Lube News Archive: 2007

News: Monday, December 31st, 2007
The Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

I think it's safe to say that we all enjoyed a pretty good 2007. We have good family, loved ones, homes, jobs, cars, food, and our health. Not to say that those things don't sometimes cause us heartburn, but I'd rather suffer that from time to time than be without. And while 2007 was good to us in so many ways, we were ready to give it a proper send off and welcome in 2008!

The Club Tavern in Middleton has quickly become one of our favorite venues. Moose, Michael, and all the great people working there always treat us like family. We do our best to reciprocate and bring in great crowds. NYE '07 did not disappoint! The band snuck into the back to have a bite to eat shortly after 8:00pm and when we came back into the bar, the crowd was already assembling. People seemed excited to be out and they were poised for some heavy duty RAWK!

Our first set of the night was as energetic and fun as any set we've played all year. From the first notes of "Rebel Yell" straight through "Head Like A Hole," the floor area up by the stage was packed with dancing, bouncing, head-banging animals. It was awesome! Everyone was stoked for the big count down at midnight and at precisely the stroke of 12:00am, the official celebration began. Noise makers, confetti poppers, drinks, hats, kisses, hugs, fist bumps, toasts & cheers of all kinds filled The Club, and LUBE welcomed in 2008 with some of our best friends.

Officially, the first song of '08 was "I Ran," kicking off set #2. The crazy party scene I described above from set 1 not only continued through the second but the third set as well. Sure, some people were getting tired and some headed home, but the vast majority stayed and continued to rock. I guess they figured if LUBE was going all night, they were too! It must have been sneaking up on 2:45am before we hit the final chords of "Rock & Roll All Night," bringing to a close the end of another fantabulous NYE gig!

One of the bartenders came up with the idea to have a raffle to win a kiss from Buzz at midnight. Tickets were $1 and the proceeds were going to go to a local charity. You know how much money was collected? $1! That's it! Rumor has it that Moose was the person who threw in the buck just so Buzz wouldn't feel bad. Rather than share a potentially uncomfortable moment in front of hundreds of people, there was no official "winner" and Buzz had no one to kiss. I'm glad he didn't plant one on Moose...

So now that 2007 is officially history, we can take a few weeks to rest, get over the nagging illnesses that have been plaguing us, and get ready to charge harder than ever into 2008. We already have a bunch of really cool shows booked well into the year, including some venues & events we've never played. Our next gig is at The Riley Tavern on Friday Jan. 18, and just because The Riley is small doesn't mean it doesn't rock!

In summary after a most lengthy "News," LUBE would just like to again thank everyone who has helped us fulfill the dream we all share, that of playing music. The bar owners/managers and festival committees that provide us an outlet for our music deserve a round of applause. Big hugs & kisses go out to all the wonderful people who come spend their time and hard-earned money seeing LUBE. Your fun & enthusiasm is highly contagious and you make all the behind the scenes work that most don't know about more than worth it. Like Buzz mentioned several times last night, you could go anywhere to see any band, go to any type of entertainment that is out there and yet you choose to see LUBE. We love you for that! Most of all, we want to thank our families and loved ones for all the love and support they give us. Playing in a band is a full-time job, and we all have other full time jobs, too. Factor in practice time, rehearsal time, time off from work and missed family events, money spent...it all adds up and becomes quite substantial. To our families who allow us to keep pursuing our musical dreams, you get the biggest thanks of all. On behalf of all of us in LUBE...Buzz, Nick, Steve, Jeff, Dan, Chad, Curt, our newest member of the "family" Amy, and myself (that would be Bartho), thank you, and we look forward to a great '08!

News: Saturday, December 29th, 2007
The Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

It seemed like forever since we last played. Our last gig was 11/23 at WSG, and after five long, busy, hectic weeks, it felt good to be playing again. There is nothing like the excitement of a LUBE gig!

Hopefully everyone survived the Christmas season with minimal damage. The holidays can be a trying time with work deadlines, shopping, relatives, travel, inclement weather, etc. What was once such a magical and wonderful time as a kid is often different for us adults. At any rate, LUBE enjoyed a nice Christmas and hope you did as well.

Santa was particularly good to Steve and Dan. Once known for buying a new drum kit virtually every other week (Remember the green kit? We don't either.), Steve had settled down and kept the same kits for years. Strange but true. However, he recently went on a spree and bought TWO! One is already for sale on an on-line auction site (here we go again...) but he has allegedly found another "keeper" in his new Ocean Sparkle Pearl Masters kit. I have to admit it looked and sounded killer! With any luck he'll still have it for NYE.

Dan, on the other hand, had Santa bring him a new PA. Without a doubt, his former JBL system was nothing short of thunderous and he made us sound WAY better than we really are. Dan is always up for a challenge and so he sought out new speakers. He purchased new EAW mains and Danley subs, companies most of us are unfamiliar with. A person might be inclined to think that all you'd have to do is hook up the new speakers and the entire PA system would be better than ever. Not so fast, my friend. Dan ended up having a tremendous amount of work to do to get the system prepared for this show as he sold some of the JBLs, leaving him with no choice but to get it ready. His wife Sara, truly a saint, allowed him to set the PA up in his living room and work on it... for a month! Dan is nothing short of passionate about what he does and it was no surprise to any of us that the new PA sounded UNBELIEVABLE last night! If I worked as hard as Dan, I'd be the next Billy Sheehan. The sound of the new speakers is something you just gotta hear...tight, punchy, and totally kick ass. There's more tweaking to do but it's hard to fathom that it's only going to get better.

It was a packed house once again at The Bean...it was sweet! Maybe you all needed to get away from the hassles of the season. A LUBE gig will assuredly cure what's ailin' ya! A few of us were under the weather...me, Dan, Chad, & Curt...but you know what? As cliche as it may sound, the show must go on! Modern chemistry helped us make it through the night, though it wasn't necessarily easy. I apologize for not being very social but I was in rough shape. But because we had 500 friends on hand to rock out with LUBE, there was no way we weren't going to give it all we had! And in the end, there's no doubt it was a great night...

So after a raucous night of partying, I can think of only one word to describe last night: practice. Last night was just a warm up for New Year's Eve, baby! Monday December 31, 2007, please join us at The Club Tavern in Middleton for what is going to be the absolute craziest, rowdiest, most awesomest NYE show in history! A measly $10 at the door, $5 if you have dinner @ The Club, free drinks at midnight, Safe Rider cabs will be offered, and believe it or not, Moose himself will be driving people home. There's gonna be hats, noise makers, studly dudes, hot chicks, a killer rock band (that would be us... LUBE), and a most excellent time! Sure, there are other bands at other bars... but there will be no better party than at The Club Tavern! Come finish off 2007 with LUBE and kick '08 off to a great start!

News: Friday, November 23th, 2007
Windsor Street Grille
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Ok. The turkey's been eaten, there's pumpkin pie left but your kid brother ate all the kool whip, and your adopted cousin's second wife's twins have rearranged your CD collection. No one needs a night out more than you. There is no better relief than a LUBE show! There must have been a lot of people in need of an escape because the bar was packed!

Vicki and her staff at the WSG decided to host a LUBE-themed party the night after Thanksgiving. They asked if we'd be willing to wear the attire featured on our new posters, which if you haven't seen them, are mechanic themed. You know, LUBE, lube job, that sort of thing. Naturally, we obliged but only wore the coveralls for the first set. It got a little bit warm with a crowded bar, stage lighting, and a double-layer of clothing!

The bar staff, all of whom were named Dave, were liberally distributing a special concoction called "LUBE Juice" out of gas containers. It was a fruity/pineappley/coconutty drink that went down easy. Everyone in the bar must have been suffering from the salty food of Turkey Day because there was A LOT of imbibing going on! The ladies were wild and crazy, sometimes falling down, in their exuberance. We had a large compliment of Gimme Gimme Girls, and while they tried very hard, tended to be a little clumsy. The drum shield almost toppled over, pedals were stepped on, mics were removed from the stands, and some unlucky lass fell right on top of Niiko's giant pedal board. My guess is she has some box-shaped bruises on her hinder today.

We were fortunate to be celebrating a couple of birthdays as well. Jenny from Rock Candy & SP1 was on hand to commemorate another year in the books. Discretion prevents me from revealing just how many years it is. Brian, our sometimes grunt/lighting assistant, was out in celebration of his 28th. Actually, his birthday is in early December but since we don't have a show for a few weeks, we had to make this his official LUBE party night.

We want to thank everyone for coming out and hanging with us. LUBE always puts the fans first, and we were proud to offer you a solid diversion from your family/holiday obligations. I want to give a special shout out to the huge group from work that was there last night. It had been a long time since we'd some of them, and there were even a few newbies. You guys are the best and it was great to see you. Lastly, a quick acknowledgement to the person who swiped one of our t-shirts...at least do us the honor of wearing it proudly!

Thanks again for a kick-ass party...we had a blast! The next show we have is several weeks off due to work schedules and the Christmas holiday. Come see us again on December 29th at The Bean. It's a great opportunity to practice for New Year's Eve! Speaking of NYE, we'll be back at one of our favorite places, The Club Tavern in Middleton 12/31. This is going to be the greatest NYE party in the history of NYE parties! Club Tavern shows are super fun and we can't wait to ring in 2008 with you!

News: Friday, November 16th, 2007
The Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

Friday was the official start of the 2007 Deer Hunters Widow's Weekend, and what better place to be than a LUBE show at The Bean! Tradition has it that when the fall harvest is completed, the men go into the woods to slay the wily and elusive white tail, and the women stay home and tend to the children. Feel free to insert your own sexist comment/joke/expression of disagreement here. Anyway, while part of the tradition has remained intact, it has morphed over the years. In our generation, when the men head into the woods, the women head out to party!

If you are a single man and don't participate in deer hunting, and are looking to meet a lovely young lady to get more "acquainted" with, this is your perfect opportunity! If I had to guess, and I am guessing, I would say the ratio of women to men at The Bean was at least 3 to 1. When I was in college at UW-Eau Claire, the ratio was similar, if not better, and let me tell you, life was grand. All of the wild and crazy women came to the LUBE gig, had some beverages, and partied in the front row with us. It was sweet!

