Categories
Florida Tampa Bay The Current Situation

In honor of tropical storm and/or hurricane Nicole

Photo: Loose dirt “held down” on a flatbed truck with a strap.
That’s not how it works, but we’ll give you an “A” for effort.

Tropical storm and/or hurricane Nicole is coming. Prepare appropriately.

Categories
America The Current Situation

Vote!

If you’re in the U.S. and an American citizen, it’s the midterm elections today. Get out and vote!

Categories
Accordion, Instrument of the Gods It Happened to Me Music Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway 2022 (or: Birthday stretch 2.0)

Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway banner with added photo of Joey deVilla on accordionLast year, the Tampa Bay Ukulele Getaway (TBUG for short) took place on my birthday. The 2022 edition happens this weekend, and we’re going to be there!

Anitra wanted to go, and I thought it would be a fun birthday activity to try my hand at a stringed instrument, which I’m normally terrible at playing. (My “keytar” period, and later the accordion, stem from being a frustrated attempted guitar player.)

TBUG takes place at the Sirata Resort on St. Pete Beach, right next door to where we got married:

Joey deVilla and Anitra Pavka on St. Pete Beach.

It turned out better than expected. For starters, Anitra won the grand prize at the raffle…

Anitra Pavka and the ukulele she won.

…I found a very reliable local purveyor of high-quality aloha shirts in Emily and Mike Stehle (my old go-to had closed up shop…

Joey deVilla in one of his new aloha shirts.

…and I also found Tom Hood, who invited me to join him and his band, Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons, on a number of local gigs!

Joey deVilla playing accordion on a pier with Tom Hood and Tropical Sons.This year, I’m not just an attendee, but part of the lineup of evening performers. I’ll be playing originals and classic rock/blues covers with Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons, as well as helping out with the special ’80s jams — mostly on accordion, but maybe a little ukulele as well.

Best of all, I’ll get to be on stage on Saturday, which happens to be my birthday. For me, that’s a great birthday treat.

Categories
It Happened to Me

Scenes from birthday dinner #1

Gin flight 1: Waterloo Ant, Tanqueray Sevilla Orange, Farmers Organic, F.E.W. American.
Gin flight 1: Opihr, Malfy Lemon, The Herb Garden, 6 O’Clock Brunel.
Short ribs, with mashed celery root, cipollini onions, crispy bacon, and sautéed mushrooms.
Catch of the day on black rice.
Flourless chocolate torte and coconut crème brulée.

Categories
The Current Situation The Good Fight

When you’re aiming to BOTH offend AND be offended…

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Categories
Accordion, Instrument of the Gods It Happened to Me Tampa Bay

I’m playing at Bayou Bistro in Tarpon Springs tonight!

Collage of photos of Joey deVilla and Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons playing on the dock at Bayou Bistro
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I’m playing with the house band — Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons — for open mic night at Bayou Bistro in Tarpon Springs from 5:30 to about 8:30 or so tonight! If you’re in the area and like seafood, beer, and great live music, come on over! If you want to play with us, bring your instrument!

If you’re curious, here are photos from last week’s gig.