Lube News Archive: 2008

News: Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Years Eve
Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

Well boys & girls, it's time to put a wrap on 2008. While it's awfully easy to complain about the negatives in the world, and I do my share of complaining (just ask my wife), the truth is that we all have a lot to be thankful for. Sure, work might suck but at least it's a job, right? Gas was outrageously expensive but has come back down. Most of us have decent health and great families & friends. LUBE, too, has had it's share of challenges this year. I'd like to think we're weathering the storm quite well and will come out of it better than ever!

Moose & our friends at The Club Tavern were gracious enough to have us back for New Year's Eve again this year. We've had some awesome shows at The Club, and last NYE was a blast! It's a little tough to whip up a party on a Wednesday night but it looked like our LUBIES were up to the task! Cover charge was reasonable for a "big" night like NYE ($10), and best of all, Moose personally gives rides home for those who consume too much. That's customer service!

All of us had the day off from work except for Steve, the chief drummist and rhythm keeper in the band. He put in a 10-hour day prior to coming to The Club. Sometimes it's tough to be a short-hair with a day job and a rock star at the same time! Steve soldiered on and pounded away like the consummate professional he is, because he loves music and the fans who support us.

Jeff did a fine job in reconfiguring the set list to allow for us to play a little later than normal and also accommodate for the big to-do at midnight. You can't welcome in another year without some champagne and a little "Auld Lang Syne!" We played two relatively short sets prior to 2009's arrival then chased it with a powerhouse 23-song, 90 minute butt-kicker. It was awesome! In the middle of that big set, we threw in a new tune, "Killing In The Name Of..." by Rage Against The Machine. People loved it! For as much as LUBE fans like to come to our shows to dance and party, they also seem to totally dig banging their heads! Maybe it's because deep down, us LUBE guys are pretty much metal heads. At any rate, it went over well and certainly gives me inspiration to find more heavy tunes to work into the show.

On a personal note, I had a few people ask why I had "George" written on a piece of gaff tape stuck to my bass. George was my grandfather, and he passed away on Dec. 23, right before Christmas. He would always ask about the band, saying, "Boy, I bet it's pretty loud when you play." I'd tell him he was right, prompting his favorite expression for everything, "Balls!" followed by a big chuckle. I proposed a toast to George in the 3rd set, and I sincerely thank everyone who joined in saluting my Gramps one last time.

So...2008 is now history and we are looking 2009 right in the eyes. This year brings us the 10th anniversary of the very first LUBE gig. We played our first show on Oct. 1, 1999 at Rox in Jefferson, opening for the JC Band. We knew about 15 songs and had a set list of about 10 because the others were still a bit shaky. As we were wrapping it up, JC told us to play more as one of the other bands scheduled to appear couldn't make it. With a shrug of the shoulders, we cranked out everything we could whether it was ready for public consumption or not. It must not have been too bad because we're still kickin'! While the official 10-year party has yet to be booked, keep your eyes open as it will happen sometime in October. If I have my way, we'll play our set from that first fateful night at Rox. It's gonna be great!

To everyone who came to our shows, bought our t-shirts, put LUBE stickers on your butt and your car, told someone else to check us out, etc., we say "Thank You!" 2008 treated us pretty well, and we will be raising the bar yet again in 2009. Keep watching for the new luberocks.com which will be debuting in the very near future, and we'll see you out on the town!

News: Saturday, December 6, 2008
Scatz Grand Opening
Middleton, Wisconsin

It was with a great sense of pride that we prepared for Saturday night's gig. Scatz, formerly known as the Blue Chalk Club and sight of some past LUBE shows, was celebrating their grand opening. True, Scatz was open to the public for a week or two, but the real kickoff was Saturday and we were chosen as the first band. Awesome! If you've ever talked to Scott or Rick from Scatz, you immediately know that they are passionate about creating a great environment for entertainment. The Blue Chalk Club was a very nice venue, however it pales in comparison to what they've done in creating Scatz! There are 85 flat screen TVs. 85! I think every game on the planet was being shown somewhere! The space is open, there are good sight lines to the stage, and plenty of staff on hand to tend to your every need. Bands used to play upstairs at the BCC, but that area is now a banquet room and the bands are now on a nice, tall stage at one end of the lower level formerly occupied by pool tables. There still are some pool tables there with ample room for playing. It's really a beautiful place, and it's also non-smoking. My lungs thank you for that!

Upon arrival I nearly slipped on the wet floor and knocked my teeth out while loading gear in. That would have been a disastrous start to the night! Rick hooked us up with our favorite beverages and we all just relaxed and prepared for the gig. Scatz is a BIG place with a capacity of about 800. There were a lot of people there early enjoying dinner and drinks but it never felt "crowded." I enjoy my personal space and Scatz allows for a lot of people to be present without being claustrophobic.

Eventually it was show time and Rick addressed the massive crowd, thanking them for coming out and explaining all the things Scatz has to offer. Expect lots of great live music at Scatz! DJ Double-A also said a few words before handing the mic over to Buzz, and then it was our turn. The tall stage allows the band to see all the way to the back of the club, and if we can see you, you can see us. Not every venue is set up that way and it really makes a big difference. Dave Cobb was running the light show, complete with lasers, and with the fogger getting a steady workout, the effect was very cool. The dance floor filled up and stayed moving all night! Some of the people I talked to in between sets said they had to wait at the door as the bar was at capacity. I heard reports of 700-900 people coming through the doors. That's a lot of people and pretty damn good for their grand opening party! But as I mentioned before, the bar is spacious and well laid out, so it never felt too crowded. I think Scatz is setting themselves up very well!

We had a few tweaks to the set list again. Friday night we played "Kill The King" by Megadeth as it was requested by Buzz's friend Jeeves who was celebrating a birthday and had traveled all the way from West Bend for the show. While it's a pretty heavy tune (gee, you think with a title like that?!?), we're all a bunch of metal heads and so are some of our fans. We called an audible during the third set and played it again Saturday. As much as people love to dance to the music we play, they also love banging their heads! Also by popular request, we threw "Scotty Doesn't Know" by Lustra in as part of our encore. For a song that is known essentially from being in the movie "Eurotrip," LUBE fans love it! The show ended with the rowdy and dirty "Crazy Bitch" by Buckcherry. Taking advantage of my wireless system, I ventured out into the crowd and was absolutely mobbed. It was super fun! Thanks to Scotty & Chris from Gladstone for helping me play my bass at the end.

There's no other way around it. Scatz's grand opening party was a smashing success! We wish them the best of luck and hope they can keep a good thing going. Trust us, we'll be booking more shows there! LUBE has a few weeks off, and that isn't such a bad thing with Christmas rapidly approaching. We'll be well rested but ready for action on New Year's Eve! Come see us at The Club Tavern in Middleton. We love The Club, they have great drinks, and this is going to be the bestest, funnest NYE party in town! Come help us usher in 2009, a milestone for LUBE as we'll celebrate our 10 year anniversary later in the year. It's gonna be awesome, baby!

News: Friday, December 5, 2008
The Dry Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

My wife keeps telling me it's not winter yet. My response to her is, "Look out the window and tell me if it looks like winter to you!" With the cold wind a howlin' Friday night, we descended upon the Bean knowing that the show inside was going to warm everyone up. When the temperature is in the teens and the giant flag at Perkins is standing straight out, it's f-ing cold! We love playing at the Bean! Shows there are always well attended by crazy, good time-having party animals. Sometimes, however, the crowd can be a little sedentary at the start of the show. Maybe they just need to get some dancing juice aka booze in their system before they attack the dance floor. Friday night was cold enough that you almost needed antifreeze to get moving! Eventually the wind outside calmed down a bit and the people got their drink on. If you've been to a LUBE gig at the Bean, you know what the end result of that is!

Before you knew it, the bar was full and the party was on. I know I've said it a million times in the past, but the sight of hundreds of people, all with smiles on their faces, dancing and having a good time while we enjoy the pleasure of playing music, is one of the greatest feelings ever. The nights just fly by and suddenly it's last call and we're packing up. Jeff did some subtle rearranging of the set list for us and I always enjoy that. It's easy to settle into a routine with the songs we play and some of our fans really enjoy it. They know if we're playing Song A that Song B follows. That helps the band from the standpoint of polishing a show, smooth transitions, etc. I sorta like having to pay attention to what's coming next. By the end of the night, we've played "our set," but it was just done in a different way. Always keep the people guessing, I say! That keeps them coming back for more.

Jeff also told me earlier in the night that according to a local meteorologist, it was supposed to warm up outside during the evening and bring snow with it. I scoffed as I usually do, being of little faith in weather prognosticators. Maybe Jeff and his weatherman were right, or maybe it the hot LUBE gig that did it, but it did warm up outside and sho nuf', the snow fell. I looked outside at set break and all the cars in the lot were covered! We're all for a good party but we also want all of our fans to make it home safely. Without you there is no rawk party! Hopefully your travels were without incident.

After a long week and a hot sweaty show Friday night, we experienced one of those rare occasions when no one goes out for breakfast after the show. It doesn't happen often! The plows were out and we decided to call it a night and get ready for a big show Saturday night...the grand opening of Scatz in Middleton. Scatz was formerly known as the Blue Chalk Club and we were honored to be chosen for the grand opening bash. As per usual, the show starts at 9:30pm so come check out LUBE at the hottest new club in town, Scatz!

News: Friday, November 28, 2008
Pooley's
with the Love Monkeys
Madison, Wisconsin

I love playing gigs. Each and every time we have the opportunity to take the stage, I get butterflies and am anxious to for the show. The show Friday night brought a few more butterflies than most. We we preparing to share the stage with the world-famous Love Monkeys from Milwaukee. The Love Monkeys are well established, having been on the scene for 15 years, and have become a huge draw across the Midwest and at premiere events such as Summerfest. I don't consider us LUBE guys to be a bunch of slouches, but clearly, the Love Monkeys got game and so we needed to bring it Friday night. And it is my great pleasure to tell you that we did just that, and if you missed it, you missed one of the best shows in the history of shows! The room at Pooley's is very similar to the one we played in Wednesday night at the Red Mouse. There was a big, tall stage provided and top-notch production including video. I was stoked before we even plugged in a guitar! The two bands worked as one, sharing gear and getting along great. We shared drums (thanks, LUBE Steve) and the bass rig (thanks, Love Monkey Nick). The guitar players, being the persnickety bitches they are (kidding, fellas) all used their own set-ups, but again the stage was big and it all worked very well. The production company had a double-spilt for the monitors so everyone had their own individual monitor mixes, making it easy for us to hear what we needed to hear. We were all properly set for a great show!

The Love Monkey's kicked off the night with a short acoustic set at 9:00pm. Their music nicely lends itself to being played acoustically and it was a good way to get the juices flowing. They play cover tunes like us but also have quite an array of original music from over the years that they mix into the show. Their newest CD was available for sale at the and I failed to get one...next time! LUBE then started the loud & noisy electrified show by coming out with Velvet Revolver's "Slither." If we were looking for a strong opening statement, "Slither" accomplished that! The crowd was totally into it and was rocking hard! We were having a blast. The tall stage made it seem like a big-time rock show, Nick's huge Ampeg rig was cranking up a ton of sweet sounding bass (can you ever have too much bass?), and it was nothing but smiling faces in all directions. Thanksgiving coma, my ass! People came out to party!

The Love Monkeys were up next, and so with a few quick cord exchanges and repositioning of the mics, they were off and running in about 5 minutes. Really, there was hardly any down time between bands and so the party went on non-stop. If you've never seen the Love Monkeys, you have no idea of the kind of energy they bring to the stage. John on lead vocals is a most enthusiastic performer and his band mates bring top-notch musicianship and stellar backing vocals. Their music is upbeat and fun and has a reggae/world music flavor to it. Of course, that comes crashing through when JD, the Love Monkey from Jamaica, bounces onto the stage! Periodically, JD will come on stage and do his reggae/rap thing with the band and it's super cool. He's got great energy! Once they finished their set, it was our turn again. Like the last change, about 5 minutes is all it took and LUBE was "Bust A Move"-ing the crowd. If you like to dance, this was the show for you! Both bands played great danceable music and with the quick changes, the energy never slowed. We ended our second set with the crowd-pleasing "Crazy Bitch" by Buckcherry. Buzz said that as we were bringing it to a close, he felt something next to him and it was JD. He gave him the mic and JD rapped over the "Crazy Bitch" outro. That just showed how well the two bands got along. Not only did the crowd dig it, we did too and simply stated, it was an awesome end to our set!

The Love Monkeys then closed the night with a crazy, fun last set. They morphed from song into song into song, all within the context of one song, and even got Corey Poole himself on stage to sing a little bit. It was great! At the end of the night, they were playing "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones and invited us LUBE dudes to join them on stage. Jeff & Nick grabbed guitars to join Daryl and Keith, John & Buzz traded vocals, Nick threw me his bass and grabbed a tambourine, and somehow Jason transformed into Steve behind the drum kit without missing a beat. Factor in JD and suddenly it was an 11-member Monkey LUBE band jamming the longest-known rendition of YCAGWYW! It totally rocked!

I think I can safely say that both bands has a damn good time with this gig. There were no egos, no pretensions, just a bunch of guys trying to throw a fun party. With hugs and handshakes all around, we loaded out and called it a night. There is already talk of doing this again, and I know my LUBE guys are more than agreeable to that. Big thanks to the Love Monkeys for sharing their stage with us, to Joe their stage manager/set up guru who was super cool and helped us with anything we needed, to Chad for being our monitor monkey all night, to Curt, Jenny & Brian for their photographing skills, and to everyone who spent the night with us. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It was a splendid way to wrap the Thanksgiving holiday. Keep your eyes peeled for a sequel...maybe in Milwaukee, maybe back in Madison. It was a great show and we can't wait to do it again!

News: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Red Mouse
Pine Bluff, Wisconsin

The night before Thanksgiving had us deja vuing. We were booked to play at a venue called the Red Mouse, and technically we'd never played there before. Yet years ago the Red Mouse was known as Kitt's Korners, and we had some great shows at Kitt's! Remember some of their Bluff Fest shows where we played with the likes of Vince Neil from Motley Crue, Seven Mary Three, Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors, Sponge, etc? Maybe you were there inside the bar when we played a couple of hot & sweaty "post-Bluff Fest" shows after our friends in Super Tuesday closed the show down outside. Those were some of the best gigs ever! With that in mind, we were hoping to recreate that intensity upon our return Wednesday night.

The bar had us set up in what we refer to as the "boom room." It's as big as a gymnasium! Due to some remodeling from the venue's days as a gentleman's club, the substantial, two-tiered stage was set up closer to the middle of the room. That made for a more intimate environment and brought us closer to the people. We love that!

