I was out at the Saxby’s Coffee in Doylestown last night, where I saw an impressive show of musicianship by a mature guitarist whose name I didn’t quite retain.

He didn’t mess around with the strumming style that many guitarists rely on in laid-back settings. Instead, he was picking up a storm with some very complex instrumental arrangements of classic pop songs. It wasn’t until he burst into a rousing rendition of Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” that his impressive fingerwork really hit me. It really was something to observe.

white-haired guitarist
not content to strum — shows off
such youthful fingers

Comments

• November 10, 2009, PJ writes: I love coffeehouse music, especially when it's good. I don't get up to Doylestown much, but next time I'm up that way, I'll have to drag my husband there.

We spoke for a couple minutes, each of us asking how the other was doing. It was a nice little reminder of my semi-youth, those days when I would go out with a bunch of friends to see his band play. But that was when most of us were in our 20s, so long ago.

In the interim, Jayy’s band had gotten a record deal with MCA, been “encouraged” to change their name, wiggled out of the contract after one album, with Jayy setting out on his own. And now, the band is back under their pre-MCA name, Bonehead.

The last time I was in contact with Jayy, he was talking about a new recording he was trying to finish. After getting home from the Wawa this morning, I googled his name and the working title of the album he’d been working on, Broken and Glued.

As soon as I realized it was available on iTunes, I parted with eight bucks and change to download it. While I can’t be relied on for an unbiased critique, I did enjoy a few of the tracks the first time through. One of my initial favorites is “When You Look at Me,” which is all cued up in the player at the top of this post. Give it a listen.

Enjoy your Saturday.

other lists:

…

Anyone else?

• A Rubber Door

Comments

• December 26, 2008, Anthony writes: Somewhere in my archives, I have an audio recording of Simon doing that song on the old "Dick Cavett Show." I used to audio tape TV before VCRs. On reel-to-reel, no less.
  It was before the LP came out, so it may have been the first time he played the song in public. Simon complained to Cavett that he wasn't happy with the performance. He said, "Aw, I played a couple of wrong chords ..."
  Cavett said, "Well, it sounded pretty good to this old tin ear."
  Simon responded, "That's because it's an old tin ear."
• December 26, 2008, howard writes: I used to audiotape tv shows too back when I was a kid. I had a tv in
  my room with an earphone jack that I would connect to a cassette
  recorder for musical performances on SNL and the Tonight show. Oh, the
  memories...
• December 26, 2008, Anthony writes: For me, it was any "Tonight" show that Don Rickles was on, Marx Brothers movies and The Three Stooges. We're talking about the early to mid 1970s now.
  I didn't have the earphone jack. That would have been high-end technology. I hung a microphone from the channel knob (remember those?) and recorded it over the air from the TV speaker. They never re-ran those shows, and I have a lot of that stuff committed to memory because of those tapes.
  A particular favorite was a "Merv Griffin Show" with Charo, Rickles and George Segal. Completely out of control!

1. All Because of You – U2 (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
2. For You – Barenaked Ladies (Everything to Everyone)
3. My Iron Lung – Radiohead (The Bends)
4. Jerusalem – Steve Earle (Austin City Limits Music Festival: 2003 Collection)
5. Fitzcarraldo – The Frames (Breadcrumb Trail)
6. Etcetera Whatever – Over the Rhine (Live from Nowhere, Volume One)
7. Pay for What You Get – Dave Matthews Band (Under the Table and Dreaming)
8. Memphis Time – Gin Blossoms (Congratulations I’m Sorry)
9. Thick – Tonic (Lemon Parade)
10. Atoms for Peace – Thom Yorke (The Eraser)

The second track is one of my favorites, and thank God there’s a bathroom session version of it.

Other lists:

• A Modest Construct

Comments

• December 26, 2008, Ellen writes: "Seriously, where have all the old random ten people gone?"
  
  Um, we're lame and keep meaning to get back into the swing of things, but work keeps exhausing us. No excuses, only acknowledgement of the lamiosity (I know- made up word. meta-lame)... Just like I keep meaning to update my flickr and start posting again.
• December 26, 2008, howard writes: Ah, I see. To my credit, I have no work ethic to speak of, so I have
  all the time in the world to post these lists. That said, it would be
  fantastic to have a little company ;)