Dog Named Blue

The best thing ESPN has done in years is get Don Cherry to do commentary after Stanley Cup playoff games.

You can get a taste here of Cherry's colorful style.

During my one disaster of a year at Calvin College I played on an intramural hockey team called "Dog Named Blue" in honor of Cherry's canine. As I recall, we lost in the championship game in overtime, shades of Cherry's Boston Bruins falling to my beloved Montreal Canadiens in the 79 semifinals.

Anyway, check Cherry out on SportCenter. And ... he's donating his ESPN pay to the Humane Society, God love him.

Never thought I'd ever say that about a Bruins coach.

Canning Jams, Blue Healers

The Blue Healers (www.myspace.com/thebluehealers) might be the best rock/blues band in Quincy. They were fantastic Sunday at Turner Hall's Can Jam.

The Healers are playing Blues in District Friday, July 11, and they are playing at the Bluesfest the following weekend.

This just in ... we are planning a show Friday night, June 20 at Turner Hall with The Blue Healers. We've asked a new band, Midnight Legend, to open at 7 p.m. Cover will be $3, The Funions play at 8:30 and the Healers at 10.

The May 30 show at Turner is also generating lots of buzz. I know it's QHS graduation night but we are still expecting a big crowd later. Fielder played yesterday too and did a great job with Tyler Dickens filling in for Chris Cornwell on drums and Alex Tappe doing a great job on the congas.

So ... lotsa music coming up in the Q-town!

Click Here

To find out what's happening on a busy weekend, click here.

A year ago today, good family friend Sid Jansma lost his wife, and he reflects here on making peace and saying farewell. Sid is the real deal, and God be with him and his family.

I'm loving this story about a double amputee qualifying for the Olympics.

Kelly Wilson had a nice blog item about the local theater presentation of MASH. Click here to vote for your favorite character from the TV show.

Learning New Songs

Tremendous practice and great fun hooting and hollering with The Funions last night.

We hung out at Pat's store since Mark's basement is still in the process of being demolished/renovated/fixed for human habitation. With Jack and Rock A Bye gone on bidness, the four of us jammed for more than 2 1/2 hours.

I asked each band member to list their favorite Funions songs, and we sketched out a tentative set list for the May 30 show. By the way, it's now evolved to a full-blown five-band rock and roll blowout, but more info coming in future posts.

I threw four new songs at the guys last night and nobody blinked. Granted, they are simple in structure but it never ceases to amaze me how the band immediately puts a distinctive stamp on a cover song.

We learned a Funions original and then Pat got us going on a Jimmy Buffet song that rocks, not the usual stuff you hear from him. Somebody get me a Landshark!

There's something cool about running around a music store after hours and listening to the ghost stories, then actually hearing some strange stuff in the 102-year-old house, too, but that's for another post.

May 30 will be fun! We play at Turner Hall at 7 p.m. with four other bands to follow, including Fielder and Predawn Hour.

Some Guy Named Zach

So some guy named Zach was in Quincy Monday and posed for this photo with a Quincy girl.

Apparently this guy is into musicals or something. I have no idea, never heard of him or seen him.

He wanted The Funions to do the soundtrack for what he is calling his "third movie." What were the first two called?

He seemed handsome enough but I don't think he's nearly good enough for the girl in the photo. He seemed more interested in talking about Hollywood and famous people.

He just seemed ... fake.

Who is this guy, anyway?

Mothers Day, Links

And a very happy Mother's Day!

Especially thinking about Susan White today. Her son, Devon, bass player of doom, was confirmed this morning at Trinity UCC. I'm sure Susan beams with pride when watching both her boys.

I'm sure Susan runs into Virginia Hart, who is gossiping with Wilma Collins, and they probably pee themselves with laughter over the stupid stuff their kids are doing right now.

To read about my surrogate mother's son, click here.

To read about the latest Crazy Calftown Girl's exploits, click here.

To read about the Dallas Stars resorting to thuggery against YOUR Detroit Red Wings, click here.

The Motels - Only the Lonely

Every now and then I'll find something on Youtube that takes me back, like this fantastic song and video featuring Martha Davis. Good grief, is she SMOKING hot.

Saw The Motels open for Super Tramp about a million years ago and I was just entranced by her voice and stage presence. Love the sax solo, too.

Great music for a melancholy Saturday morning.

It's almost enough to make me forget picturing Tookie wearing a pink sweater vest at a local establishment.

Almost.

Gas Price Woes

Gas prices have really made me think twice about some stuff. I'd love to get away for a weekend, but it costs too much.

I make two or three trips to Michigan a year but this year, with these prices, I'm just going once, and only because I'll hopefully have free lodging on a Lake Michigan beach.

Apparently more and more people are thinking this way too. Shouldn't using less gas mean supplies go back up and prices down?

I'm ignorant about gas prices. I just know it's a ripoff and somebody is laughing all the way to the bank at our expense.

New Funions CD?

One of the things this incarnation of The Funions seriously has to think about is recording a CD.

It could be a lot of fun with this group of guys, but it takes an enormous amount of planning and directing before we can even remotely dream about doing new songs.

First of all, where do we go to record? Alan Lawless has been so good to us and we have a blast in his dungeon of doom Copper Mine studio.

But we happen to have a sax player who owns his own studio. Jack has Pillar Productions and has indicated we can use the studio for a CD project, and we could save ourselves a lot of money that way.

I have four or five songs that might be ready, but with these guys, I think it would be fun to come up with stuff in rehearsal and just messing around, because they are such good players. Plus Pat Cornwell has a good voice and we'd be foolish not to take advantage of it.

I listened to Just Pretending the other day for the first time in maybe a year and I realized how much Larry Flavell put his stamp on those sessions, and it really came out well.

Now with a slide player and sax, it gives us a bit more of a jam and blues feel.

With every band you have to have the Alpha guy, the person who does all the stuff and pushes the buttons and often is the jerk who massages ideas in certain directions. That's balanced with every individual in the band. They all have contributions and the key is to mesh everything.

So .... the process begins. Can't say when it will result in a new CD. But. It begins!

Paul's Big Night, season golf debut

Paul Gilmartin brought his A game to Q-town last night in a hysterical comedy performance at Backwaters.

Paul was a little nervous about doing his Ohio Rep. Richard Martin character, but it got laughs from the start under the expert guidance of his cousin and Slide Guitar Player Of Doom, Rock A. Bye.

There was a big crowd and laughter was the rule, a beautiful thing!

Played golf for the first time today with Chuck Otte, Mike Hancox, Bill Gay and Rollie Thomas at Westview. Glorious afternoon, to say the least, even if the golf on my part was atrocious.

Hope you got out to enjoy the day too!

Anniversary, Parades, Paul

Here's to remembering Virginia Hart, mother, grandmother and friend, who passed away three years ago today.

I think of my mom a lot.

Good times on the Trinity float today at the Dogwood parade. Cold, misty rain at the beginning, AWOL drummer, etc .... but we got through it and the crowds were still huge on Maine Street.

Paul Gilmartin is in Quincy tonight at Backwaters, I believe tickets are still available at the door ($15), it will be a very funny evening!

May 30 Show

Just when we decry the lack of Funions shows ...

Friday, May 30
Turner Hall
The Funions, Fielder, other bands TBA
Time and cost also TBA.

More info to follow.

Lack of shows

For the first time in a quite a while, The Funions have nothing officially lined up.

We're working on it, and hope to have something to report soon.

A year ago yesterday we played at the Frank Calkins benefit, which brings back a lot of good memories.

