November 21st, Retrophonics Studio - Jim and I laid down a new tune "The Looking Glass". I am now working on a new tune "The Giver and Taker" it was a lick George Reeves played while we were fooling around with "Change The World" in his studio in Cashiers, North Carolina. I'm pretty sure that's where it was. Anyway I'm excited to be working on another new tune. We also reworked "My Bird" for The Big Lonesome Rides Again CD. Jim DeVito is an amazing engineer and producer, I was disappointed when I didn't receive all the tracks from the original recording. Thank goodness for Kurt Johnston's two track mix and Jim DeVito's brilliance in combining the two, it made me smile today. A happy ending to this nightmare. I will be so happy to finish this project and release it. Next week I hope to get Frankie in to put drum tracks on "Rocket" a song Barry Dunaway and I pieced together at his studio Cave Canem.  Now those were some great memories!

November 22nd, I had a night off - Theresa and I had a fun evening with Wayne and Sue at Best Bet. I think they did pretty good, we did not. Good Sushi, drinks and just fun to hang out, it was a hoot.

November 23rd, Carpetbaggers at DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie at Hurricane Grill and Wings - It was a misty chilly night but what a crowd! Steve Spurrier was even in the crowd! 

November 24th, Happy Thanksgiving!

November 25th, DAVE at Aunt Kate's - It was a dreary day but I got the gig in. It sprinkled a couple of times but not enough to stop me. Great day, great folks to work for, great people who came out to sit on the porch by the water and listen to my music my while they are dining.

November 26th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie) St Augustine Fish House - We had a great night! A lot of our friends showed up. It was a blast! See you back here January 27th!

November 27th, DAVE at Aunt Kate's - It was kind of a dreary day but had some folks out on the porch by the water. Thanks Brian, Dave, Tina and staff you guys are the best!!!

I'm looking forward to getting in the studio with Frankie and putting drum tracks on "Rocket". Also finished a new tune can't wait to lay it down "The Taker and Giver". I'm working on a new one now "The Promises Broken". I had a zoom meeting last night with The North Star Band guys and we are going to get together at the end of January to start on our 4th project, I'm excited. Thanks for letting me live my dream! Keepin' It Real! -David

see you down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check out my upcoming performances here:
http://davidwattbesley.blogspot.com/p/schedule_31.html

Carpetbaggers Band

The North Star Band 

November 14th, Retrophonics Studio - Session was cancelled due to flooding! 

November 15th, Songwriter's Night at The Beacon Listening Room - The place was packed! Everyone kicked butt! Alex, Chris and Duffy you guys are great! Thanks Bob and thanks to the folks at The Beacon. See you back here on December 13th!

Dave, Bob, Duffy and Chris, and Alex

November 16th, Carpetbaggers DAVE and Tony at Hurricane Grill and Wings - Frankie was unable to make the show so it was me and Tony. It was a chilly cloudy evening, still a pretty good group of our friends, old and new, were there to see us. Fun night!

November 17th, Bagan and Company  - I missed hanging out with Dan, my well pump burned up and I had to spend the day trying to find someone to get the water going again. Thanks to Billy Turner for turning me onto Lester Lightsey, good plumber and a good man.

November 17th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Tony and Frankie at Pelican Pub - We had a nice night at the Pub. We're looking forward to Sue's return. Tony and Frankie kicked butt. We would also like to thank Lucille Ball for sitting in. Thanks Jennifer and staff you guys are the best!

November 18th, Carpetbaggers DAVE and Tony at  Tides Oyster Co - I had a great time! We had a nice crowd. After our show Theresa, Jay and I raced down to the St. Augustine Amphitheater to see The Last Waltz Tour with my friend Bob Margolin and many others. It was great to visit with Bob, the show was excellent, it's the second time I have seen it. Great night overall just a little chilly. 

Dave and Bob

Bob Margolin on stage at The Amp

November 19th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue and Frankie at  Borrillo's - It was a great chilly evening at Borrillo's even got a little rain at the end. Great to have Sue back in our air space. 

November 20th, DAVE at Aunt Kate's - I was cancelled due to the weather situation.

I would like to start off this closing by asking for prayers for our friend and partner Dan Bagan. He is very sick and could use them! Thank you!

