What Up, Blog?

February 4
     Super Bowl Sunday....Super Memories:
                *Bear's coach Levies Smith was at a gig one night in '94 at O'Charley's on the Strip...percussionist Tod Sheley chatted with him during the break.  He was on the UT football staff at the time.  Lovie...not Tod.
                *During the summer of that same year...performing on the patio of "The Library" on the strip, some UT football players introduced me to a freshman named Peyton Manning...who arrived to Knoxville that week for training...and asked me to play "Rocky Top" for him.

January 12
     The official "Mariachi Tour 2007" of Mexican restaurants has begun!  After being at my regular Wednesday gig since June 2002, I've decided to play another venue (El Sazon) to go along with my Thursday (Pelancho's) regular weeklys.  A business opportunity made me decide on changing the venue.  Great times had....but now a 50% increase will make more good times to come!  Also, all will help in supporting my 2 CD projects coming out in 2007!

January 1, 2007
     Thanks to all who joined me (with band or solo) at a show in 2006!  It was you that made 2006 my best year ever!  Every year has been the best from the previous, so I thank you for that.  All the great people we've met this year in Charleston, Huntsville, Nashville, Clemson, Greenville, Bristol, etc...have been wonderful.  Everything from the 2000 people that were at Cinco de Mayo to the performance at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum to the premier of Talladega Nights with Will Ferrel in person to our most successful Christmas Benefit yet.....made all this year an exceptionally fun one!  Also, the debut of my twin daughters singing at the 4th of July party!  The projects for 2007 are already in progress and I'm excited about sharing the new songs from my upcoming CDs with you!.

December 6
     The Annual Christmas Benefit Party was this past weekend...and raised over a couple thousand dollars for MDA.  The show at the Downtown Grill & Brewery was full of yule fun.  The night started off with my boy blue...Splanger, proposing to his girlfriend Mishol (I think that's how you spell it)....She said yes...and off they are to a life of bliss!  Christy and I sang a requested song by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill....for their first slow jam.  Christy did the Faith part justice...but I think my Tim McGraw drawl needs some work.  All the MDA girls...and guys (including director Lee Willard as Santa) made the night a success.  Big Holiday Fun It Twas!

Also this first weekend of December '06 was recording sessions for my first album in 5 years.  As crazy as it sounds...it's been 5 years since I've recorded...but have played over a thousand gigs in between.  I definitely want to start recording some live shows...just to study...and work on the songs.  The producer of this CD project is Mr. Michael Cline from Huntsville, Alabama....a long time professional musician himself...over 3 decades...and now an album producer of my next release.  Ryan Tillery (currently touring with Mercury Records recording artist Gary Nichols) added the bam and bam for the session.  Great guy and great vibe.  I'm pumped to see how the next sessions go.  Engineer Scott Pederson (of local rock legends GRAN TORINO) is already throwing out amazingly cool ideas that will seep into the songs.  The 9 song CD will include a couple of remakes of previously released material...but with a different direction.  More on the project as it develops.

September 29
     I was very proud of the band and the performance at The Capitol Theatre in Greeneville, TN.  The cramming we did at practice for the "Parris Island-The Rock Opera" paid off.  Even though I started the show with a guitar malfunction....too beautiful....we received positive feedback on the band's output.  Highlights for me were Jaystorm's powerful singing on "Goodnight Chesty Puller, Wherever You Are?"....and the audience's singing on the finale "Always Faithful".  It brought me chills.   I'm eager for the next performance...wherever it may be....because the whole composition just gets tighter and tighter.  Catch us next time.

August 21
     Huge time was had in Charleston, SC again.  The band went on a fishing trip and brought in about 15 or so Sea Bass and some weird fish that looked like it could've come from an Oak Ridge nuclear site.  Alex's breakfast  in Mt. Pleasant is the only place that competes with Waffle House for late night grub. Can I have a sponge to soak up that grease, please?

