Thanksgiving 2011

(From Noon Clockwise) Roast Turkey (White Meat), Pepperidge Farm Stuffing A La JAMIE MORONI souped up with Ground Sausage and Caramelized Onions, Cranberry Sauce, Pillsbury Crescent Roll, Homeade Stuffed Mushroom, Asparagus baked with Virgin Olive Oil, Mashed Potatoes Doused in Au Jus Gravy (I must have sprung a leak as it) wound up on the plate and for the first time Ever I didnt have a pool of (GRAVY) inside my mound of taters..

The Loaded Plate at the Moroni Compound and I thank them for having me. an Incredible Dinner produced by JAMIE -Sha-La-LA-NaaNaaNaaNaaaa MORONI, Mama Moroni The BIG "C" on Corn Cobs and Gravy Au Jus, Carol on Bird-Carving and me (your BLOGMaestro) on Mashed Taters and construction of the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.



Stuffed Mushrooms - Carol De-Stemmed these Mushrooms and diced up the Stempiece after which JAMIE MORONI Re-Stuffed the Mushroom with the diced up Stempiece and a mixture of Breadcrumbs, Spices, Pecorino Romano Grated Cheese and Fresh Onion Drippings.



The Broccoli Rabe - Simple Yet as Delicious as a Hydrogen BOMB !!!!
Smashed Garlic and Virgin Olive Oil Do It Right especially when JAMIE MORONI makes it.



Sausage Bread & Broccoli Rabe/Cheese Bread, JAMIE MORONI Made This.

TO DIE FOR !!!

Pictured is a cross section of the Sausage Bread and a fresh unopened Broccoli Rabe/Cheese Bread,... or was it the other way around. SHUTUP !!! I'M DELIRIOUS !!!



After we prepped some foods for tomorrow's celebration JAMIE MORONI prepared some Angel Hair Pasta and leftover Sausage (from Conchetta's Birthday Party) so all of santa's elves could have dinner just in time for this weeks latest "American Horror Story" episode.



THE STUFFING - if this was the Surface of the Moon I believe that many more trips would have been taken there if they knew it was the surface of JAMIE MORONI's moon.



A Mainstay for Thanksgiving's to come always.
The Pillsbury Biscuit, SPIKE made these.



Classic after dinner gameplay.

King Crimson - "As Silence Drowns The Screams" - In The Court Of The Crimson King 40TH Anniversary Edition Box Set

Amidst the onslaught of CD BOX SET Christmas releases of 2011 including the Definitive Beach Boys "SMiLE" collection, The WHO's Classic QUADROPHENIA and the ongoing Pink Floyd Triumvarate of Classic Releases, My favorite box set of 2011 is the 2009 40th anniversary "In The Court Of The Crimson King" collection. All in all you get 5 CDs and a DVD (containing lossless stereo mixes, a video and 5.1 remix), a 24 page 12X12 booklet with essay by Robert Fripp/diary excerpts and ephemera, 12X12 replica of the LP gatefold sleeve for current and future generation's to get a glimpse of what it was like to read lyrics and gaze at artwork in its original Album size most preferably performed while listening to said album, 2 King Crimson buttons/badges (the cover and inner sleeve "schizoid man"), 4 jewel cases (2 double disc) to house all 6 discs and in a mysterious white envelope two 8X10 glossy b&w press kit photos of the 1969 lineup and then of course there's the Glorious Music.

I am drawn to the LP transfers even listening on my MP3 Ipod, theres something vibrant in the murkiness of these mixes. Included is the British Stereo and American Mono LP Vinyl recordings that have been "de-clicked" to cut down on excessive vinyl surface noise. The Bonus tracks are fascinating, The (duo version/Fripp & McDonald) of "I Talk To The Wind" is just stunningly beautiful and with or without vocal track "Epitaph" remains one of the greatest emotionally gloomy tracks ever committed to tape.

Alongside the Nice and Procol Harum this is where Progressive Rock started and it started Brilliantly.

One would be hard pressed to dream of including any further versions of the record on a CD set as included herein is the 2009 Stereo Remaster, the 2004 Master Edition remaster, British stereo vinyl, American mono vinyl and an "Alternate Mix" version alongside studio outtakes, single mixes, BBC recordings and Live concert performances. Disc 6 which is the DVD includes the 2009 5.1 Remix as well as MLP Lossless Stereo (24/96) and PCM Stereo (24/48) encoded versions of the 2009, 2004, alternate mix and outtakes from the 2 disc 2009 re-issue.

