Whiskey Daredevils

Sorry about falling behind with the updates. You know the way it is... It's summer time and the living is easy. Well, that's the cliche anyway. The bottom line is we have been sewing up details on the 2010 European Tour. You would think we would have this thing down pat, but there's always another last minute problem on the horizon. While you sit around your grill drinking beer and wait for us to come to your town and entertain you like trained monkeys, we have big decisions to make on whether Europeans want to buy a 4 color worskshirt from us, or a custom cowboy shirt with back design. It's a real pressure cooker over here.

Here's what we have going over the next few weeks. We'll return to Chicago at a place called Quenchers for a Thursday night September 9th gig. The last time we were there Greg almost lost his eye when Bobby Latina swung his guitar while riding Greg's shoulders during a Cowslingers gig. It will probably be safer for Greg's eye this time as there is little evidence Greg can squat Gary's weight, so shoulder riding is doubtful for The Squirrel. The next night Friday September 10th will find the band in Cincinnati for the re-scheduled Northside Tavern Blackout date. As promised, the band will honor anyone's ticket stub from the cancelled show earlier this Summer for free admission. The fact that there was never going to be cover for this show does not take away from this unbelievably generous gesture on the band's part.

Things get tricky on Saturday, September 11th. The band will have to get up early and hoof it to the Steeltown Shakedown outside of Pittsburgh for a 2 PM show. Then after playing, checking out the car show, and maybe letting Leo get an ill advised tattoo, we'll jump in the van to go to Youngstown and the Pabstolutely Festival behind the Royal Oaks. In theory, we'll be playing there around 4:30-5:00 PM. If we really wanted to make it a full day, we'd book something in Cleveland for 10p, but as of yet there have been no offers. Phil Lara, where are you when we need you?

Did you get our last 2 CDs yet? You really should. Click over there to the right, and we'll have 'em mailed to your house before the dark cloud of post purchase anxiety washes over you like a depressive fog. Some writer guy called Introducing the Whiskey Daredevils "great" and some other critic guy called it "brilliant". I don't know about all that, but it's definitely worth what we're charging you for it.

It was a great set of shows with Southern Culture on the Skids last weekend. The first show may have been our best set of the weekend, as the sound at Birdy's was dialed in really well. That Thursday night took a turn for the worst when Gary's guitar came up missing at the end of the night. However, our fortunes turned when an old woman down the road found the guitar and a lifted six pack of beer stashed in the back of her pickup the next morning. Figuring that it must belong to someone at the nearby music club, she walked it over Friday around Noon. SCOTS hadn't left town yet, so they swung by the club and drove the guitar back to The Squirrel at the Double Door. Once again SCOTS come through big! Thanks to them. Friday in Chicago was noteworthy for the scorching temperatures, and Leo's foray into making balloon animals on the drive up. Leo purchased the instructional balloon animal book in Indianapolis, and by the time we reached the gridlock in Chicago there was a collection of about 9 dogs, swans, and octopus floating around the van. This was only a warm up for Leo as he took the stage after our decent set to play "Santo" during the Southern Culture encore. One of three Santos, Leo was outclassed in the competition not by the amazingly soft guy in the silver cape but by the large guy in the bowling shirt with well placed friends in the crowd. One would have thought Leo's move to strip down to underwear, boots, and wrestling mask would have been enough. Better luck next time Lee. Our first trip to Madison was next. A clean friendly town, this is a place we could really get used to playing. We spent the day roaming around some street fair where Krusty purchased a fabulous captain's hat for a mere $5. When you can spend an afternoon yelling out "Ahoy!", it's really a great day. The show was at a great spot called the High Noon Saloon that I would highly recommend on your next visit to Wisconsin's capital. We played well enough to sell most of our remaining t-shirts and CDs to the liquor drinking masses, and even managed to eat some chicken on stage during the SCOTS "Eight Piece Box" closer. I apologize to anyone in the crowd I hit in the head with a chicken bone, but not necessarily to the guy I hit on top of the cranium with the box of leftovers. When that exploded on your head, I have to admit, it made me laugh.

We had a great time with SCOTS at the shows, and hopefully we can do more extended touring with those guys in the future. We also met plenty of good folks in the crowds. I hope to see you people at a Daredevils show soon. By the way, Southern Culture has some great new songs they've been playing from their upcoming CD. You can download one for free right now on their web page if you are so inclined.

We're going to play a two set gig at the fabulous Royal Oaks in Youngstown next Saturday night July 31st. There may or may not be advance copies of the new "Legends of Country Punk" acoustic EP... We will keep you informed as this situation develops.