These are wonderful events for the boys and their parents.  A real community event with lots of pride, and lots of hard work, and lots of growing up.

My audience consisted of sugar-charged Tigers, scattered Bears, nifty-clad Webelos, teen Boy Scouts, and parents and siblings.  It’s a touch crowd to gauge and reach each niche, but my attennae were up and I adjusted. 

The matching outfits were too good not to take advantage of, so I got the Webelos up for Peanut Butter, the Tigers and Bears up for Tuttie Tah, and involved the parents and sisters.  It turned out to be a nice community evening.  Back home at then off to PA in the morning.

We finished up with a nice two set RockRoots in Scotch Plains, NJ this morning.  Nice folks, good kids.

I had the opportunity to help start another coffeehouse in Bethlehem tonight at the Terra Cafe, in the former Wildflowers, just over the tracks from Godfrey’s.  A nice crowd of patrons, and the new owners and their great little kid. 

The opening set went to Juan Carlos and Mike Fritz, incredible mouth music (yes, music) and cool bass.  The perfect (and friends, the intonation was perfect) opener and set the bar pretty high.

I got to go next, and my task was to readjust the bar, downwards.  So we ‘Shooed That Fly’.  I invited bassist Mike up to jam with ‘Smoking Babies’, and nice groove with bass, and we wailed on Bo Diddley.  One of the best one note bass solos I’ve ever heard…. damn.  And the little kid (one year old?) just had a great time.  His smiles lit my night.

Strange, though I was beat from the long, long day, I felt energized by the thought of playing out, playing out on the SouthSide, playing out a new coffeehouse, and thinking back to 35 years ago, when I tried the same thing.  How cool is that?

I had the opportunity to help start another coffeehouse in Bethlehem tonight at the Terra Cafe, in the former Wildflowers, just over the tracks from Godfrey’s.  A nice crowd of patrons, and the new owners and their great little kid. 

The opening set went to Juan Carlos and Mike Fritz, incredible mouth music (yes, music) and cool bass.  The perfect (and friends, the intonation was perfect) opener and set the bar pretty high.

I got to go next, and my task was to readjust the bar, downwards.  So we ‘Shooed That Fly’.  I invited bassist Mike up to jam with ‘Smoking Babies’, and nice groove with bass, and we wailed on Bo Diddley.  One of the best one note bass solos I’ve ever heard…. damn.  And the little kid (one year old?) just had a great time.  His smiles lit my night.

Strange, though I was beat from the long, long day, I felt energized by the thought of playing out, playing out on the SouthSide, playing out a new coffeehouse, and thinking back to 35 years ago, when I tried the same thing.  How cool is that?

I made it back to Orange St. School for a second of two shows, this time the 1st and 2nd graders.  They were a lively bunch, much more lively than the teachers, who had a case of the Last Monday in February Blues.  They were dragging. 

In fact, I was draggin’, too.  But the wonder of my art is, I can count on the kids, and the challenge of playing with them (250 today), and appeal to the teachers, too, make the time go fast.

My thanks to Arlene ( from Camp Happiness, a summer camp for special needs kids) for helping me get this gig.  She works in this school with similarly challenged kids.

I was quite embarrassed when I was there earlier this month.  My business contact for C. Happiness is Terri V.  But my on the job contact has been Arlene, and I assume she was Terry.  I somehow didn’t know they were two separate women.

In the assembly I referred to A as Terri, and the whole room looked at me, “Whoops…”  I was quite humbled, and admitted so.  But Arlene greeted me at the door today with a smile.  She’s a kind-hearted woman…

I had an early morning out of Bethlehem for a strange booking for YANJ: two ES schools, a mile separated, for an 8:30 show and then a schlep to the other school for a 10 am show.  I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I’m not one to admit it.  So, pre-dawn its up, up and away to Marlboro Twsp. in somewhere NJ. 

Heavy rain and lots of mud at the school.  Loaded in and was ready for the first show.  I did a lively set for the 1st and 2nd grades at the first school.  With my eye on the clock, I finished at 9:20, pack up and off to the second school.  Thanks to the custodian at the second school, I was loaded in and set up by 9:40.  Sheesh.  I couldn’t believe it.

The second set was for K and some 1st grades, and they were, of course, delightful.  And, as I check the clock when I started back to B’lam, it was 11:05 AM.  That’s right, AM. 

