Lex and Joe

Wow!

2010-03-13T12:37:00.004-05:00

A lot has happened since the last post. Not the least of which was Lexapalooza.

To catch up on what's happening now: We're currently playing every Friday at Jonathan's in Ogunquit from 7-10. Come by and check out the Lex and Joe $5 menu. We play in the cozy bar area between dining rooms and it's turned into a good gig. The Friday of the power failure was a high point, bringing lots of old friends out of the darkness.

We are also doing 2 Sundays a month at Rudi's in Portsmouth for brunch 12-3. This Sunday (3/14) being one of them.

Tonight we'll be heading to Bethel, Maine to play at the Sudbury Inn for a special St. Patty's Day dinner from 5:30-9 so if you're visiting Sunday River stop by and see us.

There will be more news soon about summer gigs so stay tuned for further details. You can also follow us on Twitter and be sure to check out our Facebook Page (Lex and Joe).

Angelina's

2008-06-20T12:01:00.002-04:00

Lex's return to Angelina's went well. Carlos was very happy. His sister Ginny was there with our friend Heidi, and it was a good night. This bodes well for the summer season coming up. Hope to see you all there next week.

Lex is Back

2008-06-19T17:53:00.002-04:00

Tonight marks Lex's return from a two-week stint on the Disabled List. If you are in town stop by and see us at Angelina's tonight and say hello. Of course, we will also be at the York Harbor Inn Sunday night from 7-10 as usual.

Lex

2008-06-05T12:43:00.004-04:00

As you might have noticed Lex has been conspicuously absent for the past 2 weeks. He is currently residing at the York Hospital B&B. The doc says he'll be there for another week. It's not serious and he should be out and ready to go for the upcoming summer madness. In the meantime I want to thank Jon Ross, Bob Halperin, and Woody Allen for graciously being on-call to be "Lex for a night". Woody and I will be playing tonight (Thursday 6/5) at Angelina's and this coming Sunday at the York Harbor Inn. So stop by and say hello. It ain't the same but it's great to be in an area with so many talented musicians to fill in. Here's a picture of Woody filling in at the Cliff House last Saturday night.

Michael Timothy's

2008-05-29T12:09:00.002-04:00

We played last night at Michael Timothy's in Nashua for the first time since the snow melted. It was a very nice turnout. People were sitting outside enjoying the weather. The food's great and the bar is fun. I love the sliding library ladder for the wine rack which is barely visible in the picture to the left behind the bar.

We'd like to thank our maniac friends from Lobster in the Rough for showing up and livening up the party.

Summer's Coming

2008-05-01T11:57:00.002-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again. We're headed to ski country for the last time to play Brunch on Mother's Day (5/11) at the Sudbury Inn. We'll be upstairs in the main dining room from 11-2.

Tonight we continue our resicency at Angelina's in Ogunquit. We're there every thursday from 7:30-10:30 so come and join us. The big news is they'll be opening a new place right in the center of Ogunquit called "Tapas and Tinis". You guessed it, they serve Tapas and Martinis and we'll be playing there ever Monday this summer. We're hoping to revive our Mondays at Joe Allen's fervor, so check it out.

Partygras

2008-02-03T13:46:00.000-05:00

Last night we got a chance to play with our old friends Truffle at the Stone Church in Newmarket, NH. It was a great time. Dave Gerard's Gumbo was superb (the chef himself served us). Then it was to time do some serious Partygras.

Joe and Chris Elliott sat in with the band for the first set then Lex and Joe played during the intermission. Since the new album is titled "Chicken Gumbo" it seemed fitting, and the crowd response was great. Thanks to Andy the soundman for making it all sound great.

The Truffle band with a little added horn finished out the evening and people were partying like it was 1999. There were a few casualties (Chris Elliott's girlfriend was abducted by aliens midway through the show) but hey, even illegal aliens have the right to Partygras, don't they? I guess we'll have to ask Mitt Romney for a clarification on that one.

We have to thank Chris Kofer for finally getting us on Youtube. Keep checking because he says there are more to come.

Hopefully we can do it again sometime, and if you weren't there for this one, make sure you don't miss another event like this!

Jonathan's Cd Release Party

2007-11-27T00:58:00.000-05:00

The Cd release party last night at Jonathan's was a great success, despite being up against the end of Thanksgiving weekend and the Patriots game. We had a better than expected turnout and sold quite a few Cd's. The band sounded great and the crowd loved it. Thanks to all of those who made it out for the party last night.

We've also been getting quite a few internet sales. It's nice to see people are taking advantage of our secure ordering. You can pay with any major credit card or Paypal, and it's done through Paypal's secure site. to order direct just follow this link to our site. We also accept checks and money orders. the snail mail address is on the order page.

CD Release Sunday November 25th

2007-11-25T12:01:00.000-05:00

It's finally here! The latest Lex and Joe CD: Chicken Gumbo. We're having a CD release party tonight, 11/25 at Jonathan's in Ogunquit at 7PM. It should be a great night featuring Scip Gallant on Organ. Pete Maclean and Mark Teixeira on drums, Nate Edgar on bass and of course our long-time associate Jon Ross on bass. There are also rumors about Ben Baldwin and Kent Allyn from The Ben Baldwin and the Big Note band showing up. All in all, a stellar line-up, so don't miss it.

Special Night

2007-08-26T12:49:00.000-04:00

Come on down to the York Harbor Inn tonight for a very special treat. Our friend and multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling from Railroad Earth will be here for a few days helping us with our new CD. He'll be joining us at the York Harbor Inn this evening and it should be a very special night.

Music on Main Street

2007-08-10T12:28:00.000-04:00

Summer is starting to wind down and we've been out straight doing two gigs some days and going to the recording studio others. I guess we'll miss it when Winter's here, but for now it's been a pretty intense last few weeks.

Yesterday we did the Music on Main Street in scenic downtown Biddeford and had a great time. The weather was perfect and we had a great crowd and they raised over $1500 for charity.

Then we headed over to Angelina's for our regular Thursday night gig. We had a great crowd in the lounge and we were rockin' until 11. Some of our friends from Wells (Big Mike and Janice) were there and there were also some old-school friends from PA in attendance. We'd like to thank Judy, Marilyn, and Helen for taking time out of their busy Spa schedule to come and see us.

Everyone had a fabulous time. Oh yeah, the food's good too! Come on down and catch us while the weather's good for sitting out on the Piazza. Or sit in the lounge with us and get the first-hand live experience.

Summer Season

2007-07-30T12:40:00.001-04:00

Well.......we're about half way through the summer season and it's been a great one so far. Feels like the good old days with Canadian tourists and lots of people strolling through scenic downtown Ogunquit.

Tonight (7/30) is another Monday at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound and this week we have a special treat. Jon Ross is just back from his trip to Switzerland with Duke Robillard and he'll be bringing Duke's drummer with him. Note the time change: We'll be starting at 8pm tonight and doing a little dinner jazz set before we kick off the festivities.

Our gig at Angelina's has been great. Big crowds and lots of old familiar faces. If you haven't been there yet come on down and join in the fun. We play every Thursday from 8-11pm. Join us in the bar or make a reservation to dine Al Fresco on the Piazza--don't worry, you'll be able to hear us out there too!

Our new gig at the Sandbar on the roof of the Ashworth By the Sea in Hampton Beach has been great. So far we've played twice and been rained out once. As you can see by the pictures, it's a spectacular setting so come and join us for drinks overlooking the "The Strip".

Cape Neddick Lobster Pound

2007-07-09T12:19:00.000-04:00

Tonight we continue our summer of fun at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound . The lineup will be a little different this week. We'll be featuring Nightlife bass player Peter Black on bass and vocals so it should be an exciting night. Make sure you come on down and bring all of your friends and put on your dancing shoes. Stay tuned for more surprises to come as the summer unfolds at the "Pound".

