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WooooooooHooooooooo!

2010-03-12T14:04:00Z

Good Morning Lakelizards!

This is my last weekend at Realwork ABC...wooooohoooo! I am feeling REALLY good about leaving my old job of 26 years to head to my new job in a couple of weeks. Yes, there are some folks I'll miss, but there are a lot of things and folks that I could care less about. I hate that some of my coworkers will be left in a mess, but hopefully this will help fix it, or they also can get out. I have felt a pang of regret for them, but I gotta move on. And look forward to the future...hopefully more time and energy to put into lakelizardmusic.com and life in general.



                         (This time last year, me and lizardkid were in Anguilla...)

(...just hanging out and enjoying Moonsplash with Bankie Banx)

Thanks to all the positive comments about the Daniel Rothwell recording session...hopefully most of you are following Daniel and Thomas on facebook. I tell you, if you get a chance to see'em live, you'll be glad you did. And when the cd comes out, get a copy if you can...I'll be the best clapper/audience participant on the cd.

(This is a delayed response to a comment a while back from an old friend/fan...KB... wanting to know where she could find a cd...I occasionally make cd's of songs that I have recorded in the past, and hopefully will now have the time to record some new stuff. So to anyone interested, email me your mailing address and when I make some more, I'll be glad to mail you one. At this point, they're still free...consider it my contribution to the economy and hard times. Just spread the word of lakelizardmusic.com. Thanks, H)

hbsongs 948 overandout

Daniel Rothwell recording session

2010-03-08T14:52:00Z

Ok, let me introduce you to Daniel Rothwell: a 17 year old musician who plays banjo and sings in the old style of Uncle Dave Macon. I think it fair to say that Daniel has studied Uncle Dave and that era of music intensely. And he has got his act down...even under the pressure of live recording, I don't think he missed a lick on that banjo, and only once stumbled over lyrics...and this was a 5 hour session.

Not that I give Daniel all the credit for his musical abilities. His grandfather, Thomas 'Magic' Maupin, is a 6 time national champion buckdancer. And I'm sure he has more awards and credits than there is space to list here. But what I saw was a proud grandpa enjoying the afternoon with his grandson in the spotlight. And when I say buckdancer, I know a lot of you immediately picture cowboybootclad feet flying about in a drunken manner, making lots of noise. Let me tell you, this isn't the case here...Magic plays music with his feet. That's all I'm gonna say because you've got to see and hear it for yourself...check out Let Your Feet do the Talkin'.


                  (Larry, Jesse, Daniel...Magic Maupin in the foreground)

And I'm told that Daniels mother is also a champion buckdancer, but she lets the boys have the limelight. I've got a feeling she is the behind-the-scenes glue that holds this act together. I do know she's a very nice person.

Not to leave out Daniel's dad, Danny, who plays guitar and throughout the afternoon, set the pace and very modestly provided blazing and flawless guitar licks when needed. "Good job Danny!" (There you go man.)

So Daniel just brings all this talent together in one package. And he's been playing festivals around, and winning banjo competitions. And, he's headed to Merlefest 2010. If you doubt any of what I say, check out the lineup for Merlefest and see who else is playing there. They ain't calling the lakelizardmusic crew to play a set (and what's up with that?).


                                           (Daniel... from the porch)

So the occasion was a session to record a cd for Daniel to take to Merlefest, and for fans in general. No big deal. So we're at Jesse McReynolds place, The Pick Inn, on Sunday afternoon...yes, I said Jesse McReynolds...(if you don't know who Jesse is, get out from under that rock)...to get a few songs down on tape for Daniels fans. Turns out Jesse and Daniel are big buddies, so Jesse was sittin' in on mandolin.


               (Larry, Jesse, Daniel, Danny...over the shoulder of Gary)

Also in house were Lyle Cook (ask him about Motley Crue) on upright bass and Larry Carney (the exterminator) playing a little guitar now and then, when Danny would let him. Gary Blackwell was in charge of the soundboard and recording. reHarv and Modine and NancyO and me and Joy were there for audience and support, and mostly did a good job I think.


                                                       (Lyle, Larry, Jesse)

I can't wait to hear the final cut when Gary gets through mixing. I certainly want an autographed copy and will post a link when they are available. Meanwhile, you can check out Daniel and his grandpa on facebook... Thomas Maupin and Daniel Rothwell. Tell'em lakelizardmusic sent you.


