Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Ouzo and Cannoli's


Hi Tim! and everyone too.

"My pleasure meeting you Tim, we'll do it again."

(Tim, A fellow Stick player came to the concert and we
hung out afterwards.)

So glad you enjoyed the show, it was a darn fine one
if I say so myself. Baja Progressive Rock Festival was
a blast as well, I'll write more later as I've hardly
been home.

----Tim wrote into the "Stickwire news group and penned:----
> Don graciously spent time talking with me after the
> show, in between posing
> for photos and packing up.
---------------------



And the beauty of that is it never interferes with my
Donut eating. As a matter of fact, the promoter of the
event, well she was of Greek decent baked a BOAT LOAD
of pastries for us. I had them before I left the
hotel, in the limo and shortly after the gig... AND
there was a party in her hotel room after the gig and
yet MORE pastries! So many cannoli's and pastries with
names I never hear of.... This time with Wine and
Ouzo!

Apparantly Pastries and Ouzo don't mix. This gentleman
at the party next to me asked, "Well Don, how do you
like Cleveland?". And so I said, "Ya know, I really
love it except for the cold (Lake Erie looked 80%
covered in Ice from my hotel room view).

And so a minute later he turns to me and says, "Well
Don, how do you like Cleveland?" I figure the Ouzo had
kicked in... and being quite satisfied with the way I
answered it the first time, I thought, heck he doesn't
remember I'll just say it again.... maybe gesture more
as not to be to redundant. He seemed quite
satisfied... and then keeled over into the wall, table
and glasses. Very smooth, to bad I wasn't fast enough
to catch him.

I did however pick him up, dust 'em off a little and
suggest that "When the hotel spins that fast ya gotta
sit in a chair and HANG ON!' Then found him a good
solid chair with solid arm rests to steady himself in.


So I left him there and went to the other side of the
room where a very talented artist who was at our show
as well, and a new fan, showed up at the party and
sketched people. He sketched the band as we played and
was now sketching people as they partied. It reminded
me of the 60's where eclectic people would gather
and.... be eclectic and in this case with lots of Wine
and Ouzo.

All that wine and ouzo worked in my favor as it kept
them away from the Pastries where I stood guard
mostly... (I didn't want anyone 'keeling' over on the
pastry cart if ya know what I mean).

As I turned around my new buddy who moments ago was
gripping the chair got up and moseyed over to the
bathroom... Suddenly a very loud THUD was heard.
Well... I had to look, and sure enough he 'keeled
over' into the bath tub. I got him a pillow and put it
in the tub figuring "It's the safest place for him
since he's lying down now anyway... he can't fall any
further..." and promised not to run the water.
However, he explained how embarrassed he was and
insisted on standing. I explained "That's the problem,
the hotel hasn't landed yet... still spinning as we
speak."

And so... we made him a "Crash Pad" in front of the
door, and he landed there and stayed.

I didn't see him (or hear any falling noises) for the
next couple hours and had a blast socializing and
eating some Baklava... oh Very good stuff (If only it
was in a circle shape).

The artist was doing a great job of Sketching Lana
Lane and Michelle Moog, music was playing, lot's of
great conversations to join in on and listen to... But
it was getting late, like 4:am late. (I like to be in
my room before the Sun comes up... just a personal
goal).

Since I hardly drink, I watch the pastries mostly and
a dent was made in them (I do my best)... and upon
thanking the hostess for a lovely party... (She had
taken her lovely Italian leather boots off in the
corner hours ago) - we again notice these lovely
Italian boots in the corner.. as someone had gotten
sick all over them.
"Hey, where did that guy go?..." Ah, he apparently
didn't feel well and was now in the bathroom again....
( He should of just stayed in the tub).

I told the hostess, look on the bright side, he
obviously liked your 'cannoli's' (and obviously got by
me unnoticed and ate some) there's bits all over your
shoes.. So, lesson learned, Cannoli's and Ouzo don't
mix.

And so, long way of sayin' "Tim, that's why I didn't
hear the alarm go off or answer the phone in the
morning. (We we're all going to meet for breakfast in the
lobby but.... I slept right through the alarm clock and call),
but thank you
for meeting up for Brunch later, I'm usually not such a pastry party animal.


----Stick Tech Stuff--------
The backline I used were Ampeg amps. The Ampeg 3000
series was VERY nice. In Baja I had the 8x10 cabinet
and in Ohio I used the 4x10 with a tweeter in the
center.

The Line 6 Pod X3 live worked just great for both sides. On
the top side I added a Hughes Kettner Tube Factor
pedal. The X3 is like having a bass pod and guitar pod in
one floor board. After eq-ing each side the way I want
it, add different compressions and such... I then pan
it straight up and send it out in Mono. I call this
"Elaborite mono". You treat each side like a stereo
set up but send it mono... (The house engineer will have a perfect top and bottom side Stick mix balance that way).

Take care, more news later, Next week I go to Las
Vegas.
Be well and stay there.
Don

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Cross Country

Okay, well it sounds bigger than it actually is. I'm headin' out to Mexico tomorrow for a concert with "Rocket Scientists" at the Baja Progressive Rock Festival. It always sounds good to say you're going to another country, but from where I am in Los Angeles,... it's not so far.