July Schedule

2007-06-29T12:04:00.000-04:00

7/01/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:000

7/02/07-CAPE NEDDICK LOBSTER POUND-BACK AGAIN!!!-W JON ROSS AND PER HANSON-9:30-12:30-SUMMER FUN ON MON NIGHTS

7/04/0 07/04/07-HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!=THE PRESS ROOM-PORTSMOUTH, NH-9:00-12:000

7/05/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

7/06/07-THREE CHIMNEYS INN-DURHAM, NH-7:00-10:000

7/07/07-Meadowmere-Ogunquit, Me-8:00-11:000

7/08/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

7/09/07-CAPE NEDDICK LOBSTER POUND-BACK AGAIN!!!- 9:30-12:30-SUMMER FUN ON MON NIGHTS

7/11/07--Strange Brew-Manchester, NH-LEX & JOE-9:00-12:300

7/12/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

7/13/07-WILDCAT TAVERN-JACKSON, NH-8:30-11:300

7/14/07-WILDCAT TAVERN-JACKSON, NH-8:30-11:30

7/15/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

7/16/07-CAPE NEDDICK LOBSTER POUND-BACK AGAIN!!!- 9:30-12:30-SUMMER FUN ON MON NIGHTS

7/17/07-THE PRESS ROOM-PORTSMOUTH,NH-LEX HOSTS THE HOOT-9:00-12:000

7/19/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

7/21/07-ALFRED FESTIVAL-ALFRED,ME-COUNTY COURT HOUSE STEPS-12:30-2:30 pm

7/21/07-Meadowmere-Ogunquit, Me-8:00-11:00

7/22/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

7/23/07-CAPE NEDDICK LOBSTER POUND-BACK AGAIN!!!- 9:30-12:30-SUMMER FUN ON MON NIGHTS

7/26/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

7/28/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-8:00-11:00

7/29/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

7/30/07-CAPE NEDDICK LOBSTER POUND-BACK AGAIN!!!- 9:30-12:30-SUMMER FUN ON MON NIGHTS

Cape Neddick Lobster Pound

2007-06-29T10:49:00.000-04:00

We're finally starting our summer residency at the "Pound" this Monday. It's July fourth weekend, Putin's coming, W is here. What more could we ask for you say??? Well......this will also be the one and only time to see the Blueswing group with the phenomenal Per Hansen and Jon Ross on drums and bass. Jon is touring with Duke Robillard this summer and Per has a regular gig in Boston on Mondays so Peter Black and Jamie Decato will be filling in on bass and drums after this week. So after a hard day of protesting at Walker's Point come on down and have some fun at the Pound with us.

Jamie was actually the second drummer of Neil and the Nightlifes waaaaay back in the 80's (no, we didn't play disco back then). He's literally played with everyone in the Portsmouth seacoast area since then, but we still call him "The Kid". Peter, of course, is the current bassist with the Nightlifes. He's also a locally renowned singer-songwriter, bon vivant, and raconteur. So....it's a a tale of two summers this year. Come out Monday and celebrate the past with some rockin' blues masters, and then for the rest of the summer check out the new group for some surprises (we don't even know what these guys are going to do) and a more dancing groove.

Hope to see you there.

PS: Don't forget to come down to Angelina's on Thursdays and dine with Al Fresco on the Piazza while listening to the always refreshing sounds of Lex and Joe.

Angelina's

2007-06-13T00:52:00.000-04:00

We'd like to thank Mark and Clark and Norman for making our winter so enjoyable at MC Perkins Cove .

We're now taking up our summer residency at Angelina's Restaurant in Ogunquit. David has welcomed us enthusiastically and we're hoping to build on the success we had during our month-long gig last January. We started last Thursday (6/7) and it looks like it's going to be a great summer there. Come and join us every Thursday night from 8-11. There's an outdoor "Piazza" that's open to the bar, or you can come into the bar if you want to get up close and personal. It's very relaxed and inviting either way and David makes everyone feel at home. We hope to see everyone there at some point this summer.

In other news: We'll be back again to the Maine Blues Festival this year in scenic Naples, ME in the Sebago Lake region. This was a great event last year featuring Blues bands from Maine. Come out and show your support for this great American Music. The Pulled Pork sandwiches and microbrews aren't bad either. If you're interested they are still looking for volunteers to help out with parking, etc. A great way to help the cause and get to see some great music for free!

In further breaking news: We're headed back to the Electric Cave this Sunday with the great young NH Bass Player Nate Edgar to start working on a new CD to be released this Fall/Winter. Stay tuned for further developments. All I can say is there will be a lot of guests (including our fabulous multi-talented multi-instrumental pal Andy from Railroad Earth ) and surprises galore for the entire family!

Tonight

2007-05-31T10:14:00.000-04:00

It's our last night (5/31) at MC's for the season so please come out and join us for one last spectacular view of the ocean (not to mention great food and music).

Next week (6/7) we will continue the Thursday night madness at our new summer home: Angelina's Restaurant on Rt.1 in Ogunquit across from the footbridge road. We played there in January and had a great time. We play in the bar and it's spacious and comfortable. And, of course, the music and food are great. So come and join us there next week. But tonight: Come on down to the MC Perkins finale!

June Schedule

2007-05-30T12:05:00.000-04:00

Here's the schedule for June. It looks like Summer is finally getting under way. Let's hope for a great June '07!

06/01/07-THREE CHIMNEY'S INN-DURHAM, NH-7:00-10:00

06/03/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

06/05/07-PRESS ROOM-Portsmouth,NH-Lex-Hootmiester-9:00-12:00

06/06/07-Strange Brew-Manchester, NH-LEX & JOE-9:00-12:30

06/07/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

06/09/07-Meadowmere-Ogunquit, Me-8:00-11:00

06/10/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

06/14/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

06/15/07-Old Village Inn-Ogunquit, Me-Fri Night Live-acoustic -LEX SOLO-9:30-12:30

06/16/07-MAINE BLUES FEST-NAPLES, ME-LEX & JOE'S BLUESWING-6:30-8:00

06/17/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

06/19/07-Hermanos Cocina-Concord, NH-6:30-9:00

o6/20/07-Hermanos Cocina-Concord, NH-6:30-9:00

06/21/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

06/24/07-York Harbor Inn-York Harbor, ME-7:00-10:00

06/28/07-ANGELINA'S-OGUNQUIT, ME-8:00-11:00-NEWGIG!!!

06/30/07-Meadowmere-Ogunquit, Me-8:00-11:00

Cape Neddick Lobster Pound

2007-05-07T11:06:00.000-04:00

It's finally looking like Spring at least, if not Summer, so here's the latest news.

It's official: We're going to be back with the band to the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound after a 5 year Sabbatical. We start on Monday, June 25th, so mark your calendars! We'll be there every Monday through Labor Day with our great rhythm section: Per Hansen (who has played with James Cotton, Ronnie Earl, and too many others to mention) on drums, and Jon Ross (who's resume includes: Kim Wilson of the Thunderbirds, James Cotton, Duke Robillard, Monster Mike Welch, etc, etc.)on bass and guitar.

There has been a change in the schedule at MC Perkins cove. For those of you who were there yesterday (5/6) for the brunch you may have noticed that we weren't. We'll be there next Sunday (5/13) and then again on Sunday, May 27th for our last Brunch of the season. We will still be playing every Thursday until the end of May, but with a new start time. It's 8-11 now for all of you night owls! We will be continuing our Thursday gig for the summer, so Stay tuned for more information.

We also have some sad news to report. For those of you who were at Chicky's Fine Diner Friday night, you were witnessing the end of a great experiment. No one (including the staff) knew it until the end of the night, but Chicky told us he's closing his doors as of yesterday (5/6). It's a real shame because this place had a lot going for it and it's a sad commentary on the local music scene in general that not enough people came out to support this asset to the community on a regular basis. We can only hope that someone will try again to bring high quality musical acts to the Portland area at a reasonable price.

