Holme Opener - 5/6/06

I arrived around 9:00.  I knew it was crowded before I walked in because I had to park 3 blocks away.  I used my courtesy card a/k/a VIP card at the door.

Nearly all of the famous were there.  It appears the party dragnet had been cast.  There were the boys - Red, Playwright, Star Ledger Mike & his friends.  The Staff - Jen, Ashton, Charlie, Bill, the Annoying Photographer, Pete (xmgr) AJ (Clancys).  The Diehards - Beautiful Barbara, Marissa, Cathy, Marianne, Howie Stein.  The Gueststars - Sean Schulle, Bobby Banderia.  The Family - Mrs. Conner, Aunt Pat, Theresa Sementa, Gail Sementa.  Us - Kathy, Sharon, Charlotte & her husband Mike, Jane & Mike’s relatives Holly & Ricky.  Just to name a few.

It was D’Jais opening day & 1st smoke free day. 

I miss Joel big time.  The consensus seems to be Chris Daughtry looks like Joel.  Kathy thinks we may have the beginnings of a Holme tribute band – Chris Daughtry as Joel & Stanley as Puggy.  Was it coincidence that Holme did Suspicious Minds during Elvis week on Idol?  They have performed the song in the past but not for awhile.  Stanley sang Chris Isaak’s Wicked.   I could see him singing Brian Ferry/Roxy Music.  Holme has also added the Rolling Stones’ The Last Time to their repertoire.  They keep missing the boat on the Stones. They’ve lost sight of the fact that they kick ass on the hardcore stuff (Sympathy & Gimme Shelter) and as such should be doing Monkey Man & the like.  I guess I should just be happy they’re not doing Emotional Rescue (yet). 

Bobby Banderia arrived during their 1st set.  Stardom has been good for him.  He’s never looked so great.  Not even 25 years ago.   He offered to buy me a drink & let me take photos.  He asked where Kathy was & for gum.  I declined his offer.  When his drink came he said it was a big drink & that it had a big straw.  He also said the bar was packed.  I found Kathy.  I knew she’d have gum for him & she did.  She told him she had seen  him with Bon Jovi when they played @ Continental Arena in Dec. & had tried to get his attention but apparently he didn’t see her.  He asked her “Did you try & throw your panties on stage?”  Kathy said he was funny in his usual way.  

Later poor Bobby had to play I’m a Believer and poor Michele had to listen to him play Mustang Sally.

When Harry did Wully Bully Sharon said it was Harry Gone Wild.  Charlie the dj sang My Girl.
Beautiful Barbara pointed out to me that Kip was pulling his pants up the whole night.   The words were not even out of her mouth when I saw him do it!  Barbara brought up Peter Gagen.   Both of our brains were foggy about him.  In the end we thought he was the drummer in Cats.  Someone please correct us if we’re wrong.  By the way, Barbara’s husband’s band Jersey Central will be playing the Columns next Saturday – 5/20.  Camille & I used to see Jersey Central before we ever saw Holme.  

The sax player du jour was a Sopranos look a like.  Steverino must have had a gig with his band Celebration.  How can we bond when he’s only there ½ the time?

Ashton’s now running the food concession @ D’Jais.  He told me all of his ex-girlfriends were vegetarians.  I’m hoping they’ll be some new items on the menu for vegetarian me.  He’s very excited about the menu he’s chosen for Friday afternoon buffet.  I had my favorite D’Jais food – French fries (crinkle) with mustard & ketchup.

Sharon & I left around 12:00.  My left foot was swollen & I was really tired from Susan’s wedding festivities.  She tied the knot on Cinco DeMayo.  I was Maid of Honor.  Kathy & I had contemplated not going to D’Jais because we were so tired.  In the end Kathy was really glad she dragged herself out and I was too.  Sharon & I stopped @ Dunkin Donuts before heading home. I had astrawberry frosted.  Sharon had a variety of kinds.  Lastly, I wanted to update you on Marianne.  She sprained her ankle at Bar-A last month – dancing I assume - and had to use crutches the first couple of days of her vacation. 

