Short Change Band - Last week of October, 2010

Well hello people, I hope all is well in your world this week. Last week was a most powerful week and I will explain it all to you here in a minute.

My first note here was this being a particularly sad week as this was the anniversary of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane crash that went down 33 years ago (last week) in that swamp in Mississippi. I can remember the event like it was just yesterday. I bought that newly released “Street Survivors” Album the day it was released {with the flamed cover and all}. I even attended that tour as they were still the openers at the time. (Imagine that) That night they opened for the Doobie Brothers and let me tell you this - they smoked the Doobies - so bad that after two songs played by the Doobies, we left. No comparison there! Three weeks later the fame was over. It was so sad as that was the third time in four years I seen the boys and they had come such a long way up the ladder. Free Bird {three years later after the release was just becoming the icon song it grew to be}

So, eighteen years later I got to meet the drummer from Skynyrd {Artie} at Bike Week at the Infamous Iron Horse Saloon. He just formed a brand new Band by the name of "Those Guys". As bizarre as this was my buddies Grant and Bobby were doing security that day and asked if I'd like to meet Artie in between shows. Big decision there huh? Anyway, Artie was an interesting person to say the least. He was pissed at the time that the band was reforming and beginning a tour and a new album and he was politely being replaced. I remember him telling me how his arm still bothered him from the crash all those years later and the one thing he did mention was how on the day of the crash he was stuck in that swamp busted all up along with everybody else and they called out for help for what seemed like hours before they were rescued. That kinda creeped me out it did- he was so vivid. The show went back on and within what seemed like minutes later Artie had words with the owner’s son at the Iron Horse and a mêlée broke out. The band grabbed their gear and the show was over. What a day that was. I still have the photo of me and Artie at my desk at work. So enough said here.

On to the PPOTW...This weeks pet peeve is musical censorship. Short and sweet, I've been listening to "Money" by Pink Floyd for about for about 38 years now. I've always liked the part that went "Goodie Good Bullshit".. Well guess what? They took away the "Bullshit". Now don't you wish someone would do that for you in everyday life? Until that happens, give me back my "Bullshit" please!

We had one show this weekend. We were back to one of our original stomping grounds - The Afton Inn. The crowd was surprisingly good and we just enjoyed ourselves to death. It was a night with god people, good music, and good whiskey. The people there are "True" people' and they are getting harder and harder to find in our industry. So we appreciate the ones that really do take care of the band. Deb, thanks for being upright for the SCB. I rated this show about an 8.

This Friday night we're back up to Davy's in Chenango Forks for the 10th annual Halloween party. Come in costume and win a prize. Come listen to us too! Because we will be there, so don't miss this one. You can check out the pictures from last year on our website. It will truly be a good time there.

And finally, you see that picture of K.W. from the studio last week. We will return this Saturday back to Gobel Studios once again pick up work on the "Back to Basics" CD.

So in closing, be well, be good, and be careful and don’t let the Goblins getcha. And, if you see Andrea this week wish her a Happy Birthday-Halloween wish. Special people are born on that day, I can truly testify to that!

Peace and love,

Mikee^^Dee

Short Change Band - Late October, 2010

Well hello to you all as another weekend is now history in 2010. Let's head right to Shows this upcoming week:

Saturday October 23rd we’re at The Afton Inn. The show begins at 6PM

We had a big week (last week) so I’ll get right to the reviews in a minute. But first I am going to add a new feature to the weekly Blog. I will call it "my pet peeve of the week" section.
This week’s pet peeve is (and trust me, if you know me- I gotta million of ‘em) Cell Phone plans. Short and sweet. A few years back I remember simple monthly phone plans that started at $29.99 a month for coverage. Now that cell phones are all the rage, last week’s paper plans were being offered at an entry level of $69.99! Now, one would think with the volume of customers with cell phones in use, the prices would go down. (Good luck there) That's my PPOTW for 10/17/2010. And, you may now get more in your plan these days, but is it all worth another $500 more a year? What happened to the days of Rotary dial phones and phone booths? Wow, don't get me started...

Friday night at the Hitchin' Post. What started out as a somewhat mellow evening became quite the party by the time of the last set. We made some new friends from Trout Creek and entertained some of our regulars for what became an awesome night of music. I rate this show a 7.

Saturday night we were at the VFW in Endicott. It was a new venue for the SCB and once again what started out mellow turned into one hell of a party by the third set. We would like to thank all of our friends who came up to party with us from Frito Lay, as well as quite a few of our regulars and even some people from out of state as well. I've come to the conclusion that we play for the crowd and when the crowd is not into it, we aren't either. We feel like Dee Jays – Yuk!

Also some good times were had when Patty and Jeff from “Pawn Shop” came up and jammed a few tunes with us too. Nice job (Jeff) on the awesome dance song we played. Double D tagged it right on. A special thanks to Mike (Manager at the VFW) for making us feel very welcome at the club. We will be back in the New Year. I rated this show a 9 - mostly on quality and enthusiasm, we rocked good.

In closing, anytime you can bring home a group of drunks and you have to stop so they can puke on the side of the road, now that's a party! I’m glad I volunteered to be the DD - and it had nothing to do with Darrell either. Coca cola cowboy I was....

