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The embroidery says "FLB" for those of you having trouble making it out...

How'd That Speaker Taste?

The first weekend of this month we played Friday and Saturday at The Ott House Pub in Emmitsburg, MD. Friday night there was a "fan" that displayed some of the funniest behavior I've ever seen at a show and I would like to share the experience with you now...

A group of women in their late-20s/early 30s walk in to the club, several of whom are intoxicated to the point of stumbling. They are undeterred by their state, however, and hit the dance floor hard. One in particular starts making some very explicit sexual gestures towards me, and I just start laughing and grinning as I sing/play while looking at the guys to see if they're catching all of it. Oh boy...

After some very risque dance movements, a few bordering on exposure, the same woman comes right up to the stage where one of our monitor speakers is sitting. The stage is elevated several feet and the speaker comes up to about her chest. All of the sudden she starts licking the speaker with the earnestness of someone trying to solve the "How Many Licks?" mystery. I completely lost it and had to stop singing, and as I looked over at Randy he was laughing as hard as I was. I think that speaker had the best night of its life...

The women were eventually asked to leave (much to our dismay), but not without earning a place in the folklore of my musical adventures. That's the great thing about playing--you never know what might happen or what tales you might get to take with you...

Kids, Cops, and Signs of the Times

Last month I was invited to give a presentation about my career in music to two classes of 9th graders at a local high school. I really liked the idea of telling and showing kids that you really can and should pursue your passions. I gave them my condensed musical life story, played some music, and showed them websites and recording stuff I use.

Although giving presentations is a little different than playing (I have nothing to hide behind while I talk/play), the kids were great and I enjoyed talking to/with them. They had some funny questions, too: "Where did you get your Chucks?" "How long did it take to grow your beard?" "Does your hair always look like that?" "Can I be your manager?"

I gave out some FLB stickers and their teacher very kindly took pictures of the kids putting them to use:

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The night before I went to the high school, my brother and I went out to the car to listen to some rough album mixes (which are now in the final process of mastering). We got in my brother's car and decided to drive down the street to a local school to listen since it was 11pm and my neighbors have little kids (we didn't want to wake them).

As we pulled into the school parking lot, I made a joke about the cops showing up thinking that we were up to no good. Well, before we parked and made it through the first song, TWO patrol cars roll up and are shining lights in the car. At that point I was sitting in the middle of the back seat (to get a proper stereo image) and I just put my hands up. What a bummer.

I have nothing but admiration and respect for police officers. My grandfather and several of my relatives were/are law enforcement officers, and I know they have a very stressful and dangerous job. But I'll be honest, cops make me nervous most of the time. Not because I've done anything wrong, but because I'm often made to feel like I have when I haven't done a thing. Plus, I'm all too aware that history has seen many honest men go down at the hands of corrupt/erroneous "justice."

The cops look in the car and ask us to get out. They take our IDs and run them and question us. They seem very suspicious, and I suppose I understand why. Not often are two guys just listening to music while sitting in a school parking lot. But after looking in our car and asking some accusatory questions ("You gotta be honest with me, if you're smoking pot just tell me..."), they still wanted to do a full search of the car. We declined this request because it was clearly unnecessary. "If you aren't doing anything, why can't we search the car?" Give us a break...

By this time there were two cars and three officers and at least one or two of them was probably younger than me. What the hell? All for listening to music while sitting in the parking lot of a school that's not two minutes from my house. I pay taxes, dammit! This is a public place! Still suspicious, they finally let us go but told us to go straight home. We complied, but the more I've thought about it, the more the whole situation has bothered me.

I've lived here all my life. I watched that school being built when I was younger and I used to ride my bike to it when I attended. I learned how to parallel park in the same parking lot where we were trying to listen to the mixes and I still run around the school's fields for exercise. I feel like this is MY neighborhood and now some one wants to tell me that I have to leave when I am doing nothing unlawful. Hell, we went there in the first place out of consideration of our neighbors.

I suppose it's all a sign of the times. Where I live used to be the "country," but not so much any more. The cities are gaining ground and it's really starting to show. Although it will always be "home," things just aren't the same anymore.

I used to know almost everyone at my local bank by first name, but since hours/policies have changed it seems like there is someone new every week. Then, the place was robbed a couple weeks ago. Only a few weeks before, the local pharmacy down the street was also robbed.

I used to keep my car unlocked in my driveway until some punk kids stole my entire CD collection from my car less than a year ago. The police caught the kids but never found my CDs...

What can I do? I guess it's just the way of the world, and I have to adapt/accept/evolve. But that doesn't mean I have to like it...

Louder is not always better...

http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/xl/2006/09/28cover.html

Well Said...

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there’s something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It’s the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part...."

-Nick Hornby, Songbook (who also wrote High Fidelity and About a Boy, both which were made into films)

Kipona Festival and Steve Irwin

The Kipona festival in Harrisburg is held during Labor Day weekend along the Susquehanna River. The festival is one of the top ten festivals in PA and features all kinds of activities and enjoyment, including live music. The FLB was lucky to be invited to play at this year's festival and thankfully the weather was great.

I was the last out of the band to arrive, but we still had enough time to unload and set up since sound was provided. The parking situation was a bit tricky with different acts coming in and out, and I had to leave the van on the street. Then, at one point during our performance in between songs we were informed that they were about to tow our van. Thankfully, a couple of folks involved with the festival took my keys and moved my van to an acceptable spot. I caught a bit of an earful from the festival director after the show for parking the van in the street (which was half closed and half open to traffic), but I really didn't see much of an alternative at the time and was just doing the best I could to handle the situation and get ready for the show. Parking situations fell off the list of things to get stressed about a long time ago.

The show went really well and the crowd was very responsive. The weather was great and here we were playing to a lovely group of people next to the river in PA's Capitol City. Life was good. I can't say it enough times: I'm truly fortunate and thankful to be able to share music with wonderful folks in such wonderful places.

MADISON

What was even better about this performance was that the show had some folks in the audience that are very close to me. My friends Lauren and Mark brought their daughter (and my goddaughter) Madison to the show. Near the end of our set we played Madison's Song and I believe it was the first time Maddy had a chance to hear the song that I wrote for her (and her mother) a week before she was born. It's pretty amazing that she's almost 1 and a half now and blows kisses and talks and claps.

This may sound strange to some folks, but it was a very emotional experience to play Madison her song for the first time with her family right there with her. I wrote the tune as a present for Lauren at her baby shower a week before Madison was born, and now there she was, standing with her parents, smiling and clapping along.

An experience like that is hard to put into words--it uncontrollably communicates with the purest unspoken part of you as a person. For a moment, everything makes sense. It's like getting a blink at the enigmatic meaning of life--not to be understood, only to be felt. I started to tear up a few times as I played and sung the song and thought about the whole experience--how far everything and everyone has come and how thankful I am to be a part of Madison's family. It was just an overwhelmingly beautiful moment for me. I know the band probably didn't have the same connection and you all might not be able to relate as well. And I know it probably sounds overly sentimental and it makes me less of a man and all that. But for me, moments like that bring me closer to something that's bigger than myself.

I spoke with a lot of kind folks after the show and saw quite a few friends from the area. Things were pretty chaotic after the show, and I apologize to all the folks I didn't have more time to talk to. Since there was another act coming in, the load-out and parking situation was an urgent matter. After we had everything loaded-out, I had to find a place to park the van so I could hang out for a while. Everything on the street was taken (as expected), so I went to turn into the first parking garage I saw. That's when things got a little crazy...

THE VAN WAS TALLER THAN I THOUGHT...ACTUALLY I DIDN'T THINK

I've only been driving the van for a month or so and didn't even think about the tall height of the vehicle since I'm used to driving a low riding Firebird. The garage had an especially low clearance (less than 7') and as I turned into it there were some absolutely God-awful crunching and scraping noises. At first I was struck with the fear that I had just turned the van into a convertible like some kind of character on the Cartoon Network. I stopped immediately and had apparently made it into the garage, but was stuck. I couldn't go any further because the clearance became even lower, and I couldn't go back easily without causing more damage. What a disaster!

The two parking attendants were incredibly kind and helpful and we quickly devised a plan. I let some air out of the tires and pulled an Austin Powers-esque 20-point turn to turn around in the small box of space I was trapped in. By this time, traffic was backed up on 2nd Street and some lady even got out of her car to yell at me for apparently ruining some portion or all of her day. Another nice man also came along off of the street to help the cause. I apologized profusely throughout the ordeal and eventually we were able to get her back out of the garage at an angle with minimal scraping. I really don't see how the roof didn't come off. The garage was at least half a foot shorter than the van and it was a steel beam I tried to squeeze it under. I have a new respect for fiberglass.

I drove to the next garage and made sure to check the height. I asked if I could park on the bottom floor because I had just gotten stuck in another garage. Apparently I was the talk of the parking garage community at that point because one of the attendants said she had heard about my incident. Finally I found a spot and put her in park and started a damage report. I climbed the roof and she was scraped up good, but not cracked or smashed. Amazing. You couldn't even notice standing next to it. Sometimes life is just a...well, you know the rest.

A lovely friend of mine named Jenn had driven all the way from West Chester with some of her friends and family to catch the show. Jenn and her friends were EXTREMELY patient with me throughout the day as I left them waiting while I frantically loaded in and out and proceeded to almost destroy the van in the garage. After all the dust settled, I thankfully met back up with them and we all walked around the city and went out to eat. It was great to spend some time with them.

Despite the ups and downs, it was a great day. I got a chance to share music with a lovely group of folks in a very beautiful setting and I was able to spend some time in the city with friends and family. The little complications of life really don't mean much if you stay in tune with what really matters most.


