May 2006

What a wild weekend
Jefferson City
Dr. Kyle Dohm’s wedding
It’s weird to have your best friend get married
I’ve known him since his mother taught us preschool
Now he’s an optometrist and a Navy Lieutenant
Tyler and Stan and I were the only guys in the wedding party without papers
Weird. I wish I remembered the last hour of Saturday night. The stories I hear aren’t exactly becoming.
I am becoming a big fan of bridesmaids, though. I wish more of my friends would get married.

Today G and I drove to Sharon. We picked up the equipment for the Mike McClure Band show in Solomon on Friday. Everyone is invited. Email aaron@aarontraffas.com or call 620.886.1538 for details and directions.

We got back to town and knocked out one of G’s aforementioned sad bastard songs. It’s going to be good.

What a trip to Western Colorado!

Had a great stay and rode around all around where we stayed (Ridgway, CO) I will make this quick so not to bore anyone.

Lions-Founds Mountain Lion tracks 300 yards from the cabin in which we stayed. Awesome. Also found a Mountain Lion deer kill complete with the deer’s skeleton and one of the lion’s front teeth. Guess we know what he asked for for Christmas that year…

Bears-Returned from a day trip to beautful Telluride Colorado on the bikes. Had a great time there and were upstairs in the cabin letting the bikes cool when we heard a sound in the garage. We rushed to the window and the deck to see a bear cub staring back at us. Wow. He had tried on a helmet in the garage and knocked it over. Guess he won’t be a biker after all.

18 Wheelers-Anyone out there ever tried to physically lift 850 pounds onto the deck of flatbed truck trailer? We did it yesterday most unfortunately. My 38 year old motorcylce officially shit the bed (dropped a valve) in Goodland, KS. Luckily, I met an Angel with 18 Wheels in the truckstop and he gladly agreed to haul the bike back to Topeka and bought me dinner on the way. Loading the bike was a bitch. Unloading it with three people, well, that is another story.

Had a great time despite the mechanical difficulties and met some wonderful people in the mountains. Had a chance to relax, write one song, and write down ideas for six more. Better get to work on that.

Till then,
G

Had a rockin’ good time at Buster’s Saturday
Last show before harvest break
If you were in the crowd, you are mean
We had a great crowd…in numbers

We didn’t have any hecklers
We didn’t have many clappers, though
The first time they clapped I told them to take some penicillin for it
I guess they did

After hours was fun
Buster’s Other Side
Met some new people
Randy Rogers was there
Or at least someone who could have pass as him
I kept trying to get him to play some tunes on my guitar

Had a bunch of drunk show-booking requests
I’m waiting by my phone

There have been a lot of wrap-ups lately. I finished Angels and Demons the other day. I wanted to finish it and re-listen to DiVinci Code before going to watch the movie, but I don’t think I can wait. We’ll probably go watch it tonight. 24 had it’s season finale last night. Rock. I watched the last two episodes of Boston Legal as well. Fantastic. I’ll probably finish Alias tomorrow. It’s a shame they’re putting it to rest. I saw a teaser for Justice with Victor Garber. I’ll try to watch it, but he won’t be the same if he’s not Jack Bristow about to kill someone by creatively attaching jumper cables to someone in a dark room.

Kyle’s wedding is this weekend. Back to the hills and trees of Missouri. I’ll be hiring a republican with a shotgun as a body guard. Maybe I’ll just take G.

I’m looking forward to harvest break. Two weeks of solitude in, what is rumored to be this year, fast wheat. G and I are going to do some Had a rockin’ good time at Buster’s Saturday
Last show before harvest break
If you were in the crowd, you are mean
We had a great crowd…in numbers

We didn’t have any hecklers
We didn’t have many clappers, though
The first time they clapped I told them to take some penicillin for it
I guess they did

After hours was fun
Buster’s Other Side
Met some new people
Randy Rogers was there
Or at least someone who could have pass as him
I kept trying to get him to play some tunes on my guitar

Had a bunch of drunk show-booking requests
I’m waiting by my phone

There have been a lot of wrap-ups lately. I finished Angels and Demons the other day. I wanted to finish it and re-listen to DiVinci Code before going to watch the movie, but I don’t think I can wait. We’ll probably go watch it tonight. 24 had it’s season finale last night. Rock. I watched the last two episodes of Boston Legal as well. Fantastic. I’ll probably finish Alias tomorrow. It’s a shame they’re putting it to rest. I saw a teaser for Justice with Victor Garber. I’ll try to watch it, but he won’t be the same if he’s not Jack Bristow about to kill someone by creatively attaching jumper cables to someone in a dark room.

