Wish I was in Pentwater, MI tonight

[Chuck Nessa]

I went 2 (maybe 3) years ago to see/hear the band play there and it was a hoot. The gig is at a restaurant / bar and they play on a canopied deck. A storm came in and the combination of music and weather was really interesting.

Oh yeah, driving home that night I went blind in one eye! Thanks to a great doctor and steroids I have 90% vision back. They owe me.

It's raining again tonight. I hope the gig goes splendidly.

[Uncle Skid]

I think they are in Manistee tonight. Pentwater is Wednesday. Road Trip?

I saw them (w/Arno Marsh) yesterday at the park near the zoo in Grand Rapids. Perfect evening, great music, big crowd.

[Chuck Nessa]

Stupid me. Thanks Skid.

[catesta]

I hope the gig goes splendidly.

Ditto.

I would like to be there.

[fasstrack]

I went 2 (maybe 3) years ago to see/hear the band play there and it was a hoot. The gig is at a restaurant / bar and they play on a canopied deck. A storm came in and the combination of music and weather was really interesting.

Oh yeah, driving home that night I went blind in one eye! Thanks to a great doctor and steroids I have 90% vision back. They owe me.

It's raining again tonight. I hope the gig goes splendidly.

Hey, Chuck: I did that gig 2 summers ago. The restaurant is called Gull's Landing. We loved it, it was easily the hippest place to play on the World Class Scully Rolling Thunder Review. For the uninitiated, Tim Scully is sort of a combined jazz Father Flanagan-Gandhi. He gets local sponsorship and gets local bands and in my case a NY quartet (with one Dutchman) and gives each band a week of concerts in bandshells up the peninsula. He is a hero and thank the lord for him.

But the restaurant really inspired us, I suppose because we were more background music than a 'show' and both played what we wanted (and took requests and nailed them). I remember everyone playing his ass off. BTW Lazaro Vega's recommendation was why this happened. I got to turn some guys on too. Last year Jerry Weldon went in with the same drummer I use, Rudy Petschauer. I believe Ed Cherry went this year or was supposed to. it's a classic case of cats hooking each other up for a fun gig.

Only thing is I'm sorry I missed Joe Gloss. Maybe next summer.....

Edited July 12, 2006 by fasstrack

[Jim Alfredson]

Chuck,

We're at Gull Landing tomorrow night and Sunday night. Come on down (up?) and I'll buy you a beer or two or three. I remember that evening that the storm came rolling in. In fact, I have it on tape (well, harddisk). It's pretty funny.

Tonight it rained up until about 5 minutes to show time and for some reason Scully decided to keep the concert outside instead of moving it into the high school (which is a much better venue to play than the gazebo in Manistee). I was almost ready to say "fuck it" and leave. Especially since rain + electric instruments = no fun. That and the fact that in order to load our stuff in we had to walk across soaking wet sand and track said sand onto the "bandstand" and then place our cords, amps, and instruments in it. No thanks.

I've only had my new Hammond organ for about a week and was not really excited about placing an instrument that I've invested $5000 into on a bed of wet sand. Frankly, I was very pissed off. But I put that anger into playing and I think we played very well. It was almost as fun as Baker's last Saturday (I had way too much fun at that gig!) The new Hammond is a joy to play and I can't help but be inspired by it.

Anyway, I hope to see you and/or Mark at Gull Landing. The food is outstanding! I'll probably be recording tomorrow as well (I didn't record tonight because of the rain and not wanting to risk my laptop). Arno is sounding great and we're having a blast so far despite the conditions. Hopefully the weather cooperates tomorrow, although they have a new canopy at Gull Landing that is very nice.

[GregN]

I went 2 (maybe 3) years ago to see/hear the band play there and it was a hoot. The gig is at a restaurant / bar and they play on a canopied deck. A storm came in and the combination of music and weather was really interesting.

Oh yeah, driving home that night I went blind in one eye! Thanks to a great doctor and steroids I have 90% vision back. They owe me.

It's raining again tonight. I hope the gig goes splendidly.

For the uninitiated, Tim Scully is sort of a combined jazz Father Flanagan-Gandhi. He gets local sponsorship and gets local bands and in my case a NY quartet (with one Dutchman) and gives each band a week of concerts in bandshells up the peninsula. He is a hero and thank the lord for him.

Well, that is one way of looking at him.

But seriously, it is cool that Tim drums this up. I've now done two years with Root Doctor, and while it has had its occassional bumps, I have a good time. This year I took my family along. I wish I had half Tim's energy. He is a dynamo who knows what he wants.

(Jim is off in the corner biting his tongue...good boy Jim...good boy)

[Lazaro Vega]

Hey guys,

How did the Muskegon Summer Celebration go?

[Jim Alfredson]

Hey guys,

How did the Muskegon Summer Celebration go?

Joe and I just watched the DVD last night. We were rolling on the floor. I'll begin by posting a quote from the Muskegon Chronicle that Uncle Skid sent me:

OPENING ACTS: Organissimo opened last evening. This trio had amazing virtuosity. However, their fusion of jazz and funk was a very odd choice to open for a rock band.

