US Navy Band National Tour 2011

[Karl H.]

Howdy 'Netters! Never to early to check these dates and figure out where to get your *free* tickets. Tour schedule is up and posted on the Navy Band's website. For those who don't have it bookmarked already (and you should) here is a link to the itinerary:

http://www.navyband.navy.mil/tour_concert_band.shtml" target="_blank

There's a rather distinguished-looking (code for OLD) gentleman's picture featured today...

Will bump closer to launch.

Hope to see and visit with lots of TubeNetters this year!

Karl "who has no official affiliation with anyone: I just surf the net a lot" H.

[Karl H.]

*Bump*

It's almost that time: Navy Band hits the road on 11 March! The link above will take you to the tour itinerary page where you can see if we're coming near your town. This year's tour programs are a bit more meaty than in the past, including some premiers, chamber music, and interesting soloists: by far the most technically challenging music we've taken on tour during my career.

Personnel of interest to this board are:
Phil Eberly and Dan Geldert, euphonium
Tony Halloin and Karl Hovey, tuba

Here's a little taste to whet your appetite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2xcMoQ6 ... ideo_title" target="_blank" target="_blank

(Pop some corn and relax as the video is the complete work, nearly 30 minutes long!)

Karl "who might blog his way through tour right here on this board... again" H.

[tmmcas1]

I would drive a "sizeable" distance to hear this band with this low brass section section. If you can muster a couple hours in the car this is not to be missed! Have a great tour guys!

[Bill Troiano]

Don't have tickets yet, but I'll be there on the 13th.

[The Big Ben]

But you're not coming to Puget Sound until 2013! I'd be willing to drive to Bangor (the sub base) but not Bangor (in Maine). However, the jazz group will be here in November....

[scottw]

Just my luck----the only one within a 2-hour's drive was canceled! March 10 in Lansdale, Pa

[Tom Holtz]

Bring the heat, Karl.

[Karl H.]

Bring the heat, Karl.

Boo-yah!

I'll just try an be a pale imitation of the Fine Men in Scarlet!

Karl "who can at least eat with the best of them" H.

[Karl H.]

All right! Time to weigh anchor and crank the wheel hard starboard: full sail for the Northeast!

As I said before, some meat on these shows: Russian Sailors, Lincolnshire, Popcopy, Affirmation (incredible percussion solo, not to be missed), Scherzo a la Britten, and much more. Well worth the prize of admission since all military band concerts are free, although tickets may be required.

Check the link above for dates, and give me a shout if you're coming: I usually hang around after the concerts for a little "meet-and-greet".

PM me for my cell number and other info.

As always, I'm counting on the Great Gustatory Guidance that is the heart of any gathering of tuba players (i.e., where's a good place to eat?) as we make our way north and back.

Tonight: West Reading PA; tomorrow: Hershey, PA.

Bill and djwpe, see you on the 13th! The Big Ben: you'll enjoy the Commodores, they rock! or I guess I should say, They Swing!

Full Speed Ahead!

Karl "I'm only a Holtz in my dreams" H.

[tclements]

Coming to thte Left Coast?

[Karl H.]

Coming to thte Left Coast?

How does 2013 work for you, Tony? Midwest area next year...

Karl "I can tell the future!" H.

[tclements]

Man, I gotta wait TWO YEARS for you to get out west. SHEESH!

[Karl H.]

Just a quick shout out: I Love Long Island! Terrific venue at the Tilles Center at Long Island University, and an enthusiastic, knowledgeable crowd. The last group of patrons I spoke with included two Julliard alums, and the entire group were musicians!

It was especially nice to get to meet some fellow Tubenetters. Had a brief but pleasant visit with Don Winston, his friend Gary, and two lovely ladies whose names I've forgotten (I'm terrible with names). It's always nice to have a little tuba-talk rather than the usual after-concert banter: "What do those stripes mean, and why are some of them gold and some red?"

Y'all know the answer, right?

Perhaps a Navy Band Trivial Pursuit game is in the offing...

Karl "who always wanted to be a Game Show Host" H.

[Bill Troiano]

Great concert last night!! The tubas sounded great, as did the entire band! Sorry I didn't get to meet you, Karl! I've played at that venue many times. I poked my head backstage, but I didn't see anyone, so, with my wife's urging, we headed for the door. I did get to meet the young, Brian Bowman as we sat right by the sound board. He looks like his dad. We had a nice chat!

Good luck with the rest of the tour!

[Karl H.]

Hey Bill and Don,

Thanks for the kind words! Is was great to me you Don; and Bill... I was hanging in the lobby doing the post-concert meet-and-greet. Very sorry I missed you!

Southington tomorrow: Excelsior!

Karl "this post makes no sense" H.

[Bill Troiano]

Didn't know there was a meet and greet, Karl! I'm so used to leaving through the stage door, I never thought to go out through the lobby with normal people.

[Tom Holtz]

Crackin' me up, Bill. Nice.

[Bob Kolada]

It's always nice to have a little tuba-talk rather than the usual after-concert banter: "What do those stripes mean, and why are some of them gold and some red?"

I'll never learn all the Navy ranks...

[Karl H.]

Have had a great couple of days in Massachusetts, including a "maintenance" day on St. Patrick's Day. You would have thought being a short distance from Boston I would have headed into the city to celebrate the great Irish patron saint but no; I resisted that temptation, although some others may have took some comfort there.

One of the fun things we traditionally include in our concerts is the opportunity for local high school kids to sit in with the band. Here's an example:

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hamp ... tatus=true" target="_blank

And BTW, you can follow the official Navy Band blog at:

http://usnavyband.blogspot.com/" target="_blank

There's at least one entry by yours truly, some fun pictures, and other stuff.

Sorry about not mentioning y'all could have heard us world-wide on a live audio stream from Mechanics Hall in Worchester... part of a noon-time brown bag concert series. Maybe the concert was archived...?

North to New Hampshire and Maine!

Karl "cahnt get theyah from heeyah" H.

[Karl H.]

Had a wonderful lunch in beautiful downtown Portsmouth, N.H. I went back there (we had docked in Bangor) because “someone” had left their garment bag full of a complete uniform and accessories in the previous hotel. Had to make the trip worthwhile, so stopped by the Portsmouth Brewery where, I was told, I could get a mean fish and chips meal.

Indeed! I only ordered the lunch fish sandwich, but was greeted by a huge filet of lightly battered goodness accompanied by the expected tartar sauce and the un-expected chipotle sauce. I shame-facedly used both, and regret nothing! The fact that I was in an establishment known for the quality of its locally brewed malted beverages was not completely lost on me. Definitely worth a trip if you’re anywhere close (it was worth a 6-hour round trip to me).

Also worth the trip is 1 World Trading Co., who claim to be “purveyors of goods that benefit the planet…” but is actually a cover for a cool bike shop. Paul Keegan takes classic old bikes and renovates them (usually as a fixed- or single gear) for relatively cheap. He had a bunch of old Motobecanes, Raleighs, and classic Schwinn steel framed bikes in the window. He’ll be coming to D.C. on a charity ride, and I may try to organize a group to meet him.

Karl “who carted around a complete extra uniform for years… and it finally paid off” H.