Currently Listening Damn Right, I've Got The Blues By Buddy Guy Title Track see related

Thanks to all the Mojo fans that came out to hear us at The Club Friday night!  We appreciated it!  The gig was a major success.  The band was extremely tight.  There was a good turnout--it was standing room only all night long.  There were all kinds of people there:  Quincy Blues Types, Rock Band Types, Jazzers, Country Fans, Culver-Crazies, The Usual Barflies, and The Floaters, lol.  We had a great time, and John said that we will be booked back sometime this fall or winter (he only has a band once or twice a month).  John's competition is fierce-- many bands he hires already have record deals.  Barry and Christa Sutherland win the prize for "longest distance traveled to hear the band."  They came all the way from St. Louis.  Special thanks go to D. Larry McSpadden for sharing his talent with the band on a couple of numbers!

Here is the upcoming schedule:

September 3--Private Party (Monticello)

September 22--Brewster's (Meyer, IL) 9p.m.-1a.m.

October 1--Wine and Blues Fest (Hannibal, MO) TBA Afternoon Time-Slot before the Headliner, Big Babe Martin & Chump Change.  www.wineandblues.g2gm.com

Our MySpace is now up and running!  It is www.myspace.com/mississppimojoband

www.mississippimojo.com is still under construction but should be opened up soon!  Bear with us!  We'll see you on the road!

Currently Listening Led Zeppelin 1 By Led Zeppelin Good Times, Bad Times see related

Wow, work has been exhausting.  I just got off of a 13 day-in-a-row stretch.  During that time, still scheduling lessons and band practice, mind you.  Tuesday I slept all day.  Rehearsal was killer.  We tore throught the set lists like they were nothing.  That kind of scares me.  You know what they say, "Good rehearsal, Bad Show."  I'm not worried.  We know our material, and we are chomping at the bit to get on stage. 

Don't forget, The Club.  1023 North 10th Street.  Quincy, IL.  August 25.  9-12:30.  Mississppi Mojo w/ Special Guest D. Larry McSpadden on keyboards for a few tunes.  There is no cover.  The McSpadden duo will trade licks, the McBee duo will try to keep from tearing each other's eyes out!  It should be a good time.  For more information, go to www.quincyblues.com and view the message board.  The Club Tavern's owner, John, has posted a short promo on there. 

In other Mississippi Mojo news, I promised information on the Meyer, IL gig.  I have it right here in front of me.  The show is on September 22 at Brewster's.  It will start at 9 and end at 1 a.m.  It is a birthday party for the club owners, so everyone should look to have a good time!  Our new website is under construction, and after The Club gig, we should have some new photos, information, bios, etc.  I will have the link, etc. on here as soon as we get it up and running . . .

I'll see you all on The Road . . .

Jake

Currently Listening The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East By The Allman Brothers Band Stormy Monday see related

Day #2 of the McBee Family Garage Sale.  So excited I cannot contain myself.  Misty's mother, Sharon, is here to help out.  Things have gone really well with it, we have made some money and made some room in the house . . .

Work is going extremely well.  My skills are improving each and every day.  I turned in my time-off request forms due to my Doctor's Appoinment in Houston, TX and for my Mississippi Mojo dates.  Rhonda, the Head Casino Shift Manager, is really cool.  I think she is going to arrange my schedule so work doesn't interfere with gigs.  I expained to her how important the band is to me because of my happiness, self-esteem, and obviously the money.  Not only do Misty and I bring home $250 a gig when we play--we also have thousands of dollars invested in our equipment and our college music educations.  If they are not being used we might as well drop the idea.  There is no possible way I am going to make $250 tax-free dealing in one night, lol . . .

I have been working really hard on getting the best sound acheivable from my PA.  I have downloaded all of the manuals off of the internet and put them to use.  I have read them cover to cover and really applied that knowledge, along with buying a few "lifesaver" auxillary parts.  I can't wait until our show at The Club on August 25th to really "crank the fu#ker up!"

Well that is all,

Jake

P.S.  Don't forget--The Club. 1023 North 10th Street.  Quincy IL 62301.  Mississpi Mojo (with special guest D. Larry McSpadden) will perform immediately after the Eric Tessmer Band's show is finished in Washington Park.  9-12:30. There is no cover charge.  www.quincyblues.com.  Go to the message board for more information, or contact The Club at (217) 222-7169 and ask for John.

Currently Listening In Step By Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Tightrope see related

Wow, it has been a very long time since I have posted on here.  But, I am going to start updating this thing again regularly.  Let's bring back Xanga, folks!  Weee!  Anyhow . . .

Job is going well.  For those of you that I haven't talked to, I am working a bizillion hours a week as a table games dealer at Terrible's Mark Twain Casino in LaGrange, MO.  I'm dealing Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Texas Shootout, and Roulette.  I am starting Craps class next week so I can get that $.25/hour raise.  Wahoo.  It's not really the money, it's the respect.  And to get a promotion, you got to know your craps.  I really don't know that much about craps . . . I've never played the game.  In fact, before I started work I'd never even heard the work "YO" used off the street.  And I've never told a lie, either.  Ha, Ha, Ha.  I will totally breeze through craps class--I think I could deal it right now, once I figure out how to move the dice, position the chips, and learn the procedures, I'm good as gold.  I know the stick calls and the payouts.

Mississippi Mojo is rolling.  We sound really good. We have a gig at The Club Tavern-- 1023 North 10th Street Quincy IL, on August 25.  It is immediately after the Eric Tessmer Band's Blues in the District show in Washington Park.  Our show will start at 9 and end at 12:30.  Special guest will be D. Larry McSpadden on piano and organ.  We also have a private party gig on September 3 in Monticello and a gig on September 22 in Meyer IL.  I will post more information on the Meyer gig when it is available to me.  I just received word about it a day or so ago.  The Meyer gig sounds like it will be a lot of fun, so hopefully several of you can come to that as well.  I'm looking forward to a big turnout to The Club . . .

Misty and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on June 21st.  It has been a wonderful 3 years.  I cannot imagine my life without her.  She is truly an amazing woman, and I am the luckiest man alive.  Without her, my life would be in shambles.  She is my rock.  I love her with all of my heart.  We have something that many people do not have these days.  Many people search for years and cannot find it.  Some do, and then they squander it either because of selfishness or foolishness.  Others never find the right person.  Some say we were just lucky.  I think it was destiny.  Whatever the case may be, I thank the Lord all the time and pray that we spend many more years of happiness together.  I love you, Misty :)

I have my face to face Doctor's Appointment in Houston, TX with Dr. Hochman this month on August 28.  Misty and I are flying down and coming back all in one day.  It should be a fun but exhuasting day of travel.  I am excited.  I have my life back.  The level of care I have recieved in his pain clinic is 100 times better than any other facility have ever attended.  It means so much.  People who listen.  People who solve problems.  They just don't nod their head and let it go in one ear and out the other, then write the same old prescriptions that they know won't work.  This group of people solve pain problems.  I can finally do things like a normal human being again--it is truly a miracle.  I don't know what I would do if I lost this man's care.  We won't even think about that . . .

Well, it is late and I need sleep.  I have worked overtime like you wouldn't believe, and my body is not used to that yet.  I am tired and so that is all for now.  Later cats.

Jake