I really wanted to share the night with our musician friends as well so we invited Nathan, Trevor & James up to play some tunes with us.
The first tune is 'Ella Speed', a blues-rag ballad that I learned from a Huddie Leadbetter record. Mr. Nathan Wiley jumped up with us to pound out this classic E-A-D-G progression. I've always very much enjoyed playing this song & I believe T & I took a stab at it for our self-titled CD but it didn't make the cut.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9418340
Ella Speed (Leadbelly/Traditional)
Well come all, won't you take a little heed
Just remember the death of poor Ella Speed (x2)
Well Ella Speed was downtown & she was having her lovin' fun
Well, let me tell you what Bill Martin done (x2)
Now Bill Martin he was long & slender
Better known by being a bartender (x2)
When Bill Martin was arrested & they locked him up in jail
Well the judge said, 'Bill Martin I'll never bail' (x2)
The deed Bill Martin that you done
You're a sinner & you know you oughta be hung
The deed Bill Martin that you done
First Degree murder with a Colt .41
Oh when the women heard that Ella Speed was dead
They all go back home in their reedy rags of red (x2)
Troy-Boy recently learned the Blind Willie McTell classic 'East St. Louis Blues'. This tune was 
not a part of the original Rat Dads' repertoire but it is certainly a welcome addition. We used to play some Blind Willie back in the day ('Stomp Down Rider', 'Georgia Rag' & 'Southern Can Mama') & his music is an unending source of joy & inspiration for me. Blind Willie was recorded prolifically in the 20s-30s (the Allman Bros. put his name on the popular music map with a cover of his tune 'Statesboro Blues') & was 'rediscovered' in the 1950s & recorded. There are not many musicians whose complete discography is as strong & entertaining as Willie's & I strongly recommend just about any CD of his music you can find. Our bud Trevor McKinnon joins us on guitar. East St. Louis Blues (Blind Willie McTell/Traditional)
Well I walked all the way to East St. Louis
I never had but that one, one thin dime
Well I laid my head down in a New York woman's lap
She laid her little head in mine
Well I tried so hard to make her believe it by the rattling of her tongue
That the southern sun would never shine
Well I said I'm going to meet her in the Fall
When she ain't had no man at all, faree mama, faree well
Well you can shimmy like a Cannonball*
And jump up & do that old Boston Crawl, faree mama, faree well
Yeah I'm glad good whiskey can't be beat
I won't have to dodge every cop I meet, faree mama, faree well
Well I said I'm gonna meet her in the spring
When the bluebirds all begin to sing, faree mama, faree well
Well I walked all the way to East St. Louis
I never had but that one, one thin dime
Well Saturday ain't our holy day & it ain't no time to think
Let's head on down to the family ground
It's a damn good place to drink
Gunning Shore is where we're headed for alright
Well we brought guitars & the sky brought stars
& there's ocean at our feet
And the things we'll do with a barbecue
would make a jersey cow eat meat
Well Gunning Shore is where we're headed for alright
We'll throw a tire on the old bonfire
& we'll throw our shirts in too
And if we're in the mood then we'll all go nude
Ain't a damn thing we won't do
Well Gunning Shore is where we're headed for alright
And if it's cold outside then we'll go inside
into Troy-Boy's broken-down shack
Yes we'll jump around til it hits the ground
but she always bounces back
Gunning Shore is where we're headed for alright
Well Saturday ain't a holy day & it ain't no time to think
Let's head on down to the family ground
it's a damn good place to drink
Gunning Shore is where we're headed for alright
Our friend Ryan Hutchinson caught some of the night on video & here we are performing a Son House-inspired original tune, 'The New Jinx Blues'.
Thanks to Ryan H & Lana Reeves for the photos.
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