FALL/WINTER 2007-08 LOST AND FOUND NEWSLETTER
All clear then?
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So, technically, this covers summer through spring, but who's counting, right? As promised, there will be no apologies for the lack of newsletters on my part. However, I have worked out a very concise formula explaining how we get from our last newsletter to the current newsletter by means of following this sign. Take a moment now to familiarize yourself with the course we will be taking, keeping in mind that the nearest concert may be behind you.
I will save you the trouble of remembering when we last checked by telling you it was (gulp) summer. So, that's where we pick up our story. We headed back to Lamoni, Iowa, to play another spectacular Spectacular. No trip to Lamoni is complete without several stops at the Linden Street CafÈ, which is on Linden Street, of all places. And, you know you're in Lamoni when you can see the Wagon Train from the golf course. And on a couple of nights, a few actual musicians gathered down at the CafÈ' for some after-hours jamming. Michael and I just watched, of course, since we don't quite rise to that level of musicianship.
How Do I Look?
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From there, we headed to Orlando, Florida. Unlike Eli Manning, we were not headed for Disneyworld. We were much better off, because we were headed to the LC-MS National Youth Gathering. It would be impossible to explain what we did each and every day there (especially because it is all one blur of fun and concerts to me now), but you can get some sense of the various concerts we played in the Photo Phrenzy. (If you go there now, be sure to come back; we've got a lot more ground to cover.) While there, Michael borrowed a fellow's hat in an effort to be a good roll model. However, as always, Michael remembered that hats do not look good on him.
Underground Rules
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From there, we went home and rested a bit. Well, actually, my family moved to a new apartment then, so it wasn't exactly resting. Michael came to visit us in New York for a few days, and then we headed off to Ohio, to play at The Underground in Cincinnati. It's not really underground; that's just what it's called. This place has some serious rules for the bands that play there, as you can see in this picture. We didn't really follow the rules, since a lot of our songs have VERY explicit lyrics: We say exactly what we mean. Also, though we do have a song called "The Song," fortunately, we did not play it, since it would have been in violation of the section where it says DO NOT DO THE SONG.
Then we headed for Iowa to play 5 towns in a row. DeWitt was up first, and we played outside at a camp. The people were nice, and the corn was tall. From there, we went to Story City, where we played again outside. By the end of the concert, it was raining and our stuff got a little wet. However, that was not so bad, since it chased away the bugs rising up from the grass right before the rain came. Still, it was a good time, and we headed off into the sunset. The next day we played indoors in Fort Dodge, which was a good thing because it rained like nobody's business that day. (And, as you know, nobody's business is a lot of rain.) From there, we went to Spirit Lake, also in Iowa, and played in a really cool coffee house inside the former library. On the way into town we passed a resort that—not surprisingly—still had vacancies.
Then it was time to leave Iowa for a while, and we did. We went over to Geneva. (This is the one in Nebraska, not Switzerland.) Several interesting things about this concert. First, it is not often that we get to drive our van right into the building and up to the stage like this. Of course, typically playing in churches rather than AG buildings might have something to do with that. Second, I have heard folks say that Nebraska is where they separate the men from the boys. I had always thought that was just a figure of speech. Turns out, they mean it literally. And also, I was quite intrigued by this hand-painted sign behind the building where we played. Do you think the word "extreme" modifies "bullriding" or "sponsors?" The next night we were in Blair, Nebraska, where we had a great time, largely because it was just that kind of night and crowd.
Then we took a few days off. The next thing we played was (get this) the seminary where I go to school in New York City. Our pal Justin brought some sound stuff (and no small contingent of attendees) and we had a great time that night. (Plus, it was a really easy commute for me, since I only had to walk across the street.) It was odd to be playing a concert in the same room where I had spent time being totally lost in so many lectures on Church History and the Old Testament. The next night, we played in Yorkshire, NY, which is way upstate, south of Buffalo. Had a great time, and heard an interesting opening band, whose name I forgot to write down. And, of course, the way my camera treats bright lights they have no name AND no faces. The next morning, we returned to our childhood, and played during worship in our home congregation, Grace Church, Niagara Falls. Yes, there we were, for the first time since High School, playing a few songs during worship on Cayuga Drive. The prodigals had returned. Then, we ate some fine chicken from the local fine chicken caterers, and set up for an evening concert, which was well attended and well enjoyed.
