Yesterday, fish was fried, rock was played, friends cavorted, merriment was had. It was the 10th Pocket FishRmen Fish Fry, and was it ever a success. After this many Frys, I think we're getting it down to more of a science. The Fry is primarily hosted by guitarist Cris Burns and his wife Kelly Davis-Burns. Cris books the band, sets up the schedule, etc. Kelly organizes the silent auction and does the promotion for it; the Fish Fry benefits the Bill Hicks Wildlife Foundation. So, there are people who work wildlife rescue there, as well as some furry friends hanging out. Brant Bingamon, singer, is in charge of the cooking, and usually has some fine help...although this was the first year without Lawrence Heads. His absence was felt.
This year, I was bemoaning the fact that I didn't have a job at the Fry. I did transport the rental drum kit (which weighed a ton!) to the Hole in the Wall, but that was my official duty. So, I had talked to Cris earlier on about doing announcements at the Fry, mainly so I'd have something to do. He asked me to go ahead and introduce each band. And I did that, excepting Free Range Bastards, who have Fonte introduce them. It was nice to have a purpose, along with thumping for the FishRmen, of course. Jason, bassist, became the de facto stage manager and kept the schedule on time. Yay, the rhythm section had jobs!
This Fish Fry went the way of the last few; great bands playing all the way through, but the momentum sagged toward the end. No fault of the people playing; I just think the heat had taken its toll on everyone. Once we had played, I think many people bailed. Hell, many had bailed before we played, but several had gotten there later in the day. Pretty typical of a Fish Fry, and I like that. People come in, people go out. As long as there's a steady crowd. The end was a bit of a whimper for Utley 3, but I stayed and enjoyed their set (after I'd packed up the big stage's rental kit).
But so many highlights yesterday. All Monsters Attack set the tone with a roaring set in the back. Dicky Wayne Vice country-rocked the front stage and set a bit of an intimate tone for bands up there. I love the English Muffin Divers; fun with a capital "F." The Free Range Bastards put on possibly the best show I've seen them do, and I've seen them plenty. G.O.M.E.Z., wow....there were some issues with Chepo's bass, including some classic Chepo response, but I loved the set and seeing Ron Chandler and Ryan McDaniel play again. Jesus Christ Superfly rocked the front with their own career "retrospective." Mary and the Scaredies was basically Scary Mary in a new configuration, with Chris from Uglor on guitar. Great line-up. Grant Dorian, for one, if I may quote R. Lee Ermey from "Full Metal Jacket" is definitely "born again hard." Man, did he slam. Suckling played the inside stage, which might have not been the best place for them, but that didn't matter. I think they might have been many people's favorite yesterday. And then, the Oklahomos on the back stage. Don, where have you been? Wow. Just wow. So much fun. Plastique brought back the intimacy to the front stage, and then your hosts, the Pocket FishRmen tore up the back stage. I ran back to introduce Richy Vegas on the front stage after we were done. He held a nice-size crowd up there. Then it was the Rood Papa Band, with Marcus Trejo on drums, following on the back stage; I got to say a nice tribute to Marcus creating my PF position while introducing them. Monkeyshines then played the front stage and rocked thoroughly....still a little rough in the new line-up, but when you have musicians of that caliber playing......they'll find their way out. Nice job, indeed. Ten Foot Rooster took the back; by then, folks had drifted out, but TFR had their own fans there, too. A fun set. I loved the one about "kicking all my girlfriends' husbands' asses." Oh, man. And then Utley 3, closed it out up front. Cordy's guitar has the most interesting tone, and it's always great to see Steve Chapman play. Killer line-up, lovely playing, fun time. I'm beaming today. And maybe a little red from the sun.
And now, on to personal writing. I've been having a bit of a musical renaissance lately. A bit of "feeling like a kid" again, and it feels nice. Might've written this here before, but for a few years I haven't really been into music. Movies took over a certain section of my brain....and while I'm still quite the movie fan, I find myself back to discovering music I've not really dived into before....and it feels good. Lately, I've started investigating the blues more than ever before. I recently purchased a Muddy Waters Chess box set and will probably pick up the Willie Dixon one soon enough. I've looked into some Howlin' Wolf releases but haven't decide on that yet. Might just spring for the Chess Box there, too. The blues is a nice balance to my extensive progging and jazzing.
Before jumping into these muddy waters (I crack myself up), the only blues I'd really heard was either the Robert Johnson (now, that's rawness) or the White Imitation variety. Listening to this Muddy Waters stuff was pretty revelatory. Before hearing this, I did have and periodically listen to, the Electric Mud album, but that album is almost a genre unto itself. The Waters Chess box has all kinds of Muddy classics, several of which were made into other songs by American and British groups of the 60s and 70s. "Rollin' and Tumblin'" sticks out, in particular, because being a Captain Beefheart fan, I was stunned that "Sure 'Nuff 'n' Yes I Do" is a complete rip of "Rollin' and Tumblin'." I mean, the guitar rhythm, the vocal melody, everything. I had heard some versions of these songs by later musicians, but I didn't realize that some were completely purloined. It's not even questionable. The lyrics to "You Need Love" are the lyrics to "Whole Lotta Love," etc. I knew all this stuff from reading about it, but to finally hear it.....wow. Granted, these blues musicians back then were ripping each other off all the time, so it's hard to say who exactly originated what, but yes, what they say about the white groups taking these songs, sometimes wholesale, is true.
I think I'm sunburned from yesterday. I need cooling, and woman, I ain't fooling. See you soon.
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