Colonels' Kernels
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Colonels' Kernels
How long has it been?
We're back!
There have been a few developments over the summer. For one, Colonel Tom resigned his commission to concentrate on his new project, a country band in Ypsi. Eric Kelly has graciously accepted the role & is now known as Colonel Eric! He's a swell guy, knows more than one should know about cheap beer & writes & sings some snappy ditties.
We've got a couple things lined up in the near future. Tomorrow night, Oct. 9th, we're joining a great assemblage of singers & bands to do another benefit for the Veterans for Peace Chapter 93 Peace Scholarship Fund. Everyone is going to be performing songs written by John Lennon. Last year's event was a lot of fun & raised a wad of dough for a very good cause. Here's a link to the event: Imagine
It appears we're also going to be returning to the Old Town Tavern on the 15th of November to do a couple sets on a late autumn Sunday evening. More details to follow!
It's been a while!
Just realized it's been ages since we've posted anything here!
Colonel Will is going to be hosting the Acoustic Open Mic Night at the Tap Room tomorrow night, April 13th, at 8:00PM. Grab a banjo, mandolin, accordion, washboard, harmonica or whatever you have bouncing around in your back seat & c'mon out!! Good food, a great game room with shuffleboard table & the hospitable folks at the Tap Room all await you!!
New drummer
Colonel Adam has resigned his commission so he can concentrate on his work with Detroit sensations They Never Sleep.
The Colonels wish him the best in his future endeavors, it's been a pleasure to work with Adam the past few years, he's one hellacious drummer!
Of course this means we're in the market for a new stick wielder. Preference will be given to anyone with polka experience, especially if they meet our demanding personal appearance criteria.
Colonel Tom
Colonel Tom is currently laid up at St. Joe's Hospital in Ypsi from complications resulting from an infected second finger on his left hand.
Colonels Will, R, & Adam all visited yesterday but realized an impromptu rehearsal was out of the question. It probably would have helped had we brought instruments!
Tom is doing fine, but will be hospital dwelling for a couple more days & won't be playing bass for the Happy Hour gig on Friday, honorary Colonel Pine Top Hancock ( star of Corndaddy, Paul's Big Radio & The Jay Treaty, stage, screen & radio) will be assisting us on the low notes. We're hoping Colonel Tom is tired of flirting with nurses & will be joining us to do some crooning.
Cheers!
Back Home Again in Ypsitucky!
On the 2nd of August we'll be venturing back to home turf again, this time playing at the shiny newish Screamin' Eagle Pub. In honor of the event, we may very well be performing our cover of Phish's cover of the Quadrophenia album. Be sure your hackysacks are in good repair!!
What do Ben Folds, Primus & Glenn Miller have in common??
They've all done songs featuring Kalamazoo.
Well, we haven't, but that's not keeping us from making an excursion out there Saturday evening to play at Harvey's on the Mall.
If you're in the neighborhood pop in........their beer list looks great!!
Busy Colonels
Sorry we haven't done an update lately.........we've been busy little beavers, gigging up a storm.
Last night we had a perfectly wonderful evening at PJ's Lagerhouse, playing a set before Nathan Kalish & the Wildfire. Thanks to Craiger for the excellent mix & to Karen for her hospitality!!
Next Friday we're playing another happy hour at The Club Above The Heidelberg, this time with our pals Corndaddy. Take a respite from your Ann Arbor Art Fair shopping expedition & pop in for some tasty libations AND! the opportunity to hear "Heart of the Matter" performed by two bands!
More apres-gig dining
Last night on the way home from the Belmont, Colonels R & Tom popped into Lafayette Coney Island. Two with everything is a perfect way to cap off an evening!
Gear-o-philia, pt. 2
In this installment we'll cover the pair of guitars Colonel R uses to paint sonic pictures behind the other Colonels' warbling.
First up is this gem which was built on July 31, 2000 by the fine folks at GibsonUSA
Colonel R purchased it used from Elderly Instruments in Lansing MI in 2005 & got a good'un. Gibson's quality seems to be all over the board these days, one can get an econo model like this one, a "Les Paul Faded DC" and get a really nice guitar or upon occasion pay a zillion dollars for one and get a really pedestrian one.
Colonel R has always been partial to P-90 pickups, having played an Epiphone Casino (a real one, from Kalamazoo, not the reissue junk) from 1972 through the early '90's.
The other guitar is one borrowed from Colonel Tom's arsenal, a Fender Special Edition Koa Telecaster ..... yeah, it's not really a traditionalist's Tele, but it sure sounds good!
That's it at the moment...... there are a couple guitars on the wish list in case the jet stream decides to plop DB Cooper's money in the back yard, specifically a Martin HD-28V, a Rickenbacker 660/12 and perhaps, pending a live, in person evaluation if one can ever be located, a Collings 290.
Gone but not forgotten: '65 Epiphone Olympic Double (silver fox), '65 Rickenbacker 360 Fireglo, '47 Martin 00-18, '65 Gibson Firebird V, '66 Epiphone Casino Sunburst, late '80's Fender Stratocaster chocolate brown, '86 Paul Reed Smith Standard magenta pearl (it looked like it was dipped in a bottle of Pepto-Bismol.......hideous but jeez it was a sweet guitar!) & most recently and most lamented, used car lot refinished '61 Fender Stratocaster........sigh
Late breaking news!
The Colonels are heading back into Detroit!
Located in the shadow of the oft lamented Tiger Stadium, The Corktown Tavern hosts Jason & the Punknecks with the Colonels providing support on the 17th of May. We'll be assisted this time out by the percussion skills of Lieutenant Colonel Rob Abend, filling in for Colonel Adam. Check this one out for sure, it promises to be a VERY fun evening!