Disclaimer
Please note that my opinions are just that...my opinions

roger steen of the tubes
This is my blog...thanks Roger

(photo by Sharon - cropped by smeeg)
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~~~~* 2005 *~~~~

5/15/5
"outta my brain on the 5:15!"
SOLD OUT show last night at the Crystal (man, that's been awhile-THANKS bands)
for The Junkers reunion show with great opener
Pupy Costello and His Honky Tonk Band

5/14/5
AMAAAAAAAAAZING show last night in milwaukee at the GORGEOUS Pabst Theatre as i was front and center for
my hero Todd Rundgren with Joe Jackson and Ethel.
TR was ON...everyone was WAY ON and unleashed some incredibly special vibes that were wonderful to swim in.
Todd played a unique new axe (that showed up for the first time the night before in St. Paul at the Fitzgerald Theatre) that i have seen Todd's sidekick Jesse Gress advertise in guitar mags. no broken strings, despite a heavy right hand, and no tuning problems like with past axes...here's the model he played (also had a backup). check out the uniquely intriguing design!

special thanks to Scott and fellow lizardz Mark and Milo for the lifts...and to Randy for the 'special vision'

5/10/5
another double show day for me in whiskey rapids with
a solo show on 5/7/5 for Bill Tork's b-day (555) at 4 stools short
and then up the hill to hotel mead for a show with the lizardz

highlights from the first included "Make It Happen" with lyrics "Give Him a Spanking" geared at the b-day boy,
the now famous Tommy medley, "Hurdy Gurdy Man", several Floyds, reggae "Pilate's Dream",
and some Neil I haven't done i years.
Bill and i also did an imrov number called, "Campfire Cool" that was very fun.
the funeral parlor know as hotel mead, who no longer seems to feel they need to promote shows, offered obstacles but we got through them...Lake Shore Drive was, once again, a highlight.
it was superb to see former lizard Bill Rodencal and writer/roadie Tim O'Day at the show!

5/1/5
after staying up all night and gettin' crazy all day i popped into hollyrock's to kick of the weekly sunday open jam with an acoustic set that included a killer "subhuman" with lizard Grant and an original blues number ala Robert Johnson

that has been kickin' 'round my head for years called, "Cruel Hearted Man",
performed with 'Rocks owner Tom Striegel on harmonica.
i also kicked in for the electric set to do some funky bits with some local cats
...and another "Rocky Mountain Way"(LOL)

