"Merry Christmas to Me" by the Waco Brothers

Book Release/Signing Party for Tony Fitzpatrick’s (aka Patrick FitzTony) “This Train,” 2 pm/free (2-5pm) [Literary] @ Fitzgerald's featuring the Waco Brothers on December 19, 2010.

Mighty Joe Young

I had only seen Mighty Joe Young perform once. It was in the mid nineties at the Lyons Brewing Company. They were booking some good acts in those days, I caught Eddy Clearwater, Byther Smith, and Phil Guy there in addition to Joe. I remember taking my Big Book of Blues with me for Joe to sign. I was lead upstairs where he and his wife relaxed on a couch. He was the friendliest bluesman I ever met in my pursuit of autographs. He was delighted to sign my book and chat. I really don't remember what we talked about but it was his attitude that he would take the time to sign and chat with a fan that I remember to this day. A stark contrast to someone like Robert Jr. Lockwood.

When I saw Joe, he had already lost his ability to play the guitar. For those of you who know the story, it was a sad one and unfortunately it was the surgery which he underwent in hopes of restoring his ability to play that he died from. I never did get to see him play after that night at the Lyons Brewing Company.

I was aware that Joe was buried in Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery in Hillside, right down the road from me. Tyrone Davis and Howlin Wolf are buried next door and Darryl Stingley is nearby but I had never been able to find Mighty Joe's grave. I finally went into the office to find the location of his grave. After a brief search I was pointed in the right direction and was able to pay my respects to the kindest bluesman I ever met.

The Bottle Rockets

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originally uploaded by seanbirm.

@ Fitzgerald's, Berwyn, IL, November 27, 2009

Best show of 2009. They blew the roof off the place.


Disc One
01 Sunday Sports
02 Every Kind of Everything
03 I Wanna Come Home
04 Done it All
05 Hard Times
06 Queen of the World
07 Waitin' on a Train
08 Middle Man
09 Nothing But a Driver
10 Down River
11 Shame on Me
12 Slo Toms
13 Kit Kat Clock
14 Trailer Mama
15 Solitaire
16 Talking intro to Gravity Fails
17 Gravity Fails
18 Get on the Bus
19 Indianapolis
20 Love Like a Truck
21 Welfare Music

Disc Two
01 Long Way
02 Encore #01
03 Lucky Break
04 Radar Gun
05 Smokin' 100s Alone
06 Never Been to Spain
07 Encore #02
08 1000 Dollar Car
09 American Girl
10 Take Me to the Bank