Weekly Update

2007-05-01T11:34:00.000-04:00

We had a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Wildcat this past weekend (the usual at this time of year).

This week we'll be at the Strange Brew in Manchester, NH on Wednesday night. We'll be back at MC Perkins Cove for our usual Thursday night gig. On Friday we're returning to Chicky's Fine Diner--one of our favorite places to play--with Blueswing. Don't miss it! Sunday we're back at MC's for the brunch from 11-2:30 and then our usual Sunday night gig at the York Harbor Inn from 7-10.

Summer News

2007-04-27T11:17:00.000-04:00

This Saturday (4/28) we'll be heading up to ski country for a gig at the Wildcat Tavern . We'll be playing from 8-11 so if you're around the Mt. Washington Valley this weekend come on down and say hello.

For those of you who don't know already, Joe Allen restaurant in Ogunquit has decided not to open this summer. We are currently trying to find a replacement Monday night gig and have several options. We'll keep you informed as developments, well, develop.

In the meantime we will continue with our regular Thursday gig at MC Perkins Cove through May. We play from 7:30-10:30 so it's an early evening on a school night.

We will also be doing every other Sunday Brunch (5/6 & 20) at MC's. So come down and have some fun. The food is awesome and the view is spectacular. Things are starting to pick up in the Cove and the weather is improving.

We're still doing the Sunday gig from 7-10 at the York Harbor Inn, of course and we'd love to see you there as well.

So.....stay tuned for further developments......

Last Night

2007-04-06T11:49:00.000-04:00

Things went very smoothly last night at the MC Perkins Cove. We had a nice crowd all evening and Woody did a great job being "Lex for a Night". We will be back to normal next Thursday.

Speaking of MC's, we will be doing the Sunday Brunch this week (4/8). It's Easter Sunday, but since they've had a lot of reservations Norman has decided to do the Brunch anyway, and we will be playing from 11:30-2:30. Hope to see you there.....after church, of course.

Super Thursday

2007-04-05T01:43:00.000-04:00

No....it's not the Iowa caucus. But it is a rare occasion where Lex and Joe are playing separately on the same night. Lex will be in Portsmouth at the Press Room participating in a tribute to Fred Neil with Cormac McCarthy and Doug Bennett. Joe will be holding down the MC Perkins Cove regular Thursday night gig with special guest Woody Allen. No......not THAT Woody Allen....he plays the clarinet, and a clarinet duo gig would be, well........This Woody Allen is a great guitarist and vocalist. His song list encompasses everything from Calypso to Steely Dan, with Bob Marley and Steve Miller thrown in. And you never know....a Polka might break out at any time.

So......If you go to MC Perkins Cove from 7:30-10:30, you can still make it to the Press Room for the last set.

And speaking of MC Perkins Cove , we will be playing the Sunday brunch this week (4/8) from 11-2:30. It's Easter Sunday, so for those of you who gave up great food for Lent, it's time to paaaaarty!

Last Hurrah in Ski Country

2007-03-27T01:15:00.000-04:00

This weekend will be the end of our Winter tour of Sunday River Brew Pub. We will be back from time to time this summer and hopefully we'll be back on a regular basis next winter.

As usual we'll be playing Friday and Saturday from 3-8 in the bar.

Two weeks ago we had a great weekend with our friend Andy Goessling and we're hoping this weekend will be just as busy up there. I know there's still snow in my front yard so there should be plenty up in Bethel--we drove home in it two weeks ago. So come on up for one last weekend of spring skiing. We'll see you there.

The York Harbor Inn

2007-03-18T16:35:00.000-04:00

Well, tonight's the last night of Andy's visit to Maine. If you're in the area be sure and check it out at the York Harbor Inn tonight. We had a very successful weekend at the Sunday River Brewpub and the band sounded great last night with Jon, Per, and Andy.

Maybe we can get him back up here this summer some time.

Andy Goessling from Railroad Earth

2007-03-15T15:14:00.000-04:00

Our friend Andy Goessling from Railroad Earth is on his way up here from the wilds of New Jersey to join us for a weekend of fun at the Sunday River Brewpub in scenic Bethel Maine. He'll be joining us tomorrow apres ski from 3-8 and then Saturday Apres from 4-8 and Saturday evening with Jon Ross and Per Hansen for a special Blueswing gig from 9-12. If you're anywhere in the vicinity make sure you check it out. It should be lots of fun, and there's even snow in the forecast.

As if that's not enough, Andy will also be joining Lex and Joe at the York Harbor Inn on Sunday from 7-10, so if you can't make it to snow country, come on down to the YHI.

Oops

2007-03-12T14:05:00.000-04:00

Due to an unfortunate failure to communicate, we did not not play at the Sunday River Brew Pub last weekend. The good news is that we're playing Friday and Saturday this coming weekend with our pal from NJ, Andy Goessling. Andy is a founding member of the great jam band Railroad Earth. He'll be helping us out Friday from 3-8, and then Saturday we'll be playing 4-8 with Andy and adding Jon Ross on bass and the great Per Hansen on drums from 9-12 as a "Supersized" Blueswing gig.

If you're anywhwere near Sunday River this weekend be sure and check this special event out.

Sunday River Brews

2007-03-09T12:10:00.000-05:00

We're headed up to Sunday River again for a weekend of Brews and Blues. If you're out skiing stop in and join us for a brew. We'll be playing in the pub from 3-8 today (3/9) and tomorrow. The skiing is going to be spectacular this weekend so don't hesitate!

Ski Madness

2007-03-06T11:08:00.000-05:00

Well, the weather was not cooperative this weekend. We got canceled at MC Perkins Cove on Thursday in anticipation of the storm, and then Friday night at Horsefeathers in North Conway was canceled because they received a lot of snow up there. We did manage to make it to the Wildcat Tavern on Saturday and there were a lot of happy skiers up there.

This weekend we'll be back at the Sunday River Brew Pub Friday and Saturday 3-8 so if you're in the area come and check it out. With the current temperature in the single digits around here the skiing should be spectacular this weekend.

There We Were, Gone....Again

2007-03-02T13:48:00.000-05:00

If you happened to venture out to MC Perkins Cove last night you probably noticed we weren't there. In anticipation of today's storm apparently there were many cancellations. Which led to our cancellation. Sorry for any inconvenience to anyone who came out to see us. We will be there next week, barring some other freak of nature.

Due to the major snowfall today in N. Conway, we will also be cancelling the gig tonight at Horsefeathers. We will be at the Wildcat Tavern tomorrow for Apres (4-6) and in the evening (8:30-11:30) so don't miss this great spring skiing opportunity. They are expecting 20" of snow today.

See you there!

Hermanos Cocina

2007-02-20T00:54:00.000-05:00

For anyone out there in the Concord, NH area we'll be at Hermanos Cocina Tuesday and Wednesday (2/20-21). Showtime is 6:30-9:30. This is a different gig for us since it's mostly intrumental jazz. Don't be scared, you can always drink a lot of Tequila. The food is great and bartender Scott is one of our favorites. And he DOES know his Tequila.

I went to MC's and there they were....Gone.

2007-02-16T09:51:00.000-05:00

If you braved the weather to come and see us last night I guess you noticed that we weren't there. Due to the weather there weren't enough people and so they decided to cancel. We're sorry for anyone who was inconvenienced by this, but the decision wasn't made until 6:30 and by then it was too late to warn anyone.

Hope to see you next week.

