Paper Bag #28 ~ June 28, 2005 Mulcahy's ~ Wantagh , LI, NY |
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~The Grab Bag ~what's in the bag? |
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Instrumentation: Mike Guido, Tony Rome, 8 Cheese Calzones, 13 vocalists, 14 guitars, 8 keyboards, 5 harmonicas, 9 horns, 5 basses, 16 percussionists, 95 crew members, 71 ladies auxiliary, 18 on the Group W Bench |
Highlights:
Sam the Bugler, The Beach Boy set, The Funk Bag, Tommy, the pregnant nun, a Paper Bag welcome to Marie La Pinta. and finally, for those who enjoy a happy ending: Mike Cummings, naked to the waist, sings "To Sir with Love"
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#28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 Paper Bag #28 2005 The Players Go to the top of Bag #28 |
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#28 2005
#28 2005
#28 2005
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#28 2005
The Opening Letter
#28 2005 |
· The Grab Bag · · the Beach Bag· the Funk Bag · · Tommy · Southern Rock Block · · 6 hours of non-stop music · · Please bring a can of food for donation to those in our community who are less fortunate than we. Thanks We intend to play rock 'n' roll for as long as we are physically able …so far, so good. Paper Bag #28! Think about it. Twenty eight years of this nonsense. Most of us weren't even 28 years old when we started. Some of you aren't 28 years old yet. There are about 50 people wearing Bag shirts tonight who have been participating for over 20 years. I wonder how many of the audience members are 20 year vets. Anyway, we have been at this a long time and we are pretty good at it. Some of us have only missed one Bag (usually for love or rehab) Theme - The executive board meetings are fun, as usual. Mike Cummings kept it in his trousers (assuming he still has it - I have a feeling that instead of wild oats, all Mr. Cummings has is shredded wheat) . The theme this year is a compromise. I like the Bag band to do songs that I grew up with and have always wanted to do Beach Boys. At a meeting Scotty K clearly showed his disdain for this beautiful music but he is an idiot. I especially love Pet Sounds . So what is in the Bag? We have the Grab Bag - featuring the Beach Bag, Tommy, the Funk Bag and a Southern Rock Block. The Financial Report - Every year when the Bag is over I hope to have funds left so I can preserve the photos and video tapes that are in boxes (and boxes and boxes and boxes) in the closet near the War Room. I haven't been able to do that yet. Last year 70 people covered the minimum ticket requirement, 3 tickets. 24 of you sold more than 3 tickets. 1/3 of the people who received a shirt from me did not cover the cost of even one ticket. Now, as a financial entity, the Bag is a delicate thing. Kind of like a pyramid standing on its point. I don't like to mess with it because it has been working well for the past 15 or so years. However, I have a responsibility to cover the expenses every year. With so many people not meeting their obligation I have to figure out a way to insure that we have capital without making the people who already do their share foot the bill for those who don't. Anyway, here's the deal. Tickets have gone to $20 in advance. Each Bagger is responsible for 2 tickets, or $40. The past few years the minimum was $45 so this should make it easier for some of you in that bottom 1/3 of the band to come into compliance. Now, if you can't find two people that are willing to come to see you participate in this show then we have a problem. We have a good song list this year. I am looking forward to standing in my spot on the stage while my friends play this music at killer volume, all wearing huge smiles. Every one of you is a friend of mine, and I thank you for your participation and your enthusiasm. Don't forget the rule, if it gets dark out, we will have to have fun. It's a rule. Really.
There is no WILL CALL window at the Paper Bag (unless someone wants to volunteer to sit at the door and argue with people who should have gotten their tickets in advance from you). Bag tickets are $20 this year. Each bagger is responsible for the sale of 2 tickets in advance. Please remit your $40 asap. Tickets will be $25 the day of the show. Contact your section leader today. Get shirt names and #’s in TODAY. Thank you Itinerary Mulcahy’s is gracious
enough to provide food for the crew on both Wednesday & Thursday.
Please be appreciative. |
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#28 2005 The Program
#28 2005 |
Lenny LaPinta was the first one to refer to Paper Bag #10 as “The Dream Season.” That was the first Bag where we really started to play well. Bag # 11 was the first time we had a “theme.” We played a set of songs from Sly & the Faily Stone. For Bag #13 we alternated songs with “black’ and “white” in the title. Bag #15 featured songs with the word “Midnight” in the title. After that came the Brown Bag, the Doggy Bag, the Love Bag, the Bag from Space and last year the School Bag. These days the Executive Board meets in the war room beginning in January. We go over all the suggestions that have been emailed in by alert Bag affecionatos and people bring copies of songs that are to be considered. The songlist is the subject of much discussion. Naturally, being products of the era that we are, the Executive Board has some favorites. Here is a list of the most-covered bands at the Paper Bag and how many times we have played one of their songs. In addition, there are 177 bands that have had one song played at a bag and 76 more bands that have been featured between 2 and 5 times.
