Thanks to Tony, we have a few videos from the most recent show. Here’s one where I make a funny face. Tony tape the whole set, so you can check out out on YouTube as well. Rock.
When I was younger, I took a few months of lessons from Tom Phares. He was like a grandfather to me, teaching me more how to learn drums than how to play. I’m thankful for him. His words and music inspire me even today.
I was living in New York when I found out he had passed away. I’m thankful for the short time I had with him. Recently I did some internet research and found this. A special Thank You to Andrew at JazzHouston.
Drummer Tom Phares Passes Away
by Deborah Aug 31 2000
Long-time Houston resident and drummer, Tom Phares passed away Tuesday.
Services and burial are tomorrow, Friday, September 1, 2000, beginning in the chapel of the Veterans Cemetary on Veterans Memorial Parkway at 10:30 am.
Tom was born and grew up in Davenport, Iowa. He began playing drums as a teenager and spent much time playing in Chicago, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, and Alaska before he settled in Houston.. Most recently he has played with Stolen Moments at Perry’s and with the Market Squares at the Shamrock Inn on Gessner. He is survived by his wife, Mary, a son who lives in Seattle, and two step-sons (Mary’s sons) who live in Austin. Tom was 66.
The Market Squares are planning a musical tribute to Tom on Wednesday, September 13, 2000 from 7:30 to 10:30 pm at the Shamrock Inn, 9161 S. Gessner Drive.
Tom was a cheering, uplifting presence on the jazz scene and always added a spark and a refreshing vitality. We will all miss him.
Filed under: Recording | Tags: Bess Rogers, Ingrid Michaelson, Recording, Twitter
What have I been up to?
Recording drums, percussion and backup vocals with Ingrid, drums and percussion with Bess and setting up more sessions with other greats.
Playing a few local shows with Bess, April, Jenny, Ricky, Alexa, Mieka, Jim, Greg and others.
Enjoying my home.
Twittering.
Filed under: Ingrid Michaelson, Live Performance | Tags: Allie Moss, Be Ok, Bess Rogers, Chris Kuffner, Elliot Jacobson, Ingrid Michaelson, Touring
It’s been months since we did this tour. I am finally posting this blog, which was written in pieces during and after the tour. Enjoy!
Time and space move quickly when you’re on the road. There’s not a lot of time to reflect and digest what’s going on moment to moment. Certainly not enough time to write a detailed account. I’m attempting to recap a tour where we we constantly performing, traveling, talking, writing, sharing, experiencing, eating…living. It was a very lively tour. Most days were filled with more than just a show. We did promo, ad agencies, radio shows, in-store performances. Late nights/early mornings. We met with new and old friends after shows, on days off, and on several occasions, partied like, well, I guess, um, rock stars.
So here is the tour, in bits and pieces, leaving out a million details, moments, feelings, pictures, and, of course, sounds:
The Be Ok Tour was all of these people traveling together all of the time:
Ingrid Michaelson
Chris Kuffner
Bess Rogers
Allie Moss
Phil Sullivan (tour manager/front of house sound)
Marylynne Penhale Stella (merch girl and sometimes special guest singer)
David Ford
Newton Faulkner
Patrick “Patch” Hannon (Newton’s tour manger/front of house sound)
and me
and these people traveling with us some of the time:
Lynn Grossman (management, laptop, insomniac)
Deborah Lopez (friend, photographer, baker)
my lovely GF (general loveliness)
HIGHLIGHTS:
Watching the election backstage in Anaheim was very special for all of us, I think. It was amazing to be doing what we love while witnessing history. Our first major tour, my first time living on a tour bus, and watching such an important event unfold live. Wow. Also, I had never been to Anaheim before.
We had a lot of bizarre things happen along the way, as I’m sure all touring groups do. Smoke alarms going off three times during a set (in key, at that). A random fan running on stage and dancing with Ingrid during a show.
The bus was fun. We typically went to bed at 5am, and woke up between 11-2pm.
Fans were so sweet, bringing baked goods, signs they made, and asking us to sign guitars, shirts, cds, set lists, and whatever else was available.
Most audiences were quiet and respectful…Even the not so respectful crowds were fun to play to, because they posed a challenge for us to reign them in.
