Sweethook - Photo Shoot/Brooklyn Bridge Downtown 4/5 Platform 4/12/10 New York City

KUDOS Go out to Matt Shanley our fearless percussionist for standing behind the "Do Not Stand Behind" line on the Downtown 4 platform to get that shot just right.

Jon Anderson - B.B. Kings 4/11/10 New York City

Jon Anderson treated us to an intimate evening of mostly acoustic music accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and electric keyboards at this famous Times Square venue performing a nice mix of classics as well as some rarities (two Jon & Vangelis tunes .-) I was pleasantly surprised to arrive only to see a sparsely furnished stage (No drumkit or amps) anticipating we were going to get a chance to hear the songs in a raw format. the ticket said "Doors 6, Show 8" and since I wasnt planning on spending fifty bucks on dinner for myself I arrived forty minutes after the doors had been opened to my detriment. I had one of the worst seats in an otherwise general admission audience.



Jon's setlist as scribbled by myself on the fly and in the dark.





Whenever in Times Square I MUST have my Beef Bowl from Yoshinoya, Most Excellent.

White Wedding - 27 Union Square West 4/10/10 New York City

My First Wedding,.... Performing at one that is.

One of the most humbling Lesson's for a musician is not only in serving the music but also in serving your employer. There is no room for ego in the wedding setting and it was quite a different experience sitting on the bandstand while speeches went on in front of me. I expended little to no kinetic energy for the first half of our performance as I played at a very low energy level so the guests could talk to each other and enjoy the delicious Sri-Lankan foodstuffs.

The band performed very well and Spiccoli made all of the requested announcements with aplomb and benevolence.

White Wedding - O' Flanagans 4/9/10 New York City

The band had a nice sophomore show at O' Flanagan's and it never ceases to amaze me at the number of youth who appreciate Eighties music since most weren't even born when these records were originally released yet they sing, holler, hoot and dance along just the same. I ran into a couple of Old friends whom I haven't seen since high school at the gig as well. Special thanks to the bar staff and venue for all the Free Drinks.

The Lime Rickey - When I Find Myself in Limes of Trouble.

The Wait staff, seating conditions, menu discrepancies, meal values and culinary watermark is not really my place to say in the case of Vega's diner in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn but what they do deliver (and for a meager $2.99) is the Richelieu of Lime Rickeys!!!! The 1970s Richelieu Lime Rickey Layers and all.

In my Excitement I disregarded the overly cute young woman wishing to seat me and asked for a "counter" seat as my stay was a short one. Short But Sweet as I watched the fountain technician construct the Rickey in Question.

1. Lime Syrup
2. Ice
3. Seltzer (gingerly)
4. Cherry Syrup (to seltzer gingerly)
5. Fruit Garnishment

Voila !!!

Feaster 2010

Greaster Eve appetizers (L to R from 9 o' clock) Cassetti Cheese, Caponnatta on Pita, Kalamata Olives, Feta Chese, Orzo Sausage, Grape Leaves, Prosciutta Ball (Pastosa), Spinach Pie,Cheese Pie, Prosciutta Ball (Ravioli Fair) There was Pastosa Manicotti and Baklava as well. Thanks to Chris and Caroline.



Easter (in progress) (L to R bottom row to top) Broccoli, Pizza Rustica Bunnified, Pasta, Knotted Bread, Sliced Round Loaf, Extra Gravy, Pasta, Grape Leaves, Feta Cheese, Prosciutta Bread, Pigs in the Blanket, Asparaus, Pasta, Veal Cutlet, Rack of Lamb.

Thanks to Connie and Jamie for letting me invite myself along .-)

Mii in Wii

Thanks To Jamie and Carol for their Valiant and Accurate depiction.

BALANCE

Cool Ass Pics That Rock - Billion Dollar Babies

Alice Cooper, Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, Marc Bolan.

To Be A Fly on That Wall.

Welcome To The Future.

Feldstein's Habit

Sid Feldstein was finally out but the urges continued unabated, he had a twenty five year old love affair with his oral fixation and try as he might could not fight off the urges to take that two minute walk to the SMOKE SHOPPE right there on his corner to plunk down his hard earned money for a pack of smokes (Black Death cigarettes were his brand).

