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wwsp @uncommon ground 7.15.13jpgA quiet, hot, muggy Monday night at Uncommon Ground, a nice music room, all wood and brick. Some really great old friends came out to see us. People with whom we have a real affinity. Felt like a homecoming. Opening for us was David Bon and his trio. David is just the most riveting and inspiring performer. His rich baritone voice can knock down walls, and the trio was tight: two acoustic guitars, a bass. They channeled the spirit of Elvis, Neil Diamond, Waylon Jennings and Cypress Hill. They made some classic songs their own. They do songs you’d think maybe can’t be done, and they do them, and they work, no, they completely bowl you over! We followed with our set. We were tight, sharp, connected, we could all really hear each other. Our band is in a great zone at the moment. Under the hot lights, I almost spontaneously combusted, smoke was coming out of my eyes! Afterwards it was all smiles and kind words. There is nothing better than playing for your musical peers and for people you respect and love. People who really listen. I must say, that’s what it’s all about! – Jammer

 

photo by David Bon

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live@ garden walkWe played to a handful of folks yesterday at the Bucktown Garden Walk. It was an early afternoon “spirit” slot. It was our first time out in public with Randy Farr from the Gunnelpumpers sitting in on percussion. We brought a solid, focused energy to the big outdoor stage. There was “space” between instruments, a big sound, with room to breathe, and the songs held up quite nicely. Carla was in fine voice, and the mix was good. A first-class event. I had a few mis-cues: broke a string, misplaced my capo, so I had to change guitars, and when I sang “Sadness in the World,” in a lower key, I sort of sounded like Tom Waits singing through a sponge.  Still, we felt really good about our performance. Afterwards a guy came up to me and said that my guitar-playing made me “man of the town!” I’ll take it!  – Jammer

photo by Karen O’Brien

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willow treeWe capped off a couple days off with a band rehearsal yesterday. It had been awhile since the “core band,” (bass, drums, guitar and vocals) got together in a room. It was intense and exhilarating. I wonder sometimes if our best work is in rehearsal. Making music in a relaxed setting, a familiar room, with our own P.A. Just making music for each other. We were fresh and sharp at the same time. We went thru 18 songs, old ones, new ones, originals, a couple covers that we have really made “our own.” We even had a few moments of “improvisation” that just seemed to take wing and soar…

It truly was like catching lightening in a bottle. One of those unexpected, totally extraordinary experiences. It’s hard to talk or write about. It’s something “you do,” you can’t really translate or explain the phenomena to yourself or someone else. It was just the four of us, creating this amazing sonic energy.  It was just another rehearsal. And then, well, it seemed totally intense and transcendent… and then we packed up and closed the door and went back to another world. But for a couple hours it was an amazing, over-powering experience…

I think that’s life at it’s best… finding the amazing, the extraordinary, in the purity of the moment, the simplicity of being totally alive, in a room with other people, listening to each other and working together on something bigger than ourselves. – Jammer

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We did our Metropolis coffeehouse show yesterday evening. A few loyal fans came out to see us, and a few strangers stuck around to listen to our fiery little set. A coffee mecca on the North side of Chicago. Comfy and welcoming. One major upside to doing coffeehouse shows? The coffee!

It was just a trio for the evening: acoustic guitar, violin, vocals. It was strange to hear some of our songs in such a stripped down mode, but it was great to hear Maria Storm’s exquisite violin playing- the sound swirled around and enveloped us. Carla sang and played her various shakers, tambourines and bells. I hammered away on my acoustic guitar with my usual abandon.

It was a pretty good show. A warm response from the audience and we got paid in beans! Two sacks of freshly roasted coffee beans from Ethiopia and El Salvador. Anyone who knows me knows that’s like feeding crack or heroin to a grateful and willing addict. Coffee Nirvana. And just when is that next coffeehouse gig? – Jammer

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images-1My good friend Michael Doubrava, photographer extraordinaire, left a voicemail after our Stones tribute show. “Jimmy, with every song you sing, you make the world a better place.” It was a nice thing to say. Maybe it was said tinged with a dollop of irony, or maybe not. But I do truly love the sentiment. And really, isn’t that why we do this thing?

When we sing and play music, when we band together, join our musical sensibilities for a song, a set of music, we are trying to create a vibration, a feeling, an energy, something bigger than ourselves. And by doing, we transform ourselves. And we hope that this energy, this vibration, this power can seep into other people’s consciousness. Maybe we inspire by example?

And it’s doesn’t really matter if the song is light or dark, the main thing is it real, is it heartfelt, is it well done? And when it works, there is love in the doing. So there is love. Love. And maybe this love can be given away, passed onto someone else. And yes, maybe in that way we can make the world a better place. It all might sound a little sappy and soft-hearted, but it’s certainly a worthy experiment. And gives us a reason to believe. – Jammer

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fever-ray-480x479never leave me/walk close beside me/your hand my hand/fits so easy/no tomorrow/let us stop here/we did some great things/didn’t we/dry and dusty/i am a capsule of energy/you speak softly/we are capsules of energy/work as i’ve been told/in return i get money/small feet in the hall/and i long for every moment – fever ray

