Fourth of July

 A lively crowd joined us at the Junction in Port Angeles on Sunday. Stephanie's extended family stayed for most of the night, and Art, the harmonica player with the Jersey accent, performed after a six month absence. He also sang a cool version of "Stormy Monday" with very nice harmonica solo. Johnny Mustang was under the weather and could not be convinced to sing or play. Same for harmonica Bob, but Bill Tiderman brought newcomers to the dance floor, as usual, and he did a great solo version of "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'." Going to a barbecue at his house later today--haven't had a hot dog in ages.

The weather continues its splendor on the Olympic Peninsula, and we're waiting to hear where we are on the schedule for Arts in Action and for the next gig at the Ajax in Port Hadlock. So glad it's summer...busy, but in the best way.

I can't wait to do some more recording in my soon to be "cleaner" home studio where some new equipment is finally taking shape and making sense to a slow learning curve. Over 500 listens to "Wonderful World" on the my/space site! 

Pegasus

Last night we played the Pegasus Coffee House on Bainbridge Island. Cool place with tables and chairs set up and an outside sitting area which our friends from Poulsbo used. The weather was warm. Norm, the owner, seemed to like Stephanie's voice and my finger-picking blues. It's weird when people sit and read a book while we're performing, but what a thrill when they focus on us rather than the book! It reminded me of making people cry at a wedding with just the right song or performance. Then it's clear the job is well done! So, with two weddings coming up this summer, we'll have to keep that in mind!

People really seem to like Todd's double bass on our newest songs posted on myspace. There's something about the fine instrument he plays, his skill/talent, and the way we recorded him in Port Townsend this spring. He is truly a treasure of the Olympic Peninsula.
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction][Port Townsend][Ajax Cafe]
[live music]
[folk/blues]

Wednesday

 Wednesday, known to some as "hump day," arrives as the fourth warm day of the summer, and one wonders how many more sunny days there are coming up this year. The Olympic Peninsula really shines on such days, rare as ant's teeth. Such was Saturday at the Ajax Cafe, and extra warm on the tiny stage--now it's clear why some performers (mostly male) go shirtless, but to the relief of our audience, that's not going to happen in my case. Instead, we're looking into stage fans, the kind that fasten on to mike stands...small ones, this is. If anyone out there knows where such things can be purchased, please let us know before we succumb to the "heat wave" here in Port Angeles.
The crowd at the Ajax was especially generous with their applause and reactions to our music on Saturday. There was hand-clapping on "I'm Looking Through You" and one guy came up to the stage and sang along on "Wagon Wheel." Some even hooted and hollered when Stephanie sang "Stormy Monday," which isn't unusual, just a first at the Ajax. There are more pictures from the Junction jam/open mike that I will publish soon. I promise! Now it's time to get back to work on our cd..oh, and check the new clips on myspace! 
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction][Port Townsend][Ajax Cafe]
[acoustic music]

Sing Along

 Before school let out last week Stephanie helped us with the Sing Along at Franklin Elementary School in Port Angeles. What a treat for the kids! In the past, we've had Deadwood Revival, Luck of the Draw, and other local musicians join us for the weekly sing along event. You might be surprised to learn that "Louie Louie" is a favorite every year. One day, at least twenty years ago, I looked up and the kids were doing this hand movement, hand jive kind of thing that I certainly had not taught them. Ever since, it has been handed down from one year to another.

But enough of school, which is out for the summer, and back to music on the Olympic Peninsula! Stephanie and I will perform at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock this Saturday starting at 6:00 PM. The food is exceptional and the hats are a riot (see several posts back). Get a reservation at 360 385-3450. After that we're back at the Junction in Port Angeles for our weekly Jam/Open Mic starting at 7:00 PM. More pictures shot there appear next week as promised. With all this nice weather on the peninsula, maybe number two son, Miles, will take some outdoor pics of us next week, too. That is, if he isn't being interviewed on Northwest Afternoon again for his video work in the Seattle Times contest. Yes, I taped the program, and it was very cool.

Alright then, it's off to get a much needed haircut and work on our recordings. 
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction][Port Townsend][Ajax Cafe]
[acoustic music]

School's Out!

DSCN0111,
originally uploaded by barre1953.

