Greetings to all, even Keiser. Well, seeing as how I'm the only one in the RGNC office today, I might as well make the official record of entry for this episode o' the blog. I was busy most of the day looking at photography options for future releases. Right now I would propose a fairly detailed cd liner booklet for our next project, and I need photography and text submissions from all involved. I have always leaned to a seperate page/photograph format upon which are printed the lyrics for one song. This costs more, but hey, it ain't like we're in it for the money. Fact is, if we don't lose a little money on the deal, chances are we didn't do it right. We'll make it work, whatever we do.

Thanks again to Joe D. for the most recent tip re: Angus MacCrankys' Espresso Porter. Old Angus makes some fine barley pop for such a cranky little man.

I've also re-read B.K.'s bio and the statement he makes about liking the cardinals and the y$nk$$s as his favorite ball clubs...too bad he can't pull for a team from America.

Jeff, I'm still trying to remember the name of that place in K.C., down in the River Quay district, that you mentioned as a favorite concert spot from days gone by. I know exactly which one you're talking about, I saw the Blasters there several times, the O'Kanes, Country Gazette, the Elvis Brothers,...now I remember; it was called Parody Hall. I used to live not far from it in a big old 4,000 sg. foot apartment for $350 a month. My place used to be a saddle factory. It was rather large. Salad days, mi amigo, salad days. Good times, thank goodness for the statute of limitations. Hey Jeff, remember the place we would go to on 12th street in downtown, The Ship? Now that was a place. It got used as a location in that film "Kansas City" several years back. It's history now, torn down for the new fed court building. Also, how about that place we went when you visited me down in Albuquerque, "El Madrid", which had a huge mural painted on each side of the front door. Both of them were of Elvis, one with him standing in front of a big Cadillac, and the other with him depicted as...a motorcycle cop for some reason.

Well, I got to get back to scoring the soundtrack. be good.

Had an interesting conversation today at lunch with Jacob G., one of the RGNC business advisors. Aside from all of the talk about the various and sundry irons we currently have in the proverbial fire here at RGNC, there was also some fun stuff. One of the folks at our table mentioned some concern about mad cow disease, and said that he preferred to eat deer meat instead. At least he did until Jacob gave him the run-down on a little known yet equally terrifying epidemic sweeping the venison industry; "Frustrated Deer" disease. Jacob said that it is like mad cow disease, except that the deer are too gentle to ever actually get mad, so instead they just tend to become very frustrated.

Anyone else see any snow yet today? I'm looking at it right now outside the window. I used to work as a chair lift operator at a ski mountain in New Mexico, and everytime it started to snow, one of my fellow lifters would smile and say, "ah, job security". When I was at the top of the hill there, I could sit down at "work" in my "office" and see 50 miles across the high desert mesa up into the Sangre de Cristo range behind Santa Fe.

I'm currently working on new material for the next recording session, and I'm focusing on the guitar part in my usual manner, which I will briefly expound upon for you. When it comes to guitar playing in general and flatpicking in particular, you have probably heard about the "3 T's", meaning tone, timing and taste. Well, I subscribe the theory of the importance of the "3 T's", as you have probably heard me say. However, in addition to the 3 T's, I also have my own standards, and they are called the "3 S's". That stands for slower, softer and spacious. What does that mean? Well, it is my firm belief that the vast majority of flatpicked guitar music is played way, way too fast for the beauty of the music to be heard, and that too many players are overly concerned with out-shouting the b---jo, and they have very little subtlety or nuance to work with. Because everything is so darned fast and loud, you rarely ever get to hear and enjoy the tone of the instrument. So, the music I'm working on will hopefully allow the melody to stand on it's own, especially in some traditional pieces that have become stereotypically "fast tunes", and there will be enough space in the playing to allow the beauty of the instrument's tone to be heard. I think that sometimes, as guitar players, we need to remember that these tunes have been around a long time before we started to play them, and that maybe they don't need all of the "help" we try to give them. They can stand on their own.

be good.

Some observations regarding various and sundry items.

A couple of real good actors:
1. Robert Duvall - No explanation needed, but I'll say this anyway; he can play regular people, and that's as rare a commodity as there is in the movie bidness.
Besides that, he was just as much of a son to the Don as Sonny or Mike were; and probably more so than 'Fredo. He even wrote and recorded some of the songs for the Tender Mercies soundtrack and they're pretty good...Is he RGNC material? Maybe we should get some of our left coast people on this...
2. Chris Cooper - Again, a regular guy. Not only that, he's from K.C. and he plays the fiddle...hmmm...did you see him in Seabiscuit?

