Are You Dave?

The Fuzzy Lemons return to Hoboken! We haven’t played on our home turf since Maxwell’s back in November. We brought the Pajama Jam to our home-town crowd and it was a blast! We had kids and parents rockin’ in their jammies.

Our newest innovation made its debut at this show: an extra microphone for the crowd! We had several kids up on stage singing “Skunks in my Shoes” with us, and some mommies even got up to sing along on “Twist and Shout”! I’ll do them all a favor, I won’t post that particular photo.

Another great thing about playing locally: We get to work with Dave Entwistle again. Not only did he do a bang-up job getting us set up and sounding hot, but he grabbed Chris’ conga during “Funky Hair” and jammed with us! And man, it sounded sweeeeeeeet. Dave will always be part of theLemon family!

Today we returned to lovely Hoboken after a week away for Christmas. In our absence, NJ was hit buy up to two feet of snow in some places (we got quite a bit up in CT, as well). Our landlord hadn’t been by to shovel our steps, and apparently no one else in our building was around, so today marks the first time I’ve ever had to shovel my way IN to the building.

In other news, I’m all kinds of behind on the bloggity blog. I need to get a few final gig diary entries in, including my recent visit as Santa to All Saints, then I’ll tot up the numbers. I suspect that they’ll be down from last year, owing to the greatly reduced number of classes I’ve been teaching lately. Ah well.

We were up for People’s Choice again, but we didn’t win. Oh well. Congrats to the winners! And thank you to Dave Entwistle for running an excellent awards show!

It’s back-to-school time! Our old friends at All Saints Day School invited us back to help them celebrate at their big kick-off BBQ. We haven’t played for these guys since April of last year, but they always throw a great party and this was no exception. We played two 30-minute sets for the assembled throng, taking a break in between for burgers, dogs, cookies, brownies… in short, a delightful picnic on a gorgeous September evening!

Like Simon and Garfunkle before them, Erin Lee and Marci have finally split up (but they’re still doing concerts together). Now Erin Lee is touring with her new combo, the Up Past Bedtime Band, and in keeping with tradition she asked me to sit in with them for their Shipyard concert!

Fortunately, though the band has changed the songs remained the same, so rehearsing for the show was simply a matter of remembering what I did last year! (Erin Lee’s songs are really catchy and not too difficult to learn.) I like these sets because I get to break out the banjo and mandolin and challenge myself a little. Thanks, Erin Lee… all these years later she’s still pushing me musically!

I loved the Up Past Bedtime Band. They put on a great show, very entertaining, very silly, very musical. Learn more about Erin Lee’s new direction here.

Two in one day!

At the organic store, I heard “Are you Dave?” from a woman near the check-out counter. Turns out it was Karyn Kuhl, another Hoboken-based musician who does classes for kids. Eight years working in the same field in the same town and we’ve never actually said “hi” to each other. But she could have been a Fuzzy Lemon: She was included in the original e-mail I sent out, inviting people to jam with Dana, Kipley, Maiken and myself at Cabin Fever 2008. Anyway, we hobnobbed for a bit. She’s friendly.

Then, after a pleasant afternoon noodling on my banjo (not a euphemism) at Church Square Park, I heard an “Are you Dave?” from the gazebo. A woman named Liz recognized me from the Gordys; she was hanging out with another fellow who introduced himself as Manny The Artist. Manny said he’d enjoyed my banjo picking and told me about his son, who is in a band called Blue Food, and I should check ‘em out on YouTube. Blue Food. You heard it here first, folks!

It’s summer in Hoboken, and that can only mean one thing: The Gordys are on the loose! That’s right, the Mile-Square City’s hottest Klezmer outfit did its thing again this year at Sinatra Park, and as always, it was a blast. It was a gorgeous night, featuring a lovely moonrise over our Manhattan backdrop. Big thanks to Geri Fallo, Tom Sweeney and sound-guy Chris “Gibby” Gibson.”

This year’s Gordy line-up featured:
Dave Lambert, guitars, mandolin, vocals, percussion and harmonica
Howard Olah-Reiken, guitars and vocals
Pamela Strell, vocals and percussion
Adam Laden, guitars, mandolin, vocals and woodwinds
Barbara Arnett, accordion
Rob Harari, keyboards, vocals and percussion
Joe Harari, drums, vocals
Justin Michael, bass guitar
And two special guests:
Donna Coney Island, vocals
Gordy Haas, vocals and guitar

That’s right, Gordy himself, after whom the band was named, made his stage debut with us tonight! He rocked that Bon Jovi country tune, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home?” And the hilarious and talented (and patient) Donna Coney Island stepped in on several tunes, notably “Time Warp” and “We Got The Beat.”

Also, the night featured some VERY special guests, as the Gordys: The Next Generation took the stage. Rob, Howard, Adam and Barbara’s kids all came up to sing that inescapable Train song, “Hey Soul Sister,” and they did a heck of a job.

