Fun Times at the Junction Jam

Sure, it's an acoustic open mic/jam every Sunday, but it was an "electric" evening last night at the Junction Roadhouse in Port Angeles. Kim and Jason from Deadwood Revival made a long overdue appearance along with "Strider" and Kelly Hoch. Several members of "Thin Ice" also played for the large crowd of dancers and "singers along." Now that's the way to spend a winter's Sunday evening!

Sad news about the untimely death of long time local musician Forrest Rossaire brought forth song dedications and many well wishes for his family.

Guitar Instruction Tip #??: Get your left arm elbow off your leg when practicing sitting down, and sit in the correct position. Force your knees together if you have to, but avoid that lazy posture as it will cripple your playing progress. So many things to remember, but with practice, they eventually become automatic.

Happy New Year Olympic Peninsula

The only bad thing about performing is that, at some point in the evening, you have to leave the stage. Most gigs leave me wanting more, and forget about encores-they're contrivances and pure ego in most situations. New Year's Eve at the Garden Club on Marrowstone Island was a very good night with dancing and of course, music. The crowd was a little grayer than last year but every bit as energetic and festive.

Home for Winter Break, the young people turned out at the Junction the Sunday before, braving a very icy parking lot (where is a bull dozer when you need one?). Live music is best!

British Invasion

Although Emma Peel didn't show up in her leather motorcycle outfit and there were only a few mini-dresses in attendance, the songs played at "British Invasion" night at the Junction Roadhouse in Port Angeles were great. The songs of the Yardbirds, Beatles, Kinks, Peter and Gordon, the Rolling Stones and Gerry and the Pacemakers along with the more familiar classic rock and country from some of the regular jammers made it a memorable night. Now one has to come up with another idea for a theme night. No, there will not be a disco night....that's for record players and Bee Gees fans. Stay tuned for more guitar instruction tips and keep warm in this November time of year. Cold and rainy here in the Northwest.

Halloween at the Junction

Music, costumes, good cheer, and dancing fill the air at the Junction Roadhouse this weekend. Port Angeles folks sure like to dress up! Check out Vee's party dress in the sidebar below...wow! Bill, Rudy and I took our "show" on the road to the Itty Bitty Buzz and Franklin Elementary School this week. Can you tell we like Halloween? Join us for another round of fun at the Junction on Sunday night starting at 7. Stay tuned for more "recommended dress codes" and guitar instruction tips.

Halloween in Port Angeles

That's "Boris" Tiderman in the clutches of vampire Stephanie, and he hasn't been the same since. In fact, Boris, Rudy, Paul and I have something special planned for 9:00 PM, this Sunday at the Junction Roadhouse Jam/Open Mic. Costumes are encouraged, and this is a chance to get an early start on the Hallowen festivities. The acoustic jam starts at 7 as usual but stick around for the 9:00 PM "show."

Port Townsend Has a Great Open Mic

Rollin' Waters played in Port Townsend at the Upstage Open Mic last night for the first time. Great venue with a sunken stage, balcony, good food and lots of musicians, including Andy Mackie and Paul Kell. Both have played at the Junction in Port Angeles with us a few times. After doing a song/poem with Jess, who is a gifted poet and pianist, we sang "I Shall Be Released," "Deep River Blues," and "Stormy Monday." The crowd was enthusiastic, especially when Stephanie sang "Stormy Monday," and it was a fun night. Looking forward to doing it again soon. Port Townsend has lots of music clubs and events going on throughout the year.

Not Too Warm for Hats in Port Angeles

Sunglasses and summer go together pretty well, but when the sun finally fades around nine or so in the evening the word was passed at the Junction that it was ok to remove them for the rest of the evening. What great sports we have on Sunday nights these days! We'll see what creative kinds of hats show up next Sunday, it being "hat-night" and all. Some consideration will be given to making the Sunday after that "Sin Night" where the recommended "dress code" is the wearing of something "sinful." After all, one would have the remaining six days of the new week to repent.

Lots of fun at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock last Saturday with Rudy and Bill although that stage is really too small for anything larger than a duet. The food is still awesome (try the halibut), and, for some reason, lots of people followed suggestions to try the excellent dessert. Maybe the powers of suggestion are returning! So, the Pink Door in Seattle, even with their good live music and similarly small stage, has got nothing on the Ajax, at least when it comes to good food.

On another note, it shouldn't take a hit record (are there such things any more?) to get a popular touring band a gig on the peninsula, especially when they aren't demanding top dollar, for crying out loud. The Lonely H, a local rock band now relocated to Seattle when they aren't playing festivals like SXSW in Austin or touring the country are here in Port Angeles this month and you'd think the local club owners would jump at the opportunity, but alas...still the effort will continue and at least, they and #2 son's band Doctor Doctor, also from Seattle, can host a Sunday night with me at the Junction.

