ESCAPE FROM TRANSIT ll - GJOA Club 7/9/14 Brooklyn, New York

It has been a year since Brian's retirement and his retirement party Escape From Transit l so what better course of action than to celebrate the one year anniversary of his retireabration with an anniversary of the event itself under the banner Escape From Transit ll.

As a mildly seasoned musician (chili powder, cumin and bay leaves notwithstanding) it was ironic and quite humorous to leave my apartment with two used pairs of drumsticks in a rite-aid shopping bag as opposed to a carload of drum gear and a garden gnome in tow but I am certainly grateful about my light luggage. 

(Thanks go out to Phil for providing the Tama drum kit & Eugene for the Zildjian cymbals).

This afternoon's spot held great promise as Joe pulled his back out so much and was in such discomfort that he considered performing this gig in a sitting position (of which he did not) and this was my first time back behind the drums since I recently had an organ removed of which I am thankfully in full recovery and we had not played together in some months with no rehearsal for today's spot as well but I personally like it like that and we sallied forth as Yeggs United.

Looked like this afternoon might be a performance by The Wounded Yeggs but we delivered.

The removed organ (three octaves as you can see).

Brian's friends & family put on quite the bash for him at the GJOA (pronounced Joya) sporting club in beautiful Sunset Park (the neighborhood in which I was raised in) with the promise of Free Food & Free Beer which almost always ends prematurely and lands flat especially with a lot like us but the promise was fulfilled entirely as there was no shortage of food items or drink stuffs at anytime.

The Dillon Lane Syndicate - Brian (vocals, guitar), Sylvester (vocals), Phil (drums), Thomas (bass), Joe (guitar).

Guesting tonight as syndicate members was our very own Thomas "the fish" Roberto on Bass and Joe Vasquez on Guitar.

These guys are up and coming and gigging quite a bit. Well,... with Sylvester as front man I am frankly not surprised at all.

The Good Yeggs - We went on at 5 p.m. and played our normal set, nothing outstandingly different here except we swapped out a few numbers and were asked for two encores. Since we do an absolute minimum of on stage patter great vistas of time open up for us to fill our allotted quota. The crowd did enjoy the Johnny Cash numbers so we added "Folsom Prison Blues" following "Ring Of Fire".

Brian graciously purchased us all a whiskey on the rocks which was proffered by our third number.

In this photo we see Joe telling me to "Get on with it and stop taking pictures for the Blog !!!" as we were ready to proceed with our set.

photo courtesy of DLS/Facebook.

Nohrmal - ?... Bill (Everything)

It is always something different with this guy. Dare I call him a performance artist or just plain THE performance.

As I was preparing to leave the stage after The Good Yeggs set Bill offered me the opportunity to sit in with him in a "if you want to stay and play the drums then go ahead but don't play anything for the first three verses" kind of style.

Aside from this being a "flying by the seat of your pants" performance for myself I feel this is great for any musician, mind you Bill is vocals and electric guitar unfettered by guitar effects or much in the dynamics department which a challenge does make and I love a challenge. We performed "Creep" by Radiohead, David Bowie's "Five Years" (accompanied by Brian Dillon on backing vox) & Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" as well as a few other tunes.

As a much added plus I got to duet with a drummer from our clique of whom I admire, Phil was on Cajon so kit and sticking dynamics on my part of the unobtrusive kind was just the ticket. 

Low pressure, jamming fun gig and we had a nice time.

photo courtesy DLS/Facebook.

Black Death - Brian (vocals, guitar), Vlad (vocals, guitar), Sal (guitar, vocals), Phil (drums).

Like always Black Death performed a 45 minute set of family fun and kids songs for people of all ages. Free balloons and cotton candy were NOT on offer.

(L to R) - Beef Empanada, Sweet Italian Sausage, Vegetable Samosa.

I have been "jonesing" for some Indian food and there it was, A Samosa.

The GJOA Sporting Club.

Digital Ad Campaign.

This Is Show # 24

- Spike

Recording Session 4/30/16 StarTrack Studios (formerly HesDeadJim Studios) - Queens, New York

We finished the recording of our sophomore CD tentatively titled "A Little Traveling Music Please" this afternoon finalizing Backing Vocals for the tracks "She's Pretty" and "She Made This House A Home" and mix down of both tracks. 

On a positive note Joe, our dynamic lead singer has joined the ranks of the roadways of America and is seen here after our arrival. I am happy to say that we got home safely and without incident (O.K. maybe a few A-hole drivers in the other cars of course) as well.

Notice that Thomas is using the "finger in the ear" method which is known to Professional Musicians collectively as the finger in the ear method.

The Digital track sheet.

Chicharrones were a big hit with Thomas' son Lennon as was the White Fudge Oreo's (see photo below) and both culinary firsts for him.

No Drums were harmed or played at todays session but how could I resist not putting an Objet D'art on top of them.

This man is very tired, practically falling asleep during mix down & quite unkempt (I am being nice here). He has since gotten a one hour nap in but remains unkempt.

Joe with his newest acquisition, an Alvarez Acoustic Guitar.

A Deer.

I am particularly proud of the backing vocals we performed on this album as I am not a singer by any stretch of the imagination so this video clip is mainly my rant on this collective Blog.

