One Week
Thursday, March 11, 2010

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A Chip Off The Old Rock
Sunday, March 7, 2010

Had the pleasure to visit my old friend Chip Whitson and his family in Kailua, Hawaii. Chip and I know each other from Missoula, MT. When I was in high school, Chip's bands were the first ones I ever fell in love with. Though I was underage, I zipped all over town on my bicycle trying to see Chip every time he performed with his band Top Jimmy. He played with other bands too, including The Furies and the Small Town Deputies. Chip was so proficient he'd go from Stonesy rock 'n' roll, to Eddie Cochran-like rockabilly, to Johnny Cash style country. His favorite guitarist is Brian Setzer from the Stray Cats.

Chip really helped set me on my way as a rock 'n' roll guy. When I was about 16 he would let me come sing a couple songs with his band, my first real stage experience fronting a rock band. He also taught me how to play guitar. He showed me how to play the Chuck Berry "ronka-ronka" rhythm, which was the only thing I ever wanted to know. In fact, to this day it's the only thing I can play with any proficiency.

Chip's work transferred him to Hawaii and he hosts a cool open mic every Saturday night at a coffee shop called Morning Brew. What was really cool about visiting was I got to see Chip perform with his 8-year-old son Jayce.
The apple didn't fall far...

Jayce was awesome. He and his dad rocked Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," then they stomped out a cool power-pop tune and then Jayce brought the house down playing lead guitar on the Stones' "Satisfaction."

Jayce, who said his favorite bands include Nirvana, the Offspring and Audioslave, couldn't have a better guitar teacher, or a nicer guy for a dad.

Jayce, rocking the Hawaiian shaka, with his mom Stephanie.

For old time's sake, Chip and I did a few tunes together as well. He played licks and leads on the Heathens tunes, "Proud Highway," and "July 1, Near Helena, MT," and then sang harmonies with me on the Stones, "Time is On My Side," and Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock." It was great fun. Chip's a great singer, and nobody crafts a guitar solo better. But there's a kid who is on his way.

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Hello Disaster #9 on Euro Americana Charts March 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010

Eat our shorts, Reckless Kelly.

1 Matt Harlan Tips & Compliments Berkalin rec. JD, ML, BM, MP
2 Johnny Cash Ain't no Grave American. EL, RH, AD, HH, PG, MB, PK
3 Jason and the Scorchers Halcyon Times Blue Rose RK, HB, FC, TJ
4 Carolina Chocolate Drops Genuine Negro Jig NoneSuch Rec. DH, BH
5 Patty Griffin Downtown Church Chordant JB
6 Overmountain Men Glorious Day Ramseur Rec. LM
7 The Coal Porters Durango Prima Rec. BP, VM
8 Krista Detor Chocolat Paper Suites Corazong Rec. FC, BR
9 New Heathens Hello Disaster Avenue A Rec.
10 I See hawks in L.A. Shoulda been Gold 2001-2009 American Beat FH
11 Reckless Kelly Somewhere in Time Blue Rose. RS
12 Ray Wylie Hubbard A.Enlightenment;B.Endarkenment
13 Lucas Dawson Another Way To say Goodbye Self Rel. LK
14 Zoe Muth Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers Self Rel. MW, PJ
15 Allison Moorer Crows Rykodisc. Pk

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Sweethearts of the Satellite
Monday, March 1, 2010

My good friend Mike Storey, of The Izzys, and I had the small honor last night of being the first musical act to play Williamsburg's new Satellite Lounge on Havermeyer Street. Not knowing what to call ourselves, we tentatively decided on, "Sons of the Wild West Sweethearts," taking a cue from this guitar of Mike's which I think is both extra cool and very fun to play.


NYC music folks might not know the Satellite Lounge yet, but they certainly know owner Rob Sacher's previous venture, the famous Luna Lounge.

Luna opened up on the Lower East Side in the mid-1990's and hosted scores of local, unsigned bands and a few beloved artists including Elliott Smith and Joey Ramone. It was fun, relaxed and a great place to play original music. Luna's welcoming vibe was a pleasant change from the seedy hustle of Continental and the snobby ripoff of the late CBGB's, two other Manhattan clubs that also hosted unsigned bands. I used to gig at Luna with a band called "Blame Hound."

I'm happy to hear that Rob is writing a book about his experiences running the Luna Lounge, as it was a vital part of NYC's music scene during an interesting decade.

From 2005 to 2007 the Luna Lounge moved to Williamsburg into an aircraft-carrier sized venue on the corner of Metropolitan and Havermeyer. The stage and sound were great, but the space was just too monstrous for most baby bands to fill.

When Rob moved down the block and opened up Satellite -- a cozy, neighborhood bar with bartenders that spin vinyl and a half-dozen pinball machines -- he brought with him enough show posters from the Luna Lounge to paper one of Satellite's walls. I was very gratified to see, upon my first visit, that one of those posters is from the Gram Parsons tribute we put on there in 2007. Rob, who actually saw Gram Parsons perform in the early 1970s, graciously said that was one of his favorite shows.
Wall of Fame

That gig was a fun 'un. Here's the New Heathens, with Charlene McPherson, doing Gram's "100 Years" at the Billyburg Luna. This was the first gig we did with Brandy Wood.


Back to last night, Mike and I sat on Satellite's bite-sized stage and passed his guitar back and forth. We took turns singing harmonies on tunes by Hank Williams, Jimmy Reed, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, and, yes, Gram Parsons.

Here's to many more nights of music under Rob's watch.

**********

Kensuke in Hyogo, Japan, your copy of Hello Disaster is on its way.

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