Rant and Rave The truth may be found below. |
JAM We will be back at the Chesterfield in October, running the weekly |
SPECTACULARISM We recently played a concert for North High in SC. We ended up setting up all our gear, lights and PA and had a real professsional looking stage. We decided to give then a real thump so we used all 6 of our 18" subs. It was a wild time with about 200 kids in a mosh pit in front of us. Cell phones and digital camera's nearly blinded us as we played. We actually felt like real 'Rockstars' for a bit, even though we were old enough to be their parents. Special thanks to all the cute roadies who helped us out. |
Jeromeo's STRANDED "PLAYLIST" It's time to prepare your IPods for the time you will spend on a deserted island, wether you are there from Global Warming or Armageddon or some other reason. Click Jethro to find other lists from various musicians and friends. Feel free to send me your list as well.
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I don't have much of a social life. My wife likes to stay at home most of the time. Between weekend gigs I rarely leave the place except to teach guitar lessons at Midbell. However, getting out nearly every weekend to spend with various bandmates is real special to me. Ed, Charlie, Mikey, Bobo, Jeff, Pat and Bekk are the people I most enjoy spending time with. Playing music together gives us such a spiritual bond and takes our friendship to new levels. Thanks to all of u Luvdragons out there. |
IN REMEMBRANCE I just found out that Jerry Stanwicks Dad, Jim passed away this week. Jim was a great guy who played keyboards with Monona Country. One of the first times I met him he was playing some accordian. I always liked that. Jim was a kind soul who played in a R&R band as a kid but got into country gospel music later in life. He will be missed by all who knew him. |
OOPS, SHE DID IT AGAIN While gulping down my coffee this morning I checked my Google news, only to find that Brittney, while in rehab, scrawled the numbers 666 on her bald head, ran around saying she was the 'antichrist', grabbed a sheet and attempted to commit suicide. Now I know the poor girl has issues. She finally realized she can't sing, she is getting a bit too chubby for the young diva popstar image, she isn't really made out for motherhood, and she is suffering from writers block. But the real reason she is doing all these 'over the top' things is because she is just really pissed that the dead(and still voluptuous) body of Anna Nicole is getting more press than her. |
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DO A LITTLE DANCE, MAKE A LITTLE LOVE, GET DOWN TONITE, WITH WAVELENGTH
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MY NEW FAVORITE I recently picked up a new axe, a G&L ASAT Bluesboy. What a toneful guitar. Sporting a Seth Lover humbucker in the neck and a hot G&L magnetic field single coil in the bridge, a semi hollow body and cool maple binding, it covers all the traditional tele tones and adds a few more suitable to harder rock. I love this little guitar,
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A MONTH AND 2 DAYS Bekk and I played in Marcus at a podunk club called the Panhead for New Years Eve. It turned into the gig from hell for us. It started when the owner, some wannabe cowpoke in a Stetson and boots refused to turn off his flourescent signs all around the stage area, and then complained we had a buzz in the PA. It ended when we got fired from the gig before the New Year even came around. I'm sure he was pissed that we had an ice storm and had a small crowd, even though I braved 60 miles of ice to get there. Anyway he hated our music, and I'm sure he expected a karaoke machine and someone singing cowboy songs to tracks, but his rudeness to Bekk and his refusal to pay our full fee was really a low point in our 5+ year career. Fast forward 33 days to Momo's in the Orpheum. We had one of our best gigs ever. Every table in the place was full and the crowd seemed to hang on every word Bekk sang and every note I played. It was truly magical. I have rarely felt such gratification as a musician. I mean everyone in the place was actually paying attention to everything we did. At the end of songs the place erupted into applause. When they told us at 7:30 we had to stop because of silent movies in the Orpheum, I actually heard a sigh of 'no' from the audience. Now my point is that musicians suffer from extreme highs and lows in pursuit of their art. I have been around long enough to have a pretty thick skin, but I have seen many give it all up because they simply can't handle the emotional drain it can cause. Luckily I have stuck with it and in the span of 33 days went from the lowest lows to one of the highest highs ever for me. Thank you Bekk, thank you Momo's!!!!!! |
