Zeppelin Hall 3/23/12 Jersey City,New Jersey

As can be seen I popped my Bass Drum head which only lasted me 17 shows !!! fortunately for me it broke during the third set. I think its because I have settled for the Remo Ambassador head as opposed to my preferred Remo Powerstroke head (store out of stock) or maybe its just time to try out an Evans Bass Drum Head, she is working nicely on the Snare Drum.

While not quite as crowded as Zeppelin Hall on St. Patty's Day there was still a turnout of appreciative onlookers and quite a few people taking photos of us without the help of Michael Jackson as Rob and Diana carried the main stage while the band held the rear down. Eric and myself are building a little camaraderie wherein I gawk at his little guitar tricks (L.G.C.) mid-song and he plays them while I speed up tempo (NONONO!!!). Being Zeppelin Hall we took a car service SUV back into the city and tonight's cargo was Jamie, Diana, Collette, Eric, Rob and myself so the car ride could be called anything but boring. We learned that Eric's fingertips have an upward turn and that Rob is double-jointed (the medical term not the other kind of joint). Premiered tonight was the Def Leppard anthem "Pour Some Sugar On Me"



I Love Rock & Roll !!!



Consigliere Amadeus Deniro.



Diana on Vocals and Guitar.



Diamond Dave sideways (until Photobucket fixes it)
addendumb - photobucket fixed it (5 hours later)



The Charming, Talented and Vivacious Eric Bair (he must be the new guy in the band what with me being so nice and all)



From the looks of this photo Rob is channeling his Kundalini into blue light.



Shiny Drums and cartoon "SESSION" drummer.



Jamie Girl & Eric.



.J.C., Uber-fan Giseli & Spike.



Philly Cheese Steak with Cheesy Sauce.

This Is Show # 161

- Spike

Zeppelin Hall 3/17/12 Jersey City,New Jersey

I poured myself silly trying to find the words to describe the photo above and then I realized that poured was the proper spelling.

Zeppelinhall was packed for the St. Patricks Day festivities so we tagged Van Halen's "Jump" and Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me" to the beginning of our first set to jump start an packed and up audience already, clever aren't we. This was one of our better crowds so the energy was there to feed off of and the band played just beyond our regular performance level on excitement alone. There was a fellow who took up the small space on my drum perch for the end of the first set and thoroughly enjoying our performance only to return for the second set. Excited during the U2 portion of our show he took a dive from off the stage after which so did Bono much to the crowd and bands delight.



Rob mid-flight. Dave was laughing it up with J.C. over the previous stage dive and had his back against this, I screamed "DAVE!!!DAVE!!!DAVE!!!' to get his attention to turn around and see this spectacle.



The $8.95 Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, Most Tasty but not enough Cabbage and Heavy on the Potatoes. I'm not complaining.





This Is Show # 160

- Spike

Zeppelin Hall 2/17/12 Jersey City,New Jersey

This was the first show from my vantage point at the back where I realized we might be building a little following at the Zeppelin hall (Giseli, Hector etc.) and the crowd was definitely into it. At one point the man spotted to the right in the photo above was holding Rob's microphone stand over him as he lie on the stage floor singing in his Bono guise and I was in fear for his safety but the guy was truly having a good time and not to worry as Zeppelin hall has an attentive and professional security staff (one of which complimented my drumming) of which we can count on.

Premiered at tonight's performance was "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats.



Rocking Out with Dave on the 5 string bass.



Partying on a Friday Night with us.



Bono in mid leap.



Eric, Michael & Dave.



During our first set I glanced at the floor tom to see it mysteriously garnished with French Fries (I didn't spot the sandwich till later) and wondered if someone was throwing food at me, they were a bad aim if they were because I certainly wasn't hit with any but I remained perplexed for the rest of the set. If I was being heckled it should not be happening at this stage of the game should it ?, was it my looks ? dark visions of being bullied through my formative years at school returned. After the set I ran to Jamie and asked if she was "throwing food at me" ? Turns out she wasn't throwing it at me but was feeding me the Philly Cheese Steak I had ordered and for the second time in a row was not able to appreciate due to my lateness arriving at the hall. Thanks for trying Jamie, I will make sure I get there earlier next time to indulge properly.

This was also the night that Robert Smith spilled Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale on my down pillow.

This Is Show # 155

FLICKR

- Spike

Zeppelin Hall 1/27/12 Jersey City,New Jersey

The recurring image in my head of this show is one that I did not even witness for myself. Jamie told me that during the Culture Club segment of our performance her sister Carol shared smiles with a particularly macho member of Zeppelin Hall's Security personnel as he stood shaking his head in bemusement at Rob's costumed and caricatured depiction of Boy George thoroughly enjoying himself yet possibly wondering why.

This is why we are the right tribute band at the right tribute time doing the right tribute things in the right tribute way and rightly so.



