Here’s the official video of the HMJB’s song about their favorite, intensely private, woods-dwelling individual. The CD will be available tomorrow at www.halfmoonjugband.com

Here’s the digital download version of a two-artsist EP by me and and my other band — the Half Moon Jug Band — and Stan and Dan who hail from the Belgrade Lakes region of Maine, not too far from North Pond. Turns out Stan Keach wrote a song about the Hermit right around the time I did. So we decided to join forces and put out a six song CD. The physical edition, which includes Stan and Dan’s songs, too, will be out around the 23rd. But for now, feel free to download an mp3 or two right here.

The really groovy cover painting is by a friend of Stan’s. His name is Dave DeRan and we owe him big time for letting us use his picture. Thanks Dave!

-TROY.

Tom Rowe

This weekend, The Squid Jiggers are proud, as always, to be playing at the annual tribute to Tom Rowe. The show has been raising money for the Jack McPhillips Memorial fund for years. This time around, it’s been decided to dedicate all the money raised to the victims of three back-to-back fires in the “L” half of Maine’s L/A.

“I’m glad the board of the memorial fund has decided to do this,” said Dave Rowe, son of the late Schooner Fare bassist in whose memory the annual show takes place. “I know my father would approve. He lived right across the river in Auburn for many years.”

Tickets are still available for the show. The lineup includes the Dave Rowe Trio, Danny Quinn, Side by Side, Schooner Fare and a surprise appearance by Don and Tonya Campbell.

Get your tickets HERE right now!

Ray Richardson

Attention early risers!

We’ll be on the radio early Friday morning, May 3.

Dave and myself will have a brief chat with Ray Richardson on his show on WLOB 1310 AM about what we’ve got coming up including our third annual Newfoundland Day show, the Remembering Tom Rowe concert where we honor the memory of Dave’s father and the Vacationland Music spectacular coming up at the St. Lawrence Arts Center in Portland.

We should hit the airwaves at about 6:50 a.m. Tune in and hear all the fun.

- TROY.

Some of you already know about the North Pond Hermit Song. Some of you have sung along on the chorus at a show. Thank you! Soon, you’ll be able to get yourself a copy of the song to play at home, or while you’re camping in the deep, dark woods. Troy’s other project, the Half Moon Jug Band, spent saturday in Dave’s studio, working on tracks for an upcoming EP about the Hermit with fellow Maine songwriter Stan Keach. Looks for it in the next couple of weeks.

WHAT: The Squid Jiggers concert to benefit the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s “Clean Air, Clean Energy” project.

WHEN: 7p.m. Saturday April 27, 2013

WHERE: North Windham Union Church 723 Roosevelt Trail Windham, Maine

HOW MUCH: $12 / $10 for students, children and seniors / box office opens at 6:15, doors at 6:30

TICKETS/INFO: 207-892-7149 or MWAMconcerts@gmail.com

The Squid Jiggers will play a show Saturday April 27, 2013 at 7p.m. to help raise money for the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s “Clean Air, Clean Energy” project. It’s part of a community concert series hosted by the North Windham Union Church.

Clean air is essential for healthy, happy lives. Clean, renewable energy helps ensure clean air. The NRCM works hard for policies and initiatives that will improve Maine’s air quality and reduce global warming pollution throughout Maine.

Of course, Squids really care about water, too. Tar sands oil is one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on the planet, and the NRCM is on top of the issue and the possibility of it being pumped straight through the Pine Tree State. The pipeline they’d use passes next to Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply for more than 15% of Maine people, and could endanger Casco Bay and our fishing and lobster industries.

So, please come out to the show and have a rip-roaring good time. You’ll feel good singing along and you’ll feel better knowing you’re doing the state some good.

What: The Squid Jiggers annual St. Patrick’s Day show to benefit the Good Shepherd Food-Bank.

Where: DaVinci’s Restaurant, 150 Mill Street Lewiston, Maine 04240.

When: March 17, 2013; doors at 4:30 p.m.; music starts at 7 p.m.

How much: $15 per person; not including dinner; cabaret seating.

Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/324736

Two all American guys celebrating an Irish holiday at an Italian Restaurant in a town known for French Canadian culture, to benefit hungry people in Maine — what could be more natural? For the second straight year, The Squid Jiggers are turning their St. Patrick’s Day concert into a fundraiser and food drive, this time benefitting the Good Shepherd Food-Bank. The Squid Jiggers are Maine’s only cephalopod-inspired, celtic and maritime folk duo. They’ll be drawing on their deep resevoir of Irish-themed songs and stories while DaVinci’s Restaurant serves up delightful fare including a special corned beef an cabbage entrée, whipped up just for this event. Fine beer, wine and spirits may be had at the bar.

In an effort to raise money for the GSFB, which distributes food to over 600 pantries and non-profits in all of Maine’s 16 counties, The Squid Jiggers will be holding Danny Boy, The Unicorn and all Seven Old Ladies Stuck in the Lavatory, hostage at their St. Paddy’s Day show. They vow not to release (sing) them (or anything by Bing Crosby) until the donation jar is full. Last year, on St. Patrick’s Day, they were able to raise over $1,500 for the Lisbon Area Christian Outreach Clothing and Food Pantry. They vow to top that number this year.

“We did really well last year,” said Dave Rowe, Squiddy bass player and singer. “But we know we can do better. We have to. There’s more hungry folks in Maine than ever before.”

