"Help thy brother's boat across, and Lo! Thine own has reached the shore."
- Hindu Proverb (Inscription on Berry Oakley's gravestone)
THE RANGER REPORT - February 2024 - The Official Newsletter of The Mighty Manatees Medicine Show
"Celebrating 38 Years of Learning To Play and Playing to Learn"
BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY SHOW @ WORLD CAFE LIVE! - Yes, mon! On Saturday, February 9, we will be playing our 8th Bob Marley birthday tribute (his birthday is Feb. 6). We played our first Bob birthday show in 2016 and have played every year since (except 2019 due to Covid). We have played them at The Rising Sun Barn, The Country Creek Winery, Brother Kershner, and last year in beautiful Saint Maarten! This year our NINE-PIECE band will be playing for Bob upstairs at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Doors open at 6:00 and showtime is 8:30. To guarantee seating you must reserve a table. For tickets go to: http://www.worldcafelive.com Get up, stand up!
PANACHE - The Mighty Bobs (Tomlinson & Raynor) join us for a evening of fun and games at the swanky Panache in Blue Bell, PA, on Saturday, February 10 (Lunar New Year). Come for the music and stay for the jokes. Showtime 7:30 to 10:30. Musical guests. Valet parking. http://www.panachewoodgrill.com
FARACOS - We love this humble Quakertown pizzeria. You never know who'll you meet there. We return on Fri., Feb. 16. We start at 6:00. http://www.faracospizza.com
THE CIGAR REPUBLIC - Our electric quartet has been asked to play The Cigar Republic in Conshohocken, PA, on Saturday, Feb., 17. This is a place that encourages indoor smoking! We were intrigued... Showtime is 8:00 to 11:00 PM. http://www.thecigarrepublic.com
THE STRAY DOG TAVERN - Release the hounds! These four old dogs (Randy, Tim, Dean, and Will) will be howling at the moon in Skippack, PA, at The Stray Dog Tavern on Friday, February 23, from 8:00 to 11:00 PM. http://www.thestraydogtavern.com Free barking.
GEORGE HARRISON 80TH BIRTHDAY SHOW - On Saturday, Feb. 24 (full moon), longtime Manatees friend and collaborator Charlie Phillips will host his annual George Harrison Birthday Show downstairs at World Cafe Live in Philly. There will be many musical guests (including myself) who will take turns performing George songs with Charlie and his band Savoy Truffle. Showtime is 8:00 PM. http://www.worldcafelive.com
FUN FACT - Did you know that Charlie Phillips plays his sitar and tamboura on the song "Satori" from our recent album "Travelers On The Road"? It's true!
VIDEO OF THE MONTH - This month's clip features longertime Manatees friend and collaborator Brian Hassett. Over the years Brian has worked for Bill Graham, hung out with Ken Kesey, and once wrote five books in five years. He is also an internationally recognized Jack Kerouac scholar and this is a series of clips of his appearance last year at the annual Jack Kerouac celebration in Lowell, Mass. It's a comprehensive presentation of the many ways Kerouac has been represented in film. Go man, go! https://youtu.be/hkUsy5pkH5c?si=aM6hT5UgI52MuoXt
MIGHTY MANATEES MUSIC ONLINE - Several Manatees and Ranger Will albums are available at http://www.themightymanatees.bandcamp.com
MORE GRAMPAS! - We are very happy to congratulate Pete Allen and Myles Rothwell who are both about to become grandfathers this month!
That's about all the mana-news for mana-now.
Shoutin' Irie,
Ranger Will
http://www.savethemanatee.org
IN PASSING -
Vincenza Gallo Adkins...Larry Collins...Troy Large...Elmore Nickelberry...Joel Sonnier...Dr. Roy Calne...Peter Schickele (aka P.D.Q. Bach)...Klee Benally...Herb Kohl...Vinie Burrows...Glynis Johns...Iasos...Bill Hayes...Del Palmer...James Kottak...Phill Nibloc...Leon Wildes...Marlena Shaw...Frank Farrian...Luis Vasquez...Mary Weiss...Dexter Scott King...Joyce Randolph...Norman Jewison...Arno Pensias...Charles Osgood...N. Scott Momaday (Kiowa)...Chita Rivera...Jack R. Cimino Jr....Ivor Browne...Melinda Ledbetter...Melanie Safka
FEBRUARY 2024 -
3 - Sat - Blue Bell Inn, Blue Bell, PA 8 - 11
9 - Fri - BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY SHOW, World Cafe Live, Philadelphia 8:30 - 10:00 PM
10 - Sat - Panache, Blue Bell 8 - 11
16 - Fri - Faracos, Quakertown, PA 6 - 9
17 - Sat - CIGAR REPUBLIC, Conshohocken, PA 8 - 11
23 - Fri - The Stray Dog Tavern, Skippack, PA 8 - 11
24 - Sat - George Harrison 80th Birthday Show, World Cafe Live 8 - 11
Don't go straight, go forward.
