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MARCH/APRIL 2001 NEWSLETTER
So, lots of people have been writing things like "Where's my March newsletter?" and "How come the photo of me isn't up at your site already?" The answer is, it's been a hard month, April has. I had to file taxes. I had some big decisions to make. And, it turns out, LOST AND FOUND was inexplicably passed over for a Dove Award! Too much sadness in one month makes it hard for a fellow to complete his monthly tasks. Also, as I told you in a recent e-mail, the March and April newsletters are being combined and will carry us through into June, which means merely sorting out two months of photos is a daunting task. Essentially, what I'm trying to say is, BACK OFF PEOPLE. The microwave don't seem as fast as it used to, you know? I mean, just because you can instantly download the latest Off Track Betting results to your palm pilot doesn't mean I can type any faster, okay? Alright then . . .
Hitching rides
"You can get anything you want, at Michael's Restaurant."
Pool Boys.
Happy Fun Time!
working
We are the world
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We begin way back on March 1st, or so. I left the snowstorm in Ohio and traveled to Virginia Beach, which is in Virginia, of all places. We kicked off the month with a large and festive Youth Encounter congress. Lots of young folks, lots of bands, lots of coffee needed by LOST AND FOUND. Some participants needed a ride back to the gathering, so we piled them in the back of the Limo Van and broke many seat-belt laws. Michael had an opportunity to don a few new hats. Among the festive moments, we got to reconnect with The Pool Boys, The Fitz Family, Happy Fun Time, and others. We had a blast, but couldn't really see the people because of the huge spotlights. So, if you go to the Photo Phrenzy looking for crowd photos of Virginia Beach, you'll have an experience similar to ours—but that comes much later than now. While at that event, Michael took some time to teach some songs to a group of guitar players. On the final night, they all joined us and Pool Boys on stage for a we-are-the-world style campfire jam.
Danger!
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By the last day, a big storm was coming. Some folks left early. I drove off into the storm and made it home just fine. Of course, the main reason I was in danger in the storm was because I was driving with one hand while trying to snap this photo. But, nonetheless, it looks like a big storm, doesn't it?
Poor polar bears
Honest folks
Swen and Dean
Juggle on!
We also are the world
the Rundman band
Hippie dood
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Then we took a few days off. I learned about polar bears from my daughter. Then I drove on to Chicago, for yet another fine Youth Encounter congress, where Michael and Pete met me. Well, I mean, they've known me for years, it's just that they joined me there. Similarly to the previous week, we hung out with the Fitz Family, Happy Fun Time, and ourselves. New to the mix was added Nate Houge, Swen and Dean, and Jonathan Rundman. Michael taught another group some guitar songs, and this week's we-are-the-world jam included flautists! I had the welcome chance to once more jam with my friend Jonathan Rundman and enjoyed myself immensely. Michael once more donned many hats. We again had the trouble with the blinding lights, so the Photo Phrenzy will look different for this event as well—but that comes much later than now.
Get Something!
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We left Chicago and drove to Stoughton, Wisconsin to play for an appreciative group of concertgoers. We found a fellow who was kind enough to advertise our new cd for us. The whole night, he just stood, emerging from a piece of faux granite, telling folks to get Something. As I say, we had a great night in Stoughton (and who hasn't?), and drove on off into the darkness to Dubuque, Iowa, The Masterpiece on the Mississippi. In the morning we offered a couple of songs at the Wartburg Seminary chapel service, and spent the day hanging out with our friend Professor (insert titles) Frambach. In the evening we played a concert at the seminary, after helping some folks get their keys out of their van. Actually, we didn't do anything but call AAA. Before they got there, however, a gentleman rescued the keys.
Mason City friend
Helping out
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The next morning, after a visit to the tiny Captain Garrett, we drove off deeper into Iowa. The first stop in Iowa was Mason City. We met a new friend who was happy to sit in with us. We also met some people who were missing a letter or two, so Michael and I filled in where needed. From there, we zipped over to Kansas to play for a group of appreciative folks at the home church of a certain member of a popular 70's band named after a particular state in the Midwest. Though he didn't show, we had a great time in a beautiful sanctuary. PLUS, our pal and yours, Fred Phelps evidently had better events to picket, so folks had easy access to the church.
