All entries filed under RockRoots

Monday, January 27^th, 2020

Catholic Schools Week – Monday

The last week of January is the one week that catholic schools spend some money on the arts so RockRoots has always pulled in a couple of gigs from it. Today, we played an afternoon set for about 100 3rd – 8th graders in Elmwood Park in the middle of NJ.

These catholic schools are invariably pleasant to play for: the kids are respectful and attentive, the teachers are hip and give us a comfortable audience to play for.

We haven’t played as a band for months and, along with my more frequent mental lapses, I didn’t have great confidence in my remembering all the nuances of the show. I was counting on muscle memory, and, for the most part, we did really well. I was also glad that there were no equipment snafus that always distract me from the show.

I rolled pretty quickly through the show and, after the show, the lads reminded me that I had forgotten to do Mojo for the R&B example, but I did do the intro featuring Wayne’s electric blues work. I suppose I was thinking ahead to the Country intro, but I escaped any damage to the show. Still, it’s a concern for me, but now I know for the next show’s on Thursday.

All in all, the show was well received and the principal and the teachers came up and said that it was great. A couple of girls came up for autographs, as well.

It’s really good to get back on the road with this show. I feel better about my place in the world, too.

Thursday, October 3^rd, 2019

RockRoots showcase for Young Audience of NJ

RockRoots hasn’t had a lot of gigs recently, partly because we haven’t done showcases for YANJ in years, mostly because some members of the band have insisted on getting paid for the gig. I simply can’t afford to do that, so I’ve turned down showcases up til this year. Seems the lads realized that our drought is connected to this lack of initiative. So, we were part of this showcase day in Scotch Plains, NJ with about ten other acts from the YANJ roster.

I rarely get to see the other roster artists in action and I particularly like to see other professionals do their 15 minutes. Some great movement/dancers, jugglers, storytellers, etc. are part of this organization.

Since it’s been months since we’ve done the show, and, coupled with dealing with a 12 -15 minute set restriction, I was worried about the gig. I lost some sleep the night before, trying to figure things out and ended up getting up around 5 am to collect my recollections on the show. I do suffer from some senior moments these days.

I got a call from Kevin around 8:30 this morning. Nick, our bass player, had broken down with car problems so we had to perform as a trio. Rock and roll without a bass player is not an easy thing. But, it’s what we had to do. Kevin, Wayne and I gathered our wits before the set, figured out what sections to keep and what ones to jettison, keep Wayne’s guitar simple, plow through the set with what we’ve got and hope I remember the glue to make it whole. No easy thing.

As the school ushered in a group of 2nd and 3rd graders for our three-act partition, we quickly set up our equipment off to the rear. We followed an energetic movement/dance troupe and quickly set up our two amps and drums. We were introduced as a quartet, which was immediately amusing with the three of us standing behind the emcee. And we launched.

The sound was severely lacking without the bass but with my standard ability to talk my way through the show, we managed to convey the elements we wanted to get across: African rhythms, country/R&B rhythms, 50’s snippets and Elvis, followed My Girl and disco music segments. We got the kids up and dancing, engaged the teachers and PTA reps in the audience and finished fairly strongly. I still wish that we could have presented “the sound” of a band, which is one of the strong points of what we do.

It was a lot of work and I appreciate the professionalism of Kevin and Wayne to pull this off. I actually was impressed with my ability to recall and deliver the show. I wasn’t sure I could do it, especially under these conditions. Phew. Exhausting.

Thursday, July 11^th, 2019

RockRoots in Philly on Wednesday afternoon.

This was a tough gig in several ways. We were booked to play for a summer camp in North Philly for about 140 kids and counselors and we were asked to play outside near a pavilion at a school’s playground. We drove onto the site, found electricity and started to set up. My brand new PA head didn’t turn on. 140 urban kids waiting to hear a band and we’ve got no vocals or my instruments. We tried everything so I had to drag out my two channel guitar/vocal cabinet and I plugged my guitar and my vocal into it and it seemed to get enough volume to start us off. During the show, Nick and myself were switching Wayne’s vocal with mine and my guitar and my mandolin back and forth. How professional. It, of course took our attention away from the show.

