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!
Some of my songs, such as Liveaboard, Sailing, Garrison Bight, Life On My Terms, Dockside Bar, Yeah, A Harbor, Yesterday Today and Tomorrow, Wahoo Sunrise, to name a few, are songs of mine about being out on the water. Be it sailing, fishing, living, hanging out in a bar dockside, it all revolves around the lifestyle of being in and around the water.
I've always lived in close proximity to the water. There's just no way I could live in a place like, say Kansas for an extended period of time. I've always loved being by the sea.
For the last ten years, I've lived on an island which is well over one-hundred miles out to sea, Key West. I try to get out on the water whenever I can! After all, that's what Key West IS! There is nothing like being out on the water!
It amazes me that so many people come here and don't get out on the water! I have a friend who bought a house here and over several years of coming here as a vacation, then several more as a homeowner, never got out on the water! Once she did she said, “How did I not do this before?”. She's addicted to it now!
A sunset sail in Key West lasts about two hours...
We are very fortunate and have been out on boats of friends of ours many times over the years. Yesterday we were out with our friends Tadd and Lindsay, aboard their 48' Catamaran, Makara! Thank you Tadd and Lindsay! Makara is available for charter! Contact them for April availability! The boat will be leaving until December, however, you can certainly book in advance!
There was a strong thirteen-knot wind with gusts to twenty. The seas were rough and the water was the most amazing shade of green.... Here it is! ENJOY vicariously!
It's no wonder the sea inspires such inspiration for so much of my music!
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!
What is “This is Key West Calling” anyway? “This Is Key West Calling” is an MOTM week event, focusing on live radio with live music performances and interviews with Trop Rock artists.
The event itself will run on MOTM week, Sunday, November 4th, 2018 from 11 am to 4 pm at Sunset Tiki here in Key West. The main purpose of this is to encourage the growth of the Trop Rock music genre. That is the goal first and foremost. Having a lot of fun is the modus-oparendi of making it happen!!!
How will this be done? To start with, we currently have six Trop Rock radio stations working together, broadcasting the event on each of their stations, live simultaneously. Additionally, Digital Publishing will be running a live video stream! To our knowledge, there have never been six radio stations working together on the same broadcast. Because of this, we will have several press releases throughout the year prior to the event.
The idea came about, interestingly enough, through of all things, the beer industry! In 1980 there were about 200 breweries in the United States. Today there are over 6000, the vast majority of which came about in the last ten years. As a beer enthusiast for over four decades and a bar owner, I saw that the new micro-brew/craft was approaching their industry in both A ) doing something they were completely unconscious of and B ) doing a marketing strategy that was entirely revolutionary.
What was happening was the reps from say three different breweries, let's call them 1, 2, and 3, would meet at a bar and start talking about their favorite beers. Then, by happenstance and the typical atmosphere in bars in general, they would start talking beer with the other patrons of the bar. Next thing you know, the rep from brewery 1 is telling the patrons what a fabulous beer brewery 3 has, while brewery 2 rep is telling someone else what a great beer brewery 1 has. This wasn't by design. This was just the enthusiasm and passion they had for the product itself. This wasn't Bud and Miller beating themselves over the head. This was an industry working together and what it did was raise the industry as a whole. The consumer loved the product and the attitude. The result has been remarkable!
With that in mind, the event “This Is Key West Calling” a similar approach, is being taken. In this case, it's Trop Rock radio stations all working together in the spirit of growth of the Trop Rock genre.
We currently have six Trop Rock stations on board who will be carrying the event live, along with the live video feed from Digital Publishing! The Shore Radio will also have a video feed, possibly tied in with Digital Publishing. Stations that can't be there will broadcast the feed live! In addition, there will be several other stations/shows that will be associate endorsers who cannot broadcast the event live, however, they will be backing “This Is Key West Calling” with interviews leading up to the event, as well as re-broadcasting interviews and performances in the weeks and months following the event.
