Our polling place in the Point Pleasant firehouse, a short walk away if you cut through the woods, is like something out of a Stephen King novel. It could be the teen rec center when we were kids except there aren’t any girls smoking cigarettes near the doors, only old people, election volunteers behind the tables and stray voters propped up with walkers. I keep trying to imagine how we could use the space. Throw a party, serve Genny beer, get someone to spin records, maybe get Bob Henrie and the Goners to play. But then we’d probably attract the same crowd as this season’s candidates.
Brian Williams 65th birthday bash at Abilene in Rochester, New York
Geez! I remember when Brian Williams was 60 and we celebrated his birthday at the Little Theater Café while his band Lumiere played. On Labor Day afternoon Bob Henrie, his brother, his girlfriend and an assorted cast of musicians connected to the Middlesex scene performed at Abilene as we celebrated Brian’s 65th.
We asked Brian how he felt and answered “Great” with his characteristically big smile. There were a few qualifiers but I won’t get into that. Mostly, he said, music keeps you young.
Watkins and the Rapiers at he Flipside on Main Street in Rochester, NY
You can tell it’s near Christmas by the amount of red that bands are wearing. Another clue is that almost every tune we heard last night was a Christmas thing. I finally got the picture and got in the spirit. Down on Main Street, at the Flipside, Watkins and the Rapiers were thoroughly entertaining. They have a Christmas cd under their belts and add new chestnuts every year. Their Christmas tunes sound like classics. The place was packed but there should have been a line out the door. These guys have rescued Christmas.
Bob Henrie and the Goners at Abilene
Over at Abilene the joint was rockin’. We had just walked in, our glasses were still steamed and people were trying to get us to dance. Bob Henrie and the Goners are real treasures. They are better at early rock n’ roll than anybody. Their covers sound better than the originals. Some bands sound too loud in this room and others just get lost unless you are right on top of the band but these guys sounded like a live record. They have been playing together for twenty five years or so and they are real pros but that is no reason to go see them. Go see them ’cause they are a blast.