The Trinity UCC folks are putting together a float again for Dogwood and we'll have a blast as usual. The only difference this year is that we have to play without a keyboard for a while, which means I'll have to learn and actually know the songs, which could be a huge adventure.

Pray for good weather!

U2 Rocks

An amazing experience last night at Union United Methodist's U2charist service.

People started showing up an hour before it started. That's a new one for some of us "alternative service" people.

Sherri Renner asked us twice if we were going to pray before it started. Then she accidently proposed marriage to Jack Inghram. Ahhh, pre-performance jitters, beautiful things!

Bob Morwell started the service with the "Peace On Earth" video, and one by one we went on to see a nearly full church, expectant of great things.

Well. Not sure how we sounded, which of course is besides the point. But Sunday's service is proof that if God decides, it's gonna rock!

From the opening "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" to the last crazy and adrenaline fueled "When Love Comes To Town," Union United rocked. It is so cool to sing songs that people know, or can at least follow. U2's music has audience call-backs in just about every song, and it took no prodding to get people to respond. None!

So. Thank you to Young Devon White on bass, who now has his own groupies to deal with and was trailed by a gaggle of junior high girls all night. Chicks dig bass players, Dee-Von. Now that you are a rock star, you better start dealing with it ....

Thanks to Craig Sparks, a fantastic drummer. I goofed up the intro to one song (Pride, maybe?) and it was no big deal, he just kept us going the whole time. Craig was especially good during the communion instrumental of "Forty".

Thanks to Rev. Wally Carlson, a very good acoustic guitar player with the right attitude. It was very reassuring to have him back there and not worry about screwing up my parts. Far more importantly, I have made a new friend.

Thanks to Sherri Renner on keyboards, the spiritual driving force behind everything we did. She has the voice of an angel too and I hope she continues to play music.

Thanks to Jack Inghram on sax. It doesn't matter what kind of music you play, if you have a good sax player, everybody responds. Sheryl sat in the back and took the whole thing in and said a bunch of "more experienced" women were asking about Jack. Maybe the sax guy might have to start dealing with the groupie thing, too ....

Thanks to Bob Morwell, who had the idea with Wally and put it into motion. They also trusted the burned-out newspaper guy to put the band and music together, not an easy thing to do.

Wally said he knew it was going to be good from the opening chord in the first practice. I knew it would be good, too. But last night was beyond my wildest expectations.

We also raised a bunch of money for the nets for Africa campaign, which provides malaria-carrying mosquito protection. U2 lets churches use their music free of charge as long as it's a worship service and it takes up an offering for the project.

We're talking about other projects and maybe taking this thing to other churches, so stay tuned!

Provine's Stadium

Mike Provine, easy Quincy's best blogger, has a fascinating photoshopped rendition of what a new baseball stadium in Quincy could look like. His blog is linked, or you can go to http://provine.blogspot.com/ and look at his Saturday entry, or the actually photo is https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfx97spCfnt_SasfMqCJ93W5AImwZze8U2U-fH0ryerwDv338EJf-15CBcKacMaU62349Sxkda07LpeTd8qixzhV1XeZ6CT0i_8brrKHg2LTJ2bFzj7eUxrbNCjYvHFIiRrmHYTA/s1600-h/qballpark.jpg

Sorry about my lack of hyperlink ability.

Before you laugh off this idea, which has a lot of potential but pitfall, think of what a gleaming new stadium could mean for Quincy.

First of all, we'd have to land a team. Provine Park, as depicted, is huge. Does this mean we're going to get a Triple A team in Quincy?

Second - where does everybody park? You are taking lots of land from the river to about Third or Fourth Streets, I'm sure the foks at the Elks just south of the new bridge wouldn't be happy about people parking in their lot across the street.

Third - road access. No easy way in or out if you have thousands at a ball game, and really, just one road in all four directions. You'd have to get law enforcement directing traffic before and after a game.

Lastly - we'd have to get rid of that ugly blight on the river, across the street from the Pier and other places. That's progress. We'd be knocking down a lot of ugly buildings, but Quincy doesn't like buildings being demolished.

Huge dream, huge expense to build, huge logistics to overcome.

But I like it!

Different Service

We had another U2-charist practice last Sunday and it went well. Special thanks to Megan, who filled in on drums. Craig will be back Friday night for practice, and the service is Sunday at 7.

We've had some spirited and healthy discussions about U2's lyrics. We are doing "When Love Comes To Town," and this is not necessarily a praise and worship song.

Good. This is not a Maranatha sappy worship service. The them is "What if ..." and I'm looking forward to Bob Morwell expounding on the topic.

I am trusting Wally Carlson and Bob to make this worship-driven. But I do not apologize for the lyrics of these songs.

"When Love Comes To Town" is about a man who has made huge mistakes in his life and realizes why.

I used to make love under a red sunset
I was making promises I would soon forget
She was pale as the lace of her wedding gown
But I left her standing before love came to town

That's powerful stuff.

The last verse:

I was there when they crucified my Lord
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword
I threw the dice when they pierced his side
But I've seen love conquer the great divide

I am so tired of people whining about being uncomfortable at church. God doesn't care if you build a mansion with marble columns and velvet pews. He doesn't care if the sound system isn't state of the art, or if the service lasts 85 minutes.

I believe God wants you to think. Even if you are like me, and Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.

So ... come to this service with an open mind. We have some great songs, whether that translates into a great sound and performance, I don't know. And in the end, it's irrelevant.

Basketball

I ran into Dave Fauble the other day at the tennis courts by QND. He told me about a bunch of guys that get together once a week and play ball at a nearby gym.

So last week I went out for the first time in at least four years .... when Mike Foster left QU, that was the end of the NBA (Noon Basketball Association) and I stopped playing.

It felt great to run again, rusty as I was. Not being able to walk the next two days was a small price to pay, really.

Went back tonight and had a great time with a great bunch of guys, mostly more experienced like myself. I'm still bricking 3-footers, still standing still instead of rebounding, still panting to get up and down the floor .... and I love every minute of it.

Tonight was definitely better than last week, hopefully it will keep getting better.

It better get better. The Herald-Whig Demons open up defense of our Quincy Park District Division V softball championship this Thursday at Wavering, 8 p.m.

For more: www.hwdemons.blogspot.com.

Whose ear is that, anyway?

Pray For Frank

Please pray for Frank Calkins, who collapsed in the Chicago area Saturday. He's clinging to life and on a respirator in a Chicago hospital. The family has some very difficult decisions to make. They need prayers too.

Frank is a fighter and is going to a better place. God be with him.

Can't Live Without

Some things I've recently discovered no man should be without.

1. A Border Collie named Lucy.
2. New sisters.
3. An expert poo picker for when you step in the doo doo in the backyard.
4. Toothbrush holder.
5. Frogs in the shower.
6. Soap dish.
7. A light above the kitchen sink.
8. Company for evening walks to visit Mother Wilma at Greenmount Cemetery.
9. Friends with pickup trucks. Even if they live in tough neighborhoods on the other side of 28th Street.
10. A Melrose Chapel pastor to drape his jacket over you when doing your James Brown imitation.
11. Many others, one especially two blocks up the street ....

Elks Fun

As always, a great time had by all at The Elks last night.

Not one of our better played shows, in my opinion. We work really hard on the songs and then we get up there and just hack up the endings and different parts. But ... the energy and spirt was there. Always is with these guys.

Now Warren can say he played with The Funions! And who knew Wally Carlson would literally offer the jacket off his back ala James Brown?

Like Steph says, "I like the atmosphere at The Elks. It's like you guys are a garage band."