Valentines Day

2007-02-14T12:54:00.000-05:00

The weekend at Sunday River went very well, thanks to the weather. Since we are currently in the midst of our first Nor'Easter of the season I guess it's safe to say winter is finally here. Fortunately we're enjoying a quiet Valentines Blizzard Day off today but we will be at MC Perkins Cove tomorrow (2/15) from 7:30-10:30. Sooo....if your plans for a quiet romantic evening get cancelled tonight, or if you just want to have some fun, come and join us for some winter camaraderie with a spectacular view in scenic Perkins Cove. Norman is even offering $2 drafts as an added incentive to get out in the snow.

Sunday River Brew Pub

2007-02-09T10:35:00.000-05:00

Well, we're headed up to Bethel again! We'll be playing from 3-8 Friday and Saturday (2/9-10) so come in and warm up with some blues and brews.

Our tips to the Sunday River Brewing Co. have been somewhat of a roller-coaster ride this winter. We've gone from 65 degrees to -50 wind-chill factor. This weekend looks like it's going to be spectacular, even some snow in the forecast. According to the Weather Channel there are 120 trails open on the mountain, so there should be plenty of fun for the entire family.

See you there!

MC Perkins Cove

2007-02-08T12:31:00.000-05:00

We return to MC's tonight and we're hoping to see you all there. It's been a cold month so far so come down and warm up with us in scenic Perkins Cove.

Ski Country

2007-02-05T10:01:00.000-05:00

It's nice to see that we have a lot of new subscribers. Hopefully some of you will feel the urge to share your thoughts by posting comments. Please tell your friends and neighbors to subscribe. It could be the only thing you do for free all day.

The weekend in N. Conway and Jackson, NH went very well. If you live anywhere within the sound of my voice you know why. The white stuff on the ground. It's finally here. We got to drive home in a snow storm Friday night for the first time all year. We also got to see a lot of happy smiling faces for the first time this season.

Friday night we were at Horsefeathers in scenic dowtown North Conway. We had a great crowd. And they were very entertaining. When a member of the the well-oiled group right in front of us stood up to make a point her chair fell over backwards. She then proceeded to sit down... All the way down..... On the ground (you shoulda been there). It added just the right touch of comedy to the evening.

Saturday we played at the Wildcat in Jackson, NH. The apres from 4-6 was crazy. We even had to play an encore! And we have a new president of the local fan club (you know who you are). Saturday evening was a little more sedate since everyone had a long day skiing. It was nice to see some Ski-Mo's there (don't ask), and particularly nice to see our old friends John and Bill from the "Sweeney era" Wildcat (we're hoping someday Pam and Marty will drop by to see us). And of course we couldn't neglect to mention Ben. We got to hang with him and discuss politics in the new "musician's lounge"--if they only hired the same decorator at Horsefeathers......We came to the alarming conclusion that we've been playing for those guys since 1984 with Neil and the Nightlifes. On the wall here at L&J headquarters, we still have a framed copy of the memo from Mike O'Leary telling us: No more dancing on the tables.

We played our first Sunday brunch of the new year at MC Perkins Cove and we will be playing our first Thursday back at MC's this week (2/8). Be sure to come down for some warmth and inspiration. We will also be back there next Sunday (2/11) for the brunch.

We hope to see you there, and feel free to post comments and suggestions on the Blog.

Last Minute Change

2007-02-01T11:07:00.000-05:00

In case you didn't get the news there has been a "failure to communicate" about the MC Perkins Cove gig originally scheduled for tonight, 2/1. We will be resuming our residency there next Thursday, 2/8. The good news is this gives us a chance to do one more gig at Angelina's. The month of January has been great so come on down and help us say goodbye to David and the crew (temporarily, we hope) with a fabulous February first.

Long Time No See

2007-01-30T12:01:00.000-05:00

We'll be back at MC Perkins Cove starting Thursday February 8th at 8PM so please try to get there. Our month long sabbatical at Angelina's in January went so well so we're going to do one more show there tonight and then continue the vibe into February at MC Perkins Cove. So come on down and get warm by the Franklin Fireplace.

We're also doing a lot of snow country gigs this winter and since winter seems to finally be here we hope to see some of you up there. Check out our web site for all the gigs in your area. This weekend we'll be heading to Horsefeathers Friday and the Wildcat Tavern Saturday Apres and Evening. It's a new old gig for us and it's been very good so far this winter--even with the lack of snow. The wildcat is under new management and they've done a great job of retaining the old charm while making major improvements to the building. If you haven't been there in awhile, check it out.

If you're planning a ski trip this weekend be sure and come and catch a show at either of these great places.

Summer

2006-05-02T10:50:00.000-04:00

Wow. It's been a long time since the last post. Winter seemed like one long gray haze. Despite the lack of snow we had a very good winter at Sunday River Brew Pub. Met some new fans and saw a lot of old ones.

The Thursdays at MC Perkins have been a real bright spot all winter. Thanks to everyone who came out to support us there. It ain't over yet, we've got 2 more to go.

Then we'll be moving over to our summer gig at Joe Allen on Thursday 5/18. Don't miss this event. It's our opening party and they've all been a real blast. Plenty of great food and great music. We'll be featuring Blueswing with Jon Ross and Per Hansen on this special evening, and then Lex and Joe every Thursday through the summer.

Speaking of great music and Blueswing, mark your calendars. This summer will be a little different. Lex and Joe will be playing evey Thursday at Joe Allen's in Ogunquit through the summer and we've switched the Monday night gig to The Inn on the Blues in York Beach. It's a bigger venue and will allow us to do our Blueswing thing every Monday with Jon and Per. The two gigs we did at the IOTB last summer were rockin' like the old days so you wont want to miss one of these Mondays. The festivities get started on Memorial day, May 30th starting at 9PM.

We have a couple of new gigs we want to mention. We'll be playing the Sunday Brunch Mother's Day May 14th at JP O'Hanlon's Irish Pub in Ayre, MA from 11:30-2:30. So for those of you who travel from MA to see us on the weekend, we're coming to you instead. We'll be playing at JP O'Hanlon's about once a month so check our online calendar for updates. If you like great beer, great food and the occasional "wee shot" of Irish whiskey this is the place for you. The other new place is Chicky's Fine Diner in Westbrook, ME (right next to Portland). It's quickly become one of our favorite places to play. It's a concert atmosphere with great diner food (and some more exotic offerings) thrown in. It's a pleasure to play onstage in a "listening" room. It's an early evening so come and eat some great diner food and listen to some great music with Lex and Joe's Blueswing Friday May 26th. Showtime: 8-10:30.

MC Perkins

2005-11-10T11:40:00.000-05:00

November is always the slowest time of year for us, so since there hasn't been much going on we haven't been blogging much. That will change soon as the winter season kicks in.

The main item of interest for now is that we will be starting new hours at MC Perkins Cove this week. We will be playing from 8:30-11:30 starting tonight, 11/10.

So if you haven't been there to see us yet come on down and enjoy the view, the music , and the food and drinks.

We will be doing a Katrina benefit this Sunday at Jonathan's Restaurant starting at 7:30. There is still a lot to be done way down yonder so come out and show your support for the hurricane victims In New Orleans.

And of course we'll be back at the York Harbor Inn for our regular Sunday night gig on the 20th.

Then we're off to Pennsylvania and New Jersey for the Thanksgiving holidays. We'll be in Wilkes-Barre, PA Friday and Sunday and Trenton, NJ Saturday 11/26 at Joe's Mill Hill Saloon starting at 10 PM. we'll have Jon Ross along with us this year so it should be a great time for all.

November Doldrums

2005-11-03T00:31:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year that things slow way down around here and nothing much is happening in ski country yet. The gig at MC Perkins is going very well. Come out and check it out. The view is spectacular. It's every Thursday 7:30-10:30. In the upstairs bar.

It looks like we'll be playing a lot in Sunday River this winter so if you're going skiing up that way stop and say hello at the Sunday River Brewing Co.

