If there were any problems, they were not
noticeable to us. Jane, Maggie, Debbie, and everybody else involved did a bang up job. You
guys deserve every single kudo imaginable. Thank you so much for bringing this idea to
fruition and then running with it and then just going way over the top with the whole
thing.
When Jane
"asked" SAYOW?, all I could do was howl!!! And it was more than 3xs to boot!
First impression was there are so many Goddamn giddy people at this event. And the
bastards stayed that way the whole weekend!!!!!! Some random thoughts, without rhyme.
Catch phrases of the weekend will be thrown in for no apparent reason. "SHOW ME THE
LOVE BABY"
The fans, wonderful.
It was an absolute pleasure meeting so many of you. Thank you all for the fellowship that
was shared and the friendships that were made. Kim and I were very touched by so many of
you. It was truly a heart warming experience.
"THAT'S WHAT
I'M TALKIN' ABOUT, GIMME A LITTLE PIECE OF THAT." Music was ungodly. Starting with
Kazee and then the finale with Labamba's big band, it was rockin' R&B heaven!!
Kazee stylin' big time. Bringing his gorgeous cherubs on stage. Talking about "we're
ALL family here". That set the tone. "25 MILES" was just killer.
"WHAT ARE YOU
BRINGING TO BE SIGNED?" Autograph session too cool. Got multiple pieces signed. Chris
Anderson good-natured busting chops about me always writing about Pender. Loveman coming
to my defense and telling Chris that I wrote a nice piece on his solo at BB Kings. (guess
some of the fellas DO read the digest) Not knowing what to say to the South when in front
of him. Making him laugh though when telling him about my wife, my daughter and me singing
"Broke Down Piece Of Man". Every single band member was way gracious, more than
patient, so courteous, and very down to earth.
"OW OW OOOOOOOWWWWWWWW" Bobby Bandiera proving once again what a magnificent
performer he is. Whether it is his own band, the Jukes, or sitting in with the Big Band,
the boy can adapt to any style and man oh man can he play.
"YOU GOTTA LOVE
THE LOVEMAN" Pender, the ayatollah of funk and soula, providing not only a great set,
but a lot of comedy as well. Girl scout "selling more than cookies" was
hilarious. Before you can love someone, "you have to love yourself" shtick was
funnier than hell. Yet oddly erotic as well. So much so that Richie asked that his kids
leave the room! Labamba was constantly rolling his eyes at Mark with an "oh no,
what's next" look. Loveman doing the longest "hold that note" thing maybe
ever. Thought Marine Park was long, but this one was an eternity. Horns going out into the
hall and throughout never ceases to bring smiles.
"THIS IS FABULOUS" Debbie, Maggie, and Jane looking so cool and collected
throughout. Could sense their satisfaction and pride on an event done right.
"WHAT SONGS DID
YOU REQUEST?" Southside and the Jukes just blowing up the place with what has been
told, as the longest show they have ever done. Maybe, the best show they have ever done
also. The tightness of this group is more so than ever. Appears there is so much kinship
and enjoyment on stage, these guys can't help but have fun. What a show. So many great
songs. Johnny going guttural on "Gin-Soaked Boy" was pleasingly tasty.
Announcing how great it is to play before a crowd " that knows what the fuck is going
on" made us look about to give high-fives to somebody, anybody. "Talk To
Me" was very cool. With Southside telling the band to shutup while he sung without
microphone and with all of us in the crowd. Had a semi-nocturnal emission while leaning on
the stage between monitors, looking to take a picture when Southside comes strolling over,
leans down right in my face, grabs my skull, and, and...
HEADBUTTS me
!!!!!!!!! I can die happily now. Coco-butted by the South. Life, my brethren, is good.
Horns standing like jolly green giants, hands on hips. LaBamba and Chris facing one way,
Pender between them, facing the other. Music kicks in and the three of them start spinning
like possessed dervishes. Every time a requested song is done, "somebody" feels
like the Jukes are playing it for them. Johnny berates the audience for not knowing how to
scream. Calls Mark down to show us "how it's done". Pender, pausing, then
letting it rip, blood curdeling, right out of a horror show, then dropping to his knees.
Johnny cracking up, us, cheering wildly. Seeing Maggie, Debbie, and Jane, sidestage,
getting all emotional when their songs came up.
