Gear whore’s….we just can’t help it

It is with a touch of excitement and a load of anticipation that I am preparing for tonight’s gig at TNT in Middleburg, FL. Rich recently traded our old main speakers for some hugemungous EVs with two 15″ speakers per side. Set those on top of the two 18″ subs on either side and I expect some seriouse thumping. I like the thump, so all that is going to be powered by the new Crown amp. I think we did the math and there is like 8000 watts of power. Couple all that power with the Driverack, which is like a robot-soundman in a box and I expect great things from our overall sound tonight.

I just picked up a new toy, a harmonizer pedal that is going to fatten up the bass sound and give me a broader range for the bass. Split out the signal from the sansamp and run one line through the harmonizer and one to the mixer and voila! Will I sound super thick? Like my mom says “Is a 4 pound sparrow fat”? YES!

Mike just got some new cymbals and replaced his drum heads. I look forward to hearing him laying the rhythm down and locking in with him.

Spaviix is always trading gear, so he definitely falls in the gear whore category. Who knows what he’ll show up with tonight.

Anyway, with all the new gear and the new songs we have under our belt tonight…it should be a fantastic show!

Hope to see you folks there!

Just play…

Last night we ventured to new turf for the band:  Monty’s in Avondale.

We went out for open mic night with promotional packet in hand and were hoping that we could parlay a solid 3-5 song performance into gigs at the famed local music bar.  Mike and Spaivxx have played there in the past with The Rock Show and Spaivxx has a good relationship with the owner/manager, so all we really had to do was go in there and not fuck things up.

We started with ‘Sex on fire’, (Spaivxx mentioned the owner loves Kings of Leon and we had to do that one…I love it anyway, so no brainer) moved to ‘Take Me Out’ then ‘Funky Music”.  They all were recieved very warmly by the other musicians, patrons and even by the main man.  We blitzed through them, leaving time for a little more so we did, ‘Black Magic Woman’ and followed it up with ‘Bad Girlfriend’. 

I had a blast, so did the guys, and we were told that we’d get a phone call sometime soon about booking for a gig.  I was pulled aside by some of my fellow musicians and told we killed it, as well as by a few patrons who just loved what we did.  I’d say mission accomplished.

Rich – Lead Singer

Welcome Nasty Mike…

Nasty Influenz just made a major addition that will make the band not only musically solid, but also, stepped up our market share. 

Mike recently decided he wanted to join the “Nasty Boys” and become our full time drummer.  Mike was gracious enough to fill in a few gig for us, once at City Hall Pub and another weekend at TNT in Middleburg.  After a solid weekend at TNT, Mike decided he wanted in. 

There is some “drama” surrounding Mike’s move, and honestly it’s not my place to talk about that.  Mike and Shawn are both former members of The Rock Show, another local band, and there are some hurt feelings, especially with Mike.  It’s business to me, and I don’t have the emotional attachment to that issue, but I will state that although we are ecstatic to have Mike with the band, it wasn’t our pursuit that made that happen.  It was Mike’s decision.

As a band, we’ve been in limbo searching for the right fit on drums and we are behind the curve with bookings as a result.  With Mike now in the fold, we can start marketing our usual repeat gigs as well as expand into new areas for our band. 

Nasty Influenz will transform as a result.  We are adding new material, updated material and just more material in general.  There may also be a ‘rebranding’ of the band itself, but that is not going to happen right away.  The goal for the band is to have a broad enough musical base to literally play anywhere.  That means, a solid dance set list, rock set list, general set list, acoustic set list, whatever.  Good rock and roll is good rock and roll, no matter what genre or era it is from and that’s the vision we have.

We look forward to seeing you all out and about town.

Rich – Lead Singer
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Having a Nasty New Year!

First and foremost, we wish you all a very happy, safe, and productive New Year.

We are in a state of change here with Nasty Influenz.  We have added permanently Shawn Abrams, Spaivxx, formerly of The Rock Show.  Shawn has been gracious enough to help us out when we made a decision to end our relationship with our former guitarist.  He has done a great job, he brings to us a fresh perspective and fits our philosophy as a band very well:  Play music, have a great time, make some money and just don’t sweat the little stuff we can control.

We have been behind the curve a bit in bookings.  We have a new drummer, but can’t announce that just yet.  He is the missing piece to the puzzle and we can get busy and get booking soon.  We look forward to being out of ‘limbo’ and using a fill in drummer for our gigs.  As great as all our help was, it’s difficult to get everyone on the same page when the parts are always in flux.

We look forward to a very productive, progressive and powerful New Year for Nasty Influenz, broadening our base, increasing our marketability and getting ourselves back to being a “band in demand”.

Rich,  Lead Singer

We had a bit of good fortune……….Hold on, I am going to say it differently……….We really earned our way into a great gig.

