The Maggic of Ffall

DUKES FANS: Monday was the first day of Autumn, and it was a beautiful, mixed day that started out a little on the dreary side but grew into a day of great clouds, bright sunshine, people on the streets, and a general feeling of joy and pleasantness. I love living in the mid-Atlantic; the cycle of seasons and the changes of seasons never fails to amaze and delight me. After the blistering and humid months of June and July, the weather of the last few weeks has made me even more appreciative of fall weather. So I am re-running a tribute to fall I published some 3 years ago. THE MAGIC OF FALL “The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools.” Henry Beston “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” Jim Bishop Fall returned this week, and as regular readers of this newsletter know, I am a big fan of seasonal transitions. Spring and Fall are my absolute favorite seasons of the year. I am blessed that in this region of the country we get them for approximately the same length of time each year. It is a repeat treat year after year. Each spring I find myself thinking, “Ahhh..this is my favorite season of the year!” And each fall I find myself saying the exact same thing. As I was walking in the neighborhood this morning and feeling the coming fall in the air, I asked myself, “How can two seasons both be my “favorite”? How can that be?” And then, while looking around at the trees, bushes, and sky while standing in the Allen Lane train station, it hit me. They both do the same soul-warming thing that pleasures me. They just do it in different ways. Both seasons bring changes in yards and lawns and trees and woods and sky and the weather. And all of those changes come at you in ways that are hard to ignore. All you have to do is slow down, open your eyes, take a deep breath or two, and look around. What both seasons do is reward you for paying attention; for noticing the wonder and miracle of nature at work. They make it so you almost have to pay attention and notice. But they work at that in different ways. Spring is the more dramatic one. Snow and ice melt. There are longer days and therefore more sun. There is more “day "so more light. In the springtime, things literally spring into being-colors suddenly appear all over the place, and a block or a garden or a tree or a path you didn’t much notice a week ago is suddenly one which totally captivates you a week later. You come back to it again and again as it sprouts and grows and blooms and bursts forth. Spring is showy; it struts onto the stage, marches around, beasts its chest, and almost dares you to ignore it. And you can’t. Fall Is more quiet and more subtle. That has its own appeal and charm as well. I begin to notice the fall when the weather gets a little cooler, and I have several days in a row when I have to decide whether to wear shorts and/or to put on a jacket. Then, as the days turn into weeks, I become aware of the subtle changes in colors that are quietly happening. The goldfinches are less brightly yellow. The plants in the garden start to lose their brightness and become duller. Some lean over as they slowly fade away. The leaves on the trees slowly begin to change. Some of them start browning and falling; walking seems to gradually be happening more and more on a blanket of leaves. Some change their colors-the oranges and yellows and reds on the maples especially add a different mix of deep color that makes looking up quietly more exciting. The night comes a little earlier, and you can see stars and the moon and a little sunlight simultaneously. The clincher for me is the way fall weather outside the house starts to affect the weather inside the house. The AC and desk fans are used much less. And then not at all. The ceiling fan speed is slower and slower until it is also no longer needed. And quietly and subtly, snuggling into and being covered by that extra blanket makes sleeping at night extra special and extra comforting. It gets harder to get up in the morning. That is when fall is fully here for me, regardless of what the calendar says. Oatmeal and chicken soup will soon follow. So they are both truly my favorite season. They both put me deeply in touch with what that cycle of nature is doing, and they both help me notice it, feel it deeply, and take comfort in it. I have slept with windows open and under that extra blanket for the last few days. I think I will do those same things again tonight. Happy Fall! DUKES OF DESTINY: 40th Anniversary www.dukesofdestiny.com Saturday, November 15th-John's 75th Birthday Party; The Mermaid Inn: 7673 Winston Road; Philadelphia PA 19118 215-247-9797 http://themermaidinn.net/home.html This is the Dukes' 40th anniversary, and it will be my 75th year on the planet. WOW! 3/4 of a century. As usual we will celebrate our home away from home, The Mermaid, and we will again have a friend or two show up and sit in, a new song, and everyone will get a free slice of delicious Night Kitchen cake. Come on out and be part of the fun as John welcomes another year.. Private Gigs: The Dukes have had a number of private gigs this year, and I want to remind folks that we can and do a variety private affairs. Birthday parties, retirement parties, corporate affairs, fundraisers, etc. If interested, please reach out and contact me. Thanks Brother John: Johnny Never and John Colgan-Davis; acoustic blues duo. https://www.johnnynever.com 1) Friday, September 26th- 9PM - Midnight; Hummingbird to Mars;W 16th St, Wilmington, DE 19806 (1930 Speakeasy ring the bell-it's around back!) Reservations recommended http://catherinerooneys.com/hummingbird 2)Saturday, September 27th -7-10PM Letty’s Tavern - 201 State Street Kennett Square PA 19348 https://www.lettystavern.com This weekend finds Johnny and I at two of our favorite eateries: The Hummingbird and Letty's. Both places feature great pub food, as well as some unique and signature dishes. Both places also have great vibes, a great and friendly crowd, wonderful waitstaff, and bartenders who can shake their mixed drinks in time with the music. Come and catch us at either or both places. The Sunday Blues Jam at Jamey’s House of Music; 32 S. Landsdowne, Ave; Lansdowne, PA; jamey@jameyshouseofmusic.com Blues lovers and players have made Jamey's Sunday Blues Jam the place for great blues jamming, inexpensive and tasty eats, craft brews on tap, fresh brewed coffee, a great waitstaff, and friendly people who love the blues.  Each Sunday features an hour long set by a different house band, and then there is an open jam until 3PM. This month the jam features The Philly Blues Kings with various guitarists and singers. The 2nd Sunday of each month features The Roger Girke-John Colgan-Davis Project as the house band, and our next gig there is Sunday, October 12.th Got an instrument? Sing? Just want to listen to some exciting blues and have some good food? Come on out and take part in this great blues jam with great food and liquid refreshments. $5 minimum to be spent (Don’t want to receive any more of these e-mails? Simply reply with “Unsubscribe “in the Subject Line)

