...More RJS NEWS BULLETINS
7/17/07
RJS FYI
Here are a few things from the world of Ramblin Jug Stompers that you might want to be aware of:
1. Our old buddy Eddie Angel (also known to some of the Jug Stompers as "Kid Curry") not
only graced us with his presence, but also with his fretboard wizardy at Tess' Lark Tavern on
July 16. A former bandmate of Bowtie, Wild Bill, and Cousin Clyde (although not all at the same
time or even in the same bands), Eddie is currently wowing guitar fans with his long-running,
Mexican wrestling masked surf 'n' twang band,
Los Straitjackets.
Being as how Los Straitjackets are an instrumental band, it was a real treat to get Eddie up to the microphone
to sing "That's Alright, Mama" with RJS. And Capital Region fans will have a chance to catch
Eddie in action again at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug 9 at Albany's Riverfront Park for the biggest
Alive at Five concert of the summer. Los Straitjackets will be opening for the fabulous Los
Lobos. What a show! And it's free!
2. Thanks to all of you Jug Heads out there who voted for Ramblin Jug Stompers in the
annual Times Union Readers' Poll last month. Although we didn't win, we did earn enough votes
to garner an honorable mention in the Best Country Music Band category, and as they say, it's
an honor just to be nominated. (By the way, just what category do the Jug Stompers fit into?)
Anyway, we'll give you a heads-up, the next time we need your votes, and maybe we'll climb up
the ladder of success.
3. Ramblin Jug Stompers are headed back to the wonderful
Caffe Lena
in Saratoga Springs at
8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, and we heartily recommend that you make your reservations soon, if
you're planning on coming. The fabulous coffeehouse is as small as it is famous (and yes, Bob
Dylan did indeed play there), so it's certain to be our most intimate show of the year. Also,
it's the night before the Travers at the Saratoga Racetrack, which is the biggest day of the
year in the Spa City. Call the Caffe at 518.583.0022 for reservations.
4. And to get you ready for Ramblin Jug Stompers' triumphant return to Lena's, tune in to
WVCR-FM (88.3 on yer dial)
at 9 am on Friday, Aug. 24 to hear RJS playing live on the fabled "Kaleidoscope" radio show co-hosted by Jimmy Barrett and Anne
Shaughnessey. Expect things to gets a little crazy. (Don't they always?)
5. Fab Albany photographer Joe Putrock ... who snapped several of the RJS photos on our
website ... currently has a photography exhibit at the
Albany Center Gallery
(Albany).
The opening reception is 6-9 pm Friday, July 20, and we urge you to go. (Unfortunately
we won't be able to make it because Blotto is playing out in Cortland that evening).
6. Another fab Albany photographer whose work is featured on the RJS website is Timothy
Cahill, who has been named the editor of the Capital Region edition of
Chronogram,
a big, real good looking alt-arts and news monthly magazine. (And it's free, too.) Rumor has it that a
photo of Ramblin Jug Stompers will be appearing in the pages of the second issue, due for
distribution the last week of July. Or you can check it out online at http://www.chronogram.com.
*
6/17/07
BACK IN THE STUDIO
Yes, Ramblin Jug Stompers (RJS) headed back into the recording studio on June 13,
adding their unique ramblin style to a couple of tunes for an upcoming CD by
Ballston Lake singer-songwriter Terri Roben. Terri was looking for a jug band
sound for two of her songs - "Shiny Brand New" and "Teaching Recovery" - and
having sat in with RJS at a couple of our shows at the Moon and River Cafe in
Schenectady, she knew we were up to the task.
So Terri and RJS gathered at Sten Isachsen's Bender Studio in Delmar, where
we arranged, rehearsed, and recorded the tracks in about four hours. In fact,
with Sten engineering, the recording process went so smoothly (and quickly)
that Terri surprised us all by pulling out another song, "Santa Monica Pier,"
which we also recorded with her. Bowtie played banjo, and Cuz Clyde fired up
his guitar. Mr. Eck chimed in with some mandolin, ukulele, jug, and jaw harp,
while Wild Bill spiced up the tracks with washboard, tambourine, tangerine, and
kazoo.
