Imagine if you had a business where you worked with another business under a verbal contract.

Under a mutual agreement you state to provide a service at a certain time for a set amount of money, and in doing this you create a net profit to both parties.
Now imagine if this agreement suddenly becomes null and void at the place and time set forth due to the whims of one of the parties involved. It should impress you as a dishonorable way to do business. It may seem ripe for creating an atmosphere of distrust and backstabbing.

Welcome to the present day music business.

It's a condition that begins with a mis-perception toward the entertainment community, a hype created by a greater hype; the lure of 'show biz' and being 'a star'. The fact that the nature of the work is to create an escape, a fantastical world within the mundane, doesn't exactly help when it's time to 'close shop'. Truth is (at least to the folks that really work there) it's just another business, and a paycheck at the end of the shift.
"Money for nothing" is a real sentiment musicians everywhere deal with which was so aptly delivered in the 1985 Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits hit song by the same title.

Whenever I hear the line "that ain't working , that's the way you do it ..." I know that any player worth their salt would tell you otherwise. Beside all the years of practice, public humiliation, etc, there's the body breaking physical element to consider.

Talk about moving refrigerators. Just think of bass players and their huge rigs, drummers and their hardware cases, the cats that haul around hammond B3s, or sound techs and their PA's. Guitarists who prefer Mesa Boogie or Twin Reverbs. You can't get that tone through any old amp!
That's what I like to call 'late night furniture moving'.

And then after all that you're forced to do your bread and butter business with certain people who think you're just there to have fun. They honest-to-god believe that what you do isn't a 'real job', and that they can pay you like the kid who washes their car. Kinda makes you mad, doesn't it?

The Balcony Bistro Jam has been canceled. Please attend our remaining JAM SESSIONS at El Patron's (Sunday 2 to 5:30 pm ) and Val's Lucky Dog Saloon (Tuesday 7 to 11 pm).

All at once there was MUSIC, played as if the suns rays pulsated a giant downbeat and kissed the ground with 90 to 7000 hz of pure unfiltered LOVE, commandeering the hearts, minds and bodies of the faithful...

Last Sundays (06-07-09) Mo-Co Jam at El Patron's took it to another level. The host band featuring legendary blues guitarist Johnny Knox, complimented by guitarist/ keyboardist Paris Clayton, drummer Rick Taylor and bassist Chris Fraire actually threw the earth off and then back onto its axis, about 3 times. Geophysical data is still coming in from several terrestrial tracking stations.

Also on site, the one and only ‘shuffle king’, 'Big John' Evans sewed the pocket so tight and far into itself we had to call in a seamstress to pull it back out. Catfish stopped by and got in some real good licks. Clint Mars was there too, playing very nice 'up' version of "San Antonio Rose".

Mo-Co founding member Skip Murphy's sister Karen (Murphy?) showed up and whipped through a couple hot numbers and predictably brought the house to its feet. K, one of Patron's lovely waitresses (by request) sang a rousing version of "Pride and Joy". Bassist Marty Holland made it by to add a few notes here and there, and a few other places as well. Does it ever stop? Mercy!

Supporting cast was headlined by our good friends at the Sacramento Blues Society, chiefly our man all-over-town, ‘Downtown’ Willie Brown. Back from Disneyland and (as always) in fine form Kim Duvall, not to mention her friends (and ours) Kathy, Nancy and Nancy.

A Heartfelt thanks to Ernesto and his staff at El Patron's who did a fantastic job (as always) serving the best drinks and tacos this side of the Canadian Border.

THE UPSHOT :

If you haven't seen your name mentioned here or in any of the previous newsletters you probably haven't been to our jam for a while (or ever). Because we are a small community of players trying to scrape by in a dog-eat-dog existence we genuinely need the support of one another. The Musician Owner Co-Op is about finding opportunities that can benefit us all. Please support us (and you) by attending any or all of our weekly Jam Sessions.

So, here we are folks:
The spring of two thousand nine!

Some of us have arrived. A suprising number of us are fortunate (or crazy) to still be here. I'm gonna throw a curve ball at y'all. A new word for wikipedia-"musicianeers" I don't know many people who use the word musicianeer.
In fact, only two come to mind, and I'm one of them.

Regardless, please consider it more than a cheesy grammatic
mis-pronounciation.

It might refer to those who step beyond the limitations of their craft to produce necessary means of survival. Consider the work involved in the instantaneous creation of an oasis in the bowels of hell. It's just plain and simple magic. Akin to pulling a rose-bud out of thin air.

Understandably this gift isn't acquired without some real sweat and a million hours of dedicated practice. For these efforts 'musicianeers' conceived a forum, a 'proving ground ' : the Jam Session. Our union (for lack of better words). the Musician Owner Co-Op understands the mission. We all need to work. We sincerely believe that music (weather it's blues, jazz, R & B, R & R, country, latin, classical, or whatever) is the BEST thing humans contribute to this planet. That is, music is nourishment for the soul. That's why we're here, I'm here, we're all HERE.

