Happy Holidays

So this is the final catch up post. I know I missed a lot of things since last March.
I really needed the hiatus to get myself back together.

Anyway

I sent out a few hard copies of this xmas card. This is for everyone.
Happy Holidays whatever you celebrate or even if you don't.

Enjoy the ugly jammies.

LOU

D'ANGELO!!!!

My god he's back.

Anthony Wright a roommate of mine in college got me absolutely addicted to D'Angelo.
His album Voodoo was the soundtrack to my summer in the outer banks of North Carolina when I worked at the Lost Colony. Everytime I listen to Voodoo I picture the Grove Apartments and that summer. Riding with Dave Stipe over to the theater to setup the show and rocking to Spanish Joint.

I can't stop listening to this album. It's become my new soundtrack to my everyday life.
I'm sure many of my readers have heard this album already but if you haven't please do.

This album was actually a catalyst to get me writing this blog again.
I can only hope he will tour. I'd love to see this live.

LOU

Phoenix Adjusting

 Phoenix has been adjusting to his new digs.

I think he is pretty happy here. The yard is a little more sparse than the old place but has plenty of space and he seems to enjoy it.

He is also set up pretty nicely in his room. This dog is too spoiled. God help me with any kids i might have.

LOU

Gig Pic

I had a gig in Monterey with Jumpstart. I didn't get one at the gig but grabbed this picture.

Mel and I stayed the day in Monterey and saw her cousin Nancy. She hooked us up with some member passes to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's a great aquarium. On par or better than the one in Baltimore. I really enjoyed it. Also liked being able to go do a gig, get paid, free hotel and a day in Monterey. 

Kind of the best gig ever.

LOU

Steak Competition

Paul and I had a steak off.

Paul used his grill and shake method. This involves periodically shaking the meat to release the delicious juice/grease inside.

I used the Ruth's Chris's/ Mike's method. Where you heat a cast iron to insane hot and cook that motha fast to get a crisp on it.

Mine is on the right.

The steak were very different from each other as far as taste. The winner you might ask...

Why both of us as we were enjoying some killer steaks.

LOU

Gig Pic

Yonders in Dixon for the Veterans Stand Down. I sent this to Kate a while ago and she said what you are all thinking. Is there really only one guy in the audience.

Yes this happened.

LOU

Exhausted Battery

This is the first time I've seen one of these Yamaha console batteries not say they were good.

Perhaps because I left the think off for so long when moving to a different office.

Poor guy served us well for 9 years.

LOU

Why?

I just purchased a couple extension cords for around the house.

Why the hell do they put all these damn labels on the cord? I count 4 stickers with warnings on they. And if you try and rip them off they leave a sticky residue (My new band name by the way)

So I have to cut them and carefully peel them off to get a clean usable cord. Also this is a 6 foot cord and the stickers cover at least 20% of the total length. Does anyone just leave these on? It's seems like such a hassle. Especially when it came in a little package that had the same warnings printed on it.

Minor Annoyances (My newer band name)

LOU

Si!

The Yonders are playing at Disneyland. Obviously I had to make a stop at my favorite Mexican place.

Leo and Nate know what's up.

LOU

Con Funk Shun

Con Funk Shun played at in Vacaville at the same park where they do the creekwalk concerts.

Cool show and sounded really good. Their engineer was great. Mike and Jeremy set this one up and it was a KPS rig out there. The place was packed. Here's the view from the mix position.

LOU

The Moe Howard

I've been getting my haircut at this funky barbershop called gentlemen gents.

Paul decided to take this picture while they were cutting my hair. I said give me the Moe Howard.
Not bad. This could be my new look.

LOU

Melody and Marilyn

Melody was watching Marilyn her cousin Molly's daughter. They were passed out when I got there after work. I snuck this photo before they woke up.

LOU

Big Quake

Phoenix the day after the large earthquake at Mike's house. I'm not sure if this was right after it as he tends to look like this most mornings.

Mike said he woke up and thought the ceiling was going to cave in. Phoenix and I slept through it. I woke up for a second and thought I dreamed the quake.  I'm so thankful to be a heavy sleeper. I can usually sleep no matter the condition and time. Mike said that's my super power.

