CUBS, Badges and Glow Sticks! and Jersey Shore???

Good Day!  Good day indeed!

My almost daily posts lost a few days there... didn't they?!?  That happens when you have a weekend like this past weekend.  The weekend started in a relaxing fashion on Thursday.  I went to the Friendly Confines (aka Wrigley Field) with some pals.  We had really great seats right on the Cubs dugout.  Kris, my sister,  and I were intent on watching the game-

However, our companions... well... they were just in it for the good times apparently!  My soundman Art Harrison and Business Manager Bryan Robson made quite a spectacle out of themselves.  But I think they had a good time!!  Magoo was out in the bleachers spying on us the whole time with his binoculars.  He could see the nacho cheese all over Art's pants... at least that's what Magoo said.  I never saw nachos and I'm pretty good at seeing them!  :)

Friday afternoon I recorded a quick video for this songwriting contest dealio- it's the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest and I'm a "Regional Finalist"!  Go HERE to check it out!  I put up a new song called Good Morning Sunshine!

Friday night found me in South Haven, MI.  I played a joint called the Black River Tavern.  We.. and I do mean we because by the end of the night I think everyone in the Tavern were friends.. had a great time.  I sang a bunch of tunes and filled every request I could!  A guy I know from my days at Eastern Illinois University owns the joint now and he had a gift waiting for me!  I've already arrested 7 people for doing stupid things!  Thanks Scott!




Saturday night was... in a friends words... EPIC.  We played a cool area in Chicago- it's hard to explain but this 'dude' puts on Loft Parties.  Not just a party though- I'm talking PARTY.  There were lasers and Go Go dancers, painted ladies and glow sticks, and some dude named... something or other from Jersey Shore was the DJ.  It was EPIC by all means.  We played to kick off the party out in the courtyard and it was absolutely beautiful.  Oh, by the way, I should tell you that our friend Jimmy John and his wife Leslie were the ones who put on the party via the 'dude'.

 And yes, that's a flute player in the picture.  Another dude, this one named Diego, approached me before the show and said- "Hey man, I heard there was a band so I brought my flute".  Seriously, that's what he said.  So we invited him up for a few tunes and he wailed on the flute.  It was pretty cool!  When we finished people started heading up stairs to the loft.  It was pretty wild I have to admit!  I met a few really interesting people and hung out with some folks that normally I don't get to spend much time with.  Thanks Jimmy and Leslie for another great evening with you and your people!!!

Sunday... I slept!

Rock On- and take 'er easy!
HIMEBAUGH out

BIG Greg! the Merchmaniac

 Well, he's baaaaack!  Big Greg has been out of action for about ... 3 months or so.  He had a crazy thing happen in the spring.  An intruder walked right into his house and started checking out all the rooms.  Greg, knowing that his wife, lovely Rita, was in the house went after him.  After a bit of a skirmish Big G and the intruder went down right on Greg's arm.  Ouch ouch ouch is all I can say after hearing Greg tell the story.  His arm was kinda hanging the wrong way. Perhaps we can get Greg to do a full re-enactment on stage sometime soon.  He played the hero but his arm paid the price.  He had surgery and rehab... now he is somewhat of a bionic man I'm thinking.. with rods and screws and such buried beneath a real Frankenstein scar on his arm.

So last weekend, at the Northside Summerfest it was Big G's first day back to work!  He was ecstatic- smiles and hugs for every one.  It was nice to see his mug off to the side of the stage entertaining HIS fans!  :)  
I think he has signed more cds and t-shirts than the band.  He's a legend of the merch tabel!  A Merchmaniac!!

Love ya Big G!

The Summerfest was a great time- a perfect summer day in Chicago.  Jack Straw played before us- Mr. Blotto played after us and the Freddy Jones Band rounded out a great show.

When Fairchild and I climbed on the scooter Spitfire to head back to The Estate (that's what we call our little apartment in Lincoln Park) FJB was still on stage and Magoo was a dancing machine!  Dancin dancin dancin MACHIIIIINE!

Rock on party people..
HIMEBAUGH out

Books and Songs and stuff

So a month ago I got an e mail from the people who put on the Mountain Stage music show on NPR- great show by the way.  It was about a song contest they have.  A bunch of my 'folky' friends/song writers enter these contests so I figured I should go ahead and send in a song or two.  This is the first time I've done it but I think I'm gonna enter some more this year!  It's kind of fun!  I sent in a song called Woman (which is on the HD cd- Chicago Twang) and a new un-released song called Sweetwater Town that I wrote with a buddy named Rex Strother.  Then I waited patiently... actually I kind of forgot until....