We all had a great time over at Bender Studio, and we're looking forward to
teaming up with Terri sometime again soon - this time, onstage!
Terri and Sten are continuing to work on the CD, but we'll be sure to let you
know when it's released.
Please visit Terri's website:
click here.
*
3/7/07
JUG STOMPERS CD REVIEWED IN KINGSTON PAPER
The review has been posted on our "Hear Us" page -
click here to check it out!
*
2/18/07
CROOKED SONGS NOW ON iTUNES
To download tracks on RJS CD "Live at Caffe Lena: Crooked Songs" from Apple iTunes,
click here!
*
1/31/07
HEAR US, SEE US...
You can now order your copy of Ramblin Jug Stompers' debut CD, "Crooked Songs: Live at Caffe Lena," without leaving your computer. Simply head over to
Jug Stompers on CD-Baby
(the address is "http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jugstompers/" if you wanna copy and paste)
where you'll be able to listen to samples of all of the songs, as well as order a copy or two for your friends, family, and -of course, yourself! If you've got an extra moment, we'd also like to encourage you to post a short review of "Crooked Songs" on our CD-Baby page to help spread the word.
With a copy of our CD "Crooked Songs," you can listen to Ramblin Jug Stompers (RJS) whenever you like. But what if you want to watch RJS, too? Well, of course, we love it when you come out and see us in concert.
But now you can watch RJS on your computer whenever you like!
Just log onto YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/)
and search for Ramblin Jug Stompers. There are currently eight full songs by RJS posted on the site, all of which were recorded live, in concert, by Jughead Kevin Bouquot at Tess' Lark Tavern in January, 2007.
For example, here we are performing "Jug Band Music".
And once again, we'd like to invite you post a comment or two and give us a good rating -be a Jughead!
1/16/07
THANK YOU!!!
You guys are the best.
With short notice and little publicity, Ramblin Jug Stompers (RJS) decided to turn our Monday, Jan. 15 show at Tess' Lark Tavern into a benefit for our friend and fellow musician David Malachowski, who is facing enormous medical bills after a life-threatening health scare last month. (If you want to know more about David and his music, go to http://www.davidmalachowski.com.)
On Monday ... in the middle of an ice storm, while weather forecasters were telling people not to travel unless absolutely necessary ... RJS fans packed Tess' for our monthly gig. And they opened their wallets, too. I know this is the worst time of the year for charity giving, as the warm, fuzzy holiday season is over and folks are facing their biggest credit card bills of the year. So it's even more impressive that you, the fans, were so generous.
We donated all of our money, as well as all of the money from sales of our "Crooked Songs" CDs and t-shirts. Elmore Magazine donated single copies and subscriptions to the cause. And fans just dropped money in our tip bucket ... lots of money.
The total funds raised amounted to more than $1,400 ... all of which was sent directly to the Malachowski Medical Fund.
Thank you guys so very much for all of your help, and David sends along his appreciation for your generosity, as well.
Facing nearly $40,000 in medical bills, David still needs more help, and Ramblin Jug Stompers are at the ready. We'll be playing another benefit concert for him at
The Bearsville Theater just outside of Woodstock at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26. We'll be sharing the stage with Mechanical Bull, Bret Mosley, and Liana Turner. Admission is $10.
If you can't make it to the show, or simply wish to donate directly, please send checks, cards and get-well-wishes to:
Malachowski Medical Fund, P.O. Box 286, Cohoes, NY 12047.
Please make checks out to Malachowski Medical Fund. Thanks for all of your help.
