Open Paradise

Pat and I went down to the Paradise Tuesday night for Warren Riley's open mic night. It's a lot of fun and it's good to play in front of people ... there were a ton out and about last night.

Hope we can come back!

JT's Town

I've been remiss for not putting John Tripp's most excellent blog on the links.

He writes every Monday about life in Quincy, or life in general, and it's very well done.

Missing On Purpose

Missing on purpose ... click here.

Thanks to all who showed up last night for our U2Charist. More events in a similar vein are planned.

Saturday night was crazy at the South Side Boat Club. They've done a great job rebuilding the bar, and The Cheeseburgers played very well. 

Footwear and Italian Movies

Some provocative footwear HERE .... The future needs a big kiss!

Saw some of the QHS boys game last night on Senior Night and gotta hand it to Goo for pronouncing 3 billion names without a hitch.

Nice tribute to Mr. Ellerman, as well.

Then went home and watched "Life Is Beautiful," about a Jewish father, his wife and young son during World War II. The movie is in Italian and uses subtitles, which takes some getting used to.

But it sort of grabs you about a third of the way through, and the end will wrench your heart and make you laugh.

That's two good ones in a row, "Once" and "Life Is Beautiful."

U2Charist, more music

Please join us Sunday, 7 p.m., Trinity United Church of Christ, 24th and Cherry Lane in Quincy, for our U2Charist worship service.

I've put together an awesome band - Craig Sparks on drums, Devin White on bass, Megan Guthrie on keyboards, Jamie Davis on vocals, Rev. Wally Carlson on guitar, the incredible Burt Shackelton on sax and me staying out of the way. Mostly U2 songs, an original or two, maybe a few surprises.

It's for the Unmet Needs Committee in Quincy and to promote U2's One Campaign for African poverty and debt relief.

This will not be a traditional church service. There is no offering, but there will be opportunity to give if you want. There will be communion. There will be no sermon. And you will hear from someone who has lived the life of poverty and was helped to overcome it.

If you have a fear of church, this is all the more reason for you to come. Yes, this is a praise and worship service, and yes, the message is powerful. It's up to you what you get out of it, but there's no obligation.

Just come out and rock with us!

Jumping Ship

Hmmmmmmm...... This bidness changes all the time.

Tap Is Back!

I've always had a healthy respect and bitterness for Spinal Tap, because The Funions were Spinal Tap before Spinal Tap was Spinal Tap.

So it did my heart good to read Spinal Tap is coming back ..... HOLY CRAP.

Click here for Nigel's hysterical Stonehenge theories.

Watch "Once" Twice

Watched two moves last night, one among the best I've ever seen and the other among the worst.

"Once" is about a struggling and broken-hearted Irish street musician (Glen Hansard of The Frames) who meets fellow musician Marketa Irglova. Fantastic songs, realistic portrayals of the song-writing and music experience, and maybe the best ending to a movie you will ever see.

The song "Falling Slowly" won an Academy Award two years ago. 

Then came "Righteous Kill" with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. Terrible, just a wretched and awful film. Do not waste your time renting this movie. Both time-honored and decorated actors Pacino and DeNiro go through the motions with this lame-plotted, profane-laced and feeble attempt to be cool flick. 

I only made it through about an hour. I couldn't care less how it ends. Rare is the movie that both bores and annoys you. This is one of them.

Rent "Once." And watch it at least twice.

You Got The Blues

So a certain somebody, let's just say this person lives in Calftown, got her tax rebate early and decided to invest in a pair of Blues-Red Wings tickets for the March 14 game in St. Louis. 

Not just any tickets .... six rows behind the Detroit bench!

I've been watching the Blues games. I'm glad I'm not a fan. If I were, I'd probably want to shoot myself, but they are a young team with some promising players.

Like Blues fans haven't been hearing that for the past decade ....

Horrible loss in Nashville the other night, inexcusable to get scored on with three seconds left.

Great win against Chicago Friday night. A few more like that and there might actually be a glimmer of playoff hope.

So ... I wish the Blues well and want them to win. Except for March 14, of course.

One Last Time

Last home game tonight for the 6-1 senior. Bittersweet, for sure.

And hard to believe. Wasn't she just a freshman running around out there?

Excellent Funions practice last night, despite Pat recovering from a bout with death. Jack is back blowing his horn after major dental surgery, we are learning a bunch of great songs for the March 7 CAC dinner at the old Holiday Inn.

Also had a great time at Mike Terry's JWCC class today. Good group of kids, good questions about writing and the newspaper bidness.

Jack and I are playing at tomorrow night's Evening Under The Stars at First Union. We'll miss Alan but we'll soldier on ...

More shows

Just a little bit hectic right now ... lots of music stuff coming up.

The Funions will be playing at the Blues Society's Can Jam May 3 with The Cheeseburgers and Raised on Radio, two of Quincy's best bands. 

U2Charist preparations continue for the Feb. 22 service at Trinity United Church of Christ, 24th and Cherry Lane. Unmet Needs and U2's One campaign are the focus, along with great songs and a very different worship experience.

Live Love Laugh, as a friend likes to say ....

Sun

I am sad about the ice leaving us for another season.

But ... the sun feels good today. Gonna dust off the grill tonight. 

This was a really tough week, so it will be nice Saturday to have Senior Day for the QHS girls, 2 p.m. at home (QHS Gym, high school) vs. Jacksonville Routt.

Sounds of Lincoln

Quite an honor for the 6-1 senior .....

No Time To Breathe

As a rule, I don't discuss work bidness on this blog.

But late last week I told somebody things have kind of been slow.

I might as well just taunted the work gods, because this has been as busy a week as I can remember.

Proof? Click here and here. And that's just today.

You just never know when mayhem will hit ....

Shows

Next two Funions shows ....

Saturday, March 7, Clarion (Old Holiday Inn in Quincy), Children's Action Network dinner.

Friday, April 17, Backwaters, Quincy, Rock Against Rape (Benefit for Quanada). Features The Funions, Fielder, others TBA.