Music and events that happen in Key West as observed by Chris Rehm. "What Happens in Key West Stays in Key West" Wrong! Everyone wants to know what's happening in Key West!
“Dockside Bar” was written on 7/1/2007. I was not living in the Keys at the time, but Cutler Bay, about a half hour north of Key Largo. I would often head to the Keys on the weekend, just for a breath of fresh are, so to speak. It was remarkable as all the weight of the world was suddenly off my shoulders!
On these short trips, I would go to bars such as Alabama Jack's, The Caribbean Club, Smugglers Cove, The Dockside Bar, Sharkey's, Snappers,... which all are on the water, which was an essential objective for what I was looking for.
The idea of just sitting at a local bar, enjoying a cold beer on a lazy afternoon in the Keys, looking out at the water glistening in the sun and watching the goings on, is my idea of heaven. Seriously, what could be better?
The storylines that the song covers is a combination of true stories of things I observed. The first verse is self-explanatory “Bartender, give me another, if you please”.
The second line about the three men working on the dock actually did happen and one did say “ I have a plan, 'cause we're going for broke or we'll die right here”
Squalls do blow in and out, from time to time. Almost always when they blow in, stay for about an hour, after which it returns to a beautiful day.
At another place I was at, a boat pulled up to the dock, surprising friends who were there, they all jumped in and about an hour or so later, returned with a 35 lb. wahoo that the bar cooked up for them.
So the song covers a few bases.
1) It's about The Keys
2) It's about dockside bars
3) It's about going out on the water and fishing
4) It's about day-to-day life for many
5) It's about celebrating life
6) And finally, it transports the listener away from their work, their day-to-day life, their troubles, and whatever anxieties they may have, sitting them on a bar stool in the Florida Keys, watching the water glisten and the goings on that happen in such a marvelous places.... even if it is only for three minutes and fifty-six seconds.
But, more often than not, three minutes and fifty-six seconds is all it really takes to re-charge one's outlook on the day!
SITTING HERE AT THIS DOCKSIDE BAR IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
BARTENDER BRING ME ANOTHER IF YOU PLEASE
2
CEILING FAN SPINNING SLOW CREATES A NICE COOL BREEZE
OPEN AIR'S THE ONLY WAY TO GO DOWN HERE
3
THREE MEN WORKING ON THE DOCK YOU KNOW, ONE SAYS HE'S GOT A PLAN
SAYS HE'LL GO FOR BROKE OR HE'LL DIE RIGHT HERE
NOW A SQUALL'S BLOWING IN, IT'LL ONLY LAST AN HOUR
AND BE BACK SUNNY BEFORE LONG
WE'LL ALL BE HERE JUST COMMISERATING
ABOUT THE FISH THAT GOT AWAY FROM LOU
YOU KNOW IT WAS A WAHOO
4
BILLY JOE PULLS UP ON A BOAT LOADED WITH FISHING GEAR
WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING AS WE HEAD ON OUT OF HERE
5
SO WE'RE HEADING ON 'BOUT THREE MILE OUT, WE GOT TENSION ON THE REEL
IT'S THE MOTHER LOAD AND THIS IS THE REAL DEAL
BRING IT BACK AND THEY'LL COOK OUR CATCH
AND PAY US FOR THE EXTRA TOO
WE'LL ALL BE HERE JUST SUCKING ON A BEER
AND CHEWING ON LOU'S WAHOO
YOU KNOW HE'S GETTIN' IT TATTOOED
6
SITTING HERE AT THIS DOCKSIDE BAR IN THE FLORIDA KEYS
BARTENDER BRING ME ANOTHER IF YOU PLEASE
'CAUSE WE'RE GOING FOR BROKE OR WE'LL DIE RIGHT HERE
WE'RE GAFFED LIKE A FISH WE AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE
'CAUSE WE'RE GOING FOR BROKE AND WE'LL DIE RIGHT HERE
RIGHT HERE
YEAH, WE'RE GOING FOR BROKE OR WE'LL DIE RIGHT HERE.