We even got asked to do an encore! Stunned, we stumbled our way through “Angel from Montgomery” to the delight of the synagogue crowd. Then we went to the bar at 10th and Willow for afters, already planning the set list for next year’s show.

The photos on this page are by Joe Epstein. Bill Benzon also took some great shots of the night, you can see them here.

-- Weather When Posted --

• Temperature: 81°F;
• Humidity: 54%;
• Heat Index: 82°F;
• Wind Chill: 81°F;
• Pressure: 30 in.;

Ah, the legendary annual Shipyard concert. I won’t bother repeating a lot about how great these shows are; you can read last year’s entry and get a good idea of the crowd and the energy.

This year there were a few minor differences. First of all, Hoboken had managed to go a year without any more arrests at City Hall, so there was no politicking. Also, I’d had a great meeting with Sibel, the wonderful lady who runs the local Ben & Jerry’s, and she was sponsoring the event and selling ice cream over by the fountain. Let’s see, what else happened that was different from last year… oh yeah… We got rained out midway through!

That’s right, for once the weather people got it right. The sound crew, Randy and Tom, arrived at the Shipyard and started setting up gear, so we figured Geri had decided the threat of rain was minimal. Kipley was pretty sure it was going to rain halfway through our set and he was dead right (as he pointed out more than once during the hurried tear-down afterwards). Oh well. We went for it, put on a great 30-minute show, then spent an hour back at the studio, toweling off our gear.

Joe Epstein got some great shots of us before the skies opened up. Thanks Joe!

Last year the town threw a magical birthday celebration for a true Hudson River hero, Pete Seeger. I was honored to be a part of it. Even better, Geri Fallo asked me back to join everyone in a reprise this year!

The amazing members of the Demolition String Band (Boo Reiners, Elena Skye, Clarence Ferrari and Skip on bass) put the show together and served as the MCs and “house band” for the night. Just as last year, rehearsing with Elena and Boo was a treat and a half. Even better, as we were running through “Turn, Turn, Turn,” local guitarist Julio Fernandez (you may know him from a little jazz combo called Spiro Gyra) was hanging around, and accepted our invitation to join in. He harmonized and we even threw in an extra slot for a guitar solo for him. All of a sudden I was a member of a supergroup!

I tried to remain cool on the outside, but I gotta say I was positively giddy inside. I was so cool I even offered to buy a round for everyone (rehearsal was at the Shannon Lounge, a classic pub in the true Hoboken tradition). No one took me up on it, but Julio did let me buy him a bottle of water and we sat and gabbed for a bit at the bar, where we were soon joined by Abbe Rivers on her way to rehearse her numbers. I love Hoboken, have I mentioned this lately?

Last year’s event was marred by drizzle, and the weather threatened to turn ugly again this year, but as of this writing we still haven’t seen a drop of the predicted downpour. Sinatra Park was bathed in a gorgeous sunset as we all gathered to perform.

Here’s the line-up from this year’s event:

1. The Hoboken Youth Choir did “If I Had A Hammer,” “This Little Light of Mine” and “This Land is Your Land.” Kate Jacobs, youth wrangler, asked me to stand by and play some guitar chords to keep everyone in the same key, which I was happy to do. Little did I know that Boo would join in on mandolin, along with Skip, the Demolition String Band’s stand-up bass player. It was a regular hootenanny.
2. Then it was my turn! I did “The Garden Song (Inch by Inch),” throwing in a little talkin’ blues cribbed from some classic Arlo Guthrie bits but also containing some of my own original insights. If Pete Seeger can make a speech during a song, the by gum so can I. Then the rest of the band came up, along with Julio, for “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The extra guitar and fiddle solos made the song last longer, but it was still over far too quickly for me.
3. Jon & Deena of The Cucumbers did “Kisses Sweeter than Wine.” I cornered them later and invited them to the Gordys show on June 24 (we’re covering one of their songs!)
4. Boo Reiners and the Demolition String Band led the crowd in singing “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore.”
5. Abbe Rivers melted some faces with her powerhouse renditions of “Mary Don’t You Weep” and “Jacob’s Ladder.”
6. Kate Jacobs, again in delightful counterpoint to Abbe, led the crowd in “Goodnight Irene,” one of my favorites.
7. Elena Skye told us about the times she’d met Pete Seeger, then picked up her banjo and did “Union Maid” and “Little Boxes” with the Demolition String Band.
8. Tom Vincent, former mayoral candidate, did a jazzy “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.”
9. Eddie Fogerty ripped into “John Henry.”
10. Martha Fraiser played dulcimer and harmonized with her dad on the country classic “Get Along Cindy.”
11. I finally got to hear Annalee Van Kleeck sing “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” and WOW.
12. Gene D. Plumber did his classic rendition of “Joe Hill” and gave a shout out to union workers who gave us the greatest gifts of all: the 8-hour work day and the weekend!
13. Julio Fernandez led the crowd in a soulful “Guantanamera.” Earlier that day, talking with Julio, I found out he’d been born in Cuba and was sent to live with an aunt in Hoboken when he was 6. The man should write a book. I’d read it.
14. Dave Calamoneri channeled his inner Steve Earle for a sweltering “Bring ‘em Home.”
15. The it was time for the big “This Land is Your Land” ensemble number. There were plenty of singers and guitarists on stage, so I grabbed my harmonica and threw that in instead, which was kinda cool, I thought.