Kyle’s wedding is this weekend. Back to the hills and trees of Missouri. I’ll be hiring a republican with a shotgun as a body guard. Maybe I’ll just take G.

I’m looking forward to harvest break. Two weeks of solitude in, what is rumored to be this year, fast wheat. G and I are going to do some colaboration on some new songs with hopes of finally getting into the studio. Look out. Here come the sad bastard songs.on some new songs with hopes of finally getting into the studio. Look out. Here come the sad bastard songs.

Off to sunny Western Colorado tomorrow AM
Taking a 38 year old motorcycle
Staying in a cabin to which I lost the directions
Drove 600 miles in the past two days
Left Buster’s at 330 Sunday AM
Dodged signs and deer on the way home
1235 Monday AM now and have 73 irons in the fire
Irons melting; have to go

Till then,
g

If you can’t make it to Buster’s this Saturday, make it up to the ATB by going out and supporting live music in Manhattan. See the bulletin below to help raise money of Kirk Rundstrom.
g

Don’t forget about the Kirk Rundstrom benefit tomorrow at Auntie Mae’s.
We
have a ton of cool stuff up for auction and raffle! Some of the items
include:

-One pair of Wakarusa tickets
-Framed autographed Split Lip Rayfield and The Meat Purveyors posters
-Limited edition Slobberbone, Matisyahu, Southern Culture on the Skids,
Heavy Trash posters
-Original artwork from local and regional artists
-Autographed Jon Langford books
-Gift certificates from several local businesses (Stray Cat Tattoo, So
Long
Saloon, Hibachi Hut, 50 min massage from Kristina Kramer)
-Awesome SOS Music gift bags with tons of cds, tshirts, poster and
stickers
-Neon Bare Knuckle Stout sign from Budweiser
-Limited edition SLR cd
-Kickass SCOTS pop-up album (I dare ya to outbid me)
and many more items.

We will also have a merch booth where you can pick up the whole Kirk
Rundstrom/Grain and Demise collection, awesome photos of Kirk and the
SLR
gang, and other goodies.

We will be running the silent auction from ~7 to 11, so get there early
and
bid often. We will accept cash, check or credit card for purchases. You
must
be present or arrange for payment for all auction purchases.

We will have raffles and giveaways throughout the night and a live
auction
at around midnight.

Don’t forget it’s all for a good cause, helping Kirk kick cancer’s ass!!

Thanks to everyone that has made this event possible!

That is where we are playing tonight. Duffy’s in Lawrence. I think someone accidentally listed the show at Harbour Lights on lawrence.com. I will have to have a little chat with him. Aaron said we could divide the band and conquer but we will stick to Duffy’s. Someone else is playing down at the Harbour. I wonder if they are nervous for competition?

I am prepping for my motorcycle trip next week. Heading to Western Colorado to stay in a beautiful cabin. Can’t wait to be out of here for a while. John and Jen Noonan of www.burnoutcycles.net are going along. Should be a great time. This will mark Jen’s first long trip and John’s first trip on his modified bike. I currently have it in my garage as he is working on mine. I promise not to ride it around Manhattan…anymore…My bike on the other hand is 38 years old for this cross country trip. Everything they say about old Harley’s is true.

Buster’s on Saturday. MLHS graduates that day so maybe there will be a crowd from that. Spud said he is coming with lots of people from Pratt. We’ll see.

So…come on down to Duffy tonight and help us get lost in the basement. Last time proved that it was possible.
till then, g

We hit it hard Tuesdee
G and I, Bohn, Annie, the crew…
Single malt samplers
Little Apple style

We ended up at Gumby’s
I was talked to by a gorgeous girl who seemed to know me
I recognized her the next day
Oh, what a jackass am I

Watched the West Wing finish Sunday
What’s next? Aaron Sorkin’s West Coast.

Tried to upgrade a server tonight
I failed like a Republican foreign policy

Check out Angels and Demons
Dan Brown is a genius

"The entire network of news anchors hired to be the press secretary…"
-John Stewart, The Daily Show, referring to FOX News

We had one hell of a time at Neighbars in Hays. Exposed to a bunch of people.

