The Christmas Jam Mirror Ball.

I just liked this picture. It comes from my past. I will tell you the story sometime. That is for another day or maybe a moment on a beach with the breeze in our hair and a rising tide. Until next time, I'll see you down the road. Much Love always.

Warren Haynes!

http://www.warrenhaynes.net/

I can't stop the story without showing a picture of Warren in 2011 Christmas Jam form...Here he is singing the lead on "Shakedown Street." Thanks Warren. Your show always rocks!!!

Here is one of my absolute favorites with Warren playing a very special guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR8zeRd5bUk

And here is another favorite. The Hangout Festival 2011 on the Gulf Coast with Grace Potter and my pal Ron Holloway on sax.
"Honky Tonk Women" This one ROCKS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-epBSpoSwU&feature=related

Phil Lesh!

http://www.phillesh.net/
http://www.philzone.com/

Well. The crowd was here to see this guy. And he did not disappoint. The first song was the Grateful Dead's "Shakedown Street" and it just rode on from there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R3WBhod0sE

Nothin' shakin' on Shakedown Street. Used to be the heart of town.
Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart. You just gotta poke around...

A snapshot of my afternoon. before the show. It was COLD and breezy in this mountain town. I love the place. So cool in so many ways. As I parked in the garage next to library I went to the elevator. Out stepped two young girls and a guy. They were laughing. As I stepped into the door I smelled the fresh remnants of dope smoke. I smiled. Welcome to Asheville. Money and hippies abound....

After a great meal and some micro-brew I went to find my place at the door for the show. Yeah it was cold. It always is. Part of the game for coming to this gig! There were people walking by with boom boxes playing Dead music and showing various drug stuff for sale. I thought....only in Asheville. Too funny. 'Nuff said.

Los Lobos!

http://www.loslobos.org/site/

It was as good as I imagined it. Los Lobos can rock.

Don't Worry Baby! Yeah! This ROCKS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiDyURMJkV0&feature=related


...With Neil Young..."Cinnamon Girl"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGT-Eh6plIY&feature=related

I watched this set from mostly right behind the stage. It was off the freakin' meter...I wish you could have been right beside me....just sayin.'

The Gang....

Jimmy Herring! Yeah he rocks that guitar. http://www.myspace.com/jimmyherringofficial


He was on it in this picture. Here's a nice link to Jimmy playing with Derek Trucks and his band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ia2unDpnDw&feature=related

Casey Driessen on violin. I have seen this guy many times backstage at Merlefest playing with Zac Brown and many others.

He is quite good! In fact you check it out. Charlie Daniels made this one famous. Zac and his band still jam it with Casey...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQZ1HSUbXU

Too much fun!

Bela Fleck!

http://www.belafleck.com/

Wow. This was a show! The band can jam and it went from Scruggs to rock....I just sort of watched it from several angles including ten feet away to the back to the stage. It was great! When you see these guys you never know what they might play. But it is all Great!!

Here's a taste...


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

Xmas Jam 2011 Asheville, North Carolina

Audley Freed! He has played with all kinds of people...the Dixie Chicks, Gary Allan, Perter Frampton, Government Mule, Jakob Dylan, Gavin DeGraw, on and on....

He is always awesome at the Christmas Jam. Here is a link to a very cool Warren Haynes and Government Mule 2010 cover of Skynerd's "Simple Man" with Audley playing. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51k7xlbguEM&feature=related

Nice!

You can click the photo to enlarge it...

So here is most of the band playing. Randall was all over the sax, the keys, the guitar, the vocals. He does it all. His talent is very solid. He has the mastery of music for sure and it is a pleasure to enjoy seeing someone of this caliber perform in an intimate setting. Yes I know I am a lucky man in so many ways. I never stop enjoying a moment. This was a good one. Thanks Randall.

I spent a few minutes chatting with Randall in the corner. I took home some music, including this song and I have to say this was probably my favorite one they did on this night. Enjoy. Here is the link to the video.

I am a bit behind on my blog but I promise I will catch up one day. Until next time, I'll see you. Down the road.

Drivin' to Montgomery! Click on the link. I love this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ7gpZ8ThbQ

Randall and Mel....

So I spent a lot of time at the back watching this show. My old pal Mel Melton who owns the place and it is the chef stepped up to play some harp on a couple of cool blues numbers stood silently beside me for a while just watching this band play. We both knew we were watching something very cool and there were some subtile smiles going on. It was a very nice night. Great music. Great food. Life is short enjoy the moment. Just sayin.'

http://www.randallbramblett.com/

http://www.papamojosroadhouse.com/papa-mojos-roadhouse-mel-melton.htm

A video link. Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos featuring Max Drake from Stoneville, North Carolina about five miles from where I live. It's the Chapel Hill Boogie.

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

Randall Bramblett!

http://www.randallbramblett.com/

Well. I have seen him before. Many times in fact. Solo and with the likes of the Allman Brothers Band as well as Bonnie Raitt.
He is always very awesome. He road-tripped from Athens, Georgia to entertain a sold-out house in a fine cajun restaurant. I drove almost two hours each way to see him after a long week of work on not so much sleep. It was worth every moment. You really just had to be there. 'Nuff said.

Jimmy on Stage.

I'm not going to put my best photos up here but I would be happy to share them with you in person. Here's one for you. It was a great show!

Here's a link to one of my favorite videos of the day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-3kqPF2kk4&feature=related

Yes and now you heard my strange proposal
So get that packard up and lets move
I wanna be there before the day
Tries to steal away and leave us behind
Ive made up my mind

And I wanna be there
I wanna go back down and die beside the sea there
With a tin cup for a chalice, fill it up with good red wine
And Im a chewin on a honeysuckle vine

Here Comes Jimmy!

Well I hesitated to add this photo. I am kind of hesitant to put my favorite pictures on the internet. I don't mind sharing I just want people to not do the wrong things with them. That's all. And they are my treasures. I love photography. It helps reclaim what you can't remember in a special moment. Just saying.'

I should add Jimmy said that was the first time the police were in the front of him in Key West. Too funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbuYO5Hdj4g&feature=related

The Upstairs View.

Looking down at the street from the Margaritaville Offices...

A view down Duval Street.

Just a picture not too long before the set was changed for the Coral Reefer Band.

Me and Alex Leist.

I just liked this picture. Alex ran this show many years ago for a while. We have been friends since the early 1990's thanks to the internet and the music of Jimmy Buffett. I can tell you we have seen some good times in Key West. For sure. Long story...

I should mention this picture was taken as Jimmy Buffett was on the way across Key West to play for us. We both knew it and we were smiling.

John Frinzi and Friends...

http://www.johnfrinzi.com/

This is a long-time running gig. John always invites cool people to play late night on the beach. It is the place to be to share stories with friends you haven't seen in a while. I can't really explain you just need to be there. It is always a moment, you can feel the ocean breeze, it is warm, and the music is very good.

In this picture you see John, Freebo, Doyle Grisham, Nadirah Shakoor, Mark James, and Freebo.

Let's just say it was really good.

http://freebomusic.com/

http://www.nadirahshakoor.com/fr_home.cfm

http://www.doylegrisham.com/

Howard Livingston!

http://www.milemarker24.com/

Howard. He is living the dream. I enjoy his music and his band is very good....We always have fun. He got me home safely the last time I needed a ride from downtown. Thanks Howard. You and Cyndy too....

The sun going down behind the Casa Marina....

I just love Key West sunsets...