As you all know from my last e-mail, Down For Five played Bikelahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma a couple weeks ago. After our set I was approached by Multi-platinum record producer David Prater about Texas Hippie Coalition(THC) needing a drummer. David told me about all the great things happening for THC and he said there was no doubt that I was the the right guy for the position. I traded info with David and went on my way. I hung out at Bikelahoma all weekend and when I got home on Sunday there were emails from David on my yahoo and my Myspace account. I called him and he was delighted to hear from me. He thought since I hadn't responded right back to his email that I had changed my mind about pursuing the opportunity. Truth is I was very excited about it, I just didn't think they would be so hasty about contacting me. We talked just about every waking hour, on the hour for the next couple days. He sent me the songs via e-mail and we set up a time and place for us to meet. We ended up meeting in Oklahoma City, he lives in Austin,Tx but THC's management offices are in OKC and they had access to a 10,000 square foot studio there. I worked with David for five days straight! No shower, and we slept on the studio floor on futon mattresses! We worked all night long, sometimes till around 10am. On the last couple days the band came out and met with me and we ran through some of  the material and I officially got the gig! David and I continued to work on the songs while some of the band and crew went to Tulsa to pick up my flight cases so we could hit the road, we worked all night up until the time I had to leave for a headlining West coast tour! I never even had a chance to come back home before we left! The tour went great! We were chased all over California by record labels, radio stations, promoters and fans. This band is blowing up right now, it's crazy! We are rehearsing for more shows in Texas and Oklahoma this weekend and one of them is a showcase for Universal Records! They are flying in to see us this Saturday in OKC at The Rock Theater. We are shooting a television show tomorrow with Chaotic Television, it will include a live performance and interview. In addition to all of the scheduled headlining shows we are also set to open up for some major acts over the next few months as well, including Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Bret Michaels, Adler's Appetite(featuring Steven Adler from Guns N' Roses), Cross Canadian Ragweed, Whitesnake and many more! I have worked hard and consistently over the years, trying to put myself in a position where I would be completely ready for something like this if the opportunity ever arose. My dreams have finally started to come true! I'm on my way!!! And I don't even have to re-locate! The business offices are the bands central meeting point so we rehearse and leave for tours from Norman, Oklahoma! I still will be able to play with my other bands as well, when THC's schedule permits it!!! I couldn't have found a better opportunity! It's a perfect match!! There is SO MUCH to tell you but I just don't have time to type it all! I will send out a more detailed message when I am able to come up for air. And I'll try to get the calendars updated sometime soon. Until then check out THC online at www.myspace.com/texashippiecoalition , www.thcoutlaw.com , www.deanguitars.com and search for them on Youtube and Google.

 

 

Just wanted to let everyone know I WILL be at the Solo gig this week with Hell or High Water! Seems like I've been gone forever and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone! I hope you will make plans to be there as I will be leaving Thursday morning for a show in Lubbock, TX with THC on Friday, followed by a showcase for Universal Records in Oklahoma City on Saturday. Not sure when I'll be back in town again, the dates are coming hard and fast and there is no sign of things slowing down any time soon!