Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Flying V


All photos ©2010 Andrew Talbert

Probably one of my favorite guitars. The Gibson Flying V. Joe played what would become my favorite part of the show right at the end. There are several cover songs in this melody, not his usual thing, but I like this one. There is a great video of this montage on his web site. I have listed the link below. It is the show he did at Royal Albert Hall. Joe is very popular in Europe and sells out everywhere he goes. He has played on stage with everyone who is anyone even at his age. Go read the resume, it is impressive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SMjL5u5D40&feature=player_embedded#!

ALSO: Joe will appear on Directv Channel 101 January 1, 2011 at 9:00 PM. Here is a link to the details. Be sure to check it out!

http://gc.guitarcenter.com/sessions/?rel=email&source=4TP0MR

An Acoustic Moment.


Joe took a break from his intense rock guitar performance and brought out the acoustic. He threw down an unbeliveable acoustic perofrmance that went on for a long time. It was some great stuff. I won't drone on about it but his playing is on the master level and it is always hard to describe playing of that caliber. Go watch for yourself.

Here are two video samples of the acoustic stuff:

http://gc.guitarcenter.com/sessions/?rel=email&source=4TP0MR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmsGsovV0Bo&feature=related

Joe Bonamassa!


http://jbonamassa.com/ Joe has just stepped on stage in this picture. I am in Durham, North Carolina in November at the Performing Arts Center aka "DPAC." It is an awesome like-new venue where I have already seen some great shows.

This show was packed and tickets were hard to come by. I actually had an extra unused one which kind of felt like a waste given the show I was witnessing. It was loud and yes my earplugs were in! http://www.etymotic.com/
Man Joe has more guitars that one person could play in a lifetime. Les Pauls in various colors, the flying V, on and on...

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Me & Marshall...


I asked Marshall about her travel schedule and I kind of cringed. I had been in Cincinnati for three days on hardly any sleep. I had some other stuff scheduled in two days. She had been all over the place and hardly slept in the last 48 hours. So I never complained about my lack of sleep. Sleep is over-rated anyway. It is all about living while you can and smiling as much as you can. This show put a smile on my face and I was certainly glad I was there.

"Big Lonesome." Mike Utley produced this cd. I remember talking to him about it last year about this time. That's when these tracks were recorded...around December 2009. A few weeks ago I got Mike to sign my pre-release copy in the car on the way back from the Key West airport. Marshall signed it for me as well on this night. She even accused me of looking like Mike. I just smiled. Sometimes life is really cool. 'Nuff said.

Go buy this cd. It is a favorite of mine.

Big lonesome
That's my name
Ever since you went away.
Things just ain't the same.

Big lonesome.
That's me.
Until you come back home.
Big lonesome all I'll be.

The House was Packed...


The house was full. I think it is the concept of "Local Girl Done Good." Everyone loves Marshall. She is so cool. I was listening to a recent cd of hers in the last week and I love a saying she quotes "It is not too good to be "Too" anything." I agree. 100%

You can buy that one here:

http://www.amazon.com/Its-About-Time-Marshall-Chapman/dp/B000005HSN/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1293589102&sr=8-15

http://www.tallgirl.com/content/

Marshall. Big Lonesome.


She played for us. She told stories. It always is a great show. I am not sure I can put this into words. Maybe I can tell you the story one on one or something. Marshall was great friends with Tim Krekel. http://www.timkrekel.com/ Tim was a player in the Coral Reefer band back in time. I remember him on stage so long ago. I have all his solo cds. I really like his music.
So Tim died on us not so long ago. I remember the whole thing. The day. It is on my blog. Anyway. Marshall really took this hard. She recorded this whole cd from that experience. "Big Lonesome." I agree with whoever said it. It is her best cd despite the greats before. I watched her perform several of these songs after telling the stories - which I love. I am not really that a dramatic of a person. But I will say I shed a couple of tears watching her perform these songs. I am not sure the crowd got the whole thing but I sure did. I could still see the pain of losing a close friend. I felt the whole emotion of the songs. Tim was a great performer. I used to read the Bluebird mailers from Nashville and wish I could go watch him and Marshall perform there. But it is ok. I saw him play with Jimmy Buffett several times. He was great stuff. I still listen to his cds but I will say Marshall aced this cd. It is very, very good.

Marshall Reading from Her Latest Book.


http://www.amazon.com/They-Came-Nashville-Marshall-Chapman/dp/0826517358/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1293587709&sr=8-2

Her book is great! She read the introduction. I am not going to recite it. You just have to read this one. Very cool stuff!

