news

~ Jeff's Blog page 7 ~
(aka Weavil's Blog)
...so on Sat., 7/17/4, I was hangin' with guitarist Roger Steen in a hotel bar in Port Washington, WI after the Fishday Festival in which The Tubes opened for Blue Oyster Cult. He suggested that I start a blog to document my times and travels.

me with roger steen of the tubes on 7/14/4

...and 4/21/6
This is my blog...thanks Roger

(photo by Sharon - cropped by smeeg)
Dig the LIARS shirt - available at: rundgrenjunkie@aol.com
(tell him i sent ya)

(banner designed by mark larson)

*Now with more pages*
for easier load
~~~~* 2006-7 *~~~~
comments?

*all photos by me with phone unless stated otherwise*
Celebrating 40 years of Todd Rundgren

Celebrate 40 Years of Todd!
Get your name in Rolling Stone in 2007

TODData is at it again, and this time
we're going for the big one.
In 1992, fans helped sponsor a b/w classified Rolling Stone ad to celebrate 20 Years of Something/Anything?
Last time, we ran a full-color quarter page ad to celebrate 30 Years of TODD (the album).

Now, since NAZZ hit the streets in 1967, it's time to for 40 Years of Todd. TODData is facilitating a full page ad in
Rolling Stone.
It's going to take a lot more fans to make this happen.
So, for a limited time, a donation of just $5 is all it takes to get your name in a 2007 Rolling Stone Magazine tribute ad.

The exact issue and run date of the ad is yet to be determined.
A prize schedule for larger donations will be added.
News on past events and current progress is in the works.

For more, email info@TODData.com

Contribute $5 before March 31, 2007 to reserve your space.
The minimum donation amount is subject to change.

To participate:
Send your donation via PayPal (select "service" as the category) to:Todd40@TODData.com
Or mail a check or money order to:
TODData: 40 Years of Todd
3445 Seminole TR, Ste 275
Charlottesville, VA 22911

TODData and 40 Years of Todd have no official affiliation with Todd Rundgren's Utopia.

*********************************************************************
The Weavils
Television Zombies from 8/26/6 at CMN Balloon Rally
(courtesy of Redcap-THANKS!)
**************************************************

~~~~~~~~~~
****************************************

Hear The Song Here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff prefers

Cleartone Strings
Testimonial
I have tried many different strings over the decades of playing and performing (live and in the studio) but have never found something that could bend so well and stay in tune over multiple shows, until i found Cleartone. I never really paid much attention to the brand of strings i used until i discovered these. The way they hold their tone and tuning, even while bending WAY outside the normal realm, continues to amaze me. The durability - whether in a smokey bar, basement studio, outdoors, or a dusty theatre - is astounding! They also seem to last three times as long as other brands i have used! The residue from my hands has destroyed strings in the past but this has not been a problem with Cleartone, and that is something that amazes me.
I have also found that it takes A LOT to break them (and i have tried)!
They also carry great tone from low to high - and that's quite incredible.

THANK YOU for making such a high-quality product and teaching me that string brand can make a HUGE difference.
Jeff "Weavil" Gauss

~~~~

nephew Christopher's art
***

3/21/7
!!!! WELCOME SPRING !!!!

with a bizarrely insane and creepy fog

N Biron Dr................

all along the river...

even amidst the cranberry bogs

i LOVE old buildings like this!

3/20/7

i was invited to the Cold Shot in Appleton to help host their weekly jam session

Bobby Evans...preparing for the future

Hawk stopped in to bless the stage

on the way there...

Mirrors

by Donald Roeser and Bruce Abbott
©1979 B. O'Cult Songs, Inc.

A mirror is a negative space with a frame
And a place for your face it reveals
What the rest of us see
It conceals
What you’d like it to be

Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away

Pretty girls have a love affair
With their eyes and their shining hair
Fantasize that the world adores
Tantalize like a cover girl

Mirrors are the basis of beauty give rise
To self-love or self-pity the prize
If a woman is pretty she tries
Like a superstar Hollywood girl

Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away

Pretty girls can’t look away Vanity’s a deadly sin
Pretty girls can’t look away It’s what the flesh is packaged in
Pretty girls can’t look away Vanity’s a deadly sin
Pretty girls can’t look away It’s what the flesh is packaged in

Pretty girls have a love affair
With their eyes and their shining hair
Fantasize that the world adores
Tantalize like a cover girl

Mirrors are a negative space with a frame
And a place for your face they reveal
What the rest of us see
They conceal
What you’d like it to be

Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away Oh yeah
Pretty girls can’t look away Vanity’s a deadly sin
Pretty girls can’t look away It’s what the flesh is packaged in

Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away
Pretty girls can’t look away

3/17/7

on the way to Black River Falls for second show at Old Rustic Mill w/ the Blizardz (Boy Lizardz)

a round for the house...the 3 wisemen

3/16/7

birthday 'twins' at the Old Rustic Mill-night 1

the killer view out back

comin' into BRF

3/15/7
I THAWt I THAW THAT!