Shad, the Midnight Bear, was on hand celebrating his birthday with us. You may have seen him...he was the big dude drinking straight from a pitcher and wearing a pin that said "SLUT." ShadMan has been a long-time supporter of LUBE and we were happy he chose to celebrate with us. In fact, he even made history as being the first male ever to receive a birthday spanking from Buzz. While Buzz has always just spanked the ladies, it made for good humor and we all had a laugh at the antics of those two. Don't expect this new tradition to continue, however!

We didn't have any new music on hand as we have been extremely busy with real life stuff. Sometimes that gets in the way of rock & roll, much to our chagrin. We are constantly looking for new & fresh music to add to our shows, and if you have any good ideas, please send them via our contact page. We'll give just about anything a fair listen, and if your idea pans out, we'll give you props.

On a serious note, LUBE dedicated this show to the memory of Sierra Bongiovani, Nick's cousin. Sierra was 17 years old and tragically passed away in a crash this past Saturday. You may have noticed that Nick had pictures of a beautiful young girl on his guitars...that was Sierra. May we all remember how short life really is and make smart decisions about drinking and driving.

Our next show is coming up on Friday Nov. 23 at the Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. This is the night after Thanksgiving and couldn't come at a better time. You will be tired of listening to boring relatives tell the same stories you've heard for years. The tryptophan will have worn off from the multiple helpings of turkey you consumed and you will feel energetic and ready to RAWK! LUBE is doing our part and putting on an entertaining, high-energy show to help kick off the holiday season. See you at WSG!

News: Saturday, October 27th, 2007
The Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

Whilst the calendar indicates Halloween as being October 31st, the big celebrations of All Hallow's Eve occurred on the night preceding the Sabbath. The Club Tavern, quickly becoming one of our most cherished venues to make melodious presentations, hosted a momentous party complete with a costume contest and cash prizes. What thou may not knowest is that LUBE came dressed as the Creator made us. The other 364 days of the year we are actually in costume, clad as a collection of regular men with day jobs and weekend rock star aspirations, so that we mayest blend in with popular society. We refer to these people as English.

In an unprecedented maneuver, we revealed our true identity, that being an Amish band. Many of our fellow brothers and sisters know us by our "stage" names, but we let the world know us as the Almighty does. Our given names are as follows:

And whilst they remained in "costume" and the rest of us dressed "normally," allowest me to present you the true names of the productionists:

Much excitement filled the air of the Club Tavern. A great majority of our brothers and sisters came dressed in celebration of Halloween. Thou had to see it to believe it, ya! Some of the men wore costumes such as Mr. Peanut, Marty the Wal-Martian, pirates, Slim Jim, greasers, and Predator from the motion picture of the same name. A few of my old cronies from Amish college came dressed as inebriated Badger fanatics, and they were fully immersed in these personas. The fairer sex also sported lavish regalia, often erotic and provocative in nature. There were naughty police officers, witches, a biting Asian beetle, French maids, vampires, and a dominatrix that repeatedly flogged Carl and I during our musical performance. The parson surely would not have approved of this!

Rather than raising a barn, Michael from the Club hosted a costume contest. The grandest of prizes won $150 English dollars, believest me, however about this I cannot be certain. During the intermission when the contest was held, Heinrich, Amos, and I were outside the tavern feeding the horses and covering them with blankets on a most unwarm evening. The village constable halted us from making a bonfire for warmth and threatened incarceration for violating local ordinances. As our nature is passive, we complied without incident and went about our humble way, returning inside to again play our hymns for the patrons. Due to this, thou cannot be informed of the results of the costume competition. Perhaps the photographic evidence will reveal this information.

At evenings end, the heavy, cumbersome electricity-consuming gear had to be loaded and stored in a very large corn bin. It took a team of twelve horses to pull that wagon! We had to borrow from some Belgians from cousins Wilhelm and Udo as we did not have enough. As on the occasions of other musical performances, we broke bread together and enjoyed a prepared repast at an establishment owned by an Englishman named Denny. Surely much atonement is in our future, however the parson will be appreciative of the cash offering we'll have from our earnings.

Brothers and sisters, we shall have our next "barn raisings" in the month of November. Friday Nov. 16 we shall perform in Fitchburg at The Bean, and the following week at the Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. At that time, you will find us in our commonly acceptable attire looking more like the LUBE thou hast grown to admire. We shall enjoy one another's company at that time!

News: Saturday, October 20th, 2007
Riley Tavern
Verona, Wisconsin

Hello Madison, It's Saturday Night! Today's "Lube at the Riley Tavern" news is brought to you by Lube's crew. You've seen us, we're those standoffish guys at the back of the room wearing the less-flashy clothing and with all the computer screens, flashing lights, knobs and sliders in front of us at Lube shows. If we've never spoken it's not that we don't want to talk to you, we're just introverts. If we were extroverts we'd probably be musicians.

For the crew, the Riley Tavern gig started at 3:00 PM when we arrived at the venue. Basically our job is to take a lot of bulky, incredibly heavy sound and lighting equipment out of a trailer that's way too small, take it into a bar that's way too small, hook it all up so it works, light and amplify what the musicians do in a way that is pleasant to look at and listen to (this is the part you see) and then take it all back apart and put it into the trailer again, usually finishing around 3:30 AM. Today started pretty slow as we were tired from the Badger Bowl gig Friday night, it was really nice weather and we had very comfortable lawn chairs with us. We used those lawn chairs to start the day with a break, an activity we repeated frequently throughout the work day.

While the sound and lighting for the show was great, the performance itself was unremarkable. HA! Just kidding, Andy, Buzz, Jeff, Nick and Steve kicked ass like they always do. Being in a band is a team effort in that musicians without sound and lighting is a bunch of guys standing quietly in the dark and a sound and lighting system without musicians is just as compelling. We've been praised numerous times on these same pages for the job we do and the highest praise we can give is to say that it is only possible for the crew to produce good amplified sound by receiving good unamplified sound. Lube's musicians deliver that in spades and we're lucky to have them.

We did have a couple of important local/regional sound and lighting people in the crowd at the Riley, Dave and Carla Maier, owners of Intellasound Productions were present for part of the show. Anybody who knows Dave will tell you that after 20+ years in the business he never goes to a show he's not working so it was quite an honor as well as a nerve wracking experience to have them in the crowd.

While I have the floor here, here are some fun tricks to play on a sound and lighting crew:

By the way, the greeting "Hello Madison, It's Saturday Night!" at the beginning of the news is how the first local live band I ever saw greeted their crowd at the opening of their shows. I saw that band dozens of times and their musicians and crew always did it bigger and better than anyone else. At the time it was the coolest thing I had ever seen and that's what we try to do as Lube's crew. We don't pick the songs or decide how they're played but every other aspect of the audio and lighting and how it's done is up to us. If you've been to a bunch of Lube shows and you have a suggestion as to how we can do our part better let us know and if we agree with you we'll do it!

We love The Riley Tavern and Murph, Catherine and their bartenders are always great to us. We're starting to book shows for next year and we hope to be back soon. We're at The Club Tavern this Saturday night, October 27th for their Halloween Bash. Come on out for a costume contest, prizes and great live music from all of us that make up Lube. If you get a chance, stop by and say hi to the crew, we won't bite. See you at The Club!

News: Friday, October 19th, 2007
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

It had been a long time since we played Badger Bowl...2 days short of 6 full months, if you want to be technical about it. Booking gigs can be strange sometimes, especially when you factor in our weird schedule of availability. At any rate, we were happy to be back, and from the looks of things, people were glad to see us!

The big stage at Badger Bowl allowed Chad to break out the now world-famous light tubes for the first time in a long while. They looked awesome! While we had plenty of room on stage to do what we do, the rest of the bar was rather congested with LUBIES. What was encouraging for me was although there were a lot of "regulars" in attendance, there were even more people I don't recall having seen out before. Word must be getting around that LUBE throws a helluva party when we're in town!

We were honored to have some special guests in attendance with us last night. Sarah, formerly of Level 8 in Evansville, graced us with her presence. Sarah and her staff were always very good to us and it was nice to see her again. Level 8 is now a Country music venue and if our three Country tunes qualify us maybe we'll be back there at some point. We also had the pleasure of having long-time friends Amy & Travis Larson in the house. They hadn't seen us in a long time, since Jeff's first show, and I'm pretty sure they enjoyed themselves!

The fun doesn't end with this show, however. Saturday we return to the Riley Tavern, one of our favorite venues. Yes it's "intimate." No, we don't have much room for our high-flying stage antics. Yet every time we're there it's an over-the-top party! We endured horrible weather for Riley Fest this year, so this is our opportunity to make up for it with a stellar show. It's going to be a beautiful day, and what better way to cap it off than to come to the LUBE gig and dance you ass off? Get there early!

Next weekend we celebrate an early Halloween with a "monster" show at the Club Tavern in Middleton. There are going to be prizes for the best costumes, drink specials, and unbridled debauchery. We've got our costumes all ready to go...do you? I know you've already made plans to attend, but let me remind you again...Saturday Oct. 27, Club Tavern, 9:30pm, LUBE gig, come in costume. Got it? Good! See ya!

News: Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
Windsor Street Grille
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

It was a dark and stormy night...wait, wrong story. It was an absolutely glorious day in the greater Madison area! Upper 70's, cloudless sky, a blissfully cool evening...about as perfect a fall day as you can have. We made the simple hike up 151 to Sun Prairie and paid a visit to our good friends at the WSG.

News: Friday, September 14th, 2007
The Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

Let me just say that we heard you LOUD & CLEAR! There were times at the gig Friday night that the crowd was challenging my in-ear monitors for what I was hearing. It is beyond cool when the crowd is louder than the band!

