Sunday night, as I was about to begin the sound check on our Stephen Talkhouse show with The Harlequin, Lucious the soundman said, "Are you coming to the Toots & the Maytals show on Tuesday? I think you should because he is really fun, and he sort of invented the word reggae out of one of his first songs in 1968." I said, "Sure, I'll be there", and thought immediately that this would be great material and timing for my "live music view" for hamptonsview.com and so here I am.

Now this show was to have started at 8pm, according to the bill of $80 per ticket. It was a full house and judging by the images a success. But then again only the owner will ultimately know at the end of the night. Jim, who helps with all the technicalities, sound, bands reception, and usually welcoming these HUGE acts to the small but incredible stage of the "Talkhouse" (www.StephenTalkhouse.com), said to me they were late...so just hang.

It made me think again about all the history of this Talk House or is it talkhouse and about what co-owner Peter Honerhamp had made happen here sort of by mistake or by genius. Plum TV interviewed him once and Nancy Atlas gave him the spotlight. Once again he went over how he purchased this small bar and began his venture with live music. He is a legend around here for several reasons. But to me he is also a good friend and tough business club owner who deals with me as a struggling artist, begging for gigs at times, artists, etc. Over the years we have learned to deal with each other. We have our ups and downs but we remain friends, softball partners when I don't gig on Sundays, political pals, always fixing the world. He is a smart sensible father, at times with too much in his mind.

There is so much to talk about with the Talkhouse. I mean look at the bill this week and the names are just mindboggling. There's Toots, Christopher Cross, Arrested Development, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Susan Vega, and did I say Europa! The Harlequin Brothers and more... Yes, it is sort of a treat and an honor for us/me when I play there.

That is why, when it went less than perfect on Sunday for me for drummer reasons, I was totally depressed and down. We had a pretty good turn out, which is always a hard thing when you are a "Yocal" but that was fine. It is our show that went down south quickly...mix alcohol and other things and the best can go real wrong. Anyway The Harlequin Brothers were great and delivered, while we did not.

The hard work behind the Talkhouse, if you think about it, is incredible. The juggling of big acts, booking them, paying for them, making it work and not losing money. It is a great accomplishment, no question. Peter knows his stuff and I wish he would let me play there a bit more...but it is hard. Things are hard no matter what since the club needs staff, and there are sometimes small margins, cold winter nights, and empty shows. Yes, the big names attract but then how do you keep them there…a second band comes in...local or from up island and the game begins...

Alfredo and Toots

The Sting tapping I saw there was amazing, the Crosby CNI night, the Susan Vega opening date tour, the Richie Haven legendary freedom songs... We are so lucky to have this. And yes, Peter always somehow takes care of business. It is amazing that he pulls it off almost like clock work, year after year selling $130 tickets to pay the huge fee to get these great acts into a very small space. And he still makes it work somehow. "I lose money sometimes," he says to me, "if I don't sell 200 $100 tickets then I can't pay them, so I have to pay out of pocket." It is a tricky part of the job and requires great knowledge.

We are sent an email sometimes from Peter asking, " Would you pay $40 for this show or that one?" I suppose he receives his response...then he books them. I wonder if it is how he does it. Maybe it's a combination, luck also and finally track record since he has been doing this for 20 years almost.

Back to last night and the Toots, a name he got from his brother, I am told. And the Maytals is his last real name…how great is that! I wish my name would work like that. I guess it is a sign...that you are bound for great stuff if it happens by virtue of destiny, but it rarely does.

The Toots show starts with me meeting him - it is great to shake his hand and tell him, "Have fun and a great show."

The material on the first set is a reggae, which one would not really expect...more like R&B mix with touches of reggae. I am sure as the show went on it got more like a traditional night but I had to leave early...I had to take care of family.

The CD, "True Love" available at www.tootsandthemaytals.com, which I bought is a Santana-like supernatural mixture of musicians playing and singing with him. As I am writing this I am listening to it. Bonny Rait, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck - these are big artists working with Toots which is a tribute to who he is. It's a good CD and I recommend you get it.

The man did his thing and delivered just look at the images and recommend it!

There are plenty of upcoming shows you cannot miss at the Stephen Talkhouse. Here are my picks:

 • Thursday, August 6 at 8:00 p.m. - Christopher Cross ($90-$75)
 • Monday, August 9 at 8:00 p.m. - Jimmy Cliff ($100)
 • Friday, August 13 at 8:00 p.m. - Southside Johnny & Ashbury Jukes with Nancy Atlas late band ($115)
 • Friday, August 20 at 8:00 p.m. - Garland Jeffreys & friends tribute to Mike Rubenstein ($50-$60)
 • Saturday, August 21 at 8:00 p.m. - Steel Pulse ($100)
 • Tuesday, August 24 at 8:00 p.m. - Taj Mahal ($115)

And so many more - go to their web site and see for yourself!