Author: Erik J. Heels

After a day of shredding on the Wachusett Mountain, the boys headed to the Coppertop to rock it out for a few hours of après ski. As one appreciative lounger said after the gig, “You guys are the first band to get the volume right!” OK, we toned it down a little bit (no cab for Eamon) but it wasn’t exactly acoustic. Thanks also to the big Acton crowd that came out to support us! I do recall that there was even some dancing by the fireplace at one point! Perhaps an annual event?

Set 1

1. Good Lovin’ (C) – Jon
2. Moondance (A) – Paul
3. My Best Friend’s Girl (F) – Eamon
4. Breakdown (Am) – Eamon
5. It’s A Shame About Ray (A) – Erik
6. Brown-Eyed Girl (G) – Paul
7. Margaritaville (D) – Jon
8. Centerfield (G) – Eamon
9. Sultans Of Swing (Dm) – Jon
10. Lonely Boy (E) – Eamon
11. Psycho Killer (Am) – Erik

Set 2

1. It’s All Been Done (D) – Erik
2. Smoking Gun (E) – Eamon
3. Stray Cat Strut (C) – Paul
4. Just Like Heaven (A) – Erik
5. Refugee (F#m) – Eamon
6. Honky Tonk Women (G) – Eamon
7. Stand (E) – Jo
8. No Matter What (A) – Eamon
9. Oye como va (A) – Jon / Eamon
10. Life During Wartime (A) – Erik
11. Runnin’ Down A Dream (E) – Jon

This was the first gig that I’ve ever missed – yikes! (Sick kid.) So all of this is officially hearsay. Hearsay, I say! What I do know is that this was a fundraiser gig for Cycle for Survival (Memorial Soloan-Kettering Cancer Center) Team Wheelin’ 4 Healin’ Acton. The band rocked, funds were raised. Thanks to Kat, Sorrel, Kolby, Kate, Stacey, Jennine, Eve and Mira for hosting. And thanks to all for participating!

Set 1

1. Good Lovin’ (C)
2. My Best Friend’s Girl (F)
3. Breakdown (Am)
4. The Last Time (E)
5. Centerfield (G)
6. Just What I Needed (E)
7. *Stacy’s Mom (E)
8. No Matter What (A)
9. Sultans Of Swing (Dm)
10. Lonely Boy (E)

Set 2

1. Smoking Gun (E)
2. Smokin’ In The Boys’ Rm. (A)
3. Cover Me (Bm)
4. Honky Tonk Women (G)
5. Brown Sugar (C)
6. Should I Stay Or Should I Go (D)
7. I Fought The Law (D)
8. Can’t Get Enough (C)
9. Stand (E)
10. Flagpole Sitta (D)

Set 3

1. It’s All Been Done (D)
2. Sunshine Of Your Love (D)
3. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (A)
4. Refugee (F#m)
5. 867-5309 (Jenny) (F#m)
6. Peace, Love And Understanding (G)
7. Pump It Up (B)
8. Back In The U.S.S.R. (A)
9. Takin’ Care Of Business (C)
10. *Boys Are Back In Town (A)
11. *House Party (E)

Encore

1. Love Shack (C)
2. Runnin’ Down A Dream (E)
3. You Really Got Me (G)

* = new

Paul turned 50, we waited out the rain, and we played half in and half out of the garage to a semi-wet crowd. Happy birthday, Paul!

1. Good Lovin’ (C) – Grateful Dead
2. Tequila (E, sax) – The Champs
3. Oye Como Va (A) – Santana
4. Sultans of Swing (Dm) – Dire Straits
5. Moondance (Am, sax) – Van Morrison
6. Stray Cat Strut (Cm) – Stray Cats
7. Breakdown (Am) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
8. What I Like About You (E) – The Romantics
9. 867-5309 (Jenny) (F#m) – Tommy Tutone
10. Turning Japanese (G) – Vapors
11. Runnin Down A Dream (E) – Tom Petty
12. Brown Sugar (C, sax) – The Rolling Stones
13. Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2 (Dm) – Pink Floyd
14. Life During Wartime (Live) – Talking Heads
15. Love Shack (C) – The B-52’s
16. Sunshine of Your Love (D) – Cream

The guys from The MCats Band enjoyed playing for the next generation of McCarthy-Towne parents and kids at the 7th annual Patriot’s Hill (AKA Pat’s Hill) block party last night! This time, the generous families of Monroe Avenue, Acton, provided the venue, including our first every stone wall stage! Until next year, we love you, Pat’s Hill!

