Friday, November 4, 2011

It's about freeking time...

Well, it's about time to update my band blog (seeing how it's been such a long time since my last update) and I've got some exciting news to report. As most of you probably know by now, we spent time in September at The Zone in Dripping Springs recording a new 6 song CD of Christmas tunes that we're really excited about. It's called "Tangled in Tinsel" and it's fantastic. (So there.)

New music...

We worked with Lloyd Maines again to produce and I can't say enough kind words about him. He's so talented and so creative and so much fun to be around. He's produced the last several studio projects we've released and it was a lot of fun to see him again and catch up. Pat Manske was our engineer on Not That Lucky and we enlisted his talets again for this new EP. These two guys have really become a part of our team and it's not only a blast working with them both, it's great to count them as friends and it feels like Two Tons has grown into a bigger organization than just the 4 or 5 guys you see onstage every night. We tried our best to create a collection of songs that is "nice". Our goal was to release a Christmas CD that isn't too far left pr right of center in regards to the holiday classics we all know and love, but we also worked hard to stay true to ourselves and our sound to bring something new to this genre. We love it and we hope you will too. Stay tuned online for an official announcement of it's release. We're shooting for Tuesday, November 8, but we're waiting on the arrival of the physical product in addition to finalizing the licensing for digital downloads. I'll be posting here as well as on FB & we'll be announcing on our official website as well. (As I write this, Kevin just received a call that the CD's are supposed to arrive today!)

Two Tons of Steel

Too bad we won't be around to see them because as long as it's been since I last posted on here, it's been an even longer time since we've played in Lubbock, but that's where we're headed. We're all together in the van and barrelling our way down the highway en route to the Blue Light. We don't make it to Lubbock very often, but we always have a great time when we do and we've had some fun nights at the Blue Light. We make our way back down to Boerne tomorrow for a private party which means we'll probably have to get up kind of early, but I'm sure tonight will be a fun adventure and I'll be sure to update tomorrow on today's events. The sun is shining, the sky is clear, the air is cool and dry -- it's a beautiful day in Texas and you should be outside enjoying it just as soon as you can. Be safe ot there wherever you are and we'll talk soon.

- Dodds

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Somewhere outside of Lubbock.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

We're tearing up the road!

I woke up yesterday morning feeling GREAT after our previous night's performance at the El Dorado Casino. While a casino performance provides a slightly different audience for us, the El Dorado is always a fun time and they've turned the stage into quite a production!







Dave (our front-of-house audio engineer) is super cool and it's always fun to catch up with him. He's yet another brother I wish I lived closer to and had the opportunity to hang out with more often. We played a quick 90 minute set and once we were torn down and packed up, we enjoyed a mellow night backstage with a few drinks and some fun conversation and eventually made our way to find hotel rooms where Rhoades and Dennis and I proceeded to stay up even later hanging out. The cool weather was so nice that we left the door wide open to let the outside in and I felt like I was in college again. Late night laughter is always the best and there's never a shortage of that when I'm hanging around those two.










Nocona Nights, Nocona, TX.
It's been at least a year since we played Nocona Nights (and probably longer) and looking back this morning I can't even accurately describe the fun we had last night with the good people of that community! We arrived in Nocona a little bit early and checked into our rooms before loading in. From there we headed into town where we were welcomed like kings! As has happened with lots of places we've played, playing in Nocona almost feels more like a homecoming for a family reunion than it does a job booked by our band-for-hire. Everybody there took great care of us and we threw down a fantastic show that left everybody grinning from ear to ear and ready for a party! From the venue we were invited down to the local VFW to hang with all our Nocona pals and listen to the local band playing there. It wasn't but just a few minutes of my settling into a cold Shiner when I was asked to dance by a gal several years my senior and everybody there looked on to see what my reaction was going to be. It only took me a second to remember that "when in Rome..." and I led her out onto the small dance floor where we two-stepped and rock-stepped 'til I thought she might give out but she was like a little girl out there and it was just a short while before she found me again and told me to "put down your drink and quit talking and let's go DANCE!" to which everybody had a laugh!




