This is a little run down of the shows I played in 07 with my bands Dipsomaniacs and The Successful Failures.
1/13/07 – The Successful Failures
Khyber
Philadelphia, PA
This happened to fall on a night the Eagles were actually playing a play off game. It was eerie – not one of the best Khyber shows. I remember a girl missed the steps out on the Khyber standing area and fell right on her face. I hope she is ok.
2/1/07 – The Successful Failures
Iota Club
Arlington, VA
Despite being a Thursday and a couple hours from home this was a good show. We recorded the set and ended up using two of the tracks on our Ep. Strongest memories – we got a free meal before the show (cool!), Ian Thomas who opened up played the kazoo, a lot. Thanks to Mike and Lauree for setting this up. Oh Timothy Bracken was great – we were mesmerized by the fact that he played guitar with gloves on (fingers cut out).
2/9/07 - Dipsomaniacs
Champions
Trenton, NJ
This show was not a Dipso career highlight. We played with my sort of cousin's band, Speedway, but we went on last and played to not many. The place has really fallen to pieces and it was very cold. We played as a 3-piece and tried out some new songs so that was good. Everybody at the bar was really friendly – don't remember if we got any free drinks.
2/24/07 – Dipsomaniacs
Buddie's Tavern
Parlin , NJ
What a friendly place – this show was put together by Lazlo/BlowUpRadio. We played this show with Paul Crane on guitar, guess by this point he was officially in the band. It turned out to be a fabulous line-up. Matt Fisher and the Telephone Junkies are a great band as was ReadyMade Break Up and our friends in Somerdale. Saw some old friends like Laura Christiansen. Lazlo filmed it and sent me a DVD – not bad performance.
4/21/07 – The Successful Failures and the Dipsomaniacs
Rusty Rudder/Lighthouse
Dewey Beach Pop Fest
Dewey Beach, DE
I don't usually like playing with both bands on the same night. It's weird. But this show turned out well. I remember John Williams (SF guitar) made it just in time for The Successful Failures set then had to leave right away to drive back to NYC. Somerdale and the Commons played the same stage and were great – everybody hung out for the Dipsomaniacs set which was sweaty, loud and not entirely sober… but fun. I do remember they couldn't wait for us to get the hell out of there so they could set up the dj for the big after wedding "dance party". Pretty lame. Every year I do the Dewey Beach Fest I say I'm not going to do it next year then I always do (5 years now). I said it again in 07 so we'll see.
4/27/07 – The Successful Failures
Lemon Hill Mansion
Out and Back Run after Party
Philadelphia, PA
Got to play to thousands of people under a big tent as they finished a 5k run. We played lots of covers that we didn't know and every original we did know. I forgot to eat and ended up drinking a ton of beer… John Williams left to walk his room-mates dog and was missing until right before we were scheduled to start. There is a picture of bass player Ron Bechamps playing my guitar on stage… something tells me we may have done "Laid" by James… not sure if we made it all the way through.
5/20/07 – Dipsomaniacs (as Mick solo acoustic)
The Brick Wall
Asbury Park, NJ
This was part of the Wave Gathering Festival celebrating the Asbury Park music scene. The Dipsos were scheduled to play at some bar that closed down the week before the festival – we were rescheduled to play on a Sunday afternoon at this new place. We decided it would be better if I did this one alone so it became a Mick solo acoustic show. I played a bunch of new Dipso tunes including "Blame it on the Gin, "Not Waiting Around", and "Loretta After All". I think I also did Successful Failures' "Hick Bars". The gang from Maybe Pete was there along with Lazlo and some other familiar faces – a surprisingly decent crowd for 1:00 on a Sunday afternoon. Not bad at all.
6/1/07 – The Successful Failures
The Khyber
Philadelphia, PA
This was the line-up: Successful Failures, The Shalitas, The Donuts, and Foxycotin. The Shalitas had this whole fifties greaser vibe with 3 female lead singers in leather jackets singing in front. Interesting. My sister Jenny and her boyfriend Brett came to this show and they still are talking about the Shalitas. I thought we played great – fun night.
