http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:35:00 GMT http://bandzoogle.com http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=137010 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 live audience. Then we'll all take a break and ring in the holidays with our families before charging right into 2010. Also, I want to take a minute to thank everyone who came out to support us in 2009. We really got things rolling toward the end of the year when we finally found a stable lineup. Mike, Jeff, Dave and I have been at this for some time, but everything really came together earlier this year when Danielle came on board, and in August, when Adrienne added the final piece to the puzzle. The commaradarie is amazing and we've really found our sound. Next year is already shaping up to be the very best in the history of this band. We laid the groundwork in '09 and we can't wait to see what's ahead! DG 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 live audience. Then we'll all take a break and ring in the holidays with our families before charging right into 2010.

Also, I want to take a minute to thank everyone who came out to support us in 2009. We really got things rolling toward the end of the year when we finally found a stable lineup. Mike, Jeff, Dave and I have been at this for some time, but everything really came together earlier this year when Danielle came on board, and in August, when Adrienne added the final piece to the puzzle. The commaradarie is amazing and we've really found our sound. Next year is already shaping up to be the very best in the history of this band. We laid the groundwork in '09 and we can't wait to see what's ahead!

DG]]> Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:35:00 GMT 64B49708B184E41F6D4519AE4618441D http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=123954 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 as sort of a hidden gem, and if they can begin to create a regular crowd for their live music on Saturdays, it could be one heck of a fun place to play. Here's hoping that happens for them and we get another opportunity to bring the rock in the future. D. Coy's was out of this world! A few of my veteran bandmates had played there before in a previous life, but it was my first go-round and I had an absolute blast! The crowd was BIG, LOUD and INTO IT all night long. When you have energy like that in the place, it only makes the band work harder, and I think we were at our very best. Everyone played and sang their hearts out for four hours. Can't wait to get back there on January 9 - or before - and do it all over again! It was also the first time we've had the opportunity to roll out ALL of the material we've practiced over the months for a full show. Well, we did have three or four tunes we didn't get to, but we jammed through 40+ tunes and everything was tight. If you had a chance to get out to either show, many thanks to you for your support. You make it all worthwhile! DG 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 as sort of a hidden gem, and if they can begin to create a regular crowd for their live music on Saturdays, it could be one heck of a fun place to play. Here's hoping that happens for them and we get another opportunity to bring the rock in the future.

D. Coy's was out of this world! A few of my veteran bandmates had played there before in a previous life, but it was my first go-round and I had an absolute blast! The crowd was BIG, LOUD and INTO IT all night long. When you have energy like that in the place, it only makes the band work harder, and I think we were at our very best. Everyone played and sang their hearts out for four hours. Can't wait to get back there on January 9 - or before - and do it all over again! It was also the first time we've had the opportunity to roll out ALL of the material we've practiced over the months for a full show. Well, we did have three or four tunes we didn't get to, but we jammed through 40+ tunes and everything was tight.

If you had a chance to get out to either show, many thanks to you for your support. You make it all worthwhile!

DG]]> Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:50:00 GMT E63386AA1B341A06F83E292BCCFF73C4 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=101543 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 Ace's gig a little while back when she'd just joined the band, so this was her first "full" outing with HWY 41. She came through with flying colors and Danielle, of course, did her usual amazing job. This is clearly becoming one of - if not our very favorite event to play. We moved up in the lineup from morning last year to mid-afternoon and - WATCH OUT - because next year we're aiming for headliner status! Also, wanted to say "cheerio" to Chris Grumley, our absolute fav master of ceremonies - I broke out the John Lennon shades just for you! You can see our performance of "Get Back" in the video embedded below. Next on the schedule is a BIG Nov. 7 date at Suds in Ellenton. We have something special planned for this one, so make sure you mark your calendar and come on out that night! DG 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 Ace's gig a little while back when she'd just joined the band, so this was her first "full" outing with HWY 41. She came through with flying colors and Danielle, of course, did her usual amazing job. This is clearly becoming one of - if not our very favorite event to play. We moved up in the lineup from morning last year to mid-afternoon and - WATCH OUT - because next year we're aiming for headliner status! Also, wanted to say "cheerio" to Chris Grumley, our absolute fav master of ceremonies - I broke out the John Lennon shades just for you! You can see our performance of "Get Back" in the video embedded below. Next on the schedule is a BIG Nov. 7 date at Suds in Ellenton. We have something special planned for this one, so make sure you mark your calendar and come on out that night!

DG


]]> Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:55:00 GMT 4BAF712E522CBB9325E01233D6AEDC89 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=96065 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 do things like improvise a song or rhythm in the middle of a set just to keep things fresh and look for new ideas. It was like he was stretching and exercising his playing/singing and his musical mind every single time he played. It was a lot of fun. He made you feel like you were his equal on stage, but at the same time he always led you by example. Dean was my best friend. I miss him immensly. It's been three years since he passed away on Oct 1, 2006, and I guess I'm feeling rather melancholy about it. Drummer Dave 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 do things like improvise a song or rhythm in the middle of a set just to keep things fresh and look for new ideas. It was like he was stretching and exercising his playing/singing and his musical mind every single time he played. It was a lot of fun. He made you feel like you were his equal on stage, but at the same time he always led you by example. Dean was my best friend. I miss him immensly. It's been three years since he passed away on Oct 1, 2006, and I guess I'm feeling rather melancholy about it.

