It has helped to keep the JUKESTOCK experience alive for me - it won't be over
until the last reflection is submitted to the Digest! Just because we are no longer in the
same room, that doesn't mean that we can't share the same vibe! I'm still buzzing!!!!!!!!
A few highlights for me
*Mark "The Love Man" Pender" - the Louis Prima of the Digital Age. I've
been listening to great music for most of my 43 years, and I'm just thrilled that every
once in a while, every couple of years or so, someone comes out of nowhere and gets me all
cranked up. Before JUKESTOCK, I was not familiar with any of Pender’s material, and
had never seen him perform that I can recall. Well, after his set on Saturday, I spent the
remainder of JUKESTOCK asking everyone that I bumped into, if they checked out The Love
Man’s set. Truth be told, I think I sounded like a walking advertisement for the guy.
Well, what can I say? He blew me away. Love Man, if you're out there, please get us some
material to pass around. Your stuff just has to be heard!!
*Saturday evening around 6 or 7 PM it was, I believe, I was walking down the hallway near
The Ballroom. The door from the parking lot opens, and in walks Southside. We walk towards
each other. I say "Hi Johnny". He says "How ya doing?" and we keep
going our separate ways. Here's the funny part. It was no big deal to me. I swear, because
we were all running into Jukes all over the place throughout the weekend. I never once in
my life thought that I would encounter Southside, and not think it a big deal. Don't get
me wrong - it was a thrill to say hi to him, but it was just one of a thousand that
weekend.
*Just thinking about Southside *standing up* for three and a half hours signing autographs
and posing for picture. Staying very good natured all the while. Not an easy thing for
anyone to do, I'm sure.
*Also on Saturday, as I was walking thru the hallway. Louie Appel, Jukes drummer
extraordinaire walks by me and says "Hey, where'd you get that shirt?" pointing
at The Monkees T-shirt that I was wearing. Turns out that Louie and I had a pleasant
conversation about his childhood heroes - Mickey Dolenz, the drummer for The Monkees, and
I think his other hero was Don Henley. (Not 100 percent clear on all the details of this
one, sorry........)
From L to R: Joe
Frizzle, the Love Man, Danno, Stan Lisowski
*Meeting
The Knucklehead. No, let me correct that. Better than meeting him was the HUGE wrap-around
hug that he laid on me. A Bear Hug that had warmth in it that just cannot be faked. This
was no Hollywood Hug ladies and gentlemen. Nuh-uh. This was the real deal. Well, let me
correct myself again. Maybe it wasn't a hug. It was more of an embrace. Seemed to be just
about as long as Pender's "hold that note". Ladies, if you meet this man, don't
let him hug you. He'll melt you just like he was The King himself. Alright, enuff of
*that* B.S., my wife just walked in the room, and I'm turning red........
*Speaking of love in the room. *This* was just too damn cute. After the show on Saturday,
a lot of folks went to the bar for a cold one. There was a very cute couple from the list
at the bar, who shall remain nameless. They were slow dancing *real close* to a Ladies
Choice number - maybe it was "Little Girl So Fine", or Clapton's "Wonderful
Tonight". Some very sexy song. Anyway, the song ends, and the couple, who are in
their own world, continued dancing. You couldn't fit a piece of paper between these two
lovebirds. No more music from the Jukebox, and they're still swaying back and forth arm in
arm, gazing into each other's eyes. The male partner looks over at me, and I said very
politely "The songs over....." They both smile sheepishly, and walk out of the
bar, arms around each other, back to the hotel room.
It was that kind of weekend. Luv all over the place.
Sincerest thanks to all involved - musicians, workers, and fans. Class acts one and all.
I'll never forget JUKESTOCK 2001 for all of my days.
~Danno~ |