STEVE IRWIN

The morning of Kipona, I read on the internet the news of Steve Irwin's (The Crocodile Hunter) unfortunate passing. It was a very sad way to start the day. As much as we have all cracked jokes at his Croc Hunter character and have performed our own Croc Hunter impressions, there seem to be very few people in this world that had as much passion for their family, work--for life--as Mr. Irwin did. He should truly serve as an inspiration to us all. My heart goes out to the family he has left behind.

I was talking with my own family about Mr. Irwin's death later in the evening. My parents were watching one of his last interviews on TV and my mother said that even though she didn't even know him and had only seen some of his TV broadcasts, Steve Irwin's death really bothered and upset her. She related it to the passing of Princess Diana and I understood completely. When a good person (in this case, someone who was loved around the world) befalls an untimely death, it shakes the very core of our beliefs, our notion of karma, and our faith in general and leaves us with a big "Why?" in a new hole of our saddened hearts. I have no answers for this eternal question and can only hope and strive to live out the rest of my days as passionately as our friend the Croc Hunter, the late Steve Irwin.

Flinchapalooza

This past Sunday, The FLB played what Chris Bell has dubbed "the most dangerous gig (he'd) ever played." Two bands (The FLB and The Luv Gods) rocking out hard on a Sunday evening atop floating barges on the Susquehanna river. And who would come up with such a treacherous and crazy idea? None other than the man who knows how to throw down, Mr. Matt Flinchbaugh--proprietor of Flinchy's restaurant and bar (with a little help from yours truly). Flinchapalooza...a summer party on the Susquehanna river in Harrisburg certainly not to be forgotten.

Our stage at Flinchapalooza literally consisted of two pontoon barges strung together in the Susquehanna river, with a third pontoon barge off to the side housing two power generators. It did move quite a bit with the water and made for a very interesting playing experience. The stage was right across from a pier on an island in the middle of the river, appropriately dubbed "Party Island." Many boats docked at the pier and lots of folks gathered for the event. The island was to the right of the stage and the Harrisburg skyline was to our left. I thought it was one of the coolest things I'd ever played on.

Once I arrived, we loaded all of our equipment onto Flinchy's boat and motored out to the stage to unload and set up. Chris and Ken (and maybe even Randy a little) were really freaked out at the situation. Chris apparently has a water phobia that I was unaware of, and he and Ken were not too happy about the chaos and danger involved in setting up and executing this operation.

Funny (or not so funny) enough, one of Ken's mics went into the drink early on as The Luv Gods were sound checking. Their drummer, a really friendly and humorous fellow named Swish (or Swisher), accidentally knocked Ken's mic boom and 57 into the river. Oops. The bottom half of my piano seat also seemed to get lost in the shuffle somewhere, either into the watery depths or somewhere else. Thankfully enough, those seemed to be the only two casualties of the evening.

After we set up and plugged everything in, I sat and ran sound for The Luv Gods, a very popular Harrisburg band whose members include my friend Shea Quinn and other Sharks Band members. The Luv Gods played first and had a great set. The crowd on the pier loved it and was very receptive, not to mention that the band members themselves were all very friendly and a lot of fun to be around.

The FLB played a set after a short change over, ending with a "Flinchy's Song" encore. Considering the playing circumstances and the fact that this was the first ever Flinchapalooza, I thought the event went very well. No tragedies and everyone seemed to have a great time. Ken and Chris even loosened up eventually. We had a few power issues with the generators and extension cords, but it wasn't anything major. I certainly enjoyed the hell out of playing for a bunch of half naked people on a floating river barge in Pennsylvania's Captiol City. There was some very beautiful "aquatic wildlife" out there...

Big thanks to Mitch for helping out with the equipment and for lifting items over 2,000 lbs. Also, thanks to The Luv Gods, The Flinchy's family and crew, and of course a special thanks to Matt Flinchbaugh himself for inviting us to play and setting up the event. I can't wait until next year (the plan is for us to play actually on "Party Island," on dry land). Flinchapalooza 2007, here we come...

The Johnstown Adventure

Recently, The FLB booked a weekend (Sat and Sun) of gigs in Johnstown, PA, which is Ken's hometown. We played at Tulune's South Side Saloon Saturday night and then at the Roxbury Bandshell Sunday evening. The Bandshell gig was part of a summer concert series aimed to help raise money to preserve the Roxbury Bandshell, a wonderful structure that the city apparently thinks would make an excellent parking lot.

About a week before the Johnstown roadtrip, we were lucky enough to acquire an official FLB tour van (thanks in full to the enormous time and generosity of the two folks that gave me life, Fred and Sheryl Long). The roadtrip was to be our maiden voyage.

SATURDAY

Now, I have very limited experience in driving large vans. Other than a few short trips driving the Key 103 event van, I have mostly driven the Blue Dragon since I was 15. Needless to say, the guys were a little nervous as I took the helm of our rock ship. The trip to Johnstown was pretty smooth, except for a close call with the South Side Saloon's awning. The big antenna was the only thing that hit, but I was told that I was damn lucky I didn't take the whole thing out. Hey, close only counts...

Once we set everything up for the show at Tulune's, we drove to where we were staying that night at Ken's best friend Chris' and his girlfriend Cheri's house. Chris and Cheri were the most wonderful, friendly hosts and really made us feel right at home. After a quick clean up and a change of clothes, we were off to the gig.

The South Side Saloon gig went extremely well. A lot of Ken's friends and family were there and the performance went well. Everyone was very receptive, friendly, and complimentary. A great start to the weekend.

BREAKDOWN AND PERSEVERANCE

Unfortunately, this is where things took a little bit of a turn. After the show was over and we loaded all our gear into the van, we set off for a late night eating spot that Ken had been raving about called Coney Island. Ken decided to drive since he knew exactly where the place was, and after a couple of miles noticed all the lights in/on the van going dim. Shortly after mentioning his observation, the van just quit right at a red light. We got out and pushed it to a curb, put it in park, and starting trying to figure out how to recover from our apparently lightning-quick demise. It was around this time that Ken felt the need to tell us that we hadn't broken down in the best neighborhood. If anything could test the dynamics of a band and its members, it's braking down at 3 AM in a bad neighborhood in a strange town...

The good news is that we passed the test, thanks to the help of our host Chris and some of Ken's other friends. At first things were a little tricky because Ken didn't have his cell phone with him and consequently we couldn't call anyone we knew was still up/around. Finally, I decided to call the Coney Island restaurant using 411 and ask for Chris, because we knew he had gone ahead of us and was probably already at the restaurant. We were in luck. I talked to Chris at the restaurant and he and a couple others soon came to our aid.

Narrowing the van's concussion down to either an alternator problem or a dead battery from using the lights during load-out, we first just tried to charge the battery using jumpers. That was unsuccessful, so we decided we had to leave the van and try to have it fixed tomorrow. Determined to make Coney Island before it closed at 4AM, Chris came and picked us up in his jeep. Five guys crammed in a jeep on a mission...

We made it to the joint with 20 min to spare, but still got some static from the owner for being "late." I ordered the famed "Sundowner," a hamburger with a fried egg on top, just to say I had tasted it. It wasn't bad at all, but God knows how long it's going to stay in my digestive system. Chris also had a mix up with a couple of his hot dogs (the lady made them, Chris paid for them, and then she apparently got confused and threw them out). It was a somewhat bizarre first experience at Coney Island...

We went back to Chris and Cheri's, stayed up and talked for a little while, and then chose our sleeping quarters: Chris on a couch downstairs, Ken in a guest room, and Randy and I in the attic. I usually don't sleep the greatest in places other than my own bed, but this was an exception. I slept great and Ken had to rustle Randy and I up the next morning.

SUNDAY

Cheri made us a wonderful breakfast of homemade scones (from scratch!) and we talked and mapped out our van game plan. Eventually Ken and I set out with Chris to try to charge the battery again and hopefully get the van to the bandshell where we were playing that evening. We were able to bring the van back to life and drive it to the bandshell. There we hooked the battery up to a charger and let it charge the rest of our time in Johnstown.

The Bandshell gig had good weather and began with an acoustic set by our overnight host and MC, Chris Verbano. We played for an hour after Chris. The sound situation was a little hard, considering we were playing in a stone bandshell and the sound guy used a limited set up. However, we still had some good performances and everyone seemed to appreciate it. The event as a whole had a very receptive attendance from the community.

Throughout the weekend, I often reflected on how great it was to be able to come to this strange town and share music and conversation with new people. It was very comforting to have such kind and accommodating hosts--people who let absolute strangers in their homes and treated them like they were royalty. It was also very inspiring to see the community come together to support live music and the bandshell. Maybe there's hope for this art after all.


OUR ADVENTURE HOME

After the bandshell performance, we decided we'd better leave ASAP in case we had van trouble on the way home. It's better to break down at 9:30PM than at 1:30AM. We weren't sure how long the charged battery would last, so we headed for a WALMART on the outskirts of town to buy a backup battery, a tool kit, and some flash lights, and to get some dinner. Either it was "Hot Night" at WALMART or there's something in the Johnstown water. I had never seen so many attractive women in a WALMART before--walking everywhere and it seemed at least one or two in every aisle, shopping, stocking shelves, moms getting groceries, everywhere. It was all very distracting.

After WALMART, we embarked for home, hoping for the best. Ken drove, since he knew the way better (and consequently, better places to pull over should the ship go down). We did well and made it to Clear Spring, MD when the lights started to get really dim. The battery had been draining slowly but surely since we left Johnstown. We got off at the Clear Spring exit and pulled into the gas station right as the van cut off. Man. We gassed up and switched out the batteries, and we were able to make it home from there. What a journey.


