Rambling On My Mind
After staying up to watch the results of the American presidential election I managed to sleep late on Wednesday morning. I got up in time to watch the Daily Politics on the BBC, which included various opinions on the task ahead for Obama. It seems to me that people are already expecting miracles from the man, but as there is such a long transition time between the handover from one president to the next, perhaps reality will have time to mute the euphoria. His success certainly has changed history and there was a feeling that people were suddenly aware that they were part of that history making. Usually history passes without me personally being awake to the fact, so I suppose I must be getting wiser in my old age. (I still can’t remember what I was doing when John Kennedy was shot, but I‘m sure that it wasn‘t me). Read more »
Mighty Long Time
Had a reasonable gig at the Inn on the Green last time. Jon T-Bone Taylor sat in on guitar for a few numbers, as did Carmen Carr on vocals. Gordon Smith also turned up out of the blue but declined to sit in, nevertheless it was good to see him. His Blue Horizon albums are being brought out by Mike Vernon, along with some new stuff which he’s recording. He’s also got an album coming out on Tone I’m led to believe. This includes some of the Blues Puppies I think. They included one of our tracks from the “Got Blues If You Wannit” album. Yes that one that is taking so long to finalise.
Are you sitting comfortably?
On Monday I eventually found my way to the Blues Puppies launch in Wandsworth. I say eventually but it was via the Inn on The Green, for a quick visit and then Finch’s for another quick visit. Unfortunately a couple of miscreants came in and what was going to be a quick drink, turned into an afternoon and evening session. I did manage to get home, pick up a couple of harps and wend my way to Trinity Road by way of Clapham Junction. Read more »
Blues Trek
On Wednesday evening I went to the Inn on the Green and, by chance, met a couple of friends from the Caernarvon Castle residency days. It was a bit of a leaving party for a friend returning to New Zealand after twenty one years. This coincided with the weekly blues jam which drew even more musicians this time. I sat in for a couple, in between drinks. I helped accompany a young singer named Terri Shaltiel, whom I had met the evening before. I introduced her as coming from North of Watford, but she seemed keen to be more specific and assure everyone that she was from Leeds. She sang well and a trumpeter did his bit too. I don’t remember getting home. Read more »
Birthday blues
I made it to the blues jam at the Inn on the Green last Wednesday. I enjoyed it more than I had expected to. The house band got things moving with plenty of Elmore and Robert Johnson stuff. Friends of Tony, the gutarist organiser, had come from as far away as Eastbourne to support the first night so there was plenty of variety. I sat in on a couple of songs along with a violin player and as far as I know, no-one left the building. I shall be there again this Wednesday too. Read more »
Down and Out
The gig at the Oval Tavern started late despite the best laid plans, Bernie the guitarist, for once in his life actually wanted to get to the gig early, to “chill” as he put it. Mr. Cool indeed! We duly left at half five, hardly time to digest breakfast, but you have to humour people some of the time. The journey was laced as usual with lots of swearing at inconsiderate motorists, i.e. everyone else on the road. Nothing new here then and nothing to delay us you would think. However there’s always one, isn’t there? Or maybe two or three… Read more »
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