THE TRUE STORY We were running the jam last September with him and he decided one night before it was over that he was done and walked off the stage, leaving us to finish. Charlie went to drums for a couple last tunes and we asked in the mic for him to come up, not leave us standing there w/o him. He didn't. After the jam I walked out the back door where he had just attacked Charlie physically, kicking him and throwing a few punches. Needless to say, the spunkster's days in the band were over at that moment. Anyway, a year later, he still puts nasty anonymous posts on our site and people have asked me who does this and why. Why, I don't know, but who, I do. Of course for a year, I just let sleeping dogs lie, but I am so sick of this childish behavior from him and I wanted everyone to know the true story. Now of course, he may tell you a different story. I have heard he has gone from admitting this to total denial that it ever happened. Who cares, we have never been happier with our band and wish he would just fade away. |
JERRY PLAYED BASS, MIKEY SANG TENOR, BOBO AND HIS SISTER JOINED RIGHT IN I am honored to become a member of Westide Mikey and the Gonegetters. Mike Langely, Bob Larson, Jeff Rymer and I are playing in some form or other every other Thursday at Uncle Stinky's in the Mac Behr complex. I handle most of the bass duties, but do a few on guitar as well, and add a bit of harmonica here and there. It has been great fun playing a bunch of folksy, rocky, bluesey, rootsy tunes with Mike and the guys. Lots of Neil Young, John Prine, Johnny Cash, Dylan, Stones, Beatles, and an occasional original from Mikey or me.
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PAY ATTENTION TO THE POET, WE NEED HIM AND YOU KNOW IT (Bruce Coburn) I wonder sometimes why I ever got a degree in Sociology. I became a potter immediately out of college and never really used my Sociology degree, but I really think I should have been an English major. I find myself reading 4-5 novels a month, and my creative interests these days are poetry and songwriting. I am constantly picking up on phrases I hear and thinking of them in terms of songs. It really does consume me at times. I often find myself composing on the way home from gigs at 3 a.m. and setting at my compuer till dawn, just to get them down right. Simile, irony, sarcasm and metaphor all seem to have special meaning to me these days, as well as meter, rhyme, melody, harmony and rhythm. When poetry is combined with music, it actually moves to a new level. Creating it seems to give me a sense of purpose and wether it is personal or totally abstract or irrelevant to my life, it still seems to capture what I feel deeply. I love doing it, and because I post some of them on this page, you all are stuck reading them. So, roses are red, violets are blue............well, maybe violets are purple, or really violet. |
Artwork below is called 'Abaration' by Byrdy Kessler. This piece won an American Vision Award, one of the top 80 out of 60.000 high school entries. It has traveled the country to various galleries for 1 1/2 years including the Smithsonian. It was published in Scholastic Magazine and awards were presented in Carnegie Hall, NYC, to the artists. Hey T-birdy, you're famous and your Daddy's proud.  |
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EFFECTS ON THE SIDE I have been hard at work in my little recording studio. SideFX from Onawa is making a 12 song CD of all originals. it is my first time recording a whole band and it is going quite well. All drum tracks are down, most guitar parts, and some bass. Bass parts should be finished tonite and then on to complete guitars. Scratch vocals will be replaced with good ones, and then the real work of mixdown starts. Recording on a computer is so cool, with automated mixing and all sorts of effects available. Sometimes it can be a bit daunting. I use a MOTU firewire interface on a Mac and Digital Performer lite, or as they call it Audiodesk. So if you need a demo made or a full project, give me a call. I am cheap and will do my very best to make you sound like rockstars. Good mics, effects, guitars, bass and mandolins available. Pod Pro for guitars and tube mic preamps. Approximately 400 GB of hard drive. Graphic Design and website design and management also available. |
THE SEED Jerry Kessler 1/07
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ZION RT CUSTOM IN GREEN, OF COURSE For years I have owned a little Tele guitar by Modulus, a prototype of the Black Knife, tele style. It was a blueburst flametop and had EMG active pickups. I paid 300 bucks for it in a pawnshop in Salt Lake City. Anyway, I decided to put it up for sale for $1000 on the net. I got a few offers on a trade , but I'm just not a fan of Fenders. Finally I got an offer for a Zion with a flamed emerald top, and this guitar listed out at $4000 4 years ago. Joe Barden pickups. So on the day after X-mas I got a late present. Apparently my little Modulus was worth about 1500 used and this guy really wanted it so I got my 4th green guitar.