It's been a wonderful week. It's good to have Sue back. I'm looking forward to cutting my new song "The Looking Glass" at Retrophonics Studio today. I am also looking forward to getting "Rocket" ready for Frankie's drums next week and working on the mix for "My Bird", this version will appear on The Big Lonesome Rides Again. We're getting closer and closer to it being released. It was nice meeting Lucille Ball this week and also seeing my friend Bob Margolin with The Last Waltz Tour. Thanks for letting me live my dream! Keepin' It Real"  -David

see you down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check out my upcoming performances here:
http://davidwattbesley.blogspot.com/p/schedule_31.html

Carpetbaggers Band

The North Star Band 

November 7th, Retrophonics Studio - Jim and I worked on the "My Bird" mix.

November 9th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Tony and Frankie at Hurricane Grill and Wings -  Cancelled due to weather.

November 10th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Frankie and Tony Pelican Pub - Cancelled due to weather.

November 11th, 12th and 13th, DAVE at The Big Deck - DAVE It was a great weekend! I left a lot of things I needed. My music book with all my lyrics, my mic stand, thanks Wayne for lending me one, my guitar stand and my banner. Somehow I made it through,  I'm and idiot. Always a great time playing for all my old and new friends in Cedar Key. Thanks Bryan, the clam chowder was great, Darlene and staff! See you in January (13th, 14th and 15th).

Jim's studio flooded again so I won't be in the studio on Monday. I'd hoped to lay down tracks on my new tune "The Looking Glass". Dan Bagan has been sick but getting better so I will not be at Bagan and Company this week either. Thanks for letting me live my dream!!! Keepin' It Real!-David

see you down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check out my upcoming performances here:
http://davidwattbesley.blogspot.com/p/schedule_31.html

Carpetbaggers Band

The North Star Band 

October 31st, Retrophonics - Jim and I had a great session. We laid down "The Fool" and "The Magic Pill" for project #6 . Next week I hope to have "The Looking Glass" completed. We are also going to concentrate on The Big Lonesome Rides Again.  

October 31st, Bagan and Company "LIVE" - The live show was canceled, and the date moved because Clay Blasser had a scheduling problem and then on the rescheduled day, Dan Bagan was sick. It looks like November's "LIVE" show was not destined to happen. See you December 6th. We hope Dan is feeling better!

November 2nd, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue, Tony & Frankie at Hurricane Grill and Wings - What a night! The place was packed! Great to see Laurence and Barbara!

November 3rd, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie at Pelican Pub - We had fun!

November 4th, 5th and 6th, The Shrimp and Grits Festival, Jekyll island, Ga. -  Friday Sue and I played on the Skeet Stage. We had a good show, just quit before a little rain came. It was good to see our friends from Virginia and our St. Augustine friends out in the audience. On Saturday Frankie and Tony joined Sue and I, and the Carpetbaggers took the main stage for a couple hours in the evening. What a blast! Then on Sunday I played a Songwriter's event with Jefferson Ross, Fester Hagood and Ed Pickett. It was a blast. Ed joined us on stage a few times throughout the weekend. We would like to thank the folks at  Jekyll Island and most of all Ed and Kristen Pickett. We all had a great time working with some great folks! See you next year!

Dave, Sue, Frankie, Eddie, Tony

Eddie, Jefferson, Fester, Dave

I hope to do some work with Jim Devito on The Big Lonesome project.  We are praying for Dan Bagan's quick recovery. Thanks for letting me live my dream!!! Keepin' It Real! -David

see you down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check out my upcoming performances here:
http://davidwattbesley.blogspot.com/p/schedule_31.html

Carpetbaggers Band

The North Star Band 

October 24th, Retrophonics Studios - We worked on "Rocket", I added a bass part. Jim spent the rest of the time trying to pull this 7 minute song I wrote together. I have 2 more new songs  "The Fool" and "The Magic Pill" I hope to get to next week. I just listened through what we have so far on the Poor-Dum project and I am very excited.

October 26th, Carpetbaggers, DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie at Hurricane Grill and Wings - It was good to have Frankie with us tonight. I enjoyed the evening thanks for coming out!

October 27th, Bagan and Company - Dan and I tied up a few loose ends for our "LIVE" show.  

October 27th - Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie at the Pelican Pub - We had a great night! Thanks Jeff, Jennifer and staff. You guys are the best!

October 28th, DAVE at Aunt Kate's - Canceled due to rain! 