Back to Bethlehem to re-coop, catch Steve Forbert at GD’s, and home to CT on Saturday. 

Miles and smiles.

I was booked at the YMCA Childcare folks for two sets of music for pre-K and K in the morning.  I looked at the contract, drove to the YMCA and was directed to a set of trailers that were being used as classrooms.  They were waiting  (hmm, seemed like older kids..), and I played with the groups, and it was fun.  Worked up a sweat, and headed for the car.  No check, though…

I had three messages on my phone.  “Where are you?”  “We booked you for this event…. etc.”  I called, and found out I was at a different site.  Big ooops…

I asked if we could still do it, and the folks said, sure, we’ll do it after they get up from naps at 3 pm.  so I traveled to the Kindercenter, where we settled what went on, and I did a set with the little kids.  And the check was there.  All in all, it turned out to work out well, I played three sets instead of two, for twice the audience, left a bunch of CD’s with the kids, and got back by 4:00.

 A long day with a strange twist in the middle, but no harm.  Sheesh….

Thursday was a trek to Prospect Park, NJ, through urban Paterson to a fairly beat-up section of town.  But what a great bunch of kids and teachers awaited us.  A big city school of ~ 900 kids, K through 8.  High Hispanic population, but mixed. The local college helped set it up for the school.  YANJ also recommended us to them. 

The first show was ~ 500 K – 4, and amazingly, the kids hung in with the informational part, listened well, and eventually got up and danced, as usual.  Great vibe.

The second show was the elders, 5th through 8th, and barely danced, but, again, wonderfully attentive and respectful.  And, during Peanut Butter, the principal brought up a blind special needs girl, and she nailed her part when she got on mike.  … to great applause.  A special moment.

These kids rarely get assemblies, rarely get to hear live music, and they respond accordingly.  The inner city gigs we do, are almost always like this.  It’s always a great experience, and we come away richer.

My annual visit to the IceHouse  on Sand Island in Bethlehem.  My good friend and puppeteer Doug Roysdon runs a wonderful series of Saturday morning concerts and workshops for families. 

There turned out to be a nice crowd of folks, some new and some old fans, and we had a good time.  I got to jam with Doug’s marionettes ‘The Cat and the Fiddle’ on a fiddle tune and ‘Millard Playmore’ on Charlie Stone.  The kids then made dog puppets after the show, and we performed ‘I Want to be a Dog’ with them at the end.

Doug and I go way back in family arts in the Lehigh Valley, and he is a wonderful artisan in his field.  Proud to work with him.

Pre-dawn Friday drive to NJ, Basking Ridge, to be exact, for three RockRoots at a Middle School, starting at 8:00 am.  We made in time, again….

The first show was easy, with the excitable 6th graders.  The second was good, as well, with the mature 8th graders, and, surprise, surprise, the quixotic 7th graders were a pleasure.  How ’bout that?

The gig went quickly, in spite of the early start, and long span of three shows.  But, when you’re in the zone, it doesn’t matter. 

I’m tickled to play with these guys; they’re pros.  

Tomorrow, the IceHouse.

I had a day off between gigs, so I offered my services to the school a block away from Godfrey’s, Holy Infancy.  I had done PASELA pre-K work there, now 5 years ago.  I know a bunch of the kids from those days, and have a wonderful relationship with the teachers and the sisters that run the school.  I learned the ‘Tutti Tah’ there, in fact.

I set up on the stage after lunch, and we all gathered.  So much fun, especially with the withdrawn older kids.  We picked on them with warmth and frivolity. 

A freebie, but I reconnected with the people in my neighborhood.  I commented on, and Sister Therese picked up on, the community aspect of what I do.  It’s a real as it gets. 

Early RR tomorrow…  early….

RockRoots met up for one show in West Orange, NJ this afternoon, in an unusually tough situation.  With all the snow, parking was at a premium, and the buses block off our escape, if we don’t do the 2pm show and get out before 3 pm.  So, a tight show to make it work.

I’ve found Jewish schools very chatty, with kids talking, girls socializing, etc. throughout the show, especially during the educational parts (i.e., me, talking), so I had regather the group several times, with an eye on the clock, and the band burning my butt behind me.  Phew… 

It was very fine, but two sets of effort in one show.

I’m headed to Holy Infancy School, a block away from Godfrey’s, tomorrow for a freebie assembly.  I’m Mr. Dave there from my days with PASELA and the pre-k group that I first worked with are now 4th graders.  I love this place, and it’s my neighborhood school. 