                                            (View from The Pick Inn)

hbsongs                                               948                                                 overandout

A Lakelizard is drug-tested

2010-03-04T15:33:00Z

It's true! I took the first drug test of my life yesterday. You see, the last time I applied for a job, drug testing wasn't invented yet, or maybe people were just more trusting back in 1984.

I am leaving my realwork of 26 years...I have turned in my notice and found a new job in Smithville, Tn...for what I feel will be a kinder, gentler, more rewarding realwork. It will be a little commute, but those of you who know me know that I tend to write a lot of songs on the road, so that could be good for my creative side, as well as being a beautiful drive into the hills over by CenterHill lake. I am excited about this change!

Now, I bought a lottery ticket for the first time yesterday and I didn't win last night. But if I win Saturday, Smithville will probably need to take this as my notice.

So if you're looking for me about a month from now (and I don't win the lottery) check over in Smithville at new realwork.

(ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....what was that? a sigh of relief?)

Have the best day you can.....hbsongs 948 overandout

Ronnie Fruge @ Larriveres

2010-02-27T17:17:00Z

If you follow this blog, (and why wouldn't you?), you know that lakelizardmusic is a big fan of Ronnie Fruge: cajun picker, songwriter, entertainer. Ronnie has got a gig at Larriveres in Mt Juliet, Tn every Friday night from 6-9...and on Thursday nights he alternates between the Gallatin and Mt Juliet restaurant/bar. It'd be a safe bet on Thursday to call and check, 'cause I can see that being a little confusing...but Friday, Mt Juliet for sure. Me and NancyO and Tattoo and the little redheaded girl caught his show last night...what a treat! It was the first time I'd seen Ronnie since the days up at Krooners. Here he's playing solo acoustic and putting on a helluva show. If you're a relocated Lousianian, he's sure to bring a little of home to you. If you're a songwriter, he's sure to inspire you. If you're a guitar picker, he's sure to make you want to put your guitar on Craigslist.

Oh and if you're waiting for him to take a break, you won't find it...he played straight from 6-9.

I can see this turning into a big thing as time goes along and more folks find it, so get in and see him early so you can say, "I remember when it wasn't this crowded here."

Cold budlight, catfish poboy, and good music from a truly nice guy who puts his heart and soul in every song. Good Friday night outting. Take somebody you like...they'll thank you for it!

...and for god's sake, when he sings "Going Back to Big Mamou"...sing along!

hbsongs 948 overandout

Tiger Woods...DON'T CARE...more from Mardi Gras

2010-02-19T13:34:00Z

Honestly, I don't care...surely there's more important and interesting things in the world. How embarassing for golf!

What is interesting?   ... the world of lakelizardmusic.com of course!!!...and a lakelizard view of the faces of mardi gras, mobile, alabama.


This painting is by Gigi of Fairhope, Alabama. This shot doesn't show the textures of the paint, but it pretty well represents Mardi Gras spirit.


Those are beads...love this tree!


This guy was one of the thousands lining the streets for the first parade on Fat Tuesday.

Waiting for the parade around Bienville square...with all the modern conveniences.


           Roller derby is alive and well in Mobile...and skatin' in this parade!

Alabama State Troopers ride in style.


                                 While MoonPie guy walks in style!

               Two steeples...no waiting.


   Mardi Gras loot from 6 parades...throw me something mister!

Where oh where is Tattoo?

Where oh where is danPus?

Where oh where are the rest of the animals?


                              Oh well, here's the condiments!



                                                           hbsongs 948   overandout

Fat Tuesday 2010, Mobile, Alabama

2010-02-16T14:35:33Z

Lassez le bon temps roule...Let the good times roll!

Greetings from the gulf coast...rolled up the east shore with a stop in an art gallery in Fairhope, on across Battleship Pkwy, and into Mobile. I had to stop into Paddy O'Tooles, my old home bar from years ago. Wow, talk about a step back into the past...this place hasn't changed since 1980. Other than the sad fact that they no longer have Lowenbrau dark on draft. Oh well, an ice cold Bass Ale went down nicely on this trip down memory lane...along with a ride by Yesteroaks and 154 Dunn Avenue.