*
1/12/07
JUG STOMPIN IN METROLAND
RJS was featured in a story by journalist Erik Hage
in the Albany press this week! Check it out by clicking on this:
Metroland Magazine
or picking up a copy of this week's mag in venues and newsstands in the Capital Region.
*
12/22/06
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE?
RJS will be stompin at the First Night Saratoga show in the Broadway Room of the Saratoga Hotel (534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs) at 7, 9, and 11PM this Sunday, Dec. 31. The Stompers will be alternating performances with Rumdummies throughout the New Year's Eve celebration. The First Night Saratoga festivities also include shows of many other fine performers: The McKrells, Jim Gaudet, Kate Taylor, Tom Raider's Imagining Lennon, Hair of the Dog, Professor Louie and the Crowmatix, The Zucchini Brothers, Aged in the Hills, Kate McKrell, the Lee Shaw Trio, Hector on Stilts, Addie and Olin Unleashed, and Fear of Flying. It's a real bargain, as a $12 buttons gets you admission to any and all events and performances. (Children under 5 are admitted free.)
And if we don't get a chance to see you on New Year's Eve, Bowtie, Cousin Clyde, Mr. Eck, Wild Bill, and the whole RJS family would like to wish you health and happiness in 2007. Stomp on!
*
12/21/06
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
"Crooked Songs" has arrived! Ramblin Jug Stompers' debut CD ... recorded live at Caffe Lena back in March ... has escaped from our clutches and is currently at large. Just in case you missed our big CD release party at Caffe Lena on Friday, Dec. 15, you can find it in several retail stores throughout the Capital Region including the Last Vestige Music Shops (173 Quail St., Albany and 437 Broadway, Saratoga Springs), the River Street Beat Shop (197 River St., Troy), Borders Books & Music (395 Broadway, Saratoga Springs), Parkway Music (1604 Route 9, Clifton Park) and Saratoga Guitar (438 Broadway, Saratoga Springs).
We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't hint that "Crooked Songs" makes a great gift for all of the Jugheads on your list...
...as well as the official "Crooked Songs" t-shirts, which are available at each and every one of Ramblin Jug Stompers live performances.
*
12/5/06
STOMPER RADIO INTERVIEW ON "THE EDGE"
Tune in to 104.9 FM to hear a Ramblin Jug Stomper radio interview on The Edge's
Kaleidoscope show
this Saturday (12/9) at 9:00am, or Sunday (12/10) at 7:00pm.
You'll be able to listen to a sneak preview of our upcoming CD release "Crooked Songs: Live at Caffe Lena". You can also catch the stream online by visiting:
The Edge - Albany Radio.
The Kaleidoscope show is hosted by our good friend Jimmy Barrett. For nearly forty years, Jimmy's show has been the premier outlet for local music
in Capitaland. Jimmy also owns that way-cool CD and record store on River Street in Troy, The River Street Beat Shop.
*
10/25/06
JUGSTOMPERS LAUNCH THEIR WEB LOG
Just what the world needs now -another "blog" ...hey, we're entitled to ramble on in cyberspace as much as any other jug band, right? Well, check it out!
The Ramblin On blog site:
Our Blog
We want your comments! And note that the permanent spot for our blog link will be on our About Us page, just above the link to the RJS Medal of Valor, as well as on our Links page.
10/21/06
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STOMPERS!
Yes, I know it's difficult to believe, but RJS are about to celebrate their very first anniversary with a no-holds-barred bash at the Ale House at 680 River St. in Troy at 9 p.m. Saturday, November 4.
In typical Stomper fashion, the party has a twist. Yes, it's our birthday, but you'll be getting the presents. Everyone who signs up on our e-mail list will receive a special present.
Come on over for a fine evening of funky, pre-election night, Stompers-style acoustic music, and get a free gift, too. Oh, and don't be surprised if some special guests drop by to sit in and jam with us, either.
