A fine way to spend a weekend

 

A Block Party Day with Chillin and Grillin!

So the Poochamungas rocked the weekend away.  First we headed out to Frankfort on Saturday for “Chillin and Grillin for a Cure“.  The event is to raise money in efforts to defeat cystic fibrosis.  This is our second time playing the event and we brought a full band this time around (last year a three piece).  Well we had a good time, worked a new song into the set, played Train Rolls on twice at my daughters request and folks seemed to really dig the music.  In events like this not a lot of folks are dancing up by the band.  Kids are in the jumpy, riding scooters, bikes and big wheels, getting face painted and visiting the firetruck (they got a Tower Ladder this year).  But kids kept visiting the driveway we we’re playing and lot’s of heads boppin in the crowd is a good sign.  We took care of all public service announcements and even got to introduce the contestants in the rib competition (Alton rocked the organ intro!)  The folks that organize this do an amazing job.  Erin and Jim Burns along with their family, friends and  neighbors really make this a great event. I hope we raised lots of money and I hope they invite us again next year!

Poochamungas at Wonder Works in Oak Park, IL

Next we headed over to Oak Park on Sunday as part of the Parties for Pillars series.  We are one of many fundraising events that they are hosting this month. Wonder Works Children’s Museum in Oak Park hosted our concert and what a fun space they have.  Lots of interactive exhibits for your kids to have fun and learn at the same time (double win!)  Well we had a really fun and interactive set.  The energy of the crowd was great and everyone had a good time.  After the show people attendees got to use the museums facilities for another hour. Way cool.  We also sold 4 CD’s and split the profit with Pillars.  Some might laugh but 4 CD sales at a show is pretty good.  10 is amazing but 4 is good indeed!  Many thanks to Michelle Halm for inviting us to play and to the Pillars organization and Wonder Works Children’s Museum.  We had a great time! Thanks for having us!

Photos and Summer Gig Schedule

Today we not only have a rehearsal we also have to take photos for the upcoming CD release.  Not my favorite thing to do but necessary to promote the materials.  I have hired a professional photographer instead of the usual DIY photos we usually use.  So today he’s gonna take pics during rehearsal and then after as well.  I hope to get some good stuff given he’s taking photos of me… But I digress.  The big day is only 3 months away and lots to do before the “Official Release.”  No worries.

We have six great shows this summer.  Make sure you come on out and enjoy one of our live gigs.   We venture out of state a couple of times as well.  Like us on Facebook and keep up with our travels and gigs.

Kindiefest! Days 2-4

Johnny Bregar and Danny Adamson

Bill Childs got his swag bag.

After a full night the day before I awoke at 7am looking at the ceiling.  No kids, no place to be till 10am and I awake at 7am!!!  I was not happy.  So I headed down to the lobby for breakfast that is offered by the hotel.   One of the better continental breakfasts I have ever seen. Not just scrambled eggs and sausage but make your own waffles and fresh Brooklyn bagels!!! So after a low carb breakfast of eggs, sausage, a couple of potatoes and water. I headed over to the treadmill to continue working on #alittlelessfat.  While the competition is over the battle is not yet won (I have a ways to go.)   So after 25 minutes on the hamster wheel, a trip to the new man machine I was off to kindiefest.  Arriving at BAM I realized what I had left in Chicago.  My kindiefest badge.  So after registering and getting a replacement my 3rd kindiefest was officially started!  I could go into the different panels I saw and didn’t see.  Or how I missed the Lion and the Bear during showcase because I forgot my wallet back at the hotel (a very big moment of panic).  The was also the feet so sore syndrome affecting many after hours of standing, talking, walking and laughing.  But mostly I came away with two things.  One was “find your own Mississippi River.”  Molly Ledford said this in a panel referring to the Okee Dokee Brothers Grammy winning album Can you Canoe? (we loved it too!)  Stefan Shepard talks about this in his blog better than I can.  Go read it here.   The other thing that I got was MAKE GREAT MUSIC.  This was repeated during a few panels and ties in with “find your own Mississippi River.”   The music has to inspire you before it inspires others.  Which is what I imagine most of us artists try to do.  I use my kids and my childhood to write my music.  This was mentioned on a few panels.  My motto for the band has become Good Music Knows No Age.  I don’t try to write age or kids specific songs.  I try to write good songs and hope kids like them.  Since I have two kids I tend to write about things they are interested or things from my childhood they can relate to.  So I could ramble on about all the great people I got to talk too, drinks shared, empanadas eaten and weary, weary feet.  I will not.  I will thank Melissa Levis and Bridget Rymer for sharing their piece of wall with me Friday night as I sat and rested weary feet.  A very enlightened conversation.

David Wax Museum were amazing!

The David Wax Museum for playing music that made me say wow during Sundays festival and the kindie community at large.  I know it goes without saying but the biggest fans of the kindie music are the artists themselves!  It is the generosity of others , their input and help and  makes it possible for me to do what I do.  So thanks to Bill. Tor, Mona and Stephanie for holding another festival.  The next post I will review some of the CD’s I garnered at the festival!

