Wishing you all a fine, fine September. But y’know it’d be more fun to wish you well in person – maybe pop on out for the dates below.
Bugsy’s Backalley Speakeasy
218 N Water St, Milwaukee
(but enter via the alley off Chicago Ave)
414-221-6565
www.bugsysbackalleysaloon.com
Saturday Sept 15
9pm – 1am
I’ve introduced you to Bugsy’s on many occasion – what is there left to be said other than wooo-hooooooo.
Caroline’s Jazz Club
401 S 2nd Street
414-221-9444
www.facebook.com/CarolinesJazzClub
Thursday Sept 20
8:30pm – 11:30pm
All of the staff and regulars make Caroline’s a Milwaukee gem. I would be remiss if I did not personally and heartily encourage you to join us.
Music is so fun. But never would I have guessed that there is also so much non-musical fun to be had. The below is a romp through the many non musical items on my checklist in any given week.
Moving that gear. Keyboards – big ones. And drums – lots of ’em. And stairs. It’s excellent resistance training – with cardio. I save on gym membership; you’d think I’d be in better shape after all that hauling, and I’da thought toting a keyboard down the sidewalk would raise my coolness quotient. Not the case. I’m uncool for, um… other reasons. Many… many other reasons. It’s even changed the way I enjoy watching other live bands. I watch folks play and mentally tally up the gross tonnage of gear on stage – then smile knowing I don’t have to load it out once the set wraps. heeeee he.
Parking. Well legal parking anyway. My car is almost small enough that with a handle bolted to the side I could pick it up and carry it – but then that’s more gear to haul. A real catch 22 right there. That said my parallel parking skills are if not legendary at least above average. Big ole van? No problem, ole Ryan can sling that bad boy into the just-barely-large-enough space between the pricey Mercedes S class and the disappear-below-my-mirrors Miata – all while angry traffic waits for me to get it right on the first try. Actually, that should be a show – I’d pay to watch drivers parallel park really well. I don’t get out much…
Sound systems. They are complicated. Sound engineers make it look easy wrangling countless cords while keeping (most) of the electrons pointed in the right direction. And when it goes wrong, it goes ear-crushingly wrong. We shared the stage a few years back with a Mariachi band (hey, we opened for an AC/DC tribute band once too). These guys had it right – no amps, no cords, no fuss, no muss (I dunno what muss is, but there was none of it). They ended their set, turned on a heel and played as they walked out. Awesome. Now how would I look in the Marichi costume? No need to let me know in the comments.
Requests: I respect mightily bands and piano-men that can take requests and play them well. We’re getting better in that department. The following are much beloved and oft requested. And as a musician, I love each of these songs. I mean I truly cherish and celebrate their ubiquity.
- Piano Man (Billy Joel)
- Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
- … wait for it…. Freebird!!!
Musicians. The musicians themselves. They (and me included) are an absolutely interesting bunch of cats. Yup. Interesting, that’s the adjective we’re going with. Sharing music is a great way to learn the real ins and outs of the people who play it. I’m blessed to share music with some fantastic people, and to have grown to know them so well is one of life’s best treasures.
The People We Meet – people that if not for sharing jokes, music and fun we might never have met. They are unique, each with a story to tell and given the opportunity to chat so many have become good friends. Good friends on this very mailing list. Love you all.
Our very own Kristi and family returned recently from touring the venerable RCA Studio B in Nashville – part of the Country Music Hall of Fame. I can only imagine what tunes she’ll be adding to our set list.
A reminder to check all drum cases before the gig.
credit: The Onion
I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Owners Paul (as in the Paul Spencer Band) and Caroline (as in the Caroline) are national treasures and the staff is the best you’ll find. It’s comfy, casual, classy and cocktail delicious. Stop in to hear the J Ryan Trio’ s musical jambalaya on Thursday and have a truly remarkable experience supporting a truly remarkable venue. For a peek behind the scenes, I don’t have video of the JRT at Carolines (yet) but I do have a clip of ole Ryan messin’ round with Paul’s crew – 
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum hosts the original trio – Mike, Andy and little-ole-me – laying down instrumental morning jazz in the best Tuscan courtyard garden this side of Florence. Make it a summer morning of art and sound. Interestingly Mike, Andy and I convened the first ever live JRT session at the fabulous Tusa Italian restaurant on April 28, 2012. Vocalists were shorter back then.
With snow to shovel and holes in my glove – what to do? Almost too obvious, this slathering of duct tape is for the beginner ‘fix-ished’ aficionado. More advanced learners will graduate to caulk, bailing wire and eventually JB Weld.
A musical entry – this keyboard pedal suffered a broken housing due to, um… unbridled enthusiasm during a Stevie Wonder song. The giant washer and Herman Munster looking bolt have held this hot mess together for several years now.
Aaaah – an automotive entry. My beloved ride is 20 years young – far too tender an age to consider recycling into soup cans. Concerned that crafty thieves might steel groceries from the trunk through the holes in the fenders (and having lost a case of Dr Pepper through the same rusty egress) a meticulously crafted patch-panel was unceremoniously caulked and screwed to the vehicle. Both classy AND functional? Yes you can have it all once embracing the “Fix-ished” lifestyle.
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin – a great cause to add to our charity mission – completely impressed with what they do and how they do it.
Alissa and Mike at Shank Hall – JRT opening for the sweet rockin sounds of Jasmine Cain.
Every time we play equipment is moved from vehicular stowage to full setup and back again. Some join a gym and honestly I just don’t get it. If you’d like to be in great shape and save $50 a month, call me and let’s talk about being a roadie. We’ll make sure you work the abs, glutes and Rolands.
We witnessed on Dec 23 the end of an era – last solo public appearance for the venerable and fabulous Mr. Joe Hite. He will in 2018 pilot the Joe Hite Orchestra through the heady airspace of weddings and corporate events – depriving us proletariat of slack-jawed stupefied amazement of his work on mic and keys. He is as stellar an individual as he is a musician.
And this is a picture of some cats… because no photo album is complete without beloved family pets. You know I will include for you, dear reader, whatever shameless schlock I think will keep you from hitting ‘unsubscribe’. Just look at those faces… I mean, c’mon.
JRT – sinatra crossword puzzle
Speaking of new friends… check out our ‘who’s who in the zoo page’ at www.jryantrio.com/the- sometimes-trio to meet our newest low-note-wrangler Mr. Dave Ciepluch.
