Got A... [Show Recap]

Hey Soul Mates,
We had a really good time last night at the Gig. It was a hellzapoppin' show. Thanks to everyone who braved the forecasted rain. You made the place electric. I hope you will enjoy your holiday ornaments. We ran out, which is a very good thing.

Here's the first photo finished. It was taken just before the set last night. We look kinda sharp. Hit it to enlarge us. There are more photos up on the website. Dunno if the color combo worked like we hoped, but what the hell? You gotta experiment sometime. Any particular hue you'd like to see us in next time? Maybe that will be the poll on the next evite.



We kicked off the set with Talent as the curtain rose. We kept the pulse quick for the first 3 songs. Everything My Heart Desires has become a new favorite it seems. It's been getting a really good response. We pulled out an old cover in honor of the Stones' visit to the Bowl/the Red Cross drive I was involved with. My mic chose that moment to short out, so I got to sing from Bry's side of the stage. We finished the set with Excommunication. Last show, it was out of the set for the first time since writing it. A lot of people did the "X" choreography for the first time in a long time. To end the song, we did our 3 man flying leap and of course, I jarred my bad knee. Never a dull moment. It's not too horrible, icing it as soon as I got in helped.

The club was pleased with our turn-out and, once again, with how great our fans are. Thanks. We also had a very good response from our industry contacts in attendance. That's always a lift. I hope that we'll have some really good news for you in the coming weeks. It's the Holiday season, after all. What a gift that would be.

Here's the set list from last night:
A Talent For Loving
U Had The $
Sucka
Everything My Heart Desires
Everyone's Ingenue
Done Lost My Mind
Miss You (Rolling Stones)
Down By Love
Fall Out
Excommunication

Best of all, we can announce our next performance: Dec 1 at the Gig. This will be a FREE show (just mention us at the door) and it may be televised for cable. And seeing that it's so close to the Architect of Rock & Roll's birthday, a small tribute might be in order.
Love, Power, Peace

Emotional Rescue

Hey Soul Mates,
it's a new day. The volunteering gig at the Stones' concert was a relative success. We collected several thousand dollars for the Red Cross Hurricane Relief drive. Here's the deal: the Rolling Stones recorded a new CD single called Hurricane. We were given CDs and donation buckets. All we have to do is tell people: here's an exclusive new charity single by the Stones, donate what you can; $1, $2, $10 and the disc is yours. That's how my basic, self-prepared spiel went. You wouldn't believe the cool reception we got. At the flipping Stones show!

The band announced that they were collecting donations. They announced that the single would be the "premium" fans would receive in return. I got a lot of angry "I already gave's;" multiple eye-rolls; and "yeah, right's!" Now, we were within the policed perimeter of the venue. How can we be "selling" something that's not genuine? These people were making me mad. And I was shredding my voice for one of the best causes of our day.

Of course, real Stones fans and collectors jumped at us, gladly depositing a couple of bucks in exchange for a real rarity. But the majority of these well-to-do poseurs would have little to do with us. Sad, really. My highlight? Well, I sold a kiss for charity. A young lady walked up to me and said, "I'll make a donation, if you give me a kiss." It was for hurricane relief, why not? So after a moment's hesitation, I gave her one on the cheek and she plopped in the dough. The girls in our group joked that I should have asked for more money from her. Was she cute? I guess, but I couldn't pick her out of a police line-up at this point.

To quote our Commander-in-Chief, it was hard work soliciting donations at the Stones show. They will be doing this at every tour-stop, so best of luck to anyone else who volunteers. It's good juju and an eye-opening experience. Thanks to the Stones for the opportunity to help.

As for my band, we won our second consecutive week on the Next Big Hit. Our vote total was even higher this time! Thanks to everyone who participated in the voting. We are only two victories away from the song being "retired." After A Talent For Loving's run is through, DJ Copperhead will hopefully select a new song from our EP to showcase. Be sure to leave comments on the Forum. That shows other fans that they aren't alone.

IN OUR BIGGEST NEWS THIS WEEKEND: Everyone's Ingenue made its FM radio debut on the Great American Music Hour. The show is broadcast on WRIR-FM in Richmond, VA. Listen to the podcast version of the show now! Just follow the links to the podcast and download or subscribe on iTunes. Be sure to write the DJ and let him know you like the song.

Finally, if you are a Soul Mate on our mailing list and you received the Evite, don't forget to RSVP. Even if you can't make it. And be sure to answer the fun polls on the Evite. We want to know what's on your mind.

Gotta run, the new bass arrives today!
Love, Power, Peace

It's A Beautiful Morning

Hey Soul Mates,
it's Sunday morning. Just chilling with a homemade cup of espresso. Gotta get the motor running. However, I'm hoping to get out jogging in a little while. Managed to do the loop over at Lake Hollywood for the first time in months yesterday. The knee is ready!

The voting on Next Big Hit got close last night and remains competitive, but our girls in NoVa put us over the hump for the time being. The voting for this week ends at 7 pm PST today. So if you haven't made your selection, now's the time.

Tonight, the girls and I are going to the Stones concert at the Hollywood Bowl. This should be an historic event. It's their first appearance there since 1966. But, we're not going for the show, we are volunteering for the Red Cross to accept donations on behalf of the group. The Rolling Stones are being very generous (and considering their stature, and what they owe to black southern culture it's appropriate) and they are setting up donation collection centers at every tour stop. So, if you are going to the Bowl tonight, look for me and have that loose change ready for some hurricane relief. Remember, you can still donate on-line.

My brother Nate did a stint in New Orleans on reconstruction detail and said that the parish is worse off than one can imagine. What doesn't come through in the pictures and newscasts is the stench. Lots of work to be done there.

OK, Nov. 6 is an infamous day in history. 10 years ago to the day, evil, money-grubbing, no-good, jive-talking, two-faced manipulator Art Modell announced that my beloved Browns were leaving Cleveland for no reason whatsoever. The team was losing money, he said. The stadium was no good, the city didn't appreciate him or the organization. He took that cursed team to Baltimore and won the Superbowl. But that's bad juju, man.

Of course, the Browns came back, the team is in the black, the new stadium is beautiful and they sell out every game (with a losing record). Why? Because the city LOVES that team like no other. Plus the natural rivalry between the Browns and the Steelers is still one of the best in all of sport. And the new rivalry between the Ratbirds and the Browns only adds to the fun every season. I did manage to go to the original Browns' last road game in Jacksonville, December of '95. The Brownies lost. And of course, I've been back to Cleveland several times to see them in the new stadium which is a lot more fun than the old Municipal Stadium.

Finally, I'm very excited to see Mr. Postman. My new Washburn AB40 is on its way. Should arrive tomorrow. I am giddy. The last time I got to play one was at Rick Rosas' studio in Studio City. Schweet. And our promotional give-away for our next show is coming tomorrow too. If you are one of the first 20 people in attendance for our set on Thursday at the Gig, you'll receive a limited edition Nondenominational Holiday ornament from us to you. Consider it an early Christmas/Kwanzaa/Channukah/Whateva present. If you don't live in town and you want to order one for yourself, they will be available through Thanksgiving. After that, you'll find them on eBay. Ha Ha.

All right. I gotta run. Literarily. The hills are calling. Then, get ready to work the Stones' concert.
Love, Power, Peace!