Marshall Chapman!


http://www.tallgirl.com/content/
So I knew Marshall was going to be in Winston-Salem at one of her favorite places. Salem Academy and Salem College. I made it over even though my schedule was crazy that week. I am so glad I went. A late night and an early morning. I didn't care. I truly love this woman. I met her husband for the first time. He is very cool too. I read all that Marshall writes in Gun & Garden Magazine. She is a great writer and such a student of the south. I collect all of her music and read everything she writes. Her live performances are so very cool. In this building she is a star. It was packed! And it seemed everyone in the house knew her. I liked it.

http://www.salem.edu/

http://gardenandgun.com/

http://www.amazon.com/They-Came-Nashville-Marshall-Chapman/dp/0826517358/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1293587709&sr=8-2

Me and Rob O'Neal.


http://www.roboneal.com/
Sorry about the pictures of me and so and so. But I really like this guy and his work. He is the guy who does all the photography for the Key West Citizen. He also has so many cool pictures of the lower keys. I mean Fidel Castro? Is that cool or what? Go check him out. I love the pictures. Seems he turns up at my friends parties all the time so we always talk. I am always looking for ideas on photography. He is very good. Yeah this Key West even really is a social thing. It is always good to see cool people.

Me & Little Toni.


After the sun set I ended up at one of my pals places. Ms. Charley and Joe from Tennessee. It is always a cool party of sorts. "Left overs for the Leftovers" is what they call it. The food is good, the drinks are cold, and the company is better. This is a picture of me and Little Toni Tarracino. She is one of the children of the famous Key West mayor, saloon keeper, story-teller, you name it. I have seen Captain Tony dancing in the streets and I was in town the day he died in November 2008. It was a moment. I remember I was listening to some music at the Lighthouse and it was announced that he had just died. There were several hundred people there and a silence swept the place for a long time. He was one cool guy. He and Mr. Buffett were pals. Jimmy wrote a song for him and if you visit Captain Tony's Saloon in Key West the lyrics are hand-written on the mens room wall by the author. Of course the wall has a frame on it so you can't touch it but you can see it. It is very cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Tarracino

http://www.capttonyssaloon.com/428greene.html

I went down to Captain Tony's
To get out of the heat
I heard a voice call out to me
Son come have a seat
I had to search my memories
As I looked into those eyes
Our lives change like the weather
But a legend never dies

He said I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
I took the first fast boat to China
And Jimmy there's still so much to be done.

Will Soto.


http://www.sunsetcelebration.org/performers/index.htm

This guy has been here for a long, long time. I never tire of seeing him perform. Will is cool! I like this picture too. I have quite a few of them. I always focus my camera on him when I am in Key West.

Another Key West Sunset!


Mallory Square on a Sunday afternoon. The sunset in Key West is always special. 'Nuff said.

John Frinzi and James White.


At Blue Heaven. On the water tower. It is John Frinzi and Sunny Jim. They always sound great together!

http://www.johnfrinzi.com/

https://sunnyjim.com/Home_Page.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDh06VvEjOM

Jim Hoehn.


http://www.jimhoehn.com/
Jim. A cool guy. An old friend. Great dj. A cool player and a great song writer.
Check him out. What you see here is the Blue Heaven music thing started by Sunny Jim so long ago for the Sunday crowd to chill out on good food and cool music.

http://www.blueheavenkw.com/

Saturday, December 25, 2010

The Picture...


Backstage. The picture isn't really all that great but the moment is. Everyone here has been having fun and living in the moment. That is what life is about. Live now. Smile. 'Nuff said.

Lolas...


Well you know them you love them. I'll leave it at that.

Jimmy Maraventano!


Jimmy rocked some Jimi Hendrix. He lit the guitar up. I could smell the lighter fluid from where I was standing. It was a moment. I have to say I loved every second of it. It was one of the coolest things I saw at MOTM 2010. He rocks. I love a great show.

So this is Better Live than on TV.


Sometimes you just have to see it. Then you tell people about it for a while. Jimmy and the Parrots. There are pure entertainment. And they rock. So you should go see them!

http://www.jimmyandtheparrots.com/intropage.cfm

The Drummer Takes the Lead.


So I like it when we see a drummer take a lead vocal. This one was good. Lance was rocking the "Doors." You really had to be there.

Yeahmon!


Jimmy and the Parrots! There is no better deal in entertainment than these guys.

http://www.jimmyandtheparrots.com/intropage.cfm

Michael Crawley.


He rocks. I am a blues lover and how can I not like a man who jams on the harp? Great stuff!

Tall Paul.


http://www.tallpaul.com/
I really like this guy. He plays songs I like and it goes on and on. I have spent some late nights with him and watched him play many times. He rocks and you should go see him. Buy his cds. I said so. 'Nuff said.

It is Good to Have Sponsors...



Howard's sponsors were throwing shirts to the crowd. Let's just say what happens in Key West stays in Key West. Yeah that sounds good.