I'm Sleep Man! No evening too early, no place too loud or bright, no morning to soon.

LOU

The New Yonders

 Meet the New Yonders. Similar lineup but with some new folks added. We recently had a northern CA tour. It was great. We played a couple theaters and a county fair type thing.

 This was is Eureka. There were some major fires because of the drought. Here is the dock area. You can see the red sun shining through all the smoke and ash.

 Seen while walking around Red Bluff. I send this to Ben in Japan. It's really false advertising as the people would not get the full Ben Johnson experience but the new yonders will have to suffice.

 Here was me at the last gig. I'm a Bartlett Pear. Yee-haw! Also who has a face that big. The hole in the sign seemed a bit oversized.

At the last gig. One of the worst and ricketiest stages I've been on. The girls are doing the single ladies dance. The crowd went mild.

Fun tour. The Yonders is still my group with the AF. There is also talk of us going to South America. Hopefully more details on that soon.

LOU

Audio Humans

I been fortunate to know some great people that also do what I do for fun and a living.

Here's a couple of 'em

 Mike at the Fairfield theater. He was mixing Tommy. It was a great show. Mike has recently done a lot of sound design for theater shows and really doing well with it.

Anna mixing on my x32 rig for a salsa gig. I know it's a little kludgy but it works well. I met Anna through Mike at Blue Frog and she has been working lighting mostly but is an audio human. I take her on gigs when I can afford to and give her time to mix and get more experience. Ralph did something like this for me 10 years ago.

LOU

Gig Pic

Another Tahoe wedding with Jumpstart.

LOU

Road Dogs

Paul and I are once again hardcore road dogs / gig whores.

 I had an all day gig with my friend Keith for the 4th of July. Surprisingly not working for the AF this year. This was on the Suisun waterfront. This was when the place was mobbed for the dance troop.

Paul and I had a gig in Redlands the next evening. Redlands is 7 hours away. I finished loading out of my gig and picked up Paul around 2 am. I drove for like an hour before falling asleep in the back of the gigmobile. Paul took it the rest of the way.

We drove because Paul had a gig on the 6th in the afternoon. We make it to Redlands and check into the hotel. Just as we walk in the door there is an earthquake and the floor really moved. Nothing major but you could feel it. Paul and I crash out and then head to the load in for the gig. After sound check we have some time to kill. We roll back to the hotel and spend about 30 minutes in the hot tub. What a weird 24 hours. We play the Yonders/Concert Band extravaganza.

While I was there I saw the ghost of Brandon's Past.

Right after the gig Paul and I loaded up and left. It's 11pm on the 5th. I drive most of the way home while Paul crashes.

No road trip is complete without cruisin for burgers. We stopped at in and out. I don't remember why I took this photo. Perhaps just the juxtaposition of massage and donuts. My kind of happy ending. Donut!

We made it back with a few hours to spare. Paul went and played his gig and I went into a coma when I got home. On the way back I saw the smoke coming from the fires in Napa coming over the hill in the morning. Eerie.

I know it's a lot of work and sleep deprivation but it sho is fun.

LOU

The Pizza Which Shall Not Be Named

Eddie and I went to lunch at Vicini's. This is where Eddie, Matt, Niko and I used to go on a regular basis. The rule was never mention it's name otherwise we would have to go there. Eddie said it so here we are.

Matt Thomas came out to visit on a manning assist before being fucked out of his retirement. (I'm angry) We made sure to make this a stop.

LOU

Gig Pic

Wedding in Tahoe with Jumpstart. This is my newest version of the midi rig.

LOU

Fun With Phones

I just got my new iPhone. It has a high speed camera on it. This clip was my original idea that I wanted to put in the queen video. But the hardware couldn't do it. 

Now enjoy this dumb video.

Here's another with Phoenix chasing a ball.

LOU

Accordion Picnic

I saw this sign while driving out to Ben's place. I was keeping Phoenix there during the day while I sold the house. I can't thank Ben enough to open his place up to Phoenix while we had to be homeless.

Anyway I think these guys are the same elusive accordion enthusiasts that I have come in contact with before.