Sunday arrives once again, and we're off to the Junction, the Olympic Peninsula's showcase for live blues and the weekly jam hosted by us, Rollin' Waters. With school out for the summer, Stephanie and I travel more to locations like Bainbridge Island and Port Hadlock. Who knows where the summer might find us? Port Angeles has a hold on us, for sure, but locations near and far beckon. We'll see what happens. Without a doubt there will be music and lots of it!
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[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction]

Sunday Jam at the Junction

Many thanks to Ida and the gang (see photo) and Cindy (see photo)for another fun Sunday at the Junction in Port Angeles. It's certainly one of the must "go to" places for visitors to the Olympic Peninsula. As noted before, Cindy makes great drinks, and I'm particularly fond of her gin and tonics. Lots of pictures were taken last night, and we'll try to get more of them posted later this week. Such a photogenic crowd at the Junction! And they can sing, too. More later!
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction]

Sunday at the Casino in Sequim

Many thanks to all of you who came out to see us Sunday night at the casino. The band had a great time playing for you, and although we had some trouble with the sound setup, especially in the first set, the crowd didn't hold it against us and danced the evening away. It sure is fun to play with the quintet again. Tom really nailed "Shake, Rattle, and Roll," and his new song, "Help Me." Stephanie wowed the audience as usual with her versions of "Stormy Monday" and "Guilty" among others.

We have many more gigs on the Olympic Peninsula coming up this summer. School is almost out! We're looking forward to the farmers' markets in Port Angeles and Sequim and our first time at the Port Townsend Brewery in August. We'll be at the Ajax Cafe on the 24th of this month and my mouth is already watering. And of course we'll be at the Junction again this Sunday hosting the jam/open mike.

You should check out John Nelson's column in Thursday's Peninsula Daily News to find out about live music on the peninsula.
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction][Port Townsend][Ajax Cafe]
[live music]

Casino

We're really looking forward to our gig at the Seven Cedars Casino Sunday night. There will be dancing and Bill and Ida have pledged to be there helping us sing "Wagon Wheel." Contrary to what the casino says, we are not funk! Blues and folk would be more like it, thank you very much!
But last Saturday we played the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock. For a region with relatively few people and lots of open space, the Olympic Peninsula sure has some fine restaurants, and the Ajax is certainly one of them. Not only is the food great, but there's live music and hats! Yes, even Stephanie and I donned hats that aprticular night, although not altogether voluntarily, as several were thrust upon my head by Maria and her rowdy entourage. What a lively gourp theya re as you can see by the accompanying pics. I had the halibut (for the "halibut") and it sure was tasty. Lots of people were trying the ribs which have not entered my mouth to date. We tried some new songs, including "Jackson" and "Move It On Over" and "Tore Down." Still a bit rough, but the crowd was generous with their applause. It's a fun place and we're there again June24th. Get reservations.

Then there was Thursday night at the Landings in Port Angeles and the open mike with Kim and Jason (Deadwood Revival)and we have more pictures of them, Bill and Stephanie, and Larry on guitar. It was a good that will have to wait for another posting. I'm going to bed!
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction]

Junction

 
Sunday was Stephanie's birthday celebration at the Junction in Port Angeles, and it was a festive event. As you can see, Ida and Bill were in fine form as were Paul, Gabriel, Bill Jagger and Patrick, all of whom contributed enormously to a great jam. It was one of our best to be sure, and summer on the Olympic Peninsula looms ahead with the prospect of many more great jams/open mikes and live music.

Later this week look for another post about Saturday night's show at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock with more pictures!We just heard that we get to play the Port Townsend Brewery in August and September.

Don't forget to come to the Seven Cedars Casino in Sequim for our show this Sunday starting at 5:30 PM. We'll have the quintet and there will be dancing!
 
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction]

Live Music on the Olympic Peninsula

Sunday night at the Junction in Port Angeles was full of mostly pleasant surprises. The weather was the more typically gray and cloudy but fairly warm in the early evening. Berry, the resident cat, was inside the bar for most of the night, and most of the "regulars" including Bill and Ida were in attendance and ready to sing and play. Paul, Bill and Ida joined us for "Wagon Wheel" early on and it was so much fun we repeated it later the same night. Bill Jagger was there with his banjo and Stephanie and I accompanied him on "Billy in the Lowground" and "Old Joe Clark."

Later in the evening, Freesound showed up and mentioned that they would like to play a few songs if they could borrow a guitar or two. We gladly came up with a couple guitars and they launched into wonderful versions of "All Along the Watchtower" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." Then Kim and Jason, aka Deadwood Revival, walked in and joined them on vocals and bongos. What a treat! People, including Stephanie and Tina, got up and danced. The crowd really liked it so they played a few more songs, including "Stir It Up." A big part of the excitement at a jam/open mike or any live performance, for that matter, is that each night is different with surprises either in the form of new songs, new performers or even the weather.