4/30/5

the lizardz pleased many Vietnam Vets at the Spring Monsoon in whiskey rapids,
debuting "Lake Shore Drive" with vocals and theatrics by moi! we will add classic essential to my being this to future shows.
thanks to the Trib for the great press! Gary Mossack, my lizardz backup, joined us for dueling axes on a few tunes, including his smokin' rendition of slide mastering on "Rocky Mountain Way"

~~~~~~** Vets group to throw one last Monsoon**~~~~~~

By DEB CLEWORTH
Daily Tribune Staff
A good time is set to blow into Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday night.
"The Last & Final Spring Monsoon Party" is scheduled to run from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at The Bar in Wisconsin Rapids.
It is the last time the Vietnam Veterans of America will hold the event, organizers say, because the group has developed other fund-raisers.
____________________________________________________
If you go
What: The Last & Final Spring Monsoon Party
When: 8:30 p.m. to
11:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Bar, 150 Second St. N., Wisconsin Rapids, upstairs
Who: Sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 101
More: Live music by The Lizardz, free roast beef sandwiches, free beer and pop, door prizes and free admission. Donations will be accepted for care packages to be sent to the troops.
___________________________________________________________________
 

"This was a fund-raiser that we did for 23 years," said Ron Clark, 59, a Vietnam war veteran. The group will hold an orange blossom sale June 3 and 4 to raise money this year.
Clark was in the Marines from 1964 to 1968, and served one year in Vietnam, from July 1965 to July 1966. Saturday's date also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
"The United States was officially out of Vietnam at that time," Clark said.
Saturday's event will be a celebration to appreciate the troops and the support of the community. Everything will be free, but people will accept donations for care packages to send to the troops.
The Lizardz will be the featured band Saturday night. The band played at several previous Monsoon events.
"We have always had a special place in our hearts for the vets group," said Mark Larson, key board player. "Many of the guys are long-time fans of the band and have looked forward to our Vietnam-era music.
"It is simply a great group to help and a great group to party with," Larson said.
Veterans groups have been a part of the community for years and have worked to support other veterans, Larson said.
"We want to encourage any Afghan and Iraqi veteran to come up and be appreciated," Clark said.
Clark wants the younger veterans to know what the groups can offer.
The annual event provided funds to donate to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tomah, the Veterans Home in King, area food pantries and a $500 scholarship awarded to a local high school student.
The groups also provide emotional support for those returning from war.
Veterans can get information on education, medical and family needs. Veteran organizations also provide an outlet for those who have faced similar challenges.
"The families probably really don't know what it's like to be in combat or to be over there," Clark said.
Veterans organizations can help veterans by letting them talk about the situations they have endured, said Bonnie Berndt, 52, of Wisconsin Rapids.
Berndt is a long-time supporter of the Vietnam Veterans of America and its fund-raisers. Her ex-husband was a member, and that's how she became involved.
"I was proud that he served," Berndt said. "I appreciate what the Vietnam veterans did back in the '60s, and it's also how I support the soldiers going to Iraq right now."
The main thing Clark wants veterans and the community to know is that the efforts of the troops are appreciated, and there are people who do care.
"One generation of veterans will never forget another generation of veterans," he said. "There's always going to be veterans; there's always going to be a conflict somewhere."

4/29/5
fabulous WORT fund-raiser at the Crystal with Drunk Drivers,
the Skintones (who stole the show), and Screaming Cyn Cyn and the Pons-the latter being quite theatrical!
4/28/5

Todd Rundgren, Joe Jackson, and Ethel performed a glorious version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on the
Conan O'Brien show...and i rolled tape-PSYCHED for the Friday the thirteenth show in Milwaukee in May!
(screen shot by eeeeej)
online footage here, here, and here

4/27/5
many thanks to my buddy Ron for rollin' VHS tape last week, scoring me two episodes (from WGN-Chicago)
