Post by Gene on May 1, 2012 9:47:44 GMT -5
How ya doin’? Spring seems really drawn out, since it was freakishly warm at its start, then got normal, which made it kind of a tease for summer. Summer’s on its way, though, and it shows with my gigging picking up:
SAT, MAY 5: La Seniorita, Petoskey, 7pm-10
FRI, MAY 18: Village Inn, Mackinac Island, 8pm-12
SAT, MAY 19: Village Inn, Mackinac Island, 8pm-12
WED, MAY 30: Dixie Saloon, Mackinac City, 9pm-1
La Seniorita’s is a new venue for me, and I’m flattered that I got chosen to do their Cinco de Mayo date, which is kind of a big deal for this Mex restaurant, I guess. Looking forward to it, although they don’t have live music usually that much, but whenever I can niggle a foot in the tightly closed door of the Petoskey music scene, I consider myself lucky. I’m going to be given a try at the Village Inn on the Island. They’re now under the management of the Grand Hotel, and they are going to try to compete with the main downtown nightlife staples on the main street, which is going to be hard, this place being on a perpendicular street around the corner. I hope it works out MODERATELY, or just-right, since I like to play on the Island a FEW times, somewhere between heavily and not at all. It’s a blast to play on the Island, but the gear-moving logistics and long stretches of overnight stays can get pretty taxing as a routine after a while, especially for a non-career musician with a family. The Dixie in Mac City is going to be having me EVERY Wednesday all summer, and the first one starts in late May. I’ve played here a few times, and the crowds are younger and just my style, so given the good fit, I’m really looking forward to it!
Past gigs were sparse in March and April, as is typical, but went well. I’ve gotten to be one of the darlings at Harley’s in Marquette, and played there twice during this time, and I’m always warmly received there. Although I can see my mom and dad and drop in on a few friends in that area while taking in a gig there, I told them that I don’t really need to play there in the summer since my schedule is more than adequate for that time where I live. I’d like to play there again in October and beyond, though, maybe. I did the Bombshelter in the Soo during a big playoff hockey game going on next door, which became a wall-to-wall packed house, which was just nuts! I sure got known by a lot of people in that area that day, for sure. I got to do St. Patrick’s Day at the Dixie, which went great for the most part. I didn’t much appreciate that I got put in the O’Reilley’s pub half at the same time some DJ was cranking out loud “thumpy-thump” techo music as loud as he could in the Dixie half. I could barely hear my own self over it, where I was placed, but my speakers were pointed at a crowd where it wasn’t as loud for them, so I tried my best to play over it regardless. It made it confusing and extra challenging for me, for sure, but I was still a hit, somehow...
The summer is looking pretty comfortable, and I’m about 70% of where I’d like to be with gigs. As I say, I’m doing every Wednesday, and I have a few dribs and drabs along with that, so I’m playing once or twice a week as it sits now. I’m waiting on a few venue get-backs from places that book on more short notice, so it’s looking like it will be a very good season, if not great, as far as what I can stand. I’m going to try to not get too overbooked, which is easy to do, feeling so gig-starved coming out of spring, but we’ll see how it all shakes out...
There’s just a few things new in the music scene compared with past years, it seems. I’m sensing that the economic times are starting to improve compared to the late 00's, though. The Village Inn in St. Ignace is going to dabble in live music more, so I’m told. The Driftwood in St. Ignace is dropping it completely, which was something of a surprise. A venue that took a big leap is the Hidden River golf course in Brutus. They’re now under Boyne management, and have booked a long string of area A-listers many times a week this summer. I personally think they’ll find that they’ve overbooked, since this place is pretty out of the way and hard to find (hence the word “Hidden” in the name), but until they figure out that this isn’t going to pay off for them, let the good times roll, I say! Papa Lou’s did not pick up live music very impressively this summer like I thought they would. They have the same mediocre acoustic solo player on their deck every Sunday afternoon, but that’s about it. City Park Grill looks like they’re going to make a move to try and offer some upbeat and younger alternatives to the conventional and routine music offered around them, so it’s a place to keep an eye on. Northern Lights in Harbor Springs has bands on weekends very regularly now, and look to continue it during summer, too. The Southwoods in Petoskey has opened their doors some to some acoustic bands, but pay very low, so it’s almost an open mic situation there, but it is something more than what they had earlier in the past couple years. Mulligan’s in Cheboygan is going to be more aggressive with live music, I’ve heard. Cheboygan Brewing House looks to be expanding music offerings some, so that’s also a watcher. Café Sante in Boyne continues to offer great eclectic entertainment beyond the ski season; I sure wish I could get a chance there, even though the trip would be far for me! I see Clyde’s Place in Carp Lake offers intimate entertainment sometimes, too, which is new. Most others are taking a “stay the course” approach, though, but it sure beats going backwards!...
It’s very hard to see any new band that I haven’t seen already, especially in spring. I got to see Tim Hatfield’s band Crossroads again at Kewadin Casino, more thoroughly this time, but that’s about it. Tim is out of the Soo has been around a long time, and is an excellent musician, but his taste in music is pretty stodgy; I’m nearly 50 years old, and even I found the selection to be pretty “old”. But, oldies and classic country play well in this particular venue, so this band might just be the right tool for the job...
On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, May 27, me and my wife will be holding a celebration open house for my youngest daughter, Andrea, who's graduating from high school. We'll have lots of food, drink and cake, from 1pm to 4. The house is at 195 Spruce Street, one block north of the Glen's in St Ignace. I'd love for you to drop by and say hi!