Very true. Actually we are a torn-up basement band. Same thing, really.

The Funions are off for a bit and we're working on some summer shows, we'll keep you posted.

Next up: U2 worship service a week from Sunday.

Setting Up At The Elks

It's not every morning you wake up due to an earthquake ....

So we are ready for our show tonight at the Elks.

Many thanks to Pat Cornwell, drummer, singer and PA Guy extraordinaire. Setting up is a pain and Pat makes it a lot easier. The sound in there is good, not too loud but clear.

No Funions gigs after this one just yet, though we are working on a few things.

Dreaming Of The Beach

I have a friend who is thinking about taking a vacation and sitting on a beach far far away.

It's making me pine for my Uncle Peter's Lake Michigan beach. I'm hoping to get there in August. And that seems like a million years from now, though it will be here in the blink of an eye.

So. Here is the scenario. We need to get there, even though we can't. So let's try a little power of suggestion.

DIRK: I, state your name.
YOU: I, state your name.
DIRK: Am pretending to be on a beach.
YOU: Am pretending to be on a beach.
DIRK: And to the republic for which it stands.
YOU: And to the republic for which it stands.
DIRK: Especially when your toes are in the sand and you have a Goose Island Honkers Ale that is ice cold and you are getting sunburned and every now and then a gorgeous babe walks by your secluded little spot wearing next to nothing and your iPod Shuffle is blasting U2’s City of Blinding Lights and you are doing nothing and enjoying every single second and the world is very far away and ...
YOU: What?

New Place

So the transformation in the humble Calftown abode is almost done. Gotta move a couch and chair up here and we are good to go.

The entire place was scrubbed from head to toe. I now have a soap dish and toothbrush holder. That means I've arrived.

I walked into the kitchen last night and there was a light on above the sink that I never knew existed.

It's a whole new place and just seems so much more like .... home!

Gratitude to SB and SB for the changes.

Thrown Together

So tonight we had our first U2 worship service practice.

I believe God was smiling on us.

From the start, five people who'd never played together clicked and it was .... magic. Spiritual. Just really really REALLY good.

Sheri Renner is a joy to play with. Great ideas, voice of an angel, a keyboard player .... Geesh, where have you been all this time, Sheri?

Devon White rammed home the beat on bass, and Craig Sparks is simply one of the best drummers I've ever played with, and I've played with a bunch of good ones. He let loose and wait until you hear him drive us home with this project.

Wally Carlson was right there on acoustic guitar and vocals and a lot of fun. Bob Morwell and his Union United crew were a big help too.

Man. I haven't been this excited about a musical project in a long time, and this comes with The Funions as rock solid as they've ever been.

Again, Sunday, April 27, Union United Methodist, 11th and State, 7 p.m. This is a worship service, above and beyond, and something very different for Quincy.

We are doing Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, 40, Pride, When Love Comes To Town and Yahweh.

Again, this won't sound like U2, but it's an honest take on their music and if tonight was an indication, the energy and spirit will be there.

Coming tomorrow: An update on the Calftown residence transformation!

Brand New Place

So these wild and crazy Collins girls are here and my place has been completely rearranged.

SB is dusting and cleaning like a mad girl right behind me and I am completely and utterly smitten with my new sister ....

More after we are done ....

More new (old) stuff

Had a great practice last night in the Kingsridge basement, then kept the hood up with cigar smoke and groupie conversation.

We are unveiling a few new songs for the Elks show a week from tonight. The Elks tends to have an older crowd, but they love to dance and have a good time, so we've stocked two long sets of songs they'll hopefully like.

Rock A. Bye and I will start with some acoustic music.

Speaking of which, Two Deadly Weapons will be joined by a third tonight at a local birthday bash. Also rumors of massiv rearrangements to living quarters in Calftown this weekend, as well.

Have a great one!

Ask a Republican - Big Oil vs Poor People

Paul Gilmartin is coming to Quincy!
Saturday, May 3, Backwaters
Benefit for QPD union
Tickets - $10 from any QPD officer
Don't miss Paul!

U2 worship service

So there's no South Park strolls or Woodland Cemetery crawls in this stuff.

Hanging out with Devon White tonight and working on the U2 stuff. Sunday, April 27, Union United Methodist Church at 11th and State. We have ...

Rev. Wally Carlson, guitar
Devon White, bass
Craig Sparks, drums
Jack Inghram, sax
Sherry Renner, keyboards
Clueless newspaper guy, guitar and vocals

It's going to be very cool!

South Side Boat Club

Much fun at the South Side Boat Club this afternoon for the 27th annual band jam. Thanks Danny Mabie and everybody for letting us be goofy for half an hour. No stage monitors but I thought we sounded OK. Pat Cornwell in particular did a great job and Jack was back to his usual wailing sax ways.

Two Deadly Weapons make an appearance Friday night at a birthday party, perhaps joined by a saxaphone touting attorney.

Sheyfey videotaped our show today and we'll post a couple of new songs in the next few days.

Now we get ready for the April 18 Elks show, which is going to be HUGE ....

Stay Strong

For Frank Calkins.

Stay Strong
Can't imagine what you've been through
Can't really feel what you feel
All I can do is reach out to you
Hold on to what I feel
Long and lonely nights
All alone you fight
The demons off they will not quit
You cannot rest you cannot hide
You only know one way

Stay strong ....

It's the long way it's the hard way
No shortcuts to the end
It's the long way
I wanna hear you say
No no I'll never quit

Stay strong

Copyright 2007 D.R. Hart

Jack Is Back

Really good practice in the under construction Kingsridge basement last night. Jack Inghram is back and sounding better than ever after neck surgery. Yesterday was the first day he said he felt really good. He's got his sax on a stand so he doesn't have to hang it around his neck, and he was on fire the whole practice.

On top of that, we had a couple of Funions groupies at practice, and they said they enjoyed watching Jack do "The Wiggle," whatever that means ....

The guys were also fascinated by the whole Youtube thing. Hopefully we can have some future shows recorded and get better audio. I ain't complaining .... the whole thing just rocks!

Working on a couple of newer songs for the April 18 Elks show .... and again, we play at 1:40 p.m. Sunday at the Southside Boat Club Band Jam.

See you there!

American Idol Is Stupid

I've accidently watched bits and pieces of American Idol lately and I don't get it.

It's dumb. The judges, especially this guy named Simon, are full of themselves. The gal who got eliminated last night was horrible. One of the guys didn't sound so bad.

But I just don't understand why people go crazy over this stuff. At work they come over and blab endlessly about how so and so should have done better and so and so might not last long and so and so nailed some dumb cover song.

I'm alone in the world, but I'm not watching it and don't care.

There. I feel better.

Who Hears You Tonight

From the March 15 Turner Hall Show ...

Close your eyes tight
Listen with all your might
Let go don't fight
Who hears you tonight

Think I hear you climbing up my steps ....

Love the interaction here between Rock A Bye and Chris ....

Call it a Day

Video taken by Sheryl Collins of our March 15 show at Turner Hall. It's not bad for a small video camera, thanks Sheryl! We'll post a few other songs in the next few days. This is "Call It A Day" and Rock A. Bye does a great job on slide guitar!

For more, go to youtube.com/dirkhartband

Too Early

Sleep. In the immortal words of Carl Spackler in Caddyshack .... "It's no big deal."

Getting excited about the Southside Boat Club Band Jam this Sunday. We play at 1:40 p.m. for about half an hour. Tons of great bands, no cover and cheap hamburgers. Can't go wrong!

Also will be working on the April 18 Elks show. This is an older crowd but one that definitely likes to have fun.

