John-Alex Mason’s Jook Joint Thunderclap

That’s sort of the path that Colorado-based guitarist John-Alex Mason has taken. His first recordings, about ten years back, found him performing solo acoustic blues heavily influenced by his Delta heroes. In the time since, he’s experimented with the one-man-band format, a duo setting (on a 2002 album with string player Gerry Hundt) and some full-band performances. All of Mason’s outings have been professional and tasteful, but rarely has he stretched out and given something new to the blues.

That’s what makes Jook Joint Thunderclap such a leap forward for Mason. For the first time, it sounds like he’s playing what he wants to play rather than what he thinks we want to hear. And what he’s come up with is a veritable explosion of sound that crosses cultural and musical lines in ways young artists rarely do. Though it’s essentially a North Mississippi Hill Country record, Mason adds elements of rap, African music, and roots styles, resulting in a sonic melting pot that feels wholly individual. It’s filled with the most daring tracks he’s ever recorded.

Mississippi Hill Country Blues

Several songs are straight Mississippi Hill Country blues of the hypnotic, one-chord variety. “My Old Lonesome Home” powers forward like a locomotive chugging down the tracks, powered by Mason’s raw, nasty cigar-box guitar and guest Hundt’s galvanizing harmonica. Mason first recorded the blues standard “Signifyin’ Monkey” for his 2000 album Walking Tracks in an a cappella rendition; he completely overhauls the song this time, turning the jungle allegory into a trance-y single-chord stomp. And on “Free,” frenzied-pace djembe drumming by Guinean player Fara Dolno combines with an Otis Taylor-like guitar riff for a volcanic eruption of pure rhythmic intensity.

“Gone So Long” and “Riding On” also encompass the Hill Country sound, but both songs are given a twist. “Gone So Long” is the first example of blues-rap I’ve heard that actually works. Other artists have tried this approach and ended up sounding gimmicky; here, it succeeds largely because it’s done in such an organic, non-electronic way: Cody Burnside (grandson of the late R.L. Burnside) simply raps a verse over Mason’s slithering, addictive guitar lines. “Riding On” is the most musically rich tune here, with Burnside rapping over a track that includes such exotic instruments as the bolofone (an African instrument that sounds like a marimba), the djembe adding an extra layer of percussion over the already propulsive drumming of Cedric Burnside (also a grandson of R.L.). It ends up sounding like something from late-period Captain Beefheart.

Rolled and Tumbled

Another highlight is “Rolled and Tumbled.” On this cover of the classic by the Tennessee-based early bluesman Hambone Willie Newbern, Mason lets his words ooze out slowly like maple syrup from a bottle, resulting in an angular, John Lee Hooker-esque rhythm that also suggests the fractured blues of Los Lobos side project Houndog.

Not everything here has a Hill Country, or even a blues, flavor. “More Than Wind” is a gorgeous ballad that has Lionel Young’s fiddle weaving around Hundt’s delicate mandolin, and Mason singing one of his prettiest melodies.”Diamond Rain” is a countryish tune with a minor-key Appalachian lilt, Young contributing a cheery fiddle solo that echoes the song’s upbeat sentiment. And the album-closing “Whisper,” performed solo acoustic, is a loving ode to Mason’s wife that recalls his early work.

Ken’s Bottom Line

Jook Joint Thunderclap marks John-Alex Mason’s maturation as an artist. He has clearly moved beyond the stage where he’s mimicking his influences and reached a point where he can himself influence other performers. In developing his own musical personality, he’s recorded an album as rich, lively and just plain fun as anything that’s come out this year. Ballads aside, it’s so high-energy that you’re practically exhausted – in a good way – by the time you finish its ten tracks. (Naked Jaybird Music, released February 15, 2011)

http://blues.about.com/od/cddvdreview1/fr/John-Alex-Mason-Jook-Joint-Thunderclap-2011.htm

Guide Disclosure: A review copy of this CD, DVD, or book was provided by the record label, publisher, or publicist. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