We're looking forward to this weekend when we'll be at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock hoping lots of you show up and wear a hat!
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction][Port Townsend][Ajax Cafe]
[live music]

Rollin' Waters and Jazz in Blume

On Wednesday we went down to the Crazy Fish in Port Angeles and participated in the Jazz Jam hosted by our friends Tracy Blume and the Jazz Express Band. What a treat for us and what a great audience! Tracy really has a great jam going there and everyone has a good time, both musicians and audience. We played three songs: Wagon Wheel, Fine and Mellow, and Stormy Monday. It was another opportunity for us to play with Tom Svornich, Ray Wood, Jim Rosand and Ed Donahue. Ed and Tom also perform on our demo cd, adding great trumpet and drums. One of the nice things about the Olympic Peninsula with its sparse population is the opportunity to play on numerous with musicians of their caliber. They are truly A-list players by any region's standards.
Last night was fun at the Landings where we hosted the jam/open mike for the second week in a row. Many thanks to Stephanie's dad, Bill Tiderman, Patrick, and Paul for playing with us again. Much larger crowd last night, too! Hope to see you all at the Junction on Sunday.
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction]

Thursday

I forgot to mention in the last post that Rollin' Waters will be at the Landings in Port Angeles Thursday (that's tomorrow) hosting the jam/open mike from eight to eleven. As usual, we'll be at the Junction on Sunday night from 7 to 11.

The Olympic Peninsula has more jams/open mikes per capita than anywhere else in the world. Or, at least it seems that way! At any rate, it sounds assertive, kind of like Stephanie's voice which you will hear if you come on downtown tomorrow night. Hope to see you there.
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction]

Port Townsend

Did you know Port Townsend has an "uptown?" I didn't. That's odd after living on the Olympic Peninsula for twenty seven years. But up the hill is a very cool little business district with the site of our Saturday night gig last weekend: the Uptown Pub. Parking right on the street in front of this little place we started unloading equipment and noticed raucous laughter and hoots from the fifteen or so pub-crawlers just getting ready to board their bus waiting on the street. Yes, they were wearing matching t-shirts. They were definitely having fun and this was their second to the last stop. Unfortunately, they were gone by the time we started playing and as this was a last minute gig, we played to very few people. But they liked us a lot and we hope to play there again soon...maybe for a happy hour or another pub crawl. And next door is Lanza's, which was packed--the menu looked great and the pizza, which you can order through a curtain at the back of the pub by ringing a small cowbell, was quite good.

Colorful characters at the pub really liked our music and were very encouraging. It's so nice to play for appreciative audiences, even when their numbers are few. Stephanie's powerful voice always gets compliments but this group would have stayed up late for more, or so it seemed. "You don't look like a blues singer, but you sure sound like one," said one guy. Another told we should check the Port Townsent Brew Pub downtown. Haven't found it yet, but we'll get there soon.
[Port Angeles][Olympic Peninsula][Junction][Port Townsend][Uptown Pub]

Landings

Yes, it's true..we are covering the jam at the Landings in Port Angeles for Kim and Jason, aka Deadwood Revival this Thursday and next Thursday. Looks like the weather should be cooperative on the Olympic Peninsula, or at least in Port Angeles for the next few days so we'll try to play some good weather, spring songs. Hmmm....guess we'll find out what that means. Maybe I'll try a gin and tonic and see if Cindy out west at the Junction has any serious competition.

This just in: we are playing at the Uptown Pub in Port Townsend this Saturday from 8:00 PM to 11:00 or so. Never been there before but it sounds like a thrill!

Stephanie and I have been working on new (old) songs, especially the more obscure Bob Dylan selections. If Miles would ever return my cd we could take a shot at the ashtray song-bet nobody knows what I'm talking about. Yes, it's that obscure, even more so than "Wagon Wheel" that should be posted here soon, or at least a clip of it.

Later this month we play the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock again. I think it's the 27th but Stephanie will correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, we hope to see you at the Landings on Thursday, the Uptown Pub on Saturday, and at the Junction on Sunday.
[Port Angeles]
[Olympic Peninsula]
[Junction]
[Port Townsend]
[Uptown Pub]

Junction and Wailers

Without a doubt, Cindy at the Junction in Port Angeles makes the best gin and tonics I've ever tasted on the Olympic Peninsula. Even the ice was good! Last night was a very good night there with Smitty letting me play his new guitar and a new player, Doug, showing us an old Wailers song, "It's You Alone." I'm talking about the Wailers from Tacoma, not those guys from Jamaica, by the way. The author of that song, Ron something, played a show at the Rainbow tavern in Seattle many years ago, but I don't think he ever played with the original group. What a great song but it never became a national hit to my knowledge although it was played locally a lot. I heard one of the originals players now works in Las Vegas in a retro show. We hope Doug comes back next week as he claims to know three sets worth of songs.