Stevens Point Fire Dept testing an Icemobile

so where's Nash Blvd? Stills Ave? Young Hwy?

the case of envy at Radio KAOS

3/14/7

a 'glacier' floats down the wisconsin river

3/13/7
Let the THAW Begin!!!!!

Plainfield Cemetery
resting place of Ed Gein

the Devil's license plate!

Below is Stevens Point's Bukolt Park area...beautiful!

old buildings like this are a treasure to me

the Rudolph Rock

3/9/7

a house packed for The Weavils
Cold Shot in Appleton

3 Musketeers

Joey Haas tears it up for Lovelight near the end of the night
'twas fun to do a requested Grateful Dead set
Iko Iko >
Women Are Smarter >
Franklin's Tower >
Dark Star Jam >
Franklin's Tower >
(Turn on Your) Lovelight

encore:
Young Lust

John w/ setlist

on the way home...Lake Winnebago, the largest lake in Wisco

the ice shanties leave Lake Wazeecha

3/8/7

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers...

and The Police tear up a thursday night on VH1 Classic

Icicles by Badfinger

Isn't it nice when the rain comes falling
Turns into icicles, melting, mourning
Isn't it good when a friend comes calling 'round?

Isn't it good when you need somebody
People will help you not be lonely
Then you find someone who loves ya, only you

But never take a love for granted
Give a little in return
Try to be understanding, live and learn

Isn't it good when the sun comes shining
Giving us warmth, see the children smiling
Just the reflections of love around their heart

Oh-o-o, just a start

3/7/7

the 'barometer tree' points to spring at last

3/6/7

this crazy squirrel seems to think he's a bird!

the Gauss Wall of Fame

3/5/7

went to Point for Pan's Labyrinth, an amazingly UNIQUE film with a look and style you won't find in american flicks
quite amazing...and a good tale ta boot and an AWESOME young new actress-Ivana Baquero

!fantasy comes to life!
a MUST-SEE for visual beauty alone

fukkin' C-C-C-COLD is back!

comin' into da 'pids from da backside....OH MY!!!!!

doin' 66 at 56666 on my fave road (Hwy P)

Song of the Moment
one of my favorite moments of any Lizardz show is this Stellman/McLennon central wisco classic
as i get to be quite expressive and dynamic for quite some time over a fairly pretty chord structure
from our bootz seriez
(right click to SAVE)

3/4/7

a trip to the Alexander House in port edwards to see nephew Christopher's artwork

now on to the kids' art>

some of the stuff these kids dig AMAZES me

Christopher's art below...

pretty colorful for a kid whose favorite color is BLACK!

afternoon fun in the snow

Happy Birthday keysman Mark!

3/3/7
Beatallica
a superb and hilarious combination of the Beatles and Metallica, this is a DO NOT MISS band

dig their FREE 2 albums at their killer site

young master Evan O'Day digs da band...

enough to share his voice with them during "Hey Dude"

later i got a poster signed for the young man

unfortunately their PA was a bit too small for the room but, fortunately,
bassist KLIFF MCBURTNEY and frontman JAYMZ LENNFIELD
let me tweak their sound...hopefully the Lizardz can provide the PA the next time they come 'round
so da peeps can understand the vocals, the key to their uniqueness

Steph at the 'Rocks...where the Lizardz stepped up to do Scaryoke
(What's New Pussycat? and some other tune)

STILL ain't no cure for the wintertime bluuuuuuuuues...

oh wait! there IS a cure!

what a view from my computer!
the wild turkeys are ABOUND in Biron
(this one was HUGE)

3/2/7

well no time for cryin' here but the snow kept grant and i from leavin' central wisco to attend
Cheap Trick's second night (of three) at the potawatomi casino in milwaukee
fortunately, the trick comes 'round often...unfortunately with the same set. this was our chance to see/hear different tunes but mama nature didn't want us goin'
(special thanks to beatpoet and penguingirl for ALMOST gettin' us there)

Cheap Trick-Night 2
3/2/2007
Milwaukee, WI
*__________________________________________________*
Hello There
That 70's Song
I Can't Take It
Welcome To The World
She's Tight
Dream The Night Away
IWYTWM
Voices
If It Takes a Lifetime
He's A Whore
(was originally 'supposed to be' Come On x3)
The Flame
Don't Be Cruel
Surrender

Encores:
Dream Police
California Man

Cheap Trick-Night 3
3/4/7
Milwaukee, WI
* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *
On Top Of The World
Elo Kiddies
Taxman
Welcome To The World
High Roller
Come On x3
IWYTWM
Waitin' For The Man
Ghost Town
If It Takes A Lifetime
The Flame
That 70's Song
Surrender

Encores:
Dream Police
Clock Strikes Ten
Goodnight Now

3/1/7

still ain't no cure for the wintertime blues

2/28/7

(from scary movie 4)
!!!!The End of FEB. at Last!!!!