Drummer Dave]]> Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:05:00 GMT E73D9706C0499859E80B29C967B942D1 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=78539 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 Wyman and Floydster Nick Mason. I'm sitting on the fence right now. Anyone who's played Guitar Hero/Rock Band has to admit it can be some serious fun. And if you think actually being able to play an instrument gives you an instant leg up, forget about it. I've been playing guitar for 25 years and my daughter looks like Eddie VH compared to me on that little guitar-shaped controller. And speaking of VH - there's a new Guitar Hero tribute to the Halens coming out - minus Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. That's just not right. Whether you're a Hagar or Roth guy, both are part of the VH legacy and both should be represented. And as for substituting a cyber Wolfgang on bass for Mad Anthony and the Jack Daniels axe, there's no way that's gonna fly. What say all of you? DG 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 Wyman and Floydster Nick Mason. I'm sitting on the fence right now.

Anyone who's played Guitar Hero/Rock Band has to admit it can be some serious fun. And if you think actually being able to play an instrument gives you an instant leg up, forget about it. I've been playing guitar for 25 years and my daughter looks like Eddie VH compared to me on that little guitar-shaped controller. And speaking of VH - there's a new Guitar Hero tribute to the Halens coming out - minus Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. That's just not right. Whether you're a Hagar or Roth guy, both are part of the VH legacy and both should be represented. And as for substituting a cyber Wolfgang on bass for Mad Anthony and the Jack Daniels axe, there's no way that's gonna fly.

What say all of you?

DG]]> Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:25:00 GMT 4DA4755B866DA087BCDFE566EFD17EAF http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=67965 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&nbsp;treat. We blew through two hours of pretty comfortable material and welcomed Adrienne -&nbsp;who did a great job and even jumped in for her first lead vocal&nbsp;opportunity on Alanis Morissette's &quot;You&nbsp;Oughta Know.&quot; It's only been a couple of weeks, but it's already pretty clear that Danielle and&nbsp;Adrienne are creating a really impressive one-two punch when it comes&nbsp;to the&nbsp;band's vocals.&nbsp;We sound better than ever thanks to these two talented ladies. Drummer Dave had Gary out to record the Ace's gig, and he had four cameras set up to &quot;immortalize&quot; the night.&nbsp;We can't&nbsp;wait to see and hear the finished product, although I think Gary&nbsp;will have his hands&nbsp;full editing all of that material down to something workable. We'll&nbsp;post some of the video as&nbsp;soon as it's available. I also got a chance to spend a little time talking&nbsp;with guitarist Don Dinsmore from &quot;<a target="_new" href="http://www.sheriandthevision.com/">Sheri and the Vision.&quot; Don's a regular checking out the bands at Ace's and we've run in some of&nbsp;the same circles but haven't had a chance to connect until last night.&nbsp;The Vision's bassist, Chas Nardone, is a long time friend of HWY 41 and played with Drum Dave, Mike and me for a time back&nbsp;a few years ago. It would be great to&nbsp;play at double bill one day with those guys - good band, good people. DG&nbsp; 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 comes to the band's vocals. We sound better than ever thanks to these two talented ladies.

Drummer Dave had Gary out to record the Ace's gig, and he had four cameras set up to "immortalize" the night. We can't wait to see and hear the finished product, although I think Gary will have his hands full editing all of that material down to something workable. We'll post some of the video as soon as it's available.

I also got a chance to spend a little time talking with guitarist Don Dinsmore from "Sheri and the Vision." Don's a regular checking out the bands at Ace's and we've run in some of the same circles but haven't had a chance to connect until last night. The Vision's bassist, Chas Nardone, is a long time friend of HWY 41 and played with Drum Dave, Mike and me for a time back a few years ago. It would be great to play at double bill one day with those guys - good band, good people.

DG ]]> Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:35:00 GMT 51E57685F77BE7594B866FAFA8DC2AAD http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=64278 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&nbsp;- believe it or not - she came back for more&nbsp;last night and was a huge&nbsp;part of what might have been our biggest sounding and tightest&nbsp;rehearsal ever. You're going to love Adrienne's voice and her fun-loving personality as we continue to work her into the band and see how far we can stretch our sound. You'll get&nbsp;your first chance to hear&nbsp;her live next Tuesday (Aug. 25 from 8-10 p.m.) when we play a two-hour showcase at Ace's in Bradenton. We'll also be filming a professional video of the show, so come on out&nbsp;and be a part of the event and help us give Adrienne a warm HWY 41 welcome! DG 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 been our biggest sounding and tightest rehearsal ever.

You're going to love Adrienne's voice and her fun-loving personality as we continue to work her into the band and see how far we can stretch our sound. You'll get your first chance to hear her live next Tuesday (Aug. 25 from 8-10 p.m.) when we play a two-hour showcase at Ace's in Bradenton. We'll also be filming a professional video of the show, so come on out and be a part of the event and help us give Adrienne a warm HWY 41 welcome!

