After a long couple of weeks on the road for the day job in which I managed to see Quebec City (for a second time), Portland ME (can't count the times) Raleigh NC, Greensboro NC and Chapel Hill for the 1^st time I am now home happily getting back to a normal routine.  I'm currently at The Wicked Big Café in Haverhill working on an x-tra large (or Wicked Big) Thunderbolt with two shots of espresso….which I'm hoping they will rename a "Georgetown Fats".

But I digress….

One lesson learned this weekend…..and another piece of unfortunate news to share…..first, the lesson learned…..

Drinking a whole lot of Jamesons on an empty stomach is a real stupid idea.  Even if your nom de plume is "Fats" you need to mix food with whiskey……RJ Growler and I wish to thank Katie, Justin and the rest of the Grille folks for taking extra care of us.....

And, onto the unfortunate news….it seems our kindred spirits Sweetfist are going their separate ways.  David H Christ (bassist for Sweetfist) found himself a gig in the US Virgin Islands as a gigolo and the combination of living in paradise while selling his body on a street corner for cigarettes and red bull proved too much to pass up.  I doff my blues hat to ya Dave; though I will be cursing you out come first snowfall I wish you and K nothing but the best.  To the rest of Fist, we're looking forward to hearing all about where you all wind up.

 

Best,

GF

So, I don't get this new math the airlines have been hitting travelers lately and this seems the best place to hash it out….there are fees on everything, except something you can charge them back for if/when they are late.

I had a last minute booking up here to Quebec City.  A round trip flight cost $1,500.  Had I booked it with 2 weeks or more it would have been half the price….

Had I not booked the flight at all, Air Canada would have made squat off of carrying my ass up here….

Then, my bag on the way up weighed 55 pounds…they charged me $0 for the bag.

On the way home, the same 55 LBS bag was going to run me an additional $100 surcharge.  When I questioned it, they said I could pay the $100 for the surcharge on one bag or split the bag into two bags and it would have only cost me $25.  Is this principal like magic zip loc back theory?   You know, I can't take more than 3 ounces of fluid through security unless it is in a zip loc bag….as we know zip locs keep explosives from exploding….

But I digress….

So, splitting 55 pounds of weight over two bags makes it worth less of a surcharge?  How do you figure?

So I pulled out an extra bag….and put the extra five pounds in it.  Well, because I was willing to take the extra pounds through as carry on baggage….no additional money.  And this is supposed to make sense, how?

Since today is the official start date to the Olympics, I just wanted to share with you a little piece of knowledge. A lot of people don't realize the music we hear every 4 years actually has lyrics….

It is just some knowledge a guy by the name of Tom DiMartini shared with me, so I get to share it with all of you……

And it goes a little something like this….

It kicks in right after the initial brass flourish…next time sing along with the other citizens of the word…..

Ready for it?

This is
The Olympic Theme Song
Yes it is, it really is
This is
The Olympic Theme Song
Yes it is, it really is

So, now you know….and knowing is half the battle…..share this little nugget of info with anyone and potentially win a scholarship….and a hot plate…..or is that the Spell-ympics theme song?

Wow!  What a party!  And wow, what a weekend!

Thanks to all who made Fats' Birthday Blow Out a huge success and one great big blast!

We started the party at the weekend Open Mic hosted by Dave Coppola on Wednesday night, ripped through a few sets (not to mention countless Growleritas and Jamesons) and then had an interview with The Georgetown Record.  Look for that interview after some time next week….

Then the party continued Friday night, first at The Grille and then over to be thoroughly impressed by Elle Gallo w/ On The Rocks.  Having heard the hype around Elle & her band, I was a little wary, however a review of the night will be up on the Boston Blues Society over the next week or so.

After that Nigel, Boom & Fats rolled out yet another new line-up for Georgetown Fats & The Growlers.  In the Blues/Jam Band Formation, the five piece (two guitars, harp, two vocalists, Bass, drums, and percussion) which is now dubbed the "Over Loaded" line-up we played three and a half hours of up-tempo stuff.  What a night!  Never underestimate the power of drunk people dancing up a storm.

Thanks to Anthony, Uncle Jim, Katie, Diane, The Walsh Family and the rest of our family from The Grille for giving us our home base.

To Nigel and Boom Boom….it isn't always easy, but DAMN IT is it always fun to play with you two drunks.

To the Mahoney Family, thanks for your continued support….

To Brendan and RJ….you two drink like Growlers, and play like Growlers….thanks for "making us commit" to the additional line-up to the band.  The initial run through for Georgetown Fats & The Growlers-Overloaded went ridiculously well.  We can't wait to do it again.

