Oh my!!! How the time does fly when we're havin fun. As the cool crisp air seeps into our bedrooms at night and we wrap ourselves tighter in our blankets (or around our spouses), that giddy feeling of change tends to overwhelm us. I love change…I love how the change keeps us on our toes. I love embracing change and making myself a better person. I love…mitch - shut up now! Just invite these good folks to your shows :)

Ok - so I'm a bit schitzo!

Here goes:

THIS THURSDAY (tomorrow night) - 9/13, I'm back solo acoustic on the deck at The Stockhouse in Westbrook (gonna squeeze out one more deck show under the setting sun)
THIS FRIDAY - 9/14, the band is back in Boothbay Harbor at Gray's Wharf from 9:30 - 1
NEXT friday - 9/21, the band is back in it's home town glory, Portland, at Ri~Ra from 10 - 1
NEXT Saturday - 9/22, the band is back in Bar Harbor at Carmen Verandah's from 9:30 - 1

Wow - I can't believe the summer  of 07 is really coming to a close.  It's gonna be a blast to do this last deck show and the above two 'coastal town' shows before the snow flies…did someone say snow? Ok…Autumn needs to come first :)

The last weekend of Sept. will also be a bunch of fun…I'll be solo at Sud's on Friday, 9/28 from 8 - 11 and the band is back at Ri~Ra in Burlington on Saturday, 9/29 from 10 - 2.

All right! Have a great September, everyone…I really hope to see you when we're in your town. And thanks for coming out to our shows again and again…you make life rule like you have no idea!!!

Ps. Only 6 more weeks until my 10/28 marathon…and then I can start drinking beer on Saturdays again…what fun!!!

Hey you crazy kids!

I can't believe how fast summertime is cruising by...you guys feeling the same thing? What used to be an incredibly mellow season for me has all of a sudden become one of all fun & no sleep :) The reason - redemption at the day gig and musical seeds bearing unexpected fruit. Care to read on? OK, here goes...

After all the back and forth about me wanting to get out of the day gig, I managed to work with some friends over there and iron things out. As it turned out, this wasn't too much of a big deal...As silly as this sounds, I have this stupid fear from high school - a time when the 'in crowd' didn't really like me - and my lame self didn't want to aggressively defend myself because of my passive nature. It seems that there was one individual here at the day gig who stirred things up behind my back and my paranoia (stemmed from my high school days) manifested itself and I thought everyone hated me here. Yes, you can stop laughing now...really, I'm all paranoid about stuff like this. Well, luckily there are a few folks here who saw what was happening and told me point blank what was going on. In short, I felt super psyched that I wasn't hated by lots of people...what a relief!!! But man o man, was I pissed at this one person...But I'm still that same passive Mitch so I haven't said anything...and likely won't. Instead, I agreed to stay on for now at the day gig and will keep my focus on the positive - period. Though it's still challenging to be here, it's easier when you know everyone doesn't hate you!

The funny kicker about this all is that during the few months of my 'paranoia' here, I worked my ass off in planting seeds to get myself as many mid-week paying solo acoustic shows as I could. Since no immediate work came back - coupled with the realization that people don't hate me where I work - I gave my word to stay at the day gig through their upcoming 'busy' season. However, as the Law of Attraction rules, these seeds I planted serveral months ago are now bearing more fruit than I can eat...YAY!!! I HAVE ENOUGH MUSIC WORK SET UP THAT I CAN FINALLY QUIT MY DAY JOB!!!  But Alas, I already gave my comittment to the day gig...and I don't go back on my word...doh!  So Now what?  well, I guess I'll just work the 45 hour/week day gig and play music 4 - 5 nights a week....Doesn't everyone dream of an 80 + hour work week?  oh yeah, and I'm training for that marathon in the fall!  yikes!!! 

How's that for a perfect combination for a summer flying by...still, I'm having a blast with it all...but I'm not sleeping much! Though it's neat that I'm liked here at the day gig, what's super important and amazing to me is how so many shows (both at our 'regular' venues and these new solo venues) are turning out to be amazing - one gig after another; there are wonderful folks who I've never met before showing up and singing my music back to me...THAT is one of the greatest experiences I've ever felt. For those who are beating up the NOW sound so much that you know the words, THANK YOU!!! I've also been meeting some great folks at all these new venues...and myspace doesn't hurt either as several folks who've contacted me here show up at shows all the time. And fun groups of folks - like the Skemers - who fly in from all over the country to Bangor, ME end up showing up at this past weekend's Bar Harbor show to rock the night away. And the list goes on. All in all, it LIFE RULES!!! albeit a very busy life!!!

Well, that's enough rambling for now...I guess? I usually can't shut up :) If you want to hear more, please come to a show and I'll gladly babble to you in between sets...or you can always meet me for a training run :) I can email you as well, but aside from these blogs, I don't usually type too much....cause there's so much going on!

