2/5/02: Rolex 24HR race, MM working with producer?, Downtime sneak previews

Nothing's quite like spending a 4 day weekend in FL where the weather is in the upper 60's only to return to 4 degree windchill weather here in NJ. Ouch. Went to Daytona to see the 40th running of the Rolex 24 hr race at Daytona Speedway. It was really something to see. Me & my friend Dave rented a cargo van for the weekend and camped in the infield for the whole race. Dug a hole in ground, built a fire (I still can't believe they let you do that there), grilled steaks, drank cheap beer and listened to the roar of engines for 24 consecutive hours while getting a tan on the roof of the van during the day. Even snuck into the pits overnight as cars were breaking down and watched them frantically being repaired. Some highlights (see the gallery for more pics):

The real reason I go to the races...

1/14/02: HAPPY NEW YEAR!, booking frustration, MM plays house concert, album update, Jets crumble in LA, new music review

So Happy New Year! I don't know about all of you, but I'm very happy to say goodbye to last year for a number of reasons. Something bad happened to almost everyone I know. Glad the holidays are past. Life/business pretty much gets put on hold until they're over. Looking ahead...

OK, I must admit to getting a bit frustrated over band bookings. While TT did a great show at Bar A Jan. 3rd and everyone there (all 10 of them) loved us, it seems they might be giving us the big blow off due to poor turnout. So much for their policy of "we're willing to work with bands that have potential". Poor Billy's only uses STARS bands exclusively (for those of you who don't know, STARS Productions is like the booking agency mafia. They're book the bands in virtually every big club in Jersey and the surrounding area which explains why the music is the same everywhere you go. These are the people who are responsible for bringing the world Dog Voices, Big Orange Cone, Shouting Asparagus (actually Screaming Broccoli, what a fucking dumb name) etc. Yes, of course, they should be booking us, too, but I don't think we're at a level where they'd be interested. I'll be getting in touch...

Park City Bar & Grill in Rutherford is still being difficult ("contact us when your buzz gets bigger") as well as Packees Pub and Paradox ("we're not having any new bands in just yet"). I guess the downturn in business has affected everybody. I feel like I'm losing steam here. If you have any ideas about clubs in your area you'd like to see TT play, please let me know. Texas Arizona coming up again this Sat. Meanwhile, a rough TT website is in the works and TT stickers should be showing up on tollbooths soon...

In MM news, I did a house concert at Mark Aaron James' (www.markaaronjames.com) place in Jersey City. Mark is a singer songwriter originally from Nashville but moved here a couple of years ago. We met at the '99 Philadelphia Music Conference. He's anxiously awaiting the release of his next album, titled Adventures With A Plastic Bag (taken from a late 60's children's book of the same name depicting different fun things you could do with a plastic bag! I didn't believe it either until I saw it.) After having a couple of recent gigs cancelled and itching to play, he decided to have a concert in his apartment! (for those of you not familiar with the folk scene, house concerts are actually becoming pretty common as suitable venues are drying up). It was an "in the round" type of show with other singer/songwriter friends of Mark's including Meghan Carey, Fragile Male Ego and Claire Cooper. I did 3 songs from the upcoming album: "Wasted", "Daylight" and "Fall Down". Even though I was getting over a throat infection (which I incurred by rooting too hard for the Jets last week) and sounded like shite, people really dug it and I got a lot of names on my list. Afterward we all hung out and partied together. It was a really fun, positive experience. Mark wants to make it a monthly event. I'll let you know when the next one is...

The new album is progressing albeit slowly. Only 2-3 songs still need music then the polishing begins. I'll be testing new songs as they get finished at open mics around town before booking an actual show. Soon. Very soon. It's all happening...

And yes, just in case you thought I forgot, I did see the final demise of the Jet season last Sat. to the Raiders. Very disappointing. Even worse was watching the game being heckled by an Eagles fan (Andrew Diem I'm looking in your direction) after they handily won they're game. Jeez. Remember when the Eagles sucked? No matter. NASCAR starts in a few weeks. And I'll be in the infield of Daytona Int'l Speedway for the Rolex 24hr race in just a couple of weeks. Should make for at least a few good stories.

Picked up a few good CD's over the holidays. Worthy of note: JOHN MAYER (I can't recommend him enough, going to see him live at Irving Plaza 2/22), new Incubus, new Ben Folds, A PERFECT CIRCLE (worth the purchase if only for the 3 songs that made it to radio). New Pat Metheny Group album drops next month. Only act in Grammy history to win 7 consecutive awards. If you haven't seen them yet, you should (4/15 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. I'll be there front row).

12/10/01: Jets choke yet again, TT back at The Rustic, TT miss "getting signed"

Pittburgh 18, Jets 7. That's all I have to say. No, wait, it isn't: Giants 13 COWBOYS 20?! It's NYC football in Dec. as our teams lose to those teams they should beat. Playoffs slipping away...Ok, I'm done now.

