Saturday, October 15, 2005

Hello Friends and Fans, This is actually the 2nd newsletter I've sent since the Katrina flood, however because of a technical glitch, you did not receive it.  So much has happened since the flood, I don't know where to start or what to write. I think I'll just start rambling and see where we end up, please bear with me.   But first, here's our  upcoming schedule (you didn't think a little thing like having my life turned upside down would keep me off the road, didja?).

ROCKIN' JAKE IN EXILE REPORTS: Okay, I said I'm just gonna ramble and see where we end up, so here we go.first of all, I must thank all of you for reaching out to me and the band and your concerns for our safety.  I've received so many emails and calls, it's been hard getting to return all the emails, but I vow to answer all of them so thanks for your patience.  Everyone in the band is safe and sound. Randy is safe down in Thibodaux but lost his truck as it was parked in front of my house. The water line on it was up to the roof. Mark is safe and sound and suffered minimal damage down in Houma. Tommy is at his family's home in Radford VA for the time being and suffered fairly substantial losses at his apartment uptown and also lost his beautiful Volvo station wagon which was also parked on my street.  I returned to New Orleans last week to retrieve as much stuff from my apartment as was salvageable.  I was able to save most of my LP's and CDs. Saved my Big Walter Horton gig poster that I grabbed from The Knickerbocker Café in Westerly RI when I was 15.  Lost most of my inventory of Full-Time Work, Badmouth, and 5PM Breakfast.  Lost 90% of my furniture, but saved most of my pictures, posters (lost two JazzFest posters still in the tubes) and important papers and mementos. Basically, anything below 2-3 feet was lost.  The mold got much of the clothes and other stuff.  So I'm very grateful for everything saved and count my blessings every day that things were not worse. My wife, dog, two cats, and I are very comfortable in Bedford TX, staying at the home of her aunt Sara Freeman. Her hospitality has been awesome and she makes us feel very welcome.   Plans are still in the short term as we have been offered many possibilities and are weighing them all.  The magnitude of this situation is so huge in so many different areas that I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it. Maybe as time passes, I'll better be able to express myself about this situation. Suffice it to say it's been tough losing most of my belongings, most of my friends (scattered throughout the US) and the city that I loved more than any other place on earth.  The best thing you can do to support the band is to come on out to the gigs and boogie down.

THANKS: So many people have been supportive and there have been some nice benefits for us, I'd like to thank all those who have helped: The Jewish Mother in VA Beach, Gary Ellis and his SEALs buddies, Jack Schachter at Coin's Pub in Ocean City MD, Hon. Jim and Cathy Mathias-The Mayor of Ocean City, Terri French, Brenda Golden, Joe Smooth, Dave Raynor,  David Erickson and Holly Spillane at Project Marketing in Hollywood FL., Terence Simien and band (thanks for asking me to sit in especially on a stark and soulful Louisiana 1927,  Doug Tackett and Dave Mcintyre at Road Dawg Touring CO., Kabbu in Erie CO.,  Dave Lucas, Big Tony, Bobby, Shadow and the fellas in Denver., Dale and the entire staff of Oskar Blues in Lyons CO., The Colorado Blues Society,  James Martin and Megan and The Color People, Andy Cleary and Orbit Design, Dan Willging, Lindsay Shannon and the staff of BB'S Lawnside BBQ in KC MO., Fish and Marge in Prov RI, Chef Emile for the great food and shelter while I salvaged my belongings in NOLA,  Music Cares, FEMA, Jewish Family Services in Dallas, Tom Hoffman, Denise Levine, Bethany Bultman, our families: Tom and Lynn Basler,Karli and Lexi Basler for their lemonade stand,  Sara Freeman, Mike and Kim Rivera, Nicholas and Lauren Rivera for their lemonade stand, my Rockin' Mom Eileen Jacobs, my sisters Andrea, Terry and Wendy, John Autin, John and Barbara Swensen, Klyph Black from the Zen Tricksters, Brian and Joanne Cady, Joe Lipton and Inn On The Blues, Seacoast (NH) Guitar Society, Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson, Cormac McCarthy, TS Baker, Jim Gallant, Chris O'Neil, Bob Halperin, Bruce Pingree, Peter Black, Dale Benz at the Sheldon Theater, Bob Holtzman and Deanna Johnson, Jerry Polinsky, Mark Kanzler, Tim McGuire, Randy Conradi, Sherri Stein and thanks to everyone who has put some green in the tip jugs and bought CDs. Finally, I'd like to thank my wife, Christy Jacobs, for her strength and courage throughout this entire conflagration. Please forgive me if I left your name out, I love you all. The support from everyone has really helped us keep our heads together.

