We arrived early at the orchard. At least, it was early for us. We packed up from Kingston Mines and got back to the hotel at 5:00am this morning, and we had to be set up and playing at the Orchard (an hour away from Chicago) by 11:30am. Uggg.
The show was okay, but the crowd didn't show up until we were almost done. It was cold enough that I wore my gloves for the whole gig.
As soon as we were done, my wife and I hit the road for a much needed vacation. We have a separate blog about our two-week trip to L.A. and back again at
http://holmesbartonholmes.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Kingston Mines 10/17/08 & 10/18/08
Chicago was a little rainy Friday night, so everybody came in to see Duke perform. The place was packed all night long. Saturday was a little slower, but still an amazing crowd stuck around till four A.M.
Between shows both nights, we ate at an awesome joint just a few doors away from the club. Good BBQ, corn bread, gyros, mac-n-cheese.......
Between shows both nights, we ate at an awesome joint just a few doors away from the club. Good BBQ, corn bread, gyros, mac-n-cheese.......
Friday, October 17, 2008
Zydeco's 10/16/08
This was a huge show! Bill Ritter and I were joined with Duke Tumatoe in Mooresville, IN tonight for Deb and her crew at Zydeco's. We slammed through a bunch of Duke's tunes, and quite a few of my own. Deb had the crowd chanting our names, and that was even before we started performing.
Chris Wolf performed during our break.
Chris Wolf performed during our break.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Rum Runners 10/15/08
I drove once again to South Bend, Indiana, for a dueling piano show with Tommy and John.
Lots of people, not so many requests. We tried to involve the crowd, but they seemed to be more interested in the $.75 well drinks. We all had fun, and I drove all the way home by 5:00am.
Lots of people, not so many requests. We tried to involve the crowd, but they seemed to be more interested in the $.75 well drinks. We all had fun, and I drove all the way home by 5:00am.
Bob & Tom 10/15/08
Today was the first day we had a chance to see what the new television production of the Bob & Tom show would look like. WGN has cameras all over the NAPA studios, and a control room with a bunch of different gadgets for capturing video for the new cable show.
We had a little trouble with the sound, but Mark Rohrman filled in with an a capella bass line. This was my last trial run before I come back from vacation and go on national T.V!
We had a little trouble with the sound, but Mark Rohrman filled in with an a capella bass line. This was my last trial run before I come back from vacation and go on national T.V!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Garwood Orchards 10/11/08
I had no idea how annoying ladybugs could be until I played in La Porte, Indiana with Duke Tumatoe, Jack Joseph and Brian Yarde. Jack was filling in for Bill Ritter, and Bill should thank Jack. Ladybugs bite. We had swarms of them coming towards us throughout the day, landing on our instruments and making us miss notes by being on our necks. We played the gig and as we hit our last note, the bugs disappeared. Of course.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Zydeco's 10/9/08
A taste of Mooresville was happening tonight on the other side of town, so Zydeco's wasn't very busy. Those who were there listened to the soothing bass tones of Jack Joseph while I played piano. Terry danced and whined and tried to be cute. It's fun watching as little boys hit the age where they could be sentenced as an adult.
People were excited to hear about Duke coming to perform at Zydeco's next Thursday. I'm sure there will be a big crowd!
People were excited to hear about Duke coming to perform at Zydeco's next Thursday. I'm sure there will be a big crowd!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Bob & Tom 10/8/08
Bob and Tom laughed as Duke sang about male drill teams in short shorts during the half-time of the superbowl. Then we came to bass talk with Mark Rohrman:
"A bass player walks into a bar with a turtle under his arm. The bartender can see that the turtle had a black eye, a broken and bandaged foot, and it's shell was shattered, only being held together with duct tape. The bartender says, 'Say, your turtle's in bad shape.' The bass player replies, 'Oh yeah? Well, I bet he's still faster than your dog!' The bartender laughed as he went outside to get his dog. When he came back inside, the bass player, the dog, and the turtle stood at one end of the bar and the bartender walked way down to the other end. The bass player said, 'On the count of three, call your dog. 1, 2, 3...' The bartender called his dog as the bass player reached down, picked up his turtle, and hurled it across the room, just barely missing the bartender and smashing into the wall behind him, at which point, the bass player yelled,
'I WIN!"
