"Do you still remember December's foggy freeze? When the ice that Clings on to your beard was Screaming agony." Ian Anderson/ Aqualung

Have You Heard---

This week in history: December 5

In 1942, in Boston’s Cocoanut Grove nightclub, the deadliest fire of its kind, killed 492 people.

In 1955, Rosa Parks. AKA Rosa McAuley, a Black woman known as “the first lady of civil rights”, refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake's order that she give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger. Parks' act of defiance became important symbols of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

In 1979, 11 people were crushed to death at a Who concert in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum in the rush for seating at the sold out concert.

In 1981, actress Natalie Wood (one of my many favorites) drowned off the southern California coast.

In 2001, Beatle George Harrison died at age 58

Birthdays:  

Efrem Zimbalist 95, Berry Gordy 84, Little Richard 81, John Mayall 80, Woody Allen 78, Felix Cavaliere (Good Luv)71, John Densmore 69, Bette Midler 68, Billy Idol 58, Cathy Moriarty 53, Daryl Hannah 53, Jon Stewart 51, Sarah Silverman 43.

Local notables celebrating birthdays this week: Emily Hyde Knights, Sarah MacDonald, Kevin Wolf. Happy Birfday, you Beautiful Peeps. Yeah, I spelled that right.

 “It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better... while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more.” Woody Allen

Here’s something different to make you feel so much warmer. The weather report from atop Mt Washington in New Hampshire, the site of the “Worlds Worst Weather” This was recorded last night at 7PM. Dense fog, visibility 1/8 mile, wind west northwest at 41MPH, high/low temp 25/9 degrees, snow depth 5”  As you may know, Mt Washington is the site that recorded a 238 MPH wind in 1938, the highest ever recorded.

Now, don’t you feel better?

ITS THIRSTY THURSDAY, PEOPLE!!!

Here we go---    

Brodies Seaport  

Friday – Julie Dougherty Band 9PM

Saturday – No info available 9PM  

SUNDAY/FUNDAY - Special guests – Ken Clark 4:30PM

Finz

Friday – No info available 9PM

Grapevine

Sunday – Marty Rowen Trio 11:30AM

Monday – Thea Hopkins 6PM

Tuesday – Andrew “Hacksaw” Harney 6PM

Gulu Gulu

Thursday - Dr. DK

Friday – Kevin Farren, Tim Dillon & Friends 8PM  

Saturday – Viking Jesus 8PM

Howling Wolf

Friday – No info available 10PM

Saturday - No info available 10PM

In a Pigs Eye

Thursday - Peabody and his Peeples. Steve Burke, Eric Reardon and the AMAZING Steve Peabody (PBD!!!) 9PM

Friday – Blues Jam 4:15, Ali Manion and Friends 9PM

Saturday – Tearin' Up Jake 9PM

Sunday – Ted Solovicos with Steven Coffill 8PM

Monday – Open Mic 9PM

Wednesday – Britannica Acoustic Duo 9PM

The Lobster Shanty

Friday – Vein 8PM

O’Neill’s

Sunday – Irish Session 4PM

Opus, O_Underground

Thursday – Dread Rocks 9PM

Friday – Grits and Grocery Orchestra  9PM

Saturday – Lowman 9PM

Monday – 3VIBE 9PM

Wednesday – The Dejas, Mix Community Mic 9PM

Rockafellas

Friday – Live Radio 9PM

Saturday – Mugsy 9PM

Vic’s Boathouse

Saturday – The Reunion 9PM

Sunday – Ross Livermore, Paul Dumas and Phil Selesnick 6PM

The Village Tavern

Saturday – Ditto 4PM, Metro Soul Live 9PM

Last week---

Well it seems I missed a lot of music last week during this busy holiday season. You know I was probably out looking for that perfect gift for YOU. But I did get to a couple of things when not fighting the crowds at Walmart. (I wouldn’t be caught dead in that store, EVER!!!)

I’m reminded of Christmas, a few years back, when I told Keith and Mike to shop local and support the peeps you know. Little did I know they would be out scouring the local pubs for that perfect gift for me. I got a sweatshirt from the shanty, a t-shirt from In a Pigs Eye and a

“I got it in the Bunghole” T shirt, from you know where, that I’ve displayed up and down the eastern seaboard. Shop Local People! Walmart already has enough money.

Friday, it was another standing room only crowd at the weekly jam over at In a Pigs Eye. As they say, nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded. I enjoyed it but will probably miss the next few weeks cus I just can’t seem to find the perfect gift.

Sunday Funday did NOT feature Matt Stubbs as reported in some IJITS blog. But the amazing harmonica of Cheryl Arena was present in the room. WOW, she is the BOMB.

My picks in the coming week:

Lots of good music coming up this week and lookie lookie, tonight we have PEABODY and his PEOPLES over at In a Pigs Eye. Well, I consider myself one of his peeps but you won’t find me singing at the mic. And you can thank your lucky stars for that. The last time anyone put a mic in my face, I was traveling with Keith and Mike on Beale Street and the song was Mustang Sally. I like to think of it as my Memphis Debut. Funny thing, I don’t remember much more on that weekend except The Evan Goodrow Band and also Cheryl Arena were there representing Boston in the International Blues Challenge. Have blues, Will Travel. Ok, enough of this rant. Moving on—

Friday is the weekly Jam at In a Pigs Eye. As I said, you won’t see me there but git down there and enjoy it.

After, the Julie Dougherty Band bring their special sound to Brodies. I have been enjoying Julie’s voice for so many years, I don’t want to think about it.

The season is winding down at The Lobster Shanty. (I LOVE this place) and you are running out of time to hear Vein at this, my very favorite bar in town. Last call of the season is always January 15, when the Wolfs and all their cubs go into hibernation. They even have a Monkey there. Enjoy it while you can. It may be a long, cold winter. Show is every Friday at 8PM

Ted Solovicos is busy this week, appearing 2x at In a Pigs Eye, Sunday with Steven Coffill and then back again Wednesday with Britannica Acoustic Duo. Ted along with Julie, is one of Salem’s long lasting jems. I won’t say go hear him if you haven’t because EVERYONE in Salem has to have heard him occasionally. Good stuff Ted.

I caught Ross Livermore a few weeks back at Opus Underground and he puts on a pretty dam good show. He performs several Sundays each month at Vics Boat house.

OK. You’ve heard it before but you HAVE to check out the room at OPUS Underground. No matter what your musical taste is, you will find it here. And $4 Heinekens.  Check out their Schedule.

You have to plan ahead for New Years Eve so start thinking of Brodies Seaport, who are featuring MERJ this NYE. I’m pretty sure this is a free show.

Also on New Year’s Eve. Big Ol Dirty Bucket take the stage at OPUS Underground. I don’t know the cost but tickets go on sale this weekend. YIKES!!!!

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.

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.