Today, January 3rd, is my birthday. For me, it's time to take inventory of the last twelve months. It works out well, as both New Year and birthdays are annual milestones. New Year is the celebratory occasion that it doesn't really offer time for reflection. Having my birthday two days later does!
The year 2017 had many good points and some quite disturbing ones at the same time for myself. Welcome to life, as they say!
On the good side of things, Dani Hoy and I, also known as The Shanty Hounds had a very busy year playing all around Key West and The Lower Keys! In addition, we also played house concerts on the west coast of Florida again this year. We're thinking of curtailing those excursions in 2018. We will be playing Music On The Bay in Tampa this year, however.
In addition, the recordings for my album "Jump Into de FiYa!!!!" are progressing. As each song costs about $1,500 - $2,000 to record and produce properly, I'm releasing each song as it's completed. Within the next couple of days the third song, "Dockside Bar" will be released! In the end, there will be ten songs and the cost will be the same to the consumer if they get the songs as they are released, or collectively as an album when the project is completed. My thought is, "Why Wait?". If I release them individually, people can have them immediately as they are completed. via download.
One of the large costs of making an album is the cost of making the CDs themselves. I'm not sure what I'll do here? Today, if you buy a new car, there is no CD player in it. You plug your smartphone in and there's your music library. Likewise, computers don't have them either. On the fun side, CDs are good for selling at live gigs. My friend Misty Loggins often jokes that she's selling CDs as coasters!
Aside from downloads, I have started putting my music on flash drives, in addition to the CDs I still have. We'll see how it goes! I also have another idea for them which I'll announce when it's up and rolling.
Of course, Hurricane Irma presented so many potential disasters for the Florida Keys, and for many parts of Big Pine, Cudjoe, No Name, Little Torch, Summerland, Sugarloaf, Ramrod, Marathon, and as far north as Islamorada, it was. However, for Key West, it was not. Yes, the power was knocked out, as was water. However, we did not get a storm surge or the tornadoes created by the hurricane that the aforementioned islands did.
Unfortunately, the media all reported from the affected islands, saying quite ignorantly “We're in Key West and things are devastated here!” When they were actually 20 – 70 miles north of Key West! Consequently, the majority of the American public think that Key West is in a shambles, when in fact, it's actually just fine.
This has hurt every business in Key West, as so many canceled their vacations to Key West. Their vacations are Key West's lifeblood, as the economy revolves around tourism. To this very day, many across the country think Key West is a pile of rubble and broken dreams.
On the bright side of Hurricane Irma, our house in intact, our foliage has been naturally pruned, so to speak, but it's still there!
Most importantly the good in everyone came out. Neighbors helping neighbors! Readers of this blog know that our friend Danny Lynn of https://www.tikimanradio.com/ invited up to his home just outside of Chattanooga, Tn. to avoid Irma, with he and Heather Moss O'Shields. They put us up for two and a half weeks and wouldn't allow us to pay for anything because “You don't know what you'll be going back to. You may not have a house or any jobs”. This is one example of how on so many different planes the best came out in people from all over. We also had SO many people help us out in so many ways. We got through Irma through the generosity and help of so many. Thank you so much!
Key West is, and has been, open for business!
I started writing my book “Time Traveler – The Oddities and Adventures of a Key West Bartender” on October 12th, 2016. It was released while we were Hurricane Irma refugees in Tennessee. This has been an incredible experience! The reviews have been so encouraging that I wasted no time on starting the sequel. Some of the reviews have been from extremely qualified people in the literary field as well!
