Apple Jam

http://www.whatgoeson.com/news/articles/20061222.html

Published December 22, 2006

by Shelley Germeaux

I was privileged to attend the George Harrison Jam tribute concert earlier this week at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle. The legendary Crocodile has hosted Sean Lennon, Julian Lennon, and Yoko in years past, as well as the John Lennon Jam last year on Lennon's 25th anniversary, by the same band.

The concert was phenomenal. I didn't keep track of the set list, but there was something George did from all eras: "Don't Bother Me", "Tax Man" , "Long Long Long", "Piggies" (Yes they even did the pig snorts-- perfectly I might add), "Something", "Bangledesh", "Crackerbox Palace", and "I've got my mind set on you", as well as Travelling Wilbury's hit, "Handle With Care", adding a great Tom Petty and Roy Orbison rendition from bandmembers. The Concert For George version of "All Things Must Pass" was also performed, while a video screen behind the stage showed a slide show of George's life with the Beatles, which was very moving.

The song George wrote for John Lennon after he died, "All Those Years Ago", was also accompanied by a slideshow of photos of John Lennon, some showing him with George through the years, also very emotional to see. The slideshow continued to play during the next song, "Photograph". The band explained that even though George had not sung this song, he had written it for Ringo. The slideshow of John Lennon pictures was appropriate even though inadvertent, given the touching lyrics, i.e. "all I got is a photograph and I realize you're not coming back anymore." I got a little teary-eyed there.

Jon Bolton, the passionate drummer from the Beatniks, was incredible as usual, and took center stage with most lead vocals as well. This was a definite change from the Lennon Jam, where other band members took turns with lead vocals. Jon's tabasco sauce must have been working a double shift that night.

Jon's attention to detail in channeling George's voice extended even to times when George was not at his best. Introducing the song "Dark Horse", Jon explained to the audience that George was very sick when he recorded that song and could barely sing at all, having everything including hepatitis at the time. "He was basically dying!" Jon said, then treated the audience to a flawless rendition of George's scratchy throat on the song.

The band included Rick Lovrovich, fellow Beatnik, Mike Mattingly of Herding Cats, Johnny Jones, Doug Kilishek and Jon Boudreau. Alan White, drummer for Yes, who played with John Lennon on the Imagine album as well as George Harrison on All Things Must Pass, sat in for a few songs, sharing some stories about George in between numbers.

As they were about to play "My Sweet Lord", Alan said "We did that IN the studio. There is NO way George copied that song" referring to the lawsuit of plagerism for "He's so fine"; He continued,"He sat there and wrote that right there, and I can tell you there was no intent, whatsoever, to copy that song. And he had to pay three million dollars for that." Alan left a little early because he got a call that his power apparently came back on at home. See, we are all in the same boat up here.

The night was magical and exciting. I was blown away by this band when they did the "John Lennon Jam", and I was blown away again this week. I am astounded that Bolton can sound just like John Lennon during "Working Class Hero" one night, and then another night do a perfect rendition of George Harrison. How does he do it, I ask?

Three Seattle men, Sam, Curt and Troy, Beatle friends of mine who are very astute Beatle historians and collectors, attended the event and were speechless. Let's say "shocked and awed." They said they had no idea these guys were so great. All were quite aware of the front and center position that Jon Bolton took at the show and were amazed that he could sing like that for a whole show, and still drum like Keith Moon. A very accomplished musician, Jon also played guitar while relinquishing the drums to Alan White.

The three friends I mentioned did not go to the John Lennon Jam, (against my wishes) and they are sorry now! Of course the Beatniks are already popular around Seattle for their covers of famous groups. But I think they should just do a Beatles show. Voice your support and let's see if we can get them to do more. Here's a new challenge: can they do McCartney? If they can channel musician's voices when they are still alive and well perhaps!

The show, organized by Steve Roseta, announced that the proceeds of the show will go to Northwest Harvest.

You can still get a John Lennon Jam T-shirt, and get a George Harrison Jam poster; go to myspace.com/GeorgeHarrisonJam for details.
- What Goes On

http://128.208.34.90/ramgen/archive/weekday/beat20061219.rm

December 19, 2006

Related Event: George Harrison Jam, Tuesday, December 19th, 2006, 8:00 p.m., Crocodile Cafe, 2200 2nd Ave., Seattle.