There are 269 people involved in the Paper Bag this year. They have a combined 2,552.5 years experience and average 9.5 years experience. The 74 musicians have an average of 13.1 years experience. There are 26 members of the executive board who enjoy a total of 537.5 years in the bag and average over 20.7 years experience. In case you’re wondering, the 1/2 year is credited to Larry Ketchell who was able to sneak onstage for half of Bag #10 This is the spot where I get to thank… Dick at Supreme Trophy in Huntington Station; Eko Video; S-K Sound; Lightcraft; Mark Coffey and the crew at Goldman Bros.; Minuteman Printing in East Northport; The Maker of the Melon Peggy Irwin; Dawn Barca - the sign girl; Lisa Layton for her wonderful work collecting and distributing food; the faculty and staff at all the Island Trees Schools; my brothers and sisters working at the front door missing the show; my three girls, Emma, Sara & Sue for making me the happy boy you see here tonight. As you can see, I live a charmed existence. Mulcahy’s… is some great place to enjoy the Bag. From John Murray, right across to the bar backs, every one of the seemingly endless number of employees of this club is unfailingly helpful. These people understand the the Paper Bag at its purest essence. Mul’s now holds the record, with 10 bags, in no small part due to the support provided by these fine people. Please thank the Mulcahy’s staff when you see them. Patronize this fine establishment all year. Get home safely Peas & carrots, peas & carrots, peas & carrots … Brian Mulhurn was one of 4 guitarists to participate in Paper Bag #1. During the late 70’s, Brian played in several bands in and around the Huntington area often teaming up with his brother Kevin as (what else?) the Mulhurn Brothers. I mixed sound for them several times at Chelsea’s. Sally Scudder played keyboards and sang in many bands with numerous bag members. Sally was great to have in the band. Perfect pitch, big smile, never conplained, always had fun. Every time the Jim Small Band plays, I look over to the other side of the stage and I can see her, boppin’ and tappin’ her bare feet. Adam Calaci played bass and sang in some of the most successful bands to ever play on Long Island. On stage, Adam was a solid presence. His bass playing was strong and yes, it was loud. Backstage, he was a very, very funny man. We are musicians. We live a different life, in bars and diners and clubs and catering halls and come home as the sun comes up and put off joining the “real world “ as long as possible. It is a great life, rich and rewarding and so so so much fun. We look after each other and are loyal to each other. Sometime during the night tonight, remember someone missing from your life, smile and have some fun for them. We all can live on in the memory of our friends, family and colleagues. Take care of each other, be loyal to each other, and most of all, have fun. The Savannah Joe Kommnick “Are these donuts fresh?” Moment Many of you in the Paper Bag community knew Joe Kommnick simply as “Savannah.” I had the privilege working with this gentle man in the clubs on the South Shore for over 10 years. Savannah Joe was a bright ray of happiness that cut through the smoky air and shined into your heart. He was always ready with a joke, your favorite libation, or an absurd movie quote . There was never anything harsh about Savannah Joe…none of the rough edges many of us who live the night life develop. I miss his company. In 1996 we inaugurated the tradition of performing a song each year that connects us with Joe, so that we may have a vehicle to help us remember this fine man. This year, Georgia on My Mind, by Ray Charles, is dedicated to Savannah Joe. In keeping with Joe’s sense of humor, and to ease the melancholy of the moment, before we begin the song, We ask all of you to place an index finger, held horizontally, just below your nose and all together ask in a falsetto voice …“Are these donuts fresh?” THE BROWN PAPER BAG is the only thing civilized man has produced that does not seem out of place in nature. Crumpled into a wad of wrinkles, like the fossilized brain of a dryad; looking weathered; seemingly slow and rough enough to be a product of natural evolution; its brownness the low key brown of potato skin and peanut shell, dirty but pure; its kinship to tree unobstructed by the cruel crush of industry; absorbing the elements like any other organic entity a No. 8 Kraft brown paper bag lay discarded in the hills of Huntington and it appears to live where it lay. by
Tom Robbins 2005
SECTION LEADERS Tony Rome ~
Scott Savitt |
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