Archive for September, 2016

Sunday after Sunday. . .

Monday, September 26th, 2016

The Playwright does it again.

It has now become something of a game set upon ourselves to see how far we can take it at The Playwright Tavern on Sunday nights. This is now the 6th straight week Patrick & I have played at least 4 hours without taking a break and more or less conjured the set list as we went along, with an uncommonly limited number of requests. And what a wacky set we found our way into. Patrick had the great idea of actually keeping track for most of the night song for song, save for a couple of interludes, mashup, and what I like to call “afterthought tags”.

I had played three gigs already this weekend before Sunday night, and on top of that found out that the baseball world had lost a living legend in Jose Fernandez early yesterday morning. The gravitas didn’t set in right away, because it was too shocking and frankly ridiculous to accept as truth. But by the time we were in the car on the way to The Playwright it started to land that the last time I’d ever see the young man pitch was last Thursday and that the immense talent he possessed was now gone from the world, left to carry on as lore for all who love the game now, and in generations to come. I was kind of tired, and emotionally spent, but always ready to dig in to our comfortable 3’x3’ rectangle in the front windows of the pub on 49th street.

What I found was that my energy, so far from being sapped, had been churning and I became overcome with an inarticulable energy, determined to shed light with the devastation and exhaustion I was experiencing. Patrick and I were locked in from the word go, and as the vibe heightened, so did our imaginations and the time ever seems to fly because we allow ourselves to get carried away in the songs. For any who joined us, we hope very much that you enjoyed yourselves as well. We’ll see everyone next week!

The Beatles – We Can Work It Out
Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion
Johnny Cash – Ring of fire
Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
The Killers – Smile Like You Mean It
Stereophonics – Dakota
Foo Fighters – Monkey Wrench
The New Basement Tapes – Kansas City
Oasis – Champagne Supernova
STP – Interstate Love Song
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Jet – Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
Modern English – I Melt With You
David Bowie – Rebel, Rebel
Blind Melon – No Rain
Ed Sheeran/Marvin Gaye – Thinking Out Loud/ Let’s Get It On
Sublime – Santeria
Kid Cudi ft MGMT – Pursuit of Happiness
Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music
The Hollies – Long Cool Woman *(first time)
Hozier – Work song
Diddy ft Keisha Cole – Last night
Marc Cohn- Walking In Memphis
Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know
The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun
3 Doors Down – Kryptonite
The Strokes – Someday *(first time)
Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
Foo Fighters – Best of You
Mr. Big – Be With You
Oasis – Morning Glory
The Killers – Mr. Brightside
4 Non Blondes- What’s Goin On?
Radiohead – Creep
Brand New – The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
[The Script – Breakeven
Outkast – Roses]
Thin Lizzy/Metallica – Whiskey In The Jar
Bruce Springsteen – I’m on Fire/If I Should Fall Behind
Kings of Leon – Sex On Fire
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Seal – Kiss From A Rose

So Many Thanks. . .

Friday, September 16th, 2016

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This photo (courtesy of ShootMePeter) goes a long way to describe a great many things I’d have to say for myself, and everyone else involved with this past Monday night at Webster Hall.  I set out to cultivate an experience and feel I was wise enough to ask for help from a group of friends that have only ever brought the best out of me over the varying course of years I’ve known them all.  Everyone came to play.  Everyone came prepared.  Everyone contributed their seasoning and spice to a night that was truly brimming with flavor.  Lucky guy.

I am forever thankful.  I am warmed and humbled by the love and affection that flowed both ways from stage to crowd and back.  I am still filled with the joy we all felt together sharing the stage on a Monday evening.  And more than ever before I am inspired to set the bar even higher for this growing family and again exceed expectation.

Cheers to all of our collective evolution and to being part of the proof that music speaks where words cannot.

Thank you.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Brian Ripps

Please comment below if you’d like to see another Brian Ripps & Friends Production.