Son Of A Preacher Man

We have a socialist majority ready to take power in our federal government after the first of the year.  Hopefully, those that enjoy freedom turn out in droves to shift this balance of power back to American values in two years as we vote on House and Senate members.  Hopefully, the damage that those soon to take power hope to inflict on the people of this country is not harmful to our nation as a whole.

 

There are two main political thoughts and they boil down to an old axiom. "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." You either believe in government to have the answers and provide for people or you believe in giving people their freedom to provide for themselves.

There are many in the U.S. electorate that don't understand those two sides of the coin and they tend to vote against the people perceived to be the problem just because they want to "feel better" in "throwing the bums out" instead of doing their research to find out what the problems really are.

While both of the main political parties have their problems, their core is either in believing in the government or believing in people.

When you hear a politician talk about taxes, does he believe that anyone in this country isn't paying enough? Does he use one economic class against another to make it seem ok to tax more or does he talk about everyone paying less? If the politican wants to tax anyone at a higher rate, then he believes that the government knows better how to spend your money than you do. If he talks tax cuts, he is talking about your economic freedom to take care of yourself with less government interference.

If a politician talks about abortion or gay marriage, does he think the federal government has the answer or does he think we should decide those things at a more local level?

The 3 main functions of the federal government are to protect our borders, take care of foreign affairs, and mediate between the states. That's all. We have had a department of education since the early 70's and what has the federal government accomplished? We have had a department of agriculture and now we have people getting paid not to farm and the government trying to use so much corn for ethanol that it has created shortages in food.

It doesn't matter what the world thinks of us. We are the most free nation in the world and we will not lower our standards to be like any other country. We value freedom most as a nation, I hope.

While it does matter where we place our troops in the world, we can't afford any more to decide federal elections on that one subject. The federal government has gotten too big and taken too much of our freedom and power away from "we the people".

I didn't like either candidate running for president, but I haven't ever really paid much attention to the candidates. I know that I will get most of what I'd like to see this country as when I vote a straight party ticket because they all tend to vote together. (Well, McCain has crossed party lines a ton...funny Obama hasn't...)

All we can get from candidates are the clues as to their core. I prefer those who allow me to keep more of what I earn, whether it's $500 or $5 billion. I prefer those who allow me to have more freedom in my state to decide on social issues like abortion and gay marriage. (What's right for me and my kids may actually be different than what's right for you and yours.) I prefer to have more freedom in my state to decide on educational matters for my kids instead of a federal government that believes one size fits all. I prefer to have more freedom in regards to how are state goes about helping those in need, instead of a system that allows many to game it selfishly. I prefer to take care of my own health care needs during my lifetime because I realize that a "right to good health" is not listed in the constitution and that one size doesn't fit all for the insurance we may or may not need.

I prefer freedom, not socialism. I prefer to take on these responsibilities for myself and my family instead of abdicating them to people half a nation a way who have never lived like I live or have never had real jobs. They don't know better than I do how to run my life, my finances, or raise my children. These are my responsibilities.

Individual freedom is ours. Do not keep giving it up in elections like the one we had yesterday.

I had a great talk with a friend of mine last night about the tattoo I have on my left shoulder. It's a court jester that a great tattoo artist named Damien helped design for me. Damien has since moved to Amsterdam, last I heard.

Anyway, the question was "why a court jester"? There are two reasons for my court jester and it's all about the attitude I hope to have taken in life.

When I first encountered seeing a court jester in an old black and white movie, I was enthralled at how talented this guy was and how he made his living. I grew up a preacher's kid and I came to a realization that as God is the King, I have to have a role in the Kingdom. As a guy who loves to sing and listen to and write music, the best role I could think of was the court jester. Court jesters, according to history, were entertainers for kings. They may have played music, danced, told jokes, juggled, or done all sorts of things to please and entertain their king. Granted, I can't juggle and I probably jiggle more than actually dance these days.

As I grew older and really started performing music and getting into bands as a young adult, I realized that I was still in the role of a court jester, just in a more direct way with people. Taking the stage and singing my songs and other people's songs was a blast for me, but I realized that it was really an escape for those listening just as music has always been an escape for me.

While it takes a certain ego or confidence to perform on a stage, I never thought of it as something that was more important than what people do in the every day jobs that make the world turn. I've never taken myself so seriously that I thought that being on stage entitled me to anything at all. I never thought that being on stage gave me position to change the world. I'm just a guy who loves music and loves to sing and entertain. Maybe that's why I don't listen to a lot of bands with "messages" as I never felt that self-importance in being a singer on a stage. Also, playing in bars and clubs isn't exactly the best place to preach any sort of message anyway. Nobody comes to a party to get depressed or be reminded of their doldrums that they deal with all week long. There is no reason I should be doing that to people who expect me to entertain them. I wasn't the evening news anchor. I was just a singer in a band.