so bring on the snow!

2/27/7

thanks to Radio KAOS, the greatest record store in central wisco, for this AWESOME poster i gave to brother grant

2/26/7

the "tunnel" out of Area 31

2/25/7
so what does one do with such snow?

...well ya bunker down and lock up inside!
i hung with brother Travis viewing the heart-breaking Badgers basketball loss
and then season 5 of the HILARIOUS
Trailer Park Boys

a HILARIOUS comedy outta canada that is waaaaaaaaay too cool for the US
a potent blend of smokes, dope, guns, and insanity to please even the freakiets of freaks!
Trailer Park Boys is a popular Canadian mockumentary television series focusing on the misadventures of ex-convicts living in fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park, which is located near Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. It premiered in April 2001.
The show's creator and director is Mike Clattenburg.
Shot COPS-style (cameraman's point of view), the low-budget program became
something of a rarity in English Canada: a homegrown phenomenon.
they've even got a movie that's just been released - something i will NOT miss!
Thanks Travis!

~ when it snows in central wisco it REALLY snows! ~

2/24/7

we've seen nearly EVERY possible spelling...but here's a new one!

takin' over yet again!

2/22/7

a trip to yesteryear...near Rudolph

2/20/7
Fat Tuesday
BEST Hotel Mead show yet! Lizardz'Mardi Gras party in the Churchill Room
with MANY great and enthusiastic people fired up wiith the Nalins groove. real cajun chefs, incredible smells filled the air all night, a fortune teller, jesters, a large dancing mouse, beads everywhere, and that KILLER combo of colors
purple, green, and gold
all around the room

!!!!!INCREDIBLE JOB and KUDOS TO ALL HOTEL MEAD EMPLOYEES!!!!!
(special thanks to Dwight for bookin' us for such a GREAT, and high exposure, event!)

!!!!! your Mardi Gras King !!!!!

REAL Nawlins chefs were on board

the 'new guy'
Travis ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the first couple (of MANY) to hit the dancefloor

mark twas a Cajun king-man, that instrument SURE COMES IN HANDY on a night like this!

SOMEONE's gotta take that Jester home!

2 cool kids that ended up running on and off the stage-twas quite fun really

a GREAT crowd
(and yes i stole the jester in foreground)

pre-show readiness in the Grand Avenue Tavern where i pretty much took over to assemble the evening's unique setlist

with Jentender post-show at Big Al's

W is for Weavil ;)
(with "Mr. Dude")

the lovely and talented Steph at the 'Rocks post-show - THANKS!

the following shots taken by Jack Faville, former Lizardz drummer
now of Roger and the Ramjets and The aTomix

(thanks Jack)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...earlier that day ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the SPECTACULAR view from my "new computer room"
~ AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING ~

2/17/7

man, i spend a LOT of time in my car!

2/16/7

GREAT rehearsal consisting mainly of Nawlins tunes for Fat Tuesday at the mead
then we went out to the 'Rox like the old daze
~ FUN ~

earlier hit the Springfield Wharf in Stevens Point with mom (cool art from kids there)
great friday seafood platter but WAY too much fried food there
(the french onion soup was also AWESOME)

2/15/7

...and that's WITHOUT the wind chill!

ahhhhhhhhhh the early daze of my last job
the demise summed up in one shot...
don't dare to be different in wisco rapids or fear the wrath of the sheep!

...almost enough to make one CRACK!

...into lil pieces...

but seriously,
THAT'S ONE BIZARRE MIRROR AT THE RAPIDS THEATRE!

caught Hannibal Rising
yes, a (PUKE) prequel

good (and sickly) story-
*SPOILERS*
the formative years...
soldiers eat his sister and he vows to UPRISE and kill them all-good horror scenes (but none TOO shocking),
he is taught how to fight/kill by a gorgeous Jap woman,
and discovers he may have eaten her too,
thus beginning his cannibalism
Ed Gein would be proud of this one!

(as evidenced in this shot)
problems? well all today's films have problems-for this one, TOO MANY FLASHBACKS!
