Business/Pleasure to End 2009

I have an assignment to cover hearings in Easton on New Year's Eve. Joreen and I have turned it into a mini-vacation. This evening we are in Bethlehem, having enjoyed a great meal at the Bethlehem Brew Works. Joreen had bratwurst, purple cabbage and German potato salad. She was kind of moaning at the table, but it was crowded so no one seemed to mind. I had the Thai potstickers and they were outstanding. Add in several different Belgians, and you've got a very nice evening out.

Tomorrow I'll go do the hearing, then come back to watch the Peep drop. If you're stuck in the burg and looking for fun, I can recommend Leghorn at the Winners Circle or Havana Blue at Suba. Both of them will do you fine.

Looking ahead, January 15th will be Just Friends' first gig of 2o1o at the Verhovay. Mark your calendars and make an effort. I promise we're going to show you how it's done. This year will be the year of the Kelly Brothers, with all four of us in working bands: Bill and Dave in Laredo, Steve in Element 22, and your humble blogger in Just Friends. This is gonna be great! Happy New Year to you all.

Christmas Tree, Already.

Compared to past years, we're ahead of schedule on the tree. For the past several years we've gone to the Colonial Park Fire Company tree sale, and I can see why people don't wait until the last minute. It was pretty easy to find a fine little tree. We wanted a smaller one this year, and it's nice and straight and fresh. We even remembered the tree bag.

After 30-plus years, the ornaments become their own narrative, reminders of times, vacations, people who gave the decorations as gifts, a time-travel experience of sorts -- the seashell angel from last year's trip to Cape Cod, the cowboy from San Antonio, the Richard Nixon elf from my very first Christmas on my own that I bought at Murphy's downtown, along with the two we call "Overture to a Holiday in Berlin." The ornaments fight for placement on the little tree like minor league ballplayers trying to make the big time. Joreen announced just now the tree is done. She's right.

It's Beginning to Smell A Little Like Christmas

I'm off to a later start than usual, but the first batch is done. I began this post earlier this evening, then got distracted and had to go play at the Hershey Country Club. It was a blast. But meanwhile, here's a look at the cookie making gear.



You notice the recipe propped up behind the irons. It's got a date of 12/90, which means I've been baking these fershlugginer things for 20 years now. And the worst part is, I never get tired of them. Especially with espresso. Oh, baby.

I started to get into the Christmas spirit tonight, listening to the Bruce Cockburn Christmas album. It's one of my all-time favorites. I bought it as a cutout years ago and don't know if it's still available. If you're interested, let me know and I can let you, uh, borrow it. Yeah, that's it.

Getting Ready to Begin to Get Ready

Cleared the decks in the pizzelle production corner of the kitchen. Bought mass quantities of sugar, flour, eggs and butter. Got out the Christmas CDs. The first one this year, breaking with tradition, wasn't the Joe Pass disc I got for cheap at a drug store years ago and which always kicks off the season for me. I'm listening to a disc given to me by Cheryl Haviland, who passed away this year. It's a mystery disc, from a catalogue company called Figi's. The musicians aren't credited. It's pure smooth jazz, not my usual thing, but the arrangements are unique and beautiful and the playing is first rate.

For those of you who are family and follow this blog, I'd like to have you over the day after Christmas, Saturday, in the afternoon. I'll be calling you about it, but this is just a heads-up.

Butter's cooled down. Time to start mixing dough. Tomorrow the house will smell like Christmas.

What Aren't You Doing New Year's Eve?

Maybe you've noticed that there hasn't been a lot of marketing going on here for Just Friends New Year's Eve gig. There's a reason for that: we don't have one. Despite our best efforts, the perfect storm of a stinky economy and further fallout from the turmoil the band went through this summer has boiled down to our first night off on 12/31 since 1997. We're bummed, but unbowed. Wait till next year.

To all our fans, especially those who've called in the last few days asking where we were playing, we'd like to say we appreciate your interest. Keep next year open. We won't let this happen again. In the meantime, there's this really cool band called Leghorn playing at the Winner's Circle. Maybe we'll see you there.

