Jam – 2009-06-17 – Carroll’s

DCC_8896_edited-1It was a week of getting back to basics with Kevin and Jason rejoining us for a full night of Deadstein freakiness.  The type of freakiness that just pop in the room like Ken Levine with his roving band of drunken, merry pranksters. Doooh!  as Kevin says. There is lots of stuff to try to recall and write about so let’s se what I can remember one day after.

DCC_8887_edited-1

We were in our cozy studio #2 and Scott was forgetful on the way to the jam.  He forgot his nephew’s guitar he was dropping off for Jason to work on and had to go home to pick it up, then he forgot some check he had to give Kevin and also had to go home.  DCC_8879_edited-1Molly was tired of meeting him at the curb.  Finally, he either forgot or chose not to bring his standard 6 shots of espresso.  By the 3rd song he was scheming on how to get coffee delivered to Studio #2.  He worked with generic studio guy to get a delivery of 8 large coffees that were terrible, black and without condiments.  What a disappointment.  It was good for nothing but for Ken Levine to knock over as soon as he got into the studio.  Additional, the total sloshed lady, I’ll call her Dolly because I never asked her what her name was, accidently kicked out Jason’s power strip when she staggered across the room late in the evening.  We we not setup for this type of experience.

DCC_8875_edited-1The evening started like most Deadstein nights with the core-4 of us standing around the piano discussing the past week of life and what-nots.  We got going with 3 or 4 Garband songs until Jason arrived.  There were some good moments in there.  We also did a Black Throated Wind during this introductory segment.  The coffee arrived, then did Scott Bayer and his harmonica. Jason next arrived and away we went.  Scott Bayer left us and then Ken Levine came in with a blackchick named Regina, the Real Estate Dude, Dolly the sloshed blonde and Ken himself looking dapper.  She came in dancing and having the time of her life 3 sheets to the wind while Ken spilled the coffee but the band kept playing on.

DCC_8893_edited-1We fulfilled a few requests like Dolly’s Deal that sent her back to an old fashion flashback.  We really rocked her world, but in her state it wasn’t a tremendous accomplishment.  Actually we played well at times but also had major brain farts at other times, but the band keeps playing on.

Eventually two more of Ken Levine’s buddies come skipping in, Fred and Jo.  They were celebrating Ken and Fred’s 40-year anniversary when they enjoyed some great Grateful Dead trip 40 years ago when they first met.  Something like that.  It was also Fred’s one-year annivesary of seeing Deadstein and he was sharing that with us also.  I guess Fred is into the whole anniversary thing and we should expect to see him some  time again in mid-June 2010.  DCC_8890_edited-1Fred and JoAnn also both became mesmerized by the Deadstein vortex.  I think everyone left in a stooper thrusted upon them by the Deadstein musical vortex.  The Real Estate dude and Regina were the first to leave.  Then went Ken and Dolly. Finally Fred and Jo left and we couldn’t say good bye to them enough and vice-versa.  What a freak show.  And the band keeps playing on.  And we did do the Music Never Stopped. I eventually drove everyone out with my rendition of One More Saturday Night.  “I turn on Channel 6 the pretender comes on the news . . .”

DCC_8871_edited-1It was eventually the five of use remaining.  I broke out the big bag our Sour Patch Kids and they were devoured in about 60 seconds.  We did the entire Weater Report Suite.  I had finally learned most of it during the the week but was disappointed in my execution of it when it came to brass tacks.  Oh well, the bands keeps playing on.  We transitioned the Let it Grow into a Me and My Uncle that was for the most part a train wreck and that was the end of the night.  Jason bolted on the first elevator down and the rest of us followed shortly thereafter.

A night to remember more for the experience than the music.  Who knows, maybe the recording will show us something different, but I’m not expecting it.  Till we do it again.

Jam – 2009-06-08 – Carroll’s

IMG_3220_edited-1Playing Monday night and without Kevin on bass presented Deadstein with a new challenge in sustainability.  The buzz-word of the day.  Al D. proved to be out little blue pill bringing his nice sounding Fender bass to the jam to fill in for Kevin.  Al is quite the relaxed musician because he just and jam with and go with the flow.  He may not know how to play a song but he knows how to play a song.  When we got to Carroll’s we surprised them because they didn’t have us in the book.  They had to scramble to get us set up but they did so with a smile and grace.  Actually we found out the David Byrne was rehearsing at Carroll’s earlier this week in preparation for his concert he was playing this night in Brooklyn.  They told us he rides to the rehearsals on his bicycles.  Pretty cool.

IMG_3221_edited-1

I enjoyed the Al D. bass thing.  Wes tuck with lots of Garband and Al does play more like John Kahn than he does Phil so being the only guitarist meant the Garband trick was the thing to do.  Most of it was good, but the music was at a much more accessible range than is typically so it was fun to play in the added space.