The unthinkable happened this week: A little boy, not even three, succumbed to cancer. His name was Charlie and he’d been in my music class, just like his big sister Bella before him. He had huge brown eyes and a sweet smile under a mop of dirty blonde hair. He also had a tumor high up on his spinal chord.

I saw the family on the sidewalk, coming home from that dreadful final hospital trip, and joined them for some quiet tears. Charlie’s mom told me that he’d been a big fan of mine. “He thought you were the best,” she said. I told him I was glad I got to know him.

My own child was with me at that moment; we’d been out for a stroll. He was bounding and bouncing as usual, utterly full of life. I felt so horrible at that moment, because I had my son and they didn’t have theirs. More importantly, though, I felt a huge surge of love and gratitude that I still had this warm little hand gripped in mine.   I cried all the way home; my son asked why I was laughing, bless his heart.

The next day I got a call from a friend of Charlie’s family, asking if I’d be willing to sing a couple of Charlie’s favorite songs at his memorial service. I told her I’d be honored, which is true–but I kept to myself the fact that I had NO IDEA what I could possibly sing at this service. I sing children’s songs, for pete’s sakes… goofy ones! How could I dare intrude on this family’s grief with some stupid ditty?

I anguished over it the rest of the weekend. The family seemed eager to have me there, which I couldn’t fathom. Fortunately, I was given a request: “Apples and Cherries,” a lovely melody that can be sung in a round like “Row Your Boat.” I thought that would sound nice with the whole congregation joining in. But I’d been asked to do up to three song and I was stymied. Should I sing the traditional Music Together “Hello Song?” Maybe a lullaby? I had no clue. Fortunately I’ve been blessed with an intelligent and empathic spouse who reminds me, at times like these, to quit worrying and be myself. If I just trusted in the universe the right course would present itself.

The church was packed with folks; it was a beautiful showing of love and community support. The line of friends and neighbors waiting to enter and pay their respects went way around the block. Once inside,  I asked Charlie’s nanny what songs Charlie liked and she said ”Ram Sam Sam.” I mulled that one over… and it seemed right, somehow.

Four friends and neighbors of the family got up and spoke and led prayers, and then it was my turn. Surrendering to the will of the Universe meant I didn’t rehearse any speeches or eulogies–and I had some good ones gearing up in my head. But I had been asked to sing, not talk, so I grabbed the guitar, invited the kids up to the front, and did my thing.

“Ram Sam Sam” turned out to be a good choice. The “Hello Song” would have seemed trite, I think, but a nonsense song like “Ram Sam Sam,” with everyone waving their arms frantically, actually worked to give people a little release. Then I led everyone in two-part harmony on “Apples and Cherries” and they sounded just as good as I’d hoped. I closed by asking everyone to go home and make music with their loved ones.

They ended the service by giving all the kids balloons to release outside. My son let go of his prematurely and cried, but a nice girl gave him another one and we launched them all over the rooftops and waved goodbye. It was sweet and touching.

Here’s what Charlie’s parents posted on their CaringBridge page after the memorial:

Tonight we celebrated Charlie’s life. The church was filled with people who all felt some connection to Charlie’s life and who understood, while we all will mourn for Charlie in our way and for different durations, tonight was not about mourning. Tonight was about acknowledging the life of a very special boy. It was about reminding his mom and sister and dad just how many people cared about the life and passing of Charlie. It was about celebrating the strength and frailty of children and making sure that the community of children that Charlie left behind felt that it is okay to laugh and sing in his absence and that there are still good times ahead for all of them. It was meant to diffuse fear and uncertainty for children trying to understand what it means to never see a friend again. Mostly, for us, beyond the amount of love and support we felt tonight, it was about letting his very special sister know that Charlie left his mark on so many people and that, like them, it is okay to cry and sing in Charlie’s name.

Several people have thanked me for leading the singing at the service; everyone seems to agree that it was just right. All I can say is, I hope I NEVER get good at that sort of thing.

“The death of a baby is like a stone cast into the stillness of a quiet pool; the concentric ripples of despair sweep out in all directions, affecting many, many people.” - John Defrain, 1991

We’ll always love you and miss you, Charlie. Thanks for making music with me in the too-short time you were given.