So There!!!, No Complaints!!, Just CRIMSO!, Music as remarkable as this deserves the kind of treatment, respect and excitement this package delivers.



CD inlay card [Disc 5]



The JAMIE/AMAZON Review.

White Wedding - Petes Saloon 11/18/11 Elmsford,New York

Nancy was kind enough to take a moment and snap a pic with Daryl Hall between sets.

On the ride up to Elmsford someone posed the question "Is Petes Saloon an Irish bar?" after which Rob surmised that "Pete" was an Irish name and I deduced that "Saloon" was kind of a white non-descript thing,.... turns out it didnt matter as Petes Saloon was more of a restaurant with a bar in it.

As we set up our gear the scents of it all was very enticing and Dave and myself decided we must order something. The taps were of average fare but Hey, We just played a Biergarten last week!!! Nothing Is Real.

The band played well enough but even setting up my drums catty cornered I was totally cramped for the evening, part of this phenomenon is due to the fact that the stage at Petes Saloon is smaller than even the one at O' Flanagans!!! Petes stage is roughly (6X12).

I would be lucky if I could present the Last Supper as performed by Squirrels wearing tutu's in this space.



Its amazing Our Singers managed to stay up there with us at all but for the first set or two they had no choice as the wait staff and customers were using the area right in front of the raised platform for table service and general locomotion, by the end of the night most of the band were all over the floor (in front of the raised platform and areas unexpected thereof).



Not one of my more comfortable shows as I had to crush myself between Cymbals, Cymbal Stands, Cables, Floor Tom, Gig Bag, Drum Stool, Stepping Over Dave's 5 string Bass Guitar and Bass Amp and railing to get behind the kit.

Right before we went on (as we were being introduced onstage by Rob) I knocked my drink over due to the lack of space and for just one pint glass it shattered Everywhere!!! behind the drum kit, on top of my Floor Tom and Snare Drum, I tossed the glass slivers aside but was in fear for the entire performance due to the shards at my heel (see pic).

You may ask why I did not get the staff to sweep it up, I would have if they could for the life of them even get behind there. The authorities were notified by the end of the evening so no further drummers or trombone players face possible injury.



This was Delicious and Really hit the spot, Roast Beef and Cheddar Sliders A La Perfection, there was something a little sweet in the Au Jus Gravy that made it just right, obviously their Secret Ingredient, and look at their construction, kinda messy on purpose. Dave had the Vegetable Curry Soup which he proclaimed "Indian Restaurant Quality" and he knows his Indian fare and Restaurant Quality and Indian Restaurant Quality soup.



The Callbox was its usual demented jumping self when we dropped off the Drums and P.A. around 3 a.m. I snapped this photo on our way out (note the vast amount of posteriors).



We returned the Zipcar to a 24 hour parking garage but had to summon the gatekeeper so I had the exciting privelige of ringing the Night Bell to arouse them from their slumber, you would think in all my years of living that I would have rung a 24 hour parking garage Night Bell before but NO I HAVE NOT. Well,.... Since I have yet to own a car or rent one (to drive as well) for that matter maybe it makes all the sense in the world that I have Never rung the Night Bell at a 24 hour parking garage.

BUT IT MAKES ME WANT TO RING THE BELL EVEN MORE!!!!

Pass the Grated Cheese Please.

Birthday Food 2011

11/10/11 - Queen Anne Ravioli with homeade sauce.

Jamie made me a Hearty (to say the least) 3-course meal for my Birthday, much more food would be shown but Sirelle ate it before I could photograph it.



Delicious Spiral Sausage from Frank & Sal's Pork Store on my corner, they were out of Broccoli Rabe Sausage but whatever this was it was Delicious.



Thinly Sliced Chicken Cutlets getting Fried Up.



Reeses Ice Cream Cake from Friendlys.



11/12/11 - Da Vinci Sicilian Pie for Jamies Pre-Birthday Party, They would not inscribe the Pizza.



Chocolate Pre-Birthday Cake from Ladybird in Park Slope.



11/13/11 - Pre-Birthday Cake # 2 is FUDGIE THE WHALE at Jamie's brother's BBQ Birthday Bash.



11/14/11 - The Steak/Enchilada Platter from Rachel's.