The audience is the king. I'm just the court jester. As a former singer, I was just the guy paid to entertain the king. As a current promoter/booking agent/event coordinator, I'm just putting together shows for the king to be entertained.

I still look at things that way. I put together S&S Entertainment as a vehicle to entertain. While I'm much too old and out of shape to be out performing with any regularity, I still am turned on by music. If I can have a vehicle to put together shows I want to see, then I can still take part in something I'm passionate about.

Part of the reason I bring this up is that my friend said a lot of bands and musicians don't think that way. For many of the musicians he knows, it's all about stroking their own ego instead of that of their audience. These musicians he knows think they deserve some sort of guarantee as if performing is an equivalent to an hourly day job. They feel that even if only 5 people show up to their show that there should be a guarantee of payment like a real job. Entertainment doesn't provide electricity to someone's home. Entertainment doesn't raise crops for food. Entertainment doesn't save lives, feed people, or change the world. Even the Beatles and Elvis didn't change the world or the course countries have taken.

I think we have a great lineup booked for the Iowa Band Beach Jam and I haven't heard a "diva" word from any of them about playing for their audience.

The great thing about the Iowa Band Beach Jam is that all of the bands have agreed to play for a percentage of the show. This means that they really get to find out their worth and the value of promoting a show. It's like we were all taught as kids that "the more you put into something, the more you get out of it". There are no guarantees in life and with the music business being as saturated as it is, there are fewer guarantees than ever.

The Iowa music scene is fast becoming like that of the east and west coasts where bands have to guarantee a certain amount of tickets sold before they can take the stage. We aren't there, yet, but with the flooding, smoking ban, high gas prices, and the overall economy, club owners are getting stretched thin and most are going with strict door deals for bands. Some are even charging for their room and the sound guy and even taking a percentage for booking the show.
It's getting tough out there!

I know I've written about it before, but a local/regional band is really only worth what they can draw at $5 a head. Of course, if it's a national or international act, then you can price tickets higher, but that works for very few local and regional bands. Most local and regional acts don't have a big enough following to justify some of the guarantees they ask clubs to pony up.

The bands we have booked "get it". They know that you as the audience are king and they are the court jesters brought in to entertain you. They know they are fortunate to have your support and they value that support. They also hope you keep supporting them and purchase tickets to see them, support the clubs that book them, and purchase their merchandise. When they ask for guarantees, you know that they are working their backsides off to put people through the door of the clubs to justify those guarantees.

I hope you enjoy the Iowa Band Beach Jam and the other shows S&S Entertainment has booked. We are fortunate to work with great bands and great people! Thank you for the support you have shown and continue to show as S&S Entertainment tries to bring you the best shows possible simply for your entertainment. We are your court jesters. You are our king.

Saturday 6/21/08

 

The Black Mollys just returned from a successful tour of the UK a few weeks ago with Ireland's Million Dollar Reload (M$R).  I'd been anxious to see what the US leg of this tour was going to be like.  Seeing as I had booked them to play Shooter's Hideaway in Des Moines for June 22^nd, when I heard they were going to be in Waterloo on the 21^st, there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to see them at this additional stop.

 

The American Screamin' Eagle in Waterloo was hopping Saturday night!  People were just flowing in constantly.  This is a great club in a great location and they had to be at their maximum capacity much of the evening.  The Black Mollys were on their home turf as this marked a return for their hometown musician hero, Tory.

 

My buddy Brad joined me for the trip to Waterloo.  We pulled in and saw the tour bus out front, parked, and went up and knocked on the door.  We were let in and got to see Randi, Tory, and be introduced to a few of the guys in Million Dollar Reload.  Everyone was in great spirits and humor.  It really seemed like The Black Mollys picked a great band to tour with and everyone was getting along as if they'd toured together for much longer.  The jokes, one-liners, and cracks were flying back and forth.  This was the third night of the tour and everyone was excited to be playing for Tory's friends and family.

 

When M$R found out I was promoting the show the next day in Des Moines, the joke was that I'd come out to see them just in case I needed to pull the plug on the show the next day.  I told them my expectations were high so they'd better have come out to play!

 

By the time we got inside, the show had already started.

 

Reverie kicked things off.  This power trio from Chicago was rocking out a tight set as I heard only the last couple of songs.  They sure sounded a bit different from their My Space site and I was pleasantly surprised and anxious to hear the full set when they hit Des Moines the next day.