On to Sunday. After arriving home at almost 3am, it's back in the studio and time to begin album number five. So appropriately titled "Back to Basics". We had a 9:30 am start and we were off to the races once more. I will keep you all in the loop to where our progress takes in the upcoming months as this will surely be a spring 2011 release date at best.

Well, have a great week and enjoy whatever sunshine you can grab as it will become harder to find now in the upcoming weeks and also wishing my son Mikee a Happy Birthday wish as well Zack my step grandson. Ahh, to be 20 again!

Peace,

Mikee^^Dee

Short Change Band - October Weekend

Shows Friday Night- The Hitchin' Post, Belden Hill - 8:30pm – 11:30pm
Saturday Night- VFW Endicott (Open to the Public) - 9pm- to 1am

Well hello to all. Friday night (10/08) we were at Dino's in Binghamton. It was our first show indoors at Dino’s and it went over quite well. There were quite a few people who ventured in an out the entire evening as we brought out the “stripped down” acoustic show one more time. I think at this point we pretty much have perfected the "acoustic show' concept. We originally had all the instruments wired directly to the board. That was just a bit too hot for the board, so now we're back to the amps, but ever so gentle.

Saturday was also a great day as we finished out our golf season for what will most likely be the last showing of the clubs for this year. And it's good thing, I really hate the game and I do suck at it. I still don't rightly understand the concept of whacking a ball a couple hundred yards at a time and then tapping it into a hole ever so gently. Easier said than done. Maybe it's just the whiskey that makes it fun. DD and I did enjoy that, and the good weather.

So as the day progressed between golf and music. There is always time for a scoot ride. Yeah, me and the bride took a little bike ride through the back roads of Chenango County.

I am so sadden by all of the little businesses that are no longer open as well as the repair shops, markets, and deli's. That is just some of the signs of people in a small town that are no longer there. It would be a welcome site too. So sad of what New York has become. A simple landfill with Malls, Wall-Mart’s and Price Choppers. But the 80 mile back roads ride was fun.

So then came Sunday and the infamous 10/10/10 date! And the “Alan and Bonnie Knapp” wedding. Once again we pulled the acoustic set out and brought it to the hall in Sidney for over 100 guests. I was amazed at all the people present for a Sunday indoor wedding. Check out the photo of us with our Bartender for the event. Nice Job Heather! So for the next four hours we played, we greeted and played some more. Not too much whiskey, but just enough. Thank you Alan and Bonnie for being so thoughtful. It's those special little touches that really count.
And as soon as it started it was over. It was the end of the weekend.

We hope you all enjoyed your Columbus Day weekend as we all surely did. Next Sunday we're back in the studio to begin work on our next album appropriately titled "Back to Basics”.

We’ll see you all down the road.

Short, Sweet, & Simple. Peace,

Mikee^^Dee

Short Change Band - The Start of October, 2010

Hello to you all, another week in the year 2010 has come and gone. Where do the weeks go? This week’s shows are as follows:

FRIDAY - 10/8- DINO'S BAR AND GRILL- BINGHAMTON NY- SHOW STARTS 8:30 PM.
SATURDAY NIGHT- OFF
SUNDAY- BONNIE AND ALAN'S BIG WEDDING- PRIVATE PARTY*

Last Saturday afternoon at 1pm we all met up to the ranch for a great seasons- end barbeque, complete with some cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. We also conducted our third quarter business meeting and discussed itineraries of the band for the present as well as futures in 2011. You can't know where you’re going if you don't know where you've been.
We also kicked out some new tunes in the music room for some of our upcoming events and shows. So, we do practice once in a while.

We headed out at 5pm to the "No-Tell" hotel. It was an interesting evening at the Hotel. Sometimes we pack the joint and sometimes we do not. When you don't serve food on a regular basis or even advertise, your chances of having a good crowd is a crap shoot. Lord only knows what type of night your gonna have crowd-wise.

Fortunately for us, many of the people "we know " and contacted - showed up and saved the day.

The evening (musically) was OK. It was not one of the best, but by no means a poor one either. We had musical guests “The Cardboard Cutouts” come up and play a few tunes for us. They came all the way from Walton. Now let me tell you this, you will not find a more fun group of guys then the “Cutouts”. Their new wave-punk jam style of music is always fun to watch and great to listen to... Danny we love ya bud- keep up with those powerful vocals.
And not to mention our buddy Dominic, who also came by to jam a bit on the drum kit. It was a fun night for all. It’s a shame the crowd was not more plentiful for the evening. Now I had another thought here. I don't know if it's since the Hotel now has hired more bands to play every couple of weeks or maybe everybody's broke or playing it cool with the drinking and driving. Anyway we are feeling it "crowd and attendance" wise.

Now I may be a funny duck, where I can go out and listen to a band and have a good time and just drink Coke. But that's me and I don't see the big deal with it all.

So as questionable as the weekend was - it was then over. Maybe in the future, band bookings should go by the hour and booked accordingly. Because I gotta tell ya, the last hour is murder on a band in an empty bar. (Wow, there’s a great album title - "Murder on a band in an empty Bar") Hey I like it...

So in closing, we have nice weather for the weekend coming up, so get out on those scoots a couple more times before you put them all to sleep next month. That's why I love living in the north, we replace riding with hunting and football. Oh well ride safe, be safe and hope to see you all out for Friday's show at Dino's in Binghamton.

P.S. The wings are good here too!

Peace,

Mikee^^Dee