Guitar Lesson Tip #26: If you're a finger-picker, drink lots of orange juice--steels strings will rip the bejesus out of weak nail tissue.

Summer in Port Angeles

Barely a cloud in the sky now that summer is finally here on the Olympic Peninsula. So what if the Fourth of July was damp and cool--the sun is shining now and the air has warmed to a delicious 78.

The Open Mic/Jam at the Junction was big fun on Sunday night with teachers from all levels-primary through college joining a diverse crowd-dancing and singing away the stress of another fading school year, and recharging for the one coming up. Maybe the best way to describe Sundays at the Junction Jam is to say it's like an extended adult recess. It seems that playtime is important at all ages and the chance to sing and dance or play the guitar is one good way to do just that. Sure works for me.

Guitar Instruction Tip #24: Supplement your lessons with a quick trip to YouTube if you're and intermediate to advanced player. Just type in your favorite song title and chances are you'll find a video and get some fingering and chord tips. To get started, try clicking on "Railroad Bill" in the sidebar.

Big Crowd in Port Angeles at the Junction and Rollin' Waters Performs

That's Bill, Rudy, and Paul relaxing at the Junction Jam/Open Mic last Sunday. Stephanie's family showed up in force, and we nearly got her brother Brent(see sidebar) to sing with us. Steve liked our harmonies on "Kiss Me Baby" and a few others. And, since it was the Sunday before Memorial Day, we played and stayed a little longer. No one was in a hurry to go home and that's how we like it. It 's amazing that Mary, the bartender, can serve so many people on her own. I hope she got lots of generous tips.

On Saturday, Stephanie and I played together for the first time in months (with the exception of a few songs at the Junction) at the Sequim Open Aire Market. A Rollin' Waters gig! Crowd response was very favorable, and we were reminded that we know lots of songs--it seems our tastes in music are very similar! Hoping for a return engagement soon. Pictures were taken and I'll post if sent one or two.

Guitar Instruction Tip#23: Don't neglect chord practice. Sure, it's fun to play melodies and solos, but you won't be doing that for the most part since the guitar is most often a rhythm instrument and that means chords. Quit messing around and learn those open chords this month! You'll need the F chord, too, so get busy!

Stephanie, Mike, and Barry at the Junction!

No, it wasn't a dream--Mike Pace, Stephanie Batson and I were on stage at the same time last night at the Junction in Port Angeles and that means Rollin' Waters performed for the first time in months. The crowd was awed by Stephanie's voice and Mike's guitar playing, and my own singing and playing was tolerable. What a surprise and a treat! Yes, there was dancing, and maybe Tina will send me a pic from the night since I was in shock and forgot to take photos. Grrr....
Patrick received a well-deserved beer for his excellent playing and for wearing the recommended (but not required) black shirt.

Guitar Instruction Tip #21: Learn to read standard notation first. Tab can wait. Don't ask for a reason, just do it.

Ramblin' Post in Port Angeles

No school today and recent polls show Lincoln is the most popular American president, at least on this President's Day, 2008. With a Monday holiday, one would think more of my colleagues would venture out to the Junction on a winter's evening, but only a few did including the ever-photogenic Emily at left next to a smiling Paul. Today the sun is shining in Port Angeles after weeks of pewter skies, snow, rain, and drizzle. The streets downtown are still dug up, making things like going to the bank or a restaurant difficult. But it's only temporary. Larry returned to the jam last night and helped us with a new (old) song, "Wasn't Born to Follow." The key will be changed to Eb, not that it matters to any but a few guitar players who won't be pleased at all, especially those who refuse to use a capo. Oh well...rule: the singer gets to choose the key, but not the dress code...I was only kidding about flannel shirts and gingham pants! Apparently no one has any gingham pants, but flannel was well-represented. Well done.
Guitar Instruction Tip #19: There's a reason it's called the "F" chord so buck up and keep trying.

Winter on the Olympic Peninsula

Wow! How many times did that particular comment enter my email this morning? After last night's jam at the Junction in Port Angeles most people were at a loss for words, apparently. There was a lot of dancing! And then smiling. And more smiling and dancing. Fun, fun, fun. There was the group of teachers (whose names shall not be mentioned) exuberant over their graduation from a Master's program that found the perfect celebratory location and proceeded to revel with the other revelers. No, you won't pry any details out of me! Check the sidebar for more revelatory images. It certainly is winter with a vengeance as far as the season is concerned, but inside the Junction on Sunday nights it's warm, cozy and cheery like summer at the beach. Did someone mention surf songs? Yes, we have those, too, just didn't get around to them last night. Thanks again to the Dry Creek gang for coming out last night! Oops, that may have been too much detail.
Guitar Instruction Tip #18: Keep using a flatpick and anchor your hand to the pickguard. You're not ready for finger-picking yet so show a little patience.

