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Nothing like driving on the beltway on Friday. Traffic, accidents--a circus of highway action. I actually seemed to avoid most of the traffic and thought--thought--that I was going to have a smooth, uneventful ride. BUT, two exits before I was supposed to get off things came to a grinding halt and totally killed me time-wise. It made me a little nervous, especially since it was my first time at this joint, but eventually I made it with just enough time to set up.
Duke's a restaurant/bar on the second story of a very nice hotel (Embassy Suites) in Alexandria. This was an early happy hour gig (5:30-9pm), and for the majority I kept a very mellow profile. The gig was mostly "atmospheric," but things gradually picked up and near the end people were singing along and clapping quite freely. Hey, they don't call it "happy hour" for nothing.
There was a very friendly family sitting right in front of me when I started playing, and they actually left for a short while and came back with more family members for dinner. A lovely bunch. There were also some other diners that came up and requested songs, and a very nice gentleman who wrote down a bunch of artists and songs he thought I would like. He might've been from Canada or somewhere up north, because I noticed quite a few "eh"s that he slipped into our conversation. Very nice fellow.
Overall, pretty smooth sailing and a nice change to get home from a Friday gig before 3am.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
Zephyr Express - 5/10/06 - Harrisburg, PA
First off, apologies are in order for slacking on the journal entries this past week. It was a really crazy weekend and a lot has been going on inside and outside the music action. Excuses...
It was a perfect spring evening playing outside in the Zephyr courtyard. Seventy degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I just set up in a corner with my little PA and acoustic guitar and crooned the night away as the sun went down and the stars came out. The low-key acoustic music was very atmospheric and I think it went really well with the whole scene. The outdoor diners seemed to appreciate it, and I certainly appreciated being a part of their evening.
This is the first time I had been back to Zephyr since last summer/fall, so it was great to see my friend Dave again who recently purchased the place. I met Dave back in college when I played at what was The Gingerbread Man (it's now Duke's) in Hershey. I would play on a Thursday every so often and Dave was always the bartender/manager. When he moved to Zephyr in Harrisburg, he was kind enough to look me up and give me some gigs at his new place. It's so cool how friendships develop like that along life's travels...
It was a perfect spring evening playing outside in the Zephyr courtyard. Seventy degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I just set up in a corner with my little PA and acoustic guitar and crooned the night away as the sun went down and the stars came out. The low-key acoustic music was very atmospheric and I think it went really well with the whole scene. The outdoor diners seemed to appreciate it, and I certainly appreciated being a part of their evening.
This is the first time I had been back to Zephyr since last summer/fall, so it was great to see my friend Dave again who recently purchased the place. I met Dave back in college when I played at what was The Gingerbread Man (it's now Duke's) in Hershey. I would play on a Thursday every so often and Dave was always the bartender/manager. When he moved to Zephyr in Harrisburg, he was kind enough to look me up and give me some gigs at his new place. It's so cool how friendships develop like that along life's travels...
Rock For Hope at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse - 5/7/06 - Arlington, VA
We were approached to do this event about a month or so ago by a woman named Barbara Purcell. Barbara saw us at Griff's (and actually sung a tune with us) and asked us to be part of the first annual Rock For Hope, a benefit for the Brain Tumor Society held in conjunction with the annual Race For Hope. I later found out that Barbara herself is a brain tumor survivor. We were obviously more than happy to be a part of the event.
We all really enjoyed the venue. The Drafthouse is recently under new ownership and just put in a new PA and acquired its live entertainment license. I think the PA had only been used once or twice. Needless to say, we were sort of guinea pigs on several levels: new PA, new event. Everything seemed to go pretty well, though, and the event was attended by a humble but mighty crowd.
Mary Ann Redmond kicked off the benefit, playing a duo set with her guitarist. The showmanship and musicianship of both Mary Ann and her guitarist, Lenny, were superb, so it was just great to share a bill with them. I also looked at the upcoming music schedule at the Drafthouse and was pleased to see that the FLB was playing on the same stage that would soon feature Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Alexa Ray Joel (Billy Joel's soulful daughter). Good stuff.