Jack is feeling better after neck surgery and will practice with us Thursday.

Also working on putting together a band for the April 27 U2 worship service at First Union United Methodist.

I went with all four No. 1 seeds in the Hart Family Challenge NCAA pool (done just for fun) and I have a chance. I was hoping Davidson would pull off the upset, it's great for college hoops and sports in general to have the underdog do well.

Washington Theater on hold

It appears our Washington Theater show in May will be put on hold, probably until September. Two of the gals I work with on the show have personal and other commitments right now and I don't want to do it until it's done right. So we'll wait, but we'll blow the place apart with a great day of music in September.

Rainy March

Rain in March .... blechhhh.

Gus is here from West Michigan, spreading his Macker love. I have my summer schedule and it's going to be gloriously busy, but the streets of downtown Springfield to the Hall of Fame love in Belding, Michigan. Applications will soon be available for the Quincy tournament on Memorial Day Weekend.

Good luck to the Drug Court Counselor and Bombshell Translator of dooms, who road trip north today. Be safe!

I have really enjoyed walking in the 'hood lately. It's great therapy. One block at a time, Steph ....

Lately I've been into losing sleep, holes in my teeth, driving with my daughter, cats and dogs living together, getting away, Jimmy John's lunches, Barry Manilow, 10cc and cravings for McDonalds. Not necessarily in that order.

Also had a fantastic time Tuesday night with Anne Cashman and her students at Ellington School. Writing is the best. Ellington School rocks and (Lynette) Rolls!

Flying From St. Louis

So I flew to Denver from St. Louis and back last week, and I have to say Lambert International Airport in St. Louis is very nice.

I know local officials are always pushing Quincy Regional Airport hard, and I’d like to see a small regional facility do well. Perhaps our airport is more designed for the business traveler and not the vacation guy.

But why should I fly out of Quincy?

Some say it’s cheaper. For me, on this particular trip, it was not. I paid $25 in gas, and I paid $48 in parking. That’s $73. Flying out of Quincy would have cost me up to $150 more.

I have flown out of Quincy before, and it always seems weather is an issue, or the planes are breaking down. One night I remember waiting in Chicago forever before we finally got going back to Quincy. (Walk or ride your bike
before you experience Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.)

Quincy airport proponents say time saved is a big reason to fly from here. However, the St. Louis airport is convenient and only two hours away if you hit traffic right, and I’ve never had a problem on I-70. The parking near the airport is good, the shuttle picks you up right away, and the terminals are easy to navigate. It took me 10 minutes to get through security in the St. Louis airport on a busy Sunday night.

An extra couple of hours is worth saving $150.

Steph's computer ....

has this blog bookmarked.

God bless her.

There is nothing in this world that a little badly-played REO Speedwagon won't cure.

Went to see the Blue Healers last night at the Club, which is a funky little bar at 10th and Chestnut. Good grief, did they sound good. Keith Franx in particular, with the guitar, keyboard, harp and vocals, was outstanding. The band includes guys from the late and great Mahoney Brothers and they were loose and right on all night.

Also had a packed house at Trinity this morning, always good to see.

Back to work Monday. Blech. Already miss the mountains, an entire afternoon to do nothing and nieces and nephews laughing.

Next Show, Sponge Bob

We've confirmed the next Funions show. It's part of the Sunday, April 6 band jam at the South Side Boat Club. We play at 1:40 p.m. for about 35 minutes. This is a free show with tons of great bands so come check us out!

Just got back from a tremendous Colorado vacation spent with family.

Did a lot of nothing, and it was beautiful.

The best part was late yesterday afternoon. I sat on the couch with Erin, 4, and Josh, 7, and watched the Sponge Bob Square Pants movie, and I sprained my spleen a couple of times laughing.

At one point Patrick and Sponge Bob get ready to rescue King Neptune's crown, and Sponge Bob unveils the hamburger car.

When Patrick points out Sponge Bob does not have a license, Sponge Bob pauses for dramatic effect, and says:

"You don't need a license to drive a sandwich!"

That, friends, has officially become The Funions motto of doom.

Happiness Is ...

— Turning off the cell phone. And keeping it off.

— Colorado sun.

— Giggling nieces and nephews.

— A Jack Higgins book.

— Getting ready for March Madness.

— Altitude.

— Sleeping forever and feeling good when waking up.

— A long bike ride.

— Putting a motorcycle back together.

— Hot coffee and SportsCenter.

— The iPod Shuffle, shoes, a park not far away.

— Updating the blog ... when I get back!

No skis

Dillon, Co., is beautiful. Just sitting in the sun staring at the mountains is a curative experience. You can actually feel the burnout slipping away ....

Tried to ski at Copper Mountain yesterday but they were out of rental skis, unheard of, according to my brother in law. So we spent the day sledding with cousins and doing absolutely nothing and enjoying every second of it.

Tomorrow we are going to Red Rocks, and if you are a U2 fan .... Under A Blood Red Sky.

Sad to hear about Irving School. Good people, lots of pain.

Kids and snow

I'm in Denver and watching my nephews play. I'm drinking coffee, contemplating a day of doing not much, and it strikes me that life is good!

My brother and family are here from Phoenix. His two young kids are amazed by the snow - about three inches overnight. They are thinking about waking up mom and dad to get the borrowed snow gear on and jump around. It's the simple things to get excited about that are the best.

Heading into the Rocky Mountains later today and hopefully will do some skiing tomorrow.

Slept like a log last night, which means not thinking or worrying about anything is the cure.

Do logs sleep?

After Math

Geesh. Where do we begin? It's like doing a math problem, overwhelming at the beginning, so let's delve in, shall we?

What a phenomenal night at Turner Hall. Great crowd, bands playing their hearts out, everybody having a good time.

Turner Hall co-owner Mark Mester was happy. "We should try to do this once every month to six weeks," he said.

Thanks to Chris Cornwell and the boys from Fielder, who lugged the sound system in at 2 yesterday afternoon. They were absolutely on fire during their set and left the crowd begging for more.

Thanks to Burt Shackelton for wailing away on the sax with The Funions and Fielder. Good Lord can that man play.

I'm proud of my guys, we are getting better and we know how to have fun. Pat Cornwell fought through feeling lousy and was top-notch on the drums.

Cheeks McGee debuted his new band and they were tremendous. As much as I enjoy his solo performances with the loop stuff, his band is way better. Of course having Keith, Big Mike and a super drummer helps too.

Way too much fun.

Back to reality and Palm Sunday, then heading to the Rocky Mountains. Will probably post something tomorrow or Wednesday. Peace!

Sink or Swim

Happiness is ... a clean sink!

Just remember when you are out and about tonight, whether it's at Turner Hall with us or celebrating in general - be safe.

It's a marathon, not a sprint!

I feel bad for Dennis Oliver and Jeff Dorsey for the rain, maybe it will clear by noon for the Y-101 St. Patrick's Day parade down Maine Street.

Rumor has it DO shrinks when he gets wet.

Getting ready for a trip to CO and a week with family, sun and snow. And maybe a lemonade.

Hopefully "The Hood" will survive ....

Early Morning Walk

Sleep is an elusive catcher. Whether by vice, choice or inability to grasp her, she drifts away and she won't come back.

So this morning I walked up Jackson Street in ethereal dark fog and it was a beautiful thing.

Walking is like many things, best when in effortless rhythm. I believe it's referred to as "The Zone," which applies to much more than just sports.

Zombie? Yes, later today. No cure foreseen, though Washington Perk will help after I get to work.

