Newsletter

They're talking about football. I'm ready! Hopes are high, and so are the temps. Now that I think about it, those pre-game tailgate parties I often play are still damn hot. Oh well, at least there's a football game after! Should I make predictions again? OK, I'm gonna think a little positive. The Saints can't win their division - hehe! Atlanta always has our number and Michael Vick is healthy this year. The Saints have taken Tampa Bay out, lately, so I see that as a split. Carolina is the Super Bowl runner-up, so I don't see us beating them. With some weak out-of-division teams on the schedule, I still only see the Saints as an 8-8 team. However, I'm gonna hold out hope that the coaching classes that Haslett took over the spring will help, that our receiving corp will be improved, that Deuce stays healthy, that Aaron Brooks won't throw passes backwards over his head, and that Dome Foam will go down in price. I'll go with all the unrealistic and say 9-7, for hopes sake. 7-9 is the most likely, Saints fans.

As for the Tigers, how can you bet against Saban? Man, if I hear another woman say how good he looks.... People (and you know who I mean), please don't vote for the candidate with the cutest Vice-Presidential running mate! That's not a reason... haha. Back to LSU: the defense is so good, the running game is awesome, and the receivers are incredible. The system is there. All the QB has to do is get comfortable and confident. I think Marcus Randall will do fine, and JaMarcus Russell will appear sooner or later this year. He's probably too good not to begin his career this season. LSU will win the SEC West. Georgia is getting so much hype. But I think Saban will find another way to outfox them. I predict we could lose 1 game in the season and have to face Georgia again for the SEC Championship, with Saban pulling out the win again. I'm hoping for 10-1, winning another at for the SEC title, and facing USC in the National Championship. I'm going positive on football this year. I loved celebrating in the French Quarter last year after we beat Oklahoma!

Gig news: All the shows are going so well. Thank you so much! Highlights from July include great happy hours on Fridays at The Bulldog Mid-City, good Sunday night showings at Spanky's (and one bad drunk for me - THANKS BO!), and my trio appearing for the first time at the Vineyard. Shaky, but fun, and that will continue. Here's what's up for August: I'll show up at the Caterie on Aug. 2 with the Monday Night Band - always fun and I hope we ad lib more this time. Sundays continue at Spanky's. I may take one off this month, so watch the calendar as time passes. I'll show up at the Half Shell and the Vineyard during the week, and appear at Superior on a Friday. This month, my Thursdays are at The Bulldog in Mid-City at 9pm (except for Aug. 12). I will also continue the Friday happy hours there later in the month, but the show time will now be 7-10pm.

Happy 25th Anniversary to Joan and Richard Abbott - friends of mine who really support me and give me much. We'll play their party on Aug. 6. I'll be attending a baby shower for Bill and Polly Stafford this month, as well. Congrats again to them.

One big show to note: Last year, I did an entire night at the Vineyard as Elvis, marking the anniversary of his passing. This year, I am gonna do it again, with GERARD LANGLOIS. We will both be in Elvis gear (if I can lose 5 pounds) and take turns singing the King's best on August 15th at Spanky's Daiquiris in Prairieville at 8pm. Please tell everyone about this and let's make it very fun.

I have to mention a sad note. Please keep the family of my great friend and musical companion, Matt Doran, in your prayers. Having already lost a brother this year, his father has passed away on July 28. He got pneumonia the weekend before and just never recovered. I don't think Matt will mind me saying that his father was very tired and probably just couldn't come back from this infection. But, his life was filled with great accomplishments which I read about in his obituary. He was a great man in the law and in many organizations. And he created a great friend of mine, who I care for and respect as a man and a musician. Matt will likely be with us at Superior Grill on August 13th, so drop by and give him some love, please. William J. "Bill" Doran, Jr.

I've been working quite a bit. I hope I have continued to entertain you all. I know I need to learn some tunes and write some new songs. It will all happen. I still very much love what I do and thank you all for the opportunity you give me to sing. Enjoy the last days of summer. Go see some great bands like Damon King, Chris LeBlanc, Jive Train, Debbie Landry, Johnny Gossip, and Cam Pyle. I appreciate all the help these guys give to me and love seeing them all play.

Aloha,

K