Thanks to Joe Distefano for introducing me to Angus MacCranky's Black Bog Stout. Joe is quite the connoseuer of suds, and keeps bringing me all of these cool microbrews to try, and this one was emminently enjoyable. Last week we tried Angus MacCranky's Arse Thunder Ale, also a top contender.

Mr. Wilson, what took you to Nash-wood? Is it something you can talk about, or have the records been sealed?

Peace.

Does anybody like to drive any more than Markos? I don't think so. I would have to say honestly, and with nary a hint of conceit, that I truly impress myself as one of the Great American Drivers of our era. My friends, it's not a boast, simply an observation that I think will stand up to scrutiny. And speaking of scenic drives that still beckon me to return even as I write this, it's hard to narrow it down to just a few since I have experienced so many. And yet, I will attempt to do so for this gathering of august and respected travellers, such as we are. These are not in order of preference, since they are all worthy of distinction. Here goes:

1. U.S. Highway 50 - All the way across the state of Nevada, from the eastern line to Lake Tahoe. This road has been proclaimed as "The Lonliest Road in America", and for good reason. All across Nevada it carries you through the Basin and Range territory of the Great Basin Desert. Old mining towns, big ranches, and miles and miles of nothin' but miles and miles. On the eastern end, you can visit Great Basin National Park, which has peaks over 13,000' high, and Bristlecone pine trees over 4,000 years old. I camped out there in a sleeping bag on top of a picnic table once. Even in the summer it got a little cool at night seeing as how the elevation was over 10,000'. I got up the next morning at the crack of dark and hiked up to see the ancient Bristlecones, where I cut one down with my chain saw just to count the rings and see how old it was... ;^)

2. State Highway 1 Oklahoma - This somewhat short drive is located down in the south-eastern corner of Oklahoma. You work your way down to Poteau where you take 270 south to 271. You hang a left and head further south on 271 where you meet up with Highway 1. Turn east on Highway 1 and slowly start to work your way up onto Winding Stair Mountain on your way to Mena, Arkansas. Before too long you'll be enjoying as good a driving road as you could ever hope to find. Up on the ridge, then down into the valley, then turn after turn as you work your way back up to the mountaintop. After a while you'll begin to realize that a true genius designed this road. The guy that laid this one out on the map must have really loved driving, because you're able to see incredible view after incredible view all along the Ouachita Mtns., and you never have to slow your car down becuase all the turns are set-up just right for the task at hand, which is too enjoy a truly great day of driving down in the Ouachitas. This one is kind of a hidden treasure, so don't tell too many people about it.

3. The drive around Wheeler Peak in Northern New Mexico - For this one you start off in Taos. About 7:30 am you head to El Pueblo Cafe for a breakfast burrito with red chile and hashbrowns. OK, maybe you have 2, but then you have to get moving, if you can. From Taos you head east out of town on Highway 64 through Taos Canyon. You'll gradually climb up to the pass over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and you'll start to descend into the valley near Angel Fire and Eagle Nest. You'll get a great view of the valley and Eagle Nest Lake. At this point, you're in the alpine zone and you'll be passing through spruce, pine, and aspen forest. Lots of sagebrush and pinion/juniper stands as well. So you slow down as you start to pull into Eagle Nest, looking for Highway 38. I remember being in Eagle Nest once when I was a kid, and we stayed in this cool motel with knotty pine panelling in the room. Anyway, all this time you will have been seing Wheeler Peak on your left to the west. It's the highest point in the state at over 13,000', and when you head north out of Eagle Nest on 38, you'll really start to have some great mountain scenery as you work your way up to Red River. In the winter there is some really good skiing in these parts; Taos, Red River, Angel Fire. I want to go back and hit it with a snowboard with local legend Craig Stephenson sometime. Craig...well, let me just say that Craig is an excellent photographer and ski patrol fixture at Taos, and a hoot to be around. Maybe we'll hear from him here at RGNC sometime. But, I digress. So, you keep on north through Red River till you pull into the little town of Questa. I was on a ranch there for a while during one of my "itinerent" spells. Had a good stay there with my friend Lex Leonard Olson, screenwriter/novelist extraordinaire. Lex lives with his wife in Northern California now, and they have a dog named "Coughy". Let me just say that this trip is not only scenic, but has a special place with me because of the people I know from when I lived down in that area. The same can be said for the drive through the Ouachitas that Jeff and I try to take each summer. And also the drive across Nevada with Lex one summer. All of these places remind me of the people, and that's the best part.

Maybe you have a good drive to tell us about at RGNC. Come on, start typing. send it to: rosebudgnc@yahoo.com

be good.

