New idea: Open session

No stage, no glam, just lots of energy for a cool jam.

Mike and Guitar at our party February 4
photo by Tim Laughrin

An open session would be relaxed for you to come and go during a festival like Artwalk, and almost as relaxed for us as our practice sessions when we hit the groove (for me, anyway, an audience always adds at least a wee bit o' pressure, even when they're close friends).   Developing new songs is a rush for us, but a drag for an observer, so no new songs in open session.

I'm thinking April or May . . . .

Happy Birthday John Honkanen

Tonight BSB (Russ, Mike, me, and Ark-Hal in for Ken who is away) will be among many well-wishers and musicians at John Honkanen's birthday party.   John loves music and through the years he has jammed with dozens of local musicians (including Mike, Ark-Hal, and me at various times) at his studio in the woods.   Happy Birthday, music man!

Update after the party:  In the shuffle, I sang with Ira Goldberg on drums instead of Ark-Hal, and later Mike and Russ played with Ark-Hal with John and his daughter Carissa.   Lotsa shuffling!   Ira picked up on my songs right away and sounded great.   John loosened up and sang a bunch of his favorites ~ Yay!

Here we are! The band is OUT!

Photographer Tim Laughrin captured a moment early in the evening.
Pictured are Ark-Hal Karns on congas, David Haworth on keyboard, Christy Ann Welty on mic, 
Mike Scanlon on lead guitar, Tim Duffy on slide guitar, Russ England on bass guitar, Ken Ross on drums.
Watching over all of us is the beautiful Delphic Sybil of Cafe Paradiso.

The first Saturday night of February 2012 was our "coming-out" party to introduce ourselves as a band plus a chance for me to say "Thank You!" to the many folks who helped music become a fulfilling part of my life.   Special guests Ark-Hal Karns, Tim Duffy, and Will Gunn added their sonic flourishes throughout the evening.   Headliner Josy Ylene Welty (my daughter) sang ballads from her heart, and newcomer Shane P Welty (my son) warmed up the crowd playing his guitar with the boys in the band (Russ, Ken, Mike, and David).