Love, M

P.S.  Everyone's been weighing in about how Kip spells his name.  It's 2 p's on the Holme website.  But apparently Kip was a big letter writer 25 yrs ago and signed his letters with only 1 p.  This wouldn't even be an issue if he used his given name!  It's never spelled with 2 s's!

And I assume Sean Schulle played with the band their last set. 

Would You Like Holmefries With That? - 4/8

The weather was horrendous.  Torrential rains.  I had a 75th birthday party to go to for my (deceased) boyfriend’s mother in Toms River before going to see Holme.  My friends had hemmed & hawed over going to Bar-A.  Originally there were plans to celebrate my 50th birthday there but they were nixed.  My sister had thrown a surprise party for me but you know the girl thing - you still go out with your friends to celebrate.  In the end it was me, my sister Kathy & Sharon.  My friend Charlotte went too with 2 of her friends from her neighborhood in Pennsylvania & her sister Jane.  Jane looked marvelous.  I wore a business suit to the party I had to attend.  It seemed like a wise choice.  I only have 1 top, 1 pr of socks, 1 pr of shoes & 1 purse to go with it.  By wearing it I saved a lot of time getting ready to go out.  My friend Marian stole a birthday cupcake balloon from the party.  I wanted it to take with me to the bar.  I left the party early hoping to get to Bar-A by 4:00.

The parking lot was full when I got there.  I parked in the lot on the adjourning property not knowing or caring who owned it & tied the balloon to my purse.  When I opened the door to get out of the car the balloon took off into the sky.  I got drenched for the umpteenth time that day walking from the parking lot to the bar.  At that point I thought I had made a mistake going out.  To my surprise I was the 1st one of my group there.  The band was on break when I arrived.  Holme was playing that day to benefit the Sons of the Shillelagh & their bagpipers were playing when I walked in. 

The 1st person I spoke to was Sementa.  He told me he was working 24/7 @ D’Jais.  Then I went out to the back bar where Pete from D’Jais & Harry Filkin were sitting.  The back bar floor was flooding.  The tarp covering the bar was leaking.  Pete & I were rolling our eyes watching the floor be swept of the water.  We were Sementa thinking.  The topic of the day was Joel. 

The day wasn’t going well for me.  I was melancholy because my boyfriend wasn’t alive to see his mom turn 75, I was in a pants suit, I was soaked, hot, concerned for Joel & sad for Sharon.

So break’s over & the band is playing.  Peter Schulle takes a photo of me & Kathy with his cell phone.  At least I think it was of me & Kathy.  I have no idea why.  A guitarist named Stanley has replaced Joel in the Holme line-up.  I don’t think he’s a permanent replacement, however, he may be playing with them for quite sometime to come.  The whole time we were there we couldn’t figure out whether his name was Stanley or Sammy so I had to ask Kipp.  He told me Stanley does a lot of session work, has been around a long time & is well known locally.  Stanley looks like Puggy.  I thought so right away.  While the band was playing I motioned to Kipp, looked at Stanley & said only one word: “Puggy”.  Kipp cracked up.  Then I motioned that Stanley’s glasses were like Puggy’s rose colored ones & Kipp laughed more.  Before the next song began Kipp said to Frank (over the microphone) “Michele is still the smartest person in the world. She said Stanley looks like Puggy.”  I loved hearing him say it.  I’m going to use that sentence every chance I get.  In fact, Kathy gave me a hard time about my suit.  She thought I looked frumpy & should have changed into jeans in my car.  Right away I told her smart people wear suits!  Anyway Stanley seemed very friendly.

Some new songs!  One of Kathy’s favorites “No Matter What” by Badfinger, The Temptation’s “My Girl” which was sung by Kipp, Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” & Rod Stewart’s “Have I Told You Lately.” 

Peter Schulle’s son Sean played a couple of songs with the band.  He’s HOT and a great guitarist too.  He’s Peter’s younger son.  The older one is 39!

Steve Meyers the saxophone player a/k/a Steverino found my Blog & wrote to me to tell me he was terribly upset he wasn’t mentioned on it.  I wrote him back that there’s basically 2 ways to get me to mention you in the Blog:  1)  You sleep with someone (preferably some I know) 2) You do something outrageous.  He wrote back that it was a good deal and his new goal was to sleep with everyone @ Clancy’s!  From the stage at Bar-A he told us he had slept with 3 maybe 4 women from Clancy’s.  He’s really very funny.