Oh .... anybody who laughs so hard they cry during the Stonehenge scene from Spinal Tap is officially a member of the The Funions Hall of Fame.

Jack Recovers

Just talked to Jack Inghram, Funions sax player of doom. He had major neck surgery Wednesday at Blessing Hospital and had two verterbrae fused. He was released from the hospital this morning and just go home and says he feels weak, but OK.

Jack had some nerve issues with his right hand along with a lot of pain. Once everything wears off and he gets back on his feet he's confident he'll be blowing that horn with us again. His goal is to play April 6 at our Southside Boat Club jam show. If he's up to it, he may come to Turner Hall Saturday to watch Burt ably fill his considerable shoes.

Also a get well soon holler to the Bombshell Translator of Doom, Ms. Rachel Rivera. We'll solider on without her, but a Funions show without Rachel won't be the same, so get better dang it!

March 15

The Funions had a tremendous practice last night and we're ready for our show Saturday night at Turner Hall.

This is the fourth week in a row we've practiced and I'm very curious to see how we play Saturday. Many times good practices lead to good shows, but sometimes they don't. The Funions are used to cobbling together a set list and hurriedly preparing, and it's been nice to actually take some time, learn a bunch of new songs and feel prepared.

8 p.m., $3 at the door or $5 a couple, and we are calling it R Ya Irish in honor of St. Patrick's Day weekend.

Cheeks McGee plays at 9:30 and Fielder at about 11.

Get out today and enjoy the sun!

Singing For Supper

Nothing wrong with singing for you supper.

Heading to Colorado one week from today for some family time and spring skiing.

Big show Friday night at Turner Hall with Mike Breckenkamp's bands. Mike has moved back to Quincy after spending some time in the California sun.

Had a blast at The Grove last night with Slick Woody. It was packed and they had 'em dancing on chairs and tables.

In a Chariots of Fire Theme Song moment, Tookie said hello to a public official he's often taken shots at in the past and they actually were civil to each other. Tookie doesn't want you to think he cares, just so you know, and this bs about him not posting anymore is rubbish. He won't be able to stay away, promise.

Burt plays with Funions

Dr. Brei and I have decided eating Funyons after a meal at the Elks is ... overrated.

Burt Schackleton, musician extraordinaire, is playing sax with us at the March 15 show. Burt sings and plays sax, keyboards and guitar in the Quincy band Cheeseburgers and was featured on the Funions song "Let's Dance" from the Is this Appropriate CD. We are lucky to have him hang out with us!

Jack's surgery involves fusing several discs in his neck area, serious stuff. Surgery is early Wednesday and hopefully he's home by Thursday and on the mend, ready to play with us when we resume the World Parking Lot Tour in April.

The Cheeseburgers are playing tonight in Mendon, and Slick Woody is paying at The Grove tonight, so lots of good local music to check out.

Have a great weekend!

Jack's Neck, Band News

Jack Inghram, sax player of doom for The Funions, is having major neck surgery March 12 and will not be able to perform with us at the huge March 15 "R Ya Irish" show at Turner Hall.

While this is a blow to the band, we are confident the show will go on and we'll sound better than ever.

We have some surprise guests lined up, including Cheeks McGee, who will be only too happy to hammer on his trumpet during Funions songs. Don't be surprised if you see another sax player and maybe even a harmonica blower, too.

So, these dates are still tentative, but our spring World Parking Lot Tour 2008 scheduled is shaping up like this ...

Saturday, March 15, 8 p.m. Turner Hall

Sunday, April 6, Southside Boat Club band jam, 2-2:30 p.m. (approx)

Friday, April 18, Elks, 7:30-10 p.m.

Saturday, May 17, Washington Theater, 6-7:30 p.m.

New Links

Added a couple of links. The first one is for East End Journal, one of the better Quincy blogs.

The second is for The Herald-Whig blog site. As I've mentioned many times, I don't discuss Whig bidness at this site, but I will say we've finally entered the real Web world of blogging and it's been grand so far.

Uh Oh ... EVH is sick

Wonder if Rocky Cola is suddenly sweating AGAIN about the St. Louis show ....

From www.van-halen.com ....

The Van Halen concerts in Dallas, Cincinnati, Raleigh, and Baltimore have been postponed. According to Eddie Van Halen's physician, he is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures.

The March 3rd Dallas concert at American Airlines Center has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2008; Cincinnati's March 5th concert at U.S. Bank Arena has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 22nd; Raleigh's March 7th concert at RBC Center has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 13th; and Baltimore's March 9th concert at 1st Mariner Arena has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 15th.

Fans should retain their tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled concerts or ticket refunds will be issued at the original point of purchase.

Brrrrr

OK. This weather SUCKS. Bit too cold to be out walking or riding the bike or having the dog take you for a walk.

Now that I've got that out of the system ....

I've decided that between learning how to ride a motorcycle or just being a passenger .... I could just be a passenger.

Apparently Colorado has been socked with snow in the last few days, which is a very good thing.

A very sweet little girl knocked on the door the other day selling candy bars for Berrian School. I was an easy sell ....

Thaw (for real this time)

Get outside if you can.

Much fun at the Elks last night, and a very happy 40th anniversary to Bill and Ann Durst!

Hanging out tonight with my surrogate mother, the legendary Anne Mays. And Bob and kids too! Spring Lake is lovely this time of year ....

Almost, QND

Quincy Notre Dame deserved a better fate in today's girls basketball Class3A state semifinal, but lost in overtime to Chicago Marshall.

Sophomore Karlee Gengenbacher is by far Notre Dame's best player. She carried the Raiders on her considerable shoulders and, like her team, gave a tremendous effort.

Here's to hoping they can bring back a third-place trophy to Quincy Saturday night.

The Cars - Drive

This IS the 80s.

For Jamie.

Miss Ben Orr a lot.

Trivia Questions: Which famous actor directed this video? And how do you spell Paula's last name?

Drummers

Pat Cornwell has been a great addition to The Funions.

One, he's a good drummer.

Two, he can sing.

Three, he has good ideas for arrangements and how songs should flow.

There are other things, like actually showing up for practice, having a sense of humor, working hard and not complaining when we screw up a song, and just being a good guy.

Drummers are usually unusual. This is not a bad thing at all. The Funions have had some unbelievably talented drummers and each brought unique gifts and abilities to the band.

I'm just glad Pat is hanging out with us now.

Avalon - Bryan Ferry / Roxy Music

Takes you to another place ....

By a neck ... Dr. Irvine

I do not generally give out recommendations for service providers in Quincy.

But I am not afraid to give love to chiropracter Dr. Shawn Irvine, who has saved me from dehabilitating back pain more than once.

Last week I slept wrong and messed up my neck and shoulder. Like most guys, I ignorned it and thought it would go away.

When I couldn't sit down in front the computer at work this morning, it was enough.

Shawn is very thorough and efficient. He gets the history, probes the area, puts you on the table, does the adjustment and you are good to go. His services are reasonably priced. Today I got some electrical stimulation which also felt wonderful.

I appreciate his professional manner and I appreciate Peggy, his office administrator, making me feel at ease.

On a separate note, I'd like to thank a friend who has stayed a friend through interesting experiences and times. I'm better for it.

Dare Duerr

The best local blog? Easy.

It's Chris Duerr, sports guru from KHQA.

http://www.khqa.com/sports/sports_story.aspx?id=99505

Josh Houchins' blog on WGEM ranks up there, too.

http://www.wgem.com/Blogs/sports_blog.php

The Quincy University basketball teams are peaking at the right time. Both men and women won yesterday in impressive fashion over Southern Indiana. The final regular season home games are Thursday and Saturday this week, and it would be nice to see big crowds at Pepsi Arena.