August 2
     Bitter sweet day.  I was told by my vocal doctor that I needed 5 days of complete rest (which includes singing, talking, barking like a dog, etc...).  Having surgery on my vocal chords 2 1/2 years ago at Vanderbilt Hospital, I've been in need of a "check-up".  Since I've had a monster month of gigs in July (22, I think...and all fun times), along with 2 sinus infections (don't jog/run in the woods at Concord Park during a hot, humid summer day), I managed to damage my left vocal fold.  Nothing too serious, but definitely not to be taken lightly.  So the doc said, "If you were an opera singer, I'd tell you to rest for 5 days...".  So I knew she was serious...and as hard as it was, I still performed at the Kingston Alley (my Wed regular gig) with the help of some singing friends (who did an incredible job!!)...Jaystorm, Matt Job, Mike Mauldin, Amy Thompson, Luke!, Frazier, etc...  It was an incredible challenge, but I managed to not say a peep (what a great word) the whole night...not one.......I just had fun playing my Takamine.  And we all managed to entertain to a great crowd. 

     To make the bitter day a bit more sweeter...was hearing my daughter Maya (age 2) sing confidently and clearly to herself....for a long period of time...I didn't recognize the melody (yes there was one) from her collection of Disney and Baby Einstein tunes...so I rushed around the house looking for my video camera...or even a tape recorder.   She was fulfilled with her concerto...and I realized I have to catch her a bit faster next time..  Twin sister Marena has always been the little singer...but she was busy transferring dirt from a potted plant to the deck outside.  It must be done...it must be done.  Back to my vocal rest....sssshhhhhh

August 1
     I caught guitar great Les Paul at the Aridium last night in New York City.  Wonderful jazz by a legend who fronted Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.  I was able to get him to sign a piece of paper with me (they sold out of his CDs!) after the show....and asked him if he ever jammed with Jimmy Page (Led Zep guitarist I admire)....He smiled and said "Certainly".  He's there every Monday...go see him.

July 23
    Another week of events has passed....ranging from seeing Will Ferrell live on the red carpet at Thursday's gig...to watching full throttle dancing at the Flip Fest coach's party...to accidental exposure......to senior citizen beat boxin'.....to beautiful views of Lake Loudon.

     Regina, a 70 year old Crossvillian, got up and beat boxed with me one night...on my secondary microphone...which I keep open for impromptu voice looping and, of course, geriatric beat boxing!  She was actually wonderful...and I was surprised because that sort of artistic expression isn't generally associated with anyone born before the 1950's.  

June 22, 2006
     Feelings...nothing more than feelings.  Wow, this could be fun.  To type in the a.m. can be great exercise for my post-gig fingers.  We'll see what happens. 

Road Blog '01-'03:

                          
Shooter time for Kenny in New Orleans            Tony buried amongst jolly Minnesota girls!

                                                                
Sharing a fellowship Guiness with Stuart in England

-"Sherlock Holmes Pub" (Nashville) 8/30/02 - Great way to kick off the football season gigs.  Venue was filled with family, old friends, new ones and glee!  

-"Zorbaz" (Brainerd, MN) 8/10/02 - Our Brainerd family treated us to another incredible time.  However, we capped off the weekend with a poor golf game performance...especially from Dave L.  Tony kissed a girl onstage at "Zorbaz"!!!  Right on the lipzzz!  The owner of the bar was extremely hospitable as well.  Tony kissed a girl onstage.  We looking forward to a return trip in March 2003.  Tony kissed a girl onstage. 

-Omni Royal Orleans Hotel (Dave and Randi's wedding) (New Orleans) 8/10/01 - Mama Ingram took real good care of us with some good food down in the swamps on Friday.  Dave had his 1st boudin, purple hull peas, and south Louisiana Cracklins!!!  Then after the gig, and after a night out including Pat O'Brien's for a few Hurricanes...Kenny decided it would be a real good idea to completely spray Tony with a fire extinguisher on the 2nd floor of the
Omni Royal Orleans Hotel near Bourbon Street, at 3am, causing a complete evacuation of the second floor and a 3-alarm fire call from fire trucks. And from the immortal words of Dave..."It had to be done!!!"
   

-"Strasse Haus" (Cincinnati, OH) 6/22/02 - We managed to trip the power 11 times....but the flow continued each time due to Kenny's instinctive act of groovology!  Lexington gals roadtripped.  Band field day at a Red's game the next day...oooo, it was Cap Day as well!