DG]]> Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:37:47 GMT 66964B8C570E00CF2535BE776CC3F36D http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=48053 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&nbsp;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 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]]> Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:20:00 GMT D52A6F61BB8E973D20E7ECB3C534A318 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=46935 By request on Facebook, Danielle shared the details of her &quot;American Idol Experience&quot; 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. He gave me a song list with 115 songs, and I picked two to audition with. Finally, my vocal coach showed up and let us into the park. We went over to the audition facility. In the waiting room, the cast members gave me and the other contestants ipods with all the songs on them. Each song was 90 seconds long and we could preview the versions we'd be singing. Finally, it was time. I walked into a small room with a producer and he interviewed me a little bit and picked my first song. Now, voice still dry and very much stuck in morning mode, he chose my hardest song first, &quot;Walk Away&quot; by Kelly Clarkson. It showcases my upper register belt. I rocked the song on the previous night. Not this time. It was awful, like, beyond words awful. I was so embarrassed because my vocal coach was waiting with my family outside and I'm sure they could hear. Then I sang my second song, &quot;How do I Live,&quot; much more warmed up. The producer said that my higher belt was kind of squeaky (O! M! G! Shame!) and I should definitely sing &ldquo;How do I Live.&rdquo; In other words, I made finals. He showed me a video with Ryan Secrest giving me the good news, and sent me off with a &quot;Vote For Me&quot; lanyard. I was so relieved. I thought I was going to let everyone down and I'd wasted everyone's time. I was going to be in the first show of the morning, so my rehearsal was at 9:50. Each show throughout the day consists of three contestants. We met up at the theater and proceeded to the green room. We were each given a 10-minute coaching session, hair and makeup touch-up, and green room break. I started in coaching while one girl went to makeup and another started off with her break. The musical director was really cool. His name was Daniel and he was very friendly, energetic and helpful. He gave me suggestions on expression and ad-libs. I mostly used my own, but he had some good ideas, too. Then came my break and next was hair and makeup. I think the stylist's name was Felisha. We didn't have time for much. She was super friendly and gentle. Finally came stage rehearsal. We got hooked up to autopilots, which I feel stupid for not being able to explain, but they had something to do with the lighting. It felt pretty cool singing on the stage, and I was getting excited for competition time. Backstage, we got some last-minute tips and the show began while the cast members spoke to us. Yes, show time. The music began and the screams sounded just like the real show! The stage, the backstage area, the theater &ndash; all an exact replica. Our first entrance was as the guests of the show. It was really intimidating. The lights were super bright, the crowd was loud and right there, it felt like the real show. Finally, it was time to perform. I was last, so I got to see the other two go first on a big HD TV and the judges acted exactly like Randy, Paula and Simon. The &quot;Simon&quot; of the show was actually really mean to the other two, so I got really, really scared. Oddly enough, though, the nerves almost completely went away. I got up and did my thing, and it actually turned out really well. I even got a standing ovation! All the judges liked me, and the British Simon guy said something like &quot;It takes me five seconds of hearing someone to know they're good. It takes me two seconds to know whether or not I'd pay to listen. Within one second of hearing your voice... (pause, pause, pause), I knew this would be your career!&quot; Finally, it was time. Of course, to make it more suspenseful, they played a video of Jordin Sparks singing something that the audience could join in on. All throughout the show, they would show videos of people from American Idol, it was pretty wild! Anyway, then came time to vote and announce the winner. The host had everything down pat; his vocal patterns were a dead-on impression of Ryan Secrest. He did the whole pause thing, and joked that at least they didn't have to sit through a commercial. Then, he said it. I'd won and I'd be competing in the finals! Jim, the &quot;Randy&quot; judge, escorted me off and he chatted with me, along with the &quot;Simon&quot;, who was actually really chill and down to Earth. They said it would be a different cast of judges that night, so they wished me good luck. Afterward, the producers made a video package of me pretending to audition, doing an interview, etc. Right in the middle of my interview, I got another surprise . . . Kindred! She is one of my friends who sings around Bradenton, and we're both going to American Idol auditions. I was super excited to see her, but I didn't want to compete against her. I hoped she'd go a different day so that we both could have separate shots at winning the &quot;dream ticket&quot; audition. After spending the rest of the day in the theme park, finally, 6 p.m. came, and we all gathered in the greenroom, no Kindred. I was sad because I knew she had the chops to make it and if I was going to lose to anyone, I wanted it to be her. Six of us waited as the final show was going on in the theater. I went to get a hair and makeup touch-up. Then I went back to the greenroom. When I went through the door, I heard a familiar voice. Kindred was in the last semi-finals of the day! She did her thing, and a few moments later, I struggled to listen, only to hear that she'd won the last spot in the finals! I was so excited that Bradenton got two people to represent, and I had someone to keep me company back stage! After it all ended, we went over some final stage blocking and got ready for the finals. Show time came and we talked about random stuff to calm each other's nerves. Kindred went fourth and nailed the song! The judges loved her, and she was the only one so far to get all positive feedback, even from the &quot;Simon&quot; character &ndash; &quot;I think the American flag just got another star.&quot; I was so proud! Then another guy, Tyler, who seemed to have some American Idol audition experience as well (&quot;I made it to the last round and then got cut&quot;) went on, and then it was my turn. I sang my song and got another standing ovation! It was amazing. Then came the critiques. The judges liked me again, and then the &quot;Simon&quot; scared me a lot. &quot;You need to know that your condition gives you no credibility with me, and you don't get any extra points from me,&quot; (Yeah buddy, I kinda figured that already) &quot;...so I'm just going to judge you on your performance alone. So, based on your performance alone . . . you've got a career in this!&quot; Boy was I relieved after that. There was one more contestant after me. Afterward, we all went out for final voting. No dancing and singing number this time, it was right down to the finals. We all stood in a line and were asked to step forward when our names were called. The host called three people forward first, and told them their journey had ended. Next, he called two more people, told one of the guys he was safe (in the top two), and then sent the other back to his seat. Then it was just Kindred and me. At this point I was just happy that one of us had a really good shot at winning. Then he sent Kindred back to her seat, and then I was kinda mad because she totally deserved the other spot in the top two. No time to worry about that, though, I was getting really nervous. After all, this guy went last, and that's always a big advantage. The host did more suspense thing, and then anounnced . . . Me as the winner! All of a sudden, confetti was flying everywhere, it was amazing! Backstage, everyone congratulated me as they left. Eventually, we were alone with the coordinator, who gave me the lowdown on the process. See, I thought it'd just be another front of the line ticket, kind of like the ticket I already get if I ask for handicapped seating, but nope! I get to set an appointment for an audition! This means if I choose, I can sleep in, get ready with no rush, show up and sing. But wait, there's more! (R.I.P. Billy Mays!) Instead of going into the crowded stadium, I will be singing in a private room with producers, no distractions! They said it's sort of like bypassing the stadium round. Finally, we exited the theater . . . and whoa! People were screaming and cheering for me and everything! Everyone was saying things like &quot;I'm voting for you!&quot; A ton of people asked to take pictures with me! Little kids were telling me &quot;good job&quot; and being adorable! Every time we'd try to make our way closer to the parking lot, more people would stop me. We even ran into a family from Scotland who says they love American Idol and they'll vote for me. For one night, I truly felt like a whole bunch of people liked me and believed in me and it was reassurance that singing is something I absolutely have to do! That is my purpose in life and it's my destiny! So next week, I am off to American Idol auditions in Orlando. I hope to see some people I know there. I am still planning on waiting in line with Kindred for registration, because I think it's really fun and I want both of us to make it. I can't go with her on actual audition day, which makes me sad, but if she doesn't make it, it's their loss. I just have to stay focused and know that the odds are against me, so just put everything I have into the song and whatever happens, happens. 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. He gave me a song list with 115 songs, and I picked two to audition with. Finally, my vocal coach showed up and let us into the park. We went over to the audition facility. In the waiting room, the cast members gave me and the other contestants ipods with all the songs on them. Each song was 90 seconds long and we could preview the versions we'd be singing. Finally, it was time. I walked into a small room with a producer and he interviewed me a little bit and picked my first song. Now, voice still dry and very much stuck in morning mode, he chose my hardest song first, "Walk Away" by Kelly Clarkson. It showcases my upper register belt. I rocked the song on the previous night. Not this time. It was awful, like, beyond words awful. I was so embarrassed because my vocal coach was waiting with my family outside and I'm sure they could hear. Then I sang my second song, "How do I Live," much more warmed up. The producer said that my higher belt was kind of squeaky (O! M! G! Shame!) and I should definitely sing “How do I Live.” In other words, I made finals. He showed me a video with Ryan Secrest giving me the good news, and sent me off with a "Vote For Me" lanyard. I was so relieved. I thought I was going to let everyone down and I'd wasted everyone's time.

