CLIVE DEAMER

The image above and some of the text below is reprinted from an excellent website http://www.laney.co.uk/images/artists/Clive_Deamer.png .

They say:

"An edgy, leaner Bonham for the 21st Century, Clive Deamer was at the backbone of two of the most influential British albums of the 90's, both winners of the Mercury music prize. Portishead's "Dummy" and Roni Size's "New Forms".
A devotee of Jazz and R&B drummers like Earl Palmer, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones, his Jazz aesthetic is coloured by sudden bursts of Rock aggression and tight but loose breakbeat feel. He is a member of the Ornette Coleman inspired trio The Blessing, whose free approach informs all of his playing, and he is constantly in demand as a recording drummer, for his taste and discipline. In hairier days he played with Hawkwind at Amsterdam�s infamous Melkweg. While more recently he has worked with Dr John, Jeff Beck, and new Irish band Hal. "

More importantly, to me anyway, has been his playing for much of this decade with Robert Plant in the most excellent band Strange Sensation. I'm really not partial to Portishead, although some of their tunes do groove me, but for the most part it's his playing with Plant that has been so interesting.

They have done two albums, the last, Mighty ReArranger, released in May, 2005. I remember well driving to the record store to buy it on it's release day, as I'd done with the predecessor album from this same outfit. I didn't like the second one as much as the first, but there were some killer tunes on the second album, whereas EVERY tune on the first album just rocked.

The first Strange Sensation album from 2002, Dreamland , featured Porl Thompson (most prominantly from The Cure) on lead guitar, and a host of other great musicians (see the wiki here Strange Sensation). As a drummer though, I can't help but focus in on a great drummer, and Clive Deamer certainly counts as a masterful drummer who can totally ROCK OUT when he wants to.

Here's a wiki clip about Clive:

Clive Deamer – drums, vocals – Deamer is a session musician, who has sessioned for the likes of Jeff Beck, Alison Moyet and Siouxsie Sioux. He is best known for his contributions to the Bristol based trip hop and drum and bass scenes, specifically Portishead and Roni Size and Reprazent, although he has also been a member of more conventional rock groups, such as Hawkwind and Robert Plant's Strange Sensation.[1]

I've seen several videos of Strange Sensation (or is it THE Strange Sensation?), and the Austin City Limits performance that just took Robert Plant fans by storm. As my good friend and great guitarist from Houston DOGMAN says, "I've generally liked all of Plant's post-Zeppelin work".

Not only is Clive a great drummer who channels Bonham in those Zeppelin songs covered live by Strange Sensation, he doesn't try to copy note for note but instead gives his own twist on it while still paying heavy tribute and respect to the parts of the late great John Henry Bonham.

It's gotta be big big big shoes to fill when taking a drumming gig with Plant. The late and great Michael Lee was one such drummer who worked well, and Clive has been another.

Really, I could wax on and on about Strange Sensation. The individual players are all longtime session and band pros, and are virtuoso's on their instruments with soloing abilities out of this world.

I even bought a Strange Sensation live DVD, Soundstage: Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, at WalMart a few years ago for about $10. I was looking at the small music dvd section and there that rascal was. Great show. I've seen some other early Strage Sensation shows, one of which was a benefit in NYC, that folks had on dvd and they rocked out. I recommend you buy their first CD Dreamland and get the DVD of their live show. I've haven't checked in a while, so maybe there is more than one live show available commercially.

And watch Clive when you watch Strange Sensation on DVD. Watch Clive rock and bop. Tasteful and refined at times yet capable of explosive "head rocking" drumming at other times.

2009 TEXAS RAINBOW TROUT STOCKING DELAYED IN DENTON

One of the great fishing forums I often read for both fresh and salt information is http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php. It has a lot of great info on it and I've found the posters there to be quite helpful in their information given. You never know if some is BS or not but it seems there is a comraderie there and some degree of frequent discussion among many of the posters, and in most cases where I'm familiar with the topic I agree with the recommendations.