It had been a couple of months since we were at The Bean, and the people that poured through the door must have missed us as much as we missed them. I quickly forgot how chilly it was outside and was glad I had plugged in my fan on stage. When you cram hundreds of people into a space and get them drinking & dancing, it gets hot in a hurry!

There were, as usual, a ton of people that I recognized from past shows. Thanks for coming back! However, there were quite a few new faces, and I alone probably talked to 6 or 8 people who had never seen a LUBE gig. Without exception, they had a kick-ass time and have now converted to LUBEism. We'll look for you again soon!

Over the last few weeks we have worked on a some new tunes and brought out two of them for this show. Where better than The Bean to debut a new song?!? We cranked out "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls to open the second set and it kicked everyone into another gear! The energy was full blast right through to the end, and we ended things with the other new one, "Unbelievable" by The EMF. That was a great finishing song and a tribute to all the people who come to see us.

We want to personally thank Chad & Curt for going above and beyond to make last night's show a success. Sound Man Dan was out of town on business and scheduled to get in to Madison about show time. Chad & Curt took control and set up the entire production, not exactly a small or simple process, and ensured that the gig would go off without a hitch. My guess is that no one noticed anything different, and frankly neither did we. That is a tribute to those guys and their hard work. Dan came straight from the airport, resplendent in his business clothes, and was there to see the start of the show after starting his day in San Jose, CA. The LUBE you know is much more than the musicians on stage and they are as equally responsible for your good time as the band is. They deserve our appreciation and respect for once again doing an outstanding job!

We're off next Friday due to the unfortunate demise of the Blue Chalk Club (RIP) but Saturday 9/22 we take the show out to the Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. WSG is an "intimate" setting and we have had some great shows there. Come on out and rub elbows (and maybe other things) with your crazy friends...I guarantee you a good time! Coming up in October we have a show at Badger Bowl (it's been a while!), Riley Tavern (it can't rain inside, can it?) and a big Halloween bash at The Club Tavern. Plan your weekends now and we'll see you again this coming Saturday at WSG!

News: Saturday, August 18th, 2007
Riley Fest!
Riley, Wisconsin

Quagmire. The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as 1. Land with a soft muddy surface. 2. A difficult or precarious situation; a predicament. The 14th annual Riley Fest this Saturday lived up to both definitions thanks to copious amount of rain, wind, and all-around bad weather.

When I arrived at about 1:20pm, my truck said it was 58 degrees. Remember, this is a Saturday in August. It's supposed to be hot & sticky. A light rain was falling but nothing too serious. The bands were playing under a big tent on the lawn area outside the bar with concessions set up in the large garage-like building. It's a nice set up. The forecast wasn't good with heavy rains & thunderstorms expected not just for that day but throughout the entire next week. Peeking at the radar, we saw that there was a gap that looked like it would coincide with our set. We were hopeful people would brave the conditions and still come out!

The first band of the day was Blend 7 from the Fox Valley area. They had the early start at 1:00pm and unfortunately for them, there just weren't many people there yet. Blend 7 played a good variety of rock, and I personally enjoyed "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones. Great tune!

The Mighty Short Bus was set up in the balcony area above the concessions and played between the bands. If you've never seen MSB, you owe it to yourself to take in a show. They write great original music in addition to playing a few covers. Frank, Nick, and the guys are all cool and their shows are well worth your time.

We took the stage at 3:30pm and played two long sets, ending at 6:30pm. As Blend 7 was finishing, people started showing up and when we started, the tent was getting full. The rains intensified but it didn't stop people from dancing in the ever-increasing quagmire (remember the definition above?). The beer was flowing and the die-hards that come to Riley Fest every year were not going to let the rain stop them from having a good time! Dan got behind Intellasound's board and mixed the show for us. No one knows how to make LUBE sound like LUBE better than Dan!

We had a great time playing but had to contend with torrential rains when it came time to tear down our gear and load it back up to make room for SuperTuesday. Fortunately there was a small tarped area to stage gear in but it too became a soupy mess with the heavy rainfall. By the time the trucks were loaded we were all soaked to the skin. We had planned ahead and brought a spare change of clothes but since we were going to hang out and watch ST and the Bobby Friss Band, we kept our already crudded duds on and just went with it.

ST was as fun as ever. The crowd was hanging in there and still partying! The weather, however, was relentless. You would never know Wisconsin had suffered through a drought most of the summer by the amount of rain we got Saturday! By the time ST was done with their first set, most of the ground under the tent was covered by about 2 inches of mud. People were walking right out of their shoes (if they were even wearing them). Eventually the rains turned into a thunderstorm, complete with lightning, and that's when it became dicey.

Murph was now faced with the second definition of quagmire. At what point was enough enough? It was still pouring, there was now thunder & lightning, and the crowd starting to dwindle as a result. Sadly yet understandably, the decision was made to pull the plug on Riley Fest '07. ST was only able to play the one set and we never got to see the Bobby Friss Band. It was probably just as well. Conditions had arrived at ridiculous and were to the point of becoming unsafe.

To those of you who braved the elements and partied like it was a sunny day, we say "Thank You!" It's always better to suffer through crappy conditions with your friends than alone. Despite the cold, despite the wind & rain, we had a fabulous time rocking and then partying with you! Usually we play while you get to party but Riley Fest allowed us to do both. LUBE fans are the best! Also, a big "Thank You" goes out to Murph and Catherine and everyone at The Riley Tavern for having us. With your permission, LUBE would love to come back and give it another go next year. It can't possibly rain two years in a row!

We're playing a private party next Saturday and then have a couple weeks off before our next gig. We'll be back on Friday September 14th at The Bean and then again Saturday September 22nd at the Windsor Street Grille. There are three or four new tunes that we're going to be working on, so dry out your shoes, come to these shows, and see if you can pick them out!

News: Wednesday, August 8th, 2007
Quaker Steak & Lube Bike Night
Middleton, Wisconsin

As per usual, a LUBE outdoor gig needs to be accompanied by a threat of ominous weather. Bike Night is always a great time, but motorcycles and rain are not the best of friends. Rain for Bike Night makes for a sucky gig. Rolling the dice on the weather, we set up outside, completely exposed to the elements, with the hope that we'd get lucky. We did... just not the way you sickos might think we did (OK, maybe that way too)!

Toward the end of our first set, a few sprinkles started to fall. We all sort of nervously made eye contact with one another, wondering if the set break was going to mean a frantic dismantling of all our gear. When Dan & Chad retreated under their Easy-Up, I sensed bad things were coming as they'd been watching the radar all afternoon. Much to our surprise and in direct defiance of a whole lot of angry looking clouds, the sprinkles stopped and a small patch of sunlight entered the sky. Everyone's mood suddenly changed and we knew we were going to finish the show.

With this being the week of Sturgis in addition to threatening weather, the number of bikes on hand was rather low. Good thing for us our rabid LUBE fans are a hearty bunch who dared the rains to come. There were A LOT of people who obviously brought their cars to QSL because it was packed! The second & third sets were among the most fun sets we've played in a long time. People were dancing & smiling & drinking & having a kick-ass time jamming with us. The energy was infectious and everyone, including us, left with a sense of satisfaction that this was a damn good show.

As always, a sincere thank you goes out to everyone who came to the show. It's impossible to list everyone, but from time to time it's nice to give a shout out to a specific few. Jeff would like to thank his leader and personal guru Captain Morgan (and Mrs. Morgan) for coming out and distributing samples of Captain & Coke. It was almost like taking Communion for Jeff! There were a lot of people from work there, some WJJO Calendar Girls & on-air personalities, a shirtless young man named Zach who jammed on-stage with us and even did a stage dive, a random person in town on business who was drawn from the hotel across the street by the sound of the band (left us a contact message, too), and a ton of our faithful LUBIES. Thank you to one and all!

Our next gig is a biggie...the Dalai Lama of all summer outdoor events... and it is called:

News: Friday, August 3rd, 2007
Vitense Golfland Friday Date Night/52nd Anniversary Party
Madison, Wisconsin

I'll be the first to admit that I was a bit skeptical the first time I saw where this show was to be played. Vitense Golfland?!? The place with the giant giraffe and Bucky Badger "hazards" on the putt-putt course? There must be a mistake! The reality is that Vitense Golfland is much more than putt-putt (driving range, golf course, batting cages, various other outdoor games, putt-putt inside & outside, restaurant, etc) and has recently undergone a substantial renovation. They have also been a member of the Madison community for 52 years and have started hosting Friday Date Night, a good excuse to go out, meet new people, see live bands, and have a good time. LUBE was hired for a dual purpose... Friday Date Night AND Vitense Golfland's 52nd Anniversary.

While it was a bit hot during the day, Friday evening was gorgeous! Beautiful weather is a more than enough reason to get your butt off the couch, but then when you tie in a LUBE gig, it's just tough to beat! Vitense Golfland went all out for this production. The tent we played in was nothing short of palatial! The event was billed as rain or shine and I have no doubts about the fact everything would have been just fine had it rained. Instead, the sides were up, the air was blissfully seasonable, and people came out to party.

A bit different from our usual bar gigs, the 52nd Anniversary/Friday Date Night bash kicked off at 7:00pm. We played played three somewhat abbreviated sets, the first two about 50 minutes each and a full hour on the third. Normally our sets range from at least an hour to as long as 1:30, but we needed to make space for announcements, drawings, and the like. A DJ was also on hand to spin tunes between the sets and after we were finished.

The crowd that came was a diverse bunch. Long-time Vitense patrons, golfers, families, and of course, some of our faithful LUBIES. Everyone got their drink and groove on and we all had a good time! Buzz, however, demonstrated some poor golf etiquette and deliberately disrupted a young lady hitting balls on the driving range. Worst of all, he did it barefooted and without a collared shirt on. Doesn't he know anything about golf?

Kelly and everyone from Vitense were very nice to deal with. Randy in the pro shop even said he'd give me a good deal on a new driver and custom fit me for the right shaft. Feel free to insert your own off-color joke at my expense. The facility was very nice, the people were very nice and I really hope this Friday Date Night thing takes off for them. We had a great time and would be happy to come back again sometime!