I was going to be in the first show of the morning, so my rehearsal was at 9:50. Each show throughout the day consists of three contestants. We met up at the theater and proceeded to the green room. We were each given a 10-minute coaching session, hair and makeup touch-up, and green room break. I started in coaching while one girl went to makeup and another started off with her break. The musical director was really cool. His name was Daniel and he was very friendly, energetic and helpful. He gave me suggestions on expression and ad-libs. I mostly used my own, but he had some good ideas, too. Then came my break and next was hair and makeup. I think the stylist's name was Felisha. We didn't have time for much. She was super friendly and gentle. Finally came stage rehearsal. We got hooked up to autopilots, which I feel stupid for not being able to explain, but they had something to do with the lighting. It felt pretty cool singing on the stage, and I was getting excited for competition time. Backstage, we got some last-minute tips and the show began while the cast members spoke to us.

Yes, show time. The music began and the screams sounded just like the real show! The stage, the backstage area, the theater – all an exact replica. Our first entrance was as the guests of the show. It was really intimidating. The lights were super bright, the crowd was loud and right there, it felt like the real show. Finally, it was time to perform. I was last, so I got to see the other two go first on a big HD TV and the judges acted exactly like Randy, Paula and Simon. The "Simon" of the show was actually really mean to the other two, so I got really, really scared. Oddly enough, though, the nerves almost completely went away. I got up and did my thing, and it actually turned out really well. I even got a standing ovation! All the judges liked me, and the British Simon guy said something like "It takes me five seconds of hearing someone to know they're good. It takes me two seconds to know whether or not I'd pay to listen. Within one second of hearing your voice... (pause, pause, pause), I knew this would be your career!"

Finally, it was time. Of course, to make it more suspenseful, they played a video of Jordin Sparks singing something that the audience could join in on. All throughout the show, they would show videos of people from American Idol, it was pretty wild! Anyway, then came time to vote and announce the winner. The host had everything down pat; his vocal patterns were a dead-on impression of Ryan Secrest. He did the whole pause thing, and joked that at least they didn't have to sit through a commercial. Then, he said it. I'd won and I'd be competing in the finals! Jim, the "Randy" judge, escorted me off and he chatted with me, along with the "Simon", who was actually really chill and down to Earth. They said it would be a different cast of judges that night, so they wished me good luck.

Afterward, the producers made a video package of me pretending to audition, doing an interview, etc. Right in the middle of my interview, I got another surprise . . . Kindred! She is one of my friends who sings around Bradenton, and we're both going to American Idol auditions. I was super excited to see her, but I didn't want to compete against her. I hoped she'd go a different day so that we both could have separate shots at winning the "dream ticket" audition.

After spending the rest of the day in the theme park, finally, 6 p.m. came, and we all gathered in the greenroom, no Kindred. I was sad because I knew she had the chops to make it and if I was going to lose to anyone, I wanted it to be her. Six of us waited as the final show was going on in the theater. I went to get a hair and makeup touch-up. Then I went back to the greenroom. When I went through the door, I heard a familiar voice. Kindred was in the last semi-finals of the day! She did her thing, and a few moments later, I struggled to listen, only to hear that she'd won the last spot in the finals! I was so excited that Bradenton got two people to represent, and I had someone to keep me company back stage! After it all ended, we went over some final stage blocking and got ready for the finals.

