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.

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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.

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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.  

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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.

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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.


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

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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.

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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.

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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/

Jam – 2009-05-06 – Carroll’s


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Wednesday night and as fate would have it, there was only core Deadstein to be had.  Not that core Deadstein is a bad thing, it is just nice to share what we have with other like minded individuals.  The weather was nice coming in and there was no traffic, but pouring on the way home.  It made for a challenging, hydro-planing ride home.  

img_3051_edited-1I was the first on there, the Scott, Rich and Kevin.  We had no guests and not even a call to Carol.  We were by ourselves for better or worse.  Early on Scott was pre-occupied with Lisa’s journey into Kentucky and Ohio to pick Matt up from School.  Scott was beat from seeing the The Dead shows and Springsteen (just another Deadstein cover band) with all the Patron that entails.  Nevertheless, early on he was on and strong.  By the Forever Young at the end of the night he was head bobbing as he was playing in his sleep.  An impressive feat in and of itself.

We started the night nicely with the Uncle Johns into Playing and we stopped in the middle of the Playing jam, but we had enough and what we had was good.  I remember a bad Hard to Handle, tough to get a groove on.  Althea that I sang felt very good.  Rich sang a good Ramble on Rose until I messed up thinking the song ended prematurely.  Though unmotivated we ended the night after a long break of watching classic Deadstein on Rich’s laptop of Kevin’s 35th birthday at the Hardrock playing a fun and well done Across the Universe.  Even Scott was back up after for that.

Fun night was had by all and we played some kick ass music to boot.  To listen to the songs, use the links below:

http://www.deadstein.com/audio/05-06-09/

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Jam 2009-04-27 – Carroll’s

 img_3024_edited-1This was a Monday night jam stuffed in the middle of the The Dead tour.  We had the Garden this Saturday (Jason had Hartford last night) and we have 2 Byrne shows tomorrow and Wednesday.  A Busy time in the Grateful Dead family but Deadstein still finds its nook.

With the shows in town and lots going on we had more guests than usual.  We had Leo of Ludlow, Scott of Bayer, Trebor (Robert and Miranda of Thinkspace, not Drums and then we had Marjorie, Jason’s friend from the day.  Lots of people and place and things to discuss. We almost didn’t have the jam, but Scott was cool enough to muster up the energy to play and play he did well.

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Until 10:15 or so we didn’t have a Jerry so we had to resort ironically to playing only Jerry songs.  The exception to this was playing a Mexicali which was a request by Miranda.  I think we did several real nice Garband things before Jason showed up.  The Brothers and Sisters,Stop That Train, Dear Prudence opener was overly solid.  Throw in a Cats Down Under the Stars , Tore Up and more and you had a very respectable JGB Effort.

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img_3031_edited-1Jason arrived fresh off 2 shows in a row and psyched to play after a long day of work.  He had the Q-Tron going so we opened with the sultry Fire and played an Estimated.  Played a few more in between including a late night Rooster and closing with a Here Comes Sunshine.  There wasn’t enough time, so it seemed but it was all the time there was.

Off to the Byrne then back next week for some more Deadstein.  For when the The Dead is all packed and gone on; Deadstein remains to hold on to.

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The snake from hell I was staring at all night.

The snake from hell I was staring at all night.

If you want to hear this night’s jam it is available at the link below or just use the embedded WordPress media player to stream the song right from the link below.

http://www.deadstein.com/audio/04-27-09/  

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