of one of the best television shows of all time,
The Rockford Files
starring the incomparable James Garner.

One features the handing of a baton as a soon-to-be PI of his own, Tom Selleck (10/20/78), starred along side Jim Rockford
and another featuring "CharlieStrayhorn" (9/22/78), a country artist, with the music of Willy Nelson.

This fabulous blast from my past made over 110 episodes for NBC and ran from 9/74 to 7/80...
and how 'bout that AMAZING theme song (the best ever!), incorporated into many of
John Finucan's solos during Weavils' appearences

4/26/5
"Jeff Gauss is a crackerjack soundman and knows that room and the Crystal's soundsystem well."
- Jake ~Friday on My Mind~ WORTfm, Madison, WI 4/26/5

4/25/5
caught an excellent combo of bands at the high noon saloon post-roller derby show with the treats, their alter ego the spitoons, and madison's bon scott ac/dc tribute band, the Bon Squad-featuring the beautiful cathy dethmers (below)

thanks to the Treats for putting me on the guest list and dedicating the Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" to me.

the Bon Squad's setlist for their third show ever!:
rock and roll damnation
down payment blues
gimme a bullet to bite on
riff raff
sin city
what's next to the moon
up to my neck in you
kicked in the teeth again
bad boy boogie
little lover
whole lotta rosie

encore: TNT

although i REALLY enjoyed them, i would prefer to see the front man
kyle peterson (from shotdown) move his voice up an octave to hit
AC/DC's only frontman that matters, Bon Scott's, range.

4/24/5
The Other Kids used to be HUUUUUGE in Madtown but have been "on break" from shows for almost three years
...until last night at the Crystal.
When I asked them what they sounded like the initial reply was hard-edged power pop, their secondary answer astonished me,
"Think Utopia's Princess of the Universe"
**** VERY COOL ****
Also quite influenced by Cheap Trick, these guys played great originals and such cool covers as the Hollies' "Carrie Ann",
"The Kids Are Alright" by The Who, the Beatles' "Rain", Velvet Underground's "White Light, White Heat",
and even Donovan's "Atlantis"
If you like power pop these guys are one of the best so get their CD as soon as it's available.
Wizzard In Vinyl will release The Other Kids "best of" in Japan on April 20... disk WILL be distributed in U.S.!
Song clips here
More info to come

4/23/5
The Weavils returned to Oshkosh, where we used to be rock gods!, after a brief absence at (hopefully) our new home
- the Reptile Palace -
Opening band Shelterbelt floated in from Nebraska to help us dance the floor away...
it sure was fabulous to be back in one of my fave towns ever!

4/21/5

mixed el donk at the high noon saloon. 'twas my first mixing experience there and much better than i had been warned.
the key is not to get thangs too loud (as it is almost everywhere)

4/20/5

HAPPY 420
In honor of TR's current acoustic tour,
4:19-20am was aptly spent with double shirley poppy and dead horse at
the portal music cafe in madison, wiscoooooooo
the opposite of what most expect as the full band played first, then the percussion-based dead horse,
and finally myself doing all 420-based material, including Subhuman,
a new improv number called "Wagon Train", a Tommy overture,
a reggae version of Pilate's Dream from Jesus Christ Superstar,
and an underture at the end that featured Smoke Two Joints, Grassman (Sandman), Comin' into Los Angeles, and The Pusher
...among other tunes of the eve.

also, in honor of the new pope, i was NOT a singer but a RATSINGER

Amazing that sometimes one plays so hard and loud with a band to a full house and yet a night like this can have a small house ALL DANCING
to solo madness...

yes amazing! apparently this also got a Critic's Choice in the local rag that said i was going to do a Todd Rundgren lecture
so i wore the infamous RUNDGREN JUNKIES signed T-shirt (2002)...
but skipped the TR as allergies had ahold of my falsetto.

MANY thanks to the two great bands that set up my set...and all the great dancers (that really blew my mind)
and special thanks to Andrew for gettin' my party started
 

4/15/5

Critics' Choice in The Capital Times/Wisconsin State Journal Rhythm Section
Thursday, April 14 2005

Be sure to brush up on current events-and the latest Todd Rundgren news-if you want to maximize your enjoyment of Jeff Weavil's acoustic/improv madness at
The Portal Music Cafe, 310 S. Brearly St., on Tuesday.
Dead Horse opens at 9pm.
many thanks to Tom Alesia for sending me a copy!

4/17/5
yet another fabulous time at the Crystal Corner with Jim James and the Damn Shames and The Apologists

4/15-16/5
a CRAZY double show in one nighter in whiskey rapids