LUBE's next performance is Wednesday August 8 @ Quaker Steak & Lube in Middleton at their famous Bike Night. It's another outdoor gig and it too starts early (5:30pm). Being both early and outdoors, children should NOT be an excuse for not coming. This is the perfect opportunity to expose them to the craziness that is a LUBE gig! Hundreds and hundreds of motorcycles, sunshine, wings & beer, and LUBE...the recipe for a perfect Wednesday night. We're going to follow that up with our debut at the world-renown Riley Fest on Saturday August 18. Details will be announced soon, but just plan on being there all day. We'll even give away a free piece of gig-used gaff tape to anyone wearing their LUBE shirt to the show!

News: Sunday, July 22nd, 2007
The John Eddie Beach Party @ The Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

Sunday seems like an odd day for an outdoor event, given that most people hit it pretty hard on the weekends. The Club Tavern hosted the John Eddie Beach Party on Sunday, hoping for beautiful weather and a lazy afternoon, a perfect setting to kick back, enjoy the outdoors, and hear some great music. Despite LUBE's bad weather history with outdoor gigs, it turned out to be a fabulous day!

After an unanticipated delay, Sand kicked off the event with a strong set of both originals and covers. They played with a lot of energy and sounded better than ever! Mighty Short Bus followed with an inspiring performance, as per their usual. They are amazing players that write excellent original material. MSB simply has this vibe about them, an air of coolness if you will, and it was a pleasure to see them perform again. John Eddie headlined the show, and he has appeared at The Club Tavern several times before. I had never seen him but had heard lots of good things. His music is acoustic guitar driven, Americana-styled rock...with a definite edge. He worked the crowd into a frenzy, reigned the energy back down with a slow song or two, and then cranked it right back up again. I loved his song, "I'm Gonna Drink You Pretty." I want it to find a spot in LUBE's set list!

Finally it was our turn to take the stage. Things were behind schedule but we put our gear in place as quickly as we could and got down to business. It may not have been the biggest crowd we've played in front of but they certainly were energetic! Despite having been outside all day, some folks since noon, people were still in the mood to party as they danced & jammed along with us. Sure we almost collapsed the tent over the stage a few times, yes it got kind of dark, and we plead guilty to playing 40 minutes past the end of the permit...but we had a blast! Michael Alexander saved the day by putting out a few par cans on stage so not only could we then be seen, but we could see what we were doing. I heard one person say that next to Pink Floyd, it was the greatest light show they have ever seen. Our lighting engineer Chad was clearly moved by what he witnessed.

Big thanks to Moose, Michael, and all the staff at The Club for a good Sunday party. We look forward to coming back for a few gigs later in the year. We're returning for a kick-ass Halloween show on Saturday October 27!

Our next show will be at a venue you'd never think of... Vitense Golfland. They are having a big anniversary bash on Friday, August 3rd, and we will be playing two large sets, kind of like what we did at The Club yesterday. Please note that this is an early show starting at 7:00pm. It's a great opportunity to bring the kids out if you want to as there are lots of things to do at Vitense Golfland in addition to a smokin' LUBE gig! Thanks to everyone for an awesome July!

News: Saturday, July 14th, 2007
St. Francis Festival
Cross Plains, Wisconsin

Following a wild Friday night, we headed back out to do it again Saturday. This time the setting was a bit different, as we were at St. Francis Fest in Cross Plains. Sometimes people think church festivals are tame and not as fun as other gigs. Au contraire, mon frere!

Some of the music LUBE plays is a bit...risque, shall we say. We like things that push the envelope, that perhaps have multiple meanings (hello... LUBE?!?). Not all of them, however, are suitable for a family festival at a church. In an effort to make everyone happy and be as professional as possible, we made some alterations to our set list. Some tunes came off the RIP list for a night. Others were "cleaned up" and made PG-13. Some were moved to the end of the night and played essentially as they were written, even though they're NC-17. I had the opportunity to meet Father Tom and he was excited to see the band and the spectacle that is the LUBE show. He was also hoping y'all would come out and party. Again, for the second night in a row, you did not disappoint!

There were quite a few kids on hand to enjoy the music. Kristen and Bobby brought all their kids, and they have turned into full-fledged LUBIES! Maria and her children came out, Nicki brought Porter and Abby (I think Porter's a drummer in the making)... there were probably 15 kids rocking out with us! One thing that seems to be consistent with the kids is that they love Buzz. I mean, he's just a big kid and can relate to them! The children love his crazy antics and energy, and he loves making them smile and laugh. He goes out of his way to make them feel like they are part of the show.

There were quite a few familiar faces that made the trek to Cross Plains for this event. A bunch of people from work, Rowan (Wednesday) & Missy (Monday) & entourage for night two of the dual birthday celebration, and a wild and crazy group from Styles Salon & Spa are just a few to mention. The Styles ladies were all over it, dancing and having a great time. They even "sponsored" our 3rd set! I think that means we all get to come in for free messages or something. Everyone on hand, and there were a lot of people there, had a fun time on yet another beautiful night to be outside.

With good weather, the aroma of grilled hamburgers in the air, and a bunch of partiers in the tent, we had a fantastic show. It was even said that each beer purchased got you one step closer to the pearly gates! Thank you to Father Tom and everyone at St. Francis parish for having us. We look forward to coming back and being part of your festival again in the future!

Don't forget, LUBE is playing an exceptionally rare Sunday show this next week on July 22. We are fortunate to be part of the Club Tavern Beach Party in Middleton. This is an all-day affair with music outside from 1-9:00pm (we play 7-9:00pm), but come early to hear Sand, Mighty Short Bus, and John Eddie. Once the music is done outside, Pine plays inside the bar.

Also, in case you haven't heard, EBUL, the acoustic tribute to LUBE, is performing on Saturday July 21 at The Bean in Madison, opening for Pine. You may have noticed there is a connection between LUBE and Pine...uncanny! Anyway, if you go to the Middleton Firemen's Fest at the Capital Brewery, come to The Bean afterward for the Madison premiere of EBUL at 9:30pm, again followed by Pine. This is going to be a very fun show & you won't want to miss it!

News: Friday, July 13th, 2007
The Bean
Madison, Wisconsin

What better time to bring the rock back indoors than Friday the 13th! While beer tents are undoubtedly a good time, there is just something right about seeing a killer rock show in a bar. It allows you to get close to the band the become part of the show. We've had good luck with summer shows at The Bean the last couple of years and were stoked for this gig. Good people of Madison...you did NOT disappoint!

The Bean cut everyone a break with a couple of bucks off at the door, a summer rate if you will. Once people started rolling in, the flow never stopped until the bar was F to the ULL! It was an absolutely glorious day and I was thinking that may keep some people from hitting the bar, preferring to camp or whatever. Not the case. The crowd Friday night seemed rejuvenated at being back inside, returning to their familiar haunts to see their favorite band...LUBE!

A lot of regular LUBIES came out to see us, again because they were jonesing for the party scene our gigs have become. Rowan was on hand for the first night of what is bound to be a week-long birthday celebration. She's turning 29 (allegedly) for the first time on Wednesday. I won't tell you how many times I've turned 29! Miss Ashley and her posse were in the house as well. She had contacted us and groveled for us to resurrect "Feva For The Flavor" one last time as she had never heard us play it before it hit the RIP list. Going the extra mile to serve one of our favorites, we brought it back just for her. Will it ever resurface? I don't know, but it was rather well received.

I was running around filming an unofficial "LUBE: Behind the Music" episode between sets. My thought is to get some good material from you, the people who pay their hard-earned money to come to our shows, compile it into a cool little video, and then post it for everyone to see. I don't know that I'll do it every show, so watch for it and come deliver your favorite LUBE story. Be part of history!

Lastly, I'd be derelict in my duties if I failed to mention Buzz's latest microphone accident. For what is hardly the first time, he managed to whack himself right between the eyes with his mic. He refers to it as a cheese grater because it shreds his skin whenever this happens. If you look close enough, you can even see a cross-hatch pattern. Beware the Shure Beta 58! Maybe he needs a hockey helmet or something...

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for a great Friday the 13th! We had a blast and it sure appeared you did as well. Tomorrow night we are at St. Francis Fest in Cross Plains with an early 7:30pm start time. Following that, we are part of the Club Tavern Summer Beach Party on Sunday July 22. Music starts early in the afternoon, 1:00pm I think, and scheduled performers are Sand, Mighty Short Bus, John Eddie, and LUBE (7-9:00pm) outside, followed by Pine inside. This is going to be a great day, so make sure to come out. Your laundry can wait!

News: Saturday, July 7th, 2007
4th Annual Gee Fourth of July Celebration
Portage, Wisconsin

Brooke on Bass

Sometimes it's not what you know but who you know. Original LUBE drummer Alfredo contacted us about doing Gee Fest, a big outdoor bash put on by the Gee Family in rural Portage. We didn't know anything about it but after meeting with them, the details were worked out and the deal sealed.

There were three mud pits, off-road trucks, 4-runners, motorcycles, food & beer...and LUBE! We were set up high on a big flat bed truck with a large Leinie's banner as the roof. Gee Fest itself started in the early afternoon and was slated to go all night, with many people camping out. We started playing about 8:30pm to get one set in before the fireworks started. The fireworks at Gee Fest were as good or better than most small town fireworks I have seen. They went for at least 30 minutes, and it was hardly one little pop at a time!

After the fireworks were done, the crowd on hand was primed to party and really started getting into the show. It may have been a bit dusty in front of the stage but that was in part to all the dancing that was going on. Now when you think of an outdoor party with free beer, trucks, mud, & ATVs, you almost can't help but think of wet t-shirt contests. Well, Gee Fest didn't disappoint. MC'd by our own Buzz, 6 young ladies boldly entered the contest. They were hosed down and then boosted up on stage to gauge crowd reaction. If I'm not mistaken, all the "girls" came out to play, as often happens at even such as this. One entrant, Allison, completely removed her top and flung it into the crowd. The wild reaction from the crowd sealed her victory, and she was awarded a LUBE t-shirt for 1st place.

