Shows in February

My first show in February was at The Chilihead BBQ on RT 106 in West Bridgewater. Chilihead BBQ has live music almost every night of the week. They serve great BBQ and the owner Paul and the staff really make folks welcome and they make sure that things are just right. Chiliheads is a nice place to play because it is an intimate setting. I have made some great friends playing at Chiliheads. Back at Chiliheads in June.

My friend Mike Shea joined me to do a gig at JP Greer's in Weymouth Mass. Mike played the Conga drums for this show. It was a great night and by the end of the night we had a dance floor going. JP Greer's has a full menu. I have more shows planned at JP Greer's in the summer and I will be playing there the night before Thanksgiving this year.

Had a fun gig at Stepping Stones in Carver Mass in February. Stepping Stones is a hidden jewel of a place to hang out have some good food and drink while listening to music. There were multiple birthdays being celebrated the night I played and we had a really fun night. I will be back at Stepping stones in April 8th.

Played a great gig at McQuiggan's in February. McGuiggan's is a nice Irish place on Washington Street in Whitman. It was nice to see some old friends (they aren't old but I have known them for a while), and some new friends. :-) I will be playing again at McGuiggan's on April 15th.

I played a Thursday night show at The Tinker's Son in Norwell. It was a great night. One lady in particular really was enjoying some Neil Young tunes. Happiness is watching someone really enjoying the tunes. :-)

Mid month I had a really fun gig at Chubby's Bar and Grill in North Providence. I took a lot of requests. There was a fun crew there that night. I have met a lot of nice folks at Chubby's. Good times.

I played two great shows at The Piccadilly Pub on RT 28 in Randolph Mass. we have been having some legendary singalongs at 'The Pic.' The shows in February were awesome. One night was a mini high school reunion for some great folks who went to Braintree High. We really had a blast. When you see people who work long hours at a venue then go back there to see the show it really makes you feel loved. I have a number of gigs coming up at The Piccadilly Pub throughout the year.

Near the end of the month I attended 'Bandapalooza.' This is an event that Dadd's Beach Club puts on to let the musicians who play there come to Nantasket and have a jam session and enjoy some free pizza. It was fun. I played with Satch Romano for a couple tunes. I played harmonica with the folks from Acoustic Phase on a Neil Young tune. I was really happy to play again with my friend Guy. I played with Guy in the band Sharky back in 2006. Looking forward to playing at Daddy's beach Club this summer. I have some Saturday afternoon gigs booked during the summer. BEACH DAY! I love Nantasket! :-)

In Febraury I played a special event at The Commonwealth in Quincy (The Two Dead Presidents Chilifest). I played this gig along with my friend Mike on the Congas.

Near the end of the month I had a full band gig at O'Toole's in Whitman Mass. Its always a fun time at O'Toole's but this gig was a special treat because our friend Evan Dennis joined us to play some lead guitar. We had a guitar duel at the end of the night with our friend Chris playing rhythm guitar. Mike McHugh played bass that night and Mike Shea played the full drum set. There were some guest performers too including my friend Sven and the band Sidebar did an acoustic set. It was a full and great night of music.

January Shows 2011

This first gig of 2011 was at Damien's in Hanson Mass.

Damien's

I love playing Damien's. It is a casual place with the best pizza in town and coldest beer. The folks who go there are my kind of people (especially because they like the tunes I play). :-)

It is always awesome to see friends at shows.

It makes it easier to perform knowing that you have some support in the crowd.

It's a treat when you see folks you haven't seen in a while.

It's great to meet new folks too.

This next pic is Ericka doing a Unicorn impression. Is it St Patty's yet?

This month at Damien's we had some line dancing!

The Piccadilly Pub

I had two great gigs at The Piccadilly Pub in Randolph during January. There are a great bunch of folks who come out for the tunes at 'The Pic.'

We had some awesome guest performances.

Some friends came a great distance to join in the fun.

We had some legendary sing along's.

Robin loaned me some hair for this pic.

There was a couple birthdays in the house.

The shows at The Pic were some great nights with friends.

I even got a nice picture and Dan and Renee.

So much fun.

It's a double bonus when see folks at shows who have invited you to play at their own events.

I have the privilege to party with some great folks who I met at The Pic.