Are there women and children readin' this? I thought this was a 'he-man' kind of deal. I'm around womens and chilrens all day. Man's gotta have a place to blog. Still want to know if that's some kind of a silly acronym, just too dang lazy to look into it. Don't have any good driving trips. Well, just one. The Talimena Scenic Ridgeway that goes West/East (or whatever way you want to go). It's down in the Quachita Mts. Mark and I went on it one time back in '58. Crazy times...
You can get on it on the Oklahoma side a little south of Pouteau, OK. Takes you from Talihena, OK to Mena, AR. A kind of hidden Blue Ridge Parkway, though not quite as awe-inspiring as that Eastern trail, but still ding-dang beautiful. You will not believe you're in OK. And Trails for Hikin'! Mucho vistas!

Will continue Favorite Haunts/Fond Music Memories. This time, Nashville! Music Business City!

Noshville Deli: Real, New York Deli selling traditional N.Y.C. Deli items to tourists, Vandy and Belmont kids, and music business transplants from L.A. who miss their 'Real N.Y.C. Deli's' in L.A. Not as pricey as you might think.

Jack's Guitar Bar on Nolensville Rd-an RIP. Place was great. Jack was psychotically adamant that everyone play originals. Yelled at me in front of everyone when I played a Joe Ely song one night. Think of it, club owner pissed 'cause you didn't play your own tunes. He put up Mr.Earle during his 'skinny/sleepy' period and Steve's little sister Stacey really got the place going.

Centennial Park: real nice park with a Parthenon in it!

Tower Records: not quite as cool as it was in the early '90's when the Independent Artist was given a bit more lip service with in-stores and huge cardboard advertisements of folks who have probably never played on the western side of the Mississippi, but still pretty good.

Blackstone Brewery: Very, very, nice. Wife loves it!

Any of the new, family-owned, Mexican restaurants that came about during the mid-90's due to Nashville's building boom. All good.

Who Hit John-Nashville's own Replacements, 'cept a little more melodic, but with the same heart and punch. Simply one of the best bands most people will never see.

Without Ruth-another Nashville mid-90's contribution to excellence in rock and roll. Can't really cite a reference to 'em and that's one of the reasons I loved 'em.

The Swinging Steaks' showcase set at NEA in 1995, Nashville's attempt at SXSW. Great roots rock band from Boston, yes, I know, an oxymoron, but nonetheless a truly blistering set. They'd already put out a great album on Capricorn in 1993 and were already searchin' for the new, big, deal that never came.

All for now. Take Care, Jeffrey G. s

Hey Howdy Hey! I'm awake again. Great thought Brother Mark...Mine would have to be a trip from NYC up the east coast on HWY #1. NOTE: Of course, once you get your car out of the CITY, any drive is a nice one.

Drove that bad boy all the way to (phonetically pronounced) NOVER SKOSHER. We made the traditional stop in Boston, HEY. Maybe we could do an outdoor gig with fellow neighbors walkin' the freedom trail with us while we talked out loud about important stuff related to our freedom.

Then... we spent one entire week on an Island off the coast of Portland, Maine / Peaks' Island...it is exactly one mile in circumfrance. I know this because I walked around it and counted out loud. (test question / how many of my feet are in one mile?) We definitely need to take a neighbor gig in the Portland area. I met folks just like us there. CEPT' they are not too keen on answerin' questions. I asked one guy a question bout' directions. I says, "Hey neighbor. Where does that road go?" Meaning if I drive on it where can I spect to be when I'm done. He said. "That road don't go nowhere. It just stays there." WHEW! Jeffie. this was yore type of guy. He was definitely comin' down from listenin' to some power-pop / punk thing. Probably on 8 tracks or 45's.

The Bar Harbor area is awesome. NOTE TO SELF AND OTHERS I CARE ABOUT. Do not run barefooted into the ocean in the Maine area. There is about ten feet of smooth sandy runway, but under the water....CORAL SHARDS like nobody's business. IT'S TRUE...IT HAPPENED TO ME!!! After I buckled over and screamed louder and higher than one of MRS. WILSON'S pretty soprano vocal stylins'!!!!!!!! I emerged from the waters only to be laughed at by the locals, and called STUPID by family and close friends, who I might add were wearin' brand new FLIP / FLOPS. SO, My point is. Bar Harbor and the Mount Desert Island area are beautiful to see, but Since they were not so neighborly to me, I don't think they are deserving of one of our concerts.

Well, The trip was longer and more eventful than I have described, but I must leave room for fellow neighbors. I also have to go back to modifying some behaviors tonight and must shower before doin' so. I do want to add I failed to meet Mr. KING while in the area. You know he is a big RAINMAKERS fan....another fine midwestern talent group.

Well. Ride quick, Ride often, and keep plenty of blankets under your saddle friends. Hey Howdy Hey. Good Night to all fellow Neighbors...and in the infamous words of RED SKELTON......and MAY GOD BLESS!! COFFEE AND PIE FOREVER.

