MUSINGS & RAMBLINGS

I settled in for the drive but forgot some blues CDs for the trip. I wasn't planning on going but down the road a piece.

I listened to the Fox rock station. I like to listen to it every so often. It keeps current on the new metal releases so I can send them to the kid over there in that desert.
I heard one real cool song that started out acoustic and gradually built up to one of the coolest new metal songs I've heard in awhile. I don't know what it was called or who it by because they never said but I'm hoping I'll hear it again. Something about a "Space-lovin', Mother Fuckin...." something, something, something.
Besides the vulgar words right there, it was a way cool song. I know the kid will love it. I'll find out who it is. I usually do just by listening here & there.

So, I'm twisting and turning through the mountains and then it hit me.... The fresh fragrant smell of the redwoods, the smell of woodburning stoves, the fog clinging onto the thirsty redwoods trees, the dark windy road that made me slow way down and not worry about getting there too fast. It was as if I had finally made it home. I was calm and relaxed. It was home.
I rolled down my window, turned off the noisy heating fan, turned off the radio, and drove slowly and quietly thru the forest. I took deep breaths and listened to the crickets singing in harmony; it was so quiet and peaceful. More deep breathes and I was starting to get a headrush!
Man, that was cool.
I almost didn't want to get there but before I knew, I was in the quaint town of Occidental.
I was late but not by much.
Walked in and the band was going at it.
I just love this place. It's very friendly, warm and some of the most down-home folk you'll find in Sonoma County.

The band sounded great. Saw a few familiar faces, said 'Hello' and headed to the dance floor. I love their dance floor.
Nick... Nick....Nick.
He is so awesome.
He's the real deal. His guitar playing is just about the best you'll find especially at some little juke joint in the middle of nowhere. It doesn't get more real than this.
His singing, his playing, the way he's just so laidback and confident about where he's been and what he's seen. The way each song starts is pretty cool. He'll sit there for a short minute, thinking about what to play next, start off, maybe tell the band what it is, and it all just comes together. It almost seems he makes them up as he goes. The real deal, people.
His rhythm playing and solos are just a bit too much for me sometimes. I'll be following along, hips just a shaking and grindin' tryin' to follow along, and he'll throw one in there that makes me wanna yell at him to "Stop that!". It's all just too much sometimes. I mean that in an "over-whelming" kind of way. That's just from his rhythm work in the back there.
He distracts me from all the other solos that might be going on. A very unique style of playing. It draws me right in.

Steve Barbieri was on second guitar and man....was he soundin' great!! He got in some real great solos but to me....the best part of his playing was the way he was filling in on rhythm. He was throwing in all sorts of tasty stuff that really kept my attention.
The best I've ever heard Steve, no doubt.
I am so sorry not to remember the bass players name (John Beckwith-Thanks Danny) or the drummers (Roy Blumifield- Thanks Jack) for that matter. The whole band was tight...tight...tight and top notch blues!!
All this for $5?!!
I had to throw some more in the jar.

Break time is too much fun there. I went alone but was not alone at all. Met and talked to some real fun people. Thing I like about Occidental...it's not "yuppified", yet.
It's real.
I will not miss many of these shows if I can help it.

Thanks Nick and band for some real genuine blues. Thank You Negri's and all you folks in the West County folk for making feel like I finally made it home.

later,
Mo