Dancing machines

Time Out Pub, Rockland Maine...

This place is the rockiness bar I have ever seen on a Monday night. The place was packed even though it was a rainy night. The patrons hit the dance floor and did not leave until we finished both sets. It is very energizing to play music under these conditions. Most of these people where my age or older (that's old). Many drove over 100 miles to come there. I told one guy I traveled 3,300 miles to get there. He said he had a friend in San Diego. Turns out I know his friend very well from AA meetings. Small world huh. These people flat out loved our show. We continue to perform the new songs on the second set. They are really getting tight. We are making minor changes to them as we go. This is Joe's road test method. It is great to see what they respond to. Because of the energy in the room I played really hard. So hard in fact that I smacked my finger to the point of bleeding. The finger hurt and blood was flying. My pants got bloody as did my snare drum. The attached photo shows my bloody snare after the show with my SJK laminate.

We where able to walk to the event from our hotel. We had loaded in and set up earlier in the day. This is my preferred method but not always what we do. More often we show up "gig ready". This means we show up 1 hour before downbeat, set up, and play. I like to relax a little before I play and I don't really like the audience watching me set up. I am learning on the road that I don't get to get my way all the time. The greater good is what takes precedence. There is so much crap to set up being the drummer. This is my chosen instrument but that part is a hassle. The other guys are set up in 15 minutes and it takes me 30 minutes or more. We normally get fed by the venue and we eat after the audience leaves and we break down the gear. After we eat we load the trailer and hed back to the hotel. I find i can not go directly to bed. It takes me a while to wind down.

I have a photo of my wife ruby that I had laminated. I keep it in my back pack. I tape it to my drum set when I play and post it in the van in my "Area". I put it out in the hotel room also. Ruby is my soul mate and best friend. I MISS HER! She has always been supportive of my music. Even in the height of my addiction she was OK with having my drums set up in the house. She very graciously facilitated me taking this job drumming for Smokin Joe. We talk daily and i miss her dearly. I will be home in 1 week and be in her arms..Cant' wait.

I am in Westbrook Maine where we play tomorrow at Chicky's Fine Diner. We went by tonight to check it out and see the band. The guitar player is a friend of Joe's from the Dallas area. He is staying at the same hotel and recognized Joe's van outside. The club was packed and we are hoping it will be the same tomorrow night. Every club has a completely different vibe. I hope this club can handle the Smokin Joe Road Show.

This evening I got to go to small AA meeting nearby. The folks where nice and it was great to plug in. I have not been to a meeting in 2 weeks. This is a long time for me. I normally go twice a week. I have 20 years of sobriety and will do what ever I need to maintain it. Being in bars every night can be slippery but it does not occur to me to drink.

I am enjoying getting to know these people I travel with better.......

Hey, check out my auction on e-bay.

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More will be revealed!

driving, hotels, music

Driving and more driving today. I am typing to you from our hotel in Rockland Maine. We arrived about 12:00 AM after driving for 13 hours from Reading PA. It was supposed to be a 9 hour drive but...shit happens. I have been trying to eat healthy out here but it is not always easy. Let me back up a bit. Our gig at the turning point in Piermont NY went very well. This is a small club next to the Hudson River in a quaint old area. The club is downstairs with a restaurant upstairs. Evidently all the national touring acts play here. The house was filling up as we loaded in. Some fans helped us carry some of our crap. Many of the people knew the band members (except me). It was hard to set up as the tables are right up against the stage and the stage is tiny. We got set up and started on time. The first set was 1 hour of the songs we have been doing for a while. The second set was the songs from the new album. This was the second time we have performed them in public. It was very well received and the mistakes where minimal. Joe and Bnois where on fire during the last song. I have trouble staying focused sometimes. I am also a fan and i have the best seat in the house. The club owner treated us great and made us a CD of the second set so we had a chance to dissect it on the drive the next day.

