Then to really seal my affection for him forever, David said he was “on his way to give blood in the KGON/Red Cross Let it Bleed Blood Drive” when he was listening to My 3 Songs, pulled over and made the call to win the tickets.  There’s so many reasons to love this guy in that statement.  He was listening to me.  He knew how to play the game.  He was on his way to his appointment to give blood during our blood drive.  He knew the answer and pulled over to be safe while he called to try and win the tickets.  My heart soars like an eagle.

Hey, I love just about everyone I’ve ever met who listens to KGON because you are amazing, loyal, intelligent and wonderful folks, but listener David just earned some extra stripes today.  Oh, and he couldn’t wait to get his KGON “Let It Bleed” shirt!

Join in the effort!  Make your appointment to GIVE BLOOD this week!  Here’s the link to find out more about it. 

The last time I saw him, was at the Roseland Grill.  It was packed, and we had to stand through the show, and he had his son, Teddy Jack and daughter, Sugaree Noel with him.  He also didn’t say much to the audience at that show.  Teddy Jack opened with an acoustic set, and he’s a very good writer and singer.  I bought his CD and he signed it for me that night.

But last night, Leon chatted with the audience after about 20 minutes of one song right into another.  He also told the story about meeting Gram Parsons in L.A.  Gram was wearing his beloved Nudie Suit, and told Leon that he should do a version of The Rolling Stones song “Wild Horses” which he also did last night.  I could just sit and listen to the man dole out the memories of his life.

He also talked about touring with Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and Gloria told me how she saw that show in Boston.  Delaney & Bonnie, Rita Coolidge and many other amazing musicians.  I’m still jealous about that.  What a show that must have been.

Leon started his career working as a musician at the ripe old age of 14 in the bars of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He’s played with just about everyone you could imagine George Harrison, Elton John, Eric Clapton, JJ Cale, The Band, Ringo Starr, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Campbell, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many MANY more.  Click here to link to Leon’s website.

One of my favorite lines of his, is “I love you in a place where there’s no space and time.”  Thanks for the music, Leon.  Thanks for still touring like you were just starting out 14 years old, and playing with kids who weren’t even born when the “Mad Dogs” tour or “Bangladesh” concert took place.  Next time you come to Portland, if you can, please bring Teddy Jack with you.

Oh, and just so I can RANT one more time about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Leon Russell is not in there.  Abba is, and Leon is not.  Run D.M.C. is in there and Leon is not.  Someone explain this to me, in a manner I can understand.  It makes no sense, is wrong and bad and I’m sure there’s artists who have been inducted who wonder the same thing.

Now while I’d love to go, I have run out of time for the year and need to do other things with the vacation time I do have, so if you go and attend the birthday bash, take lots of pictures, and call me when you come back.  Oh, and don’t dance on the tables in Cabo Wabo.  We almost got thrown out for doing just that.  Gee, I thought it was a great Mexican tradition.  Apparently not everywhere.

Well, as we know, they mended fences, got back to what they do best, and started out on another tour.  The second swing of the U.S. is going on now, and right before the kick off, Joe Perry was involved in a motorcycle accident.  He was rear-ended by a car.  In Joe’s words after the accident and before the kick off in Oakland today, he Twittered: “Finding all kinds of new places to be sore after Ducati flight time.  I play better when I’m pissed off.  One look at my bike and you’d be pissed too.”  He and Steven both ride.  Okay, that’s cool…but not while you’re on tour.  Please.

The closest date I see so far for the tour is Thursday, September 19th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.  I hope they add some dates.  Like one in Portland at the Rose Garden.   Or even better, Sleep Country Amphitheater.  Just wishing.  Really hard.

So, in the meantime let’s hope they all stay healthy and don’t fall off of anything.  Any more injuries and Tyler and Perry won’t be known as the Toxic Twins…they’ll be the Torn up Twins…Good Lord.

This Friday, he brings the beloved Sons of Champlin to the Aladdin.  The band now truly has a “son” in it, because his son Will is in the band too.  His lovely and talented wife Tamara is with them as well.  She’s a singer-songwriter and brings new vocal heights to the sound of the Sons.

Bill Champlin called me last week to tell me about the tour, the new line up, and I think invited me to make sandwiches for the band.

Click here to listen to the conversation and let Bill Champlin himself tell you more!

Tomorrow is the first Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Joe Cocker show in the Gorge.  Should be a lovely time for those who are there.  At least I hope it is.  Could be a mud bath.  Is it better weather over in Eastern Washington?

Tomorrow is also the Crosby, Stills and Nash show at the Sleep Country Amphitheater.  I’ll be missing it.  Sigh.  I had great plans for this show, but life came by and bit me on the ass, so I’ll be listening to “Four Way Street” instead here at home.  I see that Neil Young is doing a solo show at a later date.  Couldn’t he just come join his other three friends and have a CSNY show again?  It sounds so easy.