At this point, it hasn't been reviewed by any publications, yet it's doing great nonetheless! Because they are in my musical field, just after it's release I approached the two Trop Rock magazines to see what they would think about a Trop Rock songwriter/artist, writing a book as an interesting topic for their readers? In the nineties I wrote for a music magazine, Southeast Performer, reporting from Broward, Miami/Dade and Monroe Counties (Fort Lauderdale – Key West). I would have jumped at the idea of doing a piece on one of the very, very few Nashville published songwriters/performers in my area, stepping out and writing a book on anything, because that's a really cool related diversion from the norm. Additionally, if the people are reading my blogs, posts, and columns, chances are they'd be interested in reading books too. The vast majority of my book sales have been to those who know me through my music.
However, everyone has their own ideas as to what they are looking for in their business. I never had a reply to my query from either publication to date. So we'll look into options for other publications.
Suffice to say, the book writing has been a great addition to writing music! It offers a fresh canvas to work with when the other runs down and visa versa!
Nothing but good things happening here! The biggest issue is having time to invest in music and... three books currently being written!
On a tragic note, in 2017, I watched someone lose their mind. I'm not saying that in jest, or sarcasm either. On March 6th of last year, a man who owns a radio station suddenly had a true meltdown. I had known him for several years and got on with him quite well. He lives in Islamorada, here in the Keys, about 80 miles north of Key West. For well over a year I had wanted him to meet another station owner, who lived out of state. This other individual came to Key West several times and every time I tried to get them together. The one in Islamorada would express interest in meeting, but either would never commit or wouldn't answer his phone on the pre-determined date and time.
Then, on March 6th he posted on his Facebook page the vilest and disgusting diatribe focused at the aforementioned station owner from out of state, whom he never met, bear in mind. In his descriptions of the other station owner, he called him a “Snake” and a “Beast” repeatedly. At the same time, he painted himself to the musicians as their good, knowledgeable shepherd, who would lead them all down the primrose path of success. In other words, as musicians and songwriters, he sees as his sheep who can't do anything on our own. He referred to the other station owner as “dirty”, “sinister”, and “sleazy”. This was all sudden and out of the blue. I put it all in a blog.
Later in the year, everything hit the fan again with him again. Tammy Hollander exposed what he was doing, in attempting to get out of paying for goods he purchased through her husband.
This year I pulled all of my music from Radio A1A. At one point or another, you have to say “enough”. The man was caught dead-to-rights, hands down guilty of knowingly stealing from the songwriters he was playing. Proof in the pudding was that he ran out and got a legal license two days after my blog came out. I can't understand how any other songwriter would associate themselves with them?
You chose your friends and associates based on your values. Because someone owns a radio station, is no exception to your values. If anyone feels they have to cow-tow to someone who knowingly stole from them and considers them mindless sheep wandering about, it's time to stop for a moment and evaluate their own values and ethics.
If you'd like to read the full story, here's the blog:
That was the most tragic part of 2017, after Irma.
On the final note for 2017 was the highest point attainable! A couple of months ago The Shanty Hounds, Dani Hoy and myself, were asked to play The Sunday Ramble on New Year's Eve!
A bit of a personal background on Key West. The first time I came and caught music was St. Patrick's Day, 1980. My friend since grammar school, Kerry “Gonzo” Dwyer and I came down and the funniest thing was that the party went out of Sloppy Joe's across the street to another bar. I don't recall the name of the bar, but it was a solid crowd and it went across the street as though it was one big bar with invisible walls! If anything was very surrealistic, this was it that night. The invisible wall never wavered either!
The band was fantastic that night as well! I recall a band at Sloppies, and I think there was one at the other bar? We also hit Captain Tony's that night and there was a band there as well.
The music I heard that night, as well as all of the subsequent times I traveled to Key West, was exceptional. The overall quality of music was on a different plane than most other places and in my mind, I always held Key West with a very high bar, as far as music went.
The Sunday Ramble is a series that is held several times a year, highlighting the best that Key West has to offer. So, to be invited to play is the highest honor, as a musical artist.
The Ramble has a house band who back up the featured artists and they are second to none.
Starting with ladies first:
Claire Finley – Bass, Robyn Whitehead – B/G Vocals, Michelle Dravis – BG Vocals, Jeff Clark – lead guitar, Ericson Holt – Keyboards, Randy Morrow – Drums, Joe Rahill – Sax. What a lineup!