On the DVD they pan to the audience a few times and the poor kids are just bored out of their minds, waiting for Train. Eventually we won them over and actually had some asking for one more after our set. But they really didn't know what to think of us. It's not their fault... the state of music education in this country is so pitiful it's amazing that people even come to concerts at all anymore.

Back in the day you'd have Miles with the Dead with Santana with Richie Havens with Led Zepplin with Weather Report, etc. Now it's "a jazz/funk group opening for a rock band?!? WTF?!?!"

[Chuck Nessa]

Skid, Ann and I will be there tonight. If I go blind again, I get the new Hammond.

[Jim Alfredson]

Deal!

[catesta]

Lucky people.

[Soulstation1]

James Oscar

did you post about your new Hammond Organ purchase?

what year / any pics?

[GregN]

Hey guys,

How did the Muskegon Summer Celebration go?

Joe and I just watched the DVD last night. We were rolling on the floor. I'll begin by posting a quote from the Muskegon Chronicle that Uncle Skid sent me:

OPENING ACTS: Organissimo opened last evening. This trio had amazing virtuosity. However, their fusion of jazz and funk was a very odd choice to open for a rock band.

On the DVD they pan to the audience a few times and the poor kids are just bored out of their minds, waiting for Train. Eventually we won them over and actually had some asking for one more after our set. But they really didn't know what to think of us. It's not their fault... the state of music education in this country is so pitiful it's amazing that people even come to concerts at all anymore.

Back in the day you'd have Miles with the Dead with Santana with Richie Havens with Led Zepplin with Weather Report, etc. Now it's "a jazz/funk group opening for a rock band?!? WTF?!?!"

And yet with the Root Doctor show they tore our clothes off. And I am just talking about Macy Gray's backup singers!

[fasstrack]

Well, that is one way of looking at him.

He was cool to me. He didn't owe me or my guys anything, but went on Lazaro's say-so. I didn't say he was perfect and hardly know him. There were some minor misunderstandings re transportation and such, but in the end he put us up in his house for a night with full refrigerator privileges. Shit, I even double-dipped the ham. Anyway, just to say it was nice to sample that part of the country for a bit and hang with Lazaro, etc. I'd love to come back and for more than a week. I know what I saw of Scully. He broke his ass transporting and setting up equipment every night after his day gig with only his girlfriend getting his back.

But maybe you know something I don't....

[Chuck Nessa]

Just back from tonight's show. Good meal, decent beer (but keep fruit away from glasses) and terrific show. The band was having a good time tonight and Arno played better than I have ever heard. A swell evening in West Michigan.

[Lazaro Vega]

Had fun programming some Arno with Woody Herman's Third Herd tonight, as well as Arno at The Lighthouse, and live on Blue Lake with Organissimo last summer. How was the pentatonic Pentwater tonight? (oops, Nessa beat me to it!)

Edited July 13, 2006 by Lazaro Vega

[Jim Alfredson]

Scully is a great guy, but he can be very bullheaded. That's ok... he takes care of business. I have no beefs with him. He does a great service to the music.

SS1, I am playing the new Hammond XK system. All digital. The tonewheels are a thing of the past. In all seriousness, it's a wonderful sounding instrument and a joy to play and weighs 300lbs less than a B3.

[GregN]

Well, that is one way of looking at him.

He was cool to me. He didn't owe me or my guys anything, but went on Lazaro's say-so. I didn't say he was perfect and hardly know him. There were some minor misunderstandings re transportation and such, but in the end he put us up in his house for a night with full refrigerator privileges. Shit, I even double-dipped the ham. Anyway, just to say it was nice to sample that part of the country for a bit and hang with Lazaro, etc. I'd love to come back and for more than a week. I know what I saw of Scully. He broke his ass transporting and setting up equipment every night after his day gig with only his girlfriend getting his back.

But maybe you know something I don't....

I was just having fun.

Scully is cool. He gets things done. He just called me today, right after I made that post...I was worried he was lurking here. If you are Scully, I love you! Randy, doesn't but I do.

It is a fun tour for sure. I think we sold around 100 cds total that week and saw some pretty cool sites. If you get to go again, make sure you get the Gyro at the Baldwin Fish Mart. Awesome eats.

g

[GregN]

Just back from tonight's show. Good meal, decent beer (but keep fruit away from glasses) and terrific show. The band was having a good time tonight and Arno played better than I have ever heard. A swell evening in West Michigan.

Pentwater is beautiful. I envy you Chuck for living in such a beautiful part of the state. Last year was my first exposure to Manistee, Pentwater, etc.. Being from working class stock we were stuck with the more affordable east side of the state for vacations (Tawas, etc..) as I was growin up.

Good to hear the fellas played well!

[fasstrack]

Well, that is one way of looking at him.

He was cool to me. He didn't owe me or my guys anything, but went on Lazaro's say-so. I didn't say he was perfect and hardly know him. There were some minor misunderstandings re transportation and such, but in the end he put us up in his house for a night with full refrigerator privileges. Shit, I even double-dipped the ham. Anyway, just to say it was nice to sample that part of the country for a bit and hang with Lazaro, etc. I'd love to come back and for more than a week. I know what I saw of Scully. He broke his ass transporting and setting up equipment every night after his day gig with only his girlfriend getting his back.

