"You can't get snot off suede."
- Lenny Bruce
THE RANGER REPORT - November 8, 2018 The Official Newsletter Of The Mighty Manatees "Celebrating 33 Years Of Thinking Globally, Playing Locally"
JAMMIN' @ JUSTIN'S - Tonight we will be playing Justin's in Skippack, PA. We play there on the second Friday of every month. This month it will be the acoustic trio of Joe Rizzo, Randy Wagner, and myself. We will be joined by my 14 year old daughter Fiona who will sing a few songs with us in the first set. Showtime is 8:00 - 12:00. http://www.justinscarridgehouse.net
NEIL YOUNG BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE SHOW - This Monday, November 12, is Neil Young's birthday. We will be playing a tribute show in his honor at the infamous Rising Sun Barn in beautiful Telford, PA. It will be an evening of Neil's words and music. Musical guests include: Dance Wareham, Mike Greer, Eric Worthington, Pixxie, Ray Adkins, Mike Guldin, Smilin' Ed, Bob Tomlinson, and Ted The Fiddler. Our back up band includes Kathleen Weber, Brian Herder, Randy Wagner, Jim Cavanaugh, and Joe "Jozo" Rizzo! This is a Mystic Vagabond Production and the last one in this year's "Birthday Series". Our annual Neil Young show is one of the most popular ones of the bunch. Special thanks to Slacker and Chef Fred. Showtime is 7:00 - 11:00. http://www.rising.net
MANATEES FUN FACT: Did you know that Neil Young and I went to the same high school? It's true! Kelvin High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I also got a chance to meet him one time backstage in the mid-80's. He is taller than me, looks a little bit native American, and has bottomless brown eyes.
RETURN TO HOTEL FIESOLE - We are happy to report that our "third Friday of every month" tradition at Hotel Fiesole in Skippack, PA, has been extended through all of 2019. We will be there on Friday, November 16. Special guest: Heidi Hoffecker! Showtime is 8:00 - 12:00. We are also playing Hotel Fiesole on New Year's Eve! This means we will not be playing there on the third Friday in December. Our New Year's Eve gig is free to the public and includes party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Upstairs rooms are available. Did you know that Hotel Fiesole has the only elevator in Skippack? It's true! http://www.hotelfiesole.net
THANKSGIVING EVE IN AMBLER - This year I will be playing Thanksgiving Eve (Wed., Nov. 21) at KC's Alley in Ambler, PA, with Bob Tomlinson and the original Manatees rhythm section of Myles Rothwell and Randy Wagner (they're cousins). Showtime is 10:00 PM - 1:00 AM. Special musical guests! http://www.kc-alley.com
PUCK! - On the day after Thanksgiving (Fri., Nov. 23) we will return to PUCK in Doylestown, PA. This show will feature the mighty Ritchie DeCarlo on drums. Ritchie is a prolific artist in his own right and has recorded and produced many albums with such world class bassists as Percy Jones and Tony Levin. (All of Ritchie's releases are available on Amazon) Also appearing with us at PUCK that night will be Johnny Bian, Kathleen Weber and Randy Wagner. We play 2 sets: 8:00 - 9:00 and 9:30 - 11:00. Sound by Mike Lightkep. http://www.pucklive.com
And finally, longtime Mighty Manatees friend and collaborator Brian Hassett has just published a new book titled "On The Road with Cassadys & Further Visions". It is about his adventures with Neal Cassady's son John and Neal's wife Carolyn, as well as many other exploits involving (among others) Ken Kesey, David Amram, and The Grateful Dead. Brian has been on a bit of a roll lately having published three books in just 4 years. All of Brian's books are now available on Amazon. Write on!
OK, those are some of our highlights in November. I hope to see all of you at one of our shows. And if I give you a fist bump instead of a handshake, it's not because I'm a germaphobe, or I have a fear of intimacy, or I am trying to be hip. It's because I play left-handed, and that means that my fretting hand is my right hand (which is the shaking hand) and it has been crushed one too many times by overly enthusiastic people. I remember playing a wedding once and a lot of the guests were Marines and by the time I got home my right hand was just jello.
One love,
Ranger Will
IN PASSING -
Edward J. Sinko Sr.
Otis Rush
Tony Joe White
NOVEMBER - 2018
9 - Fri - Justin's, Skippack, PA Acoustic Trio 8 - 12
10 - Sat. - Private Party
12 - Mon. - NEIL YOUNG BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE, Rising Sun Barn, Telford, PA 7 - 11
15 - Thurs - Rising Sun Inn, Telford, PA Special Guest: Heidi Hoffecker 9 - 12:30 AM
16 - Fri - Hotel Fiesole, Skippack, PA Special Guest: Heidi Hoffecker 8 - 12
21 - Wed. - THANKSGIVING EVE, KC's Alley, Ambler, PA 10 - 1
22 - Fri. - PUCK, Doylestown, PA 8 - 11
24 - Sat. - Tony's Place, Ivyland, PA Acoustic Duo w/ Bob Tomlinson 10 - 1
29 - Thurs. - Rising Sun Inn
30 - Fri. - Faracos, Quakertown, PA Acoustic Duo w/ Randy Wagner 7 - 10