For us, it was The Shanty Hounds duo, with Dani Hoy and me. We had three songs to do and we picked two of mine, one of Dani's. This worked out very well as the first song, “Yippie Cayo Hueso” is a song I do the lead vocals on. Dani has the b/g vocals and one line she's on solo for emphasis.
The next song was Dani's “I Like It Hot”. This is a song which she sings solo on, naturally featuring her fabulous voice, and also additionally offers a good spot for solos.
The final song was my song, a duet, “Tote The Load”. I wrote this song for my friend Misty Loggins to do the duet with. That has never happened though. Dani stepped up and made it her own! She just nails it every time!
We had a blast! I thank everyone involved in The Sunday Ramble, as well as those who put the suggestion that we were considered.
To be recognized in Key West, both here and in The Key West Songwriter's Festival are the absolute highest honors I could have. Thank you!
Here's our set on New Year's Eve at The Key West Theater at The Sunday Ramble! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
And lastly, my friends and family! Throughout my life, I have always had the very highest quality of friends and family. It didn't matter where I was either! Growing up in New Jersey, moving to Miami, moving to Boston, Back in Miami, or for nearly ten years, here in Key West. All of these places I've always had friends of the highest caliber. I cannot express how grateful I am to have had all of you in my life!
These are people with the same values and ethics. All of my friends have honesty and integrity. It's not something that is talked about, it's something that you sense. The commonality is what bonds friendships. If you have high standards, your best friends will be likewise. Sure, you'll come across people who don't fit your values, and often it's not apparent at first. However, they'll weed themselves out over time.
To all who have been my friend over the decades, I love and appreciate you very much and a very big thank you for sharing your life with me! It's an honor! Plus, I look forward to making new friends in the coming year!
I consider myself to be a very, very lucky and fortunate individual and I have my family and friends to thank for it!
Especially Dani Hoy!!! :-)
2018 is a new page and an unwritten book! The game's afoot! Okay! Let's do a BBQ!!!
One of the things that always impressed me prior to moving to Key West nearly ten years ago, was that the local musicians were of the highest quality. I recall for years when I visited being in awe of how good everyone was!
Growing up outside of NYC, then later living in Boston, I was exposed to the absolute finest that could be found anywhere. I recall visiting Key West on St. Patrick's day 1980. The band playing that night at Sloppy Joe's was fabulous and that set the stage, so to speak, for my impression of music in Key West. Key West could hold it's own.
I moved to Key West in May of 2008. I had a good thing going in Miami before that. In 2000 I was picked up by McClure and Trowbridge Publishing in Nashville! That was a thrill.
I also had a solo/duo acoustic thing, plus I had a five to seven piece electric band from 2000 – 2008.
Moving to Key West was interesting. I didn't know one person here. Trust me, getting gigs isn't easy when you don't know anyone.
In 2010 BMI invited me to play the Key West Songwriter's Festival. This goes back to me being published in Nashville with McClure and Trowbridge, which in 2010 I had been with for ten years.
For those who are unfamiliar, The Key West Songwriters Festival is the largest music festival of it's kind in the entire world. Charlie Bauer and Danielle Strampello Holiday of Smokin' Tuna, handle the Key West end of it, while BMI Nashville takes care of everything else. Last year the festival had something like 230 songwriters in the event.
I am truly honored to have been in the event every year since! Thank you BMI, Thank you McClure and Trowbridge Publishing, and Thank you Smokin' Tuna.
When Dani arrived here four years ago this week, we started gigging together. At first, I'd do my thing, then she's get up and do her's. A friend of ours, David “Reddawg” Solinsky told us “Lets start a band!”. Making a long story short, we did. That was in August of 2014. We called ourselves “The Shanty Hounds” because the house we live in, we call “The Conch Rock Shanty”, plus, we have two whippets, hence, the hounds part of the name.
