The Chillmaster, Karma and Bluesco
Some posts are going to be a little out of sync here at TWM, while I spend time looking for a job.Today’s post actually happened last Monday evening, but I had a post scheduled for Tuesday and on Wednesday and Thursday’s I’ve decided to post quickie video posts and then Friday is Happy Hour day, so this got held up till today? Confused? Well, just pretend like this happened last night and all will be in sync.
Okay, it’s been a while since the Chillmaster has made an appearance on TWM...wait a second, The Chillmaster has never been on TWM, it’s time to correct that right now! I got a call from The Chillmaster last week and he told me that his friend, Ron Britt was playing with his band, Bluesco at Karma Bar, which is just about a block from the Chillmaster Lair. He invited myself and told me to tell anyone else who wanted to come along that they are more than welcome. And so it’s off to The Chillmaster’s we go!
Here we are on a familiar path, one I've walked many times. It's a path that ultimately leads to...
The Chillmaster! Check him out in his new, refurbished window! Pretty cool!
Together again! Cheers from myself and the Chillmaster!
Nice to see the legendary Chillmaster table with all its artifacts in place, and there's Gumby...hey, what's he doing?
Looks like Gumby is having a Divinyls moment there!
While one Gumby touches himself, another is chilling the fuck out in the chiller chair.
I love this photo of Obama smoking a blunt, too funny!
Cheers from the Chillmaster, chilling out in the Chillmaster patented chair!
And looking out the window, I see a familiar face...
It's Chillmaster's pretty neighbor, Nikki, who's been at several of the Chillmaster parties in the past.
Chillmaster and Nikki clown around with Gumby.
And gazing out the chill window I spy another familiar face...
It's frequent TWM guest star, Shawn Chittle who's greeted by The Chillmaster.
Okay, time to start chilling the fuck out with a few drinks and then it's off to...
Karma bar to see Chillmaster's friend, Ron Britt's band, Bluesco. I tried to meet Ron when I was doing my MAD blog and was searching for his infamous Free Willie Nelson RV. Sadly the RV caught fire and isn't around the East Village anymore, but Ron still is and I'm looking forward to meeting him and hearing his band.
The bar is crowded and it's smoky in here. Karma is one of the few bars in New York that you can actually smoke in. They got a break, because they were a hookah bar before the non-smoking law went into effect.
There's artwork on the brick walls and Shawn is taking a look at one of the pieces hanging there.
Hookah pipes sit on a wooden shelf opposite the bar.
Here's the bar in the basement, where the band is going to be playing.
Nikki and Shawn are at the bar getting drinks.
And here's Ron with The Chillmaster. Ron gave the Chillmaster and I a tour of Bluesco's rehearsal space which is nearby Karma. The space is known as "The Shop" and dates all the way back to the days of CBGB's. Ron asked that I didn't take pictures, but maybe in the future we can do a post on this place, time will tell.
Chillmaster, Nikki and Shawn settled in to a spot in the corner of this basement space.
After a bit the room is filled and Bluesco takes the stage.
Ron handles the lead vocals and blows a mean harmonica. The band plays disco songs in a unique blues style that produces a sound that you've never heard before.
Nikki is up and dancing after the first few beats.
And soon The Chillmaster and Shawn join in, it's a mobile Chillmaster Dance Party!
Here's Ron walking in the crowd and playing his harp, he's a great showman!
The band is very tight and Ron's vocal styling's are somewhat a cross between Fred Schneider of the B-52s and David Byrne of the Talking Heads.
Nikki and another woman in the crowd are up dancing near the stage.
Get down tonight!
And all too soon the show is over and the stage is empty. It was a great show by Bluesco and I thank the Chillmaster for the invitation and Nikki and Shawn for coming along and hanging out on a wonderful night.
Further Reading and watching: EV Grieve, Reverbnation and YouTube.
I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire,
Don't touch me I'm a real live wire.
Bluesco, Chillmaster, Karma, Ron Britt Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 10:03AM
Reader Comments (21)
Marty, I love the Chillmaster. Now what does he actually do? Or does he just Chill. Nikki is one fine looking woman. Bluesco sound's like a very cool band.
great to see the chillmaster on TWM! looks like an epic night on the town! gumbys going to grow hair on his palms if he keeps that up! lol!
Looks like a great time and a really dark bar,,,,my style. I love basement bars and with live music, even better.
@Danny the Freelancer: What the Chillmaster does is chill the fuck out! He is a professional! Bluesco is a cool band and you should check them out sometime, I think they're going to be playing at Karma most Monday nights.
@Bobby D: An epic night indeed! Too funny about Gumby!
@Al: I thought of you when I walked in, a true dark bar, with smoke no less! And yes, live music makes it even better!
Leave it to Gumby to get all pissy a a great party...he needs to take chillout lessons from the Chillmaster himself!
Nice to see the return of the Chillmaster !
Four square and seven drinks ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created to chill.
@Jaws: Gumby lives and he learns, he's chilling the fuck out right now!
@GENE: He's back and you'll be seeing more of him soon!
@csp: Glad you noticed the surprise link, it cracked me up when I found that!
Who the fuck is Andrew R? And how did he become the mayor of chillville?
@Randall: I have no idea, but he's probably the only one on Foursquare who knows about the Chillmaster!
Just like old times! Glad you & the Chillmaster got together after such a long time. Sorry I couldn't make it -looked like a great night. Next time. I was watching a Joe Brainard film at the Kitchen, & the poet Ron Padgett was a narrator. Beautiful. He was right behind me in the audience too! Those New York School poets!
@MAD .... more Chillmaster will be awesome ! ... I want to go sometime !
@onemorefoldedsunset: Sorry you couldn't make it, but it sounds like you had a great night, good for you! We're planning a barbecue on June 16th, mark your calendar!
@GENE: Maybe we can stop by when you're in town for your birthday!
Look at the Chillmaster with his fancy-schmancy new window casement. Always love the Chillmaster posts :)
@roadsidewonders: It a top notch new fancy window at the Chillmaster Lair! Glad you liked the post!
Shit I'm a little late posting, but better late then never. Been in my darkroom brewing a better homemade developer for my B&W photo paper that I been trying to get lower contrast since I use it in my homemade pinhole cameras, not used to using photo paper as negatives & it's been working but to contrasty .
Anyway Cool Dark Bar ( Allot of Red Light, can process B&W photo paper in there ) & I noticed in one of your pic's of a wall with Hookahs ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah ), funny is that Zioum Zioum sister birthday today, & we went out last night to celebrate at a local Lebanese restaurant that we like & have been there before & the owner gave her a Hookah for her birthday . Looks like You had a Great Time, to bad you didn't do any video of the band.
Cheers
@JHwang: Too funny you had a hookah night too! Good luck with the photos! Cheers.
I'd post something clever here, but I'm too busy chilling the fuck out.
@Biff: Why the fuck not?
I loved this review! yes, bluesco is a wonderful band, ron's a great showman, wonderful musicians! see you mondat at karma:)
@Susan: Thanks glad you enjoyed it! I can't make Karma tonight, but hope to see you there in the future!