Wednesday, April 14, 2004
"...Sad memories, I can't recall..."
("Demon Alcohol" -Kinks)
Ah, Larsen. Gettin' me all misty and nostalgic again.
Mike Larsen (not to be confused with Mike O. on the couch "assuming the position") sent me his version of the original incarnation of our perennial garage band "The Millionaires". (Or as Mike seems to remember it "The Mill Ion Aries". I think I may like that name better.)
Every Sunday afternoon various members and guest jammers would wander in to Mike O's apartment and generally pitch a wang-dang-doodle all night long. Why Mikes neighbors put up with it, I have no idea. I don't remember the cops ever showing up. (But some of my memories of the early 80's are a little hazy.)
Back then "The Millionaires" were; (clockwise from left)...
Michael O.- On lead guitar and host of the band. The man played like Keith Richard. Unfortunately, he drank like him too. Mike rarely made it more than halfway through the evening. But when he played, he was a man posessed- his guitar played HIM. He also had the patience to teach me to play. Occasionally, I don't suck. That's thanks to Michael.
Next is yours truly- Lead and back-up vocals and percussion. Fancied myself a combination of Chrissie Hynde, Bonnie Raitt, Coco Taylor and Debbie Harry -only better. (Brought to you by our friends at Smirnoff and Jose Cuervo. Please sing responsibly.)
Curt "Honeydripper" P.- Bass player extrordinaire. Always smiling and a very funny guy. If it wasn't for Curt, I never would have discovered a uniquely feminine experience that can only be achieved sitting atop a bass amp for a few minutes. ("Play faster, Curt!" always made him smile.) His big number was The Doors "Roadhouse", that song always makes me think of him. Curt always wanted us to "get serious". He was sure we'd be rock stars if we would just quit foolin' around. I don't remember who came up with the name "Millionaires" but if I had to guess, it was probably Curt. We were hopeless... poor ol' Curt.
"Juke Joint" Johnny R.- Rhythm or lead guitar. A blues man and the soul of the Millionaires. Juke with his beloved Gibson Les Paul. Close your eyes and you're in the room with BB King or Chuck Berry. He totally kicked ass on stuff like "Nadine" and "Johnny B. Goode". Open your eyes and he's this shy, balding, bespectacled guy. I loved flirting with Juke. He'd squirm and blush and says things like "Aw, shucks Ma'am". I always looked forward to seeing what Juke would be wearing this week. Usually something along the line of a loud flowered Hawaiian shirt and plaid Bermuda shorts. And you know what? On him, it worked!
Angel "Ainge" A.- Drums and vocals. The heartbeat, the energy. Totally nuts, like all good drummers are. I always harbored a secret fear that Ainge was a better singer than me. He has this great falsetto, so all the "Police" songs were his. Hear him sing "Roxanne" and you never want to hear Sting again. He did a great version of Dave Lindleys "Quarter of a Man" too. Also voted "least likely to show up". That's probably not completely fair, but without a drummer you really don't have much of a band. Just a jam. I still see Ainge now and then, usually out "fighting crime and screwing with the public", as he used to say. He used to stop by in the cruiser occasionally to say hi if I was working in the yard. I LOVE that my neighbors had to wonder why the cops were always at my house.
In the 90's we had a different version of the band that met at Angels house with Frank H. on lead guitar, Ainges' twin brother Louis on bass, and their uncle on congas and percussion. They added great Spanish/Caribbean flavor. You ain't tasted rock n' roll till you've had it with Caribbean spice, baby.
Last but not least, our "irregular" regular (hmm, maybe we should call the next incarnation "The Irregulars"), Mike Larsen. Acoustic guitar, comic relief, balladeer and the only true artist in the gang. Mikey was the only one who could actually write a song. I've posted some of his stuff here before. I should post him more but I'm afraid this'll become "Larsenous Bloggage". Mike does graphic arts and cartoons for a living. (Hire him.)
He's the guy who keeps playing when the rest of the band takes a break. He's the "bands band". His songs always remind me of Louden Wainwright III. I think he even kinda looks like him. I always loved when Mike played "Them Eggs". Which I think might actually be a Martin Mull song. (Yes, THAT Martin Mull. It's worth it to check him out. Really.) Among many of Mikes songs, "(Good Bye) Bottom Dollar" used to be one of my favorites. Mike also came up with great band names. I still think "Bad Livers" is one of the best I've ever heard.
Thanks once again for providing the brain jangle, Mikey. There'd be alot of empty space and crap here without YOU.
(and I'm STILL doin' the rhumba, Baby.)
