ENKINDLER

Sometime last fall I began collecting Facebook® friends. As the number of friends grew, I began to wonder which ones were real and which ones would be able to recognize me walking down the street?

Shortly after this thought, I ran into one of them while doing errands and said hello. They looked at me like they had never seen me and kept walking. I chuckled to myself as they had even commented several times on my status post.

Time went on and I began gathering old high school friends, childhood friends, and acquaintances. It was great to see where people ended up, how many kids they had or hadn’t, and what they were up too. I gathered people from all the walks of life that my days on Earth had brought. I harvested work friends and church friends, colleagues, family, college friends and some of their friends.

After discovering how to use the chat mechanism, I began talking to several of them. Sometimes these chats went nowhere past catching up, i.e. “So you’re married with three kids? Great have a nice life!” Other times, these discussions would transverse philosophy, poetry, politics, and current events. Many of them actually began to develop into new or renewed relationships. I was impressed by how many people had grown spiritually and mentally. After experiencing some personal life difficulties around April, many of these relationships developed into deeper correspondence and concern for my well being. As I began to recluse myself, FB became a safe haven for social communication. I found that even though many of these people were in different states, we still found connection. Either through poetry, shared struggles, rekindling communion, or establishing new accountability. I started to feel genuine gratitude for many of my FB friends.

By May, I had decided to start looking people up in “real life”. Many of them I was able to hang out with at coffee shops, bike riding, or a walk around the park. Three or four times I even drove seven hours just to hang out for a day or so. I hiked to the top of the Hollywood sign, visited their local church, ate dinner with their families, hung out at reunion parties, went roller skating, baseball games, dancing, hung with their kids at the beach, and even helped a friend pack their stuff after their spouse had just kicked them out. What I began to experience was a new level of appreciation for the various paths our lives may take. Sometimes, I was bored. Many times I was thoroughly entertained. Mostly, I was overjoyed to escape my own troubles and invest myself in the lives of someone else.

Along the way, while filling out dumb quizzes and surveys, I began to become fascinated by the “six degrees of separation” factor. It was amazing to see who knew who. I would ponder, how did I not know that these two friends were friends?

While I still don’t get the whole “Mafia Wars” and “Farm building” aspects of FB, I have enjoyed the humor, perspectives, and quotes on the status post. I have loved seeing how many parents’ children resemble them. I have laughed several times at the music post people display on their profiles (Poison, really?) and have been reminded of some really cool old songs.

I am pleased that I know people from all walks of life, religious views, and political affiliations. It really does take all kinds to make the world go around! So many of you have often made my day, by checking in, leaving a kind note at a moment when I most needed to hear it, or sharing your thoughts. I hope I have done the same for you. I’m sure many of you have experienced the same types of things and I would love to hear your stories too! I mean, where else can a nightly chat in Napa be a morning chat in Bangkok?

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Fresh back from the Grammy® Awards and two boat tours; one with Lynyrd Skynyd and another with Delbert McClinton, two-time Grammy® nominated Tom Hambridge and his band, The Rattlesnakes are ready to roll. Singer, producer, and drummer Tom Hambridge is driven to make solid music. The success he had on Buddy Guy’s critically acclaimed Skin Deep was enough to make most artists call it a day, but not so with Tom… he just finished producing B.B. King’s latest project!

I caught up with Tom and the Rattlesnakes in Mexico where his band was performing on the aft stage of the ship. Soul man, Mike Ferris and The Roseland All Stars had just blessed us with an inspirational morning montage of angelic revival music. The demons seemed to have cleared out only long enough for the devil to walk in. Tom Hambridge and The Rattlesnakes are one band you’ve got to see live. This is headbangin’ country-blues! I watched the performance with my new found shipmates, Don Eliot and Mike Vega in audio amazement. It was like a shit-storm just blew in and transformed the boat into a Blues rocking roadhouse. My friends and I had never heard The Rattlesnakes play, so we weren’t prepared to have to use sign language to communicate. Devil horns would have to make due.

The timing of this band is incredible - with a mix of precision beats reminiscent of progressive heavy metal and blues. They bring 38-Special back to the future with Brian Love and Sal Baglio on guitars. These two wage war on guitar riffs. Rob Wilbourn and Tom McDonald steady the groove as they serve up some kick-ass deep Southern Fried Rock! And as Tom would sing with authority, “We got cha’ Country right here!”

Tom is a wonder behind the drum kit also. He does a bit the fans love, where he tells the audience he is going to play the drum solo he plays to lull his daughter to sleep. Just as everyone is sucked into the gag waiting to hear the soft lullaby, he breaks into a percussive tirade that left everyone wanting more.

The next day at Miramar Beach, Mazanillo I was able to speak with Tom as we stood on the edge of the shore watching his daughters play. I saw him watch over his daughters like a chair umpire in a tennis tournament as they wondered further from each other. We paused as he gathered them to his side for a photo.

I asked him about his legacy; producing and writing for such legends as Johnny Winters, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi - along with working with Chuck Berry, ZZ Top, and George Thorogood to name a few. With over 250 songs written, what else is there to accomplish? He lifts up his daughter and says that she has won a songwriting award of her own… such a humble answer from a proud father. His kids would say, they liked their daddy’s music featured on Disney’s® soundtracks, “Cars” and “Rattattoui” most.

Tom adds, “I don’t want to make a bunch of records, I just want to make twenty really great collaborative efforts.” He is well on his way. If you can’t see Tom Hambridge & The Rattlesnakes live, please check out their new live CD and bring the excitement home to you!