Thus far, the format has not entirely been settled on. We would like to have known Trop Rock musical acts and possibly up and comings. However, the latter has yet to be decided, as we hope to have interviews as well. At this point, we haven't reached out to the Trop Rock musical artist community. Having said that, it's a marvelous opportunity for any artist to play! They would be broadcast on not one, but six stations live! Plus, interviews leading up to the event, and subsequent re-broadcasts on both the six stations carrying the event and the associate endorsing stations, not forgetting the Digital Publishing video! It's a marvelous opportunity!
The stations on board at this time are Tiki Man Radio, Radio Trop Rock, 104.9 The X, The Shore, The Tiki Pod Radio, and Beach Bar Radio.
Associate Endorsing stations/shows are Island Time Radio, Songwriters Island, and Beachfront Radio!
The choice of stations has been easy. The thing about Trop Rock is that the entire attitude promotes good tidings and a positive outlook on life, which all of the above do exceptionally well! If I have missed a station that fits into this category, please let me know! We'd be happy to have them aboard!
Mind you, we don't want a station who plays poorly recorded material, or gives the genre a black eye from time to time. However, as I say, any station who falls into the true Trop Rock ethics, quality music, and a beach attitude, we'd love to have them join us!
Time and Location:
“This Is Key West Calling” will be held at the stunning Sunset Tiki Bar at The Galleon Resort 619 Front St. The event will be held on Sunday, November 4th, 2018 from 11 am – 4 pm.
The first press release for “This Is Key West Calling” is expected in early April. Updates will be posted on Facebook as well as here.
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!
Key West Chris Rehm is the epitome of the town which he so obviously loves and knows so well. Rehm is also a published songwriter and singer of songs.
On any given day or evening he can be seen somewhere around Key West performing with his partner singer-songwriter Dani Hoy in their band The Shanty Hounds, in addition to being an author and a bar owner. Moreover, his knowledge and love of his tropical island village are significant highlights of this highly entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking book.
As a friend, I am doubly surprised to feel that I am reading the work of a classic author and not someone I know so well. However, that is Chris's talent.
The characters are alluring and well-developed -- one gets to feel like Mark Straight, Glades, and Blackheart are friends that one has known for years.
The descriptions and informative narrative asides paint such vividly detailed and enlightening pictures that one is transported to the many street scenes, clubs, and sights of Key West past and present. There is a strong sense of the effects of the passage of time and readers will wistfully imagine the lives of the hamlet's previous inhabitants while being curious as to where the protagonist will end up next. Where does it all lead? Who is this Arthur character and why does he know so much about time travel? How will Mark manage his temporally-challenged relationship with Glades? Rehm even draws Hemmingway into the story in such a way that one can feel the man's presence.
As educational as it is entertaining, Time Traveler is a compelling read for anyone who is curious about,plus, has a love for or a history with Key West.
This is a funny song in several ways, some funny as in a joke, and also funny as being different. To begin with, it has two titles. The first title was “Willie Nelson”. The second title was “Back In Texas, Back In Luck”. To this day I'll use either!
I wrote the song immediately after Willie's bus was pulled over on I – 10, just outside of Lafayette, Louisiana in 2006 and everyone on the bus was taken in. This was the first of several times this has happened to Willie.
Notes on the song:
Bio-Diesel in the first verse refers to Willie's involvement in Bio-Diesel fuel. Because of this, he obviously runs his tour bus on it and the first line of the song says “Bio-Diesel she's a-hummin'”
Luck: Luck refers to the town Luck, Texas where Willie lives and was heading back to when they were pulled over. I had a lot of fun with this in the lyrical content of the song.
In writing the song, I made a concentrated effort to write it in one of many of Willie's styles. This being a ballad, it's more along the lines of a cerebral style chord progression and melody that Willie is known for. Having said that, while it's influenced and attempted to be in his style, the chord progression and melody were not taken from any of his songs, nor were any of the lyrics.
This song is a salute to an American treasure and icon. While it has tong-in-cheek subtle humor within it, the song is a tribute to a very special individual who has given his art to all of us for close to 60 years. I love Willie Nelson!