The night before Thanksgiving can be hit-or-miss as far as crowds go. Many people travel to visit their families and friends or welcome folks into their own homes for the holiday. And I gotta tell you, Thanksgiving is the GREATEST holiday of all time in my book! But that being said, you just never know if people are going to be out and about the night before Turkey Day (or any other holiday). We were very happy to see so many people come out and rock with us! Again, it was the first time we'd played that venue in years, coupled with the holiday mess, and yet there was a strong crowd on hand that wanted to party. So we did!

I saw a bunch of new faces as well as some long-time LUBE devotees. Our good friend Rowan is no longer preggers, having had a beautiful baby boy, and was out to see us for the first time since we played the Cross Plains World's Fair. It was great to see her out dancing again. Other faces in the crowd included Clownboy, Missy, Nicki, Tara, Kenny, Brenda (who was back from Indiana) and way too many people to list one by one. Trust me, though...we know who you are and we appreciate you taking the time to come to the LUBE rock show! If you lost your LUBE virginity that night, we can't wait for round two!

We will be fighting off the effects of tryptophan for a monster show Thursday night. Live from Pooley's on Madison's east side will be a double-header show starring LUBE and Milwaukee's favorite sons, The Love Monkeys! In a first for us, the bands will be alternating sets as opposed to having an "opening band" and a "headliner." There will be minimal time between the bands as changeover will be super fast. That means the music will be virtually non-stop for at least 4 full hours! It's the perfect opportunity to dance off that third helping of stuffing and gravy or the entire pumpkin pie you ate. Show starts at 9:00pm and is going to be an absolute blast! See you there!

News: Saturday, November 8th, 2008
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

I just have one thing to say...nice effort Badger Bowl! Saturday night turned out to be one of the funnest (that's right, funnest!) shows we've played at the Bowl. There were a lot of events going on. A LOT. And yet the crowd we enjoyed was second to none. When people came out and danced during sound check, I knew it was gonna be a good one!

There were a couple of birthday parties in the house with us, one of them being our good friend and long time LUBIE Trista. Oh, to be 27 again! It was great seeing her & hubby Jim, Scottie Bones & Kates_27, Josh, Carmen, and the rest of the gang. Thanks for including LUBE in your fun night out! It was Pete and Sarah's birthdays as well and while we've discontinued the birthday spankings we still appreciate it when all of you spend your birthdays with us.

Things got off to a flying start with the first chords of "Holiday." The dance floor instantly filled up and stayed that way until they threw us out at the end of the night! There was a great two-way energy exchange. The band felt good and was clicking, the rock peeps were feeling it and having a great time...a win-win in my book. People seem to be digging "When I Grow Up," as well. I know we have fun with it!

As always, it was a warm, steamy one inside Badger Bowl...but it felt good! I had quite a few people comment on the quality of the "talent" Saturday night, and frankly, those people know what they're talking about. It's become sort of a given that all the good looking people come to LUBE gigs! Outside the snowflakes were falling, not enough to accumulate, but enough to let you know winter's just around the corner. Where has the year gone?!? Wasn't it just beer tent season?!?

Before we say goodbye to 2008, we have 5 more shows to play, with Wednesday Nov. 26 being next up. We'll be at the Red Mouse in Pine Bluff, and we haven't played a show there since it was Kitt's Korner. Remember the Bluff Fest shows? They were awesome! We want to recreate that the night before Thanksgiving, so come party with us and work up a strong appetite for all the savory treats Thanksgiving offers. The night after Thanksgiving is setting up to be a show of EPIC proportions. For the first time ever, LUBE will be playing a dual show with Milwaukee's favorite sons, the Love Monkeys! Pooley's will be the sight of what is bound to be an incredible night. We're still working on logistics, but the goal is to have the bands alternating sets with virtually no down time in between. Two high-energy shows rolled into one! The following weekend, Friday 12/5 we'll be at The Bean and Saturday 12/6 LUBE will christen the new club Scatz (formerly the Blue Chalk Club) in Middleton. That is a weekend not to be missed! We then close out the year with the best NYE show in town at Club Tavern 12/31. Make your plans now!

News: Saturday, November 1st, 2008
Bowl-A-Vard
Madison, Wisconsin

Years and years ago, I remember going to what was then the Sunset night club (I think) at Bowl A Vard lanes. I even saw the Wizenhiemers play there, but again, that was many moons ago. The night club is now called The Arena and BAV is once again making another attempt at hosting bands on a regular basis. LUBE was there to help them throw a little Halloween bash.

So if you read the news from the night before, we played at The Club Tavern in Middleton and went as the racing sausages from Miller Park. With two shows over Halloween weekend, we couldn't wear the same costumes both nights. As opposed to another group theme, we each came up with our own ideas, scary in it's own right.

Leading the way on lead vocals and crazy stage antics, Buzz was a mulleted clergy figure known as the Father of Rock. Actually, he looked quite a bit like his high school pictures! Niiko, for the second night in a row, pulled from his Italian heritage and went as a mobster. The New Balances were a nice touch to his outfit. Hermanator was a white shoes-wearing, Run DMC-like 1980's era hip hopper. I thought he sort of looked like a deranged old geezer from Florida with his glasses on but he corrected me on that. My boy on the drums, Steverino, was pimped out in his best pimpwear, complete with giant 70's afro. As he was playing, he reminded me of John Fred Young of Black Stone Cherry who also sports a massive head of hair. As for me, I can thank my lovely bride for coming up with my costume idea. We had a family Halloween party to attend last weekend and Tammy always had wanted us to go as the Flintstones. She spent a couple of evenings working on our costumes, and I gotta say, I was a damn good Fred Flintstone. Yabba dabba doo!

There were a few people who came out in costume, including the Wilma to my Fred, but most people favored "standard club" attire. Bullet was out for the second night in a row on his customized, decked out Halloween Harley. If you've never seen it, you have no idea what you're missing! It's amazing that he can even get on it, much less drive it. We witnessed the third set arrival of a big group of young ladies, all decked out in their Halloween best. They were having a good time and kicked the party up a notch! Things at BAV will only get better once the word gets out that they are doing bands again. It's a nice, big facility and we were happy to be part of their Halloween celebration.

Thanks to everyone who came out and partied with us this weekend! Halloween presents countless options for going out and having a good time. For you to put together and come hang with us...well, it's simply awesome! Thanks for the fun! We will see you next weekend at one of our regular haunts, the Badger Bowl, for a Saturday night extravaganza!

News: Friday, October 31st, 2008
Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

Madison is known for it's wild parties on Halloween. Over the years, thousands upon thousands of revelers have seen some of the best costumes and experienced incredible parties on State Street. They have also witnessed the worst on human behavior and the wanton destruction of property, leading to the creation of the Freakfest event. I have been in the Madison area for quite a few Halloweens now, and I have never ventured to State Street to see the spectacle with my own eyes. This year marked the 15th such occasion. I, however, had a freakin' blast at a different celebration...LUBE @ The Club Tavern!

As many of you may recall, last year we were at The Club and went as an Amish band. That was good fun! This year, we were facing the somewhat daunting task of two nights worth of Halloween shows. For our Friday show at The Club, we again went with a group theme and were the world-famous racing sausages from the Brewer games! It was sweet!

Sporting the #1 and a dead sexy pair of lederhosen which showcased his manly legs, Jeff was the Brat, aka Bret Wurst. Yours truly was the greatest sausage of them all, the Polish (aka Stosh Janjok), and I proudly wore the #2 on my red & blue striped shirt. Nick was #3, Guido the Italian sausage, and he was most dashing in his chef's hat and handlebar mustache. I'm sure nobody found it surprising that Buzz was #4, the Hotdog, also known as Frankie Furter. Some things are just meant to be! And rounding out the lineup, Steve was the newest member of the meat racing family, Cinco (#5) the Chorizo. Rumor has it that he was leaving greasy kisses on the female patrons at The Club.

Halloween is one of those nights where everyone seems to be in a good mood and ready for fun. We saw some scary costumes, some funny ones, even some rather provocative ones! There was a costume contest with winners selected from several different categories. The grand prize winner, to be chosen Saturday night, was going to win a hefty $300! I gotta tell you, my personal favorite was our good friend Brian Henry, dressed as his own two-headed twin. It was almost scary!

We added a few wrinkles to the set list for this show. Song blocks were rearranged and some new things were dropped in. We managed to throw a little teaser of House of Pain's "Jump Around" in the middle of "My Own Worst Enemy," and the crowd reaction made the dance floor look like Camp Randall between the 3rd & 4th quarters. It was cool! Another surprise addition was "When I Grow Up" by the Pussycat Dolls. It's super fun to play songs that no one would ever expect us to play!

Thanks to Moose and his staff at The Club who always take good care of us. It was a great crowd and everyone had a blast! LUBE will be back at The Club for a monster New Year's Eve bash, so start making your plans now! But before that happens, we have to do this all over again tomorrow night at Bowl A Vard on Madison's east side. They want to try and start having bands on a regular basis, so do your part to help, put on another costume, and come see us Saturday night!

News: Saturday, October 4th, 2008
The Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

Saturday was filled with lots of excitement! The Brewers were hosting the Phillies, fighting for their playoff lives. The home town Wisconsin Badgers welcomed in arch rival Ohio State for a gridiron battle that may decide the Big 10 champion. Beyond all that, LUBE was at the Bean!

The Brewers did their part and dispatched Philadelphia 4-1 to keep their season alive. The Badgers looked strong and were poised to win until OSU scored late and an interception then sealed a victory for the road team. Once the game was over, we proceeded to tear it up and give people reason to smile again!

We had arrived early to set up and claim good parking spots. I anticipated lots of people being at The Bean for the games and didn't want to have to lug gear any farther than necessary! Most of sat for a spell and had a bite to eat and I have to say the chicken quesadilla was quite tasty. I was seated perfectly with a big screen view of both the Brewers and Badgers at the same time. I wish my house was like that!

The Bean asked us to hold off on starting until the Badger game was done, so we hung out and watched with everyone else. Once Ohio State made that last pick, we plugged in, tuned up, and hit it. Despite the Badger loss, the crowd was energetic and got their dance on. And from the looks of it, they got their drink on, too! As we were starting I angled my fan away from me as it was on the verge of being cool. Before long it was on full blast and pointed right at me & Jeff! The air felt good as things heated up.

I think I saw at least two bachelorette parties in the house and the girls were getting wild! We had a large contingency of GGGs (Gimme Gimme Girls to the uninformed) and they were quite a spirited bunch! As they were disembarking the stage at the end of "Beverly Hills," I nearly rearranged the dental work of one young lady with my G&L's headstock. Thankfully it was a near miss! Sorry! That's one thing most people fail to understand...it can be a hazardous job being on stage (especially with Buzz & Jeff!).

Since we had a late start due to the game, we were allowed to play later than usual, and so I think the last big E chord rang out at 1:58am. We were sweaty and tired, but those are signs of a good gig! Brian and Elizabeth were on hand to assist with tear down, and we were out the door and fully loaded in 1:15, not bad considering how much gear we travel with. After fighting a cold all week and back-to-back shows, I bowed out and didn't go to our usual breakfast at Denny's, however I'm pretty sure a certain someone had his usual Moons Over My Hammy with no ham or meat of any kind.

I know you pooped yourself out with two shows this weekend, but we certainly noticed those people who made them both. You kick ass! But the next show is the one you need to brace yourselves for. Halloween night, Oct. 31, we are at the Club Tavern for what will be the best Halloween show in the Mad City! Last year we were an Amish band, and that was super fun! We have a new set of costumes and know that you'll be dressed to impress as well! Arrange for a sitter, get a costume, and just plan on being there!

News: Friday, October 3rd, 2008
Riley Tavern
Verona, Wisconsin

Friday night we headed west and jimmied ourselves into the cozy confines of the Riley Tavern. What the Riley lacks in size it more than makes up for in charm and personality. While we didn't make a big production out of it, LUBE had special reason to celebrate. Oct.1 was the 9th anniversary of our first ever gig at Rox in Jefferson. How many of you remember being there? If there's anymore than a dozen people saying yes, you're lying!

To make this night ultra special in a down-low sort of way, we called on an old friend of ours to make an unanticipated appearance. The Riley Tavern crowd was stunned when Jared Fogle, the face of Subway restaurants, walked through the door. Jared and LUBE share a long history and we were excited he could make the trip from Indianapolis to help us commemorate 9 years of LUBE with us!

Ok, so that last paragraph was complete BS. While LUBE really doesn't have any ties to Jared, he WAS at the Riley. Apparently he was doing some promo work in the area and was going to attend the UW/OSU game Saturday night. There were some disbelievers as to his true identity, and one young lady was miffed when he wouldn't show her his driver's license, but trust us, it was Jared alright. He worked the crowd as the consummate professional he is and still managed to get his rock groove on with the band. It was nice to meet you, Jared. Have your people call our people if you need us for a commercial or something.

As always, we had a great time at the Riley. Sound check consisted of a bunch of songs we haven't played in eons, and it was fun messing around with that stuff. This has happened before at the Riley and no one knows why. Besides the excitement surrounding Jared's appearance, the crowd was ready to party (aren't they always at Riley?!?) and had lots of energy. We were also graced by the tallest man ever to set foot inside the little bar, towering in at 6'10". He had an unobstructed view all night! We crashed through our sets with reckless abandon and turned the bar into one big sauna. The highlight had to be Buzz and the Gimme Gimme Girls on top of the bar. This too is a repeat thing here. Buzz did manage to get down without hurting himself like the time he cheese-gratered his nose with the microphone.

So what's next for LUBE? The Bean! Saturday Oct. 4 we're at the Bean and with a great slate of ball games on their vast array of plasmas, we're expecting big things! Who knows what celebs might show up? It might be Joe Laurinaitis, the father of Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis. Perhaps sports broadcaster Brent Musburger if he's in town working the game. I wouldn't be surprised if it was former Packer legend Frank Winters since he's partied with us before! Who will it be? Guess you'll have to come to the Bean and find out!

News: Friday, September 26th, 2008
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

Allow me to begin the LUBE News for the second time today. I sat down at the computer this morning and stared blankly at the screen. Most of the time, the words just seem to write themselves, recapping yet another rockin' LUBE gig. Today was not like that. I had nothing. I like to do crossword puzzles and when I get stuck, I often put it away and come back later. That's just what I did with the News.