I got a call from a pal Mary McAdams- I worked on her self titled cd a tad back in 2009-
Mary shrieked... screamed... carried on.. I didn't know what the heck was going on.  She had already seen the list of regional finalists and we're BOTH on it!  HA-  We're in the MidWest Region and the judges will start ... judging I guess.  Along with the internal judges there is also a popular vote- the 'people's choice' winner along with all of the Region Winners will go to New York in October and sing a few songs.  One of the 8 or so artists will then be crowned the 2011 Winner of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest!
The winner plays on the Mountain Stage show and does some recording with an awesome producer, Jacquire King!  It's kind of neat!  When I got all kinds of congrats calls and e mails I realized it's a real honor!  So... I'm grinning!
And I guess- if you have the gumption, you can go over to the page and vote for me... or Mary! :)  Or any of the other group of artists from all over the country and world!
Here's the link to the Mid West Region Finalists!  You can find Mary and I there... along with another aquaintance- Ellis Delaney from Minneapolis- she's awesome too!

So then... tonight- Tuesday I'm off to carouse with the Literary folks.  A wonderful friend, Laura Caldwell is releasing her new book (her TWELTH if I'm not mistaken).  It's called Claim of Innocence and is part of her Izzy McNeil series!

A few years back she called and asked if I'd mind if she included Hello Dave in one of her novels... Heck Fire Yes.. said I!
So if you read The Night I Got Lucky you'll find yourself at the Park West rocking out with HD!!  Yup- we're kind of a big deal.  HA!
Thanks for the invite tonight Laura!  Fairchild and I will be there with bells on..  well, maybe not bells.  Our cat- Dusty has a bell on her collar and it can get pretty annoying when she scratches at 5 in the morning to get my attention so that she can have her breakfast promptly at 5:30am like any self respecting feline.  Whoa... I think I got off point there....

Now this week finds me cruising in the MoHo to South Haven, MI on Friday night!  I'll be playing a show at the Black River Tavern!  It'll be a a great evening with old friends and new ones!  I've never been there before- it's a new joint owned by an old college friend.

HD has a private show on Saturday in CHI- and from what I hear it's gonna be a humdinger!  Yes... a humdinger.  I don't think that word is used enough.  That and the word BEHOLD... I think that word needs to be used more.  Like.... "BEHOLD- Magoo plays the guitar, Petah plays the drums!  Longbons... BASS! and Marty Williamson plays guitar!!  BEHOLD - young Dr E does Everything!"
Yeah, I like that.

Oh and thanks Mary and David for a great time over the weekend- I was able to keep the 'surprise' secret this week!  Happy Birthday again David!

Take 'er easy now-
ROCK ON-
HIMEBAUGH

...almost blew that one...

Good day-

I posted on my FB page last week that I was learning a couple of songs - Here Comes the Sun and Somewhere Over the Rainbow- for a wedding I was singing at on Saturday.  I kinda forgot that it was all a big surprise until someone commented on it... "OOoooHHHH that's the surprise".... 

So I quickly deleted it and went with something more appropriate- 

"I'm not learning any songs today and I'm certainly not going anywhere this weekend" 

I may have messed up the surprise for a few people but it still worked out!

TOMMY AND SLOAN-

On Saturday, Tommy and Sloan got married.  I was honored to be a part of the ceremony (I sang 4 songs) and to be included in the 'partay' later that night!  It was a very sweet service- there was hardly a dry eye in the house by the time it was all over.  Fairchild joined me and played the part of roadie to a T!  Dr. Everything might just lose a job... yeah right.  Speaking of Fairchild I need to get to work today on producing her radio show- Wake Up Sunshine-  I'll explain more on that later.. when the new episode is on the air!

SAMI and TONY-

On Friday night HD played a wedding party out in Addison, IL-   Sami and Tony threw an awesome party for their friends and relatives.  Tony went to school in Iowa City, IA- U. of Iowa- several years ago.  That's where he was introduced to our music.  We hung out a few late nights after shows at the Q Bar!  He showed us his Hello Dave tattoo- which is AWESOME!  

