The Poosta Ramblers rode into town last night and stole our blues away. The Poostas, now six in all, include: Beaux Jaxon (guitar), Bob Pike (mandolin, guitar), Michael Kentish (guitar, bass), Mookie Brando (guitar, banjo, bass), Greg Zeigler (percussion, guitar), Jerome Li Thiao Te (fiddle, guitar). They all sing, and after last night, we know at least one of them dances (though probably best next time to put down Mookie's guitar before he starts). These fine musicians get together every couple months to put on a great show of Americana and country music that we just wouldn't hear here otherwise, and many of these folks would not play otherwise. In the process, they turn Treehugger Dan's into one big family porch. The only thing missing was the hooch, though I think I spotted a sneaky bottle behind the bar that the staff were keeping to themselves. Maybe we should drag out some rocking chairs too. Unbelievably, it was the first time I had ever met Beaux Jackson, even though he has been here for 15 years and Mookie always raves about his musicianship. It was great to finally hear him. I loved the finger-picking, the harmonies, and the theater of people passing instruments around to each other. As Josey whispered to me, "There ain't nothin' like some fine finger-picking." Another thing I like so much about the Poostas is that while they do have a few regualar songs, they make a conscious effort to fill up the set list with new material every time. Some of the tunes I liked best this time were "Friend of the Devil"  (Grateful Dead), "Good Year for the Roses"  (Jerry Chesnut), "Trouble" (Ray LaMontagne), "Fallin' and Flying" (Stephen Bruton, Gary Nicholson), "Hazel the Whore"  (Bob Pike), "I've Been Everywhere"  (Geoff Mack), "Deportee"  (Woody Guthrie), and the totally unexpected (for the band too) foot stomping "Baba O’Reilly" (Townshend). While the inclusion of The Who song was inspired and consequent jam got everyone's blood flowing, and Bob's mojo, I think we can do without the introductory rant next time. I thought the chorus on "Fallin' and Flying" was lovely...
"Funny how fallin' feels like flyin'
For a little while"
, and when I looked up the lyrics  just now, I find them especially poignant. I am very happy they got Jerome to sing again. "Trouble," first heard when Jerome sang it at an open-mike night at Red Velour, was a song I had in my head all summer, and helped me get through some otherwise boring swim training. Can't wait to have them back again.

Set List:
1. Friend of the Devil  (Grateful Dead) - Beaux
2. I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive  (Hank Williams) - Mookie
3. Hairdown (Bob Pike) - Bob
4. Good Year for the Roses  (Jerry Chesnut) - Mike
5. There's a Tear in My Beer  (Hank Williams) - Greg
6. Brand New Angel  (Greg Brown) - Beaux
7. Trouble (Ray LaMontagne) – Jerome
8. Wayfarin' Stranger  (traditional) - Mookie
9. Old Old House  (George Jones, Hal Bynum) - Bob

10. Big Bad John  (Jimmy Dean) - Mookie
11. Deportee  (Woody Guthrie) - Greg
12. Through the Morning Through the Night  (Gene Clark) - Beaux
13. Down the Road (Michael Kentish) - Mike
14. My Dandelion  (Gregory Zeigler) - Greg
15. Wildwood Flower  (Irving and Webster) - Mookie
16. Fallin' and Flying (Stephen Bruton, Gary Nicholson) - Beaux
17. Modern Love  (David Jones) – Mike
18.a Baba O’Reilly (Townshend) – Bob unexpected
18. Hazel the Whore  (Bob Pike) - Bob

19. I've Been Everywhere  (Geoff Mack) - Mookie

20. Redneck Mother (Ray Wiley Hubbard) - Beaux