In honor of TR's current acoustic tour, acoustic madness prevailed at Hollyrock's from 6-8p
and then crossed the river to Mulligan's for a WeavilsCD release bash!
Weavils were loose and fun...my show was acoustic madness including an overly fun bit of improv called, "The Blinds"

4/10/5
another fabulous show last night at the crystal corner with
the world's greatest lovers, now with a fabulous pedal steel/guitarist
 

4/9/5

the lizardz return to stevens point's big hunchie's roadhouse on trivia weekend for fun, trivia of our own,
me atop a table for "another brick in the wall part 2" solo, and other assorted madness

4/3/5
three bands last night at the crystal corner with chicago's rock star club and two madison bands, the treats and
"the loudest band in madison", awesome car funmaker...proof that diversity always works well at this club

3/31/5
one of the greatest live acts in the world, the asylum street spankers,

returned to madison to conquer the high noon saloon.
ASS used to be a mainstay and one of our biggest acts at ken's bar and grill (RIP) and it has been so exciting watching this uniquely talented band grow. picked up both releases from their frontman, Wammo, Faster Than the Speed of Suck
-an incredibly unique concept album full of diversity-

and Lowriders on the Storm

-a heavy duty slab of rock and roll, with an a cappella tune, a spoken word tribute to the glories of the mullet and an electrified psychobilly version of the classic "Beer" interspersed among crunchy, riffy straight-up rock songs.

Wammo is a fuckin' rock god!

and Christina...a goddess with the voice of an angel!
YOU MUST SEE THIS BAND LIVE !

3/28/5

another fun night at the Crystal Corner with the debut and 2005 MAMA award-winning el donk
Congrats to the Donksters for finally getting this long-overdue recognition

3/27/5

Todd Rundgren held a chat for Patronet subscribers at the Interocitor today and fielded my question,
TR-i: "weavil wants to know about writing with joe or donald

anything is possible. donald has been working on a solo record, so he's probably written it by now.
joe and i will be on the bus a lot-maybe something will happen."
"Happy Spring Everybody!!!"

3/26/5
Crazy sold-out night at the Crystal Corner last night with four bands-
The Kites, The Suits, SevenOneFive, and The Soviettes

as for mixing, four bands are one too many as the ears tend to be toast after three

3/21-22/5

John Luc Finucan and I were at Studio Earth in Madison to remix and remaster our second album,
Live at the Barrymore
We hope to have the new version available this summer.

3/19/5

The Weavils at Crystal Corner Bar

Still reeeeeeeeeeeelin'...

This was a very special show for me as i mix bands at the crystal corner on saturdays when not gigging so i knew we had to do our best to impress and, hopefully, fill the place. The great impression came natural and easy but there was much musical activity in Madison that eve so the house was not near as full as we would have liked to see, however, many in attendance were family that have supported us for years, several of whom we have not seen in quite some time...thank you! Most of the Crystal staff had never seen me perform so it was amaaaaaazingly fun to watch their jaws drop as we held the crowd in the palms of our hands from the very first song.

We also planned ahead and booked Alex Mielke of Studio Earth to mix us, brought in Kai from WYOU to shoot the entire show and teamed up Tom and Dead Horse Mike to bring us what should be a great soundboard/audience recording.
Hopefully we will synch these soon and produce a DVD.

Box Elder played a fine set of acoustic-tinged folk-rock leanings and sweet female vocals and
Blue Bazookas layed down their unique blend of blues and vegas with surreal delight. Due to some miscommunication, their set was cut short and we apologize for any inconveniences. It was great to have "Knobby" in the house to mix Stauffer's boyz as we did our first real recordings at his place in Sun Prairie back in 1995.
He was also the first to multi-track several performances that same year.
Alex provided our best mix ever and we slugged out a great mix of originals and covers that
enthralled the club over our hour-an-a-half set.

We will be back in fall with two other bands.

What a very, very special evening...we thank you all.

3/18/5
mixed two irish bands at the portal music cafe...bucket-o-blood and the pints,
a case of the opener (b-o-b) blowing away the headliners. hope to not have to hear irish music for another year

3/15/5
The Portal Music Cafe, Madison, WI
   Tuesday, March 15 - 2005
   Ides of March/Ron's B-day Bash