"A bass player walks into a bar with a turtle under his arm. The bartender can see that the turtle had a black eye, a broken and bandaged foot, and it's shell was shattered, only being held together with duct tape. The bartender says, 'Say, your turtle's in bad shape.' The bass player replies, 'Oh yeah? Well, I bet he's still faster than your dog!' The bartender laughed as he went outside to get his dog. When he came back inside, the bass player, the dog, and the turtle stood at one end of the bar and the bartender walked way down to the other end. The bass player said, 'On the count of three, call your dog. 1, 2, 3...' The bartender called his dog as the bass player reached down, picked up his turtle, and hurled it across the room, just barely missing the bartender and smashing into the wall behind him, at which point, the bass player yelled,
'I WIN!"
Monday, October 6, 2008
County Line Orchards 10/05/08
A new day found us back at the orchard. Today, there were wierd costumed midget scarecrows and talking dinosaurs and rain.
I played the last three songs with my hands under a tarp, so my keyboards wouldn't get wet.
I played the last three songs with my hands under a tarp, so my keyboards wouldn't get wet.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Wooden Nickel 10/04/08
Six very nice people came out to see the show tonight in North Judson. Seven, if you count the bar staff. A can of P.B.R. was only a dollar. We didn't get back to the hotel room until 4:30am, which is when the doors of the elevator tried to kill Bill Ritter. He survived.
P.S. Today, an interview I gave was played on NPR. Twice. You can hear it on our "press" page: http://www.danholmesgroup.com/press
P.S. Today, an interview I gave was played on NPR. Twice. You can hear it on our "press" page: http://www.danholmesgroup.com/press
County Line Orchards 10/04/08
Hobart, Indiana has a huge orchard with a kid-friendly feel. Naturally, they wanted Duke to perform. Seriously, there were so many kids, it felt like being in the largest elementary school ever. I didn't see a single apple tree while I was there, but we did take some of my favorite pictures so far.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Park Theater 10/03/08
North Vernon, Indiana is just a short distance from Seymour, so we had a little overlap in the crowd from the night before. We performed in a cool old movie theater for one of the best crowds in recent memory. It wasn't a packed house, but those who were there were ready to have a good time.
I also watched as Brian nearly fell to his death off of the drum riser.
Drummers.
I also watched as Brian nearly fell to his death off of the drum riser.
Drummers.
Static Shack 10/03/08
We went into the studio again today to work on a couple of songs for some regional sports teams. We chanted "There Will Be Blood" and other memorable lines for air in different markets. Plus, we had a chance to bark with Alan's dog, Buddy.
Oh, yeah, on the way home, the people from the gig where I lost my camera called to tell me they found it! Woo hoo!
Oh, yeah, on the way home, the people from the gig where I lost my camera called to tell me they found it! Woo hoo!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Oktoberfest 10/2/08
Seymour, IN, home of Johnny Cougar, was host to a cool street fest full of brats and folk art. My uncle Bill (with Shelly) showed up and took some pictures for us. We were outside on a flatbed stage, lit by flourescent It was getting a little chilly toward the end of the night, which made the crowd thin out a bit, but all in all, a very fun show.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Rum Runners 10/1/08
I dueled tonight in downtown South Bend, IN with a couple of other good players, Tommy Orr and James Brown. Not the Godfather of Soul, but a white kid with a bunch of schtick. The crowd was a little slow on the uptake, but the more they drank, the more fun they had.
And then, I drove almost three hours home to fall in bed by 5:00am.
And then, I drove almost three hours home to fall in bed by 5:00am.
Bob & Tom 10/1/08
Mark, Duke and I performed this morning on Bob & Tom. Tom told me the only way he could remember my name is by thinking of John C. Holmes. I told him Sherlock might be more flattering.
We performed the NFL song first, and then George Lopez called in to speak about his new talkng dog movie. As soon as he hung up, we rushed through Lord Help Our Colts, and then I rushed home to get ready for my trip to South Bend.
We performed the NFL song first, and then George Lopez called in to speak about his new talkng dog movie. As soon as he hung up, we rushed through Lord Help Our Colts, and then I rushed home to get ready for my trip to South Bend.
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