DONATIONS: If you'd like to donate to the Hurricane Katrina rebuilding effort, I'd like to recommend: The Tipitina's Foundation and The New Orleans Musician's Clinic. Google them to find out their addresses. Also, check out WWOZ (www.wwoz.org) for a list of other worthwhile charities.  If you'd like to donate to the Christine and Lawrence Jacobs Hurricane Relief Fund (to help us rebuild our lives) Make your check payable to: 
Christine and Lawrence Jacobs Hurricane Relief Fund and mail to:
U.S. Bank Ballwin
15215 Manchester Road
Ballwin, MO  63011
636-391-2355
800-872-2657 toll free

BENEFIT CDs: I have donated my song "Goin' Back To The Big Easy" to the following CDs.a CD to benefit former Inn on The Blues/Bittersweet Blues clubowner, Jackie Redmond; The Sheldon Theater in St. Louis is issuing a benefit CD with the aforementioned track on it and The RJB re-recorded a new version of the aforementioned song with new production by John Autin to be included on a benefit CD containing New Orleans and Dallas artists. More info on these CDs will be forthcoming.

CONTACT INFO:
You can reach me the following ways:
Snail Mail-3608 Medford Ct., Bedford TX 76021
Website: www.rockinjake.com
Email: rockinjake@rockinjake.com
BOOKING: Doug Tackett, Road Dawg Touring Co. 303-670-9950 doug@road-dawg.com


REMINDER: Check the website for future dates and don't forget to sign the guestbook.

WEDDINGS/BBQs/Parties: If you are getting married or want to have a party in the Spring/Summer/Fall of 2006, now is the time to book The RJB, guaranteed to spice up your festivities. We are actively planning and booking for 2006 now, so call (504-482-3564) or email soon.

BUY ROCKIN' JAKE MERCHANDISE...
Here are the links to order Rockin' Jake CDs on-line:
"Let's Go Get 'Em" (1996), The Rockin' Jake Band
"Badmouth" (1999), Rockin' Jake
"Full-Time Work" (2002), Rockin' Jake
"5 p.m. Breakfast" (2004), The Rockin' Jake Band
MAIL ORDER: You can also mail order directly from me any of our items and get them autographed(be sure to ask) (all prices include postage and handling):
**CDs: $18
**T-Shirts: $20 (L or XL) (100% cotton black tee with 5Pm Breakfast design, toaster with flying toast, on front in red and yellow.)
**Tanks: $20 (ladies L or S) (BACK IN STOCK!)
**BADMOUTH Hot Sauce $7/bottle; $40/half case (6 bottles); $78/full case (12 bottles)
**Harmonica Necklaces: $12/each only 3 left
**Autographed glossy photos and posters: $6 each
We accept money orders only, please make payable to: Lawrence Jacobs
Mail to: P.O. Box 791681, New Orleans LA 70179-1681
ROCKIN' JAKE

WEBSITE: www.rockinjake.com
email: rockinjake@rockinjake.com

Bookings: Doug Tackett, Road Dawg Touring Co. 303-670-9950 email: roaddawgco@aol.com

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