The drive the next day was not bad at all. ( I now think a 4 hour drive is nothing). We had rooms in the hotel where our part of the festival was taking place. This is called the Berks Jazz Festival. It has been going on for a while and is a week long event. Shows are held all over town at different venues. Ours was one of the 3-4 blues shows. We got in on Friday night and our show was Saturday night. Once we got settled Paul and i headed over to the other side of town where Keb Mo (One of my favorites) was performing. We went up to the door and flashed our Smokin Joe Kubek tour laminates and the promoter was happy to find us seats(My first rock star perk). The show had just started and it was great. I got weepy when he played "Every Morning" because this song is very special to Ruby and I. I miss her more than anything else out here. We tried to get backstage to meet Keb but his tour manager told us he does not do that. I understand he is a very personal guy. Next we went back to our hotel where Bette LaVette was performing. We had no trouble getting in again. We watched a few songs and checked out the venue. Then went to bed.

The next day we had all day off till our set at 9:30PM. I went to do laundry and visit Wal Mart. I haven't been to a laundromat in years. Did you know it cost $4.00 for a load of wash.

We showed up at the backstage area around 8:30. Since SJK Band was the headliner we went on last. Deanna Bogart was on of the opening acts. She was great. I had sit in with her on the Blues Cruise in January 06. I got to chat with her and she got to meet SJK. We took a few photos with her. We are on a festival with her in June also. It was nice to have a backstage, food, drinks and people to help us set up. The room was packed and people where standing along the sides. I was asked to use the back line drum kit. I knew this would happen someday. I would have been more comfortable with mine but hey I'm a pro i need to step up. it turned out fine. I brought my snare, cymbals and throne. I wound up using their cymbals cause they were fine. Our set was one hour and Joe decided to do all the material for the new album. I was a little nervous since i was on a strange kit and the place was packed. Once we got started i settled right down. Again our set was very well received. I recorded it on Mini disc and we listened to it today. It gets better each time. The new album is going to be killer. I realize a big benefit of using the house drum kit is break down took only a few minutes. I got to go to the lobby and watch Joe and Bnois sign autographs. There where plenty of SJK fans in the house. Phyllis always has the merchandise set up to sell and people like to get their CD's signed. This was a really fun gig and it will certainly carry me till the next one. We perform here in Maine tomorrow night. Joe has played here many times and has fans in the area. The area is right on the ocean and i hope to get to look around a little.

Thanks for listening. It is comforting to know you all are out here with me. I feel better now!

Good Night,

Dave K Drums

New York- Snow

Well we made it to New York safe and sound. I drove a total of 11 hours. I love driving and it relieves boredom. Joe and i talked about a lot of shit in 11 hours. Joe has a permanent seat riding shotgun. Perks of being the bandleader. Originally we planned on stopping at 11:00PM and get a room. We all decided to keep driving to avoid shifting to a different hotel. We checked in to our Utica Ramada hotel at 3:00 AM. I have learned that staying in the same hotel 2 nights in a row is a luxury for touring musicians. I am learning about energy conservation. Every extra move sucks more life out of you. Our show in Utica last night was a blast. This is what adds life back into you. The music to travel ratio is a delicate balance. The house was full and the audience very receptive. The first set was songs we do all the time. The energy was high and the crowd ate it up. The second set we did 13 songs we had never done in public before. These are the songs we are working on for the new album. They where very well received and we where all glad to get this first session behind us. We will be performing them each night if this tour. This is what Smokin Joe calls "Road Testing" the new material. Bnois had commented to the audience how we heard Utica was having a warm spell but we sort of disagreed. It was cold and rainy as we loaded out.
We are 50 miles from New York City. We have a gig tonight in Piermont NY. I am told it is a small but great venue. We have a short drive to Reading PA tomorrow. We are playing a Jazz festival.
I am enjoying my new life on the road but miss my old life. I speak to my wife Ruby twice a day or so. I take the people in my life for granted. I love them dearly. Live life to the fullest today, OK?
Dave K Drums

Finally on the road

Hey music lovers......
I am typing to you from my lavish suite at the Motel 6 just outside of Nashville TN.

