Still bumpin along with The Tramps....new bass player is working out well...he's doin better than I did when I first joined years ago.

I still would love to have another project going....classic rock and southern/country rock....time is a problem though....money too...wife too...but still!

Seems we've found a bass player...great guy...he sat in on a few songs at a recent gig...I had to do the vocal duties so I was a bit frazzled but he sounded great and really nice dude so...

I was kind of off that night anyway...trying some different things with my rig...should just leave well enough alone!

Last night we played some Chilli Cookoff in Kilgore Texas..I know...it sounds lame but there were a ton of people there...it was outside but not as cold as that "Blues Festival" was (more on that later)...the crowd didn't respond to us all that well though last night...I had a good time anyway...my rig was sounding good...I could actually hear it...so I just didn't worry about the crowd and had fun playing...

The reason I was trying some different things with my rig at the previous gig was; at the Blues Festival it was cold, damp and nasty...but not raining so we played anyway...but my amp, guitar and pedal board were covered in dew before it was over...ICK...wiped everything down before we left but I don't want to risk my equipment on gigs like that anymore.

Plus...we've yet to get paid for that gig!

We're playing at a "Blues Festival" in Cason Texas this weekend. We don't play any blues music however so I"m not too sure about this! We play quite a bit of R&B so I guess that counts...or not.

I've got a couple of songs/riffs of my own I"ve been messin around with but I'm not really keen on using the old 4 track anymore. If I record with it at all it'll just be with the acoustic guitar and vocals so that I can show them to real players and go into a real studio...but that costs real money!

Oh by the way...my Les Paul is killer! There was a learning curve at first since I had been using a Strat but....lovin it now!

I guess there's some changes coming for the Tramps. The bass player, Mickey, has announced that he'll have to hang it up at the end of this year because of work. He's going to be traveling between Longview and Texarkana and won't be able to be "out of pocket" for band related stuff.

Bummer.

We had a gig at a country club in Lindale this past weekend. They really seemed to appreciate our music and I think we landed a New Years Eve gig out of the deal! That'll probably be Mickey's last gig though. We seem to do well with older crowds and bikers, but not so much the regular rock or country music clubs around the area. I have a theory as to why that is but I'll leave it alone for now.

Wow..what a weekend! Played the Boo Run in Jefferson on Friday night then the Cajun Cowboy in Omaha Saturday night. I hate to say it but I played better Saturday night (probably because my wife was there so I wanted to impress) but few people showed up at the gig Saturday. Word has it that the local police in Omaha are really "jackin" with the customers after the bar closes so not too many folks go there anymore. Unfortunately, the band got to bickering that night...probably because of the crowd (or lack thereof) and the average performance the night before. I don't know....

I DO know that I've got to do something on my pedalboard to keep my foot from moving the knobs...that's caused some embarassing moments. My volume and tone were all out of whack the first set at the Boo Run but for some stupid reason I didn't adjust it for a few songs...I guess because there was a sound man there (my amp had a mic on it...it usually doesn't) and I was afraid of messing him up...I guess...I mean, it's not like he couldn't adjust the sound out front!

Anyway...practice tonight...should be fun!

Practice with the Tramps tonight...I hope they text me and let me in on what they want to work on!

Gig at The Elks went good...except I kind of lost it on the third set...too long of a break between sets I guess...well that's my excuse anyway!

Let first say that I am VERY grateful to be playing live with Lady Chazz and The Tramps. I wouldn't have gotten to play nearly as many gigs if I hadn't joined their band. I've tried to make the most of the opportunity...at least as much as I've been able to given my home situation.

All that having been said, damn I get frustrated sometimes! Mostly at practice. Playing for a husband and wife team has some definite pitfalls! The main one (as you might expect) is that they argue (again, mostly at rehearsals) about stupid stuff. The other thing is that we never know what we're going to work on at practice. We would get much more accomplished at rehearsals if they would give us a heads up on what they want to work on. Way too much time gets wasted because no one bothers to send a simple text saying "...hey, would like to work on songs X, Y and Z tonight"; if they did, the individual band member could know if he needs to brush up (or outright learn) a particular song.