Ok, here's a topic I'm putting out for discussion for tonight's posting period:
Favorite scenic drives. So, decide which drives you have been on that really stand out for you, and tell where it went, what roads you took, where you may have stopped, anything at all that made the drive/trip scenic and enjoyable. The summer travel season will be upon us before you know it, and we need to plan for it now, so submit your ideas. Also, where would we like to work in some gigs along the way, etc.

wait...is that whistlin' I hear? I think it's the Andy Griffith show starting, gotta run!

Hey Neighbors...just woke up from a midnight shift nap...day / night one on new schedule...could not sleep, so I thought I would check in on the hood', see what's shakin'. MARK...you know I don't do guidelines, however, since I'm an invited guest, I'll go along with the Country theme and do it for the "womens and the childrens"...and Lil' Jeffie, WHEW !! what a Blog!

Well, I was motivated deeply by the "Big Valley" comment. I now know TV and its programming are cyclical (another test question for later). You can easily compare David Haselhoff in "Night Rider" and "Bay Watch" to Lee Majors in the "Six Million Dollar Man" and "the Big Valley". HEY! If Mr. Ed had been Heath's horse in the Big Valley, he would have been just like Kit in "Night Rider". I can't believe people don't think of these things before I does.

Well, I digress. Regarding my Bio for the RBGNC: I am married with Children. My middle child is on an actual recording done by Lil' Jeffie Graham, Mark C., and myself in the Fremont Hills section of the Ozark Mountains a couple of years ago. It can be made available to you by simply asking Jeffie. Just say! Hey Jeffie. Send me one when you can.

I was borned from Dutch immigrant grandparents in the late 50's. My bio-dad left us when I was an infant. This allowed my mom to stay free of his beatins' for most of her adult life. The other half of me is pure Heinz #57 from the middle of this here continent. I am a behavioral modification specialist working late nights in a small town on the outskirts of BRANSON (the City of Lights)...Lil' Las Vegas without the gamblin'. YES. I AM LICENSED TO CARRY A GUN CONCEALED.

Now for a visual description. I am now starting to look a bit like Ed Asner. A bit portly and follicly (another test question) challenged. When I was young, I used to rest my BASS on my knee caps while standing in the traditional PUNK / POP position. I now sit slumped back in a chair (preferably wood) in front of my neighbors TV (when they are in town )and rest my guitar on my above the belt holder GOD has chosen to provide me in my adult years. In laymans terms....GUT!

My favorite Neighbor Drink is Merlot. After that are the fine ales brewed in this fine state. I love BOULEVARD from KCMO and SHAFFLEY"S from ST LOUIS. Fat Tire and Muellers are good also. The Cardinals are my favorite Baseball team in Missouri. YANKEES are favorite overall. YEP, I like to stay with teams that represent history, tradition, and that win games!!!

I would like to close by leaving you with a neighborly image. (CLOSE YOUR EYES AND START HERE)...PS (OH. YOU WILL HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY TO READ THIS TO YOU IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES) It is so cold out that your feet would stick to the ice on the sidewalk if they were wet and you were bare footed. The sky is a dark blue- black and the wind is blowin' down your shirt like you were wearin' it open in a "Herb Tarlick" disco fashion. You are seekin' "Shelter from the storm" (I bet you know that song Jeffie). You see a light on in a quaint lil' cottage on the north side of town next to a big corporate healing facility. The light inside is shimmering like heaven's light on angels wings, and if you listen closely you can hear it callin' your name. HEY. Keiser!!!! COME INSIDE!!! CLOSE THE DOOR!!! IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!!! YOU'RE LETTIN' THE HEAT OUT!!!! DID YOU BRING THE MERLOT?? But...You have to listen very closely or you will miss the shimmering light callin' out for you.

May your neighbors shimmerin' light keep you warm always! PEACE TO ALL NEIGHBORS. Bri-bob

OK Keiser, a few ground rules before you build up a head of steam. 1. This site is seen by women and children, so keep it semi-clean/PG13, got it? 2. Never make the last out of an inning at 3rd base, try to start a rally or keep one going. and 3. See #1 again. Other than that, we're glad to have you on board. I was starting to get a little worried. Didn't know if you had pulled out the old "artistic differences" card again, or what. But you're safe and somewhat sound and you didn't call us collect, so that's a good sign.

