Community blog entries

DMB on the big screen

jkashou — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:53:08 GMT

The cinema experience has been a whole new ballgame lately. Marcus is giving movie-goers the chance to see concerts, operas direct from the Met and movies in 3D.

Last night I saw the aptly-named movie "Larger than Life" featuring Dave Mathews Band in concert from the comfort of my seat at the North Shore Cinema. In fact, I appeared on stage, touched Dave's hand, caught a drumstick thrown out by drummer Carter Beauford and danced around without getting beer spilled on me - it was great!

The film uses digital technology that can only been seen in theatres and allows you to become part of the concert. You get sturdy and stylish Austin Powers-esque 3D eye-wear to make you feel like you are on stage with the band.

The film consists of excerpts from the Dave Mathews Band performance at the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas. Mathews plays mostly songs from his new album "Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King" and closes with his iconic ditty "Ants Marching."

Although at times I couldn't totally feel the energy of the crowd like you do at a live performance, the comforts of the theatre more than made up for it. Plus, the ticket was much cheaper than a live show.

The beginning of the film shows a few songs from the gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello at All Points West Music and Arts Festival in New Jersey and Ben Harper and the Relentless7 at the Mile High Music Festival in Denver. Two bands that nicely complement Dave's brand of jam-rock.

This week-long engagement is one not to miss. Hurry, the last day for screening is Thursday, December 17. Otherwise, you will have to wait until the next summer show at Alpine Valley. Trust me though, if you've been there and done that, this is a whole new way to enjoy the sounds of the Dave Mathews Band.

Too Far For Too Little

ItsMrLucky — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:00:17 GMT

Wednesday December 16th, 2009 – Gaylord, MI

It is flat out major league COLD up here. Some of the locals were telling me that this is not only the coldest place in the state, they get the most snow too. Great. My little Toyota just barely turned over and I haven’t seen another one since I’ve been up here. Everybody drives big American four wheel drive gas sucking tuna boats, but I can totally see why.

I should be used to bookings like this by now. My whole life has consisted of having to be in places like Duluth in December and Austin in August. It’s always the very worst of conditions, but that’s when the work is available. Now, I’m starting to get a little picky.

These kinds of gigs just aren’t profitable at this point in my life. I came up here to visit my friend Tim, and I’m glad I did. He’s always worth the drive, and I’m glad to have gas money for the trip, but as far as career planning goes it’s time to totally reinvent myself.

Tom Dreesen was talking about it at lunch on Saturday. He said he still loves the shows but absolutely hates getting there. We all related to him and thinking about my drive back tomorrow makes me shudder. It’s going to be long and boring and I hope it doesn’t snow.

Now it’s a matter of evolution. I’ve got a few things going locally in my ‘squared circle of Uranus’ which includes Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, WI and Rockford, IL. That’s a very nice cross section of America and I think I can pull down a living working mostly in that particular region. There are millions of people within an hour of home. Why travel?

This is a theory I’ve had for a while, but now it’s time to make it a reality. I don’t want to be spending my golden years in a car driving to do shows in Gaylord, MI for 40 people who have no idea who I am and don’t care. I need to pick a region and build a client base.

Of course I’d love to be in L.A. or Las Vegas but I think my ship has sailed as far as the warm weather places go. I can still do gigs there, but moving there and claiming it as my own doesn’t seem attainable right now. It would take too long to get myself established.

I’m already entrenched where I am now, and I like it there. Chicago is a great place and I’m one of the top standups in town, even though improv is king. Milwaukee is my home town, and I really think this one man play can build a following. I’m going to focus on it at least for 2010 and see if my feeling is correct. If it is, I’ll have more reason to stay put.

Madison, WI and Rockford, IL are also close enough to garner attention. There isn’t all that much going on comedy wise in either town, but they are populated and could be very good sources of corporate type work if I make myself known. I know some media people in both places and it would be worthwhile to join their convention and visitor’s bureaus.

Working hard is not as important as working smart. I’ve been all over the place over the years and maybe if I’m lucky I’ll put ONE year together when I do everything right. 2010 could just be that year. I’ve made enough stupid mistakes to let me know what isn’t going to work and driving long distances for low money is one of them. It’s time for evolution.

