Check in from time to time to see where the band that performs the nautical music of the Freedom Plant, and so much more, will be next.
Leeward Rail. Nautical. Ethereal. Traditional. Contemporary.
"Not your father's folk music"
Leeward Rail is also available for concerts, private functions, etc. Please contact me via the 'contact' section on the main page for further details on booking the band.
Monday, May 26, 2008
The band, Elwood, the band!
Keith Allen and yours truly, along with our special guest Jim Somers, make up the Leeward Rail line-up.I get asked off and on how the band's name came to be.
There's always a story involved when you ask an author a question. No different here..
See, the leeward rail, (pronounced "loo-ard") is the rail of the vessel that, when standing there, the wind is on your back. The windward rail, (pronounced "wind-ard") is the rail of the vessel where the wind blows into your face.
So, the leeward rail is the number one choice.
And, it's the best choice for number one.
It's one of those little things you learn rather quickly...
Saturday, May 24, 2008
SomersMac World Tour, '08
This coming Sunday, June 1st, Jim Somers and I will be performing at the First Congregational Church, in the center of Rowley, Mass. We'll be backing up accomplished vocalist Sara Stafford on some praise and gospel tunes, including the great 60's anthem, "Turn, Turn, Turn". The service starts at 9:30 am, in the church where the music of SomersMac got its start. C'mon down!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Leeward Rail to play at upcoming Lighthouse Celebration
On July 19th, Leeward Rail will be performing at the 200th anniversary celebration of West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine. This is the easternmost point of land in the United States, and holds special meaning for me since my great grandfather, Almond Maker, was the Officer in Charge of that facility back in the 1930's. My great uncle, Sid, Almond's son, was much revered in our immediate family and was well known and respected there in Lubec. Our special concert will be in their memory.
If you're down east--as far down east as you can get!-- stop in at Quoddy. It's absolutely gorgeous down there. The celebration runs from July 19th to the 26th.
For more information: http://www.westquoddy.com/
If you're down east--as far down east as you can get!-- stop in at Quoddy. It's absolutely gorgeous down there. The celebration runs from July 19th to the 26th.
For more information: http://www.westquoddy.com/
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Desktop voyages
Everyone wants to be a New England fisherman at least once in their life. Want to view some of the harbors that form the backdrop for The Freedom Plant? (Boothbay, Portland, Boston, Narragansett, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, etc.) Ever wondered what's going on out in the "big pond" right now? Tides? Weather? Satellite images?
The best web page I've found that has all this info plus more in one easy format is from the folks at Maine Harbors. Click on www.maineharbors.com/camindex.htm On the left side you'll find the weather, offshore buoy reports, tides, etc. On the right is a list of web cameras from Maine to Block Island, RI.
Grab your mouse and throw off the lines.....
The best web page I've found that has all this info plus more in one easy format is from the folks at Maine Harbors. Click on www.maineharbors.com/camindex.htm On the left side you'll find the weather, offshore buoy reports, tides, etc. On the right is a list of web cameras from Maine to Block Island, RI.
Grab your mouse and throw off the lines.....
Monday, May 5, 2008
Ginger? naah...
It was arguably one of the most famous maritime disasters of the 20th century. The fact that all seven members of the voyage survived was a miracle unto itself. It wasn't that the Beatles had made their American debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, it was the shipwreck of the Minnow that made 1964 an epic year in American history.
It was going to be a simple sightseeing cruise. The skipper, the mate, and 5 passengers left for a three hour tour. The ship's log reads thus: "The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost. The ship set down on the shore of this uncharted desert isle, with Gilligan, the skipper, too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, and all the rest.."
Harrowing. It was a masterstroke of the crew's seamanship that kept them all alive. Incredible.
But someone else kept them all alive from that moment on. See, one of "the rest" was the professor. He could make a battery out of coconuts and papayas to keep the radio powered up for news and music. It was his genius, tenacity, and sheer force of will that brought about the cultivation of crops to feed the hungry castaways. It was the professor who should get the credit for the fact that everyone's clothes were always clean, the huts were more than adequate, their needs were always met. What good was the millionaire's money where there was nothing to buy? The professor, the renaissance man, had much more than money. He had guts...and brains.
Why? Why? Why did this man of obvious genius ignore the most basic of solutions to their plight? You've asked yourself many times over the years. You've probabaly even lost sleep over it. I know I have. Why didn't the professor patch the boat? Why?