A. Thanksgiving, Turkey!

The above title is the answer to two questions:

1. What did Ed McGovern throw at Thanksgiving Darts?



2. What's the best holiday of the whole year?



Thanksgiving Darts was a huge success on all fronts, unless you want to talk about my scores. I'm still eating leftover Mexican meat, cheese, hot dogs, and mustard dip, and that's in between leftover turkey, filling, mashed potatoes and corn. Somebody just cut a hole in the side of the house, will ya?

Thursday, we had a repeat of last year. Andie, Brian and Theo came up early and had brunch with Joreen and I, and then we switched gears and had Mary, John and the boys for dinner in the evening. Yes, it's a little unorthodox, but it works out best for everybody. I'm just thankful that we get to see each other at all. My daughters are the best, and I don't care who knows it. The above-pictured turkey gave Joreen a bit of trouble due to some defrosting issues in the drumsticks, but we fixed that up, and the meal overall was great. My compliments to the chef.

Friday evening, Just Friends played a surprise birthday party for Susan DiSanto at the Colonial Golf and Tennis Club. Thanks to the DiSanto family for contacting us and allowing us to be part of the celebration. Special thanks to Susan's daughter Lexi for requesting that we learn "Wake Up, Little Susie." Joreen and I haven't sang that since the days of the Cards, back when a cell phone was what a convict used to call his lawyer and a hard drive was Route 322 when Penn State had a home game. The DiSanto family are very supportive and appreciative of the band, and we are grateful for that.

A highlight of the night for me was seeing Mr. Frank DiNatale up and grooving on the dance floor. Mr. DiNatale may have blown his knees out years ago playing handball at the YMCA, but he was still up and dancing, and I was impressed.

On Saturday, Just Friends played another Thanksgiving weekend wedding. This makes about four or five in a row, I believe. Sara and Terry Faust are the first and second best looking people in this picture:



The reception was at the Lebanon Valley Country Club, and at the bride's request the band played "All You Need Is Love" during their introductions. Their first dance was "You're My Everything," a beautiful ballad sung by Nat King Cole that none of the band had ever heard before, and I thought we've heard everything. Thanks to Sara for expanding our repertoire, and for being so great to work with. This was the third wedding we've done since 2005 for the Haverstick extended family, and you know what that means: "Ring of Fire!"

At the end of the night, one of the groom's friends gave us a little grief for not doing enough "classic rawk." This inspired the Hotel California -> Not Fade Away -> Your Mama Don't Dance -> Mony, Mony/Wipe Out/Born to be Wild medley. That was fun. I was getting some tone. And now, back to work.

"...Forever Has Now Begun...."

Just Friends had the pleasure of playing a wedding reception at Visaggio's on Saturday for Floyd and Amy, and it was one of the most enjoyable gigs we've ever done. This is where the shades of meaning between "work" and "play" get blurred in a good way. The bride and groom are wonderful people, and a joy to work with. The guests were from all over the country, and we had many compliments, which we really appreciate.

I've said it before. "Wedding band" gets used as a put-down by some musicians of other musicians, but if you have a group of players with the necessary experience, an open mind and the right attitude, playing a wedding can be a musical adventure of the best kind. 'NSYNC, Elton John, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Abba, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, and Sam the Sham all stirred up and served to a floor full of smiling dancers -- that's my idea of a good time.


Floyd and Amy and I are now Facebook friends, and we hope to stay in touch. Thanks again to them and their family for a great time, and a shout-out to Visaggio's for their hospitality. The food was so good I didn't even mind too much that it wasn't a club sandwich. (Mmmmm..... clubs.......)

Tonight of course is Thanksgiving Darts. Hopefully there'll be another Thanksgiving turkey like Greg Gerstner's last year. Tomorrow is a day full of plates full, my favorite holiday. Friday, we have a surprise party to play, don't tell anyone. Saturday, another wedding reception in Lebanon for another really nice bride.

Life is good. So much to be thankful for. Not everyone is having such an easy time of it. Some of our friends have had a rough year and are even now going through tough times. This is a good time to remember them, pray for them, and stay grateful for all the gifts we've been given.

Where'd The Last Two Weeks Go?

Sorry for being dormant on the blog. We've been busy as all get out, playing the Columbus Society banquet and working on the new demo. Final mixdown tomorrow, and hopefully we can use this puppy to go get some work for Just Friends. I'll try and scare up some photos of the Hershey job and post them later. We had issues with some of the Italian material -- hey, it's been a year -- but David said we looked like The Who with all those lights on the stage, so that's cool.

