October 19 2006 Jam

Good-Byes and Boo Hoos: Laurie, one of our favorite Walmart women, leaves for Carolina this evening and joined us for a good-bye celebration. Take care, Laurie, be safe, we will miss you and the energy you bring to the jam! And Tony Wright, our Stanleytown man, heads out to Virginia soon. A big thank you goes out to Tony who co-anchored the corner bar seat with Steve and supported us during his tenure in Alaska. Thank you, Tony, we will miss your smiling face and great support!

The core Matt Hammer Band hit the ground running with a tried and true Prine trio. Jam Master Hammer then launched into “One Belief Away” and his own “Ballad of Tammy & Jimmy” then sang “Leaving on a Jet Plane” in honor of Laurie’s parting, adding Special guest host, Bo Porter to the mix.

Matt reminded everyone that Rachel Renae was now in LA tending her music. Good luck and best wishes go out to her from all of us in Alaska on her music quest.

John A joined Bo and the band for “Worried Man”, “Sloop John B” and “Greenback Dollar” with three acoustic guitars a’playing and loosy, goosy-legged Bo dancing up on the main stage.

Where’s Doc’o? …cleaning in Chico?!?!! …and soon to return…

Set two began with Robobert Howard on electric, Gary on drums, Pat Rat on bass, Paul on harp, Cuba on congas and special guest host, Bo Porter. Bo is one of Eagle River’s own, or as he affectionately calls his home, “Buzzard Gulch.” Huge welcome to Bo. Bo sang, “I’m ready” and “That’s What Love Does to You Baby.” He dedicated the song, “Rose in Paradise” to the Freedom Writer and then launched into “Six Days on the Road.” Moe joined in on keyboards and Jam Master Hammer on flute. Bo then sang, “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “Big-Legged Woman.” Robobert had some sweet, sweet licks on this tune. A drinking song, a Bobby Bear “Another Man Done Gone Song” and set two came to a close.

A big welcome also goes out to Vederan, the Croatian sensation, listening in tonight, not singing, due to a sore throat.

Special Happy B’day to our favorite bartendress, Jessica, and then one big party for Jessica began. Happy b’days went out to Greg, too.

Set three began with Special Ed on electric, Gary on drums, Mike Olson on electric, Pat on bass, Tom Lambert on the Hammond B-3, Paul on harp, Cuba on congas, and Bo on acoustic. Mike led jammers into “Betty Lou’s Getting Out Tonight.” Then Bo launched into a bit o’Bo humor that only Bo could tell. In Bo’s musical travels into the bowels of Nashville he met many stars, attended many star-studded parties, and rubbed many elbows with many a’Nashville crooner… while in Targe’ (for those of you that haven’t traveled lately to the Lower 48, that’s French for Target, the local department store a’la Fred Meyer). While shopping in Targe’ who did Bo run into but the infamous man in black himself, in the flesh, up close and personal… Bo asked him a most poignant and probing question, “Do you know that you’re Johnny Cash?” And with that segway, Mike had no choice but to launch into a tune written by the man in black, himself, Johnny’s own, “Folsom Prison blues” with a Hank Williams back and then became “King of the Road.”

Jam Master Hammer stepped center stage and led the band in “Tupelo Honey.” Mr. Paul Hennes, a new jammer, stepped center stage. Paul brought something completely different to the stage with his own rendition of a Dave Matthews tune followed by a slow soulful tune. Welcome Paul, please come back and play in our sandbox again.

Bo then consulted his memory which he told us consists of a series of post-it notes of downloads of pieces of paper as he paused to load up the ol’ hard drive. Bo launched into “She’s the Sensitive Kind” joined by Michelle on tambourine. In honor of summertime jammers played “Summertime’ and then humored me by playing “Atlanta” so I, too, could play some in the sandbox. Mat the led jammers into the powerful Bruce Springsteen tune, “Devils and Dust.”

Big thank you to Dan on sound and Jessica behind bar and a big thank you to all of the many audience members. The jam is beginning to feel like one big family reunion on every Thursday night.

An encore moment brought special guest host, Bo Porter, back to the state for “We All Get Together on a Saturday Night” and once again another night of jammin’ came to a close.

Live long, love much, laugh often and … play music!