 

I have to be honest that the band I was looking forward to seeing the most was M$R.  While I'm into a lot of different music, the stuff that really reaches into me is in the vein of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Guns N Roses, and about every other hard rockin' type of band with hooks that uses a Gibson guitar and a raspy vocal.  M$R fit that bill in the 5 songs they have on their My Space site.

 

In spite of having lofty expectations, Million Dollar Reload blew me away!  Kicking things off with Fire Your Guns and then immediately going right into Goodnight New York not only got me excited and singing along, but turned the heads of everyone in the place!  It was great turning around and seeing faces light up and people turning to each other pointing at the band and giving the thumbs up.

 

Million Dollar Reload rocked through GNR's It's So Easy part way through their set and finished up with Aerosmith's Draw The Line.  It was great hearing their influences played as their own songs reflect these.  M$R had no trouble getting people to connect with their humor and their music.

 

Phil, with his thick Irish accent, teased the crowd and told them Tory must be full of it because this crowd wasn't as loud as he said.  Of course, this got everyone even rowdier.  Phil teased them and they responded with a huge roar of approval for these Irish lads asking M$R to play one more song.

 

As M$R walked off the stage, I told them the Des Moines show was still on!  These guys were awesome!

 

Since all 3 bands were using the same backline, it wasn't long before The Black Mollys hit the stage.

 

Kicking things off with Every Other Day, The Black Mollys had a large part of the crowd push toward the stage.  Tory used the night to put on a more intimate show by using naming friends and family and even helping to celebrate a friend's marriage from that day.  Most everyone knew the lyrics to Erica, I Don't Think So, Complaining, and all the rest.  It was really a great site to be able to look around and see so many people singing along, not just to the choruses, but to the verses and they even knew where the breaks in the songs were.  Tory was having a blast, Stephen was feeding off of that energy as he was rocking out all night.  Randi pounded the skins with precision and was grinning while tossing sticks out to people down front.  Tory was giving away a lot of Jager items.

 

During Rock Whore, they broke things down to the two chord rhythm and started singing other songs for a few bars.  Amy Winehouse, Loverboy, and others were thrown in for familiar measure.  They pulled up Dan from LyinHeart to play the beat for a bit in this breakdown and then pulled up the groom to play for a bit.  Tory turned over his guitar to a couple of friends during this breakdown as he had everyone singing along to the Rock Whore chorus.

 

The Black Mollys finished up with the classic Sweet Caroline.  Everyone was standing and singing along clear to the back of the club.  This was not the end, though.

 

Tory called up M$R to join him on stage.  Four of the members of M$R jumped up with Tory to rock through Whole Lotta Rosie.  The place went nuts!  Singing, shouting, and just grooving along to this interband jam.  Phil's voice really has that AC/DC raspy sound and I think a lot of people were just waiting to hear him belt out an AC/DC song.  Tory played the leads and they all rocked it out.

 

Brad and I got to hang with the band on the bus and outside the bus as the night air felt great.  Seeing the off stage interaction between the members of M$R and The Black Mollys was hilarious!  These guys get along great.  Brian, of M$R, does impressions of them all and of Steven Adler.  I found out that these guys played for Steven Adler on one of his UK tours.  Phil and Brian were digging on each other outside the bus and at one point Phil jumped up on Brian and this scene cracked us all up.

 

As the night wore on, Randi and Phil were going to be sleeping on the bus so I was asked to play the part of tour manager for a moment and get everyone off the bus.  That was actually kind of fun in a weird way.  It was about 3:15am when Brad and I finally headed back to Des Moines.

 

I was excited, impressed, and could hardly wait to see who turned up in Des Moines to catch this show!  I can't wait until the fall tour in October!

 

Sunday 6/22/08

 

I was a complete nervous wreck.  I'd gotten about 4 hours of sleep at the most and was running on an empty stomach.  I had a house to clean up in case I had a guest stay over.  I had some number crunching to do for ticket sales.  I was freaking out mostly because my money was on the line for booking The Black Mollys and Million Dollar Reload on their Illegal Immigrant tour stop at Shooter's Hideaway.

 

I arrived at Shooter's just a couple minutes after 3pm.  I felt bad because I'd hoped to show up at least 15 minutes early, but I wasn't the only one running late.  Paul, the owner of Shooter's was stepping out of his house when I called him so I didn't feel so bad.  The bands were hanging around outside the club visiting and having some fun on this beautiful day.

 

I asked a friend from work to assist as help to the bands and introduced him to them.  I let them know he was there to work for them that day and they were grateful to have any extra set of hands they could get.

 

Paul showed up and we started getting equipment loaded in.  We were working with a total of 2 backlines and 3 drum kits, so the changeovers between bands weren't supposed to be too long.  It was a great setup.