CONCLUSION

My dad (who is a genius when it comes to cars, and many other things for that matter) checked out the van the next day and sure enough, the alternator was weak and not charging right. He and mom had taken the van for a spin several times before our trip and everything seemed to be in working order. So, for whatever reason the alternator decided to bail during our trip. I'm convinced it was because we hadn't given the van a name. It's back luck to have a ship without a name.

Despite some technical adversities, the trip was a lot of fun and went very well. It was just great being able to hang out and travel together "as a band." Huge thanks to Chris and Cheri for their generous hospitality and all of Ken's family, friends, and community members for their support. We'll be back in December...

Dysentery, Shea Quinn, Another Flinchy's Kind of Night, and Ray Lamontagne

As some of you may or may not have heard, the week before last I unfortunately contracted dysentery, most likely from some shady food I had on the 4th. I always thought that dysentery was something from the Oregon Trail era and limited these days to third-world and travel experiences, but alas, I was mistaken. The illness is still alive and kicking here in the U.S. It was quite an unpleasant experience and I will spare everyone the details. If your curiosity gets the best of you, Google away...

The one GOOD thing about the illness was that it altered my perspective on life somewhat, as life's experiences do. Driving around in the Blue Dragon after my recovery never felt so wonderful. It feels like every day after dysentery is a good day. You sure can't take your health for granted...

The other BAD thing about the whole experience (besides the illness itself, of course) was that I had to cancel both a Friday and Saturday gig--one in Alexandria and one in Silver Spring. I absolutely DESPISE having to cancel gigs, but in this case I was just physically unable to perform (I was in the ER at around 5am Saturday morning). Total bummer...

But that's all behind us now, a shadow of the past. I was good to go for my outdoor gig at Zephyr Express on Wednesday in Harrisburg. I drove up, set up, played three songs and it started pouring. Everything soaked. No worries, though. At least I didn't have dysentery anymore...

So, since I was in Harrisburg and I got out of Zephyr pretty early, I decided I'd try to visit a few folks. First off, my goddaughter Madison and her parents Mark and Lauren. Mark just moved into a new apartment in the area, so I was able to catch up with them there. I hadn't seen them all for months, so it was great to finally get together for a little while and just talk and catch up. Maddy's now walking and talking (sorta) and she's just a riot to hang out with. A hug and a kiss from her and life is grand...

Next, I swung over to Flinchy's because it had been way too long since I'd seen Flinch and the gang. It was a busy Wednesday night--Shea Quinn and Steve were playing inside to a sizable audience and there were also quite a few people outside despite more rain that seemed imminent. All the usual suspects were there: Flinchy, Mike Hancock, Trina, Sheena. It was great to see everyone. I had a couple of beers and a couple of shots a Jager (cursed stuff) and Shea was nice enough to even let me come up and do a few songs.

For those of you not familiar with Shea Quinn, Shea is a songwriter/rockstar extraordinaire. Not only that, but the few times I've spoken with Shea, he has been an incredibly kind, friendly, and a really down to earth guy--especially so to a kid like me who doesn't know anything about anything.

I'll be honest and say that I wasn't really familiar with Shea and his work before I met him this past year at Flinchy's. From what I've heard and researched since then, he was the lead singer/bass player for the Sharks, a band out of Lancaster, PA that formed in the early 80s and gained quick national recognition. They've had MTV videos, shared stages with countless national acts, and have releases on major labels. In addition, Shea's songwriting talents have been and continue to be utilized in many capacities, including use by national artist Jeffrey Gaines. Shea plays quite a bit these days in several different groups/arrangements, including the Sharks and The Luv Gods. Bottom line: Shea rocks and is one cool and talented dude.

So, we closed the bar down and I decided to make myself a sandwich at Flinchy's suggestion. Not long after I helped put some chairs up to finish the night out, Flinchy comes into the bar and asks if I want to ride the train. I thought the Jager had gotten to him and was a little hesitant at first, but the next thing I know Flinch, myself, Sheena and another girl are all getting on a train engine that's parked on the tracks right outside of the bar.

Flinchy knew one of the drivers, Sammy, and he was nice enough to take us for a ride down to Shiremanstown on the train and then drive us back in his car. It was a very profound experience to be riding a freight train at 4am with half a buzz. One of those things you won't forget. Flinchy always seems to outdo himself. After our ride, Sammy drove us back to Flinchy's apartment and we all hung out there for a while. I got to meet Flinchy's new lab, Tucker, and talk with Sammy some. Sammy seemed like quite an interesting guy, been driving trains for 30 some odd years if I recall the conversation. I bet he has a few secrets of life tucked away in that nogan of his. I hope I see him around some more the next time I'm up that way. I left Flinchy's apartment for home around 5:30am.

I made it into my driveway here in Ijamsville around 7am on Thursday. What a Wednesday. I caught some sleep before driving up to Philly that Thursday evening to meet my friend Lisa from LVC and her boyfriend Bob to see Ray Lamontagne perform. If you haven't bought any of Ray's music yet, you should. His music is some of the most heartfelt and emotional stuff I've heard in a while and he has quickly become one of my favorite artists of all time.

So, to say the least, life has been pretty interesting as of late. The highs and lows, it's all part of the story. I'm anxious to get back with the band and play. Between my illness and Ken's vacation, I feel like I haven't played a show with the guys in forever. This Saturday should be a lot of fun. We'll probably unveil a couple of new original tunes, too. I hope to see you all there...

Codorus, Bushwaller's, Tarara Winery, Spanky's and my new journal plan

Let's start with the new journal plan. The originally planned discipline and regularity of creating journal entries promptly after each gig has unfortunately deteriorated slowly. Call it a time issue, call it a slacking issue, or call it just plain wrong. Either way, I think it's time for a change. From here on out I plan to make my journal more of a free form jazz exploration. I will definitely still update it with an attention-keeping regularity, but I will probably make entries that comment on multiple gigs and maybe even some entries that have to do with stuff outside of the gigs.

So, time to recap on the last two Saturday's gigs. First, the Codorus Summer Blast Festival:

Codorus State Park is absolutely gorgeous. A big lake with camping and boating and all kinds of great stuff right outside Hanover, PA. The Summer Blast Festival concerts took place right next to the lake in a bandshell. I got there pretty early, so I had time to walk around a little and check the festival out. All around the bandshell and this area of the lake were booths set up with food, art stuff, and other activities and services. I think I even saw some chainsaw wood carving stuff as I walked around.

I was kind of uneasy early as Ken ended up being an hour and a half late for setup/soundcheck (a new FLB record!) and some of the sound equipment was late to arrive. Everything came together, though, and despite having the early performance slot (we played at 12:30pm--some Saturdays I'm lucky if I am out of bed by then), we had a great audience full of great listeners. During a break I talked to some folks and walked around and looked at the lake I got that peaceful warm feeling about how cool it is that I have a job where I get to visit these wonderful places I've never been and share music with great people. I am truly one lucky guy.

Big thanks to Joe Alfano and everyone at WARM 103, 96.1 FM, WSBA, and Cumulus Radio for having us up to play at the festival. We had a blast. Also, our thanks go out to Steve, Brock (fellow Dutchman!), the Pentagon crew, and everyone else who helped run sound. It was great to meet you all and a pleasure to work together.


So, the FLB jammed at the Summer Blast, packed up our gear, and headed home for a quick layover before our night gig at Bushwaller's. My great friend Mitch came down for the gig, so I had a feeling it might be a wild night.


As usual, Bushwaller's did not disappoint. Great crowd, great time, but man, it was hot as hell in the joint. I was sweating buckets all night and kept having to literally towel off during and in between songs. The crowd got into it, and before you know it the stage was full of fun people dancing and jamming with us. I love this place.

I was able to speak with some folks who said they caught our performance in Baker Park the week before and came out to see us again. That was very very encouraging. Special shout out to a couple of very nice ladies who watched by the bar and had some very kind things to say about the music and the group. You all rock!

Getting back to the fact that Bushwaller's has only a couple ceiling fans and no AC, the heat and the modest amount of imbibing I did somehow resulted in a very interpretive version of "Piano Man." They might not have been ready for that one, but their kids are going to love it.

Thanks to all the friends/fans that came out to The Bush. It's because of you all that we always look forward to playing there. See you again on the 22nd!


After a little summer R&R in Ocean City MD, I was back to play a double header on July 1st. First stop: Tarara Winery. I had never been to Tarara and it was a picturesque place right in VA wine country. The stage was right by a lake and the audience gathered to drink wine and have fun in a nice big open space surrounded by wooded areas. What a cool setup!

Besides a little sound-related adversity, the show went quite well. The wine was flowing and people seemed to be enjoying the music and great weather. We unfortunately had to jet to our next gig and couldn't stay for Annie Sidley, but we did get a chance to talk to some folks and hand out a lot of CDs. We even had some hardcore fans follow us to Spanky's! (Special shout out Kevin and Lori--they could write a manual on how to have a good time.)


After getting to Spanky's, we rushed like crazy to set up, change, and choke down some quick grub before starting to play. The show at Spanky's went really well. We were all having fun and there was a great crowd with a lot of folks who had seen us before (some even from the wine fest earlier). Lots of great dancing and I am happy to say that I collected my very first pantyhose on my keyboard. I'm not quite sure whose it was, but does that really matter? Of course not.