The Magic of The Sky

DUKES FANS: “The Sky is the Daily Bread of the Eyes” Ralph Waldo Emerson Inline image Highway of Combes le ville-Giovanni Boldinni The weather this past week has been just spectacular. Cool temperatures, low humidity bright sun, some comfortable breezes, and most importantly of all, magnificent and majestic skies. Different shades of blues and grays, and in the beginning or at the end of days, some deep oranges, reds, and some grays. And the clouds-sometimes bright and white and with shadows, bunched together, or spread out and thinly elongated. Fat and billowy or sparse and lonely. Seeming so close that you can reach out and touch them, and at other times seeming far, far away and connected to another world. It has been wonderful riding the trains across bridges this week and just looking up. When the sky is like this, I want to spend a lot of time under it, looking up at it, and being entranced. The painting at the start of this piece is my favorite painting in the world. It is the painting that in junior high school introduced me to the wonders of the sky. I wanted to go to the Art Museum this Saturday to see it for the umpteenth time and say, “Thanks” to it once again, but alas, it is not on display. It has been moved yet again from the galleries for a while. So, I will leave it here for us to look at and become immersed in it. Then I will go out back, sit, and look up as I eat my lunch and have my daily bread. (I wrote a piece about my connection to this painting last year. If you want to read it, go to https://dukesofdestiny.blogspot.com/2024/03/sky-joy.html ) DUKES OF DESTINY GIGS www.dukesofdestiny.com 1)Friday, September 5, The Royal Glenside; 1 South Easton Rd; Glenside, PA 19038; Doors 7:30PM; show 8PM; $20 adv-$25 door; https://www.theroyalglenside.com/ This Friday has us back at The Royal, a wonderful listening and dancing room in Glenside. We love this place for its ambiance, its mission, and its staff. Great sound system, space to dance, space to sit and listen, and a great vibe. We are super happy to be back. For info on how to do food and drink go to https://www.theroyalglenside.com/faq BROTHER JOHN-JOHNNY NEVER & JOHN COLGAN-DAVIS ; www.BrotherJohnBlues.com 1)Thursday, September 4 7PM - 10PM Hummingbird to Mars 1930 Speakeasy (ring the bell--it's around back!) W 16th St, Wilmington, DE 9806 http://catherinerooneys.com/hummingbird Reservations recommended 2)Saturday, September 6 8PM Brother John opening for Mikey Junior The Fallser Club 3721 Midvale Ave Philadelphia PA 19129 tickets $20adv; $ 25 door https://thefallserclub.com/ Brother John has two gigs this week. Thursday finds us back at Hummingbird to Mars, one of our favorite spots with great food, wonderful waitstaff, and bartenders who somehow know how to shake the mixed drinks glasses in time to the music. We are regulars here, and we always have a great time. Saturday finds us at the Fallser Club in East Falls opening up for the remarkable Mikey Jr. Again, a new place for Brother John, although I have caught some great shows there. It is a comfortable place with great seats and a great sound system. So we are att wo wonderful places to feed your palette, wet your whistle, and catch some great acoustic blues. Come on out and enjoy. The Sunday Blues Jam at Jamey’s House of Music; 32 S. Landsdowne, Ave; Lansdowne, PA; jamey@jameyshouseofmusic.com Blues lovers and players have made Jamey's Sunday Blues Jam the place for great blues jamming, inexpensive and tasty eats, craft brews on tap, fresh brewed coffee, a great waitstaff, and friendly people who love the blues.  Each Sunday features an hour long set by a different house band, and then there is an open jam until 3PM. This month the jam features The Philly Blues Kings with various guitarists and singers. The 2nd Sunday of each month features The Roger Girke-John Colgan-Davis Project as the house band, and our next gig there is Sunday, September 14th . Got an instrument? Sing? Just want to listen to some exciting blues and have some good food? Come on out and take part in this great blues jam with great food and liquid refreshments. $5 minimum to be spent (Don’t want to receive any more of these e-mails? Simply reply with “Unsubscribe “in the Subject Line)