Edit Dec 8 - Hiding Time - end of 3rd verse on

Someone you tubed us ~

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Though I've heard no tape yet (which will for me decide the truth of the gig) victorious is the word I use, and a word I don't

often use. It seemed that kind of night, in multiple ways, for many people, for reasons not musical as well as for the music made.

It's a night of stories to tell one's grandchildren. LENGTHIEST entry ever...and likely to remain so.

Mischke began the night out in the crowd, ended up w/ about 10 audience members onstage. He is a genius of an enter-

tainer, has a devoted cult, and O'Gara's proved in a slamming way why this is. When he finally sat behind the

piano Mischke told the audience he'd been nervous to play, needed that 15-20 minutes w/ the people thank 'ee, am fine now.

He played Where've All The Boys Gone solo. Great tune! Must say a word about Tommy's harp playing, it's fantastic and he

has that Dylan wear it on your neck apparatus so will be playing piano while soloing harp, then back to singing. He also played

harp standing center stage, great fun (wish I could've heard it better - that and other things).

The 2nd tune Janey - er Hiding Time - is the one he gave me to sing. My lower register was hard to gage at both rehearsal and the gig.

We'd done it only night before O'Gara's. It was hiding time for me, other drummers feel that way w/out their mountain. So I borrowed Loo's dark shades.

This was a variety show, not a concert. Several acts, talking and interaction w/ audience. I stood next his boarded-up keys, in Mike

Loonan's spot. Hiding Time is especially beautifully haunting w/ just piano. I was so happy to have part in it.

Tommy got a 2nd guy to run sound onstage, yea. Jared had to spend hours night before fixing something internal I believe w/ the B3.

That car front he had round his hammond, it's headlights worked! Our new 5th member (Joe Beier "Buy-er") stood front but off to the

side of me. Young cat, same as the violinist Brian, who sat in. Very clean looking gentlemen, very accomplished players.

Full band came out 3rd song Down Here which is my favorite. Boy I was raring to go, barely heard Loo and them intro-

duced. When we got to the chorus I felt like I'd pogo-stick off the drum throne, just shoot out there toward the ceiling at an angle. During

that song, "all I've been through" manifested itself into an intense state of freedom, victory, joy. It was a dream fulfilled, a concert moment.

I could not have imagined once this moment came, how well earned, how unlooked for it would be.

Brian was great to have onstage. He broke a string pretty soon into things. Can't wait to hear that audio. Mischke wrote a v. good song about

his mom's dad "Grandpa", and there's others he's written with strings on them, that old Midwest USA fiddle playing on the prarie.

Jeff F

What would life be w/out Jeff F? He'd sit in sax w/ Krystal, been in cool bands w/ other neighborhood cats and just full of glee, talking

mile o' minute. Jeff F has been videoing everything forever. Once I's on drums for Down Here, he's right at my elbow filming

close-up Mischke. Then he'd run away. Then he'd come back. Once after a drum solo, Jeff F burst out Donna, I think I love you!

giggled, and ran away again. What fun!! Him exploding onto the stage then running off happened all night long, and he hopped up there to sing, too.

Other Acts

John Heidt (am 1500 newsman) w/ Jim Souhan (Star Trib sports writer + KSTP guy) had their band on and it was Jim Souhan's 1st time on a stage!I am very sorry I don't recall bass player's name. Paul was a whopping singing drummer. Those guys I didn't get to hear much but good cover list,

Otis Redding and Credence, the folk began dancing when they got on. John Heidt resembled John Clegg aka JC (RIP) very much and I apologized for

staring backstage, explaining myself. Even that was a source of support, cause JC was around when I first began making transition to singing/songwriting and EXPECTED it to come to fruition. J. Clegg didn't begin even playing til he was 26 years old, what an example of courage and perseverence as he

went out of this life as a revered saxaphonist and music teacher. There was angels all round, so to speak.

Lauren Redpath is one of the Redpath Sisters and Joe Beier is her guitarist. Very good act, but again I couldn't pay much attention,

am looking fwd to some audio so I can take in the gig! I believe the Redpath Sisters are writers, have at least one CD out.

The Callers and Neighborhood Pals

OK so TD Mischke has a talk radio show. Over the years certain callers have beome famous. At one point, Tommy's out in the crowd and

Sam Hawk is sage-ing away. Tommy has a lot of elderly callers and friends. So there's real slow-down wisdom, and Sam has taught Mischke

many Native American words. I got the sense Sam Hawk was sitting Indian-style (as they used to say) on the floor, speaking to the crowd. Last CD

release Fred The Undertaker (I'm serious) was ill long term, he almost fell off the stage. Fred would call always w/ a song, and often preach, trying

to convert Tommy. Everyone loved Fred, RIP.

