It’s natural to be curious about your family history. Isn’t the success of services like 23AndMe evidence of this? I suppose the human question is always this: who am I and where did I come from? I’m no different—I love to learn about my family’s past. Maybe you remember our single from 2022 about my uncle, “Uncle Jimmy”? I’m heading down a similar path for this new song. My dad and my aunt recently retold a story about another uncle, my uncle Richie, known in the Chorba circle as “Richie the Crooked Cop”. Now I don’t know if any of this is true but apparently there was some sort of warehouse fire and when the firemen came Uncle Riche was inside with the local Trenton gamblers rolling dice. This landed him a desk job and some infamy.
I got to thinking…if I was to do some time traveling, where might I end up? Would I be one of the good guys? The bad guy? The bystander? The up-stander? The victim? Maybe I’d be with Uncle Richie—shooting craps while the place burned down. Here’s the song in a very rough form. We’ve already recorded all the tunes for our 2024 album so I’m putting this one on the back burner and we’ll see if it ever goes anywhere, but it was fun to write it and to record this demo late last night.
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend!
- Mick
P.S. Our friend Todd Ellis has a new restaurant in Stockton, NJ just above Lambertville. This weekend the area celebrates Shadfest—The Successful Failures are playing at Todd’s place, The Starving Artist Cafe, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 (full band electric). Free concert. If you’re in the area plan to come see us and get some food at the Cafe. Full show schedule below.
Shooting Craps With Uncle Richie I could be riding on the shoulders Of an elephant in India With my family all caught up in the war I could be enslaved I could be the enslaver The child who has stepped out of the corn When the bombs have stopped falling And the angels start calling I know where I'll be found Shooting craps with Uncle Richie While the place burns down Ah, na-na-na-na There were days when the thunder Like waves would be pull me under My head all caught up in the storm Then I start to wonder As I run for cover If my lover loves me anymore The lightning is striking And now the Vikings Have pulled into the sound I'm shooting craps with Uncle Richie While the place burns down Ah, na-na-na-na They were sitting in a Studebaker Waiting for the undertaker On the dark side of the town Through the fog a shape was forming A shot came without warning And the undertaker crumbled to the ground The city was on fire Burning like a pyre The ashes falling to the ground I'm shooting craps with Uncle Richie While the place burns down Ah, na-na-na-na
Upcoming Shows
Fri. 4/19 7:30 - Crosswicks Community House..opening for Comedy Night, Croswwicks, NJ
Sun. 4/21 2:00 - Shadfest outside Starving Artist Cafe, Stockton, NJ
Fri. 4/26 9:00 - John and Peters, New Hope, PA w/ Alpha Rabbit and another band - full band electric
Sat. 4/27 - Screamin Hill 2:00 - 5:00 2 man acoustic
Sat. 4/27 7:00 - Union Firehouse Mt. Holly - full band electric
Sun. 4/28 12:00 - 3:00 Mick Solo at Chesterfield Green Fun Fair
Thu. 5/2 7:00 Abilene Lounge in Rochester, NY - full band electric
Fri. 5/3 7:00 - 10:00 Bridie’s Manor, Oswego, NY - full band electric
Sat. 5/4 7:00 Garrett’s Brewery, Trumansburg, NY - full band electric
Sat. 5/11 5:00 Chesterfield Porchfest - full band electric
Sat. 5/18 2:30 Steel Mill Street Fair, Roebling, NJ - full band electric
Fri. 5/24 7:00 Beach Haus Brewery, Belmar, NJ - acoustic duo
Sat. 5/25 7:00 Spellbound Brewing, Mount Holly, NJ 7:00 - 10:-- full band
Sat. 6/88 4:00 (SF on at 6:00) Bordentown Concert Series at Gilder Field - full band electric
Sun 6/9, time tba (afternoon) Trio Tavern - Zufffest Williamstown, NJ - full band electric
Wed. 6/26 6:00 Music in the Square, Chesterfield, NJ - full band electric
Sat. 6/29 Screamin Hill, Cream Ridge, NJ
Sun 6/30 Beach Haus Brewery, Belmar, NJ acoustic duo
Fri. 7/12 HOB Tavern, Bordentown, NJ
Shooting Craps With Uncle Richie