As reported a few posts back, approved I’ve been opening with the Band Another Roadside Attraction and having fun with them. I’ll continue in that endeavor when the situation is right. It’s become more obvious to me that there are certain venues I can only play if I have my own band. By “obvious” I mean, “We don’t book solo acts but if you had a band to reproduce what you did in the studio, we’d hire you.” So I’m in the process of putting a very good band together. No question that playing with a band is the best fun. The logistic nightmares are enough to send one back to a solo career and a lifetime sentence in coffee houses and opening events but I’ll stick it out as long as it works. I’ll keep the solo thing going as well. I have a graphic designer designing a logo that works for my solo act as well as the Bud Buckley Band.
Been playing some fun new places and this can only improve with a band, even when the band becomes a trio out of scheduling necessities. Tonight, for instance, I’m playing for the third time at Back Eddy Bistro in Venice. Florida, not Cali or Italy or one of those other places. Very fun little oasis in an otherwise sleepy older town. Nobody asks me to play beach music there and I’m happy to oblige. I just finished a five week run at Bacalao, a Puerto Rican Sports Bar/Restaurant by the minor league stadium in Sarasota. Fun while it lasted and an important lesson in culture clash. Read that: very nice people who were quietly tolerant. Okay, rude at times but here’s a tip: never play a sports bar. I’ve been subbing for my friend Radio Free Carmela by MCing her Open Mic in Sarasota’s Pastry Art Bakery Cafe. Very hopping Main Street location with some amazing musicians stopping by. This is not your Grandma’s open mic. Felice’s Cafe in the trendy Rosemary District of Sarasota is another place I’ve been playing. This is the center of tomorrow’s Harvey Milk Festival at which I’m volunteering to help coordinate talent. There are several other venues that I’ve been asked to do and I’m eager to oblige. I have to take time to book some gigs for after I get back from my August North East tour. I always forget to do that and it winds up costing me. This year is different, I swear.
You can hear all my music on the music player in the left column. Wish you’d play it even if you own it because it does help my stats.
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