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NEWS FLASH...PREHISTORIC DINOSAUR FOUND ALIVE OK, The new Wavelength practiced in SC last night and afterwards we went down to the jam. I was amazed at the number of people that 4th Floor brought in to the club. It was really nice to see some guys I hadn't seen for awhile, and I just couldn't keep people from buying me shots. I took a break after 3 or so and we got up with Josh and did some Wavelength tunes. The Clams were very gracious and were doing a good job. We Walked the Dinosaur all the way to Hackensack, suffered from Vertigo and met The Devil Inside. Whew, no wonder I have a headache this morning. |
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP We wish to bestow honorary membership into The Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Luvdragons to the following: Pat Miller, Josh Ronfeldt, El Roberto Snodgrass, Bob Larson, Ken Rider, Jon Bartles, Johnny Bolin, John Morehead, Mitch Martin, Rebekka Sand, Jake Moreland, Giles, Danne, Ritchie Howard, Alex Hyuck, Rick Swanson, Eddie, Ryk Weiss, Craig Adams, Bob Miller,and all others we have had the pleasure to jam with over the past year. We know they LUV live music a much as we do, and they all Breathed Fire into their efforts with us. Meetings for the society are normally held on Wedneday night at the Chesterfield. LUVDRAGONGUITARAROUND |
DON' T KILL THE DINOSAUR Unless it's about to trample you!!!!! |
BROTHERS IN ARMS????? If anyone would like a link to their band site or personal site, I would be happy to do it for you. I would like one in return as well. I know one band who asked for a link and put one to us on their site, and then 4 months later took the link to us off theirs. That didn't make me too happy because they gave some excuse that their hard drive crashed and they had to rebuild their page. The odd thing was that another mention of us was taken off their site and those were the only changes I saw. So I feel it was somewhat deliberate on their part. It also disturbed me that they made the claim that all local musicians were 'Brothers In Arms', but I doubt they meant it. |
I am amazed that our Congress is wasting it's time trying to make flagburning illegal with a Constitutional Ammendment, while they should be trying to solve some of the real problems our country is facing. |
FEED ME CRAP, I'M GULLIBLE The internet police have asked me to remove this post, due to the mass public confusion that it created. Due to my respect and fear of the law, I have, and I will review my feelings at a later time to see if I am willing to say something illegal. I don't really want to have to move to Canada and live underground. It would be a hard commute for Wavelength and Luvdragon gigs each week. I'm not too comfortable having my picture taken naked in a room with German Sheperds barking at me either. |
AMERICANA IDOL Anyone who knows me knows of my love for the singer/songwriter. I have had quite a few heroes over the years including Dylan, Lennon/McCartney, Prine, Hiatt, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Steve Earle, and Neil Young, to name a few. One of my current faves is James McMurtry. Fortunately for Sioux City he is coming to Chesterfield's on June 1st. Brent has granted my wish for a bit of elbow-rubbing and has allowed me to open the show for him. Ryk, my ex-partner from World Citizen and I will be doing an acoustic set(guitar, mandolin, harmonica) of original material. My daughter may play violin on a few tunes with us. Please check this show out as James is such a great songwriter and guitarist with a super melodic sense and lyrics that stand alone as great poetry. |
ORGASMIC Rick S. has a t-shirt that says something like...'Music..the safest type of high'. Apparently a quote from Jimi Hendrix. Actually it turns out to be quite true and has happened at many of the Chesterfield jams. Sure a lot of bands show up and do their thing but the real stuff happens when musicians get on stage and just start jammin' on music they normally don't play. One of my best experiences was a couple weeks ago when Giles got up and we tried a version of 'Crazy Mama' by JJ Cale. Joined by Ken, Pat, Ed and Charlie, we launched into a groove that was very 'Cale' but moved into our own little realm. I was on acoustic, which rearely happens at the jams, and found a harmony with Giles. I closed my eyes and was transported somewhere, opened them and was floating above the jammers,watching them pour their hearts and souls into the groove. Truly magical. Last week I am sure it also happened when Jimmy P, Alex, Jeremiah, Craig and Ryk did a 10 minute jam on one chord. They were all amazed at what happened. Ten minutes of swirling, exciting guitar interplay and freedom. Special, man, very special. |
