The Otters - My Favorite Sea Creature/Band

I like weekends. Especially weekends where I get to spend time listening to loud music. We didn't have any gigs Friday, so I went to a party in the KMB...it was a benifit for kids in Honduras and Guatemala who have been affected by the recent tsunami. Just kidding about the tsunami.

Anyway, the party was pretty cool. DJ Lolli(sp?) (this is a male DJ, despite the name) of Alpha Productions was spinning the tunes. I don't normally talk about other companies because I'm obviously biased...but I have to make an exception here. I thought he did a great job- relatively few hiccups on the back nine, and my only real complaint would be that he played "Switch," Will Smith's new one N8 warned us about, twice. I'm a big fan of the song, just not the repeat, but hey...he's the one behind the booth.

So Friday was good, but really just a warm-up for Saturday when we did sound for The Otters' concert. Sound reinforcement is one of my favorite gigs, and doing SR for The Otters made it that much sweeter. Really, this had to be one of the best concerts in the history of mankind. I know, I know- you're probably all saying that same thing about the last Hilary Lohan or Lindsey Duff joint, but I'm telling you- hard rock has never sounded sweeter.

We put out table lamps in the corners of the place, and The Otters played on a stage covered in orange shagg carpet like the kind The Osmonds would probably have in their house. It was beautiful, the lighting was perfect and the whole set looked like a quaint living room in Idaho. Minus the framed crochet and stitchings hanging on the walls.

The sound was tight. All their songs were pretty much perfect--and their finale (TNT) blew the walls off the place. Everyone was jumping around, and our ears were numb, and everyone was shouting along and then exactly when TNT ends, the lead singer and guitar player jump off the stage into the crowd and were carried like heros, kings, or just vagabonds, around the room.

It was a pretty incredible night. Stepping outside and hearing the walls and the glass in the windows rattling from the preassure built up in that place was pretty cool, too. So, like I said- this was one of the best concerts in the history of man, and I think a lot of it might have been thanks to that orange shagg carpet. And the sound system, of course.

B-Town Dances

Before I discuss the gigs we had this weekend, let me give a compliment to Brett....the funniest person in the whole world. You gotta be brilliant to think up "Cassadizzlenova" and that's what Brett is, BRILLIANT. Thanks for making me giggle like a little girl.

MUELLER PARK/MILLCREEK VALENTINE'S DANCE----Ahhh, good old Mueller Park! I'm proud to say I'm a graduate of MPJ and boy going back was a trip down memory lane. The dance was pretty awesome. The officers put up some classic decorations and the turn out was good for just a 9th grade dance. We had some great requests, nothing for songs that belong in elementary. The dance surprisingly went for two hours, due to their good behavior. I gotta say that there are some under age hotties in Jr. High...Brett couldn't focus at all!

BOUNTIFUL HIGH'S JR. PROM----Ahhh, good old Bountiful! Yes, it's true I transferred to Woods Cross but I still got love for my Braves. Once again Jr. Prom was held at the Salt Lake Library. I've heard that people don't like the location and to tell the truth neither does the DJ. It's a weird shaped area, has weak elevators, and the high ceilings kill our quality of sound. Word of advice to BHS...Rice Eccles is the coolest place in the state to have a dance, take advantage of it. Anyways...the dance was off the hook! We had a huge turn out and some awesome requests. Brett and I brought out all the techniques and threw a sweet party! The dance floor was packed the entire night. Set up and take down went extra smooth. Gotta give thanks to "Downtown Taylor Brown" for helping PowerPlay out. (Don't ever touch the record again!!) Amazingly, I did not draw blood this time. Either my skin is really sensitive or Brett needs to get a new light truss...I think it's a little bit of both. I was very pleased with the response we got from the crowd, a lot of people made sure they let us know that they had a great time. I even had some of the officers say it was the best dance of the year! Unfortunately, the girls weren't lining up for me. They were all askin for BC's digits, Brett is such a playa! Gotta give thanks to Amy Jones, she always takes care of PowerPlay.

Just a quick interesting fact...Mr. Will Smith is back!! Yes, The Fresh Prince has returned to the game. His new single "Switch" should be hitting your radios this week, so check for it. I think it's an alright track..we'll see what happens with it. PEACE!

Bountiful, Millcreek/Mueller Park

BHS Jr. Prom at The Salt Lake City Library 2.12.05

You know how sometimes, to describe how busy someone is, people will say somthing like "it was raining cats and dogs," "good heavens," "there're plenty of fish in the sea," or "man was I busy?" I just say holy smokes.

Last weekend was like taking a bunch of holy smokes and mashing 'em all into a heap. Friday morning, Bountiful High held two Battle of the Bands and asked us to be on the judging pannel. I guess the fact that we listen to music on a regular business qualified us for the job. I don't know, but we were on the pannel with a guy who won a Grammy for writing a song Luther Vandross sung (and you thought he wrote his own stuff), and a lady who apparently plays the flute and dances...although it wasn't clear whether she performs those talents in unison. If she does, I'd be willing to bet the better part of a dollar that she commands a standing ovation each time she displays such a feat.

Anyway, I liked all the bands...reminded me of the good old days when The Flying Monkeys of Oz would perform what was supposed to be a Goldfinger song but ended up something completely origional. After the first line we'd either blown a fuse or just forgotten that most songs usually require playing more than one chord over and over on the bass guitar. We probably could have used more practice.

So "Ipswitch" took First Prize honors which included recording time in a local studio...and a candy bar. In fact, rumor has it that everyone in the band may have recieved their own candy bar. In addition to the candy bar, they'll be representing BHS in the Statewide Battle of the Bands. Maybe they'll get Donnie and Marie or Roseanne to judge that one. Can't you just picture Roseanne Barr playing the flute while dancing in knee-highs? Talk about a crowd pleaser...

