February 14 2008 Jam

Welcome to the Matt Hammer “Love Jam” on Valentine’s Day. Hearts, flowers, fishes and candy were provided for all at each table and Happy Valentine’s Day to one and all.

Jam Master Hammer started out singing a song from the late Dan Fogelberg , “Longer Than” a sweet love song as a beginning of the night tribute to Valentine’s Day. A big welcome back to Doc Schultz and Miss Kathy. And then an -- oh no, technical difficulties moment and a fractured “Beatles Medley” with new words…it was a Gilda Radner moment for sure, “never mind,” for you young folks who don’t remember the words of infamous Gilda.

Doc and Matt launched into “Souvenirs.” Then Jam Master Hammer called the core band to the stage. Pat Rat informed us that this was his third gig of the day…hum…that’s a lot o’ notes to play in one day guy. And we’re not priceless, Gary Price joined us on drums. “B” Schlomer joined in on harp, cranky me on background vocals and we launched into “Glory of True Love,” the second love song of the evening. A little “Long Monday,” a bit of a fractured love song; and an original love song written by Jam Master Hammer, appropriately titled “2-14”. Big welcome to old fan Marty and jammers “the dude,” and Jack Schokley, and Ellen and Randy from ADD, and Mr. Dane as the “professional audience contingent”. Absent but not forgotten were Miss Bea, John and Bea, the Ritaris, Steve and Linda, and Alice and Jim our North Sloping friends in Eagle River and on the North Slope out in the great beyond.

Not so worried man, John A., finally healed from a rather nasty bug, joined jammers and sang, “Tijuana Jail”, “July You’re a Woman”, “Abilene”, and MTA. Good to have you back and healthy, John! Big thank you goes out to Tana, our able bartendress and Miss Tommy, our fill-in cocktail waitress. What a great job these two do for everyone every night.

We saw many familiar faces this evening, some we haven’t seen in a long while. The second set opened up with a showcase moment for “The Ladykillers” with Vederan on guitar and vocals, Bob on vocals and sweet saxophone, Pat Rat still playing more bass notes, and Butch on drums. The group launched into a trio of original tunes. Great stuff guys, glad to see you out and about playing good music!

Another shimmy shuffle of players, and guest host jammer, Mark Houle, stepped to the stage. Dean joined on drums. Mark had a bevy of beauties come to listen to him this night—wow, what a fan club—and the chairman of the board, none other than Mrs. Mark Houle. A big thanks to the “bevys” and Mrs. Mark for all your support. I almost felt like I was on stage with Elvis with all the whooping and hollering going on. Thank you, thank you, thank you, very much for your support…with the appropriately snarled “Elvis” lip. Mark then sang “One More Day,” a Dimond Rio tune, “Evangelina,” “Train, Train,” and “Flash of Fire” and he was just getting warmed up. He dedicated the Beatles tune, “Something” to his beloved wife. Bob joined on stage to add a little saxophone to “Wild Nights” as set two came to a close.

Set three opened up with yet another configuration of jammers. Welcome, welcome to Texas Jimmy D. Catch this fellow’s guest host jammer moment in a few weeks. He was joined by Mark, Bob, Pat, Thomas on drums, and “Yakatat” Steve on flute. Wow, it must be the season for haircuts and shaves…Burma Shave…for the first time we realized that Jimmy D had a cleft in his chin that rivaled Kirk Douglas’! Jimmy led jammers in an instrumental shuffle, “Time Will Get You”, and “Tore Down”. Then Jimmy invited Miss Rachel to the stage and jammers did a little “Moondance”, “Stormy Monday”, and “What’s Up”. Miss Rachel was in her red Valentine’s Day finest and looked marvelous… and, as usual, wowed us with her beautiful vocals. All too soon this set came to a close.

News flash from Nashville…Miss Brook is recording and meeting lots of kewl Nashville kats. We wish her the best on her personal musical journey and can’t wait to purchase a copy of her new CD.

Set four…well, that was my personal fav…Jam Master Hammer sang, “The Rose” as he gave me a Valentine’s Day rose. Don’t know about any of you, but that certainly gave me the shivers. Sweet, sweet love and honesty on stage. Mike Olsen slipped up for a sweet country tune this set, joining us after his gig at “Brand X”. Mike is always a pleasure to listen to and we love his musical sylings. My Valentine’s Day card and the core band joined in for a little “Hey Good Lookin’ and another few jam tunes, that brought this Valentine’s evening to a close. Live Long, Love Much, Laugh Often and Play Good Music…

(We may yet get some pictures to post from this night's Jam - stay tuned)

February 7 2008 Jam

Where’s Doc’o? Lost in Spenard!!?! Hopefully, he’ll join us next week with banjo in tow.

Jam Master Hammer opened the night with “The Boxer” and I joined in for a Simon & Garfunkel tune entitled, “Leaves that are Green.” Welcome, welcome to guest host jammer, Stu Schulman on pedal steel and the core band, Dean Reaves, Pat Rat, Paul Schlomer for a trio of John Prine tunes and John A stepped to the stage, feeling a wee bit better singing “Abilene", ”Chilly Winds” (add Yakatat Steve), “Sloop John B”, and “Greenback Dollar” (add “A” aka John Schlomer).

Professional audience members this night included Frank, who didn’t come to play music, he came for the vittles and Bob R and Mark H stopping by to say hi sans their axes.

Set two brought Jack Shockley on vocals and guitar, John Schlomer on harp, Robert Howard on electric guitar, Stu, and Dean. Welcome Robert, he came all the way from Palmer! Jack got us all a’toe tapping with “North to Alaska,” an original Alaskan tune and the “Old Man Song.” The core band played with Matt leading the band on “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Pirate Looks at Forty,” “Tupelo Honey,” and “2-14.”

By set three we had a showcase moment “Sporting Woodies”… with Animal and Eddie Lee leading the band with Thomas on drums, Pat Rat on bass, John on harp, and Stu on pedal steel, these boys rocked the house! Wow, what fun you boys are! ~~ come back again! Jam Master Hammer closed the set with “Devil’s and Dust” and “One More Song.”

Set four brought Stu, Gary, Dean Pat, Steve, Bob P and Gary Gutery to the stage…a little country fare led by Gary included “Your Cheating Heart,” “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Steamroller Blues.” Bob Parsons played his original tune with Ms. Rachel joining in with some beautiful vocal scatting, as she then launched into “Moondance” and “Bobbie McGee” as another evening of the Matt Hammer jam came to a close.

Big thank you’s to Dennis Smith, who has made Matt Hammer Jam-the sequel south, a reality and thank you, thank you to Tana, our steady bartender and Amber on cocktails keeping our thirsts quenched and our belly’s full. Big thank yous go out to both audience and jammers alike, we so appreciate your support. Live long, love much, laugh outloud and play good music! lah

The complete set of pictures from tonight's Jam can be found here.