Settling in to watch the Packers with some tasty breakfast burritos and strawberries courtesy of my wife, I bemoaned the fact I was drawing a blank with the News. She told me to text the band and ask someone else to do it for a change. I said that the News was my job and I would find my inspiration somewhere. After the Green & Gold sputtered to their second straight loss, I turned to the Brewer game. High drama in Miller Park! On the hill was CC Sabathia, not only a giant of a man but a giant performer when the pressure is on. Pitching for the third consecutive time on just three days rest, CC threw a gem and with the help of a late homer from Ryan Braun, the Brewers won. Tack on a loss by the fading NY Mets and "Shazam!"...the Brewers are going to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years! Suddenly I found my inspiration...short on rest and largely devoid of ideas, I was going to soldier on like CC Sabathia and write the News!

Arriving at Badger Bowl Friday night, I felt the blissful coolness of air conditioning. Sweet! it's usually hot at BB and the cold air was a welcomed treat. We were also happy to have Sound Man Dan with us as he had to fly back from a meeting in Rochester, NY that afternoon and ran the risk of being late. Chad, Dan's cohort in production, had left work early and found a helper to get the PA & lights up and was prepared to mix the show in the event Dan ran into travel issues. Just like Ryan Braun, Chad came through in the clutch and made sure we'd have a good show!

Sadly the weather was nice on Friday. I say that only because it's a rarity this late in the season and it gives people inspiration to be somewhere other than inside a bar. Despite the good weather and opportunities for other activities, the LUBE crowd came out anyway! We are so thankful to have the fans we do because they are great supporters, as are the 3,000,000 people who went to Miller Park this season to watch the Brewers. Once the bodies came, up went the temperature and it was a warm and sweaty one once the rawk began!

Our friends Terry and Diane held their dual birthday party in the Cabin Lounge as we were setting up. Once the party there wrapped up, the whole gang came down the the club for the show. Thanks for celebrating your big day with us! Long-time LUBIE Dr. J was in the house and had brought a couple of LUBE virgins to the show. The thing with virgins is that you can teach them the right way to "do it." They were properly educated in what constitutes a quality rock show! Like I said, it was hot & sweaty, they danced their butts off in the front row all night, and were up on stage as Gimme Gimme Girls. With another notch on the mic stand and a note in the little black book, we're pretty confident we'll be seeing them again.

Heading into prime tavern gig season, we make the quick turnaround and have two shows again next weekend. Friday 10/3 we are back at the Riley Tavern for our first inside show there since Riley Fest. I have already heard of at least one birthday party and another group of friends that will be in attendance. The confines there are cozy but the shows are super fun! The next night, akin to pitching on three days rest, we are at The Dry Bean. I know I say it all the time but Bean shows are always over the top! It's going to be a playoff-like atmosphere both nights, so take a few extra naps at work this week and prepare yourself! And don't forget Halloween is right around the corner...start getting your costume ready for the Club Tavern show 10/31!

News: Friday, September 12th, 2008
Dale Veto Benefit
Angell Park, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Friday September 12, 2008 saw something magical happen. Not Harry Potter magic. Not David Copperfield magic. No cinematographer, no writer, no imagination, however gifted, can create the magic of a community rallying around one of their own.

On March 28, I was celebrating my birthday on Maui, looking at the world from the 10,023 foot summit of Haleakala and watching windsurfers at Ho'okipa Beach. LUBE played a show at The Dry Bean with Doug Skinner sitting in on bass. At the same time, Dale Veto, a colleague of Nick and I, was fighting for his life after being hit by a juvenile in a stolen car. Through toughness, tenacity and divine intervention, Dale survived. He has endured seven surgeries to his shattered legs but with the assistance of a cane, is again able to walk, hardly a sure thing following the incident. It has been a trying time for Dale, his wife Becky and daughter Macy, but with the love, support, and prayers of family & friends, they're going to make it.

As individuals, we can do many things to help one another. As a collective group, we can do BIG things to help one another. Some of Dale's fellow deputies planned a benefit for September 12 to raise money to assist his family. Many, many businesses and individuals donated food, beverage, raffle/silent auction prizes, and their hard work to the cause. I have been to several such events in my life but I was unprepared for what occurred at Angell Park in Sun Prairie Friday night.

As could reasonably be expected, the law enforcement community turned out in strong numbers. An enduring sense of family runs through that profession, and they responded like we all knew they would. What I found to be so striking was the outpouring from the citizens of Dane County. Believe it or not, but not everyone likes the police (ha!). Nonetheless, there were huge numbers of people, common citizens, who came out to support one of the fighters of the good fight. And within that cadre of people was a strong contingent of LUBE fans!

It gave me goose bumps to stand on stage and see such a mass of humanity, all there to show support for Dale and his family. When Becky & Macy Veto took the microphone and said a few words before our show started, they had the rapt attention of the crowd. Clearly this incident has been trying not just for Dale but for his family as well. Fellow deputy and close friend Randy Wiessinger recounted the tragic incident, having witnessed with his own eyes. The honest, sincere emotions was evident on their faces as well as in their words. They were a tough act to follow!

It was a great honor for LUBE to be invited to perform at this event. We did what we do best, and that is to throw a kick ass party! This wasn't going to be a tear-jerker party, either. This was a bash to celebrate the toughness of the human spirit and the good sammaritanism that still exists in the world. Sometimes you have to look hard to find it, but trust me, it was certainly in Angell Park Friday night! We debuted a new song, "It's Not My Time" by 3 Doors Down, quite appropriate for this occasion. We also brought a few dusty ones off the shelf and it felt good to play them again. By the end, we were sweaty and tired, clear signs of a good show!

I don't know what the final totals were as far as money goes. A news clip I saw indicated that the silent auction and raffle alone raised over $20,000, and that doesn't include the food and beverage profits. Whatever the amount raised turns out to be is well beyond expectations. In speaking with Dale and Becky, they wished to express their gratitude for everyone who contributed in any way toward making this event a huge success. Had they been able to thank everyone personally, they would have.

I find it impossible to to thank all those who deserved to be thanked for putting on this incredible benefit. The planning committee did an unbelievable job and I don't know that it could have gone off any better. Our good friends Tara Arnold from WJJO and Kenny Jay from Q106 went above and beyond to get the word out and make contacts we otherwise wouldn't have likely made. My LUBE family...Amy, Dan, Chad, Curt, Brian, Steve, Jeff, Buzz, and Nick, I hope you understand my level of appreciation for your involvement. You guys really are my second family. And to the LUBE Army who showed up in strong, strong numbers, I can only offer you my sincerest thanks. I am grateful to have been a small part of a huge success! It was nothing short of magical.

News: Saturday, September 6th, 2008
Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

As summer begins to fade, so do the memories of outside gigs and beer tents. Some people may have a hard time with this, but for LUBE it simply means we move the show back indoors. We had played the Club Tavern's Beach Party in July but our last gig inside the bar dates back to April 25. Personally, I don't mind the indoor shows...sweat, smoke, and stale beer help define rock!

We didn't get a rehearsal in this past week due to some schedule conflicts and the fact we had a long, hot weekend the previous week. Buzz took advantage of the down time to reconfigure the set list. Normally, we like to get at least one rehearsal under our belts using the current set arrangement. You may have noticed that we run song into song into song into song and only take breaks as necessary. We try to group songs that fit well together and over time, it becomes second nature to play them in a certain order.

In the past, we have had the occasional hiccup when the sets have been modified. Not all of them resulted in clanks or bumbled parts. At a corporate gig we did a few years back (remember Buzz riding the duck?), we charged headlong from one song into the next, realizing halfway through that it wasn't even on that night's set list. It had just been our regular habit to go into that particular tune, and so we did it. Other times, well, let's just say the transitions weren't always smooth.

Saturday we made sure to look over the sets before we started. We want to sound as good as we can for the nice people who pay money to come see us play. Everyone was on the same page and things went pretty damn good! It helps when you have a big, enthusiastic crowd in the bar jamming with you!

From the first song on, the dance floor at The Club Tavern was full. We LOVE that! If you are a regular reader of the LUBE news you've heard me mention the topic of energy exchange before. I don't want to beat that horse to death, so suffice it to say that our jobs are much easier to do when everyone is having a good time. When I talked to Moose between sets, he was having a good time and was very pleased to have a full bar despite the early kickoff for the home Badger football game. LUBE fans rule!

It was a very fun night, Saturday 6September2008. It was grins for everyone, band and patron alike. There were even some instances of gravitational inversions on young ladies' tops. Thank you for making our return to the "inside" a smashing success!

Our next gig takes on a personal meaning for us, and we would very much appreciate your support. We are playing a benefit show for Deputy Dale Veto at Angell Park in Sun Prairie on Friday September 12. The benefit event starts at 4:00pm and will feature food, a beer tent, a kids play area, raffle prizes, etc. LUBE is slated to play from 8p-12a, a bit earlier than normal, but it allows for people to bring their kids out to watch the band, knowing there is no school the next day and everyone can sleep in a bit. This will likely be the final outdoor show of the season, so come help the Veto family, enjoy LUBE and the beer tent, and welcome in football weather! Proper!

News: Sunday, August 31st, 2008
House Of Harley
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Several months ago, our booking/sales/marketing agent Amy asked us if we'd be interested in playing a gig in Milwaukee on a Sunday. At Noon. My first reaction was "WTF?!?" Once she went on to explain it was going to be at the House of Harley dealership in conjunction with the 105th Harley-Davidson Anniversary celebration, we collectively responded "Oh yeah!" in four-part harmony!

I don't like getting up early on weekends, especially Sundays. Quite honestly, I don't like getting up early ANY day unless it's for a special occasion. Well, The HOH gig happened to be one of those occasions. Friday night I was in Milwaukee with my wife Tammy, the Hermanator (aka Jeff), and Steve's wife and Wicked Lily/SP1 guitarist Jenny (yeah, quite the crew) for the Foo Fighters & Three Days Grace concert (which was nothing short of spectacular, BTW). While I have admittedly never been to Sturgis or Daytona, I have to say I that I have never seen so many cool bikes in my whole life! It was awesome! Everywhere you looked it was a sea of motorcycles. Seeing this just upped the anticipation of our little foray into the 105th celebration.

The House of Harley is a BIG dealership. Upon arrival, we found the street closed off, vendors and food stands with tents everywhere, and of course, lots of sweet bikes! Nick was a little bummed he couldn't ride in on his Road King Classic, but he had a job to do and gear to haul. The staff at the HOH gatored our stuff back to the stage which was adjacent to the dealership/showroom building itself. We ended up having a great view of some of the most beautiful bikes there as the Best of Show competition bikes were lined up across from the stage. There was a steady stream of people checking out the bikes and LUBE. It was however, approaching Africa-hot outside, and there weren't a whole lot of people willing to stand in the blazing sun for any great lengths of time. I guess you could say the crowd was a bit transient, but in the end we were exposed to lots of peeps. Trista & Carmen came down from Madison and did hang in the sun all day, in addition to being at out Taste of Madison gig Saturday as well as the Foo Fighters show Friday night. Super Troopers! Brian, Jen, Steve, Josh, Curt, Jean, & Dan are just some of the other Madison locals who trekked to Milwaukee to see not just the 105th celebration but the LUBE gig as well. Thanks so much!

Our HOH show is now one for the record books. We played the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary celebration! How cool is that?!? All of us in LUBE, from Amy to Chad (our great lighting production guy) to my fellow musicians made sacrifices to make this gig work. It was a very cool event to be a part of and we thank the powers that be for taking a chance on group of out-of-town short hairs (that would be LUBE). Thank you to everyone who partied with us not just on Sunday in Milwaukee but all weekend long! Again, I want to personally thank the LUBE family for pulling this one off. We made lemonade.

OK LUBE fans, the party doesn't end here. Saturday September 6, we return to one of our favorite venues, The Club Tavern. Get ready for a wild & crazy time! Following that we are playing a benefit gig for Deputy Dale Veto on Friday September 12 at Angell Park in Sun Prairie. Dale was severely injured in the line of duty when he was struck by a stolen car. This event hopes to raise money to help Dale & his family get through these difficult times. If at all possible, please share your LUBE love (you like that, don't you?) and come out to this show. The benefit starts at 4:00pm and we play from 8:00pm-12:00am. There will be food, great raffle prizes, a likely the last beer tent (beer tent!) of the season. See you at these shows!

News: Saturday, August 30th, 2008
Taste of Madison
Madison, Wisconsin

Comparatively speaking, LUBE has been playing music a long time. We are poised to celebrate the 9th anniversary of our first gig this October, and from day one, we have always said we'd love to play the Taste of Madison. The Taste showcases local, regional, and national acts, and it was a tremendous honor for LUBE to be chosen to grace the Magic 98 stage on Saturday!

We were fortunate to get a great time slot (4:00-5:30pm). With a home Badger game starting at 11:00am, there is no doubt a lot of people were occupied with that. But with the game ending around 2:30pm, that gave them time to visit their favorite post-game watering hole for a beer with their buds and still make it to the Taste well before we took the stage. About 3:00pm the crowd turned noticeably more red as the Badger faithful descended on the Capitol Square.

The schedule on the music stages is pretty tight. There isn't time to mess around, given that there is only 30 minutes between acts. That might seem like a lot of time, but when you consider one band has to tear down and get off the stage before the next can set up and prepare to play, that's some movin'! I know there were some butterflies in my stomach as we were hurriedly setting up, especially when I looked out and saw a huge crowd assembling. That feeling is both scary and exciting at the same time!

With four clicks of the drum sticks from Steve, we were off and running, and the time flew by! Given that the Taste is a family-friendly event, we made sure we rocked out yet kept things at least PG-13. I mean, we are LUBE, right? It was almost hard to keep the excitement in check, given the large crowd that was assembled, the majesty of the State Capitol in the background, and the fact that this was indeed the Taste of Madison! Big stage, big PA, big crowd, big gig...this is why we play music! For me, it's always the sign of a good show when I remember little else than the first and last songs. The whole afternoon was just a blur! It's kind of like when you are driving home and suddenly realize you're in your driveway. You know you just drove 30 miles, but you don't remember anything about it. You get in the zone, so to speak. We too get in the zone, the energy of playing and interacting with the crowd. Time flies and before we know it, it's done. Had they let us, we'd have played all night! Our 90 minutes felt like 10...again, the sign of an awesome gig!

Once we were finished, it was back to the frantic tearing down & getting out of the way thing I mentioned earlier. The Rock & Pop Masters series was following us with members of the bands Ambrosia, Orleans, and John Ford Coley. Once we got backstage with our gear, we took a moment to catch our breath and pack up before setting out to enjoy all the wonderful food and music the Taste has to offer. I gotta tell you, the jerk pork with beans and rice from David's Jamaican was fabulous, not to mention the chocolate chip cookie dough egg rolls from Bluefies.

