Holme Sweet Holme - 7/18

They were still restocking the bar from Camille’s visit when Kathy & I got to D’Jais.
It was Family Night for Holme.  Joel’s daughter, Alexis, Peter Schuelle’s son, Frank Sementa’s mom, Kip’s wife, Mr. & Mrs. Joe Lepis & the Koslow sisters were in attendance.  
Banderia was a no show, but YES, Joe Lepis was in the house!   So his membership in the Holme Fan Club is secure again.
The band started extremely late.  A new guy, Tommy, played horn.  The first set was just lounge music until they played Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds”.  Then the tempo picked up and people got into it.
Alexis sang Linda Rondstadt’s “Just One Look” and later sang on “Gimme Shelter”.  She was great and sang so intensely on GS that when she screamed/sang "Rape! Murder!" you almost expected to see Belmar police bust through the door.
Joel told the audience that Danny Gralick was living in NYC & doing quite well & had threatened to show up one night.  Pete has taken over the keyboard slot quite nicely.  He did the dreaded “Great Balls of Fire” and impressed everyone by playing keyboard with his toes.  I wish he’d pick up more of the type of tunes Danny did like Sweet Jane.  There was talk among the masses the band is stuck in a time warp while their audience wants to hear some current stuff.  This Holme band rocks when they flex their muscles and go outside the box.   These guys are extremely talented and are playing better now then they did 25 yrs. Ago.!
I thought there were approx. 300 people there but Joe Lepis guessed 230.

There were quite a few dancing & Kip go so excited he busted his strap (his guitar strap).  He also got so sweaty he put his shirt in the dryer during break.
Sementa did not speak one word to me.  He did, however, give me a kiss on the cheek.
Joel instituted a “no cha-cha” in front of him rule.

Billy did a great rendition of Roadhouse Blues.
I am starting to wish Cats (with Glen Burtnik) were playing down the block.