Strider's Occasional Blog
December 31, 2008...Smokin' with Chris...a snowy, stormy night and a full house. Smokin' with Chris was filled with people determined to ring in the New Year in style, and they did. On hand to help Seabreeze were are dear friends Jan and Bob Glick, and our host Chris Conlon. All three of them contributed substantially to the music as well as to the warm friendly feeling of the party. Atla Conlon and Matt DeChamplain dropped in an graced the stage with their fabulous talent. Atla sang while Matt accompanied her on piano. Then, Matt performed a piano solo and left the audience shouting for more. It may have been cold outside but inside Smokin' with Chris the laughter, friendship and song created a toasty warm atmosphere. It was like sitting in your living room with your friends. 2008 was a very good year for Seabreeze and we owe it all to our friends, fans and the people and establishments who supported us throughout the year. Thank you all and may 2009 be another good year for all of us. Edd and I wish you all health, happiness and good luck and we will see you soon.
December 26...Rosie's Cafe...the regular players at Rosie's Cafe all got together for the first Annual Rosie's All Stars jam. Everyone donated their time and talent to present a show to let Jack, Helen and Andrea how much we appreciated their support in 2008. They are wonderful people and they make Rosie's Cafe feel like home their musicians and patrons. I am going to keep this brief because I don't have the vocabulary to describe what happened that night. Let me simply say that I had great expectations for the night and it so greatly exceeded them that I don't know how to describe it. It was a magical night for audience and musicians. One of those rare evenings where everything came together perfectly. I would like to mention the players that appeared: Howard Jeffrey of Daddy Please, Dan, Bill, and Carl of Unusual Suspects, Don Pierson, Howie Park comedian, Bob and Jan Glick, Megan the singing waitress, Steve aka Banjovi, Mike, and Lynn. Hosting the show was Seabreeze aka Edd and Strider. We, the Rosie's All Stars would like to thank the fans who came out tonight and those who have supported all of us all year long. You are the reason that we play. Rosie's Cafe is by far Meriden's best music venue. It is THE place for music, food, drink and fun. Thanks everyone for a fantastic 2008 and we will see you all again soon
December 16...once again a very, very special Back Room Blues occurred. Jose Feliciano once again graced Smokin' with Chris and their patrons with his presence. He came with most of his band, and his wife and two sons. The place was crowded and the music flowed. The regulars for the Back Room Blues, Edd, Howie, Mike, Dan and Geo got things rolling. The music was fine, the food was excellent and the company superb. Jose and his entourage sat and listened to the rest of us for a long time. And we appreciated their attention. I finally managed to entice Uncle Billy on to the stage and together we played a couple of country music standards. Then, the star took to the center and we all watched in amazement as Jose Feliciano borrowed a guitar from Dan, of Unusual Suspects, and proceeded
to wring from it notes that Dan didn't know his guitar could produce. The music brought everyone there closer and we all felt that something special had transpired. Thanks to everyone who came and especially to Jose for entertaining us and most especially to Chris and Laura Conlon for making this all possible.