Just a quick note of shameless self promotion. The Transams will be hitting the road beginning on Halloween in Utica, NY @ the Electric Co. Also, if anyone is interested in ordering a copy of the brand new album from Al & The Transamericans, please visit the new website for Basemental Records - www.basementalrecords.com
thx,
al
]]>thx,
al
also, wanted to say what a true honor it was to share the stage w. the del mccoury band in arkansas the night before. del is a living legend. there are few musicians, let alone american artists, out there today who represent an american legacy in the arts, as he does. his family is great & it was a pleasure to spend the day w. them. it was really humbling to perform w. them & something I'll long cherish. I hope that one day I'll be playing @ del's age w. the same style & grace.
]]>some carnies putting on a a show called "monkeys on ecstacy" are actually charging $ for this vile filth. I wholeheartedly support the ban of these & similar so called "family circuses" in which animals are subjected to what basically amounts to slavery, drug trade, prostitution & defamation of the american way.
viva la moe. republic!
al
]]>ran on the boulder creek path yesterday (probably one of my top 5 favorite places to run while on tour - see also forest park portland, OR / ensign peak salt lake UT / the waterfront in vancouver BC). yesterday was brutal. I'm old (& sea level). when vinnie & I got back, we were so hot that it actually felt cool outside. weird science.
yet still, I love colorado. everytime I'm here I wonder why I don;t live here. sure, my family is in upstate NY, the band is mostly in the northeast, the adirondacks, my roots are deep, but really... this place is really majestic. I look forward to spending a lot more time here some day.
]]>it seems to me like we've been playing really well. we've hit a nice stride of being a well oiled machine, w/o being burned out (which is hard to imagine considering how much we've been working since we began touring this year).
thx also to the folks of portland. it means a lot to us to receive that kind of acknowledgement from the mayor of the city (for those who missed the shows, we were presented w. a key to the city). we have such a great fan base - really great people - & it's great knowing that portland gets it.
it's always been important to us, that we leave a favorable impression on the venues where play. likewise, it's important that the towns & cities welcome us back year after year because our fans are so awesome. (so even though rob is keeping the key - it's really for all of us!).
take care,
al
hope all you folks are doing well. as many of you know, we have been busy as ever. we've basically been on tour this entire year w. a few breaks here & there (I think there was some time off in may as I recall) & will tour thru early august.
this year will officially wind down w. moe.down 9. cannot tell you how psyched we are for this year's lineup. I actually got chills when I found out we confirmed levon helm. rob, chuck, & I saw the PUSA @ SXSW last year & LOVED it. just wait. & as many of you know, fishbone has long been one of our all time favorites. all that combined w. bela, yonder, the duo & more should make for a great year.
& then we get some time off!!!! this will be our 1st formal break in 18+ years. I'm actually looking fwd. to cleaning my basement.
"I think now that we're seniors, we owe it ourselves to start seeing other people..." brad hamilton
xoxo.
al
thx,
al.
Cheers!
chuck.
]]>see you in a few days...
al.
]]>very much looking fwd. to moe.down. this year's lineup is awesome (meat puppets!!!!) & we're psyched to see you all.
immediately following moe.down, we will be sequestered in an undisclosed sanctuary in new england to begin work on a new body of music. more details to come. we only plan to do about 10 shows total this fall. the rest of that time will be devoted to this new material.
this year will wind down in NYC w. a moe. new year's eve party @ radio city music hall. last year's show happens to be one of my favorite moe. memories ever & I truly look fwd. to being w. you all again. thank you all so much for your encouragement, enthusiasm & goodness. while we are not announcing any add'l shows as of yet, if you are making travel plans for NYE (& I know you want to) plan to be in NYC for 3 nts. (you didn;t hear that from me ; )
take care,
al.
ps - I am still working on the okemah album (kirk's band). it should be mixed by the end of august & avail. later this year. come see the transams in NYC & boston in a few wks.
summer pix:
vinnie hard @ work
derhaks hard @ work
allgood fans hard @ work
yours truly !@#$% off @ work
live long & prosper...
]]>really looking fwd. to this 5 day run in NYC. our production manager, chris burrows has seen the venue & gave us a favorable preview. after that we head to louisville for a radio conference & then summercamp - as always, a great way to kick off the summer.
meanwhile, I have a transams show coming up on may 11th w. before cowboys in utica. please check out this link for details:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=174806222
arigato gozaimas
]]>good luck team moe.
]]>chuck
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