I like your tv detective take. As you know, I was on the Rockford Files bandwagon as a kid. It is still my firm conviction that nobody gets beat up better than Jim Rockford. Poor guy comes home to the trailer late at night, opens his door, and gets a bolo punch to the breadbasket before he even has a chance to turn the lights on. His dad, Rocky, he was a good one too. Kind of moody sometimes, though. Noah Berry was in a lot of old westerns before his Rockford days. Hey, remember the episode with the guest shot by Isaac Hayes? He knew Jim from when they were in jail, and he called him "Rockfish" for some reason.
I also use to like Cannon, and Mannix was worth watching just to hear the theme song. 2 of the all-time great tv theme tunes, The Rockford Files, and Mannix. You know that I've been doing the Rockford theme for several years now on the B-Bender Tele; maybe we should work up Mannix to, what do you guys think?

top 3 tv "hot-heads" for your consideration
1. Nick Barkley - The Big Valley
2. Don - Lost in Space
3. Sgt. Carter - Gomer Pyle

Nick Barkley always had on black gloves and would walk in the front door, head straight for the whiskey decanter, pour himself 4 fingers, and turn around and spit out some sarcastic remark towards a stunned Heath. (they were only half-brothers, you know)
Don was always on the verge of losing control and pummeling Dr. Smith to a pulp,
And Sgt. Carter looked like that vein in his forhead was ready to pop at any minute whenever he was yelling at Gomer.

A closing trivia question: Which tv western character actor replaced Frank Sinatra as vocalist for the Dorsey band earlier in his career? Hint - think "mule". (Jeff, you're not eligible for this one since we discussed it at the last symposium).

all of this stuff really does have something to do with the music. be good.

rosebudgnc@yahoo.com

Why are our writings called Blogs? Just put my little one to bed. He is a wonderment.
Favorite Ozark Haunts'O Mine: Whistler's Hamburgers in Carthage, MO.
The Candy House outside of my hometown of Joplin, MO.
Neosho, MO
Big Sugar Creek near Pineville, MO (specifically, Mac's Big Rock Camp)
Fayetville, AR
Beaver Lake
The Outland in Springfield, MO
Pappy's in Springfield, MO
Crosstown BarbQue in Springfield, MO
Most Chinese Places in Springfield, MO
The Old Town Grain and Feed Co. in Ft. Smith, AR
Hot Springs, AR
Mary Mystra's (probably spelled that wrong) in Tontitown, AR-best ding-dang Italian Food in these parts, or at least one 'o the best.
Doc's Music in Springfield (is it still in operation? haven't been there since before Doc died)
Third Eye Music in Springfield, MO when it was on Cherry? One of those tree streets near SMSU, back in the '80's. Think it's a parking lot now. Paradise lost.
My recent rediscovery, since most of my early years were spent right here in Tulsy Town-Blue Hole Swimming Hole near Salina, OK (near Pryor). And speakin' of great swimmin' holes in the Ozarks. Here's the RIP section:
5-Mile (formerly Dardene's Pool, in my Mom and Dad's day)
Slick Rock -both pools had great Snack Shacks, kick-ass Jukeboxes ("Clap For the Wolfman" and "Listen What the Man Said (Says?)" still come to mind), and Ozark Coppertone Beauty Queens, the likes of which'll 'neer be seen again....
Both pools were on 5-Mile Creek and both were about 6-7 miles from Baxter Springs, KS

Fond Music
Memories:
Found 40.00 in a freshly flushed toilet at the Hangar in '83. Ain't too proud. Dried up fine.

Watchin' Fools Face play to a huge, packed house at Sgt. Pepper's in Galena, KS. in '82 or '83.

Watchin' The Misstakes, The Clocks, The Secrets, and The Edge do the same thing at the same club in or around the same time frame.

Playin' at that club on the corner of the square in Springfield in the early '90s' during a Christmas break, I think. Brad Pitt came in with some friends and The Borderlords were playin', we even had Kyle Donaldson playin' with us that night. Keiser got all goo-goo and ga-ga over Pitt and it just got really...okay, maybe that was me, but let me tell you, he's a truly beautiful man!

Opened for Alejandro Escovedo a couple of years ago over in Fayettville, AR, when I was playin' lead guitar for Tulsa's Tex Montana's Fireball Four. Have not had many headliners come up and talk to us and tell us 'niceries.' Was nice. He ain't doin' so well right now, there's a link to him at my website, if anybody's interested. Other openers that were as much an honor as something to put on the resume: The Subdudes and John Kilzer.

The way Brian and Mark used to do my song, "Home," when we played in Los Dios de 'Border.'

Recording Brian's song, "Man in My Shoes," at his house in Springfield.

Watching the Connells in Northampton, MA, in '88, with 50 other devotees.

Watching Boston's Neighborhoods at the same bar in that same time frame. The lead singer hurt a frat-boy's feelings. Feelgood moment of my year.