The show itself doesn’t work as well in a camp situation as it does in an assembly. The kids are not as focused, the counselors don’t have the same clout as teachers, and it is the summer. I did think the group did quite well for the situation, counselors got up and danced (and that encouraged the kids) and there were pockets of girls and boys who found ways to interact with each other, so we did our best to keep the music moving. I’m just not sure that the presentational/historical aspect had much affect, and these kids have no idea who Muddy Waters, Louis Armstrong, etc. are (nor the fact that they are radically important black artists).

The kids and staff were very polite and everyone enjoyed the afternoon’s show. Still, it was work. Thank goodness for working with my professional friends in the band.

Driving up from Philly was a bitch, though, and I was beat when I got back after 4 pm.

Off to Riegelsville for a spotlight set at Andy’s Jam. I’m dragging for this one.

Tuesday, June 4^th, 2019

RockRoots in Westfield, NJ on Monday afternoon

The end of the year gigs are fairly few these days, but always welcome on my schedule. We were at Franklin ES in mid-NJ for two afternoon assemblies: 250 K-2 and 350 3-5 in an “old-school” gym. The PTA woman welcomed us and we got set up quickly for the 1 pm assembly. Both shows went really well, the kids and teachers had a great time and the band played professionally, as usual. I was able to maintain the dialogue and the flow (not always the case when we have large gaps in between shows) and I’m glad I have my new hips working so I can perform standing for two straight shows. No small thing.

The usual high points were the young girls jigging early in the shows, the doo-wop kids nailing I Like Peanut Butter and everyone up and dancing during both shows. As we finished and started to pack up, one third grade teacher came up and said that one student had said to her, not only was it the best assembly he had seen, but the best show he had ever seen. Now that’s pretty cool.

It’s really nice to drive back home after shows like these.

Wednesday, May 8^th, 2019

RockRoots in Lawrenceville, NJ on Tuesday

We had a 9:30 am assembly at a catholic school near Trenton, a school we’ve played several times, most recently about five years ago. And, as it is with parochial schools, there were stairs…..

There were about 300 K – 8th graders, with the younger kids on the floor of the gym and the older kids in movable bleachers on the rim, so it was a comfortable arena for us. I noticed that the seventh and eighth graders had pen and paper with them and they seemed to be taking notes.

We did a really good show, and Wayne played some very nice leads, Kevin and Nick doing their usual solid playing and I seemed to remember everything in the speechifying department. So, it was another very good gig. The kids were especially respectful and their were great moments throughout. Three young girls got up and jigged – always a nice community connection early in the show.

The teachers loved it, and I had a chance to chat with the music teacher who was ‘instrumental’ in bring us back. She explained that the older kids were taking notes for a quiz on American music, and, combined with our study guide, would give them a pretty good overview on the subject. The little kids got to dance and see a live band, and take in any history that sunk in. There’s lots of positive elements for even such a broad spectrum of ages. That’s why the show works for audiences like this.

And a group of the older boys carted our stuff out to the curb. I love catholic schools.

Not a bad day out, with a 7 am departure and noon arrival back home. Good stuff.

Thursday, April 18^th, 2019

RockRoots down the shore

We had the pleasure of playing a small ES in Bay Head, NJ, right on the Jersey Shore this afternoon. It meant five hours plus on the road, but it turned out nice. I got to town about an hour and a half early so I took advantage to take in the ocean for twenty minutes before heading to the school. Good for the soul, even if the wind and surf were up on a breezy and cloudy April day.

The lads got there pretty soon after I did and we set up. The music teacher Vinny Esperanza was working with the K kids on some songs, trying to get them to sing a couple of songs for the upcoming Spring Concert, dealing with some rambunctious boys the afternoon before Spring break. Good luck. It was cool to see a young music teacher using an electric guitar with the kids’ songs. He did Daydream Believer and I thought it would be cool to have him part of the show.

I talked with Kevin and the band about it and decided we could do a stripped-down version of that song in the show. I felt it would be a bonus for the kids as well as for Vinny.