We developed a life arrangement for Ingrid’s new song called “Everybody” during sound checks and performing it every night through the second half of the tour. Another song almost made it to the set as well, but it will be saved for the album to make it’s full band debut.
Our tour manager, Phil Sullivan shared his war stories with us on a daily basis. It was great to have that kind of experience with us every step of the way.
The Brits were a blast.
Marylynne was amazing to have with us. A positive spirit with a lot of spunk, funk, and energy that eventually developed into fun times and everlasting friendship.
Flying my girlfriend out for a few days was essential. It was already tough for me to adjust to the flip schedule (I usually WAKE UP at 6am, not go to bed). It was also really tough for us to talk between her job and my work. Having her around was like a mini vacation for me.
Seeing/hanging out with Jenny Owen Youngs, Matt Nathanson, Greg Laswell, Brandon Walters, Jessie Baylin and about a dozen other music friends and civilian friends alike(touring can be a convienent way to visit long lost friends!) was a highlight of the tour. LA was certainly great for that. Seeing the Hotel Cafe people in Boston on a night off was great.
We were able to visit all sorts of cities, big and small. Meet so many positive people, experience the rush of live performance night after night, do tons of promo, eat great food, and all while traveling in a condo on wheels. I am lucky to be able to do this. Thanks to the thousands of you who made it possible.
See you this summer.
Filed under: Uncategorized
The drums? Oh, well they make a great internet router holder!
New blog about the Be Ok Tour is on the way…
Filed under: Uncategorized
Hey Peeps,
It’s all happening. I’m on the bus now on the way to Anaheim.
Last night after the itunes session (which was fun and produced by Tonic’s Jeff Russo and we got free Nanos!) we went back to the hotel to chill for a few. Then made our way over to the Hotel Cafe. Jenny Owen Youngs and Greg Laswell were kicking off their tour that night, both with full bands. I volunteered to sit in with the Jenny band.
After a brief sound check, we went out for some Thai food. Greg took the stage first. I loved seeing him with the full band. We went on next. I have never played or rehearsed with Jenny before, and didn’t listen to her stuff before the show, but it was a fun time.
Cary Brothers, Jim Bianco, Hayley Taylor, Greg and his band, Jenny, myself, Bess and Chris, and probably more people that I can’t remember right now in my hung over brain all went out after the show to the Piano Bar for hookah smoking and heavy drinking. It was a long fun night of good things.
Today we met up at Lynn’s house and packed the bus. Phil is an amazing tour manager, Mary Lynn is an awesome merch girl. The bus is amazing, big, and comfy.
If I didn’t write about the past two shows yet, they were so fun. Boston was probably the best show ever and the Northhampton show was super tight, and the crowds both nights were a lot of fun.
I hope everyone voted for Obama.
Check my facebook for new pics. I have a camera now (not just camera blackberry) so I’ll try to throw some of those guys up sooner than later.
rock and roll,
e
Filed under: Uncategorized
We had a hectic sleepless few days.
CSI was fun and then we went home late and stayed up until load in at 4am for Good Day NY at Fox. Then we drove to Boston and played at Paradise Rock Club to the sold out amazing audience. Then CRASHED.
Before the sleep, we had less than 8 hours total for the band.
Tonight we hang with Hotel Cafe who are performing at Paradise as well.
Here’s the link for the FOX performance.
http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/Entertainment/Detail?contentId=7753387&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=7.3.1
We recorded at Grand Street Studios in Williamsburg Brooklyn this past Tuesday. Check out the video for some behind the scenes clips as well as a first listen to the raw track.
I’m leaving for a the headlining tour with Ingrid Michaelson and band next week. We will travel to over 20 different cities, play just about that many shows and do countless radio promo and other “exclusive” performances. (I will try to post these performances on my myspace page as they are booked.)
I have been getting ready for this crazy trip in a number of ways. For health and budget reasons, I’ve stocked up on some of my tour bus snacks ahead of time. You never know where you’re going to end up when someone needs to pee and what kind of food, if any, they will have. Peanuts, granola, dried fruit, and other healthy snacks were purchased a few weeks back in bulk.
