The Ern Show

When word gets out that the effervescent Uncle Ern is in town, those who have met him always go out of their way to rekindle their relationship with him; he is after, a good one.
So as luck would have it, The Uncles was in town TCB and came up the Cavern Tavern for the rest and relaxation on the eve of Veteran's Day. Since the next day was to be a holiday, The Big 3 decided to put on a show along with Beth and Crystal to provide the backing vocals. Well, this strummer put together a tasty, tantalizing roast pork (special marinade provided by Mrs. Strummer) and the gang sat down to break bread and catch up.
Beth and Madison headed upstairs to prep lil' Maddy for night-nights (more on this later) and Foz, 'dro, Miguel, Crystal and UE headed down to the Cav for some pre-show prep and to tune up.
We started out with an ezy peezy in CCR's Looking Out my Backdoor which segued nicely into The Eagles (C’mon, man, I hate the f'n Eagles!) Peaceful Easy Feeling; which was nice b/c we hadn't played that one in a while. We asked our guest of honor if he had any requests and Dylan was asked for. So, a little Tangled up in Blue made its way on to the dance floor. I believe it was then when our backup vocalist, videographer, photographer and keeper of the set-list extraordinaire, Crystal, inquired to the whereabouts of her fellow female companion. Oh oh. A pregnant woman, who has had a long day, goes up to lie down with her daughter? That spells trouble my friends; big trouble. Trouble with a capital T...or should I say capital Z? Well, this strummer sauntered upstairs in hopes to find the lovely Miss Beth about to make her way down to the Cav. Instead he found fully clothed, glasses on and in a DEEP sleep Beth lying next to Miss Madison.

Oh well-we can certainly understand the pull of a cozy bed and snuggly kids.

A fun-filled, everyone belting it out version of The Shanty by Jonathan Edwards revived the group from the loss of our fair hostess (captured nicely on video by Crystal-see below) and then I requested one of my faves, The Band’s The Weight which truthfully was met with a little reluctance. But we pressed on with Crystal operating the audio recording equipment and all Dwellers (including our surprise guest vocalist, UE) belting it out, we did OK. Not our best version of The Weight but we hung in there. I think it’s a tune that needs consistent practice b/c of the vocals involved. We then messed around with The Who’s The Kids are Alright as well a Bad Company’s Shooting Star. We had great fun with Sympathy for the Devil by Mick and the boys and then it was time for our Floyd medley. Another Brick in the Wall, Mother, Nobody’s Home (with a wonderful pickin’ intro by ‘Dro), Vera and closed out by a decent version of Wish You Were Here. Crystal was BEGGIN’ for us to ‘pick it up’ before we lost her to the cozy confines of the couch and Ring of Fire by senor Cash lifted our collective energy. A nice rendition of This Hard Land by the Boss and a very solid Dead Flowers to close it out.

Thanks to Ern for bringing us all together on a very rare Tuesday evening as well as pitching in socially as well as vocally. Thanks to the Big 3 and Crystal for making it out mid-week.

Always a pleasure to jam and hang with you all.

1. Looking Out my Backdoor CCR
2. Peaceful Easy Feeling Eagles
3. Tangled up in Blue Dylan
4. Shanty Jonathan Edwards
5. The Weight The Band
6. The Kids are Alright The Who
7. Shooting Star Bad Company
8. Sympathy For the Devil Rolling Stones
9. Another Brick in the Wall Pink Floyd
10. Mother Pink Floyd
11. Nobody's Home Pink Floyd
12. Vera Pink Floyd
13. Wish You Were Here Pink FLoyd
14. Ring of Fire Johnny Cash
15. This Hard Land Springsteen
16. Dead Flowers Rolling Stones
    

Weeknight jam sensation!

