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