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many!
there's one scene that flashes back to something that happened LESS THAN 30 seconds prior...i am NOT kidding.
tthat's ridiculous.
overall i did enjoy it quite a bit and it adds another chapter to a sweetly disturbing saga.
8 outta 10

it kept reminding me of the old Mad TV skit:
randy newman in a studio writin' songs with full ashtray at hand, each song being IDENTICAL-hilarious

"hannibal,
why you got to be such a cannibal?

why don't you stop eatin' people now?"
GREAT STUFF!

but the worst part was the National Guard recrution tool pre-flick
(has it REALLY come to this?????!!!!!!!! )
BUT this pre-flicker was an AWESOMELY old-school trailer!
"Grindhouse" A Double Feature!
"Death Proof" Directed by Quentin Tarentino

"Planet Terror" Directed by Robert Rodriguez

In Theaters April 6, 2007

2/14/7
Happy VD

2/13/7

The Departed
FINALLY a 2006 movie that's FABULOUS...and a re-make, which i usually spit upon, to boot!
EXCELLENT cast -
Leonardo DiCaprio is really comin' into his own and has been winning me over since
playing Howard Hughes in The Aviator-another Scorsese (man, he digs leonardo!)
although this character is essentiallt the same as the one he played in
Gangs of New York-also a good Scorsese film but not as GREAT as this one,
Jack Nicholson is eternally amazing,
Matt Damon is so far removed from those Kevin Smith films...in a good way,
Mark Wahlberg is in no way a new kid on the block - he swears up a storm and is fabulous.

Martin Scorsese scores BIG TIME here, proving once again he is one of the best directors ever
9 of 10 from me

2/12/7
!!! BOC Re-issue Day !!!

~ Blue Oyster Cult Re-issue Day 2007 ~
Spectres

(with 4 bonus cuts)
Some Enchanted Evening

(with TWICE as many tunes and
bonus '78 DVD...
all DVD shots here from The Wall opening night)

* my fave shot *

All Music Guide
Blue Öyster Cult scored big with Agents of Fortune and its now-classic rock hit, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." It took the album into the stratosphere and the band's profile with it; it put them in the visible pop space they'd tried for years to get to. But upon arrival, they found that kind of success difficult to respond to. Not only did the Cult want to respond, they wanted to cement their place. Spectres is not the masterpiece that Agents of Fortune is, but it didn't need to be. However, upon hearing Spectres again, the album offers proof that the commercial and creative bent of Agents of Fortune was still in place at certain moments, and the band laid out a major single in the opening cut, "Godzilla," a tune — however silly it may be — that is every bit as memorable as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." It's not the only big number here either: "Goin' Through the Motions" and the truly spooky "I Love the Night" by Buck Dharma also scored. The former track is a wonderful blend of Tommy James & the Shondells, Boston, and Mott the Hoople's roots rock glam attack. Written by Eric Bloom and Ian Hunter, it's a stunning single. It sounds less like the Cult than anything they'd recorded, but as a classic rock & roll single it succeeds in spades. And "I Love the Night" (with its guitar part resembling "Reaper" for a moment) is one of rock & roll's truly strange and seductive love songs. There is more spook and darkness here, of course, in the album's closer, "Nosferatu." As a closer, "I Love the Night" may have been a better choice, but this track has all those layered harmonies, a reverbed piano, Dharma's power chords, and lyric fills that never lose their sense of menace and once more, a story. BOC were the only band in their league, walking the line between AOR rock and metal, and offering such detailed narratives. Spectres also contains tunes that were ready-made for touring, which is what the Cult did immediately after, resulting in the wildly successful live album Some Enchanted Evening. In sum, the only reason Spectres is not regarded as a classic is because it followed Agents of Fortune. Other than the false funk of "Searchin' for Celine," it's flawless as a finely tuned tome that begins with sci-fi humor and ends with gothic horror — all of which can be hummed to. [The Legacy edition of Spectres includes four previously unreleased bonus demos recorded during the album sessions. The hip thing is that these bonus cuts are really worth it and not add-ons from the dead-dogs file: the rocker "Dial M for Murder," the would-be single "Night Flyer," Albert Bouchard's "Please Hold," and a fun (and raw) cover of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby."]