The amazing grandsons of legendary R.L Burnside, Corey and Cedric, provide the sick drum grooves, and rap styling on “Gone So Long,” and the Hooker-esque “Riding On,” and “Free.” Mason adds djembe and slip sliding vocals to his fresh reading of time old classic “Rolled and Tumbled,” while the lively two step “Diamond Rain,” evokes both the high plains and the savanna, with the fiddle and djembe dancing two and fro. The whole group goes to church on the rousing Fred McDowell Mississippi classic “Write Me A Few of Your Lines.” The album closes with Mason returning to solo acoustic for the intimate ode “Whisper,” but fans can go online and add Mason and Co. doing a foot stomp shuffle on Robert Johnson’s “You’ve Got a Good Friend,” as an epilogue.

Jook Joint Thunderclap is a brave step for an artist who seemingly could do it all alone but decided to invite the wider world to join in his party.

John- Alex Mason – Jook Joint Thunderclap
Naked Jaybird Music/ Burnside Dist.

http://www.johnalexmason.com/

http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/cd-review-john-alex-mason-jook-joint-thunderclap

Last night felt really good.  Played Solo without the drums for the first time in a while.  I have a new amp from Don Ritter at Category 5 and have finally been able to get the tones about perfect.  I like playing solo electric.  There is something about being able to push that tube tone with voice only.  I love the acoustic tone too but now, for now, the tone of this little Tsunami amp and my guitars plugged straight in sounds just right to me.

Valerie June, the amazing and wonderful, was on the bill last night as well.  I first heard Val trying out guitars at the now gone Memphis Guitar Store on Madison in Mid-town Memphis.  I do love me some eBay but I would much rather pay a bit more to be able to plug the guitar in first, turn the amp up first, you know look the thing in the eye before you take it home.  And for all that, on eBay I have yet to bump into anything or anyone as worth discovering as Valerie June.  As I headed home I was hearing the Carter Family and Junior Kimbrough in my head and when she sings the trad stuff she catches so well that is a fair description, a modern day cross of Jessie Mae Hemphill and June Carter.  But her originals, especially the ones she has found in dreams, open a whole new sun-drenched valley to Val.  It is like traveling familiar roads through old familiar land and rounding a corner to never seen before sights.  A sunset that transforms the land, a glimpse of a deer or bear that suddenly unfolds the wild, the new the vivid in front of you.  I think I could listen to Raindance for a day or two.  If you haven’t heard Valerie June, go now to her website and order her music.  http://www.valeriejune.com

We had dinner with Terry Hayden, the man behind the New Homa music festival in Woodland Park that is going off today.  We talked a little about what it would take to bring a festival culture to the West Side.  More to come on this one I hope, I hope.  If you are looking for something to do today… head up the pass to New Homa fest… Valerie June will be playing…

So this morning it was yeasty waffles with Ruth, playing guitar on the porch and watching the folks run by to run up the mountain.  Tomorrow a big show with BB King at the Denver Botanic Gardens.  Most of all I am looking forward to playing again.

The title is obviously a paraphrase of Muddy’s famous quote, “The Blues had a baby, and they named it Rock and Roll.”  That phrase kept rolling around my head last night as I listened to the Cedric Burnside Project.  If Rock and Roll is the baby of the Blues, then Rap and Hip Hop are the grandkids.  And they were on stage together last night at the Boulder Outlook.  To take the theme even further, Cedric and baby brother Cody are the grandsons of Blues legend, R. L. Burnside, and they offer up all kinds of proof of their lineage.

Cedric, or “Ced,” as his friends call him (and I’m now one!), is a triple threat: guitar, drums, and a voice that makes butter seem bitter.  The evening opened with the amazing one man wall of sound, John-Alex Mason, alone on guitar.  I’ve known John-Alex for a few years now, and yet this was the first time I’ve heard him alone on guitar.  He typically plays his solo gigs on guitar and drums simultaneously, creating the illusion of a full band, and with a voice that was made for singing the Blues.  I loved hearing him stripped down and raw last night.  And then he brought up a couple of friends.

He introduced Cody Burnside, and during the applause, big brother Ced quietly got behind the drums.  John-Alex and Cody then did what inspired this title:  mixed some deep, nasty Blues with rap like I’ve never heard before, trading verses and styles seamlessly.  It was the first time I so clearly recognized the apparent genealogy between the two genres.  And that relation would repeatedly present itself throughout the evening.