6/14/07 – The Successful Failures
The Khyber
Philadelphia, PA
We got to open for an incredible band from Chicago - Ike Reilly Assassination – really cool show for us. Ike Reilly was great. Since this show I've gone and bought all the Ike Reilly albums. The guitar player in Ike Reilly blew a fuse in his Vox and I supplied a new one. Great show.
6/15/07 – The Successful Failures
McGuinns
Trenton, NJ
This was the most unorganized show I've ever played. It was set up by a band from GA – Winter Sounds who was touring. We were supposed to be the 4th of 4 bands. I know the bartenders at McGuinns because the Dipsos used to play there all the time –when I go there they had no idea who was even playing. The first band went on 45 minutes late. The 2nd band promised me they would play a 30 minute set and kept going well past 40. Winter Sounds was good (played a cover of Toto's "Africa"). SF went on after 1 o'clock – Lazlo was there and some other folks but it sucked to go on so late…
6/22/07 – Dipsomaniacs
The Northstar Bar
Philadelphia, PA
We were asked by the boys in Milton and the Devils Party to play this show – their CD release. Also on the bill was Trolleyvox. Rather poorly attended, but the bands were all good. Paul Crane bought a Trolleyvox CD. I met Jim from Transit of Venus. I like the big Northstar stage, fun.
8/18/07 – Dipsomaniacs
Black River Arts and Music Festival
Chester, NJ
We played in the middle of some field – nice to be able to bring the families out and have kids and dogs running around while we play… I guess it's nice. The Dipsos have always felt sort of odd playing during the daytime. Our friends in the Commons played first.
8/24/07 – The Successful Failures
Fuel
WV<>
Hottest, wettest, crummiest place I ever played. It was a basement bar, when you opened the door you could see and feel a blast of steam rise out of the stairway – it was like descending into hell. While we were playing the bartender had to mop around us because there was a water line break. Despite the less than hospitable conditions everybody was super-friendly. There didn't seem to be anyone around who really even looked 21 – it was like mom and dad were away and a bunch of high school kids were running the bar, nobody seemed to know what they were doing and it didn't seem to matter. Makes me wonder what the hell is going on in West Virginia. Nice to drive through but I can't imagine staying. I recorded the show and it sounded pretty good – a good run-through for our set the next night in Knoxville.
8/25/07 – The Successful Failures
Hottfest (music fest organized by Superdrag drummer Don Coffey Jr.)
Corner Lounge
Knoxville, TN
Took what seemed like forever to get there from WV. Met Don Coffey JR who led us to the keg. Got some good grub…. Bar-b-que sandwiches. We spent a lot of time talking to some roller derby girls – I think John and Rob bought t-shirts from them. Our set was great – got to play in front of Mic Harrison and Don from Superdrag and a bunch of other great folks. Rob set the tempo at superturbo speed so we got to do a lot of songs. Don's mom stopped us in the middle of the set to hug John. I loved Knoxville… things are slow and everybody drinks lots of beer. Great music scene too. We spent the next 4 days hanging with Don and recording 5 new tunes at his studio. Don couldn't have made us feel more welcome – plus he did a fantastic job with making us sound like a real band. Thanks Don!
9/14/07 – Dipsomaniacs
John and Peters
New Hope, PA
We played with Lost Patrol, a sort of surf guitar lounge act with a female singer. It was nice to be back at John and Peters – this place used to be home base for the Dipsomaniacs – we played there dozens of times in the late 90s, lots of good times. The place was actually looking a bit cleaned up and the sound system was in good shape. I think we had just enough songs that we knew with Paul on guitar to cover the night. Our old bass player Doug Keith came out and we played a version of "Diner Song" with Doug on guitar.
9/21/07 – The Successful Failures
The Northstar Bar
Philadelphia, PA
We opened up for Glenn Mercer who used to be in The Feelies – a very influential band from North Jersey who made their mark in the late 70s and 80s touring with REM. Peter Buck worked on one of their albums too. WPRB from Princeton was at the show. Glenn was in the dressing room and refused to acknowledge my existence – very strange. Rob Martin had the same experience, it was odd to say the least. He just stared straight ahead at the wall… despite me saying, "Hey, what's up…" nothing…. "HEY THERE" … nothing. Wild Carnation who also had former members of the Feelies were good. Also on the bill was our friends in Daymaker who are now Elastic Medium.
