Concert Blog 09: Subatomic March 3rd 2010 Cheap Shots

Umm yeah.  I have many words for this night fellow blog followers.  But it's best summed up by the following picture.

Yep.  That's about it.  All I can say.  No, we weren't "trippin ballz".  Everything that could go wrong did... and that which did not go wrong, well, went wrong at some point.  Really, from amps, to monitors, to well everything.  Yeah...  Next Gig.

Concert Blog 8 (I think): AWATHD (Aaron Willams and the Hoo Doo) March 10th 2010 The Brink Lounge

Well yeah, your resident blogger can't count.  Have you figured that out yet?  But I figure you don't come here for numbers, you come for the... umm.. well I don't know why you come here but I will continue to kick out verbs and words for your enjoyment... and my sanity...

With that being said, here is the MO for the night.  Rough day at work, Sonny's helps, chill at the house, proud of my wife for sticking it out diet wise, have some Chinese food, then stare at each other asking what to do.  These nights usually end with nothing but tonight... lil different.

Saw on the ol facebook that Aaron and the guys were heading south.  Too Cool.  I was blessed at one point in my life to meet the southern gurls that promote the music.  Aaron and the men (some would say boys but well I digress) were headed south to rock the ATL.  If you haven't seen these guys yet, check my previous blog....  They are the real deal.. and they are not the musical a$$wholes you generally meet in this gig.  But again... I digress.  Must See Show.

My gig on nights like this is simple, spend some time with my wife, let my mind melt to some sweet tunes, and check out of the scene.  That was the scene tonight, but I had to tell the guys to say Hi to Gizmo (one of the sweet animals down south that I miss), and wish them well.  Shack, Z, and Aaron all asked where my harps were.  I would never... NEVER just bring in my harps assuming I was going to jam.  This is their gig, and the fact they asked was an honor.    BEGIN SIDEBAR

Several years ago, when my pops was around, we were hangin out listening to one of the harmonica greats pratice his craft.   At break he came to me and humbled me by asking if I would play a tune with them... I didn't have my harps.  Thus, I missed a chance to play for my Father.  Which, I won't let happen again.  So if you see me, I have my harps... song done  

END SIDEBAR :)

So we jammed some tunes.  Hmmm... how to describe... how to put into words what went down.


Enter a dark room, sound filling around you, it envelops you... not letting you see, or breathe.  A shriek comes from no where and with every strum, every pluck, your body moves.  Seemingly the fingers of a soulful sound pluck at the strings that are the chords of your life.  Every movement seems calculated, but the sound is not.  Time... Gone..... Hope... Restored... Sun.. setting while rising.... and your soul... made whole.  This IS music... This IS the Hoodoo.  Sound painted on a canvas... and I'm just happy to be a color that this band paints with from time to time.  Being a pigment of the art that is the music they play.

After all was said and done... some more dual harp action took place (see last blog).  Again, I cannot stress how cool Andy was jamming dual harp action.  So many harp players, so HUGE of ego's, and this guy has what it takes, sans the ego.  No wonder the Hoodoo embraces him.

Well, I should add some pics, and get some sleep.  I have a VERY stressful day tomorrow and I honestly want to just relish in the jam of what tonight was.

Enjoy the ride guys... and keep the bluz alive.

Til next time...

Concert Post 7: Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo, Brink Lounge Feb 25th

But Mike, you can't count.  It's supposed to be Post 7... Shut your pie hole... It's Post 8 so read and enjoy.  7 will be here soon enough... Promise.

Awe Snap.  Blog chicky BLOG BLOG… another night and I find myself typing at the computer.  Wait.. I did this all day too.  Damn my geek life.

Tonight’s gig blog is another “catch up” if you will; I’m still suffering from my long time lack of writing.  After a nice CDC (Captial Dining Crew), I drug the gang that was left down to the Brink.  Real tough getting them down there as most work there.  Regardless, people were getting HooDoo’d one way or the other.

So I’m sure your asking what the heck HooDoo is.  Well, hmm that’s tough.  Get yo’self a blender, throw in equal parts Stevie, Hendrix, Buddy, add a splash of Sam and Dave for Soul, press puree, while blending add some of that swagger you see on those stupid AXE commercials, and pour HEAVLIY over your body… Yeah.. that’s it… now rub that in.  Feel Better Already… don’t cha?

