18. Entheos – Got their praise on.
19. Joe/Jadis – Belted out a scream like I’ve never heard at the open mic, especially at 11:00PM. Rumor has it he did his vampire song at the Christian open mic and scared some people.
I’ve been keeping track of how many performers we have each week at the open mic and as of last Wednesday the record for the most was 17. I think we matched this 2 or 3 times, including last week’s open mic. This week, we smashed the record with 19 performers and did it in the middle of winter! I just finished Wolves of the Calla and 19 is an important number…
1. Ben Garvey – I played Beck’s “Lord Only Knows,” “99%,” and a “All My Dreams are in Cartoon.”
2. Mike Martin – I believe it was his first time playing the open mic and he mentioned an upcoming gig opening for Ziggy Marley! He was really good and I hope he stops back in some time.
3. John Shaughnessy – After a few starts he played John Faye’s “Deathbed” and a great version of “Punk Rock Girl” by the Dead Milkmen (this guy’s old band). “Punk Rock Girl” is probably the best song ever written by a Philadelphia band, but I think that says more about Philadelphia than the Dead Milkmen.
4. Barry Dwier – I love it when this guy plays the open mic. He put a new pickup in his guitar that put out so much juice I had to turn his gain and the mix all the way down so it sounded normal. He did an awesome cover of “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals.
5. Jason Vertucio – He borrowed my guitar and played a few good tunes.
6. Steve Flocco – He played a few folky/hippie songs and his friend joined him on the harmonica.
7. Sarah Allen – She rocked as usual and the crowd lover he for it. The sound guy from Bamboo Bernies, who I met last week at my gig there, stopped by and said he was really impressed with her.
8. Bob Michel – Bob and I had a conversation about the mini-disc recorder he uses sometimes at the open mic. He said to check out minidisc.org for more information on it. If I registered that site, it would be called, minidisco.org.
9. Willie Tapps – Willie rocked the audience with a couple of his usual crowd pleasers.
10. Johnny Q – He used to be the guitar player for my old high school band, Stickfigure. He did a pretty cool original and then “Crucify” by Tori Amos.
11. John Brennan – It’s too bad John didn’t bring a small amp, because I think his guitar would have sounded better through that than through the PA. It didn’t sound bad though.
12. Forest Greens – A solid night by the greens, this time with Eric back on guitar.
13. Matt Winn – I hadn’t heard Matt in a while and he was really good.
14. Sara O’Brien – She and Cyndi did a few good songs together, alternating the lead. Sara also played a few verses from her requested “New Jersey” song.
15. Cyndi Harvel – She has such strong voice and it’s great to hear Cyndi and Sara play together.
16. Jack Sparks – He did a john Mayer cover, but it took me a while to get his guitar sounding good, so blame me for any tone problems.
17. Keith Lewis – UI and System Modeler by day, acoustic rocker by night.
18. Entheos – Got their praise on.
19. Joe/Jadis – Belted out a scream like I’ve never heard at the open mic, especially at 11:00PM. Rumor has it he did his vampire song at the Christian open mic and scared some people.
Make your way to the Tree House coffee shop for their weekly open mic. It runs from 8:00PM – 11:00PM. You can sign up in advance here or just come to hang out, play chess, drink coffe, etc.
See you tonight.
Make your way to the Tree House coffee shop for their weekly open mic. It runs from 8:00PM – 11:00PM. You can sign up in advance here or just come to hang out, play chess, drink coffe, etc.
See you tonight.