Send more band names. That goes for the resta ya, too!
("Demon Alcohol" -Kinks)
Ah, Larsen. Gettin' me all misty and nostalgic again.
Mike Larsen (not to be confused with Mike O. on the couch "assuming the position") sent me his version of the original incarnation of our perennial garage band "The Millionaires". (Or as Mike seems to remember it "The Mill Ion Aries". I think I may like that name better.)
Every Sunday afternoon various members and guest jammers would wander in to Mike O's apartment and generally pitch a wang-dang-doodle all night long. Why Mikes neighbors put up with it, I have no idea. I don't remember the cops ever showing up. (But some of my memories of the early 80's are a little hazy.)
Back then "The Millionaires" were; (clockwise from left)...
Michael O.- On lead guitar and host of the band. The man played like Keith Richard. Unfortunately, he drank like him too. Mike rarely made it more than halfway through the evening. But when he played, he was a man posessed- his guitar played HIM. He also had the patience to teach me to play. Occasionally, I don't suck. That's thanks to Michael.
Next is yours truly- Lead and back-up vocals and percussion. Fancied myself a combination of Chrissie Hynde, Bonnie Raitt, Coco Taylor and Debbie Harry -only better. (Brought to you by our friends at Smirnoff and Jose Cuervo. Please sing responsibly.)
Curt "Honeydripper" P.- Bass player extrordinaire. Always smiling and a very funny guy. If it wasn't for Curt, I never would have discovered a uniquely feminine experience that can only be achieved sitting atop a bass amp for a few minutes. ("Play faster, Curt!" always made him smile.) His big number was The Doors "Roadhouse", that song always makes me think of him. Curt always wanted us to "get serious". He was sure we'd be rock stars if we would just quit foolin' around. I don't remember who came up with the name "Millionaires" but if I had to guess, it was probably Curt. We were hopeless... poor ol' Curt.
"Juke Joint" Johnny R.- Rhythm or lead guitar. A blues man and the soul of the Millionaires. Juke with his beloved Gibson Les Paul. Close your eyes and you're in the room with BB King or Chuck Berry. He totally kicked ass on stuff like "Nadine" and "Johnny B. Goode". Open your eyes and he's this shy, balding, bespectacled guy. I loved flirting with Juke. He'd squirm and blush and says things like "Aw, shucks Ma'am". I always looked forward to seeing what Juke would be wearing this week. Usually something along the line of a loud flowered Hawaiian shirt and plaid Bermuda shorts. And you know what? On him, it worked!
Angel "Ainge" A.- Drums and vocals. The heartbeat, the energy. Totally nuts, like all good drummers are. I always harbored a secret fear that Ainge was a better singer than me. He has this great falsetto, so all the "Police" songs were his. Hear him sing "Roxanne" and you never want to hear Sting again. He did a great version of Dave Lindleys "Quarter of a Man" too. Also voted "least likely to show up". That's probably not completely fair, but without a drummer you really don't have much of a band. Just a jam. I still see Ainge now and then, usually out "fighting crime and screwing with the public", as he used to say. He used to stop by in the cruiser occasionally to say hi if I was working in the yard. I LOVE that my neighbors had to wonder why the cops were always at my house.
In the 90's we had a different version of the band that met at Angels house with Frank H. on lead guitar, Ainges' twin brother Louis on bass, and their uncle on congas and percussion. They added great Spanish/Caribbean flavor. You ain't tasted rock n' roll till you've had it with Caribbean spice, baby.
Last but not least, our "irregular" regular (hmm, maybe we should call the next incarnation "The Irregulars"), Mike Larsen. Acoustic guitar, comic relief, balladeer and the only true artist in the gang. Mikey was the only one who could actually write a song. I've posted some of his stuff here before. I should post him more but I'm afraid this'll become "Larsenous Bloggage". Mike does graphic arts and cartoons for a living. (Hire him.)
He's the guy who keeps playing when the rest of the band takes a break. He's the "bands band". His songs always remind me of Louden Wainwright III. I think he even kinda looks like him. I always loved when Mike played "Them Eggs". Which I think might actually be a Martin Mull song. (Yes, THAT Martin Mull. It's worth it to check him out. Really.) Among many of Mikes songs, "(Good Bye) Bottom Dollar" used to be one of my favorites. Mike also came up with great band names. I still think "Bad Livers" is one of the best I've ever heard.
Thanks once again for providing the brain jangle, Mikey. There'd be alot of empty space and crap here without YOU.
(and I'm STILL doin' the rhumba, Baby.)
Send more band names. That goes for the resta ya, too!