Set 1

1. Good Lovin’ (C) – Jon
2. My Best Friend’s Girl (F) – Eamon
3. Breakdown (Am) – Eamon
4. Stray Cat Strut (Cm) – Paul
5. It’s A Shame About Ray (A) – Erik
6. Oye como va (A)
7. Centerfield (G) – Eamon
8. Just What I Needed (E) – Eamon
9. No Matter What (A) – Eamon
10. Sultans of Swing (Dm) – Jon
11. Lonely Boy (E) – Eamon
12. Psycho Killer (Am) – Erik

Set 2

1. Brown-Eyed Girl (C) – Paul
2. Margaritaville (D) – Jon
3. All Star (G) – Jon
4. Cover Me (Bm) – Eamon
5. Honky Tonk Women (G) – Eamon
6. Brown Sugar (C) – Eamon
7. Learn to Fly (B) – Erik
8. Should I Stay Or Should I Go (D) – Eamon
9. I Fought The Law (D) – Eamon
10. Smokin’ In The Boys’ Room (A) – Jon
11. Can’t Get Enough (C) – Eamon
12. Stand (E) – Jon
13. Flagpole Sitta (D) – Eamon

Set 3

1. *Life During Wartime (Am) – Erik
2. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (A) – Eamon
3. Just Like Heaven (A) – Erik
4. Refugee (F#m) – Eamon
5. 867-5309 (Jenny) (F#m) – Eamon
6. Peace, Love And Understanding (G) – Jon
7. Pump It Up (B) – Jon
8. Jesse’s Girl (D) – Eamon
9. Takin’ Care Of Business (C) – Erik

Encore

1. Dirty Water (E) – Jon
2. Runnin’ Down A Dream (E) – Jon

* = new

It may have been a 30th birthday party in Winchester for Kevin (and Britt), but it was the 40th gig for The MCats Band! So when a little bird (let’s call him Craig) told us that our hosts were looking for a Dave-Matthews-Band-type cover band, we said, “We’re a band!” Followed shortly by, “Where’s Winchester?” This was, by far, the cutest audience we’ve ever had. Plus the weather held, so that was good. It’s not every day that the pug is deemed the big dog (sorry, Murphy)! And our photo album has 30 photos! Such symmetry. It’s pleasing. Thanks to Kevin and Britt for a great party! Next year: band bus. In development: MCats reality TV show.

Set 1

1. Good Lovin’ (C) – Grateful Dead
2. Breakdown (Am) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
3. Stray Cat Strut (Cm) – Stray Cats
4. It’s a Shame About Ray (A) – The Lemonheads
5. Centerfield (G) – John Fogerty
6. Glory Days (A) – Bruce Springsteen
7. No Matter What (A) – Badfinger
8. Can’t Get Enough (C) – Bad Company
9. Stand (E) – R.E.M.
10. Should I Stay or Should I Go (D) – The Clash
11. I Fought the Law (D) – The Clash
12. Flagpole Sitta (D) – Harvey Danger
13. Lonely Boy (E) – The Black Keys
14. Psycho Killer (Live) (Am) – Talking Heads

Set 2

1. Birthday (A) – The Beatles
2. All Star (recorded in F#, play in G) – Smash Mouth
3. Honky Tonk Women (G) – The Rolling Stones
4. Learn to Fly (B) – Foo Fighters
5. Cover Me (Bm) – Bruce Springsteen
6. Brown Sugar (C, sax) – The Rolling Stones
7. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (A) – JET
8. Just Like Heaven (A) – The Cure
9. Pump It Up (B) – Elvis Costello
10. Refugee (F#m) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
11. Tush (G) – ZZ Top
12. 867-5309 (Jenny) (F#m) – Tommy Tutone
13. Peace, Love and Understanding (G) – Elvis Costello
14. Takin’ Care of Business (C) – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
15. Jessie’s Girl (D) – Rick Springfield

Encore

• Runnin Down A Dream (E) – Tom Petty

Thanks to the Thorpe family for having us again at their annual backyard barn party! There were far fewer snakes in the well this year, and we successfully recreated last year’s epic photo (Jon on the left, Paul on the right). We were disappointed, however, that the police never showed up. Perhaps we were not loud enough. We’ll work on that. This year’s barn bash also featured the debut of the much anticipated Jessie’s Girl! See you next year!

