We’ve rehearsed, narrowed the setlist, worked through transitions between songs and established a tight 60-minute set for Davis Arts Council Sunday Concert Series at the Kenley Amphitheater in Layton, the very last one of the season. Come cheer us on and we’ll play just as long as they’ll let us. Sunday, 25 August 2024, 7:00PM; free, all ages.
Besides being an amphitheater with a stage and a big sound system and a green room and all that, the thing that we really love about a gig like this is that it’s a “listening” show. We love playing lounges and parties and bars and all that, but this is a show where everyone is facing forward with nothing to pay attention to except us. So we’ll make it worth your time. Bring a friend or two or three, and come say hi after. We’re so grateful to get to play and have you there.
Rehearsal on the patio, Adam doing whatever it is that he’s doing and the rest of the band playing music.
We haven’t made too much of a big deal about this, but we’ve been really really excited about our return to the Kenley Amphitheater since we signed the contract back in the spring. We get to play there again, 60 minutes of uninterrupted, all ages, free music on Sunday, August 25 from 7:00 – 8:00p.
So. So. Excited. We have the setlist with fun new stuff and playful transitions sprinkled in. Adam gets to play the big piano, Matt gets his own drum riser, and Tim’s bass gets pumped through the mains. Cheer as the Diva walks out onto the stage while the band backs her up — it will make her evening and set the mood for the whole show.
Of course, as you know, we have a gig tonight (7/26/24) at the Grand America Lobby Lounge, 7-10p. Free, all ages, fancy ambiance and snacks, but you can come as you are. We love playing at the Grand because it’s a simple setup in an elegant setting. (And then we have a bit of a break before our Kenley Amphitheater show and another parade of gigs after that.)
But more than this reminder, we wanted to talk about art and what it’s worth. For example, I was just working on new sketches in lieu of photos once in a while. We kind of like renditions like this:
We don’t think this is really worth anything; it’s just something that was fun. Maybe we’ll make a sticker or something based on this, or we’ll hand it to stage managers so they know our sophisticated setup.
But there are other things you might pay for and we get money in return. For example, I just cashed in two years worth of our streaming revenue from our EP, Videos of Us in Handcuffs. After those two years we earned (drumroll):
$30
Actually, that’s an exaggeration. I think we barely cleared $28, but we can round up. This is just to say that we love it when people share our music and play it in earbuds or speakers or anything else. Turn it up. And thank you for sharing. But we don’t make any money on this. We sell some disks, but we just break even on the production when all is said and done.
This isn’t a complaint, mind you. Instead, we want to make this public service announcement:
Go support live music.
And not just us, but everyone. This is where people earn money to buy gear and keep the operations going. We might even make enough to fund studio time again and make another album (and another $30). Pay a $5 cover or throw some money in the tip jar or, best of all, hire us to play in your backyard or for your event or at your wedding. Those of you who have placed the $2 bills in our bucket, thank you. We’re collecting these for good luck. The kids who deliver singles to us and share a big grin, you’re absolutely delightful. Folks who have a twenty (or more sometimes) that mixes in the salad of other bills, we’re grateful. Please take a sticker or two. Oh, and stream our music to your heart’s content, but also please share it and invite your friends to the next show, ours or anyone else’s.
(And the gnomes* who Venmoed us cash on your way out onto 25th Street and into the world (the garden?) late on Saturday night, we loved you so much and hope you’ll be back again. Thanks for making our night.)
Excited to see you all out there soon. Say ‘hi,’ give a cheer, and dance or sway along.
*Yes, there really were gnomes. Yes, with hats. And beards. It was delightful. You had to have been there — another reason to go out to live shows.
We’re really looking forward to being back at Lighthouse Lounge this Friday, July 19, 9:00p – Midnight (21+, $5). Always a fun evening for us to share with friends new and old, indulge in a Lighthouse burger and tots, and spend three hours on stage while Paddy dials our monitors in just right and makes sure the mix is clear in the house.
And then we follow up the following week at our other lounge spot, the Grand America Lobby Lounge: Friday, July 26, 7:00-10:00p (free, all ages).
After those shows, we’ll be tightening up our setlist to get ready for some 60-minute shows, including our upcoming return to Layton’s Kenley Amphitheater on Sunday, August 25. More to come on that one and another big audience show in the fall in which Adam gets to play on the grand pianos and compete for the diva title.
Hope to see friends, new and old, at any or all of these. Come heckle, cheer, dance, or sit back and listen. We’re always just excited to play for a happy audience.
Summer is officially here and we’re ramping back up into the season. We have gigs coming up, including this Friday (June 21 2024) at Grand America Lobby Lounge, 7-10p. That’s followed by some backyard gigging the following week, and then returns to lounges of the Lighthouse in Ogden and Grand America in the big city again in July. And more to come — big shows on stages this summer and fall!
In the midst of all this, we’re waving goodbye to Ian, founding member and “no worries” drummer. He’s headed out to the Oregon coast and we’re already imagining how we can get out to visit. As we pivot and adjust, we have Matt Johnson sitting in with us at the drums, and as we’ve been feeling our way through rehearsals with him we’re excited to keep working with him for as long as he’ll put up with us. Matt’s well known in Ogden circles, stages, and studio as a drummer who can play anything and with anyone, so we’re lucky to have him. This Friday is Matt’s debut with the band, so come out and encourage him to stick around.
But here’s also to a fond farewell to Ian. In our last gig with him, a backyard celebration with friends and family, we had a rare impromptu addition at vocals, Ian’s daughter, Elouise. She took over and stole the show. Take a look at the proud dad behind the drum kit — and maybe admire the fact that the guy at keyboard is taking video and playing at the same time.
Elouise is our new diva.
Safe travels and smooth transitions to Ian and family! We hope to see the rest of you out on the music scene.
Standards & Substandards 