2007 Official MADC Fall Picnic

madcitydisc.org

6 Guests, 1 User
Mike_Batka

[coyoteugly]

We have tentatively set the date for the 2007 MADC Fall Picnic,
as Sunday, October 21st.  (The Packers bye week.)

Mark your calendars and check back for details,
as the day approaches.

We will be raffling off a basket for participating members.

Read more about it on the Spring Membership Drive thread
http://www.madcitydisc.org/forum/index.php?topic=496.0

[xcandyredplastic]

Remind me when it hits June to renew my membership.

[GOLee]

Is there any interest for a band?

[coyoteugly]

Sure.
Music is good.

Are you in a band?

Do they play cheap?

I had talked with Tyson from the Nama Rupa Band,
about playing after the MCO. He wanted a larger audience.
Although, he recently played @ Electric Earth, so maybe they've changed.
(But, he did use to work there.)

[kravitz]

Elf Lettuce, formerly of Point but now in Madison, could be a great choice for a band. They love to play disc, and play a style of music that fits. I've got their contact info if you want to touch base.

[coyoteugly]

http://elflettuce.com

Based in Madison, WI, Elf Lettuce is a three-piece band that has evolved drastically since its inception in November of 2003.  The group’s sound is an eclectic mixture of many musical styles, firmly rooted in rock and blues, and isn’t quite retro or rock-a-billy, yet not overly futuristic or avant-garde.  One wouldn’t describe Elf Lettuce’s sound as strictly funk, gospel, or traditional, but their sound does contain elements of each, as well as some elements of bluegrass and roots Americana.  The band’s sound hovers around all of the above genres and is fuelled by the driving force of improvisation.  Elf Lettuce strives to perform with an exponentially increasing level of intensity, viewing every performance as an opportunity for musical exploration and growth, combining free-flowing improvisation with precisely executed composition to excite young and gracefully aging fans alike.

 The young band has performed regularly around Wisconsin and the Twin Cities since 2004 and hopes to expand its touring radius to more venues and festivals throughout the Midwest and eventually the entire U.S.  The group draws heavy influence from modern masters such as Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, The Band, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Phish, to name a few.  Elf Lettuce has been influenced by international, regional, subliminal, and local music on a scale far too vast to list concisely.

 Elf Lettuce started out as a group of five friends jamming on classic rock covers in Stevens Point, WI in their spare time and quickly grew into a tight-knit working band performing original music.  Past members of Elf Lettuce have include

d rhythm guitarist Chad Wolf, bassist Mike Tyler, drummers Ryan Good and Eric Marx, and keyboardists Matt Ruder and Mark Breunig.  Co-founding member Matt Ruder left the group in January of 2006 to pursue academic interests in Milwaukee, and Mark Breunig left in May of 2006 to pursue career interests in the Nevada desert. Elf’s current lineup consists of:

 Jacob Lison –  guitar, vocals

Alex White –  bass, vocals

Richard Hankison –  drums, vocals

 Elf Lettuce released a five-song studio EP in May of 2006, which was recorded, mixed, and mastered at the Big Rock Studio in Rosholt, WI.  The members of Elf Lettuce continue to seek out and listen to as wide a variety of music as possible in order to diversify their styles and provide something in their shows for fans of all musical genres.  The band aims to make every show a unique experience, discovering new musical ideas through the art of improvisation.  And like all bands that emphasize the live performance as the best medium to strengthen the band-audience connection, the band greatly appreciates you, the listener, for sharing in their music and giving them the support and energy that helps them create quality music.  It wouldn’t be the same without YOU.

[GOLee]

Well... maybe I was beat to the punch?  Even after just putting this up today?

Anywho.  I have heard of Elf Lettuce and seen them play at the King Club.  A friend of mine went to Point before transferring to the UDub and brought me to one of their shows (knowing that I tend to like bands that rock out and jam tightly).  Anywho, when I saw them I enjoyed myself. 

The band that I was going to suggest is Stealin' Strings.  (From what I hear, Elf Lettuce is a fan.)  www.stealinstrings.com  They are a four-piece band out of the Northwoods (Northern Suburbs) of Milwaukee.  They describe their style as Bluegressive Rock.  They have been touring around the states (mostly between Midwest and Colorado) for almost six years now.  This year they will be playing at Summerfest for the 5th consecutive year.  They have a full-length CD titled "No Worries," and have just recently finished tracking their second full-length disc. 

They are actually going to be in the Stevens Point area this Saturday, May 26, 9pm at the Mission Coffee House.

Ryan Ogburn- Mandolin, Guitars, Vocals
Rob Shively- Guitars, Vocals
Jordan Kroeger- Bass, Vocals
Rob Buehler- Drums, Percussion, Vocals

Taking its favorite aspects of bluegrass and rock 'n' roll and tossing them together into a tasty dish of acoustic-electric vibrations, Stealin' Strings is storming across the Midwest and beyond, dousing fans with its Bluegressive Rock.

Bluegressive Rock?