No pics or video on this post kids, just words to try and capture what might have been our best performance thus far. This random and unusual midweek gathering all took place because of pie. During our last session
http://caverntavern.blogspot.com/2009/08/sat-8809-strum.html
Jeff and Crystal PLEADED with me took take one of their 4 homemade apple pies courtesy of Jeff's mom. This strummer aims to please and I graciously took the pie off their hands. First of all, the pie was FREAKIN' SPECTACULAR! Tremendous baking ability by the Foz's mama. Turned out the pie dish was needed for her next bake-off, and Beth and Madison had plans to have dinner with fellow Cellar Dweller, Robert 'Cuz' Raposa, so a rare midweek Plymouth Studio session it was.
It was established that curtains-up was to be at 8:30pm and I arrived with cleansed bakeware in hand as Jeff and Justin were curled up reading The Hobbit. Not to disturb the enjoyment of Tolkien, this strummer went down to the basement to tune up. Jeff arrived shortly thereafter and we immediately embarked on one of my favorite traditions of the Dwellers; the pre-show meeting (for purposes of catching up, and to quell any pre-show jitters). We enjoyed the crisp evening air as well as the quiet tranquility of the pond. We spoke mostly of our beloved hockey teams and how we fared on Monday night's tilt against arch-rival The Tigers (a 4-1 pounding by the good guys of team Schlitz).
We ambled back into the basement ready play but as usual not exactly sure what we should play. Well, I'm not sure what inspired him but Foz had the suggestion of diggin' deep into our repertoire and playin' tunes that we haven't dusted off in a while. So, we led off with Pink Houses by JCM and we were off to a fine start. An earlier conversation revolving around reciting lines from The Big Lebowski led us into the back track of one of our favorite scenes of the film, Lookin' Out my Back Door by CCR. We then introduced a bit of a sad tune in Springsteen's Highway Patrolman, which was vocally, right down Broadway for Foz. Then we started to tighten up and blasted through a hard rockin' version of Keep on Rockin' in the Free World by Mr. Young. Michael stepped up to the mic for Petty's Yer So Bad, a song that really began our vocal harmonization for the evening. Jeff took over lead vocals for a recent band favorite, Hollywood Nights, and the harmony just kept getting better. We continued with Seger and I stepped back in front of the mic again for You'll Accompany Me as well as Marshall Tucker's Can't You See (w/ Foz's harmonizing and pickin', this sounded about as good as we've ever done it). We wrapped up the first set with a ROCKIN' Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who.
Good time for a break as Crystal came home and joined us outside for an adult beverage as the dogs ran off some energy. Always nice to catch up but as usual time got away from us and it was about 10:45pm as we came back in for the second set. This time Crystal (who I must say without agenda or intent was looking FABULOUS with her new coif- Very stylish) joined us on stage and supplied the always welcome backing vocals. We began set # 2 with a Pink Floyd medley (I must say I'm always thrilled whenever an assortment of Floyd tunes makes its way into the setlist) starting off with Michael taking the strumming lead on Mother. Jeff took over on Nobody's Home which led into a FANTASTIC version of a not oft played, Wish You Were Here.
We dramatically shifted gears into 2 Jonathan Edwards' songs, The Shanty and Sunshine; both were fun to belt out and we continued our good play. Then, despite a couple of variances off of Rhythm Highway by yours truly, we had a tremendous time with Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. It was close to 11:30pm but the truth was I just couldn't watch the Yankees win their 27 title so we called it with our own bullpen stopper, Dead Flowers by The Stones.
I gotta say, we're sounded pretty darn good last night.
Thanks to Jeff and Crystal for a grand time as always.

Here's the set 11/4/09 set list:

1. Pink Houses JCM
2. Lookin' Out My Back Door CCR
3. Highway Patrolman Bruce
4. Keep on Rockin' in the Free World Neil Young
5. Yer So Bad Tom Petty
6. Hollywood Nights Bob Seger
7. You'll Accompany Me Bob Seger
8. Can't You See Marshall Tucker
9. Won't Get Fooled Again The Who
10. Mother Pink Floyd
    