The eternity of nine minutes had elapsed since his last cigarette and he was slowly losing his grip on reality. Colors changed brilliantly before his eyes and he couldn't read the hands on the clock properly. Sure there was a monetary upside to Quitting Smoking and he really could use the cash to purchase that most desired dozen fluorescent panama hats encased in an umbrella stand that he had been eyeing for months in the showcase window down at Harriet's Hat Hostel but the price was becoming too high what with his cat Gerald appearing to laugh at him and the angles of his walls awash with nightmarish movement.

HE HAD TO.

Sid balanced himself out of his chair and made a break for it, he thought to himself that it may have even been 11 minutes now since his last puff. Just to make it to the door, The perplexingly Long Hallway stretched out into oddball odd and he ran what seemed an eternity just to get his hands on the deadbolt inching his way closer to the freedom that only Black Death could provide.

12 Minutes Now.

A gaggle of mexican women blocked his egress but as polite as they were holding the door open for him he pushed his way through their ranks closer to his destination and smoky satisfaction. Running to the corner he could see the SMOKE SHOPPE from here.

Sid Feldstein slipped on a strategically placed banana peel and was struck by an oncoming Fedex truck.
The Black Death Had Found him.

Sweethook - Fat Baby 3/12/10 New York City

A Cool DJ, An Obnoxious Security staff, A Freshman (yet polite) Sound Technician and HAPPY HOUR Drinks (half price for the musicians performing) are what make up the experience of Fat Baby. The band played well but I have no understanding of these venues that keep the "Live" music hidden away in a separate room when there is No Additional charge for said room which would at least make sense on a revenue level if there was an Additional charge (redundancies Abound).

Keep the bands on the main floor and if you would rather go listen to records/CDs/MP3s that you have heard a Gazillion times then stay at home, save money and play the phonograph/CD player/Ipod (F*ck Zune and other inferior MP3 products) or go to the "separate room" where the normal "Best Of" people prefer to be and squander your peso's feeding it to the jukebox. Commercial Taste Rules This Globe.

Gosh the color of this BLOG has changed.

Im trying to Quit Smoking, LEAVE ME ALONE !!!



There was Not a Whole Lot in This Silver Van Street Vendored Gyro. I have had much nicer and plumper ones for less Dinero (this was $5.00 which is probably the going rate around town these days) but the Hot Sauce Definitely Delivers, I didnt ask for extra or even give the universal sign of "Pour It On" so this was just a liberal amount. SIZZLE

Very Clever as it disguises the unknown "Lamb" within, Gyro ll is certainly superior.

Extra Lettuce ??? I Didnt ask for Extra Lettuce.

Like a Biscuit in the Sky ....

100th Posting - Babysitting The Biscuit

Sweethook - Recording Session/He's Dead Jim Studio 2/27/10 - Queens, New York

Sweethook (of which four sixths are pictured above) began a new project for the band's second demo recording as we laid down Rhythm tracks and scratch/guide vocals/banjo for the foundation. Always a pleasure to see my former bandmate and C.M.A. (Center for the Media Arts) alumni Thomas. A pleasant and productive start getting four tracks down in four hours time. There was Ham & Cheese Sammiches and Lay's Potato Chips too.



Engineered In the capable hands and gills of Thomas The Fish



My Blog, My Pic. SHEESH What An Egomaniac.

Beverages Of Yore : Lemon Cherry Rickey - Hinsch Luncheonette 2/22/10

There She Is, The Star of the Show. The Lemon Cherry Rickey !!!

It may have even been a decade since my last Lime Rickey, In Hinsch' case they make a Lemon Cherry Rickey ($2.00) only but twas' just as Delicious (OK almost as Delicious) Tangy, Refreshing and Delightful on the Palate.



I found myself two hours early for my Rendezvou,.... err appointment with Tanya to get some werk done and decided to whileaway an hour (35 minutes actually) in this Classic Luncheonette of Brooklyn Yore. Unlike Richieulu, Hy Tulip and Bensonhurst Vermouth & Vomit who all sadly disappeared years ago the Glory of Hinsch' remains a mainstay on the 86th street byway (must be in the very least forty years of business).

The Bacon American Cheeseburger (see below) was adequate but a wee bit over priced ($9.00) for the Pattie size and the accoutrements which flanked it, HOWEVER !!! This is the way it used to be in simpler Brooklyn Diner times before the onset of the 1600 oz. Burger. Objective Fulfiiled, I Got My Rickey.