THE CHESTERFIELD This new club in Sioux City is the place to be for live music. They feature many touring acts and local bands on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and The Luvdragons host an open jam there every Wednesday night from 8-12. Run by Rick Swanson and Brent Stockton, the club features a state of the art sound and light show and knows how to treat musicians with respect. The waitresses are top notch and the entertainment is always varied. Located on the east end of lower 4th street. make sure to check it out. |
THE JINX We play quite often in Yankton. It seems every time we play there we get picked up on the way back. Once with the van, i swear they thought we were carrying a load of illegal immigrants. Another time we had a light out on the license plate. James got picked up twice in the same night. Charlie got stopped for failing to use his blinker to get on the interstate. One weekend we got stopped twice during an all vehicle check and luckily passed the 'breathe in here' test. It all made us realize how strongly that we love The Police, but hate cops. |
NOT VERY CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Recently we opened for a national act at a local club. We arrived by 6:30 to do sound check and set up. Of course the big boys took longer to set up than expected but we were able to start setting up at about 7. It took us 20-25 minutes to complete our work, during which the local sound guy(he owns a local music store) was on our case to hurry hurry hurry up because he needed to go eat before the gig. Now i have heard from 2 separate people how he was claiming we were so slow, but that is simply not the case. Out of laziness or lack of mics he stuck a mic on the snare and kick and an overhead over the tom setup and told us that that's the way a lot of people do drums. DUH! When we finished our set, as i was walking across the stage to put my guitar in the case he was already on the stage telling us to hurry up and get torn down. I have never been treated so rudely by a sound guy but just let it be until I heard from others how he is telling everyone how slow we were when it was simply his stomach growling that was the problem. |
BENEFIT We played a benefit for a cancer victim last night, and want to thank the Smokin' Clams for including us, letting us use their gear and helping us spread our music and name in general. Thanks to Robert for running sound as well. It seemed that they raised a bunch of money at their auction which is always nice when people put a lot of effort into it. As for the Clams, they are closer to being 'smoke free' and their sound has changed. It was the first time I had heard them without Randy the sax guy and with Amy the keyboardist. They did a real cool version of 'King of the Road'. |
??COMETETITION?? Part of the joy of doing this R&R band thing is the other musicians we meet who kind of become a bit like big family. I should be kidding James about that choice of words, or he me, but it is true. It is also true that we compete on a weekly basis for gigs, for popularity, for success and we measure our talents against theirs, our abilities can be viewed relative to theirs. However, there is some sort of bond between most musicians I know that evokes more of an attitude exemplified as 'Us Against the World' rather than 'Us Against Them'. Those lucky enough to play music and experience the feeling of playing with a group share a privilege that most folks will never understand, and also understand the need for support of it. I salute all the local musicians I am fortunate enough to call friends, try to get out and see you play as often as possible, and appreciate the times we get together to tell our personal music experiences and relate to the common issues in our musical careers. Special thanks to Ryk, Rick, Jeff, Tom, Pat, Bob, Todd, Kurt, Amy, Chris and all others who are in this endeavor together. |
THE FIXX We recently opened for the Fixx at the Lewis Bowl. Although we had little contact with them, it seemed as if they were nice guys. Those English accents always sound so friendly and intelligent to me. Anyway, this was a free show that Dan Lewis put on as a customer appreciation night. It was pretty dissapointing that only about 50 people attended a free show for a band who had a couple big hits. They were quite good although they reminded me a bit of a lite INXS and they did lots of midtempo to slow songs that sounded alike, but I enjoyed what I heard nevertheless. |