11. Nobody's Home Pink Floyd
    
12. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
    
13. Shanty Jonathan Edwards
14. Sunshine Jonathan Edwards
    
15. All Along the Watchtower Dylan
    
16. Dead Flowers Rolling Stones
    

Sat Night Strum-Plymouth Studios

Well, it had been quite a while since our last strum (5 weeks on the road will put a dent into any social calender) and we were itchin' to play. Fortunately, the tumblers of the universe all fell into the right order and Michael and Madison hopped in the car for some QT together and headed south to our Plymouth studios in search of some much needed hang-time with the Fosdick/Cormier gang o fun.
We started off by greeting Amanda with a big hug and happy birthday wishes from Madison. The sweet-sixteen soccer extrodinaire responded graciously by fixing Madison's rat nest of hair (coif maintenence is not daddy's strong suit) and then it outside for toy-time. Justin, Jennifer and Madison took advantage of a little New England Indian Summer and had great fun playing together. Justin took Madison on an off-road adventure in his electric jeep and Madison was DELIGHTED to zip around the yard with her buddy. Meanwhile, the adults (I use that term loosely) caught up with one another. The focus was on our very own candidate for Tommy John surgery, Crystal and her injured wing and the resulting need in prescribed pain blockers. Being the tough little fire cracker from Fall River that she is, Crystal fought through the constant throbbing (as well as the occasional humorous verbal gaffe from said Percs) and enjoyed the day with us.
Eventually the skies opened up (about 4 seconds after Jeff and Michael took our pre-show stroll to the pond for reflective purposes) and we headed in to tune up. As they say, timing is everything and it just wasn't time for strumming just yet. Hours of friendly play suddenly turned hostile and the emphasis on sharing quickly was replaced by a 'me first' relationship with toys. The band simply cannot function in this environment. Well, mom certainly does know best and in a flash, Crystal swooped down to our basement studios/Lego Land, grabbed all 3 decible busters and wisked them upstairs. Within 10 minutes, a nice hot delicious dinner was served and the only sound one heard was the occasional clinking of silverware. Serenity now.
Well, with tummies full and peace restored it was back down for a little band time.
Considering our audience we started off with I've Been Working on the Railroad which was followed by our first request of the evening; Jennifer had been aching to hear, Twinkle Twinkle, which I have to say, the band rocked. The Alphabet Song was next followed by a stirring rendition of Ba Ba Black Sheep.
Then we got to the adult portion of our program and led it off with the Eagles' Take it Easy. Inspired by our success with that one (not an easy one vocally but Foz's clear, melodic pipes led the way nicely) we tried our hand at CSN's Helplessly Hoping. I heard one time that a mistake is like a Buddhist gift and this was no exception. We certainly had the chords and the rhythm down but after the first stanza, we were a little lost when it came to the lyrics. So, what does one do? Keep strummin' and it's improv time. We launched ourselves into a rarity for the Dwellers; a free-wheelin' jam session with made-up vocals on the spot. Not since 'Till My Fingers Bleed have the CD's had a free-form tune such as this-good stuff. We stuck with CSN for Southern Cross, a tune which has eluded us in past sessions but thanks to Foz's persistence on getting the flow of the ever-changing pattern of the chords right, we nailed it. Finally.
Another rarity for the Cellar Dwellers, a hard-strummin' tune by The Who, Won't Get Fooled Again made its way into our ever-expanding repetiorre. We had a good thing going on that one until the lovely Miss Madison interrupted Foz by requesting we stop playing so loud; immediately smashing any self-images we had of a being God-like rock stars . Sigh.
Well, we've never had to 'call' The Rolling Stones' Dead Flowers for this particular reason but Justin announced to the room that 'something stiiiiiinks' and low and behold, it was time for this strummer to change Madison's diaper. Well, it was getting late so might as well wrap this eveing up.
Many thanks to Jeff, Crystal, Amanda, Justin & Jennifer for their awesome hospitality. Good times as always.



Sat 10/24 Set List

1. I've Been Working on the Railroad
2. Twinkle Twinkle
3. Alphabet Song
4. Baba Black Sheep
5. Take it Easy
6. Improv Groove
7. Southern Cross
8. Won't Get Fooled Again
9. Dead Flowers

A 7 second video of Jennifer and Madison cuttin' the rug to Dead Flowers

Celler Dwellers Perform Children's Matinee!

It wasn't too long ago when our very own rock-n-roller, Jeff and back-up vocalist, Crystal decided to pack up their things, move across town and settle into their new (old) digs. I was part of that moving bandwagon and when we first got a glimpse of where Jeff grew up and now the place where the Fosdick/Cormier clan would call home, I said to Jeff,
'You HAVE to host an outdoor jam fest here.'
Due to a variety of reasons, there were a number of last second cancellations for the Foz/Cormier Labor Day BBQ but all that meant was more dogs, burgers and the Hillshire Farm hot n spicy sausages for me.
Party-time is so different with the kids running around. The 58 beers you used to throw down now becomes 2 or 3 and the entire day is peppered with those moments of paralyzing fear when one parent says,
"Has anyone seen my kid?"
Alas, all kids were accounted for and we dealt with a couple of incidents before the band (Jeff, Michael, Beth & Crystal for this particular session) took to the stage. We had a grill flame out of Chernobyl proportions and then that 10 minute span where it seemed EVERY kid had some sort of injury to contend with.
After every belly was full and each sprained arm had ice and scrapped knee had a band-aid on it, we began to tune up to a picturesque environment of a setting sun, a quiet pond and a nice warm fire started by Jeff and continuously monitored by Justin.
Since we were playing to mostly kids, Jeff started us off with our first kids set with I've Been Working On The Railroad which was such an audience favorite we went right into Home on the Range and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the Alphabet Song. Jeff started our song choice transition with Charlie on the MTA.