We've had a great run that is constantly evolving and hopefully, improving! We're having the time of our lives!
We were invited to play a special event, “The Sunday Ramble” for New Year's Eve. This is a great great honor, as they are quite particular as to whom they invite to play the event! In addition to us, there will also be featuring Terry Cassidy, Gary Hempsey, and Terry Wetmore, which indicates the caliber we're talking about!
We'll be doing some of our original songs backed up by The Ramble Band, which consists ofEricson Holt, Jeff Clark, Claire Finley, Robyn Whitehead, Randy Morrow, Michelle Dravis, and Joe Rayhill
These folks are just incredible! We did one rehearsal with them last Wednesday and I can't wait to play with them again!
The event will be held at The Key West Theater, 512 Eaton St. Key West. Doors open at 8 and the event itself runs 9pm – 12:30am.
Dani Hoy and I are so honored and humbled to be recognized and invited to play this incredible event!
Thank you to all who invited us and to those who encouraged for us to be in the event!
And the biggest thanks to all who have supported us, both friends and establishments!!!
So swing by, if you're in town!!! It will be a fabulous New Years!
Happy Merry Christmas From Key West was written in 2015 by Dani Hoy, Bobby DeVito, and Key West Chris Rehm,
Everyone wrote the lyrics for their own verse in the song and likewise sang their own verse.
Chris wrote the chords and melody for the verses and Dani and Chris together wrote the bridge.
The final verse was sung by Dani and Chris together.
The recording was made at The Conch Rock Shanty, on Thomas St in Key West. It was a complete Key West party atmosphere, with a cast of Key West characters including Schmegly and our dogs, Cajun and Tooloulou all whooping it up in the background.
This little ditty is designed to make you feel good, smile, and.... laugh! If you're not here, but love Key West, step into an authentic Key West party, from Key West and soak in the spirit! Have some fun vicariously with us, for a three-minute romp into a typical Key West party in paradise!
The song was recorded and produced by Chris Rehm, Dani Hoy, and Bobby DeVito, Key West.
Mastered by Dan Simpson, Private Ear Studios, Key West.
At $.99 it blows those $5 stores on Duval into the weeds!
To purchase “Happy Merry Christmas From Key West” Click here!!!
Thank you for reading my blog! Please check out my book "Time Traveler - The Oddities and Adventures of a Key West Bartender". Follow Mark Straight's continuing journies and friendships from current Key West, back to historical Key West and elsewhere!
Order paperback or download here! Paperback comes with a free download!
One of the most fascinating pieces of architecture in Key West are the eyebrow houses. There's nothing contemporary about this style and when we look into it in a second, it will become quite apparent as to why.
It is said that there are over one-hundred and thirty eyebrow houses in Key West. Many say the style originated in Key West, and that may very well be so?
Eyebrow houses came about as a quite ingenious type of construction design of the times. Key West sports a warm climate year round, with the summertime temperatures in the high eighties and low nineties (31c – 34c). Even when talking of these temperatures, 93 degrees in Key West feels a lot hotter than 93 degrees in Cape Cod. The biggest reason for this is the power of the tropical sun is stronger. Some may also point out the humidity, however, the humidity is quite similar along the entire eastern seaboard.
Before the advent of air-conditioning, the designers of eyebrow houses came up with the idea of extending the roof, so that it would shade the second-floor windows. The idea being the shaded air would be cooler than the sun-lit air, which would flow through the house through the second-floor windows.
The eyebrow homes in Key West are some of the most unique style of architecture on the island. With over one-hundred and thirty here, randomly scattered, they are easy to come across and appreciate!
Take yourself on a walking tour of Old Town Key West and check out the eyebrow houses you'll stumble across!
Thank you for reading my blog! Please check out my book "Time Traveler - The Oddities and Adventures of a Key West Bartender". Follow Mark Straight's continuing journies and friendships from current Key West, back to historical Key West and elsewhere!
Order paperback or download here! Paperback comes with a free download!