Robert, Bobby's son,
coming on stage to play some guitar. Southside asking Jeff for some "Phathom Of The
Opera" type music. Kazee responding with HEAVY organ. English bloke gettin called up
by Johnny to sing "The Fever". Then Southside "firing" him in mid
song. Louie Louie beating the living shit out of his drums. Very best drum intro to
"On The Beach" meself has ever heard. At least, the most powerful. LaBamba
trombone solo during "Fever" brought goosebumps. Joey, Ed, Chris, Richie, Mark,
together, probably the very best group of horns this band has ever had. Each has solos
that make you just shake your head in admiration. KZ, doing surfing bird on his keyboards.
Johnny admiring his
outfit, very much tongue-in-cheek. Complimenting Jeff on how "nothing matches".
Bobby blasting the crowd with "C'mon Caroline". Johnny spent. But still giving
everything he got. Jukettes joining band on stage. Looking fine, singing background were
Jane, Debbie, and Maggie. An over-whelming, fun performance. Over 3 and a half hours.
Shit, that alone was worth the price of the ticket.
"YOU'RE STAN AND KIM??" Touching was the photo girls had put in programme of Kim
and my wedding. Had watery stuff in eyes when first saw it. Maggie, so eloquently put it,
"ah yes, that's the desired reaction". Just another reason why we love you guys.
"YES, HE IS MY HUSBAND, BUT SOMETIMES HE IS ALSO A JACKASS" People were so much
fun.
Class-act Danno partying but still running 5 miles. Sherry, lots of red hair flailing
about, looking to come out of her shell. Two Danni's hanging together, each having to
explain which one she was. Brian drinking at least 20 gallons of diet coke. "HEY
JAG-OFF" Pat and Tony, constantly asking themselves why the Steelers suck. Mike and
Dave expecting Slade to be on the jukebox. Jack playing Oliver Stone, filming everything.
Linda asking if I have a real job yet. Gail doing the bump with Kim on chairs.
"WHADDYA DRINKING?" Sean, of the Cunningham brothers, doing his best Baywatch
imitation, "saving" a fainted fan. Mike, of the Cunningham brothers, explaining
his sibling "doesn't really have any EMT training at all, he just enjoys mouth to
mouth". Carole holding some killer pictures from long ago with all the Jukes looking
awfully young.
"CAN I GET YOU A DRINK?" Australian guys looking for veg-i-mite. Canuck trying
to kiss every female in sight. Mike from Atlanta giving cds away. Joe and Michelle, always
a fine looking couple, be it JUKESTOCK, NYE, or on a boat. Ellie desperately trying to get
Todd to at least tap a toe.
"THAT ROOM SMELLS LIKE MEXICO" Steve looking for Livingston, in the jungle, back
of the ballroom. Annemie bemoaning having to leave early. But excited she'd be back from
Belgium for Ram's Head. Bill bringing a caravan of people to our room to sign cards. Joe
and Kimmy doing a great American Bandstand thing during Bobby's set. Lance and
"Lars" Meadows chillin' for just about everything but The Jukes! Dave V. still
trying to explain he DOES know it's Jukes not Dukes, it's just a goof!! A very young
Michelle admitting she's just a voyeur when it comes to the Digest.
"I'M THE ONLY JUKE IN THE BAR" Pender whipping out......his harmonica in the bar
and playing along with the Jukes music on the box.
"BLOW BABY
BLOW" Big Band, lots of large-assed brass put on a wonderful finale. LaBamba kept
calling out recognizable names, admonishing us to get autographs from the likes of Frank
Elmo, Stanley Harrison, Mike Spengler, etc.
During the show, Kim and I had the honor of presenting Debbie, Jane, Maggie, and Joe
Prinzo with plaques and cards for the event. The plaques read: IN RECOGNITION AND
APPRECIATION JUKESTOCK MARCH 2001 "WHEN I THINK ABOUT YOU BABY, OH I FEEL
ALRIGHT." They were presented from ALL of us on the digest, whether or not everyone
there got to sign the cards, the gesture is understood that it was from everyone. When I
looked in Maggie's eyes, and saw the tears, I echoed those same words she had said to me
some 40 or so hours earlier, "ah yes, that's the desired reaction."
LaBamba closed the
activities in fine style with one great tune after another. "Across 110th
Street" and "Move On Up" were standouts.
"BUT! BUT! I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME" So there you go. Long winded as ever, huh?
Hard to capture all the magic without missing something. Doing justice to this event and
the people in words is most difficult. Hopefully, those of you not there can ride some of
the feelings here. We missed you.
"IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT" Thank you again to everyone for making this one of the
most memorable weekends in our lives.
sayow 3xs OW OW OOOOOWWWWWWW
Love you guys Stan and Kim
PS- when do we have to have our
money in by for JUKES JAM ???
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