Here's Joe's latest Patty G news:

Patty and I are playing out regularly. Gigs at Eastside Cafe and Seany B's have been very good. Both club managers are harassing us for more dates, but playing out tends to slow down the recording process, so I'm being very selective.

We are slowly working in new songs into the set. Unfortunately a lot of what we do is improvised on the spot and I don't have set lists. I got a new 12 string acoustic and that is filling out our sound quite nicely.

Here's Joe's latest Patty G news:

No new gig info yet. John Hall is doing a benefit, but it's John Sebastian's (Lovin' Spoonful) show at the Towne Crier in Pawling, NY March 16. There may be a more rock style show down the line.

Patty and I are getting back up to speed. We played last night in a restaurant. It was a great show even with the intimate crowd.

Here's Joe's latest news:

I'm playing with Patty at Dittos this Thursday. She is still not 100% recovered, but she's going stir crazy from sitting home. I think she's doing a great job getting the word out on myspace.

If that Dittos gig goes well we may play there twice a month as a regular thing. It will help get us back in the groove so to speak.

Here's Joe's latest news:

Patty is still recovering from her back surgery, so we've put any immediate duo gigs on hold. I could do solo acoustic gigs but would that be any fun?

As it was our scheduled Dec 23 2005 at Vivos was canceled by the club anyway so I didn't get a substitute or play solo. Patty is busy with her website on myspace.com. She's getting the word out on our project, and many great comments are pouring in.

Here's Joe's latest news:

I don't have set lists for the 14/15th October Joe Bouchard and Patty G Acoustic shows. The Blue Bar show (11 Nov 2005) was canceled because the club scheduled a private party at the last minute. Also, it was the day Patty had her back surgery, so the cancellation worked out for the best.

Patty's surgery was successful and she will be recovering for up to three months. She doesn't want to get back playing until she's fully recovered. She's starting to sing again and is doing breathing exercises to strengthen her voice. The doctor said she could lose her voice up to six months, but she's already back rehearsing and practicing her singing.

In the meantime I'm working on demos of new material.

I did perform and Vivo's on Nov 18 with Frank Brocklehurst on upright bass. Also I performed at the GW on Nov 26 with Jennifer Wojcik on percussion and vocals. Jennifer is a music teacher I work with at the Gunnery Prep School.

Here's hoping Patty has a speedy and full recovery!!

Here's Joe's latest news in the form of a quick Q&A:

Got a name yet for you and Patty???

We're still searching for a name. Driveslaver isn't bad, but we'd probably only get gigs opening for Slipknot and Mudvayne. ;-)!

Any news on the CD with Patty G?

The CD is a little behind schedule. Slowly I've been getting the new software I need, but I still have yet to purchase a Mac G5. It will be here sometime this fall. My studio is going through a major renovation. I've got a new window. As I type this email, the carpenter is installing a new air conditioner in the wall. It's hard to type, much less record with sawing and hammering going on. LOL!

Patty and I are writing lots of new songs and we will to do several new demos before finalizing the list of songs for the CD. I have to wear two hats in this group. Since I'm the producer as well as performer, I have to consider whether all the songs are good enough, and what sounds would make this CD stand out. I want this project to really be right, so if it takes a few more months to put the pieces of the puzzle together that's okay.

Any new setlists for the archive?

Here is the set list from our gig at The City Ale House Danbury, CT (formerly the Hat City Ale House) Aug. 5, 2005. We weren't sure how this would go over since the other back was pretty hardcore. Actually it turned out very well. The other band wasn't too loud and they and their friends liked the acoustic sets. We will be playing there again this fall.

Set 1
Music Makes Me Feel Alive
Runnin Out of Time
The Cowboy's Dream
Which Road is Mine?
Party Like a RockStar
Burnin for You

Set 2
A local metal band called Ordinary Trauma played at set. Good band, good singers with good songs. They also covered songs from bands like Tool and Korn.

Set 3
Jukebox in My Head
Opened Doors
Do It All for You
Light Years of Love
Wish You Were Here
Comfortably Numb
Reaper

Set 4
Ordinary Trauma plays another set.

Here's Joe's latest news:

THE BLUE BAR JUNE 3, 2005 JOE BOUCHARD & PATTY G ACOUSTIC

The Blue Bar was a little more sedate than Mary's was. It was my first time playing there. The crowd was friendly and appreciative. We played 30 minutes past when we were supposed to quit.