Seein' Johnny Cash with the Nashville Symphony at an Italian Street Fair in Franklin, TN. Kind of like having an Italian Street Fair in Nixa, but was a great night.

Any time I ever got to see the Smithereens.

Relativity Hayride on a couple of evenings.

Cheap Trick at Taylor Auditorium at MSSC in Joplin, MO in the fall of '78. Great band, Screams, opened up. Their drummer was future Elvis Brother Brad, uh, Elvis.

Bebe Buell and her band The Monsters, playing at a great Portland, ME club called the Tree in the late '80's. Liv was a chubby little kid and had some "Pretty Baby" kind of make-up on that kind of gave me the willies but only added to the scary, Monster night.

Peter Case-The Blue Note (the old one in the alley), Columbia, MO, 1989.

Dave Alvin-The Juke Joint, Springfield, MO, mid-90's. Some conglomeration of the Borderlords opened up.

Queen-Kemper Arena-'81.

Most gigs I either played with or just saw singer/songwriter Rod Picott in Nashville in the mid-'90's.

Concrete Blonde-Kansas City,MO, 1987, help me here, Mark, the place is now long gone. Prominent live venue in the '80's. Downtown, near the Farmer's Market. I'm a blank. Dangit. Dang great show.

Robbie's band on My Three Sons t.v. show. Always enjoyable.

'Bout any time I've seen Robbie Fulks.

The Painkillers-Saturday night, Arnie's Bar, Tulsa, OK. We needed redemption from our foray into the abyss that is Muskogee, OK and we got it. They could have paid us in corn fritters and we would've been happy...as a matter of fact, they did pay us in corn fritters. Very good but quite rich!



How's that for a post, by Jiminy! Shalom, Jeff G.

WELP..HEY Howdy HEY neighbors....I told you I'd return. :) I just got back from "CAR LINE"...in the days of old that would be the equivalent to....., pickin up the youngins' from school...or..., if the wagon was hitched up....MOVE you damn mules MOVE. Quite a painful experience if you don't have access to a "Sears and Roebuck" catalogue / HECK, even one with the missing pictures. THAT"S funny right there...I don't care who you are!!!

HEY NEIGHBORS (mainly Mark)...My favorite re-run of Rockford files was on last night...Paul Douglas (PHI- ALPHA PLEDGE) was Kilt. It started off with Paul being beat up and kidnapped from "JIMMIES" trailer. He left behind a red MG sports car with "BLOOD" in the seat...This was better than a Barnaby Jones re-run (YEP, even one which would include his Daughter-in-law and Nephew) THAT GOOD!
I learnt more from watchin JIMMIE pretend to be a "NATIONAL FRATERNITY CHAPTER SECRETARY" than I did from watchin' all the 2003 "CSI" shows combined. HEY...REAL QUICK>>>>Top "Three" TV GUMSHOE / CRIME INVESTIGATORS of the past....

I'm thinkin'...... Peter Sellars / Barretta (love that song about bird watchin' EYE ON THE SPARROW) Maxwell Smart (yes I had thoughts about agent 99) that was also my "I DREAM CONSTANTLY OF JEANIE" period.....MAN I wish we'd had BIG SCREENS back then.

Well, enuff ramblin'. NOTE: I am the left handed black sheep member of this herd, if you have not figured that out by now.

Good to see the neighbors are up and runnin'...great stuff....even from that lil' lost neighbor boy in OKLAHOMA (PS) Don't worry. Even "I" would not disclose such on the internet (JG).

My Favorite Neighbor experiences: Meeting all my fellow neighbors was an upliftin' experience. I met all after I moved back to the midwest from "NYC". In NYC I was considered AVANTE GARDE / ALTERNATIVE. Now I have to explain alot of my doins' and am referred to as being DIFFERENT....NOT LIKE THE OTHERS. HEY, But they have taken me in as a neighbor and I'm Proud to live amongst them.

I played in a semi-successful band in NYC and traveled alot. I had a video on MTV in the late 80's / "who did'nt" (120 minutes). I guess you can say I've gone from playing on MTV to Playin' in front of TV's. This is a far greater thing I do NOW. Thank you neighbors!!!!

David W. and the neighbor to his immediate right ( Mark C.) are two of the most gifted "creators of music" god has sent down in a long time. They are the cornerstones of the neighborhood. They are known to many... but few have been blessed with their graces in their homes. YOUR TIMES WILL COME> Look forward to the time you can invite them into your home. Your life will not be complete until you have had the neighbors in your house.

PS. DON'T FORGET THE COFFEE AND PIE. And remember to be kind to all yore neighbors...even the ones you have yet to meet.

Hey...Like a good neighbor....I've arrived. Bri-bob / Hey howdy Hey brother Mark...Hope the chill out East has you bundled up! I'll be a checkin' in from time to time. See ya fella neighbor!!