Last Jam at Crazy Fish

A large crowd turned out for what could have been the last Wednesday night jam at the Crazy Fish in Port Angeles. That's Johnny and Eric Whitman from the Lonely H joining Miles(number two son on drums) and me onstage for "Down on the Corner" and "I Shall Be Released," among other songs. Lots of their friends, many home from school for Christmas break, were present to cheer them on. Looks like they're playing tonight at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle. Certainly a highlight of the season for me since both Miles and Mick got up on stage with me to perform, and everyone else seemed to have a good time. Stephen sang expecially well on "Stormy Monday" and "Route 66." This isn't the first time patrons have been heard to comment about how there sure is a lot of musical talent in our neck of the woods. And, not all of them are guitar players! Whatever happens with the Crazy Fish, the music will continue in one venue or another for a long time to come. Speaking of which, the acoustic jam on Sundays at the Junction in Port Angeles continues to thrive. Maybe some of the at-risk tech-savvy youth out there will step up to make a web page for that venue. Would that ruin the "low-tech" atmosphere of the place?

Guitar Instruction Tip #18: So you want to be a rich rock and roll star? Well, listen now to what I say. Practice early in the morning(that means you have to get up!), play every gig offered to you, practice some more, and then strike oil or win the lottery.

Stephanie at the Junction!

Believe your eyes. That is Stephanie last Sunday at the Junction in Port Angeles, and we're performing "Stormy Monday," with Patrick(in the background on lead guitar) and Paul and Joe (off camera) on drums and harmonica respectively. Needless to say, the crowd was tuned in and awed by her voice. We also played along with Dave Secord and Luck of the Draw who also made one of their all too infrequent appearances. Rollin' Waters may play the Ajax in Port Hadlock soon--stay tuned.

The fate of the Crazy Fish in Port Angeles is uncertain, and consequently, so is the Wednesday night jazz/blues/folk/country jam. The owners are trying to sell the business or make some kind of arrangement so the club can stay open. There have been lots of fun nights there over the last four years, many of them on recent Wednesdays at the jam. Last Wednesday, thirteen year old Ashley brought her fiddle and wowed the crowd with solos on "Old Joe Clark" and "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." Maybe there'll be some good news next week about the future of the "Fish."

Guitar Instruction Tip 17: Keep your guitars--all of them. Never ever give your guitar to a girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other/ex-wife/ex-husband/whatever/. They will sell it and buy a better one every time.

The Unbearable Heaviness of Holidays

I want a dog, plain and simple. But, for now and because of the holiday season crunch, work schedules and the joy of responsibilities, singing about "Old Blue" and playing with the neighborhood canines will have to suffice.

It seems my current musical partners will insist on doing Christmas songs at the jams and upcoming party gigs. This is a new turn of events. In the past none of my partners made such outrageous and difficult musical demands. As a result last night, Rudy and Bill "forced" me to rehearse "The Little St. Nick, Jingle Bell Rock, and Jingle Bells." Actually, "The Little St. Nick" is a Beach Boys song, and therefore at least somewhat enjoyable to play and sing with the background parts and extra unusual chords. Thinking the worst might be over (at least until Friday's sing-along) I settled into the Math lesson this morning only to hear, wafting through the thin classroom wall, the sounds of neighbor teacher Warren leading the fifth graders in Xmas carols. So we paused and sang along since it would have been futile to resist. Ok, maybe it was a little bit enjoyable....

On Sunday we started a little later at the Junction, but the players turned out in good numbers once again and we played until nearly 12:30 AM. This was after our gig at the "Flotation Device" in Gig Harbor where we barely arrived on time having fought the snowstorm that ravaged the region over the weekend. Rudy, who recently moved here from Oakland, CA, was a little nervous about the white stuff, but we told him to consider it an adventure. Peer pressure sometimes works but we did see lots of vehicles in the ditch between Port Angeles and Bremerton.

Saturday, Mike and I played at the Ajax Cafe in Port Hadlock. What a treat! Music, good audience, funny hats on the diners and a halibut dinner, too.

Guitar Instruction Tip #16: Never change your guitar strings right before a performance. The strings will inevitably stretch and you will spend time either tuning or playing out of tune.

Live Music and Dancing in Port Angeles

If you've ever wondered whether people would dance to music played on acoustic guitars and a few voices sans bass and drums, the answer is "Hell yes!" That very question was answered on Sunday night at the Junction between the hours of 7:00 PM and 12:20 AM. We're supposed to stop at 11:00 PM but there were lots of players to get on stage and everyone seemed to be having fun so we went longer. Conventional wisdom dictates that a band must have bass and drums (especially drums) before people will get out on the dance floor. Not necessarily true. The proof is in the pictures. It has happened before, but it still surprises and inspires. The next best thing for a musician is seeing people in the audience singing along with a song that has moved them to vocalize. Nice.