I hope to move forward on our Best Of The Carpetbaggers "LIVE" video with Dan at Bagan and Company. Thanks for letting me live my dream!!!  Keepin' It Real!!! -David

see you down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check out my upcoming performances here:
http://davidwattbesley.blogspot.com/p/schedule_31.html

Carpetbaggers Band

The North Star Band 

October 17th, Retrophonics Studios - Jim and friends busted their asses to get the studio up and running after storm Ian. Frankie was on drums today, he played a couple great drum tracks on "Get Along Little Pony" and "Harpoon Sadie". We only have one more drum track for "Rocket" and Frankie will be done except for vocals. After Frankie left, Jim and I organized all the tunes we have been tracking. We are working on Poor-Dum which is going to be my 5th solo CD. We're also working on Say Grace our 3rd Carpetbaggers' release. There is also a new group of songs we are calling #6 that has seven new songs in it. Next week I will be laying down tracks on two new songs "The Fool" and "The Magic Pill". 

October 17th, Songwriter's Night at Pelican Landing - It was a blast as ususal! I was wore out but had fun hanging with Bob, Bert and Don. Thanks for supporting original music!

October 18th, I had a day off. We had dinner at Black Fly with Bill and Barb Bartow. Bill is an old friend of mine from Virginia. We had some good laughs and a nice dinner, they'll head to their home on the gulf coast in the morning.  

Dinner with the Bill and Barb

October 19th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue and Tony at Hurricane Grill and Wings - We had a great night! it was a little chilly by the end but we made it through. Thanks for hanging out with us. 

October 20th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie at Pelican Pub - Jeff and Jennifer we nice enough to invite us to play at the Pelican Pub tonight. The Pelican Landing is now closed. We will have to see if this is a good fit for us and the Pub. So far so good!

October 21st, Carpetbaggers DAVE and Sue at  Tides Oyster Co - I had a great night doing the show with Sue. Always a fun time at the venue.

October 22nd, Catrpetbaggers DAVE, Sue,Tony and Frankie at Borrillo's - Another nice night at Borrillo's. See you back here on November 9th.

October 23rd, DAVE at Aunt Kate's - It was a great afternoon on the porch by the water! 

I'm looking forward to working with Jim on a bass part for "Rocket" and laying down tracks for two new tunes I wrote "The Magic Pill" and "The Fool". Thanks for letting me live my dream!!! Keepin' it Real! -David

see you down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check out my upcoming performances here:
http://davidwattbesley.blogspot.com/p/schedule_31.html

Carpetbaggers Band

The North Star Band 

October 10th, OFF - I'm trying to recall a song Lou Hager and I started to write in the late 70s, "One Wreck Of A Man". I can't find the tape so I will remember as much as I can and send it to Lou and see if he can put it all together.

October 11th, OFF again  - I made some changes to the beginning and end of "The Fool", a new song I've written.  I first called it, "What's The Difference". I've also written a tune "The Magic Pill". I hope to lay tracks down on them next week at Retrophonics Studio with Jim DeVito. I'm looking forward to seeing my Dad and Margie in South Carolina later today. 

October 12th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue and Tony at Hurricane Grill and Wings -  Great night! You couldn't ask for better weather and folks to play for. See you next week!

October 13th, Bagan and Company- Dan gave me the audio for our October 4th "LIVE" show at Bagan & Company. We worked on the layout for  Poor-dum. 

October 13th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie at Pelican Landing - We had a blast! We're looking forward to our show at Rhythm and Ribs tomorrow.

October 14th, Carpetbaggers DAVE, Sue, Tony and Frankie at The Rhythm and Ribs Festival - We had a great time! All the folks working this event were so nice. I hope we get a chance to play this event next year! Later, Theresa, Sue, Wayne and the one we call Jim went to see Gov't Mule and Old Crow Medicine Show at The Amp.  I had a chance to hang out with Matt for a bit, he kicked ass. A great day overall, wish they were all like this.

Dave and Matt

Dave, Matt Sue, Wayne and Jim

October 15th, Private Party - Peter and Geri were great hosts! It was nice.

October 16th, DAVE at Aunt Kate's - Mike Howard's daughter was getting married so I worked his gig. I was glad to do it. It turned out to be a beautiful day on the porch by the water.

I hope to get into the studio tomorrow at Retrophonics with Frankie and Jim. This was a real busy week I am looking forward to a day off. Thanks for letting me live my dream!!!  Keepin' It Real!-David

see you down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
check out my upcoming performances here:
http://davidwattbesley.blogspot.com/p/schedule_31.html

Carpetbaggers Band

The North Star Band