OUR SONG LIST We give a lot of thought and work to our unique song list. While we realize as a cover band that we have to play songs that people have heard and as a dance band, songs that want to make people get up and shake it a bit. However if you have looked at our NOT page you may see that there are songs we just won't do. Perhaps it hurts us that we don't play Old Time R&R or Sweet Home Alabama, but since we have done them so many times in other bands and most every cover band we ever hear does them, we decided it was time to just say no. We strive to be challenged and inspired by the music we play and look for songs that fill those requirements and the others above.(danceable, familiar). In turn I think it makes us so much happier on stage and it feels less like we are just going through the motions than other bands I've seen that try to play every song the public asks for. We do take requests and if one or two of us knows a song, we will most likely try to do it for you. Just remember , there are limits. It is always gratifying to me when people tell me they have never heard a band do a lot of the material we do and they get up and dance and sing along to our tunes that they rarely hear in the local music scene. We strive to make our sound and look unique, and it only follows that our setlist should be as well. |
THE RUMBLES Recently Bekk and I opened a show for the Rumbles. They have been around for 40 + years and have one original member. They seem to be as popular as ever. But there are a couple of interesting and funny things about them. First, Bekk and i were in their dressing room before the show, and watched them primp up, apply hair spray and makeup. They were all dressed in matching goofy looking outfits w/ matching shoes. Bekk had a hard time not breaking out in laughter when they were polishing their shoes before the gig. It was a funny scene but hard to capture in words. Secondly, they did about 40 songs in their first set. Actually they did about one verse of 40 songs. Everything was done in a medley except Old Time R&R which they did in it's entirety(why, i don't know). The drummer was working with a rack of gear next to him, and I realize now that they had all sorts of sequenced parts they were using. I heard synthesizer parts, horn parts, congas, wood blocks, hand claps, bass lines, when the bassist played sax, and other things. Now I realize that they are trying to be everything to everyone, but as a musician, it just seemed a lot like cheating. Not that the audience noticed anything. |
BATTLE OF THE BANDS We recently took place in the local Rivercade Battle of the Bands. It wasn't really a battle or competition, it wasn't promoted, it wasn't judged. The only reason we took place was because we wanted to brown nose a bit for the local bar owners who asked us to participate. There were 5 band to play from 6-11. Each band was to be there an hour before their scheduled time. We arrived by 7 to play at 8 and were the first band there. At 7:20 the band from Lincioln arrived that was to play at 6 and they played 4 songs 'till they broke guitar strings and no extras or backup guitars so they were done. We set up and went on at our scheduled time, during which the band that was to play at 7 arrived. They put them on at 9 after us. At which point I hear that the last 2 bands to play were fighting about who was to go last(big ego problem here). We were told all bands names were to be put in a hat and the order drawn. But apparently that didn't happen 'cause one of the last bands said they weren't going to do it if they couldn't play last. Anyway, the whole thing was a joke, with no organization and a bunch of late irresponsible musicians and a bunch more with improperly overinflated egos. Next time I get asked to do one of these things, I will more than likely decline the invitation. |
SOUNDGUYS We have the privelege of working with 3 different soundguys at most of our gigs, Bob Larsen, Charles Clark and Pat Miller. We count on them to make us sound as good as we can, and appreciate all they do. They carry more gear, set up earlier than us and usually are at a gig after we leave. It would be tough to do what we do without their help. Thanks guys!!!!!! |