Set 1

1. Good Lovin’ (C) – Grateful Dead
2. My Best Friend’s Girl (F) – The Cars
3. Breakdown (Am) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
4. Stray Cat Strut (Cm) – Stray Cats
5. It’s a Shame About Ray (A) – The Lemonheads
6. Centerfield (G) – John Fogerty
7. Glory Days (A) – Bruce Springsteen
8. Just What I Needed (E) – The Cars
9. No Matter What (A) – Badfinger
10. Sultans of Swing (Dm) – Dire Straits
11. Lonely Boy (E) – The Black Keys
12. Psycho Killer (Am) – Talking Heads

Set 2

1. Brown Eyed Girl (G) – Van Morrison
2. Margaritaville (D) – Jimmy Buffett
3. Smokin’ In The Boys’ Room (recorded in D, play in A) – The Brownsville Station
4. Cover Me (Bm) – Bruce Springsteen
5. Honky Tonk Women (G) – The Rolling Stones
6. Brown Sugar (C, sax) – The Rolling Stones
7. Should I Stay or Should I Go (D) – The Clash
8. I Fought the Law (D) – The Clash
9. Can’t Get Enough (C) – Bad Company
10. Stand (E) – R.E.M.
11. Flagpole Sitta (D) – Harvey Danger

Set 3

1. Smoking Gun (Em) – Robert Cray
2. *Jessie’s Girl (D) – Rick Springfield
3. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (A) – JET
4. Just Like Heaven (A) – The Cure
5. Turning Japanese (G) – Vapors
6. Refugee (F#m) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
7. 867-5309 (Jenny) (F#m) – Tommy Tutone
8. Peace, Love and Understanding (G) – Elvis Costello
9. Pump It Up (B) – Elvis Costello
10. Back In The U.S.S.R. (A) – Paul McCartney
11. Takin’ Care of Business (C) – Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Encore

1. Love Shack (C) – The B-52’s
2. Runnin Down A Dream (E) – Tom Petty
3. What I Like About You (E) – The Romantics
4. Dirty Water (E) – The Standells

* = new to us

Back-to-back gigs. Whoo hoo!

MCats auction, Mardi Gras theme. The Mardi Gras colors are purple, green, and yellow because the Mardi Gras colors are purple, green, and yellow. We looked it up. Four new songs may be a record.

Setlist

1. Breakdown
2. Bad Moon Rising
3. Centerfield
4. *Iko–Iko
5. Lonely Boy
6. *New Orleans (Blues Bros.)
7. Cover Me
8. Brown Sugar
9. Stray Cat Strut
10. Sultans (that play Creole)
11. *House of the Rising Sun
12. *Jambalaya

* = new

Hosted by Clock Tower Law Group.

(1) Rebecca and I wanted to have a holiday party but ran out of time, (2) Acton-Boxboro did not do “ABig Night Out” this year, and (3) my law firm (www.clocktowerlaw.com) turned 11 (which is WAY better than 10), so we had a party! Embarrassingly, my band, The MCats (www.mcatsband.org), also played. This was not just another boring soiree, this was Happy Winter Friends Part 1!

In the immortal words of two superheroes who are also best friends:

Baman: What’s Happy Winter Friends?
Piderman: It’s the holiday of wishes and best friends!

Lindsay Small and Alex Butera are proud! (Or embarrassed, not sure which.)

Legal restrictions prevent me from saying what was served, but let’s just say there was phood and an oben par!

WHO: Friends of Erik & Rebecca, The MCats Band, and Clock Tower Law Group!
WHAT: Happy Winter Friends Part 1!
WHERE: Clock Tower Place Cafe, Building 7, Maynard MA 01754 (Same place as “ABig Night Out.”)
WHEN: Fri 03/23/12 6pm-11pm (The party went to 11! Get it? Because 11 is better than 10! Actually, it went later.)
WHY: It’s the holiday of wishes and best friends! (See above.)
HOW: What are you, are reporter?

Yeah, I know, not technically winter. Band was booked.

Those who rocked salute you!