From there, it was on to Omaha, Nebraska for another Youth Encounter event. In the realm of trivia, this event was held at the very hotel where we first met Stephanie, of Slide Girl fame! Had a great time, and were able to see the young people because there were no blinding spotlights in our eyeballs. Met a huge group of blue-clothed youts from the Episcopal Churches of Nebraska, and they invited us to lunch at a nearby church. On Sunday night, we played for a huge crowd in Seward, Nebraska. Our pals from the Captive Free, Coast-to-Coast team opened the show with an excellent set. We met some folks who were hoping to be mentioned in a particular song of ours. From there, we headed back to Iowa to play in Marshalltown. As with the last time we played there, we had a great time.
Nice touch
Homemade commemoration
Stone on top of!
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The next Iowa gig was in Sloan. Interestingly, I noticed that the high school there imprinted the town name on all the bathroom fixtures. One young woman made her own commemorative shirt from the CHIC gathering of last summer. Some other folks brought over their own banner for the event. All in all, a very fine evening, and we look forward to our return.
Electric Pulp lunch
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The next morning we played at Sioux Falls Lutheran School, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (of all places), and had a great time. (Well, "morning" only to us, I suppose.) That evening, after the Wednesday Lenten service, we played a really fun concert for a super large group of folks. If you were to ask us if we enjoyed ourselves, I'm fairly confident that we'd each answer "and how!" The next day, we finally got to visit the Electric Pulp office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The boys (and girl) from E-Pulp keep our site happy and running, in spite of their inept clients, like LOST AND FOUND. We had a great time, and heard all sorts of technical talk that sounded really impressive, whatever it means.
From there we flew to Seattle, Washington, while our dear friend Pete drove the Limo Van over there to meet us. The first night we played in Everett, Washington. A huge crowd packed into the church there, and we once more enjoyed ourselves a whole bunch. The next day, after multiple Starbucks stops, we played in Kent, Washington (nearby to Everett and Seattle). We had a super wonderful time. No, make that a extra super wonderful time! From there, we drove further south, though still surrounded by many a Starbucks franchise, and arrived in Portland, Oregon. (A free piece of advice, if you're ever visiting that state, be sure to pronounce the name as "or-uh-gun," and not like it's clearly spelled.) We played a little concert in the field house. Among those present were our old friends, the Parshalls—of Pizza with Parshalls in Portland fame! (Wait, should that all be hyphenated? I suppose "Pizza with Parshalls in Portland" actually modifies "fame" in this case, doesn't it? Sorry for the oversight.) Though we were unable to go and actually HAVE pizza with the Parshalls, it was a pleasure to cross paths for an evening.
Another Rundman band
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That night, we slept for a short while, and got on planes bound for The Metroplex. We spent three enjoyable days with our many friends from the collective we call Churchnoise. It's a really great resource, this group, and if you're interested in checking out the website, you should seize the opportunity now by clicking on the link there. A highlight this time, as in the past, was the artists' showcase on Monday night. Such fun to see so much talent in one room. One of those evenings, our pal Jonathan Rundman had a little gig with some friends over at Augsburg College. A really fun low-key sort of night, enjoyed by all present.
Brett and Val
Hat girls.
Sign bearers.
Shirt family.
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With that grand time behind us, we flew back to the west coast, where Pete had driven the van from Portland and left it for us in San Jose, California. The next morning, we played a chapel service at San Jose Christian College. That evening we had a concert at a town called Pleasant Hill, California. THIS, was a great evening! Our friends Brett and Val showed up. Then we had a whole cast of characters. People brought appropriate signs. Others wore the now-familiar Slide Girl cowboy hats. Still others simply dressed in their finest clothing, selected from the LOST AND FOUND boutique, in the narthex. Also, our friends Hillary and Tara (whom we met on the bike trip!) came over and listened to the concert. This, my friends, was a great evening.
