# Jerry's Middle Finger at Cornerstone, December 31, 2023

[Cornerstone](https://wl.seetickets.us/event/A-Very-Special-NYE-Celebration-with-Jerrys-Middle-Finger/565901?afflky=CornerstoneBerkeley) presents [Jerry's Middle Finger](http://jerrysmiddlefinger.com/) with [Dave Ellis](http://www.davellis.com/)  
[Cornerstone](https://www.facebook.com/cornerstoneberkeley/)  
[2367 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 USA](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2367+Shattuck+Ave,+Berkeley,+CA+94704+USA&hl=en)  
9:30 PM, Sunday, December 31, 2023

[[2023-12-30|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2023|Up to the 2023 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2023#December_events|Up to the 2023 event list!]] ☸ [[2024-01-01|On to the next event!]] 

## Set One

[9:40 PM] {performers out}

01. [9:42 PM] _Let's Spend the Night Together_
02. [9:56 PM] _I'll Take a Melody_  
[10:08 PM] {GD lauds DE}
03. [10:10 PM] _That's the Touch I Like_
04. [10:17 PM] _Struggling Man_
05. [10:24 PM] _Boogie On Reggae Woman_  
[10:36 PM] {GD: give it up for the lady fingers}
06. [10:38 PM] _Let Me Sing Your Blues Away_
07. [10:43 PM] _Like a Road_
08. [10:54 PM] _I Feel Like Dynamite_ (RN)
09. [11:04 PM] _I Second That Emotion_
10. [11:15 PM] _Tore Up Over You_  
[11:23 PM] {set ends; GD: we're gonna take a short break see you guys next year}

## Set Two

[11:46 PM] {prep for the big show going on at side stage}
[11:47 PM] {performers out}

01. [11:49 PM] _(I'm a) Road Runner_  
[11:58 PM] {space/chaos while Bill Walton makes his entrance as Father Time ...slow dramatic countdown from Bill ... Jon Hart toddles onstage as the diaper-clad 2024 New Year's baby ...  the band plays a brief instrumental version of _Auld Lang Syne_ ... pause for revelry ...
02. [12:01 AM] _Eyes of the World_ » [12:13 AM] _Space_ » [12:13 AM] {additional felicitations for the new year from Bill Walton} »
03. [12:14 AM] _Money Honey_  
[12:21 AM] {GD: Happy New Year everybody!}
04. [12:22 AM] _Talking 'bout You_
05. [12:30 AM] _Tough Mama_
06. [12:38 AM] _The Night They Drive Old Dixie Down_
07. [12:48 AM] _After Midnight_ » [12:56 AM] _Eleanor Rigby_ » [12:58 AM] {double time jam} » [1:00 AM] _After Midnight_ (reprise)  
[1:03 AM] {GD final thanks; GD introduces Jon & Son; all offstage}  
   
**Encore**
08. [1:06 AM] _Bright Side of the Road_  
[1:12 AM] {show ends}


## Performers

[Jerry's Middle Finger](http://jerrysmiddlefinger.com/)

* Garrett Deloian: guitar, lead vox;
* Jon Gold: keyboards, organ;
* Halina Janusz: harmony vox;
* Lisa Malsberger: harmony vox;
* [Rodney Newman](https://www.rodneynewman.com/): drums;
* Son Vo: bass.

### Special Guest
* [Dave Ellis](http://www.davellis.com/): tenor saxophone.

## Notes

Upon being told that tonight was a sell out crowd, I was a little worried that we were going to be packed like sardines in a tin, but that concern turned out to be misplaced: it was certainly crowded, but not unbearably so, and for a good portion of the night we had plenty of room to groove and dance.

The band started out on a strong note with a great party-starter, the 1966 Jagger-Richards classic, _Let's Spend the Night Together_, setting the bar for a terrific night. _Let Me Sing Your Blues Away_ was such a surprise that it took me until Garret started singing to recognize the title... an utterly unexpected delight! And _Boogie On Reggae Woman_ was my favorite of the night -- it's hard to go wrong with Stevie Wonder!

Bill Walton reprised his annual performance as Father Time, and Jon Hart made a great comic foil as the 2024 New Year's baby. Ting expressed a little disappointment that we didn't get a balloon drop, but I thought the confetti cannons were a perfectly acceptable substitute.

I was looking forward to hearing Dave Ellis and hoping that the band would lean over in the direction of the classic _Legion of Mary_ repertoire of the mid-70's, but from my spot up front in the center, I couldn't really hear him all that well. I bet the mix was better 10 or 15 feet father back where the PA blend would have filled things in, but that would have taken me out of the prime guitar zone. What's a poor boy gonna do? Sometimes ya gotta take your lumps! The Ray Charles rave up _Talking 'bout You_ was my favorite of the second set, but the whole shebang was really well done. Thanks all!

## Photos

Big thanks to Ting for the photo gallery!

{{gallery>:2023:2023-12?20231231-*.jpg}}

{{:wip.png?nolink}}  **Whoa!**  This section is incomplete for now, sorry! {{:wip.png?nolink}}

{{tag>music Jerry's_Middle_Finger Cornerstone Garrett_Deloian Jon_Gold Halina_Janusz Lisa_Malsberger Rodney_Newman Son_Vo Dave_Ellis Bill_Walton}} 

[[2023-12-30|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2023|Up to the 2023 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2023#December_events|Up to the 2023 event list!]] ☸ [[2024-01-01|On to the next event!]]