According to Lenny Kaye-a rock hero and historian who gets his facts ruler straight, Some Enchanted Evening is the mighty beast known as Blue Oyster Cult's best selling record at something over double platinum. Yeah, small potatoes by today's standards, but then the music industry is self destructing so the numbers truly count because they sum up not only the BOC faithful, but those who were initially turned on to the band through this wonder of a cut up live record. And the reason? Because it kicks serious rock and roll ass, that's why. This new Deluxe Edition by Legacy restores Some Enchanted Evening to its intended double LP length. The Cult had already released the live On Your Feet Or On Your Knees in 1975, just three years earlier with only two studio offerings in between. Wondering why? There were two absolute smash records-Agents Of Fortune ('76) and Spectres ('77) — in between and evening more grueling touring as a result-they needed a rest. This restored version contains 14 cuts-double the length of the LP-and a full-length, wild and wooly Cult performance DVD featuring the band live in Maryland that same year. The extra tracks include the classic "ME 262," "Hot Rails To Hell," "(This Ain't The) Summer Of Love. The climax of the actual show "5 Guitars," and band staple covers of "Born To Be Wild" and an alternate of "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place." IN other words, this new edition, apart from the absolutely glorious DVD, puts back all the early classics that appeared on On Your Feet And ON Your Kbnees and were left off Some Enchanted Evening For marketing reasons-the biz thinking that folks wouldn't plunk down the cash for another live double. Being this good, they were wrong. Any BOC fan would want this utterly smoking live record. The other thing about the DVD, it isn't just music. BOC were as much about giving a show as Kiss; they just didn't need to be corny about it because they were all great musicians. The lasers alone are worth the price of admission and to see the interaction of the band with their show's pyrotechnics is anything but studied. It was instinctive and led to a performance captured on film that was actually typical in terms of its intensity, focus, professional 70s work ethic, and sheer rock and roll abandon. The Deluxe Edition of Some Enchanted Evening lifts the album's original profile in stellar sound and excellent video production. It can't be recommended highly enough.

yes it CAN take 2-1/2 hours to travel 20 minutes if one has NEW BOC to listen to!

walk on water? we DRIVE on it in Wisco!

that black hole sun brought me back home

2/11/7

aint no cure for the wintertime blues

2/10-11/7

Relentless tear up 4 stools short

3 Lizardz sat in to do Born on the Bayou and something else

the Three Queens of Rapids Rock
Brenda (the Lizardz)
Tina (the Fire)
Deanna (Relentless)
...that's some fine talent!

Karbo saves my night by takin' me home after locking my keys in the car
THANKS TIM!

earlier that eve...

the aTomix featuring badass axeman Kevin Stellman

then off to Smiley's to see broTravis fill in with Prototype

confused indeed!

...and even earlier hangin' with grant and mac

2/7/7

finally caught another movie at a cinema
smokin' aces
great cast (especially alicia keys-no wonder Dylan has the hots for her),
good story line (although maybe a bit too much to follow for some),
affleck gets killed off early,
lots of sexy babes and drugs,
and MUCH violence, but not necessarily the
violence for violence sakes like much of today's crappy gorefests.
Jeremy Piven was AWESOME!
well worth $6 for the early show

7.5 outta 10

also cool to see the doors to the projector booth open so i could peek at the big reels
...looked kinda like this

the marquee is set for this sat's booking at little chubbies

this tree has become my barometer for seasonal changes
(see last fall)

the daze of yesteryear may not be as far away as one thinks
(near vesper)

2/5/7

superbowl discussion abounds-including the pre-show and

the amazing half-time whalop!
(above is complete uncut performance)

'there ain't no cure for the wintertime blues'

2/4/7

Prince TEARS UP the Superbowl

*click above for the entire uncut performance*

(all shots from the wall except where noted)

(msnbc)

(above photo by mango-thanks!)

from popsugar
see how he even kicked the mic stand over?! pretty fukkin cool!

showing his HENDRIX side more than the james brown influence,
symbol man TORE UP the usually substandard halftime show,
even being super-genius by involving the marching band!

the village voice:

"Prince made it work by immediately forgoing the idea of groove, highlighting his Hendrix side rather than his James Brown side. He also jammed a ton of material into his set, only about half of it was his. He's been doing time in Vegas lately, and he must've been honing his sense of pandering; I'm not sure how else to explain the chorus of "Proud Mary" he threw into "Baby I'm a Star." And he must've also been honing his sense of the absurd; I'm imagining the Foo Fighters sitting around last night watching the game and peeling their jaws off the floor when Prince launched into "The Best of You." But he found room for fierce displays of raw technique: liquid falsetto yowls and shockingly discordant squalls of solo guitar. And he finally had a platform big enough to fully explore the outer limits of his sense for spectacle, prancing around a stage shaped like the symbol he stopped using seven years ago and casting an enormous shadow across a billowing sheet during one solo. A part of me wonders if he didn't somehow create last night's torrential downpour himself just to give us the moving visual of a stadium bathed in purple light and soaked to the bone as he finished "Purple Rain" without a hair out of place."

