BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'

Subject: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 12:09 PM

Come on in, we're open for business! We've got live music and hot wings in here, and we just got the AC working again, so it's nice and cool. Banjer just brought up a keg of Guinness from the cellar, and it's a special one...yep, imported from Dublin. Later on, we might fill the old Jello Tub with gelatin and fun seekers, so I hope you brought your swim suits.

Now, we've been closed for repair for a bit, and as a Grand Re-opening Celebration, we are offering drinks "On the House", so keep your credit card in your wallet Bert. Here's the only hitch - you've got to order one for someone else. Hopefully, someone will order one for you (or you go thirsty. sorry).

Let me start the ball rolling. I'd like to order a large Rum Punch in a hollowed-out Pineapple with an umbrella sticking out the top for my pal Katlaughing, who I can always count on to give me a new perspective on the world, or to provide me words to an old Cowboy song, or to tell me a story that has meaning. I'd also like to buy a Gin and Tonic for Mr Joe Offer, who is always there to fix what needs fixing (he got the air conditioner going in the Tavern simply through skillful HTML instruction!), or contribute factual information to any trad music discussion. I'd also like to buy a bottle of a good Cabernet for Peter T and Jenellen, in honor of a rather interesting climb we made in the Himalayas.

Salut!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 12:37 PM

I'll order a tall single-malt scotch, preferrably more than 20 years old, neat, for my friend Leej.

alex

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Kim C
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 12:49 PM

How about a large cold skim milk for Spaw. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 12:59 PM

Thanks Alex (gulp!).

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:00 PM

Isn't the HTML for air conditioning < brrrrrrrr > insert desired degrees of cool here < / brrrrrrrrr >?

For Old Times sake I'd like to buy a chocolate milk in a cow shaped container for Little Neophyte; and a fresh squeezed OJ for a certain cookie lady whom I know lurks in the shadows.

and for a certain jmdornan - whatever the lady wants.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: JenEllen
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:27 PM

Leej, you little sweet potato! That wine is superb.

For Peter, I'd share that bottle of wine, and even the straw.
For Amos, well, is there anything you can make back there with Crisco in it?
For Aine, Guinness for the GG and the keeper of the songs(and keeper of the girls on the straight and narrow-hardly!)
For the bartender, anything you want, and in a clean glass too. You are a fine man.

~J

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:34 PM

Well I might as well stick my head around the door and shout a large Bushmills for Seamus Kennedy, hold on, is that a bottle of Blackbush I spy behind the bar? Well in that case....

Walrus

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:35 PM

gee- did anyone buy bert a round? Maybe we should invent a new one for him - the Inexhaustible Visa - a beer stein connected via wormhole to the brewery of his choice so that he can never empty it, perhaps?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:41 PM

Great idea, MMario! Hey, by way, what are you drinking? I'd like to pay up for that song you sang me on our drive-by encounter in Vermont. Leej, please fill up MMario's glass with whatever he'll take!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:43 PM

LEJ chuckles as he watches Catspaw gagging on skim milk in a vain attempt to wash down the Tabasco-soaked chicken wings

For MMario, a large beaker of mead, as befits one who spends as much time in the Renaissance as he does in 2001. Thanks for putting tunes to all of those lyrics!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:46 PM

I'll set Alex up with whatever suits his fancy, as long as he helps me carry in my Bodhransss for the session later on.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:48 PM

And for gnu, a pint of yer finest, and two hands for carryin' 'hrans.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:57 PM

Gee, I figured there would be a flood of people trying to get me too drunk to play. Hats off to you Alex, a gentleman if ever there was.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:58 PM

That's the beer talkin, mate. But I thank 'ee for your kind words!

A pint of bitter for Malcolm Douglas, barkeep, if you will.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:14 PM

Dear LAdy of the Eternal Tavern:

I cannot express my appreciation for the fine and generaous offer regarding Crisco, but let me remind you that when I said Crisco was mandatory, it was in regard to a certain promised wrestling encounter, and not for libation.