I headed out of Bethlehem early for Blackwood, NJ (outside of Philly), and got to see the Philly skyline in its morning splendor.  I was booked for another pre-K and K assembly at 10 am and then 1:30 pm.  Two sets of kids (am and pm groups) but with the same set of teachers, so I’m glad I have lots of material, for their sake. I play hard to the kids, but am aware of the teachers’ reactions.

I was in a cavernous cafeteria, and, with only 75 kids a show, I didn’t bring my sound system, but it worked out nicely.  I stayed away from playing from the stage area to the big room, and set up along a smaller space.  Worked out fine.  The kids gave me lots of energy, and the teachers do get into it, especially when I single them out to participate.  And they do. 

It’s funny how these events spill into the other parts of the school community.  The lunch room ladies get involved.  Today, the principal did the Tooty Tah with the kids, and the lady custodian had a great time in the back for both shows.  And I didn’t have to set up my sound system, or pay for the gas to carry it to South Jersey. 

And I’ll get paid in a week.

Tomorrow, RockRoots in West Orange, NJ for an afternoon show.  smooth….

I stopped in Milford, CT for a pre-K and K performance at Orange Ave. School.  I was surprised to see Arlene, from Camp Happiness there.   Seems she was the one who suggested me to them.  It was a whole lot of fun with teachers and kids singing and dancing.  It is a total pleasure to play for this age group, and the teachers are loose, too.  Off to PA, and two similar shows in NJ tomorrow. 

Got to drive to play….

We wound up Catholic Schools week at a small school near Delaware with a pre -k through 8th grade assembly.  Boy, are the three years olds small.  the little ones were pretty chatty so it was hard on my part to keep the informantion heard amongst the noise.  But, all in all, its about the kids hearing the music and getting a chance to dance.

One teacher said she had never seen such an assembly, and another remarked it was the best that she’s seen in 30 years at the school.  Long drive but a good way to finish a disappointing weather week.

It’s good to hit the road again after two snow-outs, as RR played in Totowa, NJ for two shows.  The first was 3rd through 6th grade and they were up and dancing.  The second show was 7th and 8th, and they sat on their hands, but that is often the case.  A couple of kids get up and dance, and everyone looks….   so do the teachers….  it’s middle school disease.  Off to southeastern PA tomorrow.

An amazing evening of music at our Open Mike, with old farts and young farts, too.  Some good ole friends, Jackie and Bill, Mance, and Ansel played, but some very nice, talented new faces showed up.  Teens, 20 somethings, all getting a handle on presenting their songs on our stage, and rising to the occasion, too.  June Thomas came by and blew folks away with her jazz piano and vocals, Jason Hahn, a mere youngster guitar monster dueteet with Ansel, Mance and I dabbled in some ragtime, and many fine moments.

I road-tested my ‘Born to Be Wild’ folk version.  Born to be Mild, Born to be Wired, etc. so there’s some room for growth. 

I’m so proud of this musical community.

I filled in for a ‘last week’ cancellation at Godfrey’s on Saturday night, so I invited Ansel Barnum on harp to sit in, work on some stuff we’ve played together.  My friend Mance Robinson asked to do the opener so I said why not.  It figured to be a slow night, so the more, the merrier.  Turns out we were the only merrymen, along with Gar on sound.  Turns out it was a full lights, sound, recording session. 

My draw at Godfrey’s is negligible, to my bemusement, and it was a snowy January Saturday.  But, you know, its still about making the music amongst friends, and it was a pleasure to stretch it out with two fine musicians. 

Tomorrow night is the Vintage Open Mike, so everything is set up from tonight, and we’ll have a head start on tomorrow. 

Below the radar….  still.

I’ll be at Godfrey’s this Saturday Night with my pal,  Ansel Barnum on harp.  Come on down for some lively music of many kinds….

A rare afternoon double show at a classic brick ES in NJ, with a balcony filled with 5th graders!  The band teacher had a photo of John Phillip Sousa in his room, and I commented on it.  Seems he has the world’s largest collection of Sousa pix in the world.  He was as big as Elvis or the Beatles in his musical world.  The local band would meet him at the train station and march him into town…..  Imagine…

We drove to the school, loaded in, played, packed up and left.  Only 500 kids and teachers were the wiser.