Slam Chowder

As I've mentioned in the past, I am amazed and thrilled by the incestuous nature of some musicians. Not all musicians and bands share their personel and stages, but many of the best do, which fortunately leads to some of the best collaborative work. I've frequently discussed how The Allman Brothers (both past and present) were very open to this idea, how Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi open their doors to a rotating field of brilliant musicians, and how Soul Live never seems to have the same group up there twice. Musicians like Bruce Springsteen frequently have guests on stage at shows, but he's still not above popping into a club in Asbury Park on a random night, to get a few licks in. All in all, those musicians with a love of the art itself, are the ones most inclined and open to collaboration.

This ideology in the music world is absolutely NOT reserved to those just making the "big bucks," and playing to sold out arenas. No, this ideology exists on all levels, though the passion and love of music itself seems to be the one thing that binds all of them together. Without it, there would be no "Slam Chowder."

The Frank Stalloners are a group of musicians from my hometown (and surrounding areas), who were regulares on the NYC/Queens/Long Island music scene, as well as traveling and playing occasionally up and down the east coast. They're great musicians, as good as I've ever seen, and better than most any of the other groups I've seen play in the same venues they frequented, like The Bitter End, Rattle n' Hum, and Crash Mansion, to name a few. They have an extensive repertoire that includes hundreds of covers, but their real gems were in the original tunes. In my opinion at least.

When Matty, their lead guitarist, left to take a new job across the country, the Stalloners recruited two new guitarists. But they weren't really "new," because the group had already played with them many times, as the Stalloners liked to add "and Friends" to their moniker whenever possible. Just like Derek Trucks and the Allman Bros Band, the Stalloners enjoyed the simple and beautiful things in music, not least of which was playing with like minded musicians. There's no arguments or issues with money, or tour dates, or managers. Their concerned with simply making the best music possible, and making sure everyone (including themselves), is having a great time.

So once Matty left, the remaining Stalloners became The Greens Family Band, and since that time, they've played a lot of music, with a lot of different people. Different incarnations have occurred at different times, and it's really amazing how communal it all can be. Last night, was one such example of this.

Press 195 is an amazing joint with great food, a great staff, and a lively atmosphere. I went down last night to see the newly dubbed "Slam Chowder," give their first performance. Shawn (guitarist), Jon (guitarist, vocals) and Pat (bassist) have all played with The Greens Family Band at one point or another, and Pat and Shawn are staples of the group. But Jon Burns got the itch to try something a little different, and Pat and Shawn obliged him. They did an acoustic performance of some very memorable songs like The Joker, Midnight Rider, Melissa, Wagon Wheel, Hey Joe, Hoochie Coochie Man, among many others. And I must say, for a group that had never before played together in that capacity, they had a very developed and tasteful sound. They were loose, they were fun, and they brought that feeling to their music.

Over this past year and a half since Matt's departure from the original band, so many different players have come, and gone, and come back again. There's an entire stable of musicians just ready to go, and all of them wind up converging on the stage Tuesday nights at Greens Irish Pub in Manhasset (as they host an Open Mic Night). It's truly a spectacle, and it's nothing short of awe-inspiring because all of these guys are so good at their crafts. So it's not just the Allman Brothers and other big name bands in the world that have the opportunity to collaborate with their contemporaries, this idea is open to anyone who will sieze it, just as the Greens Family Band has. It's an amazing thing to see, and it's an amazing thing to be a part of. It takes the idea of "community" to the next level, because you're not all just hanging around together, you're creating something together. In my mind, there's nothing more communal than that.