I prithee, then, sweet as thou do be, to reword the form in which your profound generosity takes place, lest we find it not bottomless, in sooth, and needs must reform the fundament thereof!!

And while I'm here I'd like to order sixteen large glasses of 1939 Beaujolais for that Jen Ellen lass.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:22 PM

A gallon of purified water for Aine, who now lives in Texas, where water, I'm told, is hard to come by.

Which is to say, there aren't many lakes you can make love at the edge of.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: kendall
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:25 PM

A double shot of Jamesons'12 year old scotch for Big Chuck, in payment for what you shared with me at Old Songs. JEEZ, are you reading this Doug? me buying a drink for a republican...Hey, what am I doing in this hand basket? where am I going?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: JenEllen
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:27 PM

"I want to attempt a thing like that and am frightened by these trifles," he thought, with an odd smile. "Hm . . . yes, all is in a man's hands and he lets it all slip from cowardice, that's an axiom. It would be interesting to know what it is men are most afraid of."

*looking up from book and over vast quantities of drink that have appeared on the table before her*
Nice try, shotgun! You won't rest until you are done wrassled, will ya? Okay then, barkeep, a bottle of gatorade for Amos, and hold a nice bottle of champagne for when his patio is finished. And a pot of peppermint tea for my ladies as well.

~J

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Midchuck
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:35 PM

Kendall, I don't think bigchuck would like being called a Republican. He describes himself as agnostic.

Keep in mind: There are now two, count 'em, two, members of the United States Congress - both houses combined - who list themselves as "Independant," and they're both from Vermont. And Vermont has only three members of Congress, in both houses combined.

Makes me almost proud to be a Vermonter again, after almost giving up hope when the yuppies appeared to be taking over.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From:
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:44 PM

The libation of her choice for Noreen, who has a doohicky set up to invite me in when she's on PalTalk. I'm still on coffee for the next several hours...something dark, strong and caffenated for me, please.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:47 PM

I'm pouring a pint of fresh Guinness for InObu. Thanks Larry for reminding us that, in a world where everyone seems to be scrounging a buck, there are still people trying to sing about and do what they think is simply RIGHT. Slaint'!

And for my fiddler-friend Sorcha, here's a pint of The Black Stuff to cut the dust of those hot Wyoming Plains afternoons.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Peter T.
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:47 PM

A sound as of disintegrating Firestone tires is heard out back of the Tavern. The back door is slowly flung open, which is a neat trick, and a figure who looks like one of those half-finished jigsaw puzzles with all the edges done, but only blotches of tricky sailboat in the middle, wearing a T-shirt reading "RASKOLNIKOV BREWERIES - WHEN YOU WANT TO CRY INTO YOUR BEER, MAKE IT A RASKOLNIKOV!!!", waves his arms and says: "For you, innkeeper, in honour of your desire to make all well, and all manner of things to be well, and may love abound!" And behind him can be made out a tanker truck, labelled RASKOLNIKOV BREWERIES, and a hose. "Where do I hook it up???"

LEJ points to two taps, one marked "EFFERVESCENT" and the other marked "WALLOW". "Hook it up to No. 2".

The jigjagged figure does as he is told, and it pours true, and he ventures to turn his head about, and noticing ladies present (including she who had resuced him from durance vile, just when he was working on the corpse in the shroud trick, which he is almost tempted to resurrect again, if that is the right way of putting it), he whispers loudly, in an attempt to be debonair that is unimpressive: "Beer on the house!"

"Umm" say LEJ. "We are already doing that."