LOU

Gigs and a Visit

Ralph has once again called me out to do some work with him at Georgetown University. A long weekend of long days but I wouldn't have it any other way.

After the gig I stayed at Sarah's place and Mom and Bob came up.

 Libby watching a movie with Bob.

We all went to the zoo in Baltimore. Here a bird is trying to sneak up on my mother.

A fun trip and nice to make the journey with a gig to really make it count.

Also I got to meet my new niece Charlette. Or is it Charolette. Katie please correct me!


LOU

Gig Pic

In Santa Cruz with Jumpstart. Fun gig. Mel and I stayed and went to see some friends of hers in the area. I really like Santa Cruz. I hope to end up there some day.

Here's us on the beach. I love my dumb dad hat. I got it on deployment for when I needed a boonie hat but wasn't in uniform.


LOU

Home Made Cheese

Ben got me a cheese making kit for Feaster. We saw a cheese making demo at the local farm where Ben had been volunteering and tried it for ourselves. Mel was looking for raw mozzarella. So raw mozzarella is what we made. It actually came out awesome, first try.

LOU

Yonders and a Concert Band

Rather than come up with anything original the concert band has employed the Yonders to front the band with the Beatles medley Paul had arranged.

In rehearsals.

LOU

Gig Pic

Gigging with Sapo. I needed my full PA system. I had to step up to the truck. I managed to fit everything in it and get it into my over stuffed garage.

LOU

Gig Pic

Easter at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church.

This is always a fun one.

LOU

Cat Impressions

Mel trying to pose like her cat Charlie.

My sister Sarah did something like this with a dead squirrel once. I have to find that photo.

LOU

The Cone

Phoenix had to get a growth on his front paw removed and was forced to once again wear

The Cone Of Shame!

LOU

Gig Pic

Jumpstart at the Silver Legacy in Reno. I didn't take any pictures at the gig but this was the view from my room.

LOU

Surprise Produce

 I hadn't touched the garden since before deployment and was surprised to find edible growths. Artichokes!

 And some tasty strawberries. What a surprise.

Phoenix couldn't be bothered.

LOU

Fly Date

My good friend Ralph called me up for a gig. It was country artist and he needed someone to mix on an ls9. Apparently that's me. I told Ralph I was bragging to my friends that I had to fly across the country to do this one gig.

I felt so great about it. But was humbled immediately when I hooked up the iem transmitter antenna wrong. Ralph joked "Do I need to fly someone else in to do this gig?"

The gig went great. I flew in the night before and setup all day. This was Amy Wilcox with a band out of Nashville. The drummer had bailed that day. Ralph being the miracle worker he is found a drummer that day to cover the gig and he was great. The band was really pro as they were cool people with very little ego. This was my seat from monitor beach.

 I stayed at Ralph's place that night and flew out early the next day. Ralph is the only person I know who keeps a red marshall stack in his guest room. You know. Just in case.


LOU

Gig Pic

Jumpstart gig in Tahoe.

There was a huge snow storm the pass was completely snow in and you needed chains to make it. I had the gigmobile full of gear. I didn't think I'd make it but the little fit proved itself to me the mighty gigmobile that it is.

The gig was ok but what I really remember is the snow.

LOU

The Yonders Record

This one ate up so much of my time. I  should have blogged it while it was happening but it didn't happen. (Obviously)

Here's Biccum's view with Ben in the aquarium. I'm very proud of what we have made. The album still hasn't been released and may not see the light of day. Specifically the Beatles medley. The licensing is just too expensive. So I'm giving it away for all to listen. This was arranged by Paul Wells and features the original Yonders lineup. I did the recording and mixing. It's a long one but you all know it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B55LOfqMqPfvRDlWVDRJRzVQbjQ/view?usp=sharing

Please enjoy. This was done entirely in the band building using my protools rig and some nice mics and preamps.

I really enjoy this band and the folks in it. Even in the newer configuration. It is a challenge and pushes me to up my game. Very similar to the super band Mobility line up. Which has officially ended as no original members are still playing with the group. Preston being the one to stay the longest.

I hope this great music will continue.

LOU