I just saw that Soupy Sales passed away. Sad news, although I wouldn't have bet a lot on a game of "Live or Dead?" about him. One thing that cracked me up was the quote that, "He had a long and varied career after the show, with stints as a radio host and Broadway star (and, once, an expert witness in a court case that involved pie-throwing)." Man, I'd love to have reported that hearing. I do remember watching the show on 17th Street, in black and white, and him making the stick man out of the letters in the word Jello. What a shame they never kept those shows back then*; the DVD sales would have made his retirement a lot more comfortable.

*After publishing, I started poking around on Youtube and found this.

Prayer Request

Please remember our drummer, John Wilson, and his family in your prayers. His son Cory passed away yesterday morning at home after a long illness. John and Reita and the whole family have been through a rough time of it, and now that their son is out of pain and at home with the Lord, they can get some rest and hold on to the good memories of their boy. It's a rough way to make saints, but thank God for goodhearted people like the Wilsons. Please pray for them.

Woohoooooo!

I have a secret. I want to meet the Giant Foods "U-Scan Voice Lady" and kiss her full on the mouth. For years she's been nagging me, "Please place the item in the bag." "Please take the item out of the bag." "No." "You've done it wrong." "Please place the item back in the bag." "Can't you do anything right." "You moron." And then the kicker, "Remember to check for any coupons that may have been printed just for you." Of course, those coupons are usually for something about as useful as carbon paper, so I don't always do what the Voice Lady tells me to. It's my Sixties rebellious nature, I guess.

But today for some reason I decided to do what she said, and the coupon said, "Congratulations! You have won free groceries for a week." That translates to a $100 gift card, which is just all right with me. The customer service girl and some employees standing around got all excited when I cashed it in. Apparently I was the first winner out of the U-Scan, and one of the last ones for this promotion. The U-Scan cashier reminded me that it can be used for gas, too. What a day brightener. Thanks, U-Scan Voice Lady!

I promised you some pancake breakfast pics. Here they are.


Prince Theo the Hungry, finishing his third pancake. Grandma watches approvingly.


One of the better pictures of my little guy Travis. He was rocking the breakfast. Mary and Deven look like they're singing along to Mick Cochran, who was doing some great country songs while we ate.


Like the Carly Simon song says, "I had a dream, there were clowns in my coffee, clowns in my coffee...."

Facebook = Where Did The Last Hour Go?

After resisting for as long as I could, I joined Facebook. Man, if you like receiving e-mails, this is the deal for you. I am inundated with requests for this and that, making requests for this and that, and getting dozens of itty, bitty, teeny, tiny packets of data about people I care about. Thing is, I think I prefer my big ole sprawling comfortable blog, where a sentence is a sentence and a paragraph is a paragraph.

So, what's been happening? This past weekend was another Minnequa-Valencia doubleheader. The lights were a big hit with the band, and by the end of the night I felt like I was getting the hang of running them. Sunday night we had a great evening at the Valencia. Sid and Pat, the gentlemen who run the dance, seem pleased with how we're doing. We did have one guy who complained that we only did one waltz instead of at least four. I resisted the urge to point out that we did sing Happy Birthday to someone, so technically that was two waltzes, not one. Can't please everybody.

So much happening this past weekend! Friday evening we had Andie, Brian and Theo over for dinner to celebrate Andie's birthday one day early. Joreen made crabcakes that were delicious, and even more remarkable when you consider that she doesn't eat them.

Theo spent the night with us, and the next morning Mary, Joreen and I took the three grandboys to the Tall Cedars pancake breakfast at the Zembo Mosque. It brings back memories of when I was a kid and Mr. Fels, the security guard at Town and Country, used to give Mom tickets for us to go and eat there. Thanks to my brother Billy (also a Happy Birthday this past Monday) for remembering Mr. Fels' name. The boys had a blast. It's fun to watch the young'uns put on the feedbag. The Zembo clowns were there, and tried to traumatize Theo, but it didn't work. I'll post the picture later.