THE Birthday Cake, Chocolate Mousse from Villabate by Alba.

White Wedding - Zeppelin Hall 11/11/11 Jersey City,New Jersey

Zeppelin Hall is a Great Venue and we have been invited back December 9.

While not indicative in any way of the quality of the show or venue this is the sign that stopped me in my tracks at the main entrance to Zeppelin Hall and had me a little perplexed until Jamie mentioned the possible proliferation of neighborhood street gangs to avoid. Zeppelin Hall is a beautiful venue and a most large Biergarten in my vast Biergarten experience.

The stage was a little smallish in circumference but I was not cramped against the wall with no Bass Drum/Elbow action and there were stairs on the side of the not quite short not quite tall stage of height. I cannot speak for the rest of the band but there were no complaints.



The White Wedding Dollhouse with first 3 fully posable figurines (Mike,Dave & Rob) will be available Christmas 2013.





Zeppelin Hall treats their entertainment well as all food and beverages are Gratis and you can imagine the selection. Pictured above is the Blau Speck-Burger topped with Bleu Cheese, Bacon, Pickles, Lettuce and Tomatoes served with fries.



Zeppelin Hall website advertisement (wrong date)





It was my birthday the day prior and Nancy sent me this crazy greeting via her very favorite iphone app.



short excerpt from the mockumentary in the making "This Is White Wedding" *.

* disclaimer - at the moment there is no mockumentary in the making but you never know.

FLICKR

Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman 11/6/11 Theater at Westbury - Westbury, New York

White Wedding - O' Flanagans 11/5/11 New York City

I was the first to arrive at the "O" and awaiting my bandmates arrival duly ordered a "Pint of Ale" which went down nicely as I relaxed and sat on the edge of the very low and dimly lit bandstand, feeling most at home there,..... a smell of cheap tangerine perfume permeated the air and the shrieking, clanging sound of the peanut vendor's monkey on the sidewalk showed no regard for those who slept or those at conflict within their souls.

The band played a tight performance and the crowd was up and dancing by the first set, the partier's grew in diversity and intensity and its always nice to spark up A party early then keep the level energetic. Unique to this show was Dave inadvertently knocking a few framed iconic images off the wall during his musical performance to great effect and getting his (headstock mounted) bass tuner caught in Bruce Springsteen's headband. I also suffered from my rack tom becoming (and I mean) completely dislodged from the tom mount during the dramatic introduction to Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" which opened set 3 after which I had to do without for the song, Kudos to Mike (also a drummer, need I remind me) for rescuing the mounting right before song number two, Bon Jovi's "Runaway". We are invited back for a December Seventeenth performance (just a month away).

White Wedding was interviewed before our performance by NYU (New York University) for a future article about the band (see photo above) which was a fun experience for all of us.



Robert Smith.



This man drinks Semiquavers for Breakfast, eats Arpeggio's for Lunch and feasts on the Mixolydian scale for dinner. He is also a very nice fellow (and tasteful rock solid bass player) with a penchant for soup & cashews.



This man injects wild quail with chestnuts for breakfast, inhales obsolete pocket computers for lunch and feasts on Yak and Honey Dew for suppertime, He is the one constant in White Wedding (even when we were called The Airwaves) and it is this mans vision propelling us on our path beyond these things and closer to those other things. He is Mike without which the other things would not be happening in precisely the same way that they have been happening for the past number of years.



Who is That Ditzy Strumpet !!!???
OH WAIT, That's Debbie Harry !
NO WAIT That's Nancy !!!



Who needs Rachmaninoff when we have ROCKmaninoff !!!



I'm So Ronery
So ronery
So ronery and sadry arone

There's no one
Just me onry
Sitting on my rittle throne



This is Not a posed shot, another reason why Rob might be the finest and funnest frontman/lead singer I have worked with to date.



The Ultimate Nachos of O' Flanagans were indeed just that. Cheesey Cheese, Chunky Chili, Spicy Salsa, Spunky Scallions, Beany Beans and as a nice touch Fresh, Firm (mild) Veggie Jalapeno slices. If these were from a jar then it was a jar designed by the celestial core of mechanics during a philosophical pinata party and that aint too common folks.

FLICKR

White Wedding - Water Witch Club 9/10/10

Dont You Want Me, Come On Eileen, Walking On Sunshine, Once in a Lifetime/And She Was, Love Shack.

(24 M/33 S)