Of course we'll be making the annual trip to PA for thanksgiving. This year Jon Ross will be going with us. We'll be playing a new place in Trenton, NJ called Joe's Mill Hill Saloon on Saturday (11/26) so that should be exciting. And of course the River St Jazz Cafe on Friday (11/25) and Dugan's Pub on Sunday (11/27). We'll keep you updated as we go along. There is no printed calendar this month due to rampant laziness at Lex and Joe headquarters. The schedule will be online at the Lex and Joe Website as usual.

MC Perkins Cove

2005-10-20T23:57:00.000-04:00

Our first gig at MC Perkins Cove was a big success. Some of the usual suspects from Joe Allen were there as well as a lot of new faces. It looks like this is going to be a great new gig for us so come and enjoy the view, the food, and the music. We're playing from 7:30-10:30 or so. The kitchen is open until midnight and the bar menu is affordable and spectacular. So start your weekend early and come see us every Thursday until further notice.

In the revoltin' development Dept: The gig at Tempo for this week and next has been cancelled and it looks like we wont be playing there any more. There was no real reason given and the whole thing was handled in the most unprofessional way possible.

Joe Allen

2005-10-09T14:07:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since the last post. Here's the latest Lex and Joe news:

We're still in the middle of wedding season and have been very busy lately.

This Monday 10/10 will be the Joe Allen closing party and we will be playing with Jon Ross and Per Hansen. This is always a great event and we hope to see everyone there.

We will be starting at MC Perkins Cove on Thursday October 20th and will be playing every Thursday through the winter. We're excited about this new gig and hope everyone will come out and treat themselves to great food and great music through the winter. For those who don't know, it's on the site of the old Hurricane in Perkins Cove and is run by Mark and Clark from Arrows restaurant. It's a bistro menu and has a bar menu upstairs where we will be playing. It also has an even better view of the cove than Hurricanes did, if that's possible. So come out and join us.

Weekend Madness

2005-09-28T09:18:00.000-04:00

Another Whilrwind tour of New England. First, Friday night at Tempo. Things are really picking up there, and it looks like we'll be there through the winter on Fridays. Including this Friday, which is shown as Ron's Landing on the calendar.

Then Saturday it was off to Woonsocket, RI for a 50th birthday party.

Sunday was the Absolutely Fabulous foodie event at Arrows in Ogunquit. It was truly amazing. Meeting the Chefs and, of course, browsing and sluicing. The Four vines wines were excellent and don't get me started on the food. Especially Pearls Oyster Bar from Manhattan. Great Lobster Rolls (although not as authentic as Red's Eats in Wiscassett) and shrimp. Check out the the antique Tractor in the picture. We played in the tent in the incredible Arrows garden. Speaking of Arrows, Don't forget we'll be starting at MC Perkins in the Cove on Thursday Oct. 20th. Mark your calendars. We're playing upstairs and the bar menu is available up there.

From there we went directly to the Steve Hopkins wedding at the Colony in K-Port. We forced ourselves to top things off with Lobster there. Oh yeah, the wedding was great too. The Bride herself and her "bridesmaid posse" sang a few songs with the band and the place was rockin'.

Mariachi Madness

2005-09-23T01:13:00.000-04:00

Victor's wedding at Joe Allen was a real party. Every one of the Tequila bottles at the bar was empty on Monday when we got there to play. Congratulations to Victor and Elizabeth. (And to Victor's Mother for making the best Tequila I've ever tasted. I thought it was Patron only smoother).

But the big news was the Mariachi band from Boston that played on our breaks. We got them to play "Tequila" with us and it was a definite career highlight and something to put on the resume! If anyone out there has a picture of it please send it in for the Lex and Joe archives.

Watching the crowd throwing Victor through the air was a little frightening...like a Tequila-crazed Mosh Pit. But a great time was had by all and Per and Jon as usual played very well.

Monday night was a good night as well. The season ain't over yet, folks. So get on down to Joe Allen before Columbus day and celebrate the best time of year in New England....After-tourist season.

New Review

2005-09-15T11:50:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we had the pleasure of going to Newport, RI to play a private party. We forgot how beautiful Newport is, so we've included a couple of pictures (including on of Lex setting up in the Newport Regatta Club) to illustrate.

We played for, of course, a group of Yacht Brokers. if only Gatsby had showed up it would have been perfect.

Someone told us last weekend that we were featured in the Foster's Daily Democrat on Sunday. Follow the link to read the article. It's a good one (including a reference to "Bleeding Gums Murphy" one of the greats on saxophone).

Down in Front (Monday)

2005-09-14T02:21:00.000-04:00

First of all We thank Kevin Howe for having us at his annual lobster bake on Moody Beach. It's getting to be a tradition and one never gets too much lobster, do one? (to paraphrase Fats Waller). Johanna also made a return as the bartendress.

We rushed right from Moody to Joe Allen for the usual Monday merriment .

We're back in the front room now that the summer tourist crowds have abated. It's a lot cozier and the small crowd was a lot more intimate. After the whirlwind tour of last weekend it was a welcome change. We'll be playing through Labor day so come down and join the locals. You might even get a parking space.

Busy Weekend

2005-09-12T13:28:00.000-04:00

First of All congrats to Jason Hludik. We had a great time at the York Harbor Inn playing his wedding.

Then we were off to the Greystone Mansion on Shore Road in Cape Neddick to play wedding number two. Duke Norman is back from his European tour with Mighty Sam McClain and he was right in tune with Per Hansen. An all-star wedding band to say the least.

Sunday we did a family reunion of the Dennett family in Eliot (on the Dennett farm on Dennett road--you get the picture). Here's a pic of the 300 yr. old house and barn which has been in the family for 13 generations. Whew, that's a lot of in-laws.

Then it was off to the York Harbor Inn to a very enthusiastic crowd led by Scott and Fern. We sold lots of CD's (thanks Frank) and had a great time.

Tempo

2005-09-10T02:17:00.000-04:00

Here's another in the series of "Artist Renderings" from Tempo Bistro.

Another Friday in Waltham. It's lovely this time of year. The crowds are really picking up now that kids are back in school. The food is great, the drinks are good, the atmoshpere convivial, and the music....to die for. What more could one ask?

Ok, better acoustics would be nice, but hey....you can't always get what you want.

Portsmouth Herald Article

2005-09-06T20:06:00.000-04:00

In case any of you missed it there was an article in the Portsmouth, NH Herald today. You can check it out by following this link

It was a nice full page spread on us and talks about a little history and the new CD.

Let us know what you think of it by posting a comment--you don't need to sign up and it can be done anonymously.

In other news: We'll be playing at MC Perkins Cove Restaurant in Ogunquit every Thursday night through the winter starting October 20th, so mark your calendars. It should be a great new place for us. It's owned by Mark and Clark of the famous Arrows Restaurant, and it's on the site of the old Hurricane restaurant in Perkins Cove.

Hope to see you there.

Labor Day

2005-09-06T12:56:00.000-04:00

Well, the season is officially over....sort of. There's still Columbus Day and we'll be playing every Monday until then so come on down and join the locals at Joe Allen.

We'd like to thank Per Hansen and Peter Black for making last night a special end to summer.

Labor Day Weekend at Tempo

2005-09-03T02:49:00.000-04:00

Here's our "Artists Rendering" of the crowd at Tempo tonight. It's been slow for the past few months but it looks like now that summer's over the tourists are returning to the Boston area.

We're looking forward to a great Fall and winter at some new places.

Soon we will be winding down the Joe Allen gig (last one on Columbus Day), and looking forward to playing Victor's wedding.

After that we will be starting up at MC Perkins Cove. So stay tuned for details on that. It should be an exciting winter. We hope you'll come and check out Tempo, MC Perkins Cove, and Club 550 in N. Conway. Hopefully we'll add to the list of new and exciting places to come and see us play.