I hadn't seen my friend Gary in decades! :-)

One of the greatest compliments for me is when folks who work at a venue come back to the place they spend so much time working to hear you play.

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

I celebrated my birthday for a whole weekend with two gigs one at O'Toole's and one at McGuiggan's.

O'Toole's

O'Toole's is a fun Irish place. It's always a blast at O'Toole's. My friend Mike Shea played the Conga drums that night.  My friend Chris performed.

McGuiggan's

My daughter's helped me celebrate my birthday at McGuggan's. McGuiggan's is a nice Irish place that serves some awesome steak tips. Lot's of fun at McGuiggan's.

Lot's of friends came out to help me celebrate.

Played some Elton for my friends who are going to see Elton soon.

People had fun. I really enjoyed the night.

I really felt 'celebrated' this year. :-)

Chubby's Bar and Grill

The last gig of the month was at Chubby's in North Providence. I enjoy playing at Chubby's and have met some really nice people playing there.

People have fun there.

My friend Ron got up and played at the January show. He plays some mean blues tunes.

Sgt Jeffrey Mullin Benefit Dance

What may be one of the biggest events of the year was in January, the Sgt Jeffrey Mullin Benefit Dance. It was held at Legion Post 79 in Weymouth and was a sold out event. The night went great and at one point it probably was the most people I have ever gotten moving on the dance on the floor while playing solo. The event was a big financial success too raising money for a scholarship. The event is held every 5 years to honor the memory of Sgt Jeffrey Mullin who gave his life in service of his country during Dessert storm. I was honored to be a part of that special occasion.

Daddy's Beach Club

Another special event was at Daddy's Beach Club. I played the day that the folks took an artic plunge into the water at Nantasket Beach. Daddy's has a unique style of pizza that folks really love and its a cool place to party while taking in the view of the ocean.

Playing at Daddy's brought back happy memories of last summer's shows there.

There was some crowd participation there too.

January was a great month for live music and lots of fun!

More pics from all the recent shows are online here.

Year In Review 2010

This blog is a quick recap of some of the musical events of 2010. There were over 125 performances at 25 venues during the year. I had some success with song writing and recording during the year as well. The year was full of fun and great times with friends.

Here are some pictures from some the venues I played this year. A picture paints a thousand words. There are some pictures from other events as well.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO INVITED ME TO PLAY AND EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO A SHOW!

The Abington Alehouse

Applebee’s

Blue 22

Bridge Street Grille

My friends threw a birthday party for me at one of the first shows of the year.

Chilihead BBQ

Chubby’s

Daddy’s Beach Club

The summer was awesome playing at Nantasket Beach.

Damien’s

The Flat Iron Cafe

The Freeport Tavern

JP Greer’s

JP Ryan’s

KC’s Pub

Louis Crossing

McGuiggan’s Pub

O’Toole’s Pub

Peddler’s Loft

Piccadilly Pub

Red Rose Cafe

Rick’s Music World

Stepping Stone’s

St John’s Athletic Club

Trinity

The Tinker’s Son

Two Jerk’s Pub

This was a great year for impromptu performances too like tailgating at country fest.

I played at some friends parties too.

This was the 2nd year in a row that I played the annual Shedfest event.

Had a good jam session with Kenny and Mike at Patti's house in the summer.

Played the third of July for some long time friends from my home town.

It was an awesome day and we had fun.

Played for a bike run after party memorial event.

Had a great time performing with Mike Garvey at my friend Jackie's.

This summer I had to honor to play at the wedding of two friends. This is a shot from my friend's wedding.

A friend turn the big 50 this year and they had a blow out celebration for him.

Finally finished another CD this year. 'A Better Day' was put together for charity and raised $1000 dollars this year to fight breast cancer.

I got to meet Jess this year, one of the survivor's who was the inspiration for one of the songs on the CD.

This year I also played an Autism benefit, a benefit for Baby Chloe, a benefit at The Highlander to raise money for a wheelchair, a fundraiser for Dana Farber at Finbarr's in Canton and I also played the Quincy Animal Shelter Beer and Wine tasting fundraiser.

We said goodbye to John Law and Rich Cronin among others this year. May they reset in peace.

I am very grateful for another year full of music and good times in 2010. Here's hoping that 2011 will be a great year filled with 'peace, love, and live music.'