Doing a K – 8th grade show is sometimes difficult, with reactions varying from “get up and dance” to “oh, please, not this!” But everyone was polite and responsive. Three girls got up to dance on the jigs early on, and that’s always a crowd pleaser. The four kids who got up for Peanut Butter did a wonderful job, as well.

When we got Mr. Esperanza up for Daydream Believer, the school was juiced, both kids and teachers. He played my acoustic and the band delivered, with the kids singing along in full voice. It was a very nice experience for the home crowd and I’m glad we were flexible enough to pull it off. It’s these little things that make RockRoots special.

Teachers and kids had a great time and we headed back for PA about 2:20. Back in Bethlehem by 4:30. Six and a half hours on the road, but worth it, as always.

Monday, April 15^th, 2019

RockRoots in Morris Plains, NJ on Thursday

It’s nice that snowed-out gigs get rescheduled with Young Audiences. We picked up one at a small school near Morristown on Thursday at 2 pm, after the rest of the school has gone home. Originally booked for a parent/teacher day, it was an odd “afterschool” gig for the afterschool kids, a mere 70 kids and 4 teachers. It has its own performance peculiarities that were evident today.

There’s a disconnect with the kids and the teachers, both just putting in time at the end of a long day at school. Kids would rather be outside playing or hanging out with little time for more education. I often wish I could do my “solo” material with the band and just have fun, get the kids up dancing and shuck the lessons.

Anyway, the kids got into it, especially during Peanut Butter when four kids come up to sing with us. One male teacher also got up to jig with a young boy in the Irish session, showing that he was willing to take a chance with the kid. Nice.

Towards the end, I gave the ‘roll’ sign to the band to wrap it up quickly. We did and headed back to PA in the late afternoon.

Monday, February 11^th, 2019

RockRoots in Jamesburg on Friday

We had doubleheader on Friday with two RockRoots in central NJ at a large K-3 school. It’s a very long day with a 10 am show and then one at 2 pm. Much to much time in between as well as an hour and a half Friday drive on both ends.

We had 375 kids and 20 teachers for each show, and it was a little strange. This school’s student population is 90 % Indian and Pakistani, so it was a little jarring to be talking about American roots music. But, as I spoke to the PTA lady, she said it was important to expose these new immigrants to American culture, and what better way than Rock and Roll. That made sense.

The first set was interesting on several levels. The kids weren’t used to clapping along, though they did get up and dance. I had a problem with the teachers working on their laptops (often it’s correcting papers) during the show – I don’t begrudge their daily workload, but a poor example for the kids at an arts assembly. When we hit their part in Blue Suede Shoes, I insisted that they put down their screens for this one moment when they get up and dance.

During the long break in between shows, we traveled into Jamesburg to a place called The Diner. The food was great and we noticed that Abraham Lincoln and a Union general were having lunch, too. They probably were in the middle of school assemblies as well. That’s Jersey for you.

The second set went well and we put the pedal to the metal to get it done. Kids and teachers all had a great time and the PTA lady was very pleased. It was a long trip back through Friday afternoon traffic and a ten-hour day on the road. Still, it beats working.

Friday, February 1^st, 2019

Friday’s Catholic School’s Week finale

Our fourth RockRoots show for Catholic Schools’ Week was on Friday morning in Havertown, PA. We had a frigid drive (2 degrees) but smooth sailing. We set up in the basement gymnasium for about 250 K – 8th graders and 20 teachers.

As usual, with parochial schools, the kids are quite respectful and attentive and it makes for good shows. Today was no different. When we did the jigs, two girls came up and did some really fine tandem moves, and it set us up nicely for the rest of the set.

There was a superb moment as we finished up the show, with kids dancing to Rock and Roll Music. One kindergarten boy had been up dancing towards the end and he had some great moves while being entirely unselfconscious. As we did the RockRoots Rap, I motioned to the band to keep going while I reached out to the kid to come up on stage with me. As I was doing my rap thang, he just took the spotlight and the entire school exploded in joy. At the end, I gave him my one remaining pair of red shades as an award. The moment was remarkable.

The teachers said it was the best assembly they ever had and hope to bring us back again.