Dylan and Kayla were there for the whole thing and I was happy to hear that they spent time w/ Sam Hawk out in the freezing cold.

Dylan repeated the Indian word Sam had uttered in beholding Kayla. I thought, '"the word is beautiful". Then Dylan said the word meant

"beautiful" (time gooddess predictions strike again!). Sam told the children he wasn't cold because I was born in Canada - on a wooden floor. He told

them of his mother being killed by a bear and I said Dylan that's so heavy I cannot even register that information. Sam's father was a Scot w/ a brogue which

Mr. Hawk imitates to perfection. He told them jokes and stories.

So that's the kind of night it was. All these people, probably little in common w/ one another, but they love Mischke.

My cousin, the fox-in-her-fifties (FIHF) was there (yay!) w/ her cool man Brent. I regret not seeing them but Rosie (Mischke's wife) gave me the news

they'd arrived, were there quite awhile and digging the show. Krystal's drummer Martin, my friendly rival from age 13 came in solidarity. He had that clear blue double bass drum kit - the one who nailed the 2112 album at age 14. Dear and great to see Martin! With him was Tommy Skinner, Uncle

Skins. That Tommy and I used to have some uproarious times, + he sings! Lotta friends I've had. Tommy gushed, "I've got a 5 year old girl, and she's

got red hair just like you! I love her so much and her name is Sophie!" Loo's wife Kelly was there and did I appreciate her support that night, and thru

these dark months.

Then I turned and saw this light-colored hair kinda sharp featured cat. It was Gerry Mischke, and emotion took me o'er. Why is that at these old home gatherings? Always one person's presence who brings the walls tumbling down, I don't know why. Gerry and I'd hung out for a time. There was a mutual sympathy there born of what I don't know or care. It didn't matter what was talked about or anything like that, I recall Gerry's outrageous, stunning creativity and a lot of laughs. Gerry was wild! I think wilder than his older brother Tommy. That's saying quite a bit. Mrs. Mischke MUST be a saint, there are 6 Mischke boys and two Mischke girls. Gerry is avant-garde type of wild.

Fini (vain part totally about myself)

My song went well. I decided not to play guitar - one reason being I'd already played that afternoon a cameo at the Black Sheep and had nothing

more to prove to myself, just wanted to sing. Tommy's introduction astounded me - it was lengthy and he kind of implored the audience to

listen . (I think they obeyed). I sat on my drum throne in Loonan's spot, and Mike played Tommy's keyboard + sang with me. I'm so glad we got

to do it. I love that song, one of the very few I've written that is in my true range. I wrote most of it in the backyard, up to my eyeballs in

children, pregnancies and Mom-ing, on a beautiful morning, expansive sky, whistling back to the birdsong which responded to me...

Because of singing mic'd, singing higher than the lead, because of playing loud (boy did those hundreds of bodies soak

up the sound)...I ended up having to play quite hard, which makes one 1/2 the drummer they are, plus a lot of brusing on the "snare leg"...

because of all these factors & having to push the vocals, I don't so much like the sound of "that" voice. It works, but that's about it imo. The monitors

also in this kind of situation tend to be more of a shadow than confirmation so who knows (the audio does) how much was on, or off.

I can pretty much correctly discern how others sound in the moment, though..

2nd set I was tired. Didn't have a sure read, but thought I'd mismanaged timing. We had some very fast tempo's, then him spring-

ing around in the crowd a loong time, us bringing it down - good luck, man! I felt it wobbly, all over the place, you name it.

To me, the more Mischke the gig was, THAT was the most worthy. Ya know, //Onward Local Songwriters//

.

Weirdly, I don't have a lot to say about Mike and Jared (or Joe) - maybe because there was just fine, fine enjoyment playing with

them, gratitude to have my buddy a-dancing w/ his borrowed bass cause he's not a bass player. And Jared - I did tell him afterward that

it was special, so cool to have played with him. I just look over to my left the whole night, and see them all; Jared's awesome soloing and

support, his 'The Band' groove and his Rufus/Chaka Kahn/Stevie Wonder sound.

On Drumming

My high hat was a piece of shit! Don't know what happened, this was an issue - both my pedals in fact, action quite sluggish.

The most poignant to me were comments made from musicians on my drumming.

Relatively speaking it seems like I've lost little or nothing from a very long hiatus, but actually have gained (though again, the audio recording

is pretty much the final word). Who counts stamnia needed to pull off 3 sets? That (usually) has to be worked up to when you're 18 and at peak

physically, much less being older/absent.

Talk about a Christmas present! Signed, sealed, delivered...

Victory.