Graphic description aside, like most bands I have written about on here, I have a history with the Hoodoo.  Way back when Pops was still floating around, on Wednesday nights, an Open Jam was going down at a place call the Cuda Café.  Never being one to shy away from playing some tunes with people I have never met, I wandered in a couple of times to see these cats tearing at the roof.  Ahh, memories… we had some times and played some sweet sweet sounds out of that barn like place.  Fast forward 5 years and here we are.

Add to the stew of my past the fact that they are hooked up with Opus Entertainment and the fine ladies in the ATL and you have some added “irony” behind the story.  I do have to say, Spice Right is callin my name.  I digress.. so easy to do for the guy with ADD.

Aaron, Shack, and Z were tearing it up as usual.  Add to the mix a harp player that was doing some tight stuff with the guys.  Aaron caught a look of my lurker self and mentioned that he thought he saw a mouse runnin around.  Shortly after set break, harps were obtained from the car, and it was on.

Andy was one of the nicer guys I’ve met with a harp in his hand.  For some odd reason, meeting decent, respecting harp guys is rare.  The majority of them see music as some sort of one-up-manship if you will.  I will never be one to claim that yours truly is better than anyone else…. Quite the opposite.  I personally feel that we all have our voice, and I’m blessed to be here playing.  With that being said, dual harping was on.  Lil Sweet Home Chicago for the fleet, some Hoodoo Originals (buy the cd.  I strongly recommend you buy all the blues CD’s you can), and in the end, the depths of the groove were felt by all.  These men know how to tell you like it is, was, and forever shall be.  Get you’self to the Hoodoo Church, it’s the best blues feed you will find in these parts.  Hands Down, Up, and Screamin’ hawt.

Well, this guy should rack it up for the eve.  One more gig to update on and my carcass is caught up.  That is until this weekend.  Wait.. Does Jillian getting “rock star’d” count.  Hmmm might have to be my first Karaoke blog.  We will have to see.

Til Next Time… It Ain’t Easy….

Mouse

Concert Post 5 The Shibs Feb 6th, 2010 Lucky's Bar and Grill

So I went to play music and a hockey fight broke out...

Well close.  First a quick note, I have been dealing with all types of crap in the life and haven't had time to write.  I know, don't apologize in a blog... but then again you should be thanking me for not filling your personal life with my warped ramblings.  Don't worry blog fan ("fans" if someone else is drunk and clicked the wrong link finding themselves here)... I have all the gigs that have been played on record and will be bloggin my way back to you babe (breaks out in song). *cough* Ok back to it.

Ahh Lucky's.  What a great name for a place that has seen no luck at all.  At this location, I have defeated the Cobra Kai, who tried to steal my camera all while punching Ryan's wife on Halloween, had people fall into the equipment, had drunken college students chanting my name.. You get the picture.   If you don't.. imagine Bob's Country Bunker from the Blues Brothers.... Only no chicken wire, college students, and no Bob.  Hell it's nothing like that now that I write this.

Well Lucky for the Shibs, we had the outdoor hockey game at Camp Randall to fill the bar for us.  Let me paint a picture for you.  Take 45 people who never go out, give them a reason to try and sneak booze into an event, put that event in 2 degree weather so you HAVE to consume to be outside in it, let them drink for oh 5 hours, then stuff them in an elevator where you only funnel in limited amounts of said booze to keep them placated.  Hey let's add a band to that mix. Why not?!?

Walking in the door I was greeted by a guy that threaten to beat me down if I didn't show ID.  No, he didn't work at Lucky's, but he thought that his day-glo camo would surely qualify him as a Lucky's employee.  Umm no.  The bonus was I got a buzz off of his breath so I saved some dinero on the first round.  Needless to say the "gathering" was nun too welcome to having us play in the ol Elevator.  They would much rather stand, drink, and regale how cool they are that they are 45, drunk, and don't know their own names.

Set-up was an adventure, and once we finally got locked and loaded the songs started to flow.  One thing about playing for a mess of intoxicated people, they love them some music.  The Shib faithful were out as well, adding to the sweet aroma of booze infused B.O. and perfume soaked college women.  The music flowed well, and all were approving of the vibe.  Interesting moment of the night?  Drunk college student hitting on a MILF.  She was mostly plowed but damn... he was wiped.  What would he have done if he would have gotten her home.  He couldn't get his arm up to dance never mind his well umm you get the picture.

In the end, an overall average Lucky's gig.  No one got stabbed, no major fights, and we even sold a couple of CD's.  I'm off to rock out some Spice Gurls and maybe write another one of these things... or not.