Now granted, old Blueshound that I am, I’ve not really heard much rap beyond college students driving down my street with their windows down, but I still know enough to be certain what I heard was of the exceptional variety.  Cody’s voice is seductively beautiful, and his lyrics flow with such ease that it boggles the mind that anyone can write or freestyle like that.  And again with that voice!

After a very short break, Ced took the stage alone, sitting on a chair with a guitar.  That’s when I first heard his voice.  He and Cody are clearly brothers, both possessing voices of angels.  During Ced’s solo set, one name kept coming to mind:  Alvin Youngblood Hart.  He’s his own man, but I certainly heard some beautiful similarities.  And given that Alvin is one of my favorite solo shows of all time, I began believing this Wednesday night special was designed solely for me (hey, I can believe whatever I want!).

After a bit, there was yet another addition:  the multi-talented Jesse Hiatt who spent the evening switching between drums and guitar.  And he’s a slinger on guitar and rhythm master on drums!  The last 90 minutes had John-Alex back up and Lionel Young on that fiddle!  I can’t begin to describe all the soloing back and forth, inescapable talent throwing itself all over the room, hitting us with stunning accuracy.  The Outlook has hosted countless great Blues shows over the years, and this one is now on the books as one of the greats.  So much so, that I made an exception:  Being that the Outlook is a hotel, we have a music curfew, and during the week that is 10:00 p.m.  They ended on time, but I just had to break the rules.  I begged for one more really long song.  They did not disappoint.

Check the CBP website and calendar often.  When these guys come to your neighborhood, pack up the family and friends and don’t miss it.  You’ll be talking about it for years.

~Honey Bee Sepeda~

http://honeybeeblues1.blogspot.com/

Mark and I had a great conversation the other night and the full interview is posted on the site now. http://www.rockoveramerica.com/index.php?view=Media&mediaid=180&type=1&file=media/1/180.wav

Have a listen!

KCSU has been in the midst of some changes in Fort Collins, but I did hear from them that they’ll jump back into the reporting mode this next month.  Radio 1190 will also be resuming reporting status here in the next month as well … looking forward to two of our most popular college music stations getting back into the swing of things.  Looking forward to seeing what they’re spinning here on the April 1 blog post.

In other regional station news, KBUT recently completed its 2011 Winter Pledge Drive, “…reaching our goal of $40,000 in a record 10 1/2 days!  KBUT wants to thank its dedicated listeners in the Gunnison Valley, as well as online listeners from around the state, country and world, for their continued support of community radio.  The KBUT staff is currently celebrating and preparing to bring evermore unique radio to the airwaves.”  KDNK (Carbondale) is setting up for their mid-winter membership drive as I type.  I had hoped to be able to report a resolution in the KRFC hiring of both an executive director and a program directory, but the board of directors had not made a final decision as of Feb 28, so we’ll have to wait on that.