We are Musicians. We are also Owners. Venue owners are crucial in supporting the Musicians effort to create an 'oasis' , the cool exit from hell. As with the musicians, they too invest long hours, money and sweat into providing an important service. The musician-owners relationship is symbiotic and deserves full accreditation when considering the interests of all parties. In this light, the venue serves as a buffer between two worlds.

SO where the heck are we going with this, AND what ever happened to ALL THE FUN in the world? Let's start with our Jam Sessions.

Against the greatest of odds, the local music scene not only survives, but flourishes thanks to the combined efforts of a few veteran players and a relative newcomer to entertainment/service industry. Located just off highway 50 in Shingle Springs, Val's Lucky Dog Saloon has provided a cool hang for folks seeking live music, good company and refreshment.

Opened October 4th, 2007, first time club owner Valerie Wroblewski had an premonition that her little spot off the highway would grow into more than a simple drinking establishment. Afterall, there are so many bars out there: what do they offer beside the usual TV and lite beer selection?

In November of 2008 Val found the solution. After meeting with some local musicians she opened her doors to a professional jam session, the first Tuesday night jam in the area since anyone can remember. Co-incidentally, it would also be the first of many "Mo-Co" jams.

"Mo-Co" is short for "Musician-Owner Co-Op", an organization formed to support live music by creating new opportunities for musicians and venue owners. Mo-Co is wholeheartedly dedicated to the idea that "live music is the best thing in the world, PERIOD!"

Moco founders Chris Fraire, Skip Murphy and Ron Hull would not argue that point. Same among the many talented performers seen and heard at Val's.

If you haven't attended then you've missed the likes of Johnny Mojo, Tess, Bone, Rick Taylor, Frankie Soul, Rick Zamora, Brian Sweet, Peter Philis, Marty Holland, Dave Channel, Wing Nut Adams, Gary Johnston, and many, many more...

It's Val's Lucky Dog Saloon, the more happening spot in El Dorado county.



Go for the good music and great people. Go for a nice change from the usual Tuesday night snoozefest. Where else can you attend and participate in a world class jam session, hang with your friends and party like a rock star? There's pool and darts too!

Val's is gearing up for the summer season by hosting live music every Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Oh yeah, there's a New patio! That's right folks, indoor and outdoor fun.

Last week our Val's Lucky Dog Saloon Jam was off the hook. Bone came down and played his axe(s) like a glass race car on a patch of well lubricated ice.
Wayne stopped by with eatables and an E flat harp. Wing Nut Adams made a special appearance, back from a stint in Baja. Placerville's most famous live music supporter, Zurbin, was literally airborne most of the evening on his flying conga. MIA were a few of our friends (you know who you is). NOT MIA: Babes!! Oh yeah, the house band was kickin', thowin' and layin' it down, helmed by our friends Clint Marsh, Dave Channel, and incredibly incredible Rick Taylor!

Our El Patron's Jam was good. If you weren't there, you will be this coming sunday, yeah? Big thanks to Bill Mylar, Claude, Rick Robinson, Paris, Andy, and the one and ONLY Peter Philis pulverizing his skins. There was a Skip Murphy siting later in the afternoon. As always a big shout to Chris Ferair who makes EVERY jam happen. Mo-Co-Op wants to express thanks to the Sacramento Blues Society for their support. Watch for mutually sponsored events coming soon. We also wish to extend our thanks to to our good friends, Kim Duvall, Nancy, Debra, Barbara, Barfly, Steve C, Ricky Z, Stanley, Johnny Mojo, Tess, Jimmy Pailer, Karen, Tera, Kathy, Val, Ernesto, Dr Funk, Nertz Karangyai ...

Johnny O',
a Sacramento Blues Society band leader, harmonica player and vocalist on the Sacramento blues scene since 2001. Johnny O' has been taught by and shared the stage with many of the masters such as Rod Piazza, Andy Santana, Mark Hummel , Rick Estrin , Commander Cody and Jimmy Thackery just to name a few. Keeping his 40's jump style band alive and swingin' is a part of his diet. Johnny O' is fortunate to be surrounded by such a great band with positive focuses.
Spike Daily (Bass), Skip Murphy (Drums), Ron Hull (Guitar), Joe Gotch (Sax).
Check out this high energy must see band @ myspace.com/johnnyoandthebluefos

The Soul Shakers have been in existence since October of 2002. Although the line-up has changed, the Soul Shakers remain as strong as ever.

With our ever present, suave and debonair front man, Mr. Dave Clark, leading us into battle with a searing harp and vocals reminiscent of Bobby Blue Bland along with the most rock steady bass players in all of the region, Mr. Charles Williams, couple that with some funktastic drum-kit wizardry from Dan Velez and yours truly, Mark Horr, on Guitar and vox.

You will witness an assault on your senses that goes far outside the blues box. Definitely see us live...that's where the magic is...

See you soon!!