LUBE would like to thank Bonnie Oleson with Midwest Family Broadcasting, Madison Festivals, Inc., and Magic 98 for having us. We have been talking about playing the Taste of Madison for many years now, and it felt great to do it! Thanks to all of our faithful LUBIES who came out and rocked with us, as well as all the people who had never seen us before. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and with any luck, we'll see you again next year!

News: Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
Quaker Steak & Lube Bike Night
Middleton, Wisconsin

Sorry for the delay on the news, everybody. Weeknight gigs seem to throw my schedule off, plus I was out of town over the weekend beating my old high school buddies at a round of golf at Northern Bay. Suddenly it's Sunday afternoon, I'm dehydrated from the drinks I consumed yesterday, and the story of our Bike Night gig needs to be told. If you don't expect too much, you won't be disappointed.

In general, Wednesday was beautiful. Not too hot, a little breeze...quite stellar for August. Shortly before we were to begin, some ominous looking clouds made an appearance, so we made sure our tarps were nearby. Thankfully the rain never came but I think a few folks were scared away from bringing their bikes out. While we didn't approach the record for total bikes (we'll get it next year!), there were over 800 bikes and our now-famous QSL car crowd. No complaints from us...it was a good night!

We were graced by the appearances of the one and only Bucky Badger, Captain Morgan & The Morganettes, and the Bud Light Girls. Everyone was passing out free swag and sharing tasty drinks with us. In fact, I managed to trade 10 LUBE stickers to Kristin for 2 Captain & Coke specials. Jeff & I weren't going to go thirsty! The other guys had to fend for themselves. There was also a bachelorette party out on the prowl. You know when someone has a penis for a nose that something is going on. Good luck on the pending nuptials!

I wish I had some cool stories to tell from this night but I think the cells that held those memories were killed by an excessive amount of vodka yesterday. I do remember advising Curt to plug in the lights, which resulted in us being "blinded by the light, wrapped up like a deuce, another runner in he night..." Our light guru Chad was out of town on business and Dan took charge of setting up the lone tree of par cans. Dan can sometimes be devious, and I think he intentionally set them on their brightest setting and aimed them directly at our eyes. Buzz's hair almost caught fire ala Michael Jackson due to their intensity! Nonetheless, we finished the show through squinted eyes and all was well with the world. Dan's new, untested amplifiers performed most admirably as well, and the 30,800 watts of PA never sounded better.

We now find ourselves preparing for two excellent gigs this coming weekend. LUBE is honored to be playing this year's Taste of Madison Saturday 8/30 @ 4:00pm on the Magic 98 stage. The Taste is a big event and we look forward to our opportunity to entertain the masses. Please join us and show Madison how LUBE rocks! Following that, we travel to Milwaukee Sunday morning (that's right, Sunday morning) as we are playing at the House of Harley from Noon-3:00pm as part of the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary. That's about as cool a gig as we could ask for! I know of several car loads of people are planning to make the trip with us. It was be beyond cool to have a large contingency of LUBIES at this show, so do whatever you have to do to join us in Milwaukee!

Have a great week, everyone, and we'll see you this weekend!

News: Saturday, August 16th, 2008
The Riley Tavern
Riley, Wisconsin

Remember Riley Fest '07? It sucked! The previous 13 years of Riley Fest were smashingly successful, however LUBE was never part of the entertainment then. 2007 was our first opportunity to be in on the fun and what happens? Monsoon-like rain! Sure, we got to play our full set but the weather was impossible. It rained all day. Not just little rain but BIG rain. By the time SuperTuesday took their break, the mud was over the tops of my shoes inside the tent. Those conditions, coupled with excessive lightning, brought an unfortunate early end to the party. Not a banner year for our good friend, Murph.

Update to yesterday. Sunny skies, temps in the 80s...flawless! At long last, LUBE gets to play a show at an authentic, legendary Riley Fest! Great bands, plenty of beverage, and savory eats. We were stoked! I mean, where else can you get a walking taco?

BoB Rocks kicked off the day at 1:00pm and played two strong sets. It had been way too long since I had last seen them and I have to say they sounded great. It was nice to see them and have a chance to BS during their set break.

Like last year, the Mighty Short Bus (MSB) played up in the loft above the garage during the set breaks. These guys are awesome, and people seem to enjoy a live band at breaks. There's just something about live music, you know? I didn't get to talk to Frank or Nick or any of the other guys this year, but I can tell you they sounded as good as ever.

Next up were local rock legends, the Wizenhiemers. We had the opportunity to gig with them earlier this year at the Club Tavern. Their "Out of the Crapper" reunion tour this summer brought them to Riley Fest, where they have played several times before. When I wrote the news from the Club show we did with them, I blathered on and on about how awesome and nostalgic it was for me. Well, Riley Fest was them same! The guys sounded great, had tons of energy, and totally had the crowd going, setting the stage for us to follow.

After a small technical snafu, it was our turn to R-A-W-K! Steve gave me a 4-count and we started "I Ran," a great up-tempo, recognizable tune that got the tent moving right away. We ran that into "Melt With You," "Never Been Any Reason," "Let's Go Crazy," "Superfreak," and on and on. The crowd was huge and they were loving it. Our photographer/security man/grunt Curt was kept busy assisting exuberant young ladies off the stage, taking lots of pix, and fetching Steve beers. We took a rather short set break so we could be done in time for the headliners, and I think the crazies were even crazier in the second set! People were singing along, dancing, and having a blast! The energy exchange in that type of setting is incredible. The crowd gets energy from the band, we get energy from the crowd, and the whole thing swells into one helluva party!

We've been working on a few new tunes and thought we'd break one out, as Riley Fest seemed the opportune place to do it. We played a rocked up version of Toby Keith's "I Love this Bar," because frankly, we love the Riley Tavern. In all honesty, it's kind of a pain in the ass to play inside the bar. It's a bit small, intimate if you will, and it's difficult to shuffle gear in and out. But Murph and Catherine are very good to us and we always seem to have killer shows there...jam packed, hot & steamy, drinks galore for everyone, you get the picture. Because of our family-like relationship with the good people at Riley, we willingly do those indoor shows because we love that bar. We have been graciously given two opportunities to play the world-renown Riley Fest, and have been honored to do so!

So anyway, the Bobby Friss Band from Daytona, FL closed out the show with an absolutely blistering set. These guys really know how to play and work the crowd! However, they too had a technical glitch. One of their guitar amps wasn't working, so the one and only Hermanator stepped up and saved the day by letting Bobby use his Mesa. I don't know that the Mesa has ever been louder! It sounded great and those guys put on an awesome show. The crowd hung until the very end, well after 1:00am, before Riley Fest '08 officially came to an end.

Even if I tried, I don't think I could ever begin to thank everyone who came out and supported this wonderful festival. There were lots of bikers, other musicians, local music fans, beer drinkers, party animals, old friends and new friends. I had lots of people come up to me who had never seen LUBE before and they had very nice things to say. Trust me, we appreciate your kind words, and I always make sure to thank them for coming out and supporting not just LUBE but all the local bands. There were two couples from Rockford that I was talking to (sorry I didn't get your names) and they think we should venture down there and book some shows. We might have to do that! I also met a young lady named Brenda who was attending her 10th Riley Fest, not counting last year's quagmire. That's the thing with Riley Fest...it's become an institution. Seemingly everyone who goes has been there multiple times. Obviously someone has to be a Riley Fest virgin! But once you go, you're hooked and know you'll be back again next year.

Huge thanks to Murph & Catherine for having us once again and for all the people who make Riley Fest Riley Fest. We look forward to August '09!

Make sure you catch our next gig on the quick turn around. We are playing this coming Wednesday, August 20th, at Quaker Steak & Lube's Bike Night. Last time there we were within 60 bikes of the all-time record of 1107 held by the above-mentioned MSB. We like those guys, but we're also greedy bastards and want the record! If you have a motorcycle...crotch rocket, Harley, cruiser, trike, whatever...come on out and party with us! The weather forecast looks divine...mid-80s and sunshine, so skip your prior plans and come hang with LUBE at The Lube! Show starts early (5:00pm), so come straight from work!

News: Friday, August 1st, 2008
The Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

As you may or may not have noticed, Friday was the first day of August. It is amazing how fast the time flies by when you become an adult. Whatever happened to days of pick-up baseball games, afternoons at the swimming pool, and summers that lasted forever? Summer, however, isn't exactly over quite yet. There are still some beer tent fests going on, vacations to be taken, etc. Usually there aren't too many indoor bar gigs during the hot months due to those reasons, but for the last several years we have played an inside summer show at The Bean and they have gone over pretty well. Friday night was another one!

Without being stifling, Friday was pretty damn hot outside. Inside The Bean, however, it was blissfully cool. The warm day turned into a beautiful evening, and while it was cooling down out-of-doors, we were cranking it up with some bad-ass tunes inside. The LUBIES came out in strong numbers and we had ourselves an old-fashioned Dry Bean party!

One of our long-time LUBIES was having a going away celebration at our show. Brenda, co-suggester of "Fake It" with Shara, is moving to Indiana for law school. She and Shara have been great supporters of the band and we will miss her for sure. As a small token of our esteem, we gave her the very last of our current supply of LUBE t-shirts. Wear it with pride in Indiana, Brenda! Let us know if you are ever back in town and we'll try to hook you up.

Friday was also a pre-celebration of one of the band member's birthday. Our boy Jeff, aka The Hermanator, gets one official year older on Sunday. We didn't make too big of a deal of it because Jeff is very shy and introverted and embarrasses easily. But he's our special little guy and we love him, so feel free to send him birthday wishes through the contact page.

Not everything went according to plan Friday night. While I was debuting my new bass cabinet (www.drbasscabs.com), which was deliciously punchy and rumbling the floor beneath my feet, I ran into another problem. Something in my pedal board decided to not work immediately prior to the start of the 2nd set. You might have detected a bit of frantic rearrangement of things on my side of the stage, but we got it running in a few minutes and we were again in business. While I believed the problem to be rectified, it reared it's ugly head about half way through our last song, rendering the bass non-existent for the final minute or so. Damn you, electronics! I guess if you're going to have an in-show problem, the last song of the night is the perfect place for it.

Thanks, everyone, for a great indoor summer show! Our next gig is at the world-famous Riley Fest on Saturday August 16. We play from 6:30-9:30 PM and will be followed by the Bobby Friss Band. There are bands that play all afternoon, so get there early, get your drink on, and be prepared for an awesome show! I might even sneak out that we will have a couple of new songs mixed in to the set. After that, we are at Quaker Steak & Lube's Bike Night on Wednesday August 20. Remember, we want to set the all-time record for bikes that night, so start planning to be there!

News: Saturday, July 5th, 2008
The Club Tavern Beach Party
Middleton, Wisconsin

That's right, kids...three shows in three days. While the real rock stars will go for 7, 8, 10 days in a row, they also have minions of helpers to do the dirty grunt work for them. They come on stage, rock hard for maybe two hours, and spend the other 22 hours in their day doing whatever they feel like. We don't share in that luxury. In Nikki Sixx's book "The Heroin Diaries," he mentions how Motley Crue complained to their manager Doc McGee about how their tours were too long and arduous. Doc was quoted as saying something like, "What do you mean the tours are too hard? You a**holes only work two hours a day. It's your lifestyle that's killing you!" Those of us in LUBE, on the other hand, have rather mundane lifestyles apart from the band. We go back to work to rest up from our weekend gigs!

Anyway, after two kick-ass shows already in the books, we embarked on a trip to Middleton to complete the first gig trifecta in LUBE history. Our good friends at The Club Tavern, Moose and Michael Alexander (of the local band Sand) hooked us up to play their annual Beach Party. This was poised to be an all-day affair with bands both outside and inside the bar. The Club always puts on a great spread of food and drink as well, and so with a splendid weather forecast, everyone was geeked for an awesome day.

The afternoon kicked off with a power set from local legends The Wizenhiemers. They have gotten back together to play a few "Out Of The Crapper" reunion shows this summer (look for them at Riley Fest), much to the delight of people like me. When I started my current job in January '94, I met this guy named Nick. Initially I thought he looked like a real jerk. There was something about him that I didn't like. However, like a fast-moving river, he eroded my defenses and we became good friends. Nick and I started hanging out and going to see bands like Inner Sanctum, Bad Wolf, Seventeen Rhinos, and The Wizenhiemers, who quickly became my favorites despite the wealth of local talent. I have all of their CDs to prove it. One night while seeing The Wizenhiemers at the Badger Bowl I told Nick, "I want that to be us on stage. Before I die, we're gonna start a band and play the Badger Bowl!" despite the fact I hadn't ever played a non-brass instrument in my life. So in that sense, The Wizenhiemers are partly responsible for the creation of LUBE, and that story is 100% true. Their set was awesome and it put me back in a time and place from long ago. I love music for it's ability to do just that.

After Sam, Scott, Jeff, and Rick were finished, we took the stage for one long 2-hour set. Fresh off a 2-hour, 15 minute set the night before, we had no troubles cranking out your LUBE favorites under a hot Middleton sun. The crowd continued to file in and people were clearly enjoying the music. Playing just two hours compared to a full 3+ hour show lets us cherry pick our tunes, and so it was nonstop rawk! If you have seen the pictures and read the news from the Monona gig last night, you may recall that our photographer/local quasi-celebrity Curt made the most of his party experience. The last we saw of him was blissfully "sleeping" on Brian & Jean's sofa next to a "collection bucket." Much to our delight, a rejuvenated Curt showed up at The Club prior to show time looking like a million bucks! He managed to take pix and work his security detail as if last night had never happened. And while often times we sit down after a gig and feel totally spent, the adrenaline we feel on stage always kicks in, and so at least I felt great playing some savory bass licks for my local music family! I know the other guys feel the same way, even Steve who celebrated his 40th birthday just yesterday.

Like I mentioned earlier, bands were set to be playing inside the bar as well. While we were changing over outside, veteran hard rockers Muzzy Luctin was dishing it out inside The Club. Lead singer Ken was formerly part of the Inner Sanctum I mentioned above, and I have two of their CDs too. Anyway, Paul, Darren, and Michael are great players and if you haven't already seen them, make a point to do so! My one regret is that I only got to see about 10 minutes worth of their show this afternoon.

Taking the stage outside after us were Milwaukee's favorite sons, The Lovemonkeys. I used to go see them too back in the day but once I started gigging with LUBE and working a crazy schedule, it left little time for other bands. They have a strong fan base here in the Madison area and quite a few people turned out to see them. These guys travel in style, complete with a big truck to haul all their gear plus a crew to help set up/tear down and sell their swag. While the busy work was happening, we had the opportunity to meet and BS with their lead singer John, who had never seen LUBE before. Once on stage, the Lovemonkeys showed why they're regarded as one of the best bands around. They are skilled musicians with excellent stage presence and a polished show. No wonder people like them!

