Oh, the Places You'll Go! - Photo Moments

Riverfest stage before the "crowdfest" - Watertown, WI


Back behind the stage at Riverfest.


Going into Watertown, WI and the Riverfest. Great folks and hospitality, great crew! All adds up to a great show!


Noticing dinosaurs in floor tile now, am I?


Service with a bang!


So convenient!  Drugs, car parts, and fireworks!


"'Cause this is Thrillahhh!..."


They set a record for the US in front of our stage during the day.


Foellinger Theatre - Fort Wayne, IN after it's all over and quiet. Should have heard things earlier!


At the catalog-favorite Sweetwater store.
I really like this little Taylor 312ce!


OC Fair - Costa Mesa, CA


Country Round Up stage - Winfield KS

a quickr pickr post

Oh, the Places You'll Go! - Photo Moments

Putting songwriting tips to the test!

Okay, so I didn't feel like writing today..  Nope, sorry!  Go away muse, don't bother me!  But knowing this is not how the pros behave, I took a three-word title I had saved for some future genius-moment and wrote down whatever word or phrases came to mind in three separate columns for each of the three words in the said "future" title.  I even went so far as to actually use a yellow legal pad and pencil (mechanical and slighty pink, at that) instead of my macfor the first flash of inspirational supernova.

I happened to read some where in a songwriting book or Twitter post of this little excercise to get the creative juices (in this case molasses) flowing.  Viola! (pronounced, "Walah!")  Broke through my curmudgeon little attitude and the words started to flow.  Pretty soon I had a couple of rough verses and a chorus to pat myself on the song-smithian back with!

Another thing I did was put a time limit on it, say, 2 hours, and if nothing comes of it I gave myself permission to stop.  As happens quite often, I passed the 2 hour mark due to my oh-so-disciplined efforts.  I was having so much fun I couldn't stop! 

What is the tune called, you ask?  Let's keep it a surprise, shall we?  I would like to reveal the song title with some form of word and melody when I get it a little more presentable.

Until then, back to writing...

What do you do to....."trick yourself" into "getting to work, already!"?

Putting songwriting tips to the test!

Proud Dad moment - Jonathan featured in Video from San Antonio

Another proud dad moment. Jonathan was featured in a short "on the road" video from DCI Fan Network while he's (Emily, too!) touring, rehearsing and performing with Pacific Crest.  He'll be marching in the center of your screen.

Proud Dad moment - Jonathan featured in Video from San Antonio

Sounds of the Eagles outside | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

Although the music of the Eagles spans many years, the tribute band Hotel California: Salute to the Eagles will cover the early classics to the later hits during its Friday concert at Foellinger Outdoor Theatre.

The group is one of two noted tribute bands — the other is The Music of ABBA: ARRIVAL from Sweden — playing at the theater this weekend.

Songs played at the Hotel California concert will include “Heartache Tonight,” “Desperado” and, of course, “Hotel California.” Besides the big hits, there will also be “crowd pleaser favorites, but not necessarily radio hits,” said George Dickinson, a band member.

“If they love a good live show, they'll really have a good time,” Dickinson said.

The concert has some interactivity between the band and the crowd, he said, and “people will be pleasantly surprised how powerful it (the concert) is.”

Those who know the lyrics and music of the Eagles will be drawn into the concert based on familiarity, he said.

“The first 15 minutes you're going to hear hit songs,” he said.

The five band members of Hotel California are multitalented and play several instruments, some authentic from the Eagles time period as well as real acoustic instruments.

“We use those talents to bring the Eagles to life,” he said.

The sound quality of the band is better than what the Eagles had because of improvements in sound over the years, Dickinson said.

The band Hotel California was founded in 1982. The five members perform at 150-200 high-profile events every year.

The performance at Foellinger Theatre is part of the theater's summer concert and movie series.

Take a chance?

Foellinger Outdoor Theatre will welcome highly popular tribute bands back to back this weekend. Here is the information about the Saturday evening show:

What: The Music of ABBA: ARRIVAL from Sweden, which includes original band members from ABBA, will perform a concert of classic ABBA hits, such as “Dancing Queen.”

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Foellinger Theatre, in Franke Park off Sherman Boulevard

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Tickets available online at www.fortwayneparks.org, then click on facilities, Foellinger Theatre, concert and movie series, then to “ABBA” to purchase tickets. Or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 427-6000 or go to the office at 705 E. State Blvd.

-->

via news-sentinel.com

See you in Indiana! ~ Steve

Sounds of the Eagles outside | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

The Walk To Indy - Go Emily and Jonathan!

Here's a short montage of a documentary that is being shot of Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps. while they currently travel the country.  My kids are a part of this and currently on the road!  So proud of them!

The Walk To Indy - Go Emily and Jonathan!

Texica or "Monotony Is What You Make Of It" - Video

Another bit of footage from the road.  I was listening to some African music in iTunes while making the day-long trek on I-10 east across Texas.  "Diama  Don" by Issa Bagayogo just fit the mood so well.  I'm sure you've heard it, right? ;-)

Another way to look at it is simply using the most-helpful storage power of YouTube and thereby freeing up space on my hard drive.

Texica or "Monotony Is What You Make Of It" - Video

On being inches away from Picasso and others

A quick photo before melting in the 102 degree NYC heat

Reflecting on my recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, it reminded me of a game I used to play with the kids that used as playing pieces little cardboard squares with tiny prints of world famous paintings.  They were merely just that - nice, little cardboard replicas.

Well, it was a different story being just inches away from such works of art. Suddenly, this was the real thing, close enough to touch (though I dare not!!) .  It gave me the chills.   I Never thought I would enjoy it so much!

"Good artists borrow, great artists steal" ~ Picasso

The majority of the time I spent in the special Picasso exhibit and paid for the audio headphone tour (which I highly recommend-I got tired of reading, especially because it was really crowded and hence distracting) (Did you just see that?  The beginnings of art-snobbish-ness).  When it came closing time, there was sooo much I DIDN'T see!

I'm definitely going back and when I get home I'm going to have to pay a visit to some of those museums in LA.

Do you enjoy art musems?  Can't stand'em?  Share your thoughts below.

On being inches away from Picasso and others