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2-12-2003
Sorry it's been so long folks. The fact is, ever tyime I try to get on here to edit the site, I can't get on here
for one reason or another. Anyway..
I am deeply saddened by the passing of one of my favorite wrestlers of all time--Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig. Since
I was a small child I thought this guy was cool--really even before I knew who Scott Hall was. I've always loved the
bad guys, and Curt played the role, well, perfectly. Every time I spit out gum-even today-I spit it out and swat it
away, al Mr. Perfect. He will be truly missed.
In Martini Shakers news, well, everything's going--just slow. We've found a new home base at Tommy's Up Top (since
the ugliness with TIME OUT seems to have finally shut it's doors for good). We always have a MONSTER crowd there, and
really enjoy playing for them. Now, we're just trying to expand the show to some of the other places in town.
We want to play as much as possible. We're trying to get some of the music festivals booked (City Stages,
FatFest, etc..), but I've gotten no confirmation on anything yet. Needless to say, I'll let you all know.
We have a 10 song demo CD recorded, which if anyon's interested I can get you a copy pretty easily. We're going
to begin next Monday recording the first of 2 more albums. One, a Hank Williams tribut CD, and the other just a CD full
of Rock-N-Roll classics. Both of which will be for sale at the shows when they're done.
Well, that's about it this week. Hopefully, I can update more often (stupid free sites...We need to buy www.Martinishakers.com I guess. I have no idea how to go about that--any ideas?). Till then, keep your car clean, and always remember---It's
ALWAYS MARTINI TIME!
4-20-2002
The SMOKEY JOE'S thing went well. I was pleased with it, even though I broke a string (and got a little too drunk--somebody
cut me off, please!)
I'm WAY out of shape for playing. My arm was sore all the next day, and I had a scratchy throat. You see
what happens when you don't use those muscles??
Thank you to everyone who sang along. I hope everyone why got a card from me is visiting the site, and SIGNING
THE GUESTBOOK!!!!!
Hopefully we can play there on a regular basis. We'll see.
Till later, keep cool kids!
4-13-02
Well friends, we're back! After a couple of months of total inactivity, we're at last ready to play. Birmingham
is a wide open place for music! What are there, like 4 bars for every person in the city?? To tell the truth,
though, we'd kind of like to avoid the whole "bar scene", and play the smaller cafe's and things.
Also, we're trying to hone our sound into something a little more "duo friendly" (since we can't find and keep a third
member). We're trying to re-arrange some of our setlist to exclude some of the lengthy solo's, and concentrate more
on ballads. Of course, there'll still be a lot of rockers, but we want to create a more "beach" attitude (and no, we're
not going to be playing any Jimmy Buffett---well, no more than we have to!!). We want to create and environment that
brings to mind sitting on your front porch with a tall glass of iced tea listening to your pals strumming guitars and playing
cool music. I guess that's what every acoustic act is doing, but we're just getting on the bandwagon, so now it's new!!
I hope anyone who's heard us before will come and check us out! If you haven;t heard us, now's the time!
On a personal note, I've gained back 20 lbs of the 43 I lost last summer. Bummer. But, I'm back
to watching what I eat, excercising, so I should be back in shape in no time. Just bear with me, and step around my
gut if you're at the shows! You know, it's kind of like having a third member after all!
Till next time, later kids!
2-24-2002
What a couple of months!!
Lot of craziness with the band. We've decided to stop playing at Cotton Jims on Fridays.
It was gettin to be a drain on all involved. We just weren't drawing the crowd we had hoped we would. Thank you to all
the faithful few that came out week after week. We learned a lot about who we were and where we're going. I had
hoped we could play one more week, as a sort of a farewell, but things happen the way they happen. Thank you again to
Jim for letting us play your WONDERFUL club! God bless you and good luck!
Still trying to find a permanant drummer. Going Tuesday to try out another guy.
Cross your fingers!!!
Also, still looking for a lead player. Being in a band is a lot of work. Once we
get a "full staff" it should make things a lot easier (I hope). I'm ready to start playing in town.
Now, on to good news...
THE NWO is BACK!!! It was such a cool thing to see Scott Hall on tv again! I was
overjoyed!
You can visit my Scott Hall site at:
I've been smoking cigars like a madman since we're not playing every Friday. Hope it doesn;t
do TOO much damage to the pipes.
That's all I have to say for now kids. Please e-mail me, or at least sign the book!
Later kids!
1-14-2002
Wel, Steve quit the band. Bummer. Now it's back to just me and Jody. Jim sat in with us Friday, but we were
still crippled. Teh drummer just tied the whole thing together. Maybe we'll get a new one soon.
I have laryngitis.
No voice at all. This sucks. My voice is something I can always count on, and now it's not here. Sure hope it's back by
Friday. I feel horrible. Flu-like. Missed work and everything.
It shouldn't be this hard to get a band together.
Between my voice, and a lack of band members, I'm getting really discouraged. Almost feel like quitting. I guess everyone
has to deal with this crap in a band.
Hope to see everyone Friday at Cotton Jims. Hope he'll sit in with us again.
Till next time cats and kitties! Have a better one!
1-07-02
Cotton Jim's is a BLAST!!
We had a very small crowd, but everyone was having a good time. Hopefully, the
word will get out soon. We're gonna keep playing our butts off, no matter how many people show up!