Til next time....

Concer Post 4: Mr. Breeze Jan 23, 2010 Lake Ripley Lanes, Cambridge WI

What does a hooker, a lesbian penguine, some herion, the pope, and 4 live chickens have in common?  Well, Nothing.  But it made you think there was, and now for some other incoherent thoughts, brought to you by your resident Harmonica player.  Who else would be writing this?  Wait.  Don't answer that.

Tonight's adventure was just that.  The wife and I tend to be the kind of people that will set off in a direction, visit some establishments, and then wander back.  Unlike the majority of the and/or significant other couple combinations we know of, we have always had fun together.  To the point that we do random wild crap on the few nights of the year that we have nothing planned.  We actually never have a down night, but when we do, they usually end up like Pee Wee looking for his bike.  Going all over no where and ending up somewhere.  Now that the "Day's of Our Lives" portion is over, we can get on with the show review and my odd ball take on things.

On this particular eve, we found ourselves wanting to go back to our old "haunt" in Rockdale.  Heather's bar and Grill has faithfully served the sauce to yours truely since he brought his first home just a block away.  The place is literally another home to me, and there is just something to be said about a sweet neighborhood bar, stocked with locals, that all just enjoy being around each other.  Additionally, Mr. Breeze, a cover band outfit that I had initially ran into at Heathers, was playing in near-by Cambridge.

Over the years I have gotten to know these guys from various run-ins here and there.  Shooting a wedding they were part of, shooting some pool with Shannon, shooting the shit here and there.  Basically anything dealing with shooting we were associated with one way or another.  Admittingly, I am closer to both James and Shannon than the remainder of the band, but I'm never one to shy away from stuffing some duckets in the bucket of any establishment that will support live music.  More on that in another post.

After doing some troubleshooting with Marty, and Catfish Kenny, we were able to get some sound issues shook out, and Marty had asked if I had the harps with me.  Like a ADHD 2 year old hopped up on snickers bars, red bull, and a spritzer of Pepsi, they are forever just an arm-lengths away from my proxmitiy.  So what I am saying is I might be able to drum up a harp or two.

Mid-way through a shuffleboard game, Marty asked over the PA if I would roll up for some Doors.  Why, I would never support such heathen music.  Wait... I can't even type that. I'm laughing too hard.  Marty and I traded licks like Jim Morrison traded women in the post show lobby.  Each of us adding our own thoughts to our interpretation of what was going on, all the while stunned that Jim (Morrison) was getting all the chicks.  {I've long gotten over the fact that Harmonica guys are not sexy... and I'm very luckly taken.  Can you imagine the crap my wife puts up with...}

The guys in the band have come a long way since the first time I had seen them, and the miles traveled surely show.  Their sound is growing tighter, the riffs come out cleaner, and the vocals have been cleaned up over the years.  Looking for that great "party" band to head out too?  Mr. Breeze is where you need to be.  Keep your eyes open for a chance to catch them, and their ever growing loyal following the next time you are wandering about the land.

For more reading, tune in next week.  The Shibs are on course to rock out at Lucky's on Feb 6th.  Always an interesting time...

Til then...

Concert Post 3: Jan 16th Oak Street Ramblers, The Malt House, Madison WI

Today's epic adventure in the typed word turned sonic-ly pleasing music... wait... strike that, reverse it.  Is brought to you by the fine folks that comprise The Oak Street Ramblers.  If the rambers are a ramblin.... just let em roll.

The Ramblers have been spreading the disease around the southern WI regions for quite a while now.  You may find yourself suffering from this heinous infection, if you exhibit the following symptoms:  Booty Shaking, Voice raising, Toe Tapping, Soul Shakin, Teeth Grinning, a craving for some old time(y) whiskey (under-agers... this doesn't count; You crave anything booze anyway), overall body wellness, and a general need to congregate with some people and enjoy some tunes.  The Oak Street Ramblers are another assembly of kind hearted souls that many a story could be shared about over the years.  Formed in days of yore as an excuse to sit around a wood stove, struggling to stay warm, and play a lil music while enjoying a little nip of the ol bottle; The Ramblers have come and gone through the years... both literally and figuratively.  Original Ramblers can be found in Utah, Colorado, VT, and anywhere the music is hot, the pick'in is fast, and the people are willin to listen.

