Wow! It's been a long, long...looonnnnnnngggg time since I have updated the news on my site!! A lot has happened, so sit back, strap in, and listen up!

The Gaslights, who I had been playing with for a little over a year, have gone on a long hiatus. We haven't officially broken up, but we are not playing any new shows. We recorded a new CD but it's not quite finished. The band has decided to release the tracks that we can get completed online for...get this...FREE! So, whenever we get 'em up to a point where we feel comfortable to release them, I'll make sure to announce it here. We don't all hate each other, if that's what you're wondering. We just wanted to take a little time to do some other things. Chris and Abby have their duo, Tiny Horse, and they are really putting the pedal to the metal with this group. I have yet to see them, but I hear they are wonderful. Erik Voeks has joined forces with Cody Wyoming to start a band called Miss America. This band includes two other great KC musicians: Jeff Harshbarger on bass and Paul Andrews on drums. I have not gotten out to see them yet either, but with Erik and Cody at the wheel...it's gotta be good.

Now, what have I been doing? Well, back at the beginning of the year, I got a call from my buddy Russ Divine about filling in again with his band, Salamander. I had done this a few times before, in different incarnations of the group and jumped at the chance to play with these guys. After thinking about my lack of a steady playing gig at the time, I offered up my services as their permanent drummer. Lucky for me, they said "Yes!" So, that's what I've been doing since the beginning of the year. Some of my musician friends might say, "A cover band...why would you want to play in one of those?!" Well, frankly, I'm fine playing in a cover band. They guys I'm playing with are some of the best players in town! Plus, I get a chance to play regularly, don't have to travel too far for gigs, play for crowds that actually listen to the music (and maybe even dance), and I get paid. No more "exposure" gigs. I tell folks that I've played enough exposure gigs that I've got frostbite on my privates! Ha!

I'm also still teaching drums & percussion at Guitar Source in Overland Park, so if you need lessons, get a hold of me on the Contact page. I've got a great bunch of students, and I have fun teaching each and every one of them. Hopefully, one will someday be old enough to drum tech for me! I'm not getting any younger! Ha!

Oh, yeah...I turned 40 this year. Please, no jokes about that!

Well, I hope everyone is doing alright in this ever changing world of ours. In the words of Bill S. Preston, Esquire and Ted "Theodore" Logan, "Be excellent to each other!"

Ciao and happy drumming!

MM