News From Stuntland

“The outpouring of goodwill has been amazing,” is how John Laprade, lighting director and venue manager of the Chapin Auditorium on the Mount Holyoke campus describes the buzz leading up to the production of Sammy’s Big Night, slated for Thursday September 20, 2007.

Laprade was referring to the musicians and others who are donating their talents to the production of the concert which will benefit a fund for Samuel Owen Haynes whose mother Heather Egan Haynes passed away in May from complications relating to childbirth. Samuel’s father Chris Haynes a music professor at Springfield College has been a good friend and positive influence on the Pioneer Valley music scene for many years.

Please come out and support this very special concert. On the bill are singer-songwriters John Gorka and Cliff Eberhardt. Also appearing will be the Nields, The Young at Heart Chorus, The O-Tones, Kitchen Sink, and Leah Kunkel. The Drunk Stuntmen are scheduled to play an acoustic set. The show will be hosted John Allen and Johnny Memphis.

We, the Drunk Stuntmen, beseech you, the fans, to come out and support this very noble cause. All of the talent on the bill has donated 100% of their time to this benefit performance and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Samuel Owen Haynes Fund c/o First Churches, 129

Main St, Northampton MA. The fund will support Sammy’s care and education.

Tickets are on sale at the Northampton Box Office, online at www.nbotickets.com or by calling 413-586-8686 or 1.800.THE.TICK. The donation is $15 in advance and $17 at the door. Show time is 7PM.

Tour Dates

The Drunk Stuntmen will be playing two other shows this weekend, which will be your last chance to see them play the new tunes live before they are chiseled in Rock history in the Studios of The Fidelitorium in Winston-Salem, NC. They will be playing at the Weathervane in Brattleboro, VT on Friday September 21. On Saturday, the Stuntmen will hit the stage at the Middle Earth Music Hall in Bradford, VT. The name the Middle Earth does conjure up and image that you may be sitting at the bar next to an Orc who is drinking some Maple elf-made mead, and lusting after a ring of power, but fear not it is just another happy Vermonster seeing their favorite band in a really cool venue. There is a good selection of live Drunk Stuntmen videos posted on Youtube.com which were recorded at the Middle Earth. The videos feature some of the new tunes which we have happily seen evolve into something spectacular.

Remember, taping, oh pardon me, digital recording of Drunk Stuntmen shows is ENCOURAGED, Let’s get the word out about this fabulous group of musicians who are keeping it real by playing real songs on real instruments, the way it has always been done. You know someone who needs a copy of one of these shows, oblige them.

You have a little over a month to get busy and creative. The Halloween Show is coming up at the Iron Horse Music Hall on October 27th. There will be treats for those in costume. Stuntman Steve has indicated that there will be copies of More Bad News and possibly a few copies of the rare collector’s item “Prospects of Linguica” by Soup, available to those most creatively costumed. Soup, for those who do not know was the band which evolved into the Drunk Stuntmen. When “Prospects” came out, desktop publishing was in its infancy and newsletters still involved scissors, rulers and glue…..Mmmmmm…glue. Okay sorry about that little deviation. Glue is bad. “Prospects of Linguica” is good. You may have to go on line and download a turntable…wait you can’t do that either. Yes, folks it is on vinyl. Clear green or red vinyl. So get those creative juices flowing so you take one of these artifacts from the last century home with you. Not to be used as an ingredient in Potato Kale soup, but is a splendid accompaniment.

The Horseshoe Tournament

Even though Steve did offer the warning on the message boards, “No More MR. Nice Stunt,” Tommy and Tommy, from the Rt. 63 Roadhouse were victorious as the Fourth annual Rocking Horseshoe Tournament wrapped up on Sunday September 16, at the Miller’s Falls, MA music Mecca.

If you were fortunate enough to be on hand Saturday night, you witnessed the Stuntmen play a blistering set which approached the three hour mark. The early portion of the set included the songs which are going to be on the upcoming album. Garden Gate, Silver City, Underground, Halcyon Days were particularly inspiring. Watching these songs evolve has been a privilege. Freddy Freedom, commented, “I am really excited about going into the studio. The songs sound great- we have them down.

I don’t think we have ever been this prepared for recording…it is a good feeling.”

The rest of the set was peppered with amazing versions of classic Stuntmen favorites. Soft Rock Scott Hall garnered some applause from the stage as Freddy gleefully clapped after some keyboard work during “Get to the Wine.” Bow Bow, J Scott Brandon, pulled of a very nice solo during 6:29, soothing the crowd with his trumpet after Steve belted out the earlier portion of the tune. All around it was a great performance. Dave Durst was right on, keeping things going in the back and Dan Richardson was keeping things flowing in the front at the soundboard. The show was recorded on mini disc and should be posted on archive.org after it is cleaned up a little bit.

Former Stuntman and song-writer extraordinaire, Terry Flood was in the crowd and thoroughly enjoying himself at the Roadhouse gig. It was Great to see you and Tall Girl, T-bone.

The Stuntmen ended the show and filled the dance floor with a reprise of their 2007 Transperformance set with their renditions of Cream’s “Strange Brew”, “White Room” and “Badge”.

State Fair

Outside the Rhode Island state Building at the Big E, An Ocean State Trooper wearing badge Number 197 was compelled to say, “Mothers Against Drunk Stuntmen!!???”

Heh! That’s it Paul, piss of the State Troopers. You can’t feast on clam cakes if you are an inhabitant of the soon to be renamed Buddy Cianci Adult Correctional Institution in Cranston.

Until Next time, remember - Do Your Own Stunts.

We’ll see you on Thursday.

Paul Brown