That was followed by a brand new Dweller favorite, Twist and Shout. The moon was starting its assent over the trees and thought it appropriate to have a theme of the evening which led us into Neil Young's Star of Bethlehem, Under the Milky Way Tonight by The Church (a 1st for the Dwellers), and Bad Company's Shooting Star is making it's triumphant return as a guitar night regular. Ring of Fire by Mr. Cash led into Pink Floyd's Breathe. Jeff had to attend to some hosting duties so Michael led the way with Hollywood Nights and ol favorite, Marshall Tuker's Can't You See which had some nice vocal moments from the assembled choir. We then sensed the time was a nearin' so we launched into a rather nice Pink Floyd medley with Another Brick in the Wall, Nobdy's Home, Wish You Were Here (missed 'Dro and his flawless intro on this one). Then we just NAILED The Smithereens' Blood and Roses which has been playing in my head ever since. We closed things out with Springsteen's This Hard Land and of course, Dead Flowers.
A hearty THANK YOU to Jeff and Crystal for providing such tasty treats in a terrific setting. I am confident that the seeds for FOZAPALLOOOZA MUSIC FEST have been planted.
Good times and we look forward to the next session down in our Plymouth Studios.
Labor Day Set List
1)I've Been Working on the Railroad
2)Home on the Range
3) Twinkle Twinkle
4) Alphabet Song
5) Charlie on the MTA
6)Twist and Shout
7) Start of Bethlehem
8) Under the Milky Way Tonight
9)Shooting Star
10)Ring of Fire
11)Breathe
12)Hollywood Nights
13)Can't You See
14)Another Brick in the Wall
15)Nobody's
16) Home Wish You Were Here
17)Blood and Roses
18)This Hard Land
19)Dead Flowers

Friday 8/28/09

A rare treat for the Dwellers; a Friday night gathering at the Cav Tav. The Big Three (Jeff, Pedro & Michael) were together again along with backup vocalists, photographers and keepers of the set-list, Beth & Crystal. Start time was 8:30 and the gang rolled in shortly thereafter. As usual, catching up and having a little performance primer took president. Then, all the Dwellers moved from the bar to the stage and Jeff started us off around 9:35pm with Helpless by CSN&Y. We then dipped our toes into our vast Pink Floyd collection for Breathe but decided it was too early in the evening for a Floyd medley and at 9:50pm we broke out with a rip-roarin' everyone involved with the vocals rendition of Twist and Shout by the lads of Liverpool. That moved right into a first for us, La Bamba by Los Lobos. The theme of the night was starting to take shape and we were trying to pick true sing-a-longs so we slid nicely into CCR's Looking Out My Back Door and Who'll Stop the Rain? Crystal requested Jonathan Edwards The Shanty which we hadn't dusted off in a while and we had a couple of vocal elapses on that one. Not to worry, back at it with Springsteen's This Hard Land which we nailed rather nicely. On to ol' favorite, Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and then back to Bruce with The Rising.
It was at this point where I felt our 'primer' session starting to impact my ability to play and it got really bad for me during The Animal's House of the Rising Sun; I just didn't have nor could I get it together. happens occasionally. We slowed things way down with Home on the Range and then got nice and mellow with our always long-awaited Floyd medley which consisted of, Wish You Were Here, Nobody's Home, Comfortably Numb. It was at that point we took a little snack break, watched some Sox, lost the lovely Miss Beth to the comfy confines of the couch and then came back with JCM's Pink Houses, Dylan's All Along the Watchtower and ended it with Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones. I may be reflecting on my own playing but it certainly wasn't our best performance ever but we hung in there, struggled through some haze-induced sloppiness and kicked out some terrific new tunes. Most important, it was great to catch-up, hang out, see everyone and occasionally rock it together. Good times. Thanks for everyone who made the trek, very much appreciated.
8/28/09 set list:

1. Helpless CSN&Y
2. Breathe PINK FLOYD
3. Twist & Shout THE BEATLES
4. La Bamba LOS LOBOS
5. Looking out my back Door CCR
6. Who'll Stop the Rain? CCR
7. The Shanty JONATHAN EDWARDS
8. This Hard Land BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
9. Ring of Fire JOHNNY CASH
10. The Rising BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
11. The House of the Rising Sun ANIMALS
12. Home on the Range BREWSTER HIGLEY
13. Wish You Were Here PINK FLOYD
14. Nobody's Home PINK FLOYD
15. Comfortably Numb PINK FLOYD
16. Pink Houses JCM
    