We are crossing the border at Mexicali and meeting up at the "Jack-in-the-Box" across the border, where there will be festival personnel meeting us to take us in to the festival... and hopefully into "Jack-in-the-Box" too, I'll be hungry by then. Alright maybe a different restaurant, I can get Jack in the Box anywhere - obviously. 

Like the time I went to France and Africa only to find many Mc Donalds, or Japan were Kentucky Fried Chicken was big. They even had a nice statue of Coronel Sanders in front of the KFC. I took a picture,... hey speaking of which, once at the "Ronald Mc Donald House", I met Ronald Mc Donald. Yeah, the orange headed clown. It was nice, I got his autograph. He wrote, "Your Pal Ronald" on a paper cup. Nice.

Okay, then onto Lakewood, Ohio (near Cleveland) where Rocket Scientists is performing in concert at the Winchester club... You see -  sayin' I'm flying across county to Ohio isn't nearly as exciting a story as "crossing into another country".

I'm tryin' to entertain here, tell a good story, keep us goin'.

Well, early day tomorrow, I'll be back Sunday, with a story from 'another country' and Ohio too.
EXCELLENT!
Don

Oh hey, I forgot to mention, "Ya know,... I have rather spiffy NS/Stick solo piece in this concert. If ya miss the concert no worries, it's being video-ed for future dvd's. Sure ya may have to wait 10 years for the 'next' box set, but hey... the notes will still be good... donuts on the other hand... not so good after 10 years. "Twinkies" however, I don't think they ever go bad, nor do I think they are an actual food. What is that filling they have in there. Lol, Okay, they taste good, what the heck.


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

YaY! The Guild Won!

Well, extra Congratulations to us all again -- This is the update -
--------------3/22/07------------
"The Guild" has now won the 
"Yahoo 2007 Best Web Series Award"
                           and the
"YouTube Best Series Award for 2007"
----------Many Thanks to  you all----------------------------

Congratulations to all. We won best online TV show by the South by Southwest Film Festival, It takes a full circle of people to make that work, including the people that watch the programs. So... "I salute the full circle" and thank you very much.

The prize is $10,000 to make more episodes and so we shall. 
This Friday if you are not doing anything and would like to be an extra go to www.watchtheguild.com it will tell you where and when in Los Angeles we are filming. C'mon down!


Today we also found out we are one of the five finalist for the Yahoo series award. 

Just wonderful news.



Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! cartoon.

My niece looked so cute in this, I thought I'd pass it along to you with a "Happy Saint Patrick's Day" wish to all of us.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

"Ramblin' On"


Hey here's some more fun TV/Movie news!!!

“The Guild” is a finalist for the SXSW/On Network Greenlight Series Award!"

--- Here's a little blurb as to what that means ------

"We are excited to announce that our little indie series, The Guild, is one of 5 finalists for the series prize for the Greenlight Awards, sponsored by SXSW and On Networks! We are eligible for a $10,000 dollar prize to shoot more episodes with, and the contest will be judged by lots of fancy people, including Rick Linklater! The winner will be announced March 9th at the SXSW Interactive festival."

----------------------

Well their we have it... we're movin' up the success ladder with this one. Still a ways to go before the big buck Kaching! However the artistry, efforts, talents and persistence are top notch. Those are the real lasting rewards... and yes, we all like to eat so the kaching would be a welcoming factor.. lol.

I've got some tours comin' up. The one most recent 'past' was a quick Frankie Avalon gig in the Palm Springs area. Very nice, good weather, nice place, exceptional band! The sax player on this particular gig used to be with Barry Manilow - sure the name Barry Manilow doesn't evoke sax excitement unless you've seen the show. He had a huge solo spot featuring him on that tour - and well deserved --- and a darn fine nice guy too (George Shelby)...

I guess if forced to complain about the gig I'd have to say the food wasn't so swell. A small complaint but ya gotta eat sooo though I "fully appreciate" the effort it takes to assemble, coordinate and please everyone's tastes - the added bonus is that the food taste good. It's rare that it happens but sometimes it does. I'm one to match a complaint with a positive... the cookies and Chinese chicken salad were slammin'. There ya go.

Next tour up looks like the Progressive Rock band "Rocket Scientists". We'll go to Mexico and Ohio for the the progressive rock festivals... later in May we'll go to England for another festival. I got my setlist and CD in the mail today. This helps me 'remember' what the heck I did on the RS tour last time out. It's a lot of music to remember however when the tours are closer together a lot of the notes stick in my mind. It's the 'first' one from the 'time away' that ya need the biggest memory jog.

Hey, there's a deluxe rumor I heard about the Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell show. There's talk that they may go into the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas for a month. Ohhhhh imagine sittin' in that lovely hotel for that long. I'd enjoy that. Last gig in Las Vegas a few months ago... I visited the Venetian Hotel and yes, took pictures with the family on the Gondola ride, ate in the theme restaurant and walked around and around. Hey with a month of time on my hands I'd probably get around to 'scuba divin' " in the canal!!! Actually I bet there's two ways to accomplish that!
1. Rent scuba gear and dive in!
2. Don't pay your gamblin' debt - they won't rent you gear, just heavy shoes - and they throw you in!!! (brump bump - but seriously folks!)

Hmmm I need a picture for this blog... I like to see pictures... alright, I got it. Let me see if I can 'scan' the "Schiff Family Gondola" ride and put it here:

Awww there ya have it. My sweety! 
(The one on my left! - Yikes don't wanna get in trouble here).