Club 550

2005-09-02T03:01:00.000-04:00

We had a rare Lex & Joe with Jon night at the club 550. It's an interesting place as you can see. The picture was taken with the fog machine on.

Everyone enjoyed the band and we'd like to thank Jon for taking time out from the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival to come and play with us.

It's off season in N. Conway so it was a small but entusiastic audience. We're hoping it will be a new place for us to play this winter. Thursday is the Blues Jam night.

207 Show

2005-08-31T03:17:00.000-04:00

We had a great time tonight on the 207 show on WCSH channel 6 in Portland. Rob Caldwell was very nice to us and the whole crew was very professional. It turns out the sound technician is married to Conn Fullam who played with one of our many former bass players (Steve Einstein) years ago--we were actually supposed to play at their wedding. Only 3 degrees of separation.

We hope those of you who tuned in enjoyed the show. Lex even got to discuss the weather with Joe Cupo--a personal highlight.

Please feel free to post any comments about tonight's show. We'd love to hear what you thought of our Portland television debut.

MB and Jed Wedding

2005-08-30T10:25:00.000-04:00

We've been a little lax on the blogging this past week, so here's the update:

Last Thursday we palyed at the Strange Brew with Jon Ross and Per Hansen and as always this was a real treat. The band was great and we got a good response from the crowd.

Saturday was Jed and MB's wedding (congratulaions from everyone in the band).

Sunday we did the "Concert for a Cure" at the Red Hook Brewery and that was a blast. We got a great response from the crowd.

Tonight we will be performing live on WCSH channel 6 in Portland on the 207 show. Please tune in and watch from 7-7:30 pm.

Nothing much else happening. September promises to be a very busy month with a lot of weddings and parties. We will still be at Joe Allen every Monday and the York Harbor Inn on Sundays so now that the traffic has died down you can come out and see us.

Donner-Smiths

2005-08-22T16:07:00.000-04:00

Last night was notable at the York Harbor Inn. The Donner-Smith party livened up the proceedings. The audience was very appreciative, and it's always nice to have people from NJ in attendance.

If you haven't been there lately come and check it out. We're there from 7-10 every Sunday.

Tonight is our regular Joe Allen gig in Ogunquit from 9-12. Last week was a great night and this week shouldn't be any different. Come down and have some of Victor's food and Lex and Joe's music.

Frogmore Stew

2005-08-20T23:37:00.000-04:00

Great time tonight at the Frogmore stew party--I gotta get the recipe. Many thanks to Roz, and it was great to see "Coco" back in action.

As you can see from the picture, there were Frogs as far as the eye could see.

Nightmare on rt. 1

2005-08-20T00:33:00.000-04:00

Well.......we didn't quite make it to the gig tonight. Those of you who came to see us at the Navy Yard are probably wondering where we were.

You would think it would be fairly easy to get from Ogunquit to Kittery considering all the traveling we do. Unfortunately we only made it to Cape Neddick. I would rather have the car die in the dirveway of course, but you can't always get what you want--as that other band that never has car trouble says.

Don't worry. We'll be back on the road again tomorrow. Vive le AAA.

Family Night

2005-08-16T11:45:00.000-04:00

Last night was a real blast from the past. Lex's sister Ginny and bro-in-law Millard were there, along with other family members. But the big surprise was the guest appearance by our old manager/soundman/lightman/van-driver Pasqual. We've only seen him up North once in the 25 years we've been here. To top it off it was his birthday, and the band was really smokin'. It was probably the best all-around night yet at Joe Allen and Taylor even broke out the '56 Les Paul for the occasion.

These events only happen once in a blue moon and it's a treat for musicians as well as audience when they do. To everyone who was there: It doesn't get much better than that. To the rest.....keep showing up and you never know what you're going to see. This was the second stellar gig of the summer (the other being Inn on the Blues) and there's a lot more to come. It ain't over 'till it's over.

Joe Allen

2005-08-15T13:37:00.000-04:00

Come on out tonight. It will be an extra special event since Jon Ross and Per Hansen will be joining us. The word is there might be a guest appearance by Jerry Short. So don't miss it!

Tempo Bistro

2005-08-13T17:52:00.000-04:00

It was a little lonely at Tempo last night. The Walthamians are up north still. We did get to do a couple of songs with a guy who plays there on Saturday nights. Roy Jones. He sounded just like Joe Williams and did a great job singing with us. It really made a pretty boring night fun. He did a great job singing "Gee baby ain't I good to you". We also did "Stormy Monday" as a shuffle, which was a welcome change to the standard "sit-in" request. Hopefully we'll have a chance to do that again.

Joe Allen 8/9

2005-08-09T03:17:00.000-04:00

Tonight was another great night at Joe Allen. The lifeguards were there in force, and that always livens things up.

The usual suspects were also there....Stephen and Elise, Steve Einstein. But the big surprise and a special thrill was meeting Muddy Waters' daughter Mercy.

We played "Hoochie Coochie Man" for her and she loved it. She even said her father would be proud. That's about as good of a compliment as anyone can get.

Nantucket Sleighride

2005-08-08T09:40:00.000-04:00

Sorry there have been no recent blogs. We have entered the "Nantucket Sleighride" part of our season and things are a little hectic. With visitors from out of town, weddings, parties, and gigs. Unfortunately things will be slowing down soon and I will probably move the blog to our website. Since it has become more of an informational tool for Lex and Joe I thought it would be good to have the visitors to our site be able to post comments on our travels.

So......to catch up.

The new CD is doing well and has received very positive reviews. You can order CD's, read reviews and download a free song at our website .

We played the Kennebunkport Blues Festival and hung out a little with a couple of the Roomful of Blues guys. We were featured on the Humble Farmer's show on MPBN this past Friday which will soon be archived on the MPBN website. We will also be appearing on the "207" show on WCSH in Portland on August 31st at 7PM.

Next Monday we will be playing with Per Hansen and Jon Ross at Joe Allen in Ogunquit. It's always a "must see" gig when we get to play with these guys. Please show up and support live music on the seacoast.

Inn on the Blues

2005-07-10T13:23:00.000-04:00

Friday nights gig at the Inn on the Blues was the best gig we've had in at least a decade. The band was great. Per Hansen played really well, and the audience was fantastic from start to finish. They were even clapping for solos. We haven't had this kind of reaction since the old days at Rosas. We could certainly use more of these.

By contrast last night's gig at the Black Cat in Laconia was extremely disappointing. One of those "So you want to be a professional musician" nights where we drove 2 hrs, played for 45 minutes, and drove home with 1/2 pay. Laconia resembled a ghost town from a bad spaghetti western on Saturday night. Not even a car drove by. Where is everybody? Apparently the non-existent summer has affected Lake Winnipesaukee more than the coast.

Monday is the big CD release party and it looks like Peter Black will be "opening" the show. Jon Ross will also be on hand to liven things up. Our friend DaleRobin will be selling CD's for us and it looks like it will be a big night. Please come out and get your copy of "Live at the Chicory House". It's in the process of being reviewed right now but preliminary reports have been very positive.

If you can't make it Monday, you can order securely from the website. You can even download a free song from the CD

Inn on the Blues

2005-07-08T12:34:00.000-04:00

We'll be at the Inn on the Blues tonight with Per and Jon. Two gigs in one week with these two great musicians. The place is usually packed and I'm hoping the weather wont deter people from seeing the band. It really is a treat.

The CD release is rolling along. We have a great article in the York County Coast Star by Dale Robin Lockman and have sent mass e-mails and press releases.

We're hoping for a big turnout Monday. We start at 9, so get there early and have some of Victor's great food.

