*BUMP*

It's this coming Thursday, Y'all.

Will definitely try to be there... I remember Flint, Meet Spark, they were pretty awesome...

*bump*

So how many GFSA'ers can we expect to see tonight? It looks like there won't be a large contingent of my friends coming so some GFSA support would be much welcomed ?

Already played:
X-rated Bob
Deefstes

Now on stage - Nechama Brodie

Some early shots

Guitars waiting for sound check. Dax Butler's Tak, Richard Bruyns's Gretsch dobro, Nechama Brodie's cedar-topped Breedlove OM, my Larrivee.


Richard Bruyns sound-checking


Deefstes and his mate Rudolph in action.

If I may say so myself, I thought that we had another good night at TJ's.

Two acts were particularly interesting for me. Nechama Brodie seems to have upped her game each time we see her. Not so long ago she walked into an open mic night with a borrowed guitar. She's shown a constant improvement, always turns up with new material and always includes an interesting cover. Last night she did Leonard Cohen's "Famous Blue Raincoat". She improves consistently.

The other is Dax Butler. I've been saying Dax in action for over 30 years now. He's alway been playing, writing, performing. He doesn't do it for a living, and I doubt that he sees that prospect on the horizon any more. But he loves performing, loves playing and that still comes across in his performance. Andrew on mandolin and backing vocals is a very good addition to this project of Dax's. Richard is playing very well these days, and I think we can declare his new axe a success. It cut through very well on the solos, even when, as at the start of the set, he was a little too low in the mix. It's different from his National tricone in that it's a proper dobro, with the big spider cone.

My thanks to all the performers for giving of their time and talent, and to all the other people who make TJ's possible for no material gain at all - Shirey, Bill, Celia, Graham, Bryan chief amongst them.

Some more pics of the evening.

Your host, Mr. X-rated


Nechama Brodie


The Swamp Dogs, consisting of Richard Bruyns, Dax Butler and... uhm Bob, help with the name again please?


Flint, Meet Spark


And another one, just because I think she's pretty, of Spark (her real name is Adelle)


Bryan Deuchar


Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Rudolph and myself but here are two clips (if you can survive through the bad microphone quality of the camera):

Gold In Them Hills by Ron Sexsmith
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and Why Worry by Dire Straits
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I feel sorry I missed it....

Is there an open mic this Thursday?

deefstes wrote: The Swamp Dogs, consisting of Richard Bruyns, Dax Butler and... uhm Bob, help with the name again please?

That's Andrew on the Mandolin. Some GFSAers may know him as one of the three guitar techs at Music Connection. I believe he also plays with Zebra and Giraffe.

Those guys did a great set, and Richard's dobro has a great sound. I think we can call it a "dobro" - single spider cone. It's a Gretsch, with a square neck. Apparently owning one of these will not break the bank. Anway, a different, honkier tone than the National tricone that he usually plays. (EDIT: Think Jerry Douglas, that classic dobro tone. Cuts through the mix beautifully on the solos.)

And Deefstes, nice photos.

@Deefstes: Nice, happy, pretty, soothing folky sound. Makes inside feel good.

X-rated Bob wrote: That's Andrew on the Mandolin. Some GFSAers may know him as one of the three guitar techs at Music Connection. I believe he also plays with Zebra and Giraffe.

Thanks Bob. Zebra and Giraffe? I think I saw one the other day:

X-rated Bob wrote: And Deefstes, nice photos.

Again, thanks. Not quite what we've gotten accustomed to from the shutter of Ilse though. Pity she wasn't there.

Conrad wrote: @Deefstes: Nice, happy, pretty, soothing folky sound. Makes inside feel good.

Thanks mate. Just a pity for that camera mic.