On Saturday night, while the Colin Sphinctor Band was playing it's little hearts out, the regional Emmy Awards were held in downtown Saint Louis.
At this event, Tony Chambers and Deanne Lane were awarded Emmys for a feature they did about local jazz-babe Erin Bode, and the recent trip to South Africa by the Erin Bode Group, where they worked with a choir at the Themba School for Girls.
I don't know how many Emmys Tony has won to date, but I think he's up there with Bea Arthur and Anson Williams for outstanding contributions to entertainment.
Congratulations Tony.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
The Colin Sphinctor Band
The first time I saw the Colin Sphinctor Band was in 1975 at the Festival of the Little Hills, in Saint Charles, MO. The band was playing on a flatbed truck next to a dumpster. The drummer was a guy in professional wrestling leotards who billed himself as “The Purple Demon” The unassuming man with the straw hat with the green plastic built-in visor was at the microphone playing guitar and harmonica in a loose “are-these-guys-serious” manner. Songs being played included such originals as “God Drives A Volvo” and “I Don’t Want To Be A Nazi Anymore”.
Well, in 30+ years the band has come a long way. These days the flatbed truck is almost 20 feet away from the dumpster!
And who’d’ve guessed…I’d be a Sphinctor!
While today’s Colin Sphinctor Band is different in regards of personnel, the spirit of a Sphinctor shines through in each performance. Jim Findlay (the aforementioned green-visorly-hatted harmonicanarian) is still the front-man, and one of the two chief songwriters. (John Garbo is the other. He now runs the slideshow during performances). The rest of the band is Serapis with the delightful addition of Goeff Seitz on fiddle.
The band plays about once or twice a year – the last few years have been at The Focal Point, in the artsy Maplewood, MO. The Focal Point is adjacent to the Maya Café, a delightfully unique restaurant owned by Sphinctor Jay Schoeber.
The performance last Saturday night was a lot of fun. The house was filled to capacity, and as usual, everyone left with a smile on their face. The show can best be described as “serious silliness”. While we are working hard to make sure every goes (nearly) as planned, we all realize that the total experience is the fun. Yell at the band between songs. We don’t care, we’ll yell back.
There is some nice music going on between the lines. We all enjoy playing together, and the folks always seem to have a good time. Next time, you should be there.
Well, in 30+ years the band has come a long way. These days the flatbed truck is almost 20 feet away from the dumpster!
And who’d’ve guessed…I’d be a Sphinctor!
While today’s Colin Sphinctor Band is different in regards of personnel, the spirit of a Sphinctor shines through in each performance. Jim Findlay (the aforementioned green-visorly-hatted harmonicanarian) is still the front-man, and one of the two chief songwriters. (John Garbo is the other. He now runs the slideshow during performances). The rest of the band is Serapis with the delightful addition of Goeff Seitz on fiddle.
The band plays about once or twice a year – the last few years have been at The Focal Point, in the artsy Maplewood, MO. The Focal Point is adjacent to the Maya Café, a delightfully unique restaurant owned by Sphinctor Jay Schoeber.
The performance last Saturday night was a lot of fun. The house was filled to capacity, and as usual, everyone left with a smile on their face. The show can best be described as “serious silliness”. While we are working hard to make sure every goes (nearly) as planned, we all realize that the total experience is the fun. Yell at the band between songs. We don’t care, we’ll yell back.
There is some nice music going on between the lines. We all enjoy playing together, and the folks always seem to have a good time. Next time, you should be there.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Last Winery of the Year
We have been pretty fortunate this year with our winery gigs. We played there about five times, and though the first was snowed (actually iced) out, we have since avoided inclement weather. On one occasion it started to sprinkle just as we were breaking down, and just in time for Butch Wax and The Hollywoods to get all wet. Sorry, Gene. Go hear them - they are a lot of fun, and Gene Ackmann has a lot of cool stories for a Warrenton dude.
Today's weather was fabulous, sunny, cool, very autumn-like. Soon the leaves will be turning - making the area even moure beautiful. Thanks to the folks at Mount Pleasant for having us this year.
Benet Schaeffer of Gumbohead books the bands for Mount Pleasant Winery. Gumbohead is another band that should be on your "must see" list, If you have one. If you don't have one, put it on your "need to create" list.
Among the friends we saw was Bob Baker, author/publisher. Bob is the music market/promotion guru at www.thebuzzfactor.com. I first met Bob while we were videotaping a show at the Sheldon. Also on the bill was local fav Fairchild. Comedian Royce Kelly opened the show. It was our first (and perhaps only) show using the name "Lazy Boy & the Rockin' Recliners". Television personality John Pertzborn played the part of Lazy Boy.
Next Friday is the Colin Sphincter Band at The Focal Point, in Maplewood, hope to see you there.
Today's weather was fabulous, sunny, cool, very autumn-like. Soon the leaves will be turning - making the area even moure beautiful. Thanks to the folks at Mount Pleasant for having us this year.
Benet Schaeffer of Gumbohead books the bands for Mount Pleasant Winery. Gumbohead is another band that should be on your "must see" list, If you have one. If you don't have one, put it on your "need to create" list.
Among the friends we saw was Bob Baker, author/publisher. Bob is the music market/promotion guru at www.thebuzzfactor.com. I first met Bob while we were videotaping a show at the Sheldon. Also on the bill was local fav Fairchild. Comedian Royce Kelly opened the show. It was our first (and perhaps only) show using the name "Lazy Boy & the Rockin' Recliners". Television personality John Pertzborn played the part of Lazy Boy.
Next Friday is the Colin Sphincter Band at The Focal Point, in Maplewood, hope to see you there.
