Ranger Report - Friday, March 26, 2004, 12:06 pm
"If I don't practice for one day, I know it; if I don't practice for two
days, the critics know it; if I don't practice for three days, the audience
knows it." - Ignacy Paderewski
On Sunday afternoon, Feb.22, there was a big surprise birthday party
for Manatee organist/vocalist Karl Frick at The Wagon Wheel in Quakertown,
PA. The place was packed with a lot of Karl's musical friends and a marathon
jam session took place featuring many local legends including Todd Wolfe,
Mike Guldin, Little Buddy, and Big Daddy Eric. Even Cpt. Randy Wagner and I
got up and did a couple of tunes with Karl & crew. The owner of the club
liked what he heard and Los Manatees debuts at the Wagon Wheel on Sat., May
8. Mucho thanks to Karl's wife Dot for organizing the party and keeping it a
surprise and to Cherri for the excellent birthday cake. Two days later we
played The Dutch Cottage annual Mardi Gras show in Skippack, PA. Little
Buddy showed up with his guitar and we invited him to sit in and sing a few
songs. Damn near stole the show. Three days later "La Banda Grande" was
performing at Crazy Carl's in beautiful Schwenksville, PA where we were
reunited with former Manatee drummer/percussionist Andy Vernon. We hadn't
played together since the mid-90s when The Mighty Manatees had a two-drummer
band with Myles Rothwell. Andy sat in on a few songs that night and returned
a month later (Fri., March 26) with his massive percussion collection and
played the entire show! That same night, Karl Frick debuted his new
Wurlitzer electric piano! Uncle Ronkle recorded the event with his mobile
studio! Very good vibes... Speaking of Roncle Records, the Uncle has
recently made a DVD version of the 1989 video release "Manatees In
Manhattan". The clip of Ray Adkins singing John Trudell's "Graffitti Man" is
a true gem. Another new release is a "Live At The Funhouse" CD from a
Fri.,March 5th show in Bethlehem, PA. It features an impressive Joe Rizzo on
guitar and vocals sitting in for a Memphis-booked Karl Frick. Los Manatees
was back in Dylanava Recording Studios for the first half of March with
producer David Ivory and The Rhino Horns. We have almost completed the first
two songs for the new album. On Sun., March 14, Peter Wroblewski drove Randy
and I up to The Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA to meet the legendary
David Crosby. Peter is good friends with guitarist/vocalist Jeff Pevar who
is the "P" in Crosby's band CPR.( The "R" is keyboardist/vocalist James
Raymond who is Crosby's son). The show was great and afterwards we got to go
backstage and meet the man himself. He looked good and he sounded good. We
shared some love. Many-tee thanks to Peter for making it all happen. The new
April/May issue of Relix magazine features an article by long-time Manatee
collaborator Brian Hassett. The piece is about a newly restored movie of a
1970 cross-Canada rock n' roll train ride with The Grateful Dead, The Band,
Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy and a whole lot more. The movie is called "The
Festival Express" and some of us here at Manatee Headquarters got to see an
advance screening. It is amazing. Read the article. Upcoming Gigs Dept.:
They tore out a whole wall at The Moody Monkey in Jeffersonville,PA and now
the place is twice as big. Good move. This week we return to The Sandtrap in
Limerick, PA w/ The Rhino Horns! If we get a strong enough turn-out this
could mark a return to regular appearances... We would like to send our
condolences to the friends and family of Dan Perry who passed away recently.
Dan was a friend of ours and a great supporter of the band. He was a
righteous dude with a big heart. We will all miss him very much.
And now, here is your Manatee Song-Of-The-Month:
Good-bye Jones - words and music by W. Hodgson key of G
The kick became a habit, so the habit is getting kicked
Kicked right out the door
Good-bye jones
Wanted it in the daytime, wanted it at night
Don't want it no more
Good-bye jones
Good
Good-bye
Good-bye jones
Hanging up on a hook, little monkey on my back
Had to let it go
Good-bye jones
Nothing you could do, nothing they could say
Did not want to know
Good-bye jones
Good
Good-bye
Good-bye jones
Time to change the old ways, time to change the act
Time to take some time
Good-bye jones
Weepin' and a-wailin', its a never-ending fight
Just to leave it all behind
Good-bye jones
Good
Good-bye
Good-bye jones
Copyright 2004 Hungadunga Music Pub.
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SCHEDULE:
Wed. Mar. 31 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. Apr. 01 - Moody Monkey - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Fri. Apr. 02 - Sandtrap - 8 Piece - 9:30-1:30 - La Banda Grande w/ The Rhino Horns
Sat. Apr. 03 - The Funhouse - Quartet - 10:00-2:00
Wed. Apr. 07 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 9:30-1:30
Thu. Apr. 08 - The Bell House - Trio - 9:00-1:00
Fri. Apr. 09 - St. Peters Inn - Electrio - 9:30-1:30
Sat. Apr. 10 - Tex-Mex Connection - Electrio - 9:00-1:00
Wed. Apr. 14 - Whitpain Tavern - Electrio - 9:00-1:00
Thu. Apr. 15 - Moody Monkey - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Fri. Apr. 16 - Dutch Cottage Tavern - Electrio - 10:00-2:00
Sat. Apr. 17 - P. T. Saloon - Electrio - 10:00-2:00
Wed. Apr. 21 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. Apr. 22 - The Bell House - Trio - 9:00-1:00
Fri. Apr. 23 - Pepper's - Electrio - 9:30-1:30
Sat. Apr. 24 - Colmar Inn - Trio - 9:30-1:30
Wed. Apr. 28 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. Apr. 29 - Moody Monkey - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Fri. Apr. 30 - Crazy Carl's - 8 Piece - 10:00-2:00 - La Banda Grande w/ The Rhino Horns
Sat. May. 01 - The Funhouse - Quartet - 10:00-2:00
Wed. May. 05 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. May. 06 - The Bell House - Trio - 9:00-1:00
Fri. May. 07 - Finn McCool Tavern - Electrio - 10:00-1:45
Sat. May. 08 - The Wagon Wheel - Quartet - 10:00-2:00 - LosDebut at The Wagon Wheel!
Wed. May. 12 - Whitpain Tavern - Electrio - 9:00-1:00
Thu. May. 13 - Moody Monkey - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Fri. May. 14 - All Star Cafe - Trio - 9:30-1:30
Wed. May. 19 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 9:30-12:30
Thu. May. 20 - The Bell House - Trio - 9:00-1:00
Fri. May. 21 - Dutch Cottage Tavern - Electrio - 10:00-2:00
Sat. May. 22 - Pepper's - Electrio - 9:30-1:30
Sun. May. 23 - The DeCarlo Wedding Party - private
Wed. May. 26 - Appetites On Main - Trio - 8:30-12:30
Thu. May. 27 - Moody Monkey - Trio - 8:30-1:30
Fri. May. 28 - Crazy Carl's - 8 Piece - 10:00-2:00 - La Banda Grande w/ The Rhino Horns
Sat. May. 29 - T.J.'s Everyday - Trio - 9:00-1:00 