7/5/05: Update: new songs, new thinking / Rainmaker doesn't / strange gigs

Happy Birthday, America! Hope you're all enjoying the summer. Things have been busy for us as usual. Playing several gigs a month, sounding better every time with new songs on the way. Looking forward to returning to the Crossroads on Sat.(!) 7/9. and our debut at Pianos in NYC the following week (also on a Saturday!, 7/16). Our TV appearance on Guitar Out Front (Patriot Media, Ch.8, 11:30PM fri.) did not aired as we were previously told so those of you who couldn't see it didn't actually miss anything; our apologies to all of you who tuned in for nothing - we will keep you posted.

Personally, I've been in a great frame of mind lately and it's showing; happy accidents are occurring all the time. It may be cliche, but thinking positive really helps. Feeling positive, actually (there's a difference). It's hardest, almost impossible, to do when things aren't going your way but that's when it does the most good. When you're feeling down, you sit and wait for some luck to come your way to turn things around. Unfortunately, the opposite is how it actually happens. You need to put your head in a place where you feel like that has already happened. And then it does. SO hard to do. So backwards from the way we're trained to think in society, that we're powerless and can't do anything proactive to change our worlds. Take it from someone who's reveled in the joy of misery from time to time (if there is such a thing), visualization works. At least it's been working for me. And what's been on my mind lately? Touring, with a record deal in place by the end of next year in an RV. After keeping that thought firmly in mind for a few days, here's what I find in a fortune cookie: "You will be traveling and coming into a fortune". Not any huge revelation, I know, but don't blow off these little coincidences when they happen. Enough of them in a row and it's not an coincidence. So of course as with any new discovery I have to write a song about it. It's called "Rise"; lyrics have been posted on our My Space Pg blog along with some other stuff. We'll be taking Aug. off to learn these new songs and others. We'll be adding a few new covers as well. Please feel free to send us your suggestions. (BTW, this is Michael Massimo writing this just in case I've been rendered unrecognizable by the sunny disposition.)

While we have been busy with our own promotional efforts, some of you may remember a while back that we hired Rhonda Kelley and Rainmaker Publicity to help us out. I know these things are far from guarranteed and I don't want to be the kind of person to blame others when things don't work out but there are some things you just can't ignore; let's just say the rain never came. Not even a puddle. 5 internet reviews over 6 months does not a PR campaign make. Lesson learned. Caveat Emptor. But don't take our word for it. Read this email thread and judge for yourself. Yes, the word "sucker" does come to mind as I look in the mirror. Rhonda claims she couldn't even pay anyone to review our EP and that may be true. Hey, for all I know she tried her damnest and the CD just tanked. Recommend her to anyone else, though, we will not.

We've had a few strange gigs recently that are worth noting. One was at the Brighton Bar where our opeing act was beyond description but I will do my best. Picture a man in his 50's, shirtless (and shouldn't be), in silver satin shorts, playing along to a portable 45RMP record player (to songs like "Hello Mutah, Hello Fatha, here I am at Camp Granada...") by banging on wrenches. That's right - wrenches. The "act" is called Symphony of Wrench and words really don't do it justice. I guess this is what they call "performance art" or as I like to call it, "wierd for the sake of being weird". The best part was his "solo" played on a Mattel Electronics Football game from the early 70's strapped around his neck (that game that vibrtated while the pieces danced around aimlessly?). You had to see it to believe it. The other gig was an ill-conceived booking on my part, our show at the Internet Cafe in Red Bank, the operative word being "cafe". I haven't performed in a cafe since my solo acoustic days. I was assured when we booked it that rock bands do play there but we really blew the place up. It being a cafe and one of the few establishments school kids could frequent, our audience was WAY "21 and under". 4 words describe the other acts there: 8th Grade Talent Show. I do not kid. But we did our set reasonably well, the only interruption being a father who was evidently tired of waiting for his son's band to go on and decided to heckle us. Yes, heckle. I'm not sure I've ever been heckled in all my years of performing but there's a first time for everything. "Get the fuck of the stage! Yeah, you think you're so good, I'm gonna come up there and beat the shit out of you". Are you kidding me?! I asked if he could speak up so everyone else could hear hear his not-so-veiled threat and proceded to dedicate the rest of our set to him, who I fixed on and sang to for the rest of our set ("Cause there is nothing left for you that much is clear, you are happy anywhere but here..."). After our set, his son's band was so anxious to get on stage that they began packing up our gear. How professional. When they did finally get to play, well, let's just say they weren't even worth the wait. Hilarious. Possibly the strangest gig we've ever done. One more story for the authorized bio.

That's all for now. The open road beckons. See you in Sept.

M