"Come dancing, Come on sister, have yourself a ball. Don't be afraid to come dancing, It's only natural." Ray Davis and The Kinks

Have You Heard---

This week in history: December 26

In 1620, the Pilgrims first went ashore in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African American to become the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

In 1944, during The Battle of the Bulge, US General Anthony C. McAuliffe rejected surrender to the Germans, replying “NUTS”

In 1976, the tanker Argo Merchant broke up off Nantucket Massachusetts, spilling 7.5 million gallons of oil into the North Atlantic

Birthdays: 

Jane Fonda 76, Phil Spector 74, Jorma Kaukonen 73, Carlton Fisk 66, Sissy Spacek (Wendy! I’m home) 64, Karl Rove 63, Annie Lennox 59, Hamid Karzai 56, Eddie Vetter 49, Kiefer Sutherland (previously on 24) 47, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy 46, Lori McKenna 45, Ricky Martin 42, Dido 42,

Local notables celebrating birthdays this week:  Dick Lourie, Dick Dinkelacker, Kitty O’sheas. Happy Birthday lady and gents.

“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting.” Ronald Reagan

Weather from atop Mt Washington. This was recorded last night at 7PM: Dense fog, visibility 1/16 mile, wind west northwest at 19MPH, high/low temp  7/-22 degrees, snow depth 1”    YIKES!!!!

I just went up to refill my coffee and looked outside. Everything is covered in powdered sugar

Here we go---   

Brodies Seaport  

Friday – Lois Lane and the Daily Planets 9PM

Saturday – Driving Blind 9PM 

SUNDAY/FUNDAY - Special guests – Matt Stubbs 4:30PM

Tuesday – MERJ/ NYE special show 9PM

Finz

Friday – No info available 9PM

Grapevine

Sunday –  Gerry Beaumont & Duke Robilard 11:30AM

Monday – Julie Dougherty 6PM

Tuesday – No info available 6PM

Gulu Gulu

Thursday – Unnamed Colors 8PM

Friday – Jeff Savlon 8PM 

Saturday – The Found Objects 8PM

Tuesday – Discoball 9PM

Howling Wolf

Friday – Joe Mack 10PM

Saturday - Meryl and Friends 10PM

Sunday - Steve Spungin 10PM

In a Pigs Eye

Thursday - President Soup 9PM

Friday – Blues Jam 4:15, Decade 80’s Night 9PM

Saturday – Cannibal Ramblers 9PM

Sunday – Eric Reardon and Friends 8PM

Monday – Open Mic 9PM

Wednesday – Closed @ 7PM

The Lobster Shanty

Friday – Vein 8PM

Murphy’s

Saturday – No info available 5PM  

O’Neill’s

Sunday – Irish Session 4PM

Opus, O_Underground

Thursday – Reggae with Soul Rebel Project 9PM

Friday – Coal Boilers 9PM

Saturday – Jungle Cat Meow 9PM

Monday – Jazz with John Funkhouser and Friends 9PM

Tuesday – NYE Bash with Big Ol Dirty Bucket 9PM

Wednesday – The Dejas, Mix Community Mic 9PM

Rockafellas

Friday – Radio Edit 9PM

Saturday – Groovin You 9PM

Tuesday – NYE Extravaganza, Midnight Goggles 9PM

Vic’s Boathouse

Saturday – On Set 9PM

Sunday – Tigerman Whoa 6PM

The Village Tavern

Friday – No info available 9PM

Saturday – Ronnie “Black Hat” & Friends 4PM, Metro Soul Live 9PM

Tuesday – JT and the Hounds 9PM

Last week---

Well, I’m glad THAT’S over. The final push to Christmas and I just couldn’t find you the perfect gift. Next year, I promise.

Last week there was LOTS of great music around town. I hope you got out to hear some of it. I sure did. Friday found me in Sin City for an extended lunch with former work mates. I like to call it our Yearly Business Review. Anyway, I didn’t make it to the Ugly Sweater Party or the Jam at Pigs Eye. But I did make round 2 with Dave Bailin and the Bailouts, doing their tribute to The Rolling Stones, in honor of Keith Richards surviving another year. I’ve said it before but here goes. Dave and company is Salem’s Best Rock and Roll band. And they really handle the Stones stuff.

Saturday was another trying day, what with family and Christmas obligations. But there was no way I was going to miss Big Ol Dirty Bucket at OPUS Underground. These guys just blow me away. Pretty big crowd but it was manageable. I love this band. I don’t know if there are any tickets left but they will be back here on NYE. Shut Thee FUNK Up!!!!!

Sunday/Funday? Well, ok. I guess I haven’t had enough yet. Last week’s special guest was one of my all time faves Evan Goodrow. Whenever I see him it reminds me of that weekend in Memphis where I went with Keith and Mike and met up with my North Carolina buds Jeff, Meg and Robert. I’ll be seeing them in a few weeks down Charlotte way. Well, Evan put on a great show, as expected and was joined by several regulars and irregulars too. Great Night.

We did make it to the Hawthorne Hotel for Julie Dougherty’s Annual Holiday Extravaganza. You know, we are truly blessed to have the treasure that is Julie, along with all her friends and family who join her on stage. And she has been doing it for 31 years in a row. Merry Christmas Julie. I hope it was a good one. After all these years I still don’t know who Santa is thou, as he comes dancing thru, playing “Here comes Santa Clause” on the fiddle, while being followed around by every happy child in the room. Pure Magic.

My picks in the coming week:

President Soup open up the final weeks celebrations in Salem down at The Pig tonight (Thursday). You have to check these guys out. if you can git up off the couch, git down and check them out.

A couple of great shows Friday, in addition to the weekly jam. Lois Lane and the Daily Planets bring their brand of Funk down to Brodies. It’s always a great, energetic show with Lois. Here is your chance to work off some of those pounds you put on these last few weeks. (BURP!!!)

My good friend Joe Mack is rocking the room over at Howling Wolf tonight. Get your WOLF on. Show starts at 10.

Only a couple of weeks left to catch Vein at my favorite bar in town, The Lobster Shanty. Have I mentioned I LOVE THIS PLACE? Vein is the house band every Friday night, much to the delight of some local abutters who complain about the noise all the time. To them I say Happy New Year and STFU!!! The Shanty will close for the season on January 15. Funny, my spell correct wants to change “abutters” to “abusers”.  HMMMM.

Sunday/Funday. YUP. Matt Stubbs is this week’s special guest and he’s got a write up in today’s Boston Globe. He has a gig at I think Ryles this coming week and the article mentions that Matt plays with harmonica GOD Charlie Musslewhite.

There are a couple of cool NYE happenings around, if you are so inclined. Brodies has MERJ for you dancing and dining pleasure. I don’t think there is a cover but if you want to go, I suggest letting them know. It could get pretty crowded.

Bucket show at OPUS looks to be a sellout, but I have it that as of 11:30 this morning, there are still tickets. Git on down there.

That’s all, Folks. Hope to see you ‘round and ‘bout. Have a safe and Happy New Year. And take a taxi.

This list was put together with much help from STANSLIST. See his site here:  http://www.stanslist.com  Thanks Stan. 

Please excuse any incorrect spelling and omissions. But sometimes I make up words too, CORDWANGERS!!!

Go out and listen to some great LIVE music in the wonderful, strange, historic and hip town of Salem, Massachusenutts.

And tip your bartenders and servers.  

And always check with the venue as times and schedules change. (and I sometimes Feck up)

Peace, Love and Zydeco.