Show time came and we talked about random stuff to calm each other's nerves. Kindred went fourth and nailed the song! The judges loved her, and she was the only one so far to get all positive feedback, even from the "Simon" character – "I think the American flag just got another star." I was so proud! Then another guy, Tyler, who seemed to have some American Idol audition experience as well ("I made it to the last round and then got cut") went on, and then it was my turn. I sang my song and got another standing ovation! It was amazing. Then came the critiques. The judges liked me again, and then the "Simon" scared me a lot. "You need to know that your condition gives you no credibility with me, and you don't get any extra points from me," (Yeah buddy, I kinda figured that already) "...so I'm just going to judge you on your performance alone. So, based on your performance alone . . . you've got a career in this!" Boy was I relieved after that. There was one more contestant after me. Afterward, we all went out for final voting. No dancing and singing number this time, it was right down to the finals. We all stood in a line and were asked to step forward when our names were called. The host called three people forward first, and told them their journey had ended. Next, he called two more people, told one of the guys he was safe (in the top two), and then sent the other back to his seat. Then it was just Kindred and me. At this point I was just happy that one of us had a really good shot at winning. Then he sent Kindred back to her seat, and then I was kinda mad because she totally deserved the other spot in the top two. No time to worry about that, though, I was getting really nervous. After all, this guy went last, and that's always a big advantage. The host did more suspense thing, and then anounnced . . . Me as the winner! All of a sudden, confetti was flying everywhere, it was amazing! Backstage, everyone congratulated me as they left. Eventually, we were alone with the coordinator, who gave me the lowdown on the process. See, I thought it'd just be another front of the line ticket, kind of like the ticket I already get if I ask for handicapped seating, but nope! I get to set an appointment for an audition! This means if I choose, I can sleep in, get ready with no rush, show up and sing. But wait, there's more! (R.I.P. Billy Mays!) Instead of going into the crowded stadium, I will be singing in a private room with producers, no distractions! They said it's sort of like bypassing the stadium round.

Finally, we exited the theater . . . and whoa! People were screaming and cheering for me and everything! Everyone was saying things like "I'm voting for you!" A ton of people asked to take pictures with me! Little kids were telling me "good job" and being adorable! Every time we'd try to make our way closer to the parking lot, more people would stop me. We even ran into a family from Scotland who says they love American Idol and they'll vote for me. For one night, I truly felt like a whole bunch of people liked me and believed in me and it was reassurance that singing is something I absolutely have to do! That is my purpose in life and it's my destiny!

So next week, I am off to American Idol auditions in Orlando. I hope to see some people I know there. I am still planning on waiting in line with Kindred for registration, because I think it's really fun and I want both of us to make it. I can't go with her on actual audition day, which makes me sad, but if she doesn't make it, it's their loss. I just have to stay focused and know that the odds are against me, so just put everything I have into the song and whatever happens, happens.]]> Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:23:29 GMT 27874E5B0E660AD0743B2524CDDA741F http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=46733 The rest of the HWY 41 gang wants to put a big shout out to Danielle -&nbsp;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 &quot;Idol&quot; 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&nbsp;kudos and big encouragement for next week. Way to go Danielle! You ROCK! 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!]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:10:49 GMT 572B706D07D389C1A64939B0CC71AF91 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=46364 We just got an invitation to perform on Friday, July 3 at the Bridge Street Market on Bradenton Beach. Looks like we'll start at around 6 p.m. and play for a couple of hours, so if you're looking for a way to get your July 4th weekend started with a bang, come&nbsp;on out and have some fun with us. My only hope is that I&nbsp;can remember the gig this&nbsp;time around. We played the Bridge Street Festival back in 2007 on Labor Day - I think it was - and it was&nbsp;150 degrees in the shade! By the time we&nbsp;hopped off the stage to make way for Koko Ray, I couldn't&nbsp;remember my name, where I'd parked my car,&nbsp;what day it was&nbsp;. . . you get the picture. Whew, was it HOT! DG We just got an invitation to perform on Friday, July 3 at the Bridge Street Market on Bradenton Beach. Looks like we'll start at around 6 p.m. and play for a couple of hours, so if you're looking for a way to get your July 4th weekend started with a bang, come on out and have some fun with us. My only hope is that I can remember the gig this time around. We played the Bridge Street Festival back in 2007 on Labor Day - I think it was - and it was 150 degrees in the shade! By the time we hopped off the stage to make way for Koko Ray, I couldn't remember my name, where I'd parked my car, what day it was . . . you get the picture. Whew, was it HOT!