Yep, it's a night so big, so bad, so beautiful that it could only be held on a Saturday. You're definitely gonna need a Sunday day of rest to recover from this before you head back to work or school on Monday. You have been warned, so rest up and get ready to STOMP.
10/11/06
IS IT ROLLIN', CHRIS?
No time to kick back and recover. On Saturday, Oct. 14, RJS
head into the recording studio with Chris Fisher (from Conehead Buddha) at the production helm. We're goin' in to do a studio track for the upcoming Rock Lite benefit CD, which should prove to be a mighty, mighty interesting -as well as historic -day, as we four have never been in a recording studio together. We're kickin' around a number of song ideas, but we haven't nailed down anything yet. Maybe "Old Plank Road", "Workin' On a Building", or "Keep on the Sunny Side". Got any suggestions? Stay tuned for further developments...
10/08/06
WHEEEEOH!
RJS just finished up our first ever twin-state doubleheader -stompin' the Berkshire Harvest Festival at the Berkshire Botanical Gardens in Stockbridge, Mass. at 10 a.m. Saturday... 10 a.m.? Are you kidding me? -and then making a mad dash across the entire Capital Region to the Altamont Orchards for an apple harvest fest from 2-5 p.m. Anybody know any gas stations offering frequent fill-up miles? On the other hand, we've never played a doubleheader where we've been wrapped up and done by 5 p.m.
It was a stone cold gas.
9/30/06
A BANNED BAND?
RJS were back among the stacks again on Saturday, Sept. 30, performing at the Albany Public Library as the featured musical guest at a special Banned Book Week Observance, co-sponsored by the New York Civil Liberties Union. RJS learned a bunch of new songs for the event, including Webb Pierce's "There Stands the Glass", Loretta Lynn's "The Pill", Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" (with the "lost" verses), and Pete Seeger's classic "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy". RJS opened and closed the two-hour performance, which also included readings from banned books, by such fine folks as A.C. Everson, Bob Resnick, Dan Wilcox, and many others.
9/29/06
RAMBLIN RADIO
Ramblin Jug Stompers hijacked the airwaves of WBCR (97.7 FM) in Great Barrington, Mass., for two hours on Friday, Sept. 29. Of course, RJS are certainly no strangers to the radio, having already logged airplay on WEQX-FM, WAMC-FM and WSPN-FM, to name just a few of the adventurous stations with the wisdom and foresight to program jug band music. But RJS haven't really had a show of their own until fearless radio pioneer
Paul Rapp, invited them to take over his weekly "The Splatto Festival"
on WBCR-FM.
Plenty of jug band music, mayhem, and magic ensued as RJS promoted their Mass. performance debut at the Berkshire Harvest Festival at the
Berkshire Botanical Gardens
at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Mr. Eck (a former DJ on WCDB-FM in Albany) and Wild Bill (a former DJ on WCVR-FM in Loudonville and a current music commentator on WAMC-FM) represented RJS, broadcasting a big batch of the songs featured on RJS's upcoming debut disc, "Crooked Songs: Live at Caffe Lena". In addition, Rapp and the Stompers spun some of their favorite tunes by other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis, Junior Brown, Marley's Ghost, Johnny Paycheck, Farmer Jason, The Lovin' Spoonful, Jim Gaudet and others. For a complete playlist,
visit The Splatto Festival.
9/12/06
TURN TO THE LEFT! LET ME SEE THOSE CHEEKBONES, HONEY!
We thought that it was about time that a jug band got into the fashion business,
and... Great Googaly-Moogaly! -Ramblin Jug Stompers (RJS) were not afraid to
meet the challenge and make that fearless leap...
On Monday, Sept. 18, RJS unveils its new, can't-live-without-it,
gotta-have-it t-shirt. Designed by our ginchy graphic guru Lillie Ruby, the
bold-but-not-too-flashy fashion statement simply declares your dedication to
the band on the front, while the back features a sublime-but-subtle jug graphic.
You've GOT to have this. After all, you can't go TOPLESS, can you?