Howard Livingston!


Howard on stage. His show is very cool. I love the horns in his music. His new TV show is cool too. Here is an excerpt from the internet:


‘Key West Time’ debuts on DirectTV
by Travel Smart

Beginning Nov. 4 television viewers can find tropical relaxation on “Key West Time,” a new series produced and shot in the Florida Keys. “Key West Time Starring Howard Livingston” showcases the island chain’s lifestyle through the eyes of Keys singer/songwriter Howard Livingston. Keys landmarks, special events, history, popular hangouts, fishing and diving, cuisine, environmental wonders and laid-back attitude are all showcased, complemented by Keys-inspired tunes from Livingston and his Mile Marker 24 Band. The program is scheduled to debut nationally Nov. 4 on the R&R television network, seen on DirecTV channel 354. Each episode will air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET and repeat Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ET and Tuesdays at 11 p.m. ET. In addition, it will appear on Untamed Sports TV for Comcast and Capital Broadcasting viewers. After their televised airing, episodes are to be archived and available on-demand at www.KeyWestTime.com.

Me and Howard Livingston


At the sake of this becoming a blog of me and so and so I am adding one more picture. Howard and I just before he took the stage. I want to say he is one nice guy and his band is awesome! I had a blast....

Mac, Lucy, and Me.


Mac, Lucy Buffett, and Me. I liked the picture although the sun was playing tricks on us. It was cloudy and unseasonably cold. We were still here to have fun. Howard Livingston was about to come on and the sun was setting. Lucy had just filmed a cooking segment with Howard for his TV show "Key West Time." We were having fun as we always do. It is Key West and life is mostly good down island.


http://www.lulusathomeport.com/index-live.php


http://www.crazysistacooking.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z2N-Q8d4YQ

Another Key West Sunset!


Many clouds but the sun always puts on a show at sunset here. Key West. Yeah there is nothing like it.

Sheila and Me.


My friend Sheila Chimento. She hails from New Orleans and you can listen to her on http://www.radiomargaritaville.com on the Friday at Five happy hour. She is the Margaritaville finance manager in New Orleans but she also gets around to other locations. A Nascar girl... I am sure she would fit in in North Carolina too.

TIm & Donna Glancy.


These are the guys who take care of the balloons and stilt walkers. They live in Key West and for many years took care of the Buffett Tour stilt guys and other things. Long story but they are very cool people I always love to hang with in Key West.

The Stilt Walkers....


They are sitting down but they are very tall...walking on stilts!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Jim Morris.


http://www.jim-morris.com/home.htm

Jim on stage. His band is always fun and they sound good.

A video from 2005:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsXQq9O6whw

A View from the Back.


Just a view of the stage and the beach at the Casa Marina from the back. I thought it was cool..

Sunny Jim on Stage...


I had my Ibanez shirt on just for this show. http://www.ibanez.com/ James likes to play Danelectro guitars too. I like them both. I have all kinds of guitars but I like certain ones for different reasons. I like this picture. I took it on the main stage later in the day on Saturday.

Here's a video for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frizQzJTFSA

Breakfast at the Casa Marina.


There is a story in this picture. Steve and Chris Huntington and I went over to Blue Heaven to try to have breakfast. It was so slammed we came back to the Casa Marina and sat outside in the unseasonably cool morning. Soon we were visited by James aka "Sunny Jim" and Adela White. So Chris took our picture just before the party broke up. It was cool just talking for a while but it is tough for this cast to have much privacy in this venue. Everyone wants to talk to them! It's all good.

https://sunnyjim.com/Home_Page.html


http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/staff.htm


http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/listen_now.htm

Hugo Duarte.


Hugo in his normal place in the first week of November. The Hogs Breath in Key West. You can see Woody in the background playing his gold top Les Paul. That is Amy Lee on Sax in the back as well. It is always a great jam session. He jsut released a new live cd that captures the flavor of this show. I have seen this many times over the years. I always come back though.

http://www.hugoduarte.com/

http://www.hugoduarte.com/music.html

Bill Wharton.


I took this picture as Bill was moving at light speed. It was not posed at all. It just sort of happened in a blur. November. Green Parrot, Key West. 2010. We had fun! The Sauce Boss ROCKS!

Here's Jimmy playing the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rR76yiSTyI

Jimmy Buffett:

The Sauce Boss does his cookin' on the stage,
Stirrin' and a singing for his nightly wage.
Sweating and frettin' from his head to his toe,
Playin' and swayin' with the gumbo
Prayin' and buffetin' with the gumbo.

The One, The Only...


Sauce Boss. I have featured him several times on my blog. He is still rocking and he cooks a mean gumbo. We stirred it and we jammed all the way trough his show. We had a group of friends there and we were right up front. It was great as always!

http://www.sauceboss.com/

A video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAwu5h-Y9p0&feature=related

Kids Playing on the Street...