That afternoon, I went to the Little Buffalo Festival and saw The Gliders again. This entry is getting a little too sprawling, so I'll just say they were at least as good as last weekend, with the added bonus of being outdoors on a beautiful early autumn day. Kudos to Bob Martin and the volunteers who made it happen. It was old home week for me, with most of my good friends in attendance. As for seeing The Gliders in the future, to paraphrase their encore, "That may be the last time, I don't know." I hope not.

Now Just Friends is girding up our respective girdables for The Big One, the Italian-American Society Columbus Day banquet on Sunday. Of course, what's an October without some obstacle to overcome? I'm dealing with a head cold right now. Hopefully it will pass in time for me to be able to sing Sunday. We're working in a couple new Italian numbers at the last minute: Eh Cumpari, a novelty song that you might remember hearing as a kid, sung by Julius LaRosa; and another Sixties/Italian hybrid, Nights in White Satin with some Italian lyrics. If all goes well, we'll have some audio or video record of it to share in the future. If not, que sera sera, or whatever.

GM = Idiots

First look at this, then look at this. I haven't been this depressed since The Spot closed. I've been driving a Saturn for 16 years, never even looked at another vehicle. Back in 1993, after our Toyota Tercel was totaled in a terrible -- what's another word for "wreck" that starts with "T"? -- anyway, I was thrilled to be able to buy a car built in America that was of such high quality that it sold itself. Of course, General Motors, being the morons that they are, eventually found a way to screw it up. Well, whatever I end up buying, you can bet it won't say "General Motors" anywhere on it. Goobers. I suppose Saturn's going to have to update their website. "We're optimistic about the future" doesn't seem to have much of a ring to it.

Big Doings This Weekend

Just Friends played at the Hersheypark Amphitheatre, closing out the official season of the park. Despite (or because of) the rainy weather in the afternoon, we had decent crowds who were very enthusiastic. I love it when they sing along -- especially if I'm about to blank on the lyrics. I can't memorize for spit but I can read lips pretty well.

Thanks to the mighty Mrs. Kelly you can now see us in action. Go to http://www.justfriendsband.com/ and check out the Youtube videos. They all turned out well for an unattended camera using "through the air" sound. I especially love Vince's Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano. No, you don't know what he's saying, but so what? Actually, the lyrics are quite humorous, about an immigrant from Naples who wants to be Americanized; that's what the references to rock and roll, baseball and Camel cigarettes are about. It's one of my favorites that we're doing these days, and Vince just tears it up.

We finished at 7:15. At 8:30 we arrived at the reception for the wedding of Stephanie and Zachary. They were very gracious in welcoming us even though we were about five and a half hours late (and I was wearing a bowling shirt). We missed most of the cool stuff like the vows and the toasts and the dances, but we did get to hear Steve sing "Sweet Caroline," so it was still all good. Best wishes to the newlyweds. You never know what the future holds, but may theirs be full of promise and hope, and surprises. Look at my first wife and me; we're still rocking after all these years.

The band continues to work on its promo package, recording a demo at Log Cabin Studios on Sunday. I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's impossible to record all the music and most of the vocal tracks for seven songs in three and a half hours, but Vince doesn't know it's impossible, so we keep doing it. Thanks again (I should make a macro for this sentence, I have to type it so often!) to my little brother David. He does all things well, including engineering a recording session in a garage.

Finally, as if all that wasn't enough, Sunday night I attended The Gliders show at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center. They opened for Adam Marsland, an artist from Los Angeles, who was also pretty good, but The Gliders were the best. I miss those songs and they've never sounded better. I mean it, the performances were spot-on and done with real love. I get a kick out of Bobby Martin, who sounds so much like Phil Lesh and is too humble to believe me when I tell him that. Mike Sgrignoli is one of the most powerful drummers I've ever heard, and these songs were made for his harmonies. Eric Zimmerman has less hair than he did back in the day but his songs are still compelling, original and honest, and don't sound dated in the least after all these years. And my friend Bill, with the Marilyn Monroe Strat and the spiffy Mesa amplifier, was hitting everything he aimed at. Such tone. Okay, I'm raving, but if you were at the show you know what I mean.

