Ranger Report- Dec. 1, 2004
"To me, it's important to prove that this isn't just teenage kid's crap and you should feel embarrassed when you're over forty and still doin' it. That's not necessary. This is a job. It's a man's job, and it's a lifelong job. And if there's a sucker to ever prove it, I hope to be the sucker."
- Keith Richards
So here it is. December again. My nervous system is strained to the breaking point.
But before we deal with the news of the day, let's take a minute to review the month that was:
November was harsh. Canadian friend and former bandmate Rick "King O' Bass" McGhee lost his lady, Jan Wiggins, after a brave battle. Emma and I knew her personally and she was a wonderful human being. Our condolences are sent out to Rick. Donations are asked to be sent to the Canadian Liver Foundation. (And don't forget to fill out your donor cards.)
Then, Manatee saxophonist Bebop Tom Brunner went into Doylestown hospital for major heart surgery. He was suffering from aeortic valve stenosis. The operation was a success but we won't be hearing any sax from him for a couple of months while he recovers. Get well soon, Bebop!
And if that wasn't enough, our drummer, Tim Campbell (AKA: "T.C.", "Soup", "Mana-T.C.", "Timberlake Campbell", "Tim Campground", "Teen Appeal", etc.) has just announced that he is leaving the band at the end of the year! Our New Year's Eve show at Crazy Carl's (w/ Townhall) will be Tim's last show
He tells us that he is leaving the music business to pursue something else. If you are a fan of T.C.'s (and who isn't?) these are the last weeks to catch him playing. Auditions have already begun for his replacement. If anyone out there is a drummer, or knows a drummer who can play our styles, please let us know.
And our website started acting up. You may have noticed. www.losmanatees.com works fine but www.mightymanatees.com not so fine. Our people are working on it. Both addresses go to the same place.
Did I mention that Robert "Zap" Zaporzan turned 50?
And baby Fiona started teething?
It wasn't ALL bad news, though. We received a nice donation for our album project from Colorado fan Mark Briggs. Thanks Mark!
Our debut gig at The Bridgeport Rib-House (in beautiful Bridgeport, PA) went so well that the owners called us early the next day and booked dates into next summer. During one of our breaks, a Manatee fan named Bill Geisenheimer came up to Randy and I and presented us with a set of CDs he'd recorded at one of our shows at The Fox Bar in Great Valley, PA way back in September of 1992. The sound quality was fine and the song selections and arrangements were a revelation. Thanks Bill!
Manatee guitarist/vocalist Joe Rizzo has learned that a short film was made of our Rose Tree Park show with La Banda Grande last August and has been playing on a local public access TV station. (This was the show that was stopped after seven songs by the thunderclouds from hell which then sent senior citizens and children running for their lives.)
Our show at Pete Wrock's 24th Annual Thanksgiving Eve Party on Wed. Nov.24th
in Doylestown, PA went swimmingly. The rain failed to dampen anyone's spirits. There was a strong turn-out and we wound up playing 'til 2:30am. We even got to meet Pete Wrock's parents! Also on the bill was The Philadelphia Bluegrass Band. Their two high-energy sets were nicely captured on CD by Uncle Ronkle (who recorded our two sets as well). A splendid time was had by all. Thanks Pete!
Our home away from home, The Bell House, has recently changed it's name back to The Rising Sun. We celebrated the fact by playing a reggae version of "The Bell House of The Rising Sun".
Manatee musical friend Geof (In Big Trouble) Brackett is going to Antartica with his mother. He is sure to bring back a story (or maybe two). Bon Voyage, Geof! Say hi to all those penguins.
We are currently working on getting a couple of new live CDs out in time for the holidays (they make great stocking stuffers).
Sometime during November, writer Brian Hassett hung out with Los Manatees for a few gigs and wrote down some of his impressions. He shares them with us now:
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Where The Mighty Manatee Roam -
Another pious frenzy
in the universe of the night
on the southern-most orbit of the New York sun
where you can still feel the heat
and hear the sizzle
of electrically tasty Canadian backwoodsbacon,
and nobody's fakin'
their way outta here.
There's a new Ranger Station just up the road;
And there's a mother lode
of random acts of kindness,
of overcoming blindness,
and learning grand lessons
when papa comes down to preach,
out on the windy beach
far from the twisted reach
of icy greed desire.
I wanna get higher
just be-cause
I'm in the land of Oz,
and Lincoln, and Whitman, and Hodgson, and Penn.
I wanna go further
On The Bus
With Kesey and Casady and Woody and how !
And now,
deep in the heart of the Underground
beneath the Beat Cafes
spirit-dancing in clandestine bunkers
with Burroughs and books
and answers and leads
buried deep within the leaves
of Grass
and Chronicles
of our Bohemian branch on the family tree,
from Michelangelo to Matisse
thru the new MOMA to los Manatees
the juice is flowin'
and the leaves are bright
and you get the best reception
if you tune in at night,
and keep flippin' the channels with the TV off.
You'll soon find yourself at the Peter Tosh Saloon
somewhere north
of the Light side of the moon
with Jerry on sax
and John on bassoon;
and when you get bemused,
listen to the singer croon,
"Papa was a rollin' stone,"
and you know
you're not goin' thru this alone.
You got nowhere to go,
when you're already home,
in the ocean of night
where the Mighty Manatee roam.
-Brian Hassett 11/20/04
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Well thats about all the news thats fit to print from your friendly neighborhood Manatees. Stay dry, stay warm, but don't stay in.
See you at the shows. Go forward,
Ranger Will
December Dates
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Wed. Dec. 01 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. Dec. 02 - The Bell House - Trio - 9:00-1:00 (Now called The Rising Sun)
Fri. Dec. 03 - Crazy Carl's - Quartet - 10:00-2:00
Sat. Dec. 04 - The Funhouse - Quartet - 10:00-2:00
Wed. Dec. 08 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. Dec. 09 - Salford Pub - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Fri. Dec. 10 - Finn McCool Tavern - Electrio - 10:00-1:45
Sat. Dec. 11 - P. T. Saloon - Electrio - 10:00-2:00
Wed. Dec. 15 - Whitpain Tavern - Electrio - 9:00-1:00
Thu. Dec. 16 - The Bell House - Trio - 9:00-1:00 (Now called The Rising Sun)
Fri. Dec. 17 - Dutch Cottage Tavern - Electrio - 10:00-2:00
Sat. Dec. 18 - Private Party
Wed. Dec. 22 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. Dec. 23 - The Drafting Room - Duo - 9:00-1:00
Wed. Dec. 29 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 9:00-1:00
Thu. Dec. 30 - The Bell House - Trio - 9:00-1:00 (Now called The Rising Sun)
Fri. Dec. 31 - Crazy Carl's - Quartet - 10:00-2:00 - New Years Eve! w/ Townhall
Thank you, 