Always remember

Happy Memorial Day to everyone, and thank you to all that have been placed in harm's way to defend our freedom. We are eternally grateful.

A noble quest

This guy is trying to hit 1000 bars in a year. It's always good to have goals, right?

• Article on MSNBC.com - One man's quest: 1,000 bars in a year
• His blog, detailing all his adventures.

Wanna be part of a Who documentary?

Roger and Pete are asking you do contribute any Who video footage you have to a new documentary. Got anything to give?

“There will be very unusual stuff, hopefully, that never was seen before,” Lerner told Reuters. “We’re looking for material like fights between them, on and off the stage, unruly fans that make it difficult, weird incidents on the stage, interviews with ex-wives and girlfriends.”

To that end, the filmmakers have set up a Web site, www.thewhomovie.com, seeking material from fans.

The Who seeking fans’ help - MUSIC - MSNBC.com

Taking laziness to new lows

The Evolution, a robotic lawnmower. That's what I need this Memorial Day weekend.

RobotsAndRelax.com

Winemakers Gone Wild

French Winemakers Go On A Rampage

Bono puts a rock critic in his place

Greg Kot, the music critic from the Chicago Tribune recently criticized U2 for turning into a "hits jukebox" in concert and going "retro" on its last two CDs rather than continuing to be progressive and innovative. But Bono disagreed. So he called Mr. Kot and arranged a meeting/interview to get his side of the story out.

This is a bit of a long and rambling interview, but it's a well-done piece. It's especially worth your time if you get annoyed by prententious music critcs like I do.

Metromix. Bono: 'We need to talk'

Bourbon is the official US spirit

And other bits of Alcohol Trivia.

Alcohol Trivia

MEB turns 7, starts the "Tip-off Tour"

After a spring hiatus, the MEB returns to CNY with a show this Friday, May 27th at Wacky Wyatt's Tex Mex on E. Genesee in Baldwinsville, NY. We'll get started at 7:00. Join us for an early night at a cool spot with great food and drink.

Also, it is our 7th anniversary, something we are very proud of. While we had great intentions for a blow-out celebration, plans were changed by Mike's recent injury. A bad cut to his right middle finger (see tour name) had put plans on hold for a while. He gave the finger a test drive at last weekend's show in Rochester and made it through, so we'll be ready to go on Friday. Don't worry, we will celebrate.

We hope to have you join us!!

Mike, Jeff, Steve and Paul

MEB: 3 cd's, four voices, 7 kidneys, 39 finger tips

Here's what's coming up this summer

Lots of concert tours this summer, and USA Today has put together a list of a bunch of them.

USATODAY.com - Where to catch those bands on the run

MEB This Weekend

We're baaaack...
That's right, this Friday evening, May 20th, The Mike Estep Band will be setting up shop at Tiki Bob's Cantina in Rochester, NY. From 8-9, The MEB will be working the lighter side with a semi-acoustic set (we don't want to disturb the diners next door at the Triphammer Grill). From 9-midnight, we'll be cranking the volume up to 11 with two electric sets that will be sure to leave you screaming for more.

The MEB (Mike Estep, Jeff Favalo, Paul Opel, and Steve Orlando) is celebrating 7 years together as a band this month and we're looking forward to performing in Rochester once again.

If you've never been to Tiki Bob's, get your partying shoes on. There are a couple of bars in the place, a big dance floor, VIP staging upstairs and - assuming the weather is cooperating - the MEB will be rocking out on the big patio overlooking the falls.

We couldn't think of a better way to kick off the 2nd weekend of the Lilac Festival.

So call your friends, family, spouses and co-workers and tell them to plan on going to Tiki Bob's Cantina (60 Brown's Race, Rochester, NY) from 8-12 on Friday night. Be sure to check out our website for updates, downloads, photos, directions & schedule updates.

We hope to see you there...

Now if Steve would spontaneously combust, ...

In Guitar World magazine, a bunch of rockers were asked to relate their favorite Spinal Tap type moments from their own experience. Here's Ron Wood from the Stones:

"We were doing drugs in the dressing room," says Wood, remembering a concert in the early '80s. "Suddenly the tour manager stuck his head around the door and said, 'The police are here!' We all panicked and threw our drugs in the toilet.

"Then Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland walked in."

Read a few other great ones here: New York Daily News: Rockers pour out 'Spinal Tap' stories

Nope, I'm not going to explain this

If you were there, this would make a lot of sense and be hilarious. If you weren't there, you have absolutely no idea what the heck I'm talking about. But I'm going to take the Fifth right now (on the basis that it may incriminate me/us) and leave the details to your imagination.

Just remember this quote, "I know Dale, and you're not Dale."

Where da party at? Where da Bacardi at?

Mike is obviously a trendsetter, 'cause he was drinking Bacardi before it became hip. Heck, on his latest cruise, the bartenders took to calling him "Bacardi Mike." Now there's a moniker to be proud of.

This article does a taste test of 9 top brands. Whose cuisine will reign supreme? Only the Iron Drinker can know for sure.

[Hint - they didn't like the Bacardi much ...]

The Best White Rum

Get your tune sung on Idol, sell more CDs

After Bo sang tunes from Gavin DeGraw and Los Lonely Boys, their CD sales went up. Same for Rascal Flatts and a tune performed by Carrie Underwood. I'm surprised that show has that much pull with the music buying public.

