I got home long enough to pack up the car, pick up Ron and head north to Roaring Brooks first open mike of the season, and I had the privilege to be the featured act. I get to play an extended set for my friends – the folks who play, write and sing in CT – my extended family, of sorts.
It was a good night with lots of good people, and some new faces, too. Two Eric’s were there. Eric P. continues to amaze with his new stuff, Eric B. as well, and we celebrated the Phillies off to the side…. Ron did a strong set, Kent’s doing some nice old blues, Train Wreck had modern, yet folksy ballad, Ted had’m going with Minnie the Moocher (hydee, hydee, hay!), etc.
My set was fun, with some special moments. I reprised “The Dogs’ Meeting” for the first time in CT. Some were shocked! Cece and Kent backed me up on “Giants”, written by Kent. I first heard Kent do it with Cece in Madison once. Then, I broke the rules. I thought that open mikes are usually one player after another, so I decided to do “Pay Bo Diddley” and get everyone to get their guitars and play along. You can’t go wrong with a song with one and a half chords. So we jammed, two drummers and 17 guitars. Half way through (after the drum break, of course), we did the biggest guitar break in CT history; we all play one together. A joyful noise, for sure. Anyway, it was a beautiful thing, and, an unconscious nod to all my training with kids: Put the music in their hands. Thanks…