Bu Bu Busy

Understand a devoted blog reader is disappointed in a lack of updates. Well. It's that person's fault, partially.

Great Funions practice Wednesday night, we ploughed through eight new songs, most should be ready for the March 15 gig.

More Funions gigs in the works, as well. We are working on the Washington Theater show for May 17, hopefully we'll have something before that as well.

The great 80s rock band Asia is putting out a new album with the original lineup of Carl Palmer, John Wetton, Geoff Downes and Steve Howe. Snippets available at www.originalasia.com.

Gotta love a band whose drummer (Palmer) just had a heart stent process, and whose lead singer and bass player (Wetton) is recovering from major heart surgery. Experienced musicians forging on and doing what they love. Wish they'd come closer to Quincy this year on tour ...

Blogs, Sleep, Ca Ca Ca COLD

So Dick Tuck isn't crazy about going to a blog convention with "professional media."

Well. Dick. I'm not crazy about going to a blog convention with Anon Web Warriors. But that insinuates I'm "professional." Whatever that means. Remember, I don't mix bidness with personal blogs. And I don't hide my identity.

To those who are about to sleep for 11 hours, I salute you. And wobble slightly because the very thought boggles the mind. Careful going down them steps, dang it.

I'd give anything for a few hours of good sleep some nights.

OK, I'm Nanook Of The North, but I'm getting tired of this cold weather crap. Bring spring on!

Out & About

I've been conversing with a new friend about Dean Martin. You can Youtube.com a bunch of his clips and if you are a lounge lizard fan, you'll love his stuff.

I speak of lounge lizards because tonight Jack, Alan K. and myself reform Jack Inghram & The Congregational Hart Throbs at First Union, 12th and Maine, for the Evening Under The Stars.

Me: Do you think we should practice?

Alan: Practice?

Me: I'm sorry. Won't speak of it again.

So we'll do that voodoo that we do and that will be that.

Gotta love lazy Saturday mornings .... In a little bit I'll be playing paperboy, seeing if there's life on Aldo Blvd., staring inside my empty fridge, put off cleaning this place, and take a looooooonnnnnngggggg walk.

Record Freeze

For a record third time this winter, we've had a thaw and re-freeze.

The newest rage in pond skating is at South Park near the corner of Eighth and R.J. Peters Drive. Almost perfect shiny glass ice, covered in a quarter inch of smooth-protecting snow.

Glorious ....

Abe's birthday today. Gummermint work is good if you can git it.

I miss Orion The Hunter, "So You Ran" is on Pandora right now. The video is classic 80s schmaltz, if I can find it I'll post it later.

Funions practice tonight, staying warm in the Kingsridge basement by learning oldies but goodies.

Thinking of going out on a limb here shortly. Nothing to lose. Right?

Tookie has the plague. Stay away, Q-Town. Hoser cure has been offered on his latest post comments.

Just Like Old Times

Getting together the boys for Jack Inghram & The Congregational Hart Throbs' event this Saturday at First Union. It's for Michael Warneke's Evening Under The Stars. Jack, Alan K. and myself are all fired up about playing!

Funions continue to make plans .... Mark and I have learned several songs, including a couple of Buddy Holly classics. They stand the test of time and we can't wait to play them out.

There's also been some very preliminary discussions about a new Funions CD, more down the pipe.

Stay warm .... brrrrrr!

The Cure

A good walk cures everything .... misbehavior, a heavy heart, bouncing off the walls.

There's a a person who reads this blog who is struggling right now with some stuff and I want to them it's all right. Things work out and there is a reason for everything. Faith, especially in the darkest of hours, is something you can't let go.

So.

Hang in there!

Richard Martin (R-Ohio) Campaign Ad - I Believe

I'm voting for this guy ....

I'd take Anna

Listening to the great underrated 80s band Cock Robin.

"But I won't leave you until I turn to find you gone ..... I'm the biggest fool of all."

Gotta love lyrics that hit home ....

This band featured Peter Kingsberry and the gorgeous Anna LaCazio, who gives Patty Smyth a run for her money. I'd take Anna to my deserted St. Rachel Island in a second.

They've disabled the embedded feature on youtube.com, so you'll have to go there yourself, just about every song and video is worth listening to and watching.

"There's no path of least resistance, it's a fable you have heard ...."

March 15

Just wanted to make sure everybody knows our March 15 show at Turner Hall, themed "R Ya Irish?" is still on.

Hope you voted today.

No surprise on the school bond issue.

Billary or Obama vs. McCain. Ret O Wreck begins soon.

Dumb

I did something really dumb tonight.

I yelled at a basketball coach.

It's been a very long year for the Quincy High School girls basketball team. They never quit and battle to end of every game, and they've taken their lumps in stride. QHS won its first game of the year and has been in few games the rest of the way.

In the first half tonight against East Moline the Blue Devils hung in there, but they simply wore down against a better team.

With 30 second left and East Moline up 30, their coach decided to press.

And I screamed at him from across the gym.

One of the officials came over and told me to calm down, and he was right. I had no business doing it.

It's just been a frustrating year and I don't appreciate it getting rubbed in.

Eric Orne of Quincy Notre Dame could have rubbed it in Tuesday night, but knows what's going on and he played all his girls.

Evan Massey of Galesburg is simply one of the best high school coaches in the world. His team could have beat us by 80 if he wanted, and QHS-Galesburg is a fierce rivalry .... but he pulled the dogs off early and played everybody.

Just about every team we've played has shown sportsmanship and class.

So I apologize to the Quincy team and the fans for being jerk. It sent a poor message to our girls and other parents and fans.

I do not apologize to the East Moline coach. His girls played hard and fair. He could learn a thing or two from them.

QHS QND girls

Last night was the QHS-QND girls game at Blue Devil Gym and it unfolded according to script. Notre Dame is really really REALLY good, unbeaten and a threat to make a deep Class 3A tournament run. QHS is having a tough year, 1-19 says it all.

QND 69, QHS 37.

There was a decent crowd on a cold night. Girls basketball will never match the boys around here, and that's just the way it is. Once the game started there wasn't much energy because the outcome was never in doubt.

Still, it was nice to see people in the stands during a girls game. And if QHS was having a good season there'd be a lot more interest.

Notre Dame has it all, a powerful inside presence in Natalie Siebers and Karlee Gengenbacher, great guard play from Renita Bunting, and the last piece to the puzzle, former Blue Devil Chloe Barnes.

Coach Eric Orne has done a nice job with this crew, too. Eric could have been a jerk about this game. After all, QHS beat QND in the last two regional tournaments, broke his heart last year especially. But he knew what was going on last night. His team got a big lead and he played everybody a lot, and that's a big thrill for girls who don't get a lot of court time.

What are you going to do, tell a Notre Dame girl to not play hard in the QND-QHS game? Ridiculous.

This year and next, should they avoid the dreaded injury bug, the Raiders have chances to do something very special. They are representing Quincy and I wish them all the luck in the world. They play in an extremely tough regional (Springfield High is at QHS Saturday, 12:30 p.m. if you want to see for yourself). But with a few breaks, they could be playing for a state title.

There are two things Quincy High supporters can do. They can give up and blame the coach and get mad at the world. Or they can realize no matter how bad it gets, it's just a game. A stupid game where you try to throw a small round object through a hoop with a net.

Emily Hart said it best in The Herald-Whig earlier this week.

