More delays and another player dumped

I’ve been quietly awaiting further advancement of our band project, having been frustrated by snow delays for rehearsal and personal delays by band members.

Now I come to find our prospective guitarist is continuing to come up with one excuse after another to not show up for practice. We’ve waited a long time for him to come around and apply himself. It hasn’t happened. Most of his excuses have been legitimate and understandable, but it’s now to the point that delaying our progress will only result in the summer passing with all venues booked solid until the middle of fall. Apparently, he is not interested enough to commit to, or doesn’t understand the urgency of getting tight enough to start booking gigs NOW or lose the summer music season altogether. Since he seems to not have the time to commit to one lousy day a week to put together a solid act, we’re moving on without him.

I put another ad on Craigs List yesterday and already got a response from a guitar/keyboard player who lives up here in Woodland Park and has excellent references. Only trouble is he is in Hawaii right now and won’t be back in town until April 4^th.

I sent him a set list and he knows a lot of the songs on it so we should be able to gel things quickly, if he decides to join us.

There is also another guitarist who is interested in checking us out who is a friend of the bassist. He is currently playing with an up and coming country singer out of Nashville who just released his debut album. I’m finding it hard to believe he would give up this gig to join a band just starting out, but we’ll give him a shot a week from tomorrow.

Just one more delay and the clubs continue to book the summer. I don’t know whether to be pissed or just frustrated. Either way it sucks, but this project is important to me and I know we have a great show to offer when we finally get to share it with people.

No Delay Like A Snow Delay

No Delay Like A Snow Delay

We are canceling tomorrow’s rehearsal due to an impending snowstorm that will be dumping anywhere between 4” to 24” on us from tonight thru Saturday night depending on the track of the storm.

The good news is our guitarist Joe has completed his move to Manitou Springs and is getting the new house in order. He also had his dental surgery yesterday and is recovering with the aid of Vicadin. He also starts his new job on Monday that will put him on a normal persons schedule, 7am-3:30pm with weekends off, freeing him up to have time to lead a normal life.

We’re looking forward to getting down to some serious rehearsals and getting ready for our promo video.

Speaking of promo, I’ve ordered some business cards and some promo post cards that I’ll start spreading around the area as soon as they arrive. (Wednesday) They look like this.

 

By the time we do our first gig people will already know the name, Cooter Creek Canyon Band and will be wondering who the hell are these guys. Hope this will peak their interest enough to get em out to check us out. More promo stuff to come, including black tee shirts with the Cooter Creek Canyon Band logo across the front.

 

It’s getting down to the wire to get bookings for the summer season club schedule so it’s time to get down to business.

It's Official The Band Has A Name

I've decided on a name for the band.

COOTER CREEK CANYON BAND

This will be our first small flyer for gigs.

This will be our logo

I've also set up a Cooter Creek Canyon Band Facebook page and a YouTube channel for our future vids. I'll post up the address for those later when we are ready to start using them.

Practice Saturday

Yesterday’s practice was not the most productive. It wasn’t bad. It’s just that there were a few things that didn’t make for a productive atmosphere. First off this was the first time I met the new drummer. He was pretty burnt out from personal stuff he had to take care of  during the week and a lack of sleep. He’s a good drummer and a nice guy. He’ll be fine.

Secondly, Doc played the night before, opening for Western Underground at the Crystola Roadhouse, and he was stressed out over the benefit concert for his dog bite that was set for today. There was a threat of a strong snow storm and trying to pull together all the bands and logistics was taking its toll on him.

The storm did happen today forcing the cancellation of the concert and the closure of the bar. It’s pretty nasty out there. The benefit has been rescheduled for next Sunday. I hope some of you who read this blog and live in the area will show up and help support this benefit.

People have lives

It’s been two weeks since the last post. Our rehearsal last week was canceled due to personal issues the new guitarist is dealing with.

Sadly the new drummer Tim didn’t get the message and came up to play. Doc tried to call me, and I would have gone over, to jam with just the three of us but my phone didn’t ring. (that’s happened before with this stupid phone)

The new guitarist is dealing with a host of personal issues right now. At least 3, that I know of, legal issues, none of them criminal.  He’s moving to Manitou Springs and has to pack and sell a bunch of stuff. He’s also changing jobs soon and has some logistical issues to deal with there. His current job schedule doesn't give him much time to deal with his personal life.

As a result he has told me he won’t be able to start rehearsals until after the 1^st of March. He does want to stay with us and I want to keep him with us as well. The current band make up is good, really good, and Joe will be able to pick up his parts quickly. He has a CD that he can listen to for his vocal parts and familiarize himself with the song structures.

So as it stands now we are going to practice as a trio. Tomorrow, barring extreme weather, we will be practicing. This project is going to result in a very good band and is worth the initial delays and set backs. 

People have lives.

Songs we're working on

Here is a list of the songs we are working on at this time. Feel free to comment on whether these are songs you like or not.

In my next 5 beers - Trailer Choir

Keep me in mind - Zac Brown

My girlfriend - Uncle Kracker

High maintenance woman - Toby Keith

Rock my world little country girl - Brooks & Dunn

Superman - Willie Nelson

Beer for my horses - Toby Keith

Stray cat strut - Stray Cats

Aint’ as good as I once was - Toby Keith

I’ll never smoke weed with Willie again - Toby Keith

Rockin the beer gut - Trailer Choir

I like girls that drink beer - Toby Keith

Getting By - Jerry Jeff Walker

My kinda party - Jason Aldean

Don’t it make you wanna dance - Jerry Jeff Walker

Some girls do - Sawyer Brown

Drive me wild - Sawyer Brown

Pickin wildflowers - Keith Anderson

Six days on the road -  Don Baker version

Nobody’s sad on Saturday nite - Uncle Kracker

Trashy women - Jerry Jeff Walker version

What I didn’t do - Steve Wariner

That’s how country boys roll - Billy Currington

Let's get this party started

Today we practiced with the guitar player I’ve bee wanting to get for our band. His name is Joe and he smokes on the geetar. He loved the songs we’re doing and took to the arrangements like he had been playing the songs for ever. He says he wants in.

YES!!!

Doc called a drummer friend of his and he says he’s interested in giving it a shot too, so that is another headache that may soon be eliminated. Cut a CD with about 25 songs for both Joe and Tim (drummer). Next rehearsal is next Saturday, hopefully with a new drummer.

We'll be gig ready in a month, 5 weeks max.

Let's get this party started.