Game on! So much for my idea about sending out some big-time press release, but as you can see, Jeff Graham has signed on with the outfit, and we are pleased with the addition to the ball club. In this line of work, you can never really think of yourself as being in a re-building mode, because it's all on the line everyday. There is no off season. Plus, you have to keep a lot of things in mind when you are considering an addition to the lineup, such as: is the guy any good? Can his wife cook, and will she feed his friends? Are there any problem areas, like messing around with this de-caf stuff? You get the idea. But Graham is top drawer, and he has a reputation in "The 4" as being dependable, insightful, eclectic, and willing to put the music first...or at least no lower than 5th. Anyhow, you know the rules, Jeff. New guy has to close up at night for the first week or so.

Regarding J.G.'s cogent analysis of the Springfield, Missouri music situation, I would have to agree that for some beautiful reason, that town has the highest per-capita ratio of good players and writers of any town whose city limits I have chanced to enter. That includes Nash-wood, Austin, Duluth, etc. But I ask RGNC'ers to please keep this under wraps, because if anyone (with "ideas") finds this out, there might be an outbreak of that most difficult and distasteful malady known as "a scene".

Can anybody report a recent and verifiable Brian Keiser sighting? Is he in witness protection again?

My favorite train stations:
1. Las Vegas, New Mexico
2. San Diego, California
3. Kansas City, Missouri

My favorite train trip:
The Durango & Silverton narrow gauge railway through the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. It's an old steam powered locomotive, and it takes you back through some incredible high country wilderness areas.
You can ask them to stop and let you off at a certain place that you want to go fishing or camping at, and then they will stop again at a later agreed upon day to pick you back up and take you into town. The track follows alongside a river (the Delores River?) through some very steep and narrow canyons, and at some points you can stick your head out the window and look straight down over the edge for several hundred feet. There is also another narrow gauge railway down in Chama, New Mexico, and I really want to take it someday too. And from what I understand, there is the same kind of set-up down at Copper Canyon in ol' Mexico. The train takes you to the edge of the canyon and then you walk down from there. I have read that this canyon (canyon system, really) is more extensive than the Grand Canyon in some ways, so that would be quite a trip. Maybe someday. Any takers?

be well.

as always, rosebudgnc@yahoo.com

Here's my second post. Check me out! Postin' like crazy! Whoo!! Okay, seriously now. Mark's been tellin' me about this club that isn't a club thing for a while. I'm game. I'll just be random as all get out here, but I'm gonna list my favorite Springfield,MO guitar players: Bill Brown (Misstakes, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Bluesberries), Donnie Thompson (Skeletons, Morells, Robbie Fulks, lots of other cool albums), Ty Tabor (King's X), Mark Curtright (half a Bransonite/Springfieldian during the early '90's), Brian Coffman, and Jimmy Frink (both of Fools Face). Having been a bit of a rounder throughout this big land of ours, I've seen lots of bands in a lot of towns but I've never quite seen the caliber of players, both as technicians and showmen, as those that abide in (or have in the past) that old Queen City. I should put Dave Wilson (who you've seen posting on this site) in there too, but he plays so many dang things well, it'd be hard to say just guitar.
I was a Springfieldian from '90-'94 and am proud to have been. Have a website at www.jeffgrahamsongs.com/ that has some of the '4-state' sound on a page called "Music of My Friends."
I liked Mark's listing of groovy jobs from the past. I try like hell to scare my students at school with scary jobs from my past but it never really works, so far as I can see. I'll just give my penultimate, and it was in Springfield. I got to work at a place that cleaned out barrels full of milk and/or curds and whey (sic?). These lively, halfway house sorts would literally throw you the used milk barrels (same barrels as oil drums), you caught them, then stacked them 2-3 high, all day. When you didn't catch them fast enough, the man-beasts would commence to yelling at you, "Move it up, pretty boy!" "Pretty" consisted of having at least 6 teeth. I hope this story, more than any others, inspires goals of higher education in my new young son.
I hope I get a chance to play with the Rosebud Club sometime down the road. Am trying like heck to write new songs. Have a few, not much.
I play in a groovy little trio called The Painkillers nowadays. We've been together for about 2 years. Rockpile, NRBQ, and the Skeletons/Morells are our models, if we have any. Our bass player's real good and travelled, having played with Steve Pryor during his major label jab, and Dwight Twilley, among others (most recently, Brian Parton and The Nashville Rebels). The rock and roll side of what I do gets covered in this unit. The other stuff gets played in a variety of places: my living room, my garage, and ye olde basement. Shouldn't be complainin', I knew what I'd be leavin' when I left Nashville in '97.
Well, here I go, digressin'. Music, mainstream anyway, is at an all-time scary-ass high in lows, in terms of integrity, ethics, sensibility, sense of its own history, and devotion to true songwriting. The industry has truly won, hands down. All we have to do is sit back and watch it eat itself. C'mon in, pull up a chair. Jeff G.