The next weekend, we headed to Indiana, where we played opposite the homecoming football game. Attendance was a little low, as might be expected, in spite of the fact that they have such a prominently named youth director. However, we did get to see our friends Alathea again, which is always a treat. The next night, we played Peoria (the true test of a vaudeville act, as you may know). Once again, our friends Alathea opened the show, which is always a treat, as you probably remember from two sentences ago. The next afternoon, we played outside in Cincinnati under a tent outside a church. Had a great time and some great food, and then raced off to the airport to go home.
The next weekend, we played in Taylors, SC, which is Greenville to you and me. Our friends Alathea once more opened the show, though I do not have the photographic evidence this time, so you'll just have to believe me. As expected, there was a great time had. The next day we played in Gilbert, SC, on a flatbed truck outside. There were all sorts of interesting opening bands, including these fellows who played some fun backwoods blues kind of music. We were on in the late afternoon, which was the heat of the day. About halfway through our set, the storm clouds rolled in. It rained like somebody's business, and it rained that way for over an hour. All our equipment got a most serious drenching. But the local folks stayed outside with me in the dark and helped pack it up in the downpour. It was not a pretty sight, and would have been a lot less pretty without their help.
Best In Show Food
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The next night, we played in a town called Kingsport, TN. Fortunately, the local folks had a bunch of sound equipment that we could borrow, since our stuff had some serious drying out to do. Had a great time, and the hosts were awarded the All-Time Best Pre-concert Food Award. If you're thinking of setting up food for a band coming through town, you should commit this picture to memory. Then we both went home.
Okay, before we get to October, let's take a little break and consider some signs at some local establishments. I don't remember where this first sign was located, but it gave us pause. I can't imagine wearing any kind of clothing made from human hair. But it seems to me that human hair sportswear would be PARTICULARLY uncomfortable. We all know that the early bird gets the worm, right? But have you ever considered how important it is to make sure your early bird is well groomed? If you're like most people, probably not. Early birds are out tramping around in the mud, long before the rest of us are even out of bed. It's a messy worm-getting world for those early birds. Well, this particular place has a special sale for those who might be interested in aviary hygiene. Keep an eye out for specials on bathing the sleeping dog you let lay, and the thirsty horse you led to water.
Our first event in October was a youth gathering near Tampa, FL. Spent a few days with these folks, and had a great time doing so. While there, we made the mistake of trying to go into town for coffee. What should have been a 20 minute trip turned into 2 hours. Florida is not a state for the fast of driveage. We left Tampa's outskirts and drove across the state to play in Jacksonville. Had a good turnout and a great time, and headed off to head home.
The next weekend, I flew to San Diego, where we spent a little time at the first of three National Youthworkers Conventions, then headed north to play a concert in Los Angeles, then headed back to play some more in San Diego. It was nice to be in the warm weather, and we got to hook up with our old pal Brett the trumpeter.
In early November, we both flew to Colorado, where we played in Littleton. Had a very good crowd, and a very great concert. The next day, we flew to St. Louis, and drove on into the suburbs and played a concert in Glendale, MO. Though the concert was great fun, we couldn't stay long because we were going to the second of three National Youthworkers Conventions, held in nearby St. Louis. Here we played one of our favorite theaters in the country, and had lots of fun with lots of people.
Then we went home for a few days, and then headed back to Iowa to play for some Lutheran Youts from the west side of the Hawkeye State. Now, I simply flew to Des Moines. But Michael had the lengthy task of flying to Florida, picking up the van, and driving it to Des Moines to pick me up. Yeah, I know. On the way, of course he got hungry and did a little hunting, then strapped the meat to the axle and made venison jerky, as you can see in the photo. Either that, or he ran over a dead animal. I must remember to ask him which it was. Anyway, we had great fun in the land of candidates, and then headed home, until a week later when we flew to Atlanta to play the third of three National Youthworkers Conventions. While there, we made our regular pilgrimage to find our brick in the Centennial Park brick place thing. It's still there, and still from 1995. Also while in Atlanta, we wondered about this sign. Do you think there are like three concierges in the country, and this one covers the middle section?
And then it was December. (See how fast the months go by?) We have scaled back the Christmas Show these days, since the Fitz Family has gone on to do other things. So, no two shows were alike this year. The first Christmas Show was in Rochester, PA. Our friends Alathea joined us, along with the Famous Actor Justin Vetrano. Before the show began, I tried on one of Justin's wigs to see what I would look like with hair. I think you'll agree, I should just keep things the way they are. The next night, we played the Christmas Show with a most unusual lineup: the various choirs and bands of St. James Church on Long Island covered big chunks of the show, and it was a really cool and fun way to do the show.