I guess I'll be taking
all the guitar responsibilty. Kinda scary for me, but I guess I can handle it. Actually, this was the original lineup!
Of course, if the right guitarist comes along,I'll happily go back to playing rythm. I may not be anywhere near the best
guitarist around, but listening to the tape I made, I think we have a pretty good vintage sound. It really helps to have
a great band to play with. This is the most fun I've EVER had in any of the bands I've ever been in.
Jim Thomas is
one heck of a nice guy. He took a big chance letting us play on Fridays. I hope we don;t let him down. The biggest thing
is just getting the word out about who we are. I think people would have a good time if they's just come out!! We'll do
what we can!
If anyone is reading this, please sign the guestbook. I feel like I'm beating my head against the wall
for no good reason. Let me hear from you, folks! Heck, drop me a line and tell me that the site is bad. Just let me know
someone is looking!
Till next time, have a better one!
12-13-01
WOW!
We've ben offered a wonderful opportunity to play EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT at Cotton Jims. As soon as I find
out, I'll post a map and contact info here. I'm very excited. Wehope everyone will come out to support us. I hope I can
get off work. We'll see.
I'm listening to our set (by the original artists). It's so cool for me to be playing these
songs, because they are ALL my favorites. It's awesome to finally be doing the kind of music I love in the style I love.
I've been in every kind of band imaginable--from rap to hard rock to honky tonk top 40 country. I can do any of those styles.
What I love is what I'm doing now. I have such a passion for it! Rockabilly is not just a type of music---It's a lifestyle!!
The Kustom Lifestyle! You don't just do it part time. Kind of like Punk I suppose. Once you get a punk haircut and TONS
of tattoo's, you'll never be mistaken for a regular joe again. Same way with rockabilly. People see you and they KNOW what
you are. I love that. It's a uniform, and I wear it proudly!!!
If anyone is wondering, my dad is doing a lot better.
They say his voice will return. God I hope so. It was so cool when I was a kid to hear my dad sing to me in my ear. He
has a really deep voice, so it would tickle. I sure hope my son has the chance to experience that. I try to sing some of
the same songs, but my voice isn't as deep, so it's not the same effect. Plus my dad was one of the best hoot-owl callers
in the state of Alabama!! I'd hate not to hear that again.
Keep rockin' kids!! Till next time, I'm going to smoke
my pipe!
12/9/01
Howdy folks! Here are some pics of my new git-fiddle! Ain't in a beaut?? Sure plays like a dream. It has a
cedar top, so it's not a jangly as the old one. Has a very warm sound to it--a lot like the old 40's f-hole archtops. Jazzy.
I look forward to playing it live.
Don't get me wrong..I love my old acoustic. This is just a more professional model.
All out Christmas shopping is done (except me getting Marlena's...ANY IDEAS?????). Hope yours is.
Please sign
our guestbook. Have a great week!
Click here for the ZOO article
12/2/01
Well, I sold my Gibson today. I found a new acoustic that I want. Kind of sad to part with my Chet, though.
I bought it new in '93. It was my first electric guitar. Oh well, my new one will be great! I'll post pics when I get
it.
I heard a segment on public radio this morning about the Zoo in Kabul. Those --for lack of a better word--- FUNGUS
in the Taliban have actually made me hate them EVEN MORE than I did before. They've pretty much killed all the animals except
a handfull. What is still there they've tortured and tomented beyond description. Read the article at the top.
What
a bunch of brave heroes they all are. Allah must be proud of them. I would like to beat them severely, strip them naked,
cut them across the chest and drop them into the Lion den of a zoo here in America. That poor lion there couldn't do much.
See how brave they are then. They have no regard for HUMAN life, why should they care about animals. Jeez.
Enough bad
stuff. Christmas is coming up. Jory Jr. is gong to have a GREAT one. I hope you all are as well. Don't forget to sign
the mailing list. God Bless you ALL!
11/24/01
This is just a page where I can discuss things not necessarily pertaining
to the band that I wish to talk about. Things like my favorite bands, beer and cigars!!!
Of course, my favorite beer
is Guinness. I prefer actual draft, but the can and bottle versions of the Draught are pretty good too. I started out on
Guinness Extra Stout. Now, I much prefer the others.
My favortie cigar. That's a little trickier.
Of course
my old stanby is the La Unica #100. It's a double corona (8 1/2 X 52) so it's a nice long smoke. I prefer maduro wrappers
in ANY cigar I smoke.
I've recently been smoking these wonderful OPTIMO corona's. I bought them at first for their
price ($1.40 at the Briary [www.THEBRIARY.com]) but have since come to really enjoy them a lot. They're a hand made Dominican,
so their a really high quality cigar. Very nice every day smoker. Certainly affordable enough.
I also have recently
been smoking DON DIEGO RESERVES. A little pricier ($5.50 at the Briary), but probably the best smoke I've ever had.
My
favorite tobacconist is The Tobacco Station in Forestdale. However, they don't carry the Optimo's so I get them at THE BRIARY.
I get all my pipe tobbacco at the Briary as well.
All this is probably boring, but it's late, and I'm drinking, so you
get to hear it!!
In the future, I'll have better rants. Stuff happens all the time that I need to talk about.
Please
e-mail me with comments.!
Later Gators!
Check back often!!! I get new ideas every day or two!!
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