Every once in awhile I get a bit down and anti-social for no apparent reason. Usually what I need is 15 minutes with a good book, sometimes it is sport, sometimes it is good live music among and/or played by friends. I was happy I convinced myself to go out Tuesday night to see The Poosta Ramblers, take the stage at Red Cafe/Red Velour. Several things made the night special. Sugar Rae's parents were in town from South Africa and it was the first time they heard her sing. Jerome is getting much more play time, more solos, and is happily singing more often. Mookie is feeling more and more at home on the banjo. And Greg is singing more and adding his own compositions to the set list.
I particularly enjoyed Mookie's rendition of "Big John" by Jimmie Dean, Sugar Rae Hammond's
"Private Vineyard" about the Iraq War, "Really Gotta Go" by Greg Zeigler, the instrumental on Jerome's "Today We Are," "Deportee" by Woodie Guthrie, Hank Snow's rocking "I’ve Been Everywhere," Sugar Rae's version of "Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows, Jerome singing "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne, Greg Zeigler's "Silver and Gold" which I mistakenly took for a Woodie Guthrie song, and the whole band joining in on "The Weight" by, umm, The Band. Other songs included:
Jumbalaya, Hank Williams
Wayfaring Stranger, traditional
On the Road Again, Willie Nelson
Gulf Coast Highway, Nanci Griffith
Roving Gambler,
Tennessee Waltz,
All My Loving, The Beatles
Night Rider’s Lament, Jerry Jeff Walker
Wildwood Flower, the Carter Family
Rest for the Weary, Marc Cohn
Blue Kentucky Girl, Loretta Lynn
Carrie Brown, Steve Earle
Back in the Saddle Again, Gene Autry
Down to the River to Pray, traditional
My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It, Hank Williams
Wurlitzer Prize, Waylon Jennings

The bar or Tony must have read my blog last week, because although they tried to charge me for an extra beer, the tip was not autimatically included (at least on my bill). Tony also worked out a deal on Zlaty for 500 HUF.
The Poosta Ramblers are playing next at Treehugger Dan's on August 19th. More info here
Since Sugar Rae is leaving town at the end of August, this may be the last concert, but I hope they manage to keep the passion going.