SET 1
Foxey Lady (jazzy version)
Norwegian Wood
Jukebox in My Head
Light Years of Love
Opened Doors
Burnin for You
If I had a $1,000,000
Tomorrow Never Knows
The Cowboy's Dream
Desire
Do It All for You
Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies version)
A Million Degrees
Love's a Killer
Desperado (Alice not Eagles)
Overdriven
Reaper

Set 2
Love Train (O'Jay's Cover)
I Think I Slept with Jackie Kennedy Last Night
Beautiful Dancer
Lawyers Guns and Money
Knockin On Heaven's Door
Last Time
Comfortably Numb
Wish You Were Here

Set 3
Music Makes Me Feel Alive
French Toast
End of the Line
Everlong
Save Tonight (with Tommy Carey vocal)

Here's Joe's take on his recent gigs in Danbury with Patty G:

"The show at Vivo's in Danbury Feb. 25 I recorded on minidisc, but when I got to Mary's on Saturday I found I didn't have any blank discs so the disc was initialized in order to record the Mary's show at least for the second and fourth sets. So the record of that set list is gone and the Vivo's show will have to go into the unknown set list category. "

"I remember listening to the playback later and thinking it was a very musical night. I loved the singing. The place is usually very quiet, so that is where we work on out singing parts and tryout new songs. We played three sets. The first set was unusual in that it started with a percussion jam where Patty and I both played hand drums to prerecorded jazz. It was a loads of fun. "

Joe's posted some details of some upcoming gigs on J&A's:

"I just want you to know that the X Brothers are playing at the Chat 19 American Grill in Larchmont, NY on March 4th. It's been almost 11 months since our last show (Florida April 2004). The Chat 19 Lounge is located at 19 Chatsworth Ave. Larchmont NY. The club phone is: 914-833-8871"

"More dates:
The Joe Bouchard and Patty G Acoustic Project is playing Danbury CT this coming Friday Feb. 25 2005. This intimate venue is called Vivo's in the Maron Hotel. It's a very fine restaurant and nice bar, a good place to tryout new songs and arrangements."

"And don't forget the good times guaranteed at Ale Mary's Pub on March 12th with Joe Bouchard and Friends."

Stop Press: last minute Joe and Patty G gig on January 29:

"Patty and I are gigging tomorrow night in Danbury Connecticut (January 29). It's a last minute thing, a hotel lounge gig. I am excited about it since we get to play 3 sets and we can do pretty much anything we want. I've got a new acoustic guitar, a Breedlove that sounds amazing, and I just bought a new Marshall 100 watt amp for acoustic guitar. Gotta love that gear. ;-)!"

Joe's latest Patty G news:

The set we played at The King Club in Centereach long Island, NY was three songs The songs were Which Road Is Mine?, Jukebox in My Head, and The Cowboy's Dream. It was a great set, very well received. Long Island fans are always very outspoken. After "Which Road . . " one guy in the audience said something like "that's the greatest song BOC never did." When I mentioned that I wrote another song for James Hetfield, somebody said "Hetfield sucks balls!" LOL!!!

Patty and I also performed with an old friend, Larry Hoppen. He is the lead singer in the popular group, Orleans. We did Dance with Me (background vocals and me on mandolin solo) and Still the One (background vocals and mando).

After Patty and I did our set, I played two songs on bass with Richie Scarlet. We played an original blues called 3 O'clock in the Morning, and the cover tune Wild Thing. Patrick Johansson from Sweden played drums and Pete Gallinari played keyboards. I hung out all night with Carmine Appice, who was scheduled to play, but I had to split before he went on. Also, I had a nice conversation with Joey Belladonna, former singer from Anthrax.

The jury's still out on what the Joe/Patty G collaboration project will be called:

"The Name Game? Yeah, we started as the Cool Prototypes, and it looked like the name was available, but after a month the name didn't seem so cool. We're still searching for a name. "

"For the moment it is called The Joe Bouchard and Patty G Acoustic Project. We were DriveSlaver for a week, but it seemed to imply something else. Patty and I named our publishing company Driveslaver Tunes, but we don't think we'll use it for the whole project. Any suggestions? It's the hardest thing about being in a band. Why do you think so many bands end up with stupid names? At least the name Blue Oyster Cult has a bit of cool about it. ;-) "

As for the new CD:

"Rockstar" is the name of our mini CD and has eight tracks.