I did have one brain-drop, forgetting the Beach Boys/Wipeout tune, but afterwards, talking with the band, it wasn’t particularly missed, though Wayne lives for that moment in the set. Thank goodness, we are pros and we roll with my punchiness.

Back home before noon. Time to gather myself for tomorrow’s Troubadour concert.

Tuesday, January 29^th, 2019

Catholic Schools Week – Doubleheader on Tuesday

It’s usually a productive week, and today was doubly so. RockRoots was booked at two schools outside of Philly in Drexel Hill and Primos for two morning assemblies and an afternoon one. A rare doubleheader for the band, especially efficient since both schools were only 3 miles from each other. How cool is that? A tour!

There was some concern with the weather today, with cloudy skies in the schools’ area but snow in the Lehigh Valley. I take pains to contact the schools the day before to, first, stay in touch with the school, and secondly, to talk about the weather. As it turns out, there was a split between okay and nasty conditions and we went ahead, leaving at 6:45 am for the gigs. It worked out, amazingly.

St. Andrews, Drexel Hill, PA

We had two assemblies at 9 and 10:30 am at St. Andrew’s in Drexel Hill. 550 K-8, with the little kids first and the older kids later. It’s always a remarkable difference between the audiences (and teachers…) and, upon reflection, the band intuitively knows how to play to both. It’s a subtle thing, but these guys are pros.

The band played great and I was glad that I did my part well. I’m once again comfortable standing through both sets (no small thing w/ two new hips), and I remembered and performed the script of the show well. It’s tough to keep my dialogue tight after a couple of months between gigs, but, over all, today, it was in good shape. (One never knows, does one?)

We packed up and headed off through winding Philly suburbia (lots of stonework homes) and found St. Eugenes, still just a cloudy day in January. I got there early, connected with Donna, our teacher/connection. I had the chance to talk with a young girl about guitar. It was a pretty cool session, just me, the girl and the teacher (who allowed the two of use to have some serious chat about playing music, her playing my guitar and getting her to think about finding others in her neighborhood circle to help her out). These small moments are precious.

Irish Jigs

The band arrived and we set up for about 250 K-8 kids. Both schools were quite bi-racial and that’s a pretty cool audience for us. RockRoots is exactly a demonstration of that. The show was wonderfully received by teachers and kids, lots of intense moments with kids on stage, teacher interactions and moments of dancing delight.

I Like Peanut Butter

It truly is about particle and wave. As performers, we get experience an audience as a whole, laughing and dancing, as well get to see individuals (adults and kids) just having a great time in their bodies, in a safe space, amongst friends and teachers. This is powerful stuff and there is energy born in the process. I am blessed to be able to witness this and be a part in its genesis. (Boy, is that deep?!)

We negotiated the weather (it only got nasty when we hit the rise into the Quakertown area), had three wonderful gigs, played for 800 kids and teachers and we did it well. I would say it was a very good day, one that began with quite a bit of uncertainty.

Another good day on the planet.

Friday, November 30^th, 2018

RockRoots in Whippany, part II

We were originally booked for this afternoon gig on the 15th of this month, thankfully cancelled for the travel nightmare of a rare November snow storm. We dodged a bullet on that one….. And, we were lucky to have it rescheduled for today, especially since I got paid for it already.

It was an after-school session with about 80 K – 5th graders in an all-purpose gym a little before 2 pm. The kids and the several teachers got into it and we had a ball. The band played well and there were several “stop and witness” moments with the kids (the kids on the floor swimming to our Surf Music section). I lost my place in the show when that happened. That’s the trouble with being “open to the moment”.

We recovered, got some rave reviews from one of the musicians in the faculty. He said we hit so much diverse material in the space of 50 minutes. Actually, he nailed it. We don’t always recognize the power of our show.

A long afternoon with three hours on the road, the show and set up and break down. Still, it’s all worth it for the band, the school community and for me as a musician.

Saturday, October 13^th, 2018

RockRoots at Wm. Penn Charter School on Friday

School gigs are fairly rare in the fall, but we had a surprisingly good one on Friday. This was listed as a charter school, but I didn’t realize it was the oldest Quaker school in the country, founded in 1689 founded by THE William Penn.