Thanks to Barbara for inviting us and for everyone who helped out and came out and supported the cause. That's what it's all about...
We all really enjoyed the venue. The Drafthouse is recently under new ownership and just put in a new PA and acquired its live entertainment license. I think the PA had only been used once or twice. Needless to say, we were sort of guinea pigs on several levels: new PA, new event. Everything seemed to go pretty well, though, and the event was attended by a humble but mighty crowd.
Mary Ann Redmond kicked off the benefit, playing a duo set with her guitarist. The showmanship and musicianship of both Mary Ann and her guitarist, Lenny, were superb, so it was just great to share a bill with them. I also looked at the upcoming music schedule at the Drafthouse and was pleased to see that the FLB was playing on the same stage that would soon feature Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Alexa Ray Joel (Billy Joel's soulful daughter). Good stuff.
Thanks to Barbara for inviting us and for everyone who helped out and came out and supported the cause. That's what it's all about...
Griff's Landing - 5/5/06 & 5/6/06 - Frederick, MD
By far the best weekend we've had at Griff's. Solid crowds both nights. Had a lot of friends and fans come out to the show, which was great. Dancing, singing and drinking--just having a good time.
Friday was Cinco De Mayo and everyone was out celebrating. We even whipped out an impromptu version of "tequila" for the festivities. Lord knows there was a lot of that being imbibed. There was a good dancing crowd--And what night would be complete without beautiful girls on stage with tambourines?
For "Roadhouse Blues" we had a guest singer, whose name I don't even know or remember. There was a guy who requested some Doors, so we played "Peace Frog" first. When we started to go into "Roadhouse," I was adjusting my harmonica so I'm not really sure how it came about that this random guy became the lead singer. Regardless, he nailed the song. It was almost as if Jim Morrison himself had come back to sing with the FLB. It really brought the house down.
On Saturday, Randy and I actually went to a barbecue before the show at a friend's place downtown a couple blocks from the venue. After a few Guinni (plural of Guinness), a burger, a few kabobs, wings, a couple of small pieces of vodka saturated watermelon that were pretty much forced upon me, as well as some other various cookout delicacies, I was ready to rock. Randy and I grabbed our guitars and walked to the show.
Saturday seemed just about as good as Friday. Lots of folks at the show, yelling, dancing, the whole bit. My brother Steve came out to the gig with some of his friends and it was really good to have him there. The whole Long clan was in attendance.
After the show, a small group of us decided to hang out down the street. Ken was actually the only one in the band who punked out and went home, although in retrospect we probably all could've used the sleep. I ended up not getting back home and into bed until about 6am Sunday, which was kind of crazy considering I had to be up at 10am to make it to the Arlington benefit.
Friday was Cinco De Mayo and everyone was out celebrating. We even whipped out an impromptu version of "tequila" for the festivities. Lord knows there was a lot of that being imbibed. There was a good dancing crowd--And what night would be complete without beautiful girls on stage with tambourines?
For "Roadhouse Blues" we had a guest singer, whose name I don't even know or remember. There was a guy who requested some Doors, so we played "Peace Frog" first. When we started to go into "Roadhouse," I was adjusting my harmonica so I'm not really sure how it came about that this random guy became the lead singer. Regardless, he nailed the song. It was almost as if Jim Morrison himself had come back to sing with the FLB. It really brought the house down.
On Saturday, Randy and I actually went to a barbecue before the show at a friend's place downtown a couple blocks from the venue. After a few Guinni (plural of Guinness), a burger, a few kabobs, wings, a couple of small pieces of vodka saturated watermelon that were pretty much forced upon me, as well as some other various cookout delicacies, I was ready to rock. Randy and I grabbed our guitars and walked to the show.
Saturday seemed just about as good as Friday. Lots of folks at the show, yelling, dancing, the whole bit. My brother Steve came out to the gig with some of his friends and it was really good to have him there. The whole Long clan was in attendance.
After the show, a small group of us decided to hang out down the street. Ken was actually the only one in the band who punked out and went home, although in retrospect we probably all could've used the sleep. I ended up not getting back home and into bed until about 6am Sunday, which was kind of crazy considering I had to be up at 10am to make it to the Arlington benefit.
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