Sleep....is overrated!

So as I sit here in the dark...trying to figure out life's questions...at 2:30am, I am joined by my son (who should be sleeping) and we are discussing those tough questions in life. Latte or machiato, basketball playoffs, or hockey playoffs. Both of these are good for me, because the Red Wings and the Pistons are in the playoffs. We'll see if the Pistons can pull it together or not. We also discussed out doubts. How hard it is sometimes to believe. Came across a quote from another blogger somewhere, who said, we need to have doubt to have faith. Makes sense.

So as we try to go back to sleep, (good thing school is out), we can dream of eating ribs and a good ol #9 at the Golden Pride, with our good friend Colin in a few hours. So till then, zzzzzz.

Mass Media Driven Circus

So, I Just read Seth Godin's post on how the media likes to drive what we see and hear. It is something I've felt for a long time, just didn't know to how to describe it. He does a pretty good job. So let's get the "actual" news.

What to do...

This past winter and early spring found me on the road a lot. In the air mostly. Layovers in Dallas Ft Worth, Houston, and even Cincinnati. I was road managing for Jeremy Riddle and his band. I had a lot of fun, but plenty of lack of sleep to help contribute to me feeling like I aged some more.

Part of good times was hanging with B McCoy. A great guy. A great drummer. A great point of view, that makes you think. I had think of a lot of rebuttals, but made me think none the less. He possesses a sharp mind that makes you think he is older than he is. But he also has a naivety that I wish I could have back.

After finding his rants and raves online, it has given me the jolt to make my voice heard (seen). If only to get things off my chest. If only I am the only one who sees this. If I am the only one.

So as this next chapter opens up, grab a pint of Smithwicks, get out the darts, let's ramble on.

The Tigers

Ok, so the Tigers got off to a very bad start. 0-7. But they have come to life of late. Now they are flirting with going .500. But, that one will have to wait. Minnesota is kicking their collective butts. Oh well. 3rd highest salary payroll, and the payoff is yet to come.

I don't watch baseball too much. I usually save up for the series. Most like the other sports. I'll watch some of the Red Wings games, especially if they go to the finals. I'll try to catch an occasional Tigers game on TV. Mostly, though I will watch football. While I root for the Lions, the team I like is the Broncos. The AFC west, until last year, was the toughest league to play in. We'll see how it plays out this year.

So that covers baseball, hockey, and football. Politics will come later.

So for now, try not to get victimized. Go Tigers!

Continuation of Places I've Been

This year has taken me to many places I haven't been to yet.

Cleveland OH
went to Cleveland Heights Guitar Shop. Held a 1948 Martin.
Cincinnati OH
ate at the Budakhan downtown. Great Pad Thai
Pensacola FL
Hattiesburg MS
The Keg and Barrell. Black Castle.
Boston MA
Do I need to say more? Majestic Theater was home for a week.
Spartanburg SC
Delany's Pub, Smithwicks, and darts.
Memphis TN
Lake Charles, LA
Two tornadoes touched down right before we got to town
Grand Rapid, MI
Andy Warhol at GRAM

And revisited some places I have already been.
Orlando
Atlanta
Charlotte
Nashville
Houston
Dallas
Chicago

so with the Student Life Tour at an end, and nary a sound gig in sight at least until June....(yeah right), I can now turn my attentions to.....hmmmm. I don't know what to do.

I could try to find more audio gigs. I could try to put my camera investment to work. I could just find a hobby. To much thinking.

So as end of tour present, Matt the audio guy, "accidentally" saved his settings over mine. So the video timer is ending, the lights come up for Jeremy, Drew (the tech director) is wondering loudly why the playback music is still up, and I am scrambling trying to get a ProTools recording going. All the while Matt is asking me if I can use his settings to start. So up goes Jeremy's fader, the music goes down, and the show starts. Takes two songs to get it close. None of the effects setting were right. The verb I stored was an amp simulator in Matt's world. Jeremy sure sounded good with his voice running through a Fender Twin or something like that. At least I had all the channels, and monitor world wasn't on my shoulders. I probably would have skulked out the back door and disappeared into the wet chilly Tennessee night.

So I accepted Matt's apology, and went on with the show. What a way to have the last night go.

All right, I have spent the last 3 months of my life on an airplane. I know my way intimately around DFW. I probably been at DFW more than I have been home. I walk into my house and ask why housekeeping hasn't put fresh towels in or made up my bed. (Can you sense the victimization here?)

I have been on tour with Jeremy Riddle and his band since the end of January. Visiting locales in the south east region of our fine country with Student Life. Mostly churches with a few civic center thrown in. Mixing on the M7CL. Matt and Ross providing the system and mons. Making my life easy. Be sure to check out Spur 58. These guys are a class act.

I also have provided FOH and Road duties for Fernando Ortega. Going to the Chicago area a couple of times, and visiting Prestonwood in Dallas. Nothing like a 7500 seat church auditorium to make you ask....why?

So I have one more weekend out with Jeremy, and then I get back to a little sanity of being home for a while. That way I can get Colin his Dominicans.

Midwest Tour Swing...

Suede in Tulsa, OK. John and his system. Midas with and EV Rig.
Jackpot Saloon in Lawrence, KS. Nick and the house system. System ok, Nick a great guy. No a/c.
Chatterbox, Lincoln, NE. Where men are men, and the women....I ended up running sound for the night
Tonic Room, Chicago, IL. Lincoln Park area. Vibey place, but the a/c broke that day.
Rock Lobster, Indianapolis, IN, A music showcase with a system that absolutely sucked. What were they thinking...

Louis the XIV was incredible. The cd kinda sucks. Their show is great.

Then the brutal 22 hour drive home.

I am definitely the victim here!