What A Gyp.
When I was a teenager in Boston, I joined my first band at the request of my neighborhood pal Greg McKenna, who was looking for a back-up singer for his ska/pop/punk/kitchen sink thingy. We called our outfit Rebbecca Lula and played god-awful places in Faneuil Hall and other deeply embarrassing locations where we were required to play 3 sets a night complete with lame-o covers for $250.
Boston had no shortage of rad rock clubs to play and it wasn’t long before we were complaining to our manager, Creamer to get us real gigs at places like The Rat, The Middle East and T.T. The Bear’s place. We didn’t have a lot of success back then with the first 2, but the booker at TT’s, Jeanne, decided to give us a chance. Monday night, first slot.
“Copy these tickets to hand out to your friends. Yeah, ya gotta write your band name in before you print ‘em up. If enough of these ghetto-ass tickets make it to the door before your set, you may even get 2nd slot next time.” I am paraphrasing of course.
Ah, they don’t make times like that anymore. TT’s made us work for our supper, man, but we didn’t give a shit. We’d be out there hustling those tickets like our lives (and much appreciated free beer) depended on it. As far as we were concerned, if we got 4 extra people to show up, we were golden for the next step up the ladder. Every time we would schlep our gear into the club for sound check, Jeanne (booker/bartender) would whip out one of those huge stinky magic markers (best smell ever?) to draw a giant X on each of my underage hands. It took us years, but we finally made it to Thursday opening slot. And then the band broke up.
When Greg and I debuted our new band, Letters To Cleo, the first people we called were Jeanne and Bonney at TT’s, who by this time had become our friends. I think it’s fair to say that for the better part of our career, TT’s was our home base. I also think that it would be fair to say that if Jeanne Connolly & Bonney Bouley had not believed in us the way they did, things may have turned out much differently for Cleo. Their imprimatur gave us a certain cred, which was critical for a pop band in a sea of tortured grunge.
In 1993, we had a record release party at TT’s for our first full length album, Aurora Gory Alice. It was a swinging from the rafters kind of night; drunken, triumphant and packed to the gills, which unfortunately (but now sort of hilariously) ended in me getting arrested for Assault & Disorderly (i still deny my guilt, but evs….) on Brookline Ave by Cambridge’s Finest. Just as the sun was getting ready to come up, the cops opened the cell door and let me go, telling me someone had posted bail. Guess who? Jeanne and Bonney. Bonney waited at Cambridge Jail while Jeanne ran back to TT’s to mop up and clean out the cash register behind the bar to spring me from the slammer. HA! That’s fucking rock & roll, baby….
That’s the best over-the-top story I’ve got about my years with Jeanne & Bonney. The other stories simply describe the kinds of interactions that 20 year friendships are built on. Some are funny but most are mundane, conversational. Walking into TT’s and being greeted by a huge, beaming smile and a heartfelt hug from Jeanne was a constant that made me look forward to strolling through the doors of that place every single time and it would not be an exaggeration to say these occasions numbered into the hundreds. T.T. the Bear’s Place was home.
15 months ago, my beautiful friend Jeanne was diagnosed with colon cancer. This morning her brother informed us that Jeanne died. I feel so heartbroken right now that I can’t move. There’s comfort in knowing that there are literally hundreds of people who feel exactly the same way as I do right now. She was just so loved.
Her brother David set up a web page for her last month to keep friends updated on her health developments and allow them to post messages that her family read to her every day. He was so generous to give us all such a gift: The opportunity to be included in the final weeks of her life. To be able to talk to her, comfort her. I’m truly grateful for that.
One story that David recounted over the last few weeks was particularly meaningful because it perfectly crystallized the person Jeanne was. This is from Jan 27, 2009.
…The case manager was in later when our brother Tim and my Mother were visiting, and walked Jeanne through were she was at..When she left, Tim let Jeanne know that she did not have to go through anymore chemo or radiation, that she just needs to be comfortable.. Jeanne said,” So this is it?” Tim said unfortunately yes, and Jeanne replied “What a Gyp.”
I swear, I have never heard of a more witty and spot on response to ANYTHING, never mind upon hearing the news that it’s time to let go and die. Whenever I think about this exchange it either makes me laugh or cry. Right now, it is the latter and I fear that I may never stop.