The next day, we were able to stop by Michael's house on our way to Long Beach. We realized this was the first time the Limo Van had ever been parked at Michael's house, so we stood in the kitchen for a while and admired the van's longevity and length. The concert in Long Beach was fun and intimate. Afterward we were able set up our cd's and stuff outside, since the weather is always so fine in southern California. Afterward, we drove into the night and stayed in the unsettling town of Indio, a favorite stopping place for televangelists as I recall. In the morning we continued our drive across the desert and finally arrived in Tucson, Arizona. We ended up playing the concert indoors, since it gets a little toasty in Tucson. Had a fine crowd of folks, and our new pal Debbie hooked us up with a way to wrap our faces on the outside of candy bars. (And, after all, who doesn't want their face plastered on the outside of a candy bar, right? Watch out Gene Simmons, cause we're coming at ya!) The next morning, we each flew home to our homes (homie).
Christian and his getranke
Troy's place
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Had a Holy Week hiatus, and spent some nice time resting up and observing the week. Easter Monday, Michael flew back to Tucson, picked up the Limo Van, and drove to the Metroplex, Minnesota. I flew in on Wednesday, as did our Deutschland pal, Christian Utpatel. He agreed to join us on tour for a few days, and it's always fun to have a fellow with us who is used to driving approximately 130 miles per hour. We all went over to the LAFOffice, and stood around the brand-new water cooler, talking about Nash Bridges and car colors. That night we drove over to Troy's family cabin in Wisconsin. The next morning, after fixing our van and his frozen pipes, Troy bid us farewell and we headed off into the cheese state.
Tourists extraordinaire!
CAREFUL there!
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Not far down the road, we came to Hayward, Wisconsin, home of the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. (But, of course, everyone knows that.) Michael has never seen a muskie up close (not even Edmund), so he risked a finger or two trying to feed the fish. Having survived the feeding frenzy, we continued eastward toward our destination, the upper peninsula of Michigan. (Trivia moment: Michigan got the upper peninsula as compensation for having had to give Toledo to Ohio. Some folks say Ohio lost the battle of Toledo, but I don't think Marquette has ever been an All-American city, now has it? But, I digress . . .)
A Pastie and A Trout, yummy!
Atlantic rocks on.
New Kids rock on too
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We arrived in Hancock, Michigan (birthplace of Jonathan Rundman), and were met by our enthusiastic hosts. They journeyed far and wide to get some local delicacies for their visitors. Before we took the stage, we were preceded by a band called Atlantic. They rocked on, as expected, and then we were treated to the New Kids on the Rock, who sang and danced. We joined them on the last song, though our dancing was minimal, since it was a ballad called "The Lamb," by Gerry Coleman. Then we played our little songs, and had a great night.
Following the soirèe into the U.P, we headed south (as if we could've headed north?) into Wisconsin, and stayed in Green Bay (where there is no Starbucks). The next day we returned to one of our favorite places to play, Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin. After setting up our equipment, we wandered through the maze until we found the radio station where we did an "interview" of sorts, complete with live video and a phone line. Great fun, as you might've guessed. Then we went back to the field house, where we did our best to observe the ever-important rules on the wall, and played a concert for a happy group of people, who also tried their best to follow the rules.
That night, we drove on to Rockford, Illinois. Early the next morning, we began driving to The Metroplex, where we had the opportunity to play at a Lutheran College Fair. That's where a bunch of Lutheran Colleges get together and have a fair. A fair means, apparently, to try to get high-school students to sign up to go to a particular college as opposed to another particular college. This is all complicated technical talk, I know. Anyway, at 6:30 pm, the Lutheran College Fair tables went out, and we began to have the final concert of this newsletter. It was a most excellent time, and we laughed and laughed about that whole Happy Earth Day thing. It did, of course, bring up the question: What DOES one get for the Earth that has everything?
Whoa . . .
Okay, I'm back. So, if you'd like to see what I saw from the stage (including blinding lights), you can click on the Photo Phrenzy. Remember, this newsletter will cover you from now until late May or—more likely—into June itself. Hope your time between now and then is filled with . . .well, filled with whatever you think is best for you.
Rock on, you crazy diamond . . .
george
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