For a Sunday night in the Burg, the band drew a nice crowd of musicians and music lovers. For a little while it was like being in a city with a real music scene. The venue is beautiful and comfortable, just what Harrisburg needs more of, although they still need to do something about the sound mix. Marsland was probably singing in English, but I couldn't swear to it.

The Gliders will be performing at the Little Buffalo Arts Festival on October 3rd at 2:30 p.m. Unless you're doing something that can't wait, you should do yourself a favor and go see them. I hope we'll have other chances to see them, but this is a sure thing. Hey, there's no cover! That should make every cheap central Pennsylvanian's heart skip a beat. (Five bucks to hear a band? Sheeesh!) For more info on the festival, go here. To hear The Gliders tunes, go here.

Lights, Camera, Action, Run Away

It took me a while to upload this for whatever reason, but here's the lights I talked about the other day. Thanks again to David for the help. The way he describes it, we can add on more lights, and more lights, and more lights, BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! -- uh, sorry.

Last night Just Friends had a great rehearsal, working on the Italian stuff. I'm having a ball singing the Louis Prima tunes especially, although they're a challenge vocally. Just a Gigolo is a hoot, and Buona Sera is also fun. Funiculi, Funicula is coming along, with Enzo acting as my Italian coach. We're going to have a blast.

Now I have to get back to work. This afternoon I'm leaving for St. Catherine's parish retreat, being Mr. Music for it. I hope I remember how to do this; I used to do it in my sleep. (I might be doing that again!) Anyway, for a limited time only, anyone reading this blog gets their intentions prayed for this weekend. It's a full-service kind of a blog. Just do me a favor and return the favor. I'll post back next week when I'm all holy and stuff.

Have Your People Call Our People

Having spent 39 years learning how to play the guitar, I have now taken up a new instrument: the briefcase. Much of my time this week has been spent trying to book dates for Just Friends for 2010, and I'm acquiring a whole nother set of skills. Tough economic conditions have rippled down to the clubs and other venues we traditionally played, and competition from other smaller (and cheaper) bands is fierce. Looking at the band schedule may give you the impression we are slowing down. In fact, we are working on establishing new contacts, improving our promotional material and preparing to produce new audio and video to give an accurate representation of the quality and artistry that goes into a Just Friends performance.

We have heard through the grapevine that there are those who feel Just Friends was all but washed up and left for dead after the recent personnel changes. This is an inaccurate representation. In response, I would just ask that you give us a listen. Watch and hear us in action, and then decide. We are tighter, more focused and happier on stage than we have been in a long, long time. Happy players make happy dancers, and happy dancers fill venues.

Be patient while we build our schedule, which looks a little thin right now. We're excited and hopeful that 2010 is going to be a great year for Just Friends, despite the challenges and minor setbacks we're facing. There is a place for experienced, professional musicians in this area, and we are going to find it, or make it ourselves. Stay tuned, and thanks for your support.

Yesterday the UPS man brought my new light controller and some accessories to spiff up our stage lights. Getting gear delivered is always a day brightener.* My little brother David is going to come over today and show me how to not blow them up. "Dip switch"? Como se dice "dip switch"?

(*So help me, I didn't see that pun until after I published this!)

R.I.P. Cheryl Haviland, 1954-2009

I received a phone call last evening that Cheryl Haviland passed away on Monday. She was living in the Middletown Home and had suffered from too many medical problems to recount. At the end, her liver failed and she could not qualify for a transplant due to the likelihood of rejection.

Other than relatives, I have known Cheryl longer than I've known anyone else. Here is the proof.

This is kindergarten graduation at St. Francis of Assisi on Market Street in Harrisburg. I guess the year is 1959 or '60. I am second from the left, and Cheryl is on the far right (I think). We are singing "Harrigan." Over the years this story came up between us again and again, but I don't believe she ever saw this picture. Until my Dad made scrapbooks for us one Christmas, I don't think I had ever seen it either.

Cheryl had a rough go in life, battling multiple medical conditions and carrying crosses so heavy I used to call her "Ms. Job." When she would call me, I would sometimes say, "Now what?" There wasn't much I could do for her except listen and occasionally get a laugh out of her. When she would get depressed and talk about the end being near (years ago) I would ask her to make sure and tell me where she buried all the Krugerrands she had bought with her stateworker's salary. I still remember her laughing at that.

