Big Changes. Much to recap.

Big changes indeed.

Have not been writing here tho much to write about.

On Monday May 13 met up with Eric and Rob. Long story short we agreed to part ways, ending my four year amazing trip with ETB. It was time. I'm moving on to focus more on my own project Ocean of Stars, and Eric and Rob are carrying on Eric Tessmer Band to the next level.

I love Eric and Rob and we all wish each other the best. And the door is never closed...

Here's the official video:

The May 17th farewell show at Saxon was amazing. One of the funnest shows I've ever played, and a packed house of friends and fans. I believe a live recording will be available via dejeset.com, I'll find a real link to it. Just, wow. Still recovering from that one 3 days later \m/,

Photo courtesy Lisa:

Crowd walk:

Ripping my strings off. Photo by Brenda:

Setlist, with my blood on it:

Went to the bathroom after the show and pulled a 1/4" length of string wrap from my index finger. It was that kind of night!!! \m/,

I feel really good right now, and have been for the past week.

My summer is already filling up, so not all that worried about money right now, considering I just walked away from my full time job..!

Dead Oak is hiring me on for two months so they can get ready to play a few dates at the end of month 2. Also talking to Rick Hornyak about a 4-week run for all of July through Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and a few points between.

So far my calendar has no gigs on it until the Rick Hornyak run starts at the end of June. Wow. I think the last time I had this long of a break from gigging was when I toured with King's X as a tech back in 2009. My body feels very happy and grateful for the time off!

Ocean of Stars will start moving forward now, as I can configure my calendar to allow time for it, rather than trying to fit OoS into the cracks and gaps of a full gigging schedule. Ric Furley and Derek Rodriguez are sounding really fucking good on drums and saxophone respectively. Have been talking to Trevor Nealon from Band of Heathens about playing B3 organ, he is interested and I'll leave it at that for now.

Just need to find a bass player in the meantime. Have some people I will be getting in touch with. Ready for progress.


Much also to recap, as the past few weeks/weekends have definitely been blog-worthy. Like this particular weekend with ETB in Northeast Texas:

That, and ETB's crazy Austin/Amarillo/Austin weekend. And CRETAINLY have to recap the Adrian and the Sickness "Hot Nights" theater gig.

Yeah. I will do my best to get to that. All stories worth telling!
 

SXSW 2013: Saturday March 16

The final day of SXSW.

Am pleased to report the day went off without a hitch.

2 ETB gigs that day. Early matinee 4-hour set at Agave, then a later short set at Moontower Saloon.

Used Goldie Hawn to transport gear downtown as Boss Hoss was still sitting in a parking lot. Traffic aside made it to same loading area for Agave (5th and something) without incident. Well, the only place available to park and unload was also being occupied by some pedicabs so I unfortunately had to be a dick and block them temporarily. Sorry bout that.

But they weren't normal pedicabs, they were Samsung pedicabs who were only taking people who had a Samsung Galaxy 4S. Um what? Yeah. There was a guy running late to a show he wanted to see, and the pedicab could not take him under strict orders from Samsung. Crazy.

Anyway. Loaded in to Agave. The entire block of 6th Street was a convoy of beer trucks re-stocking the bars. Or I guess the venue finally read our rider, ha!  Played an awesome 4-hour show to a packed house. Had a blast. Rob is really expanding on his drum solos and going more and more out there with them. Awesome! Great set and a great crowd, mostly foot traffic walking by.

Loaded out without incident or golf carts. Went home to catch some rest before the later show.

Moontower Saloon was pretty damn awesome. Outdoor stage in the beer garden, firepits under Live Oaks. Great weather. Venue and staff were top notch and great. And being that it was way south off of Manchaca Rd, it was NO WHERE NEAR DOWNTOWN \m/,

Our good friend JT Coldfire had set this up. Arrived in time to catch the rest of his set, jamming with our other good friend Andy McIntyre. Great crowd. We were a little concerned with noise problems as we were the last band and loud as shit, but the wooden stage soaked up enough sound to where we didn't have to turn down much, if at all.

Very fun and short set, pretty much a blur to me from exhaustion. But the camera crew who'd filmed us a few weeks back for a documentary called "For The Love Of It" were there and got it on tape. Good to see those guys again as well. A great night all around and a great night to end SXSW.

Afterwards Trin and I went to our good friend Jason Soules' new house for a nightcap. Good to hang with him for awhile away from the noise and distraction of a show. Played with him in Velvet Brick from 2004-2006, and he currently plays with Rob in Hyde Park Showdown.

Family.

And got to see a lot of our musical family this year over SXSW. Goons in golf carts aside, it was a good one.

Thank y'all for reading about it.