Hey friends. My head is spinning. I have so many things I want to tell you that I know I  could fill pages; but I don’t have that kind of space. So I want you to carefully look over our “Who’s Where When” list so you can choose which of the many wonderful shows you have time to see this week. Wish I could see them all.
    The legendary Wailers have included Seacrets in their tour performing Mon. for the start of the Summer Concert Series. With original Wailer Aston “Family Man” Barrett, the Wailers continue to bring Bob Marley’s music to millions of people worldwide. They have sold more than 250 million albums making them the most successful reggae group in history. Their album Exodus was named “Album of the Century” by Time Magazine. High praise. I know fans of reggae will pack the house Mon. for this long-awaited show.
    We all love Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, right? And we all loved “the Big Man,” sax king Clarence Clemons. Hard to believe he has been gone from us for a year now. Sat. at Trader Lee’s in West OC we have an opportunity to remember him and his music through the music of his son Clarence Clemons Jr. who is bringing his group, the Nick Clemons Band, to celebrate the life of his dad. I had the honor and pleasure of speaking with Nick by phone from his hotel in Maui, Hawaii, where he and his family had traveled to spread his father’s ashes at the anniversary of his passing at a place he really loved.
C.T. Growing up with such a wonderful musician as a father had to greatly influence you. Please share your thoughts on that.
Nick Clemons - Watching him at rehearsals with his various bands and also at recording sessions are great memories of my childhood. I watched as the shows progressed from smaller venues to larger ones and what impressed me was that his commitment to the show, to the audience, was always the same, whether it was a small house of 500 or a concert hall of 100,000. In the years after the E Street Band, my dad played with many other bands such as the Ringo Starr Band and the Grateful Dead, one of my favorites. He lived in Novato in northern Calif. for a few years and played at a club called Sweetwater in Mill Valley where a lot of great musicians lived and played. It was a great vibe for him. Then he moved to Florida.
C.T. - Any stories to share about his collaboration with Bruce Springsteen?
N.C. - I enjoyed being around the band - the camaraderie was great. Bruce is the Boss but it was more like a brotherhood. I had a special relationship with Danny Federici, the organist, who passed away before my father. He was an integral part of the E Street sound who I think is often overlooked in his contributions. I hope to play some songs with his son Jay, also an organist. We like to laughingly say we can bill ourselves as Sons of E Street.
C.T. - Talk about when you began playing.
N.C. - I began playing guitar and joined up with Joe Boris (of One Eyed Jack) for acoustic shows at about 21 when I was a student at UMES in Princess Anne. (Also his father’s alma mater.) We spent a lot of time in Ocean City together in those days. My first paying gig was at The Pony in New Jersey as the Nick Clemons Band. We toured Calif. for several years and traveled the country wherever we could get a job. Sitting in a bar after a show one night listening to guys talking, I began to realize that I wanted to have a family; so I took a break from playing and now have a three-year old son. Then a year ago when my father was very ill, Bruce and some others passed around guitars and sang some songs as we waited. It was then I realized that I needed to play again. So Bruce really inspired me to continue with my music. I played a song at my father’s memorial service a year ago.
    I have assembled an amazing group of musicians now in the Nick Clemons Band: Timmy Douglas on bass, Joe Barker on guitar, Eric Gonzalez on drums, Jake Hughes on keyboards, Jim Squirrel on trumpet and Joey Stann on saxophone. Joey’s amazing. He was an original member of South Side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and played with Aerosmith on their Toys in the Attic album, to mention just a few. We’re very fortunate to have him. We’ve been together a year now and are about to sign a management deal with Buzz Willis, former manger of Cool & The Gang, among others. We’re learning from the best and endeavor to reach out and capture our audiences with a crossover rock sound with a poppy edge. Come see us!
    You bet I will. Nick plays guitar and harmonica and sings with his seven-piece band that we have the good fortune to see Sat. at Trader Lee’s. Opening the show will be a group out of Newark, NJ, The Lyriqs starting at 4pm. They play a unique blues/pop/rock fusion that is guaranteed to get us rockin’ before Nick’s show at 7pm. Tonight, Friday, stop in to see the club’s manager, Rod Vara, play drums and jam with national recording artist (and friend)  Danny Nova from Philadelphia. This should be a good time too.
    Chester River Runoff returns to Fager’s Island to play on the deck Sat. Their Blue Grass sounds always get the crowd moving. Sunday night come back for the Sunday Concert Series featuring Chicago tribute band Sounds of Society. Then Wed. night, we welcome back amazing guitarist Shaun Hopper - just a few of the highlights of a big week.
    I had the pleasure of hearing Tropical Soul last week at Coconuts. A wonderful trio featuring Dave Huxta, Dennis McCaughey and Heather Sneeringer. Dave (bass) & Heather return Sat. as duo Copper Sky. Amazing voices - brought me to tears with her wonderful rendition of “Over The Rainbow.” Also, Full Circle is there at 5pm; and Sun, it’s Simple Truth.
    Told ya! So much great stuff. Party safe!