"It's just a game and there are other things that I do, but I love to play basketball," she said. "As long as I can remember, I've been playing basketball. ... I do have fun, a lot of fun. I love our team and the people on there.

"I love to play. So it's always fun for me."

Fitting final words to this post.

Miss January

Geesh, is she a bitch or what? Tease us with 60-degree weather, then this?

Maybe I put the skates away too early.

Spent last night with two of the most amazing people I've ever interviewed. Ever.

Pandora - Donny Iris. A rock and roll geek I can relate to.

Possible non-Funions musical project looming.

The Funions are taking suggestions for new songs to learn. Thinking about Rambling Man by The Bob Seeger Experience. Bonus points if you can tell me who sang backup vocals.

Thaw

January, a cold-hearted witch at times, slowly releases her grip today.

The ice at South Park has been fantastic for more than a week, almost a record. But this morning the top half inch was a slushy mess, and Curtis Creek skating is likely done for the year.

Despondent, I headed north to another favorite surface. This one is tucked back on the north side of town, and the quarter-inch crusty layer of snow kept it protected.

It's a beautiful thing, gliding around a large patch of ice, and a great workout to boot.

We'll see if it's any good tomorrow.

QND Trivia tonight. I've decided Rock A. Bye, Chuck Otte and I are the Dr. Johnny Fevers of our team.

Deeeee Troy It

Could be worse. Could be the mayor of Detroit.

Looking forward to Trivia Night Saturday and the intense "practice" beforehand.

Saying goodbye to friend Julie Lane Saturday night. Julie and former Funions drummer Justin Busen, her son, head for sunshine in Florida Sunday, best of luck to both.

Speaking of The Funions, we're already getting a big buzz about March 15, and we'll have a big announcement with another event in conjunction with the show soon.

R Ya Irish?

HUGE NEWS ...

Saturday, March 15
Turner Hall, Quincy
The Funions
Cheeks McGee
Fielder.
$3 at the door, $5 cover

It's St. Patrick's Day weekend, we'll be rocking!

MLK

Tookie (http://quincycitydesk.blogspot.com) had some good thoughts about Martin Luther King and how far this country has come with civil rights.

Won't disagree, but we still have a long way to go. A long, long way.

Quincy can be proud of things like the cultural fair last fall and the signs on Eighth Street honoring Dr. King. Just around the corner from where I work is the Dr. Eels house, an Underground Railroad site, and at Washington Park is a monument to one of the greatest men who ever lived and his thoughts expressed in Quincy about slavery.

But there are daily reminders if you keep heading north about our lack of progress. Five percent of our population is African American, yet most blacks live in certain areas of town. Poverty and racism go hand-in-hand.

Until the day a black man doesn't feel the gaze from suspicious eyes when he crosses Broadway heading south; until the day our jail isn't crowded with a disproportionate number of minorities, until the day when it just doesn't matter if you are black, red, green or white .... then we can look back and be satisfied.

Turner Hall ROCKS

It's pretty easy to figure out my favorite venue in Quincy - it's gotta be Turner Hall.

We had another great time as we wrapped up a busy stretch for The Funions. Thanks to all the courthouse crew, Logan, Tookie, and everybody who came out to support us.

By the end of our set we had 'em going pretty good (Hound Dog does that for you). Also got a good reaction to our original songs, which always makes us feel good.

Rock A. Bye and Jack Inghram were again on fire. It is so much fun seeing people react to well-played sax and slide guitar.

We again played pretty well, had some issues with monitors and being able to hear on stage but the sound system itself worked great.

The Funions will be off for a while, hopefully we'll book a show or two in the spring.

Again, thanks for hanging out!

Whitesnake Love Ain`t No Stranger Live 2004

I took some hits for my love of Marillion. For the life of me I don't know why you guys can't handle REAL 80s music. So I was thinking of my second favorite song and I can't come up with a clear choice, but this one ranks right up there. This clip is from 2004 and a show at Wembley in England. David Coverdale is amazing, 56 freaking years old and still rocking.

Do you ever here a song and it just rocks you? Hmmm. Even on the shuffle during the long walks it stops me cold

Marillion - Kayleigh

Sorry, JJ Manager of Doom .... you had some good guesses.

I always think of the beautiful girl in Lake Orion, Michigan, when I hear this song.

"By the way, didn't I break your heart ...."

Losses

Prayers for the Farkas family in their darkest hours.

The memorial for young Alex is haunting.

His dad, Dave, is one of the good guys with a really tough job in our criminal justice system.

Prayers for Fred Kientzle. If you are a bad guy on the loose and Fred comes after you, forget it. You are done. And I do mean that Sincerely.

His mother passed away last weekend after a long fight. They managed to get her home from St. Louis and she died with family, the way it should be.

Sometimes it's good to step back and realize we are all human. We all bleed. Life is unfair to everybody, at times.

Sunday Quiet Sunday

Maybe Tony Romo can use that fine Eastern Illinois education and open up a cabana in Mexico. He has the time ...

Much fun last night at the OL. As I somewhat suspected, there was a good crowd but they weren't much into the music at the beginning. I thought we played well. The host and the birthday girl were happy, and Fielder tore it up, so it was a good night.

The sound was big and booming, but not that bad. I've heard a lot worse.

Thanks Rocky Cola for taking me back 20 years!

Didn't get out of there until 2 a.m. after tearing down .... thank goodness for quiet Sunday afternoons and slipping in and out of consciousness on the easy chair.

Now The Funions get ready for this Saturday's big show at Turner Hall with Cheeks McGee and Dawg Daze Booogie. It's just $3 at the door or $5 per couple.

Bright Lights OL-style

So we are setting up last night for the Web Warrior Bash Of The Century and Napalm Bill shows up with his lights, along with trusty sidekick Alan "Ghetto Fabulous" Lawless, studio guru and banana boat truck driver of doom.

Suddenly the house lights get turned off and the stage lights get turned on. In the immortal words of Dr. Brei .... "Dude, I'm getting a retinal burn here."

Let's face it. When The Funions play, lights are afterthoughts. I remember the legendary K of C driving range show when Scott Smith had the stage lit up and we could see nothing in front of us, and we figured out in a hurry NOT to look right into the lights.

Tonight's show will be all about the rock and roll experience, and as a band I think we are ready. This is the first big private party gig for us and it will be interesting to see what people like or don't like.

The Oakley-Lindsay Center is a challenge acoustically. Even with the room divided in half (there's a pool tournament on the other side) the sound tends to bounce around and it's somewhat muddy. But during soundcheck last night we got a reasonable volume and clarity, hopefully it will work out.

Tookie, thanks. Let's have some fun!

Napalm

The Funions had a treeemendous practice tonight. We dug up some stuff we haven't played in a long time and Saturday night will be a blast.

Napalm Bill is coming down to do the lights for us. Wow!

Also talked to Randy Taylor tonight and we are on for Saturday, Jan. 19, at Turner Hall. It's The Funions, Cheeks McGee and Dawg Daze, should be a lot of fun.

And yes ... we'll do Keep Your Hands To Yourself Saturday just for Rocky ....

Private Party

Big show Saturday night at the Oakley Lindsay Center. Let's just say Web Warriors will be out in force. It's a private party and you'll need an invite, but it will be fun playing for friends both old and new.

We'll play a few Funions songs and hopefully everybody can hoot and holler with the rest. If you are an 80s child, blues fan or rock guy you'll be entertained, I hope.

Practice tomorrow night, setup Friday. We are playing with our friends Fielder, and it should be fun.

A little leery of the dreaded OLC acoustics, I've heard horror stories about the place. It will be divided in half so that should help quite a bit.