We had a fantastic time with all the locals and as much as I love my Shiner Bock, my favorite beer is a free beer and everybody made sure that none of us were empty-handed for very long (which was really nice because we've been paid by check for the last 3 nights and in true Chris Dodds fashion, I left town only after leaving my cash and cards at the house which left me destitute for this trip - save for the beer and sodas picked up along the way and the bags of flaming hot Cheetos I grabbed from the El Dorado.)




We ended our night at the VFW shortly after I joined the drummer for a sort of impromptu tagteam version of "Wipeout". I can't help it. Jumping up with a band and going guerrilla on them has become like sport to me now. Sabotaging a song when nobody's expecting it is always a thrill for me and I like to do it every chance I get. From the VFW we headed back to our rooms and Rhoades and D and myself found a Jeep parked right near the back door of the hotel and loaded onto the trailer-hitch rack was a cooler that was host to a treasure of another 9 Modelos and a lone bottle of water.




Yes. We took their beer. It wasn't a complete loss for them though. We took it in exchange for a shirt, a CD, and two koozies. And a piece of firewood that Dennis was NOT quick to part with.







(BBQ is like religion in Texas and Dennis is a high priest.) He picks up wood for smoking everywhere we go and it's not uncommon to open the doors to our van and have chopped wood fall out onto our feet. So that was Dennis's offering - though I'm sure they'll be confused as to why there's a chunk of a tree in their ice chest. We even autographed the CD for 'em. Hopefully we'll meet them someday and hopefully they'll think it's as funny as we thought it was at 3:00am. And yes. It's still just as funny this morning.







We're now slowly meandering our way southbound towards Austin/San Antonio. This week we'll be at Sam's Burger Joint in San Antonio on Friday and at the Broken Spoke in Austin on Saturday. Come join us and be sure you say hello. We always enjoy visiting with everybody. Here's hoping everybody has a fantastic week and remember to make time to get out and enjoy this gorgeous Texas Spring weather. 'Til next time...

- Dodds

Location:Jackson St,Bowie,United States

Friday, April 15, 2011

Back from the dead.

Contrary to popular belief, the current rumors of my death (or the death of my blog rather) are greatly exaggerated. Neither I nor my blog have expired and in fact, there should be plenty of blog fodder to post soon.










Summertime is right around the corner that means that I'll be out with Two Tons a whole helluva lot. What that means for you fine folks reading this from the comfort of your happy place is that we'll hopefully be in a town near you and I'll have lots to write about our musical campaigns in every establishment we stop in.







Right now we're en route to Shreveport, Louisiana to play the El Dorado casino tonight. We like this place. The sound is great, the stage is plenty big, and the sound engineers and staff are all really cool. I'm not ballsy enough to gamble, so I won't be spending much time on the floor but Fallon and I always get a laugh out of walking around and checking out the names of the machines. Slots like "Kitty Glitter" always make us laugh. Some of you know I'm kind of a tech nerd and I'm having fun with all kinds of cool camera/film apps on my phone. I'll be sure and post some of my favorites photos up here soon as well. Seems like everytime we're all together we find some situation that's worthy of (digital) celluloid archival.













Hopefully everybody out there is enjoying this beautiful Texas spring weather as much as I am. It won't be long until it's crazy hot again. I'm praying for some Souh Texas rain so's the rivers are up for this summer season and the 16th annual Two Ton Tuesdays at Gruene Hall. A full and flowing river is a happy river. That's all I've got for now. Hopefully I can find the time to post some new material this weekend that's worth reading. 'Til then, everybody be safe and get out and play. The sunshine and cool breeze is too nice to not feel against your skin. We'll talk again soon...

- Dodds

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Georgetown,United States

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Armadillo!

Hey all you cats and kittens out there, this is just a quick post to let you know that Two Tons will be in Houston tonight at The Armadillo Palace.  Come join us as we spread cheer to all patrons big and small.  It'll be a good time and we're looking forward to seeing all of our Houston pals again.  Hope all's well and we'll see you tonight.

- Doddsy