Here’s a video from way back in November. We spent a weekend hanging and hustling with about a thousand other folkies at the North East Regional Folk Alliance conference in upstate New York. It was three days of music, jabbering and very little sleep. One night at dinner, we joined in a flash mob rockin’ out on Barrett’s Privateers — a gem of a modern shanty by the late, and very great, Stan Rogers.

- TROY

You know, we sing a lot of whaling songs. We’re proud to celebrate the daring, hard-working men who risked, and often lost, their lives doing battle with leviathans from the deep in tiny wooden boats, who brought fame and fortune to New England. They literally greased the wheels of the early industrial revolution. They fueled the oil lamps and keeping the night at bay. They bathed the ladies in perfume and stiffened their corsets for years. We think they’re worth a sea chest full of songs and stories.

However.

Those days are gone. Now, it’s time to conserve and protect these amazing creatures. Here’s a video of some folks — in a small but giant way — doing just that.

I’ve usually got a camera with me. Maybe it’s my little point’n'shoot, my Iphone one of my honkin’ big Canons. Sometimes I even shoot on film. (What’s that you ask? I’ll tell you in the morning, now go to sleep.) My point is, I shoot pictures all the time — every day, in fact. So here’s a few I’ve got kicking around.

Sounds like a Google translation from Dagobahese.

Dave and I travelled to the North East Regional Folk Alliance one-day, mini conference in Franklin, MA a couple of weeks ago. It was a held in a church and they were understandably concerned for the welfare of their sanctuary’s rug. The last thing they wanted was a bunch of rowdy folkies spilling their all-natural, sparkling cider on the floor while clapping along to “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore” and grinding it into the carpet with whole wheat rice cracker crumbs under the heels of their Birkenstocks. But, I find tersely worded and hastily printed signs taped to doors kind of funny. They always omit just enough pronouns and verbs as to be almost unintelligible. Their custodian must be Yoda’s brother.

That being said, in good humor mind you, they had some fabulous doughnuts out to greet us. It didn’t take long for the official Squid Jigger Pastry Inspection and Precision Drill Team to swing into action. The jelly filled dainties were fresh an locally made. The sandwiches at lunch were as big as my head. But, we took our jobs very seriously and snarfed down a couple. The free coffee flowed all day and the line at the mens room was rarely less than four deep.

Official Pastry Inspection Team.

This past Saturday night found us at the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston, ME once again. This time, we were gathered with some musical friends for the 7th Annual Remembering Tom Rowe Concert, benefiting the Jack McPhillips Memorial Fund. Dave’s dad, Tom, was a founding member of Schooner Fare. He died in January, 2004 as a result of complications from throat cancer, but his music and influence live on through this yearly event. Schooner Fare was there as well as Tom’s old friend Denny Breau. The Wicked Good Band made everyone’s side hurt from laughing, and Dave’s Trio knocked everyone out with their amazing sound. Those boys can really play their instruments.

It was the second year I’ve been asked to play as a Squid Jigger. It’s was just as big an honor the second time around as it was the first. I’m a musician today because of Tom Rowe and Schooner Fare. I saw them perform at my school in 1984. I’d never head music so big and thick and inclusive before. When they lifted their voices, as one and in harmony, it was like a big pair of sonic arms reaching out, pulling us all inside the circle. Nobody was left out. We were all invited. They had a way of not just performing FOR you, but also performing WITH you. I tried to think of that night as I sang a couple of songs at the show this year. And there was Dave, next to me, playing his Dad’s bass and his Dad’s tin whistle.

My part of the show was short. That meant I had plenty of time to inspect the pizza and liquid refreshments backstage. I also go to hang out and talk to three more of my heroes: the Wicked Good Band. Steve, Jere and Bill are a Maine institution. I can truly attest, they are just as funny off stage as they are on stage.

Steve, Me, Jere and Bill.

I have a vivid memory of being in high school and going to a party at someone’s house. The parents were gone and things were kinda wild. While riffling through the family record collection I came upon the Wicked Good Band’s “Dare to Be Wicked Good” album. The cover art featured pink flamingos. I was intrigued. While the music blared in the other room, I donned a pair of headphones and gave the record a twirl. I laughed so much people thought I was high.

Cheese, 'shrooms and grease. Mmmmm...

