Reggae Ramblings2008-07-24T16:44:12Zhttp://blog.gizzae.com/atom.aspxQuick BlogTouched by it all - Thank you Rochester Minn!tag:blog.gizzae.com,2008-06-27:62671ccd-c873-404b-9b89-23f57bbc2957Big Paul2008-06-27T15:43:53Z2008-06-27T15:17:00Z I was fortunate enough to go along this weekend and play with them. Three days of band life is certainly a vacation of sorts for me. Not to mention, talking to adults and having some laughs is a nice change from talking about Speed Racer and the Muppets. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Last night 6/26, we played right out the front door of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. Rochester is throwing town get-togethers, mini festivals every Thursday and we got invited to come up. Well....It was fricking awesome! There were a couple of very talented guitar players there right before us and they got the crowd loosened up for us. Well, that and the martini booth about 6.3 feet from the stage! Anyways, we got going for about 45 minutes, woke em all up, and took a short break before we KICKED ASS for the next 90 minutes. Now, when they love it, we love it, so we were just grooving off of the incredible energy from the crowd. As you can imagine, there were plenty of people from the clinic, both employees and patients. Here's where I'm headed - There were obviously people that really needed a little boost from what's happening in their respective lives. We finished up a couple minutes after we were supposed to. (they said they usually are asked to shut it down by 8:30) Well - Someone said - ENCORE! And like a California brush fire the crowd roared for us to come back. And the awesome Heidi said "Play on! "
Ok so, we end for good and the energy is just at peak level. Smiles all around, grinning, kids wanting autographs, dogs and cats playing together, it's just bedlam. It was, if not the best, one of the best times I have ever had playing with Gizzae. It is beyond me to say how that felt to affect people so much for such a short time.
We met so many incredible people after we got packed up, got a ticket and then scraped the top of the new van. Somehow, Karma got lost. After, we did go into the hotel, 6.3 feet the other way from the stage and had some food and drinks courtesy of John and Lori (Laurie). Thank you both! They were here from San Diego for some care at the clinic and we just had a fantastic time.
Tonight we are off to Austin, MN which is 45 minutes (you thought I was going to say 6.3 feet the other way) down the road. Another rarity - playing so close together with a full day off in a nice hotel. Ralph went fishing, I went swimming, Rocket and the guys went to Jeri's sisters for some food. Anyways (I say that a lot) we're closing the Hambone Blues Festival tonight and then off to a Private Party tomorrow.
I want to say THANK YOU to everyone from the Rochester planning committee and to all the wonderful people that came out to see us last night. I certainly hope that we get to come back to Rochester very soon. I was touched by it all.
P]]>It's coming!tag:blog.gizzae.com,2008-04-17:5365eee4-8f77-4353-99fb-4fee562df79eBig Paul2008-04-17T16:50:27Z2008-04-17T16:28:00ZFor the first time in a long time, I'm proud to say that the CD really is DONE! Ralph went through hell the last couple of weeks putting it together with Chuck Fletcher (of the Coney Island Fletchers). I mean, Chuck didn't put him through hell, they went through it together.
So after all the questions like "When?" "When?" When?", Ralph said it's done. And now we need artwork. So then I said, Who's doing that? Ralph said "You are". So then, I said "Of course I am, let's go!"
It took many years to get this one done, but I had 2 days of real production time since I was laid up last week with a minor ailment. Well, I'm not one to back down from a challenge and considering how much work went into the CD, I figured it's time to "man up". Ralph, Ruph (the resident artist), Mike Hughes (Of the Hattenfield Hughes), Jeff Kirsten (Of the Kingston Kirstens) all had some great ideas. Ruph's paintings made it easier and Ralph and I sat down and just went through the layout page by page.
It's done, it's done, it's done!!!
Everything is at the printers right now and Ralph is bird-dogging the release to try and bring up a slew of CD's to Marquette at the beginning of May. In any event, CD's will be here for the summer. We also have some new shirts, hats are coming and also digital downloads will be available shortly.
In the interim, here's the cover and also the back. I'll leave the rest a mystery.
WHEW! And that's from everyone. And to all the people that helped, thank you from everyone in the band.
Respect
]]>Hello Again Everybodytag:blog.gizzae.com,2008-04-04:78a132fb-7327-4333-8b18-dc826052f81cBig Paul2008-04-04T12:57:13Z2008-04-04T11:28:00Z In all seriousness, we are so damn close. MAY 1 is the deadline to have physical, tangible CD's in our collective mitts. In order to make this deadline, I doubted Ralph and told him there is NO WAY he can do that! Which, of course, is the oldest motivational method known to man.
Now, Ralph knew I was screwing with him, but the point was made. You can't rush creativity, but you can work through production issues such as design, titles, legalities, UPC codes, credits, and all the things that you don't want to hold up your music production. The CD leaves for mastering today and we should have it back in one week. Then off to production and we should have CD's by May 1st. Am I betting on it? HELL NO - But, it's with a sense of humor that this and most of anything I write should be taken. So besides the obvious, what else did Gizzae gain by going through this second CD?