New CDs are Available

2005-07-03T12:09:00.000-04:00

Finally! We have the new CD. It looks and sounds great. They're available on our secure website: http://www.lexandjoe.com/.
The CD release party is set for Monday, 7/11 at Joe Allen. Make sure you get there early. We start at 9. Our friend DaleRobin will be selling the CD's for us. So come on down and get your copy hot off the presses. It's the closest thing we've ever recorded to what we actually sound like live.

And please don't forget to buy copies for all of your friends. We need the money to pay our bar tabs.

The New CD

2005-06-29T08:19:00.000-04:00

The new CD is finally finished. We'll be picking it up Friday from the CD pressing plant. The official CD release party will ba at Joe Allen in Ogunquit on Monday, July 11th.

This should be a great night, so get there early.

Press Room

2005-06-24T01:22:00.000-04:00

Great evening at the Press Room last night. Joyce's show upstairs was awesome, and very well-attended. Our night started out a little slow, but turned into one of the best nights at the Press Room in recent memory.

People were literally dancing in the aisles, and the joint was jumpin'.

Bruce was regaling us with tales of Dave Van Ronk at the end of the evening just to top things off.

Tonight night we'll be back at the Tempo bistro in Waltham, and we're looking forward to a happy return after a 2 week absence.

It ws nice to see Tom Daly in the audience this evening. As well as Alex from the Dolphin Striker.

Press Room

2005-06-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

Tonight we'll be playing at the Press Room on Daniel St. in Portsmouth from 9-12. Come on down early and catch Joyce Andersen upstairs from 7-9. Maybe we can persuade her to play a little fiddle with us.

Lex and Joe CD

2005-06-22T10:10:00.000-04:00

We went to Sanford to view the proofs for our new CD and they looked great. So....they should be sent over to the pressing plant on Wed. or Thurs. and hopefully we'll have CD's by Monday.

We're planning the CD release party at Joe Allens for Monday, July 11th. So mark your calendars. It should be a GREAT night.

Speaking of which, Monday was a really good night at JA's. The crowd was big and we got a great response. It looks like summer has finally kicked in.

We'll be moving to the other room starting next week to make things a little more "ergonomic" and accomodate the increasing crowd.

See you there.

Ogunquit Playhouse Craft Fair

2005-06-19T17:09:00.000-04:00

Just got back from the Craft Fair. It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon. Met lot's of new interesting people. This was our first time at the fair and it was very enjoyable. We sold some CD's (they'll be listening to Lex and Joe in Tucson, AZ soon), and ate some BBQ.

Martin Crosby was in attendance, and Al Kupper was directing traffic--don't quit your day-job, Al.

Tonight we're headed to the York Harbor Inn for our usual gig there from 7-10. Come on down.

Can it be Summer is here?

CD update

2005-06-16T23:18:00.000-04:00

Well, the artwork is off to the printer at last!!! And the CD is off to the pressing plant. If everything goes as planned (I can't believe I just said that) we should be having the release party on the 11th at Joe Allen's. I'm sure you'll all stay tuned for the latest on "Live at the Chicory House" news.

New CD

2005-06-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Well, we're in the final phase of getting the new CD off to the pressing plant. Tom Daly is helping out with the final preparations and as usual there is a computer glitch. Hopefully it will be ironed out today and the artwork and CD will go off to lovely downtown Sanford.

We're planning a CD release party at Joe Allen's soon after the fourth of July so stay tuned for further updates.

The gigs last weekend were, in a word, hot. Sweaty also springs to mind.

Congratulations to Lori on a cool birthday party at an art school in Concord.

The Black Cat Saturday was pretty quiet (all the bikers were in Weir's Beach). And Ron's was jumpin' on Friday night.

All I can say is: Thank God for Air Conditioning--even the car was "way cool".

Black Cat

2005-06-11T17:38:00.000-04:00

We're off to Lake Winnepessaukee to play at the Black Cat in Laconia. It's the kick-off of bike-week, so there will be ablut 300,00 Harley's and Lex and Joe. Sounds positively Keseyian. Maybe some of the Merry Pranksters will be there.

Oh yeah, and it's 90 degrees. We've got a 1/2 tank of gas, a pack of cigarretes, and we're wearing sunglasses.

HIT IT!

Mast Cove Concert

2005-06-08T23:37:00.000-04:00

We'd like to thank Jean at Mast cove and all the people who showed up tonight. And especially Jon Ross. He made the night special. The crowd was really great and even though it was hot everything was very cool.

It was nice to see Pierre, and Dale-Robbin. Hope to see more of you in the future.

Several people told me about a new Mexican place in Biddeford called Meme's Burritos. They supposedly have jazz there. If you check it out let me know about it.

Mast Cove Gallery 3

2005-06-07T19:02:00.000-04:00

Finally a day off after a long weekend (I'm including Monday from now on). Looking forward to tomorrow's event at the Mast Cove Gallery. Jon Ross will be playing with us as a special guest, so don't miss this one. Hours are 7:30-10. If you're planning on coming let Jean know at mastcove@aol.com so she can get an estimate on the attendance.

It's $10 admission which includes light refreshments. So don't hesitate, come on over to beautiful downtown Kennebunkport for a great evening of music, art and fun. We always have a great time playing there.

Joe Allen Mondays

2005-06-07T01:01:00.000-04:00

Another Monday night. Summer hasn't even begun and things are going well at JA's. The usual suspects were there. Including Taylor, of course, Stephen and Elise, Martin Crosby, Johanna, Martha, Lee, etc., etc.

Come on down and join us if you haven't been there yet. It's only going to get better from here on. You might as well be a part of the best party in Ogunquit.

We've been introducing some new tunes into the repertoire--sorry, Michael & James, we're holding off on "Five guys Named Moe". Don't want to peak too soon on that one. You did get Jo-Jo, after all.

Tell all your friends, Joe Allen is the place to be on Monday nights.

Guitar World Part 2

2005-06-06T17:17:00.000-04:00

Just back from my second encounter of the strange kind at Guitar World in Danvers, MA.

I went back to exchange the "demo" Mackie SRM 350's for the "new" ones that just came in. In the mean time I found out that the newer version had a different (XLR/1/4" combo jack) input connector from the one on the speakers I had. So I opened the box on my new speaker and found the same (outdated) XLR connector. I pointed this out and my Personal Sales Assistant called Mackie on the phone. Only to find out they were apparently "out to lunch". They must do things differently in Woodinville, WA. He then assured me he would keep calling until he got to the bottom of the mystery, while ushering me out the door with my new speakers. He even helpfully suggested that I call Mackie myself and they would gladly pay for shipping to "swap" my new pair of speakers for the "really new" pair. Somehow I have the feeling I'm never going to hear from him again.

I'm now on hold for the third time with Mackie Tech Support. I'm starting to become very well aquainted with their "hold music". Now I know why fusion jazz (fuzak) exists. Just to further annoy people on hold.

Sunday at the YHI

2005-06-06T16:37:00.000-04:00

As the rainy season comes to a close things are picking up a little around here. It was nice to see Jean and Ray. They were coming from the Press Room where Harry Allen was playing. They gave a glowing account of the performance. Wish I could have been there.

I stopped at the Inn on the Blues on the way home and Joyce Andersen was still rockin' the place. By the time I parked and got inside the festivities were over, but I did get to speak to Bruce Derr, my faovrite pedal steel player, and Harvey, who was presiding over events. Looks like the CD release party was a big success.

Don't forget to come to the Mast Cove Gallery for our concert this Wednesday (6/8).

Mast Cove Gallery 2

2005-06-05T16:38:00.000-04:00

It was a very long day for us yesterday. Starting with 4 hrs outdoors in the sun (remember when we were complaining about not seeing the sun? As Woody Allen--the comedian not the guitar player--says: "I don't tan, I stroke"). Followed by a 2 hour ride to Jackson NH and then back. We left at noon and returned at 2. Don't worry, we're trained professionals. Kids, don't try this at home. So you want to be a musician?

