Mister G’s easy cool (bilingual) groove comes to town… and a song I wish I had written.

One of the coolest things you learn about Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer) is that his learning Spanish was not learned in the family because it was the first language. Nor did he learn for altruistic reasons or it was an easy grade.  No he learned Spanish because his dream was to play music and be a Big League Baseball Player.  He thought it would come in handy while he was playing in the majors to communicate with his Hispanic teammates.  Well the baseball dream didn’t make it past college but he did give the old indie music scene a try and that worked until it didn’t. So he went back to school to get a Masters in Early Childhood education.  Along the way he started writing songs for kids, released a CD and then on his honeymoon in Columbia (he brought the guitar) he had an epiphany about playing for Hispanic Children as well! That Spanish education was about to come in handy. Musically this is a really great sounding CD with simple traditional acoustic sound and amazing percussion choices.  My favorite song is Cuento .  It’s a simple song about a child asking for a story.  Lyrically simple the layers of percussion are really amazing (Kudos to Enguie Castrillo).  They are  focused without being forceful.  The easy guitar rhythm  starts the ride and the percussionist takes you home. It qualifies as a song I wish I had written.  When I asked what the idea behind the acoustic guitar and the different percussion choices Mister G stated that he wanted the CD to be tenable (for live shows) with just his guitar and he was looking for an authentic flavor.  Well I’d say he certainly achieved his goals on this one.  If your lucky enough to to be free this Saturday, November 9th at 11am go to Schubas. I suggest you click the link, buy some tickets and go check him out!!!  Buy a CD as well by clicking on the CD pic.

Tomorrow is the Big CD Release and the reviews are in…

Photo by David Kindler

Tomorrow is Sunday, September 29th the big CD release party day.  So stop on by Schubas at 2pm.  Koo Koo Kanga Roo gets the party started and then the Poochamungas take the stage around 2:45.  It’s gonna be Epic so stop on by!!!

The reviews are in and they’ve been pretty good. From the Sun Times to the blogosphere here are the links to what has been written.  Plus some of the blogs are having a Block Party! CD giveaway!!!

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/22791352-421/story.html

http://www.therockfather.com/musicforkids/kids-music-news/item/1417-kidz-bop-24-for-parents-that-still-dont-like-children-or-music

http://mrjeff2000.blogspot.com/2013/09/fired-up-for-poochamungas-on-block.html

http://airplanesanddragonflies.blogspot.com/2013/09/poochamungas-block-party-childrens.html

http://therempels4.blogspot.com/2013/09/poochamungas-block-party-cd-review.html

http://www.theiemommy.com/2013/09/17/poochamungas-block-party-cd-review-poochamungas/

http://mycraftyzoo.com/2013/09/14/block-party-giveaway-us-ends-1031/

http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/books-and-music/kids-home-library/cool-tunes-to-chill-by.html

http://sweeps4bloggers.com/2013/09/poochamungas-block-party-cd/

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/sep_13.htm#MusicCD

http://philspicks.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/block-party-builds-on-the-success-of-poochamungas-debut-lp/

http://redtri.com/chicago/amp-up-your-summer-must-go-kindie-rock-concerts/

CD Release Party Week

Art by Joe Somers

It’s the Tuesday of CD Release Party Week and it’s an exciting time in Poochamungas HQ.  I wanted to take this day to remember those that have helped the Poochamungas musically on the journey.  I’d like to start with Shawn Clarke who was the original lead singer. He has recently joined the ranks of fatherhood. Congratulations!  Thanks for helping get the Poochamungas party started.  Karen Kestin who was sang with us awhile before she moved away and became a mom.  Jerry Paulson who played slide and banjo on the first CD and was an original member and transcribed many of the tunes into read-ability for the rest of the band. Andy Shoemaker who recorded the first CD and a few other songs along the way.  Frank Rose for his brilliant saxophone work on the first CD as well as this one and his general knowledge of sound for live gigs.  I think his playing on Refrigerator Box is brilliant.  Nancy Rose for her wonderful vocals and amazing artwork.  She’s great on Valentines Day.  To John Abbey for making us sound so doggone good whether recording or playing on a track.  Don for being the reliable Cool Cat he is in a band full of dogs and holding up the bottom. The Izzo Family for providing not one drummer but two.  Original Pooch Joe Izzo and now regular Drummer, Joe’s dad Frank. Thanks for keeping the beat.   Alton Smith who so brilliantly produced the new CD.  He hears the things in the studio that make the songs whole.  Pete Cunningham for helping me start this whole mess to begin with.  Your guitar playing has been essential to the sound we call Poochamungas.  The CD release Party is this Sunday, September 29th at 2pm.  Schubas is hosting and Koo Koo Kanga Roo gets the party started at 2pm!  Stop on by…

