Jelly Roll Mortals

JRMs Scott and Arch are playing 10-12 tonight at Vermilion, 1120 King St. in Alexandria.

To quote Steve Marriott on Humblie Pie’s Performance – Rockin’ the Fillmore album, “We ain’t played this one here in a while…”

Come see us at Clare & Don’s. Partake of good food and drink. Scott will debut his home made butcherblock Telecaster electric guitar.

Clare And Don’s Beach Shack*
130 North Washington Street
Falls Church Va
703-532-WAVE

http://www.clareanddons.com

*Falls Church’s Best Seafood. Live Music, Happy Hour, Patio Bar, Outdoor Dining and Margarita’s, Next Door To The State Theatre

We’re doing it again.

Thursday, May 26th will be the date of the Fourth Annual Full Band Karaoke Roulette at Bangkok Blues in Falls Church (www.bangkokblues.com) 7:30 – 11:00pm.

For those of you who have missed the two previous events, Full Band Karaoke Roulette is basically a party for musicians, plus anyone who cares to come out and be a spectator. We have a stage, with a PA, drums, amps, guitars, keyboard, stompboxes, etc. There is a collection of hats – one for each instrument. Musicians put their name on pieces of paper and put them in the hats corresponding to whatever instrument(s) they want to play. Throughout the party, bands are formed by pulling names out of the hats. Each band plays two songs.

There is also a song hat which has been pre-filled with names of songs. Each band has to play whatever songs are selected from the song hat. The songs are chosen to be very well known, with plenty of goofy and oddball stuff thrown in. We project lyrics and chords on a screen so you don’t need to remember all the words or be able to figure the song out by ear on the fly. Musicians can sign up for as many instruments as they like. People needn’t be professional players of the instruments they sign up for, though we do ask that they be able to actually play the instrument, for the sake of the audience and the other band members on stage. While songs have been chosen to be as familiar as possible, it does help to be familiar with pop hits of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Songs are still only charted in one key, so singers should be prepared to deal* with keys that are less than perfect for them.

I supply amps, guitars etc., so there’s no need to bring anything. In fact we ask that people not bring instruments because there’s just not enough room for them.

People have really enjoyed these in the past and keep asking me to do it again so here we are.

There will be a small cover charge (a couple bucks) applied to the bills of people who attend. Bangkok Blues has excellent Thai food and a full bar. We gently encourage attendees to partake of the food and drink so that it’s worth it to Bangkok Blues to continue to let us do these there.

Here are a few pics from 2009:

http://www.jellyrollmortals.com/pics/full-band-karaoke-roulette-2009

Questions? Email me at jellyrollmortals@gmail.com.

-Scott McKnight

*by squeaking, grunting, changing the melody, asking for help from backup singers or asking the band to transpose on the fly.

JRMs Bill, Scott, and Arch were among the nearly 50 performers at the Tribute to The Byrds presented by Bandhouse Gigs. Here are videos of their numbers “Here Without You” and “World Turns All Around Her,” as well as backing Janet Emma Garbe on “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man” and Eric Brace on “Ballad of Easy Rider.” Footage is from the second show at Ram’s Head On Stage in Annapolis, MD.

Mortals Scott, Bill, and Arch are proud to be participating in this year’s BandHouse Gigs tribute on March 25 and 26, this time a tribute to The Byrds. BHG is a nonprofit volunteer organization who puts together shows that feature dozens of Washington area artists and musicians to pay tribute to renowned artists and songwriters—past tributes include Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, The Band, Warren Zevon, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, Neil Finn, and The British Invasion. Shows have been presented at such prestigious venues as Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, MD and The Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA.

In addition to performing two numbers, the Mortals’ front three will also be providing backing instrumentation and vocals for Janet Emma Garbe and for Eric Brace of Last Train Home.

The March 25 show at The Barns is already sold out, and tickets for the March 26 show at Ram’s Head On Stage in Annapolis are going fast.