Blues Jamboree

My fellow Earthlings & all memers of this universe,

I honored and proud to accept your nominatin to be a one man band. (applause)

I would like to take this opportunity to bad mouth everybody but me. (louder applause)

They are great people and I am sure they love music (boos) No, No, I don't want to be like that. They are great people and I am sure they love music but what do we really know about these people? What is thier record? Do they even have a record? Or a CD? or a DVD? (wild applause)

OK, Thank You (more wild applause)

OK, Thank You very much.

Folks at this time I would like to introduce another fellow member of my cabinet and band. We have been through so much togeather and I know this individual will make a better vice president that Dick Cheney. (wild applause then a chorus of boos)

No folks, Please, I am not here to talk about Dick Cheney. I am honored and humbled to introduce a great friend and loyal member who just happens not to be from Alaska (applause)

Ladies and Gentlemen, My good friend and fellow party member, please give it up for someone who never raised taxes or lied about anything. (applause)

Ladies and Gentlemen, From the great state of Texas, A good friend and a loyal member, I am honored and humbled to introduce at this time:

My Left Toe (Crowd goes bananas)



Ok, Hello, Thanks for stopping by.

Last weekend was a 3 day weekend and since I didn't have to get up early on monday I decided to stop on by my favorite blues jam in the world at the Shakespeare Pub on memorial drive. I like the fact that this place is right smack dab in the middle of Memorial (high rent district) and is still a "dive". They have live blues and zydeco music every night and on Sundays, they have a blues jam where local musicians and wannabees conglomerate and have a good old fashioned karaoke (without the karaoke) party.

Since most folks were off work on Monday, This was more like a weekend night and the bar was more crowded and quite a few jammers showed up to participate.

I watched and listened to the House band play the opening set and it was great. "Spare Time" is the host and a local blues Icon. It always makes me feel more relaxed to sit and listen to him and the band do thier thing.

There were several bands that showed up and also one guy that I really enjoy hearing. Mr John McVey. He played a set with a guy named Doug that used to be the house band guitar player. John McVey really has some good tone. He plays through a Fender Tube amp using a spring reverb and tremelo and gets some great tone. I know most of it is coming from what he is doing with his hands and fingers. If you get a chance and are in the mood to hear some good blues, Look him up and check him out some time. He plays at the Shakespeare pub and also a place called the elegant hogg.

Speaking of Blues Jams, The other favorite blues jam of all time for me is Blue Flash. They have been around for years hosting blues jams at various venues. Last night (friday) they were playing a regular gig at a place called Mikes Ultimate Sports Bar on highway six so I stopped over to have a listen.

There is guy in the band named Marty J. That is what he goes by and that is what it says on his guitar. To me, he is one of the most underated and entertaining guitar players I have ever seen. He is an extremely interesting character and a genuinly nice guy. Also he is an encyclopedia when it comes to knowing songs. He is also a guitar teacher.

I had heard he was having some kind of health problems several months back. At one point there was a musical benefit to raise money for him but I had a gig on the Sunday afternoon when it took place so I couldn't attend. I had called his home number a few times and his answering machine did not have the normal very humorous messages that he is famous for.

OK, Let me fast forward back to last sunday night. When I went to the Shakespeare Pub Blues Jam, I ran in to the other guitar player for the Blue Flash band who is named Greg Lynch. I hadn't seen him for a while and we talked a little and I invited him to jam during my set and it was great. He is the one who told me that Marty was doing OK and working his way back into playing at full speed again and would be playing at the gig that was at that time next friday but is now last night.

I entered the bar last night and took my seat and it was literally a great joy to see Marty J. doing what he does. I am a huge fan of his and I told him so last night again.

I noticed that he didn't seem 100% and also realized that didn't stop him from being great. He was holding down his end just fine.

Then he kicked of the intro to a Jimi Hendrix song, Little Wing. The crowd was digging it and when he played the first solo, the crowd responded with a very enthusiastic response. It really seemed to energize Marty and it was one of the best versions of Little Wing I have ever heard.

After the set, I told Gregg that Marty sounded as good as ever and that the last couple of songs in the set were as good as I have ever heard him sound.


What a great night and how great it is to see one of my all time favorite guitar heros, Marty J.