Fall Tour Winding Down
It has a busy time with Serapis on their Fall 07 Extravagapalooza-rama, and the constant playing, travelling, and partying is taking it's toll on the band. It gets to a point where you can't even remember what city you're in (Augusta or Defiance) - or are you even in a city at all, or is it just the county.
Saturday night was a private party in sub-suburban Defiance, MO. The locale was a palatial (seriously, "magnificent" is an understatement.) estate set high on a hill overlooking the Missouri River valley, and surrounding areas. A house such as this would make a guy feel like he was king of all the land that he surveys.
It was a gorgeous night, and after a feast of freshly caught Alaskan halibut and salmon, folks retreated outside to the veranda and sampled various beers (Russian?) and other potent potables. (got that from Jeopardy)
Thanks to Stan and Tony for hosting this event.
Another late night - an early winery gig on the following day.
More on that next.
Saturday night was a private party in sub-suburban Defiance, MO. The locale was a palatial (seriously, "magnificent" is an understatement.) estate set high on a hill overlooking the Missouri River valley, and surrounding areas. A house such as this would make a guy feel like he was king of all the land that he surveys.
It was a gorgeous night, and after a feast of freshly caught Alaskan halibut and salmon, folks retreated outside to the veranda and sampled various beers (Russian?) and other potent potables. (got that from Jeopardy)
Thanks to Stan and Tony for hosting this event.
Another late night - an early winery gig on the following day.
More on that next.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Karl Marinko 1961 - 2007
Walking into the 505 Club in Santa Rosa, California, the first thing that hit me was the sound. The smooth organ-rich jazz/rock sounds coming from the bandstand would get any one's attention.
The quiet, unassuming man sitting intently over the red keyboard (a Nord) was effortlessly blending a soulful blues lead over the rhythm of the bass, guitar, sax, and drums.
I only saw Karl a couple times, but his talent as a keyboard player truly left a lasting impression. He had a knack of filling the space with floating melodies. I watched and tried to learn.
Of course, at that time I had no way of knowing that a year later, I would play with him on one of the last songs that he would play as a Pulsator.
The Pulsators came to Saint Louis (Saint Charles) in late September, a week later Karl had died.
The details of his death aren't as important as the details of his life. Obituaries have been written which will tell more about him than I know. But for the few, brief times that our paths were the same, it was great to be around Karl.
The quiet, unassuming man sitting intently over the red keyboard (a Nord) was effortlessly blending a soulful blues lead over the rhythm of the bass, guitar, sax, and drums.
I only saw Karl a couple times, but his talent as a keyboard player truly left a lasting impression. He had a knack of filling the space with floating melodies. I watched and tried to learn.
Of course, at that time I had no way of knowing that a year later, I would play with him on one of the last songs that he would play as a Pulsator.
The Pulsators came to Saint Louis (Saint Charles) in late September, a week later Karl had died.
The details of his death aren't as important as the details of his life. Obituaries have been written which will tell more about him than I know. But for the few, brief times that our paths were the same, it was great to be around Karl.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
It's Parish Picnic Time
We've played the Parish Picnic at Borromeo church in Saint Charles, MO, for about 5 years straight, now. They must be real gluttons for punishment.
This is a lot of fun. It's a great party that the church throws. We always see TONS of friends, and usually we have a lot of folks who stop by and sit in with us, not so many this year.
Molly Carroll sat in and played some nice guitar. Molly is Gene's daughter. She is 14, and plays in a jazz band with Todd's son Ben (15, drums).
We had originally scheduled tonight for Tuner's, but they were great about finding another band to cover for us. Also tonight was the opening concert in Bum's Hollow the natural amphitheater in Saint Charles' Blanchette Park.
We'll play one there soon. It is a great venue.
This is a lot of fun. It's a great party that the church throws. We always see TONS of friends, and usually we have a lot of folks who stop by and sit in with us, not so many this year.
Molly Carroll sat in and played some nice guitar. Molly is Gene's daughter. She is 14, and plays in a jazz band with Todd's son Ben (15, drums).
We had originally scheduled tonight for Tuner's, but they were great about finding another band to cover for us. Also tonight was the opening concert in Bum's Hollow the natural amphitheater in Saint Charles' Blanchette Park.
We'll play one there soon. It is a great venue.
One Night At Tuner's
A rare one-night stand at Tuner's on Main Street, in Saint Charles.
Had to skip the Saturday night part for another commitment.
It wasn't our typical Serapis crowd, which is fine. We like meeting new folks, and making new friends.
We concluded that it was lesbian biker chick night. Almost a lesbian biker chick fight.
a-voodin voodin.
Had to skip the Saturday night part for another commitment.
It wasn't our typical Serapis crowd, which is fine. We like meeting new folks, and making new friends.
We concluded that it was lesbian biker chick night. Almost a lesbian biker chick fight.
a-voodin voodin.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Octoberfest in St. Charles, MO
First of all, we played Octoberfest in September.
There is something about playing on the Main Stage in your home town on a beautiful fall evening.
We were glad that this wasn't a smoke-free event, as the bbq grilling wafting throught he park put the finishing touches on the terrific event. The park was full, if I had to guess I would say around 650,000 people. Seriously, I don't know how many people were there, but there were no open seats. A couple thousand, probably.
Everybody had a blast. The sound was good, the night was good, the crowd was good. It is a lot of fun showing off for the home crowd.
Especially when it works.
There is something about playing on the Main Stage in your home town on a beautiful fall evening.
We were glad that this wasn't a smoke-free event, as the bbq grilling wafting throught he park put the finishing touches on the terrific event. The park was full, if I had to guess I would say around 650,000 people. Seriously, I don't know how many people were there, but there were no open seats. A couple thousand, probably.
Everybody had a blast. The sound was good, the night was good, the crowd was good. It is a lot of fun showing off for the home crowd.
Especially when it works.
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