So, there's the last two Saturdays in a nutshell. Two rockin' double-headers in two weeks. Our performance this past Sunday at the Harrisburg American MusicFest unfortunately was canceled due to all the rain and flooding PA received over the past week. I was really looking forward to playing the festival and being back in Harrisburg, but it was also nice to get a chance to rest.

That about does it. I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. Ditch work, stress less, be spontaneous, enjoy the sunshine--summer only comes once a year. Until my next "free form" post, see you at the shows...

Frederick Summer Concert Series in Baker Park - 6/18/06 - Frederick, MD

This show was really an exciting moment for me personally. I've been to quite a few of the Frederick Bandshell concerts and always hoped that I'd be able to play there someday with my own band. Sunday was certainly a dream come true in many respects.

The weather was great and a pretty sizeable crowd turned out for the Father's Day show. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jittery, considering the magnitude of the show and the fact that a good bit of our hometown rep was on the line. I definitely rambled and ended up forgetting half the things I wanted to say on stage, but I thought we played a great show and got some good feedback from the crowd. It was a lot of fun and just flew by...

We did about half originals and half covers for the hour and a half that we played. It was great to have such a large audience that really was there to just listen to the music. Plus, the stage was huge! What to do with all that room! The other great thing about this show was the fact that we had our sound run by Blue Sky Audio and they did an absolutely fantastic job. These guys were the big time, man! Big thanks to Jeff, Ethan, Glenn, Mark, and everyone else who helped out and made us sound great. You all spoiled us! They recorded the show for a possible Frederick Summer Concert Compilation CD--stay tuned...

HUGE thanks to Jessica Smith and Rona at Key 103 and Amy Riley (Happy Birthday!) and everyone else at the Office of Special Events for giving us this great opportunity and supporting the FLB. HUGE thanks also to all our friends, family, and fans that came out and gave us some great hometown love. I saw and talked to some folks I literally hadn't seen in years, and I got the chance to meet some new fans of The FLB. Thanks to everyone who came to listen--what makes the experience so great is having all of you all to share it with.

I dedicated the show to my dad (and my mom) because they are truly the FLB's biggest fans. Their support and love make it possible for me to do what I love, and I'm not sure I could ever possibly convey how much I appreciate them. Love you guys...

I will hopefully be posting some pics from the show this week. In the meantime, check the current schedule when you get a chance. We have some more great shows scheduled this summer and we can't wait to see you all again. AND slowly but surely, the CD is coming along...

Here's to the future of The FLB...

A few favorite shots:

The Ott House Pub - 6/16/06 & 6/17/06 - Emmitsburg, MD

A pretty good weekend back at the Ott House. Friday night was pretty wild and there were quite a few lovely ladies listening to the band. Overall, a great crowd. There was also a Catoctin High School 25 year reunion in the house, which added to all the action. Special thanks to all the friends and fans that came out and shared the evening with us. You all are really what it's all about.

Saturday night was a little more tame, although the FLB had it's very own tambourine section at one point. I'm talking at least 5 or 6 people with tambourines just going at it. What a scene! What can I say, our friends/fans know how to have fun. "On the door, Sugar!"

Bentz Street Sports Bar - 6/6/06 - Frederick, MD

First off, let me admit my guilt in taking part in some summer slacking with the gig journal. My bad.

This was our second time at Bentz, and all went pretty well. I like the venue--a nice spacious sports bar with a sizable and comfortable stage. Randy had some technical difficulties (SEE "the most annoying sound in the world"), but besides that I thought we played really well.

A pretty decent crowd listened throughout the night. They weren't really much of a dancing crowd, but they did show their appreciation in other ways. In fact, a couple of fans who stuck around for the whole show bought the band shots of Crowne that seemed like the size of soup bowls. All gifts aside, these guys had some really kind things to say and I just really appreciated the fact that they listened and supported us. You all rock.

It was also great to see our favorite (my favorite?) Bentz Street waitress, Allison (sp?). It was her first day at the bar the first time we played at Bentz, and she said some very nice things about the band. Plus, she put up with us and our beverage demands all night. She's a sweetheart.

Next weekend is full of private gigs, but the weekend after is our much-anticipated Baker Park concert. The Baker Park show is another exciting event that I've always aspired to play. Here's hoping for great weather...

Rock Bottom Arlington - 5/27/06 - Arlington, VA

Pretty standard show at another pint night at Rock Bottom. The place is always slammed when we load in and start since the joint has $1 pints until 9pm on Wednesdays. The crowd is pretty much at it's peak when we start playing and declines throughout the night since it's a weeknight and the beer gets more expensive.

Despite the weird arrangement, there are always plenty of gorgeous girls at this gig (at least for the first set or two). Plus, there are always folks that just generally appreciate the music. We had some great dancers and tambourine players at this particular show. It was also great to see my friend Maria from LVC again who works at Rock Bottom. Here's to the pint...

Seacrets - 5/27/06 - Ocean City, MD

What an adventure. We sort of lucked into this gig last minute, and I was really excited to make my debut in Ocean City. I've been coming to OC ever since I can remember and have always wanted to play there someday.

Randy and our friend Jess caravan-ed up there and got into town pretty early. We hung out on the beach for a few hours and caught some rays waiting for the other guys and our rooms. Later in the afternoon we got our rooms, and it was obvious they had been used and abused by those before who had come into town to rock. Not exactly glamorous, but it's hard to argue with a free room at the beach.

As we started to load into the club, we had a couple of curveballs thrown at us, the first being that Ken would have to play on a partial electronic set provided by the club instead of his own set. After making a frantic phone call and talking to some folks at the club, we found out that he was allowed to use his cymbals and snare, but the other drums had to be electronic due to a noise ordinance in the town (we were playing outside). Talk about ironic! We always give Ken a hard time about V-drums since Chris Babb used to play them all the time with me. Now the club forced them upon him! They didn't sound the greatest and Ken was a bit irritated at it all (well, we all were), but he was a good sport and rolled with the punches. It would of been nice to know all this before we got into town...

Curveball #2: The stage we were playing on had just been built that morning. In fact, they were still building another stage as we were loading our stuff in. Since Memorial Day weekend is sort of the summer kick-off weekend, I guess things were coming down to the wire at the club. The down-side was that they really hadn't used or even tested a sound system on the stage we were playing, and we even ended up finishing our set up before the sound equipment was in place. Since we were the guinea pigs, the sound was pretty rough throughout the show. A lot of mic feedback, distortion, bad levels--all the things you hope to work out BEFORE you start playing. I got a little unnerved at the whole situation, but I had a beer and felt a little better.

Despite all these wrinkles in the operation, we ended up having a really good show. I mean we were playing on a stage right next to the water at the beach--how great is that? The stage was at the edge of the water and faced the sand where the crowd was standing. The crowd was a little stiff at first, but as the sun went down and the frozen drinks set in, a great sizeable crowd gathered at our stage and rocked with us. The club was packed.

We tried to have some ladies dance on stage with us, but they were quickly escorted off by security guards who apparently wanted to kill our mojo. Actually, Seacrets has a rule against folks on stage due to the liability involved (I mean, these folks were drinking and tried to dance on a stage full of electrical equipment near the water). I brought a lot of CDs to give away and all but three or so of them were snatched up. Good stuff.

I should also mention that I had my first ever "ass-signing" at the Seacrets show. Before we even started playing, a nice lady had affixed an FLB sticker to her rear and asked me to sign the sticker while I was setting up. I was certainly happy to oblige. Another hard day...

A lot of folks were really friendly and bought the band drinks and there were actually quite a few folks who had seen us play before. I was very pleasantly surprised. During breaks and after the show I talked with some folks from home, some LVC'ers, and even some folks who had seen us in Harrisburg. Crazy! It seemed like representatives from all our performing corners had gathered with us at this massive beach party. My brother and some friends from home were in OC for the summer and got a chance to catch the end of the show. It really meant a lot to see all of them there.

Our show ended at 10pm, so we loaded out through a massive sea of people and the catacombs of the club. There were cops everywhere outside and a huge line to get in. After we loaded up our gear, Ken and Chris hit the road since it was early. I hung out with my bro the rest of the night and Randy ended up staying at the club. It was cool to be able to just walk right in all day. The whole "in the band" cliche really works sometimes.

Overall, a really cool gig. Not exactly how I imagined it, but life rarely is. We had a great time and hope we get the chance to come back again soon. I'll be posting pictures on the website either tonight or tomorrow, so make sure you check out the visual supplement.

Zephyr Express - 2/24/06 - Harrisburg, PA

Another lovely evening at the Zephyr. Good weather and a lot of nice folks to share the evening with. I drove down with the tops off of the Blue Dragon and just felt good to be alive. Not much else to say about this one.

As I type, I am making preparations for The FLB's Memorial Day excursion to Seacrets in Ocean City, MD. My family and I have spent a lot of time down in Ocean City and I have a lot of great memories and quite a fondness for that town. I always hoped that someday I'd get to play there. So, as "Full House" as it might sound, this gig is somewhat of a dream come true. It's been almost two years since I've been back there and I've been thinking about it and picturing it all week. I'll be back in a few days with the report. Enjoy the holiday weekend...

Relax Lounge - 5/20/06 - Chambersburg, PA

A new place for the FLB. I know Ken and Chris were psyched about playing in Chambersburg since it was probably one of the few gigs we've had so far that required them to drive less than a half hour.

Relax is a small venue and there wasn't really a big dancing crowd (although there was a very much appreciated dancing minority), but there were a lot of good listeners. The Ken Deater fanclub was in the house, and apparently there was a Deater look-alike contest that we were all unaware of. I've never seen so many bald, shaved heads in my life.