We played the new ‘City Hall Pub’ next door to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, across from the Baseball Grounds, this past Tuesday the 2nd, and the manager, staff and owner completely got it.   The comments ranged from “You guys freaking rock” to “I really like how  you play a bit of everything” to “Best band we have had in here“.

 

Now, I agree with two of those, we do rock, we do play a bit of everything, but as for the ‘best band we have had‘, I’d like to plagurize  a line from my friend Ron by saying, “The best band they had in there last night”.  I never get too wrapped up when I hear that comment because there is always a catch.  Granted, I am happy they really enjoyed what they heard becasue that’s the point.  Play well, patrons dig it, get rewarded with more shows.  The formula is simple but at times it’s like differential equations for some bar owners.

 

Less I digress, I think we are a good band.  We have a ways to go before I would even consider saying we are the best band you’ve ever heard, like say all the way to another universe!  It’s so subjective a topic.  I can rattle off actual professional musicians who I really love, some I don’t care for, some I just will not listen to.  Does it mean the ones I don’t like are bad?  No, just not my cup of tea love.  I guess my point is, I would never let my ego get so large as to think we are anything more than a really tight good band who just tries like hell to make something enjoyable for the majority of the people who visit our shows.

 

Anyway, as a result of being ‘the best band we have had‘ we have been booked to play all of the home Jaguar games, 4 PM to 8 PM on Sundays, out on the deck at City Hall Pub.  This is a great developement for the band as it not only is a very solid gig, it provides us an opportunity to reach a much wider base of people.  We so look forward to rocking the Pub and seeing you all in the future at any of the establishments we are playing.

 

Rich, Lead Singer

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Groundhog day…

You remember the scene in the movie “Groundhog Day” will Bill Murry, when he had Puxatony Phil in the pickup truck and was saying “Don’t drive angry…don’t drive angry!!!”….

Every sing angry?  I did this weekend.

I saw some ass giving the choke sign in the crowd toward the band.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I know that some stuff doesn’t suit everyone’s taste, but I saw it, got really pissed, and just beared down and fucking sang my ass off the rest of the set (about 2/3′s of a set).

On the positive side of this, man I really le it rip and I was feeling good.  This quitting smoking thing has really helped this lead singer be a bit more forceful, less timid vocally, and recover from a night of rock much better.  Thanks Equate patches…(shameless plug…we need a sponsorship).

Rich

A benefit to remember…

When Rosco and Lil’ Bit, Nita, started to get the Commanders Memorial Poker Run for the families of the tragic accident on I-295, it was a given we’d do the event. Nita is Jim, our drummer’s wife, and Nasty has done a lot of benefits so it was a natural.

My thought, against most convential wisdom, was to get a group of bands together and broaden the scope of this event. Garner more attention and raise more money. The CW is that bands can’t get together and share a stage without trying to one up each other. Sadly, this is more often the case than not. This wasn’t the case on July 11th at The Pastime.

Stark Naked, Bambi Shoots back and Rosco Caine, alone with The Nasty Boys, all came together for a greater cause and provided a day of music in support of the event. There were technical issues. But seeing everyone pour out their talent and soul for the event was inspiring for everyone.

Bambi kicked off the rock with strong material and an awesome stage performance that got the show off to a rocking start. Seeing Rosco Caine with professional musicians Banner Thomas and Steve Wheeler on stage was a treat that I will not soon forget. Stark Naked kept things rolling and Nasty Influnenz brought the show home with some help at the end from Will and Mike Lowe fittingly with “Gimme Three Steps” at the place known as The Jug, now the Pastime.

Thanks to all who partipated and attended. Over four thousand dollars was raised for the benefit. A great showing, a great day and an awesomne feeling for all who were there.

Rich
Nasty Influenz

A good cause, tragic story

Please read this story and the related ones at the bottom of the article: News4Jax.com

We will be performing at the end of a Poker run for the families of the victims of this tragic crash. Our friends, Bambi Shoots Back, Stark Naked and Rosco Caine will also be a part of the line up.

All proceeds go to the families of these children to help offset the funeral costs and relieve financial burdens so that they can focus on the grieving process.

THE ED WHITE COMMANDERS MEMORIAL 7 CARD STUD POKER RUN
July 11, 2009

This run is in memory of: <font color="yellow">Kimber Krebs (15), John Kiely (15), & Dennis Stout (17) and Erin Hurst (15).

