 Whatever you do, DON'T click on this!!!!!
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New Stuff
Got some new stuff on the site. Some new cover tunes recorded recently (can't remember where). Some new pics from some recent events if you haven't checked recently.
Also have some new mixes of the MNG CD on the download page. Tom did some re-mixing of the original tracks, which sound better (a little beefier) than the originals. Now here's the deal, if you had previously purchased an MNG CD either by getting the actual CD or by download the songs from here, please drop an email to info@mngband.com and let me know if you would like copies of the new mixes, these will be sent to you free of charge of course.
New Years Resolutions (This time I mean it)
For 2008, I really wanted to come up with practical, easily attainable, and digestable resolutions this time. Nothing lofty and pompus, just good common sense stuff. Like...
Better posture- I have this bad habit of slouching when I play, starting to hurt my back you know. So this year, I'm going to straighten up just a little bit back there. Not too much of course, cause you can't be a real rock drummer unless you lean into the kit just a little...
Become a millionare- All I need is a million dollars and I can mark this off...
New Shoes- I saw some nice Rockports the other day...
Learn to play drums- I've been hitting these things for over 30 years, but now I'm going to learn how to actually play. I'll start with that right hand-left hand thing...
Learn to catch a bullet with my teeth- I figure it this way, no one will mess with me if they know I can do this...
Visit a distant land- I'm thinking Boston...
Mow the lawn- Wait, I did that yesterday, so we can mark it off right now!!!
Where are all the new pictures!!!
I promise, I mean REALLY PROMISE to get some pictures up in the next week (I'm serious this time, I'm gonna do it). I have some great pics taken by Hal, a ton of pics from Fernstock. I just haven't had the time to collect them, resize and post them. But I will do it this week, I promise. In fact, it's my only New Years Resolution, to post pictures this year.
Bruno Martinez
The south Florida music scene lost a popular and respected musician with the tragic passing of drummer Bruno Martinez this week. Please take a moment to view the Myspace Memorial page for Bruno. Below is a copy of something I posted on the Limestone Lounge forum thread on his untimely passing.
I've known Bruno since the Z-Car days in the 70's at Rollo's. I met him through my sister Karen, who was a bartender there and knew the band very well.
As a fellow drummer, I've always admired Bruno's powerful playing. Brooks Reid mentioned his 'Meat and Potatoes' style, meaning ' just lay it down' and nobody could lay down a groove with more conviction than Bruno. He had that Bonham fatback feel that never let up. Anytime I would see him, we'd talk drums like two little kids. His love of music and drumming was infectious, he was a great guy with a heart of gold.
Here's a great video of Bruno doing what he does best, laying it down, Bonham style. This was from Fernstock 2006, playing with friends John Simmons, Steve Mele and George 'Jawz' Miller, 'How Many More Times' (my favorite Zep tune). Keep banging Bruno!!!
Los Malos at Fernstock 2006
Fernstock V
Just some random thoughts on this year's Fernstock... The weather was perfect, the crowd was the biggest yet, and the bands were all great. I've played every Fernstock since it's inception, and it's interesting watching it grow and mature each year. I didn't get to catch all the acts, but the ones I saw were great...
Papa Joe is a staple at Fernstock and this year he had a good size band onstage, with special guests like Steve Mele joining in on the fun.
Deck 52, with good friends and MNG alumnus Jawz and Noel, played some great classic songs that you just don't hear a lot bands even attempt. Nice renditions of Moody Blues and Chicago classics brought back a lot of memories for the 'older' set (I would be included in that group).
JK Project- Once again, these guys played a great set and got the crowd up on their feet dancing.
MNG- Who? We decided to try out our originals on you guys, hoped you enjoyed them. One of the bands best friends, Ralph 'RAF' Fiol took some video of our set, here's one clip he posted on Youtube of us doing Drinking on Monday and Signed, Sealed, Delivered We had a great time as always, and want to thank all of you who continue to support us, we love you guys.
Brooks Reid and Sonickats- I got to sit in with Brooks and his band for his set. Brooks pulled out all the stops, bringing an actual Hammond B3 Organ on the stage, holy cow! There are keyboards, and then there is the Hammond. All wood, weighs a ton, and a sound that is often imitated but cannot be duplicated. Of course, he'll have to bring it every year from now on...
Slowride - Closing out the night, former original Foghat bassist Tony Stevens, along with Billy Livesay, Eddie Zyne, and Tom Hall (John Quinn also filled in on keys), played a great set of originals and Foghat tunes like Fool for the City and Slowride. The music was tight and strong, great playing by everyone in the group.
Certainly it was the best Fernstock yet, which only means that next year it will even better! As I get some pictures and videos, I'll start posting them here for you... Keep checking in!
Farewell to a friend
Thomas Overcast, a close friend of MNG singer Jimmy Conner, passed away Saturday October 20 due to heart complications. He was 43. For the last several months, Thomas has been helping the band with setup and moving our equipment, you may have seen him around the stage in his cowboy hat and cutoff shirt. He was a good natured guy who loved Jimmy and loved the band. I'll always remember him coming up after every single set and shaking hands with everyone in the band while telling us how good we sounded (he would always do this, even on the nights when we didn't sound good). And of course, he was there helping move all the gear. One night, when I went to pick up my monitor speaker, he grabbed it from me and said in that raspy voice "You don't carry this anymore".
Thomas was a good hearted soul, and one of Jimmy's best friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to Jimmy for losing a good buddy. He will be missed by all of us.