Rounding out the day, Sand was slated to play inside after The Lovemonkeys were done. I have to confess that I wasn't there to see Sand. I know Michael & Zander & the guys put on a great show because I've seen them quite a few times. But with 3 shows in 3 days, a Wicked Lily gig tomorrow (Steve's wife Jenny, my wife Tammy, Heidi formerly of Pink Houses, Wendy of SP1, and new bassist Kerri), and having to go back to work on Monday after an 11-day vacation, I just had too much to do, and part of that included some ass time on the couch. I think I can safely say that Sand put on a great show and everyone dug it. It does mean that I missed them playing "Jesse James," one of my personal favorites, and so I will have to catch them again soon to make up for it.

Good grief...this episode of LUBE News has turned into the longest text since Stephen King's "The Stand." Sorry! In conclusion, while we enjoyed 5 fabuloso shows in 10 days, us LUBE dudes are ready to take a little rest. Our next gig is scheduled for Friday August 1st at The Bean. I know I talked with several different people today about this upcoming gig and they were surprised it was so far away. Well, summer is the time for vacations and fun, plus we all know how our day jobs mess with LUBE bookings, so August 1st it is. Rest assured that we will return refreshed and ready to throw down! Thank you for a killer stretch of shows and we'll see you soon at The Bean!

News: Friday, July 4th, 2008
Monona Community Festival
Monona, Wisconsin

Like I mentioned in the last episode of "LUBE News," we had been wanting to get into the Monona Community Festival for a long time. Everything we had heard about it was awesome, but it just never came through for us. This year, we had our booking coordinator, the fair maiden Amy, work her magic and like she has repeatedly demonstrated since joining Team LUBE, Amy got the gig. We were totally stoked!

Our good friends and long-time LUBIES Brian & Jean live within walking distance of Winnequah Park. They hosted a party for a bunch of family & friends, people on the local music scene, etc., and that included LUBE. It was great to have a few drinks & eat some tasty vittles before heading to the gig. We were having a blast at the party, and it set the tone for the remainder of the night. By the time we left, our photographer/grunt Curt was squinty-eyed and feeling no pain!

Once we got to Winnequah Park, we had to wind our way through the throngs of people to get backstage. The LeeDing Zeros were playing and getting the crowd primed for a night of rock. We staged our gear and prepared for a quick change over. After a 30-minute flip, LUBE hit the stage to a tent already filled with people ready to party!

I have to tell you, the reception we received was UNBELIEVABLE! Sure, we've played the surrounding area but never in Monona proper. Personally, I had never even been to the Monona Community Festival before. The folks in Monona quickly won our hearts with their unbridled enthusiasm! There were some children in attendance early on, as we figured there would be, so we "nicened" (is that a word?) our opening set and bumped the more adult-themed stuff back. The kids, as well as adults of all ages, loved the show. Buzz was even able to make a special connection with a seasoned music fan! It was just too funny!

We stopped and took a break to enjoy the fireworks in the beautiful Monona sky, but what we didn't know was that the fireworks inside the tent had just gotten started. It didn't seem like ANYONE went home after the in-air pyrotechnics! We got back on stage at about 9:45pm, and rather than play two sets with a short break, we decided we'd crank non-stop until midnight. It was crazy in that tent! People were drinking & having a great time jamming out with your LUBE boys. The stage we were on felt very solid until it was loaded with loaded Gimme Gimme Girls. It was bouncing like no stage I've felt before! Just for grins we played a few tunes that we hadn't done for a while...Honky Tonk Woman, Kill The King (by special request of party host Brian), and Voodoo (by special request of virtually everybody!). It was fun to play those songs again and I just about threw a vertebrae head banging to KTK!

Finally at 12:00am the insanity was over. Despite the fact we rocked the you-know-what out of Monona, we all felt energized and ready for more. It was so cool! Jim Bisbee & his staff treated us very well and when it was all said and done, they set a new record for beer sales. This was just our first time there! Tremendous thank yous go out not just to the event staff for putting on an excellent festival but to all the incredible people who came out and made our virgin venture into Monona one to remember. Maybe with a little luck they'll have us back again next year! Monona...we love you!

Once the gear was packed up it was back to Brian & Jean's for more food & drink. As the clock approached 2:00am, we headed for home knowing that we're playing The Club Tavern's Beach Party in a few hours and intending to rock Middleton the way we rocked Monona! That event kicks off at 2:00pm with LUBE playing about 3:30pm or so. It's supposed to be gorgeous outside, so come and hang with us and enjoy multiple bands throughout the day. Thanks again the Brian & Jean for the party and everyone in Monona for the greatest gig we've ever played. See you in Middleton Saturday afternoon!

The support of many people comes together to bring you a Lube show: Left to right: Tammy Barth (Spouse), Andy Barth (Bass Guitar, Vocals, Intrepid Luberocks.com Reporter), Nick Hanushewicz (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Chad Gengelbach (Lights, Electrician), Mike Buzzell (Lead Vocals, Cow Bell, Funny noises), Dan Kok (Sound), Steve Schroeder (Drums, Keys, Vocals), Brian Plass (Lights, Crew), Jenny Schroeder (Photos, Drum Tech, Spouse), Jeff Hermans (Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals) Unfortunately not pictured: Curt Markgraf (Photos, Crew, Usher, Enforcer), Amy Larson (Sales, Bookings), Jackie Buechner (Significant other), Nicki Hermans (Spouse), Sara Schlough (Spouse), Elizabeth Degner (Lights) Photo courtesy of one of Monona's finest. Thanks officer! Disclaimer: We didn't drink all that beer but we did facilitate its drinking.

News: Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
Columbus 4th of July Festival
Columbus, Wisconsin

For the 3rd year in a row, our good friends in Columbus had graciously invited LUBE to play at their 4th of July Festival. There are rides for the kids, savory eats, and a large beer area for the adults to enjoy a cold one in. The band plays in this area, and which is fenced off but still close to the other attractions. This allows the kids to hang out and hear the bands, too. It's never too early to get them interested in music!

Those of you with good memories that haven't been clogged with malted hops or bong resin (Thanks, Tommy Boy) may remember what happened on July 3, 2007...we got hit with bad-ass storms! We had just gotten gear set up and completed sound check when we were informed the storm was going to hit Columbus in 20 minutes. Yikes! We scrambled madly and tarped as much stuff as we could. By the time the bad stuff had passed through, the front-of-house stuff was sitting in large pools of water. Despite our best efforts, some of the electrical things had gotten wet, to the extent that there would be no LUBE show. We were done...or so we thought.

The Columbus folks asked if there was any way we'd be able to play. Jeff drove all the way back home to get his acoustic guitar amp which had an input for one microphone. He and Buzz then entered the beer pavilion and played some tunes acoustically while the rest of us finished tearing down and loading. Some hardcore partiers stuck it out through the rain and continued to stay and have fun. They were totally digging the acoustic stuff! Nick, Steve and I felt left out so we grabbed what could be plugged in and joined them. It was great! A few beers later and we had come up with a new name...EBUL! The crowd loved it and was shouting "EBOOOOOL!" all night. And so born from the rains of Columbus, EBUL was born. Be sure to check the EBUL myspace page (www.myspace.com/ebulebul) to see when we're playing next. It's not often, mind you, but every once in a while we sneak a little gig in.

So now that you've had your history lesson, we'll hit the current. July 3, 2008 brought considerably better weather. While it wasn't exactly hot, it was sunny and pleasant. We jammed out half a set of traditional LUBE tunes and then reprised last year's EBUL creation by performing 6 tunes acoustically. It was pretty cool that as we were setting up, two lovely young ladies approached us and asked if EBUL was playing this year. We told them we'd see what we could do. Ha! The crowd was still filing in at this point, so if you came late, you missed a reenactment of '07.

It cooled off quite a bit once the sun went down, but when you play rock & roll, it's a physical thing and we really didn't notice the cold. There were a lot of dancers in tanks & shorts & skirts & things without coats or sweatshirts, so it couldn't have been that bad. It's always possible they had enough to drink and didn't feel it! There was quite a substantial crowd assembled rocking out with us, and I think the event organizers were very happy with the turnout.

Our work for the weekend is hardly finished! Friday July 4 we recreate this LUBE experience for the good people of Monona. We've been jonesing to play this festival for a long time, and this is our chance to shine. Come down to Winnequah Park and rock with us! Show time is 8:00pm. We'll then follow up with an afternoon power set at The Club Tavern in Middleton on Saturday July 5. This is an all-day event featuring The Wizenhiemers, LUBE, The Love Monkeys, Sand & Muzzy Luctin. If I'm not mistaken, LUBE is playing outside from 3:30-5:30pm. It's gonna be sunny & in the 80's, so come spend a beautiful Saturday enjoying some of the area's best bands!

News: Saturday June 28, 2008
Lake Mills Town & Country Days
Lake Mills, Wisconsin

LUBE was venturing into new, uncharted territory...Lake Mills. We'd sort of played in the area before, a couple of years at Jefferson's 4th of July festivities and a few gigs at Rox, but never in Lake Mills proper. Now, if I were venturing into Lake Mills for the first time, I might expect to find an actual Lake Mills. Silly me! There is no Lake Mills. It's called Rock Lake, and since I am hardly a local historian, I have no idea why the town is called Lake Mills when the lake is Rock Lake, and this I find to be somewhat strange. Nonetheless, Lake Mills is the hometown of our photographer/grunt/quasi-local celebrity Curt, and so we wanted to make a good first impression.

The Town & Country Days festival is a full-weekend long event that takes over the downtown area. There was a midway with rides for the kids, various food vendors, the local businesses were having sales, you get the idea. This is all centralized around a beautiful park setting in the heart of downtown, and the bands set up and play in the Taj Mahal of all gazebos.

Fellow local rockers Midlife Crisis played earlier in the afternoon with our old buddy Kirk Carryl running sound for them. Kirk and Steve Gundlach were instrumental in running sound for LUBE way back in the early days when we first ventured out of Nick's basement. Once they were done and had their gear taken down, we had to set up full production, and it had to go up a flight of stairs. Due to some great teamwork, we managed to get everything unloaded from the trailer, moved up the stairs into the gazebo, and set up in about 1:45. That might seem like a long time, but trust me, we were working hard to get it done!

Like I said, we were new to Lake Mills, so we didn't know how the crowd would take to us. LUBE isn't your ordinary cover band. We play a huge variety of music, ranging from Johnny Cash to Nine Inch Nails to The Backstreet Boys. While it may have taken the Lake Millsians a little bit to figure out if they liked us or not, in the end they did! The adjacent beer tent was completely full of people and the overflow crowd filled the area in front of the gazebo. The weather, while kind of crummy earlier in the days with some heavy rain and hail, held off for us. It wasn't exactly warm, especially for being the end of June, but with a few beers down the hatch and a little dancing, it was quite comfortable.

The event organizers and the Lake Mills police were ok with us playing a little long, and so we didn't wrap up until after 12:20am. We honored a request for Megadeth and dropped "Kill The King" into the 3rd set, and also likely set the record for number of Gimme Gimme Girls during "Beverly Hills," so it wasn't surprising we ran late! So after a sampling of the world-famous Lake Mills sliders and a smokin' show, we reversed our earlier activities and prepared for a load out back down the stairs. It was a bit more work than usual, but really wasn't too bad. If nothing else, it made us hungry for a delectable breakfast at Perkins.

Thank you to everyone in Lake Mills who worked with us to make this show a success. We had a great time! There were a few regular LUBIES who made the trip to see the show...Michael, Brian & Jean, Stevie B, 60% of the newly reincarnated Wicked Lily (who earlier in the day weathered the storms and made their return to the stage in Fort Atkinson), the Heartbreaker clan was having a good time and had many nice things to say about our performance ("Very tight") and compliments on our high tech sound system, as well as a bunch of familiar faces I don't yet know by name. Your continued support means a lot to us!

I was going to try and work a conversation regarding one of us going to the emergency room, a catheter, a female other than a spouse, and a kidney stone into this episode of LUBE News, but I just don't think it's going to happen. Instead, I will remind you of what is set to be our busiest week ever! LUBE will be playing 3 times this next week...Thursday July 3rd at Firemen's Park in Columbus (7:30 PM - 11:30 PM), Friday July 4th at the Monona Community Festival (8:00 PM - 12:00 AM), and Saturday July 5th at The Club Tavern (3:30 PM - 5:30 PM) in an all-day, outdoor event featuring a Wizenhiemer reunion, The Love Monkeys, Muzzy Luctin, Sand, and LUBE. Our past experience with these events is that they are awesome, so come on out, enjoy a few cold ones, and spend your holiday weekend with LUBE!

News: Friday June 27, 2008
Cross Plains World's Fair
Cross Plains, Wisconsin

"The one in the green? Yes."

Cross Plains, how ya been? We haven't seen you since St. Francis Fest last year. While our schedule didn't allow for us to play that festival again in '08, we were happy to hook up a gig at the Cross Plains World's Fair. As per usual with LUBE's outdoor gigs, the weather forecast was somewhat dicey, but rain or shine, we were gonna play!

Sometimes if the forecast looks clear, bands play "under the stars" out on the tennis court adjacent to the beer tent. Due to the threat of rain, we were set up inside the beer tent, and this proved to be a good thing. It was definitely warm and muggy on Friday. We worked up a good froth just setting up gear. Nothing sets the stage for a great gig like a musky, barnyard-like aroma. It's earthy, nice. Once the pre-show party for the sponsors and their families broke up, there was actually a pleasant, cooling breeze wafting through the tent. We made sure to take full advantage of it as that was the last we'd feel of it for the night!

As we kicked off the show, people were filing into the beer tent area. Because it was still kind of nice out, there were many folks hanging outside the tent enjoying their favorite adult beverage. As predicted, there was a bit of rain that came through Cross Plains. While it was no stronger than sprinkles, it did manage to corral the crowd under the tent. Once everyone was under then tent, the party kicked into high gear!

The view from the stage, if you've never experienced it, is always interesting. Sometimes the people entertain us in ways previously thought unimaginable. From my vantage point on the cool side of the stage, I could see that the ENTIRE BEER TENT was going nuts! There were people drinking & dancing and having a blast as far as I could see. The adrenaline rush we get from that is beyond cool! It was so crazy that Sound Man Dan was asked if he could temporarily relinquish his production duties to dance with an enthusiastic young lady. Being the consummate professional he is, Dan had to politely decline and stay behind the mixer, ensuring a quality show for all.