The USDA estimates that 14.7 percent of Maine households, or approximately 200,000 individuals, are food insecure. Maine is first in New England in terms of child food insecurity. The USDA has recorded a 25 percent increase in the number of Mainers facing hunger since 2005.

“St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland and we want to drive hunger out of Maine,” said Troy R. Bennett, guitarist and singer with the band. “It’s a tall order, we know, but it has to start somewhere.”

In addition to holding certain well-known songs hostage, concert attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to be entered in raffle contests for delightful prizes. There will be a 50/50 contest benefitting the GSFB, as well.

“Basically, we’ll do anything to beat the $1,500 goal,” said Rowe. “And it’ll be fun, too. This will be more like a party than a concert.”

If they fail in their mission, Bennett says they may have to resort to drastic measures.

“I don’t want this to sound like a threat,” said Bennett, “But if  we don’t get the money, we’re going to have to feed The Unicorn and Danny Boy to the hungry. That’s right. We’ll eat a unicorn.”

Ticket’s for the March 17, 2013 show are $15, not including dinner. Purchase them at www.squidjiggers.com or call 1-866-655-7171. Seating is cabaret style. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and the music will commence at 7 p.m. DaVinci’s Restaurant is loacted at 150 Mill St. Lewiston, Maine.

The Squid Jiggers

Dave at the controls.

So, we started this thing over a year ago.

It’s a record split between us and our Vacationland Music pals in the Half Moon Jug Band. We worked on it some more over the weekend. We’re still not done. But we’re having a wicked decent time trying to get it finished, anyway. Here’s a video clip from Saturday afternoon.

Please pay special attention to the terrific dancing and air saxophone playing.

Mike the Drummer and Steve-O.

An annual tradition: Schooner Fare / Devonsquare Reunion Concert featuring Denny Breau, Don Campbell, and the Squid Jiggers at The Landing in Scarborough. It was scheduled for this Sunday, Feb. 24 but they’re going to hold off for a month and do it on March 24 instead.

All tickets will be honored at the second date so hang on to them. Mark your calendars accordingly and stay off the roads during the storm. If you don’t have a ticket yet, it’s not too late.

Doors open at 2 p.m., show at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 for balcony and front row tables, all others $22.00. Get ‘em online here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/320562

However, Dave has a prior commitment that day. He’ll be playing his annual Maine Maple Sunday show at Kinney’s Sugar House. So, The Squid Jiggers won’t be able to play the Reunion show. If you’re not going to Kinney’s, you should go to the Reunion show. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon raising money for a great cause.

- TROY.

Greetings friends and neighbors. Do you like beer? Do you like local, craft beer? Do you like beer made in Lewiston, Maine? Do you like beer in cans? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ll like Baxter Brewing Co. and their ever-widening array of fine malted beverages.

Their flagship Stowaway I.P.A. is a bold, assertively-hopped, crisp beer that gets its hoppy reputation from five different varieties. Their Pamola Xtra Pale Ale (a Squiddy favorite) is bright, golden ale with a citrusy hop finish. Their seasonal beers include Hayride Autumn Ale, Celsius Summer Ale and, currently, Phantom Punch Winter Stout, brewed in honor of Muhammad Ali’s legendary invisible walloping of Sonny Liston in Lewiston in 1965. It’s a roast, toasty stout with hints of chocolate and enough alcohol by volume to warm you up.

In addition to being a fine brewer of beers, Baxter Brewing Co. is a great neighbor. Founder Luke Livingston and his staff are always looking for ways to give back to their community. They sponsor us every Wednesday night at Bull Feeney’s. They have local bands play at the brewery all the time. They’re often raising funds for local charities. Their commitment to “green” practices is almost legendary.

They’ve  purchased American Wind power offsets to power 100% of their electricity usage. Their spent grain and yeast goes to feeding local cattle and the solid waste and discarded hops are sent out to be composted. Baxter’s 6-pack rings are made from #4 recyclable polyurethane and are 100% photodegradable (they break down after prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays). And, of course, they use cans. The aluminum cans are made of 70% post-consumer recycled material; it takes less energy to produce than glass; cans weighs less empty and full; Americans are twice as likely to recycle cans; 75% of all beer bottles in the US end up in landfills.

It’s a company we are proud to be associated with.

Which brings me to the real point of this post. We’re playing at an open house at the brewery in Saturday Feb. 16. It’s also a fund/food raiser for the Good Shepherd Food Bank. They are the folks who supply local food pantries with eats. Here are the details.

WHAT: The Squid Jiggers live at Baxter Brewing Co.‘s open house. Hear some music, enjoy a beverage and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery.

WHERE: Baxter Brewing Co., 130 Mill Street Lewiston, Maine. If you’re following a GPS, use 70 Lincoln Street Lewiston, Maine 04240 instead.

WHEN: Saturday Feb. 16 from 12-5 p.m. The Squids will perform from approximately 1-2 p.m. and 3:30-4:30 p.m.

HOW MCUH: Admission is by a donation of cash or non-perishable food item to the Good Shepherd Food Bank.

WHY: Because it’s fun to hear the Squid Jiggers, get a tour of a way-cool brewery and help hungry people all at the same time.

Many Mainers have been hard hit by the recession. The USDA estimates that 14.7 percent of Maine households, or approximately 200,000 individuals, are food insecure. The number of Mainers who are food insecure has increased significantly in recent years. Maine ranks 18th in the nation and 2nd in New England in terms of food insecurity.The mission of Good Shepherd Food Bank is to provide food for those at risk of hunger by soliciting surplus food and distributing it to non-profit programs throughout Maine.

-TROY.