 

I was nervous and checking out ticket sales constantly as my partner in S&S Entertainment took care of the door.  These bands are so good and I really wanted a good turnout.  Being a Sunday and having friends and bands say they were going to show up, but not buying advance tickets doesn't exactly make a person quit sweating when their dollars are on the line.  The Howling Sons had sold several tickets and that helped.  They had a list of several that were coming.  I'd sold several myself and had a list of some that were coming.  I was crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

 

Reverie kicked things off about 5:30pm.  We were running 30 minutes behind, but trying to provide time for more people to show up and it seemed to start off kind of scarce.  Reverie put on a rousing set.  They are doing this tour for fun and to get their name out a bit more.  These guys are great, they play a tight set or original songs and it was great to hear them throw in some Jimi Hendrix!

 

The Howling Sons are from Des Moines and were really excited about playing this show.  The bassist, Phil, has been friends with Tory of The Black Mollys since 1990.  I was pleasantly surprised by The Howling Sons.  Phil plays in a local band called MotoGrind and he had described them as pretty heavy, but had told me The Howling Sons were more along the lines of The Black Mollys.  The aggressive rhythm guitar in some of the songs had more of a punk vibe and just a good solid rock sound.  The melodies on some of the songs were instantly catchy.  This was only their second performance, but these guys are going to be playing Des Moines and getting better known very soon.

 

By the time Million Dollar Reload was about to go on, I was much more relaxed.  While a lot of friends and bands had said they'd come out and didn't, there were a lot of people that did and some that surprised me.  We were at a very comfortable place with all the numbers and I could finally relax.  I had told the guys in the bands that I didn't really expect more than about 50-60 people to come out on a Sunday to a club that's usually closed.  We actually exceeded my expectations!  Our counter had 92 people on it and I'm sure we missed a small few and there were more that came in during The Black Mollys set after we stopped taking money at the door.

 

All evening, I was playing MC just to introduce the bands.  I could hardly wait to introduce my new friends in M$R!

 

Million Dollar Reload kicked it off with the same songs as the night before, Fire Your Guns and my personal favorite, Goodnight New York.  I had chided M$R the night before about the missing falsetto lines at the end of Goodnight New York and teased that I'd jump up on stage and do it myself.  They told me I was more than welcome, so at the end of the song, I did the three lines "Good night tonight New York" and couldn't stop grinning after I hopped off the stage!  I GOT TO SEE BACKGROUND VOCALS ON THE STAGE WITH M$R!!  What a rush!

 

M$R extended their set because I told them they could play as long as they like and even suggested hearing You Can't Stop Me From Flying, the first song I'd ever heard by them when I first visited their My Space.  WOW!!  These guys rocked the dynamics of that song live like they do on the CD!  Dynamics really show where the band is at on a professional level and these guys blew me away!  They even said they were doing the song because I asked them to.  I have to point that out because it just feels great to have made some cool new friends.

 

With the extended playing time, M$R also pulled out a cover of The Cult's She Sells Sanctuary.  My friend Richard is a huge fan and that made his entire week just hearing someone cover that song.

 

Right before they kicked into their last song, Phil said, "We have one more song for you."  I said, "Two"?  And he just grinned, pointed at me and said, "No, just one."  These guys have a great sense of humor and love the interplay with their audience.  They left everyone satisfied with their brand of swagger and rock n roll.

 

The Black Mollys have played Shooter's Hideaway before and this was a bigger audience for them than they had last time around and they are a better live, in my opinion, than last time.  This is due to having Stephen Allen a part of the band.  Musically, the band has always been tight, but I think Stephen's energy and passion for playing really add a great dimension for them live as the level of excitement just seems several steps higher.

 

The set was similar to the list the night before, kicking off with Every Other Day.  These guys are so spot on with their timing, the rhythms, and their banter with the audience.  Tory is a brilliant and under-credited guitar player.  While the songs don't call for Tory to really show his playing off that often, when he does you get a hint of what he is truly capable of.  For Tory, though, it's all about the songs.  I can't tell you how many times at their shows, and several times again last night, that people commented on how catchy the songs are and how easy it is to find yourself singing along by the time the second chorus comes around.  The lyrics are full of irony and wit and wonderfully crafted to keep your attention throughout.

 

I'm a real fan of the little rhythm breaks that add nuance to the songs.  You can hear the impeccable timing of each of them as Randi keeps the beat.  Randi is a powerful player and spot on with the rhythms.  Watching him interact with Stephen and Tory, as they know every square inch of the songs, you see them wordlessly connect on every stop/start moment and every break and breakdown.  Randi is the heartbeat of the songs, while Tory is the soul, and Stephen is the connection between the two as he keeps the rhythms and adds to the melodies of the music.