Acoustic Jeff
  (Spring Thing Awareness Show)

 An acoustic Jeff show is always a unique and strange event that often includes bizarre references to the evening, crowd, news,
      and usually a guest or two...this, of course, was no exception. Not only was this date the infamous Ides of March
                                     (beware...be very, very ware)
                    but it was also my buddy Ron's birthday so the insanity train needed to ride.
    Prior to walking into the Portal i ran into Julie Lloyd, a chick with a bad attitude that did an early show, in the parking
                               lot-apparently she did not have a good time.
  Cultural references included several impersonations of Randy Jackson of American Idol, many abuses of the birthday boy,
                                       and telekenesis galore.
  Steppenwolf tune was done as i thought they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Buddy Guy, the
                        Pretenders, U2, Percy Sledge, and the O'Jays the previous eve
      ...i was wrong about Steppenwolf so look for them, along with Todd Rundgren and Blue Oyster Cult, next year.

                                          (Real) Set List:
                               Pigs on the Wing (Part One) [Pink Floyd] ->
                                        Make It Happen ->
                                 Comin' into Los Angeles [Arlo Guthrie]
                                      The Pusher [Steppenwolf]
                                          River City Blues
                                    I'm Your Puppet [Marvin Gaye]
                                          Whiskey Waters
                           Subhuman (w/ Ron Bundy on vocals) [Blue Oyster Cult]
                                         Television Zombies
                            ~~~enter Falcon of El Donk (guitar and vocals)~~~
                             Where Do You Think You're Goin'? [Dire Straits]
                                        Hold On [Winwood]
                                     Milkjug Skeleton [El Donk]
                                        Fearless [Pink Floyd]
                                Son of Mr. Green Genes [Frank Zappa] ->
                               Pinball Wizard -> Listenin' to You [The Who]
                                        ~~~exit Falcon~~~
                                      Honey Don't [Carl Perkins]
                                 Secret Agent Man [Johnnie Rivers] ->
                                       Sandman [America] ->
                                Pigs on the Wing (Part Two) [Pink Floyd]

                                       Surrender [Cheap Trick]

          Special thanks to Caroyln for taking pictures (hopefully here soon) and Mike Bleck for sharing the bill,
                        recording (the only way to truly know what the hell was played),
                               and bringing Little Marsh Overflow to the gig.
      Mike is a long-time Weavilhead that is also known as Dead Horse and we hope to do this double bill again soon.

 Also i hope to begin doingFriday afternoon Acoustic shows at Hollyrock's in Wisconsin Rapids on a regular basis very soon.

3/12/5
mixed another great paul cebar and the milwaukeeans show at the Crystal Corner in madison

3/5/5
another great night of live music at the crystal corner with del mar , man, have they gotten good!
and benefits of being paranoid

2/26/5
supa ranks and his high stone power invaded the CC with reggae-based grooves aplenty
...excellent band with veteran members from natty nation and yid vicious.
SEE these guys NOW

2/25/5

benefit for CBK guitarist/singer/songwriter Travis Koopman at the CC with special guests
Kenneth Burns (formerly of The Junkers and World's Greatest Lovers frontman)
and the ever-amazing Billy Flynn
...seemed to raise some money for his recent medical bills

2/20/5

braved an incredible snow and ice storm to do the annual chili cookoff at hollyrock's in rapids with the lizardz
a hamer 315 style electric guitar was raffled off after i played it...
dan matthews of the rapids' band the recliners won the quite wonderful axe

2/19/5
another great crystal show proves that any/all music works at this great madison club
ladybeard (great to work with them again...lottsa new original songs)
skintones (with lots of anti-war sentiments)
and the debut
all proved that even hard rockin' mania can pack the place!
keep yer eyes peeled for the debut as they are young, energetic, and already know how to RAWK
...great frontman full of energy and charisma

2/14/5

the lizardz did a pro photo shoot with Bill Nieman in whiskey rapids...MANY great shots can be found here and here and here