We were ushered into Kurtz Center for the Performing Arts, a $14 million facility with a ‘vegetative roof’ and a spectacular auditorium, not our usual all-purpose room set up. We got set up, did the lights and waited for the kids to come in at 2 pm. Apparently we were lucky to play in this space. We were originally scheduled to play in the old assembly hall, second floor of the old school building but something was already booked for the afternoon. Yay! We don’t do stairs and equipment well anymore.

One class came in early so I walked down to chat with them. I asked if they knew any dances and, of course, The Floss, The Hype and Orange Justice came up right away. Soon they were all out of their seats and dancing. I asked if they knew The Twist, and the teacher laughter. Of course not. It was a great pre-show warm up for these kids.

Eventually the rest of the kids and teachers filed in and filled up 250 seats. Since it was a Quaker school, Mrs. Lea, our contact for the gig, said that there should be no mention of violence and that they would start off with a moment of silence. It was a remarkable moment and actually set the kids up for returning to a respectful quiet after some of the more raucous moments of the show.

It was a Friday afternoon and we were given a strict 40 minute window for the show. We’re used to keeping an eye on the clock and we ended up shortening the show by about 10 minutes, which was fine.

The kids were really active and respectful, often getting up and dancing spontaneously. I could see that the teachers were having a great time, delighted with the show and the response from the kids. We played really well and we looked great on this professional stage.

We got a great quote from the assembly coordinator: “It was totally awesome. We were thrilled. Everybody loved it, from the youngest students to the most jaded faculty!… RockRoots was really fabulous. They were great with the kids, the music was excellent caliber, they were good natured. I’m always pleased with YA programs but this one was really a stand out.”

Monday, September 10^th, 2018

First RockRoots of the school season

We returned to this parochial school in Penndel, PA this afternoon for a single show for about 300 K – 8th graders. As we set up, the custodian, Wayne and myself struck up a conversation. The custodian (as is often the case) was a musician at one time and said he had his set of drums packed up, wanting to find some folks to play with. It’s a hard thing to do now a days. He was eagerly awaiting our return to this school after two years.

We were in the gym for this one, a very humid, rainy day. The kids were great and when we got the kids up to dance, there was lots of Floss, the Hype and Boneless going on, along with the Disco and Frug that we always add in. It was actually great to see the kids actively doing their own dances, something I haven’t seen in a while.

It’s been a couple months since our last show and surprisingly I did pretty well on my part. The band was good as well, though we lost the beat and, being distracted, I lost the lyrics on the RockRoots Rap. Kevin called out the 1 beat several times and eventually we linked up again. Other than that, it was a crisp show, very much appreciated by the school – the reason why we’ve returned for the last three years in a row.

I had a brainstorm before the show. I asked the kids and teachers to draw some pictures of the band and send them to me. I look forward to sharing them with our RockRoots FaceBook posts. Here are a couple of old ones.

Early school year assemblies are rare these days and it was good to be back on the road again this fall.

Thursday, July 5^th, 2018

RockRoots in Morristown

We played an afternoon assembly for about 300 K – 8th graders at a summer arts camp at a middle school in central NJ. We got there and loaded in with plenty of time when I found out that the PA wasn’t working. We had some problems before but our standard correction wasn’t working. We scrambled to use the sophisticated PA in the school for the vocals, and I used the small amp I’ve been using for my mando and guitar. Amazingly, we started on time.

It was a hard gig, especially with our vocals out in the room with no monitors. Though it probably sounded fine in the hall, I felt like I was overcompensating, almost yelling into the mike. As is often with the case with a strange wrinkle in the process, we were a little rough.

But, the kids and teachers had a good time and several kids and teachers thanked us, said they enjoyed it, and gave us thumbs up. That’s the beauty of a well-crafted show – it still works despite the craziness with our sound system.

I figured it out just before we went on, and sure enough, it was a faulty speaker adapter. But we decided to run with the adapted plan. It got us through. At the end, as we packed up, I ran the system again with the extra piece of equipment and it worked. I was only off by one small adapter. Now I know.