1. Jukebox in My Head [ 04:58 ]
2. Beautiful Dancer [ 03:30 ]
3. Getting Pleased (A Million Degrees) [ 04:42 ]
4. Desire [ 04:07 ]
5. Which Road is Mine? [ 04:55 ]
6. The Cowboy's Dream [ 05:22 ]
7. Party Like a RockStar [ 03:32 ]
8. Which Road is Mine? (bonus acoustic track Live from Arlene's) [ 04:49 ]

"It's not for sale yet as we're still finishing up the production on several tracks. I plan to upgrade my computer before Christmas and start seriously recording then. I have to learn some new software, but the sonic improvements will be well worth it."

Open mics? Here's the big list of "Protos" gigs from the summer:

May 6 Marbledale Pub, Marbledale, CT Hoot Night. Our debut gig. Three songs: French Toast, Which Road is Mine? and Cowboy's Dream.
May 19 Open Mic 59 Bank Street Restaurant, New Milford, CT Cowboy's Dream, Desire, French Toast and Reaper
May 20 Marbledale Pub Hoot Night. Set list unknown.
May 27 Ale Mary's Pub, Millbrook, NY Two songs: Which Road Is Mine? and Cowboy's Dream
June 3 Marbledale Pub Hoot Night. Set list unknown.
June 9 Open Mic 59 Bank Street Restaurant, New Milford, CT
June 17 Marbledale Pub Hoot Night. Set list unknown.
June 18 Cool Prototypes in the Vivo Room, Maron Hotel, Danbury, CT Full gig in a nice restaurant. Set lists unknown.
June 20 Open Mic at Widow Browns Cafe, Danbury, CT Set list unknown.
June 26 Cellsum Anniversary in NYC - Arlene's Grocery NYC Cool Prototypes opening act, five songs: Jukebox in My Head, Music Makes Me Feel Alive, Which Road is Mine? Desire, The Cowboy's Dream.
July 3 Mary's Pub Joe Bouchard and Friends show. Set 1 all originals with Patty G and Burnin for You.
July 15 Two open mics in one night. 9 PM show Georgetown Saloon, Georgetown, CT and Marbledale Pub 11 PM show. Set lists unknown.
Aug 17 Open Mic The BoxCar, Southport, CT Set list unknown.
Aug 25 Open Mic 59 Bank Street Restaurant, New Milford, CT Party Like a Rockstar, Cowboy's Dream, Jukebox in My Head, Burnin for You, encores: Desire. Which Road is Mine?
Sept 25 Mary's Pub Joe Bouchard and Friends show. Set 1 Party Like a Rockstar, Jukebox, Cowboy, Which Road?, Deeply Pleased (A Million Degrees), Desire, and Burnin for You.
Nov 25 Open Stage - Club Helsinki, Great Barrington, MA
Dec 1 Open Mic 59 Bank Street Restaurant, New Milford, CT
Dec 2 Live on WPKN FM and the Internet, Bridgeport CT
Dec 4 The King's Club Centereach LI NY Rock for Xmas Benefit (see above for set list)

Whew! 20 gigs and counting. We're off for the holidays now. That's all for now. See you in '05.

On 2 December 2004 Joe and Patty G were special guests on WPKN radio, Bridgeport, CT and for an hour they chatted and played some new demo songs from their upcoming "Rockstar" 8-track mini-CD project live in the studio. New tunes played were "Party Like a Rockstar", "Jukebox in my Head", "The Cowboy's Dream" and "Which Road Is Mine". More details on this CD are provided below...

Joe also played The Stooges' "1969"... OK? Apparently it was another year for me and you... another 12 months without any definite prospects on the horizon... boo hoo!!! Or something like that... I think Joe should do "I Wanna Be your Dog" off that LP too...

BOC played one or two gigs with the Stooges back in the day - most notably the Academy New Years Eve gigs in 1973 and I think maybe these tie with the 1972 shows with Alice (Killer tour) as the gigs I'd most like to have seen...

Oh and then there was that show with the MC5... and the one with the Dead... and let's not forget that Chubby Checker gig!!