Some of the older ladies didn't really dig the musical styles of HD- we got a number of requests for some Achey Breaky Heart :) and the Electric Slide :) :).  

Tony and his peeps dug it which is all that counts!!  

It's pretty cool when we get asked to play at weddings- because we are really treated like guests instead of 'the band'.   Tony and Sami had a table just for us... sure it was far far away from the head table but... HA.  That was just smart on their part!  The seafood bar was awesome and so was dinner.  We may have started a little sluggish due to the 4 pounds of beef in our gut.. we picked it up when the late night White Castles were delivered!  Good times- thanks Sami and Tony!

NORTHSIDE SUMMER FEST

Let's see.. this week.... we've got another private dealio on Saturday and then an awesome Fest on Sunday in Chicago- the Northside Summer Fest - HD at 2pm followed by great friends- Mr. Blotto and Freddy Jones!  It'll be a good day, indeed!

Rock On-

take 'er easy-

HIMEBAUGH

Wedding Bells and ... well... just wedding bells

Good day- 
For todays festivities HD is heading to Addison, IL to play for a wedding party!  The folks who got married- Sami and Anthony...and their pals are a bunch of HD fans so they hired us instead of the traditional wedding band dealio.  I told them we probably won't do ... 'put your left hand in put your left hand out'... (do they do that at weddings?). Anyway they just want to hear us do our show, so that's what we're gonna do.  And what is that song called anyway??... all I can think of is 'The Hanky Panky'... but I know that's not it.  We've done several affairs like this and they almost always turn out really good-  it'll be a good night!  I have to get my Tux pressed though... shoot.


Yesterday I went to the park by the Lincoln Park Zoo- I stopped in and said hi to the lions too- and just sat and read for a while.  It was a beautiful summer day in CHI.  I also popped into the monkey house just to see if any of them are getting as smart as Caesar.  I should probably tell you I saw the new Planet of the Apes movie a couple days ago with a buddy, Brian Robson.  We went to the theater and he decided he wanted to ride on my scooter with me.  He's about 6'3"... it was quite a ride.  People stared.  I chuckled.  
The movie was surprisingly good.  I'm ready for the next movie in the series because, obviously, there will be another one- soon I hope.  


It has been movie month for me- I also saw... Bridesmaids- LAUGHED.  Horrible Bosses- LAUGHED.  And that one with that one dude where they trade places because they peed in the fountain.... yeah.. that one.  I LAUGHED.  It's not very often that I go 4 for 4 in 'Thumbs Up' movies.  


Okay off to the dry cleaners with my Tux!!  :)
OUT
Take 'er Easy-
HIMEBAUGH

$50 and a can of Coors!

I was at the beach with Fairchild and Daisy this morning for a walk along beautiful Lake Michigan.  The sun had just come up and the waves were lapping at the shore.  It reminded me of... (dream sequence music)......

One time.. when my Mom lived in Florida we went to the beach.  I was a lil feller.. maybe 13 or so.  I was doing my usual snorkeling around and looking at stuff.  It was a bit rough as I remember but only a bit.  My Mom went in and splashed about for a few minutes and then headed back to her towel.  A minute later and she gasped... "oh no, I lost my ring"!!  Her diamond ring fell off in the water.  In the OCEAN.  Eee gads.  She was pretty upset about it so I put my snorkel, mask and flippers back on and went 'fishing'!  Of course it was a bit useless ... right.   BUT NO- about 10 minutes later I saw something shining on the bottom between a couple of rocks right by one of those spiny little ball things.. a sea urchin I believe is what it was called.  I reached down and pulled out her diamond ring!  She practically cried.  When we got home later that day she gave me $50 and a can of Coors!  Thanks Mom!

That's my Mom after polishing off some Ice Cream at The Gage last week in Chicago.  She and Drayton, my step father, were in town for a nice visit.


Love ya Mom... and Drayton!  

Jordan Creek

We had a long drive to Des Moines, IA on Sunday- we took the MoHo so it was a little more comfortable than the Van... except we didn't have the Petertainment Center which is a serious blow to the video gaming aficionados!  I turned over the wheel to Dr. Everything for a while- he's never driven anything as big as the RV Madison so I was a tad nervous.  I decided I'd just put on my head phones and close my eyes-  what will be... WILL BE.

I have to admit- the Dr. drove perfectly!