DG]]> Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:45:00 GMT 5DF92CA86E03DC99AC31493F8B1FDC08 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=45945 Hi... this is drummer Dave... We took a few days off after the Friday Fest... We get back at it tomorrow night though... We are going to take a look at a bunch of songs we started but never finished and some new stuff... if anyone has suggestions as to songs they'd like to hear just&nbsp;pass them on to us... We are also starting to work harder on bookings, so if there's a club you'd like us to play pass it on to us and we'll talk to them and don't forget to put in a good word while you're there.... Guitar Dave, Danielle and I are on Facebook&nbsp;now too, so look us up and become friends.. that way you can follow all of our exciting day to day activities (Why just the other day I had fat free chili for dinner)... It would be really cool if we can make&nbsp;our website&nbsp;hugely interactive... the whole reason we do this is for the fans (believe me there is NO&nbsp;money in it)... we all play for the love of music and perform for the love of the fans....&nbsp;&nbsp; Hi... this is drummer Dave... We took a few days off after the Friday Fest... We get back at it tomorrow night though... We are going to take a look at a bunch of songs we started but never finished and some new stuff... if anyone has suggestions as to songs they'd like to hear just pass them on to us... We are also starting to work harder on bookings, so if there's a club you'd like us to play pass it on to us and we'll talk to them and don't forget to put in a good word while you're there.... Guitar Dave, Danielle and I are on Facebook now too, so look us up and become friends.. that way you can follow all of our exciting day to day activities (Why just the other day I had fat free chili for dinner)... It would be really cool if we can make our website hugely interactive... the whole reason we do this is for the fans (believe me there is NO money in it)... we all play for the love of music and perform for the love of the fans....  ]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:25:00 GMT 718798AECEC28CA089284DCCF1DD3E89 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=45226 It'll be especially memorable for me because it was really our first time playing a public event with Danielle since she joined the band earlier this year. The outings with her at Ralph's were fun and so was the wedding, but Friday Fest on the island was our first show in front of&nbsp;an unknown audience. I guess I&nbsp;have sort of mixed feelings about the result. We had a great response from the folks in attendance and the feedback we received after our set was fantastic, but&nbsp;the sound setup was&nbsp;so difficult - especially for Mike and me - that I'm not sure exactly what came out of my amp. From the stage, we couldn't hear a single note we played. It's funny how that sometimes happens - depending on the circumstances. At that point, you just have to chug along and trust that you know your parts well enough that you're doing the job right. But, WOW, it definitely brings an extra&nbsp;challenge to the night. Our hour and 45-minute set was also shortened because the event was running a bit behind schedule, so we were literally &quot;winging it&quot; up there - tossing out our planned setlist and improvising. I have to believe we pulled it off pretty well, however, given the nice comments all around. An extra bonus for me was the chance to reconnect with an old pal - Tom O'Neill - who was drumming for the Blues Alernators who followed us. Tom and I go way back to the late 1980s when we worked together in the newspaper biz. We used to jam on some free time down in Port Charlotte and it was always fun. We've been in touch on and off over the years&nbsp;as our paths have crossed, but&nbsp;it was nice to have&nbsp;some time to catch up with him and see him play with the Alternators for the first time. Great blues band! Thanks to everyone who came out to&nbsp;Friday Fest and to the organizers with the Chamber, etc. It's a really well-done event and very well supported by&nbsp;the folks on the island. We hope to get a chance to&nbsp;play it again when they&nbsp;re-start it in the fall.&nbsp;We have confirmed for the annual BayFest at the same location in October. DG It'll be especially memorable for me because it was really our first time playing a public event with Danielle since she joined the band earlier this year. The outings with her at Ralph's were fun and so was the wedding, but Friday Fest on the island was our first show in front of an unknown audience. I guess I have sort of mixed feelings about the result. We had a great response from the folks in attendance and the feedback we received after our set was fantastic, but the sound setup was so difficult - especially for Mike and me - that I'm not sure exactly what came out of my amp.

From the stage, we couldn't hear a single note we played. It's funny how that sometimes happens - depending on the circumstances. At that point, you just have to chug along and trust that you know your parts well enough that you're doing the job right. But, WOW, it definitely brings an extra challenge to the night. Our hour and 45-minute set was also shortened because the event was running a bit behind schedule, so we were literally "winging it" up there - tossing out our planned setlist and improvising. I have to believe we pulled it off pretty well, however, given the nice comments all around.

An extra bonus for me was the chance to reconnect with an old pal - Tom O'Neill - who was drumming for the Blues Alernators who followed us. Tom and I go way back to the late 1980s when we worked together in the newspaper biz. We used to jam on some free time down in Port Charlotte and it was always fun. We've been in touch on and off over the years as our paths have crossed, but it was nice to have some time to catch up with him and see him play with the Alternators for the first time. Great blues band!

Thanks to everyone who came out to Friday Fest and to the organizers with the Chamber, etc. It's a really well-done event and very well supported by the folks on the island. We hope to get a chance to play it again when they re-start it in the fall. We have confirmed for the annual BayFest at the same location in October.

DG]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:30:00 GMT EA6A14B13C79510AB5F1BD6577513299 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=44787 The band had a fantastic time playing Micki and Tom's wedding last night in Nokomis - and we had such great feeback from everyone&nbsp;that I think it was a fun night for all. What a treat! Good food, nice people and a beautiful atmosphere. You certainly can't beat that when you're out playing on a Saturday night. One of the attendees was kind enough to shoot a few photos for us and I've uploaded them to the MEDIA section of the site. Danielle, of course, was a huge hit with the crowd. People are always blown away when they hear that big, amazing voice coming out of that little lady! I think we surprised everyone with the nutty reggae version of &quot;I Will Survive&quot; that we pulled out. That one just came to us in practice last Tuesday when we were trying to figure out if we'd be able to meet Micki's request for some &quot;disco&quot; music. Well, it certainly wasn't Gloria Gaynor disco - more like Bob Marley - but it got everyone smiling and dancing. Next stop is the Chamber's Friday Fest on June 12 on Anna Maria Island. We hope to see you all there . . . DG The band had a fantastic time playing Micki and Tom's wedding last night in Nokomis - and we had such great feeback from everyone that I think it was a fun night for all. What a treat! Good food, nice people and a beautiful atmosphere. You certainly can't beat that when you're out playing on a Saturday night. One of the attendees was kind enough to shoot a few photos for us and I've uploaded them to the MEDIA section of the site. Danielle, of course, was a huge hit with the crowd. People are always blown away when they hear that big, amazing voice coming out of that little lady!

I think we surprised everyone with the nutty reggae version of "I Will Survive" that we pulled out. That one just came to us in practice last Tuesday when we were trying to figure out if we'd be able to meet Micki's request for some "disco" music. Well, it certainly wasn't Gloria Gaynor disco - more like Bob Marley - but it got everyone smiling and dancing.