The band went on break again.  Sharon was hanging out with AJ a bartender from Clancy’s.  He’s a 29 yr old cutie.   Sharon & I admired Kathy’s pendant.  It was a rhinestone letter K.  She told us she had found it on a bus.  How lucky is that finding you’re a necklace with your own initial?  I wasn’t dancing.  I wasn’t in the mood.  A woman named Marianne came up to me & told me she reads my Blog and loves me!  The band returned to the stage & Kipp announced it was my birthday and someone else’s whose name I can’t remember (sorry).  The band sang the traditional Happy Birthday song and then went right into the Beatle’s Birthday song.  I was pretty blown away that Kipp had remembered it was my birthday 30 days after Kathy spoke to him about it.  However, did Kipp not notice that the rest of my posse was missing?  Would I be out celebrating my birthday without Susan, Marian, Camille & Donna?  By now you realize Kipp can do no wrong by me.  He’s always saying nice things about me from stage & he really catapulted me out from under my black cloud.  Kip has evolved into my John Lennon.  What I mean is at first you fall for Paul McCartney then later you find that John Lennon is way cooler.  During Birthday Marianne came over & told me I was a star.  She wished me a happy birthday and kissed me about 15 times.  At that point Kathy went to her car to get some of the birthday tee shirts she had made up for me & handed out a few.  It was then I wished I had changed into my jeans in my car and had danced a little.  A short time later Marianne twisted her ankle & sat out the rest of her time there.

I tried really hard to leave without criticizing one of the band’s song choices but failed to do so.  The last thing I did before leaving was to go up to Kipp.  I apologized for what I was going to say to him & then said “Drop the Fleetwood Mac song from your song list!"

A few quick notes….. I just found out that for 30 years I’ve been spelling Kipp’s name wrong.  I think I’ve always spelled it with one P.   I apologize to him & to everyone else.   Be sure to read Pattie Holmefries’ comment posted on March’s Blog Entry.  Also, dig out your old Frank/Kip birthday tee shirts and wear them to this year’s birthday bash – May 15th @ D’Jais.  Thanks for reading.

Love, M.

 

 

Nothing to Write Holme About - 2/23/06

The crowd was thin at Clancy's.  I got there before Sharon.  At break Peter asked where I have been. I reminded him I had recently seen them at Edgar's.  Joel came over to talk.  Bless his heart he tried hard to make small talk.  I told him Sharon should be arriving any minute and he said "You mean my girlfriend?".  He told me he and Sharon gone to see Alexis sing the night before.  Sharon walked in and the hug & kiss fest began.  Frank was standing near us and he likened them to Kip & Camille in the old days.  I corrected the record and told him Kip & Camille were never like that.  Frank then got his drink & toasted Joel & Sharon with "To Young Love".   Quite a few familiar faces were there including Pete (D'Jais).  Very noticeably missing was the annoying photographer.  I finally got to see Charlie Brown's friend.  I didn't see what the bruhaha was about.  The song list was handwritten, not typed like it usually is.  Brass in Pocket is still my favorite and a crowd favorite.  After it Kip sang Cruel to Be Kind.  Like they say on Idol, he owned it.  Harry now does Secret Agent Man.  Peter invited me to sing in his microphone during Run Around Sue.  Sharon & I really cracked up at this.  People would have fled the bar if I did, although I might have on a Stones song.  I Got Your Number (written on the back of my hand) played during break.  It brought back a ton of memories. I left early.  Before I did I ran into Sementa again.  He was wearing a BRIGHT green tee shirt.  I reminded him how years & years ago he said he could not wear green because of the tint of his skin (and he never did wear it).  He laughed.  It reminded me of the skin cream he used to use on his face.  One of the reasons this entry is so late is because I tried & tried to remember the name of it but couldn't.  I bought it for him once in Macy's Herald Square.  It was expensive & I think it was Swiss.        After I was gone Peter asked Sharon why I left.  Sharon told him it was a school night.  He asked if I worked.  So either I look wealthy or he thinks I make money writing this Blog.  I got home at 1:00.  It was fairly early so I stayed up & watched the eliminations on American Idol.  I then go suckered into watching Skating with Celebrities.  Poor Susan (Rutkowski).  We went ice skating days later.  She fell & broke her elbow & fractured a bone in her arm.  *Thanks for the Joel well wishes.  He's fine & back in the saddle again* 

