When the Monkeydust Settles

Callin' the Cape Crusader, Green Hornet, Kado too; I'm in so much trouble, I don't know what to do... If you think anything about me, save me! -Aretha Franklin Melissa, the leader of "The Blue Mama Blues Band" contacted me a few months back about being a substitute bass player for a gig at " Pineapple Willys " a local restaurant. She explained that it would be a trio, guitar, bass and keyboards. NO DRUMS. I thought this was a little odd, but I jumped at the chance to play a smoke free venue with great food and drinks. This particular restaurant was made more famous by a Visa commercial in the early 1980s that I am sure the reader will remember. As an extra bonus, the venue is family friendly enough that I was able to invite some close relatives including my 10 year old niece. I started my day job early that morning just at sunrise. I had to deliver some swimming pool chemicals to one of the condominium resorts, and while wrangling a

Well, I've got a woman, way over town That's good to me, oh yeah Said I got a woman, way over town Good to me, oh yeah- Ray Charles editor note- a bit of a detour here, just some random music thoughts I have gathered. Last night I watched the entirety of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil again. I really can relate to the character "Yankee John" living here, and playing music where I do. He was passive through most of the movie, and just watches all the weirdness around him, only getting involved when he sees how his skills can be used beneficially. This says a lot about my musical endeavors. A while back my wife and I took a one night trip to New Orleans, as we often have, we met up accidentally with a Panama City friend and his wife. They invited us for dinner on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter and then we went to his friend's gig where he got to play with tenor sax player Lance Ellis . check out the the movie RAY (he's t

Juke box playin' and everything, All the cats began to sing, I heard somebody called and said LAST ROUND FOR ALCOHOL- Floyd Dixon The House of Bourbon is an unusual place. Yacht basin at night  Derelict motel across the way. It sits atop the Shrimp Boat restaurant which has been there for about 10 years.  The property was originally an old school Florida seafood place and fell into such disrepair by the 1990s it was unsafe to go near.  Smith's yacht basin had some sunken boats in it, and the whole area received Community Redevelopment Area (C.R.A.) funding.  It was redeveloped into a beautiful building by the son of the original owner.   I remember him showing me the plans and thinking how it would improve the St. Andrews corridor of Beck Avenue.  It helped spur a renaissance in the area, but then, it fell into receivership.  The bank hired a property management company to run it until it was sold to By The Seas Resorts, an up-and-coming investment group that ha