At the last gig money became an issue. The proprietor paid them with a check; they have a band checking account but we were told they were out of checks and would pay us at next practice. Well at the next practice we were told that nobody went to the bank. Sensing a mutiny, our cash was hand delivered to our workplaces the next day.

Just venting here. Not about to quit them! Also, we've started picking up a few more gigs for the next few months....that's good because I REALLY need the money!

Sorry...don't mean to whine all the time but I'm kind of using this blog as a place to vent since no one ever sees it here anyway!

Gigs with the tramps have been spotty lately...not many...last one was in MT Pleasant at Mardi Gras...went well for the most part...especially since the gigs are few and far between these days...easy to get rusty that way!

We usually get to play the county fair this time of year but they've cut out the entertainment as well as about half the rides attractions...seems to be the way things are going right now.

My new Les Paul is sounding good and playng great...it was a bit difficult at first to make the switch from a Strat to the LP but I'm starting to get it tweaked in. The only real gripe I have with it is that it has what they call "satin finish" on it and it is very easy to scratch...the back looks like hell because of my belt buckle...but...some folks pay big bucks to have their guitars "distressed" so they look vintage...I'm doing mine the old fashion way...by playing the damn thing!

Yep...old and tired...bored most of the time. I really miss my family..my boys and my parents. As of this writting, they're all still alive; I've just lost touch with them. Oh I talk to them on the phone sometimes and see them on occasion but Nathan (my oldest) and my parents live in Corpus Christi so it's hard to see them much.

I now see that I was a terrible dad...I really wanted to be a good one but...well circumstances got in the way...I just wasn't there for them like I wanted to be...like I should have been...maybe they wouldn't be having the problems they're having now if I would have been able to "man up"....I don't know...

I deactivated my facebook account....deactivation...sounds pretty good these days!

new les paul is wonderful...everything else in my life SuXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!

F*** it

New guitar...nice....soul still broken...

No better today....nothing satisfies....maybe a new guitar...: (

I realy love playing guitar...love the sound, the look of the instruments and "geekin out" over the equipment. I really get depressed sometimes though...I'm old...not in the band I had in mind...and my home situation isn't good. Don't get me wrong, I love playin with "the tramps" but what I REALLY want is very simply a drummer and bass player to do a three piece classic rock/blues kind of thing. Not that the world needs another one of those type bands but...that's what I really would like.

As mentioned in previous posts, I would do it with Kenneth and Mickey but there are too many strings attached (some from my end..).

It's been made clear that I don't have time for more than one project and since the Tramps acutally help pay the bills...welll...

Unfortunately my depression goes beyond "unrequited love for guitars". I'm really getting to the point of saying..."what's the point?". I have terrible thoughts...pretty much everyday...not since right after highschool have I had to "shoo away" these thoughts....I hate it.

My fellow "Tramps" and I got together last week to work on some songs and talk about a possible side project. I'm encouraged and hopeful that it will work out. We have an advantage in that we already gig together so we can try out songs live as we learn them...makes sense...but there will be some songs that we might not be able to play at Tramps gig...might be too heavy ; )

Had a couple of good gigs with The Tramps this month...a biker bar in Kilgore called Sitting Bull and we also played the Gregg County Fair. Our biggest problem is the PA...wasn't a problem at the fair but normally we provide our own and ...lets just say it's not doing us justice....I have my opinions as to why that is, but I won't elaborate. In spite of that, we seem to be getting good response from folks that come out to see us....

Still wanting a three piece or some kind of a side project though...mostly for my own enjoyment but it would also be a way to "fill the void" when the Tramps get in a lull. The other two "Tramps" have expressed interest in doing it and that would be a logical way to go since we already play together...we're supposed to get together this thursday and start working some songs up.....maybe this will come about after all...!

If I could...this weekend I would....

Go see a bass player friend of mine who would love to do a three piece project with me.

Go see about a bass amp for said bass player that another friend has picked up dirt cheap.

Start working on songs with said bass player...

If I could...

Well...some gigs are coming up starting next month for the Tramps...we will be pretty busy through November...which is good...need money!

Not sure what the future holds though...can't say much now...stay tuned I guess!

Still want a 3 piece...need to start building a PA!