By the time we wrapped for the night, the Cross Plains crazies had downed over 30 kegs of beer, much to the delight of Larry Esser and his crew. We meet a lot of super people in the course of our work as musicians, playing a variety of festivals in addition to the more traditional bar gigs. Larry has got to be about the most conscientious and accommodating person we have had the pleasure of working with. The entire staff of the Cross Plains World's Fair, including former LUBE drummer Todd Schroeder's dad who was flipping burgers in a retro LUBE shirt, went out of their way to make us feel welcome and taken care of. We offer a hearty "Thank You" and hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did! Hopefully we'll see you again next year!

News: Wednesday June 18, 2008
Quaker Steak & Lube
Middleton, Wisconsin

1047. One zero four seven. One thousand forty-seven. That is a fabulous number. It's also the number of motorcycles that came to QSL Bike Night when LUBE tore it up this past Wednesday. Clearly, word is out that LUBE @ The Lube is an event NOT TO BE MISSED!

The weather, in stark contrast to most of our outdoor shows, was nothing short of glorious. Upper 70's, plenty of sunshine, and just enough breeze to let you know it's there. As soon as I saw the forecast for the week, I knew we had an opportunity for a killer show @ Bike Night, and ladies & gentlemen of the greater Madison area, you did NOT disappoint!

We nearly hit a snag before the show even started. Sound Man Dan informed us he needed to be in Las Vegas for business that day. Seasoned LUBIES are well acquainted with the superior quality of Dan & Chad's production. Suddenly we were on to plan B. A stroke of luck came our way as Dan was able to enlist local music veterans Frank & Trent "T-Bone" Fridono to handle production duties for us. The show would go on, and we knew Frank & Trent, as well as our boys Chad & Curt, would take good care of us.

Your LUBE boys were nervous about being a bit rusty for this show. As you may have noticed, there has been some unprecedented rain and flooding in this area, and it managed to interrupt our rehearsal schedule. We hadn't played anything since our WSG show 3 weeks prior. A quick little refresher during sound check and then it was off to the races, and things went just fine. After all, we are professionals. NOT!

Like I mentioned at the top of this enthralling piece of prose, 1047 bikes came to this Wednesday night party. 1047! That, friends, is insane. At the same time, it's still just good enough for 2nd place in QSL history. Our friends Mighty Short Bus hold the record at 1106 bikes, and it happened nearly one year to the day prior to our show. While we are big fans of Frank, Nic & the guys, we are not content to be #2. We want the frickin' title! That being said, raise your right hands and repeat the following:

"I, (state your name), do hereby promise to immediately mark my calendar for Wednesday August 20, 2008, so as to remind myself to attend the next LUBE gig at QSL Bike Night. If I own a motorcycle, I will drive it to the show, and I will encourage everyone I have ever met to do the same. As a loyal LUBIE, I will make it my duty to help LUBE set the record for number of bikes at Bike Night, so help me God. If I fail in this endeavor, my iPod will forever be solely occupied by William Hung songs."

Thank you for your cooperation! While we may have to settle for currently being #2 in bike numbers, Tom from QSL said that he was quite confident that their overall sales record was going to be set once all the tallying was done. Kick-ass! He told us you party animals blew through 25 cases of Bud Light in no time. That equals out to 600 beers, and that's just the Bud Light. LUBE fans are the best partiers anywhere!

Finally, in dramatic conclusion, a huge and sincere "Thank You" goes out to everyone who came to Bike Night and made it a smashing success! Tom & all his staff, Captain Morgan (Jeff's real dad) and the CM Girls who provided us with free shots, the vendors, etc. went out of their way to make this a truly memorable night. Our lighting engineer/co-production master Chad worked hard for us this week and stepped up in Dan's absence. Someone's gotta keep us in line! Anyway, don't forget about the oath you just took and let's make August 20th the greatest Wednesday night in the history of Wednesday nights! I think we can do 1200 bikes!

For your next dose of LUBE, please attend the following shows: Friday June 27 @ Cross Plains World's Fair, Saturday June 28 @ Lake Mills Town & Country Days, July 3 @ Columbus 4th of July Festival, July 4 @ Monona Community Festival, and July 5th @ The Club Tavern for a multi-band extravaganza. Let's take advantage of some good weather and get this summer off to a rockin' start!

News: Saturday May 31, 2008
Windsor Street Grille
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Sun Prairie! How's it hangin'? It had been a long time since I last played the WSG. LUBE played there with Doug Skinner sitting in on bass when I was vacationing in March. I missed out on that show and was raring to make up for it on the last day of May!

Despite the fact that the beer tents and festivals are off and running for the season, and despite the fact LUBE played 3 shows in 4 days over Memorial Day Weekend, we had a solid crowd at the WSG. It's funny...while I saw many faces that were new, I also saw a lot of faces we saw 2 or 3 times last weekend! Once you attend a LUBE show, it gets in your blood and you keep coming back for more!

There were a lot of people getting their groove on up by the stage. The arrangement at WSG is "cozy," shall we say, and it allows for great interaction between the band and the fans. We love that! The energy exchange is awesome and totally adds to the show. I'm not much of a dancer my own self, but I witness many interesting things from the stage. Saturday night I saw some moves that had never been seen before! The LUBIES are a wild & crazy bunch, fo sho!

We didn't have time to add any new songs to the mix with the hectic pace we've been setting. That, however, didn't preclude us from bringing back an old fan favorite. There is a certain collection of LUBE fans that routinely and boisterously request us to play "Voodoo" by Godsmack. We used to do it regularly but over time it was phased out, as many good tunes are. We can't play all the tunes all the time! Anyway, we'd been getting bombarded with requests for it and so Saturday we catered to the demands of the masses and reincarnated "Voodoo," if just for one night. As always, everybody loved it despite the fact it was a bit unpolished. Hopefully that will satisfy you for a while!

Much love to everyone who came out to the WSG and rocked their asses off! We have a couple weeks of down time before making a triumphant return to the world-famous Quaker Steak & Lube Bike night on Wednesday June 18. Theses shows are always killer! Keep your fingers crossed for good weather and we'll see you there. Don't forget the Bike Night shows are an early start...5:30pm early. It's perfect for stopping on your way home from work, you can have a few beers & some wings, rock out until 9:30pm, and still be in bed by 10:00pm. That is pure, mid-week party perfection!

News: Memorial Day, May 26th, 2008
World's Largest Brat Fest
Madison, Wisconsin

After being lucky enough to avoid the worst of the weather the night before, it was with a cautious eye that I peeked outside Monday morning. Much to my delight, I was greeted with blue skies, a nice breeze, and temps approaching 80F. Sweet! LUBE was honored to be selected to play at The World's Largest Brat Fest, playing the closing slot of the event from 4:00-6:00pm on the Quench Gum/93.1-The Lake stage.

We all arrived plenty early to do what most people do at Brat Fest...eat brats! They were nothing short of savory. After Flame Shark finished their set, we did the fastest change over we have ever done, less than 30 minutes. Once we were hooked up, it was show time. Looking out across a sea of sunshine and smiling faces, we were totally stoked to play!

On a normal night, we play three 1-hour sets with 20 minutes breaks between the sets. Today, since we had a 2-hour time slot, we decided we'd just play one big power set. We again opened with "I Ran" and people were jamming all the way back to the world's largest grill. What else would be at The World's Largest Brat Fest?!? Being a family-friendly event, we edited our set to remove the more risqué material, but that doesn't mean we didn't play great tunes or that people didn't dig it. They did! It was also an opportunity to bring the kids out to see the band. We have a lot of fans who are always asking when we're playing outside because their kids want to see LUBE. Brat Fest was an excellent opportunity for that, and the little ones certainly appeared to be enjoying themselves. They love Buzz's crazy antics and he likes performing for them. Maybe that's because he's just a big kid himself!

At about 5:00pm we were handed a note that indicated they were about 10,000 brats short of the world record (189,400+). Fortunately, there were a lot of people hanging around watching LUBE! They were encouraged to buy more brats, and with a little luck, we might be able to set the new record. We kept playing, people kept dancing and singing along, and the grills stayed hot. In the end, you'll never believe what happened...a new world record was set! More than 191,000 brats were sold between Friday morning and Monday afternoon. That, my friends, is a lot of brats! LUBE really doesn't like to go around tooting our own horn, but I just gotta think that our beloved and faithful LUBIES were a key factor in attaining this colossal goal. After all, what's a sausage fest without LUBE?

We would like to thank Quench Gum and 93.1-The Lake for having us this year. It was awesome! Intellasound did production (and also at New Glarus last night) and they were the professionals we knew them to be. Our production guys ran the front-of-house on Intellasound's gear, and as always, it sounded great. Best of all, for the 2nd night in a row, we didn't have PA & lighting gear to tear down!

Lastly, we have to extend another sincere "Thank You" to all of the wonderful people who came to our shows this weekend. I saw more than a few faces that were at The Bean Friday, New Glarus Sunday, and Brat Fest Monday. That is hard core and we love you for it! There were also plenty of people who hit two shows over the weekend...our LUBIES are the best!

But wait...there's more! Next Saturday, May 31, we are at Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. This will be our last indoor show for quite some time. If bar gigs are your thing, you best get your butt to the WSG and party with us! After that, we'll ALL need some rest, but we'll return to the stage on Wednesday June 18 at the infamous Quaker Steak & Lube Bike Night. Mark your calendars now! Also, if you didn't happen to get one of the promotional CDs of all the bands that played at Brat Fest, we have some and will bring them to our upcoming shows until they're gone. Nick was last seen possessing them, so talk to him at a show & he'll hook you up.

News: Sunday, May 25th, 2008
New Glarus Community Festival
New Glarus, Wisconsin

Can anyone think of the last time LUBE played an outdoor event where the weather wasn't a factor? Has it ever happened? I suppose if I researched it, I might uncover an instance when we played and the weather was nothing short of fabulous. Most of the time, even if we get the show off, it's done with an eye to the sky watching for storms. Based on all this, what do you think happened Sunday in New Glarus? Storms!

This was our first time ever playing the New Glarus Community Festival. We had heard great things, but I don't know that any of us had ever actually been to it. Upon arrival we found a decent-sized stage which was completely underneath a tent, clearly a positive since the radar was showing some severe weather heading our way.

We played after a very cool band called 2nd Thought. They are a talented bunch of young men, and when I say young, I really mean it. They range from 13-15 years old, I believe, but they played like wily stage veterans and made me jealous I didn't get an early start on my fledgling musical career! If you have the opportunity to see them, do it.

After a quick change over, we hit the stage at 8:00pm and I don't think the rain had started...yet. It took a few tunes and a couple pitchers of beer to get the crowd rockin' but eventually the front of the stage was full of dancers. Mother Nature was not to be denied, and soon enough the rains came, and it POURED! There was a lot of lightning and thunder and a deluge of water. The tent was situated on a grade with the stage area being the highest point. When the rain came, water ran from behind the stage out into the tent, so it looked as though the stage was taking a leak! We just happened to be on set break when it started really coming down and the staff of the NGCF dropped the flaps on the tent. It stayed relatively dry inside and it was determined that none of the electricals were getting wet, so the show continued.

At long last, the rains petered out and the tent flaps were again raised, letting in some much needed cool air. It felt great! We were able to do the full show and avoid the worst of the weather cells, and for that we're very thankful. We had a great time in New Glarus and from the throngs of people we talked to, they liked it too! We hope to see you again next year, if not sooner! Thanks to all of our Madison fans who made the short drive to New Glarus and rocked out with us. You helped us make a great impression on NG and we truly appreciate you!

If you're not too tired from a frantic Memorial Day Weekend, come on out to The World's Largest Brat Fest Monday at Willow Island by the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. We play from 4-6p on the Quench Gum/93.1-The Lake stage. The weather will hopefully improve and we are excited to be playing this awesome event. It's gonna RAWK!

News: Friday, May 23rd, 2008
The Bean
Madison, Wisconsin

Memorial Day Weekend! It's often a busy time for people. Having Monday off creates a rare long weekend, the weather finally has turned nice, and sometimes just getting out of town is a welcomed break from the daily grind. It's also a time to remember those who have served or currently serve in our armed forces, and we in LUBE offer a sincere "Thank You" to those brave men and women.

Traditionally, a Memorial Weekend Friday can be a tough gig. Like I mentioned, people like to take advantage of the long weekend, and it doesn't always mean going to bar to see a band. Thankfully for us, there were many true rock fans who broke tradition and came to see us at The Bean!

The 2nd set opened with the Young MC classic "Bust A Move" featuring Jeff on lead vocal. There are a lot of words in that song and The Hermanator worked hard to pull that one off! It's got an infectious groove and the crowd loved it! Later in that set, we cranked out Sugarcult's rocked up version of "I Melt With You," and that too went over very well. We even went retro, pulling out the old-school LUBE cover of "Holiday Road" which we hadn't played in many years. If you can remember when that was a staple of the set list, you are a hard-core LUBIE!

We had a great crowd at The Bean and everyone rocked hard. I think there was more energy at 1:30am than at the beginning! Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the fact that just the true rockers hang until the end. At any rate, it kicked ass and we thank you for a good time!

News: Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

You know, when I first got to Badger Bowl about 6:15pm Saturday night, with a skinny triple venti mocha in hand, I just had the feeling that this was going to be a great night. I felt great, everybody was in good spirits, and I had managed to get all of my gear to the venue despite trading off my truck the day before.

To be sure, it was toasty warm inside and there were only a few people in the bar at that time. We propped the loading door open and Jeff set his fan back there to bring in some fresh air. It worked wonderfully though we knew it wouldn't last. By the time we hit the stage about 9:40pm, it was plenty hot and it went up from there!

People hit the dance floor right out of the gate and never left. I don't know how Badger Bowl sold any drinks because it seemed like everyone was dancing. Nick and I tried to go into the crowd during "Crazy Bitch" and could only manage to get a few feet from the stage before we were enveloped by the crowd. It was pretty sweet! The heat just seemed to intensify the energy and there were a lot of smiling, sweaty people having a good time!

We didn't have any new tunes for this show as our rehearsal schedule got thrown out of whack this last week. We have a couple of songs that are pretty fresh yet, and I have to admit I have been derelict of my duties in this regard. I always have said that if you recommend a song to us and we end up playing it, I would give you mad props in these fabled words known as "the news." Well, Brenda and Shara recommended "Fake It" by Seether to us and I neglected to give them credit for it when we debuted the song last week. My bad! Don't hate me! Actually, the girls were very sweet about it, and I promised to make up for it. So if you like our version of "Fake It," thank them.