Cheryl was a poet and loved to sing, almost as much as she hated having her picture taken. Somewhere buried in this archeological dig of an office is a photo she gave me of herself. She made sure I knew what a great personal sacrifice that was for her. It was frustrating to me that underneath the kidding aspect of that exchange was her embarrassment at her physical appearance. At least where she is now, she'll no longer have to be convinced of her beauty.

I'll miss her. Her funeral is Saturday, 12:00 noon at Seven Sorrows. I was scheduled to play the Sisters' 100th Anniversary Mass in Danville, but I called Sr. Madonna and explained that Cheryl had left a request in her arrangements that I serve as a pallbearer, and I can't say no to that. I've said it before: I wish there was an easier way to make saints. Anyway, Cheryl's in the Choir now, big time, and I know she's singing her heart out.

Minnequa and Valencia

No, those are not two names from cashiers' ID tags at the Giant store. They are the last two venues where Just Friends performed. The Minnequa Social Club in Shippensburg is becoming our home away from home, and we played there on the 22nd. The crowd was a good size considering it's prime vacation time, and the folks there responded enthusiastically to us. Since it's a private club, you'll have to take my word for it, but we do well there, and we're returning on October 3rd. We broke out an old country favorite -- well, from the eighties; in country years, I still think of it as new -- Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis, which segued into (all rise, remove your cowboy hats for the Anthem) Sweet Home, Alabama. The dancers loved it. The people who work there are great, especially Brandy, the world's sweetest waitress. The second we go on break, she instantly appears to take drink orders from the band. I wish she worked everywhere we do.

Sunday, August 30th, we broke out the tuxedos and sparkly dresses -- in a gender appropriate manner, of course -- for the Valencia ballroom and the New Singles Dance, hosted by Sid Miller and Pat Connor. The Valencia is an old, classic ballroom/theatre from the turn of the last century, lovingly restored, a very elegant place. We had a fantastic time, breaking out no less than five new tunes: Drift Away, At Last, Walking on Sunshine, Oye Como Va (a real crowd pleaser and the answer to a prior request to learn a cha-cha) and, for the last tune, a surprise to everyone in the band including me, Love Hurts. We were doing Amazed and Vince said, "We need four more minutes," and it just fit. Kudos to Jim and Mark for falling right into it, and to all the band. Not to pat ourselves on the back, but our sound is coming together, and there's smiles all over the stage. It's good, and it's going to get better. The vocal mind meld continues to improve as all the J's work on our harmonies. Vince's sax is starting to growl, which makes us all grin.

Considering the uncertain patch we hit in July, it's eight weeks later and we're forging ahead with renewed confidence. Music isn't always easy, but when it's good, it's almost the most fun you can have. Stay tuned for more developments. Our next performance will be at the Hersheypark Amphitheatre on Saturday, September 26th.

There is also a new, finally functioning e-mail address for Just Friends business and communication: jkelly@justfriendsband.com It only took three calls to PA Online's tech support, and we managed to get it working before my cell phone battery died, so we'll call that a success. Use that address as an alternate contact for me, or if you have any friends who are getting married, or even look like they're thinking about getting married. That doesn't sound too needy, does it? Too bad; right now, we all just want to play.

Just Friends at Knoebel's and other news

Day job and other commitments have kept me hopping since last Wednesday, so this is the first chance I've had to post. Just Friends, with special guest Dave Kelly (relation), traveled to Knoebel's Aug. 12th for another successful performance. Perfect weather and a good on-stage energy set the tone for two really great shows. For the final performance, just as we hit the stage a truly nasty storm blew up. We began to tear down and give up, but then Vince's "the show must go on" circuitry kicked in. We cobbled together some mics and monitors and entertained a small but enthusiastic crowd sitting underneath the overhang in the back of the amphitheatre. Of note: I went out into the audience on Sweet Caroline and carried on with the audience a while. John Wilson and Jim Wallish continue to blend in on vocals, and our harmonies are good and getting better. My little brother, of course, tore it up like he always does.