The Relax staff was all very friendly and helpful (and many were easy on the eyes), and I met quite a few cool people that had a lot of kind things to say about the band. Overall, a pretty good gig.

After the show, the band rolled down the street to the local Denny's for some post-gig nourishment. A few Relax patrons and employees were a couple booths down, so we traded some late-night, alcohol-sponsored conversation. There was also a guy stumbling around our section of the restaurant who, from what I understand, was literally on crack. Welcome to the Cirque du Denny's.

By the time we left Denny's I think it was about 4:30A.M. The sun was coming up as I made my trek back home. I rolled into bed just shy of 6 A.M.

Bushwaller's - 5/19/06 - Frederick, MD

Another night at Bushwaller's, another great crowd. I saw a lot of folks who I'd seen at previous shows, which is really great. I've said it before, I'll say it again: The fans are what make the shows. Special gratitude also goes out to those who have been requesting our original music. The CD is coming soon...

My long-time friend Elliot was in town from Vermont and it was great rock out with him. I'm not sure he'd seen the full band yet. Thanks to everyone who sang with us, danced on stage and bought drinks for the band. Rock and roll makes good, good sense...

Flinchy's - 5/17/06 - Camp Hill, PA

A really good crowd at Flinchy's on this fine Wednesday evening. Wednesday night is also $5 bomb night at Flinchy's (Irish or Jager, pick your poison), and there were quite of few bombers around the bar. All ingredients for a raucous, good time. Happy Hump Day, indeed.

A good handful of LVC'ers were in the house tonight, which was very cool. We all had a solid night of merry-making and song, and then it was back to Ijamsville. At the end of the night, Flinchy and I got to talking about a summer party/concert on the river in Harrisburg with the full band. Stay tuned for details on "Riverstock 2006"...

Duke's - 5/12/06 - Alexandria, VA

Nothing like driving on the beltway on Friday. Traffic, accidents--a circus of highway action. I actually seemed to avoid most of the traffic and thought--thought--that I was going to have a smooth, uneventful ride. BUT, two exits before I was supposed to get off things came to a grinding halt and totally killed me time-wise. It made me a little nervous, especially since it was my first time at this joint, but eventually I made it with just enough time to set up.

Duke's a restaurant/bar on the second story of a very nice hotel (Embassy Suites) in Alexandria. This was an early happy hour gig (5:30-9pm), and for the majority I kept a very mellow profile. The gig was mostly "atmospheric," but things gradually picked up and near the end people were singing along and clapping quite freely. Hey, they don't call it "happy hour" for nothing.

There was a very friendly family sitting right in front of me when I started playing, and they actually left for a short while and came back with more family members for dinner. A lovely bunch. There were also some other diners that came up and requested songs, and a very nice gentleman who wrote down a bunch of artists and songs he thought I would like. He might've been from Canada or somewhere up north, because I noticed quite a few "eh"s that he slipped into our conversation. Very nice fellow.

Overall, pretty smooth sailing and a nice change to get home from a Friday gig before 3am.

Zephyr Express - 5/10/06 - Harrisburg, PA

First off, apologies are in order for slacking on the journal entries this past week. It was a really crazy weekend and a lot has been going on inside and outside the music action. Excuses...

It was a perfect spring evening playing outside in the Zephyr courtyard. Seventy degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I just set up in a corner with my little PA and acoustic guitar and crooned the night away as the sun went down and the stars came out. The low-key acoustic music was very atmospheric and I think it went really well with the whole scene. The outdoor diners seemed to appreciate it, and I certainly appreciated being a part of their evening.

This is the first time I had been back to Zephyr since last summer/fall, so it was great to see my friend Dave again who recently purchased the place. I met Dave back in college when I played at what was The Gingerbread Man (it's now Duke's) in Hershey. I would play on a Thursday every so often and Dave was always the bartender/manager. When he moved to Zephyr in Harrisburg, he was kind enough to look me up and give me some gigs at his new place. It's so cool how friendships develop like that along life's travels...

Rock For Hope at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse - 5/7/06 - Arlington, VA

We were approached to do this event about a month or so ago by a woman named Barbara Purcell. Barbara saw us at Griff's (and actually sung a tune with us) and asked us to be part of the first annual Rock For Hope, a benefit for the Brain Tumor Society held in conjunction with the annual Race For Hope. I later found out that Barbara herself is a brain tumor survivor. We were obviously more than happy to be a part of the event.

We all really enjoyed the venue. The Drafthouse is recently under new ownership and just put in a new PA and acquired its live entertainment license. I think the PA had only been used once or twice. Needless to say, we were sort of guinea pigs on several levels: new PA, new event. Everything seemed to go pretty well, though, and the event was attended by a humble but mighty crowd.

Mary Ann Redmond kicked off the benefit, playing a duo set with her guitarist. The showmanship and musicianship of both Mary Ann and her guitarist, Lenny, were superb, so it was just great to share a bill with them. I also looked at the upcoming music schedule at the Drafthouse and was pleased to see that the FLB was playing on the same stage that would soon feature Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Alexa Ray Joel (Billy Joel's soulful daughter). Good stuff.

Thanks to Barbara for inviting us and for everyone who helped out and came out and supported the cause. That's what it's all about...

Griff's Landing - 5/5/06 & 5/6/06 - Frederick, MD

By far the best weekend we've had at Griff's. Solid crowds both nights. Had a lot of friends and fans come out to the show, which was great. Dancing, singing and drinking--just having a good time.

Friday was Cinco De Mayo and everyone was out celebrating. We even whipped out an impromptu version of "tequila" for the festivities. Lord knows there was a lot of that being imbibed. There was a good dancing crowd--And what night would be complete without beautiful girls on stage with tambourines?

For "Roadhouse Blues" we had a guest singer, whose name I don't even know or remember. There was a guy who requested some Doors, so we played "Peace Frog" first. When we started to go into "Roadhouse," I was adjusting my harmonica so I'm not really sure how it came about that this random guy became the lead singer. Regardless, he nailed the song. It was almost as if Jim Morrison himself had come back to sing with the FLB. It really brought the house down.

On Saturday, Randy and I actually went to a barbecue before the show at a friend's place downtown a couple blocks from the venue. After a few Guinni (plural of Guinness), a burger, a few kabobs, wings, a couple of small pieces of vodka saturated watermelon that were pretty much forced upon me, as well as some other various cookout delicacies, I was ready to rock. Randy and I grabbed our guitars and walked to the show.

Saturday seemed just about as good as Friday. Lots of folks at the show, yelling, dancing, the whole bit. My brother Steve came out to the gig with some of his friends and it was really good to have him there. The whole Long clan was in attendance.

After the show, a small group of us decided to hang out down the street. Ken was actually the only one in the band who punked out and went home, although in retrospect we probably all could've used the sleep. I ended up not getting back home and into bed until about 6am Sunday, which was kind of crazy considering I had to be up at 10am to make it to the Arlington benefit.

The Ott House Pub - 4/28/06 & 4/29/06 - Emmitsburg, MD

The FLB had a pretty good weekend at the Ott House. There were a few technical kinks with the new PA we had to work out at both shows, but nothing that prevented us from having two solid nights of fun. Lots of friends, family, and fans. Plus we were again blessed with a bounty of beautiful stage dancers.

Friday night my good friend Ivy, who I've known since elementary school, came out with her mom and her friend Anne, both whom I hadn't seen in years. It was good to hang out with them for a little while and get crazy. They were most definitely the life of the party. Table dancing, tambourine playing, Merlot drinking!--these gals know how to get down. They even had my dad out on the dance floor, which is no small feat. I think the old man was havin' the time of his life...

My LVC friend Jill and some other Class of 2005 LVC'ers also surprised me at the Friday show. It was great to catch up with them and talk about their life happenings since graduation. Hard to believe it's been a freakin' year already since we walked across that stage. Time just seems to flow into itself now...

Early in the Friday show there was this group of bikers at the front of the room that apparently wanted to hear nothing but blues music. We play a few blues tunes, but as many of you might know our song list is pretty diverse. We played one of our blues numbers in hopes of pleasing our biker friends, but unfortunately that wasn't enough. The natives were getting restless. One of their designated spokesmen flat out told me that our version of "Tiny Dancer" sucked. Tough crowd, tough crowd.

I decided that the safety of the entire City of Emmitsburg was at stake, so we played almost every "blues" tune we knew--not that many. Thankfully, our new friends cooled out and eventually went on their merry way. In fact, I think I even saw "the spokesman" singing along to Werewolves of London. How 'bout that...winning hearts and minds, one note at a time.

Saturday night Chris' entire family (it seemed like) drove down, up, and over to come to the show. It was great to see them again. They're a fun bunch and we really appreciate their support.

For some reason, I was also very chatty on the mic for Saturday's show. I could hear Ken and Randy laughing at me because I caught myself rambling uncontrollably a few times. It reminded me of the "Ramblin' Dan" reference in this book Ken put me on to called "So You Wanna Be A Rockstar," by Jacob Slichter, the drummer of Semisonic. It's a very honest, witty, and insightful (not to mention, hilarious) account of the band's rise to stardom.

My friend Mitch (who is also the official FLB party liaison, head of security, and beer technician) made a road trip from PA to catch Saturday's show. It's hard to explain how good it is to see him. Brothers from another mother...

I posted pics from both shows on The FLB website, so feel free to check out all the action shots. There are some funny ones and lot of strange faces from yours truly...Here are a couple of my favorites from the night:

Good times all around. This weekend we'll be back in Frederick at Griff's on both Friday and Saturday, and I was informed just recently that Friday is actually Cinco De Mayo. Corona anyone? Dos Equis? So come out and party with us--you deserve it. Plus it's a holiday for crying out loud! See you this weekend...