As always, there were multiple events/parties taking place at our gig. Jacqueline was celebrating her 30th birthday and by coincidence, so was Buzz! Once midnight rolled around, it was our boy's birthday and since he is so shy and introverted, we didn't make too big a deal of it. His mom made a most fabulous cake that we devoured in the parking lot after loading out, and we thank her for that! There was also a bachelorette party in the house although I couldn't tell who they were. Usually the bride-to-be is costumed in a Suck For A Buck shirt or is drinking from a large phallus. I didn't see any such props, so we'll just have to trust that the rumor was true. Also, our good friends and huge local music supporters Bobby & Kristin came to the show with a group of 35 people. YOU RULE! Thank you so much, and we hope that everyone had a good time.

Alright kiddies, we have a few weeks to catch our breath and try and wrap up a couple more new songs that we have in the hopper. We'll be back at it on Friday May 23 at The Bean, home of the wildest shows in town. That starts a furious stretch for your LUBE boys, because that show is followed by Sunday (yep, Sunday) May 25 at the New Glarus Community Festival (I've heard this is a blast and you don't have to work the next day!), Monday (yep, Monday) May 26 at Brat Fest (the world's largest) at Willow Island by the Alliant Energy Center in Madison from 4-6pm, and then Saturday May 31 at Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. It's gonna be a busy 8 days for us but provides you more than ample opportunity to get your rock on LUBE style! See you there!

News: Saturday, April 26th, 2008
Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

You know, ever since I got back from Hawaii, my ass has been seriously dragging. I've never dealt with jet lag like this. I wasn't sleeping well, never felt rested, and it was really starting to get to me. After getting home at 4:00am from our show Friday night (after a late night breakfast with Jeffy), I slept until almost 1:00pm, and when I woke up, I felt GREAT! Apparently my system had been deprived of LUBE gigs and that was the cause of my overpowering fatigue. Suddenly I felt like $1,000,000 and was ready to seriously throw it down at The Club!

Upon arriving, it seemed as though everyone had gotten a good night's sleep. We were all in great spirits and prepared for a thunderous show. Our beloved grunt Curt was celebrating his birthday, and as a token of our esteem, he was given the night off from his duties. That was a good thing, because by the end of the night he was squinty and in no condition to work!

As we started the show, I was a bit concerned that a bunch of the LUBE faithful were out doing other things. With Crazy Legs in the morning and some strong bands in the area, maybe the crowd was going to be a bit thin. How wrong I was! You were all just fashionably late with the exception of my wife who stunned me by her promptness. A very nice crowd filed in and rocked out with us, and we wholly appreciate that!

Once again, the local music peeps have shown that the LUBE gig is the place to be for birthday celebrations! Not only was it Curt's birthday but Kelly's and Terri's and a whole slew of other names I have forgotten. Drinks flowed, bodies were shakin', and it was jolly good fun. There were a lot of very talented dancers! Our boy Curt even got on stage during "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and did a little striptease. He is chiseled, knows how to shake his butt, and the ladies were eating it up. The pictures of that will be most excellent!

Be sure to join us at the hottest venue in Madison this next week, Badger Bowl, for a Saturday night extravaganza! The show kicks off at 9:30pm, and Curt will have his shirt on again and be back to work. We'll have a few weeks off after this gig, so make sure you come get your LUBE fix!

News: Friday, April 25th, 2008
The Riley Tavern
Verona, Wisconsin

Hello, LUBIES! It's me, Bartho, and I have returned to my official duties as the bass dude of LUBE! My vacation was very nice, albeit a bit spendy, and I returned from Hawaii seriously jonesing to play music again. The guys and I jumped right back into our practice routine and polished up a couple of new songs which we broke out at my first gig back, The Riley Tavern

It should come at no surprise to you that The Riley isn't any bigger than it used to be. We manage to cram all of our gear into the small back room but it leaves us with little space for high-flying stage maneuvers. Fortunately, there was a strong crowd on hand and we fed off each other's energy. We were joined by 30 or so people all traveling by bus in celebration of Chris's 40th birthday. That alone is enough to fill The Riley, but there were plenty of other people who came out to see us too!

As I mentioned, we put the final touches on two new songs that debuted Friday night. The first was "Into The Night" by Santana & Chad Kroeger from Nickelback. Jeff sings this one and it has an infectious dance beat. "Fake It" by Seether was our other new song, complete with distorted bass and Buzz's aggressive vocals. The LUBIES were definitely digging this tune! I guess if you listen to the lyrics, we all know of someone for whom the song could have been written.

Friday was a special night for drummer Steve as he and his wife Jenny celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. What better way to do that than by getting sweaty and smelly at a LUBE show?!? Congrats to them and we all wish them continued happiness in their marriage. That Jenny has got to be a saint...

After a replay of the much-requested "SexyBack," we tore down, loaded out, and wrapped up a long work week with another successful gig at The Riley. Murph and Katherine made sure we were well fed and hydrated, as per usual, and we had a great time. It was time to go home, recharge the batteries, and prepare for the next night at The Club Tavern. I gotta tell ya, about three songs into the show I noticed I had goosebumps on my arms...it felt good to be playing again! Thanks to everyone who welcomed me back and made this an awesome show!

News: Friday, March 28th and Saturday March 29th, 2008
The Bean and Windsor Street Grille
Madison and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

My dear friends and LUBEamaniacs, it is my sincerest pleasure to once again address you. I have finally returned to the mainland following a delightful Hawaiian vacation. As many of you do following a sweet LUBE gig, I checked www.luberocks.com to get the lowdown on the latest shows. The pictures are always my favorite part, as being on stage precludes me from seeing all the fun that is happening in the crowd. The pictures from the above shows are awesome and from what I've heard, the gigs were classic LUBE rock fests! I was somewhat distraught to see that no one wrote the news while I was gone, and since the news lets me connect with you, I just had to write something!

There are several reasons why these two gigs turned out as well as they did. Allow me to explain. My wife and I booked a 10-day Hawaiian island cruise Aug. 1, 2007 in celebration of our pending 5-year wedding anniversary. With my job, I have to schedule my time off essentially a year in advance, and I always try to arrange things so that it creates the least amount of conflict with the LUBE calendar. We have limited availability, again due to work reasons in the band. Anyway, an extended vacation by myself or anyone involved in LUBE can't help but affect our gigs, and in past years, shows were not booked when someone wasn't available.

After looking at our booking availability, I realized that if LUBE didn't find a replacement for me while I was gone, we'd have two full months between shows, and that's too long! I came to the band and suggested they find a guest bassist, and Steve and I both thought of Doug Skinner immediately. As you know, Doug is in Heartbreaker and had previously been in Monkeypunch/Bad Jack with Steve. Their experience playing together would make the situation much easier, despite the fact I had a rather impressive list of other viable candidates we could have asked. It wasn't an easy decision for anyone, but in the end, LUBE decided to take an unprecedented step and play two shows without one of the official band members. Some bands do this all the time, but for us, it was a big deal.

Everyone in LUBE made an extra effort to facilitate these shows. Rehearsals were modified so that both Doug and I could play with the band. Dan had to make changes to the front of house sound as Doug and I use different gear. And let's not forget that Doug had to go out and learn 45+ songs in order to pull this thing off! Beyond that, LUBE learned "Thunderkiss '65," so Doug could sing it at these gigs. It might not sound like much to those on the outside, but this was a large undertaking, and in the end, it turned out great!

I can't say that some or all of us didn't have mixed feelings about it. After I committed to my decision to make this happen, I started second-guessing myself. What if the band liked Doug better? What if my beloved LUBIES liked Doug better? The truth of the matter is that everyone came together for the sake of the music, band and fans alike. I know in my heart that while some of you might have noticed I was missing, you still gave Doug and the other guys your full support. For that, I thank you. One thing I can assure you is that I miss playing like you would not believe! Bring on The Riley, baby! I'm ready to tear it up!

Let me tell you what I was doing while you guys were rocking out with my boys. March 28 was my birthday, and I rented a bright red Charger and took my wife, mom, & step-dad to the summit of Haleakala, a dormant volcano on the east end of Maui. Maui is simply stunning, and the world is a beautiful place at 10,023 feet. We then traveled to upcountry and visited the Tedeschi Winery, again enjoying the scenery along the way despite the fact my driving made my mom car sick. Sorry about that. Later that evening, we had dinner with my Uncle Chris his family who live in Wailuku, in the foothills of the west Maui mountains. As you can imagine, we don't see one another very often, and it made for a special treat.

Saturday March 29 was a bit laid back. Tammy, her mom & sister Connie, and I ventured into the lush Iao Valley. The foliage is dense and has more shades of green that anyone ever knew existed. We then bummed around and visited the world famous Hilo Hattie store, stocking up on souvenirs and aloha wear. After returning the car, it was back to the Pride of Aloha, and we departed for our next port of call, that being Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. All the while, you were kickin' it at WSG.

Don't think that I didn't miss you! The Bartho doesn't like to go without his rock, and the past few weeks have taught me to savor the opportunities I have to play. Thank you for supporting LUBE while I was away, and please come back and see us again soon! Thanks go to Doug Skinner as well...we appreciate you helping us out, bro.

LUBE's next show is Friday April 25 at The Riley Tavern, followed by Saturday April 26 at The Club Tavern. After that, Saturday May 3 at Badger Bowl. Killer shows, all of them! I WILL see you there! Now please excuse me while I take my over-tired, jet-lagged carcass to bed.

News: Saturday, March 1st, 2008
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

LUBE has been playing the Badger Bowl for a long time. Our first gig there was part of a local metal band showcase, and we were one of four bands to perform (Talamasca, Live Wire, and Nightmare's End were the others if memory serves me correctly). Clearly, you know and we know that LUBE is not a metal band, yet we can rock with the best of them. It just so happened that Barry Manilow was performing at the Coliseum that same night (definitely not a metal band!). In tribute to Barry, we worked up a cover of a cover of his song "Mandy," despite already knowing we didn't really fit in with the other bands. It was, however, a foot in the door, and after we dropped a punked-up "Mandy" on them, we were invited to book our own show there. That was the summer of 2000, and things have certainly changed since then!

One thing that's changed over the years is the band. Since that first BB show, we've changed drummers (from Todd to Steve) and added another guitarist (fan favorite Jeffy). Our song selection has turned over several times, although there still may be an "oldie" or two lurking around from time to time. Our production has changed, our logo has changed, and the temperature inside the Bowl during shows has changed. Sometimes I feel like a rotisserie chicken when we play there. It's hot before we even start!

If you'll look closely at the pictures, you'll notice that the band and the patrons look sweaty. The band is sweaty because we work hard to entertain you, and more times than not, we work up an aromatic froth without much trouble. I'd go so far as to call it earthy, even. The good people who come to shows dance, party, and have a great time, so they too generally moisten as the night goes on. But Badger Bowl creates the soupiest mess out of all of us each and every time. My friend Brian dared me to try and work a sweaty bean bag reference into this news, but I'm going to refrain. Let's just say that boxers are not the undergarment of choice at BB shows. Something more form fitting is far superior.

Since I have nudged my way toward the gutter, we are "family-friendly" so I'll stop at a PG-13 level. If, however, you are offended by words like "brassiere" or "phallus," please skip to the next paragraph. I have to tell you there were at least two bachelorette parties in the house with us Saturday night. Bachelorette parties bring out the wild animal in the ladies! Naturally, there was Suck For A Buck, which is always a fun way to earn/spend some money. There was also a large inflatable phallus full of graffiti roaming the bar. Thankfully Buzz didn't violate it the way he used to "have his way" with the Aflac duck! One of the bachelorettes, Molly, traded shirts with a young man in the crowd, and ended up on stage in her brassiere, much to the delight of the fellas in attendance. Now, despite the rather bawdy topics discussed in this recap, LUBE is chivalrous, and so we gave our very last "Back Stage Pass" t-shirt to Molly as a token of our esteem, allowing her to cover her assets and retain her innocence.

LUBE has a few weeks off until our next show, that being Friday March 28 @ The Bean, followed the next night at Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. You know how fun and crazy these shows are, so just plan on being there! There will be something noticeably different on these two nights, something LUBE fans have never seen. I don't want you to get used to it, because it is for a limited time only. What is it? Fine, I'll tell ya. Doug Skinner, the Zombie-singing energy bundle that plays bass for Heartbreaker, will be sitting in with the band while yours truly is on a romantical vacation. I know how undeniably cool LUBE fans are, and I know you will show Doug all the love and support you show me. Don't like him too much, though, because your boy will be back with a vengeance come April! Not only that, I guarantee we will deliver you new tunes at the Riley Tavern show on April 25! So do me a favor...don't sit home and pout because Bartho is in Hawaii, come out and rock your asses off with LUBE and show Doug how totally awesome a LUBE gig is! Be there 3/28 @ The Bean and 3/29 @ WSG!

News: Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
Bobby G's Bowl In Bar
Columbus, Wisconsin

So after a boss-ass gig at The Bean on Friday night, we were off to a venue we had never played before, Bobby G's Bowl In Bar in Columbus. There's always a little bit of uncertainty when going into someplace new. Do they have a built in crowd? Is there going to be a cover charge? Are they used to hosting bands? Lots of variables to consider. Fortunately for us, we have played the Columbus 4th of July celebration the last two years (remember the spawning of EBUL due to the rain last year?), so we weren't exactly unknown in Columbus. As luck would have it, people remembered LUBE!

Some of our regular LUBIES made the trip out to Columbus to check out the new club, most of whom helped close down The Bean the night before. Diehards! There was a good turnout of what I can only presume to be local Columbusians and they seemed eager to party with us. It took a few tunes to get them up and moving but once they did, they danced all night. That makes for good fun for them and us!

Bobby G's has a lot of potential to become a regular cog in the greater Madison music scene. While there's no stage, the area for bands to set up in is larger than most. The ceiling in the band area is high enough that the light stands can be extended, allowing for a cool light show. The room is big and if all the tables and such were moved out, I'm guessing it could accommodate 500 people or more. The staff at Bobby G's was very pleasant and the food was solid, never a negative. Oh yeah, the drinks were delightfully priced, too...bonus!

We rocked hard for the second night in a row, leaving ourselves and the crowd sweaty and tired...signs of a good show! After another swift tear down, we headed off to Perkins for a little late night repast. Everyone had breakfast except for Jeff. There's always one in every crowd...

After using our work weeks to rest up, we'll be back at it Saturday March 1st at the Badger Bowl. It's always a hot time at The Bowl! Maybe you just saw us this past weekend, but the bottom line is you can never have too much LUBE. Come on and rock out with your male chicken out or jam out with your mollusk out! After this show, it will be four agonizing weeks until you can get LUBE'd again (Friday March 28 @ the Bean). See ya!