Fortunately the afternoon gig was a lot of fun. Hutch from the Angel Band was there. Along with lots of old (and new) friends. Lex got to reminisce about pitching a tent in these people's front yard in 1967 on his first trip to Maine.

The crowd was small but enthusiastic at the Wildcat, but after all it's Mud Season. Our pals Harvey Reid and Joyce Andersen were playing down the road in N. Conway. Speaking of which, Joyce's CD release party is tonight at the Inn on the Blues. If you're not coming to see us at the York Harbor Inn tonight you should get down to the IOTB and support local music.

But to get to the real important news: Jean at the Mast Cove Gallery just decided to have us play next Wednesday (6/8). It's always a very special night when we play there. Please come down and support the music she presents there. It's a perfect setting. Truly a "drawing-room" concert. Complete with wainscoting. It really gives us a chance to shine in a "listening" situation.

Tempo

2005-06-04T02:26:00.000-04:00

This was our last Friday at Tempo in Waltham for awhile. We'll be back on the 24th. The food was as always excellent. "Try the Veal" as the Catskills comedians used to say. It was packed as usual but by the "shank" of the evening the crowd thinned a bit and people were dancing and having a great time.

We also have 2 dates in July so stay tuned for further developments.

Tomorrow 6/4 we're doing a graduation party in the afternoon and then scurrying to the Wildcat in Jackson, NH for an 8:30-12 gig. This is one of our favorite all time rooms and the owners Marty and Pam are a real exception to the norm when it comes to making us feel at home there. If you're in the N. Conway White Mt. area be sure and stop by and check it out.

As usual we'll be at the York Harbor Inn on Sunday. Perhaps Black Bart and Frank will show up.

Then back at Joe Allen on Monday for our regular summer gig there. We're keeping busy so you don't have to. Sit back and relax with us and "Have a good time". It appears that good weather is finally here (that sound you hear is me throwing salt over my shoulder).

I guess that's it for now. As always, you can post a comment without signing up, but I encourage you to subscribe through bloglet and receive the latest post right in your e-mailbox.

Mast Cove Gallery

2005-06-03T12:08:00.000-04:00

Our friends at Mast Cove Gallery in Kennebunkport are having an opening Saturday 6/4. Dont miss it. It's a great place to play music and see art.

Here's the announcement:

Tomorrow night is my first gala art opening of the season -- The Artist's Choice.
Wonderful new works by the gallery artists and it's a beautiful show. Matthew
Fogg will be playing the piano for the evening (you heard him play with Sharon Jones a couple of weeks ago.) The hours are 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.

For more info: E-mail Jean at: Mastcove@aol.com.

Scott Hamilton

2005-06-03T11:54:00.000-04:00

This just in:

Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen will be playing at the Universalist Unitrian church in Saco Saturday, 6/4. Don't miss this show. Scott is one of my favorites and Harry Allen is a staple on the Humble Farmer's radio show. Which will be on tonight at 7 on MPBN.

We will be in Jackson, NH at the Wildcat Tavern or I would be there.

Of course if you'll be in the N. Conway area please stop by and see us. We play 8:30-12 and it's always a pleasure to visit Marty and The Whip....er....I mean Pam.

Strange Brew

2005-06-03T02:47:00.000-04:00

Strange Brew is the right name for this place. It's a mixed crowd. From 20-somethings to 50-somethings commingling.

The band was great tonight. Featuring Jon Ross on Guitar, Bass, and vocals. He brought out the Stratotone guitar tonight. It looks sort of like a paddle with the cheesiest-looking pickups on the planet. But it sounds great.

The crowd took awhile to get going, but they were into it at the end after some up-tempo 4's by "Frosty" the drummer on Sonny Rollins' Tenor Madness. (I think he may have dropped his charts on that one).

The owner Mitch was very happy and noted the last time we played there with the band was the first time we played there a couple of years ago. Hopefully we'll bring the band there again soon.

Pleasant Street Center for the Arts

2005-06-02T00:41:00.000-04:00

Lex and I played a showcase tonight in Brunswick, ME.

Click to Enlarge

There were seven other performers and we were the featured act. We each played a 1/2 hour in an Art Gallery setting. David Bullard put it all together and the series will feature musicians, poets, painters, photographers and whatever artists he can get involved.

One standout performer was Josephine Cameron . She performed an excellent set of originals, as did all the performers involved. From 7-string jazz guitar to classical and flamenco to Finnish accordion music.

It was a lot of fun. We sold a few Cd's and made some new friends. My highpoint was seeing our Volvo mechanic Peter Fitts in attendance. Fortunately the car ran well on the way up.

The event will be televised on Brunswick, Bath, and Portland public access cable, so check listings if you live in the mid-coast area.

Tomorrow we will be at the Strange Brew in Manchester, NH. This is a rare chance to see our 4-piece band Blueswing so check it out. Jon Ross and guest drummer "Frosty" will be there. It's cigar friendly so don't sit too close to us.

Joe Allen Mondays

2005-05-31T23:24:00.000-04:00

Travels with a Naked Lady

Monday, May 30, 2005

This is the first entry in a personal gig diary.

Tonight we played at Joe Allen. First Monday of the holiday season here in Maine. It was a smashing success. Jason even showed up. As well as the Donnersmith's of course.

I used the new Mackie SRM350 powered speaker I just bought and it worked very well. My ears are still ringing. I will have an extended post about my adventures procuring these speakers later.

Guitar World

2005-05-31T04:42:00.000-04:00

I have a story to relate about a recent visit to Guitar World (name altered to avoid persecution).

I was interested in a pair of Mackie SRM 350 loudspeakers. The cheapest price I could find was at Guitar World. This was confirmed by a rather solipsistic voice on the other end of the telephone line. I didn't get his name. It didn't seem important at the time. 2 weeks later I received a phone call from GW saying they were offering a crdit card with a 15 month no money down no interest policy. I mentally replied: "SCORE"!

I subsequently enlisted a trusted friend (and bass player--not mutually exclusive) Jon Ross to accompany me to the Dragon's Lair--those of you who have ventured to a musicians mega-store know what I mean.

After spending quite some time assuring my personal sales representative (who seemed to have recently reached puberty) that "someone" had given me a certain quote over the phone, things seemed to be going along at a glacial, but acceptable-under the circumstances--pace. Until my PSR told me there was someone on the line from the credit bureau. I picked up the phone and was informed by a disembodied voice with a distinct southern drawl that I needed to pass a multiple choice quiz before my application could be accepted. I quickly sharpened my #2 penclil and said "lay on, honeysuckle". The sweet voice asked me several rather personal questions about my former vehicles and residences--of which there were of course, many. I must confess to being baffled at times by the sheer cunning employed in an effort to make sure I was indeed the real me. I must have passed the audition, because the D.V. eventually asked me to put my P.S.R. on the line. Unfortunately he was involved in a deep conversation with his mother on his cell-phone. He managed to interrupt and finish the transaction.

So far so good. Until I decided to purchase a keyboard stand which was on sale for an unbeatable price. Therein was the rub. The SKU refised to behave properly and this resulted in a call to the "manager". Unfortunatley this produced a manifestation of the "Uber-manager" Madame Von-Stern. After a quick perusal of the receipt she said "Und who gave you zis price?" (I can't do the dialect). I said "He did" pointing in terror at the wall. Fortunately an aspiring management candidate said: I gave him the price quote and told him about the no-payment credit card. This resulted in a look that would have frozen Himmler, followed by: I vill zee you in ze office later!

At this point I would have started filling out an application for Wendy's, but these P.S.R's are made of sterner stuff. He managed to maintain his Sang-Froid long enough to complete the deal and send me on my way.

All I can say is: I f Music is the food of love, Guitar World is Mickey D's.