Anyway, the Amphitheater is covered and you should make plans to go and enjoy the CSN show in my place.  That’s the cool thing about the Sleep Country Amphitheater.  Sheltered seating and bathrooms that are not chemical toilets.  I’m getting to the point where that’s one of the things that will make me avoid a concert.

I never was big on camping, and seeing a concert in those surroundings seems too much like camping for me.  Oh, I’ve camped, rock climbed, hiked and run the big old Colorado River on a raft as well as fished for days when I was little and with my family.  That’s why I know I don’t enjoy it.  Doing housework in the outdoors without the convenience of actually having a home to do it in is not a vacation.  Maybe it is for the person who sits around and doesn’t do anything while people bring them food, drink, etc.  I would call that hunting though, because I’d have to kill that person.  Luckily all the family and friends who camped with me in the past were eager workers, but I just never warmed up to the whole event.  My mother tolerated it, but she didn’t enjoy it either.  After a while she just suggested that my Dad go with his brothers and have a good one in the woods or wherever they were headed.  I see her point of view.

So, have fun camping, and watching Petty, or just driving up 1-5 to Ridgefield tomorrow and enjoy some music.

Back to my DVD of Petty live, and listening to “4-Way Street.”

Anyway, Joey is always involved in local music, and he told me about a gig that I wanted to pass along.  Here’s the info:

BILL KIRCHEN, Commander Cody’s original guitarist is coming to Duff’s Garage May 28th to do a CD release Party. The guy is considered one of the finest guitarists in the world.  If you need to know more, here’s a link to his website: http://billkirchen.com/CrosstownArts/client_music/kirchen/

One of my favorite driving songs of all time is “Hot Rod Lincoln.”  Not only does it have kick ass guitar that is throwing out great licks, but the guitar in the song is like a vocal…it is so expressive!  Click here to listen to this incredible version of Hot Rod Lincoln by Bill Kirchen.   The man not only does an incredible version of the song, but also mimics all these different guitar styles in the song and works them into the story of the Hot Rod Lincoln.  I’m talking about everyone from Chuck Berry to Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple.  Un-freaking-real!!!  The lyrics of the song are so great too.  This is the part that always makes my pedal start heading to the floor-

Even with some lingering health issues that came over me last week, this was a kick ass, Mother Lovin’ weekend.  My brother and his beautiful wife sent me flowers.  It was so unexpected and sweet that I blubbered all over the petals as I was arranging them in my favorite vase.  Marty took me to the Frank Lloyd Wright house at the Oregon Garden on Saturday afternoon.  I’ve been there before, but never inside because of private functions or whatever going on at the same time that I wanted a tour.   I also went to Powell’s with my friend Chris who also adores books.  We in Portland truly are blessed to have Powell’s Book City.  I’m glad I only allowed for 90 minutes there or I would have gone way over budget.  So many books, so little time.

I was also treated to a trip to the store to pick out some flowers and potting soil.  I love gardening, but can’t do the crazy stuff like pulling out stumps like I used to do.  Hernias!  Pffft.  What a thing.  Anyway, it was cool to just point and choose and come home and plant, creating instant beauty around the house.

Then to top it off, George Thorogood played the Roseland on Mother’s Day night and I went to the show with my son, Alec.  We have this long standing tradition of seeing George Thorogood together.  From the time he was in second grade and we saw GT rock the LB Day Amphitheater, dropping “F” bombs that Alec would no doubt bring back to his Little League team, and rocking us like crazy…to the time we saw GT&theD’s open for ZZ Top at the Rose Garden trying not to watch the couple who needed to get a room in front of us…to the VERY MEMORABLE 2010 Mother’s Day show at the Roseland…it was a blast each time.  The fun part of this last Sunday is that we got to go backstage and meet with George. 

George Thorogood knows how to enter a room…with great presence and rock attitude!  He also has wonderful wisdoms that he passes along when you meet him or interview him.  This time it was a book recomendation.  “The Tender Bar” by J.R. Moehringer.  He told my son to read it.  It was about a boy becoming a man and how his mom was there for him.  George said his mother-in-law gave it to him, and every man should read it. 

Other wisdoms from the evening include tips for everyone meeting a rock star which I will now pass along so that you don’t embarrass yourself when finding yourself backstage with a legend.

1. Do not ask to have body parts signed.  While some guys will really enjoy this, and I myself have autographed limbs of muscular men, it’s sort of strange.  Also usually messy. 

2. Do not interrupt the rock star when they are telling a story or talking to someone else.  We are there to see them.  They are allowing us to come into THEIR space before (or after) a show, and if you are too drunk or obnoxious you will then drool your bad karma all over the rest of us who are attempting to be interested and interesting.  Also do not yell.  They have a night’s worth of loud music to deal with.