P.S. Brian Keiser, the littlest biggun of 'em all is looking for you.

I guess I'm...posting? My first...post, online, anyway. Dug holes for posts once. I idiot. JeffG.

More talks with Jeff Graham lately, and I think we're close to something. I don't know exactly what we'll agree to, but as soon as we shake hands on it you can be sure that it will be good for everyone involved.

Also, when writing about movies in my last post, I forgot to mention that we have our own resident movie star in the RGNC. I won't mention any names, but he can be seen in a recently completed motion picture starring the likes of Billy Bob Thornton and Mr. Harry Dean Stanton, not to mention making a contribution to the soundtrack...So, resident actor, the floor is open and we hope to hear from you soon about this latest adventure in which you have once again flirted with thumbing your nose at the RGNC "no fame" policy!

Was researching the subject of "cultural geography" while online today. This is a topic which I have apparently been unwittingly pursuing during the many hundreds of thousands of miles I logged in the "aimless wandering" category. Still, even when I was just out driving around in the country, or in small towns like Lincoln, Missouri, or Humboldt, Kansas (hometown of MLB legend Walter "Big Train" Johnson) or wherever, I was always studying the lay of the land or how a town was set up and where the drug store was related to the hardware store, or the county courthouse design, or where the old business district was (around the square) compared to the new business strip where the Sonic and the O'Reilly parts store is (often on a new by-pass), or where the trailer park is and where do the people work at to make ends meet since there is no big employer in the area, stuff like that. This is a blast to do, and now I find out that this is a line of work that has a name; "cultural geographer". I wonder if the guys who do that stuff have an expense account to pay for all the gas they use when they're out researching/driving around? They probably all have some kind of teaching job at a college that offers classes in such things. Maybe if I make my expertise known and offer my services, I could be hired as a guest lecturer to come and discuss the subtle nuances of driving around and checking stuff out.

write us at rosebudgnc@yahoo.com anytime you feel like it.

various musings of the day...

3 greatest country guitar players ever:

1. Clarence White
2. Don Rich
3. Clarence White

It has come to my attention that in the short life of this new site there have already been several coffee references,
to which my reply is, "and your point would be...?"

Back to guitars. I have to admit to a pretty significant attitude adjustment over the past 5 years regarding which acoustic guitars I will use for recording or playing out. I confess to having been in the past (and probably always will be) as much of an acoustic guitar snob as you might care to run into, and I had the guitars and debt to prove it. I have had guitars that cost as much as $,$$$, and was very committed to the rosewood/spruce dreadnought category. At one point I had a cedar topped rosewood body dred, before that your standard D-28, etc. But then I started to open up to mahogany bodied instruments. That started the trend towards different body sizes and shapes also. I had a 12 fret D-18 vintage reissue, which I was very partial to. It has since gone to stay with a new owner in North Carolina. I still have the first mahogany body guitar I ever got; a beautiful old sunburst Gibson J-35. That thing flat out cuts. It will not be denied.
Now I am fond of the 000, 00, OM sizes, especially the 12 fret slot-head versions. And, I also have developed the desire to have a lot of cool sounding cheap guitars instead of 1 or 2 retirement fund guitars. As far as these instruments go, I have recently picked up a new Blueridge BR-63, which is a 000-28 style guitar. It was inexpensive, but it will, without exagerration, truly frighten many very expensive guitars like those at the shop where I found it. And of course, I am always on the lookout for something else to add to the stable.

Some films that I can't recommend enough, for your consideration:
1. Hud - Paul Newman, early 60's B&W, character study kind of thing. I won't even try to convince you. Just rent it and watch.
2. Tender Mercies - Robert Duvall as a recovering C&W singer, early 80's.
Watch it couple of times. Quiet and understated conviction. If you have spent any time in "The 4", it will look very familiar to you.
3. Local Hero - Character/Comedy set on the coast of Scotland, early 80's. Great scenery, accents, dry humor. I am praying that RGNC get a gig in this town someday. Soundtrack by one Mark Knopfler; you can't do better than that can you? Again, just watch it, OK?
4. Milagro Beanfield War - Northern New Mexico scenery, David vs. Goliath plot, funny and gentle and pointed at the same time. A great line where a guy walks into his house and sees his kids watching tv again, and threatens to have it repossesed if they don't turn it off and go outside for a while. Sounds like something my dad would have said.

Peace.