Stefan, a hidden Johnny,Jack and Ralph at the Empanadas truck for lunch.

Pre-Kindiefest – Day 1- 2013

Flying in on a beautiful NYC morning

My feet are finally feeling better.  Another whirlwind weekend in Brooklyn, NY will do that to them.  Walking to and from the hotel to venue (.6 miles) and talking to people while standing and more standing and talking and listening and standing and eating and standing.  Long day on the feet will do that to you.  But while you’re having fun you tend not to notice.  And fun I had!

Early morning transportation

Day one had nothing to do with the Kindiefest event except for checking in.  It started with me waking up at 4am to catch my 6:45am flight.  I grabbed a cab and off to O’Hare Airport.  After a quick, no frills, flight where we waited an extra ten minutes on the runway because of the sequester we headed off to NYC.  We then arrived ten minutes earlier than scheduled.  Moving fast were we.  I must say that air travel wise it was the easiest I have ever flown and I checked a bag both ways. (La Guardia Sunday night was 10 minutes from curb to gate, checked bag included!)  Upon arriving I called my friend and fellow Northeastern Illinois Alum Jennifer Tuttle (amazing actress and now college professor) who picked me up then off her place in Astoria.  I then met her husband Kip and we discussed making a Poochamungas video as he is a professional film director, editor, etc.  Very cool guy.  I am looking to working with him sometime this summer (as long as the planets align and our schedules allow).

Great guys in great hats who make great music and me!

Recording at KPL

Steve Songs, Kenny Curtis and Dean Jones.

We then had a great lunch at a Queens diner and then she dropped me at my hotel.  I had enough time to clean up, change my shoes, hook up with Jeff Bogle (Out With The Kids) and Dave (Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl) Loftin and take a subway to Manhattan  and Sirius/XM headquarters.  We were invited to the live taping of a future show involving many of my favorite kindie bands doing songs of other Kindie Bands.  (Mindy Thomas had an inspired idea for  show and talks about it here ).   I also handed out the first copies of the Poochamungas new CD Block Party!    In the building was a who’s who of kindie artists.  Recess Monkey, Lunch Money, Tim and the Space Cadets, Mista Cookie Jar, Charlie Hope, Sugar Free All Stars, The Pop-Ups, Dog on Fleas, Steve Songs, Okee Dokee Brothers, The Not-Its and Brady Rymer.  I had a great time and even got to sing backup on the big number at the end (Thanks Mindy!)  I’ll  be sure to report here when the show airs on Kids Place Live.

NFL Draft day as well!

After the show I joined Jeff and Dave for a dinner in Manhattan. I had no idea I was within a block of the NFL Draft headquarters as we walked by Radio City Music Hall on our way to meet the McHatton Clan along with Morgan Taylor.  The plan as outlined by the adventurous and technologically advanced Jeff Bogle was to have our paths intersect as we walked toward each other in NYC and the find a suitable eating place as well.  Well part A of the plan worked really well as Jeff and the McHattons did a great job of locating each other (technology is awesome).  Plan B took a bit longer but we finally did find a suitable place to eat for party of 10 as Mista Cookie Jar and the lovely Jenna joined us as well.  While the meal was OK it was great to talk with everyone at the table.  Lots of laughs and good conversation. Morgan explained to me the origin of Gustafer Yellowgold which was very cool ( My sons first concert other than Poochamungas was Gustafer. He’s a fan! You should check out The Underbirds as well.) Then it was back to the Subway and then bed somewhere around 1am after a very long but informational and enjoyable day.  Day two was only 9 hours away!

Kindiefest preview

Sitting in the airport recovering from Kindiefest. Will be writing a full summary this week.  Late nights, panels, great music and many laughs.  And I managed to learn a thing or two…

Mixed and Mastered!!!

My temporary waterfront property!

After such an incredulous week with Boston bombing and the Texas explosion not to mention a flooded Chicago, it’s nice to get some good news and spread it around.  We haven’t cured cancer or found the solution to world peace but rather the Poochamungas have finished our second CD.  We have recorded, tracked, overdubbed, added, subtracted, pondered, changed, mixed and finally mastered our upcoming album BLOCK PARTY!   It will be released in August.  Still a few things to do like Band Photos, Album Art, PR, booking gigs, liner notes, etc, etc, etc.  In other words lots of work to do.  Now it’s one step at a time and trying to put our best foot forward.  I think your going to like the results.  I’ll keep you posted here

Studio time, solo acoustic and Kindiefest

Recording again!

What can I say?  It’s crunch time. We are headed into the studio today, Sunday to finish up Block Party and there is a deadline looming overhead.  I want a finished product to take Kindiefest.  All of the heavy lifting has been done.  The songs are recorded.  Now we need to add vocals, guitars, sax, etc.  The parts that make the song sing! (funny no?)  We have 6 songs completed  and 6 to finish.  Hoping all goes smoothly but things never do.  Then when we finish we need to mix and master it. Most important is to do it right.  While the CD won’t be released till Mid Summer I would like to have preview copies for people at the conference. But only if it’s right.   So Alton, Pete, John and Frank shall be working to finish the CD.  That is the goal we shall see if we can get there. There is excitement in the air!

