Tom Maxwell turned out to be a super cool hang. He and his band mates were extra chill as well. Got to hang out with James (keyboards) and Mark (Vibraphone) too. Good peeps. The songwriting really reminded me of John Lennon. This was confirmed by a song lyric later on which fessed up to the influence, “Why do I keep writing John Lennon songs.” James on the Wurlitzer kind of locked in the “Let it Be” vibe with his big George Harrison (circa Hey Jude) beard and happy smiling face.
But how did the night start? Kym Register at the bar. That’s a pretty cool name for a pretty cool chick. She wound up making us some delicious drinks because she had Tribuno sweet vermouth back there. Yum. Tribuno, the most under-rated $4 liquor store purchase. Makes a great Manhattan. Last night’s cocktail was a Boulvardier: equal parts Bourbon (Blanton’s in this case) Tribuno and Campari.
Tin Pan’s set was a good high energy hour. We’re so used to playing these long shows that just doing an hour is like a tornado of energy. I know that I don’t have to save my chops on the trumpet or my voice and we all just go for it. I was a sweaty mess within twenty minutes. The crowd was really appreciative both during and after the show. When the sound guy (Hey Greg), says that we were the best band he’s heard in a while it really makes me smile.
Before and after, Clifton, Baba G, and I did our prayer circle thing with the horns and the long tones. We went of behind the venue over by the train tracks. In our line of site, Old Bull cigarette plant, a large well let performing arts center, and the county jail. Tones and tibres of these three horns are beginning to affect me in a good way. I wonder what six sessions a day of this will do to us…
We wound up the night down the street at a bar called Whiskey. Clifton: “Can you make me a Vieux Carré?” Tall, smoking, blond bartender girl: “This is Whiskey.” They tasted great. All that was missing was the brandied cherry. I’m not going to complain. A straight ahead jazz band was playing. Tenor, alto, trumpet, good drummer, bass. Those guys were really putting it out there. Good vibes in that place. Got to hang with Tom Maxwell a little more and some other cats from the Pinhook. It seemed like “our” after party for a while there. Needless to say Stefan and I jumped in with the horns and Baby Hands got on the bass for a number. Clifton even broke out the French Horn to play some blues.
Baby Hands mysterious fact for day one. Hands goes over to the drummer and says “¿Como Estas?” The drummer says. “Ola Señor Manos.” Turns out Hands was the drummer’s Spanish teacher about eight or ten years ago.
You guys were great at the TSDS dance and I’m happy you’re sticking around the area for another week!
Re: Whiskey – they sometimes have homemade brandied cherries, so it’s worth going back and trying the drink again in the summer. (and playing another dance…)