Back to the Grind

Photo by David Kindler

The CD is done and now I need to book gigs.  It being the band I started leaves me with the responsibility to book the gigs.  Mind you that with everyone in the bands schedules booking becomes a challenge of its own.  It would  be one thing if we were all young, single and free!  But most of us are married with kids and jobs not to mention that the two fireman in the bad work on different shifts.  That is the challenge of booking shows.  Occasionally some member of the band can’t make it.  If we were a baseball team the regular Poochamungas would be the starters and the fill in guys would be the bench.  Sometimes you have to go to your bench.  Drummers, guitarists, etc.  Sometimes you have to make a few more calls as the bench is busy as well.  But you have to book the gig and the shows must go on.  Sometimes I wish I had a booking agent but I’m told they come with their own set of problems.  So the grind will continue.  For now our next show is our Schubas CD release party on Sunday, September 29th at 2pm with Koo Koo Kangaroo as the opener.  Gonna be a great time so stop on by,.

The CD is here! Dont forget St. Helens Carnival this Sunday!!!

Their New Favorite CD

IT”S HERE. Our new CD has made it’s way to Chicago and is now in my possession.  It was available for pickup on Wednesday as the family was on a Sheboygan vacation and unable to go get it until today.  So I was quite excited to go and pick up the long awaited sequel (around here it is) to Mud, Mommies and Mayhem.  A lot of hard work went into making this fine CD and more is yet to come as we try to spread the word of the Poochamungas.   The release date is set for October 15 and The CD release Party is going to be at Schubas on Sunday,  September 29th at 2pm.  We also may have a very cool announcement on Monday about a possible live TV appearance so stay tuned!

Dont’t forget this Sunday, August 25th at 2pm we are all set to rock the stage at the St. Helens Carnival.  Big rides, great food and superb music all day including us Poochamungas.  Last year the rains came and chased us away so this year we’re looking for blue skies and sunshine!  Come on out.  It’s gonna be Epic!

Progress on the New CD

Art by Joe Somers

The CD is shipping from the replicator today back here to Chicago!  And we have booked a CD release party at Schubas on September 29, 2013.  This is a long time coming.  Nearly 2 years worth of time and energy.  Can’t wait for everyone to get the physical copy in hand!

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!

Rehearse, rehearse, and a Printcopia canvas print giveaway!

So with a new CD mostly finished and a gig just around the corner we have been rehearsing a new show.  We have had up to 8 people on stage and we are limiting this one to 5 for a couple of reasons.  One is it’s easier to coordinate the players and to stay tight with only 5 people.  We now have a show in place and right now smaller is better.  Not that I don’t intend to return to female vocals and sax.    But I think we need to start smaller and work our way up.  I think the band got to big too fast.  My fault.  But I do like the big sound that comes with it!  So we’ll start smaller this time around and then  add as we grow.  The smaller band is tight and sounding good at the moment.  Our show is at Schubas this Saturday, March 23rd at 3pm.  It’s gonna be a good time!

Printcopia canvas prints giveaway!

I usually don’t get involved in raffles or give aways but this one is pretty cool.  A  fellow dad blogger Designer Daddy  (that’s his sons pic at the top) in conjunction with Printcopia is giving away 3  canvas prints you can customize for the walls of your house, music studio (that was supposed to be inside voice) or office.  Just click on the link here and they will give you the details on the sizes you can order.  I was thinking what would I  enlarge pics of my kids, maybe the dog and then it hit me.

My last warm day on a sandy beach in California…  Right?  Or maybe the kids, for my wife, though she might dig the beach as well.  Either way go enter to win today at the link below.  Good luck and print something cool!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/369bde14/