Back in Texas, Back in Luck/Willie Nelson
1
I - 10 BIO-DIESEL SHE'S A-HUMMIN'
ROLL ACROSS THAT STATE OF LOUISIANNA
TOUR BUS, SHE'S A-ROLLIN', FARM AID, SHE'S A-COMMIN'
IN JUST ABOUT TWO WEEKS TIME
2
OUTA LUCK, BUT HEADIN' BACK HOME
COMMERCIAL CHECK ON A LATE SUMMER DAY
LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANNA
LOOKS LIKE WE COULD BE HERE TO STAY
(coda)
THEY SAID IT WAS BURNIN' NOW THE WHEELS, THEY'RE NOT TURNIN'
AND I STARTED TO YEARN FOR THAT SWEET TEXAS SAGE
DIESEL'S SHUT DOWN AND WE'VE ALL GOTTEN OUT
THE RIDE IS OVER TODAY
3
SOMEHOW THEY LET US GO WITH LITTLE MORE THAN A WARNING
BACK ON THE ROAD LATER THAT DAY
NOW IT'S OVER AND ALL BUT FORGOTTEN
BACK IN TEXAS, BACK IN LUCK
(coda)
THEY SAID IT WAS BURNIN' NOW THE WHEELS, THEY'RE NOT TURNIN'
AND I STARTED TO PINE FOR THAT SWEET TEXAS SAGE
DIESEL'S BACK RUNNING AND WE'RE ALL HEADED ON
WE'RE BACK IN TEXAS, BACK IN LUCK
WE'RE BACK IN TEXAS, BACK IN LUCK
WE'RE BACK IN TEXAS, BACK IN LUCK
9/19/2006 by Christopher Rehm - BMI
Here's a video of the song made when I first moved to Key West in 2008. Interestingly enough, it was recorded on July 4, 2008. Fitting, as Willie is a true American treasure!
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!
Have you ever read a book that you would force yourself to put down sometimes because you didn't want it to end ? This is THAT book !! This story sucked me in and I couldn't wait to get back to it so that I could discover what was going to happen next . Chris Rehm writes this so well you are able to feel as if you are standing right there in the story with these characters, seeing what they are seeing and sharing their experiences with them. My only hope is this becomes a series so this fun journey can continue
The Shanty Hounds very seldom uses a set list. When we do it's for an organized event, such as The Ramble that we had the honor of playing on New Year's Eve, here in Key West. In that event, we played with the incredible Ramble Band and had rehearsed our songs prior to the event. There it was necessary to have a set list.
With The Shanty Hounds in our normal situations, we have other avenues and other options. We're not canned. To get the ball rolling we have two or three specific songs that we'll almost always start with as an opening number. Think of it as the primer to jump-start the gig. The songs are very different, so while we set up the sound system, we're also getting a feel for the vibe of the place and crowd. One day we'll start with one, tomorrow it may be another.
This isn't something overly intellectual and it's not something we spend time on. There's really no science to it all. It's just plain old seat of the pants.
These opening songs have a kick to them, albeit as aforementioned, completely different styles and moods. The point here is, a band/performer needs to alert the crowd, particularly in a bar, that there's live music starting. After all, the establishment is paying for live music and the introduction song is what states that. At the same time, it's vitally important to be able to augment the atmosphere that already exists, not attempting to change it. Start off in a bar with the wrong atmosphere and by the end of the song people are calling for their checks. You don't want that!
Playing in bars is very different than playing at events, or house concerts. At those events and house concerts, you're playing for people who are there to hear the music. In bars, it's an option. The people can either listen to the music or shoot the breeze with their friends.
A vital note to musicians playing in bars:
Being a musician in a bar, you are hired for one purpose and one purpose only. Your job is a beer/wine/liquor/and food salesperson. That's your job and purpose in the eyes of those who are paying you. In a bar, that's your job. The establishment isn't paying you for your talent, per say, they are paying you to sell their product via attracting and holding a crowd. NEVER forget this.
So, falling into the vibe of the place is essential for the first song. As I say, we don't use a set list. We continue pulling songs off of our song list that fit the vibe of the crowd.
