Yesterday's benefit at North End Tavern

This was a great musical event and benefit for John Oesterle (I hope I got that right without checking!). The place was packed all day, and there was obviously a lot of love and caring displayed. The music was solid all day, with diversity among the performers and some impromptu jamming among different folks of a spontaneous nature. It could have stood a larger venue, but I think the familiarity of the N.E.T. for most people was part of the draw, so that would have been lost. Smokestack Betty got a good response, Joe Mullenax (spelling?), and of course, Mike Morningstar and Rick Roberts, and Todd Burge. Joe Mullenax had some hot Hendrix covers going towards the end of the day.
A shout out to Bill Poole who was setting up the sound, and during the set changes was playing some music, he got a couple of Greens songs into that mix, giving them some exposure!!! Drag Yourself (through the day) and Tide Turns Again, got some air play in amidst the classic rock tunes being played!
I got a chance to get caught up a bit with Todd Burge which was nice, hearing about some of his upcoming stuff, and his perspective on the live music scene, and venues, and benefits, etc.
I'll reflect a little more later, on all these people from a certain era in Parkersburg getting together again, it was really a reunion it seems, capturing a purpose/ reason to get together, but catching a very good time- the end of a holiday weekend, a time in people's lives (these were dominantly 55-60 year olds). This was their time to shine and harken back to early times (musically).