 

Brian James, KGGO's program director, was out for both M$R and The Black Mollys.  When The Black Mollys took the stage, it didn't take long for Brian and his friends to move up to the front of the stage.  Brian became a huge fan of the band last night so I introduced him to everyone and they made sure he got a copy of their music.  It would be great to have KGGO involved next time The Black Mollys come around!

 

The Black Mollys ended the set with Rock "Hoore" (think Irish pronunciation), and had everyone singing along as they threw in bits of Amy Winehouse during the breakdown, followed by everyone's favorite sing-a-long, Sweet Caroline.  It was really cool seeing everyone down front getting into the performances and singing along.  Even the few that were still in their seats were singing along, too.

 

With about a hundred people rocking out, singing along, and really having a great time with the show that S&S Entertainment was fortunate enough to bring into Des Moines, I gotta say it was a great feeling!  I can't express my thanks enough to everyone that came out and rocked out with Reverie, The Howling Sons, Million Dollar Reload, and The Black Mollys.  It's great to see people supporting the work that S&S Entertainment is trying to do to bring together local and national (even international!) acts in Des Moines, IA.

 

I hung out with the bands until about 4am laughing and even talking politics!  Everyone was so cool, comfortable in their own skin, had a great sense of humor, and really seemed to bond well together.  It's great to see The Black Mollys with such great support in their special guests, Million Dollar Reload.

 

Check out both of these bands on My Space and get ahold of their music!  That's what it's all about, isn't it?

 Stay tuned for more S&S Entertainment shows coming soon!

I just had a great conversation with a friend who has a great business mind and knows this area better than me. He brought up a couple of things that just sounded downright hilarious, but the guy is probably right and I'm sure there are people that actually think this way.

Recently, one of Des Moines' best area bands played a club that charged a measely $3 cover charge. I heard this club rarely charges a cover but has started to in order to keep the riff raff out. That's not a bad thing. Sometimes you have to find ways to raise your clientelle so that you can attract people who will spend more money in your business. It's all about the bottom line.

Anyway, there were actually people turning away from the door due to a freakin' $3 cover charge! Can you believe that? I was told that it is more important to some people to be able to afford that one extra beer than to pay for the entertainment the club is trying to bring to the place! HOLY FREAKIN' COW!!

Now, first of all, I'm not a drinker. I could care less about one extra beer. My life is actually a full one and getting drunk just gets in the way of that. Getting drunk isn't important in any way, shape or form to me. I'd rather have all of my faculties and I can't stand the idea of letting a drink inhibit me. Of course, that's just my opinion. I think the brain is much more important, I guess.

Secondly, I can't imagine for a moment shorting a club for bringing live entertainment! As a former band member, I'd think people with that mindset are idiots to leave my show.

My band was great and well worth the cover charge even if it was as much as five whole dollars! That was over a dozen years ago!

The band that played this particular club is a great band and very entertaining! When you have to pay just under $10 to see a 90 minute movie, what is a freakin' $3-$5 to pay for 4 hours of music and an entertaining show? Is it really that important to squeeze one or two more beers out for that amount? Are you going to have more fun sipping on a drink or listening and interacting with a band?

I've put liquids in my body before and it's never done for me what music has.

Just having one or two less beers is so freakin' important that you can't pay a small cover charge to support the local music scene?

Are things so bad in a person's life that an extra drink or two is somehow more important than live music? More important that supporting the live music scene?

I hope there aren't any band member that think like this. They'd be shooting themselves in the foot! I love it when I see band members at other band's shows.

That's support! That's some real solidarity and those are people you gotta love working with! Shoot, I've seen bar owners and managers in other people's clubs showing support for the live music scene!

I hope all of you are music fans that don't mind spending a few bucks on a band. I hope all of you have that as a priority over an extra beer or two.

I also hope you convince others to get their heads on straight.

It's more important to support the local music scene! Priorities, people! Otherwise, you're going to keep the scene from growing! Music is AWESOME! Live music is AWESOME!

Support the scene!

WOW!!

I'd been anticipating this CD ever since I heard all the tracks from the last CD.  I'd also been fortunate enough to hear some of the riffs and ideas Markus was working on this so I couldn't wait.  Here's my track by track review.

 

II - I love artists that hearken back to their previous work as they let you know they are building on the past, not forsaking it.  This keyboard and vocal intro sets the mood!

 

Mow - There are those fortunate enough to know this term of affection and what it means to Markus.  This song come kicking and screaming out of the gate to kick this CD into high gear.  Markus' guitar work has always been tight and rhythmic and very accurate.  I love the guitar riff and the dynamic changes he adds to this song.  It's a great rocker with heart as he questions "Do you still believe?"  We do, Markus.

