Whew!

Well, the show lasted almost as long as Woodstock, but at the end of the day (and I do mean the end of the day; it was almost midnight when we cleared out), I think a good time was had by all. At least the ones still awake.

I mentioned in my last post that I was nervous about performing without the safe, snug security blanket of the real musicians in the Eyewitness Blues Band. It was just Mike Sugerman and me, plus harmonica whiz Steve Rubenstein of the Chronicle (in photo with me) and a "house band" led by Alameda piano legend Kelly Park.

Turned out fine. In fact, better than fine. Sug turned into our front man and absolutely killed. Rubenstein knocked it out of the park. And Kelly and his crew really made it work. They took our songs and added a little here and there--I felt lucky to be in their capable hands.

We raised some badly-needed cash for the effort to keep elementary school music education alive in Alameda. We got to hang with some great musicians. And I think the audience enjoyed it.

Check out Ed Jay's photos here. And if you can, help out the cause here.