Anyway, not a a bad show last Fri. at Texas Arizona. Had a rough start with some equipment problems but we warmed up as they evening rolled along. Then at the end of the night one of the bartenders gives me a handwritten note forwarded from some girl named Mona who wanted to know if we were signed or not (who signs a cover band?). Said something about she works with bands etc. etc. Anyway, somehow between Denny's at 4AM and my apartment..... I lost the note. Classic. But you have to figure if she was anybody who was anybody, she would've had a business card and if not, she's just gonna think the bartender never gave me the note. Hey, we're not hard to find if she wants to get in touch with us, she will. Maybe she was just a girl that wanted to give me her phone number. If so, I'm even more pissed about losing it. Something else I can add to the list of reason why I don't have a girlfriend. Saturday night at a Xmas party in NYC was much better though:

Yes, you did read correctly, TT is returning to the Rustic Inn on Staten Island. Band consensus is if people will pay us to rehearse, why shouldn't we do it? I tend to concur. Hey, it's a gig. If the guy's willing to pay us, who I am I to say no? And, hey, the kitchen's open 'till 4AM! Woo hoo!

Dropped in again on Poor Billy's in Woodbridge. Chipping away there...

Tentative dates for the Mad Hatter in Sea Bright, NJ: Sat.'s 2/9 & 2/23.

Ringside Pub is being elusive. Might be time for the Wrath Of Todd to make another visit...

12/5/01: Jets choke in week 12, songwriting in high gear, TT @ Ringside Pub, demo vs. album

Those of you who know me know I'm not the biggest sports fan. I watch mostly racing and football. I did not enjoy watching football last Sun. as the Jets, in true Jets fashion, squandered their 16 to 0 lead in the fourth quarter to lose by one point to the New England Patriots. New England!? Let's hope they get it together in Pittsburgh this week. When the Jets win, NYC is happier... www.newyorkjets.com.

So, although I've been working on this new album for quite sometime now, I must admit it's been slow going. A lot of painful artistic growth. That is until last Wed. I don't know what happened; it's like someone flipped a switch but suddenly all the malaise is gone and I can't keep the guitar out of my hands. I'm writing all the time now and when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about when I'll have time to sit down and write some more. Finished the title cut to the new album last night ("Reckoning") and suddenly I'm back in the flow again. It's funny how that works. One minute you're completely down, then you write one thing and you think you can do anything. Playing nothing but the electric these days. It's gonna give all these songs more of that modern rock feel I've been missing. I'm pretty confident now that a solo show next spring will happen as planned. TT did an open mic at the Ringside Pub in W.Caldwell last Sun. Really cool place; a lot of the bigger names play there. They dug us. Working the phones now to turn it into a regular gig.

I'd like your opinion on this: instead of spending a ton of money to make a full length recording, I'm thinking of doing a 3-5 song streamlined demo, spending most of the money on production to make it sound as professional possible (Does anyone know any producers?) and selling that to finance the rest of the album and create industry interest. Who knows? Someone may dig it so much they might put up the money to record the rest of it. All I know for sure is my pockets aren't nearly deep enough to go up against the likes of major labels in a retail environment where whoever can spend the most on promotion wins. Instead my website will be the key. This time around I'm gonna work on getting industry allies to help me instead of just being a record store even thought the line between the two is often very blurry. Your thoughts?

11/27/01: Massimo's Grammy picks

Let me tell you something: if it's one thing that I realize when I receive this ballot every year it's that I am woefully out of touch with a large majority of the popular music scene. Like most of you, I glean new music from word of mouth or the radio which is terribly unfair to the nominees that don't get any airplay (and consistently inaccurate in terms of taste!). Keep in mind this is the case for most of the Academy when you're watching the Grammys. You don't get to see the huge book of nominees that gets sent out. I've never heard of most of these people! That being said, all I can really do with a clear conscience is support my favorite artists and do what I can to further the cause of what I think is good music (that means NOT voting for Puddles of Mudd, Gorillaz etc., Manny).The truth is, it's not that hard to make the first cut. It's a matter of filling out some forms and getting a minimal number of votes to be included in the list. Further proof that winning a Grammy does not equal musical worth. There are literally hundreds to choose from in almost every category. From that list I can choose up to five votes. And there's a limit to how many categories you can vote on. Sadly, I used up all my categories by the time I reached "Best Polka Album". Here are some highlights (My apologies to those I offend in advance. Feel free to write in and disagree if you wish):

Record of the Year:

Jaded - Aerosmith (I can't believe it either; I never liked this band but I love this song)

Wish You Were Here - Incubus (one of the best new bands around, see above)

Absolutely (Story of a Girl) - Nine Days (Very poppy, I know, but I love it anyway. Plus you gotta vote for the local boys from Long Island, what happened to them after this song?)

Album of the Year:

Steady Pull - Jonatha Brooke (she'll never win, but I think she's great. Sold more of this album on her own than she ever did when she was signed!)

