Hi, folks. It’s been a few weeks since we last ‘chatted’ and this will be my last Coco Nights of 2015. It’s been an interesting year during this transition from print to digital publishing. Yes, many of you have told me that you love to have that paper in your hands; and many of those ‘naysayers’ have made the switch once they found how easy it is without the fuss of picking up the paper and all that messy ink. Of course, all you digital-savvy people are lovin’ it because you have all the same features as before right at your fingertips - you get it! Tell your friends when they say, “I can’t find a Coconut Times” that it’s right on their phone, laptop and computer. Bring up coconuttimes.com on your screen and then save it to your desktop. You very quickly have set up an icon that’s the same as an app - but you don’t have to search the app store for it. See - easy again. We will be leaving the site active through January but probably won’t have new articles until Presidents’ weekend in February.
    I’ve been having a blast (as usual) with all the great music offered around town. Just got back from Bourbon St. where Chris Button & Dave Sherman entertained us with some blazing guitar duels. What a pleasure. I think they will have some more dates together so be on the lookout. They are two-thirds of 2Guyz & a Mama and they both said they can still hear Joe in their heads even when he’s not present. He will be very much present next Wednesday at BJ’s. Looking forward to that one as usual.
    Chris Button will be playing with one of his Chest Pains bandmates tomorrow night at Longboard Cafe. Which one? Byron Anthony. I’m thinking we may have more guitar dueling and I’m sure lots of great music. Chest Pains were awesone last week at BJ’s. Let me tell you about Longboard’s New Year’s Eve party too. Call up and make your reservation and be guaranteed excellent food and entertainment - none other than Joe Smooth on sax and John Remy on guitar. You know it will be a good time.
    Also at Bourbon St. recently was Reform School with Jay Stinemire (drums) and Michael Smith (keyboard & guitar). You won’t believe the full sound coming from this duo both of whom sing and have a wealth of material from which to choose. We heard songs from such a wide variety of artists such as the Four Seasons, Johnny Mathis, Sinatra, The Eagles, the Beatles, Ed Sheeran, Billy Joel and so much more. I highly recommend you give these guys a listen when you have the chance. Michael is in It’s About Time also with Ray, Ted & vocalist Rita who will play next at BJ’s on Wed., Dec. 30.
    I finished my Thursday night at Harborside to hear Opposite Directions in this long-time music slot. We all love Darin & Bobby who not only entertain with their wonderful music but with lots of humor as well. In case some of you readers didn’t know, Darin Engh is also the proprietor of Beach Music on 611 in West Ocean City. Lots of young people are learning to play instruments at his shop so if you have an aspiring musician in your family, give him a call. It could be the beginning of the next generation’s stars. Darin will be playing again at Harborside with his bluegrass friends Drymill Road from Winchester, Va. I guarantee you a good time. Since Darin plays banjo now (as well as guitar & mandolin) we may even have dueling banjos. You never know!
    For more good times, you don’t want to miss Tranzfusion Friday at BJ’s. You know I always tell you that it’s like dozens of mini concerts of all your favorite groups. They play everything so well that it’s just like the originals. Come see what I’m talking about - you’ll thank me. Saturday night it’s Monkee Paw who also put on a great variety-packed show with harmonic vocals as well. And I already mentioned 2Guyz & a Mama on Wednesday. Check the Who’s Where When for further listings.
    It continues to be a blast on Wednesdays to hit Jam Night at Johnny’s hosted by Randy Lee Ashcraft & Jimmy Rowbottom, with Kenny Roughton often in attendance too. This week we were treated to songs from Jimmy’s wife Sylvia - beautiful voice, even with a cold, Sylvia. They play as a trio, too, called Phobia Trio. Look for them. Anyway, the full band, Randy Lee Ashcraft & the Salt Water Cowboys will perform on Saturday at Johnny’s and also for New Year’s Eve. That’s gonna be a blast, I’m sure.
    Don’t forget our friends at the Purple Moose who will have live music for you for New Year’s Eve and the weekend as well: Remedy on NYE and Fuzzbox Piranha on Friday & Saturday.
    Before I go I want to share with you a response to Melissa Golden’s article on CJ Ramone. She was curious to know more about the artists who played with him at Fager’s Island and we were pleased to hear from the father of one of those band members. Here is what he had to say:

    I just came across your article from earlier this month about the C.J. Ramone visit to Fager’s.  Figured I could give you a bit of background.  C.J.’s guitarist is Josh Blackway, my son, who lives in Ocean Pines.  I live in Ocean Pines, too.  Josh has been playing guitar for about 20+ years and he’s quite good.  He was in The Huntingtons for a long time and they played a lot of Ramones songs.  About 15 years ago, they entered a contest at CBGB’s that was for bands that sounded most like the Ramones.  The Huntingtons won the contest and as the prize, they got to play a few songs with Joey Ramone.  Joey liked them, they stayed in touch and about a year later, they got to play with them again at CBGB’s.  This was just a couple of months before Joey died.  Josh has lots and lots of connections in the rock and roll world (he toured Europe with Marky Ramone and his band, about 12 years ago, among other things).  Anyway, through a fellow named Chris, Josh’s drummer friend, who lives in Baltimore, they connected with C.J. earlier this year and they eventually played guitar and drums on a single C.J. released a few months ago (Surfer Girl, I think).  They also played at C.J.’s 50th birthday party on Long Island in October, and they played another show or two in the Baltimore area.  C.J. liked the sound of these guys so he invited them to go with him on his 2-1/2 week European tour, which just ended on Monday of this week.  To “prepare” for this tour, they wanted to have another show or two and through my wife, Jill, who works at Fager’s Island, we were able to get the band booked there.  C.J. stayed with us while he was in town and he liked the area.  They are talking about doing it again in O.C., maybe sometime next year.  We will see.  Okay, that’s all I got for now.  Hope this is helpful to you.
Regards,
Bruce Blackway

    Thanks to Mr. Blackway, proud dad that he is, for filling us in on Josh’s role in the CJ Ramone show. If you haven’t already, go to Special Features and read about the show - all articles are archived.
    I think that’s all I have to say except thanks for reading in this banner 30th year of Coconut Times. I look forward to 2016 as another banner year in which we want to welcome more of you into the digital world of coconuttimes.com
    Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and remember to always party safe!