17 Comments
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Mike In Pensacola's avatar

People just don't appreciate how much personality clashes within a band can make the music not fun, even when everybody's musical tastes and commitment level are aligned (which isn't all that often either). Dealing with people is the hardest work of all.

Great stuff!

J.Mac's avatar

This is so cool - you should publish this memoir and make an audio version too.

Phil Hurley's avatar

Ah, the Mantarays and the Norberts! I’m still friends with them.

The first time I saw the Blake Babies was at the Rat with Evan on bass. You were opening for Game Theory.

John Strohm's avatar

Tell them all hey for me! I’ve been in touch a little with Jack Drag and Peter.

Brian Lux's avatar

I have, read, and enjoyed Juliana's and Freda's books, so have the opportunity to read parts of your book, John, is wonderful. Nice!

clarke's avatar

maannnn, can't wait for you to write the whole book!!

luckily, by the time i was in boston, a lot of us southern types kinda transformed the scene into a more welcoming brotherhood, as opposed to the 80's closed-off snobbiness.

great stuff, john!

Contrails Over Boston's avatar

OK, John, I just finished watching Todd Haynne's documentary on VU. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere there must be a Blake Babies doc produced. I certainly have my stories/memories but I'm nobody special. Calling all film/video/writing creatives! Let the stories be told, let them say what they want, let the photos be old...

Boiled Potato!!! 😂

John Strohm's avatar

We’re working on something that might pave the way for something like that

Biscuit's avatar

Very interesting! Please finish and release the book, so we'll get a biopic movie version a la Bob and Bruce. Who would you cast as the main players were that to happen?

John Strohm's avatar

I don’t really know of any actors the right age. Obviously won’t ever happen, but if it did I’d leave it to the pros. Except I’d cast somebody very handsome to play Billy Ruane.

Ric Dube's avatar

Mr Butch out front

Jon Bernhardt's avatar

The Hoodoo BBQ was at the Rat. I don't think they ever set up at TT's but I could be wrong. Also, I'm not sure what Mitch's job was at the Rat, but he wasn't the owner. I love this story, though. Makes me wish I knew you guys better back then!

John Strohm's avatar

Positive on Hoodoo BBQ - you’d remember if some loophole let you go to shows underage. We did it 2 or 3 times then Freda got too drunk and they figured us out. Had to make some promises when we played there, still all underage.

John Strohm's avatar

Re Mitch, I don’t know if I fact-checked it at the time, probably wrong.

Jon Bernhardt's avatar

Hunh. I guess it's possible they "expanded" for a short while. I do remember TT's food changed a bunch of times.

Contrails Over Boston's avatar

I believe Mitch’s job was to smile sweetly and assure us youngin’s that we were in the right place at the right time, and everything is A-OK. I never saw him pull out a trumpet, but if he did -- all the better! 😘👍

Contrails Over Boston's avatar

love you guys so much! what a fuckedup awesome time. thanks for the music 🌲 😘