Radio, Road, and Ranch Relaxo.... 8/22/06
I am currently on about 2 ½ hours sleep….it is 3:31 pm on a Tuesday and I have been up now for 15 hours. I’m at work and I AM actually working but I am fighting off falling asleep at my computer so I am taking a little break.
We ROCKED Cincinnati! Two nights of shows followed by our debut as a band on live radio. (If you missed the radio show, check out the podcast of it at www.wnku.org or just click on the link at the bottom of this page)
Chris, Luis, Alan and I arrived in Dayton, OH late Friday night, rented a car and drove to Chez Neumark (dubbed “Rancho Relaxo” by Chris) where we cracked open a couple bottles of wine and my mom got to catch up with me and the boys. We were all starving and, much to our dismay, discovered that on a Friday night in Cincinnati, OH (we’re talking 12:30 am), all pizza delivery is closed and so are all grocery stores. Huh?! Have I become spoiled with big city living for the past 9 years? So, ma mere, Sue, always the resourceful one, busted out some steaks on the grill for our midnight feast. Luis did the grilling - I stayed clear because there was a spider the size of Utah camped out above the grill and those of you not familiar with my relationship with arachnids, just know it’s not an amicable one.
Saturday was all about sleeping in and rehearsing before Saturday night’s show. It was an outdoor show up in Cincinnati’s artisan district, Mt. Adams. The skies were threatening thunder storms but it passed and turned into a lovely night.
Luis kicked us off with a high energy set of his own stuff while the crowd trickled in and then we took the stage as a band and played back–to-back sets. It was a great turnout – some friends and family but a whole lot of locals and cool people just wanting to hear some live music. After breaking down our PA system and drums (something I am not accustomed to doing in LA) and getting paid (ha, ALSO something I am not accustomed to in LA), we headed back to Rancho Relaxo for another debaucherous evening of wine, food (Cincinnati’s infamous Skyline Chili…yum!!!), and of course a little tournament action on the old pinball machine.
Sunday night we headed back up to Mt Adams for a dinner show with local CLARK JENKINS (Big Whiskey) and Austin Speigel opening. They were super fantastic and very cool guys!
They were followed by Luis who really kept the momentum going for us to close out the night. It was an intimate and very attentive crowd. More Rancho Relaxo debauchery that night, though our game of choice switched to poker where Lovejoy (Chris) pulled a fast one, claiming he was a virgin poker player. Hah! And we fell for it as we watched him take us all to the cleaners….those drummers….you never can trust them ;)
Monday morning. All that wine and poker had gone to my head. I think we were all feeling it. But Sue rallied us to get up and get some lunch….and what better to feast on after a hangover? Sushi, of course! (Ok, that’s probably not the best thing but it sounded good to all of us….gosh, the Midwest has truly been sucked out of me…I’m, like, totally from like, California now). Post sushi feast we all get ready for the big night – the reason we came to Cincinnati in the first place: our live radio debut.
Last fall, Alan and I did a live acoustic interview and played a couple of songs on WNKU’s afternoon show hosted by John Patrick. I kept in touch with John (one cool cat, btw) and the station continued to give me airplay. This past spring they asked me to come back with the full band to their live on-air concert series, Studio 89. Enthusiastically, I accepted.
Cut to: last night – WNKU radio. We walked in expecting a teeny studio and instead found ourselves in a soundstage with an actual stage, lighting, monitors, (even plexi-glass for the drummer!). Pam, the host, introduced herself and got us waters and then we sound checked and chilled out and waited for the studio audience to arrive.
I was surprised at how nervous I was. I mean, performing is not a new thing for me. I think it was a combination of 2 factors: 1) It was live! Ah! If I sound shitty or I’m pitchy or I hit the wrong chord, there ain’t no going back….it’s out there baby, for everyone to hear. 2) I only had about 5 or so friends/family coming – the remaining 45 people were listeners…bonified fans….people who had never seen me, didn’t know me, but were here purely because they had heard my music on the air and liked it and wanted to see me live. Ah. Scary. Exciting :)
So, I’m not going to tell you about it. If you didn’t hear it, just click on this link: http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wnku/local-wnku-526419.mp3 It was really cool though – and so much fun! :)
Alright, well now my “little” break has turned into quite a bit more – oops! (Gotta keep the day job for now!!) So, I’ll leave you all with that – stay tuned for more very soon!!!!