A brutally hot day on the road but all is well.

Wednesday, June 20^th, 2018

RockRoots at Hershey Public Library on Tuesday

It’s a rare western trip for RockRoots since most of our gigs are in NJ and around Philly, so we enjoyed the hour and a half trip through rural PA. We rolled into Hershey, a fairly affluent small city, Chocolate Town, USA. Mansions, golf course, elegant city buildings, etc. and the library was pretty fine, too.

The children’s librarian greeted us saying that she had seen us at a showcase in Philly a long time ago so she knew what she was getting. Of course, the entire library system has “Libraries Rock!” as their summer reading theme and we were perfect for this event.

There was a good crowd on hand with some curious older folks, kids from several summer camps and general families in attendance. A good mix of ages for this show, so I have to keep things moving and entertaining. I stumbled early on, partly because of the heat/travel and partly because being a little out of practice. But I got my feet under me, and the band was on today.

The kids were great and the adults really dug it, too. Several folks came up afterward and complemented our “talent”, the format and information of the show. The library actually would like us back for an evening show for the adults. Fine with us.

The trip back took longer than expected (w/ ‘Jersey’ conditions with an accident on 78) but a satisfying gig that was appreciated by all.

Tuesday, May 29^th, 2018

RockRoots, crack o’ dawn in Scotch Plains, NJ.

This was an interesting gig on several levels, the least being an 8:30 start on the morning after a long holiday weekend at a middle school. I left at 6 am and, thanks to smooth NJ traffic, I got there early. I made friends with the PTA lady, the custodian and set up in an empty auditorium. It is a pleasure to not to have to rush for any gig, so I had some good down time. The lads got there about 15 minutes before show time, but these guys know the routine. We were ready to go at show time.

I was glad we had the 5th and 6th graders for the first set. They were reactive and we played well. These kids do get up and dance. The band was right on. I love these guys.

Several interesting points in the first set. I ask a teacher to define “improvisation” and I usually pick a male teacher. This time the one I picked one who refused to answer and I had to pass it on to the teacher sitting next to him. There is something endemic with some middle school teachers; they do not like to lose their identity and authority in front of their students and often retreat. They also don’t get up and dance when I ask them to (Blue Suede Shoes). Those that do are rewarded generously by the audience. Go figure. Middle School is a mine field for kids and adults.

Another touchstone is the Irish Jig. Early on in the show with our mandolin jig, I ask if there are any kids taking Irish dance lessons and we more often than not have some kids come up on stage and demonstrate (with varying skills). Today, a young girl with a hefty build came up. As we started, she was saying to us that she didn’t want to do it, but with the slightest of encouragement, she lit off with a spectacular series of dance moves, high kicks and incredible confidence. She blew everyone away. And with a pink t-shirt as well. The band lives for these moments.

We had a longer than expected down time between the first and second sets, so we all find our spaces (for Kevin – on his cell phone). Nick, Wayne and Kevin and I are tight friends and we respect each other. The quick exchanges are always wonderful, with lots of winks between us.

The second set was curious since Kevin had an appointment close to noon so we did our Tight Set, when we got to move on….. We did some intuitive cuts (with everyone’s antennae up) and steam-rolled through the set. Since it was the 7th and 8th graders, this is always the best option. They are always sluggish in responses and dancing, and were out-classed by their teachers this time. I screwed up the RR Rap, but the lads picked me up and we drove the show over the finish line.

The Principal is in charge.

The 7th and 8th grades were polite but did not get up and move, rarely raised their hands in response to question, and unwilling to commit. But that is expected. The few that did (Irish Jig and I Like Peanut Butter) were rewarded. And the teachers are much the same.

The kids loved the shows as did the principal and PTO ladies. RockRoots continues to be a wonderfully successful show: tight, informative and entertaining with my good friends in the band.

Home before 12 noon.

Friday, May 4^th, 2018

Back on the road again.

I’ve been out of action with RockRoots for close to a month with my hip replacement recovery so today’s gig in Verona, NJ was a welcome sign for me. It was the first road trip for me with an hour and a half morning commute to central Jersey. The drive was fine but I was a little worried about how I would handle the gig. I’m still using the cane sparingly and have developed some strength to be able to walk unaided but I wasn’t sure if I could do the whole gig standing.