-Vondee and Don's (Smokie Mtns) 6/15/02 - Smores by the campfire and gymnastics with Don.

-Country Music Marathon (Nashville) 4/27/02 - Appeared on Fox Sports Network for 10 seconds of national exposure.  Just watching 11,000 runners go by our stage was enough incentive to go eat chicken wings at Hooter's after the performance.

  -England 4/13-14/02 - What a wonderful experience!...The gigs were great fun....We're definitely going back.  Thanks to Stuart at "Oranges Bar and Cafe" and Alan at the "Sportsnet".....and especially Piers/Rowan, Ian/Lisa...for amazing hospitality.  AND don't forget Wolfgang..who flew in from Munich to jam with us!...and who taught us that great pick-up line in German.
           

-Brainerd, Minnesota 4/9/02 - Highlights include snowmobiling across the frozen Mississippi River....And Tony knocking a mounted fish off the wall at a restaurant onto the head of the Director of the YMCA!....priceless.

- New Year's Eve Party - Waynesville Country Club (North Carolina) 12/31: JJ was seen on the golf course around 4am trying to start a campfire on the 13th green sand trap.  He wasn't successful...he was unable to ignite the 6 wooden coat hangers and one plastic chair he had assembled from his room.  

- Hokie Pokie Birthday Christmas Party (Bristol, VA) 11/17/01:  Jerome's Water Moccasins bite!

- Phi Gamma Delta (Univ. of Georgia) 11/10:  Beautiful day for football tailgating.  On game day, all the girls must wear black slacks and red top OR red slacks and black top....ALL!!  Randy acknowledged them without missing a beat.

-"Lazy Gecko" (Key West) 10/27-28: Fantasy Fest Mania. Late night prowling with cat woman and mom and Buffalo Gal.  Got up and jammed with Ron's alternative band at the Hideaway.  

-"Jack Willie's" (Tampa, FL) 10/19-21: Flat tire on the U-Haul Friday on the way down. Entertained by Barcley and Terry down at the bar on Friday even though we missed our gig.  Denise and Anna were MVP bartenders.  Once again Leigh Anne and Kelly rocked with hospitality.  

-New Nashville Music Conference 10/11: Very smooth set at the "Douglas Corner"....Ran into an old band mate of mine who is now managing 3 bands..all of whom were participating in the showcase.  Later that night, Tone and myself jammed with Tall Paul at the Beer Sellar....2 for one beverages and tons of Vandy coeds.  Oh yeh, and ran into one of my old girlfriends...she looked great.  Interesting night.  

-"Dalton Golf and Country Club" (Dalton, GA) 7/20:  Celebrity sighting: Actress Andie McDowell at the buffet line.  Tony swears he had romantic eye contact with her.

- "Conch Farm" and "The Lazy Gecko" (Key West, FL)  7/1-4:  Dennis Maloney (who writes for the Morning Star and the Citizen) gets the MVP award for putting us up gratis for the week.  Made many pals, however Marcella (pronounced "Marrr-kkkgg-chela") and Ron were daily troopers...as well as Curbside Kirby.  Thanks guys.  The 4 shows at the Conch Farm were all great...with special spice from Knoxville's own Pemberton's and Kimberly.  A new venue (in the heart of Duval St.) "The Lazy Gecko" will be a frequent stop for us from now on.....Next stop in the Keys will be Fantasy Fest 2001...make plans now...you'll never forget this trip!!

Just Say Bart!

-"Atom-Fest" (Norris Lake / Atlanta) 6/23:  Flex and Justin and wives were perfect hosts for this third annual event (first named after baby Washkill).    Best of the three I believe.  Broke 5 strings....surprised?   Arrived 4:30pm....finished playing past midnight.....always flies by.  Thanks to Betsy for finding crashing facilities...and for the late night beans and franks (is there a pattern here? / read below). 

-"Jack Willie's" (Tampa, FL) 5/18-20 :  Thanks to Leigh Anne and Kelly for their hospitality!    Road Trip MVP: Michael Lawson.  Kick Ass Locals Award: Jason and Eureka!   Food For Fuel:  Cuban Samich.  Celebrity Sighting:  George Steinbrenner at Sunday's gig.  Most Over Used Phrase:  "Franks and Beans!!!!!"

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