Scott was playing  the tiny jazz drum-set that was left there by Ron Carter and with the help of an espresso with 5 extra shots, Scott was able to play through the entire night with out really tiring.  Drumming was good.  Rich used the non-PZM microphone to   amplify the piano and it sounded nice again, witht he lower volume, we were able to turn down the gain on the mic and the whole room sounded more natural due to it.

We new Al had to leave at 10:00pm so we were going to be bassless for the last two hours.  Not a good prospect, but Deadstein still moves on.  As 10:00 approached, Al had 1 or two more songs in him.  Somehow we hood-winked him into playing 6 or 7 more songs, so we really go the most out of Al as we cold.  He probably left at around 10:45 and we really appreciate his effort.

IMG_3223_edited-1

Jason was to play lead for us but wasn’t scheduled to show up until about 10:00 himself.  As Al left well after 10:30 Jason was still a no show.  No big deal.  After Al left, we hung for a few minutes and then we manned our instruments.  We played a few songs, mostly Beatle songs, not done to well, but we were making music and that is what it is all about.  As we a just going through some motions to complete a jam, to make sure we got the most out of our expensive evening, at about 11:40 Jason comes walking into the room.  He had candy and apologies in his hand but no guitar.  We were wrapping up anyway.  We hung for a little bit and then I gave him my guitar to play and then he Rich and Scott spaced for 15 minutes or so.  

IMG_3224_edited-1

It looks like we are aiming for Tuesday next week.  Can’t wait to see you all next Tuesday.

Jam – 2009-06-01 – Carroll’s

DCC_7655_edited-1It was Monday night and we are trying to squeak Kevy through a few jams during the weeks leading up to Dylan’s Bar Mitzvah.  So far we had him for this week, but let us see what next week brings.

Jason joined us this week and he brought with him the end of a cold and a new Carvin guitar.  It was not quite as thick sounding as his aluminum necked ones, but being a busy as I am during the jam, it is tough for me to get too into his tone.  I didn’t sense that there were any problems or issues so it sounded as good as ever.

DCC_7659_edited-1

Scott was back from his vacation in Anguilla where he miraculously survived a stay at a home that had unlimited Patron and a specialized machine to dispense it, and it was in his room.  I couldn’t think of a more exciting adventure than anyone else in Deadstein than what this sounds like for Scott. I’m just happy he came back alive and he looked good.

DCC_7665_edited-1Scott Bayer on the other hand had a really funny “Krammer-esque” entrance into the room proclaiming, “Am I late for my appointment?”  He also exited in classic style which I now forget, being 2 days from the jam that I write this, but if anyone remembers please let me know in the comments.  I’m just looking for a conversation or a comment a sign to know someone is out there.

DCC_7663_edited-1We had another guest who was there throughout the whole night.  It was Phil from Westchester who Scott knew.  He sat there for most of the night, he seemed to dig us.  He requested  a China Cat and we gave it to him big.  He commented how that was the most enjoyable China Cat he had ever experienced either live or “Memorex.”  He was a bit over-whelmed by the vortex upon which he ventured.

The music was good.  There was a spacey Playing –> Shakedown Street.  The China Cat was hot.  We opened with the Next Time You See Me to get it out of the way and we did do it under control and in correct structure for the first time in quite a while.  The China Cat, as previously mentioned, was pretty good.  I think the Minglewood was tight.  Another great night, hopefully we get together next week.


DCC_7662

If you want to see exacly what we played and Rich recorded, look below.

DCC_7668_edited-1

DCC_7667_edited-1

Jam – 2009-05-27 – Carroll’s


DCC_6344_edited-1It was Wednesday night and Scott informed us several weeks ago that he would not be able to make this weeks jam. He is in Anguilla on vacation and I’m sure the Patron is moving from the bar to his liver as a fast pace. 

This gave us the opportunity to have Coffee-Boy and Trister join us for what is almost a Terez reunion but without Terez. We knew we would only have Trister for a portion of the night but we had to make the most of it that we could. We opened with a standard Trister night opening of the Halfstep followed by a Brother Esau. Coffee was giving us some serious cowbell during the Esau. Birdsong followed and was really nice and the rest of the night continued in a very positive manner. 

Short of Coffee and Trister being considered guests, the only real guest we had was Scott Bayer who was there for the Eyes/Estimated combo. Scott was never there at a time where he could communicate with any of us except maybe Rich and this is a statement that can be made at anytime, whether playing music or not. Thankfully, I don’t even think he broke out his harmonica. 