Ruby and i went to see the Clapton Concert in San Diego Thursday night. It was all i hoped and some. Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks definitely added to the show. The rhythm section was killer. Eric was as always excellent. I left Friday morning for Dallas to hook up with Smokin Joe Kubek. We went to pick up my drums from his sister Margaret's house. She is very sweet and supportive. Saturday we hit the rehearsal facility at 2:00 PM after getting some Chinese food for breakfast. (crack of dawn for touring musisians). We ran through the arrangements of the songs for the new album and got them on mini disc. Sunday we went back and did it again. We recorded each song again. I am enjoying getting to create the drum sounds for the songs Joe and Bnois have already written. Joe gives me input and gives me freedom to create also. This morning we hit the road at 10:00 AM ( Really early for touring musicians).
We left Texas with Paul driving and headed north towards Little Rock then Memphis. A 12 hour drive is nothing for these guys. We did visit several of America's best fast food facility's and of course Starbucks. Bnois took over driving and we got to Nashville at midnight. It is interesting watching these guys in the van. They all have there "stuff" and rituals. Phillis has the back to herself and i got a good window seat. I liked having my wireless internet in the van. I kept up with K-Co and other things. Papa Joe rides Shotgun. He watches over every detail as a veteran bandleader would. I am a total rookie. I don't know what to bring so i bring too much. Then i look for something and can't find it cause i bring too much stuff. I will learn all the tricks in time. Well i better get to bed. I need to be standing next to the van at 10:00 Am or I'm in trouble. I get to drive in the morning, oh joy... Tomorrow we hope to make it to upstate NY.... Cold Country.

Dave K Drums

Getting Close

Hey blogettes,
I just got home from a gig in Julian at Bailey's with KV Blues Band. The band is Keven Venable on guitar and harmonica and vocals, Rolllin Rogers on Bass and vocal, Terry Padget on lead guitar and vocal and myself on drums and vocal. I love playing with these guys. We had a great crowd tonight all the way till the end. The people in Julian love to party and most of them dance. It is so much fun to play for a responsive crowd. The club owner, Scott is a super guy also. This is my last gig before I hit the road with Smokin Joe Kubeck Band.
I talked to Joe today and he played me part of a song they are working on for the new album. It seems like it will be a killer album and I am looking forward to going into the studio in April to record it. The album should be in the stores by October.
Ruby and I will be at the Clapton concert this thursday. Really looking forward to that. Smokin Joe and Phyliss went to the Clapton show in Dallas and hung out backstage. He raved about the show. He said sonetimes there where 3 slide guitars going at once.... Gotta love it.

I'm off to bed. It's 2:30 but a gotta turn the clock up one hour. Like it isn't late enough. I guess i'll make up the sleep some other time.

Type to ya soon.
Dave K

March is here....

Greetings blogmates.
I want to thank my sister Janet for helping create my new web site. She is the bomb.

I am up way to late on a school night. In 2 weeks I will be leaving for a few weeks on the road with The Smokin Joe Kubek Band. The reason I am up late is I am in training. When not playing music I go to bed around 9:oo PM. On this upcoming tour I will be going to bed around 3:00AM. Thats east coast time, 6:00 am our time. UGH thats late for a relic like me. I have been forcing myself to stay up late to get used to it. I have been practising my music like crazy at home on my electronic drums also. Thursday March 15 Ruby and I will see Eric Clapton in San Diego. We are really looking forward to that.

The next morning I leave for Texas. On March 17 and 18 we go into rehersals in Dallas so I can learn the songs Joe and Bnois have written for the new album. Then I hop in the tour bus (Dodge Van with trailer) and head to the north east. Joe keeps laughing when he tells me the joys of touring the northeast in March. He says if I get through this is will be able to hang through anything. I have some friends in the east coming to a show in Massachusets. That will be great. I am so not used to the cold. I guess I will survive. All my tourmates are really nice people. That will make all the diference. Or maybe I will find out what Joe keeps laughing about. They have been doing this for 18 years. It can't be all bad...
Stay Tuned.
Road Dog Dave