"Oh," replies the RaskRep, crushed," Oh." As usual, he has the timing of the man going door-to-door selling "Death Of A Salesman" memorabilia.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 02:57 PM

Why thank you, LEJ! That went down right smooth after all the sawdust I've been inhaling. Set up a couple long, cold ones for Joe Offer and Burke as a reward for a great thread idea.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 06:23 PM

And a triple with chasers for Our Man of the Raskolnikov Brewery! He looks like he's REALLY thought through the whole good and evil thing and could use a drink!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: JenEllen
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 06:53 PM

WELL!! A round for everyone in joyous celebration, and make it a double for NanaSINSULL!!! Cheers and much love to mama and the wee ones.

~AuntieJen

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Bradypus
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 07:10 PM

A pint of Guinness for Aine, who deserves every drop for her work on the challenge!s

A Blue Lagoon for Mousethief (and spike it with one of those diamond-shaped blue tablets - it sounds like he needs perking up)

And a pint of Skol for MMario, in memory of a mermaid we both know!

Bradypus

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 07:15 PM

I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Bradypus!

Barkeep, give Bradypus a double shot of his(?) favourite libation!

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Burke
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 07:19 PM

Thanks, Sorcha. You're the one doing all the real work so while I relax, have a nice tall one from me for doing the leg work.

MMario looks like he's finished that mead. Send him some ale from me. He gets the credit for making me think of it when he suggested we pop old threads back up or find unanswered questions to answer.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: GUEST,RobDale
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 09:30 PM

A Sleeman's Cream Ale for everyone with GUEST in front of their name, Invite 'em in. Make 'em feel welcome!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 09:33 PM

And an ice cold Fat Tire ale for the ramblin' Shambles and his better half.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 09:46 PM

The throbbing rhythm of a 1939 Indian whispers gently through the doorway, followd by the crisp sound of a neat and orderly stop in a well marked spot on the paved and painted parking lot.

A Friend enters, carrying a pair of perfectly matched gerbils on one arm, and a 1956 Silvertone five-string, warped and dusty with caked strings.

He sits at a small round table along the edge of the floor, and calls to Ol LeJ, the Mustachio'd Barkeep:

"Excuse me! I wonder if you would be so kind as to provide that disguised poet -- the one with the exploding Firestones and the impeccable sense of rhythm -- with a double of your best Glenlivet? And, since it seems she's taken a liking to it, an entire bottle of that $300 Baeujolais for the lady operating on a vole. With my admiring compliments to both, if you would be so kind...."

He leans back, dusty his highly polished brown boots, nodding at the ladies and smiling at the gentlemen in a most friendly way. After a while, he puts the gerbils on the table for an Out of Body experience, picks up the Silvertone, whose sound is pure despite its wear, and sings softly:

You couldn't pack a Broadwood half a mile--
You musn't leave a fiddle in the damp--
You couldn't raft an organ up the Nile,
And play it in an Equatorial swamp.
I travel with the cooking-pots and pails--
I'm sandwiched 'tween the coffee and the pork--
And when the dusty column checks and tails,
You should hear me spur the rearguard to a walk!

With my "Pilly-willy-winky-winky-popp!"
[Oh, it's any tune that comes into my head!]
So I keep 'em moving forward till they drop;
So I play 'em up to water and to bed.

In the silence of the camp before the fight,
When it's good to make your will and say your prayer,
You can hear my strumpty-tumpty overnight,
Explaining ten to one was always fair.
I'm the Prophet of the Utterly Absurd,
Of the Patently Impossible and Vain--
And when the Thing that Couldn't has occurred,
Give me time to change my leg and go again.

With my "Tumpa-tumpa-tumpa-tumpa-tump!"
In the desert where the dung-fed camp-smoke curled.
There was never voice before us till I led our lonely chorus,
I--the war-drum of the White Man round the world!

By the bitter road the Younger Son must tread,
Ere he win to hearth and saddle of his own,--
'Mid the riot of the shearers at the shed,
In the silence of the herder's hut alone--
In the twilight, on a bucket upside down,
Hear me babble what the weakest won't confess--
I am Memory and Torment--I am Town!
I am all that ever went with evening dress!