It's a great place to find places to fish, baits to use, fishing reports, etc. Lots of other great catagories too. I enjoy the parts about folks both refurbishing and customizing all kinds if fishing boats themselves. You see some really cool small motorboat fishing boat upgrade projects every now and then.

So one post says that the trout stocking in Denton didn't take place today. And that thte poster called and was told it would be some uncertain date "expected" this week. http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4211651/South_Lake_Pond_Trout_stocking#Post4211651

Maybe it's a circumstance beyond their control but even if not their fault, it's unfortunate because this chilly weather is ideal, I SAY, ideal for rainbow fishing. I hope it goes off as scheduled elsewhere? I plan to call tomorrow and find out if the stocking places we are considering will be on schedule.

Also, for lots of parts of the state where stocking is going on, there is expected to be an afternoon snow and possibly some icing on roads friday night, allegedly warming Saturday. We'll see. That could make fishing neigh unlikely due to icing as we wanted to head there very early Saturday, but even though the last report I read said some warming on Saturday, you know that's always subject to change. But because of the driving distance Billy Ray and I were considering traveling to one of two stocking places early, we'll be delayed at best and cancelled if weather does not warm Saturday.

Here's another link to a Texas Fishing Forum post about suggested baits for trout:
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4117645/all/Trout_bait

Among the recommended trout baits mentioned there are some of my favorites, including dry flys, corn, Salmon eggs, Mepps (Walmart has these) and Rooster-tails and Panther Martin spinners, corn, and earthworms.

I've also had good luck with nymphs and streamers, which are deeper running flies. You don't have to have a fly rod absolutely to fly fish, you can buy the clear plastic bobbers that can be filled with water to give some casting weight to the fly so you can use ultralight spinning or spincasting tackle. Cheap flies can be found even at Walmart, but I prefer the better ones from even places like Academy, Fly Fishing stores, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, etc.

Any type of black fly, mosquito or gnat pattern is going to do well (I used 10, 12, 14), as will Dave's Hopper or other types of grasshopper flies (even though in this cold weather the hoppers are gone). Streamers resembling minnows and the like are also productive for me if dry flies are not working.

Other baits I have not used for trout that are suggested and sound good are rattletraps (I assume very small hooks, size 10 or smaller); Trout Chow from feed store (wonder if you can find that in Texas); string cheese; Velveeta Cheese (My grandpa's favorite in Missouri on Lake Tannycomo); Super Dupers; Berkley Powerbait in chartruse; Berkley trout powerbait dough in garlic,peach salmon egg, and yellow; and a flourescent 3 inch Berkley trout worm.

Remeber that even though it is getting very cold this week, other species often in the lakes and rivers and ponds that are stocked are also feeding. I've often caught bass and panfish when fishing for trout, even when cold. Several times I've caught and seen caught catfish on a fly or streamer.

I do know several game wardens and one administrator over at TPW, and one of them may be able to get the scoop for me on when the stockings I'm interested in are going down. Rest assured I'll be calling in the morning.

GUNS I'D LIKE TO SEE VERSION 2.0: PART II

To Walther and Heckler and Koch/Smith and Wesson:

The above two weapons are legendary. But they need some up dating, some souping up. Why not add a polymer frame and trigger guard, all other parts being metal? It would knock these pistols down to a tolerable 15 oz. or so. Throw in a grip laser like the Crimson Trace and you're in bidness.

Both are timeless designs. The PPK/S is still in manufacture. How about doing something exciting for a change. I'm afraid the USP and the M&P just don't do it for me.

Please?

BANJO JONES, BLOGGER

I wonder if he plays the banjo? He has a side blog devoted to banjo pics, so probably so. One of the bands I play with has a guitarist that doubles on banjo. Works really well on the Eagles songs we do.

I may well be one of the world's most foremost authorities on banjo jokes.

In any event, as a native Houstonian, I have a strong interest in Houston history, and this post by Banjo remembers late Houston reporter John Whitmire here http://brazosportnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/remembering-john-whitmire-reporter.html. He writes an interesting blog. It's in my blogroll to the right.