I brought a stool with me today and since it was a small elementary school (around 150 kids) I thought that I could perform from the stool. It worked well and still was able to get up for some of the proceedings. I was pleased that the show went well and, after a month layoff, I could run the gig smoothly.

I’m still having some difficulty sleeping and the night before I had some of this gig’s uncertainty on my mind. Still, it was a major step back from a month’s recuperation and inaction so I’m glad to be back in action.

Here’s the Facebook image I posted this morning.

Thursday, March 29^th, 2018

RockRoots in Easton

It’s rare that we play here in our own region, so it was novel not to drive an hour and a half to Somewhere, NJ. We had 2 pm show for about 400 K- 5th graders in an old school auditorium. We loaded in with ease thanks to the newly installed elevator and didn’t have to face the imposing steps out front.

It was a fairly noisy crowd and had to bring the kids back down more than usual. It did affect my concentration on running my lines and I forgot Little Richard. Thanks to the band to pick me up at that point. Distracted driving….

We got big thanks from the staff and several remembered booking me here years ago. In fact, I remember driving here for a family night while the invasion of Iraq had just started that day – “Shock and Awe” and thinking this was a terrible precipass the country was going over. Ain’t that the truth.

Tonight, a Dave’s Night Out with Mary Faith Rhoads at Godfrey’s.

Friday, March 23^rd, 2018

RockRoots in Jersey, crack o’ dawn on Friday

We hit the road at a very un-rock and roll time of 6:30 am for a

Rosalie Fry

school in Wyckoff, NJ – northeastern part of the state. Amazingly, we always get there in time.

It was Decades Day at the school. We remembered doing this several years ago, and the principal commented that the teachers had requested that we return.

Classrooms were set up for each decade and PTA moms dressed up for each room. I was welcomed by Rosie the Riveter when I came in at 8 am. Eventually, flappers, women’s baseball players, hippies, etc. showed up and surprised the kids at the front door when they came in. The faces were wide with delight. It was quite a day for the kids and a great way to teach some American history in a cogent way.

I was able to shape the show more finely with this information and was glad to be able to link with the school’s theme. It was a great show. We played well, the kids and teachers hip (and my hip wasn’t bothering me today) and there was a whole lot of shakin’ going on. The educational/cultural quotient was off the charts today.

An hour and a half drive back to Bethlehem (before noon!!), listening to mixes for my new album. It was great to be on the road as a performing musician today.

Steel Stacks tomorrow morning with my friend John Christie. Think Locally.

Sunday, March 18^th, 2018

RockRoots in Yardley on Thursday

RockRoots gigs are sparse this year but one rolled in on Thursday at a Catholic school in Yardley, PA. This one was for 250 K – 8th graders, as is often the case with parochial schools so we have to aim for the older kids and know that the younger ones will enjoy the music for its own sake. It works.

I smacked the tip of my ring finger putting the speaker on its stand, thinking, “This is going to hurt.” Yes it did, and I had to deal with some bleeding throughout the show. I also had to deal with playing some chords in some pain. Just something to rattle my brain while delivering the show.

As the kids entered the community room in the basement of the church, they were festooned in St. Paddy’s gear. No shock, really, being a Catholic school, but there was a festive air added to the excitement of an assembly. Nothing like a chance to dress up for a school day, especially when uniforms are the normal state of affairs.

Early on, during the Irish jigs, I invited kids up who had taken step dancing lessons and immediately we had 15 kids up on stage with us, all ages, and they launched into there routines. The electricity in the air was palpable for the whole school, and, as usual, shifts the focus off of us and on the students. A great performance device that works well for us.

The show went smoothly until the final Rock Roots Rap, when I lost my place. Luckily, the band was there for me when I jumped ahead a verse or two and caught my flub. We turned it around and nobody but me and the band knew it. Again, the distraction of my finger tip found its way into my consciousness and bit me.

It was good to be back on the road for this one.

Dave Fry