Starting at the Pastime (Lenox Ave)
Registration & 1st Card is from 10 a.m. – 12p.m.
$5.00 per rider and per passenger
bikes, trikes & cages welcome.
1st stop – Cross Creek (Lem Turner/I-295)
2nd stop – Chuckwagon (Old Kings Rd./Edgewood)
3rd stop – Redeye Saloon (Beaver St)
4th stop – Steel Pony (Jammes Rd/103rd)
5th stop – Buffalo’s Café (Youngerman’s Cir)
6th & final stop – Pastime (Lenox Ave)
The best hand of 7 Card Stud
Last bike in at 6p.m.
Best hand will be announced at 6:45
Raffles will be announced periodically
50/50 will be announced at 8:00
Must be present to win
Live music by the Bambi Shoots Back, The Steve Craig Band, Stark Naked, Roscoe Caine and Nasty Influenz starting at 3:00 pm.
Covered dishes are always welcome
For more information contacts
Lil’ Bit -294-5279 or Rosco -449-0060
DONATIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE @ ANY AREA VYSTAR LOCATION UNDER THE NAME OF KIMBER KREBS FUNERAL FUND – ACCT

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The crock pot…

You ever really sit down and wonder what it’s like to be a piece of fatty roast beef in a crock pot? Oh, since I will draw comparison to myself here, a lean, ripped, cut of fillet in a crock pot. Yes, that’s much better. Imagine the Soloflex guy’s abdominals. (I know you’d put a piece of meat like that on the grill, but hear me out).

The crock pot’s claim to fame is constant heat and a lot of stewing in the juices of the meat, potatoes, carrots, onions and seasonings that are added. HOT and WET. It makes for a mighty hearty and delicious meal when you leave it for four hours on the high temperature setting.

Let’s apply that to a rock and roll show huh? How you say?? I’ll try.
I am the roast…errr…fillet, in my theoretical story. Place the fillet in the cooker, in this case that would be the parking lot of Cross Creek this past Saturday at around 3:30 for set up. Need I remind you that it’s been, my favorite term in the world for Jacksonville summer weather, BALL SWEAT HOT lately. It was all of 98 degrees Saturday and when you toss in the humidity, it felt like 107. It was, to put it mildly, hot as H-E-double hockey sticks.

To put it in the terms of a kitchen appliance, all I was needing was some potatoes, carrots, onions and some seasoning and I, along with my bandmates mind you, could have been the main course. I swear I lost 10 lbs Saturday. The good news was I kept sweating, not exactly the kind of ‘juices’ you want flowing in your crock pot. The bad news was that our drummer Jim didn’t keep sweating. Late in the third set he was starting to feel very bad. I think the heat was too much and we needed to get him inside and cold fast. Heat stroke is very dangerous and I think he was close. So after basting away for 8 hours and sweating buckets, I honestly do feel like I know what that innocent cut of meat goes through.

It was a great night at Cross Creek. In spite of less than comfortable conditions, the turnout was great. It was still 89 degrees at ten o’clock. I couldn’t image any reason why anyone would come out in that weather, but then I realized why, and no it was not the band. Bikini bike wash. I don’t have to explain this one, do I? It’s a proven formula: Pretty girls, bikini’s, wetness. Need I say more? As always, some of the ‘Nasty Ones’ made a showing, much appreciated, and the band put forth a tremendous effort. Overall it was a great sounding show. Effort was focused on playing, therefore the stage show probably was a bit lacking. Did I mention is was really hot?

We always get positive feedback at Cross Creek. Ray, the booking manager, has nothing but positive praise for us. Not sure if they really get crappy bands there, or we just come in and bust it for them. I know the former is true, but then again so is the latter.

We are off for quite some time, until the fourth weekend. Oh how brutal that is going to be. It’s a three bagger, TNT on the 3rd and 4th, and The Rooster on the 5th. Pray for cooler weather. A return to the low 90′s would be nice.

Rich, Lead Singer
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A tale of two rock shows…

This past weekend was a two night affair at Cheers Sportsbar and Grill in Mandarin. It’s just amazing how different both nights were.

Fridays are notoriously slow at Cheers and I don’t quite get it. In all honestly, that was a good thing for the band, as we were flat. We came out flat, we played flat, we performed flat, do I need to say flat anymore to get the point across? There were technical problems as well contributing to the amount of air that was just gushing out of the balloon. Queue Saturday…

Saturday nights at Cheers have always been a winner. Again, no clue as to why. Better showing, better crowd, more into it and ready to party. No clue man, just no clue and the ‘Nasty Guys’ came in and basically let the previous nights show go with three words: “Fuck Friday Night.”

With that we tweaked a knob or two and just let it rip and all was right with the world again. JC was on fire, Jim was Jim (Jim is always Jim, we come to expect that from him and that means he’s always solid and strong as hell…it’s great having that in a drummer), Shawn was off in his own world (This is a good thing too, when Shawn has his eyes closed and is just ripping away…he’s into it completely and there is no question there is good stuff coming from him), and I felt vocally invincible, (as opposed to Friday when I was missing notes bad, not able to get up the ladder to the high notes and generally just running short of breath on stuff…bad scene) there was not one time I felt like I was straining to do anything Saturday. I personally love those nights cause I can go anywhere with my voice.

I wonder how much people see it, when we know we are off as we thought Friday. We were told by a musician friend that it was really good. I think he was being kind. How much do you notice it? And if you didn’t…well, we just spilled the beans on how we felt about it.

Rich – Lead Singer
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