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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | It doesn't really get much media attention these days, but June 14th is Flag Day in the USA.
Every year on a Saturday around Flag Day, four Elks lodges from the New York Southeast District run a BBQ picnic for the veterans at St. Alban's Hospital in Queens. The lodges have been doing this for about 25 years. In 2005 I volunteered, with the help of a very talented friend of mine, Craig, to set up a PA system and perform some music. It was a big hit with the vets and they asked us to play again both last year and this year.
For the past two years, Phil Wong volunteered to take photos of the event. As most of us know, Phil is a fantastic photographer. His photos have been distributed to the vets. Gil (ignimbyte) also joined us these past two years and assisted in providing entertainment. Gil is overly modest about his talents. He can run off a long string of well known songs, perfectly played and perfectly sung. At the lobby jam this year when Cliff heard Gil play he said "if you don't play at the ski lodge next year I'll personally kick your a$$."
Although there were only three OFC members at the BBQ, we did make it a coordinated event with the Elks and everything was greatly appreciated. Thanks to Phil and Gil we can be pround that our club does support our veterans in a most meaningful way.
We started off the music with "U.S. Blues" performed with an Elk waving a large american flag along with the chorus.
This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner. That set the mood for the afternoon.
Here' a photo of all of us, minus Phil who was taking the shot.
Many thanks again to Phil and Gil.
So folks, today is the day to WAVE THAT FLAG. WAVE IT WIDE AND HIGH!!! |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Mitch;
I feel really bad that I wasn't able to come out and pitch in (again) this year. I had gig commitments on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Three-in-a-row woulda' killed me (or at least seriously wounded me, and THEN Jeanette woulda' killed me!;-) Now that I know the Method to Your Madness (Sat. before FlagDay), I'll make a concerted effort to keep that weekend "free".
PLEASE keep in mind (and informed) for Next Year . . . |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by Mitchrx:
It doesn't really get much media attention these days, but June 14th is Flag Day in the USA. All these years I thought everyone put the flags out as some weird acknowledgment that it was my birthday. So, you're saying it's not really for *me*?
:p
Looks like you were all having fun; I bet the vets/Elks enjoyed the performance. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Happy Birthday John!!! |
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June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Happy day John. Wishing you many more. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Everyday.....should be flag day. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Nice work, Gentlemen. What songs were included in your set list? Last summer, neither the marching band ensemble nor the blues band for the evening entertainment showed up in time to cover the National Anthem at the awards ceremony at our bike club's annual rally, so they asked me to stand in. Using borrowed equipment patched through to the event's outdoor PA system, I did my best impression of Jimi's version. Not exactly something folks could sing along with, but they seemed to love it. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | We did the Star Spangle Banner in a traditional manner, with two electric guitars and clean settings on the amps. The rest of the set list, not including Gil's solo songs, was:
US Blues
Back in the USSR
Walk Don’t Run
I Know Little
The Middle
Story in Your Eyes
Like a Rolling Stone
Daydream
Brown Eyed Girl
Margaritaville
Peaceful Easy Feeling
(Take Me Home) Country Roads
City of New Orleans
Love the One You’re With
Willin’
Spooky
Me & Julio
Mrs. Robinson
Melissa
Here Comes the Sun
Comfortably Numb
Wish You Were Here
You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away
Norwegian Wood
Mean Mr. Mustard/Poythene Pam/ She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
Jumpin Jack Flash
Johnny B. Goode
Sweet Little Sixteen/Surfin USA |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Mitch!!!
The next time we get together I'm gonna badger and annoy you until you show me how to play "Spooky".
Or... maybe I'll just ask politely. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Nice set! |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Here it is Brad
Spooky- Classics IV
SPOOKY Classics IV
Em
In the cool of the evening A13
Em A13
everything is gettin' kind of groovy Em7 A13I call you up and ask you if you'd Em7 A13like to go with me and see a movie Em7First you say no, you've got some plans for tonight A13 Bbdim7and then you stop and say all right Em7 A13 Em7 A13Love is kind of crazy with a spooky little girl like youYou always keep me guessing,I never seem to know what you are thinkingAnd if some fella looks at you then its for sureyour little eye will be a-winkin'I get confused cause I don't know where I standand then you smile and hold my handLove is kind of crazy with a spooky little girl like youSpooky(transpose everything up one half step)Fm7 |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Thanks Mitch!!! |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | That really got screwed up Brad. I tried to fix it but the time to edit the post expired before I could finish the fix :mad:
There's only five chords
The bulk of the song is these two
Em 079987
A13 x05677
The others are:
A 577655 (and then you STOP)
B flat 1/2 dim 6x565x (and say ALRIGHT)
The turnaround chord is Bm7 7X777X
Em
Love's a little crazy with a
A13
Spooky little girl like
Em
You
(turnaround)
Bm7 |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Glad to see you guys doing something for the vets, God bless ya!
Very nice set list too. And thanks for the spooky chords. |
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Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Crimsonlake,
I drove by the lodge last night and tried to imagine you sitting on the Elk.  |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Thank you for the privilege to be able to be a part of this important event. It was definitely an honor.
Belated Happy Birthday to you John. :) |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Mike and Phil,
It's funny to note that drunkenness seems to be the common element in the incidents that you shared about that Elk Lodge in Queens Blvd. :D
I'm not even sure if mine even qualifies ... it was in the spring of 1997 and my parents were planning to meet with my then, fiance's parents. I knew nothing about the area at that time, and it just seemed alright to book them a room at the Pan American Motor Inn.
After the meeting, my parents wanted to go to Manhattan and check out the bright lights and whatever the city might surprise them with. It was around 10 at night then. We drove out of the hotel, and immediately got lost finding our way around. Desperate for directions, I asked the bystanders who were around that corner by the Elks Lodge. I wasn't sure if this guy was drunk or high on something, but this guy spoke with a slurred speech and with every curse word imaginable in every sentence. It went like, "You take a u-turn on this sh**ty blvd.; and keep going for a f***ing mile; keep going straight, don't turn right or you'll wind up in f***ing Roosevelt s**t ..." something along those lines. Despite the potty mouth, this guy's directions were surprisingly accurate! We made it to Manhattan without much problems, and had a wonderful time. |
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Today is Flag Day