At 2:07 p.m. - Alan White
A simple phone call can change your life forever. It was a call from pop music icon John Lennon that catapulted a Seattle area drummer to rock and roll stardom. Alan White played drums for the rock band Yes and for John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Plastic Ono Band. Alan White joins us to talk about how John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and others helped Alan secure an honored place in pop music history.
- KUOW (NPR affiliate radio station): "The Beat" hosted by Dave Beck

http://www.seattleweekly.com/music/blogs/reverb/2006/12/here_comes_the_sun_.php

Dec. 19, 2006

For those of you were hankerin' for a live rendition of "All Things Must Pass" but had your hopes crushed when the George Harrison Jam at the Croc was cancelled last month- take heart- tonight is the rescheduled date!

George Harrison Jam with members of the Beatniks + Herding Cats + Alan White

George Harrison was the greatest Beatle. Not to completely ignore the disparate talents of the John, Paul, and Ringo, but I've long felt that without George's centeredness, the band would have been engulfed by its own flaming ego. Harrison was responsible for my personal favorite Beatles tracks "Here Comes the Sun," and "Something". But it was his post-Beatles solo album All Things Must Pass that really made me pro-George. That massive album gave us now-classics "My Sweet Lord," Wha-Wha," and "What Is Life". If you listen to it and don't like what you hear, I don't trust you as a human. Tonight. George will be paid tribute by members the Beatniks and Herding Cats, among others. BRIAN J. BARR. Crocodile Cafe, 8 p.m. $15 adv./$20
- Seattle Weekly

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/296335_tf119.html

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Alan White, the drummer for Yes who played on George Harrison's album, "All Things Must Pass," will join a group of Seattle rock veterans (led by Rick Lovrovich of The Beatniks) for a jam session celebrating the former Beatles' music tonight at 8:30 at the Crocodile Cafe, 2200 Second Ave.

The lineup includes Jon Bolton (Beatniks, Herding Cats), Mike Mattingly (Herding Cats), Johnny Jones and Doug Kilishek. The same musicians headlined the John Lennon Jam last December. Doors open at 8 p.m. Proceeds will go to Northwest Harvest. Tickets: $20 at the door or at ticketweb.com. Information: 206-441-5611 (Crocodile Cafe) or myspace.com/georgeharrisonjam.
- Seattle Post Intelligencer

http://www.bobrivers.com/ontheshow/brsnews.asp?dismode=article&artid=4374&cat=10
(audio link of on air segment can be found here)

December 8, 2005

Elite musicians of the Seattle music scene unite tonight at the Crocodile Cafe for a John Lennon Jam on the 25th anniversary of his death.
The benefit show features special guest artists (including Alan White, legendary drummer for Yes and John Lennon) and is hosted by a specially assembled jam band of Seattle musicians (including Rick Lovrovich of The Beatniks) to perform John Lennon's Beatles and solo music.

Proceeds will benefit Northwest Harvest and the future Seattle stage production of (Just Like) Starting Over. This new play is largely based upon an unpublished interview with John and Yoko granted hours before he was tragically killed. Seattle Public Theater plans to stage the production at the Bathhouse on Green Lake in September 2006.
- KZOK 102.5 FM: The Bob Rivers Show

http://www.piratesofthecaringbeing.com/Pirates/News/A530F9EC-5AAD-4E67-888D-1FBABF34FC90.html

Sep 3, 2006

Thanks to the magnanimous White’s and the solid team of producers of the “John Lennon Jam”, P.I.R.A.T.E.S. were onstage with the Jam Band, Friday night at The Bathhouse on Greenlake.

A tribute to a “Caring Being” master, The John Lennon Jam will benefit the Seattle Public Theater's world premiere of (Just Like) Starting Over, a stage play about the last day in the life of John Lennon. The show runs September 7-17 2006.

If The Jam is a reflection of what’s to come with the play it supports, then you better get your tickets now people!!!

Stop by our Video News Section for a sneak peak of The John Lennon Jam:
http://www.piratesofthecaringbeing.com/Pirates/News/A530F9EC-5AAD-4E67-888D-1FBABF34FC90.html

THE JAM BAND:
The Jam band is fronted by Rick Lovrovich (Beatniks). Other members include Jakael Tristram (Hit Explosion), Jon Bolton (Beatniks, Herding Cats), Mike Mattenly (Herding Cats) and Johnny Jones.

SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCES:
- Alan White, legendary drummer for the mega-band Yes and John Lennon's renowned Imagine album

BEHIND THE SCENES:
Steve Wright, Seattle Public Theater (Producer)
Steve Roseta, Roseta Productions LLC (Co-producer)
Melanie King (Co-producer)

To see samples of Friday nights performance, visit our Video News page. More info can be found at:

http://www.myspace.com/johnlennonjam

Marlowe Brown
P.I. News Editor
- Pirates of the Caring Being

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/pop/251164_lennon08.html
(see last section of article entitled JOHN LENNON JAM)

December 8, 2005

A jam session commemorating Lennon's death will be held tonight at 9 at the Crocodile Cafe in Belltown.