The next day, we went down to see the aforementioned Little Brother and his band Leghorn at the Fuzzy Few in Hummelstown. They sounded awesome as usual. I especially enjoyed David's cover of the country song/inspirational pep talk "Don't Blink." Good advice and a good tune. Opening for Leghorn was Shawn Oliveira's band, Six Degrees South. They sounded really good. I recently met one of the guitar players, Dave Gang, who does a great job on guitar setups and repairs, according to my brother. Also, their lead singer, Jeff Seyfried, is someone I've met before, but only when we're both wearing suits. He's an attorney, and has an excellent voice. When he told me he's only been singing a little while, I just didn't believe him.

In other music news, the Durable Goods Version 2 or 3 played a benefit in Camp Hill last Saturday to raise funds for the Starzl Foundation in memory of Carol Carroll, Lee Carroll's wife who passed away this past year. It was a success, raising over $6,000 for this worthy cause. Charlie, Joreen, myself and a new drummer, Eric Lohr, played an early set for a small but enthusiastic (sensing a pattern here?) crowd early in the day.

There was much excitement all day long, some from the great musical performances and some from Charlie and I trying to get sound to come out of the cobbled-together PA in some kind of coherent fashion. A group of high school kids played after us, doing some Doors covers and other tunes. They were really good for their age. Of course, my personal local favorites these days, F-Dr., put on an even better performance than they did at the ABC in June. Keep an eye on these guys. If the wind is right and they get the break they deserve, they'll be playing Bonnaroo by next year. They're really that good. Of course, Krypton City closed out the night, and they played well, even if you couldn't hear it so good down the street. It was a learning experience, to be sure. I've learned that there's nothing like a sound guy who knows what he's doing.

There are some pretty heavy crosses being carried by some folks we know. Don't forget to pray for them. I once got some great advice from a good friend of a good friend who lost a loved one. He said, "Love your people. Tell them you love them." I can't be reminded of that often enough.

Better Late Than Never

Sunday afternoon, the Just Friends Band had the privilege of playing for the most patient audience I've ever seen.



Due to "technical difficulties" which included a squirrel's nest in the distribution box



and a wiring job straight out of a Goofy cartoon, our 1:00 performance started promptly at 2:30. Thanks to all of you gentle readers who waited around for the show and were so supportive with your applause and compliments. Thanks also to Larry Mummert and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon for inviting us to play and being so appreciative. The Muscular Dystrophy Association has been a fixture in all of our lives, and I'm sure some of you, like me, have memories of watching Jerry Lewis as the summer winds down. Hopefully, there will come a time when kids will wonder what "MDA" stood for. Kudos also to WHP 580, to the owners of the classic cars who aided in the fundraising, and to Boscov's, who hopefully got that little ground and neutral wire thing worked out eventually.

Most of all, a heartfelt thanks to Riley Johnson, who opened for us again this year. Especially touching was his dedication of the song "Friends" to Andy Guest, who recently passed away from complications due to ALS. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Watching that young man perform is God's memo to me that says, "Now, what was it you were complaining about?"



Despite the snafus, it was great to see so many of our old friends and family as well as some new fans. Shout-outs go to my Dad, Dave Weyl, Dave Gang, Jeff Seyfried, Alex Harden and Ryan, my little brother and his lovely wife Kathy, Parker and Renna, Nino and Heather, Jack, Gio, Tara and little Gio, Sean, and all our friends from St. Catherine's. Thanks for your patience and support. Also, the MVP award goes to our drummer, John Wilson, without whose help the guys from the mall would probably still be looking at that wiring and scratching their heads. Honorable mention goes to Brian Juran, who at one point just started slashing cables open with a knife and said, "The show must go on!"

If you were there and I forgot to mention you, don't be offended. After all, I couldn't even remember that "Tequila" is in G. Go ahead and giggle. I deserve it.

Telegram from Busyashelltown

Back from vacation stop Beautiful weather great bed and breakfast stop Jinny and Zane's granddaughter is wicked cute will post photos later stop Returned to huge stack of work and stuff to do stop Played gig with Roger and Chris at Midtown Art Center a nice venue which hopefully will do well enough so they can actually hire musicians stop Played Dead songs at open mic last night with Bill Nork and Joreen at Gullifty's to celebrate Garcia stop Getting ready to play the MDA benefit with Just Friends at Colonial Park on Sunday at 1:00 for one hour stop I'm tired and I want to go to bed so now I'll stop