He grows thoughtful, and silent, and watches out the Tavern window at a flock of geese winging north, as a peaceful sunrise extends its light toward a welcoming evening...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: kendall
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 10:31 PM

Oh man, got my foot in it now! Sorry Sandy!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 10:39 PM

*hic*

*hic!*

*

thud

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 11:22 PM

Bemused by inexplicable emanations around him, and not a little soddened by an extremely large mug of brown liquid half consumed before him, the friend resumes plucking a far-awy vein, a minstrel's strum, with a minor tone, and sings sin a somewhat maudlin tone reminiscent of a mother dachsund giving birth:

Kathleen, Mavourneen, awake from thy slumbers,
The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light;
Ah! where is the spell that once hung on my numbers,
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night,
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my night

Mavourneen, Mavourneen, my sad tears are falling,
To think that from Erin and thee I must part,
It may be for years, and it may be forever?
Then why art thou silent, thou voice of my heart?
Then why art thou silent, Kathleen, Mavourneen?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 11:47 PM

The Tavern has waned as folks once again make peace, the occasional song drifts onto the evening breeze, and small, friendly conversations are buzzing sibilantly in every corner. Temporarily without much trade on his hands, the beaming mustachio'd Barkeep hauls out an ancient Dreadnought from behind the bar, and strolls over to the table of the Mysteriosu Friend plonking away on the Silvertone. After a few rounds of tune-counter-tune, they exchange a few words and fill the evening air with a mournful mountain melody in crisp, heart-rending harmonies:

Some people drink chaaampagne
Out under the stars,
And others drink wine, while
Hanging under a viiine!
But all that I neeeed love
To make me feel fine,
Ish to know that yore luuuuhhve will
Be etern-aly mahn!
 

I'd give an Ocean O' Diaaaamonds

An' a woruld filld with flaaahwwers

Jes' to hol' you cloooosely

Fer JUST a few hoooours

Ta hear you whisper soooftly

Thet Yew love meeee toooo,

Would change alll mah darrrrrk days

Tuh the blewest of blewww!

But, I doan drink that champagne,
An' Ah doan drink thet wiiine,
An'if you refoooose me,
Mah poooor heart will pine,
An' I'll be oh, so looooonesome
'Til the day thet Ah  die,
An' after Ah'm gawwwwn, luhhve,
Yew kin still hyear me cryyyyyyyy.....
 

I'd give an Ocean O' Diaaaamonds

An' a woruld filld with flaaahwwers

Jes' to hol' you cloooosely

Fer JUST a few hoooours

Ta hear you whisper soooftly

Thet Yew love meeee toooo,

Would change alll mah darrrrrk days

Tuh the blewest of blewww!

 

 

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 11:49 PM

A small magical creature scurries through the room deleting double-posts and turning empty glasses magically clean!


--- :^) ---

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 11:53 PM

(Shouldn't Small Magical Creatures be able to fill empty glasses as well?)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 11:56 PM

Well, as most know, I'm a rare visitor here but seing as it say's "on the house", mine's a quadruple Lagavulin. May even fix the double post for free when I've chilled out a bit.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 12:09 AM

The Friend with the Silvertone jumps up to ask the Bartender for a quintuple Lagavulin for fixing the double-vision from which he was suffering, as the Lagavulin Elven clearly hadn't read all the posts in the Tavern that night.

He retires to his chair, facing out the door, and plonks yet nother tune to the breeze:

Let your quacks and newspapers be cuttin' their capers

And curing the Vapours, the Scratch and the Gout.
With their medical potions, their pills and their lotions,
Upholdin' their notions, they're mighty put out.

Who can tell the true physic of all things pathetic
And pitch to the Devil Cramp, Colic and Spleen?
Oh you'll find them I think if you take a big drink
With your mouth to the brink of a jug of Poteen.

Then stick to the Cratur the best thing in nature
For drowning your sorrows and raisin' your joys.!
Oh what botherations no bolt to the nation
Can bring consolation like Poteen, me boys!
 