On to the hotel downtown, just in time to wander around aimlessly and then catch the 630 parade. It's always fun to watch a first timer at a real Mardi Gras parade, and it didn't take long for NancyO to wade in amongst 'em. It's hard to explain the spirit of Mardi Gras, but it's something everybody needs to experience. As I was looking for a beer vendor, the guy next to me hands me a cold one and says "my cars just down the street if we run out...I got a cooler full there." Gotta love it!

Oh well, just had a moonpie for breakfast and folks have been gathering down on the streets since 730 this morning, getting ready for Fat
Tuesday...parades start at 1030 and the last one starts at 630pm, so it's a day of "throw me something mister"!

Find yourself a moonpie, the official throw of Mobile Mardi Gras, and join me in spirit anyway.

hbsongs 948 overandout

Dayyyyyyytripppppperrrrr Yeah!

2010-02-15T15:08:00Z

Good party at mennoniteMalcolms last Saturday...it's a lot like a family reunion anymore (albeit a dysfunctional one). Nice ride down I 65 in near 60 degree sunshine, with a stop at Bates House of Turkey for some tasty lunch. Made sunset in Orange Beach, got some shrimps, and headed to the Flora-Bama where the band had had a little too much Mardi Gras celebration and was too drunk to play, but the bushwackers were kickin' and we had a good time anyways. Time to hit Hazels, then head towards Mobile where MondayGras awaits, then of course, Fat Tuesday.

Have a good one, 'cause I'm going too!

hbsongs 948 overandout

Opp, Alabama Snow Picture 2010

2010-02-13T14:13:00Z

This photo was posted on facebook and has got to be one of my favorite winter shots.

Opp, Alabama snow deer photo by Kimberly Christ

Lakelizardmusic.com Passes 20, 000 hits!

2010-02-13T13:59:00Z

Thanks for your support!

Happy Balentime's Day...and...lassiez le bon temps roule!

2010-02-12T05:25:00Z

I noticed this evening that the lakelizardmusic.com hit counter is rapidly approaching 20,000, which is a sort of a landmark for the website. We continue to have folks from all over checking out the lakelizards every now and then...plus, we get our friends and family that are just finding us for the first time. Thanks to everybody that spreads the word and the link to us!

Pending events:

mennoniteMalcolms annual birthday extravaganza-daytona 500-valentine's day-and could that be fat tuesday just around the corner-lassez le bon temps roule!...plus, it's time for an island trip...I've put it off long enough!

If you don't recognize this scene, then you are one of my friends lucky enough to live in the islands.


                                            Happy O'Balentime Day!
                                    ( A Lakelizard Valentine Presentation)

hbsongs                                                     948                                               overandout

Super Bowl Sunday in the Round @ lakelizard studios

2010-02-03T15:12:00Z

Snow, please go! Well, the roads are clear, but I still need 4 wheel drive to get out of the driveway...and more rain/snow on the way.

Super Bowl Sunday in the round...be there...Geaux Saints!

I need to go to the islands...sand, sun and warm!

Something couldn't decide which way to go...back to the woods!

I finally get a snow day away from realwork.

hbsongs 948 overandout

Happy Birthday Space Cowboy!

2010-02-01T14:00:00Z

Rumor has it that JimmyD got a new Steve Miller album (not cd) for his birthday, so I have to assume that he is somewhere RIGHT NOW being the Space Cowboy. Or the Gangster of Love. Or he could probably pull off Maurice, till he said something. Eitherway, we hope he has a hidey ho helluva good birthday. ROADTRIP ROADTRIP ROADTRIP!!!

That's a good idea...give him a weapon! (pssst...they're not real bullets)
I'm thinking it may be time for one more trip down to Clapton's Crossroads for a tune up.

Onward in the world...I'm still enjoying staying in touch with folks through the 'growing up in Opp, Alabama' facebook page. I think I'm getting lots of visits to the old lakelizardmusic.com from there also.

Winding up a realwork weekend...sliding around in the snow and ice...yeah great fun...where's my island job? I'm still waiting...


                                             Lakelizardmusic studios


                           "Footprints in the Snow"...shades of Bill Monroe


                                                  Snow to go, please!