TOP 40 SPINS – February 2011
1.  DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers (Anti)  rock, indie/alternative
2.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod)  folk
3.  Tennis – Cape Dory (Fat Possum)  pop, indie/alternative
4.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters/Big Head Blues Club – 100 Years of Robert Johnson (RYKO)  blues
5.  John-Alex Mason – Jook Joint Thunderclap (Naked Jaybird)  blues
6.  Kenny Perkins – Wild Frontier (self)  rock, adult alternative
7.  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints (self)  country, americana
8.  Carmen Sandim Sextet – Brand New (self)  jazz
9.  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners (Remington Road Records)  folk, americana
10.  Broken Everlys - Stoned In Juarez (self)  rock
11.  Churchill - Happy/Sad (Wired Bird)  rock, indie/alternative
12.  Peter Sommer – Tremolo Canteen (Dazzle Jazz) jazz
13.  Bonnie & the Clydes – Bonnie & the Clydes (self)  country, americana
14.  the Big Motif - Does It Weigh Heavy (self)  rock, blues-rock
15.  Adam Bodine Trio – Blue Mud (self) jazz
16.  Katey Laurel – From Here (Roarding Twenties Records)  pop, adult contemporary
17.  Ego vs. Id – Taste (Abbatoir Records)  rock, indie/alternative
17.  Grant Gordy – Grant Gordy (self)  neo-acoustic, new grass
18.  Andrew Vogt – Cats Afoot (self) jazz
18.  Royal Peeps – Alessia’s Walk (Contra Basso Music)  funk, soul
19.  Whiskey Blanket – No Object (self)  hip-hop
20.  Paper Bird - When the River Took Flight (self) folk, americana
21.  Blue Canyon Boys – Mountain Bound (self) bluegrass
22.  Joe Johnson – A Time to Dance (Blank Tape) americana, country-folk
23.  Juno What?! - Shameless (Juno What?!)  funk, soul
24.  Bob Rea - Ragged Choir (self) americana
24.  Great American Taxi - Reckless Habits (Thirty Tigers) americana, roots rock
24.  Mandy Harvey - After You’ve Gone (self)  jazz, vocal
25.  Pretty Lights - Making Up a Changing Mind (self) electronica, rave, dance
26.  Fox Street Allstars - Welcome To Mighty Pleasin’ (self) rock, blues-rock
27.  Brad Goode – Tight Like This (Delmark) jazz
27.  Fred Hess BIG BAND - Into the Open (Alison Records) jazz, big band
27.  Lawn Chair Kings – Lawn Chair Kings II (self) rock, alt-country
28.  Jeff Finlin – The Tao of Motor Oil (Bent Wheel) rock, adult alternative
28.  Nathaniel Rateliff - In Memory of Loss (Rounder Records) folk
29.  John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light - Beautiful Empty (Free School) rock, adult
30.  String Cheese Incident – Rhythm of the Road Vol. 1 (SCI Fidelity)  rock, jamband
31.  Boulder Acoustic Society - Champion of Disaster (self) rock, folk-rock
31.  Selasee - African Gate (self) world, African, Hip-hop
32.  Bobby Walker – Way Back When (BWM) blues, r&b

DROPS from Feb 1 Top Spins
9.  Musketeer Gripweed – Dyin’ Day
10.  Otis Taylor – Clovis People, Vol. 3
11.  Danielle Ate the Sandwich – Two Bedroom Apartment
19.  Apples In Stereo – Travellers in Space and Time
21.  Pretty Lights – Making Up a Changing Mind (self) electronic/dance
22.  Fierce Bad Rabbit – Spools of Thread (self) rock, indie/alternative
23.  Chris Thompson – The Road Ahead (self) rock, jamband
23.  Robert Marcey & Familyman Barrett – Wailin’ for Justice (Dread I) reggae
23.  Romano Paoletti – Story of a Lifetime (self) americana, country
25.  Dovekins – Assemble the Aviary (self) folk
25.  Nathaniel Rateliff – In Memory of Loss (Rounder Records) alternative adult contemporary
26.  Freddi / Henchi & the Soulsetters – Crown Princes of Funk: The Last Set    (Wind Up) funk/soul
26.  White Water Ramble – All Night Drive (self) bluegrass
27.  the Love Royale – Love Letters (Cuebro) soul/funk
28.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Rocksteady (BIG) alternative adult contemporary
29.  Colorado Goat Ropers Guild – Fly (Paladin Steed Records) americana, country-rock
29.  Dominant 7 & the Jazz Arts Messengers – Fourteen Channels (Tapestry Records) jazz
29.  Take to the Oars – American Volume (self) rock, indie/alternative

February Adds
Andrea Lynn – The Mountains and the Sea
the Big Motif – Does It Weigh Heavy
Bonnie & the Clydes – Bonnie & the Clydes
Broken Everlys – Stoned In Juarez
Caleb Slade – Victory in Defeat
Clarke Wright – Fiddleride
Dustin Edge – Calm [ep]
Ego vs. Id – Taste
Joe Johnson – A Time to Dance
John Mieras – Painted Glass
Justin Roth – Now You Know
Mountain Standard Time – Mountain Standard Time
Nina Storey – Love Me Enough [single]
Peter Sommer – Tremolo Canteen
Ronnie Franklin – Flight Plans
Royal Peeps – Alessia’s Walk
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Unentitled
Slopeside – Road to Oblivion
Something Underground – You Would Never Know This (radio edit) [single]
Sunshine House – The Sunshine House EP
Wil Key – Can You Feel It [single]