That’s about everything of interest I can think of. Try to patronize the venues that still offer live music this summer, and I hope to see you at one I’m playing at this season!
Take care,
–Gene.
SAT, MAY 5: La Seniorita, Petoskey, 7pm-10
FRI, MAY 18: Village Inn, Mackinac Island, 8pm-12
SAT, MAY 19: Village Inn, Mackinac Island, 8pm-12
WED, MAY 30: Dixie Saloon, Mackinac City, 9pm-1
La Seniorita’s is a new venue for me, and I’m flattered that I got chosen to do their Cinco de Mayo date, which is kind of a big deal for this Mex restaurant, I guess. Looking forward to it, although they don’t have live music usually that much, but whenever I can niggle a foot in the tightly closed door of the Petoskey music scene, I consider myself lucky. I’m going to be given a try at the Village Inn on the Island. They’re now under the management of the Grand Hotel, and they are going to try to compete with the main downtown nightlife staples on the main street, which is going to be hard, this place being on a perpendicular street around the corner. I hope it works out MODERATELY, or just-right, since I like to play on the Island a FEW times, somewhere between heavily and not at all. It’s a blast to play on the Island, but the gear-moving logistics and long stretches of overnight stays can get pretty taxing as a routine after a while, especially for a non-career musician with a family. The Dixie in Mac City is going to be having me EVERY Wednesday all summer, and the first one starts in late May. I’ve played here a few times, and the crowds are younger and just my style, so given the good fit, I’m really looking forward to it!
Past gigs were sparse in March and April, as is typical, but went well. I’ve gotten to be one of the darlings at Harley’s in Marquette, and played there twice during this time, and I’m always warmly received there. Although I can see my mom and dad and drop in on a few friends in that area while taking in a gig there, I told them that I don’t really need to play there in the summer since my schedule is more than adequate for that time where I live. I’d like to play there again in October and beyond, though, maybe. I did the Bombshelter in the Soo during a big playoff hockey game going on next door, which became a wall-to-wall packed house, which was just nuts! I sure got known by a lot of people in that area that day, for sure. I got to do St. Patrick’s Day at the Dixie, which went great for the most part. I didn’t much appreciate that I got put in the O’Reilley’s pub half at the same time some DJ was cranking out loud “thumpy-thump” techo music as loud as he could in the Dixie half. I could barely hear my own self over it, where I was placed, but my speakers were pointed at a crowd where it wasn’t as loud for them, so I tried my best to play over it regardless. It made it confusing and extra challenging for me, for sure, but I was still a hit, somehow...
The summer is looking pretty comfortable, and I’m about 70% of where I’d like to be with gigs. As I say, I’m doing every Wednesday, and I have a few dribs and drabs along with that, so I’m playing once or twice a week as it sits now. I’m waiting on a few venue get-backs from places that book on more short notice, so it’s looking like it will be a very good season, if not great, as far as what I can stand. I’m going to try to not get too overbooked, which is easy to do, feeling so gig-starved coming out of spring, but we’ll see how it all shakes out...
There’s just a few things new in the music scene compared with past years, it seems. I’m sensing that the economic times are starting to improve compared to the late 00's, though. The Village Inn in St. Ignace is going to dabble in live music more, so I’m told. The Driftwood in St. Ignace is dropping it completely, which was something of a surprise. A venue that took a big leap is the Hidden River golf course in Brutus. They’re now under Boyne management, and have booked a long string of area A-listers many times a week this summer. I personally think they’ll find that they’ve overbooked, since this place is pretty out of the way and hard to find (hence the word “Hidden” in the name), but until they figure out that this isn’t going to pay off for them, let the good times roll, I say! Papa Lou’s did not pick up live music very impressively this summer like I thought they would. They have the same mediocre acoustic solo player on their deck every Sunday afternoon, but that’s about it. City Park Grill looks like they’re going to make a move to try and offer some upbeat and younger alternatives to the conventional and routine music offered around them, so it’s a place to keep an eye on. Northern Lights in Harbor Springs has bands on weekends very regularly now, and look to continue it during summer, too. The Southwoods in Petoskey has opened their doors some to some acoustic bands, but pay very low, so it’s almost an open mic situation there, but it is something more than what they had earlier in the past couple years. Mulligan’s in Cheboygan is going to be more aggressive with live music, I’ve heard. Cheboygan Brewing House looks to be expanding music offerings some, so that’s also a watcher. Café Sante in Boyne continues to offer great eclectic entertainment beyond the ski season; I sure wish I could get a chance there, even though the trip would be far for me! I see Clyde’s Place in Carp Lake offers intimate entertainment sometimes, too, which is new. Most others are taking a “stay the course” approach, though, but it sure beats going backwards!...
It’s very hard to see any new band that I haven’t seen already, especially in spring. I got to see Tim Hatfield’s band Crossroads again at Kewadin Casino, more thoroughly this time, but that’s about it. Tim is out of the Soo has been around a long time, and is an excellent musician, but his taste in music is pretty stodgy; I’m nearly 50 years old, and even I found the selection to be pretty “old”. But, oldies and classic country play well in this particular venue, so this band might just be the right tool for the job...
On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, May 27, me and my wife will be holding a celebration open house for my youngest daughter, Andrea, who's graduating from high school. We'll have lots of food, drink and cake, from 1pm to 4. The house is at 195 Spruce Street, one block north of the Glen's in St Ignace. I'd love for you to drop by and say hi!
That’s about everything of interest I can think of. Try to patronize the venues that still offer live music this summer, and I hope to see you at one I’m playing at this season!
Take care,
–Gene.