The next weekend, we went out to Omaha, where the Christmas Show was just us. Which I guess means it was a LOST AND FOUND concert near Christmas. At the church there in Omaha, they had an interesting sign on one of the doors. If this sacristy is the "working sacristy," what other kinds of sacristies do they have? Resting? Playing? Broken? Who knows, right? Anyway, we had a fun concert, and we appreciated the emergency lights inside the Christmas wreaths. The next night we returned to Sloan, IA. Hadn't been there for some time, and it was good to catch up with our friend Rich, who is the only person I personally know to have run for the US Senate. The next night, we played a Christmas Show in Owatonna (as in " . . .is goin' on around here?"), MN. This time was like Christmas Show old school, with Rachel Kurtz and Agape (Dave) along with Famous Actor Justin Vetrano. Lots of fun, and lots of snow. Which was the perfect way to stop playing for a while in honor of Christmas, which we did.
After our nativity celebrations, we headed back to Lansing, MI, to play yet again at The Gathering (which, as you can see, always takes the definite article). We had the expected great time in Lansing, and played several times here and there. It was good to catch up with old friends, and meet some new ones. Like Ethyl, whom you can see in the picture there. Ethyl is very short for a person, and very big for a doll. Oh, also, she is very very very creepy. In spite of Ethyl scaring us every day, we had a really great time, and then went home to watch the odometer turn to 2008, which calls for a new paragraph.
(Okay everybody; take a breather. Just a couple more months to go. Plus, one of them is February, which though longer because of leap year—which is how you know it's a presidential election year—is still the shortest month of the year. Okay, back to the narrative.)
Early in January, we headed down south the Gatlinburg, TN to play yet again at the ever-growing TCTC. Michael figured out how to hook the free water bottle on to his belt, and he was ready to rock. The folks at TCTC were the epitome of southern hospitality, and we were well taken care of. Played four large concerts back to back, and each one was great. Also, while we were there, we had a momentous moment when our credit card machine hit 11:11 on 1/11. I know, I know: we are amused by small things. From there we headed to Toledo, OH, where we returned to play at TACO night at Trinity Church. The opening band was great, and we were LOST AND FOUND.
From there, we spent some time at home. And then it became February. Our first concert of the month was in Anaheim, CA, where we played at the Extra Vaganza. (They really ought to think about joining those into one word.) Since their schedule was all filled up, and we were really just there to hang out with friends, we agreed to play an impromptu set in the bar, without a piano, without microphones, and the management wouldn't let us sing any "religious songs." Level of difficulty, 9.8. Still, it went okay, and the waiter told us he liked us. So what else is there, right?
The next morning . . .well, wait . . .no, BEFORE the next morning, we headed to the airport and got a pre-dawn flight north, because we were heading for Canada! We went to Edmonton, which is in Alberta, and played at Concordia College. Look, I have proof in the photos. You see? Where else could you see such things? And let me just say, 25 below zero is cold, even in Canadian. (That's what the C stands for.) However, on a warmer note, our concert went great. And the next morning we hung around and played at a church service nearby.
And you know what? That's it. We're done. Well, we're done with the narrative. But before I release you, I just wanted to clear something up. We have been hearing from lots of people here and there that they thought LOST AND FOUND was closing up shop, throwing in the towel, taking down the shingle. I think the reason for that might be that I don't write newsletters as often as I used to. Or, it might be that people think that since I am in seminary that I am planning to go work in a church somewhere. Or, maybe it's just that we haven't come to some people's towns in a long time. Whatever the reason, I just wanted to state clearly that
LOST AND FOUND IS NOT RETIRING. It's our intention to keep playing concerts and gatherings well into the next decade, and probably beyond. So, please keep in touch, and if you're interested in having a concert, give Troy a call at 419.879-9792 or e-mail him at troy@speedwood.com.
Now, if you want to peruse the crowd photos, click on Photo Phrenzy. And I also leave you with two extra photos that didn't fit into the narrative, but frankly are kind of scary if you ask me, though for entirely different reasons.
"Is this thing from space?"
"Can you loan me, say, Doctor, or Reverend?"
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and, of course, I bid you a later on . . .
george
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