 

Joel & Alexis News - 2 B Titled Later - 1/28/06

Edgar’s – Sea Girt or Manasquan?  We debated it with Bill our cab driver.  I’d never been but Camille remembered being there to see the Intoxicados with Kathy Moore.  It was extremely crowded.  There was only 1 bar.  Sharon knew what to expect but the rest of us were extremely disappointed that is until Kathy maneuvered us to the other side of the room and the drinks kicked in.

Some of the band looked high.  Billy cut his hair.  Tommy the horn player was back.  He may never have left but I hadn’t seen him play with Holme for awhile.  Joel looked angry.

We were celebrating Camille’s birthday and we were out to have a really good time.  Sharon was dressed like a biker chick in a “I ♥ Rock N’ Roll guinea tee & leather vest, Kathy wore her very sparkly Aerosmith logo long sleeve tee, I was dressed like Kip – white school blouse (rhinestone buttons) black velvet pants & Camille wore a low cut brown lace top (against her better judgment).  It was the first time Camille exposed her boobs to us or the public since we’ve known her and I’m talking back to 2nd grade!

No one but me knew it was Donna Rocco night at Edgars.  An ex, an almost & a could have been were there.  Also making an appearance that night were Marissa & her friend Kathy, Joe & Sarah Lepis, Pete (a former manager of D’Jais & Hunka Bunka), the Annoying Photographer,Theresa & Alexis.

Alexis looked and sounded the best we’ve seen her.  I’ve heard she is going to appear in a Starburst commercial to be aired during the MTV Movie Awards.  Harry was more animated this time when he sang Pump It Up.  Joel lost his angry look after hooking up with Sharon during break but was mean to Billy & me & god knows who else.  He had been drinking.  Frank ended the night with a fabulous drum solo of Rock & Roll.   He played his blue drums which I guess are his on the road drums.  Kip commented on the high heels Camille was wearing only he didn’t realize she wasn’t – she was wearing cowboy boots.  I stole one of Billy’s guitar picks at the end of the night.

I emailed Kip via Holmeband.com to tell him they should only be playing 2+ bar bars, not these smaller clubs.  Does anyone know if any of the clubs they used to play still exist?  Or can you suggest a club for them to play?  I know Kip & Frank would be interested in hearing about them – old & new.  While waiting for our cab in the parking lot Kip came over & guessed that Camille was 43.  That made Camille happy – she’s 47.

Bill sent another cab company to pick us up.  On the way back we stopped at the Princess Maria Diner.   It’s the law in NJ - you must stop to eat if you’ve been clubbing & drinking.    Bill our regular driver came by while we were eating to check on us.  When asked how he knew we were there he said he thought he’d find the princesses inside the Princess Diner.   The diner had good coffee.

We got back to the hotel around 3:00 & were getting ready for bed when Camille & I got a call from Kathy.  She called to tell us the people in the room next to hers were watching porn & she could hear every word clearly.  I promptly instructed Camille to call the front desk to let them know they had mixed up Kathy’s & Sharon’s rooms.  Camille reminded Kathy that she had an end room and therefore the porn was coming from somewhere else.  Kathy then realized it was coming from her TV.  The TV was turned off; the radio had obviously been set to porn on a timer.  It was so funny and a great joke even more so that it happened to Kathy!

Joel underwent a surgical procedure today so please keep him in your thoughts.  He reads this Blog so you can send him a message by leaving a Comment.

Holme Theatre - 1/12/06

Before I recount my latest Holme sighting I have to tell you I received the greatest surprise a week a so ago – an email from Danny Gralick!  Just when I think this Blog has gone stale something exciting happens.  Danny read my Blog and responded to my last entry.  He wrote:  “Wadaya mean, oh Puggy?  What about MEEEEEE?  Don’t you miss me?”

He’s married to a woman named Ellen and is currently engineering & producing a Southside Johnny album with LaBamba’s big band.  On top of that he’s used Alexis in his work.  I told him there appears far less than 6 degrees of separation in this world and to be sure to email me if he even thinks about showing up one night.