Bloated for hours, No.
Satisfied, Yes.

White Wedding - O' Flanagans 2/20/10 New York City

Yet another Lively, Energetic and Festive crowd at O' Flanagans enjoying the 80s tunes and dancing to their hearts content. This was A Billie Jean Extravaganza as our fearless singer carried most of the tunes as well as premiering "Goodbye To You" and an Amazing rendition of "Gloria". Spiccoli was away on business so Doc Brown and Amadeus picked up the slack, Towards the beginning of the evening I heard a voice unknown to me speaking through our P.A. only to witness Amadeus at Stage Left commandeering his share of between song onstage banter. A group effort indeed.







Well,... I wanted to be a Professional Musician.

Yoko Ono & the Plastic Ono Band - BAM Opera House (Dress Rehearsal) 2/15/10 Brooklyn, New York

I was very lucky to catch this show as I now have a new appreciation for the ONO. The Yoko half that is,
Naysayers may find her Caterwauling offensive but I must indeed recommend a live viewing and you can see that this is a woman who knows Exactly what she's doing and is a true "Artist" .

She Did NOT break up the Beatles.
(she asked John to but then Paul beat him to it.)



KELTNERVOORMANONO WHOA !!!



RandomOno Social Networking Correspondence.



This Video Clip is placed here securely and with no fear of retribution, No copyright infringement is even possible, These are unique and "Happens only once EVER" performances as is Yoko herself.

Happy Valentines Day Biscuit.

Sweethook - Freddys Bar 2/12/10 Brooklyn, New York

This being my second outing with Sweethook I was a wee bit surly and full of anxious confidence but of course Aunt Jemima always throws a few Whiskey Sours into the melange. No fingers point at the band who performed well but I was not aware that we were actually playing our actual Real set until about two and a half numbers in and was never presented with a "set list" which is equivalent to a "road map" whilst driving through unknown territories in the deepest almost darkest terrain (pick a point, Any point). This worked out nicely for me (and my musical ego) as I "Wung" It and realized that I do know the material at least on a basic level by ear, Kinda Sorta.

White Wedding - CRT Lounge 2/6/10 New York City

We performed two sets for the Class of 1988 on 80s night at the CRT Lounge and this crowd was ready for us and by god we were ready for them as energy fed off energy. Lots of singing and non-stop dancing kept us fueled to deliver the goods and I had a nice vantage point to be entertained myself. These photos do no justice to how packed and electric the room was but I popped off a few random "hold the camera over your head, point and shoot" pics even to the detriment of missing my opening cue to Lita Ford's "Kiss Me Deadly" (DONT mention this to the band, I dont think they noticed) .-) Certainly a successful and enjoyable show for all of us.





How Can You NOT Love Mister Two Beers !!!



I thought it was "Melt With You"



The Equipment Is Properly and Safely Loaded.



I Should have never eaten that Cheeseburger right before bedtime.

The Joe FranklinS - Three Jolly Pigeons 1/30/10 Brooklyn, New York

A special thanks goes to Baby Daddy for asking us out to support them, Always a pleasure too.

The Joe FranklinS performed a loose but Rocking set to a very appreciative crowd at the Three Jolly Pigeons. We tried our hand at the old Sub Basement Blues Band number "Going To Meet The Man" for the first time in 25 years and Jazelyn (of Sweethook) joined us for our cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy". Joe from the band that played before us plugged in and joined us for "American Crank" (uninvited but spirited) and the crowd became so spirited that we were asked to encore which we did with an impromptu jam on the Blues standard "Key To The Highway". Thanks for taking the pics Jamie.

Sweethook - Santos Party House 1/29/10 New York City

We performed to a nice crowd at Santos Party House in Chinatown and since they were out of the Summer Ale I had a few Stouts on the house as they treat their bands right, an attentive sound crew was on hand and we got through our 45 minute set without a hitch. Of course They did.

It was my first live outing with the band with only a few rehearsals ahead of time and they've got me doing Drum solos!!! Thanks to the talented Matt Shanley on Percussion for backing me up and filling it out. Its wise for any drummer to wear as many musical hats as they can and I thoroughly enjoy the challenge called Sweethook. Swell guys and gal too.