9/29/07 – Dipsomaniacs
Buddie's Tavern
Parlin, NJ
I don't remember this night… really I don't. It was probably set up by Lazlo. Tom? Matt? Paul? I do like Buddie's Tavern – good Bar Trivia game there.
10/26/07 – Dipsomaniacs
The Khyber
Philadelphia, PA
This was a memorable night because we were on the bill with some great bands – Broken West, The Whigs and Wild Sweet Orange. I remember it well, there was a steady downpour that basically lasted all night… and it was cold. I got a great parking spot though!We went on early and there were not a lot of people in there but it started to fill up a bit as we played (our friend Roger Beckwith from Mt Holly made it – thanks Roger!). I was a bit unorganized because we were moving and I forgot our merchandise suit-case. I had a bunch of CDs in my gear case though. As soon as we finished I sold all the Dipso CDs I had right from the stage. That always makes me happy. It was a good night – fun to play a set with the new line-up in a venue with good sound and an appreciative crowd.
11/9/07 – Dipsomaniacs and The Successful Failures
The Northstar Bar
Philadelphia, PA
About a Girl CD Release show
All songs had a girl's name in the chorus and title.
Timothy Bracken came up from DC and played a great set to open up – he's so talented. Rigbees opened with "Hey Julie" by Fountains of Wayne, love that song. I played with the Dipsomaniacs first – I thought we played great. Jon Bilinski aka J Horndog came up and sang "Sweet Jane" as only he can… well… and Lou Reed. Then I played a short set with The Successful Failures – we don't usually play covers and I don't plan to do so any more. I thought our song "Carolina I'm in Love" sounded good… the rest of it may have been a mess. Grammar Debate played a low-key set with a super rendition of "Stephanie Says" – that's probably my favorite track from the About a Girl CD. Taggart was incredible – it was great to see them again. I was particularly moved by their rendition of Nirvana's "Frances Farmer". It was great to see Laverne and Charlie and Lauree and Mike from Arlington and a bunch of other old friends who came out… Ray from Kool Kat, my sort of cousin Jeff from Speedway…
11/30/07 – The Successful Failures
The Khyber
Philadelphia, PA
The Successful Failures CD Release Show
I kept thinking… I'm never having another CD Release show. It's like New Year's Eve or something… too much hype. I've done so many of these things and really they are just another show. There's something amateurish and cheesy about calling it a CD Release…I guess you call it a "CD Release" show so you can get friends and family out who don't normally go to shows. Anyway that is what was running through my head that night. I just wanted to get up on stage and play; I had a cold and couldn't talk, my singing voice was ok though. It turned out to be a real good show and we did get lots of people out. Things were actually running ahead of schedule so we ended up playing the entire new album (12 songs) plus "Sewer Water", "Up To Her Ears" , "If That's the Way That You Want It", and a Hank Williams' cover ("Your Cheatin Heart"). Still I may skip the whole CD release next time – I'll just send out an email and say, "It's here if you want to buy it." Of course "amateur and cheesy" is hard for me to resist. New Dipsomaniacs CD will be ready this spring, we'll see….
12/21/07 – Dipsomaniacs
Buzz's Tavern
Mt. Holly, NJ
The Dipsomaniacs have been looking for a new bar to call home, a place to play on a regular basis where we can really stretch out… play lots of songs we don't know. Buzz's is it. We were supposed to stop at 12:30… around 12:25 the owner handed me a note, "I'll pay you 50 more dollars if you play until 1 o'clock." Notes I get from owners don't usually say that. So it was a good night. I got to sing "The Weight" by the Band, Tom did "Euro Trash Girl" and Paul did "Bad Boy" by the Beatles. We're looking for a signature song for Matt. Glad to see some friends from school… Christy, Vicki, Rob, Casey…. Old friends like Debbie M and Danny Franta (from grade school no less)… I had some family out… my Aunt Marianne and Kate and my nieces Elizabeth and Catherine. It was a real nice way to end the year.