We are very fortunate in that our repertoire is extremely diversified. We play songs by Elton John, The Allman Brothers, Joni Mitchell, The Drifters, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Neville Brothers, The Stones, Kenny Chesney, Otis Reading, The Eagles, T-Bone Walker, Carly Simon, Jimmy Buffett, Little Feat... plus more, in addition to our original Trop Rock music scattered within the mix, which are likewise quite diverse from each other.
So, we have a lot of different alleys to go down. Consequently, every gig is different from the last.
We're not canned.
In our view, live music is a living organism and every performance is its own entity unto itself.
It's alive!
I recall reading an interview with Larry Coryell. For those not familiar with Larry Coryell, Larry has been both a session guitarist, as well as a marvelous artist in his own right. You've heard him on a million recordings of others, but he was the session guitarist. In the interview, Larry was talking about being asked to play on a Steely Dan tour, which would be his first time playing with them in something like twenty years. He was talking about one of the songs he recorded with them years earlier and he asked if they wanted him to play the exact same solo he did on the recording, or if he could just go with what hit him at the moment.
At the moment is what the Shanty Hounds do. Like Larry Coryell's question regarding his solo, every solo I do is different. A solo in a particular song will have elements of a theme, however, every solo is different. Have you ever heard Jerry Garcia, Chic Corea, Dickey Betts, Kieth Jarrett, Warren Haynes, Miles Davis, Derek Trucks play the same exact solo note for note? Of course not. Their music is a living organism.
I recall friends who are big fans of one well-known performer and followed his tour, said every single concert was exactly the same. The first show was exciting, but after that is was akin to hearing the same joke over and over. It was a canned concert.
I recall going to a concert that I felt was just a waste of time. On the way out there were a couple of guys behind me in the packed queue. One said to the other "That was just fantastic! It was just like the record!". I was astonished and turned around and said "That's why it sucked. If I wanted to hear the record I would have stayed home and not spent the $$$ to come, or the time driving back and forth. I was looking for something unique and this was just like canned laughter on a sitcom. It was fake, with no integrity whatsoever." The couple looked at me with a very puzzled look, however, I think I planted a seed.
With the Shanty Hounds, Dani and I have tablets on our mic stands. Predominantly what we're looking at is our song list. As I say, it's all seat of the pants. What we're assessing is what next song fits the gig. The live gig is that living organism. Does it work all the time? No. but that's the beauty and lessons learned. Yes, we're walking the high wire. Most of the time we ace it, to one degree or another. However, when we fall, inevitably we..... laugh! Because we laugh, nine times out of ten..... the crowd laughs along with us! Why? Well, one reason is that we laugh easily and our gigs are very light-hearted. The other reason is that the crowd is an integral part of our live gigs!
And no, The Shanty Hounds don't have a set list. Our gigs are a living being unto themselves.
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!
Have you ever read a book that you would force yourself to put down sometimes because you didn't want it to end ? This is THAT book !! This story sucked me in and I couldn't wait to get back to it so that I could discover what was going to happen next . Chris Rehm writes this so well you are able to feel as if you are standing right there in the story with these characters, seeing what they are seeing and sharing their experiences with them. My only hope is this becomes a series so this fun journey can continue
Sometimes the simplest things are the most rewarding.
A few days ago I heard from a friend whom I have always thought of as one of the absolute top Trop Rock fans in the country, if not the world. As a fan, we're talking about an icon. He's very active in his club and attends many Trop Rock events throughout the country all year.
I've always looked to him as a barometer for what the crowd's perspective is on events, artists, and so forth. I didn't have to ask him, I'd just read his Facebook posts and that filled me in. He unknowingly gave a pretty good pulse reading for me in that regard! Plus, we always manage to hook up at MOTM between one and three times, depending on my schedule. HA! HA! HA!
So, a few days ago I got a Facebook message from him. Imagine my surprise when I read this:
“Hey Chris I just wanted to say that of all the Trop Rock singers, you are still my favorite of all times!”