17. All Along the Watchtower BOB DYLAN
18. Dead Flowers ROLLING STONES
    

Springsteen @ Great Woods 8/25

Well, just a fantastic way to wrap up a terrific weekend. Beth was of to Foxwoods for a 2 day weekend with the girls, I had Madison on Friday night, dropped her off to grammy's on Sat and headed to our hockey teams 2nd annual BeachDaveur-highlighted by fresh tuna seared on the grill. Delish.
Went down an met Beth at grammy's and then we both headed for a rare treat, a Sunday night concert at Great Woods. I can't call it the Comcast Center. I can't and I won't. Beth and I had about 90 mins in the parking lot grilling bratwurst and peps and onions with a couple of adult beverages to wash it down. We headed in feeling fine and found our seats dead center 2nd row right beyond the covered part of the seats. Were amazed and puzzled at the amount of 'tweeting' and Facebook updating during the show; how about you just enjoy the experience?
Anyway, blown away by Bruce yet again; just a phenomenal performer. We caught up w/ friends Campbell and Galoene for the 2nd half of the night up in the lawn. Beth and I made a decision to bolt before the encore and were in the driveway at 11:32pm. We chose...WISELY.
Here's the setlist:

Night
Badlands
Out in the Street
Outlaw Pete
It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
Working on a Dream
Murder Incorporated
Johnny 99
Independence Day
Heatwave (instrumental)
I'm Goin' Down
You Never Can Tell
Janey Don't You Lose Heart
Prove It All Night
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
The Promised Land
The River
Lonesome Day [with Jay Weinberg from here on]
The Rising
Born to Run
* * *
Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Thunder Road
American Land [with Ken Casey]
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
Twist and Shout
Hang on Sloopy
Growin' Up
Hungry Heart

Sat 8/8/09 strum

Well, an impromptu gathering of just Jeff and Michael for this particular session. The lovely Miss Beth had embarked on a girls night out in Boston and Madison (after 4 consecutive napless days) had crashed hard at 7:30pm. What's a lonely strummer to do? Well, Foz had just spent a relaxing afternoon with the fam at the beach, hence the kids were sun-drained and sleeping soundly. So, Foz made the 1/2 hour trek up Route 3 and arrived at the Cavern Tavern around 8:30pm or so. As is typical with any Cellar Dweller gathering (regardless of size) we occupied ourselves with a couple of adult beverages and just catching up with one another. This host hangs his head in shame for providing Foz with Coronas sans limes-the horror.
Well, as usual, the catching up portion went a while and we didn't really tune up until 9:30pm or so. Then comes the inevitable,
"What song should we start with?" Which can go anywhere from 2 minutes to the better part of the evening. Seeing that our indecision was flirting with the latter, I just started in on a recent addition to the Cellar Dwellers, Soul Asylum's Runaway Train. A song which (like many of ours) is an easy-peezy as well as being in Jeff's vocal wheelhouse.
We then stumbled a bit through Serenade, by the Steve Miller Band but more than made up for it when we dusted off an oldie but goody in Bad Company's Shooting Star (it had been so long that I had forgotten the name and said, 'it was the tune Seth introduced'). I then switched out my Takamini for the Gibson 12 string accoustic/electric and we launched into old favorite, The Weight, by The Band, (some really nice moments of vocal harmony on this one) and a recent addition to our collection, Neil Young's Powderfinger (which we nailed rather nicely) and then when right into Bob Seger's Hollywood Nights. Jeff kept things going with Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and introduced a new/old tune to the Dwellers in Lonesome Whistle Blow by Hank Williams Sr. I then took over the lead vocals and tried to step out of my singing comfort zone and struggled a bit with my rendition of Seger's Accompany Me but made up for it by belting out a personal favorite, Marshall Tucker's Can't You See. Back to the bar for a little respite and we headed back to the stage with Jeff at the mic as we ripped through The Animal's House of the Rising Sun. The clock started ticking away rather loudly as we rounded the final turn with Pink Floyd's Mother and Comfortably Numb and we finally called it close to the witching hour with the only closer that we know; Dead Flowers by the Rolling Stones. Great as always to catch-up with Foz. This was one of those nights where for the most part, we played quite well.
The set list from 8/8/09:

1. Runaway Train Soul Asylum
2. Serenade Steve Miller Band
3. Shooting Star Bad Company
4. The Weight The Band *
   
5. Powderfinger Neil Young *
   
6. Hollywood Nights Bob Seger *
   
7. Ring of Fire Johnny Cash
8. Lonesome Whistle Blow Hank Williams Sr
9. Accompany Me Bob Seger **
   
10. Can't You See Marshall Tucker Band **
    
11. The House of the Rising Sun The Animals
12. Mother Pink Floyd
13. Comfortably Numb Pink Floyd
14. Dead Flowers Rolling Stones
    

* mj played these songs with the 12 string accoustic/electric
** mj on lead vocals-all other songs Foz on lead vocals