Peace Thomas...
Lots of stuff coming up
Haven't blogged in a while (sounds like a medical condition). The ultra busy holiday season is rapidly approaching, and we've got some events coming up faster than you can say "Floccinaucinihilipilification"
American Cancer Society Benefit- Oct 21 down in Key Largo at the Caribbean Club. An all day event featuring bands, raffles, food games, etc. I'll be posting event times and details next week, so keep checking right here, your source for all things MNG.
Fernstock- Nov. 3- The annual music event that gets bigger every year (yea I know it's the same day as the Ribfest, but I don't schedule the thing, I just show up and play). So spend part of the day at the Ribfest and then come out and check the bands at Fernstock. Or visa versa (which means do everything backwards).
Broward Homebound Event- November 9- I'm getting some details on this from Lee, will update the blog shortly.
Band notes- We have started working on a couple new original tunes (yay). We're shooting to have one or two ready to go for Fernstock. And yes, once we have them recorded, they'll be on sale right here!
Dis, Dat and da other
Tom's birthday party at Little Hoolies was pretty wild Friday night. They were actually turning people away at the door cause the place was filled to capacity. That's what happens when you know everyone in town, like Tom does. I'm pretty sure if we were booked in Knome, Alaska that Tom would run into someone he knows. He's a hell of a guitar player and a good guy to be in a band with (don't tell him I said any of this though, he might start to think I actually like him)
I heard through the grapevine (where did that saying come from anyway, can you actually hear people talking through a grapevine?) ... Where was I.... Oh yea, the grapevine thing. I heard that Fernstock 2007 is scheduled for November 3rd. If you missed any of the previous Fern's, you're missing out on what's becoming a great yearly event. Lot's of music from some great local bands, it's the perfect way to start the holiday season. So mark your calendars, I'll pass on more info as the grapevine tells me some more stuff...
Just did some research and I think I have the answer... How we hear through grapevines
Special thanks
We've said it before, and dammit, we'll keep saying it. The main thing that makes playing in this band so much fun, it's all of you that have continued to support us over the years. You guys make each gig an event and more fun than us older, cranky musicians should be allowed to have. Last week, two of our longtime friends, Maralyn and Larry Grosswald, decided to 'take the band out' for a concert at the Hardrock to see Chaka Kahn, Al Green and B.B. King. It was a great show and we all had a good time (we all missed Chaka Khan, since she started earlier then expected.
On behalf of the band, thank you Maralyn and Larry for taking us out on a date, that was really a sweet gesture! Hope we didn't embarass you too much, like when Magoo leaped from the second level down to the stage during Al Green's show and was 'escorted' out of the place. Has anyone seen or heard from him since?
The band also had a another night out last Friday since we had the whole weekend off. We went to see our good friends and former MNG guys, Deck 52 at Hooligans. It was great seeing how many people showed up, I think everyone had a good time. And we got to hang out with you guys for a change, that was fun! Just curious if anyone saw Magoo at all...
O'Hara's Hollywood and The Police
The gig at O'Hara's last Saturday night was a lot of fun. The Hollywood location is a little bigger than the Las Olas place, and has a dance floor (about the size of Little Hoolies dance floor). We had a great crowd, and a bunch of Miami people made the trip again, so we really want to thank all of you that made the 250 mile round trip to Broward County! I'm pretty sure we'll be making regular stops up here in the near future to cultivate a whole new group of MNG fans!
Went to see the Police last week, with Raf and Judy Fiol and some guy named Tom Hall. Before I talk about the show, I thought I'd mention it cost $30 to park the car. We had a nice, high, distant vantage point to take in the ENTIRE Dolphin Stadium experience (the guys in the band are really short, only about 2 inches tall, amazing). The band sounded great, it was only the 3 guys, no backup singers or other musicians. Did I mention it cost 30 bucks to park the freakin car? Being a drummer, I was really impressed with how well Stewart Copeland played (he's a year older than me too, so it's inspiring to see an 'older' guy beat the hell out of a kit). I wasn't impressed with the parking though. All in all, a fun night seeing a legendary band still able to fill a football stadium after all these years. If it wasn't for that $30 parking thing...
Rockin for Relief benefit at Blackpoint
The benefit for Cindy Slade at Blackpoint last Saturday was a lot of fun. The place was packed, I mean packed. No.. I mean PACKED. Sardine can packed. All the bands sounded great, it was my first time hearing a bunch of them. I don't know the final numbers as to how much money was raised, but I think they did well. I have a few pictures that I will be posting in a couple days. Everybody had a great time and it went to a very good cause, what could be better than that???
So, the band is taking a rare weekend off. A couple of us, like myself are off on business. See, this is what happens sometimes when our actual life (you know, the job thing) gets in the way of our fantasy life (the weekend rock star). So here I am, in a hotel getting ready for some 'job' stuff this week. I'm just another guy standing in line for the complimentary continental breakfast at the hotel. Should I have the bagel, or the bran muffin? And the coffee is never as strong as I like it. At least I don't have to wear a suit.
MNG invades Broward
The band had a great time at O'Hara's last Saturday night. We really want to thank everyone that made the trip to see us. There were so many of you, it was almost like a regular night down south! The band truly appreciates the support you give us, and seeing all those familiar faces up there made it a special night. I think we did well, it looks like they will be having us back again. Also, a huge thanks to Richie for driving down from Orlando, it was great playing with him again. Thanks again guys, we love you!
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