$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

Northside Summer Fest

Okay- so we're all a little disappointed (at least you Michiganders and those of us in HD and those that were hitting the road) about the sudden exodus of Kev-a-Roo in Grand Haven, MI- BUT along come other good things.  Well, not really in it's place... it's a few days later but it's gonna be a great day.  We just added ourselves to the Northside Summer Fest in Chicago.  It's on the corner of Lincoln Ave and Irving Park on... the Northside.  We'll be there on August 21st with our old pals Mr. Blotto and the Freddy Jones Band.  It'll prove to be an awesome day of Music no doubt!!!  We just may do some jamming together along the way... who knows.

We've played with both of these Chicago Legends several times.  Just last week I spent an evening with Paul Bolger (Mr. Blotto) doing a house concert... great time.  I think the first time we played with Blotto was in the burbs and I remember being nervous cause they were so cool.  It only took me about 7 years to realize they are just as dorky as we are!!  Love 'em.  They are just off their huge Blottopia Festival- always a great camping/jamming weekend.  


We played with Freddy Jones several times- the first was in Dayton, OH many moons ago.  It was an awesome rock concert for both of us.  We were voted Number 2 in the best band voting on Dayton's campus that year... just behind U2 and in front of Pearl Jam... not bad.  HA.. cracks me up.  


Anyway- it's gonna be a great night of real, live music.  


Rock On- and take 'er easy
HIMEBAUGH - out

Fer Cripes Sake

Well, sadly, The Kev-a-Roo show in Grand Haven, MI (The Coast Guard Fest) has been cancelled.  The folks at the Eagles Lodge where Kevin Mathews hosts Kev-a-Roo has decided to book their own music and not do Kev-a-Roo (that's fun to say by the way).  The Eagles Lodge has booked..... LA Guns!  Interesting- I'm sure it'll be fun... probably.  


It stinks for the Michiganders (and us) but it does allow us to be fresh for the Iowans in Des Moines on the Sunday following what was supposed to be Kev-a-Roo (still fun to say)... but we'll get fewer games of Baseball on the Petertainment Center in.  


So the 6th of August we'll now be twiddling our thumbs getting ready to drive to Iowa.


In other news... WE ARE PLAYING TASTE OF LINCOLN this weekend in Chicago.  Cool beans!  3:30 at Fullerton and Wrightwood!  Maybe we'll do our LA Guns medley?!?


Take 'er easy-
HIMEBAUGH  - out

Sheffield Garden Walk

Sometimes I forget how great the summer festivals in Chicago are.  We played the Sheffield Garden Walk on Sunday and had such a great time.
The weather in Chicago had been pretty horrible the past couple of days... including 8 inches... count 'em EIGHT inches of rain on Friday night.  The city was flooded for hours.  Sunday morning had an ominous look to it.  The clouds were heavy and flickering with lightening in every direction.  As the day approached noon it still looked like it could start raining at any time but by 2 in the afternoon the clouds parted and a glorious sunshine dried up all the wetness.  The temperature rose into the 90's but it didn't matter.
We were all, band and crowd, ready to sweat a little if we had too.  The crowd really started flowing into the event about 30 minutes before we went on... and you could tell it was gonna be one of THOSE days!  And by that I mean- exceptional.  Some of us stayed cool in the MoHo while Peter's daughter Ella danced to the rhythm's of Canasta- the band before us- such a cutey.
Sound checks and weather issues pushed the schedule back a little but we made it on stage at about 4pm or so and got right to it.  Marty and Magoo rocked a nice intro and then we jumped right straight into Golden.  Nothing like getting everybody moving right off the bat.  My Mom and Drayton (step-Dad) were in the crowd so I hesitated when the time came to yell out... B#*T@H in Biminy... but I watched my Mom yell it out at the top of her lungs!  Too funny!!!

Beach balls were bouncing along in the crowd.  Smiles were EVERYWHERE and eyes were shining! My one year old niece and nephew (Leona and Byron) came to their first rock concert with ear muffs of course!

As we were coming down to the end of the show I looked at Magoo and gave him the international sign for.... "COME ON DUDE.... Let's get on the SPEAKERS"!  On either side of the stage were a stack of speakers- he jumped on one side and I on the other!  It was pretty awesome!  I didn't realize until later that his speakers were about two feet further from the stage than mine- I had one big step to mount the speakers on my side...Magoo nearly had to leap!  But he rocked pretty hard out there... and probably sweat on a few people too!  Dr. Everything (Kurt) guided him safely back to the stage after the ROCK!
Marty's amp was right next to me during the show and I have never heard his guitar and playing sound so SOOO good!  Man... I am so lucky to be able to rock with such great dudes.  Petah was looking good and feeling good and Mr. Longbons was laying down some serious low end!  Michelle Hallman joined us too- she sings like an angel and plays the congas.

Everybody at the Fest are extremely nice to us.. we've played the Garden Walk 8 times!  That's quite an honor!



I have to thank Vicki for all the great photos too... and she got to help with the set list!!

Take 'er easy now!
HIMEBAUGH  - out

Tuesday 19 July, 2011

Good day-
And a new blog begins.  Through out my Hello Dave years I've written thousands of pages of Blogs- somehow... during one of our web site changes they ALL GOT LOST.  That kind of stinks.  I wrote about everything for a long time.. stuff I certainly don't remember any more- but the best things I do remember and always will.
I've been cruising around the country lately doing a lot of solo shows- House Concerts and club shows.  I have to admit I really dig the House Concerts- up close and personal is the best way to describe it.  I've heard my Folkie friends talk about 'em for a long time- always raving about them.  And yes, I admit, they are great!
I've played in peoples back yards, in their living rooms, by the pool etc. etc...!  I'll keep doing them for a while.  BUT- I still like a good club show too.  Last week I opened for Little Feat in Lincolnshire, IL at a joint called Viper Alley.  It's a new place- great sound and great feel!

During my travels I've also been writing and recording a whole mess of new songs.  I recorded in Salt Lake City, Grand Rapids, MI and Des Moines, IA.  I'm not sure where the next batch will take place but I'll keep my eyes open for more studios to stop in and record a tune!  Of course, I've done a lot of recording in the back of the RV Madison- the "Back End Studio" too!


Very soon I'll start releasing these songs on HIMEBAUGH ep's.  They'll each have 4 tunes on them and maybe some video or something.

This week I'm doing a House Concert in the Naperville, IL area.  A family is having a big party and I'm invited- Paul Bolger from Mr. Blotto is joining me on the show!  That makes for a LOT of fun.  The coolest part about this one though- they are sending a Limo into the city to pick me up!!  And... of course, take me home after the show!  Cool beans!
Friday night I'm off to Fontana, WI (Lake Geneva) for a show at Chuck's.  I wrote a song about Chuck's (get it here iTunes) - It's a fun song to do up there!  Then on Sunday it's the Sheffield Garden Walk !!!!  One of Chicago's very best Summer Festivals!  Great bands, great food and great people watching!

Alrighty- take 'er easy then-
Himebaugh OUT