- Spike

"Cancelled" Good Yeggs Gig - The Band Of Others perform - 3/26/16 Three Jolly Pigeons Brooklyn, New York

When selfies go wrong and you literally only get half the band in the photo.

We had to cancel our gig at "the pigeons" tonight but Joe and myself (well actually it was at Joe's suggestion) felt it was only proper to go to the show and support the "other" band on the bill that night with us, namely the Band of Others.

We shared a table with friends of the band and bandmates of ours from various projects Carl and Brian.

The Band Of Others performed three sets and being the only band on this night bravely sallied forth. A true to the original combo of Surf Rock hits and original music. They opened the evening with "Coney Surf".

Joanne and Madonna getting in on the waviness of it all. Were they doing the Swim, the Hully Gully, the Freddie or just the Mashed Potato.

Joe and my Drinx.

Brian to the rescue.

Unfortunately Bobby Other popped a string on his stage guitar And spare guitar during the set and Brian volunteered to change out the string, here he is seen diligently at work in the Pigeons back room getting it done.

The Drum Kit was comprised of a hybrid of half Ludwig and I actually don't recall the other brand even though I did ask.

 A Pollo o tinga Burrito from Panchos now renamed Coszcal de Allende from down the block. I brought this home for Cristina and I to share and since she is not a fan of Sour Cream I had to perform open rice surgery on it as you can see from the photo above so she could have some too. 

Digital ad campaign.

BAND OF OTHERS ON FACEBOOK.

- Spike

"IT'S A JOY" The Acquisition of Accoutrement - 3/6/16 - YeggCave Brooklyn, New York

Well drinks 2, Marimba 4

One fine day Joe Yegg set out to upgrade his rehearsal/gigging kit with a few pieces of needed equipment. First he came upon the drunken frog who only blurted "Yelp" and sought to teach him crane style but Joe retracted that he was searching needed musical gear so the frog let him go.

Then upon his journey Joe reached the jumbly rumbly Rainbow Bridge but there was no jumbly rumbly Rainbow aloft so he inquired with the troll who was the bridge keeper and super of the building. Joe asked "where may I find a Music shop to amend my equipment search ?" the Troll blurted "Yelp".

Joe found himself on sixth avenue in Greenwich Village (as it was in the 70s) and came across Dee Dee Ramone sniffing glue from a bag after his seventy five cent Falafel meal and inquired "oh where, oh where might I find a music shop".

Dee Dee blurted "yelp" and directed Joe to the Guitar Center on 14th street and said Spike would be standing outside.

Spike awaits Joe as a signpost outside Guitar Center.

And Joe did acquire his needed gear, oh yes he did.

The PDP Cymbal stand, perfect for supporting the bashing or ringing out on a steady Cymbal wash for those quiet parts and all that business.

Yamaha products have never let me down nor do they the troll under the bridge.

Note the shiny newness.

Lovely it is. It's a Joy.

The sturdy Yamaha Snare Drum stand.

The Snare Drum being the most important piece of the Orchestra to get those tootsies movin' and a groovin'.

Joe after his sojourn, Danelctro in hand.

Thomas on the Telecaster.

Spike selfie, Marimba in hand.

Beware the Drum Kit on the jumbly rumbly bridge or elsewhere.

Truffle sniffing earthquakes abound.

- Spike

YEGGSMOOCH SECRET SESSION - 1/17/16 - Star Track Studio Queens, New York

This project as yet unnamed (even though I am pushing "The Red Peckers" as the bands imprint and inherent name) is really Carl's baby and brainchild focusing on the Harder edge of things and Tunes to get those feet moving and perhaps in the near future MOSHING.

Pictured above is the Guitarist's (since as a Drummer I am alone and speaking a different language) figuring out that elusive chord structure to the Black Sabbath tune "The Mob Rules".

Our Singer could not make it to this rehearsal but we got down to "figuring out" the tunes in question which shall only hasten the process once we get down to working proper at full speed, yes we had a few Beer's but aside from the Bread Loaf (pictured below) we did not break for lunch. Hey we are still youthful, no time for Prune Juice just yet.

Worked on as an ensemble today was our beginning repertoire as a band comprising 4 out of 5 tunes.

Livin' After Midnight - Judas Priest

The Mob Rules - Black Sabbath

Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie

We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister

Our fifth number "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" by Rick Derringer at which I initially scoffed at was the deal breaker and we needed more time to get into that Groove, next rehearsal and it shall be Bubbly and Fine.

As an unplanned tryout at which we did succeed was the KISS tune "Strutter" that we all knew, all except for our Bass player Joe that is and lickity split he learned the Bass line of the tune in three minutes and ten seconds which is two seconds shorter than the actual tune itself.

Yes I was amazed and pleased.

HE of the Jackson Axe.

HE of the Gibson Axe.

HE of the Ibanez Axe.

HE is asked to sing "Under Pressure" (for rehearsal only).

HE is NOT a singer.

They say Art Imitates Life.

In this case it is Bread Imitates Art Imitating Life for this BLOG and a Goofy Facebook photo.

We were "parked by the pig" and even with the winters egress of snow floating towards the ground there was no chance not to find "Rosie" The Car to get us back home to our loved ones, a steaming cup of hot cocoa and that leftover stuffing from Thanksgiving 2013.

- Spike