Guest Book

Yes, Mike, I do love the family we have here! I try to explain it to other friends, but they just don't see it like most of us. 😀 It makes me so happy to see so many of you--old and new friends. I found that I was saying things like, "It's been way too long," to too many of you, though. I have SO many wonderful, happy memories from this weekend, and every so often I remember another one and smile. Friday night's Sweeties party was all it was billed up to be--and more! Thanks to Butch for dropping by and staying for awhile. I wonder what he thought about that throng in such a small place. :laugh: The Sweeties sure know how to throw a party! Thank you, girls! Friday night's show? I loved the first set--including the Taj guest spot. The "Ben Harper Experiment" didn't do it for me that night, and JaBuMa, although it had some wonderful dialogue between the players, just went on too long for me. (I emphasize the "for me" part!) Saturday night's Left Coast/Big Men (shouldn't that be "Man" this year?) party was a rousing success! So many more old and new friends! I love that Oteil came to another party with the fans for the second Saturday in a row. I also dig the new Cosby kid look with the hat and white rectangular sunglasses! Solid! It was great to see you again, Oteil. Excellent to see our friends from HTN again, John, Joe, Bill, and Marianne. Always a pleasure! The music played by the members of our extended family at the party was so good and fun--and did I mention it was good?!? I don't want to leave anyone out, but an extra special thanks to my brothers Lammie, Buka, Jim, and Barry for going through all that trouble with the equipment for us--and to Barry for being the stage manager and getting all of us in and out of there playing such fun music. Thanks to the four of them for some excellent singing and playing, as well. It was so nice of Junior Mack to come back for a second Saturday in a row, too, and I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to play with him. Thanks to everyone that I played with and listened to--I love you all. I was just so thrilled to even be a part of it! (Mike, please keep playing and practicing on your drums; I look forward to hearing you play for many years to come! 16? You're kidding me!) Thanks also to all of the beautiful folks providing encouragement and support--and dancing! :dance: It was great to meet the guys in the No Mercy Band--and to finally hear them play! The mini set at the afternoon party was too cool and whetted my appetite for the show later on at BB's. Scotty and Rich, thank you so much for your party! Saturday night's ABB show was one of the finest musical experiences I've ever attended. It was crisp and sharp and briliant right from the starting notes! What a great setlist! I hope that "Shake for Me" song stays on the setlist--I loved it! Oh, and I loved "The Weight" a whole heck of a lot, too! Damn! Derek was just so phenomenally good Saturday night--in my opinion. It was a little different seeing him with a Les Paul, though. :laugh: Maybe it was the shades and hat, but Oteil was ridiculously funky and animated all night long! I love the "rapport" that Butch and Oteil seemed to exhibit this weekend. Long stares at each other while they're playing. Throwing towels at one another. Laughing at muffs. It was great! I had goosebumps during "Dreams" and "Whipping Post" that night, the band was so hot and the music so moving and stirring! I had goosebumps thinking about the show again today! JaBuMa was only about 8 minutes Saturday night, and it featured more excellent dialogue between the three percussionists--and left time for even more astounding ABB music! I can't wait until crisp versions of Saturday night's show begin circulating. I think I'm going to wear this one out when I do get it! Then, if that wasn't amazing enough, we headed down to BB King's to hear Lefty Collins and the No Mercy Band! WOW! I've read the raves that so many of you have posted, and I'm so glad I finally got to experience this band in person! What a great vibe there was in Lucille's! As nice as these guys are, they're just as good on their instruments! Man, oh, man! An extra special thanks to Lefty and the guys for inviting me up to play with them. I had an absolute ball, and I'm so priviliged for the opportunity. Thank you, men! Thanks to Sang for the disc. Many thanks to the Allman Brothers Band for the music that I have enjoyed for so long and that is still continuing to grow, probe, expand, and just plain groove! Thank you, thank you to Lana and Rowland for this cyber place that has enabled me to meet all of you, laugh with you, play music with many of you, and communally (sp?) love and dig the music of the ABB. Finally, thank you to Jacquie, Terri, Sari, Stacy, Marsha, Lauri, Peg, and Carole for the love, laughter, and very gracious hospitality this weekend. I love you! :inlove: This has gone on really long--thanks for putting up with my babbling. Until next time... 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