Flinchy's - 4/22/06 - Camp Hill, PA

This was a last minute fill-in gig. Flinchy needed somebody to play a solo acoustic set on Saturday and since the band was off I was more than happy to oblige. It wasn't as packed as we would've hoped for a Saturday, probably due to the rain and the fact that everyone was saving their strength for Flinchy's birthday next weekend (which I will sadly miss).

Everyone who was there was very friendly and we had a good time. It was nice to play the Flinchy's song again with Flinchy himself backing me up. So many good and crazy memories at that bar. My friend Leslie also came out and it was good to see her and talk with her for a while about life, booze, and of course MySpace.

I now recall an interesting and somewhat comforting thing that happened while I was setting up. A young lady was sitting at the front of the bar drinking and getting tipsy and started having one of those stream of consciousness conversations about life that usually only occur really late at night or with the help of alcohol (or both). As I set-up and was overhearing her conversation, she voiced something that had been a deep personal thought and anxiety of mine for years. It was kind of a profound and solacing moment for me. Like wow, we really are so much alike in this world and share a lot of the same fears and contemplations. I couldn't help but smile to myself for a little bit thinking about it.

This weekend The FLB will be playing The Ott House in Emmitsburg both Friday and Saturday nights. We have been building our repertoire, so both shows should be equally stimulating. Our last show at The Ott House was great and we were really happy to be asked back. Nothing like partying with family, fans, friends, college folks, emergency workers in training, and the country folk of Frederick County all under the same roof. Let the good times roll!

Bushwaller's - 4/21/06 - Frederick, MD

I have to admit, this one had me worried for a little while. First off, our load-in totally blew. The rain was relentless and the side alley where we load our stuff into the back of the club was like a lagoon. By the time we had all our gear in we were soaked, with the exception of Boy Scout Ken Deater who had intelligently worn a gore-tex jacket.

The pouring rain and the fact that our friends at The Bush forgot to hang up the posters I gave them (weeks ago!) initially seemed to cast a bad omen on the night. Things started off pretty slow and we were getting nervous. All of our shows at Bushwaller's have been pretty wild and very well attended, so I had been fearing an "off night." I even got a little down when early in the show they threw out a guy who was "woo"-ing and dancing because he was apparently too drunk. (Yeah, he was. But he was a nice dude who wasn't causing any trouble. We enjoyed his company and were sad to see him go.)

BUT.....once again Bushwaller's and our Frederick fans came through! As we got into our second set, people started filling in and before we knew it the place was packed again. Our now trusty "Hot Bus" pulled up once more and the scenery from the stage was wonderful (check out the photos on the Freddie Long Band website). Whew! I now consider our earlier anxieties nothing more than a rain delay.

A lot of memorable moments at this show. Let me share the first that comes to mind: At an early part of the show a nice young lady came on stage to dance with the band. I made a comment on the mic about our lovely stage dancer and an older, more serious lady in front of me yelled, "Hey! That's my daughter!" So I said what I think anyone would have said in that situation: "Then let's make it a family affair!" Next thing you know we had a mother-daughter team getting down on stage with The FLB. Check that one off the career goals list.

As the place filled up, we had more and more stage dancers and the crowd reached a fever pitch. I even stood up while playing "Jump" so that I could partner up. Man, this crowd could rock! I dropped out and they sang the chorus to "Hard To Handle" like a mob of pros. Simply awesome. I talked to a lot of folks on a break and many of them said that they had seen us play before and had fun so they came back for another dose. It's so hard to tell sometimes if people are getting hip to the band at all, so hearing things like that really made me feel good about what we're doing.

It was Ken's birthday (and Chris' birthday last weekend) so we were glad that people came out for the celebration. Ken received a lot of liquid gifts from fans and friends and had a great birthday show. I actually received my share of gifts as well--and it wasn't even my birthday!

In fact, the whole show seemed to be unofficially sponsored by Crown Royale. This really nice group of girls who had seen us at Bushwaller's last month decided to buy the whole band not one, but two rounds of Crown. Since Frederick Co. liquor laws prohibit groups from drinking while on stage (where should we hold the rally to defeat that horrible piece of killjoy legislation?), we had quite a horde of alcoholic tidings to drink on our break. Even Chris stepped off the wagon to have a few. A big crunkin' "thank you" to all the generous folks who bought drinks.

After the show we were amped and a very kind group of ladies invited our entourage back for some cards and beer at their apartment down the street. We hung out there for a while and eventually I crashed on a sofa at a friends house a couple blocks down to sleep off the good times before driving home. (Party hard, but you gotta be responsible. My friend's dad always used to say, "If you can't be good, be careful.")

Thanks to everyone for another memorable show at Bushwaller's. It wouldn't be the same without you all, I hope you realize that. Keep coming out and we'll keep having fun. See you soon...

Rock Bottom Bethesda - 4/14/06 - Bethesda, MD

Strange crowd tonight, a lot of these folks seemed stiff as a board. Maybe everyone was uptight about seeing relatives over the holiday weekend. I brought my piano to add to the acoustic full band this time, so maybe they just didn't know how to handle it all. Whatever it was, it certainly threw us off a few times.

Despite the crowd's overwhelming starch factor, we had quite a few friends/fans come out to help break the tension. Big thanks to all of them. Chris Babb was home from school on vacation and came out to the show and ended up sitting in on an impromptu version of "Crash." I also got a chance to talk some with Adam Lee, a great guitar player and a friend of mine who I played a lot of music with in high school. I hadn't seen him in years.

After the show, a couple of very sweet girls humored Babb and I and invited us back to their house in D.C. for some late night coffee and conversation. Eventually I had to leave our pow-wow around 4:30 AM so that I could drive to Richmond to meet up with some friends and go to the Strawberry Hill Races in the morning (sleep? I'll catch up with it later).

Babb and I had followed our friends to their house, so we had absolutely no idea where we were. The girls gave me directions to the highway that were great as far as navigation goes, but not-so-great as far as where I shouldn't be driving at 5 in the morning in D.C. Apparently 14th street is not really the best place to cruise during the early hours of the morn.

After driving through some really shady blocks, running a red light out of confusion and fear, and throwing up a few prayers for my safety, I thankfully found myself driving right next to the Capitol building, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial. All were a sight for sore eyes and looked wonderfully lighted in the light. I turned the Meat Loaf back up and headed for Richmond...

The Crossing at Casey Jones - 4/11/06 - La Plata, MD

Tonight at The Crossing was pretty much the same as all of the previous nights. Beltway traffic, drive-thru liquor stores, and a small, sleepy Tuesday night crowd.

There was, however, a nice couple who sat and listened to me play and actually requested that I play some more Edwin McCain tunes. Edwin McCain is one of my favorite artists and one of my biggest musical influences, so I was more than happy to try and do some of his tunes justice for some fellow fans.

There were some others that sat and listened and I got a chance to talk briefly with a few folks. Jimmy, one of the bartenders who is usually there when I play, was off tonight so I met and talked with a few of the "new" guys working. Not a bad night...for a Tuesday.

Bentz Street Sports Bar - 4/9/06 - Frederick, MD

The Bentz Street Sports Bar used to be called the Bentz Street Raw Bar until about a year ago. I had played at an open mic at the Raw Bar with Chris Babb years ago. The place was pretty sizable, but always had that roadside dive kind of vibe.

Since the place changed owners, it has undergone some major changes. The new guys really jazzed the place up and gave it more of the "sports bar" vibe. I thought the decor was much better. Plus they have a great stage, which we all loved.

Despite the fact that a rumor was going around that Market Street was dead, we seemed to have a really good crowd in the place. Like I said, the place is pretty big, but things really picked up in the middle of the show and the room filled out. Lots of family, friends, and fans to which we always owe our eternal thanks.

A few college friends from LVC (who were now living in the DC area) came out to the show and it was great to see them. They had not had a chance to see me play since I graduated from school, so it was fun showing them the new group and what I've been up to since we all got our really expensive pieces of paper.

Overall, a good gig. We finished out the night with some grub and tall tales at the Frederick IHOP. Until next time...

Shooter McGee's - 4/5/06 - Alexandria, VA

A solo acoustic show, this gig was a first timer at the venue. Shooter McGee's is what my agents call a "menu venue," which pretty much means a restaurant/bar in a strip mall that has live music on certain nights. You set up in your little corner of the bar and play for the folks that are into it. Many times it's almost more of an atmosphere thing than a "show."

While setting up and loading-in my stuff at the gig, I couldn't help but think that it's kind of cool that I get to roam around in the Blue Dragon like a nomad. I get to experience and explore these new places, set up shop somewhere, and then pack it all up until the next place. Sure, a lot of these gigs are far from glamorous, but I try to always remind myself that I get paid to travel around and sing and strum on a piece of wood. Good stuff.

Tuesday nights are always tough. Not many folks go out during the beginning of the work week. However, I did meet and talk with some friendly folks including a lady named Donna and her posse. Plus, the Maryland girls basketball team won the national championship while I was playing, so people were happy about that. Eventually the place cleared out and the manager kindly let me pack up early.

Ri Ra - 4/1/06 - Bethesda, MD

Rock Bottom in Bethesda has always been a good scene for us, so I was looking forward to playing another venue in this town. Unfortunately, I think the usual flow got kind of tweaked out because of the George Mason game and consequently things were a little slow.

