Return of the Fat Bastard - It was all downhill from there, or uphill depending on your perspective!

November 20th 2016

At the Songwriters  open mic at Judge Begbies

      I'm not sure if it was Kevin Kidneystone, laziness, the lack of a life or the new batch of cookies but I have been a giant land slug for the last few days. After I finished the Green Room repair I took a deep breath, I was holding a Doob at the time and it was all downhill from there, or uphill depending on your perspective. A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step, Grasshopper! That first step can be a real bitch!
      On Thursday I had a pyjama day. I watched shows I had taped, I mean PVR'd. I can't get used to saying that. Is it okay to say taped still? Or will that make the tech savvy youngsters giggle at the dinosaurs poor choice of words.I spent a lot of time playing my electric guitar very loudly. The lovely Lisa was visiting Mama Lee so I could let her rip. I didn't shower and put on my pants until after 4:00. The lovely Lisa had switched days with one of her co workers so we had an early dinner, BBQ baked chicken. This will be the first Friday Chef boy R Lisa has worked in years! When the lovely Lisa went to bed about 7:00 I went over to the Fireball Lounge in New Westminster for the open mic. I got parking right around the corner from the club and since the parking is free after 8:00 and it was 7:45 I figure the parking guy is already sitting in his car around the corner from work waiting to punch out. There was already a good number of players there and Dirk and the boys were on stage warming up the room and getting the sound just right. Darius, the in house sound man does a great job of making a lot of different sounds and styles all sound good. I moved around from group to group saying hello and recruiting players for my set. Luc on drums Pam on bass and Bill Taylor on lead guitar. Kevin Kidneystone was moving around really good at this point which inspired me to keep moving and to have another beer. I was a regular social butterfly or is that Hummingbird because I never landed just hovered over people making them feel uncomfortable.

This was on our deck this morning. I guess all Hummingbirds don't migrate. It's pretty cold out there these nights. At least they have food.
      Brad was on the remote mic keeping things moving between sets and as usual the musical styles covered the gamut from Rock to Folk, covers to originals and everything in between. I really enjoyed myself on stage that night. The secret to making good music is to play with really good players. Besides the bass Pam has an amazing voice and I really get off on the harmonies on Can't you see and Turn the Page. Bro Steve joined us singing harmony with us on Can't you see and House of the Rising Sun. Bill Taylor rocked the solo on Turn the Page and Luc is a really nice drummer with nice fills and steady tempo. I watched a couple more of the acts Linda the Ukeleleian and Pam on guitar playing original songs. Big Bill Frew and I went around the corner to Judge Begbies where Ranj hosts a songwriters open mic. There was a fellow on stage playing finger picked folk songs when we got in the room. The crowd was light but the sound was not bad. Big Bill and I sat at the bar and ordered a beer. I went first singing Clarissa, Isabella and Funky Monkey Blues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va6OnX0plsY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiVtOTcJKKw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7bJ4NpryXs

Big Bill went up and did a great job on his stuff.

Big Bill Frew at Judge Begbies

He has a couple of songs that I think are really good. He has a deep powerful voice and is country up the Yahoo! You can check out his stuff at Bill Frew Music on facebook. I was home around midnight.
      I woke up Friday morning with my nose running like a faucet and my moustache stuck to the pillow. Shit! I had an 11:30 appointment downtown I got myself cleaned up, threw a load of laundry into the machine, grabbed the Ratdogs and off I went a veritable petrie dish of disease spreading my pestilence upon the unsuspecting populace of downtown Vancouver. I stopped at Trout Lake so the Ratdogs could stretch their tiny little legs. My appointment went well and on the way home I stopped at Cheap Thrills for a few things and Mundy Park for the Ratdogs to pee on everything. I was not feeling great and my nose was still leaking at a tremendous rate. I took an antihistamine, lay down on the bed and woke up when Michelle with one L got home at 6:00. I was achy and I needed to see a man about a horse in a must urgent manner. That is, I believe, when Kevin left the building. I'm still a little sore but that's how it's always worked. What a relief! I was in bed early and woke up Saturday feeling alright. Still a little sore but doable. Another lazy day. Bill Taylor dropped off a couple of shelters I bought from him. One 20' by 10' to park my car under. He's going to come back and help me put it up next day it doesn't rain...probably next May. So don't move here!
      We went to River's reach Pub for dinner with Bill Taylor and Duffy. Pizza and too much coffee. The Canucks blew a third period three goal lead and lost in overtime. Go Lions Go!!

That's all I've got
Till next time
Peace out Y'all