Well, for one thing, technology has changed quite a bit in the last 10 years. Everyone of the guys now has the tools to record ideas and also work alongside so many of the brethren that want professional quality recordings with professional musicians backing them up. Rocket, Ralph and Clem all spend countless hours working with recording music, and not just their own.
And now to something totally unrelated - I love white baseball hats. I'm working on designing a line of reggae hats and I've always appreciated the nice clean look of a white hat. So - I did what I normally do and that was look at starting another web site and/or look for a domain name. Now, if you do not know me, I'm am rarely serious and have a sense of humor about everything. With that caveat, I was cracking up (no pun) at my search. I was looking for whitehats.com or something like that. Well, my own search found that the name was taken but here were a few options for me to look at:
Well, CrackerHatsLive.com is not exactly what I meant when I was looking for White Hats!! Snowy hats, well, I understand that, but CRACKERHATS? Not only is that word nearly extinct, but how the hell can a search produce such a word? I'm amazed and I thought I would show you all as well. Crazy.
Stay tuned as Summer is almost here and we all know that in Chicago, there is no such thing as spring. Winter and Construction are the two seasons, but for me, it's winter and REGGAE!]]>Happy New Year and Upcoming showstag:blog.gizzae.com,2008-01-07:853801bf-9fb0-4fef-826c-bfbef8092983Big Paul2008-01-07T18:02:11Z2008-01-07T17:50:00Z It's been more than a little nutty due to the holidays, but they are here and gone and we are already booking up for summer. Right now, it feels like summer, or at least spring. 68 degrees in January in CHICAGO is insane. Of course, everyone is so ill from whatever the hell is going around that we can hardly enjoy it. Shameful and ironic.
We are going to be at The Alley again in Highwood Friday, the 25th of January. You should check it out! Pretty cool place with real dudes loading the pins on the bowling alley and a nice big dance floor.
We are also going to be at the famous Durty Nellies on Friday, January 18th. These are both really cool places and since we are in the burbs, we get to see some old friends.
Well, I've been not so active on the blog, but only because there is so little interaction. I'm hoping we get some more participation, but thank you for reading anyways!
Hopefully, it won't be 3 months before I post again. And now I'm off to do the newsletter.
]]>Sunday will be insane after the Cub's Gametag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-09-17:91c89539-b1ae-4d80-93b8-37f3a24671e2Big Paul2007-09-17T20:39:08Z2007-09-17T20:27:00ZTwo weeks ago my wife and I finally got out of the house and it so happened that Gizzae was playing at the Wild Hare after the Cub's game. Now to most people, this is no big deal, going out that is. With 2 little ones, this is not so easy...Cutting to the chase.
There was another band there before we got in and it was a rarity as it was not a reggae band. Well, turns out that these dudes JAM and came back out with Gizzae to jam a little. It was one of the very best shows I've ever seen, and The Jason Sapen Band will be back this Sunday to do it again right after the Cub's game. They'll also have their fans in from South Bend, including our friends from Simeri's.
This Sunday will be a great time to see both bands, don't miss it!
Ralph Jamming]]>Another fine Sundaytag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-09-16:dbc64c67-0709-44a0-aa5a-8d9af417aa4fBig Paul2007-09-16T08:17:50Z2007-09-16T08:02:00ZSunday's in September, I love them. Crisp mornings that allow for a little extra sleep, the implied laziness of the 7th day and BEARS!
Today is another big day for our local sports heroes (Da Bears) and I, along with my musical comrades, really enjoy the NFL. I remember coming back from a Minneapolis trip on the first Sunday of the season and we couldn't push that piece of tin faster than 145 mph (really more like 70). But back then, we had a TV in the van. The TV almost worked (better than the van did) but it was something to see how much football bonds us together. Spirited discussions (heated arguments), lively banter (Smack talking) and creative language (@$%@#$) filled the van all the way home. (So did last night's smell of booze, burritos and smoke)
So why do I keep blogging about football on a reggae blog? BECAUSE I need to blog something dammit!
Anyways, Sunday also means Sunday nights at the Hare and that is home. There is no better place to see Gizzae than Sunday nights at the Wild Hare. Like the aforementioned van story, The Hare is home on Sundays. So - as we look forward to another lazy, food filled, NFL Sunday we keep an eye towards the night with our friends and family at the musical dinner table of the Wild Hare.
Ruph Getting Down]]>Back to being funnytag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-09-13:b1e9db26-1164-489c-bf0a-35f9a64c567aBig Paul2007-09-13T13:25:38Z2007-09-13T13:22:00ZIn the wake of recent events, this struck me funny.
Here's a recent shot of Rocket at the Bayfront Reggae Festival with Third World.