On the way down Duval I heard these kids playing and they were quite amazing. They were jamming on all kinds of songs with keyboard and vocal tracks. This place is like New Orleans. There is all kinds of talent around working for donations. Cool.

Amy Lee.


Amy Lee was in town playing with KD Moore and Fingers. She sounded great and I had to some time to talk with her and her husband. She is a talent and it is always good to see a friend. http://www.amyleesax.com/

Check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJw8qLlvyTI&feature=player_embedded

http://www.buffettnews.com/resources/coralreeferband/?bid=180

Greg and Me.


As Greg took a break I made sure I had a picture made. I have quite a few pictures with him but being the ham I am I like to get pictures with cool people. I have always liked the fact that I was 18 when I first saw him play and now all these years later I have seen the whole spectrum of his career from the first Coral Reefer Band member all the way through the blues cds. I still say he rocks and he will always be my favorite harp player.


http://www.buffettworld.com/2010/03/14/in-depth-article-on-greg-fingers-taylor/


Since many stories disappear off the internet I want to add this one. I don't know the author or I would credit them. But this is recently written. Jackson, Mississippi is the first place I ever heard the name "Fingers Taylor." back in the 1970's. I am glad he is back.

Greg "Fingers" Taylor, who played harmonica in Jimmy Buffet's Coral Reefer Band for 32 years, has retired from the spotlight and returned home to Mississippi to live.

Greg "Fingers" Taylor has spent a large portion of his adult life with a harmonica between his lips, making it weep, howl, plead and bleed.

Still, the instrument mystifies him.

"It's a mighty, mighty machine with a tiny, tiny body," he says. "I guess that's always intrigued me about it. How can such a big sound come from something so small?"

Fact is, it can't - except in the hands of a select few.

Taylor's unique gift of coaxing a harmonica into becoming something almost human helped create music history.

The 57-year-old graduate of Callaway High School, who recently moved back to the Jackson area, was an original member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band.

He was there when Buffett made it big, toured with him for 24 years, and still plays with him on occasion. In 2009, he joined Buffett for a show in Chicago.

His impact on Buffett's career was huge. According to Norbert Putnam, who produced Buffett's first six albums that included the iconic Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, Taylor and keyboard player Mike Utley were key ingredients to Buffett's rise to fame.

"If I had lost either of them, I don't think Buffett's records would have been nearly as successful," Putnam says. "Fingers' harp became identifiable with Buffett's music.

"And Fingers used to get the live shows started for Jimmy. The curtain would go up and there would be Fingers Taylor and Coral Reefer. Fingers would get the crowd all wound up, and then introduce Jimmy."

After nearly four decades on the road, Taylor returns to the Jackson area to be near his mother, Doris, and many longtime friends. "It's where I belong," he says.

He comes bearing gifts for all music lovers - hundreds of harmonicas that he intends to make sure do not gather dust.

"There is no way to begin to measure what that means to the Jackson music scene," says Malcolm White, a former music promoter and now executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. "It could help get national acts here, if they think there is a chance Fingers Taylor might sit in with them."

Greg 'Fingers" Taylor.


Fingers on the harp. I took this picture right after the Street Festival ended. I stopped by Cowboy Bills to see Fingers play. It was great to see him in action again. I never get enough of his harp playing.

Marty Tossing Beads...


Marty Lehmann tossing beads from the rooftop. I call him Mr. Coconut Telegraph. He had just jumped down out of the window of the Margaritaville offices to toss beads to the crowd. Are we having fun yet?

Johnny Russler!


http://www.beachbumband.com/indexmain.html

I really like this guy. A good player and a nice guy. I had met him at Pepe's this morning to give him his credentials. When I saw him backstage later that afternoon I was admiring the stock of guitars he had with him. Before long he had me holding one of his guitars..playing it. They were all cool guys and they sounded really good on stage. I hope we see them back in 2011.

The View from Above.


The view from the Margaritaville offices overlooking Duval Street. The beads are flying and the fun is all around. It is a good day in Key West!

More Doyle!


Doyle Grisham on stage again. He is all over the place. You can never have too much Doyle.

Ballons for Everyone!


I just like the picture. My pal Tim has a company that handles this part of the show...balloons for everyone!

More Views of the Stage in the Street


I was all over the place on this day. It was sort of like a photo free-for all.

The Sound Guys...


Behind every good stage is a sound crew. These guys get it done.

The Streetfest Crowd...


Duval Street is full of people...

It's Early on Duval Street.


It's early on Duval Street and the crowd is beginning to arrive for a full day of music on the main street in Key West. It should be a fine one.