Hi, everyone, using skills honed in my previous job as an Under-Assistant West Coast Promotion Man, I’m filing this recap of last night’s All Star Jam hosted, as always, by the Reverend Conner Tribble and his Deacons. I’m sure I’ve left important people and things out of the report (please don't shoot me, I'm unarmed) but here’s everything I remember. Let me just say this was one of the most enjoyable of many memorable jams I’ve experienced over the past months down there at Athens’ infamous The Office Lounge (“Hey, honey, don’t cook supper, I’ll be working late at the office tonight, bahaha!” “Don’t think you’re fooling anyone, buddy, you want to go down and buy drinks from that excessively attractive bartender, Marissa Hockey.” “It’s Melissa Hockin, baby.” “Whatever.”). So, things got going with the Right Reverend and his Deacons rocking some of my favorite songs (such as "We gotta get out of this place" and "No matter what") while I sat at the bar next to Michael Gibson discussing advanced pot stirring techniques and watching Georgia’s men’s basketball team pull out a win on the road against South Carolina (“Do it J.J., woo hoo!”) but wishing I was up there playing along. Just as the game ended, the band went into "Shake Senora" and I was seized with an uncontrollable urge to get up and shake it (btw, have you seen the film Beetlejuice?). Fortuitously for me, Martha Barry Kristin Pruet, Lisa Mende, and Paula Loniak were out on the floor dancing with one another, providing the perfect opportunity for me to jump in the line. For whatever reason, I took it that my name is Senora and my inhibition went MIA. After this brief manic episode passed, I had to sit and recover my breath for the remainder of the Deacons’ set.
The jam proper began with guitarists Larry Clinton and Ken Will Morton augmenting the Deacons to support Stefan Eberhard’s deft vocals. Shortly thereafter, I was excited to see a person I’ve truly missed, David “the Blues Executioner” Herndon, arriving with his ax (that’s a pun, people, ok, a bad pun, then). At about the same time, blues diva Caroline Aiken showed up with an entourage of talented young ladies who took turns demonstrating their artistry. The duet known as the Pussy Willows (not to be confused with Pussy Riot) blew me away with their vocal harmonies and first-rate guitar accompaniment.
Prior to that, I had been chatting with old friend and drummer Norman Hardin about pain management (his day job) and now Dr. Norman took a turn on the drums, giving the amazing Deane Quinter time to hang out with the crowd. Meanwhile, David, Larry, Ken Will and your humble narrator (i.e., me) seized the chance to get into the act. The heroic Greg Veale sang a blues tune dedicated to his mother and then the gang played "Satisfaction" and "Roll Over Beethoven" (which I got to sing!). First-timer Norman acquitted himself admirably. Next (I think this was the order), with Deane back behind the kit, Caroline performed "Pride and Joy", during which all the electric guitarists took a crack at solos (we live for those moments, you know) followed by "Dixie Chicken" (which I need to go back and study but it still rocked). Then, a whole bevy of beautiful and talented ladies took turns as lead vocalist: birthday girl Stephanie Grey Reavis singing Blondie’s "Heart of glass" and the viral hit, "Happy"; Danna Whaley on "Johnny B. Goode" and "the Letter", my not-so-secret crush (take a number, pal), Lisa Mende, performing "My boyfriend’s back" and "Then he kissed me" (sigh), Paula Loniak doing "Twist and shout" and "Paint it black." Are these great songs or what?
As the time that all goods things must end approached, Conner stated that he owed me another song. I don’t know that he owed me anything but who am I to argue? Now, on the day of each All Star Jam I attend, I give serious thought to what I want to sing if my number is called. So, I asked, “Can we do "Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat"? Please?” As it turned out, no persuasion was necessary. Conner explained that Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde is one of his “winter albums” and he would gladly go with my selection. What fun to sing lines like, “I don’t mind him cheating on me but I sure wish he’d take that thing off his head!” I was done playing after that, so I stepped down and from the dance floor, with a game Martha Barry attempting to follow my erratic steps, enjoyed the last tune from the Deacons, "Under the boardwalk." Wind down time is required after jamming, of course, and it was great to do it chatting with my alternative Universe soulmate, Kathy Betts Tate, and our fabulous friends, Crystal and Pat Nunnally, still the world’s cutest couple. Once more, a million thanks to Conner Tribble for making all this joyous lunacy possible. You are the best, mon ami!
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