]]>Off to Simeri's this Weekendtag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-06-26:cd8a0057-bc21-4958-97e6-8f3ce268ab93Big Paul2007-06-26T22:14:00Z2007-06-26T22:14:00Zwww.simeristap.com
Click here for some new pix!]]>Check us out this FridayIt's been such a long timetag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-06-10:d23778ca-d6ec-4d2e-a522-a7406786dbe1Big Paul2007-06-10T13:04:00Z2007-06-10T13:04:00Z Ralph assures me that the CD will be out by July and I already know it's gonna be a hit.
Gizzae is jamming all over the place this summer - We hope to see you soon.
Oh yeah, the link.... ]]>OK. I'm showing my face again.New Interview from Planet 19tag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-03-15:31386891-9fc0-4ada-807a-966899df9ab8Big Paul2007-03-15T10:32:06Z2007-03-15T10:24:00ZSpring is on its way, thank goodness. Even though we had a 38 degree change in weather, both positive and negative within 36 hours, the good weather is on it's way. And that means lots of reggae parties!
I'm very excited about this summer with the impending release of the CD. It'll be worth the wait when you finally hear it. Baseball season starts in 2 weeks and that means day gigs at the Wild Hare after Cub games. The gigs are starting to come in for the summer and as the booking guy for many of their shows, I'm finding so many dates are being filled from our previous gigs. That's the surest sign that you are doing the right things.
]]>Baseball season starts in 2 weeksAnother Fine Display of Musicianshiptag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-01-30:55a32ebf-894c-4e90-b530-44ab8797db58Big Paul2007-01-30T21:08:00Z2007-01-30T21:08:00Z http://www.filecabi.net/video/andy-mckee.html
That CD we've been talking about so much, well seriously, it's almost done.
]]>check out this little dude. He wails!You know you live in Chicago when...tag:blog.gizzae.com,2007-01-10:79bb0f38-1a9b-4ea1-8a24-0e4e2dbd2579Big Paul2007-01-10T20:48:00Z2007-01-10T20:48:00Z
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Chicago
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Chicago
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Chicago ..
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Chicago
If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of I - 80 for the weekend, you live in Chicago .
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Chicago
If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you live in Chicago
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Chicago .
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Chicago
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Chicago
If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in Chicago
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Chicago
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in Chicago .
If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Chicago
If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you live in Chicago
If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your friends & others, you live in Chicago .]]>If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you live in ChicagoHappy New Yeartag:blog.gizzae.com,2006-12-29:111b100a-c41b-4d8f-9b06-c03da8a9fc3eBig Paul2006-12-29T10:32:00Z2006-12-29T10:32:00Z Please have a great NYE and be safe as well.
I promise this CD will be out shortly (seriously) and that Ralph will need a vacation from all the mixing sessions!
Everyone worked very hard on the release and the final product will be in your hands shortly.
Happy New Year and Go BEARS!
]]>Happy New Year and Go BEARS!BEARS!!tag:blog.gizzae.com,2006-12-17:4c0f359c-b144-448b-96b7-e5a726781ebeBig Paul2006-12-17T21:59:00Z2006-12-17T21:59:00Zhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzo9oXiNrXY
PS. The CD is being mixed now and should be out soon.
]]>Bears!Da Bearstag:blog.gizzae.com,2006-12-14:31286533-a12e-4c19-9027-9c96cd6639a9Big Paul2006-12-14T09:30:00Z2006-12-14T09:30:00Z Go Bears!
]]>Go Bears!Happy Holidaystag:blog.gizzae.com,2006-12-13:0e2b5958-e284-4439-821e-341b71d6380bBig Paul2006-12-13T21:16:24Z2006-12-13T21:12:00Z ]]>spend some time with your loved onesSome seriously funny stufftag:blog.gizzae.com,2006-12-13:983b6f06-ad8e-43bc-aea9-59076ea34111Big Paul2006-12-13T21:08:00Z2006-12-13T21:08:00ZThis lady damn near killed me when I heard this.
Take a look-see. Click here]]>This lady damn near killed meThe guys speak to Northern Michigan Universitytag:blog.gizzae.com,2006-09-21:9f1beaa1-0e80-404a-b94f-6125ee56471cBig Paul2006-09-21T13:16:00Z2006-09-21T13:16:00Zhere!
Thanks to everyone at NMU!
]]>they also did an unplugged sessionI like what I'm hearingtag:blog.gizzae.com,2006-08-23:1fee885b-b8d8-4c04-bed5-04ff7a48c525Big Paul2006-08-23T19:28:00Z2006-08-23T19:28:00Z I'm happy with all the selections and it's nice to hear such strong back-up vocals. The ladies are so nice to hear on Gizzae tracks!
I'm not gonna say what's on there but any reggae fan and for sure, any Gizzae fan will be very happy with the final product.
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