Jim’s wedding was good. I got to see a live polka band. I thought they were all dead.

We played Bobby T’s on May 2. The pre-party was good and the show was better.
It was the most packed that bar has been on a Tuesday in four years.
They told us we could have any Tuesdays we wanted.
Any musician reading this can see the humor in that.
A big thanks to Bobby T’s, though, for hosting a great party.

Trevor’s bachelor party Thursday night was an interesting time. It was good to see so many I hadn’t seen in so long.
Thanks to Pete for driving and getting out of the ticket after the casinos. Dusty, you missed a hell of a party after the casinos.

I woke up in Lawrence on Friday
Made it to KC by noon to get my truck
Back to M-town by 3:00pm in time for Dr. Deloyce McKee’s party
I left G’s sunglasses
Left for the Shades of Gray [sic] show
Big party, big party
The boys with the blue shirts and silver stars waited until 12:30am this year to shut down the big one
That’s a whole 3.5 hours longer than it lasted last year
They were cool about it
Let Greg off with a noise violation

Last night Josh and I went to Trevor’s wedding in Kansas City. It was a very nice wedding with the most fancy reception I’ve ever seen. I’m sure you’ll hear the details once he gets his website functional again.

I’ve been worthless today
Cleaning, eating, working on the websites
Listening to Angels and Demons
Dan Brown’s book before he put out Da Vinci Code
I made it through the first third today
It sounds just as good as the next one
Who cares about truth?

I only have three more weddings this season
Down south they have hurricanes
Here, we have wedding season
I think the new rule is that weddings should be between January and March
Stay away from harvest
All of you thinking about inviting me to your wedding
Consider yourself warned

Thanks everyone for coming out to Bobby T’s on a Tuesday. One of the waitresses told me that was the busiest that place has been on a Tuesday in the 4 years she has worked there. Cool stuff and cool bunch of people. Thanks again to Dusty for coming down and sharing his music with us. Check dustymusic.net for more info but several people approached me and complimented him on his voice, style, and playing. Thanks again.

Cherie just sent me information on this Saturday’s benefit for Kirk Rundstrom. Kind of upsets me we have a show in Kiowa cause this sounds like a great deal of fun. Anyway, check it out if you get a chance. Information below.

Then Saturday is String Break, a fundraiser for Kirk Rundstrom. Check it
out:
http://www.myspace.com/stringbreak

May 6 2006 3:00P
Steve Barnes and the Country Money Band rural Kansas, KS
May 6 2006 3:00P
Dewayn Brothers rural Kansas
May 6 2006 3:00P
The Sluggos rural Kansas, KS
May 6 2006 3:00P
Fast Food Junkies rural, Kansas
May 6 2006 3:00P
K.C. Haywood rural Kansas
May 6 2006 3:00P
Grandpa’s .38 rural, Kansas
May 6 2006 3:00P
Softie rural, Kansas
May 6 2006 3:00P
White Ghost Shivers rural Kansas
May 6 2006 3:00P
4th Avenue Blue Grass Band rural, Kansas

Tuesday it is and Bobby T’s is only a few hours away. We are all excited and though our fabulous drummer will not make it tonight, Dusty will and nobody is finer…

If you read this blog, you are invited to another party. Evidently our friends at the Goat House are hosting a pre party from 8-10 for tonight’s show. Come on down to 1830 Elaine Street. Should be a good time.

Saw Dorfus Cracktractor in Medicine Lodge on Saturday night. It was a good deal of fun. Check their website at www.dorfuscracktractor.com for more information and upcoming shows.

Aaron and I opened for Shade of Gray this past Friday in Hays. Neighbars was a rocking little place and we hope to make it back there very soon. I felt like the people in Hays knew and appreciated our music more than most of the venues we have been playing lately. It was good to see people singing along, especially to Aaron’s originals. That was cool. Maybe we should move out West?

For the friends over in lawrence, we just booked another show at Duffy’s. I posted it so it is probably a lot of funny looking symbols etc.

If you have not signed up for the newsletter, go to the bottom of the website www.aarontraffas.com and get signed up.

We are getting all geared up and then Aaron is taking a month off for Harvest. Afterwards though we will go out West again and start gearing up for the busy August and September dates.

Till then,
g