"Standing on the corner, suitcase in my hand Jack is in his corset, Jane is in her vest And me, I'm in a rock'n'roll band" Lou Reed. Sweet Jane

Have You Heard---

So, Halloween every year means something else to me other than dress up and fun, thou I like that too. On October 31, 1997, after a 4 plus year battle with breast cancer, I lost my wife of 24 years, Kathy Broderick. Kathy is/was the mother of my 2 sons Keith and Mike, who some of you know. I want to dedicate this week’s blog to Kathy. 2/23/54 - 10/31/97. R.I.P.  I think of you every day.

This week in history: October 31

Moving on-

OH, did anything happen in Boston sports last night? Lets see now. Celtics lost 93-87. HMMM.  And the Bruins? They lost 3-2. DAM!!! How about the

RED SOX? THEY WON THE FECKIN WORLD SERIES!!!!!!

In 1881, the famous “Gunfight at OK Corral” happened in Tombstone, Az.

In 1974, the “Rumble in the Jungle” happened with Mohammed Ali knocking out George Foreman in the 8th round of a scheduled 15 round fight.

In 1991, a hurricane, later named The Perfect Storm, struck the east coast of the US resulting in millions in damage and the loss of the Gloucester Sword fishing boat Andrea Gale.  Six fishermen perished aboard the boat. If you haven’t seen the movie, do it!!!

In 2012, more than 7,000 flights were canceled in the US because of Hurricane Sandy

Birthdays:  

Tom Paxton 75, Grace Slick 74, Jon Anderson 69, Jaclyn Smith 68, Henry Winkler 68, Richard Dreyfuss 66, Bill Gates 58, Natalie Merchant 50.

Local notables celebrating birthdays this week: Eli Timmons, Jennifer Young, Marc Gauthier, Laurie Neary, Sarah Stellato (Formerly of Salem). Happy Birthday, witches and warlocks!

 “Drugs have taught an entire generation of Americans the metric system.”  P. J. O'Rourke

Here we go---    

Well, I’m not telling you anything but it’s Halloween in Salem today. There are bands playing in the street, all over town tonight, tens of thousands of out of town visitors will be here. Scantily clad women and men will be freezing their butts off in the cold and drizzle tonight. But IT’S HALLOWEEN MOFO”S. We get our town back tomorrow, but tonight we party. Well, we party tomorrow too.

Unfortunately, November starts on Friday so many venues have not updated their calendars yet. But fear not!!! I’m quite sure there is plenty of music to be had in Salem this weekend. Call the venue or better yet, be adventurous and just go hunting for music. The fun is just beginning here in the Halloween capital of the universe. We have our city back so come on out and have some fun for a change.

Brodies Seaport  

Friday – Lois Lane & The Daily Planets 9PM

Saturday – Lori Zuroff & Them Changes Blues Band 9PM  

SUNDAY/FUNDAY - Special guests – Jamie Lynn Hart 4PM

Finz

Friday –  No info available 9PM

Grapevine

Sunday – No info available 11:30AM

Monday – No info available 6PM

Tuesday – No info available 6PM

Gulu Gulu

Thursday – Black Dog Brother 8PM

Friday – Thomas Nöla 8PM  

Saturday – Lucretia's Daggers! 8PM

Howling Wolf

Friday – No info available 10PM

Saturday – No info available 10PM

Sunday – No info available 6:30PM

In a Pigs Eye

Thursday – Halloween Shakedown Featuring DJ Qwill 9PM

Friday – Blues Jam 4:15, Alison Manion 9PM

Saturday – Tearin Up Jake 9PM

Sunday – Henley 8PM

Monday – Open Mic 9PM

Tuesday - Two for Twosday's w/ Lisa Marie 8PM

Wednesday – Brother Bri and George Hall 9PM

The Lobster Shanty

Thursday – No info available 7PM

Friday – Vein 8PM

Saturday – No info available 8PM

Sunday – No info available 3PM

O’Neill’s

Sunday – Irish Session 4PM

Opus, O_Underground

Wednesday – The Dejas and Friends 9PM

Rockafellas

Thursday – Lucky 13 9PM

Friday – The Spinz 9PM

Saturday – Bar Flyz 9PM

Vic’s Boathouse

Sunday – No info available 6PM

The Village Tavern

Thursday - JT & the Hounds 9PM

Friday – No info available 9PM

Saturday – No info available 9PM

Last week---

One of the highlights of the weekend was seeing Alikya Wingate performing her Belly Dancing art on Artists Row Sunday afternoon. It was a perfect October afternoon but I was cold watching her perform bare foot. I have to say, I didn’t mind the rest of her outfit thou. Great show Alikya.

OK I don’t have much to talk about with my own experience last week but I did get out Sunday afternoon to Sunday/Funday to hear special guests Brian and Marybeth Maes. I always liked Brian but it took a while to feel the same about Marybeth. Well, I heard her several months ago at the Pig and my opinion is changed. What a great addition to Sunday/Funday. Great show guys. And it was Steve Peabody’s birthday Sunday too. Cake all around. PBD!!!!!!

I had to get over to Essex St mall stage at 6PM to hear some musician friends I have heard separately but never together. Callie Lipton, Jacyn Tremblay and Pete Tentindo are 3 of the 4 members of Scary Mary who have performed their rock opera these last 2 Octobers. Sorry but I don’t know the drummer. Great band. Great crowd. And a FREE show

My picks in the coming week:

Lois Lane & The Daily Planets perform at Brodies Seaport Friday. You may remember me raving about this band, who had the whole place dancing at the Pig a few months back. Lois has a fine voice, backed by a tight, rock and old time blues band. Don’t miss them.

Its hard to recommend shows this week when so many venues haven’t posted their schedules, but I guarantee a good time if you just seek it out.

If you feel like crossing the bridge, the great local funkers, Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket are up in Beverly Friday night, at The Spotlight Tavern. If you wonder how much I like this band, Pam hired them for my retirement party back a few months ago. AND----the incredible Sarah Seminski is the lead singer. That Little Shrimp. I don’t know what it will be like but these guys are scheduled in to Opus Underground in a few weeks. I love the room but I don’t think it’s big enough. We’ll see.

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.

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)

Tomorrow (Friday) it’s Local’s Homecoming in Salem. See y’all out there.