NYC, Majestic, and me

Holla y'all,

I haven't blogged for NYC, nor have I been a good boy in terms of droppin words on ya.. so I thought I would catch up with you all quick like tonight.

So the trip to NYC was bitter sweet. Cleveland was kewl because of the fam coming to catch us... Grandma was amazing but I think I said that... Musicians take heed... Wilberts will RIP YOU OFF.

PA was amazing. The people, the place (Local Beat) the jam. Like previous blogs have said... 4 encores... need I say more. I tip my hat and look forward to being back there again.

NYC... What can you say. I really can't say anything. But you know I will :)

The last year or so has been amazing. On many many levels. Fat Todd speaks of the family... Harks speaks of the un-spoken family. I only hope to add to that. With all things considered, this ride for me started with a Moose-A-plooza, a recording session, and a great group of guys. Next time I open my eyes, I'm staring at ground zero, stepping on a stage(s) that I only dream of, and makin music with some of the best song writers, musicians, percussionists around.

Amazed and Humbled... Period.

I know I write alot about my pops, almost to the point of wierd obsession... but if you knew Rabbit when he was around, you know why he plays such a role in my soul these days. He was the last to leave the bar and the first to boo when the band stopped... right next to me for the whole ride... In his dying days he told me to get the fuck out of race cars and start playing music... Which leads me to the ironic and soul clinching twist to NYC. Ryan Sharp got signed up for the open jam, which I was just gonna go play some blues but after talking to Harks he was in... Harks and I debuted a new song.. and rocked Folsom hard. Stuff harp player dreams are made of... 1 guitar and a dumb guy with a harp... Lovin it. Afterward I got the guts up to ask Bryan (guy hosting the jam and one HELLUVA guitar player) if I could jam one song with him... Hell I'm in NYC, this guy rocks the blues licks and I was a touch feelin it :) only other time I asked that of anyone was a time at Tully's II when Dad was still around... wanted to hear Stormy Monday with Cool Front... his fav... and thanks to the Front, he got to hear it. Generally I have 3 rules to my playing. 1) Never assume you are going to play. 2) Never invite yourself up. 3) don't play if you are going to make the band sound like shit... But I digress.. I asked to jam with these guys and they said well likely not going to do little wing but here's a little something. They started rocking and what happened was..... Stormy Monday. Song Done. Somewhere he smiles.

With all this blabber said, and all these useless words, every night every one of us throws our souls to the wind, hopeing that someone catches us, feels us, believes like we do, that you can feel the joy and the pain that comes from our drums, our bass, our guitars, our voices, and our harp... and just for a minute you forget about everything, tomorrow, today, yesterday, and just enjoy the ride.... I know I am... and I'm humbled to be a part of it.... Thanks Shibs

Til next time.....

Mouse

Artists

Pursuing something that is not the norm, something that reaches for a deeper meaning, taking chances, that is what artists do.   Just checked out Mike Droho and the Soundshaker tonight at the High Noon Saloon in Madison...good friends of ours.  And last night we played the Majestic Theatre (which is a sweet place!) with Lucas Cates Band. 

Artists do what they do because it is fulfilling in a way that perhaps nothing else can be.  So on some level, no matter what their deal, there is a connectedness between artists.  That in itself is fulfilling.  I guess no matter what you do in life, the mutual respect and acknowledgement of one anothers pursuits is, in itself, rewarding.

See you at Luckys on Saturday, feb 28th

East to NYC

PA

The Shibs played a new venue in New Cumberland, PA called The Local Beat.  The place and the people are awesome.  It is a place created by artists and musicians for people who really dig the arts scene.  Joe, the owner, is a musician and I think that place will be alive and well when we swing through PA again.  The feel of the show was pretty awesome for us, because everyone was hanging on every note.  Four encores....thanks Joe, Rebbecca, and everyone else at The Local Beat.

NYC

First show was decent, just a bit quiet for a 7pm set.  But Arlene's Grocery is sort of NYC underground, and the whole neighborhood was bustling a couple hours later.  Adrian Grenier, that is the actor from Entourage that was at Arlene's Grocery.  NYC is awesome because it seems like no matter where you are, or what time you are there, there are always people around.  I love cities for that reason; it always feels like you are in the midst of something that is going on.  

I've gotta second Andy on the ground zero stuff.  We didn't even realize where we were staying, then we basically walked right into the fences at ground zero.  Crazy.  Just stood there for a while staring, and thinking it all over.  Not a lot to see at the site, but the gravity of  9/11 sure can be felt.

Kenny's Castaways was an awesome show.  The Shibs had a good set, and then there was an open mic for about 8 hours after.  So, we got to hang out with a lot of people, musicians, and some old friends from Wisconsin.  At about 3am, Mouse and I jumped on stage again to debut a new Shibs tune, and rock some Folsom Prison too.

NYC...we'll be back soon!

1 block AWAY...

This is Andy...in New York City...blogging again for the first time in awhile. I've never been in NYC before, and so far I like it. Lots of big buildings yes...although the Statue of Liberty was smaller than I thought it would be. A lot of traffic and a lot of people in this city. I'll speak little about the gig and a lot about what went down tonight.

Show was cool...it was at Arlene's Grocery...which is a music venue and not a grocery store if you're wondering. We got a live CD...turned out alright...I was stoked to hear the new song "Steady Hands" live. The venue was nice...if only we would've played an hour later than we did...there would've been a hundred more people there. Also, saw an actor from the show Entourage at the show. He's the main actor in the show...Adrian something...his last name escapes me right now. Pretty cool stuff.

OK...enough about the show. We are staying in a hotel a block away from the World Trade Center Site...and a block away from Wall Street. It's actually unreal. I almost started crying tonight when I saw the void there. If you haven't been out here..do it...it's amazing. And when you see where the WTC used to be...you can't help but to think about the one's that you love. I thought about my immediate family right away...Dad, mom, Ryan, Josh, and Jasmine...and especially my best friend and girlfriend Kristy.

I then thought about the band...and to all of you who don't know or don't get it...it's actually like a second family. You spend so much time with these guys...it has to be like a family. So it was nice seeing what I saw tonight with all of them. I think we will go back again tomorrow to see it in the daytime. I love my life at home with my family, but I love experiencing new places and meeting new people everywhere we go. But they are the people who support me most...so they make it possible. Bottom line...I love going to a city I've never been to before, trying to play the best I can in front of people I've never met before, and hoping they like what they hear. That's what I love doing...I actually love it. It's an amazing feeling. Always keeps you out of your comfort zone. I suggest doing something like this yourself...even if it's something completely different from music.

On the road again "to the tune of canned heat"

So short blog session... I'm tired and the rest of the guys are snoozin... well trying to.

Last night was awesome... well umm gig wise awesome but to my band friends... Wilberts is shady... but fam-in-laws were in the house and Grandma was a trooper...

The guys were super cool dealing with me and watching the Chili bowl. I know they are not down with the racing gig... but hey.... they are bomb ash musicians...

Tonight was amazing. People brought a ton of merch, wouldn't let us get off the stage, and for this guy reminded me of why pops said play some music...

Shots to follow, music to follow.. and NYC tomorrow night....

It's all about the ride and we are all still in it....

Stay safe for now....

mouse

Holla

Hey y'all:

Just a quick post before I crash. Packed in 10 minutes... yep... missin half my stuff... but new harps arrived... thank you Harpsandstuff.com Sounds weird but the nicest people you will ever deal with...

Regardless just wanted to send out a notice... the Shibs are back on the road. Blog to be updated, music to be played. Tell your friends... join the kewl kidz... It's time to follow this blog again.

Sleep tight....

Mouse