Elegant in black with orange and white print, this t-shirt belongs in the
closet of every scene-ster. (Who wrote this copy, anyway??) If you want to
put it in the closet, so be it. But any semi-smart marketer would tell you that it doesn't
belong in a moldy old closet -it needs to be outside breathing the fresh air
every day -on the street -where people can see it ...and admire your good
taste in fashion, as well as music.
Pick up your RJS t-shirt on Monday night (7-9 p.m.) at Tess' Lark
Tavern. Simple, elegant and always in fashion -it's not just another black
rock 'n' roll t-shirt, it's a Stomper shirt. Wear it with pride. Wear it with mercy.
Wear it with grace. But please, just don't wear it with attitude.
After all, we're a jug band. Get it?
8/24/06
WON'T YOU BE OUR FRIEND? PLEASE? PRETTY PLEASE? WITH SUGAR ON TOP?
After resisting for way too long, Ramblin Jug Stompers (RJS) have finally bowed to relentless pressure from our fans,
and we are now the proud owners of an illustrious new mySpace webpage:
Our mySpace Page!
...just like every other band in the known universe. But of course, since we've just launched the page,
we have very few friends, and we kinda look like the freaks 'n' geeks at high
school who didn't have anyone to sit with in the cafeteria at lunchtime.
(Come to think of it, that's who we are, actually.) We're not begging - it just kinda sounds that way
- but if you'll be our friend, we'll be your friend, too. Honest. 4ever and always.
We mean it, really we do.
7/10/06
CD ON THE WAY
RJS have been busy in the studio mixing their debut disc, an as-yet
untitled live collection culled from their sold-out March gig at the famed Saratoga Springs
coffeehouse Caffe Lena. The show was mixed by Caffe Lena and recorded by Tom Lindsay. RJS
are determined not to mess with the ragged-but-right music that came off the stage:
no tweaking, no polishing, and absolutely no overdubs.
Mr. Eck is currently busy at Sten Isachsen's Bender Music Studio making the final edits,
and at the moment, it looks like the disc will feature a baker's dozen tunes (that's 13, for
all you oven-phobics), including Wild Bill's camp classic "Hello, Hello", Bowtie's jug
band gem "Mornin Blues", Mr. Eck's pub sing-along "Ooh La La", and, of course, Steven's fab foray into his own unique musical hybrid of
Appalachian reggae, "The Harder They Come".
Current plans are that the disc will officially be unveiled on Friday December 15, when the
Stompers host a wild CD release party at... where else? ...Lena's! Make your reservations now to
avoid the holiday rush, and don't forget: the Stompers' debut disc will make the perfect
holiday gift for those oh-so-hard-to-shop-for folks on your list.
6/20/06
WE'RE READY FOR OUR CLOSE-UP, MR. DEMILLE
Ramblin Jug Stompers go to the movies. Yes, that's right, in addition to
a recent field trip to the Spectrum 8 Theatres, RJS have landed their first movie
soundtrack work. You can hear the Stompers playing such crowd-pleasers as "Ramblin Hobo Medley" and
"Fireball Mail" in the new short film, "How I Learned to Love Armor", a patriotic, politically
pointed, and very, very funny eight-minute film that can be found at LoveMyArmor.com, YouTube.com,
and several other sites dedicated to cutting-edge filmmaking of the short variety.
Directors Len X. Clayton and Chris Stearns are currently shopping the flick to various film
festivals, and... who knows? - RJS might just become the next Danny Elfman. A special shout-out
goes to Stompers fan Tim Livingston of Sundazed Records for recommending us to the fab
filmmakers. We'll be sure to keep you posted on the upcoming film fest activity.
6/15/06
Kudos go out to RJS home-base and favorite Guinness-soaked watering hole, Tess'
Lark Tavern, which the Times Union selected as Best Performance Art Venue.
Graphic by Lillie Ruby
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