Next stop is the Chamber's Friday Fest on June 12 on Anna Maria Island. We hope to see you all there . . .

DG]]> Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:10:00 GMT CC6B977281327948E602DF0620D7542B http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=42956 The details are in on our time slot for&nbsp;the Island Chamber of Commerce's monthly Friday Fest on June 12. The event runs from 5-10 p.m. on the corner of Pine Street and Bay Boulevard on Anna Maria Island.&nbsp;We'll be opening the event and have a two-hour time slot from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Keep your fingers crossed that the&nbsp;summer weather&nbsp;pattern gives us a break that day and it's nothing but sunshine! Plan to come out for food, fun and . . .&nbsp;oh yeah, music!&nbsp; Interesting rehearsal last night. We took a first crack at several new tunes that will probably make their way into our future setlists, including &quot;Walk Away&quot; (Kelly Clarkson), &quot;Everywhere&quot; (Michelle Branch) and a couple by Maroon 5. We're also now doing a killer version of the old Stealers Wheel song &quot;Stuck in the Middle with You.&quot; Our take on it is more along the lines of the one recorded by Jeff Healey on his &quot;Cover&nbsp;to Cover&quot; album back in 2004. DG The details are in on our time slot for the Island Chamber of Commerce's monthly Friday Fest on June 12. The event runs from 5-10 p.m. on the corner of Pine Street and Bay Boulevard on Anna Maria Island. We'll be opening the event and have a two-hour time slot from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Keep your fingers crossed that the summer weather pattern gives us a break that day and it's nothing but sunshine! Plan to come out for food, fun and . . . oh yeah, music! 

Interesting rehearsal last night. We took a first crack at several new tunes that will probably make their way into our future setlists, including "Walk Away" (Kelly Clarkson), "Everywhere" (Michelle Branch) and a couple by Maroon 5. We're also now doing a killer version of the old Stealers Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You." Our take on it is more along the lines of the one recorded by Jeff Healey on his "Cover to Cover" album back in 2004.

DG]]> Wed, 20 May 2009 22:45:00 GMT 89E62CED5F4CFC2290B9D880C47DF1DD http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=42761 So there we sit, under a beautiful shade tree just steps from Coquina Beach . . . a perfect afternoon at the Relay for Life fund raiser. Jeff, Drummer Dave and I got there early to check out the other bands. Enjoyed a &quot;Green Dayesque&quot; set of originals&nbsp;from Later Days and some down-home, old-time blues from Blues Pig as day stretched into early evening. Our&nbsp;turn on stage was coming and we were ready to put&nbsp;a BIG TIME capper on the&nbsp;event.&nbsp;But Mother Nature had other ideas. In swooped&nbsp;a massive storm, washing away the rest of the Relay&nbsp;and our turn on stage - just minutes before&nbsp;it was HWY 41 time. There&nbsp;was disappointment all around, but we're still glad we had an opportunity to show our support for this great cause that has raised so much money and even more awareness for cancer research. It may have&nbsp;even&nbsp;been a bit of a blessing in disguise. Danielle was fighting a&nbsp;bit of vocal fatigue, so she'll have a little more time&nbsp;to rest those golden cords or hers. Oh well, back at it in rehearsal&nbsp;this week as&nbsp;we point toward Micki and Tom's wedding&nbsp;on June 6. DG&nbsp;&nbsp; So there we sit, under a beautiful shade tree just steps from Coquina Beach . . . a perfect afternoon at the Relay for Life fund raiser. Jeff, Drummer Dave and I got there early to check out the other bands. Enjoyed a "Green Dayesque" set of originals from Later Days and some down-home, old-time blues from Blues Pig as day stretched into early evening. Our turn on stage was coming and we were ready to put a BIG TIME capper on the event. But Mother Nature had other ideas. In swooped a massive storm, washing away the rest of the Relay and our turn on stage - just minutes before it was HWY 41 time. There was disappointment all around, but we're still glad we had an opportunity to show our support for this great cause that has raised so much money and even more awareness for cancer research. It may have even been a bit of a blessing in disguise. Danielle was fighting a bit of vocal fatigue, so she'll have a little more time to rest those golden cords or hers. Oh well, back at it in rehearsal this week as we point toward Micki and Tom's wedding on June 6.

