Hey everybody! Great jam-cert Saturday yesterday!!! I thought the turn out, on both sides, was outstanding! Lots of fun was had by all. My wife thought that the texture of what we do, the songs we sing, and the way we present it with all the varied instruments and sounds over shadows any of the mistakes we make. That the spontinaity speaks for it’s self and provides a comfortable relaxed atmosphere.

We do have a couple more Road jams on the horizon. One of them is a spot in the Memorial day parade in Attleboro. But we’ll need some kind of a flat bed truck or trailer capable of carrying us, a couple of mic’s and maybe some hay bails. If anyone has a lead on such a vehicle please let me know as soon as possible.

Another is to play outside the Morning Star Christian bookstore on Rt 1 No. Attleboro (next to Benny’s) Kent at Morning Star was thinking of Saturday, May 7th as a possibility. The leaves will be out by then so it should be warm enough. He was hoping that, it being the day before “Mothers day”, that there would be a lot of people out shopping. We should be in a highly visible spot to bring people in. I mentioned that we were looking for some kind of a flat bed trailer for Memorial day and he seemed to think that might be a good idea at Morning star as well. So again if anyone knows where we can get a good size trailer, (similar to what we were on when we played at Antioch) please let me know as soon as possible.

Don’t forget the jam is this week. I know it’s St. Patricks day, but what better what to observe it than with music!

Happy Birthday to us! We’re 1 year old! It seems longer to me because it took a year of writing, and rewriting songbooks. Printing. Getting the postcards and the web site going, and the blog. (I have high hopes that eventually the blog will be a way to communicate ideas, announcements etc) Every bit of it has been a labor of love and I’m thrilled to have made so many new friends.

The pictures are back. I’ll bring them Thursday. Chip said he looks forward to taking outdoor pictures of us in Spring/Summer. I plan to revisit the idea of having a tailgate jam to kick-off our 2011 Summer season.

Also…I’m planning on putting in an order for shirts and hats. In addition to the hats and the polo shirts we will also have the option of ordering long or short sleeve denim shirts with the logo over the pocket. They really look cool. I should have prices by Thursday but I won’t be putting in the order for a good number of weeks yet. But I’m anxious for your feedback.

Sunday’s gig went very well. Tom, Mike, Bob, Robin, Bill, Ferris, and me played to about 20-30 enthusiastic people. Chip the photographer also showed up with his wife Diane and took more pictures. Which was really neat because Tom and Robin weren’t there when he took pictures the last time. We used 3 mic’s with 2 small battery operated amps. The new micro system worked great. I got a call from the activity director yesterday. She had been sick and missed us but when she got back to work yesterday the residents insisted that she book us back. Cool. So we’ll be playing there again on Saturday March 12th at 1:30
Pam Braman’s sister is in the Hosptal for an upcoming surgery. So please keep her in your payers.
I’m looking into putting together an order for shirts and hats for early spring so let me know if your interested. I was considering adding the words “Band Member” underneath the logo. But I’m curious what every one thinks. I don’t know if it will add to the cost or not yet.
Enjoy the snow. See you at the next jam.

Chuck

Howdy,

Pam Braman had a great suggestion that on the 16th anyone who wants to do a special solo song for the group be given a chance to do so. Kind of an open mic night…without the mic. I think it’s a great idea. So anyone who has a favorite song that they’d like to perform solo for the rest of us on the 16th I suggest that you dig it out and practice it a time or two. ( all I ask, as always, is to please keep the genre in mind.) We’ll also be doing our regular jam that night as well. Plus I’ll be bringing some Christmas cookies and eggnog. Also…on the 16th I plan on keeping the jam going about a 1/2 hr. longer so we get a chance to socilaize and fit everything in.

I spoke to the folks at Canterbury Assisted Living Center in Attleboro. They would like us to play for them on Sunday afternoon Jan. 9th from 2 to about 3:30 I’ll put the sign up sheet out on the 16th and /or you can email me. Also I left a message with Steven Gomes at the Providence rescue mission. I’ll keep you all informed.

Robin Bugbee asked if we could play at his church, Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church, Providence some Sunday night. Robins pretty busy this month at his Pet store so we’ll get more details when he returns in January. ( btw , If your shopping for pets please keep Robin in mind.)