Following the wet t-shirt contest, we cranked out yet another set of music. Everyone was in a frenzy from the brazen display of hooters they had just witnessed! We thought we were done but the Gee Festians yelled for more, and we obliged with a 2-song encore capped by a raucous version of "Rock & Roll All Nite," a suitable ending for a long, hot & dusty day.

There was another memorable event that happened at Gee Fest. We were introduced to a young lady named Brooke, a 14-year old bassist and the daughter of a friend of Buzzes. Brooke jammed with the band during sound check and then much to the delight of the crowd, got up and played "All The Small Things" with the guys. With the lights going and the PA cranked, Brooke WAS a rock star! It was nice meeting Brooke and we wish her the best in her future music endeavors. You will assuredly be seeing her on a stage again in the future!

LUBE sends out a big THANK YOU to Shawn Gee, Darcy, Al, the entire Gee Clan and all who attended Gee Fest. Everyone was very accommodating and went out of their way to make sure things were ok and that we had a good time. Trust us...we did! We should also thank the members of the Pardeeville High School Class of '87 who came from their class reunion to party with us. Thanks for a great time...we hope to see you again next year!

LUBE is sneaking in a summer bar gig this next Friday. Yep, we're at The Bean on Friday the 13th! If your first name is Jason or last name Voorhees, you are practically obligated to be there! We may even resurrect a song or two at the request of some faithful LUBIES. Following that, LUBE is at St. Francis Fest in Cross Plains the next night. We're hoping for good weather, and you know how crazy the beer tents can get! You just gotta be there!

News: Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007
Columbus Fourth of July Festival
Columbus, Wisconsin

Before...

Sound Man Dan summed it up best at the end of the night: sometimes the news just writes itself. Tuesday in Columbus, things went from iffy to terrible but swung around a full 180 and ended up being better than we could have expected. The truth, they say, is stranger than fiction.

We had all been monitoring the weather forecasts with watchful eyes, and the projected weather for July 3 had consistently been rain and thunderstorms. Those conditions are not conducive to outdoor performances, sheltered or not. All of the gear was set up and we were hoping for a little luck so that the show would go on as planned. That being said, tarps were at the ready in the event the rains did come. At 7:00pm, 30 minutes before show time, we were advised there was severe weather headed directly for us and to expect it within half an hour. Your LUBE boys went into fast and furious action with tarps and bungees, making sure everything was covered and secured. And sure enough, the storm hit.

Lots of lightning, lots of rain, a little bit of wind...no fun whatsoever. A few hardy souls stuck it out with us in the covered stage area, huddled in the middle to avoid the rain coming in the open sides. By the time it was done, the front of house area was submerged under 3 inches of water. Despite our best efforts, a few things got wet that prevented us from putting on our stage show regardless of weather. The rain eventually did break for a bit but radar showed more severe weather was on it's way. We started scurrying to tear down and get as much reloaded before the next storms arrived.

The good folks in Columbus, well, they wanted a show, and who can blame them? There wasn't a large crowd at this point, maybe 100 or so, but they stuck it out. The Columbus Fest organizers asked if there was some way we could do an acoustic performance inside the beer pavilion. Aside from Jeff, no one had an acoustic instrument with them. Being the consummate professional he is, Jeff drove all the way back home and fetched his acoustic guitar amp that also had a single microphone input. While the rest of us finished tearing down and loading gear, Jeff, Buzz, and Steve set up the guitar amp and congas and began playing a few tunes for the good people who stayed. It went over BIG TIME! As Dan and I were loading speakers in the trailer, he said to me, "Is that the crowd singing along to Billy Idol?" Yep, it was. Soaked through our clothes, Dan, Chad, Curt, Brian, Jenny, Nick, and I finished up as fast as we could so that we too could join the fun.

As we were hanging out watching Buzz, Jeff, and Steve do their thing, my wife Tammy called me and said she was on her way with my acoustic bass and another acoustic guitar. Earlier I had mentioned that the guys were doing this acoustic thing but didn't know how long they'd go. Tam took it upon herself to bring those guitars, and her thoughtful act inspired me to go get my bass rig out of my truck, schlep it through the newly returned rain, and set up so I too could play. Nick decided to do the same thing. Before you knew it, and semi-acoustic LUBE tribute band "EBUL" was born and the crowd went wild!

EBUL ended up playing almost two full sets worth of LUBE's material inside the beer pavilion. The rain might have been falling but it did not dampen the spirits in Columbus! The beer tenders were having a blast, the people outside were having a blast, and EBUL was clearly having a blast! Chants of "EBUL! EBUL! EBUL!" could be heard far and wide! Curt and Dan served as Steve's drumming hardware, holding the tambourine and cowbell while he played congas. Jeff was on his acoustic guitar, Nick and I were electric, and we all communally shared a single microphone. Given that the weather forced the first LUBE cancellation in history, marking the low point of our career, the night was somehow resurrected by setting up a makeshift band inside a small cinder block shack. We appreciate the fans wherever we play, but Columbus endeared itself to us Tuesday night, and I think their feelings were mutual. Had Jeff not gone home for his amp, the night would have been a disaster.

A very sincere "Thank You" goes out to Columbus for having us again this year and helping us turn a crummy night into the funnest show we've played in a long time. Shirley & Dave Pokorski helped us with gear and withstood the rain to party with us all night. Sara & Tara (WJJO's lovely & talented Tara Arnold) came early, left when we had to shut down, only to come back again later for the acoustic show. THAT is some loyalty, and we love you girls for it. Jackie & Kristin, Jenny & Tammy from Wicked Lily... all troopers for sticking it out til the end. And special thanks again to Tammy, because had she not said she was bringing my acoustic bass, I wouldn't have been smart enough to think of bringing my rig back out.

These are the stories that make good history. Was it fun fighting the weather? Getting soaked through all our clothes? Having gear get wet? Dealing with the frustration of a seemingly lost show? Nope. It sucked. But the true spirit of why we play music prevailed on this night, and in the end, it was better than we ever could have hoped for. Columbus, we hope to see you again next year under sunny skies!

For those of you looking for something to do this Saturday, come on out to Gee Fest in Portage. It is a big outdoor party and promises to be a most excellent time. We may even throw our acoustic instruments in the truck in the event of rain, which could bring about the world's second sighting of EBUL...you never know! To find Gee Fest, click on the link above or on our Schedule page and you will be taken directly to a map. We'd love to see you there and make more LUBE history!

...After

News: Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
Quaker Steak and Lube
Middleton, Wisconsin

After a seemingly endless layoff (you know, sometimes life gets in the way), LUBE finally returned to the stage. What better way to get after it than to play under the open sky? LUBE was at The Lube for their world-famous Bike Night! It felt good to be back, especially with updated power and new staging.

The weather looked sketchy all week, but in a stroke of good fortune, the rain held off and it was a beautiful day to be outside. It was hot during our set-up but later in the evening the temps mellowed a bit and it was about as perfect as it could be. Well over 700 bikes were on hand and there was a substantial "car crowd" that arrived on something other than a motorcycle.

We did break out a new song Wednesday night, the highly popular "Makes Me Wonder" by Maroon 5. It appeared in the first set, so those of you who came late missed it. Despite the fact there were several cycles on display at the front of the stage, the dancers did their best and rocked right along with us. We ended up modifying our sets as Jeff (aka The Hermanator) was illin' and could barely croak out any sounds at all. He managed to sing a few tunes but his throat was very sore and getting worse by the minute. A little rest and relaxation will have him 100% again in no time! The crowd seemed to grow later in the night and the traffic area was a congested mass of LUBIES. There were even some fans (Hi, Michelle) who came at 9:30pm thinking it was a "regular" LUBE show only to find out that we had just finished for the night. Bummer! We'll be back for another Bike Night on Wednesday August 8, so mark it down, plan ahead, and by all means, get there early (we start at 5:30pm)!

Thank you to everyone who came out and welcomed us back to the rock stage. If you think the layoff was long, imagine how we felt! Things pick up very quickly for us, as we have five shows in July. The next performance is Tuesday, July 3rd in Columbus as part of their 4th of July celebration. This show starts at 7:30pm, so again, get their early and make sure you're wearing your dancing shoes!

News: Saturday, May 19th, 2007
The Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

I hate to admit this, folks, but I was nervous. Friday was a big night, not just for us, but lots of other bands and events. One band welcomed a new member, one band played a big beer tent, Syttende Mai going on it Stoughton, our show at the Blue Chalk Club, etc. These kinds of things, in addition to really nice weather, can thin out a crowd. When we started our first set at The Bean, I was afraid we hadn't done enough to draw our fans in. Maybe people just can go two nights in a row anymore. My fears, however, were unfounded. Y'all were just fashionably late! By 11:00 PM, it was elbow-to-elbow and the party was on!

There were a few special visitors in the crowd, some people we hadn't seen for a long time. Everyone's favorite Man On The Scene, our good buddy Todd, was back visiting from Nebraska. It was great to see him and talk for a few minutes between sets. Just so you know, Todd, everybody in the Mad City misses you and the support you had for the local music scene. It was good to have you back, even if it was just for the weekend. Also, Little Lisa from ... (Dot Dot Dot) and Catfight was passing through town and paid us a visit. I'm sure some of you have seen her play with Catfight, and in fact, LUBE played a few of shows with them a couple years back. Be sure to check out ... too. It's cool stuff! Thanks again for the CDs, Lisa. Lastly, our long-lost friend Jessi was back rockin' with LUBE after a too-long hiatus. She brought her girls with her and reclaimed the front row as only they can do. Don't be such a stranger!

A very sincere thank you goes out to everyone who helped us create a great weekend! Like us, you work all week and never seem to have enough time to do everything you want to do. The fact that you create time in your lives to come to a LUBE show is something that does not go unappreciated! Our production crew deserves a shout out for all their work to make us look and sound as good as we do. No one ever sees them getting to the venues mid-afternoon to set up, finally getting to bed 16 hours later, and then turning around after a night's sleep better labeled as a nap to do it all over again. Dan, Chad, Curt, and sometimes Brian...you guys rule!

