wow, did I let this thing go. Had to take a break from the blog, it was feeling like work. I have so many things to cover it's making my head spin.

JUNE :
On a personal note I saw my first Phish show on June 6th. Fantastic. I've always been a bit of a Phan but not a Phanatic. If I gave you a top ten albums of all time Picture of Nectar would be on there tho. Killer album from start to end. But until seeing them I wasn't overly crazy about them. I am now. Unbelievable show. Great time. Not only that but my bro scored me a 20th row seat for $60. Mind bowing to say the least.
Then a couple weeks later I was comped some DSO tickets at The Melody Tent. Another fantastic show by the DSO boys. An acoustic first set which led me to do the same thing in Maine in July. Great SHOW with my 2 drummies and my lovely wife. And we saw tons of peeps we knew plus half a dozen BRW fans stopped to say  hello. always a nice feeling.

Big Rhythm Wine - Freedom Fest in June was uneventful for the most part. Great playing, tons of rain and mud. Ray came to play on bass and did a great job. The only crap sandwich was our fill in keys player cancelling a half hour before we left. Luckily for us we have Gerald Brann of Yellow Brick Road up there and he graciously came and played both nights. Gerald is a true pro and a great guy and he fits into our little thing perfectly. We played without a keys player in CFZ but had Adam and Dave Barret join us. Seemless and a lot of fun. CFZ doesn't get much fanfare but we have really gotten some nice compliments from the Maine folks.

JULY : CFZ started up the Blue Water beach series on June 27th. Since then we have done 5 total. all a great time. June 3rd we had Nick Muce and Adam Douglass play with us. Monsterous show that was taped and will be posted soon . On July 4th we did a Big Winey  Zero show in my backyard to 80 or so friends and family for my wifes 40th b-day. This show was incredible too. Maybe one of the most gratifying I have ever done. Daryl Sabine got up and did some with us. We did Fire on the Mountain with 3 guitarist and 2 bass players (Pokey and Ray). LOTK returned to us for the first time in a long time and made everyone happy. A special show it was with some of my oldest and best friends, agreed all around.  Here is the breakdown of who played what  http://www.bigrhythmwine.com/setlists/lists/7-4-09.htm . The best comment was from my 91 year old grandfather in law. Who said " I LOVE your orchestra!"
On July 15th CFZ played a killer gig in Onset, center of town in the band shell. Killer gig and BRW is there on Aug 5th.

2 days later we were off to Maine for Somerset county Jam. We had Bubbles back on drums which was awesome. Jon Altman came to play keys and just nailed it both nights and with CFZ.  Less rain this time but still wet. Great crowds. We did an acoustic set Friday night after EOTO (with members from String Cheese Incident that was incredible. Saturday night rocked too. CFZ once again with Adam and Jon was a great time. 

On the 25th we did a surprise bday party for an old Friend Barry. Barry and I  went to Harwich our whole school careers and it was nice to be included in the festivities. LOTK joined us again as did Jason on percussion. Ray got up a few times so it was another Big Winey Zero show. Another great gig in what has been a very nice summer of music playing so far.

up until this piont I have done exactly 20 gigs since the last blog with BRW, CFZ and JBZ. All successful, all fun.  Many more to come this summer. Can't wait for Hempstock with Strangefolk, Twiddle, Roots Down Below and many more.

Tonight on the beach with JBZ and tomorrow CFZ.  Hey, someone has to do it!

Mike - aka  Maaaaaarcus