Frankly, I was completely floored. I really was speechless and choked up at the same time. I was at a loss for words for a couple of minutes. How do I respond to that? I was completely both floored and flattered.
Gulp.
I'll leave his name out of it, but this is just my way to say “THANK YOU!!!”
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!
There was a time where I lived in an inhospitable climate. I had originally moved to Florida when I was 20. I lived here for several years, then I moved to Boston. Boston was great... for six months of the year... I lived there for a bunch of years, always longing to be back in a climate where I could BBQ year round and wear a t-shirt all the time. Finally, I moved back to Miami/Dade. I had that opportunity/capability and I made it happen. Not everyone does. Family, career, obligations all can get in the way. I was very, very fortunate.
Since I had the ability to be on the internet I would post pictures of the general area I lived in. I had friends on first, MySpace, then Facebook, all around the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe.
Back when I was in Boston, in the middle of January, If I'd see a picture of a tropical scene, it gave me that breath of fresh air I needed to go out and dig my car out of the snow. It showed me there was light at the end of the “Long Gray Tunnel” of winter. MySpace and later, Facebook, gave me that opportunity to give that breath of fresh air to my friends.
Doing it also garnered responses which brought comments such as “Oh! You're just throwing it in our faces!” or “Oh, thanks! Nice guy!”
That was Never anything close to my intent. Anyone who knows me would know that I'm the last person to be posting tropical pictures in a flippant manner, snubbing my nose at anyone.
That's not me at all. Never has been, nor ever will be. This is not for someone who is looking for the negative. This is for someone looking for the positive.
So, if you can look at these pictures and get that breath of fresh air, actually smell the air, with the fragrance of jasmine permeating the night, or getting the tropical salt air in your olfactory seances, this is for you!
With the understanding that this is only here to give you that sense of taking the weight of winter off your shoulders, a fresh breath, and the inspiration to continue on, as this is giving you that sight of the light at the end of the tunnel, please continue... and ENJOY!!!!
Pepe's on Caroline Street in Key West is a true classic. It's the oldest eating establishment in Key West, dating back to 1909. Pepe's, in a bygone era, used to be in the location of where today "Rick's" is located. It's currently located at 806 Caroline St. They are known for their outstanding breakfasts, however, their dinners are beyond reproach. Don't miss their happy hour either!
There's nothing in the world that can compare to subtlety. Reading between the lines is not only a creative insight but also a perception of the imagination. The subtlety found walking the streets of Old Town, Key West is beyond rewarding. The nooks and crannies permeate the island's oldest section.
Donkey Milk Lane. The lanes of Key West are generally alleyways that extend wide enough for one car. They also are access to homes hidden away from the regular streets. For the most part, they are dead ends. What exists down these mysterious allies? What homes are down there? Mysteries waiting to be unfurled. Take a walk down one and discover!
This beautiful home captures so much of what Key West is all about. Additionally, it's not the home itself, but what is outside of it, bicycles! We see five bicycles out front and a man riding his across the street. Key West could very well be the highest bike transportation per capita percentage in the U.S. Riding a bike in Key West only makes sense on so many levels. The town is largely flat, to start with, so it's easy. Use common sense when riding, however! If in a group of two or more, ride single file! Driving a car in Key West is insane for the most part. Walk or ride a bike.
There are over 130 eyebrow houses in Key West. The roof was extended to shade the air to the upper windows, so that cooler air would circulate the homes.
The palms almost cascading in front of a home in Old Town is nothing short of breathtaking and inspiring!
To walk through a tropical abundance of plants, to a door of a home once owned and built by a New England sea captain, can only be stimulating to the imagination of, not only what you'll see upon entering, but also what you would have seen in the 1800's. Many homes in Old Town were built as winter homes by New England sea captains.
Yes, this can only be Key West
Ping Pong at the fabulous Blue Heaven Restaurant
My backyard, Key West
The true measure of a great bar in Key West is one that attracts both locals and visitors, for both to engage in wonderful conversation over a libation. The Cork and Stogie at 1218 Duval St, is a perfect example of this.
To be continued on the next blog.
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!
