I haven't been posting much lately, mostly because I've been pretty busy with life. I got a new job back in Nov. 2007, after 8 years at my previous company, and have been trying to cut back on some of my other outside work. The biggest change has been that I've gotten back into music. I played in a band all through the 80's and 90's, but gave it up for about 10 years and didn't play much at all, not even at home. A couple years back I started getting buying new equipment -- guitars, mostly. I got rid of some of my older, loud equipment and got some stuff to use in smaller clubs. Back in January, I started going to local blues jams. This has been a lot of fun, and I usually go to 2 or 3 every week now -- Sunday nights at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church, VA, and Thursday nights at the Zoo Bar in Washington, DC are the two main ones for me. The music in both venues is varied, but mostly top-notch. Some nights are really great for blues music. I also occasionally trek down to the Country Store in St. Mary's County, MD or the Beach Cove in Chesapeake Beach, MD. There are some other local blues jams that I have not tried yet, but will likely get out to play at soon.

Bigger news is that through these blues jams I've joined a couple of local bands -- The Alpha Dog Blues Band and the Southside Georgetown Bluesbreakers. Alpha Dog plays regularly at the Cowboy Cafe, JVs, and 219 Restaurant. The Bluesbreakers have played one gig at the DC Blues Society fish fry this past month.

Through the jams I've met a lot of great people and fine musicians. Some cool local DC bands to check out if you can are Idle Americans, Big Boy Little Band, Swampkeepers, Hot Rods and Old Gas, and the Andy Poxon Band.

Alpha Dog Blues Band is playing the following dates: