Arbuckle Acres Park 7/13/10

Dan Holmes at Arbuckle Acres Park
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Brownsburg, IN had some heavy rainfall earlier today, but it was clear and nice for our evening show in the park. I was really happy with the way my sound system performed outside. It was the first huge show we've done with it. I had many people come out to the show who I haven't seen in a while, so a big thanks to them for making it out! Two hours of blues as the sun went down. Fun evening, and if you weren't there, try to make it to our next one!!!

Sparta Blues Fest 7/10/10

The Crowd at the Sparta Blues Fest
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

This was it. The last blues fest in Sparta, IL in the foreseeable future. After 13 years, and blues greats like Koko Taylor and Gatemouth Brown, the fest had some support problems from the city, so we played the last one. Fun crowd, and not too hot for an outdoor in July event. Joe and Bill sounded amazing, as always, and it was fun watching Duke rev up a crowd who had been sitting still all day. The only down side was it was a 4 hour drive there to only play 90 minutes, then 4 hours home. Long day on the road!

Speedway Daycare 7/9/10

Rock Star
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Rock Star day at the daycare in Speedway, IN was fun! Joe Maddox, Bill Ritter, Jake Hahn and myself played for about an hour while the kids danced, sang, and drummed rhythms out on anything they could get their hands on. It's always fun to perform for an appreciative crowd, no matter what the age group is!

Static Shack 7/8/10

B3in' it
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Today marked a surreal experience for me. Let me explain why: In 1991, I first heard a song on the Bob and Tom Show featuring a comedian named Sam Kinison. Then in 1992, Sam sadly passed away. I was aware that the song I had heard him sing on was not his. Fast forward to 1999. Duke Tumatoe contacts me about joining his group. I quickly realized the song I remembered Sam Kinison singing while I was in high school was Duke's tune, "Tie You Up". Fast forward to 2010. Today, I find myself putting an organ, piano, and vocal track down with Sam singing over the top of me. The old track needed to be tightened up a bit for a future release, so I had a chance to play with a comedian who hasn't been on this earth for more than 18 years.
Very surreal, but cool.

Westfield Rocks The 4th 7/4/10

Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Westfield, IN hired Duke to headline their big 4th of July celebration. We were treated like royalty as the shuttled us and our gear around on golf carts. Just before the show, Duke scraped his head on the roof of one of the carts, but not too badly. We had a great time, and no fireworks were shot at us this year (unlike previous years). Thanks to Tipton sound for making it an easy show.

Zydeco's 7/4/10

Zydeco's Brunch
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Brunch was delicious this morning at Zydeco's in Mooresville, IN! We had a great time playing for the crowd. Brian Yarde on drums joined us for this show (because Joe Maddox has a church service he performs for). Brian is always fun to play with; he's a ball of energy. Bill and I pulled out some tunes we probably haven't played in a year or more. I can hardly wait for next month's brunch!

Wedding 7/3/10

Performing at a wedding
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

My first show back from vacation took place at Duke Tumatoe's next door neighbors house in Carmel, IN. DHG performed as a trio for the reception, and had a chance to eat some great food (some of which was cooked by Duke and his wife). We played requested pop cover tunes, most of which I knew because of my work in dueling piano bars. Bill and Joe did an amazing job keeping up with me as I pulled out song after song which they had never performed. Joe recently has lost a bunch of weight, and he looked cool in his suit. Bill and I packed up quickly after the show because we need to be at Zydeco's for brunch by 11am Sunday morning.

Congrats to the happy couple!

Howl At the Moon 6/18/10

Dan Holmes at Howl
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

The triumphant return of DHG to Howl's happy hour was great! Joe had in his "Billy Bob" teeth when I got there, so I snapped a picture. We pulled out tons of tunes which we haven't played in a few months to please a bunch of fans. Joe and Bill sounded great, as usual. I even made them play some tunes I hope to record for the next CD. This show was the last one for a week for me. I'm taking this next week off! Later, everybody!