Ri Ra is an Irish pub and I liked the vibe of the venue. It was a smaller room and a little on the quiet side, but there were a decent amount of folks that came in and hung out and listened for a while. Overall it was a somewhat uneventful night, although I did get a chance to meet some lovely ladies who hung with us to the end. Thanks go to Sarah (sp?), Lindsay (sp?), and Kate (I think I got that one) for listening and dancing--you all were a lot of fun and really cool to talk to. Also, thanks go out to our friends and family that came, as well as a lovely girl who had seen us at Charles Town last week and came out to the Ri Ra show (she is featured in the FLB-Hinds, Week of 3-20-06).

We're really going to start hammering out our first CD in the coming months, so the calendar will be a little less full than it has been. No worries--there will still be plenty of opportunities to come out to a show. We'll keep you up to speed. See you at the shows.

Extra Virgin - 3/31/06 - Arlington, VA

First off, let the reader know that Chris and I actually had to dress up for this gig (this was just an acoustic duo show). I was rocking the khakis, a nice black button up shirt, and some wingtips. Not my typical show attire. That being said, this was probably one of the more upscale places I had ever played. Extra Virgin is a very nice Italian restaurant--there was a waterfall in the window and lots of very cool decor.

One of the nice things about this gig was that a PA was provided. For all of you audio-savvy people, the PA was one of the new Bose pole systems, which I had never used before. Not bad. Plus, the way they had it set up we were piped into the house speaker system throughout the restaurant, including the outdoor patio area. Our action was blasted into the streets of Arlington, and people on the outside of the windows we were sitting next to could hear us. So, it was almost like a weird, one-way intercom system. Chris and I sat on our stools and jammed, and it was very "chill."

At the beginning of the gig I asked for some water and the nice guy who was helping us (Jason) came back and handed me some liquid in what looked like a shampoo bottle or a small time capsule. I had never seen water come in this sort of a container and am almost positive it was the most expensive water that has ever touched my lips. I savored every drop and kept the container. Check it out:

Another note about this particular gig: the large majority of the patrons seemed to be in very good shape. Especially some of the older women. I saw some women in their 40s who had looks that some folks in their 20s and 30s long for. Not a bad scene at all.

The gig went well and after the dinner crowd dispersed, people were ready to party. Folks were dancing, and those who stuck around with us in the bar area seemed to be having a good time. I really enjoy playing with Chris--I think you could sit us anywhere and we'd be having laughs and a good time.

As we were wrapping things up, one of our new fans (Karen) came up and confessed that it wasn't her birthday--after we had announced it several times, sung "Happy Birthday" to her, and after she had undoubtedly collected at least a few free drinks. What a gal, she was fun (and audacious). Her and her friend Maria stuck around and talked with us after the gig as we were packing up. Here's Bell in the money shot:

Maria needed a ride home and since we were packing light tonight with no PA, we were happy to oblige. She lived somewhere off the beltway on the way home, so it was all good. Nice girl. Good night.

A Horse's Ass

From now on, whoever says the FLB ain't worth a horse's ass is just plain lying. We're worth at least two...

Charles Town Races and Slots - 3/25/06 - Charles Town, WV

Man did we need this one after Thursday and Friday's bummers. This was a great gig that gave us the lift we needed after the weekend's earlier disasters.

For those of you not familiar with this venue, Charles Town Races and Slots is a large casino in WV with lots of slot machines and a horse racing facility. My mind staggers at trying to imagine the amounts of money that flow in and at out of that place. It was Saturday night and the place was pretty packed.

In the middle of the casino is a very sizable stage, which is above and behind one of the casino bars. Behind us on the stage was also a giant Megatron TV screen which broadcast our rocking for those to see from afar in the casino. It was like we were U2 or something! Ahh, the Vegas of West Virginia. Check it out:

Just look at those scantilly clad statues! It's amazing we were able to focus. I remember Randy made some comment about climbing one of them and playing a song sitting on its chest. More photos are on the website. (No, none of Randy sitting on the statues.)

We also had a little backstage room to hang out in between sets and got to see some of the inner catacombs of CT. It was interesting to see some of the behind the scenes interactions between the staff members--security, drink waitresses, bartenders. It was almost like a separate society. The first few songs were a little rough out of the gate because we were still adjusting the sound at that point. Our soundguy, Brian, had actually worked with some big national acts (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, etc.) and was really cool to work and talk with. Had some great stories. Brian was also running the lights and the video cameras. A man of many talents.

Some pretty sizable crowds gathered during our sets, and everyone was having a blast. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to have folks on stage with us, but this one lady kept yelling that she wanted to come up. I tried to explain to her that we were legally not allowed to have her up there, but I'm not sure she got it--even after we gave her a tambourine and let her jam from the crowd. Some guy suggested we just hire her on the spot for $1 to circumvent the legalities, an idea I liked and thought was creative. I'm not sure it would've gone over well with the management, though. But I was all for it...

All around, a great gig. I thought we did very well and I hope that we'll be asked back. They'll be making a DVD of the performance and giving it to us soon, so hopefully I'll be able to post some clips eventually. Photos will be up soon as well.

Eclipse Nite Club - 3/24/06 - Hagerstown, MD

Well, I'm not going to sugar-coat this one. This gig was a total buzzkill. Nothing is more depressing than playing in a big empty club...

Eclipse is a fairly large nite club in Hagerstown that is known for their dance club nights on Saturdays. Personally, I think the place has great potential to be an awesome place to see bands (big stage, big dance floor, cool atmosphere, etc.), but it's location is off the beaten path and it just hasn't caught on all the way yet. That, in combination with the fact that the FLB hasn't been around that long, led to an attendance disaster. We played a great show--to very few people. It was one of those nights that really left me questioning my existence and what the hell exactly I think I'm doing.

Thanks go out to the groups of parents, friends, and fans that checked out the show and stuck it out. You guys are hardcore. It was also nice to meet and talk with a few new believers who caught the sets and stuck around.

I was proud of that fact that we were able to set up and run an entirely new PA system that we basically took out of the boxes before the show. Since we have started to play some bigger venues, we decided to invest in some new, more powerful PA equipment. We didn't have a chance to try it out before this gig, and were basically flying by the seats of our pants during set-up and soundcheck. When all was said and done, it worked quite well.

Time re-evaluate the game plan...

McGrath's - 3/23/06 - Harrisburg, PA

Not much to say about this one. This is the first time the full acoustic FLB has appeared at McGrath's. The performance went well but it was a slow, uneventful Thursday night at the pub.

We took the opportunity to screw around with the arrangements of a few songs. We played a swing/reggae version of "Hey Jealousy" and a country/bluegrass version of "Here I Go Again." It was fun to dork some of the tunes out.

Like I said, not much to this one...

Bushwaller's - 3/18/06 - Frederick, MD

OH MY. This gig was like a dream. Bushwaller's has become one of our favorite venues to play with consistent good turnouts. I was worried that folks would be winded from St. Patty's Day on Friday, but it turns out my worries were totally unfounded. What a show!

The place was full during the entire show and just progressively got more and more crazy. At one point about halfway through the show I saw in the distance that the windows in the very front of the place were totally fogged up from all of the heat and bodies. I was sweating like a whore in church. It was awesome.

There was a specific breaking point for the gig where things just went over the edge and into "out of control" status. I remember it vividly. We had just finished playing a song, and I went to call out the next tune and switch from guitar to piano. As I sat down at the piano and looked up at the crowd, there in front of me was a wall of unbelievably attractive girls that seemed to appear out of nowhere. I made a lame joke asking if "the Hot Bus" had just pulled up at Bushwaller's and in my mind I wondered if maybe I had fainted on stage and had mercifully been taken to this promised land.

For the next hour or two we were all in rock heaven. I gave my friend Mitch (who, in case I haven't mentioned before, is one of my closest friends and was my partner-in-crime throughout college) the job of "party liaison," so he was giving out beads and getting everyone riled up. There were some gorgeous Australian girls (with a guy who looked exactly like David Bowie, it was uncanny) who eventually came on stage and danced with us. One was wearing the shortest skirt I had ever seen and Chris even let her wear one of his guitars (wouldn't' you? See pictures on the website). Other girls came on and off stage, and eventually one of the Bushwaller's employees had to ask girls to leave the stage because of laws and safety issues that I will curse for the rest of my life.

Not about to let that stand in our way, Randy and I decided to walk into the crowd to dance with people and play our instruments. I even played one song on guitar that I usually play on piano, specifically so that I could become mobile. Shots were flying around, attractive girls were everywhere, and we were playing, singing, and jumping around like wild animals that had escaped from some kind of illegal rock and roll experiment. If only some of my ex-girlfriends could have seen me...

Earlier while I was playing piano, there was this girl in a green shirt who I think I could've married right on the spot. She was absolutely the most adorable thing I had ever seen. Very petite and elegantly pretty, she looked like she was probably the sweetest girl in the world. I just wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home with me. Her name was Kathleen. I hope she listens to the CD...

I got to talk with a lot of very cool people during breaks and after the show. I also had some friends drive all the way from Richmond, VA, to come see us play. As always, many thanks for everyone's support. The shows wouldn't be half as wild and fun without all of the awesome people we get to share them with.

Thanks to my friend Chris who came from PA to see the show for taking some great shots. I highly recommend visually supplementing this entry by viewing the pictures on the website. Here's what I mean:



A pretty high-profile week of gigs coming up for the FLB. An acoustic full band show at McGrath's in Harrisburg on Thursday, and then a show at the Eclipse Nite Club in Hagerstown on Friday. I visited Eclipse a couple of weeks ago and the place is awesome. Huge club with a big stage and an exciting ambiance. A great rock environment. Our friends from 106.9 The Eagle will also be at Eclipse and the FLB will be giving away t-shirts, CDs, and stickers. You can't miss it!