Having originally been one of those "suspects" in the garage from way back, and not having a chance to see the gang perform live in far too long, I was more than eager to jump at the chance to hear some bluegrass, and sip a bit at The Malt House.  Quick note on that.  I was very  impressed with said House of Malt...  The service was awesome, and being the nube beer drinker I am, found the staff to be more than helpful.  But your hear not to read of my Barley and Hops fling... your here for the music.

The Ramblers appear as a group of Ramblers should.  A loose group from various walks of life, but as the songs come to life, they are anything but loose.  The guys and gals have serious chops, playing old-time(y) classics to even some originals instilled with the real down-homey feel of that ol bottle of Rubarb wine.  We meandered through a couple of classics, with Going Down The Road Feeling Bad driftin all of us down the ol country dirt road.  Bluegrass harmonica playing is never an easy feat... but when you are surrounded by skilled instrumentalists, you can't help but be carried along, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone Feeling Bad.

As the night drew to a close, we raised a toast to the Ramblers both far and wide.  In actuality, it was a toast to everyone, cause on some level, there's a lil Rambler in us all.

Be sure to stop down to the Malt house the Second Monday of every month.  Pull up a chair, order a brew, and take a listen to these guys.  You won't be disappointed.

Til Next Time...

Concert Post 2: Jan 14, 2010 The Shibs Great Dane Brew Pub, Madison WI

Aweee no he didn't.  Umm Yes I did.  Your residential harmonica guy back for some more text typing thrills, reliving another gig in the life.  This night brought yours truely to town with the full time music machine known as The Shibs.  But since this is the first post about The Shibs, I will bore the heck out of you, not to mention increase aggreate word count, with some history of us.  If your lucky, you might get some bonus old-skool photos of the guys from a couple of years ago... but your lucky enough to get another blog out of my lazy ass so don't press your luck too far.  People always end up with Whammy's when they do.


I met the guys in The Shibs a couple of years back.  I was on the scene to rock it out with Subatomic and a band known as The Beautes at a fest, called Moose-a-plooza.  We were chillin before the show, and Hark asked if I wanted to come up and jam on one of their songs with them.  Well, the Everclear slushy machines weren't QUITE done yet so I said hell yes.  From there, it was a call in January to play on their new CD (three years ago now), and from that point it was all down hill.  3 National Tours, alot of episodes of Always Sunny, one wicked band van, some time on the beach, you know the drill.  Well, maybe you don't, but that's probably a story for another time... when I don't have a gig to tell ya about.


Always being one for pain, I thought, just for shits and giggles, that I would have a couple of teeth ripped out of my ol skull.  I mention this, because it was just a week earlier at this point, and thanks to some "complications" with my right wisdom tooth, I was going all vampire and tasting blood for quite a while.  Despite my undying love for all things "Tween", I could have done without my Vampire Phase.  Just a quick thought on Tweens and the Vampire Phase.. If 40 yr old men were at the movies screaming for 17 yr old women... people would call the cops.  No Doubt.  Regardless, playing was an exercise in pain.  Pro-Tip #1  Harmonica playing requires some pressure to be built up in your mouth.  When you have bloody holes in there, pressure is not a good thing.  And somehow I doubt chicks dig me.

Musically, it was a rather standard night of Shibtastic tunes.  At this point we have a huge staple of our own music, combined with some lesser known covers from Mr. Robert Marley, and you have a night that makes your lil ditty bits feel all warm and fuzzy.  On this particular night, we had several birthdays in the house, we had to make up a birthday song on the spot, and I believe an attempt was made to break the consumption record for the birthday people involved.  Notice I said Attempt.  Yep.... The more you drink, the better we sound.  For Reals' Y'All.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the on-goings after the show.  We were loading up, around bar-time, and I saw this guy just get knocked down to the ground.  He was laid-out like Tiger Woods at the I-Hop waitress convention. Or was that Denny's... I really don't care, but you get the idea.  When I got back in to pick up some more crap, Andy filled me in on the details.  Apparently, some yutes were walking through the crowd of people waiting for Taxi's and thought.. Hey... I need to knock someone the F*CK out.  And did so... Randomly.  The guy with the massive head wound came to, and ran off, right before he tried to impersonate a human speed-bump.  The poor guy with the wound was gone, and the other victim was getting attended to by the cops.  He and his wife were in town for a business meeting... from Detroit.  I could write more.  But that was too great of a punch-line not to just finish.  Abrupt, I know... But they were from Detroit.

Til Next time...

Mouse

Detroit.  Seriously, gets' randomly punched at Bar Time in Madison.  From Detroit. Crime Capital of the world.