 

The River - The pace is more mid-tempo on this rocker.  It's so heavy while marching in time.  Markus' use of his lower register makes for great dynamics and when the band joins in to harmonize, it gives the melody added kick.  The drumming on this song is very reminiscent of something I remember from hearing Chris' audition package last summer.  This guy hits like a sledge hammer!  There is so much power in some of the simplicity of the groove.  It takes a powerful drummer to pull that off.  Brandi and Chris are instrumental in making this song groove.  The tempo is slower and they never let it feel like it is plodding along.  They play crisply and sharply together.  This song truly shows this was recorded by a band.

 

Livin' Without You - I didn't expect that keyboard at the very beginning, but love how it gives you a beat to prepare for a razor sharp attack on guitar.  Markus' keeps all of his songs catchy and interesting.  The guitar break on this isn't really a solo so much as a great rhythm break that adds some melody to what is going on in the background.  The harmonies are Def Leppard huge as always.  The rhythm section of Brandi and Chris are tight and crisp here as well as everywhere else.  I can't wait to see this one live!

 

Don't Walk Away - Markus has that Tom Keifer sound down pat here!  His voice sounds even stronger here than on the last CD.  If anything, he seems to have added some more melodic touches in his range that add a lot of emotion.  This song bleeds emotion.  "I wish you were here..."

 

How Long Now? - This is currently my favorite track on the CD.  I remember Markus, Kim, and Kip in my basement working on this.  As Markus played the guitar for the others, the comments flowed that it sounded like it needed multiple time signatures.  Just like Van Halen's Finish What Ya Started, sometimes you just have to lay down the 4/4 and let Markus command the stage.  I am so glad to hear how this turned out.  It shows what a rhythmic genius Markus truly is.  The song is fast, relentless and forces you to answer his question.  The lead is trademark Markus squeals just like the girls do when he plays live.  When the song ends abruptly, you really want more!

 

When It's Over - This song has a classic Def Leppard feel.  Remember when the electric guitar helped propel the rhythm under the catchy melodies?  These days too many bands use acoustic guitars and simple strumming.  The guitar work here makes way for some great double bass and reminds the listener of the days when musicians played in bands.  The harmonies are big and tight.

 

Make You Mine - When I first heard this song in rough mix through M!SS CRAZY's My Space site, I thought it might sound like a cluster with the guitar and drum tracks racing along.  The melody and huge vocal chorus let me know this was a great song in the rough.  I'm glad to say that the final mix really defines the rhythm very well.  Yes, the instruments are racing along, but they are in a tight precision and still make you wonder which one is going to get to the finish line first.  The rhythms propel this song forward from start to finish.  The build on the chorus almost relinquishes in orgasm as the vocals all chime in on "mine".  This is a "top-turned-down-racing-on-the-highway" track.

 

Left Me Here To Die - When M!SS CRAZY slows things down a bit, the power and range of this band really shine through.  Brandi's melodic bass line underscores a brilliant melody as Markus emotes from the heart.  The guitar solo isn't a flashy flurry of notes, but a passionate crying out in confusion over being left alone.

 

Can't Sleep - The AM style intro of rhythm guitar gets you excited so that when the band cranks it up together you are ready to rock!  This is a fist pumping song, fast and furious.  "I'm getting loose..."  While the rhythms demand tight musicianship, it's a real player that can make this teeter close to the edge with a loose feeling.  Brandi's accents propel the beat and dynamics.  Chris' drums provide the upbeat groove.  While it feels like a 4 on the floor song, there are rhythmic parts that require more punch along the ride.  I love driving on the highway with this one going, too!  I just have to check my speed on occasion.

 

I Know What I Know - "I got a feelin' for ya."  Yes, Markus let's us know that the past isn't gone, but we have moved into the present with honest progression.  The drums provide a real swing under the rhythm and bass.  Chris has a very huge sound and he parlays it brilliantly here.  Markus shows his power and aggression in his vocals here.  As he did live last summer, he takes the occasional note and bends it upward for more passion.  The gang vocals and harmonies are again huge on this song.  I love how Brandi's voice seems to be heard among the guys.  I can see her in my mind just strutting across the stage on this one as Markus is laying it down.

 

I'm In The Mood - "You got the lotion..."  I think I remember hearing someone talking about words that sounded like motion...  I love that line, though!  The lyrics are brilliantly sexual in this one.  Think about it.  "I know you see it every sunrise..."  Are we talking morning wood?  It's almost deceptive as you get swept away in the melody and catchiness of this song.  The guitar solo really stands out on this one to me.  As with the others, the rhythms are tight and there is a real different drum feel for these tracks as compared with the last CD.  It's all about the feel.  Of course, it will put you in the mood.