KAFM (Grand Junction)
1.  Elephant Revival – Break In the Clouds
2.  String Cheese Incident – Rhythm of the Road, Vol. 1: Incident in Atlanta
3.  Devotchka – 100 Lovers
4.  Stray Grass – Written in the Stars
5.  Jeff Finlin – The Tao of Motor Oil
5.  Royal Peeps – Alessia’s Walk
5.  Runaway Express – Yeah Buddy
5.  WhiteWater Ramble – All Night Drive

KBUT (Crested Butte)
1.  DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
1.  Lawn Chair Kings – Lawn Chair Kings II
1.  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners
2.  Grass It Up – Day After Yesterday
2.  Tennis – Cape Dory
3.  Blue Canyon Boys – Mountain Bound
3.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
3.  Grant Gordy – Grant Gordy
3.  Great American Taxi – Reckless Habits
3.  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints

KDNK (Carbondale)
1.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters/Big Head Blues Club – 100 Years of Robert Johnson
1. Carmen Sandim Sextet – Brand New
1.  DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
2.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Rocksteady
2.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
2.  Tennis – Cape Dory

KGNU (Boulder)
1.  DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
2.  Paper Bird – When the River Took Flight
3.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
4.  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints
4.  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners
5.  Blue Canyon Boys – Mountain Bound
5.  Tennis – Cape Dory

KRCC (Colorado Springs)
1.  DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
2.  John-Alex Mason – Jook Joint Thunderclap
3.  Tennis – Cape Dory
4.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters/Big Head Blues Club – 100 Years of Robert Johnson
4.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
5.  Eric Shively – Eden’s Light

KRFC (Fort Collins)
1.  Big Head Todd and the Monsters/Big Head Blues Club – 100 Years of Robert Johnson
2.  John-Alex Mason – Jook Joint Thunderclap
3.  Bonnie and The Clydes – Bonnie And The Clydes
4.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
4.  Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints
5.  Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore – Saints & Sinners

KUVO (Denver)
1.  Brad Goode – Tight Like This
2.  Lynn Baker Quartet – Azure Intention
3.  Peter Sommer – Tremolo Canteen
4.  Fred Hess BIG BAND – Into the Open
5.  Andrew Vogt – Cats Afoot

KVNF (Paonia)
1.  DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
2.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
3.  Grant Gordy – Grant Gordy
3.  Paper Bird – When the River Took Flight
3.  Tennis – Cape Dory
4.  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Sinners and Saints
5.  Otis Taylor – Clovis People, Vol. 3

THE COLORADO SOUND
1.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters/Big Head Blues Club – 100 Years of Robert Johnson
1.  Broken Everlys – Stoned In Juarez
1.  Joe Johnson – A Time to Dance
2.  Kenny Perkins – Wild Frontier
3.  DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
4.  the Big Motif – Does It Weigh Heavy
4.  Bonnie & the Clydes – Bonnie & the Clydes
4.  Carmen Sandim Sextet – Brand New
4.  Churchill – Happy/Sad
4.  Ego vs. Id – Taste
4.  Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
4.  Fox Street Allstars – Welcome To Mighty Pleasin’
4.  John-Alex Mason – Jook Joint Thunderclap