We ROCKED Cincinnati! Two nights of shows followed by our debut as a band on live radio. (If you missed the radio show, check out the podcast of it at www.wnku.org or just click on the link at the bottom of this page)
Chris, Luis, Alan and I arrived in Dayton, OH late Friday night, rented a car and drove to Chez Neumark (dubbed “Rancho Relaxo” by Chris) where we cracked open a couple bottles of wine and my mom got to catch up with me and the boys. We were all starving and, much to our dismay, discovered that on a Friday night in Cincinnati, OH (we’re talking 12:30 am), all pizza delivery is closed and so are all grocery stores. Huh?! Have I become spoiled with big city living for the past 9 years? So, ma mere, Sue, always the resourceful one, busted out some steaks on the grill for our midnight feast. Luis did the grilling - I stayed clear because there was a spider the size of Utah camped out above the grill and those of you not familiar with my relationship with arachnids, just know it’s not an amicable one.
Saturday was all about sleeping in and rehearsing before Saturday night’s show. It was an outdoor show up in Cincinnati’s artisan district, Mt. Adams. The skies were threatening thunder storms but it passed and turned into a lovely night.
Luis kicked us off with a high energy set of his own stuff while the crowd trickled in and then we took the stage as a band and played back–to-back sets. It was a great turnout – some friends and family but a whole lot of locals and cool people just wanting to hear some live music. After breaking down our PA system and drums (something I am not accustomed to doing in LA) and getting paid (ha, ALSO something I am not accustomed to in LA), we headed back to Rancho Relaxo for another debaucherous evening of wine, food (Cincinnati’s infamous Skyline Chili…yum!!!), and of course a little tournament action on the old pinball machine.
Sunday night we headed back up to Mt Adams for a dinner show with local CLARK JENKINS (Big Whiskey) and Austin Speigel opening. They were super fantastic and very cool guys!
They were followed by Luis who really kept the momentum going for us to close out the night. It was an intimate and very attentive crowd. More Rancho Relaxo debauchery that night, though our game of choice switched to poker where Lovejoy (Chris) pulled a fast one, claiming he was a virgin poker player. Hah! And we fell for it as we watched him take us all to the cleaners….those drummers….you never can trust them ;)
Monday morning. All that wine and poker had gone to my head. I think we were all feeling it. But Sue rallied us to get up and get some lunch….and what better to feast on after a hangover? Sushi, of course! (Ok, that’s probably not the best thing but it sounded good to all of us….gosh, the Midwest has truly been sucked out of me…I’m, like, totally from like, California now). Post sushi feast we all get ready for the big night – the reason we came to Cincinnati in the first place: our live radio debut.
Last fall, Alan and I did a live acoustic interview and played a couple of songs on WNKU’s afternoon show hosted by John Patrick. I kept in touch with John (one cool cat, btw) and the station continued to give me airplay. This past spring they asked me to come back with the full band to their live on-air concert series, Studio 89. Enthusiastically, I accepted.
Cut to: last night – WNKU radio. We walked in expecting a teeny studio and instead found ourselves in a soundstage with an actual stage, lighting, monitors, (even plexi-glass for the drummer!). Pam, the host, introduced herself and got us waters and then we sound checked and chilled out and waited for the studio audience to arrive.
I was surprised at how nervous I was. I mean, performing is not a new thing for me. I think it was a combination of 2 factors: 1) It was live! Ah! If I sound shitty or I’m pitchy or I hit the wrong chord, there ain’t no going back….it’s out there baby, for everyone to hear. 2) I only had about 5 or so friends/family coming – the remaining 45 people were listeners…bonified fans….people who had never seen me, didn’t know me, but were here purely because they had heard my music on the air and liked it and wanted to see me live. Ah. Scary. Exciting :)
So, I’m not going to tell you about it. If you didn’t hear it, just click on this link: http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wnku/local-wnku-526419.mp3 It was really cool though – and so much fun! :)Alright, well now my “little” break has turned into quite a bit more – oops! (Gotta keep the day job for now!!) So, I’ll leave you all with that – stay tuned for more very soon!!!!
posted by Julie Neumark | 4:39 PM
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