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It’s 3:30 AM as I look at my watch while on my way back to my cabin after an amazing jam session. Delbert blurts out as he passes me by, “Do I need to throw that thing overboard?” I look up and there is a spry Delbert McClinton grinning and reaching out to shake my hand. I tell him that this is my first Sandy Beaches Cruise and he responds, “Well did we get your cherry?” I smile back and say,’ Gladly!” On Delbert’s’ Cruise all egos are left at the port. There is no difference between fan or band. This is what makes this cruise so much fun! From the first hand shake to the last hug, Delbert and his friends made us feel like family.

My wife and I accepted an offer to go on the cruise because she is the Webmaster of the BluesFestivalGuide.com. I write for the ReggaeFestivalEguide.com, so I usually have my ears entrenched there. We didn’t care what music would be playing on the cruise, we just thought it would be nice to leave our three teenagers ashore with Grandpa and eat some great food!

It was the day of the Inauguration, we had been at Sea for two days and were about to stop in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. All eyes glued on our new President, Obama! Beginning on the Aft stage, Cyril Neville and his beautiful wife Gaynielle stand along with the rest of Tribe 13 as the boat begins to simultaneously celebrate the peaceful transition of power. The first question from Cyril as he broke from the opening Funk Jam, “Will you remember where you were today?” “I know I will!” He exclaims as the Tribe breaks into a funkified blues medley version of “I feel Good!” Beautiful, both the music and message. Ricky, Amari, and Norm are incredible musicians and new found friends. Jimmy is a dream.

Just like Gilligan’s three hour tour, we got a little lost on our excursion to Isle Ixtapa. Who should we find there but “Doyle and Debbie”? A.K.A Bruce Arntson and Jenny Littleton are as sweet in person as they are funny on stage! I enjoyed my dinner with new friends from Kansas and Australia. They made us promise to catch this “Aussie” guitar slinger name Geoff Achison. Thank God we did. That night back at the Vista Lounge my wife and I were astonished by the subtle soulful brilliance of Geoff’s skill with a six-string. He wields his guitar like a wild-spirited warrior.

After soul man Mike Ferris and The Roseland All Stars blessed us with an inspirational morning montage of angelic revival music, the demons seemed to have cleared out only long enough for the Devil to walk in. Tom Hambridge and The Rattlesnakes are one band you’ve got to see live. This is headbangin’ country! And as they say, “We got cha’ Country right here!” Bringing 38-Special back to the future with Brian Love and Sal Baglio on guitars. Rob Wilbourn and Tom McDonald steady the groove as they serve up some kick ass deep Southern Fried Rock! The next day at Miramar Beach, Mazanillo I was able to speak with Grammy(R) Nominated Tom Hambridge. As we stood on the edge of the shore watching his daughters play, I asked him about his legacy. Producing and writing for such legends as Johnny Winters, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeski along with working with Chuck Berry, ZZ Top, and George Thorogood to name a few. With over 250 songs written, what else is there to accomplish? He lifts up his daughter and says that she has won a songwriting award of her own. I am reminded of my own daughter. A humble answer from a proud father. Tom adds, “I don’ want to make a bunch of records, I just want to make twenty really great collaborative recordings.” He is well on his way.

“Just don’t talk yourself out of it”, that’s the answer to how to keep a good beat. Simple, profound, and genuine. This is the kind of answer you get from Tab Benoit about his notorious nightly jam sessions ‘til four thirty A.M. Tab Benoit (pronounced Ben-Wah) “like the beads”… He would remark in his stage show. Half comedian, half electric blues guitar genius…either way this former pilot from Pontchartrain brings a powerful punch to the conscience of American music and the State of the Louisiana Wetlands. You could easily find Tab playing name that TV tune with fans on the deck well into the night. Not to mention, he plays music with two of the coolest people I’ve met anywhere Eddie ”Blame Hip-Hop” Christmas and Carl “La Foosball” Dufrene. With so many friendly people on this cruise, it is impossible to be bored. Seth Walker is musical magic, he conjures such sweet sounds while Cuban blues crooner Raul Malo delivered a rare eclectic symphony. Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps would make Janis herself stand and applaud. So much talent gathered in one place.

We met so many genuine nice people along the way. Paul Thorn is a true gentleman and a delight to see live. Fans and bands alike, from Big Jim to Big Curtis, we never felt so welcomed. Our dinner pals Doug and Bonnie, who delivered the sound equipment were able to live out their dream of swimming with the dolphins. This boat helps dreams come true. Thanks to the fans from Norway who helped us celebrate the end of the Bush era in style. Peggy, Chip, and Mary, you’re the bomb! Thanks again Delbert for keeping the boat rockin’. I was truly able to lose track of time, now that’s a vacation! I would sell my car to go back next year. It will be the sixteenth Delbert Cruise and possibly the last, so sign up early, you will not regret it! Love and peace to all our new friends. See you next year!

James

This article was published in the Blues Festival E-Guide E-Newsletter 2/6/09. This article is archived here.

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Arise like the Vampires that steal life in the night
awaken to a dream as you feel its bite
a dream within a dream
Suddenly aware of flight
lucid I begin to search
for the love I’ve lost
when I was perched
upon my haughty throne
I reach out my arms
and begin to fall
ever nearer to the Earth
hoping for a shot at rebirth
I awaken to another dream
just in time to hear the birds of morning sing
Behold you have survived another nights testing
of sequences of thought arresting
and protesting
held within the minds eye during blinding light of day
reminding me of thoughts gone astray

Art By Kristine Cummins

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