At least, I think it was called “550 Blues” back then. I really can’t remember. I do remember that it was a great place for a musician to play. I have video of Barry Richman playing there that will make it to the site one day.
What I remember about this night was that there was a great crowd, not huge but totally into the music, and we actually got CD recordings out of it – which was a rare and wonderful thing at the time. This was around 1998 or so, by my reckoning. We played well, and it was recorded.
Robin Kurth was working sound, as usual, and he had that shit sounding NICE. 😉 Tim’s guitar was loud and clear, and my keyboards actually sounded like a piano and B3 (pretty close anyway). Woody was sitting in on percussion this night, as is most obvious on “‘Liz Reed”.
Gregg Brooks – vocal
Tim Brooks – guitar, vocal
Woody Pernell – percussion
Paul Thomas – keyboard
Tony Walker – drums, vocal
Kenny Walters – bass, vocal
Jonathan Wimpee – guitar, vocal
I have a CD of the music here, and I’m only going to rip the tracks that I like into mp3s for this site.
Track 1 – “Why Can’t You Leave Well Enough Alone?”
This is an original by Jon. As I recall it, he started playing it when Tim needed a minute to replace a string or a cord or something.
Some FAQ’s:
Q: It sounds like y’all didn’t all know the song… did you?
A: We didn’t know the song. At least, I’m sure I didn’t.
Q: It sounds like the rest of the band besides Jon messed up the bridge!
A: We didn’t know the song.
Q: Paul messed up the chorus and the bridge!
A: I didn’t know the song.
It’s a great tune, though. We did ok. We were always pulling shit like that. “This one’s in ‘G’.”… “oh, ok.” There seemed to always be an assumption that everyone knew, or would quickly remember, any tune that was called out. In my case that was wishful thinking.
Tim Brooks is in great form here. His lead in this song is crisp, clear, and precise. This recording could serve as a reminder for those who forget who is boss in Macon, GA. This kind of playing is why I wanted to play with Tim in the first place.
Track 2 – “All I Got Left Is the Blues”
(a.k.a. “All I Got Left Is the Moose”)
FAQ:
Q: Did the band fuck up the beginning, or did Gregg come in at the wrong time?
A: Gregg came in at the wrong time. 😀
This is probably as good a rendition of this tune as you’re going to find.
Track 3 – “Southern Maiden”
Ok. Jon uh…
Here’s the deal. Jon totally messes up the intro to “Southern Maiden”. And if the audio picked it up, you’d hear me laughing my ass off. Which I was one to do in the day. It always cracked me up when someone screwed up a part that I knew he could play.
Take note, all you who played with me: If I laughed at your mistakes, it was because I knew the feeling. You could play this shit in your sleep if you wanted, but you screwed up your part! That was funny to me. Sorry if I pissed you off.
Anyway, Jon screws the pooch on the intro to “Southern Maiden” here. He’s off by a fret either way at every turn. I could relate to it. It was a complicated part in a complicated song, and he was so used to playing it perfectly every time that he took it for granted. But it is funny as HELL to listen to! Is to me anyway. The impressive thing is the way Jon regroups and totally nails the rest of the song, including the difficult dual lead in the middle. Like the intro never happened. That’s what they call a pro.
Track 4 – “Elizabeth Reed”
Tim in great form again. The band playing as though channeling the Brothers. No one comes closer in my opinion.
I have Tim’s charts here from Liz Reed and Southern Maiden that I’ll scan and post later. His charts from the early nineties are interesting to look at as I listen to what I eventually ended up playing…
pt
R.I.P. Mr. Tim….wish I could have met you….
Thanks Paul. Keep them coming. I know it’s time consuming, but worth it.
Carey