Fried Glass Onions Party

This will be fun! Thursday night at the Gibson Guitar Showcase will be several Memphis artist' bringing their sound of Beatles music. Once again, I'm invited to be in the house band while they take the stage. There's no need to mention what feeling the Beatles bring about, but if you've ever been to the Gibson Showcase, you know this is a great venue for music.

Friday morning, Dani, Zack and I are going to be on channel 13's "Good Morning from Memphis". I don't know what times yet, so I'll keep you posted later.

Saturday we head up to Hornersville, Missouri and perform at the Sixth Annual Little Riverfest. They are referring to this as "the Bootheel's version of Memphis in May".

Speaking of "Memphis in May", have you seen who is coming? Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, Derek Trucks, North Mississippi Allstars and that's just part of the line up on Friday night. I mean you still got Kenny Wayne Shephard, Kelley Hunt, and my favorite this year, Steely Dan. They are scheduled for Saturday night. Man, I have only started the list to who's coming. Did you notice Daddy Mack Blues Band? He will be at The Gibson this Thursday. Click on "Memphis in May" for the line up and come on out. Oh yeah, see ya Thursday.

It goes like this....

Bad news/good news/great news .Thursday at the FedEx Forum has been rescheduled due to the TIGERS being in the sweet sixteen. The Memphis/Texas A&M game will be shown during halftime of the Grizzlies/Lakers game on the Jumbotron. So they don't need any live Rock n Roll. I was going to TiVo the game which could've been challenging 'cause there was no way I would not hear the score. So this works out great for me, we reschedule and I watch the Tigers game. But bad news is, Kobe doesn't get see us. Throw him an elbow and he'll be alright.

Saturday night went good. When we arrived, the loading crew met us at the door, unloaded our equipment and wheeled it up to the stage(I could get use to this). Sound check went off with just a couple of adjustments. Then off to the green room, food, drinks and pics(see below). We had to drop a song due to Jason Aldean's band playing the same one too. Not a problem. So we got to meet Jason backstage after the show. You know he plays a Gibson guitar(thought I'd throw that one in)?

Speaking of Gibson guitar, did ya notice the April 19th date? I've been invited back to be in the house band for a Fried Glass Onions show. You know there are 3 CD's out now. Ya gotta still love the Beatles. And the more I listen to the "Love" CD, the more I like it. It's pretty cool hearing hints of other songs in the mix. "You say good-bye, and I say hello".

Fried Glass Onions

Wednesday night's show went well. It was a larger crowd than Friday and several people returned for a shot of "Memphis Meets the Beatles". Here's a quick pic of Jackie, Greg, Dave, me and Bob after the show on Wednesday night. Rick Nethery couldn't make the rescheduled show so Dave Smith sang on Back in the USSR. Dani, along with Jackie Johnson and Charles Ponder sang on Come Together. Pictures and video should be in the next couple of weeks. So I'll be updating the Webshots site soon and archiving the older ones.
Back to the Dani music, this week-end we're at Huey's downtown. Wednesday we're at Fox and Hound in Cordova. Eye on the calendar, 'cause it's always changing.

Memphis Weather

Fried Glass Onions party has been rescheduled for Wednesday night! Start time is still 7:30 and if you don't have a ticket already, it would be a good idea to call ahead or show up early. Friday night went great. I've heard some wonderful comments after the show. It was just awesome to play music with these guys. The band consisted of Dave Smith, Gene Nunez, Greg Lundy and Vince Lefler. And to accompany Eddie Harrison, Jackie Johnson, Daddy Mack Orr, Matt Isbell, Charles Ponder, Rick Nethery, Reni Simon and Billy Gibson. Oh you can imagine the feeling when Dani and Zack joined us for "Oh Darling" and "Old Brown Shoe". I don't think the crowd knew what they had coming. They got their money's worth here alone. Eddie(from Inside Sounds) was speechless. If you missed it Friday, you got another chance Wednesday. Come on.
Hard Rock tonight is still on! I hope to get some pictures from this one, ice and all.
Drive safe ya'll.

Fried Glass Onions II

The second volume of Fried Glass Onions is out and enjoying some radio play. Heartsong Church and Inside Sounds are hosting the CD release party on Feb 17th & 18th. Info and tickets are available HERE. Once again, I've been invited to play keys on both nights. Thanks Eddie! This oughta be cool.
I'll have double duty on Saturday night though. FGO party from 7:30 to 9:30 and then Hard Rock Cafe downtown at 10:30. Dani, Zack and I will play and run. Hard Rock should be packed after the Toby Keith concert at Fed Ex Forum.

More dates are on the way. March 1st we're at Fox and Hound in Cordova. That's a Wednesday. And on April 21st we're at the Southaven Springfest opening for.....

Way to go Jeremy, it's about time.

Live @ 9

November days gone by. Here's a shot from Wednesday the 23rd on "Live @ 9". Tony Mac invited us to be a part of the "Memphis Rocks" TV pilot at "The Complex". Hence the appearance on TV. I don't know how long it'll be online, but if you click on "Live @ 9" and go to Nov 23rd, you can view us on the show around the 36th minute and again around the 56th. Tony Mac and Dani both have interviews which are included. I've updated some pics in the "photo album" and if you look really close, you'll see AFKAS was on TV too. Dave was out of town and Jeff Burch was in from the Tinsley Ellis band, so he sat in on drums.

I'm working on December's calendar and Oh yeah, Fried Glass Onions, Vol II is out. You can get a copy on Dani's site before the official release date, or you can find a copy at one of our shows. We'll be downtown on New Year's, I'll let you know when and where. Later...