Enjoy the day, you guys...thanks for listening to my babbling...it really does help me with my balance. Though I should be writing all the above in my personal journal, for some reason it makes me feel better sharing this all with you.

Keep in touch and keep in tune, my friends. You are all great!

peace, love & hugs,
~Mitch
http://www.NOWisNOW.com
http://www.myspace.com/mitchalden for a complete gig schedule through September...

Hey you crazy kids!

man o man, has life been amazing or what? green exploding all over, more daylight, flowering trees, shirtless days, & of course - ROCKING gigs.  I'm recently back from a mind-clearing 'take a step back and appreciate everything' trip with Dylan...6 days and 5 nights backpacking in the magical desert springtime of Zion National Park, UT...bliss is an understatement. And to be all refreshed and return to a stage - which I share with the greatest bassist and drummer - is a feeling never to be discounted... LIFE RULES :)

All right - I'll shut up now...in other fun happenings, we've got a new original tune called "Something Sad to Say" we've been tossing around and are very psyched to be working this one into this summer's setlist - along with a few more way fun cover tune surprises to throw at y'all! speaking of...

The holiday weekend gigs:

Friday, 5/25, The Wharf, Hallowell, ME
Saturday, 5/26, Ri~Ra, Portland, ME
Sunday, 5/27, Gray's Wharf, Boothbay Harbor, ME

Other upcoming shows for the next few weeks - full band performances:

Saturday, 6/2, Carmen Verandah, Bar Harbor, ME
Saturday, 6/9, Woodstock Station, North Lincoln, NH
Friday, 6/15, Schooner Landing, Damariscotta, ME
Friday, 6/29, The Dolphin, Portsmouth, NH
Saturday, 6/30, Ri~Ra, Portland, ME
****special Sunday night show*** July 1st, Isle of Shoals Cruises, 7 - 10

and if you're interested, I have a few solo acoustic shows happening as well:

Thursday, 5/31, Bartley's, Kennebunkport, ME (on the deck, 5 - 9)
Thursday, 6/7, The Stockhouse, Westbrook, ME (7 - 10)
Friday, 6/1, The Sea Dog, Bangor, ME (10-1)
Friday, 6/22, Sud's Pub, Bethel, ME (8 - 11:30)
Monday, 6/25, The Gas Light, Portsmouth, NH (on the deck, 7:30 - 11)

Gotta love summertime...I truly thank y'all for your support and love. Can't wait to see each and every one of you this summer...YES!!!

peace, love & hugs,
~mitch (neil & drew)
http://www.NOWisNOW.com

ps. other fun news - I signed up for another marathon...YES...DOH!!! I'm running it October 28th down in DC - http://www.marinemarathon.com ...I guess I'm telling you this so you guys don't twist my arm and get me all loopy in between sets - I gotta train :) silly mitch!!!

Well, one day late!!! Let's here it for the worker bees which we are!!!

Sorry I've been outta touch with y'all...I just returned from an awesome 6 day/5 night backpacking trip through Zion National Park in SW Utah...if y'all are into huge rocks, desert springs, and wilderness bliss, GO!!! So recommended :) I've posted some pics here if you care to take a look. Man o man, I feel so refreshed. There's nothing like the desert silence to really get your mind into focus on what your priorities actually are.

It was also super neat to leave Maine with lots of snow still on the ground, only to return to the beautiful green of Springtime...each time I step outside, "Day One" creeps into my head and I feel like ripping off my clothes...well, I'm usually in that mindframe, but the warm weather helps!

all right...I'll shut up now and remind y'all about some upcoming gigs:

This Friday, 5/4, I'll be doing a 'mellow' solo acoustic thing at Sud's Pub in Bethel - showtime is 8 - 11.

Friday, 5/12 - NOW is NOW's return to one of our favorite bars: Schooner Landing...recently re-opened after the cold Downeast winter; guaranteed to be a blast!!!

Friday, 5/18 - Back to the Red Parka Pub, Glen, NH - and super psyched for it!

Sat, 5/19 - Then jumping on to Burlington to jam at Ri~Ra...nothing like a UVM graduation to make things nutty :)

and the triple Memorial Day Weekend: Friday, 5/25 at The Wharf in Hallowell, Saturday, 5/26 at Ri~Ra in Portland, and Sunday 5/27 at Gray's Wharf in Boothbay Harbor. Can you say fun overload? nah...never too much fun to be had.

All full band shows start around 9:30pm and go to 1am

Lose your clothes, sing and dance in the streets, drink yummy beer in the sunshine...blah blah blah :)

LIFE RULES!!!

peace, love, & hugs,

mitch (neil & drew)