The Blaggards are pleased to have an ever-growing circle of supporters (who even return our emails and phone calls) ... and they must be thanked here:
Gene Casey and
The Lone Sharks,
The Stephen Talkhouse, Little Joe AND His Pleasure Lounge,
The Village Connection,
The Huntington Fall Festival AND the Huntington Spring Street Fair, Scotto,
The Buzzards,
Eastern Long Island Surfrider,
The Dory (Shelter Island),
Nick's on the Beach (Montauk),
The Bayou, Sean Scanlon, Bungalow Bill's Saloon,
The Moondogs, The Chequit Hotel, the Shelter Island Fire Department, that guy in the back who thinks up something better than "FREEBIRD" to yell, and you.
Thanks.
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Yesterday I packed up the car with the tools of my other trade - my guitars and amp and assorted black bags filled with wires, boxes, batteries, etc. - everything that I need to take part in a four hour session of the melee that is The Blaggards. It has always been fun playing at Nicks - how can it not be? Even when Mother Nature doesn't hold up her end there is still a bunch of people who either came out to have a little fun, a cocktail or two (or three, or four ...) and to listen and/or dance to some music.
For whatever reason its all been cranked up a notch this summer. The crowds have been massive, the band has just rocked and the weather has been spectacular. Yesterday was no different even with a missing microphone, a misbehaving pick up and a total lack of parking. These distractions were hardly noticed and we just plowed through the day, taking time off only to "refuel' and going way past our quitting time, taking requests ("I Wanna Be Sedated!"), bringing up some guests. As usual things wrapped with a great dinner before I had to hit the road for the long drive home.
The ride home wasn't as boring as usual - for one thing the Yankee game was on, but I was totally energized by our performance. As a friend once told me, "That's an interesting bunch of guys you've decided to join up with." That is certainly true. Interesting, passionate - and talented. I've said it before and I'll say it again - my band rocks! Thanks guys, its an honor and a pleasure. Let's do it again soon.
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The Woman the Blaggards Love
by Gene Casey
of The Lone Sharks
"We shared a bill a while back with the Blaggards, friends of ours, whose paths cross with ours socially and professionally. One of the neat things about them is their choice of material, not your average run-of-the-mill fare. The guys put a lot of effort into keeping it fresh and their range is wide and deep. Plus, they have a real identifiable sound, all strong players, and are clearly having a good time up there. At this gig I was mosying around (we had done our set already) and the Blaggards launched into a vaguely familiar tune. Rich, the guitarist, was singing it, and the band was choogling along. What was the name of it? I couldn't place it. Not a famous tune, by any stretch, but very familiar. I knew I had heard it. "Like cherry wiii-iine" Rich sang... Very cool."
"Afterwards I perused my CD collection of rockabilly trying to determine the origin of this tune. Confounded, I finally e-mailed the guys and Steve shot back: "The Woman I Love" by Gene Terry, on the "Starday-Dixie Rockabillies" collection put out by Ace, in the UK. Cool! Indeed, there are two Terry cuts on that CD. Pretty hot Presley-esque rockabilly, Texas-style."
"I just think it's cool that the band does this tune. NOT a famous barroom standard, tired workhorse ridden by every band with a pompadour and an upright bass, not as far as I can tell you. I doubt the record even charted back in the day, and the name Gene Terry is pretty obscure even by fanatic rockabilly standards. Yet, here was a band, on the scene, playing the heck out of it, for the sheer joy of doing so, making the crowd dance, and sending this observer back to his collection, digging through all this great history. A nice moment of affirmation. The music is not dead. Heck, in terms of popular music impact "The Woman I Love" was hardly a blip on the screen even when it was first pressed by some crazy-ass Texans. There is no sense of cheap nostalgia when a contemporary group decides to have a go at it. I assume they heard the tune and dug it and said "we can do this" or "this will work for us." Simple as that."
"Nice one!"+++++++
"Next up were the mighty, beer-dispensing Blaggards who launched into their set with a righteous 'Maggie’s Farm'. Other smart covers including Robert Parker's 'Barefootin’', Gordon Terry’s 'It Ain’t Right', Mickey Newbury’s 'Why You Been Gone So Long', John Hiatt’s 'Tennessee Plates', Danny Kirwan’s fantastic 'Tell Me All The Things You Do', Freddie King’s 'Sen-Say-Shun' which served as a showcase for Blagguitarist, Rich Umbach, another Dylan tune 'Everything Is Broken' and a few more followed feverishly finishing with the Monkees' 'Pleasant Valley Sunday'. Then, they were gone. Just like that. The crowd loved 'em, and I think it's time the buggers, sorry, the Blaggards, got into a studio right away and made a proper record." -
North Fork Sound Blog, commenting on the 2008 Sag Harbor Barge Party.
Read The Whole Blog and See the Video North Fork Sound Radio at Live 365+ + + + +
"Better than your average cover band"
[Newsday 3/30/2007]
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"F*** you guys. You play like a BAND."[ Chris Ripley of The Lone Sharks ]
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Talkhouse Bar Patron: "Hey man, I really enjoyed your set. You guys are great!!"
Mick: "Really? Thanks!"
Talkhouse Bar Patron: "Nah, just kiddin'. April Fools."
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"Everytime I see The Blaggards they get better and better... and I wish they'd stop."[ Gene Casey of The Lone Sharks ]
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"Just wanted to tell you the band sounded great last night and the choice of songs were an excellent, interesting variety. I always enjoy good harmonies, and you guys did that well! The crowd clearly enjoyed the music. While I was watching,, three guys were shooting darts and dancing around really digging the music, as were plenty others at the bar. After I tuned your acoustic guitar, a guy asked me about specific songs and the style of your play. Keep up the good work and all the best!"
[Steve, the sometime acoustic guitar tuner.]