msnbc:
"He delivered one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows — ever. Consequently, he didn’t come across as a painfully safe choice — or a has-been, the rap against the previous couple of Super Bowl halftime acts,
Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones."

(boston herald)
boston herald:
The Super Bowl’s MVP? Prince
By Larry Katz/ IMO
"Sunday night we witnessed The Greatest Super Bowl Ever.
     Not the game.
     The halftime show. Prince killed
     OK, maybe part of his success was that expectations were so low. Ever since Janet Jackson delivered more game-day, ahem, titillation than expected, Super Bowl halftime shows have been where superstar rockers go to flaunt their pitiful irrelevancy. Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones never looked so old and harmless as when they played guaranteed-to-be-inoffensive Super Bowl sets.
     So here comes Prince, his career seemingly crumbling so fast that he recently set up shop at his own new nightclub in Las Vegas, making him funk music’s answer to Barry Manilow. His Super Bowl set figured to be the artistic death knell for the artist formerly known as the Artist Formerly Known As Prince.

     Surprise. Prince turned the Super Bowl into his career rebirth. Dressed in Miami Dolphin teal (his suit) and orange (his shirt), his hair wrapped in a do-rag, the 48-year-old got his 15-minute party started by ripping into "Let’s Go Crazy," and playing awesome guitar.
     After shrieking implicit tribute to Little Richard and the late James Brown, he careened into an unexpected medley of "Proud Mary" and a Hendrix-challenging version of "All Along the Watchtower," before doing the Foo Fighters’ "Best of You" better than the Foo Fighters. And he was accompanied by a few thousand horn players from the Florida A&M marching band.
     Did I mention this all took place in a rainstorm? As the world continued to wonder whether electrocution was imminent, Prince ended perfectly with -- what else? -- "Purple Rain." He even tossed in a shadow act with his guitar that was naughtier than Janet’s nipple. But far smarter. As Prince noted at the conclusion of "Best of You," "I ain’t no fool."
     Indeed. Prince pulled off a miracle. He made both the Super Bowl halftime and himself seem vital. How’d he do it? By avoiding gimmickry (remember Aerosmith teaming with Britney Spears?), playing with passion and putting the music first.

And it worked."

Canada speaks in too!
Did everyone catch the lightning bolt at Prince’s Super Bowl halftime romp?
Without a doubt, that was the most impressive bit of pyrotechnic wizardry to turn up at a stadium show that I’ve ever seen on TV. Amidst a full-scale flames and fireworks Miami meltdown that could even leave David Caruso’s Lieutenant Horation Cane character squinting at the light, it was possible to miss. But it was also the highlight of a performance that reminded us all that the Super Bowl is about football first, second and mostly third.
The musical talent has long played second fiddle to launches of mega-expensive new advertising campaigns, extended new movie trailers and major sponsor back-slaps at gladiator-fest. Only one year in recent mam, um, memory has seen the halftime show score a touchdown with the viewing audience of 140 million or so.
Obviously, a pro like Prince wasn’t about to let anyone’s wardrobe strobe out and take away from his big day. Unless naked ego baring suddenly becomes a target of the Republican morality police, there was nothing at risk of going wrong Sunday.
The Minneapolis funkster did drop an OK take of “Let’s Go Crazy” and nail down a few searing leads on “Purple Rain,” but watching the the artist-formerly-know-as-the-artist-formerly-known-as-Prince prance around a stage shaped like his personal glyph playing a medley of covers wasn’t on my game plan. He’s got his own songs.
Toss in a dancing duo and back up singer wearing more clothes than the players on the field and you’ve got gridiron narcolepsy.
Fortunately for most, going to re-stock the chip bowl/cooler and visit the honey pot was how they spent that 15-minute window. Time it right, and you could leave when the first of the rocket’s red glare was firing off and make it back in a shake to watch even more fireball’s dry up the wet night sky.
Unintentionally, the rain — while a standard hue — created the evening’s best effect. Pelting down on both the performers and camera lenses, it gave an impression of it being a sweaty hot, slightly out-of-focus affair. Whatever works to create an impression of bigger-than-defensive back life, I guess.

Prince at Super Bowl XLI press conference

even Buck Dharma replied to my text message that he thought it was the best half-time show ever
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.....oh yeah, the game was alright too.....
always nice to see the bears still suck

cheese tray for the game?

earlier in the day i spun by the barmuda TR-iangle ice sculptures

2/3/7

!!!!!WOW!!!!!

mandy contemplates

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!holy wildness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a lick i co-wrote (w/ jim miller) has been tabbed on the web
(incorrect position BTW)
...but still VERY COOL!

he'll be back!

2/2/7

bonham graces the wall
(tommy)

along with ace

moon on the rise

2/1/7
55555

5 5s

1/27/7
The Lizardz TORE UP big hunchie's roadhouse in stevens point-debuting a new one and
rippin' the heads off the young ones that appeared for the third, and final, set...thanks!