More Wally Dog Wear Cold Weather Dog Tips

smapes27 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:09:03 GMT

There seems to be lots of good information for your dog during cold weather. Many of these tips apply to cats, as well, so please remember to care for your pets. Their love for you should be rewarded.· When walking your dog in cold weather, never let him off the leash. He can lose his ability to scent and therefore become lost. Snow and ice, especially during a snowstorm, can be extremely hazardous.· Wipe off your dog’s feet and stomach after a walk. De-icing agents and anti-freeze will often attach to your dog. They can become lethal and poison your dog, at the very least causing diarrhea and vomiting; at the worst, death.· Another reason to wipe down your dog is to get these chemicals off your pet’s foot. They can cause cuts, dry pads, and ice balls, all of which will make it uncomfortable for your pet to walk.· If you see your pet licking at his feet, stopping and whining, or refusing to move during a walk outside, stop immediately for a paw inspection. He may have ice balls, cuts, or frostbite.· Before walking, make sure your pet is completely dry. Walks after a bath without proper drying can cause hypothermia or even a very bad case of the chills.· Never shave your dog in the winter. He will need a longer coat to provide warmth.· If you own a short hair dog, invest in a dog coat or sweater. Wally Dog Wear custom dog clothing has many wonderful coats with extra wide belly straps, collars, and hoods to keep your pet comfortable.

North Polish

ItsMrLucky — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:13:28 GMT

Wednesday December 15th, 2009 – Houghton Lake, MI

No matter how bad anyone’s life gets, someone else always has it worse. It might be an entirely different situation, but problems are problems. I’m up in the north woods visiting my old pal “Polish Thunder” Tim Marszalkowski, and he can use a friend at the moment.

Tim and I have known each other for more than twenty years. We had a cable TV show together in West Allis, WI back in what seems like a different lifetime to both of us. Tim is one of my all time best friends, even though we’re about as different as two people get.

For whatever reason, we’ve always clicked and stayed in touch despite both of us going in completely different directions. Tim always had a day job and never had a chance to be a full time road comic, even though I knew he always wanted to. He could have neglected his duties as a husband and father but he never did, and I’ll always respect him for that.

For years, Tim lived in the Akron/Canton area of Ohio and worked in trucking. He was a manager of a terminal and I know it involved selling freight service and that’s about all I wanted to know. I have ZERO interest in that business but he had a family to feed so he took the job in Ohio and that broke up our TV show. I was never angry, he had to do it.

That company just recently went out of business and left Tim out in the freezing cold with no job and mouths to feed. He scoured the job listings for months and finally got a thumbs up from a company in Houghton Lake, MI which is WAY up in the northland.

His wife and kids are still in Ohio and he hasn’t sold his house there yet. He’s living in a tiny apartment and working long hours trying to drum up shipping business. If you need any freight shipping done, please contact me so I can contact Tim. He’ll cut you a deal.

I’ve got a gig in Gaylord, MI tomorrow night and the only reason I took it was to get an opportunity to hang with Tim for a while. He’s busting his ass trying to be a bread winner in this economy, and having to move up to the north pole wasn’t his idea of a dream gig.

Life gets in the way of a lot of our dream gigs. I didn’t think I’d be doing shows up here to pay my rent this far into the game, but I’ll live with it. Tim got me booked for the local Habitat For Humanity’s holiday party tonight and I’m very grateful. He didn’t have to do that. He opened with a few minutes and then I went up and closed it out with a half hour.

The audience was quite small and rather quiet, and it didn’t help that people were at the pool table talking loudly and smacking balls around while we tried to entertain the people at the party. There was no spotlight on the stage and it was extremely difficult but we did it anyway. The people ate their cake after we were finished and then they all went home.

The people up here have really been hit hard by unemployment, yet they still help their less fortunate neighbors with Habitat For Humanity. Tim is doing what he needs to do to feed his family and all of them have a lot more problems than I do so I donated my pay to hopefully try to show some support. These are difficult times. I’m grateful for all I have.