Here's another interesting post of his: Marlana Aref: Sis-boom-bah

2009 TEXAS RAINBOW TROUT STOCKING IS HERE

Or at least it will be in the morning at Tom Bass Park in Harris County. And in many other locales in Texas over the next few days, weeks and months. See my previous posts on the subject, starting here EARLY TEXAS TROUT RELEASES 2009.

Right now, in South Texas, Central Texas and the Hill Country, it's perfect weather to make those rainbows snappy, perky and hungry. Cold and rainy. Some forecasts are calling for possibly snow. Let me tell you that this is the ideal time to head out for Texas Rainbow Trout. When it is sleeting or lightly snowing and cold, it's even better than when it is rainy and cold. You can take a trout out of the mountains but you can't take the mountain cold and snow out of the genes of the trout.

It's their thing. When it is in the 20's and 30's in those more northern states, where trout live year round in lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, they are on the feed for the winter still. I'm convinced that genetically, it lives on.

So the next few days are ideal for trout fishing. Billy Ray and I have plotted our various windows, and barring an ice out, we'll be fishing either friday or saturday mornings or both. We've got our spot picked out, and we're ready to hit the highway early to be at the place before sunup.

I'll let cha' know how it goes. If it does ice up, everything changes as far as traveling goes.

THEM CROOKED VULTURES

My good friend, the Evil Dr. K from Big D wrote me today to rave about the tracks that have been released from the THEM CROOKED VULTURES. Go to the excellent Led Zeppelin and all things solo that Zeppelin members have done website called Tight but Loose and read the post about the album here http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/tblweb09/?p=2386.

The above link contains a link to listen to the entire album. It does rocketh out old school. Not surprising since the rhythm section is JPJ and Dave Grohl. It not only conjures memories of Led Zep, but to me of Bad Company and Jane's Addiction, and all sort of other great rocking bands.

The Evil Dr. K, who is not really evil but who is a real doctor, is an old college roomie of Billy Ray. I met the Evil Dr. K in the early 80's, when I was policing and trying to finish college. He's a fellow drummer and we've jammed occasionally but not enough over the years. Here's what he says about THEM CROOKED VULTURES:

http://www.themcrookedvultures.com/us/home"... fills my needs for a hard rock lp with great bass and drums.... so many of the new bands out there just don't develop that rock solid foundation of bass and drums that only comes with years and years of playing.... not the fault of the bands, but the industry that does not make the effort to help bands develop. And the bands have a hard time playing 3 sets a night, 5 days a week, for years. So they fiddle with the sound in the studio. It does not pass the test of us old guys that know what it sounds like."

You don't see a lot of recommendations like that from The Evil Dr. K. It takes a lot to impress him.

It's on my list for Santa. I'm old school, I like the tactile feel of CD's and I like physically owning music. Nothing wrong with itunes but for a keeper like this, I want it in CD form.

One question I have about the name and imagery of TCV regards the dangerous looking birds that have graced TCV's new album cover as well as one of John Paul Jones solo albums, The Thunderthief. What's with the birds, Jonesy?

JUSTICE IS SERVED

Johnny Law says it very well when he says "I'm glad to hear this cop-killing piece of garbage is now dead and it is finally over except the grief."

Read his post over at The Johnny Law Chronicles Justice is Served.

Johnny is on my blogroll, although I'm not as familiar with him as I am with Texas Ghost Rider. But Johnny has an excellent blog, which I read regularly and here are a couple of links to some stories, one somber and one entertaining:

Officer Down and Life In the Red Zone

Way to keep a low-profile

I keep up with my ex-cop feelings by reading great blogs by guys like Johnny Law and TGR. They bleed blue, as they should. Although I've been a prosecutor for long enough to be called a veteran, I still bleed blue and (mostly) fondly recall my days as an officer. It's times like these, of senseless killings of good officers and the devastation of their families and their coworkers and their families, that are not so fond in my memories.

If anyone has information about the benefit accounts being set up for these families in Washington, please let me know and I'll do a post on it here. In times like these, we have to support the families of our police and show them how appreciated their loved ones were.

I hope that by now St. Peter has put this POS on a southbound shuttle to Hell and that his eternal damnation has begun.