Cantab Show,

Due to lack of preparations on my part, the boston show was at an open mic in Cambridge at the Cantab on Massachusetts Avenue.

As I arrived late, I was last on the list and played last.  There were a lot of people there, except at an open mic most of them are musicians and by the time you are on at the end there's less people.

Anyway, that didnt really matter to me because my attitude was I'm gonna rock whoever is here.

There was a "featured artist" at the open mic, a girl, she had a great voice, in between songs she talked and it reminded me of the public broadcasting skit on Saturday night live.  Northeastern girls in sweaters, real quiet.

When I was sitting at the bar the cat next to me asked the bar tender what time the "T" stops running. Thats the subway in Boston.

I told him I woud give him a ride.  His name was Noel Smithe (sp?).  He played a song entirely about Apricotts.

As usual, and in a nod to JC (Johnny Cash) I wore all black and played a black acoustic guitar.  The first thing I said was, "Either that's a euphamism, or that guy (Noel) really likes fruit.

Then I busted into a new tune called "North Caroline".  Geoff Bartley, the guy that runs the open mic was clapping along.

Then I played a Bo Didley beat medley of three songs, "Josephine" (George Thorogood), Not Fade Away (Stones), and Mona (Stones).  People  were singing along.

That was it cause you only get to play two songs at the Cantab open mic unles you are the featured artist in which case you can play about ten.

I finished with the usual climb up the neck chord in 16th (?) notes pyrotechnics.

Even though it was only two songs I was really sweating at the end.  It felt great.

I thanked Geoff Bartley and the bar tenders etc and was out of there.  I gave Smithe a ride to his car. 

I am hoping next time Bartley will let me be the featured artist so I can play ten songs.

Chief