Hangin' Out With My Friends
A Flurry of Notes
the weekly bulletin of The Jam: NYC's recreational music community                         03.19.07
 News

Tell me you're crazy maybe then I'll understand

No less than three invites for the final remaining spot in the 2007 Jammy Awards went out in the past 8 days: First to
The Obscure Blues Band (who were forced to drop out due to scheduling difficulties), then to Fugue State (who had to decline  because some of them will be out town), and finally Complicated Lady (pictured above, who accepted). There's a lesson for those of you 2008 hopefuls: No matter what, keep the date open - and keep practicing!
 People

Charlie ManganoThis week I sat down for a chat with Rolling Bone/surfer/
philanthropist/AARP member: Charlie Mangano.

JMG: What was life like before joining the Rolling Bones?
CM: Professionally I had tunnel vision. The Rolling Bones and The Jam helped shake me back to what I a truly loved before career, money and success complicated the picture. After nearly six years, The Bones are part of my extended family. In fact, I contemplate committing fratricide on Greg Manning at least once a week.

JMG: Which one are you anyway, Keith or Ronnie?
CM: What I know for sure is that Dave Stancavish is Mick Taylor. A real musician.  It's a pleasure to listen to him and learn from him. Every group has a member who isn't a virtuoso but adds something that you can't capture on sheet music, and that's my role. As Keith Richards said, "All you need is five strings, three fingers, two chords, and an asshole." That works for me. But between Keith and Ronnie I'm a mash-up. Call me Konnie.

JMG: What is your current day gig?
CM: I have been surfing and goofing off for the last couple of years, but here's an exclusive scoop for The Jam NYC ... on April 1 I am taking a position as Chief Marketing Officer of a great company called
Minyanville Publishing and Multimedia.

JMG: Nice plug. What do you do the rest of the time?
CM: My family keeps me pretty busy. I spend a lot of time in California with my friends there and I write songs in Nashville. I break [band members] George Majoros' chops regularly, listen to Guy Villano's lame jokes, try to save Pluto for Scott McCoy, keep Sandra's schedule straight, and sell leather coats to Ted. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it. I also have been taking guitar lessons, and believe it or not I try to practice whenever I can.

JMG: Do your kids think you're cool?
CM: They'll never admit it, but they think it's cool (primarily because their friends do :-) ) My oldest daughter like being a Woo Woo Girl at The Red Lion when she's home from college. But they probably don't think I'm as cool as they should!

JMG: Tell the folks a little about Band Together.
CM: It's a great event Bill Bennett and I started after 9/11. Since then, The Bones and The Jam have kept it going. We raise money for
Little Kids Rock, who use it to buy musical instruments for schools that can't afford them. We have raised over $75k, and will be having Band Together VI this Spring. I think this year's event is going to be our biggest ever with some A list headliners. Stay tuned.

JMG: What's next, Charlie?
CM: The Bones are on a roll (pun intended). We are playing at The New Orleans Jazz Festival on May 5. This Fall we have gigs in Italy (yes, that Italy), Florida and are in discussions to play a return engagement at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of a tribute weekend they are doing for that other band of old guys that plays the same songs we do. And most importantly it's only 17 days until our favorite gig at The Red Lion. Come say hello.


The Rolling Bones play the Red Lion on the 1st Thursday of each month at 11 pm.
 Weather

Monday (3/19): Newbie Jam with Patty Murray from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at The Jam. Join us for a  professionally-facilitated open jam session specifically geared toward newcomers - but where all are welcome. $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

Thursday (3/22):
Human Karaoke Experience at O'Flanagan's, 9 pm to 1:30 am.

Friday (3/23): Open Blues & Rock Jam from 6 to 10 pm at The Jam (701 7th Ave., 7W). $15 for Jam members, $25 for everyone else, all gear included.

Saturday (3/24):
Open Rock Jam at The Jam (701 7th Ave., 7W), 4 to 8 pm. $15 for Jam members, $25 for non-members, all gear included. 
 Business

Gibson Jimmy Page Doubleneck SGLast night I had the pleasure of watching someone buy a $30,000 Gibson Jimmy Page Doubleneck SG, part of a very limited edition and the feature of the first Platinum Event held at Manhattan's Guitar Center. If that's too rich for your blood, there's a slightly less exclusive version available for $8,000. But hurry - the entire run is expected to sell out within days. Absurd? While it may seem strange to shell out so much for a non-vintage instrument, similar "signature" models (A previous Jimmy Page Les Paul, and others based on the famed axes of Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen) are all the rage - and not just among those who have more money than they know what to do with. Watch eBay over the next few weeks, and you're likely to see prices go significantly higher, as resellers flip their purchases to those with even more disposable income - if perhaps less patience to stand in line. Eventually, these prize guitars will end up in the hands of those who are not investors, but rather those who just have to have them. Call him crazy, but I saw one very happy man buy the guitar of his dreams last night. And I understood.  
 Postscript

Thom Yorke"Being in a band turns you into a child and keeps you there." -Thom Yorke

Jam Master G
a/k/a Gregg Raybin
 Links
 Jammy Spotlight
Guitar Center Manhattan
Since its inception, Guitar Center's flagship Manhattan store (14th Street between 5th and 6th) has  supported the Jammy Awards, and this year GC ups the ante with $1,500 worth of Gift Cards for the winners, including Best Dressed ($100), Best Keyboardist ($250), Best Bass Player ($250), and the highly coveted Best Cover Band ($600). Remember that ALL Jam members get a 10% VIP discount at Guitar Center, so if you don't have your discount card, see me. And if you do have a card, see John Lee at GC - he's our man.

In other Jammy news, Lighting Designer Jason Carrol (fresh off tour with My Morning Jacket) has signed on to handle the visual effects at this year's Jammy Awards - a special treat for the eyes, since Knitting Factory recently acquired $30,000 worth of "intelligent" lighting.

Join us Friday, April 13, at Knitting Factory, for the 2007 Jammy Awards, with Both Hands, Chuck & Sue Rock, Complicated Lady, Cropduster, Dave Sasscer and The Mojo Conga Jam, Gremmie's Noisebucket, Limelight, Newspaper Taxis,
Pink Flawd, The Rolling Bones, Sandstorm, and Square Feeet.


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Saturday Rock Jam:
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The Jam is located at 701 7th Ave., #7W (entrance on 47th St., just east of 7th Ave.) We supply the gear and instruments - you just have fun!

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