Mooresville Street Fest 6/17/10

DHG at the Mooresville Street Fest
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Mooresville had a huge, fun-filled street fest, and we were lucky enough to be involved. Mojo Gumbo performed first, then Chris Wolf did a set, and we closed out the night with our special guest, Andy Kopis, playing sax with us. Andy played on the past couple of CDs I released, so it was really fun working with him again. We performed on the sidewalk behind a bunch of trees and plants, but that didn't stop us from being heard. In fact, Joe and Bill were slamming so hard as the rhythm section that they blew a fuse inside Zydeco's!!! Woohoo!!!! Go, Joe!!! Go, Bill!!!

International Bay Fest 6/13/10

Karate Kids
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

Sunday; we wake up in a hotel room in Milwaukee after getting about five hours of sleep and drive to Green Bay, WI. We performed on the WOZZ stage from 1p-5p, and had a great time. Every time we are in the area, people are so nice and helpful. An old friend of the band came out to see us, and we had a chance to walk around to see all the different carnival rides and karate demonstrations which had been going on all weekend. The only bad thing I had to face was the 8 hour drive home after the show. Uhggg....I'm tired!

Madam Carroll 6/12/10

Double Rainbow on the Madam Carroll
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

After the Winamac show, we drove home, slept, then got back on the road headed the same direction as yesterday to Monticello, IN. We drove through terribly high winds and lightening, then loaded onto the boat in the rain. Once we began to play, the sun came out, and my wife snapped a picture from the top deck of a double rainbow we sailed under. It wasn't very crowded, I'm sure, due to the weather, but we still had a good time. I met some new fans, then played until 12:30, loaded out, said goodbye to my wife (who graciously took our PA gear home in our truck), got in our car and drove to Milwaukee to get a few hours of sleep before our afternoon show in Green Bay!

Moss Creek Golf Club 6/11/10

Bill and Joe at Moss Creek
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

We left home for Winamac, IN (about a two-and-a-half hour drive north) and quickly realized: there is no good way to get there from here. Once we found our destination, we set up on a very nice golf course, inside of a gazebo. People danced and ate the crawfish boil. We played in the thick humidity. All was fine until I was almost deafened by mistake made on our mixer. I survived.
Thanks to the crew for taking some good photos!

Howl At the Moon 6/9/10

Howl On A Tuesday
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

I was supposed to have a show tonight in Brownsburg, IN, but it was rained out. Minutes after finding out I had no gig, one of the guys from Howl in Indianapolis called to see if I could fill in for the evening!

I went down expecting a slow Tuesday, and before the end of the night, found I was playing to a very appreciative packed house. Tod, Jay, Rob and I played until 1:30a and lots of people told me they were going to come back to see us again.

Thanks goes out to Juggernaught for the photos.

Med Flory Jazz & Blues Fest 6/6/10

Dan Holmes at Med Flory Jazz & Blues Fest
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

As predicted, we only got about four hours of sleep after our the show last night, then it was back in the car and a drive to Logansport, IN for a fun, outdoor fest. Big stage and great weather made it fun for me. The sound company ran me through their P.A. (since my amp busted last night), and all went well. We all agreed that the organizers of this event had the best food vouchers we had ever seen...

Kingston Mines 6/5/10

Packed House at Kingston Mines
Originally uploaded by Dan Holmes Group

This marks my first ever mid-gig blog. We have one more set to go here in Chicago, and my amp is dead. The sound man has put me in the P.A. so all is well. I just had a nice long conversation with a woman named Amanda, along with her mom & dad, about life as a musician on the road. She didn't think I would name her in the blog, so I decided to prove her wrong. After this next set (our third and final of the night), we will be packing up very quickly and rushing to our hotel to get about three-and-a-half hours of sleep before we need to hit the road to make it to our 1pm show in Logansport, IN. Lots of dancing and a good crowd always makes Kingston Mines a good time. Only another two hours until bedtime!