milo

grant

grant's constructive use of cable

mark

brenda

mike and brenda

travis

table o' freaks!...

headed by a GG Allin worshipper

1/26/7

christopher at kata class

ride 'em cowpokes!
(at El Mezcal)

the bracelet made out of napkin holders that megan made for me...to decorate as i please

no power!

LOOOOOOOOOOOVE those sunsets!
(on the back roads of rudolph)

1/25/7
Goodbye to Mulligan's!
the weavil has left the building

1/22/7

brothers meet for the first time-billy and ron

1/21/7

winter arrives at last

1/20/7

catch it while ya can...gas below $2

1/19/7

the wonderful thing about Tiggers is
she's the only one
sheeeeeeeeeeeeee's the only one
one of the many cool items at the LHS cafeteria for Sportainment

young drummer brings the APPLAUSE...11-year-old ALEX bangs the new drummer's skins

on his 2nd anniversary of Lizarding!

one of the many happy faces

we are listed as a sponsor

the goings-on in the gym

a happy soundman...sometimes the smaller the system, the better

i also had booked El Donk at Little Chubbies in Point...their madness prevailed once again!
(thanks for doing me proud donkeys!)

1/14/7

the lovely and talented Steph rocks the Rocks

went to the Hotel Mead to see the ever-amazing Wheels of Fire
(sat in on the closing number, a theatrical War Pigs with me in hooded cloak)

Pinto touches the Grand Avenue Tavern's nipple!

my new drummer-Travis Plantico!

The Kings

in the other room, Boogie and the Yo Yos

...a great band if ya like 'em sounding exactly like on the record/radio (YUK)

"walkin' on sunshine"

1/11/7

1/9/7
went to the grand theatre in wausau to see
The Greatest Musical EVER!
Jesus Christ Superstar
with Ted Neeley doin' his last hurrah as Jesus and Corey Glover (of Living Colour) as Judas
AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING!

the following pix (from the balcony) don't do it justice but what they hey...

incredible lights abound!

a killer cast!

LOVE those bad guys!

"i don't need your blood money" Act One ends

"alright, i'll die!"

judas is well-hung!

39!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the ascension...VERY COOL!

WILD shot of jesus near close

after being paid to perform this about 50 times it sure was great to sit back and enjoy the PROS

waiting to meet their axeman nicklas
(hope you got my message)
he was AWESOME!

the unsung heros...WHAT A BAND!
Musicians from left to right:
Michael Mitchell- AMD/Keys
John Toney- Bass
Paul Hannah- Drums
Nicklas Dickerson- Guitar
Kep Kaeppelar- Musical Director

here's a review
Praise 'Jesus'! Koger brings out the best
The State - South Carolina
November 10, 2006

Everything's Alright'and 'I Don't Know How to Love Him. During the past 15 years, I've seen most of the theater productions that have rolled into the Koger Center. Some were OK, some terrible, a couple very good. The production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' here for a two-day run makes me forget all the rest.
To use technical theater talk: It rocks.
I'll admit to being a fan of the show. It doesn't pretend to be a rock musical, it is one.
The story is compelling, told well and with wit and a respect for language. The songs are catchy. And heck, it's about the son of God.

And, did I mention, it rocks?

What will grab a lot of people is that Ted Neeley, who gained fame playing Jesus in the 1973 movie version, is still playing him. Yes, Neeley is 63. His voice and his face have aged, but he still pulls it off. And isn't Mick Jagger still doing this at the same age?
Neeley has a good match with Corey Glover, of the band Living Color, playing Judas. Glover starts out full bore and pretty much stays there, but he has intensity and presence. And in the second half, he shows that he can really nail the fine points - of both the song and the character.
Although she only has a couple of tunes, the softer love ballads, Christine Rea-Briskin turns in very moving performances
of 'Everything's Alright'and 'I Don't Know How to Love Him.'
The director's take on Pilate and King Herod don't work as well. Pilate is over the top; Herod isn't over the top enough.
The orchestra led by Kep Kaeppeler is top notch and the cutting guitar by Nicklas Dickerson is much appreciated.
The set consists of a simple steel walkway and stepped platforms.
Visual impact comes from excellent, extensive lighting and a few good and surprising special effects.

One major complaint against the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is that it ends with Jesus' death.
Without spoiling the show, this production provides a stunning resurrection.

1/8/7

(former) home sweet home

my old pad!
(north breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeearly)

the wonders of nature

should it be THIS nice in january?
well...IT IS!