3. Don’t grab the rock star’s ass after they have agreed to a hug.  In fact don’t ASK for a hug.  If the star wants to hug you, they will.  Most times shaking hands is cool enough.  Sometimes they will take a picture with you.  Other times they will even allow autographs as well.  Don’t be selling that on e-bay and making it worse for us who try to get these rare items signed so we can raise funds for charity.  That is karma that you will have a hard time getting rid of.  I’ll pray for you.

4. Take a photograph in your mind of the moment and the people in the room.  Some people have met so many celebrities that it is no longer a big thrill.  I have yet to get to that point.  My heart starts beating faster, I know my face flushes, and I’m just so happy to be in the room with someone I admire.  It’s rich and wonderful.  Enjoy it. 

5. Don’t be too cool for the room, be just cool enough.  Show your appreciation.   You know what I mean.  If you don’t, then don’t go backstage.

6. Do not make your boyfriend/girlfriend jealous by being too gushy all over rock star.  Again, not cool.

7. If you won a prize like an electric guitar signed by the artist, and if you are awesome as this guy, listener David Gilroy, not only will the artist sign the guitar, he will play a couple of tunes on it so that you can SEE that it was played by rock royalty.  Our KGON listeners rock! 

George Thorogood always gives the audience his best, which was advice he got from the one and only Joe DiMaggio, the Yankee Clipper.  Yes, that’s how incredibly cool George is, he got advice from Joe DiMaggio. 

I’m lucky enough to have interviewed George Thorogood a couple of times.

Here’s a link to the most recent one.

Here’s a link to one from the past.

May all future Mother’s Day events be as wonderful as this one was. Oh, and to top it all off, my son took me to see “Iron Man 2″ last night.  LOVED IT!  We enjoy that kind of movie.  Plus, it has music from Queen, The Clash and the MIGHTY AC/DC in it.  We were talking about the movie on the way home, and thought that George’s “Bad to the Bone” would have worked in the movie as well.  It’s been in a lot of movies, and works every time.

Hope you had a good weekend too.

Anyway, when he sends me a message, about what’s going on with him and music, I’m all over it.  So, here’s the memo from Danny:

“The Funkadelik Mayham band that performed at the Crystal with Crazy 8s is now morphed into a Blues band named Jeff Handley Trio. They are headlining at Hawthorne Thursday May 13. On May 15th they are organizing a benefit at Valley Catholic School for one of our students who has cancer. The event will be covered in The Valley Times this week. Also playing will be Speakeasy, Waiting in Vain, Chris Delucco, Dirty Merchants, Pseudophiles.

Keep Rockin in the Free World,”

So, there you go.  Make plans to join them.

Here’s a link for more information on the event.

Iris

Now, if you think about it, this is an amazing thing to do.  I know it’s a bundle of money but what a once in a lifetime experience for someone who plays music, but maybe has another career that they do extremely well at.  Like a doctor, lawyer, stockbroker, business owner, sports figure, or someone who can afford the fee, and fulfill a dream.  Since I can’t play a lick, I would not be even tempted to put up the money for this.  But I know there’s lots of people who are REALLY talented and just do something else with their day.  Like cure cancer.  My doctor, Will Winter, plays guitar and could do this and hold his own, but he’s got a medical practice, and a band who has been recording and playing, N.E.D. (No Evidence of Disease) the Band.  His rock fantasy is pretty full right now.

If you want to go, and need more details, click here to go to the site.

Now, there’s also something local which is a different kind of Rock ‘n” Roll camp.  It’s the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls.  They teach great things to young girls…like team building, song writing, playing instruments, singing…all of it.  It’s really a great organization with a wonderful group of people who teach and do the administrative tasks. 

They also have a Ladies Rock Camp going on May 21-23.  In that length of time, you form a band, write and rehearse a song, and then on the last night, you perform the song at a club in front of an audience.  Some of the ladies have never played an instrument..EVER!  I would have said that this takes big balls, but we’re talking about women.  Moxy?  Yeah.  All instruments provided. 

There’s another session in October for the ladies, and I’m considering participating in that one.  However, that being said, I get a horrible stomachache just thinking about the final night and performance.  SO, maybe not.  But it would be a great way to step out of my comfort zone and do something wild.  It’s good for the soul.  While you’re in the process, the brain keeps asking “why the hell did I sign up for this?”   But it’s been my experience that once said performance (of any kind) is over, there’s an extacy that just washes over you.

If you have a daughter who wants to rock, then you should definately consider sending her to the summer session of Rock Camp for Girls.  As camps go, it’s really affordable, plus there are some scholarships available. 

But if you’re a doctor who wants to rock with the stars, go to London for that gig.  Abbey Road.  What a rush!