Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Sick of Being Sick

I was feeling so invincable. I havn't been truly old-school sick in a long time until yesterday, and today, and for who knows how long. Last weekend was pretty good, though. THe Lucas Cates Band CD Release Party was Saturday night at the Brink Lounge in Madison. We all dressed classy for this very loungey atmosphere. Its kind of a cross between a hotel lobby and a porno set....fake fireplaces and all! Our management team Shirley and Georgia were in town from Atlanta to give their support and talk about the future. Its pretty sweet to have good people on your side who tell you things straight up instead of blowing smoke up your ass....they smoked menthols, too...so bonus. Some of my students were there too. I don't think there is more pressure than having your students watch you perform. There were like 300 people in that room and the only reason I got even a little clammy was the fact that these kids were there. I love them to death, though, and I think its really cool that they came to support just like every other TLCB fan in the room.
SO we have a show tonight in Madison at the Cardinal bar. It's an old club that's been there forever...Tuesday night is tough, especially when you have a chest and head cold, but I'm going to follow that advice of Kenny, my guitarist; "just get a rocks glass, fill it with makers, and sip on it...but let it run down your throat really slow. That shit will clear you right up!" - for better or for worse.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Laissez le bon temps roulez

Last night kicked off a very busy next three months. The boys returned from their duo tour (a healthy six weeks long) on Monday and the whole band did two acoustic sets last night at the Bar Next Door. Seriously, that is actually the name of the bar. Its an old Al Capone speakeasy complete with escape tunnels and a kick-ass old fireplace. Anyway things are looking up for the Lucas Cates Band. Aside from the Thursday, Friday, Saturday shows each week, our CD release party is October 18th, we're playing Halloween with one of my favorite bands, Steez, the southern tour is kicking off the second week in November, and New Year's Eve looks like it's gonna rage (we're doing that show with Steez and Chafo...my side project of sorts).
I think the new album is on itunes already...I'm not sure. I happily do not handle the advertising/promotion/business end of things. There will be a solid push on Yahoo and other Internet sites for the CD. Of course, these days it's not about the album since people can just download songs. This is definitely an issue for me, I mean I know that it's all about downloads and making things easy, but there is something about an album: a time capsule of songwriting that is interconnected with the experiences of the songwriters, a musical snapshot of the artists moment in life, a collection that makes sense as a whole. You wouldn't take just the smile from the Mona Lisa, would you? OK, I'm NOT comparing the Lucas Cates Band to Di Vinci, but you get my point.
Wow, I got a little off track there. I think I just tripped over a soapbox or something and can't remember what I was talking about.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Keggers and Cornfields

Last night was my first experience playing country music. As hard as this is for me to admit...it was fun. There are no metaphors in country, man. The singers tell you how they feel about anything. "I kicked my dog and I punched my wife and I never loved America so much in my life.." Its really quite insane. But there is an honesty that appears in other types of music which reveals itself in a different way through country music. And when its all said and done country is just pop music with some twang and a fiddle.

So I'm working with a great songwriter and this great singer who's been sought out by some Nashville producer. It's pretty much a recording gig with the chance to do a showcase later this year. A showcase, for those who don't know is pretty much an American Idol type situation where you play for "industry types" and they decide whether or not they can get rich off of you.

So I've been workin' on ma drawl, y'all. I'm fixin' to get me a naace stetson and hit up them keggers and cornfields so I can feel at home.