 

I decided to go to Clancy’s in as much as I hadn’t seen Alexis since the summer & the Asbury Park Press would also be there.  Kathy K, Camille & I always took newspaper articles written about Holme and turned the wording around to goof on the band.  We called our little faux newspaper The Aquagian after the music newspaper The Aquarian & the band’s slang for gays “quagans”.  I thought the Press’ article might be fodder for us to recreate The Aquagian.  The car I parked next to had the swellest license plate “Luckytwn”.  I hoped it would be for me.  This time I took noteof all of thestores in the strip mall.  Luigis was the pizza joint. There was also a hair & nail salon, an NFL store, a Radio Shack, Subway, UPS & Curves.  A Burger King is next door and there’s a BP gas station across the street.  Could you ask for more?  I had forgotten to tell you there is Sushi bar inside Clancys in between the stage and Chard’s sound system.  Above the sound system is a touch tunes jukebox on the wall.  I couldn’t believe someone even took the fun out of that machine.  No pages to flip and no buttons to press.  Ugh.

New songs added to the list:  Maybeline – Harry.  (Their poor kids on long car rides!)  Cruel to Be Kind (yeah) & Pump It Up – Harry (finally!) Harry still has to master the words and hopefully once he does that – the moves.  They’re also doing Jumpin’ Jack Flash and sharing the verses.  1) Kip 2) Billy 3) Joel and 4) Peter.  It’s too bad Frank hasn’t taken the chance to be front man.  He likes to sing.  Since I know him he’s always sang to me.  Old songs and Broadway tunes like Getting to Know You and if you remember he always sang while playing I Love You More Today than Yesterday.  As you know lately I’ve been mesmerized by Kip’s playing and I have to say he looks 10 years younger to me particularly when he’s playing a Stones song.  I only stayed 2 sets.  There were 2 young guys constantly jumping on and off the stage filming them for what Kip deemed aHolme reality show (could you imagine?)  They were sticking the camera up next to their faces and into the crowd.  I have no clue why they couldn’t use a zoom lens or tape the band during practice.  God knows the photos I post aren’t good but I’m using a regular camera and most of my photos have been taken when we’ve been drunk.   It was too annoying to bear so most of the night I watched snowboarding that was playing on the TV above the bar.  TV’s in the bars are another pet peeve of mine.  You want to watch sports or news you stay home.  Frank Sementa snowboards.  Maybe not since he busted his ankle though.  I’ve always wanted to skateboard but just never tried it.  I did not speak to any of the band that night.  Alexis was a no show.  I heard she was sick.  I have no clue whether the Asbury Park Press showed or whether an article was printed about The Holme phenomena (Kip’s word).  I hope they write about what Holme means to us.  We finally have a place to go where people are our age, where we have reconnected with old friends and our innerselves.  Where you can be overweight and not feel out of place.   Where you know the words to the songs.  Where you don’t feel funny dancing even though you haven’t learned any new moves since the 80’s.  And why no one can really put their finger on why you feel so happy and carefree seeing them.  That’s the true Holme phenomen. It’s notreally about a band reuniting and drawing the same crowds they did 25 yrs ago.  Superstar rock bands do that all the time.

Next stop Edgar’s.  Girls night out birthday bash for Camille.  Camster, Sharon & rare appearance by Kathy K.  I’ve also received word that Marissa and beautiful Barbara will be there.

I also heard they're doing GSP Boogie @ D.a.r.e. event so start practicing the words.

Note to MaggieMaisey76:

You’re right, entries have not been up to par lately.

Clancy’s Christmas time photos still in camera.

I always include friends, old faces and musicians on the scene.

For Sharon ♥ Joel update come see for yourself on Saturday.

Before I partake in too much party juice Saturday I will try to get an update on that “secret” I mentioned months ago.  It may be there has been a change in plan.

Transmission went on car.  Car has been replaced.

Sorry Connie’s girl had a conniption.   To me your inquiries meant you were really following my saga.