Tonight was Eric's premiere performance with us live and we played splendidly together (I just wanted to type Splendidly) and without a hitch considering that we had only "run through" maybe thirty percent of our set together performing many songs together for the first time here tonight onstage, (herein lies a proud accomplishment as seasoned musicians). Unique arrangements to this band were met head on with little Flubbishness by Eric and this ensemble as we barreled through the proverbial 80s Bierhalle Kielbasa Tunes just like always.



a spooky picture with a lot of character.



Between Set Schmoozing.



Our Solid Gold Dancers.



Eric and Rob Rocking Out.



Who goes to a german biergarten and orders a Philly Cheese Steak ? I DO!!! This was a Delicious Sandwich but I ordered too late and got in one bite before having to begin our set.



This Is Show # 152

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- Spike

Zeppelin Hall 1/13/12 Jersey City,New Jersey

Ask a bus driver on the corner of 9th & Hennepin what a magnet bitch and get out of free jail card means and the shaman may reply "chicken salad or" ???... the comedian may also reply "when the still sea conspires",... whatever. what is important is that there is a reply. and now about tonight.

The Zeppelin Hall of Jersey City is a Great Room(s) and I can really only imagine what it is like there in the summer months (but look forward to finding out) once again a packed house and we were hard pressed to find a table ourselves pre-show.

By the finale of tonight's performance the crowd was quite appreciative of our musical efforts and showed it with exuberance. Bon Jovi, G n R, Poison, The Ramones and Beastie Boys all went over big time to end the third set with a Bang.

Premiered this evening was Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me", Poison's "Talk Dirty To Me" and "Blitzkrieg Bop" by the Ramones

PROST !!!



Nancy Rose



We Whip the crowd into a frenzy.



Dave caught lying down on the job again, Friggin' Bass Players and their SubSonic Ways (This coming from a SuperSonic drummer).



Nice Presentation even if it looks like a Kielbasa.



This Is Show # 149


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- Spike

Zeppelin Hall 12/9/11 Jersey City,New Jersey

This is not someones prank especially not mine, the poster above was drummed up by the ad men at Zeppelinhall and I must say for the record that we did 11 Costume Changes Tonight NOT the advertised 10!

So That's One Louder Innit!!!

I appreciate the poster and am always taken aback when you find one has been made for you with an angle, its interesting to see how your project is received and appears objectively.



The band played great with Rob and Paul performing on the dance floor much to our mirth for a portion of the evening. Many people passed the bandstand throughout the performance and as I peered past my bandmates asses was quite entertained myself, I have said it before "A Drummers life is a series of asses".

Premiered tonight was the Number One song of the 1980s "Every Breath You Take" by the Police.

Zeppelinhall of Jersey City is becoming one of my favorite places to play. in lieu of a green room this Biergarten is spacious with at least three distinct areas to Eat, Drink and Be Merry of which I did my best.



His Purpleness



Our fan Giseli poses with her shirt, this photo and the one above were sent to us by Giseli as well. TY



EAT TO THE BEAT.



"go out and get a bite and you'll still be hearing that one"



Its Bono, Two Cups and a White Balloon BUT What Does It Mean ???!!!



Mmmmmmm, Biergarten Potato & Cheese Pierogies, Mmmmmmm,....



from the "ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL" department. I arrived at the Callbox right around the designated time for load up and found Tiffany sitting in front of a Closed Bar, gas barbeque cooker grill over the cellar door (our only alternative form of entrance) fastened by a Kryptonite lock, fortunately Smiley showed up and came to the rescue opening the entire bar for business (the afternoon girl called out) and we loaded our equipment to and fro via bungee door, trapdoor, zipcar and back again.

Thank's for taking the photo's Steve

- Spike

Zeppelin Hall 11/11/11 Jersey City,New Jersey

Zeppelin Hall is a Great Venue and we have been invited back December 9.

While not indicative in any way of the quality of the show or venue this is the sign that stopped me in my tracks at the main entrance to Zeppelin Hall and had me a little perplexed until Jamie mentioned the possible proliferation of neighborhood street gangs to avoid. Zeppelin Hall is a beautiful venue and a most large Biergarten in my vast Biergarten experience.

The stage was a little smallish in circumference but I was not cramped against the wall with no Bass Drum/Elbow action and there were stairs on the side of the not quite short not quite tall stage of height. I cannot speak for the rest of the band but there were no complaints.



The White Wedding Dollhouse with first 3 fully posable figurines (Mike,Dave & Rob) will be available Christmas 2013.





Zeppelin Hall treats their entertainment well as all food and beverages are Gratis and you can imagine the selection. Pictured above is the Blau Speck-Burger topped with Bleu Cheese, Bacon, Pickles, Lettuce and Tomatoes served with fries.



Zeppelin Hall website advertisement (wrong date)





It was my birthday the day prior and Nancy sent me this crazy greeting via her very favorite iphone app.



short excerpt from the mockumentary in the making "This Is White Wedding" *.

* disclaimer - at the moment there is no mockumentary in the making but you never know.

FLICKR

- Spike