It’s spooky and surprising when a song, a record, takes hold. Lately Fever Ray has taken hold of me. The 2009 record is amazing. Our band doesn’t sound anything like this band. I don’t think there are any organic/analog instruments on this record, even the voices are heavily processed; for the longest time I thought I was listening to a male voice on some songs, but that’s Karin Dreijer Andersson doing the vocalizing. This record is cool, icy, techno, electronic. It’s weird, moody, haunting. And the song, “Dry and Dusty” finally, after many listens, has totally penetrated and captivated me. So beautiful, simple, and off-hand. A synthesized, almost robotic voice kicks open the door to a certain, aching, beauty. Magic. – Jammer

 

 

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stones_posterWe did our Stones Tribute show on Saturday. 10 acts performing 25 Rolling Stones songs; an intimate coffeehouse setting, an enthusiastic and attentive audience. Lots of smiles and positive vibes. Our band did a little mini-set of some of our favorite Stones songs: “Shine A Light,” “Sister Morphine,” “Paint it Black,” “Satisfaction.”  And then there was the big singalong at the end on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

We were happy with our set, no screw-ups, and we brought a real abandon and energy to the songs. The band was tight. We were a little concerned; rehearsals were clunky and a little messy, but all that evaporated in the heat of performance. We rode the wave of energy to r&r glory! There was the “post-show glow,” with the neighborhood buzzing about a great show, and there was the “post-show funk,” that inevitable feeling of emptiness after a show. The smoke clears in the light of day, and it’s all gone.

One major mishap: someone set a cup of water on my amp, and of course, the cup got knocked over, and well, H2O and tube amps don’t mix. The amp came up DOA, so I had to play through another amp, and the sound just was not the same. Turns out my amp is fine. I took the tubes out, let everything dry out overnight, re-installed the tubes, turned it on – all is well! Yes, of course, it’s only r&r but we really, really love it! – Jammer

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album coversWe love music, and are always on the hunt for new sounds. These four records have been on “heavy rotation” in our house the last few weeks.  They don’t really have much in common, except they are phenomenally good. Made by artists with clear, inspiring musical visions.  Highly recommended!

1. Montana Fix from the Gunnelpumpers – instrumental music of the highest order. Open-your-head music. An amazing, expansive mix of influences – classical, jazz, world music. The record is intense, moody, introspective, groovy, transcendent, atmospheric, mind-expanding. A great collection of grooves that roam across the sonic horizon. The collective vibe of this group is stunning. Inspired!

2. Invisible Way from Low – A quiet masterpiece. Hushed. Two beautiful voices. Crystalline songs.  Hard. Diamond-like. A very unconventional drummer, and a unique sound. This record sneaks up on you. Can’t shake it.

3. Amok from Atoms for Peace – Thom Yorke’s other band.  Groovier and looser than Radiohead. If you think that’s a good thing, also add in Flea on bass guitar. Total funky underlay! Thom Yorke actually sounds like he’s having fun, even if it’s sometimes hard to tell. Didn’t think Yorke really needed another really cool band. Didn’t think it was necessary. Guess what? This is a great record! Didn’t think it would fly? It flies!

4. Go-Go Boots from the Drive By Truckers – One of their best. Great band. Three distinctive singers. A powerhouse r&r sound with a loose, damn the torpedos feel. The songs are stories, and there’s some kind of loopy, gothic southern narrative thread.  Recorded on analog tape. You can hear and feel it. Warm, organic, kick-ass. This is soul music. Feeds the soul. Their cover of Eddie Hinton’s song “Everybody Needs Love,” is just the best.  Can’t get over it. Love.

Jammer

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undergroundwonderbar3Our Saturday night show at the Underground Wonder Bar was notable for a couple reasons. The venue itself is a great place for music. A very friendly and supportive staff.  Music upstairs and downstairs. We played in the dark, cozy basement. The turn-out was small; only a handful of folks, but we put on a really solid show. We did two expansive sets (19 songs), and the band brought energy and passion to that little wooden stage. We worked in some of our more experimental material. A rewarding night of music. Oh yeah, and the “theme” for the night was “western,” not sure why, but the band went with it. We broke out the cowboy hats and boots. I wore a headband with a little feather poking out – my tribute to Crazy Horse. Also, I was reunited with my old acoustic guitar, the neck fixed and out-fitted with a new pickup. It felt great to have that old Hohner back! The Never-Ending City Tour rolls on! – Jammer

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buffalo_jumpOur show last weekend at Gallery Cabaret was a “rough outing.” Surprise! We thought we were primed for a great show; a friendly room, a nice bill of fellow bands, but it didn’t turn out that way. To coin a phrase from David Foster Wallace’s magnum opus, “Infinite Jest,” – “The Night Wore a Sombrero.”

I was the prime culprit, the shakiest of the shaky. My guitar-playing was ragged, hesitant and sloppy, and a toxic vibe of doubt seeped into the rest of the band. A “vibe” is a delicate thing. It can easily be flattened. We had come off a string of transcendent shows, but you don’t conjure transcendence out of thin air, or maybe you do, but that kind of transcendence cannot be delivered on demand.

Anyway, chalk it up to “lessons learned.” Take nothing for granted. Listen. Be attentive to every detail. Little mistakes can lead you over the cliff. We want every show to be the best show ever.  It’s a challenge and a goal. It’s the good work, for sure. And we all re-committed to the cause. This band will not be denied! – Jammer