Sadly, we have a rather lengthy break before our next show, but it's going to be a kick-ass monster bash when we're back at it! Mark your calendars now (if you haven't already done so) for Wednesday, June 27th. LUBE will be playing Quaker Steak & Lube's Bike Night starting at 5:30pm. If you attended our show there last year, you remember how many people came out to party on a Wednesday. It was crazy! Bike Night is an outdoor event that lets you soak up some of summer's best weather while enjoying some wings, a beverage of your choice, and some great bands. So during this break, don't forget about us, because we will be working hard on some new material and set changes. We want to give you the best show possible because you deserve it! Once again, the next show is Wednesday June 27, Quaker Steak & Lube in Middleton, with an early 5:30pm start time. See ya!

PS: Kudos to Clownboy for completing the LUBE double-dipper weekend! And yes, CB, you are now officially a groupie. Thanks man!

News: Friday, May 18th, 2007
Blue Chalk Club
Middleton, Wisconsin

I have the feeling a new trend is starting. If someone is celebrating a birthday, or any other momentous event, they bring their party to the LUBE show. What a great concept! Friday night was no different. We had multiple birthday rockers out celebrating with us at the Blue Chalk Club. Why is that? Because the LUBE show is one BIG party!

Our friend and long-time LUBIE Penny was out celebrating her birthday with some friends. Being a gentleman, I won't reveal how many spankings she received from our renowned paddler, Buzz. Just for her, we dusted off "Kryptonite" and played it as a present. She was in prime form last night and looked to be having a great time! Another one of our regular LUBE fans, KY, brought Carly out to celebrate her magical 21st birthday with us. Carly was a bit on the shy side and managed to wiggle her way out of being brought on stage for a spanking. We hope you to see you again! It was also the birthday of our very own Niiko, the man with 62 Wolfgangs. I won't tell you how old he is either, likely because I can't count that high. I went to a small school and we had no need for numbers that big. Niiko was resplendent in his smiley-faced "Boobies Make Me Smile" t-shirt and rocked like a man MUCH younger than he really is. I think that he and Penny should have spanked each other on their birthday, but it just never came to be. There was another girl there proclaiming it was her birthday, but she does this all the time. My guess is she's just looking for Buzz to touch her butt, and who could blame her. Anyway, happy birthday to those mentioned, and we'll do it all again in a year!

I would be derelict in my duties if I didn't mention the group of people from PHS out celebrating our good friend Sheri's final day of nursing school. There was quite a contingency of wild and crazy chicks (Sheri, Martina, Misti, Julie, Slimey, Jen, etc.), and a few fellas (I knew you'd be there, Panks), and it is a tremendous accomplishment well-deserving of a celebration. Congrats from LUBE! So Sheri, now that school is done, our light guy Chad has this "problem" and maybe you could take a look at it?

It was a good night at the BCC. There were a ton of events going on throughout the area, and it was awesome to see so many people making LUBE a part of their weekend. Thank you so much for the love and support! It was a little warm and sticky but everyone kept on drinkin' and rockin' right through to almost 1:45 AM! Like I mentioned earlier, a LUBE gig is one BIG party, rockin' to the dawn, lovin' til the morning, then I'm gone, I'm gone...

Here is your opportunity to be a part of history and complete the double-dipper. We are playing The Bean Saturday night, and if you've never seen a LUBE show at The Bean, you don't know what you're missing! It's going to be wild! We have a few weeks off following this show, so even if you came out last night, come out again and complete the sweep since this will be your last public viewing of LUBE until June 27 @ Quaker Steak & Lube for Bike Night. LUBE @ The Lube, get it? This is your last chance to get your fix for a while, and we'd hate to see you go through the DTs. It's gonna be a hot Saturday night! See you at The Bean!

News: Friday, May 11th, 2007
Windsor Street Grille
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

With the weather finally coming around and giving us blue skies and warm temperatures, gigs at this time of the year can be a little dicey. People are tired of being cooped up inside, and so camping, volleyball, motorcycles, etc. begin becoming a priority again. We were more than happy to see a packed house at the WSG!

Some odd things happened on this night, such things as gaff tape on nipples and the musical use of a plunger. At the start of the 3rd set, Shocker Dan appeared front and center with, of all things to be waving around, a plunger. Why, no one exactly knows, but there he/it was. He conducted the band with it, played the cowbell with it, tried to put it in Buzz's mic stand, and other out-of-the-ordinary activities for a plunger. The gaff tap on nipples thing...well, let me just tell you that a new shirt with embroidery across the chest should NOT be worn for a gig without another shirt under it. And the removal of the tape was nothing like the 40 Year Old Virgin. Maybe that's because I have like total 9 chest hairs, or maybe it's because I'm tough. Bottom line is embroidery=bad.

We had good cause for celebration as well. Ashley and Jamie were out celebrating their birthdays with LUBE. If you've ever seen a LUBE show, you know that cute chicks with birthdays means a spanking from Buzz. The smile on his face was a false indicator of the difficult job that really is. The band provided some spontaneous adult movie-like background music to enhance the moment. Also, our good friend and faithful LUBIE Tara Arnold was out celebrating too. She will now be a permanent fixture of the 94.1 WJJO morning radio show with Johnny Danger! Congratulations, Tara...that's a great gig for you!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the WSG! We hope you had a good time! Those who weren't there missed the world-premiere of our latest tune, "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer. Buzz was supposed to disrobe like in The Full Monty but chickened out....maybe next time. Speaking of next time, LUBE is at The Blue Chalk Club this coming Friday, May 18th. BCC has had some trouble with their website, listing a different band for that date, but rest assured that LUBE is scheduled and will be there 5/18. It just happens to be Niiko's birthday that day, so come give him his birthday spankings! (footnote: You'll need to be able to count to 100 to participate in the spankings.) Like a beer chaser, we'll follow that up with a rousing performance at the legendary Dry Bean on Saturday, May 19th. Do you have it in ya to do the double-dipper? It's going to be a great weekend, so we'll see you there!

Curt has the hardest job in show business

News: Saturday, April 21st, 2007
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

Fresh off a full weekend of smokin' gigs, we ventured back to one of favorite haunts, the Badger Bowl. Our good friends SuperTuesday were hosting a Prom-themed event at another local venue and we decided to play off that by billing our gig as an "Off Like A Prom Dress" show. We're not bad guys, per se, but the gleam you see in our eyes hints that we have some devilishness in us. Obviously there is a strong contingent of other devilish people in Madison because the Bowl was packed!

We had another birthday celebration out partying with us. Apparently if you are out to celebrate a birthday, the LUBE gig is the place to do it. We're more than ok with that! Our good friend and regular LUBIE Lindsey brought her birthday party to the Bowl, and they rocked, drank, danced, drank, rocked and danced and drank some more! Buzz was back to his old self and brought Lindsey on stage for a proper birthday spanking..

Those of you who couldn't make the show missed out on two unusual events. First of all, someone bumped into Lindsey, causing her to drop her full drink on the floor. Before the BB staff could get the mess cleaned up, several people nearly slipped and fell due to the wetness on the floor. Unfortunately birthday-girl Lindsey fell victim to the alcoholic carnage on the dance floor. She started to slip then tried to regain her balance. In doing so, both of her feet came completely off the floor. For a brief moment in time, as if in slo-mo, she was horizontally suspended in mid-air in a classic Superman-like pose. Unfortunately, unlike Superman, Lindsey crashed back down to Earth face first into the dance floor. Thankfully she wasn't hurt! She bounced right back up with a smile on her face. Maybe the drinks acted as a pain reliever.

The other oddity of the night was also courtesy of Lindsey. Out of the clear blue she came up to the stage with a pair of Buzz's underwear in a plastic bag. Like I said, these are things you just don't see at the average LUBE show! Post-show breakfast at Denny's we were informed that there was a hot tub party, underwear in a sink, and a commando Buzz one night. Lindsey did what all good friends would do, and that is to bring the undies to a gig in a Ziploc bag. To cap it off, she removed the briefs from their see-through Samsonite, waved them around for the crowd to see, put them on over her jeans, then danced around the stage. It was quite a sight! Steve chimed in that he was wearing a pair very similar to Buzz's blue briefs, but you probably didn't want to know that. For what it's worth, I myself am a boxers kind of guy.

Thanks go out to the ton of people who came out last night. It was our best night ever at Badger Bowl! History was also made as we used a new touch screen-operated on-stage monitor system that Dan designed and built himself (he's wicked good). We've been anxious to get it running and it worked great! For those who may not know or care what I'm talking about, suffice it to say that this new system is infinitely cool.

We have a few weeks off before we return to a stage near you. Our next gig is Friday May 11 at Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. The WSG gets packed and we have awesome shows there. We'll follow that with a show at the Blue Chalk Club on May 18 (Nick's birthday!) and The Bean May 19. Consider yourselves sufficiently warned! We'll see you there!

News: Saturday, April 14th, 2007
Level 8
Evansville, Wisconsin

This edition of the news is going to be a little different than most. Instead of recapping the night as it unfolded, I am going to tell the story of one song. The song is called "Love Stinks," from the album of the same name, released by the J. Geils Band in 1980.

There is a certain someone who is as much a part of the local music scene as the bands themselves. Her real name is Sarah, but most of us know her by her nickname. How and why she is called Hotdog has never been explained to me, but she is the epitome of a music fan. Hotdog brings her smile, enthusiasm, and passion for music to the bars, clubs, and arenas throughout the Midwest. She likes big bands and small bands, famous people and locals alike, and makes no apologies for it. HD likes what she likes, and when she likes it she loves it. She happens to love the song "Love Stinks."

Over the years Hotdog has become acquainted with many bands. She explained to me that she has asked numerous bands to do her one huge favor and play "Love Stinks." For years she has lived with a small void in her heart, the place where a specialized rendition of "Love Stinks," done just for her, would live. Hotdog's birthday was Friday 4/13, but she and her friends would be coming to Evansville Saturday night to see LUBE and celebrate. What was her one request? For LUBE to play "Love Stinks."