1/6-7/7

sights of madison...state street area

caught EL DONK at madison's mr. roberts, the "new Ken's"

The Falcon, the annointed prophet TEARS IT UP!

WOOBIE 3K tells it like it is

Fast Lane,

the most-improved drummer i have seen in the past year

the baron on bass

PUKIN' SUZIE!
(i once "dated" her at Ken's...talk about gettin' LOOKS!)

Donk family

THE amazing HUSHDROPS on the juke at The Pub

brother Ron ALSO tells it like it is
****** ******

My Best of 2006
Fave Concert-3 Dog Night
8/31/6 Marshfield Central Wisco Fair
this one caught me off guard and took me by surprise...
brother Grant and i were at Rudolph's Oasis restaurant where we spotted a tabletent with info about the fair.
i contacted them via web and found i could get CHEAP ($12) reserved seats so i nabbed 'em.
day of show we grab Milo and his wife Kathy (Thanks for driving!)

Three Dog Night August 31 2006 Setlist:

Family of Man
One Man Band
Black and White
Never Been To Spain
Shambala
Out in the Country
Easy To Be Hard
Omaha Honey
An Old Fashioned Love Song
You Can Leave Your Hat On
One
Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)
Overground (a KILLER NEW song featuring two axes and C.W. on bass)
Liar (with AMAZING blind the audience lights!)
Mama Told Me (Not To Come) (with HILARIOUS rap section in middle)
Celebrate
encore:
Joy to the World
Overture

BUY THEIR DVD as it is AMAZING!
Fave Quote-
"There's nothing new about these guys"
2 young guys at The New Cars show at Ravinia in Chicago 'burbs
...AND
"Pebbles isn't soup!"
Grant at Mulligan's
Fave Food-Chin's spicy Thai noodles
Madison's State Street
Fave Movie-The Departed
Martin Scorsese atop his game and FABULOUS performances from
Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, and Martin Sheen
...among others
Fave Album-Cheap Trick "Rockford"
and The Who "Endless Wire"
CT atop their game with GREAT new songs full of fun and energy!
Fave tracks: Welcome to the World, Come On Come On Come On , O Claire, and Every Night and Every Day

i REALLY disliked The Two's new album until about spin 5...when i fell in love with it!
Fave tracks: It's Not Enough, Man in a Purple Dress, Mike Post Theme, and Sound Round

****** ******

12/31/6-1/1/7

jack's last stand...or sit

"you say goodbye but i say hello"

the passing of the baton...or drumsticks as it may be
we welcome TRAVIS with open arms!

can't miss the last packers game!
(just to the left of my rig)

one of Fee's biggest fans (the other TR) puts us all on notice

Z-man at Mull's

"can we go home now?"

12/30/6
!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!

brother Billy told me i should shoot my axe so here they are
(shame my sweat fukked up the sig on the elecTRic so quick)

12/27/6

a ride down PP

yields glimpses into yesteryear

12/26/6

beauty amidst the...well not so beauty
(sunset on the wisco river in the 'Pids)

12/25/6
Merry Christmas

nephew christopher with his "silly face"...

...and niece megan with hers...

...and uncle jeff with his
WISHING ALL
HAPPY HOLIDAZE!

sinking battleships

and building the future

the princess gets her first timepiece

can you hear me now?...

how 'bout NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????

(young singer gets first hand-held microphone=LOOKOUT!)

princess kickin' back in the seat her uncle got her

he's a bright one ;)

BEWARE

of the olive hands!

sister debbie

GREAT to see her out and about

with hubby brian

12/21/6
Happy Solstice

EXCELLENT energy at the last home game fo the season and complete fate that i hooked up with
Jay Whitney of Green Bay's horn monsters Big Mouth and the Powertool Horns
as we lined up 4 lead axemen, including Greg Waters of Cool Waters, to fill the end of our row...
AMAZINGLY wonderful time

THANKS JAY!

with Jay as WE WIN in the last minutes

axeman Greg says who's #1

superfans abound!

hey beerman!

a well-lit stadium indeed,

lambeau RULES!

cuties abound as well

happiness is...a press pass

re-entering Holy Ground

post-game MADNESS below

last game for Brett or not? hey, that's HIS choice
WONDERFUL fan energy EVERYWHERE reminded me of the great ol' times at Dead shows!

(quite an "outhouse"-Bill R)

those Vikings fans are SCARY...

cool guy tho'

wanna whole lotta cables
(i LOVE stuff like this)

bonfires ablaze the win...
the fans won the game!

PACKER VIRGINS?
Bill has turned me onto this killer group several times...GREAT peeps!
(thanks!)