Comfort Eagle - Cake (They're just so much fun)

Shangri-La-Dee Da - Stone Temple Pilots (I'm surprised we haven't heard more from this album on the radio)

Lateralus - Tool (what's good for Tool is good for Todd's Theory)

Musicfor themorningafter - Pete Yorn (gotta support the new crop of male s/s, it's good for business. Plus, he's a Jersey boy)

Song of the Year:

Absolutely (Story of a Girl) - Nine Days

How You Remind Me - Nickelback (LOVE this song (see above) but it's already getting played out)

I'm Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado (very poppy, I know, butundenialbly infectious)

Jaded - Aerosmith

Wish You Were Here - Incubus

Best New Artist:

Ryan Adams

David Gray

Pete Yorn

Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal:

Jaded - Aerosmith

Stellar - Incubus

Wish You Were Here - Incubus

etc., etc., etc....

I will say that due to the dearth of decent nominees this year, I voted in less categories than usual. BTW, anybody heard of John Mayer yet (see review of his album , Room For Squares, in the latest Rolling Stone)? Just excellent songs, easy going delivery, smart. Check him out: www.johnmayer.com.

11/14/01 - band bookings, new covers, website update, rehearsal room needed:

Trying like crazy to get bookings for the band. Went to Bar A (Belmar, NJ) and Chubby's (Red Bank, NJ) over the weekend. We might get into Bar A on a Thurs. night but Chubby's is booked thru NEXT MAY?! Last week's show at Downtime was cool. I think we rocked the place. We'll be back Jan 31st for 2 sets next time. Need to start learning some new songs. I have to admit I'm really digging Incubus these days although I could do without their DJ. Seriously, would anyone miss all the bleeping noises this guy makes? Why do they feel the need to tack a DJ onto a rock band that can operate perfectly fine on its own? He better hope the rest of the band doesn't wake up and realize there's no reson for this guy to collect a check. We're gonna cover "Stellar" and "Wish You Were Here". Also, comletely love that new Nickelback song, "You Remind Me", and that song I think is called "Crawling In the Dark" by Hoobastank. Worst name ever for a band (it will probably doom them to obscurity), and more complaint-rock lyrics but the tune is pretty cool. Also been going crazy with the website lately. Retouching tons of pictures for the Gallery page. Some of them are really nice. They look great on the desktop. I might frame a few digital prints, maybe even enter a few in some photo contests just to see what happens. Can't wait to be done doing all this website stuff so I can get back to just writing, but I think it's gonna be really cool when it's finished. This friend of Roger's is going to be a big help.

Went to Casey O'Tooles in Wayne with Roger last night to drop a TT CD. Nice place - built in crowd (there's not much else nearby), good stage. They have bands Wed-Sat and appearing soon... Todd's Theory! Or so we hope.

Got my Grammy ballot in the mail today. Yes, even lowlifes like me can be "members of the academy" and vote. Watch this space for my picks. Need to get a new rehearsal space ASAP since Jack has moved and we can't play in his basement anymore. If anyone has any ideas, please let us know.

11/8/01 - Massimo meets Boz Scaggs

So I'm hanging at the local Irish oub for lunch like I do often when I hear some guy being all loud at the end of the bar carrying on about how he performs and sings, begging the bartender to call her mother in Ireland to ask her if she know who Boz Scaggs is. Figuring he's just some drunk blow hard, I ignore him and go back to my writing. I'm about to leave when the man accosts me and asks me if I know who Boz Scaggs is because he is "the Boz" himself. I say "I know who you are. I even have a 45 of "Look What You've Done To Me" at home. He beams and offers to buy a round for the house. I chat with him for a while still not really believing the guy, telling him I know about his new album out on Virgin called "Dig" and he tells me about touring the country (he's to play in FL the next evening). Reluctantly I eventually go back to work. I find out days later he continued to get even more drunk and obnoxious and desperate for recognition from the patrons. So much so he got kicked out of the bar!

10/22/01 - Biketoberfest, train travel, rewrites, a future solo show?:

Just got back from Biketoberfest in Daytona. Big fun. All the major maufacturers are there and they let you ride any bike you want. Highly recommended if you're looking to buy a motorcycle sometime soon and you want to test drive a bunch. My favorite was the Triumph Bonneville America (see photo below). Triumph had a whole fleet of these bikes there. They were the first ones in the US.

Took the train down there. Not as romantic as people might lead you to believe. 24 hrs long, no bed, screaming kids and old people that want to talk about their grandkids. Need I say more? The good thing is I had a lot of time to do some writing. Completely rewrote any of the old songs I plan on going forward with. A lot of them are almost unrecognizable. "Misunderstood" for example has a totally new chorus (the old one never worked). Can't wait to learn these new versions as well as finish the new album's stuff. I need to practice bad. I don't even have enough finished material right now for a full show. I was hoping to do a solo acoustic gig at The Bitter End before the end of the year but I think it might be spring before all this stuff is ready for public display...