Hotdog can be described with many different words. The one word I'll use here is "persistent." We've received contact messages through our website, messages through the LUBE myspace page, messages through our personal myspace pages, etc. She littered her own myspace page with pleads, begs, grovels, and even prayer requests for LUBE to do her the favor of favors (out of the gutter, sickos). Would it happen? Would LUBE really learn a song just for her on her birthday?

As promised, HD and her entourage descended upon Level 8 Saturday night and danced the finish off the floor. Drinks flowed freely, especially the short ones, and the smiles were never-ending. We teased her by dedicating "Better Life" by Keith Urban to her, knowing that she isn't a big fan of that particular tune. She was not amused. But because Hotdog has been a faithful supporter of LUBE from the beginning, because she supports local music like it's her religion, because she is the kind of music fan everyone wishes they had, we did the unprecedented: we played "Love Stinks."

While it may not have been smooth and polished, we pulled it off. A stunned and amazed Hotdog leapt up on the stage and sat right in the middle of it for the first few bars as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She then went off like a crazy kangaroo, bouncing and jumping around as if her undies were on fire. It was something to see! Hotdog wasn't just smiling, she was beaming. Of course, we put our own twist on it with a little cut time jam at the end, but she loved it just the same. The hugs, kisses, and thank yous she showered upon us were just physical gestures of her appreciation. Her eyes said more. Or maybe it was the drinks, I don't know.

So HD's long-time birthday wish came true, and your boys in LUBE were the ones to fulfill the fantasy. Not like that hasn't happened before (wink, wink), and you know who you are!

Our next show is next Saturday (4/21) at the Badger Bowl. It's Lindsey's birthday which ought to be reason enough to come out. We're also pretty sure Hotdog will be there to see us. Join all of us for the festivities at the BB Saturday night and get LUBE'd!

News: Friday, April 13th, 2007
The Bean
Madison, Wisconsin

Friday the 13th! Ooooh...spooky! Friday the 13th movies are some of my favorites. Maybe we should have done a promotional event giving free cover charge to anyone named Jason. Too late now!

From the looks of things I don't think anyone was afraid to go out last night. According to our calculations, the entire city of Madison was at The Bean! It was crowded and hot before we even took the stage. Chad's lighting scheme threatened to make Michael Jacksons out of us it was so hot. However, we LUBEsters are smarter than the average picnic basket, and we made good use of fans. The Gimme Gimme Girls all seemed to like the breeze up their proverbial skirts when they came on stage...all 700 of them! I think this was the largest and collectively most talented assemblage of GGGs that we have ever had. Great job girls!

There were so many birthdays happening at The Bean that I can't even remember them all. I know for sure that Sarah, who works at The Bean, was there with a big group celebrating as well as our good buddy from work, Josh. Both Sarah and Josh were celebrating their 30th birthdays. I think I can remember that far back...I think. Despite the fact there were so many birthdays going on, Buzz didn't spank a single person! WTF?!? Maybe he's still suffering a rotator cuff injury from the last time.

It would be impossible to list all the incredibly cool people we know who were in attendance. Like I usually say, we saw you, we know who you are, and we greatly appreciate the fact you took time out of your lives to spend your Friday night with us. Thank you! I also had the good fortune to see my old neighborhood buddy from eons ago, Rich Bartley, as he was coming through the door. Sorry I couldn't find you in the sea of people! Send me a message through our contact page with how to get ahold of you and I will make it happen. I would be remiss, though, if I failed to highlight two special guests in the crowd. Super Bowl champion and Green Bay Packer legend Frank Winters spent the entire night hanging with the LUBE crowd. He may be retired but he is still one big dude! Also, the coach of the mighty Wisconsin Badgers football team, Bret Bielema, was in the house rocking out with your boys. It was a great night to be a football fan at the LUBE show! Last but not least, thanks to Nikki for bringing us a platter of gooey chocolate cake!

Thanks again for making the end of the work week a fantastic party! We are back at it again Saturday night 4/14 at Level 8 in Evansville. This too shall be a party of epic proportions as we will be celebrating the birthday of the world-famous Hotdog! She and her party entourage are making the short trip to E-ville to celebrate LUBE-style. Buzz may have gotten out of spanking people last night but I expect that to change! For those of you who aren't on myspace (you should be), Hotdog has been lobbying us for a special song, one that we would do just for her on her birthday. Are we going to do it? Would we really learn a song for just one night? There is one sure way to find out...come to Level 8! It's a huge, spacious venue and they make killer, low-rent drinks. Make the short trip and have a LUBEalicious Saturday night!

News: Saturday, March 17th, 2007
Windsor Street Grille
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Windsor Street Grille. St. Patrick's Day. Green beer. Green clothes. LUBE. Wicked Lily. That right there is a recipe for a kick ass Saturday night!

I don't know that any of us in the band are Irish. Our grunt Curt looks like a leprechaun, but I don't think he's Irish either. The reality is that on St. Patrick's Day, everybody is Irish and they party like crazy! So that's what we did.

The night started with the majestic return of Wicked Lily to the rock stage. They were killer! The girls were welcoming new member Wendy, and it was their first show in about seven months. Wendy is a veteran rocker, complete with six-string wizardry and mad stage presence. WL rocked up some previous favorites as well as a few new tunes to include "U & Ur Hand" by Pink and "Slide It In" by Whitesnake. With songs like that, I'm starting to think that these are some deliciously dirty girls...

By about 9:45pm, the crowd was frothing at the mouth and buzzing with energy. It could have been the copious amounts of green beer they were ingesting, but more so due to powerful set from WL. We hit the stage primed and ready to rock! It was shoulder-to-shoulder partying up front as the WSG was packed! There were hot chicks in green, studly dudes in green, and a whole lot of green spent at the bar. I don't think anyone left there thirsty, however they may be feeling that today. We didn't add any new music to the set list for this weekend, but at Buzz's request, we broke into song and spontaneously created an original St. Patrick's Day song. Someday you'll be able to buy in on ebay for a million dollars. Now that I think of it, Jeff and Buzz did do an acoustic version of "Home" by Daughtry. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for this one done full-band style in the near future.

Following this show, we come to another break in the schedule. This will give us time to work on some new tunes and rest our weary bones. I have the feeling that these new songs will be great fits in the set list and quickly become fan favorites.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the WSG and celebrated St. Patty's Day with us! We had a great time and hope you did too. Special thanks go out to Wicked Lily for opening the show. It was great to see you back on stage and we're happy to welcome Wicked Wendy to our extended family! It's now time to rest up, recharge the batteries, and prepare for unprecedented bacchanalia. Our next gig is set for Friday, April 13th (yes, Friday the 13th) at The Bean. Nobody parties like The Bean! See you there!

News: Saturday, March 10th, 2007
Riley Tavern
Verona, Wisconsin

This show at The Riley was the one that never was supposed to happen. In June '06 I went through a calendar and figured out which dates LUBE was free to book for '07 based on our irregular work schedules. Some of you may have noticed that we don't play as often as some other bands, and it is primarily due to our "real" jobs. Saturday March 10th was not an available date yet for whatever reason, I listed it as such and lo and behold we booked a gig for that night. Leave it to me to get us in a pickle!

After considering a host of options, some of which we unsavory (aka canceling), Nick and I went to our scheduling department to see about getting Sunday 3/11 off. With an unexpected bout of serendipity, there were extras on the schedule and we were able to take the day off, preserving the scheduled gig at The Riley. Nancy in Scheduling...we love you!

To the schooled eye, it may have looked as though our production was scaled down, and in fact it was. Since our last show at The Riley, Dan has put a new lighting truss and stands into use, and they simply are too big to fit into the cozy environment there. Chad put his creativity to work and put together a simple yet effective lighting rig that worked quite well in the small band area. Now, one would think that with less gear we would have more room to operate. One would have thought incorrectly. I still had my 3-tile square X 2-tile square space to practice my bassism. Fortunately, I was able to curtail my usual acrobatic performance to fit the needs of the limited space.

As we have come to expect, there was a great crowd on hand Saturday night. The bar was packed with birthday party revelers when we all arrived. We ugly, smelly band guys promptly scared them all away and opened up space for the true LUBE party animals who arrived a short time later. It was nearly impossible to get from the back of the bar to the front for some fresh air! Just to name a few...Lindsey, Misty, Maryellen, Craig, and Dia from SuperTuesday, Josh, Brian, and my new friend Tara were there with throngs of others(including bachelorette Tara and her bus load of people). I am really terrible about mingling and meeting new people, so don't be afraid to introduce yourselves. I'll put you in the news and make you famous!

Next week we have something very special on tap for all you LUBE-amaniacs. We are playing at the Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie and plan on celebrating St. Patrick's Day to the N-th degree. To top things off, to make this show so attractive you can't possibly stay away, LUBE is proud to present the long-anticipated return of Wicked Lily to the stage! That's right...the bad-ass rock chicks are back! Sporting a revised line up and some new tunes, Wicked Lily will kick the night off at 9:00pm with a power-packed set that will definitely get the night off to a hot start. DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW! LUBE will take the stage about 9:45pm and play the rest of the night. Be sure to make an appointment with your doctor for reattachment surgery because we are going to rock your asses off! Make sure you wear something green and we'll see you Saturday!

PS: A special thanks goes out to my wife Tammy (aka Wicked Tammy) for being so understanding about my scheduling gaff on her birthday. I'm making it up to her...trust me! XO!

News: Friday, March 9th, 2007
Blue Chalk Club
Middleton, Wisconsin

You know, this has been a strange winter. The weather was unseasonably warm for a while, and then when winter finally kicked in, it really kicked in and we were hit with frigid temps and then a boat-load of snow. Perhaps this quirky weather has taken advantage of us LUBE boys. We have all been fighting various ailments, playing shows on days we probably should have called in sick (so to speak). Friday was another one of those.