"It's the progression of bluegrass becoming rock and roll," explains drummer Rob Buehler. Or as Ryan Ogburn (mandolin, guitar, vox) sees it, the term tells the tale of the group's continual transformation. "We started with blues, bluegrass jams," Ogburn says, "and progressively went into the rock and roll style we grew up listening to."

Indeed, one minute the band delights with acoustic front porch pickin', the next engages in near face-melting shredding thanks to dueling electric guitars. They can play a two-minute hoedown, or deliver a lengthy Grateful Dead-like jam.

It all began with an impromptu jam at a farmhouse in Cedarburg, Wisconsin 25 miles north of Milwaukee, between Rob Shively (guitars, harmonica, vox) and Ogburn. In July 2003 the duo welcomed bassist Jordan Kroeger — a kid Shively used to babysit — and later that year added Dan Broderick on drums. When Broderick left in late 2005 the group spent several months searching for the right replacement, who finally came in the form of Rob Buehler.

"Buehler was cleaning his microwave when I called him," Shively says with a laugh. "It was just a long shot in the dark. But after a little bit of microwave talk he said, 'Sure.'"

The recent addition of Buehler behind the drum kit has enabled the band to embark on new explorations and as Ogburn says, "go out on a limb." The result is jams that find the band traversing territory filled with punchy percussion and spacey rock.

In 2004, thanks to the aid and production skills of The Big Wu's Al Oikari, Stealin' Strings released its debut —No Worries — a sunny, upbeat composition that taps into the Americana tradition of storytelling. Now with another two years of touring under its belt, Stealin' Strings has inevitably accumulated more material than you can shake a stick at; the group is gearing up to enter the studio again, with plans to record a sophomore effort in Fall 2006. In the meantime the band is putting together a collection of its hottest live tracks, with the intention of unleashing its first live album to the masses.

Of course Stealin' Strings' time on the road continues to be a constant source of inspiration. Close work with an array of Midwestern bands such as God Johnson, Down Lo, Trampled By Turtles and Fat Maw Rooney has encouraged the band to test out new ideas while its tour of the festival circuit has exposed them to a countless supply of players.

The quartet played the 10,000 Lakes Festival in July 2006, sharing the bill with the likes of Trey Anastasio, The String Cheese Incident and Hot Buttered Rum String Band. That same month marked the band's fourth appearance at Summerfest — the world's largest music festival — in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The group performed at the Ninth Annual Big Wu Family Reunion as well and joined Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon for a two-night run in Minneapolis and another two night run in Fargo, ND. Shortly after they had a chance to open for Bill Nershi of the Strings Cheese Inncidents' side project, Honky Tonk Homeslice in their hometown of Milwaukee.

"We're always trying to progress on a personal level and as a band," Ogburn says. "We're digging deep into personal tastes and styles, challenging ourselves."

So heed the words of "Ride the Hightide": "Come on in and take a chance, come on out with us and run high and fly."

[GOLee]

I talked to Ryan Ogburn and Rob about this.  They are going to discuss fiscal matters with the band, but from what Ryan was hinting towards, it sounds like they would probably be able to do it if: 1) their travel expenses could be compensated and 2) we booked the date as soon as possible.  Mostly they are looking forward to establishing a more durable fan-base in the Madison area.  I suggested that, if they were to play (for cheap, that is), they could probably sell quite a few CD's and/or T-Shirts or other merchandise and that that might be worth it.

Maybe I'll bring this up at the next MADC meeting.

G

[coyoteugly]

I think we have found our Entertainment Coordinator.

[kvanorsdel]

So Stealin Strings sounds a bit like Yonder Mountain so I'm game for them.

I'm sure we could figure out a way to make it worth their wild to play the picnic

[GOLee]

I have confirmation that they (Stealin' Strings) will play for traveling expenses only.   In return, they would like me to help them run a tournament in September at the 9-Hole Course in Grafton, WI's Lime Kiln Park.  They are hosting the tournament and making a small festival of local music to support the growth of both communities of talented youngsters.  If anyone has any tourney-running suggestions for me, they would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
G

[coyoteugly]

Rumor has it there could be 2 bands: Discs, Roc, Regggae.

[coyoteugly]

We are now considering three possible locations:
1. Elver Park (last year's site)
2. Olin-Turville Park (traditional site)
3. Hiestand Park (provided new shelter has been built)

We are exploring the costs and permits needed.

Feel free to voice your opinion or ideas.

[coyoteugly]

MADC Fall Picnic

Date: Sunday, October 21st
Time: 8:30am Registration begins
Location: Elver Park
Schedule: Stay Tuned

[coyoteugly]

MADC Fall Picnic sponsorship opportunities.

It is not too late to ask for sponsors for the MADC Fall Picnic.
Sponsorships can be simple, create and/or extravagant.

Stop by your favorite restaurant.
Ask your employer.
Ask your barber.
Ask your auto repair place.

Make this list grow.

Current known sponsors/prizes:
1. Cafe La Belle Italia - $50 - 5 x $10 Gift Certificates (Hint: These will be raffled)
2. MADC Roc (Best Slice of Pi stamp) autographed by Ken Climo - Priceless!
3. MADC Innova DiscCatcher Sport basket
4. DuWayne's Salon - $40 of hair care product