So, while the rest of my friends partied, I drove to the drug store to buy blank cassette tapes. (What are cassette tapes? I’ll tell you in the morning, now go to sleep.) I taped both sides of the record and went looking for more. Sadly, that was the only record the parents had. It took me some time to locate a copy of “State ‘O’Maine,” their first album. Since then, I bought their hilarious book, and later albums “Maine Cookin’” and “Clam Jam.” I’ve seen ‘em perform a bunch of times. I even managed to get Steve to perform on a record I made with the Half Moon Jug Band in 2005. We covered the Wicked Good song “Buried in Bingham.” Steve sang and played the piano.

So there you have it: some thoughts, some pictures, some pizza, some doughnuts.

- TROY.

Father Ovington checks his look before preaching to his flock via his righteous fiddle.

Well folks, we’ve run out of space at the inn. If you snoozed, you loozed. The early birds got the worms with fettucini and alfredo sauce. This Saturday’s show at Graziano’s Casa Mia Restaurant is completely sold out. People will be eating on the sidewalk (kidding) and in the mens room (us) as it is. We wish we could fit more folks, but we can’t.

But, don’t worry.

We have a hunch we’ll be repeating this adventure again, sometime, in the not-so-distant future. So, for those of you who got a golden ticket, thank you. Mr. Wonka and his Squiddaloompas will be seeing you shortly. For the rest, we hope this will be a learning experience for you, one you will emerge from wistful, wiser and a little richer for the experience.

Stay tuned for more Italian food and concert announcements.

- TROY & DAVE

As of 2 a.m. January 24, 2011, there are less than 10 tickets left for our three-course, family-style Italian dinner and Squid Jiggers concert at Graziano’s Casa Mia Restaurant in Lisbon, Maine on Saturday January 29 at 6 p.m. And while we’re on the subject, we need to clear something up. If you called The Squid Jiggers’ hotline at 1-866-655-7171 and reserved/bought tickets, you won’t be getting anything in the mail. There are no actual paper tickets. There’ll be  a master list with your name on it at the door. Just bring your Maine ID, passport, birth certificate and your proof of rabies vaccination and our helpful door staff with crosscheck your ID with the US government no-fly list. If you check out, and the bouncer likes the looks of you, you’ll be welcomed in, past the velvet squid rope.

Ha! We kid! We’re kidders!

Seriously, there are no paper tickets. If you’ve got reservations, your name will be on the list and you’ll get a table. Remember: dinner is served at 6 p.m. and the show will start somewhere around 7 p.m., give or take a few minutes while Dave finishes his cannoli and Troy dabs the marinara sauce out of his beard.

- TROY & DAVE

John and Susan Bohill, Dave and myself went to Camp Sunshine this morning in Casco, Maine to deliver the money we raised at the benefit show a few weeks back at the Bohill’s Black Bear Cafe. After handing over the loot — all $1200 — were treated to an eye-openeing tour by Events Coordinator Ashley Riley. I knew they provided summer fun, joy and respite to kids with life-threatening ailments and their families, but I didn’t realize how beautiful the campus was on the shores of Sebago Lake.

In addition to the things you expect to find at a summer camp, they had 18 holes of mini golf, a full disc golf course, a herd of yurts, indoor and age-appropriate game rooms and homemade quilts on every bed. Around-the-clock medical support  is provided in their own clinic. There’s also psychosocial and bereavement programs. The staff and volunteers do it all year round, for kids from all over the country and around the world. And everyone comes for free.

Our little check is just a drop in the big bucket they need to fill to keep Camp Sunshine going and growing, but we are humbled and proud to lend even a small hand to support such a squidtastic organization. Learn more about them, and where to mail your own check by going to: www.campsunshine.org.

- TROY.

I know a couple of Newfies. This is NOT an exaggeration. Not at all.

- TROY.

October is upon us, the leaves are falling, the nights are crisp, and soon the pumpkins will be making faces at us. It’s a great time to get your squid fix. We’ve been extra busy of late. We just had a great Monday at the Fryeburg Fair, eating Steve’s French Fries, great big sausages with onions and peppers, unspeakable pastries, and sucking down quarts of coffee. We’ll be back again next year on the same stages on the Monday of the fair. Mark your calendar now.

The new CD has been available for about a month now, and we’re starting to send them out to Squid-Friendly radio stations (if you know of any, be sure and share the station, name of the show, and DJ name with us so we can send them one). We also now have bumperstickers, Squid Cellphone Flasks (AKA, the iDrunk), and Squid Jiggers jigger…you know…shot glasses. Very soon we will be accepting a shipment of tee shirts and hoodies too. The full line of Squid-gear is quickly coming together. If you want to place an order for any of it, please pick up the squidphone and call us at 866-655-7171 and we’ll gladly set up up with the goods. Of course the CD is available from Apple iTunes and from CD Baby.

- DAVE