 

Say You Will - BIG VOCAL INTRO!  I love accapella vocals that kick off songs.  Markus really gets the melody rolling on the voice and you can just picture him on the edge about to teeter over.  The melody and lyrics truly match up here as you can see Markus telling someone that they are on the edge and they better not blow it.  Of course, he won't take your...

 

My Shining Star - I did a double take the first time I heard this track on the CD.  I thought that another CD got put in while I wasn't paying attention.  Markus pulls out a very catchy melodic track here, but not in the typical M!SS CRAZY vein.  This one puts his voice into more of a softer falsetto territory.  The guitar work is more of a clean sound than the rock distortion M!SS CRAZY is more known for.  The rhythm and lead both have a clean sound.  The drums are crisp, the bass is melodic and punchy.  You will find yourself singing along and then have to stop and realize as I did that M!SS CRAZY is showing you some real range.

 

This CD is rich, full, and produced brilliantly by Ronnie Borchert once again.  I think it's his best production, yet.  The songs average a 3 minute run time and grip you from start to finish.  The tracks are listed in such a way that you get some real dynamics here as opposed to a brutal beating from start to finish.  This is truly a great second CD from M!SS CRAZY and a natural progression that takes everyone along for the ride.  M!SS CRAZY has it down pat!  I can't wait to hear more!

 

Speaking of more...

 

M!SS CRAZY just put up a free download of their cover of Def Leppard's Tear It Down.  Of all the Hysteria B-Sides, this was my favorite.  I love this song and I'm glad Markus chose it to cover.  Absolutely brilliant!  M!SS CRAZY makes this sound like one of their own while paying respect and tribute to one of the best.  It's also good to see that M!SS CRAZY is still recording as they prepare for their 2008 tour!

 

As with the last CD, this one is highly recommended.  There aren't many CD's I'd put in full on an iPod, but anything by M!SS CRAZY gets play!  Now go get yours at www.misscrazymusic.com and if you haven't got the first one, get it, too!

Sometimes you are just put in the right place at the right time.  My buddy Brad was that guy last night and he kicked off a series of events that led to Bret Michaels being able to make a 13 year old girl's dream come true.

 

I'd been debating on going to the Bret Michaels concerts this weekend in both Kansas City on Friday and Dubuque, IA, on Saturday.  I had hoped to make both shows, but knew I had to make at least one.  I don't like traveling alone so that figured into trying to make my decision.  I decided to stay in Friday night and see if someone wanted to go on Saturday.  Saturday morning I even started debating making the even longer drive to Dubuque, but then I received a text from Pete Evick asking if I was going to be at the show.  I just made up my mind for sure at that moment and said I'd be there so I started texting friends to see who was willing to go.  I enlisted my friend Brad and my friend and S&S Entertainment partner Dave.

 

We got to the show and found our seats inside.  At the inside end of our row was a very young girl who seemed to be there by herself.  Brad is the talkative and social type and the first question out of his mouth to this young girl was to ask what she seemed to be doing there alone.

 

Turns out Elaina M. is a 13 year old girl who has a very rare form of cancer.  Doctors told her that she is only the 8th person they know of documented to have the form of cancer she has.  While she seemed to be a very normal and healthy young girl with a great spirit, she had recently been very sick under chemotherapy and doctors are unable to tell her if she is in remission.  Apparently, the others with this cancer have died within 5 years of being diagnosed with it.  She wore a knit cap to cover her head and made comments to Brad about how beautiful another girl's hair was and that she missed having hers.  Elaina's favorite program to watch on TV during her lengthy time in the hospital was Bret Michael's Rock Of Love.  While she had been quite ill, she turned in an application to the Make A Wish Foundation in the hopes of some day meeting Bret Michaels.  She was able to get a ticket to this show, but had to come by herself due to what seemed like her family's ability to be able to afford to get her the one ticket.  Elaina was very excited to be at the show and hoped she might be able to find some way to meet Bret.

 

Brad heard this story and soon turned to me to relate it.  I have been very fortunate since Bret played Waterstock in Des Moines a few years ago to have kept in touch with Pete Evick.  I knew I had to find a way to let Pete know this girl's story and see if there was a way to make this girl's wish come true.

 

I found a young woman who was assisting at the merch table and I'd seen her talking to Pete earlier and with her access she'd be able to get the word to Pete if I didn't catch him first.  I brought Elaina out to meet this young woman and she said she'd do her best to get word to Bret.

 

I happened to catch Big John and related Elaina's story briefly to him as well.  I knew Big John is a father and I had a bit of trouble holding it together as I told him about Elaina because I have two daughters myself.  Big John said he'd see what he could do for Elaina, too, and asked that I bring her to the front curtain at the end of the show.

