Marine Band 2005 Tour

[Tom Holtz]

So the tuba quartet played their thing at UNT today, and they're playing the concert at TAMU-Commerce right now... How many miles did they rack up today? I don't know how they pulled this off, but I'm guessing that they couldn't have done it without help from the locals. Gigs like this help break up the routine on the road, but it takes some effort to make it happen.

Send news--it's business as usual here in D.C.

[Karl H.]

--it's business as usual here in D.C.

Arrr matey, how can you say that?! Not even a passing nod towards your brother's-in-notes birthday celebration at Constitution Hall last night? You wound me, sir.

I had tried not taking offense at your mode of transportation: everyone knows the only way a real Marine gets anywhere is aboard ship! We could have gotten you to Denton via a three-month cruise, and getting there would have been twice as fun!

Karl "still swabbin' the decks of Anacostia" Hovey

[Tom Holtz]

Not even a passing nod towards your brother's-in-notes birthday celebration at Constitution Hall last night?

Happy Birthday, Sailor. Shows you how in the loop I am. I've spent the last two weeks performing in the finest cafetoriums and multi-purpose rooms that the area's elementary education system has to offer. Only this morning did I get a taste of being on the A-list. (A is for Arlington, of course...)

I'll bet after three weeks of zigzagging around Texas on those buses, it's going to feel like three months to the Tour band. This middle stretch is always tough. I hope they get someplace with Internet access soon.

[JCradler]

Howdy hi from the great nation of Texas (again) after a one day sojourn into Shreveport and another broken down bus(!), we're in Tyler tonite. The UNT folks were great, good turnout and very appreciative of the 4tet. Well, it's time to go foraging for dinner, someone said there's good barbeque in this neck of the woods....

JC

[Tom Holtz]

another broken down bus(!)

That couldn't have been good. Once is more than enough. This one must have got a few people on edge. I'm just glad this isn't the fifth or sixth week of tour, there might be some screaming. Never a dull moment when you try to transport this many people this far for this long.

Had a stellar job at the British Embassy tonight. The audience redefined the term "stoic." No applause until we were leaving. What a gas.

[JB]

Had a stellar job at the British Embassy tonight. The audience redefined the term "stoic." No applause until we were leaving.

Maybe they were just recalling that little tea party incident a few years back...

[EuphDad]

Looking forward to hearing y'all at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas tonight. At least it should be a nice venue change from cafetoriums. Ryan McG should be very comfortable on that stage
if he's traveling with the band. Welcome back home Ryan!

[JCradler]

Meyerson= Hitters ballpark.
What fun, great crowd, great hall. Got to see all the funnies on Matt Good's locker. Spring Creek BBQ rocks.....
JC

[Karl H.]

Spring Creek BBQ rocks.....

Hey John,

Is that the place just across the lake north of Lewisville with the cast-iron pig out front? If so, it was a favorite of mine from my UNT days. I especially remember the sauce: a near-perfect blend of sweetness and tang...

... or I'm suffering from early-onset old-timers...

BTW, I also have rather fond memories of Tyler, Texas due to extended weekend escapes with my lovely wife... or is this TMI? (My first-born was named for this town )

Karl "Deep-in-the-Heart-of-Texas" Hovey

p.s. Gonna make it down to Austin in time for the Ride For The Roses with Lance? Couple of cycling buddies will: the same club (Team Lardbutt) that Andy (Shooter to all who play softball) rides with on weekends...

[JCradler]

Alright, A&M folks are great band fans. Huge hall, almost full, more whoopin' than I've ever heard at a band concert. "On the Border" for dinner with USAF Band alum Bob Daniel. Retirment has been good to him, teaching at Sam Houston State.

JC

[Tom Holtz]

dinner with USAF Band alum Bob Daniel

Good to hear that Bob is doing well. Great player, great guy. Glad you guys caught up with him.

We'd heard that Meyerson was a good room. I love concerts in halls like that. I'm ready for spring concerts already. It was cold and rainy in Arlington today.

How many days until San Antonio? Someone needs to go down to Jim Cullum's place and say HI to Ron Hockett for me. Wish I could be there to do that in person.

[Tom Holtz]

All I know is that after three weeks of tour, I would be dragging a horn in there every chance I could get and begging to sit in, just to blow off some steam. Did just that in Charleston, SC while on tour a few years ago. That was a fair tour stop. I remember those guys were pretty surprised to see this schmo with really short hair walk in with a tuba on his back. Man, that was fun.

[JCradler]

Met Doc and his 2 great children last night after the show in Wharton. Tubenet has really made networking like this easy.Thanks Sean.
Today, San Marcos HS gym, dubbed the "Snake Pit". Home of the Rattlers. Another great crowd, even if the Schoenberg "Theme and Variations" wasn't their cup of tea.
Glad you liked the Copland songs(but Mark and Paul were backstage ) Could it have been I was playing too loud? Tomorrow San Antonio followed by a few days of rehearsal in the same HS auditorium. Then on to Austin....

JC

[Tom Holtz]

Today, San Marcos HS gym, dubbed the "Snake Pit". Home of the Rattlers. Another great crowd, even if the Schoenberg "Theme and Variations" wasn't their cup of tea.

Schoenberg in the Snake Pit. That, right there, is what Tour is all about. Don't worry, Rattlers, the tour band never leaves home without the good ol' Carmen Dragon in their back pocket. Hard to imagine "Theme and Variations in a high school gym, but there ya go.

I second the thanks to Sean. I wish we'd plugged into TubeNet during tour years ago. Nice to hear that Cradler is burying the band all by himself. Take it down a notch, dude, there's still a month left.

[Tom Holtz]

Anyway...tour is AWESOME!!!!!!

Hey, you're alive out there. Wish you could be here for the birthday ball weekend. I'm betting the Headquarters ball and Noah's new little brother happen on the same day. Cameron has very carefully crafted the job lists for just such an occasion. It's really quite clever--when the baby arrives and the schedule implodes, the full force of the smackdown is focused entirely on Tiedeman. Genius at work.

Hope San Antonio is all that. The next "March Religioso" goes out to you losers.

[JCradler]

San Antonio=great TexMex food. Keeping with the theme, Tito's on South Alalmo and of course, Mi Tierra at the marketplace. DEEELISHHHHUSSSSS!
Yesterday, 2 4tet performances at Ronald Reagan HS. Monster program, great kids.


jc

[Leland]

It's really quite clever--when the baby arrives and the schedule implodes, the full force of the smackdown is focused entirely on Tiedeman. Genius at work.

Makes sense to me -- he's still young and full of vigor. Use him while he's still got that perpetual grin on his face.

[Tom Holtz]

Use him while he's still got that perpetual grin on his face.

In time, he too shall be one of us. Resistance is futile.

[Cameron Gates]

Use him while he's still got that perpetual grin on his face.

In time, he too shall be one of us. Resistance is futile.

Heaping pile of dog doo-doo > Tiedeman's life next week.

By design only.

[Tom Holtz]

Heaping pile of dog doo-doo > Tiedeman's life next week.

And me nowhere nearby to remind him of the Huskies giving up 400 yards to ASU's freshman QB in his first college game. Make sure he hears about that, will you?

All of the tour section's Big 10 teams won today, so I can't pound on any of them. There's nothing like taking flak about your football team from 1200 miles away.