November 28, 2014 Bones Jugs & Harmony (Concert #48)

I first heard of this band in an e-mail from concert promoter, Harmonica Dunn. I loved the videos I checked out including the one below.

The show tonight was at The Tonic Room a very small club on Halsted. Patty & I got there early and sat at the classic old bar. I've been to all kinds of shows this year...big outdoor festivals, dirty old shithole music venues, a bowling alley, beautiful theaters, local bars, a lakefront amphitheater...so enjoying music while drinking beers with a good friend while sitting at the bar after a hectic week of work and Thanksgiving with the family was perfect. 

Eric Lambert did a solid set of songs as the opening act.

Bones Jugs N Harmony were fantastic. The members of the band switched instruments often. They also took turns on lead vocals. The varied mix of songs all sounded great. So did all the different sounds from all kinds of 'instruments'. Really how often do you hear a steel drum, kazoos, bones, a jug, bike horns and a xylophone in songs? Sound strange, yes. Does it work in their music? Yes, it sounds great.

While the bands played, I enjoyed the combination of music, beer and conversation while sitting at the bar with an old friend. It seems so hard to find time to just hang out with friends nowadays. I know I am to blame for not finding more time so it was great to hang out with Patty...and talk about music, life and the extremely cute bartender who had a girl next door cuteness that mixed well with her punk looking full arm sleeve tattoo.

In between sets by Bones Jugs N Harmony, Jaik Willis played his bluesy rock n roll with a bit of intensity for an acoustic guitar. I thought it was pretty cool that the headliners had both Jaik and Eric join them for several songs. I listen to recorded music every day...and I love having that available to me. But nights like this are why I drag my old tired ass out into Chicago's cold nights to see music being played live. It may not always sound perfect but it always feels authentic and heartfelt. 

It was Bones Jugs N Harmony's CD release party tonight. This was their merch case.

I am a big fan of music club's bathroom wall art.

 I did pick up their CD along with a few decals.

Their debut CD. If you love well played music that has an old time sound with modern attitude, you will enjoy this CD.

September 4, 2014 Our Dreary Day In Paradise

It is raining with heavy fog and very low clouds today. So no boats were going out. So we got to hang out at the lodge this morning and relax. Then we joined the owner's daughter Dana, who grew up here but now lives in Philadelphia, on a hike through the forest behind the lodge. We were joined by her friends, Leslie and Heidi...

...and Sadie tagged along too.

Dana & Heidi

Sadie playing fetch.

Leslie & Dana having fun with moss.

Here's a surprise...I am the one dragging behind.

I love the enchanted look of the forests on Afognak Island. It makes a little hike like this one so enjoyable. Plus Dana told stories about growing up here that were very interesting to me.

This is a guest at the lodge that had me laughing all week long. He has been here many times. Everyone calls him "Ski" but his name is Rinehard. He told great stories and jokes at dinner every night. While hiking back to the lodge, Dana saw a killer whale in the bay behind the lodge. So we headed to the dock and off we went.

Here's Sadie disappointed we took off in the other boat without her

Chrissy spotted an eagle along the way...

...our first and only orca on this trip...

...it circled around the bay looking for food.

I couldn't help taking a few scenery shots...

...in between seeing the killer whale surface near us.

We never saw much more than the dorsal fin but it was pretty cool to be so close to one. So we headed back to go kayaking and possibly get a little closer to a killer whale.

Dana took us out kayaking with her friends from Philly.

It seems strange but Chrissy & I have kayaked in Alaska more than anywhere else in the world including back home. We had the two person kayak.

Dana led the way but gave us time to explore along the shoreline.

I love floating along just above the water. It is so relaxing and gives you a different view of the surrounding area.

A kayaking selfie.

We saw lots of funky sea creatures along the rocks on the shore. 

Our cabin from sea level.

Back at the lodge I believe we had this guy for dinner last night and again for breakfast sausage this morning.

While relaxing on the deck, I had a deep conversation about world politics with these two gnomes.

Then we joined Dana for another hike to a beach.

It was raining but no one cared. It was a short hike but very enjoyable as the scenery changed often.

It is amazing how much stuff washes ashore up here.

I could have relaxed on this beach for hours but we were going to be late for dinner...

...and as incredible as it is to be hiking out here...dinner has been just as amazing at the lodge.

Dana told stories about skating on this pond as a child...that made me think about what it would be like to live here...this far away from everything...at this point in my life...it sounds perfect to me.