DG  ]]> Sun, 17 May 2009 21:15:00 GMT B6D108E01F48F2A21ADCECD32721A156 http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=42676 Hey, Drummer Dave here... tonight we're playing at the Relay for Life in Coquina Beach to help raise money for Cancer research... I just want to say that this is a pretty cool deal... the feeling of giving back to the community is really nice especially a cause like this (I lost my dad to cancer 5 years ago).. at the same time you meet some cool people and you get some exposure.. and the way you donate at this is by purchasing things from the different teams... that's also really cool, it's nice when you get something for your donation other than a receipt for tax purposes (has anyone ever handed one of those in???)... anyway just wanted to express my feelings on the benefits deal and thank those of you that come out tonight... BTW we will have HWY 41 T-shirts for sale tonight... and rest assured that&nbsp;ANY time we play a portion of the proceeds goes towards Mike's Glaucoma Medication.... Hey, Drummer Dave here... tonight we're playing at the Relay for Life in Coquina Beach to help raise money for Cancer research... I just want to say that this is a pretty cool deal... the feeling of giving back to the community is really nice especially a cause like this (I lost my dad to cancer 5 years ago).. at the same time you meet some cool people and you get some exposure.. and the way you donate at this is by purchasing things from the different teams... that's also really cool, it's nice when you get something for your donation other than a receipt for tax purposes (has anyone ever handed one of those in???)... anyway just wanted to express my feelings on the benefits deal and thank those of you that come out tonight... BTW we will have HWY 41 T-shirts for sale tonight... and rest assured that ANY time we play a portion of the proceeds goes towards Mike's Glaucoma Medication....]]> Sat, 16 May 2009 15:55:00 GMT B240CF09C8AAEE76D50885057326B3BC http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=42657 I've kept this in email form for a long time and figured it was time to wheel it out as we debut the Roadkill blog. For all of us band geeks, some words to live by (except for No. 8, of course) . . . 1. Unless you are in a concert situation, most of the people are not there to hear you. Your music is incidental. People go to restaurants and bars to eat, to drink, to socialize, do business, or maybe to be alone in a crowd. So if you reach some of them and entertain them, you've done a hell of a job. 2. In most restaurants, your main objective is to try to entertain without bothering anybody. 3. Any volume is too loud for someone. 4. The talent of anyone who wants to sit in is inversely proportional to how insistent he or his friends are about his sitting in. The most talented musician that you would really like to play with will be sitting there quietly and will have left his axe in the car. 5. The crowd would rather hear a terrible rendition of &quot;Sweet Caroline&quot; than the tastiest arrangement of one of your originals that they've never heard before. 6. The customer who asked for &quot;Sweet Caroline,&quot; his favorite song, won't realize you're playing it until you actually reach the word &quot;Sweet.&quot; 7. Someone in the crowd will have halfway heard you play &quot;Sweet Caroline&quot; and it will remind him of the song so he'll request it right after you've just played it. 8. Unless you want to marry her and be the one who takes her home every night, don't hitch your star to a girl singer. 9. Every black horn player who wants to sit in &quot;used to play with James Brown or Brother Ray.&quot; . . . and the number one fact of life in playing in clubs and restaurants: 10. Your slowest night, with the most obnoxious crowd and the worst response, is immeasurably better than the best day you ever had at a day job! I've kept this in email form for a long time and figured it was time to wheel it out as we debut the Roadkill blog. For all of us band geeks, some words to live by (except for No. 8, of course) . . .

1. Unless you are in a concert situation, most of the people are not there to hear you. Your music is incidental. People go to restaurants and bars to eat, to drink, to socialize, do business, or maybe to be alone in a crowd. So if you reach some of them and entertain them, you've done a hell of a job.

2. In most restaurants, your main objective is to try to entertain without bothering anybody.

3. Any volume is too loud for someone.

4. The talent of anyone who wants to sit in is inversely proportional to how insistent he or his friends are about his sitting in. The most talented musician that you would really like to play with will be sitting there quietly and will have left his axe in the car.

5. The crowd would rather hear a terrible rendition of "Sweet Caroline" than the tastiest arrangement of one of your originals that they've never heard before.

6. The customer who asked for "Sweet Caroline," his favorite song, won't realize you're playing it until you actually reach the word "Sweet."

7. Someone in the crowd will have halfway heard you play "Sweet Caroline" and it will remind him of the song so he'll request it right after you've just played it.

8. Unless you want to marry her and be the one who takes her home every night, don't hitch your star to a girl singer.

9. Every black horn player who wants to sit in "used to play with James Brown or Brother Ray."

. . . and the number one fact of life in playing in clubs and restaurants:

10. Your slowest night, with the most obnoxious crowd and the worst response, is immeasurably better than the best day you ever had at a day job!]]> Sat, 16 May 2009 06:00:00 GMT 9A58A93BD3F0BB2729A25C40334AA7AA http://hwy41rocks.com/blog.cfm?feature=724814&postid=42352 Last night we did our final rehearsal to prepare for Saturday's Relay for Life show at Coquina Beach and we had a surprise visitor in the house. &quot;Nick&quot; Nichols, our one-time frontman, was in town and dropped by to show his support. It was great to see Nick again. He hung with us for about a half hour. Nick's living in Alabama and singing with Ballistic Fix in Birmingham. More on his band at <a href="http://www.ballisticfix.com">www.ballisticfix.com or www.myspace.com/ballisticfix. Danielle was off to another karaoke competition at the close of rehearsal. No word yet on how she fared - although I've got $20 right now that says she's in the finals - again. Here's the set we've come up with for Saturday: Heartbreaker, Soak Up the Sun, I'm the Only One, Gimme One Reason, Wild Night, Get Back, Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Redneck Woman, Stop Dragging My Heart Around, Hot Blooded, I'm Just a Girl, Dead or Alive, Come to My Window, Bobby McGee, 'Til the Place Falls Down, You Oughta Know. DG Last night we did our final rehearsal to prepare for Saturday's Relay for Life show at Coquina Beach and we had a surprise visitor in the house. "Nick" Nichols, our one-time frontman, was in town and dropped by to show his support. It was great to see Nick again. He hung with us for about a half hour. Nick's living in Alabama and singing with Ballistic Fix in Birmingham. More on his band at www.ballisticfix.com or www.myspace.com/ballisticfix.

Danielle was off to another karaoke competition at the close of rehearsal. No word yet on how she fared - although I've got $20 right now that says she's in the finals - again.

Here's the set we've come up with for Saturday: Heartbreaker, Soak Up the Sun, I'm the Only One, Gimme One Reason, Wild Night, Get Back, Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Redneck Woman, Stop Dragging My Heart Around, Hot Blooded, I'm Just a Girl, Dead or Alive, Come to My Window, Bobby McGee, 'Til the Place Falls Down, You Oughta Know.

DG]]> Wed, 13 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT 0C8D0A7D93FCB741D0AFF44E5B21A614