To "The Prick"…..thanks for the Japanese Single Malt & for your support.  You're the best man.  You can be a real bite in the ass, but I know it is part of your charm.  Also, I'm looking so ridiculously forward to the Spinners game on Sunday you just won't know.  Hopefully "Chone" loves baseball as much as you, and hopefully he hits and throws like Katy.

And to the Georgetown Crew……M, JJ, Jeff and the rest of our Georgetown Crew.  You dance hard, you part harder, and we love ya for it.

And, last, but certainly not least….to the Growlers Significant others…..thanks for allowing us our "Golf Game"….

Until later…..

-Boutch

I guess this is the 3^rd loss for the Growlers….

 

This cat wasn't so much an influence, or even a close friend, just somebody we all respected.  He was an all-around good guy, who even back in the day we all knew he was wired just a little differently.

 

RIP Adam Lutz

 

From the "Sideshow Bob Hair", to the tales of hitchhiking down to NY, to the endless stream of ball breaking of anyone within earshot….you left us laughing…..and thinking. 

 

Having just seen little sister Ally a few months ago and heard of the music endeavors in Nawlins and <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />....San Francisco...., it sounds as though you were living the dream.  Sadly I have only now just had a chance to hear some of your music….

 

That wit, combined with that musical skill, sadly just like George Carlin you won't be here for another election cycle.  You would have had plenty of material.

 

If you have like your humor cerebral and appreciate profanity, check out some of the live clips of Adam and his band on youtube under "Patient Zero"….and "go ahead, vote like a fag!"

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RIP George Carlin

You were the crazy uncle I never had, you somehow taught me more about the English language and how best to navigate through a very strange world than any traditional teacher in a classroom setting…….and I'll get you for it you miserable bastard.

I am and will remain a disciple of the World According to George.  Though I am a devote agnostic, I would imagine god is catching an earful of shit from you right now….and she is wondering if she did the right thing and take you from us.

How sad you won't be here for another Presidential election however you did leave up with some appropriate thoughts to remember.  "Honesty may be the best policy, but it is important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second best-policy".

Farewell George.  Farewell

An actual post on CL; names and locations have been removed to protect the naive

_______________________________________________________________

Worship band looking for guitarist (MA)

I am the worship leader/keyboardist at a local evangelical church in MA. Our church has an exciting new vision that reaches the lost and brings people to real relationship with Christ.

We are currently doing worship music along the lines of Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Hillsong, Desperation Band, Paul Baloche and David C. Crowder and more.

We are looking for people who are excited about ministry and seeing God do incredible things through worship. We currently have a drummer, bassist and I play keyboard.

We are praying God send us a guitar player/singer. Please contact me if you are looking for something totally out-of-the-box and want God to use you in this way.

Our church website is (removed) if you want to know more about our church.

This is a voluntary opportunity.

_____________________________________________________________

The Infamous Nigel's response....

Hello,
 
I saw your ad on CL and am interested.  I'm not usually much of a church-goer, but I live in Danvers, play lead guitar in a couple of bands, and have always been pretty excited about Ministry; I thought "Jesus Built My Hot Rod" was a killer song.  While I admit that I've never heard many of the artists you list on your ad, and have never really played much worship music, I am intrigued by the notion of your congregation grooving to our music, and a token amount of groupie worship certainly would not go amiss once in a while. 

I've been studying the guitar for about 20 years, and consider myself a fair hand at it.  As far as singing goes, I practice usually in church (when I go) and in the shower from time to time.  Occasionally, I will sing a tune in our band and my bandmates liken my voice to that of the Cookie Monster's.  So, it depends on what you're looking for I guess.  Kids the world over have adored Cookie Monster for years, and isn't adoration a watered down subset of worship? 

I have enclosed an original song a friend and I came up with a few years back to showcase my guitar technique, musical style, and songwriting ability.  If you think I could contribute in the right way to your group, please let me know!  I'm always happy to be used by God in new & exciting ways.

 
Cheers,
Nigel

FUCK YOU!

Just because it costs you $100 bucks a tank to fill your brat mobile doesn't give you the right to slow down on the highway to save on gas.  You fucked yourself buying the ego extension, don't fuck me by slowing down my commute.  Some of us were smart enough to buy four cylinder vehicles.

Just look inside yourself and you'll see me waving up at you naked wearing only a cock ring.

Absinthe

-Georgetown Fats & The Growlers

 

Don't Ask me what's going on

and what's the master plan

some things you are just better off

if you don't understand

A little girl she's 7 years old

and slowly dying

and all her grieving parents can do

is hope and wonder why

If you can see what I see

you would probably get the blues

my problems seemed so heavy man

'till I walked in their shoes

look in your eyes and be surprised

by what you will clearly see

if might change some things in you

it's changed some things in me