Everyone's favorite drummist (if it can be said, it's a word in my book) Steve has felt like dog poo all week and was diagnosed with strep throat. Oh joy. We had to cancel rehearsal this past week because he felt awful and didn't want to spread it to the rest of us. I was sick at our last Badger Bowl show (as was Steve...a precursor to strep?) and am finally feeling about 95% "normal," so a missed week of practice was probably for the best. Steve showed up at the Blue Chalk Club moving under his own power but clearly not 100%.

However, in true heroic LUBE fashion, he persevered and played a strong show on his seldom-seen studio kit. Alas, due to his strep throat, he was unable to do any backing vocals. During the post-show recap at Denny's, we all remarked at how different we sounded without his vocals in the mix. Hopefully it didn't sound "bad," but it was likely "different." Steve's vocals are much more prominent than any of us had thought, and so when you hear us at full strength, should that situation ever happen again, try to hear all the individual parts and see what everyone is actually doing in each song. It's kind of cool. Steve, for one, does much more than just hit things with sticks.

Thanks to everyone who took it upon themselves to include LUBE in their Friday night! It was a nice and, according to the fellas, "talented" crowd. Read into that what you will. The BBC staff treated us well, like usual, and our stellar crew did their usual kick-ass job on production. But the weekend party doesn't end there...NFW! Tonight (it's Saturday March 10th for those who don't know) LUBE is poised to take the "stage" at the world famous Riley Tavern! Shows at The Riley are just nutty...wall-to-wall people, killer cocktails, and uninhibited debauchery. I know you just partied hard with us last night, but if we can do two in a row, you can too! We'll see you there!

PS: The above promotional information provided by "Friends of Steve for President" and presided over by Bartho, chief propagandist-in-charge-of-propaganda. All details real or imagined are the sole property of the propaganda team and cannot be reused without permission or a t-shirt purchase. Get yours today and join the LUBE street team!

News: Saturday, February 17th, 2007
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

The music biz is a wonderful thing. Whether you are playing songs you've written yourself or covering the creations of other artists, it is truly a magical experience and an honor to make music. Like everything else in real life, however, there are some drawbacks. There are no paid vacations when you are in a cover band. A day off is a day without pay. One thing that rang true for us Saturday night is the fact that there is no sick leave. With 60% of LUBE under the weather to a certain degree, it was time to suck it up and rock the Mad City.

Last week, Jeff was ailing and staggered to the finish at The Bean. Still not hitting on all cylinders, he was clearly better off than Steve and I. Fighting congestion, sneezes, coughing fits, and general displeasure, we had to put our game faces on and make the best of our situation. Nick and Buzz, they always seem to be good and really helped carry us through the night.

Buzz, it should be noted, may have strained a ligament or something in his right arm, and it's not from what you might think it was. I believe he set a new record for total birthday spankings in a single night. He brought at least three lovely young ladies on stage and properly paddled their posteriors in celebration of the day of their birth. While I don't recall many details of the evening thanks to some heavy doses of OTC cold meds, I do know that our good friend and long-time LUBIE Stacy (aka SuperGirl) was one of his "victims." Judging by the smiles, though, I think all of the birthday girls enjoyed it!

With the band fighting various maladies these past few weeks, we haven't had much opportunity to work on new music. We have been discussing new ideas, some of which have come directly from you good people who have written us through our Contacts page or sent us a message on MySpace. The LUBE gig is all about YOU having a great time, dancing your ass off, and being tired until Tuesday because we worked you over so good! So I will put it out there again...if you have song ideas that you'd like to hear us play, please drop us a line with your idea and we'll give it fair consideration. For example, Miss Ashlet suggested a song to us that has garnered favorable reviews from everyone. This week at rehearsal we'll give it another listen and decide if it's a go, but I think we have high hopes for it. Get involved and become part of your favorite band!

Our next show is March 9th at the Blue Chalk Club in Middleton. We have had some excellent shows there and expect that to continue! All of us sickies will do our part and rest up, take our vitamins, and get healthy so that we can continue to rock you in the manner you've grown accustomed to. Special thanks go out to our production crew (Dan, Chad, & Curt) who did yet another fantastic job for us. They were subjected to some harsh conditions while setting up ("We built this city..."), made us look and sound as good as ever, and sent us sick guys home before all the gear was loaded. Their efforts continually go above and beyond, and they should be applauded for all that they do for us. See you @ the BCC!

News: Saturday, February 10th, 2007
The Bean
Madison, Wisconsin

With the needles of winter still piercing exposed skin, our intrepid heroes traversed the local transportation routes, hauling weighty yet necessary implements of amplified music creation, to the proper coordinates of the host venue, The Bean. Legend has it that the sonic exploits of LUBE are a spectacle of wonderment at this home of local auditory artisans. A vast majority of the populace modified their personal life rituals to include attending this joyous gala.

The patrons imbibed with fervor and an insatiable thirst, as if suckling their very essence from the teat of life. Sacred dance rituals were performed with zest and energy. Some danced in thanks for the beautiful notes and harmonies, a sonic bliss ultimately gifted from the gods. Others were more lusty in their movements, peacocking and strutting to attract a romantic partner, if not a life mate. The urgency of their movements was palpable. A few achieved success, many did not.

The Lubian performers, stringent fighters of ennui who consistently strive for a freshness not often found in the local industry, altered the arrangement of the performed melodies in a manner not previously observed. Like hand-grown herbs, the reconfigurement of tunes added a special flavor to an already tantalizing dish. The newest delight to dance upon the ears like a piece of fresh mint on the tongue was "Lips Of An Angel" by Hinder. This latest addition to LUBE's repertoire piqued the yearnings and desires of a multitude of the fairer sex, and they gleefully opened their hearts and voices, singing along with the band, uniting the two entities in a holy chorale. Moving...

Sadly, the blissful cacophony waned and gave way to the weary clamor of the patrons exiting the palace of musical delight. With testosterone raging, several young men engaged in a combat known for centuries, likely for the affections of a beautiful young lass. The warriors of peace and security escorted the pugilists off the premise and into the waiting hands of governmental authorities, and at long last the evening came to a close. Like reading the last page of a favored novel, the bittersweet moment signaled the end of the night, and with it the subtle yet insistent pang of wanting more...

For the next episode in this epic of musicality featuring your faithful servants in LUBE, please make yourselves present at Badger Bowl Saturday on the 17th day of February, year of our Lord 2007. A good time shall be had by all in attendance. Those who do not attend will have missed a life-altering moment akin to rebirth in a world of all things beautiful and right.

News: Saturday, January 13th, 2007
The Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

It was with a little trepidation that we booked our first show of calendar year 2007 at a venue we had never played before: The Club Tavern in Middleton. The Club hosts a lot of music, however it is primarily original bands and artists, both locals and touring acts. LUBE isn't your typical Club Tavern band but Michael Alexander wooed us and so we thought we'd give it a shot. I can summarize our collective response to the show in two words:

Suffice it to say LUBE's debut at The Club was a tremendous success! While I'm hardly a regular there, I've been to The Club quite a few times, and I have never seen it that populated. It was unbelievable! Several people told me of how they were turned away at the door, went elsewhere for a drink and came back, and it was still packed. We later learned that they ran out of beer because the LUBE crowd knows how to get their party on. Kick ass!

It was birthday central last night, and the revelers were in rare form. Krystal, Dia from SuperTuesday, and HotDog's sister Kris were all on hand celebrating their "29th" birthdays, and they brought some serious party animals with them. Just check out the Pictures page for documentation on that! HD and Kris begged and groveled for a special birthday treat, and since we're such good guys, we obliged our faithful followers with a wildly-appreciated "Voodoo" by Godsmack. You know, that song was retired and placed on the RIP list but popular demand keeps bumping it back into the set list. So you tell us...do we put it back in the regular rotation, save it for special occasions, or put it away for good. Let us know via our Contact page.

There were so many people there...literally...that I would never be able to list all the local dignitaries and full-blooded LUBIES that I saw. One special note is that Mike from the band Emerson Drive, a nationally touring country band, joined us on stage when we played "Better Life" by Keith Urban. This gave Steve a nice unplanned breather, and the crowd totally ate it up. Thank you all so much for braving the snowy weather and making our first show at The Club a triumphant and memorable success! Special thanks to Michael for working so hard to book us there and to Moose and his excellent bartending and security staff. You took great care of us and we can't wait to be back at The Club again ASAFP!

Due to a clustery schedule, we sadly have several weeks off before our next show. Brace yourselves, though, because when we come back it is at The Bean Saturday Feb. 10! Do you have any idea how insane Bean shows are?!? Quite frankly, we might need all that time to recover from last night! Rest up people, and get ready for another unbelievable night with LUBE!

PS: In addition to your thoughts on "Voodoo," feel free to send us your suggestions on new songs, new swag, whether or not you want Buzz to take his pants off during the show, etc. LUBE is a reflection of the people who come to see us. Seriously...if there is a song you think we should play, send us a message through the Contact page and we'll take it under advisement. We might decide you are completely out your mind and disregard your proposal. Then again, we might not. If you recommend a new song for us to play and we do it, we will acknowledge your idea and offer our sincere thanks. Take an active "roll" in your rock! HA!

News: Saturday, January 13th, 2007
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

This Saturday from noon until 3:00 PM there will be a benefit at the Badger Bowl for Bill Goettler. Bill was a manager at the Badger Bowl for over 9 years and many of us in local bands have worked with him over the years. Bill is in need of a heart transplant and desperately needs a surgery (for which insurance will not pay) to allow him to be put on the Heart Transplant list.

If you are unable to attend but are able to help donations can be brought to any M&I Bank in Madison in care of Bill Goettler. Bill's wife Carin is hoping that some of the kindness and professionalism that Bill exhibited over the years will be returned to him.

Unfortunately Lube is not able to play at the benefit due to a prior commitment but we wanted to make vistors to our web site aware of this event.

Carin & Bill Goettler
goettlers@yahoo.com
Home Phone 271-6287
Bill's Cell 217-2826
Carin's Cell 239-1271