The evening's "jam band" (featuring Lennon's music) will be fronted by singer-bassist Rick Lovrovich of The Beatniks, joined by Jakael Tristram (Hit Explosion), Jon Bolton (Beatniks), Gary Lanz and Johnny Jones.

Guests (performing one to three songs each) include Alan White of Yes (who played in the Plastic Ono Band and backed Lennon on the "Imagine" album), Michael Maker (the Makers), singer-songwriter Kelli Hanson, Jared Clifton and Richard Davidson (Radio Nationals), Travis Bracht (Second Coming), Ron Nine (Love Battery and Down With People) and saxophonist Jim Walls.

Proceeds will benefit Northwest Harvest and the 2006 Seattle Public Theater production of local playwright Steven Roseta's "(Just Like) Starting Over," based on an unpublished interview with Lennon and wife Yoko Ono hours before Lennon was killed.

Tickets: $15 at TicketWeb, the Crocodile Cafe box office or at the door. Information: www.myspace.com/johnlennonjam.
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2006-08-30/music/notable-shows.php

August 30, 2006

Last year's edition of this tribute went over well, so if you still can't get enough of the dearly departed Beatle, here's two encore performances featuring Yes drummer Alan White with members of the Beatniks, Hit Explosion, and Herding Cats. Seattle Public Theatre, 7312 W. Greenlake Dr. N., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. $15 adv./$20
- Seattle Weekly

http://www.thestranger.com/lineout/2006/08/27-week/

Posted August 30, 2006

by HANNAH LEVIN

Yes drummer Alan White is planning on bringing his 1971 Imagine kit (pictured above) to the John Lennon Jam show this Friday, September 1 at the Greenlake Public Theater/Bathouse.
- The Stranger

http://www.daytrippin.com/broadway.htm

By Shelley Germeaux

December 14, 2005

John Lennon was honored in Seattle on the 25th anniversary of his death at the legendary Crocodile Café. Held on December 8, the "John Lennon Jam" was an enthusiastic night of Lennon's music and a celebration that will be long remembered.

Hosted by the Crocodile and Roseta Productions LLC, Seattle rock musicians came together to pay homage to Lennon‚s music, both the Beatles and his solo work. The "Jam" band was fronted by Rick Lovrovich (The Beatniks), and included other members Jakael Tristram (Hit Explosion) Jon Bolton (Beatniks), Gary Lanz and Johnny Jones. Alan White (drummer for Yes, and John Lennon‚s Plastic Ono Band), a resident of this area, made a guest appearance, playing songs he originally recorded with Lennon, such as "Instant Karma", "Imagine", and "Crippled Inside". All the music, from the Beatles earliest songs, to "Starting Over", from his last album, Double Fantasy, was performed so well, you thought it was John himself.

It was an enjoyable and fitting way to spend this otherwise somber anniversary, and no doubt John would have been pleased by the tribute. Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon as well as Julian Lennon have performed at the Crocodile in years past. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Northwest Harvest Charity as well as upcoming production of the play written by Steve Roseta, "(Just Like) Starting Over."

Steve announced the production, a play about John Lennon, which will be staged at the Bathhouse Theater on Greenlake in Seattle, in September of 2006.

I asked Steve how he got the idea for this play. He said, "I purchased the full transcript of the last interview with John Lennon (RKO Radio, with Dave Sholin) for $60 on Ebay, which has never before been published in full. That interview took place a few hours before Lennon was tragically killed, and forms the basis of my play, which is about the last day of John Lennon's life. The John Lennon Jam was an opportunity to get the word out."

"The posters from the event will also be offered on Ebay with autographs of all the musicians from that night, too. The proceeds help fund the production."

According to PRWeb Press release about the play, "It is a dialogue-driven story that will make the audience feel like a fly on the wall inside the Lennons' quarters in New York's Dakota Apartments on December 8, 1980." Subjects the Lennons talk about are releasing Double Fantasy after five years of seclusion, role reversals, and the varied artistic and political stands that the two had forged. John's comments on war, terrorism, religion, race, feminism, and politics are as true today as ever.

For more information about these events, and information about the commemorative poster, go to myspace.com/johnlennonjam, or contact Steve Roseta at 425-445-0718. The eBay bid for the poster starts Wednesday the 14th and runs for one week. The headline is "Signed John Lennon Jam‚ Limited Edition Poster." Ebay Item number: 7572908167


- Daytrippin Magazine