News: Friday, February 22nd, 2008
The Bean
Fitchburg, Wisconsin

Well, what do you know? There was a LUBE show that was not infringed upon by the weather! After months of cold, snowy, and all-around crappiness, we finally had nice weather on the day of a gig. It may not have been super warm, but after several mornings of below zero temps, 20F felt good!

Friday night brought us back to one of our favorite haunts, The Bean. Shows at The Bean are renown for great crowds and wild times. Fridays can be tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that's right on time. People get tired from the weekly grind, and there are some Friday nights when all I want to do is park my big butt in front of the idiot box and veg out, you know? This Friday felt different, however. Surprisingly, I was in a good mood at work, got my stuff packed in the truck without smashing my fingers or injuring myself in some other manner, and breezed through traffic on the way to the show. I had the sense we were going to have a great night. When I arrived at The Bean @ 6:15pm and found the parking lot already nearing capacity, I was pretty sure I was going to be right.

It didn't take long for the bar to fill up, in part due to a large group of people from work coming out for a surprise birthday party. Jules surprised Hammer & her twin brother Mike with a bash that was attended by at least 50 people. I won't reveal how old they are, but their age contains the numbers 0 and 4. Brianna was also celebrating her birthday with us, as well as someone named Perry who I forgot to call out over the mic. Sorry...I'm not getting any younger either! Birthday bashes at LUBE gigs are becoming a regular occurrence and we thank you for letting us entertain your party. We're giving the Nitty Gritty a run for their money! And as per usual, there was some wildness going on. One particular couple was getting rather "romantical" on the dance floor, if you know what I'm saying. I don't think they show that kind of stuff on Skinemax even! I guess LUBE shows bring out the wild animal (at least horndog) in some people!

We have a few new tunes in the hopper but they aren't ready for the set list quite yet. So to change things around a bit, we did just that...changed things around. We took chunks of songs and moved them to new locations to try and keep things fresh for you. There's something to be said for knowing what's coming, being familiar with something you like, yet surprises are fun too. After ending the first set with "Shout," Jenny said it felt like the night was almost over (that had been our regular 2nd set ender for quite a while), but we still had two full sets to go! While we've been known to screw ourselves up with set changes (can you believe it?!?), last night flowed well and made everything feel fresh again. But rest assured...we'll have more tunes for you soon!

After a blissfully smooth and fast tear down, it was time to call it a night and get ready for tomorrow at Bobby G's Bowl In Bar in Columbus. We've never played there before and we're hoping some of you will come with us to check the place out. It's kind of fun playing someplace new and unleashing the mad fury of a LUBE show upon the unsuspecting! See you S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night!

News: Tuesday (Tuesday?!!!??), February 5th, 2008
The Club Tavern
Middleton, Wisconsin

When you hear the words "Mardi Gras," what do you think of? New Orleans? Partying? Beads? Inverse gravity on women's shirts? Probably all of the above. The Mardi Gras (that means Fat Tuesday in French, BTW) parties at The Club Tavern are things of legend, and this year we were invited to participate. Lucky us! In addition to being Mardi Gras, it was Super Tuesday in the political world, and wouldn't you know we'd be sharing the stage with our good friends in the band SuperTuesday. Talk about coincidence!

As I regularly mention ad nauseum, LUBE has terrible luck with weather on gig days. We thought we'd throw Ma Nature a curveball and play a gig on a Tuesday for a change but she was on to us. You might recall the unhappy circumstances surrounding Riley Fest '07 and the incredible deluge that ruined that event. While LUBE has dredged up it's own bad weather, it was never anything like the rains of Riley Fest. Who did we share a stage with that day? SuperTuesday. Now comes the greatest February party of them all, Mardi Gras, and we get hit with the snowstorm of the decade with well over 12" of snow. Julie Lund on Fox 47 news just told me some areas received 21.5" of snow since the storm began yesterday afternoon! As I said earlier, we shared the Club Tavern stage with SuperTuesday. I don't think you have to be a genius to see that ST is the common denominator in these horrific storms!

Seriously, though, while the storm may have delayed people from arriving at The Club early in the afternoon, they eventually did come and see a kick ass show from two great bands. In true collaborative form, we shared a bunch of gear to make the transition from ST to LUBE go quickly. Dan & Chad from LUBE provided production however ST's sound engineer Jimmy plugged in his board and mixed their show. ST started at 5:00pm and rocked out until 8:00pm. They opted to take the early slot due to some scheduling conflicts, and frankly, we were happy to let them "open" for us (ha!). By the time we hit the stage, the bar was full, people were getting their drink on, and we partied like it wasn't blizzarding outside! A bunch of the regular LUBE crazies were there and they lead the charge to the stage and never left. There were some costumes, masks, adornments of all varieties, and of course...beads! While the bead recipients were a bit shy about revealing their "Mardi Gras spirit" if you will, we had a blast and I think I can safely say it's the best Tuesday night party I've seen since the Liquor Mart in Eau Claire put cases of Old Milwaukee on special for $3.99 back when I was in college.

Once the show was over, the party continued on while we packed up all our gear. It can be a little treacherous when the footing is slick but things went smoothly, including the drive home. Hopefully you all made it home safely as well, and we look forward to seeing you at our next gig 2/22 @ The Bean. We'll be christening a new LUBE venue the following night, Saturday 2/23. We're playing Bobby G's Bowl In Bar in Columbus that night, and we hope our regular Columbus Fest crowd comes out to help support this new venue.

LUBE would like to thank Moose, Michael, and everyone at The Club Tavern for a great Fat Tuesday party! We'd also like to thank SuperTuesday for putting on a great show and being easy to work with. Dan & Chad earn kudos as well for working with Jimmy & Cheese to iron out technical stuff most of us don't understand and for taking the time and effort to set up Monday so that Tuesday went as smoothly as it did. Our crew is the best! Last but not least, a well deserved tip of the cap to everyone who braved the elements to come to the show. Thank you!

See you in a few weeks at The Bean!

News: Saturday, January 26th, 2008
Windsor Street Grille
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Coming off a hot & sweaty rock party the night before, your friendly neighborhood LUBE boys packed up shop and headed to the land of the Hermanator, Sun Prairie, for another well-anticipated show at the Windsor Street Grille. While the WSG is rather modest in dimensions, our shows there have the feel of a large, packed club. People get their dance and drink on, we rock out, and the night just flies by.

Let me describe for you how the day went. I personally got to bed at 4:18am following Friday's show at the Badger Bowl. Still being a bit wired, I tossed and turned listening to my wife sleep and finally dosed off somewhere around 5:00am. After about six hours of sleep, I was up and working on the setting for my new compression pedal. A little lunch, a little clean up, a few glamorless chores like laundry and dishes, and it was time to hit the highway. While I was doing that, the LUBE production crew of Dan, Chad, and Curt were already at the venue, having arrived around 4:00pm to start setting up gear.

I arrived at the WSG about 6:35pm to find that Steve and Jenny had the drums almost completely assembled. As I was unloading my gear, Jeff rolled up and was followed shortly by Nick and Buzz. A brief brainstorm lead to us reconfiguring our layout, at least on the cool side of the stage. We were finally set up by about 7:45pm and sat down to eat. At the table, Nick regaled us with his humor, obsessions, and unique Nickisms (if you know him, you understand). Dan was on his laptop and uploaded some of the pictures from the BB show to the website. We had a few good laughs over the pix, especially the one of Curt in a compromising position. After chowing down and discussing some funny sounding words like fritter and doily, we cleaned up, changed into our superhero rock attire, loosened up and prepared to rock.

At 9:40pm we kicked off the show with "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol and cranked full steam ahead until we closed the show with "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit. MOWE is a great ending song...everyone knows it, people like to sing along, and it's got good energy. The crowd was incorrigible, however, and wanted an encore performance of Buckcherry's "Crazy Bitch." Not wanting to disappoint, Steve clicked it off and we recreated the earlier frenzy that accompanies the song. Something about "Crazy Bitch" drives the ladies wild! At 1:45am, the lights came on, the fog settled, we thanked people for coming and began the unenviable task of tearing down.

The musicians initially focus on getting their personal gear packed up and loaded into their vehicles. While we all know what we're doing, it's a bit difficult with all of trying to do this at the same time in a limited space. We've sort of learned how to work around one another and it usually goes smoothly, especially when Buzz gets his damn congas out of the way! The production guys have the most stuff to pack up, obviously, and so when we are done with the guitars and drums and amplifiers, we help with the PA and lights. Miles of cords, thousands of pounds of racks and cases and bins, mic stands, lighting truss, etc. all must get packed and properly loaded into the trailer. Dan and Chad spent a considerable amount of time planning the best method of packing the trailer so that everything fits as tightly as possible. There is a lot of stuff in there! Damp, icy conditions are not conducive to fast loading, and we were slipping and sliding going up the ramp into the trailer. Fortunately we didn't hurt ourselves or any gear (most importantly!) and by 3:10am we were officially out of the WSG.

After a swig of Fresca in the parking lot, a few of us decided to go to Perkins for breakfast, and so into Madison we went. Word of an after-bar at Jeff's was widely exaggerated and inaccurate. As luck would have it, a scheduling snafu at Perkins left them short-staffed and struggling to deal with their late-night patrons. After a wait that left us contemplating a diversion to Denny's, we were finally seated and ordered. Dan is partial to the non-meat Moons Over My Hammy from Denny's and tried to recreate it after some creative ordering. Jeff ate everything he ordered (this is unusual) and even took pancakes to go. Finally, at 4:26am I got in my truck and headed for home. Precisely 30 minutes later, I was cleaned up and crawling into bed, another successful LUBE gig in the books.

Don't forget, the next LUBE show is on a Tuesday...Fat Tuesday, i.e. Mardi Gras (2/5), at The Club Tavern. Our good friends SuperTuesday will kick off the music at 4:30pm and we'll go on about 8:30pm, which is early enough so all you people who complain about having to work the next day can still come out and get to bed at a reasonable time. We have to work the next day too. Work, schmerk! Mardi Gras at The Club is a BIG event and tickets are available in advance, so get yours early and plan on staying late!

News: Friday, January 25th, 2008
Badger Bowl
Madison, Wisconsin

What is going on with the weather? You've often heard me rail against Mother Nature for the horrible things she does to LUBE. Well, that reputation of hers is well deserved! Not only have we had to deal with ungodly cold temps that last few days but then the day of our gig it warms up enough to snow and make travel treacherous? WTF?!? Fortunately for LUBE, our fans are hardy characters who aren't afraid of the elements.

Yes, the roads were snow-covered and slippery. It was cold outside. But inside the Bowl, it was as hot as ever! It's always very warm there and then when you add several hundred partiers on top of a hot band, it's gets sauna-like! People were a little on the late side arriving but in the end, it turned out to be an excellent crowd. Once the dance floor got groovin' it stayed that way all night! The energy was good, the drinks were cold and we all had a blast.

There were several birthdays being celebrated with us Friday night. I won't begin to try and remember names because I'm not getting any younger. Suffice it to say that at least two or three young ladies were brought on stage and given birthday spankings by Buzz. Also, Jeremy, the bar manager at BB, was working on his 31st birthday. And if I'm not mistaken, it was also the birthday of our favorite jeweler Jim. I can't say for sure...the heat was getting to me or something!

People seemed to dig the new Bon Jovi tune we debuted last week at The Riley Tavern (We Got It Going On). I have to admit, I wasn't sold on it when the song was first pitched to the band, but I've been impressed with how it turned out and the response to it. We are currently working on adding more new tunes, and some fans have sent us suggestions. We really do take your ideas into consideration! There are lots of factors we look at when adding new songs...the key it's in (some bands use really odd tunings), the vocal range, the style of music (sadly, Tool and Slayer just don't fit in!), etc. If we like the tune and can make it work, we'll play it. That being said, if you have ideas you'd like to share, please send us a message at our Contact page and we will take it under advisement.

Saturday night we travel up Hwy 151 for a gig at the Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. Shows at WSG are always packed and full of crazy people! We expect nothing less this time around! And while it has warmed to 25F as I write this, it's still cold, it's still winter, and you should just plan on coming to the WSG. Deal? And don't forget to plan on taking a sick day 2/6 as both LUBE and SuperTuesday will be tearing up Mardi Gras at The Club Tavern on Tuesday (yep, Tuesday) Feb 5. ST plays early at 4:30pm, we follow at 8:30pm, so it's a FULL party! Tickets can be purchased in advance, and based on the attendance of past years, this is probably the way to go. See you soon!

News: Friday, January 18th, 2008
The Riley Tavern
Riley, Wisconsin

LUBE's first show of 2008 took us out to the friendly confines of the Riley Tavern. The Riley is an intimate venue where the people can be literally right on top of the band. Murph and Katherine take good care of us when we play there and it's become one of our favorite places as a result.

Perhaps you haven't noticed, but the weather has turned decidedly colder the last few days. It was relatively mild when we arrived but temps were expected to plummet to below zero by the time we were loading out at the end of the night. The cold didn't hold people back from coming out as the Riley quickly filled up in time for the show. All those bodies crammed into the little bar raised the inside temperature considerably. The metal frame of the front door was covered with frost and all the windows were fogged over. The contrast between inside and outside was incredible!

Since the holiday season has come and gone, we got back into our routine of working on new material. If you're a regular reader of the news here, you've heard me mention that LUBE works very hard at keeping the sets fresh by regularly mixing in new music. We debuted a new tune Friday, that being "We Got It Going On" by Bon Jovi, which came off the "Lost Highway" CD. The song was co-written by Big & Rich, so while it has a country feel, it still rocks! I think it went over well.

By the end of the night, it was clear that people had done their best to support the bar and have a good time. We too had a good time despite a few gear-related "mishaps." In fact, I had 33% more space than in the past due to some reconfiguration. My area was 4 tiles X 2 tiles, up from 3X2, and the difference was dramatic! By the time we loaded out, it was -5 outside and the wind was nothing short of bitter. You'd get snotsicles instantly! We persevered through the cold and worked as quickly as possible, all so we can do it again this coming weekend.

Speaking of this coming weekend, Friday night LUBE will be at the Badger Bowl in Madison. BB has the best set up for seeing a band in the area and an extensive dance floor. Come beat the cold and join us for a kick-ass show! Saturday we'll do it again at the Windsor Street Grille in Sun Prairie. WSG isn't quite as big but the shows there are well attended and usually get crazy. After that, we'll be playing a Mardi Gras show at The Club Tavern with our friends from SuperTuesday, so watch for further details. See you soon!