 

Everyone I could find in Bret's group I had to stop briefly just to let them know about Elaina's wish.  I introduced her to Lucky Chuck as he passed through the crowd and finally found Pete to relate the story to him.

 

The compassion and honest emotion was evident with each of the people I stopped and I knew they would each find a way to let Bret know about Elaina.

 

This evening became more than just a night out with a couple of buddies to see a concert.  It became a mission to make Elaina's wish come true.  My 9 year old daughter happened to call before Bret went on stage and I related the story to her, too.  She said she really hoped that Elaina's wish would come true, too.  She was proud of her old man for trying.

 

Bret put on a fun show as he always does.  Evick is the perfect band to be the Bret Michaels Band.  These guys are tight, fun, and always great to watch and interact with.  Bret made a great choice not only musically, but it seems to be a great decision on a personal level to have these guys in his band.  I will separately write about the show itself.

 

After the concert, my friends and I had to look around for Elaina.  She had initially followed Brad to the front of the stage as the seating really didn't matter at this show.  I was in row J and yet was crushed front and center for the entire show against the barrier.  Elaina had gotten separated and while she really seemed like she could handle herself just fine, my buddies and I still felt a little responsible for her safety and really wanted to make sure that she had the opportunity to meet Bret.

 

We found her and as Bob (Bret's cousin), Pete, and Big John tried to get things wrapped up we waited by the merch table.  Bob had made a promise to Elaina that she'd meet Bret.  It sounded like she really was going to have this dream come true.  I asked Elaina if she had brought a camera and all she had was her RAZR to take pictures.  I offered to take pics with my camera for her if they would allow that and gave her my card so she could contact me and I could get the pictures to her.

 

After the merch area had been taken down and packed away and carted off, Bob asked Elaina and me to follow him.  Big John and a friend of his came with us and we made our way out to Bret's tour bus.

 

Bret was the perfect host as we walked on.  Elaina immediately got a hug and Bret struck up conversation with her.  He asked her if she had anything to sign, which she did.  She even asked him to sign her phone.  He signed a huge cardboard Rock Of Love tour piece from a previous show with "Something To Believe In".  He signed a notebook she had once for her and once for a friend she wanted to give it to.  I used my camera and took a couple of pictures of her with Bret and was able to get a picture with them both while one of the crew took the picture.  Bret is coming back to Iowa next month and asked if Elaina was going to be there.  She hesitated and you could see Bret's heart start to sink as she wasn't sure.  She certainly hopes to and it was hard to tell if her hesitation was due to her health or due to other circumstances.  Bret was honest in his desire to see her at that show next month.

 

Elaina has a great sense of honesty and humor about her.  I mentioned that Bret certainly made the right choice by picking Ambre on his TV show Rock Of Love.  When I said that, Elaina agreed and then added that Daisy "looks like a whore".  This brought laughter from everyone on the bus as Bret certainly disagrees in that he believes Daisy is "hot", but he was laughing because Elaina certainly has a knack for honesty and hearing this type of talk from a 13 year old girl was almost shocking.    Bret let Elaina have as much time as she wanted and as she was ready to leave, he gave her another hug.  As she turned to go, she took a step away and then turned right back around again for another hug from Bret.  You could see the raw honest emotion on Bret's face as she did this.  It's certainly not easy seeing someone so young and so full of energy and life in that moment knowing that she has been through so much and her future is very uncertain.

 

I thanked Bret myself for making this Elaina's dream come true.  I had never met this girl before this night and just by making Bret's band and friends aware, Bret was able to make this moment happen for Elaina.  I thanked everyone in Bret's bus, Bob, Big John, Rob, Ray, Pete, Doyle, Whitey, and the wonderful young lady who helped make everyone of Bret's crew aware of Elaina.  These people are incredible and they each have a huge heart.

 

My friends and I waited until Elaina's family showed up to pick her up.  Elaina couldn't wait to tell them and their expressions were pure amazement as she quickly told them she met Bret and we put her cardboard poster in their SUV.  They were very thankful and anxious to hear more as they took her home.

 

I've been to tons of concerts.  I've had a lot of great times and even what some might term "religious experiences" as there are just moments in life that hearing certain songs performed live can touch you deeply.  I've pretty much been able to attend most concerts in a more selfish manner as I get lost in the music.  Last night while I still get lost in the performances, meant so much more as the honesty of Bret's lyrics was followed up in the honesty of Bret's actions after the stage was dark and the crowd had left.

 

Elaina and her experience touched a lot of people last night, none more so than her.  She is in a lot of people's prayers and if her energy and spirit are any indication, she may just surprise her doctors, too.