Newsletter

I have heard everyone likes the new website layout. Well, that is all DIVpoint.com. Jimmy Granier manages my site. He is linked there. Said he was plain tired of looking at it – and has asked me many times to change it. I just never got around to it, so he ran with some ideas. I think he did fantastic. Thanks Jimmy.

I’ve got a month that is nice for the holiday season – I’m off most Saturdays, so maybe I can get in some cheer – I think I’ll need it. New gig this month (or one from my past) at Churchill’s on Jefferson. Thanks to Rusty Yates for hooking me back up in that place. Always liked the joint. I should be there regularly in 2009. I’ll get back in both On the Half Shell locations this month, as well.

Spanky’s Daiquiris has a new location around Diversion Canal, Hwy. 22, Plaza 22. Laurie and Skip are GMs there, along with Calvin – you know some of these folks from P’ville. It’s a nice place and they might start up some live music there, in 2009. I’ll try to do all the Sundays in P’ville this month, and I apologize for missing a few, lately. Just getting hard to sing 5 nights in a row, and I’ve been doing more Wednesdays. The good thing is that Spanky’s allows me to book other acts on Sundays – good for me to rest, and for others to get an extra gig, here and there. Don’t forget both Spanky’s Sherwood Forest Baton Rouge and Prarieville locations have live music on Wednesdays. You can see all the music for Spanky’s at Spanky’s Live Music MySpace page.

Since I’ll have a hand in booking it in 2009, I also suggest The Pastime, downtown Baton Rouge. The food there has been good, forever – the bar is funky, dark, and cool – and they have acoustic music on Fridays and Saturdays. A good regular lineup was started and will continue, and I’ll add a few new acts. I’ll be continuing to play there, too. I’ll create a MySpace page, soon, to let you know who is there on weekends.

I truly enjoyed the trio night with Kevin Schexnayder and Dennis Pennington – so much so that we are talking of doing that on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for that update. Oh, Clay Jenkins was in from the war in Afghanistan on Nov. 22, and our krewe had a great day with him. He has like 80 days left on his tour, so I hope God blesses him and all our soldiers, and they all get home safe. Clay said all the CDs, books, and DVDs we sent were appreciated, very much. He’s gonna leave those for the next group of guys coming through. It’s easy to send care packages over there, so go check with the USPS and send something.

White Light Night at Monjuni’s was wildly successful, especially for the restaurant. Those folks treat me like I’m someone special! I feel like royalty when I work for them – which, btw, will continue in 2009 when the spring hits. Probably be back there on Fridays in March.

Here’s a great stocking stuffer for your friends who love life in Louisiana - http://www.louisiana-festivals.com/ordering.html It’s a 2009 calendar of festivals in Louisiana. I use this every week to see what is going on, and it’s also where I get much info to publish in this newsletter. I give these to friends at Christmas every year.

I continue to recommend New Orleans, especially at Christmas. City Park has the Celebration in the Oaks, with the halls of the park all decked - http://celebrationintheoaks.com/ Hotel rates are really low. You can eat at famous places, for less, with Reveillon Dinners. See lots of this at -http://www.neworleansonline.com/christmas/ Good luck to my friend Kelly with this event – http://www.nogmc.com/concert.htm New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus. It’s supposed to be a really good show, and will be in BR on Dec. 14. Better Than Ezra does it’s annual NYE appearance at House of Blues New Orleans, Dec. 30 and 31.

LSU and Saints – no post-season interest here. Love ‘em, but life goes on. Let me know what happens. I would use the LSU game as an excuse to go to Memphis, if that is where they end up! Hehe….

I hope you have a happy holiday season. I wish you peace in your mind, music in your ears, cool wind in your face, warm food in your belly, and love in your heart. Share a little with someone less fortunate, if it’s just a buck to the bell ringer at Walmart.

Merry Christmas, darling, Happy New Year, too….
I’ve just one wish on this Christmas Eve…… I wish I were with you
I wish I were with you

MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!!!!