Video evidence of this gig:

* Tom Petty – Breakdown
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=832732929378

* The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=833101435888

* ZZ Top – Tush
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=832733533168

THE END (of Part 1)

Set 1

1. Good Lovin’ (C) – Jon
2. Birthday (A) – Josh
3. Breakdown (Am) – Eamon
4. Stray Cat Strut (Cm) – Paul
5. It’s A Shame About Ray (A) – Erik
6. Centerfield (G) – Eamon
7. Glory Days (A) – Eamon
8. Learn to Fly (B) – Erik
9. No Matter What (A) – Eamon
10. *Lonely Boy (E) – Eamon
11. Back On the Chain Gang (D) – Betsy

Set 2 (No Keys)

1. Bad Moon Rising (D) – Eamon
2. Brown Sugar (C, sax) – Eamon
3. Cover Me (Bm) – Eamon
4. Smokin’ In The Boys’ Room (A) – Jon
5. Honky Tonk Women (G) – Eamon
6. I Fought the Law (D) – Eamon
7. Should I Stay or Should I Go (D) – Eamon
8. Stand (E) – Jon
9. Sunshine of Your Love (D) – Eamon
10. White Room (D) – Eamon
11. *Flagpole Sitta (D) – Eamon

Set 3

1. Can’t Get Enough (C) – Eamon
2. Are You Gonna Be My Girl (A) – Eamon
3. Middle of the Road (A) – Betsy
4. Just Like Heaven (A) – Erik
5. Turning Japanese (G) – Jon
6. 867-5309 (Jenny) (F#m) – Eamon
7. Psycho Killer (Live) (Am) – Erik
8. Pump It Up (B) – Jon
9. Back In the U.S.S.R. (A) – Eamon
10. Takin’ Care of Business (C) – Erik
11. Peace, Love and Understanding (G) – Jon

Encore

1. Love Shack (C) – Betsy
2. Runnin Down A Dream (E) – Jon
3. Tush (G) – Eamon
4. What I Like About You (E) – Erik
5. Dirty Water (E) – Jon
6. Just What I Needed (E) – Eamon
7. Sultans of Swing (Dm) – Jon

* = new songs

A Jon-less (I think that’s a word) MCats played under the largest tent under which they’ve ever played under which. Or something like that. Rain threatened, but did not interfere with, this non-surprise birthday party for Paul “Murph” Murphy. Thankfully, neighbors were invited, so we got to finish our songs.

Plus, zero skydivers landed on the giant tent, so that’s good.

Thanks to the Murphys for a great time!

Set 1

1. Good Lovin’ (C) – Grateful Dead
2. Bad Moon Rising (D) – Creedence Clearwater Revival
3. It’s All Been Done (D) – Barenaked Ladies
4. Centerfield (G) – John Fogerty
5. Just What I Needed (E) – The Cars
6. Sultans of Swing (Dm) – Dire Straits
7. Stray Cat Strut (Cm) – Stray Cats
8. Peace, Love and Understanding (G) – Elvis Costello
9. Should I Stay or Should I Go (D) – The Clash
10. Stand (E) – R.E.M.
11. Breakdown (Am) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
12. Psycho Killer (Live) (Am) – Talking Heads

Set 2

1. My Best Friend’s Girl (F) – The Cars
2. Learn to Fly (B) – Foo Fighters
3. Can’t Get Enough (C) – Bad Company
4. Just Like Heaven (A) – The Cure
5. Brown Eyed Girl (G) – Van Morrison
6. Born To Be Wild (E) – Steppenwolf
7. Back In The U.S.S.R. (A) – Paul McCartney
8. Tush (G) – ZZ Top
9. I Fought the Law (D) – The Clash
10. Honky Tonk Women (G) – The Rolling Stones
11. It’s a Shame About Ray (A) – The Lemonheads
12. 867-5309 (Jenny) (F#m) – Tommy Tutone

Set 3

1. Take Me To The River (Live) (E) – Talking Heads
2. The Last Time (E) – The Rolling Stones
3. Takin’ Care of Business (C) – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
4. Refugee (F#m) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
5. What I Like About You (E) – The Romantics
6. Brown Sugar (C, sax) – The Rolling Stones
7. Summertime Blues (Remixed Live) (A) – The Who
8. Love Shack (C) – The B-52’s
9. Runnin Down A Dream (E) – Tom Petty