The site is finally nearing completion with major updates to the Gallery, Other, Music and Bio pages as well as other tweaks here and there. The demo is at a standstill for the moment. You can hear an almost-final mix of "Anywhere But Here" on the Music page. I'm really proud of how it's turning out. I entered it into the International Songwriting Competition. I'm hoping it gets at least an honorable mention (Pat Metheny is one of the judges, BTW!) The cover band should start doing shows in a month. We needed to take some time to make a new demo and take some new pictures etc., etc. , but that's all done now. Expect to see pics and MP3's of the demo on the Other page soon. Aside from writing a couple of new tunes and growing a goatee, there's not too much else going on right now. Superweak. The Continental even called the other day to offer us a show, but I had to politely decline. I kind of don't have a band right now. Just trying to get all the pieces in place. I just think it's better to do something right than do a half-assed version of it. Again, expect more details about this "soon" in an upcoming email. In other news...

Jets.
3 and 7.
Time to start looking at next year...

True story: A friend of a friend got attacked by a squirrel the other day. Seriously. Just ran up to her and bit her on the leg and ran away! Funny, I know. So funny, in fact, that the girl wasn't able to garner any requisite sympathy, for what was surely a scary experience for her, from the people she usually gets it from (boyfriend, family etc.). Still though, very funny. She says it's "on" now with the squirrels; she won't brake anymore if she sees one in the middle of the road. (People do that?)

The "new" STP album drops on the 11th. So of course Weiland has to get arrested a couple of weeks beforehand for a DWI. What a dumbass. It's a greatest hits compilation called Thank You that has 1 new song on it. The "greatest hits" album usually signals the end. This band should be so much bigger that they are right now and it's 100% Weiland's fault that they aren't because his addiction kept them from touring when they really needed to. Thank you, Captain Fuckup. Thank you.

Haven't gotten the new Fuel album yet but suspect I will. I guess I really like this band (saw them at the Ketch in Beach Haven back in the day!). The last album (their second, Something Like Human) was better than anyone has a right to expect anymore for a sophomore release. Better than the first one, even. I'm sure the rest of the new album can't be as weak as the single they released ("Falls On Me"). Why do they always seem to release the lamest song on the album as a single? (Remember "Bad Day" anyone?)

I absolutely love that song Live has out now, "Heaven". Just kills me. Totally moved by it. I wish the rest of album was nearly as good. Maybe it'll grow on me.
LOVE the new Perfect Circle, 13th Step. Tool who? Tool what?
Been digging the Maroon 5 album, Songs For Jane. They have a hit out now called "Harder To Breathe" that I'm doing with TM. This album has a LOT of white soul. Darryl Hall would be proud. Yet they have a whole Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson/Jamiroquai (Stevie Wonder) sound going on. Groovy.
Zwan broke up. Too bad. I'm curious why. I predict a new Pumpkins lineup with Jimmy Chaimberlain still on drums in the coming months.

There is a song I'm learning for the cover band as a goof called "The United States of Whatever" by Liam Lynch. You might have heard it during the 1 week it was played on K-Rock. It is the funniest song I've heard in a long time. I want to end every show with it. Do yourself a favor and find it. You will laugh. We're also doing that song by Jet, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" (already being used in iTunes commercials). Sounds like it could be from 30 years ago. I think I need to spend another day at Barnes & Noble getting a new music education. I love how you can listen to any album they sell before you buy it.

I wholeheartedly applaud Universal Music for dropping the price of all their artist's latest albums! The concept is if CD's are sold at a lower price, yes they will make less money per unit, but they'll sell more product overall. Good move. It's already bringing people back to the record stores. Charging 18.99 for a CD you know barely has 3 good songs on it was reprehensible. Now if more albums had more than a few songs worth listening to, they'd really have something.

Saw Metheny at the State Theatre in New Brunswick last Sunday (Thanks for the ticket, Joe!). He played solo (doing songs from his latest album One Quiet Night) and with a trio (Antonio Sanchez on drums, Christian McBride on bass). He was great as usual although I found myself spacing out during some of his more mellower explorations. I like seeing him with the Group more. Still, he remains the only artist I've ever seen get a standing ovation just for stepping on stage.

Went to the Chowderfest in Long Beach Island last month. What a huge deal it was! I had no idea. People walking around with custom-made trays that had cutouts for their beer and the tasting cups of chowder they handed out. They take their chowder VERY seriously down there. Their website is already counting down to next year's event. Check it out: www.chowderfest.com (I find it interesting that in the entire world, this particular event was the first one to have the rights to "Chowderfest.com". Like I said, VERY serious.) Entertainment was provided by a band led by a guy that wins the award for staying true to a nickname (given to him by Bruce Springsteen & Little Steven!) instead of using his real name or changing it to a stage name: Boccigalupe and The Bad Boys. You gotta admire the guy for going ahead with a name like "Boccigalupe". Try marketing that one. Actually, in Italian slang it loosely means off centered, a little crazy or kind of nuts...

MM