But maybe you know something I don't....

I was just having fun.

Scully is cool. He gets things done. He just called me today, right after I made that post...I was worried he was lurking here. If you are Scully, I love you! Randy, doesn't but I do.

It is a fun tour for sure. I think we sold around 100 cds total that week and saw some pretty cool sites. If you get to go again, make sure you get the Gyro at the Baldwin Fish Mart. Awesome eats.

g

I have three hilarious pictures from that week, all posed, two involving Tim: 1. Me on Scully's Harley, and that is one MFing pip of a pic. 2. me playing and oblivious to the drummer, Rudy Petchauer, getting ready to hack me with an axe from the deck of a 100-tear-old boat called the SS City of Milwaukee. 3. Scully strangling me.

I sold about two demo CDs at $9 per. I'm not sure whether to say 'fuck you' or can i borrow a fin ....

[GregN]

Well, that is one way of looking at him.

He was cool to me. He didn't owe me or my guys anything, but went on Lazaro's say-so. I didn't say he was perfect and hardly know him. There were some minor misunderstandings re transportation and such, but in the end he put us up in his house for a night with full refrigerator privileges. Shit, I even double-dipped the ham. Anyway, just to say it was nice to sample that part of the country for a bit and hang with Lazaro, etc. I'd love to come back and for more than a week. I know what I saw of Scully. He broke his ass transporting and setting up equipment every night after his day gig with only his girlfriend getting his back.

But maybe you know something I don't....

I was just having fun.

Scully is cool. He gets things done. He just called me today, right after I made that post...I was worried he was lurking here. If you are Scully, I love you! Randy, doesn't but I do.

It is a fun tour for sure. I think we sold around 100 cds total that week and saw some pretty cool sites. If you get to go again, make sure you get the Gyro at the Baldwin Fish Mart. Awesome eats.

g

I have three hilarious pictures from that week, all posed, two involving Tim: 1. Me on Scully's Harley, and that is one MFing pip of a pic. 2. me playing and oblivious to the drummer, Rudy Petchauer, getting ready to hack me with an axe from the deck of a 100-tear-old boat called the SS City of Milwaukee. 3. Scully strangling me.

I sold about two demo CDs at $9 per. I'm not sure whether to say 'fuck you' or can i borrow a fin ....

"I sold about two demo CDs at $9 per. I'm not sure whether to say 'fuck you' or can i borrow a fin ...."

We play R&B, Soul, and Blues. Wider demographic appeal, hence the quasi-commerical success (relatively speaking). Probably not a good time to mention that we sell 'em for 15.00 <runs and hides>

At any rate, if you can post those pics here (or have some on a website somewhere), I would love to see them. Especially if you have one of you strangling Scully.

We will be posting pictures of our Scully Tour next week on our Root Doctor site.

[fasstrack]

We play R&B, Soul, and Blues. Wider demographic appeal, hence the quasi-commerical success (relatively speaking). Probably not a good time to mention that we sell 'em for 15.00 <runs and hides>

At any rate, if you can post those pics here (or have some on a website somewhere), I would love to see them. Especially if you have one of you strangling Scully.

We will be posting pictures of our Scully Tour next week on our Root Doctor site.

Yeah, I saw yiz guys names when I was there. We didn't do anything far out, just tried to sneak some of my tunes in and other things I liked. They didn't hate us but it was obvious that Ellington and standards would go over better, and we love those so shifted and had a ball. Like I said, at Gull's Landing we played for ourselves and still took requests.

I'm too stupid, old, tired, and Jewish to know how to post analog pics on the web. Otherwise I'd be delighted. The one of me on Scully's bike should be in the Hall of Fame (well Shame, anyway). It's going on my CD so I can announce to the public what all my friends know: I'm outta my frickin' gourd.

[Joe G]

Just back from tonight's show. Good meal, decent beer (but keep fruit away from glasses) and terrific show. The band was having a good time tonight and Arno played better than I have ever heard. A swell evening in West Michigan.

We were very glad to see you all there. Arno is playing great. Thoroughly schooled me on that rhythm changes tune.

[Jim Alfredson]

We play R&B, Soul, and Blues. Wider demographic appeal, hence the quasi-commerical success (relatively speaking). Probably not a good time to mention that we sell 'em for 15.00 <runs and hides>

At any rate, if you can post those pics here (or have some on a website somewhere), I would love to see them. Especially if you have one of you strangling Scully.

We will be posting pictures of our Scully Tour next week on our Root Doctor site.

Yeah, I saw yiz guys names when I was there. We didn't do anything far out, just tried to sneak some of my tunes in and other things I liked. They didn't hate us but it was obvious that Ellington and standards would go over better, and we love those so shifted and had a ball. Like I said, at Gull's Landing we played for ourselves and still took requests.

Don't feel bad. Root Doctor sells more because we have a great singer and people can relate easier to the music. So far, on the two gigs, I think organissimo has sold maybe 5 discs. So, whatcha gonna do? We're still having a blast!