Sweet dreams, gorgeous lady. Thank you for filling the world with one of the best laughs ever, rock & roll and cold beer. Thank you for being such a great friend to so many of us. If there is any meaning to life, it is to live so that the world is a better place because of your existence. You did it, girl! I love you so, and I will miss you.
jeanne and i just before the impromptu cleo set at one of her 1st benefits.
Thanks, Chris. This photo means an awful lot to me.
xxook.
February 16th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Sorry to hear about Jeanne, Kay. I remember you talking about her at the Boston shows this past December.
February 16th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
i will miss her laugh and her smile, but most of all i will miss the amazing stories about all those bands that she met along the way. she had a special place in her heart for you, kay. she mentioned your messages one of the last times i saw her, and she said that she was always so appreciative of your support. i know that she loved you and the band, and remembering all the things she’s told me makes me cry, but your beautiful tribute is so appreciated by me. i love that so many people have gotten the essence of a lovely lady who is just as tough as they come, but sweeter than anyone i’ve ever known.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Wow. How weird. I just watched a Rag Iron video from a 1991 or 1992 show we did at TTs. Sad news. Thanks for posting this. You rock.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am
What a fucking gyp, indeed. I can’t imagine how it’s going to feel next time I walk into TT’s.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Words can’t start to delve into the massive pit that the loss of Jeanne is going to leave behind. It’s almost as if TT’s just lost it’s soul. I’ll always expect to see her smiling face when I walk through those doors though, and I’m glad that’s a memory that will always be present.
Thanks again for everything you and the Cleo’s had done for Jeanne during these past months. I know she meant a hell of a lot to you, and that clearly shines through.
February 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am
beautiful post Kay.
February 18th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I wish i had gotton to know her better. I am her ex husbands son, and my mother and father both loved her dearly. I met her once, and she was one of the nicest people ive ever met. I’m into the type of music that she had booked, and i wish i could have gotton to know her better. From what ive read all over the internet about her, she was a truely exceptional person. She will be forever missed.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Leave it to you to actually sum up how I feel. You, with the words and the writing.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I’m pretty choked up. TT’s was pretty much Boy Wonder’s, then the Boy Joys’ then the PKO’s, and just Aaron’s and my home away from home. (Home then being only three miles away, not 3,000 as it is now.) I’m glad you shared your Jeanne Bonney bail story, god, that’s great. I have some of those, too…one involving them scraping my stilletto’d ass off the icy sidewalk in front of the club and giving me shots of something to kill the pain of my freshly sprained ankle, despite the fact that I’d been so damn stupid to wear heels and move gear at the same time. Something tells me you’ve been there…
Wake tonight, sleep tomorrow.
We love you always, Jeanne.
February 20th, 2009 at 12:53 am
I love you kay!!! Please come to South America… someday
Greetings From Buenos Aires,Argentina
February 20th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Jesus I had no idea until right now.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Jeanne didn’t know me from Adam, but, she was always exceedingly kind. I’ve probably been to more shows at TTs, than any other club, since I started going to see local music in ’79. I was thrown out of Bunratty’s for being in the presence of a minor(?). Had a knife pulled on me at the Rat, by a
bartender, for tipping him(???) ALWAYS served with a large smile at TTs, by Jeanne. RIP, dear woman.
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
You diminish Jeanne’s death with your numb use of the term gyp, just as you managed to insult all the earth’s children by calling W childlike
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 am
Rock-n-roll will never forget Jeanne Connolly.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 am
Dave, perhaps you should read the whole post before you say foolish things that make it clear that you did not.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
No matter what you do for a living, there’s always someone who’s the (usually unsung) hero, who’s with you all along, who gives you those little and sometimes big boosts when you need them. Jeanne was clearly one of yours, and by the way you describe her, she was probably like that with a lot of other bands. People like that are far too rare…
March 1st, 2009 at 7:31 am
IF there is a god and heaven, Kay will be rewarded for her rememberance of Jeanne Connolly. I, here on Earth, acknowledge Kay. More and more people you know, disappear as you get older. Leaving a message behind is a good idea for all. Thanks for reading. Dennis
September 15th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Kay –
I don’t know you and I didn’t know Jeanne, but that was a touching tribute and I am not ashamed to admit I shed a tear when what I thought was going to be a tribute to a closing bar turned into something that hit much closer to home.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Thanks for doing this Kay. Still can’t believe she’s gone. One in a million.