For the second week in a row we had no drums at Crazy Fish, but there were plenty of electric guitars and my borrowed Peavey Classic 30(thanks Strait Music). Rudy, as always shined on bass and he's starting to sing more with fine harmonies. Kelly was missing in action but will be back next week. Dan, from Rate Limiting Step, and Mike from the Soul Shakers, once again sparkled on electric blues, drums or no drums. Patrick played lick after tasty lick on my Strat and voiced good reviews for the Classic 30. I must admit it took several songs for Stephen and I to find a groove in the first set, but his vocal on Route 66 perked up the crowd. Hope to see you all at the jam at the Junction on Sunday.

Rain on the Olympic Peninsula

The rain is returning to the Olympic Peninsula this week. It never leaves for very long, however. The streets are wet and skies are gray. Normal. Election day has passed, and apparently few bothered to vote, and Jefferson County had more voters than Clallam County. Why is that? Different worlds in some ways except when it comes to music. A lot of musicians travel and perform between the two counties even though the rural miles are long, especially during the frequent rainy nights.

Here in Port Angeles Sunday night at the Junction got a boost from Cindy and Mike of the Soul Shakers when they revved up the crowd with rockin' blues. Even without electric guitars! In fact, the vocals were right up front where they belong. Very cool. Check the sidebar for pics of Phyllis and John who also lifted our spirits on another musical night at the Junction.

Last night at the Crazy Fish was really fun. Kelly wowed the large crowd with new songs and Dan Lieberman accompanied on my Stratocaster while Marty added harmonica. Cory was in fine form wth Rudy and Patrick playing the blues. Bill never fails to bring the dancers to their feet with his classic version of the Wanderer. Back in New Jersey, Dion is proud of you, Bill. Stephen added some jazz classics including Route 66 and Wonderful World. Teachers and firefighters-each out of uniform-made up much of the lively crowd.

Port Angeles Halloween at the Junction

John Nelson calls it the "Six Days of Halloween." That because most, if not all, of the live music venues in Port Angeles are doing something for the Halloween season. I won't be hosting on Halloween itself (Wednesday) since the Crazy Fish will have some other band that night, but on Sunday scary folks indeed will come out to the Junction. There are many pictures of helpless victims in the clutches of Vampire Stephanie, but this is one of my favorites from last year. Bill is a huge fan of Halloween, and guests can expect his all out performance this Sunday.

Speaking of performances, Rusty was in top form last Sunday, and she sure makes my guitar sound and look good! Jimmy Hoffman also put in fine performances of some of his favorites, including the tribute to our friend Lawrence, but also helped us out on "Aimee" and several other standards. See the sidebar for one pic of him.

Blow up your TV and come on out to the Junction this Sunday! Trick or treat.

Port Angeles--Jam City Two

George sang played especially well this last Sunday at the Junction, and that's Johnny Mustang to his left in the pic. There was music just about everywhere in Port Angeles last weekend with the Crabfest and all the usual venues with live music. For some reason the Crabfest features mostly out-of-town acts. Lots of folk singers and Irish types. But most people came for the crab anyway. Joe and I had hot dogs made deliciously by Cindy at the Junction. Sometimes a hot dog really hits the spot after a night of live music. Paul is trying hard to have his drums ready for next week and this Wednesday at the Crazyfish. It's almost for sure that Ed Donahue will bring his horn and knock your socks off once again.

Mike and I are at the Ajax in Port Hadlock Saturday evening for our debut performance. Yes, we've been practicing! We'll do new material as well as some of the Rollin'Waters favorites.

Guitar Instruction Tip #15: Practice chords, not just melody. You won't get to solo all the time or even half of the time. Develop a good rhythm technique or else!

Fall and Spider Season is Here

Have you noticed how many spiders are around these days and did you know that spider silk or "gossamer" is one of the strongest materials? Well, now you do. There must be some good songs about spiders and if so, we should start playing them at the Juncton or Crazy Fish soon. I am trying to add a pic to this post but there seems to be some problem tonight. So, the pic may have to be loaded later in the edit mode. There's a whole bunch of new songs (actually old songs) to work on this week. I hope to have "Big Boss Man" ready to perform, if not tomorrow, then next week. We've been thinking up some cool ideas for "theme" nights at the Junction. Hmmm...I wonder if there are any Betty Page look-alikes on the Peninsula...

Guitar Instruction Tip #14: Find a song you like and practice singing it while playing. Don't wait twenty years to try this because you think you have no voice for singing. If nothing else, you'll learn more quickly how to accompany another singer(or yourself) which is what you'll be asked to do more often than not when playing in a band.