The mystery solving clue was given to us in 1965, though I never put all the pieces of the puzzle together until last week. Woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I knew!
The first year of their filmed chronicle was shot in black and white. The second was shot in color--much like when Dorothy got to Oz---and that's when the blinders came off. The theme song was changed to ..."with Gilligan, the skipper, too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the professor and Mary Anne...."
The professor and Mary Anne. The professor and Mary Anne! He didn't want to leave!
It was going to be a simple sightseeing cruise. The skipper, the mate, and 5 passengers left for a three hour tour. The ship's log reads thus: "The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost. The ship set down on the shore of this uncharted desert isle, with Gilligan, the skipper, too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, and all the rest.."
Harrowing. It was a masterstroke of the crew's seamanship that kept them all alive. Incredible.
But someone else kept them all alive from that moment on. See, one of "the rest" was the professor. He could make a battery out of coconuts and papayas to keep the radio powered up for news and music. It was his genius, tenacity, and sheer force of will that brought about the cultivation of crops to feed the hungry castaways. It was the professor who should get the credit for the fact that everyone's clothes were always clean, the huts were more than adequate, their needs were always met. What good was the millionaire's money where there was nothing to buy? The professor, the renaissance man, had much more than money. He had guts...and brains.
Why? Why? Why did this man of obvious genius ignore the most basic of solutions to their plight? You've asked yourself many times over the years. You've probabaly even lost sleep over it. I know I have. Why didn't the professor patch the boat? Why?
The mystery solving clue was given to us in 1965, though I never put all the pieces of the puzzle together until last week. Woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I knew!
The first year of their filmed chronicle was shot in black and white. The second was shot in color--much like when Dorothy got to Oz---and that's when the blinders came off. The theme song was changed to ..."with Gilligan, the skipper, too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the professor and Mary Anne...."
The professor and Mary Anne. The professor and Mary Anne! He didn't want to leave!
Friday, May 2, 2008
The politics of neutrality
Yep, it's been a long presidential primary season, and it's only going to get longer. But I'm here to help. It's just my nature.
By now, you've probably been embroiled in a political debate or two, but deep down you'd rather just stay on the periphery and wait for November to exercise your right to cast a secret ballot. That's ok, but what do you do when you're at a social gathering and want to be engaged in the debate? You don't want to be viewed as divisive or confrontational, yet you still want to maintain your astute intellectual credentials.
Did you ever think that Warren G. Harding would be the answer to your prayers? Harding, he of the Teapot Dome Scandal, is back in the contemporary colloquy to help you with your dilemma:
There are now three senators running for President. It is the hope of all three that they go directly from the Senate to the White House. But, consider this--only two senators have actually done this. One is John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the other is--you guessed it--Warren G. Harding.
Now, you can dazzle your friends and relatives, take those pundits to task, and give a perfectly political answer to a political question. When asked who you're voting for, you can just smile, say, "the senator, of course", then launch into a short discourse on JFK and WG Harding.
Do your best, but just remember that free advice is worth what you pay for it. I mean, I still can't get over the election where we went to bed knowing the winner and awoke the next day to see the results were upside down. I thought Dewey had it in the bag. Harry Truman? Who knew?
By now, you've probably been embroiled in a political debate or two, but deep down you'd rather just stay on the periphery and wait for November to exercise your right to cast a secret ballot. That's ok, but what do you do when you're at a social gathering and want to be engaged in the debate? You don't want to be viewed as divisive or confrontational, yet you still want to maintain your astute intellectual credentials.
Did you ever think that Warren G. Harding would be the answer to your prayers? Harding, he of the Teapot Dome Scandal, is back in the contemporary colloquy to help you with your dilemma:
There are now three senators running for President. It is the hope of all three that they go directly from the Senate to the White House. But, consider this--only two senators have actually done this. One is John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the other is--you guessed it--Warren G. Harding.
Now, you can dazzle your friends and relatives, take those pundits to task, and give a perfectly political answer to a political question. When asked who you're voting for, you can just smile, say, "the senator, of course", then launch into a short discourse on JFK and WG Harding.
Do your best, but just remember that free advice is worth what you pay for it. I mean, I still can't get over the election where we went to bed knowing the winner and awoke the next day to see the results were upside down. I thought Dewey had it in the bag. Harry Truman? Who knew?
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