 

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 12:16 AM

And I'll stand another for Dear Jon! One double Lagavulin for the Elven Jon!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 12:25 AM

Cheers sorcha, never thought I'd say this about the Tavern but I'm enjoying the tranquility here at the moment. May even find myself nodding off to the tunes on the Silvertone.

I trust B&B is availible if needed.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 12:32 AM

Always, sweetie, if you are not allergic to cats and dogs! Seems we do need a peaceful place just now, no? Sleep well, my friend.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 12:52 AM

A pint or two for Musicman who brought his heart and soul to our little island this past weekend. Two days filled with music and song ... ahhhh... what could be better?

LL

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 01:04 AM

Dogs and cat's suit me fine sorcha. I will sleep well.

LL it looks like there is no one left behind the bar, I'll pull them for you - 2 pints for Musicman coming up.

Not sure where you are BTW but I guess near Vancouver?

Jon (in the UK)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 01:29 AM

Who's mindin the bar? Ah, Jon Freeman I see. You pull those pints like a pro, lad. Just carried MMario into the backroom and onto a cot (no mean feat if you've ever tried to pick the boy up) where he's now sawing logs. Never mix mead, ale, and Skol is the moral of that story I reckon. I'll have a small snifter of brandy before calling it a night, and buy a drink for those roving Mudcat Ambassadors, Allan C and Bill/Sables, two of the finest inhabitants of our town.

Quiet in the Old Tavern tonight, just the chirp of crickets and the babble of the mill stream outside the stone wall. The Friend still strumming that beat-up Silvertone at a table lit by a single candle, not playing anything in particular, just letting the chords roll their own melodies. Peace fills the alleyways of this town, and a quarter moon gives just enough light to guide some of the late-stayers home. Out beyond the brook, I can detect someone singing Barbry Allen, and I think how this town never built itself... it was the music built it. And how sharing that music makes us all stronger and better.

Yeah, it's a pretty good place.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 03:51 AM

Now I'm back in the UK and at work, I'll just have a quick Metaxa. When things have calmed down here I may share some of this year's Kalymnos memories with you, but perhaps I'll gloss over the police shutting down our last night party...
RtS (old reprobate)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 04:59 AM

Up in the rafters the slumped, mottled form of Albert Toepicker stirred. He was confused by smell of metaphysics, his last clear recollection was of a purple swirl in the corner of his cell at the Neil Young Centre. After that followed a blur of multiple personalities, as if the rift in space had sucked two or more others in with him and melded them into one person. Since arriving at the Tavern, the process seemed to have collapsed, and once again he seemed to be just himself - not an artist, not a poet, just the comfortable psychotic he had been since he started work on the banjo. He felt about him, yes there it was, jewels glinting in the half light. He struck a chord and sank back into his reverie. I must buy a pint of Fiddler's Elbow for the tall man with the motorcycle, he thought before the arms of Morpheus enfolded him again......
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Amos
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 06:54 AM

And the song of the mudcat was heard in that land, through a woozy mist, crossing the rolling hills under the stars on the quiet and warm evening air, to the plunking of worn, old Silvertone.

I plays the banjo
Better now,
Than him that taught me do...
Because he plays
For all the world
And I jes' plays for you!

He learns his tunes
I jes' lets down
A banjo string or two,
Into the deepest
Of my heart
An' draws up tunes, for you!

And slowly they
Come swinging up
A-quivering thorugh and through
'Til with a rush
Of tingling notes
They reaches light and you!

Oh, I never knows
If they will shine
Wet with tears
Or dew
I only know,
That dew or tears
Thy shine because of you..
Of you!!

Goodnight, Ms McGillicuddy, wherever you are!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: Jim Cheydi
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 07:01 AM

Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps please....

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 'On the House'
From: MMario
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 09:46 AM

A round for Jim here!

oh mygawd that hurtz my head

What do you do with a drunken Mudcat?

something! anything. ohgawd. please...