Short Change Band - Halloween Weekend, 2011

I hope you all had a great Halloween weekend. We had cold rain, some snow and some sun (we got a bit of it all) and some great shows. So, lets' get right to the weekend reviews.

Friday Night was the annual Davy's Halloween mixer. We had a great time with some great costumes and a lot of fun people. It was all in there. They even kidnapped the Taco Bell dog for the party. (just kidding) “Pakrat” came up and played a smokin’ set with the band on the bass guitar. (Did you see his full page article in the Sunday Binghamton Press about those awesome carvings Jamie Bates does? It was a great article - check it out)

So after it was all said and done, it was sad to hear that our bartender (Val’s) last evening was indeed Friday night. She has been tending bar at Davy's on a Friday night for about as long as I can remember. I think I still had my Super glide back then, that's how long it's been. Anyway, Val best of luck as you move on. We will miss you.

Our Wedding Saturday in Sanitaria Springs went off without a hitch. The crowd wasn’t scared off from the weather as we really didn't get the snow amounts they promised us this time. A big congratulations go out to the bride and groom (Becky and Gene). And thanks to Rick and Patrick for some great food.

Then finally, Sunday came. The benefit for Mikey Mills' went off without a hitch. The support by family and friends was awesome. The musical lineup was extensive. There were three bands with such a broad avenue of musical passage. Our Host – “The Hats Off Band” played some awesome country dance tunes for the crowd to love followed by the “Short Change Band”, and we mixed it up a bit from some classic rock, outlaw country as well as some of our originals. That was followed up by a local Susquehanna band “Dirty Rotten Liars” with a bit more of the harder rock edge with some spontaneous originals. Nice Job guys!

Overall it was a fabulous afternoon to support the cause. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mikey's family and all the supporters who worked so hard to make the benefit a success.
And last but least, great thanks to our good friend John Davies and his master craft and wit on a microphone as the afternoon’s emcee. You got it done right buddy! Also a special thanks to “The Hats Off Band” for helping us have such an enjoyable afternoon. (Nick you rock buddy - thank you!)

Finally it was also Andrea’s big birthday on Halloween as she celebrated an important number this time. Happy Birthday ‘Drea - 32 never looked so good!

We're off this weekend once again but we're going to see country legend 'Kris Kristofferson.

We’ll see you next week. Peace and love,

-Mikee Dee..
P.S. A special get well wish goes out to our Sound Engineer/ Producer Dean Goble. I hope your better soon - we miss you buddy!

Short Change Band - October 25, 2011

Greetings to everyone, it’s good to be back after having a fabulous weekend off. I've come to the conclusion that you need a few of those "hang out" weekends every now and then. Now we’re excited for this “Halloween Weekend” with three shows - 1 public- 1 private (wedding) and 1 Benefit... now that's a powerful weekend for sure. So on to the shows:

Friday October 28th – It’s the Annual Halloween Costume Party at none other than the infamous Davy's Last Chance Saloon - on Rt. 12 in sunny downtown Chenango Forks. Costume contests with prizes. The show starts at 9pm... Always a blast.. See you all there for some goulash fun.

Saturday, October 29th - Private- Wedding Reception

Sunday, October 30th - Huge Benefit for the family of Mikey Mills located in Susquehanna P.A. at Lakeys Bar and Grill. The show starts at 1pm as we share the stage with some of our friends –“ The Hats Off Band”Come down and show your support for Mikey's Family with his untimely passing. We hope to see you all there on Sunday October 30th *Food will served for an additional donation.

And as we close out another week in music, I have a quick note. There many businesses in and around our area that suffered dearly throughout the flood. Many had little or no insurance coverage. So when you’re out an about, give some of these places some much needed business and revenue - that's how we do it folks, and we all go down together.

Have a save Halloween weekend, and a Happy B-Day to Andrea, and hey, you better dig out the snow shovel too, it's almost time!

-Mikey Dee

Short Change Band - Mid - October, 2011

Greeting everyone. Once again we have another installment into the world of music with the Short Change Band. Last weekend we played not one but two local venues so let’s get right to the reviews.

Friday Night we were back up to the Hitchin' Post on Belden Hill. The show started right on time and for the next three hours we pretty much hit every song we performed right on the head.

We even had some old friends that had not seen us in quite some time come up after the show and remark to how tight we were and how good it all sounded. (Nice) Once in a while even the audience appreciates something good and they let us know.

I just spoke to DD about this very fact last week as well. Audiences today are much different from days in the past. It used to be when you went out - you took your best girl and you danced, drank and partied all night. These day’s people still drink but they think it's not cool to dance anymore? I just don't know. I think everyone's too used to watching music videos anymore and that's really what it consists of- sitting and watching. Oh well, the band plays on....

Saturday Evening we were back up to our other home base on the south end of the state - Gordy's Place. Let's say this: “I can't think of a better place to party with people, have some great food and drinks and not spend a fortune doing it - as it is at Gordy's”. We just love the atmosphere here and both the owners and the crowds make us feel right at home.

Thanks to Jack, Dom, and Johnny for coming up and jamming with the band. What a fun weekend that was.

This weekend we are off again as the venues we previously had booked were flooded out last month and did not re open- so let’s relax once again.

In closing, I hope all is well in your world. Be in touch, and stay well.

Peace and love,

Mikee^^ Dee

Short Change Band - 2nd Week of October, 2011

Greetings everyone. It was so nice to take a week off from the music world and do some traveling. The Short Change Band members were in three different parts of the United States last week. Pictured is a shot from Newport Beach, California. The wife and I headed out for a quick visit last week to see family.

The Winters Family headed south to Greenville, South Carolina for some family obligations too and Double D went to Syracuse to see Darius Rucker and Rodney Atkins in concert. We all arrived back safe and sound and now we look forward to this week’s shows.

We have two performances on tap for this week’s venues.
FRIDAY EVENING- Oct. 14th – The Hitchin' Post - Belden Hill- show time 8:30 pm.
SATURDAY EVENING- Oct. 15th- we return once again to Gordy’s Place in downtown Damascus show time 8pm.

Two early shows and we are looking forward to seeing some old friends and perhaps some new ones as well.

And finally, before we sign off here, I'd like to make a couple quick comments about my California trip last week. This was my first trip to the big state and my first impression of the area was that the overall area of Southern California is vast in size and offers a beauty all to it’s own, the fuel prices out there were identical to ours, and actually a bit cheaper in some areas. There is a Taco stand or Mexican food joint on every corner which is actually quite convenient if you like that type of food. People drive the highways and freeways out there much like people drive on the [LIE] on Long Island as they truck along about 80 mph and nobody bothers you either. Oh and when it rains, which six months of the year it does not, you would think it was treated like a snowstorm back here. With the rain we have here no one would ever travel if they had to deal with it as much as we do - every week no less.

California is a vast state that takes up the mass of probably the area between Pennsylvania to about Georgia. What an incredible state that has about everything and anything anyone could want or need, but I don't see myself leaving the Sothern Tier anytime too soon to move to it. And after now seeing both oceans - the Atlantic as well as the Pacific- I'm thinking I am leaning more towards the Atlantic for beauty. (that's just my opinion - to each their own)
I don't even want to mention the plane travel as that's another whole story for another day. All I can say is as a traveler of plane flights - about every few years- travel has not gotten any better and as the passenger and you're pretty much held at bay once you climb aboard.
I can't wait to return my trip survey to the airlines, as they asked for my opinion. Oh Boy...

In closing, I hope to see you all out this weekend at the shows!

Be safe, be well, be good, as always, it’s good to be back,

Mikee^Dee