I'm sure everyone in the audience knew Ipswitch was going to win- after all, the lead singer was wearing cut-off Levi's. Those things make a band. It was quite the production, and I had a good time- expecially b'cause they let me use a clipboard to record my scores. You know the only thing more powerful than a clipboard is a walkie-talkie or a stun gun, right?

After finishing judging, it was off to Mueller Park to dj a killer V-Day dance. I was actually impressed with some of the requests- we even had one for Flogging Molly which is especially fitting for V-Day 'cause of the bagpipes and fiddles. I bet you're saying to yourself "Idiot. That stuff's for St. Pattrick's Day." You're right, but when it comes right down to it, all the saints are pretty much the same with their matching halos and...long periods of time since their untimely deaths.

On to other things- obviously, the big event of the weekend was Bountiful's Junior Prom at the SLC Library. The place was packed and bouncing all night long. The picture above illustrates the general enthusiasm for Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Yes, those 80's songs are still ripe with teen emotion. Look at the forlorn faces and arms raised with conviction "Once upon a time I was falling in love...now I'm only falling apart..."

Nobody got stuck in the elevator this year, and we didn't have anyone faint, so I'd say the night was a success. Dizzle posted the playlist below- it kept the floor jammed all night long. What you should have seen was the line of ladies waiting to kiss N8DZ after the dance- holy smokes, was I impressed. The guy not only knows how to work the turntables, but he's equally crafty with the women. I think we're gunna change his name to "CassaDizzleNova." Just the sound of it makes me hungry for a pizza pocket or something.

Special Thanks to: Elisabeth at the Library for making sure we kept a fire lane open, didn't use too much (i.e., any) smoke, and taped down our cords; to Dizzle's CDX for keeping the tunes Bible-belt clean; and Big Daddy Tay Tay for the setup reinforcement and improv scratching on "Yeah." Oh- and it's also worth mentioning that Dizzle didn't even draw blood setting up the lighting truss on Saturday (did on Friday, though)...but I think I created some sort of deep tissue hemorrhage in my hand. I'm gunna have it looked at by a hand hemorrhage professional, or at least pour some root beer over it and see if that helps.

Bountiful High's Jr. Prom Playlist

Blu Cantrell/Sean Paul-Breathe (Remix)
TLC-Girl Talk
Lil' Bow Wow-Bounce With Me
Evanescence-Bring Me To Life
Mario/Juvenile-Boom
Cyndi Lauper-Time After Time
Nick Cannon/R. Kelly-Gigolo
MVP-Rock Ya Body Mic Check 1, 2
Rancid-Black Cadillac
Savage Garden-Truly, Madly, Deeply
Jennifer Lopez/Fabolous-Get Right
Good Charlotte-My Bloody Valentine
Trick Daddy/Ludacris/Cee Lo-Sugar (Gimme Some)
James Taylor-My Traveling Star
Game/50 Cent-How We Do
Blink 182-What's My Age Again?
B 52's-Love Shack
Nelly/Tim McGraw-Over And Over
Michael Jackson-Thriller
Eminem-Just Lose It
The Killers-Somebody Told Me
Edwain McCain-I'll Be
Mariah Carey/JD/Fatman Scoop-It's Like That
Brooks & Dunn-Boot Scootin' Boogie
Spice Girls-Wannabe
Lil' Jon/Usher/Ludacris-Lovers And Friends
Will Smith-Men In Black
Nat King Cole-Love **Royalty**
Terror Squad-Lean Back
Yellowcard-Ocean Avenue
Ciara/Missy Elliott-1,2 Step
Bonnie Tyler-Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Five-When The Lights Go Out
Aqua-Barbie Girl
Britney Spears-Toxic
Postal Service-Such Great Heights
Kci & JoJo-All My Life
Usher/Lil' Jon/Ludacris-Yeah
Reel Big Fish-Sell Out
Abba-Dancing Queen
Lil' Jon & The Eastside Boyz/Ying Yang Twins-Get Low
Jessica Simpson-Take My Breath Away
Jay Z/Linkin Park-Numb/Encore **Background**

Power to the People

Maybe you read about my experience with Half.com last week. Here's another adventure in online buying and shipping:

I thought it was a little whack that the QSC PLX 3002 we ordered on December 30th hadn't showed by January 14th. So, like the dedicated American I'm trying to be, I gave our good buddy Jeff at Dynamic Audio a call. I left a message, and sent him an email. After a couple days I tried again. A couple days after that, he called me to apologize.

Apparently he was on tour doing sound for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I was like...woah, in Trans-Siberia, huh? Since they probably don't have phones or email all the way over there, and even if they did, I don't know how you're gunna hear them over the din of the orchestra and the patter of the wheels across the train tracks...I forgave him.

Another couple days later, he emailed me to let me know QSC had shipped my amp to one of his job sites in Florida. I was like:

"...So what you're telling me is that Jeb Bush and a bunch of senior citizens are over there driving battery powered golf carts in circles around my amp???"

I didn't know what kind of effect that could have on the equipment, but it just didn't sound safe to me. So, like the dedicated American he's trying to be, Jeff had QSC send me a new one and it finally came around the 25th. Did I mention Jeff is a Texan?

Now...I'm thinking we should share a breif moment of silence. As soon as I get this thing hooked up, it'll be a good long time until we'll hear another. Yup, that's 3000 watts of power to the people...but we'll try to keep it down for you folks over in Florida. It's getting late, and you've got a big day ahead of ya.