DCC_6354_edited-1

Kevin is giving us some indications that he may not be able to play the next couple of weeks due to the Bar Mitzvah of his son Dylan. We are going to have to remain flexible in order to keep the jamming moving forward. Bayside Mitch may be called into action if he is available. 

We had a few big songs segments including an Eyes/Estimated and a surprising Help/Slip/Franklins. I thought Andy was done for the night and then he gave us the Help Slip Franklins. In addition, he played the final lead with of the Franklins with some ferocity that said, “I really don’t want to put my guitar down”. Rich made Andy play a Next Time You See Me before he was allowed to go. 

DCC_6356_edited-1

When it was time for Andy to go, it was also time for Coffee to go. I think before Trsiter had his guitar off his shoulder Coffee-Boy was already in the elevator heading home. Actually, Kevin, Rich and I hung out for the last hour and played a few as a trio without any drumming. Some was good, some was bad, but it was music being made nevertheless. We did the Russian Lullaby, Dark Hollow, Wharf Rat and a Ripple in this format. 

DCC_6357_edited-1

Thanks to Rich as usual for recording the evening and posting them.  The music is available at the following location

http://www.deadstein.com/audio/05-27-09/

DCC_6361_edited-1

Time will tell what the next several week bring us so staying tuned is the only way to know.

Jam – 2009-05-19 – Carroll’s

DCC_5450_edited-1It was a beautiful Tuesday night for a jam at Carroll’s.  Jason showed up to play lead guitar but was a little late.  While waiting for him to arrive the Core-4 tackled a coupled of GarBand numbers.  We opened with a Mission in the Rain and had Jason walked in on us performing a Senor.

We had a couple of guests including Scott Bayer and his film festival buddy/actor.  They hung out for 3 songs and they really seemed to appreciate us.  Scott is continuing to try to play his “C” harmonica and we even gave him a bit of a opportunity to strut his stuff for whatever is strut-table.

DCC_5478

DCC_5491

DCC_5481

DCC_5482

With Jason there we opened with a Shakedown.  Jason wasn’t sure his Silver Faced Twin would hold out for the entire night but it did.  He was using one of his boutique Krammer aluminum neck guitars and that thing sounded real good.  In addition, we went without the PZM on the piano for the second week in a row and I think the piano sounded much better.

Much like last week, I recall playing lots of songs with some interesting transitions.  Some songs were real comfortable and easy such as Candyman and Jack Straw.  I think we did well on those 2.  Jason was there to carry us through the He Ain’t Give You None which we waited for.  We learned how to do the cool intro to the old style of Good Lovin with me leading the riff on the C->Bb, then E-D then G-F.  We we asked to make a mental note so I figure I would make a virtual one.  It sounded good.

We did a nice Wang Dang and had a peppy Comes a Time lead us into an extended song combination.  We ended at 12:00 with the Midnight Hour.  Played many more songs than I covered here  so we will have to wait for the full set-list to see what we really played.  I think it will be a full listing once again.  You have to like that.

DCC_5477

DCC_5473DCC_5447

Jam -2009-05-14 – Carroll’s

IMG_3071_edited-1At least it was Thursday night and now it is Friday night and the week is over.  There is something good about the Thursday night jam in that the week is coming to a close.  Kevin has to race from work, but he did race and got there in good time.

It was just us core-4 with Jason on lead.  There were no guests, so it was just us five.  Kevin with his new iPod has come in listen to tunes and showing us some stuff.  That is wonderful and I say thank you Apple.  

IMG_3072_edited-1

The music was nice for the most part.  I can’t say I felt smooth and easy but the stuff still grooved.  I like some of the transitions Jason created, Scarlet -> Goin down the Road.  The was a nice cold rain transition also.  I can’t wait to see Rich’s posting of the setlist so I can remember what we did.  It’s so sad, it is less than 24 hour from playing but it is  tough to remember.

I remember the food including coconut milk infused chocolate chip cookies from Jason, I brought Baklava from Carmel Haiffa shwarma place  , kettle corn, nuts.  And the soda machine wasn’t working, so that was an issue.

IMG_3073_edited-1

So we had a Sugar Mag, Scarlet, Help, Slip Franklins, Cold Rain, Stephen, Bertha, and a few more.  When Rich posts the setlist we will have it for sure.  Another great night and experience.  Can’t wait till next time.

IMG_3075

So the set list arrived thanks to Rich as his Tascam recorder.  The listing shows 20 songs, and considering several of them were multiple songs in one file (Help Slip Franklins Johnny B Goode, Weather Report Suite) this could be one of the biggest setlists ever.  It’s like 24 songs, most of them with lots of protein in them.   It is hard to imagine hwere we got time to play all that music but we did.

It is located in this folder:

http://www.deadstein.com/audio/05-14-09/

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries