Just wanted to drop in and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. We'll be getting an early jump on the celebrations next Monday night (Dec. 14) by living it up with the good folks who work at Drummer Dave's two  Rotten Ralph's restaurants. They're having their annual holiday bash, and we'll be dropping in to share in the festivities and provide some entertainment. It should be a blast - and an opportunity to try out some of our newest material on a …

Haven't had a chance to check in for a few weeks, but wanted to let everyone know how fantastic our two latest gigs were! We played Suds Sports Grill in Ellenton (Nov. 7) and D. Coy Ducks on Holmes Beach (Nov. 13) for the first time and both lived up to expectations. Suds has a great outdoor deck just perfect for both the band and the patrons. It was a nice cool night for us - the first snap of fall weather - and we have to thank all the friends of the band who came out and partied with us. I see Suds …

The band wants to send a special shout out to all the good folks who came out to Bayfest on Saturday (Oct. 17, 2009)! We had a great time in our debut at this event last year, but this time around was even better. The lineup of talent that Cindy Thompson and the crew put together was absolutely awesome and we were proud to be a part of it! The weather couldn't have been any better, and everyone was so supportive and enthusiastic. Special props to Adrienne. We threw her right in during the …

Dean Tribble was my best friend. He was a roommate and at times a brother. He was also one of those rare, really special people you get to know and get the honor of jamming or playing in a band with. Mike and I still talk about him all the time and I think about him daily. Dean and I played together starting in the mid 80s. When you played with him, you learned things through some kind of osmosis or something. My guess is some kind of magic. He had a huge talent for writing and arranging music. He would …

It's fun. I can't deny it. Hooking up the Guitar Hero and jamming out with my wife and 9-year-old daughter has become a regular happening in the Glaser house on weekends. But I still can't decide if it's a good influence or not. Will it make the youngsters take that next step and learn how to play a real instrument, or is it just creating more couch potatoes? Even the "real" guitar heroes are split on the subject. Jimmy Page and Jack White have been vocal critics, same for Stones' bassist Bill …

It felt more like a test flight than a full-out show, but our mid-week, mid-evening gig at Ace's last night was a treat. We blew through two hours of pretty comfortable material and welcomed Adrienne - who did a great job and even jumped in for her first lead vocal opportunity on Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know." It's only been a couple of weeks, but it's already pretty clear that Danielle and Adrienne are creating a really impressive one-two punch when it …

HWY 41 fans, we have some more incredible band news for you! We've added a new member to the fold with Adrienne Summerall coming on board to add more punch to our vocals. Adrienne has stopped by for rehearsals the past two weeks and done an incredible job of adding the missing piece to the puzzle - fantastic harmonies to complement Danielle's voice. We threw a lot at her the first time out and - believe it or not - she came back for more last night and was a huge part of what might have …

Found the results of a fun little poll in the latest issue of Guitar Player magazine. It lists the Most Beat-to-Death Covers by Cover Bands. Since we are primarily a cover band, I found it an interesting read. They list the top 11 most-covered songs and I found it interesting that we've only done four of them in shows over the years AND we only have one (maybe two) of them in our current setlist. So here it is, Guitar Player's Most Beat-to-Death covers of all time in alpha order:

All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
All Right Now - Free
Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Cocaine - Eric Clapton
Freebird - Lynryd Skynyrd
Honky Tonk Woman - Rolling Stones
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Smooth - Santana/Rob Thomas
Takin' Care of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive

By request on Facebook, Danielle shared the details of her "American Idol Experience" at Disney's Hollywood Studios: We woke up around 7 a.m. Mom helped me with hair and makeup, and then we were off. We got there early so we went over by the turnstiles while dad went to buy a ticket. He came back and before my vocal coach could meet me. An Idol casting director walked through the line and I sang for him. We were directed to another guy who told me to go to the audition facility in 15 minutes. …

The rest of the HWY 41 gang wants to put a big shout out to Danielle - who maybe we can convince to write a little first-person story for us here. On Tuesday, our darling diva won the American Idol Experience over at the Disney theme parks. That gives her a guaranteed audition with the "Idol" producers next Thursday (July 9) at Amway Arena in Orlando, where the throngs will be gathering for their shot at fame and fortune. I know we'll all be pulling really hard for her. Come on out to the Bridge Street Market on Friday night and help us give her some kudos and big encouragement for next week. Way to go Danielle! You ROCK!