I decided to prep up my look for these shows as well. This summer, I sported mainly a variety of t-shirts from various local establishments (REPRESENTIN’ NY TO THE FULLEST, WHAT!) and various styles of jeans. This time, well, let’s just put it this way. I need to bring a bigger suit case…maybe even more. Sweaters, button downs, new kicks and some fancy pants are promised.
Over the past few months, I’ve worked out deals with Sabian Cymbals and Yamaha drums. So now that I’m endorsed, I have a brand new kit and cymbal set up. Pretty fun for me, although I’m sure most of you will not notice the difference.
Here’s a run down of the new gear:
Yamaha oak custom in amber finish
- 24” x 17″ Bass drum
- 13″ x 10″ Rack tom
- 16″ x 14″ Floor tom
- 14″ x 5.5″ Brass Shell Snare
Cymbals:
- Sabian 14-inch hh dark hats
- Sabian 18-inch hhx legacy crash
- Sabian 20-inch hhx legacy ride
- Sabian 21-inch hh vintage ride
I’m still playing Vater, of course.
Finally, I thought it might be neato fun times to list all of the crap that I’ll be taking with me. Let’s see how this goes…
Laptop
Hookah
Books
Cheese Guide (I want to learn more about cheese)
Socks
Underwear
T Shirts
Sleeping Shirts
Gym Shirts
Gym Pants
Gym Shorts
Jeans
Dress Shirts
Sweaters
Coat
Black Zipper Hoodie
Black Hoodie
Suit (for Philly)
Black Shoes
Running Shoes
Sneakers
Various snacks
Toothbrush
Shampoo
Bodywash (make sure it’s anti-bacterial, ya’ll)
Tooth Paste
St. Ives Apricot Scrub (Don’t play. If you’ve never tried this stuff, of course, you’re laughing.)
Deodorant
Cologne
Hair Gel
Hair Spray (maybe…)
Razor
Nieva Shaving Gel & Balm Aftershave (OHHH YEAHH)
Nail Clippers
Beard Trimmer (How did you think I kept my 5 o’clock on time??)
Q-Tips
Sex Panther (just kidding!)
and that’s all that I can think of right now. Am I missing anything obvious?
In other news, in a “this just in” sort of fashon…
April Smith and the Great Picture Show will be performing at The Blender Theater in NYC on December 21st with Brendan James as part of his MTV sponsored tour.
Rock on people. That’s what I’m talking about.
In closing…come see some shows, tell me what I need to take on the road, and remember the Alamo.
e
Filed under: April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Ingrid Michaelson, Live Performance, Recording
Hello Again!
It’s been a while since I’ve written so get ready for some updates…
First off, April Smith and The Great Picture Show is hitting the road this Nov-Dec, minus The Great Picture Show (solo). If you don’t know who I’m talking about, please visit April Smith on myspace now! In any case, her tour dates are listed on her myspace page. The venues are not large, for the most part, so this would be a great time to see her, meet her, and give her cookies and whiskey.
We recently played a few shows at Piano’s here in NYC. Clips from these shows can be found on YouTube. Search for April Smith. Here is one of those clips. It’s a new song called “Terrible Things”. It’s based on the show Dexter and just in time for Halloween. Watch April make fun of me before the song starts:
Hope you enjoyed that one. Next up, Ingrid Michaelson’s new CD just came out. Make sure you buy it NOW. It’s got a lot of live material, some new songs, and some never released studio versions of songs that we always do live. So there!
On a personal note, I’ve been shaping up for the tour. I exercise with my girl almost every day for 45 min. or more. Eating better, but never skimping on the CHEESE. I’ve learned that anyone can do this. If you stay focussed and keep going, overtime, you’ll start to see results. It helps to have a partner too. =)
Finally, I have posted new tracks on my MySpace page. “Little Romance” is an Ingrid song from the Sex and the City Soundtrack Vol. 2 CD. I wrote about the recording experience in my blog, so search for that entry. (If I knew how to link that entry to this one, I would do it for you, but I don’t…its there though, I promise.)
I also added a live recording of “Wow and Flutter” by April Smith. We recorded that song…you guessed it…live, in a recording studio. The same recording studio, may I add, where Pac was shot. (Not the place of his death, however.) Sorry, that was random. But the song is great. And the album, Live from The Penthouse, is available on iTunes and CD Baby.
Hope to hear from you all, and see everyone in November.
Happy day,
e