The shoe still hangs proudly at the Junction, and I will tell its story soon.

[Port Angeles]
[Olympic Peninsula]
[Wailers]
[Junction]

Finding the Right Volume

Playing live music in a busy restaurant is not without its special challenges. On Saturday we played at the Ajax Cafe near Port Townsend, and the food was good, the place was packed and the tips were generous as usual. However, finding the right volume, which usually isn't a problem when we perform as a duo, was particularly difficult that night. People applauded enthusiastically and seemed to like our sets, but all it seems to take there is for one person to tell a staff member that the volume should come down and we are asked to "turn it down." This happened several times that night until there was almost nothing coming out of the PA. Oh well, people still clapped and smiled and we got paid. So I'll stop complaining and just be grateful. The weather couldn't have been better and when the sun shines anywhere on the Olympic Peninsula, it's a definite treat, and from the tiny stage there you can see the water and trees...all that grandeur.

Then it was back to the Junction in Port Angeles, where volume is rarely a problem and a shoe hangs from the ceiling, but that's another story deserving of an entire post. Bill and Pat were in top form contributing excellent vocals and guitar to such favorites as "For What It's Worth" and "Feelin' Alright." Stephanie's harmony on Bill's version of "Since I Fell" is worth a recording session and we talked about getting that done later this week. We'll see.
[Port Angeles]
[Olympic Peninsula]
[Ajax Cafe]
[Port Townsend]

Ajax Cafe this Weekend

On Saturday, we're at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock--near Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. Excellent food and unusual atmosphere awaits! It's right on the water and now that the days are longer the views are something to see. It's always a thrill playing there.

We had a good time at the food bank benefit on Saturday and Sunday even with my car problems. One of these days I'll have to get a proper musician's vehicle, a van or something larger than my Honda Accord which has lately been stalling at the worst possible times. Many thanks to Waynne for the wrenches on Sunday. And thanks to Dave for bringing the music stand I left to the Junction and for performing with us. Bill and Patrick also put in fine performances on guitar and vocals. Bill continues to rewrite some old favorites with surprising introductions--well, it's better listened to than described here so come down to the Junction on Sunday at seven or eight and you'll hear it.

There's live music in Port Angeles almost every night of the week now. Read John Nelson's column in the Peninsula Daily News on Thursdays and find out when and where.
[Port Angeles]
[olympic peninsula]
[Ajax Cafe]
[Port Townsend]

Port Angeles

Rollin' Waters will be busy in Port Angeles this weekend. On Saturday we help out with John Nelson's Benefit at the Eagles Annex, and as usual, on Sunday we're at the Junction for the open mike/jam. So bring your guitar, hand drums, bass and voice out there at 7:00 PM for some musical fun.

Stephanie worked on our upcoming cd this week making two trips out to Port Townsend to record drums and bass on several tracks. Tom and Todd really play up a storm on "Wagon Wheel" and "Fine and Mellow." Ida and Bill added some nice vocals last week as well. It's so fun to record and make cds. I hope we can record some live cuts out at the Junction in the near future.

Recording

We stayed in Port Angeles this weekend. No trips to Sequim and the Baja like last weekend. Meanwhile, the recording work progresses with Jim Spencer adding some more fire with electric guitar parts to "Wagon Wheel." Now all we need are the drums and bass from Tom and Todd who are scheduled to record their parts later this month. Our next casino date with the larger Rollin' Waters band is June 4th. Can't wait!

As usual, we'll be at the Junction next Sunday starting at 7:00 PM. Bring your instrument and voice and we'll see you there.

Sequim this Weekend

The weekend is almost here and it will be a busy one. Friday and Saturday we perform at the Baja Cantina in Sequim for the first time. We start at 8:30 PM and play until we get tired! We've heard there's often a large crowd on Fridays so you might want to get there early. Then, of course, we are at the Junction in Port Angeles on Sunday starting at 7:00 PM as usual.

Just received some new recording equipment and can't wait to record more with Stephanie. Any day now there should be some audio on this site. How exciting!