Keep the ideas and communication coming!

Chuck.

Howdy ya’ll !
Great jam last night. I always look forward to seeing and hearing everybody at the jam!
I wanted welcome and thank our two visitors, Mary Rubino and Ferris Fleming.
Ferris brought one of the prettiest acoustic/electric bass guitars I’ve ever seen. It was a blonde five string fretless with lots of pearl inlay and a cool filigree carving over the sound hole. I think it was a Dean. Hopefully we’ll find out next jam.
We’re all looking forward to Tom’s return from his teaching gig. Hope to see you on the 16th Tom!
Speaking of the 16th. That will be the last jam before Christmas so I thought I’d bring some Christmas cookies and eggnog. Feel free to bring something light if you wish but remember I have to leave the place clean.
In the mean time… Pam had asked if we could start a dialog to see if anyone has any ideas of where we might play. Because we don’t charge anything finding someplace to play really isn’t all that hard so it would be nice to find someplace to play that would be uplifting to someone.
A couple of people had also mentioned that I’ve been absent from the blog . That’s basically because, I really didn’t know how to run the site. (I struggle with teknollogee)J I didn’t even know how to open peoples comments or how to add them to the dialog. But this morning my daughter walked me through the instructions and showed me how to do it. So PLEASE send me your ideas/comments to the blog and I promise to publish them.

Chuck <

Due to the mixed response I’ve received, I feel Saturday’s Tailgate jam should be cancelled.
Most of the responses have said they couldn’t make it, very few said they could.
Perhaps another time.
I also wanted to let people know that September is one of those months that have an extra Thursday and that we will be having our regular jam on Thursday night …the 30th.

See ya next Thursday!

Chuck

Great jam tonight! Welcome back John and welcome Glen!
I’m anxious to find out who plans to attend the tailgate jam on Saturday Sept. 25th. ( one week from this Saturday) The time would be 11:30 to 3:30 The theme will be “a bluegrass gospel tailgate jam and depression picnic. In addition to your instruments your all invited to bring your gas grills and/or your favorite tailgate cold foods as well. Plus were hoping that people will also bring their favorite recipes from the great depression! Tom came up with that idea…I really like it. Please bring your favorite lawn chairs etc. and a couple of canopies would be appreciated if anyone has one. Let me know. Everyone is encouraged to bring as many friends as possible. They don’t have to play…they can listen, sing and eat!
The event will be in the parking lot at Plainville Baptist church but I really need to find out how much interest there is. So please e-mail me back and let me know if you plan to attend or not, if you like the idea and if you think you might be able to bring anyone.

Chuck

Hey everybody! That was a neat church festival/concert yesterday! Kudos’ to everyone who showed up to play. That double size flat bed trailer worked great as a stage and it was nice for Power Mountain to let us use their sound system. I really liked Power Mountain. I’d go to see them anytime and really recommend them to any who have not heard them.
It was good to have John Foster back. He’s been in Vermont for the summer. I also wanted to thank Pam for passing out percussion stuff to the audience. That’s an idea we’ll have to expand on.
My Pastor said it would be ok for us to have our tailgate jam at the church! I thought (tentatively) that Saturday Sept. 25th from Noon to One or Five or so might be good. With a rain date of Oct. 2nd. I guess we’ll finalize plans at the jam this Thursday.

Later.
Chuck

Here are the directions for Saturday…

Antioch chappel

2117 Plainfield pike

Johnston, RI

take exit 4 off Rt 295

take Rt14 west apx. 1 1/2 miles ..the church will be on the left.

The music starts at noon but we won’t be playing till 3:30 or 4:00

but we should be there @ 3:00

We should expect to play for about an hour.

I will bring 2 mic’s and stands but we’ll go through their sound system.

Hope to see ya there!

Chuck

ps they are having a yard sale in the morning if anyone wants to check it out.

Wow ! Our first September jam is coming up this Thursday!!! I hope everyone had a good summer!
I want to thank everyone who came to the jam at Bruce Swallows church in Rehoboth yesterday. Playing outside was lots of fun….in the shade. And Bruce says there’s already talk of us playing there again next year.
Now that summers over, (mostly) I’m going re-double my efforts to make sure I enter things on the blog on a regular weekly basis.

See ya Thursday,

Chuck