It's a pretty long haul to Des Moines from CHI- we left at about 7:30am and met Marty along the way at our usual West Bound meeting place- the Flying J in LaSalle, IL.  It was a pretty nice day so the AC was able to keep up which makes for a less sweaty back on the leather seats!

Magoo coined a brand new phrase for us- at about noon it was time for - "poop and a sandwich".  I think Jimmy Johns was both the receiver and giver of Magoo's .... um... Magooness.

JORDAN CREEK
We've played the outdoor concert series at Jordan Creek several times and it's always a really enjoyable evening.  This time it was even more enjoyable because it wasn't nearly as hot as in years past.  Temps hovered in the 80's as opposed to the usual mid to high 90's that we usually see there.  Old friends Ron Gomez and T-Ray (both from the old People's in Ames days) did a great job at the sound board.
The crowd was great- a lot of faces I knew and a lot I didn't recognize and nearly all of them were signing along most of the evening.  As always there were lots of kids dancing from the start and a few older folks too who may have had a drink or two...  I only say that because one spin led to a quick how do ya do with the cement right in front of Magoo.
Next week it's... what... I think a private event.. actually two.  One is a wedding party that the band is playing and I'm playing a different wedding party the next day...  I guess it's a WEDDING WEEKEND BONANZA!

Take 'er easy-

HIMEBAUGH

Jimmy and The Taste o Lincoln

Good day!  Great day really... it was weird out there this morning.  I live in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood and usually in the morning when I'm taking Daisy for a walk I don't get many 'good mornings' and almost never do I get a smile.  This morning, however, every where I looked I caught a smile and a nod and maybe even some nice words.  Something is in the air today.  Smile at somebody it'll make their day.  It did mine and it's still only 8am!

JIMMY JOHN'S
On Saturday Magoo and I got up real early and headed north with our very own driver- (Justin you ROCK).  Our destination was Camp Jackpine and a party with our great friend Jimmy John, his family and some friends.  We got up there early in the afternoon so we had a little time to hang out and relax with everybody.  Jimmy, his wife, Leslie and the whole gang are the real deal- honest, thoughtful, generous, polite and fun with a wicked sense of humor!  The day was gorgeous and warm- the lake was calm- a bunch of the kids were out wake boarding while us old farts sat around and shot the ....    At one point Jimmy was texting HIS very own driver... a guy named Kevin Harvick (the #29 Jimmy Johns car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series).. and told him he'd buy him a Ferrari if he won Sunday's race in Indianapolis.  He's had three wins so far this season.  However, he didn't win yesterday.  He placed 11th unfortunately.

Dinner was served- even though Jimmy has a chef up there he's still spends most of his time in the kitchen making sure it's all perfect... and it was.  Prime rib, asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes paired with some fabulous wines.  The kicker though was dessert (is that how you spell it?? or did I just spell the dry arid place..?..?).  Shortcake with strawberries and blueberries with big dollop of home made whip cream of course!  WOW.  WOW. WOW.
Magoo and I set up in the Lodge's Great Room after dinner and started playing some tunes.  Kids and adults were dancing and singing along even the puppy black lab- Cooper was dancing.. and Magoo and I had a great time.  We took a break to watch an awesome Fire Works display over the lake- GORGEOUS!  We started up again until we were all exhausted from a great day and night.  Magoo, as requested, was paid in small, unmarked bills in a pink brief case!
Five AM came quick... real quick.  After searching the entire property for Magoo's glasses, sun glasses and shoes... :)  ... we were off to Chicago and the Taste of Lincoln.  Thanks to Justin, Magoo and I arrived rested and ready!

Taste of Lincoln Ave
It was another hot one in the city- literally AND figuratively.  Hello Dave took the stage at 3:30 pm.  And we played a rousing 90 minute set busting out old school Golden and new school Chicago Twang!  Magoo and Marty were, as per usual on fire.  Longbons and Petah kept the beat and bass hitting hard- I even saw Longbons jumping up and down a bit!  Michelle Hallman sat in on percussion and lent her beautiful voice to some glorious harmonies.  Savor the Flavor provided some thirst quenching Lemonades - Thanks!!!



My new pals Ella, Ben and Brix were there and enjoyed the show from the front row!

Thanks Chicago for an awesome Summer Festival!!!  Let's do it again in a couple weeks at The Northside Summer Fest !!

Check out this video from last years visit to Jimmy's place- Jimmy John and Guitars!

ROCK ON- and take 'er easy!

HIMEBAUGH