“Circus Circus” Kids Carnival & Charity Bake Sale

I shall be performing at the “Circus Circus” – Kids Carnival & Charity Bake Sale.  Entry is free and all money raised is going to Share Our Strength’s “No Kid Hungry” campaign.  I shall be performing solo acoustic at 10am and 11:30am.   There will be lots to do with performances by Super Stolie, Mary Macaroni, and storytellers as well.  Check out the link above for more info and be sure to come on out for a good cause Saturday, April 13 from 10am till 3pm.

April 25th-28th. BAM

Kindiefest.    A  wonderful event with really great people and lots of information to learn.  You get out of it what you put in.  People are enthusiastic, nice and occasionally you might learn a thing or two from a panel talk.  Best of all it’s a chance to meet old friends, make new ones and connect with a whole group of people who understand what kindie music is.   On the down side it is not cheap to go to New York and to take the time away from famil  requires a loving wife  (Thank you dear).   So it takes a little doing to go.  But is it worth it?  Well I am promoting a new CD (hopefully finished before I go) and the people who hire and promote what I do are going to be there.  Plus the chance to hear some great bands, talk to fellow professionals and attend  panels talking about how to better do what we do.  So  I think so.   But only time will tell and a lot of that is up to me.  Now excuse me I gotta go finish an Album!

Show afterthoughts and lines

Rockin the Schubas stage!

The show at Schubas went really well.  Really happy with our performance but there are a few things we can tighten up as is always the nature of the thing. I shall discuss what needs fixing with the band this week and get their input as well.   Schubas sound engineer (whose name I had trouble pronouncing so will not attempt to spell here) did a really great job of making us sound rockin’ without overwhelming the younger audience members.  There was a lot of dancing and singing right in front of the stage.  Which bring me to this point. I failed to video tape the show. That’s a problem because the last tape I have is from a couple of years ago and the show has evolved since then.  Someting to remember for the next show.

This is the short line.

 Being the first day of spring break my wife took the day off and we headed off to see the Shedd Aquarium for my kids.  That was till we saw the line into the Shedd.  We audible and went to the Field Museum (we waited inside).  We ended waiting an hour to get in.  Now we got there at 10:30am and the lines continued to grow AFTER we left.  Seems everyone had the same idea today.  Probably because of the lousy weather everyone headed for the indoor activities.  New family rule.  NO museums or aquariums during spring break when it’s cold.  My feet are still sore but my kids were amazing!   My brilliant wife had brought enough snacks and we only got some complaints as leaving cause the son wanted to stay.  Go figure.  Well I did get to see Sue again!

Cute little T-rex!

Show Day!

Schubas!

Today Saturday, March 23rd at 3pm the Poochamungas take the stage at Schubas. We have reformatted the show and added songs from our upcoming CD Block Party.  Stop on by as it’s gonna be epic!

Kindiefest, getting fit and tomorrows show.

Brroklyn Academy of Music

I have talked about  Kindiefest coming up at the of April and how my band failed to get selected for the showcase and about moving forward.  Which is what I am doing.  Still chasing leads and applying for gigs. Still working to complete the new CD .  Still promoting, rehearsing, scheduling, writing and practicing at home.  So I am going to Kindiefest because even though I’m not showcasing, which would have been nice (but expensive to put up the whole band with travel), I still need to spread the music of the Poochamungas.  Plus I get to see some old friends,  make some new ones and learn a thing or two from the panels.  Brooklyn here I come. 

While I am headed off to Kindiefest I offered a challenge and a bet to my friend Jeff Bogle.  We are both looking to get in better shape and I offered a bet on losing weight.   He accepted.  We established that the greatest % of weight lost  from now till the Fest would be the winner.  The loser would be required to wear the T-shirt belonging  to the team they most despise.  Jeff roots for FC Barcelona so he shall have to wear Real Madrid.

I am a White Sox fan so I would have to wear (this is only theoretical since I plan on winning the bet) the dreaded cubs. 

  

I used Jennifer Connely to make the shirt bearable.  The winner supplies said T-shirt.  I’m liking the Real Madrid shirt in pink but the louder the better…  The thing is when your Rolling with the Bogle (see previous entry here), things seem to get bigger.  And the bet did.  He called me out on a blog podcast!  He also invited others to join us in the challenge.    He call it  The Kindie Rock Fitness Challenge.  So I’m all in.  Come join us at #alittlelessfat.  Get in shape, lose some weight and Jeff my friend… It’s on like Donkey Kong!

Schubas!

Last but not least is our show.  We are playing at one of the best venues in Chicago.  The Poochamungas are at Schubas this Saturday, March 23rd at 3pm.  We have some brand new songs, favorite songs and a great new show.  We promise to rock yer socks off and bring loads of silliness as well.  See you there!