"Fried Glass Onions" too?

We were back in the studio, "Inside Sounds" last Thursday(yeah same long day as Rum Boogie), recording " Oh Darlin" for FGO ll. This time around, I got to play the grand piano. You know that Korg I play has weighted 88's, but it just doesn't feel or sound the same as the real thing. Funny thing too, me and the piano were in the house while everybody else was inside the studio. Zack played both guitars and Jeremy joined us on drums. And on bass; Ross Rice, remember that name from Human Radio, Free World and most recently toured w/ Peter Frampton. Ross is going to be producing this album.
Mixing is next month and the release date sometime in August.

Final note, there are more tunes than what will be on board. Somebody's not gonna make the cut. You know I'll keep you in on it.

Father's Day Week-end

I just love outdoor gigs. This was from Friday night at Autozone Park. We got to play for an hour prior to and after the Redbirds game. Too bad they lost. We got some great comments and have been invited back sometime in July. This was also Jimmy's last show w/us. He's moved on to other gigs.

Saturday at Isaac's was a blast as usual. Producer, Pete Matthews dropped in for the show and joined us in the "Green Room". That was cool. Lots of birthdays tonight too, that seemed a little strange. We're not on the calendar yet at Isaac's, but looks like once in late July and pick it back up in August.

We're scheduled for the studio this Wednesday night. Gonna record "Oh Darling" for Fried Glass Onions ll. Apparently the first one went well. I understand it's getting airplay overseas.

Don't forget, we're at Rum Boogie this Thursday.
See ya then.

Whirlwind Week

I know, it's been awhile so here's what's up. Last week Wednesday afternoon, I got a call from Eddie Dattel(Inside Sounds), needing a keyboard player for the "Fried Glass Onions" CD release party on Saturday night. "Sure, I'd love to", so he sends me a set list of about a dozen songs and rehearsal is Friday.
Cram time, cause the next morning(Thursday) we were on channel 3's "Live @ 9" show from the Peabody Place lobby. What an experience!
Friday comes quickly and I meet the band; Bob Simon, Robert Hall, Richard Hage and Malcolm Cullen.
Saturday's here already,
two sets w/ Kevin Paige, Eddie Harrison, Matt Isbell, Rick Nethery(Beat Generation), Charles Ponder(Z Da), Daddy Mack Orr and of course, DANI.
One last set of spontaneous Beatles jam. That was a blast!
Make sure you visit the PHOTO ALBUM.
Oh BTW, Isaac Hayes Club has booked us twice a month through the summer. Keep an eye on the calendar.

Here's the Scoop

Eddie Dattel from Inside Sounds came into practice last night and said he's got enough material for the Memphis Wonders CD. He also heard another one of our Beatles tunes and said we will be on "Memphis Meets the Beatles II" due out in the fall. There will be a "Fried Glass Onions" CD release party at Isaac Hayes on Saturday, April 2nd. Prior to the release party, we will be on Channel 3's, "Live at 9" on Thursday morning, March 31st. We're on for one or two songs, I haven't heard yet.

More news: we are pulling out of the Emergenza contest. It's just not our style of music or the road we care to travel. We have been asked to play in the Memphis Summer Concert Series on Beale Street this year. They have chosen 16 bands out of 60 to play every Wednesday, May through August at the Pavillion. Tentatively we are on during May. Adding to the calendar, we will be headlining the "Will Play for Change" tour when it comes through Memphis, June 4th. This event is sponsored by Indie Heaven. Location still undetermined. We've got a lot in the works so keep checking back as summer nears.

What a week!

Work work work. Fixing up and moving out things at mom's old house. Trying to put it on the market. Festivities around church from Dr Rogers retiring. Not a day off this week, yet life goes on.

We've got new music on the way. Looks like the CD release party is on at Isaac Hayes Club on Saturday, April 2nd. All the singers from the "Fried Glass Onion" CD are going to perform 2 songs each. This looks to be a great event. Hopefully, our band will perform some too. We are going to be at Isaac Hayes on the 25th of March for two shows at 7:30 and 9:30. Keep an eye on the Calendar, we've got some gigs in the works.

"Fried Glass Onions" write-ups

Inside Sounds compilation CD, "Fried Glass Onions", got a write-up in The Memphis Flyer. Even though Dani or the song "Old Brown Shoe" is not getting singled out, the CD itself is getting some attention.
"Memphis Meets the Beatles" was also mentioned in February's "Memphis Woman" magazine and January 25th edition of Ice Magazine. When you've got time, search "Fried Glass Onions" and scroll through, you'll find some interesting comments.

"Memphis Meets the Beatles"

I spoke w/ Eddie Dattel of Inside Sounds tonight, he mentioned that he has sent out 600 press release kits of the CD "Fried Glass Onions". Radio stations have access to this CD now. It is in 6 stores right now and will be in record stores next month. He also mentioned that it was reviewed in the Memphis Flyer(Jan 20th edition). Check it out.

"Fried Glass Onions"

"Memphis Meets the Beatles". We are on a complilation CD of Memphis bands playing Beatles tunes. Recorded at Inside Sounds Studio and released December 2004. We recorded "Old Brown Shoe", the only song written by George Harrison on the CD. You can get a copy on Dani's website. You can also hear other Memphis musicians such as John Kilzer, Kevin Paige and Eddie Harrison to name a few. Volume ll is in the works and due out later this year.

Pictured in the studio are L-R: Eddie Dattel, Jimmy Craig, Zack Mack, yours truly, Vince Leffler, Dani, Mike Sinc & Kevin the engineer.