KOOL BEANZ!
It was six years ago this weekend that we closed the doors on what John Hall called "that great cultural experiment -
Kool Beanz".
My wife Jen and I opened our beloved coffeehouse/music venue in early 1998, and closed it's doors in 2002.
In between those years we made a thousand friends, and had nearly as many musicians play for us. Some of the musical highlights: our CD recording party, Magda, Diane & Marianne, Sam
Pacetti, Jerry Daze, John Hall w/
Freebo & Robbie
Dupree, Hootenanny Sundays,
Chief Jim Billie,
Lagoonapaloooza, Denny
Doherty, Spider John & Dave Ray, The Night of The Living Deadbeats, Lorin Rowan, Victoria Williams w/Mark Olson & the
Creekdippers, all of our local friends...and the list goes on.
I was looking for some pictures to share with you all, then I remembered the collage I made that hung by the front door, and thought that would be perfect. Below, is a full shot of the collage, then below it some close ups. Lots good time, old friends, young friends, and lost friends.
(click on the pics to enlarge).
Below are a few of the 17 tracks we recorded over two nights in 1999 for our Kool Beanz CD. In the future I will post other tracks, and some info on where many of these artists are today.
Diane Runion came to visit shortly after we opened and sat in with our Sunday Hootenanny. The next Sunday she came back to our Open Mic and played this song, the song that became the title track to our CD the next year.HOME AWAY FROM HOME:
Before we found out what a talented multi-instrumentalist Bryan McCahill was, we all knew him as the guy who played the kool ukulele songs. DANCE OF THE SUGARPLUM
FAIRIES:
Janet Reedy was known for her beautiful voice, long hair, and great parodies of songs. She claims she really only ever wrote one song, this one - in her sleep! DIRTY KISS:
Dave Grooms played for us nearly every Tuesday night for four years, he also helps me co-ordinate the Jerry Daze concerts...these two feature him and his band The HoneyBucket HillBilly Band.HESITATION BLUES/TODAY
Our friend from the old Java The Hut Days, Terry Kelly has written dozens of great songs, but at Kool Beanz everyone howled for this one!WHEN I WAS A DOG:
we also knew Steve Hodak from "the Hut", a great guy, and one of my favorite songwriters, ever, This one will rip yer heart out.BUTTERFLY MOON:
Nick Caffeine (aka Terry Kelly) wrote a little radio jingle for us....it ended up being the backing for the intro track on the Kool Beanz CD, where Willie and Kevin overdubbed outtakes from the stage over Terry's rap.NICK
CAFFEINE AND THE
COFFEEKATS:
Denny Doherty, Java Jen & I
All the love and thanks must go out to my lovely bride Jennifer, without whom our Home Away From Home would have never been possible.
Although I don't think I really want to do the coffeehouse thing again, I've never admitted it...but every time I drive by a closed business, I wonder....hmmmm, that might be a good place for another KB.....
PLEASE Feel Free to Leave to any Thought or Remembrances of Kool Beanz in the comments section below. If you don't have a copy of the CD, I'll give one away to one of the people who leaves a comment....just make sure you leave me your e-mail address so I can notify the winner.
After a 5 year hiatus (due to ill health and scheduling conflicts) the 7th installment of the very popular local tribute to the late Jerry Garcia makes it's long awaited return.
Born of an idea by co-creators ("Java" John, and "Grateful" Dave) to pay tribute to the Grateful Dead frontman, JERRY DAZE began in the fall of 1999 at Java John & Jen's KOOL BEANZ Coffeehouse. The very successful event ran three years before Kool Beanz closed. The event was so popular, that fans clamored for more! So, the event continued on in different venues for the next 3 years with the same excitement and success.
Live Music by: 
And, Featuring the ever-popular Terrapin StationWagon Liquid-Light Show.
Since most everyone has been effected by a family member with cancer :
$10.00 at the Door