2/13/5

the lizardz headlined a benefit for
Jake Coates, a rapids wrestler that was in a recent accident

2/12/5

CD release party at the crystal
produced by green bay bluesman Billy Flynn and recorded in the blues hotbed of chicago,
this is a red-hot original blues album that all will love

2/11/5

caught yet another fabulous badfinger show in chicago at winterfest
in the navy pier's grand ballroom with milo and soundman mike of the lizardz
setlist:
come and get it
i don't mind
suitcase
baby blue
money->flying
midnight caller
the dreamer
meanwhile back at the ranch->should i smoke
sweet tuesday morning
without you
midnight sun
day after day
vampire wedding
no more
take it all
no matter what
come and get it reprise

encore:
mean mean jemima

with Joey Molland of Badfinger on 7/7/4 at the Taste of Minnesota
(photo by Milo Plante...THANKS!)

for all badfinger news

2/4/5

the lizardz rip up those infamous bathrooms at renee's red rooster in stevens point.
you can vote for their bathrooms here

2/5/5
mixed the amazing Afrocubanismo y Tropiqbeats of
que flavor
at the crystal corner...
GREAT band full o' world beats, great grooves, and very very very hot dancers

1/29/5
mixed another fine crystal corner show,
Jim James and the Damn Shames
and Mae Rae, a Noah John spinoff group

1/25/5
mixed another great young band at the Portal Music Cafe in madtown,
red chemist
although it was their FIRST club date, these young psychedelic funksters really brought the goods
as they performed a fabulous set...keep yer eyes open for this band!

1/22/5
mixed a  great honky tonk show at the crystal corner,
Pupy Costello & His Big City Honky Tonk
(one of milwaukee's finest)
with Tim Cook & The Riverwesterners
lottsa fun as it was a t-shirt release party...cool concept!
the 'deal' was that one could buy a Honky Tonk Name for $10...then one got a FREE t-shirt (LOL)
my honky tonk name is now
Easy Robbie Owens
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw!

1/21/5

scored front and center for the TODD and JOE show at the gorgeous Pabst Theatre
in milwaukee, wi on friday the 13th of may...goin' with a couple of Lizardz .
sTRing quartet Ethel is also on the bill.
hope to see ya there!

1/8/5

the lizardz tore up sunset tavern in black river falls
...almost ended up with fist in mouth due to a fight very near the stage...
WILD place-come see us there in august

1/19/5

As a result of some very enthusiastic reviews from GarageBand.com members,
The Lizardz' "Early Springtime Rainfall"
will be Track of the Day at GarageBand.com.
For 24 hours on Thursday, the 27th of January, 2005 (PST)
"Early Springtime Rainfall"
will be featured on GarageBand.com's Country front page.
  track of the day

12/4//4

once again, mixed the classy young madison blues act,  cash box kings , at the crystal corner with
special sit-in guest  billy flynn from green bay...another amazing evening of great music on willy st.in madison.

11/18/4

As a result of some very enthusiastic reviews from GarageBand.com members,
The Weavils' "TV Zombies (Live)"
will be Track of the Day at GarageBand.com.
For 24 hours on Thursday, the 18th of November, 2004 (PST)
"TV Zombies (Live)"
will be featured on GarageBand.com's Blues Rock front page.
  track of the day
  genre page

11/13/4
i got the chance to mix the legendary funky drummer clyde stubblefield onca again at the crystal corner in madison along with openers box elder and first-timers mud puppy.

11/12/4

 the lizardz played a fabulous double bill with chicago's  hushdrops which included the overture from Tommy, hello it's me, and most of Volume One from the 'openers' and the debut of cheap trick's voices, as well as several new originals, from us.

10/21/4
 went to the lovely pabst theater for an amazing recreation of genesis' the lamb lies down on broadway by  the musical box with friend and guitar tech jim newhouser-what a FABULOUS onslaught of feel, site, and sound

10/11/4

pilgramage to the holy lambeau to catch the pack's worst performance of the year
against the tennessee titans for all to see on monday night football. we made the most of it as,
once again, brother bill rodencal pulls through and here we are with a couple of  lizardz
 

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       (photo by Sharon - cropped by smeeg)

 here's my page at The Weavils' site

The Weavils' main page
 

here's my page at The Lizardz' site

The Lizardz' main page
 

    Thank you
for your continued support with the promotion of
The Weavils, The Lizardz, Jeff/Hawk, solo acoustic,
and all other projects.

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