On Saturday, we'll be playing at Charles Town Races and Slots in Charles Town, WV. This place is a casino with slots and horse racing and has a big stage right in the middle of everything. The Vegas of West Virginia! My mother loves to gamble at Charles Town and is going to be on top of the world. She won't know what to do with herself--when/where else can you drink, smoke, gamble, and watch the FLB all at the same time?! There's also this giant multi-panel GinormoTron TV screen behind the stage where they film the band and eventually give us a DVD of the show. Another one you can't miss. See you soon...

Flinchy's - 3/17/06 - Camp Hill, PA

Ahh, St. Patty's Day. Kind of strange that there's a holiday almost specifically observed for drinking heavily, at least that's what it seems like it has become. Ain't that America...

Tonight was our friend Christy's last night in the area with us before she moved back to Memphis for a new job. She has supported us and come to countless shows since the beginning of the FLB, so I hope we were able to send her off properly. We're going to miss the hell outa her, but we know she'll come back soon.

Flinchy's was pretty packed when I got there, but there was some funkiness that sort of prevented the gig from being as wild as I thought it could have been. The dinner crowd ran late, so the FLB didn't get a chance to set up and start playing until about 10:30 P.M. Plus, when we did start playing, there were folks that decided to sit at tables right in front of the band--tables we usually move for a dancing area.

Flinchy was very hospitable and we imbibed our share of Irish spirits. There were certianly a few Guinness-sponsored versions of a couple tunes. We played "Vertigo" by U2 in honor of the holiday and also broke out a never-played-before version of "Werewolves In London." I thought it rocked.

As a surprise, I also broke out my bagpipes in their first ever public performance. I started learning how to play the pipes about two years ago and have been dying to give them a shot live. Flinchy's had calmed down some at this point (since many had been drinking all day), so I thought it was a good place for a test run. We played a very impromptu and rough version of "It's A Long Way To The Top" by AC/DC, which has a pretty good bagpipe part. My friend Mitch sang vocals on the tune and I think he scared the begeezus out of everyone. Good times...

After the gig, Mitch and I and a couple friends stuck around until close. We ended up at the Camp Hill Diner very late and went back to crash at Flinchy's place. I think it was around 5AM when we finally made it to bed.

Please turn to Side 2 of St. Patty's Day Weekend '06...

Griff's Landing (Part II) - 3/11/06 - Frederick, MD

Another lovely, warm evening in Frederick. By far the better crowd of the weekend. Lots of people out at the gig, although they did seem a little stiff. A lot of them eventually came around and got on the dance floor, but it was no easy struggle. Always a battle worth fighting, though.

Many friends, fans, and family were out at this one and it was great to see each and every one of them. It's kind of like having one big family out there. A nice feeling.

Early in the gig, Ken's beer was taken from his hand mid-set because of a really ridiculous Frederick City rule that prohibits musicians from drinking on stage. I guess Motley Crue won't be playing the Weinberg anytime soon. We had never had a problem doing so before, but the Wyatt Earp of liquor commissioners was out busting heads on Saturday and caught us red-handed. I think he probably just needed a drink himself. Poor guy.

Chris sang Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" for the first time with the full FLB and brought the house down. Chris is incredibly humble person and made a comment about "feeling naked," but he has a great voice and everyone absolutely loved it--couples were dancing and love was in the air. Definitely regular rotation material. We also played a never-rehearsed version of "Margaritaville" for some Buffet fans that needed their fix.

I will be posting pictures from the show(s) soon. It just hasn't made sense to spend hours on the computer with the weather being what it has been. This weekend is St. Patty's Day weekend and will be absolutely out of control since the alco-holiday is on a Friday this year. I suggest taking out a bigger insurance policy and wearing flame retardant clothing. I might even break out the bagpipes...

Griff's Landing (Part I) - 3/10/06 - Frederick, MD

A really nice evening in Frederick. Friday night and the weather was clear with temperatures in the 70s. Seemed like a lot of people were out and about.

Oddly enough, the night started out a little slow. Perhaps folks were still recovering from the work week (or Thursday night) and decided to come out later. Whatever the case, things picked up for the second half of the gig. We played quite a few new tunes that we had rehearsed, some going over better than others. "Brian Wilson," "I Want You Back," and "Mr. Jones" were definitely winners.

I got a chance to meet some new people and ended up singing a duet with a woman named Barbara who had come to several FLB gigs and had amazingly seen me play years ago with Chris Babb in downtown Frederick at a place called the Tyler Spite House. I remember the gig: Chris and I played on a balcony for no more than 10 people facing some very lovely lighted gardens hidden away in downtown Frederick. For our duet, Barbara and I traded lines on "Give Me One Reason." She had a great voice and totally killed.

One of the perks of full weekend gigs: leaving your gear at the venue and just driving up and turning on for the next night.

Flinchy's - 3/8/06 - Camp Hill, PA

A cool night at Flinchy's. A few LVC friends came down, Dan and Mike (who was wearing his Freddie Long t-shirt). Very cool of them to come and listen and it was great to just sit and talk with them about life. Quite a few musicians in the house, too. Chuck from No Shame (playing at Flinchy's this Saturday night) was hangin out and it was good to see him..

Shea Quinn from The Sharks and the Luv Gods also showed up at the bar later in the night. I had never actually met or heard of Shea or the Sharks before (although he looked familiar--the guy just looks like a rockstar), but after talking with him and Chuck I was extremely impressed. The Sharks had been pretty huge in the 80s and were on a major label (Elecktra), winning contests and having several videos on MTV. Shea also has a publishing contract for songwriting and has played with and written for Jeffrey Gaines. Man, this guy has been living the dream! I gave Shea an FLB demo CD and hoped he would listen to it and give me his professional opinion. Pretty damn cool.

I hung around til close talking with Flinchy and eventually hit the road back to MD at 3 AM. I stopped at the Sunoco in Camp Hill to gas up and bought 24 solid ounces of this new "Hyper Bean" coffee, which I'm pretty sure was able to circumvent the FDA before distribution. It was advertised as having twice the regular caffeine content of coffee, and judging from my incessant head bobbing, foot tapping, and over-the-top vocal performances in the car, the coffee lived up to the hype. Give it a try sometime.

St. Patty's Day at Flinchy's is going to be insane, I can't wait. Lucky the Leprechaun will be serving up the green beer all day and the FLB will be tearing the joint a new one. Come join us for everyone's favorite "alco-holiday." Car bombs? This could get messy...

This weekend we'll be at Griff's Landing in Frederick. It's going to be 70 degrees all weekend, so come out and enjoy the weather downtown. We'll see you there...

The Crossing at Casey Jones - 3/7/06 - La Plata, MD

What initially seemed to be another regular night at The Crossing was pleasantly varied after talking with a fellow musician during my first set. His name was Matt Stratford, a guitar player and a singer from the area. Matt told me that he plays at The Crossing and makes his living in the music biz, both playing and teaching.

Matt was an incredibly nice guy and I let him play quite a few tunes during my break, both of us hoping he'd impress his girl and get some action. Then during the last set we played some tunes together since I had two guitars with me. It was a great change of pace from the usual Crossing gigs and it was cool to meet and talk with Matt.

Tonight is a Flinchy's Kind of Night...

Rock Bottom Bethesda - 3/4/06 - Bethesda, MD

This Bethesda gig was the perfect remedy to an otherwise so-so weekend. Lifted my spirits right up. Always lots of young and good-looking people out in Bethesda, and this night was no exception.

This was our first "acoustic full band" gig as I had mentioned in my last post, and it was a blast! Ken had a very scaled-down drum kit along with some bongos and other smaller percussion, and I played quite a few "piano tunes" on acoustic guitar. A lot of cool acoustic renditions of songs we normally do, which gave the tunes a different feel and was very refreshing. I even found myself thinking, "maybe we should just become an acoustic band," but I/we like to rock out too much to give up our amp stacks and electric instruments. It gives you a idea of how much we dug the acoustic vibe, though.

We busted out a few never-rehearsed, never-played-before tunes, mostly requests that we tried to honor, including "Babylon," "Mr. Jones," and "Collide." We also played an acoustic guitar version of one of our own piano tunes, "Blanket," which gave the tune a really cool new feel. For me the highlight of the night was playing "Jump"--on acoustic guitars! I'm not sure that's ever been attempted in the history of the song. It killed, man!

Thanks to our man Rich for yelling at us the whole night and getting folks into the show, and for just generally being "that guy." You know what I mean. I met a lot of friendly people at the gig who said some nice things about the band. Thanks for listening. Probably one of the best crowds we've had in Bethesda to date.

Near the end of the show we were told that it was someone's birthday. The birthday girl, Amy, looked fantastic for the 37 years of life she claimed to have under her belt. She busted out some mad tambourine action and even helped me sing part of "Country Roads." After the gig we were talking to her and found our she lived 3 blocks down the street. So, amped up from the show we decided that we could continue the birthday party at Amy's place after we loaded-out. Amy claimed she had plenty of beer in the fridge, so we were all set. I took her number and told her we'd call.

After we packed up and went to get a bite at a local diner, I went to call Amy to solidify plans when I realized that I only saved 9 of the 10 numbers she gave me to call her. Sweet irony! Honestly, who does that? Man, I totally blew it. Chris said I ruined her birthday, but based on her jovial demeanor during the gig I'd say her birthday was already one for the books. No worries. We had some diner food and some good conversation and I made it back home around 4:30am. It was a good night.