HO HO HOLME - 12/22/05

I felt like a kid on Christmas morning.  I was given a roomy 2006 model car with sunroof by the rental company and the first place I headed was to see Holme at Clancy’s.  I arrived a little late.  Sharon was already there and had made friends with Barbara, a very beautiful woman who reads this Blog and who cooked and cleaned for Frank & Kip years ago.  Barbara recognized Sharon from her photo.  I came wearing this year’s Santa hat – red glitter.  I brought live mistletoe with me that I had purchased @ Woolworth’s years ago (sticker still on wrapping & still alive).  I also wore a belt with a battery operated lighted ticker tape like buckle which I programmed to read “Holme for the Holiday”.  The S had been left off because I purchased the belt the day before and had not yet learned how to program it.  It took at least 10 tries just to get it to say that.  I wore the belt backwards with the buckle over my rear-end.   It was a hit but more about it later.

Clancy’s is the ideal bar for multi-taskers.  It is located in a strip mall.  There is a laundromat next to it.  At some point I just know I will do my laundry while seeing Holme.  There is also a pizza joint & a Krausers.  Both close early but you can grab something to eat & load up on gum & condoms beforehand.  It is also one of those bars with a liquor store attached with entry through the bar so you always have the opportunity of purchasing package goods and continuing your party afterwards at home.  Clancy’s also serves food and there are booths for eating or private moments.  It’s tight inside with only enough space for 3 couples to dance.  The stage butts up against the bar in one corner so you cannot completely circle the bar or pass in front of the band.

The lineup was different at Clancy’s probably for technical reasons.  From left to right it was Billy, Harry, Kip, Joel & Peter with Frank in back.  Actually it was backwards.  Frank was using a different drum set – his blue one.

Sharon & I stood with Barbara on Peter’s side.  Sharon had purchased rhinestone letters to spell HO HO HO (as in Santa’s laugh not his thought) which she wore on a black strap around her neck.  It was a great necklace. To set the mood Holme handed out Santa hats, Reindeer Antler headbands and Christmas tree hats to the crowd.  The Christmas tree ones were the most popular.  The only band member to wear a hat was Peter,a Christmas tree.  Kip said his head was too big for a hat and someone said Billy’s head was huge.  These comments got our attention!

The band sang 4 Christmas songs:

Blue Christmas – Harry

Jingle Bell Rock

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree – Kip

Run, Run, Rudolph – Harry

There is a small TV screen on the wall behind the band.  I think Clancy’s should play the “Yule Log” on the screen during the holidays.  D’Jais should too on their Christmas theme night.

Honky Tonk Women has been added to the songlist.  As a way back Stones freak I was thrilled but wish they’d chosen a less mainstream tune like Monkey Man or Its Only Rock & Roll.

Speaking of Stones tunes it is a pleasure watching Kip play.  To think he was the holdback in reuniting the band (because he thought his playing was not what it had been).  When he plays Gimme Shelter you can see how into playing he is and he plays so seriously!  He played so hard he put his foot up on the bar presumably to steady himself.  They’re also now doing “Tired of Towing the Line” – an old Kip favorite which sounds like it was written for him.

Back to the belt… remember I was wearing it backwards…. I had taken a few photos during the night and Peter took my camera and photographed my buckle and my fat rear-end.  Chard said the funniest thing to me at the end of the night.  He came up behind me and said “I see your landing lights are on”.  Sharon & I were cracking up.

I recently received an email from Howie Stein telling me he is alive and well and has been to see the current Holme.  So now it’s just Debbie French, Maureen Maureen, Kathy Moore, Geralyn Guerra & Phyllis Fox who haven’t been.  Oh yeah, and Puggy.

Happy New Year.  Love, M.

Holme for the Holidays

Hey Guys

I rented a car so it's Holme for Holidays for me tonight.     Holme's Christmas party is at Clancys tonight.   It's time to get into the real holiday spirit.   So dig out your Santa hats,  jingle bells and red sweaters.  Give yourself a break from shopping, wrapping & cooking.   Instead of watching It's a Wonderful Life, let's LIVE a wonderful life!  The weather is right so get in your sleighs and head on down to Neptune to sing along with Holme to Christmas favorites like Jingle Bell Rock.   I really, really hope you'll come tonight.  In any event, you'll be Holme for Christmas if only in my dreams.   Love, M