From the folks at VH1.com.

Are you watching The Contender?

NBC's The Contender, brought to you by Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard is actually some pretty compelling TV. It gets a little schmaltzy sometimes with the "I'm fighting for my little girl" stuff, but the relationships between the fighters is interesting and the fight sequences are incredibly well done. I'm not a huge boxing fan, but this is some good stuff.

It's on Sunday nights at 8, and there are only 3 boxers left, so I think that means 2 more shows.

The Contender

And he's not a bad golfer, either

The night before this week's golf tourney, John Daly got up on stage at a local Cool River, TX restaurant and sang 4 songs, including the Dylan classic Knockin' On Heaven's Door. Then Thursday he shot a 64 to finish within one stroke of the lead. Don't you just love this guy?

Appleby, Daly steal show from Big 5 at Byron Nelson - MSNBC.com.

A neat arts and design blog

From cool t-shirt designs to art exhibits to the latest in sneakers to culture commentary, the Cool Hunting blog is a fun diversion in your busy day. Stay on the cutting edge by doing a little Cool Hunting.

Cool Hunting

A review of the new DMB CD

"Stand Up," the new CD from the Dave Matthews Band came out Tuesday, and this reviewer from Boston.com gives you his impressions. I think he likes it!

Boston.com / Music

Wanna see the "Dukes" trailer?

Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke. Hmmmmm.

The Dukes of Hazzard - Yahoo! Movies Exclusive Trailer

Happy birthday, Paul

Born May 10, 1960, Paul Hewson turns 45 today. So crank up "Boy" or "Unforgettable Fire" in his honor, and get fired up to do some good.

A "birthday card" for Bono at U2 - Interference.com
A bio on @U2.com
The official U2 site.
And a cool fansite - paulhewson.com

We're not much for drinking, but ...

If we decide to have a drink this summer, we'll try a few of these summer cocktails, with recipes courtesy of the Food Network.

Can I get a mojito to go, please?

MEB prepping for return to Rochester

We've been off for a few weeks, but we're getting ready to come back strong with a fun night in the High Falls District of Rochester at the infamous Tiki Bob's Cantina. This will be our first chance to play here, but we hear nothing but great things about the club and the area. Great drinks, lots of room, a great atmosphere, and even a VIP area for all our celebrity friends will be waiting for you that night.

• For more info about Tiki Bob's (including directions), visit here.
• To see the rest of our upcoming schedule, visit here.
• If you're bored, visit here.

Bruce & Starbucks aren't getting along lately?

Where's the love, Starbucks? Just because Bruce gets a little graphic on his new CD, you're not gonna sell it? C'mon, what's a little song about prostitutes among friends?

Newsweek/MSNBC.com

For Cinco de Mayo, try a different margarita

The Chicago Tribune gives a few interesting margarita ideas.

Chicago - Bars and Clubs

And don't even think about "Freebird" or "Stairway to Heaven"

A pop culture controversy that has simmered for decades came to a head when a middle school marching band was told not to perform "Louie Louie."

Benton Harbor Superintendent Paula Dawning cited the song's allegedly raunchy lyrics in ordering the McCord Middle School band not to perform it in Saturday's Grand Floral Parade, held as part of the Blossomtime Festival.

In a letter sent home with McCord students, Dawning said "Louie Louie" was not appropriate for Benton Harbor students to play while representing the district even though the marching band wasn't going to sing it.

ABC News: Band Banned From Performing 'Louie Louie'

UPDATE May 6 - The superintendant changed her mind, and they get to play it now!

China's music biz is a whole different world

This is a really interesting article, and a totally different outlook on the music biz and how artists make money.

USATODAY.com

Four dead in Ohio

35 years ago today, Ohio National Guardsman opened fire on a group of college student protesters at Kent State University, killing 4 and wounding nine others. It was an ugly day in American history, but one we never should and never will forget.

The CSN&Y song "Ohio" is a plaintive reminder of that tragic day.

Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming
We're finally on our own
This summer, I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago

What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know

Four dead in Ohio, four dead in Ohio
Four dead in Ohio, how many more
Four dead in Ohio, four dead in Ohio
Four dead in Ohio, how many more

There are a number of pictures, a timeline and much more information at Kent State shootings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Eric, Jack and Ginger rock again

The legendary rock group Cream reunited in London for an amazing nostalgic set of concerts. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, known at the time as one of the first supergroups, ran through a bunch of their old favorites. Here are a couple of links:

• Concert review from canada.com
• Concert review from rollingstone.com
• Lots of fun and history at creamvault.com
  

Sushi instead of Slim Jims? Why?!?

Convenience stores are getting fancier. But can I still get pickled eggs? And pork rinds? And a tall-boy beer in a paper bag?

Not that I've ever done that, officer.

Convenience stores aim to remake their image - Food, Inc. - MSNBC.com

The beauty that is Faith Hill

There isn't really anything new out there about Faith Hill, she's not in the news for anything, and she's not promoting a new CD. But she is really beautiful and we love looking at her, so I thought I'd post a link to a bunch of pictures of her.

Tim McGraw, you're a damn lucky man.

SuperiorPics Celebrity Forums: Faith Hill x27