Published: 2011/02/27

1.Ronnie Penque Only Road Home
2.Roomful Of Blues Hook, Line and Sinker
3.Gregg Allman Low Country Blues
4.Po Boyz Country Funk
5.Bridge National Bohemian
6.Roots of Creation RoC Live, Vol. 2
7.String Cheese Incident Rhythm of The Road Vol. 1
8.Superfrog Call From The Moon
9.Trombone Shorty Backatown
10.Various Artists Psych Funk Sa Re Ga!
11.Amos Lee Mission Bell
12.BD Lenz Five and Live
13.Drive By Truckers Go Go Boots
14.Five Gallon Groove Five Gallon Groove
15.John-Alex Mason Jook Joint Thunderclap
16.Phish Alpine Valley 2010
17.Railroad Earth Railroad Earth
18.Trey Anastasio Band TAB At the TAB
19.7 Walkers 7 Walkers
20.Carrie Rodriguez and Ben Kyle We Still Love Our Country
21.Counter Riot Punk Funk Fugato!
22.Heavy Pets Heavy Pets
23.LCD Soundsystem This is Happening
24.Phish Joy
25.Susan James Highway, Ghost, Hearts and Home
26.Turbine Sounds In the Hall
27.Various Artists Jerry Jams For Rex
28.Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet
29.Acorn Project Generation Debt
30.Devon Allman’s Honeytribe Space Age Blues

Naked Jaybird Music

John-Alex Mason has released some really cool music over the years, in particular his previous release Town + Country, which found him alternating between his one-man band setting and solo traditional style of blues. His latest CD, Jook Joint Thunderclap, takes him even a step further, especially when utilizing all the instrumentation of his one-man band set-up, by teaming him with extra musicians. Not just any ordinary musicians mind you, but first-rate artists like Gerry Hundt, Lightnin’ Malcolm & Cedric Burnside and Lionel Young among them. The result just may well be the most pleasing and approachable batch of music he has produced yet.

Behind it all is that repetitive Hill Country that screams Mississippi blues, even from this tall, blond-haired white boy from Colorado. He has it down to a tee. He may be from Colorado, but his veins bleed pure Mississippi blue. But John-Alex also takes it beyond the Deep South with a little tie to African rhythms by bringing in artists like Alya Sylla and Fara Tolno on djembes and Fasinet Bangoura on the balafon. This instrumentation is most displayed on “Riding On” which also offers a little rap from Cody Burnside. Tolno also performs on the djembe on three other tracks. “Diamond Rain” takes on a country feel and showcases Lionel Young’s fiddle work nicely.

Most of the numbers are originals, but there are a few covers heard as well, with note to Oscar Brown’s “Signifying Monkey” with its loping percussive backing highlighting John-Alex’ strong vocal delivery, and the raucous take of Fred McDowell’s “Write Me A Few Of Your Lines” where Lightnin’, Cedric, Gerry and John-Alex on purgatory hill harp mingle in a frenetic-paced cohesion that just cannot be heard without tapping your foot along. It’s an addictive number to say the least. As is this whole album. Keep it handy, you’re going to want to soak in this bluesy extravaganza often.

Total Time: 42:26

My Old Lonesome Home / Gone So Long / More Than Wind / Riding On / Rolled And Tumbled/ Diamond Rain / Signifyin’ Monkey / Free / Write Me A Few Of Your Lines / Whisper

Extra note for Portland aficionados, the cover artwork is a beautiful piece by local artist Gary Houston, who has been creating the Waterfront Blues Festival posters for several years.

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

Doubloons, Beads, Cups, and More…

The throwing of trinkets to the crowds was started in the early 1870s by the Twelfth Night Revelers, and is a time-honored expectation for young and old alike.

In 1884 (over 100 years ago!), Rex started using medallions instead of trinkets. These medallions are represented by today’s doubloons. These doubloons are aluminum and anodized in many different colors. They depict the parade theme on one side and the Krewe’s emblem on the other. They have become collector’s items.

In the Bacchus parade, the King’s float throws doubloons with the image of the Celebrity King on one side of the doubloon. If you’re lucky enough to catch one, hold onto it!

Other popular throws include cups (otherwise known as New Orleans dinnerware), long pearl beads and stuffed animals.

Be warned! If you’re at your first parade and reach down to pick up a doubloon with your hand, your fingers may never be the same! Many stomp on doubloons in their rush to claim them.

Hint: If you’re standing next to a bunch of old grandmothers dressed in high heels and playboy bunny outfits, don’t think your chances are any better — they may be old, but they have fast feet — and the spikes on those heels – Ouch!!