On the iPod library right now - "Walls" by Yes off the very underrated Talk album.

January Rain

Nothing like a warm spring shower on an early January day.

Safe travels to Opa Dirk Hart, traveling to Chatham tonight to watch his granddaughter play for the Blue Devils, and in Quincy tomorrow night when QHS takes on Keokuk.

Funions show this Saturday at the Oakley-Lindsay Center, it's a private party but more info coming.

Scandal, Patty Smyth - Goodbye To You

I used to watch this video and openly lust after Patty Smyth. If you've seen VH1's Bands Reunited, you know the years have been kind to her. ! Beat Of A Heart is a close second favorite (and the Solid Gold lip synch rendition on You Tube rocks).

Patty, don't say goodbye to me!

Aldo Nova-Fantasy

This was all the bomb in my high school days. The leopard spandex is killer. I love it when Nova gets the guitar and blasts his way to the stage — who did the special effects, George Lucas? The winking at the girl (2:45) in the front row is classic too.

You can't deny the guitar riff is catchy.

In every one of these videos, some guy with a tank top, huge arms and curly hair plays drums.

Tomorrow I will introduce you to the woman who I still pine for 25 years later.

Fool`s Game by Michael Bolton

Holy Crap!
Finally figured out how to post You Tube directly to the blog.
This video is unbelievably hysterical. First, check out the hair, you could stuff 100 pillows between band members.
The riff is awesome, it's Aldo Nova if you were wondering.
See Michael play the guitar. Really! It's really him! Honest!
At 1:52 I about died laughing .... he runs into the girls, and they leave him on the floor. Can you see them making this video?
DIRECTOR: Ok Michael, the girls come up to you and you lie down, then you peak up at them after they leave.
MICHAEL BOLTON: Sure. What?
Wow. You can't make it up .... And this is just the first of unbelievably good/bad 80s videos.

Posting Videos

I've recently discovered two of the most horrendously good/bad early 80s music videos and I want to link them here.

Bill Simmons calls it the "unintentional comedy scale." These are off the charts.

A while back Uncle Tony offered to show me how to do it. ABC, help!

Quincy deserves to be exposed to early 80s greatness!

Resolved

Back from the snowy north, back to work, back to reality and life itself.

Rats.

New Year's Resolutions:

1. Write a Book.
2. Drink less.
3. Stay in touch with family more.
4. Write more songs for the band.
5. Record more songs for the band.
6. Stay positive watching the QHS girls basketball team.
7. Continue to walk every day, if possible. Even if not possible.
8. Get a better myspace site.
9. Learn how to post pics and video on blogspot.
10. Not get discouraged.

2007 was .... interesting in many ways. Here's to 2008 and hopefully it will be better and more productive.

Snowy New Year

First of all, a very happy new year to everybody and hopefully it was safe.

I am thinking about resolutions and might post something later.

Meanwhile, I do not miss the long Michigan winters. But I miss the snow and attitudes toward winter people have up here.

Started snowing last night around 7 and never stopped, just a straight down world-in-white dusting.

This morning there's four to six inches on the ground and around here, it's no big deal. Shovel it off, admire how it muffles everything and makes everything so still, and get on with life.

In Q-town, this much snow would shut down everything and the kids wouldn't have school next week.

One of my resolutions is to be more grateful. So. I love waking up to the world in white!

Kicking Snow

So I'm heading north Saturday and I call my Hoser buddy Wilx and I'm near Dwight, Ill. While I'm talking I get off on the wrong exit.

"You know your mother is laughing at you right now," Wilx says.

You know he is right. She was horrible at directions and always getting lost. One time when we lived in Montreal she took a wrong turn and we were halfway to Toronto before she stopped and got directions to turn around.

So whenever I get lost .... thanks, Mom .... I hear her laugh and it makes me feel better.

So today I'm in GR and go to the cemetery, but there's four inches of snow. I've been here four or five times but not that familiar with the area and I kick around for a few minutes but CAN'T FIND MOM.

At one point I stick my big boot into the ground and it sinks six inches into the soil. Much to my horror I see a big snow-covered pile of sod a few feet away. Great. Looking for mom, digging up a Grand Rapidian instead.

I'm about to give up when I give it one more kick and boom, there's Virginia Coray Hart.

So the moral of the story is .... don't kick your mother when she is in the ground, but do kick the snow off her grave until you find it.

We're Ready

Good practice last night ... we are ready for a big show Friday at The Elks. Apparently they are closed to sold out for the Christmas dinner/dance/show.

We've learned some Christmas songs and brushed up on some old favorites, should be fun!

World In White

I don't know about you, but I love waking up to a fresh snowmall.

Remembering Gregory Klaas Hart today, on the fifth anniversary of his passing. He rests in a much better place, and for that we are glad.

OK, fill in the blanks .... "Christmas shopping _________." Remember, it's a family Website.

Just got done reading one of the best books I've ever read. More next week.

Bet the South Park Hill will be busy with sledders, though more snow would help. Might be worth taking a look a little later.

Hmmmm. Wonder how the ice is?

One more Funions practice Tuesday, then we are ready for our Dec. 21 show at The Elks. It's reportedly going to be a huge crowd. "Run Run Rudolph" is one of the best songs we've learned. Fun fun fun!

Have yourself a safe Saturday, be careful out there.

La Grange

Very few people just don't care like Jerry Brandt just doesn't care.

http://www.lagrangemissouri.com/gossip.htm

It's never dull ....

Security

There have been suggestions media do a followup with the local mall in the wake of the shooting in Omaha.

As always, gotta be careful about work-related issues. And it is a good idea in some respects.

But really, what are malls going to do? Make us all walk through metal detectors? Shake us down as we enter stores?

There are common sense things which are worth reporting. Citizens should be alert (NOT paronoid) and should always be aware of their surroundings in a public place.

I gasped at the one media report about what to do if encountering such a situation: Remain Calm.

Remain calm? Sounds like good advice, I guess. But when you are in a mall and psycho is blasting away, do you really remain calm? It's completely inappropriate, but it recalls Kevin Bacon in Animal House when Faber is stampeding during the disasterous homecoming parade - "ALL IS WELL!!!!"

There have been some tremendous stories in the wake of the church shootings. Just one of them is here:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html

So it's come to this ... undercover security with firearms in our churches.

I am not being critical of it. And the woman likely saved many lives with her actions.

But.

God help us all.

Triumph

Is it just me, or is The Fox 103.9 playing a little heavier classic rock lately?

I'm not complaining. Grew up on the stuff, after all.

Doc Holiday of 103.9 had a great interview recently with Rik Emmitt of Triumph fame ....

http://www.1039thefox.com/rikemmett-produced.mp3

I saw Triumph in 1993 at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Mich., with my all-time hoser buddy Scott VE. My ears bled for days. Emmett was amazing. Check out his websites, including the myspace site (I think the links are on the fox's site) for more.

Emmett and Triumph are beauty ways to go.

Christmas Music

The Funions cranked out Christmas songs last night in Dr. Brei's basement. We have a couple of new original songs and some standards .... straight blues like Merry Christmas Baby to Run Run Rudolph. Our show at the Elks Dec. 21 should be a blast!

Slink video, Carthage Christmas

The legendary Slink Rand made a hysterical video for "Got It Made." Go to www.slinkrand.com and check on the youtube link.

Speaking of Slink and Carl Thomas, they are both playing in Carthage this weekend as part of the "Christmas Wish" concert at the old college auditorium. www.carsonford.com for more info. Shows are Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., call (217) 357-3154 for ticket info.