Hey, y’all. Our first edition for August - yes, as everyone has been saying, the summer is flying by too fast. It wouldn’t be so bad, as we have all of August to enjoy, if we weren’t constantly being reminded that school is starting soon. It’s hitting me hard this year as I’m going to lose my lovely intern, Hope Evans, so soon ... and the youngest in our family, little four-year old (almost five) Hannah, will start school this year. No more babies. Life goes on.
    Thinking of the circle of life, I must remember Carmel Wiley once more as we celebrated her life last Tuesday at the Blue Ox. It’s going to take more than two hours to celebrate the life of this great lady. I’ll remember her every time I set foot in the Greene Turtle, or the Blue Ox, or BJ’s, or Johnny’s, or M.R. Ducks, or Coconuts, or the Ocean Club, or Jive ... yes, Carmel got around as much as I do and I’m going to be looking for her smiling face for a long time to come. I used to watch her dance and think, “Gee, I hope I’m still going like that when I’m her age. At 76 she could outdance me any day. If the number of a person’s friends is any indication of their status in God’s eyes, then Carmel is sitting near the throne, no doubt directing the choir. Hold me a seat, Carmel. I love you!
    Checking out our party scene, I was thrilled to hear so many smash hits from the Springsteen library last week when Tom Vitorino brought us The Rising at The Purple Moose. These guys put on one heck of show, pulling out all the stops and doing a five-song encore. The Boss would be proud. Next Thur. we’ll enjoy the antics and vocals of a Stephen Tyler when Toys In The Attic will appear at The Purple Moose. If you like Aerosmith, you’ll love these guys, one of last year’s favs.
    Speaking of big hits, the Purple Moose is proud to announce that they will host their first-ever Comedy Night with none other than the brightest comic on the scene, Colin Kane. This is gonna be a great night - cocktail tables set up on the dance floor, with servers. It’s gonna be fun. Just check out some of the short videos of his shows on YouTube from places like Gotham Comedy Club in N.Y. and the Laugh Factory. His quick ascerbic wit will have you in stitches but beware: not for the faint of heart. That’s Wed., Aug 15, Colin Kane. Tickets on sale now, just $25. www.purplemoose.com
    I’m also very excited to relive some really early glory days with music from the Beatles brought to us by the guys in Beatlemania Again. Through three costume changes, the show chronologically traces the Beatles career from their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 to the psychedelic era of Sgt. Peppers to their final years of Abbey Road and Let It Be. The music is performed live with no background tracks or sequencing, just as it was first presented to us 50 years ago. Can it really have been that long ago? Join the fun and nostalgia of a first class tribute to the greatest band of all time, The Beatles, Sunday at Fager’s Island.
    I understand from our writer, Jenny Samuels, that I missed a fabulous show Mon. at Seacrets from G Love. At least she got a couple pictures for me. Yeah, Jenny, I’m sorry I missed it too. From Jim Long to Innasense to Gypsy Wisdom to Full Circle and this coming Monday’s show, Daddy Roots, you can count on Seacrets for great music every day and night. Throw in a beach, too, and a great menu - gee, a person could just live there!
    We have a couple of fairly new local bands hittin’ the clubs tonight, Friday. At BJ’s get down, get funky with the groovy sounds of Funk-O-Licious. Guitarist Steve Martin (also sound man for Chest Pains; Surf Side Sound) says they all really like the music from the funky disco era, the music that really gets people up on their feet dancing, and the vocals from Kristen & Chuck deliver the vibe.
    Lovin Cup with Troy Mawyer on guitar, Joe Daddy, Jeff & Adam is another group of locals lovin the music and ready to bring it to you tonight (Fri.) at Johnny’s. Sat. DJ Ukulelee will host the party and I hear he’s tons of fun.
    And Wed. get out to Macky’s to hear the fabulous vocals of Michelle with Semiblind. Have you been to a Tues. Theme Night yet? Or partied on the beach at Macky’s? Do it!