           Lakefrizzardmusic


         Snowstorm sunrise 1/31/10


                                    Scenic yes...do I love it? &*$% @$

Icy backroads

Icy frontroads





       hbsongs                                             948                                   overandout

Ronnie Fruge Update-Cajun alert

2010-01-29T03:40:00Z

I think I'm back...just in time for a realwork weekend. Of course when they're predicting blizzard of the century, I gotta work. Oh well, suck it up and go on. If you got snow days, enjoy 'em.

Got an exciting email from my good buddy Ronnie Fruge today to let me know that he's gonna be playing some over our way. He'll be alternating Thursday nights from 6-9 at Larrivieres in Mt Juliet and Gallatin. Next Thursday will be in Gallatin and if you've never seen or heard Ronnie play, you're in for a treat. Pass a good time for sure...Lassiz le bon temp roule!

For more info, get in touch with http://www.larrivieres.com/index.htm

...or I bet Ronnie would love to hear from you @ ronniej2000@yahoo.com.

Get in touch with your Cajun side and enjoy some fine pickin' and singing from Lake Charles, La own Ronnie J. Fruge...tell him lakelizardmusic sent you!

I'm going to realwork...where's everybody else going? Looks like airplane tic tac toe!

hbsongs 948 overandout "support your local songwriter"

Boscos Cellarman Harold Boothe

2010-01-26T10:26:00Z

Click the below link to see a lakelizard tapping a cask @ Boscos!

http://boscosbeer.com/nashville/cellarman/gallery/pop.php?path=content/Nashvillle%20cellarmen/August%202009/new%20cell%20004.jpg&margin=10&posx=321&posy=250&popdisplay=1,0,0,0,0&lang=lang.ini

Laguardo Sunsets

2010-01-24T00:00:00Z

Da da dada...da da dada dadada...da da dada dada da daaaaaaaaaaaaa...da

If you recognize this as the theme from Sanford and Son, then you too may have been laid up for the past week watching toooo many old sitcoms. I'm sick of Raymond, Seinfeld, nick at night, nick at day, old movies, game shows...sick sick sick. Which is why I've been doing nothing but watching tv cause I been sick sick sick. Everybody asks, "Is it the flu?"...hell, I don't know, but it's bad. It's hard to breathe and I feel like crap...and cough constantly. But, I'm pretty sure I'm on the comeback...at least I'm doing this. I did make it in to realwork Thursday night and Friday morning for a few hours, just to keep my brain from turning to mush. (I'm lucky to have a job) Now I'm trying to get 3 days more of rest, so I might go back to realwork on Tuesday. I was trying to treat myself with lowdose whiskey last night, but NancyO overserved me and I wound up with the highdose treatment instead. I'm still waiting to see if it's gonna kill this stuff completely.

OK, enough whining! What I'm listening to right now:

Chris Knight-realdeal songwriter from Kentucky. He's got several cds out-get one of 'em. You'll be glad you did. I also think I saw where he's gonna be at the Exit Inn in Nashville in the next month or so.

Paul Thorn-You may have heard him on the 'BobandTom Show' singin' 'It's a Great Day to Whup Somebody's Ass.' He's got lots of good songs that'll make you want to sing along and move your feet. Once again, he's been around for a while and got several cds-pick one and give him a try. It's good music, not comedy.

Hayes Carll-I've had one of his cds for a while and liked it enough to buy one of his older ones the other day. One of those Texas songwriters thats just got a way with words. Like the others, this guys been playing for years--if you haven't heard him, nows the time.

How cool is this? This nice shot was taken by LazE on her way back to BG during the big storms this week...hopefully she wasn't driving at the time.

Deucie and MamaSchu...awwwwwwwww...

Can you ever get enough of Laguardo Sunsets?

January 23, 2010 Lakelizardmusic Studios

hbsongs 948 overandout 'have the best day you can'

Hack, wheeze, deucie, colt45, bluerivermolly

2010-01-16T21:45:00Z

Cough, hack, and wheeze!   That's what I got going on here at lakelizardmusic. You work for days and days in a row to get a few days off and whata ya get? Sick! That's allright...I'm laying low and watching football for a couple of days...I'll be back.

No this ain't me! This is the official lakelizardmusic introduction of
Deucie Schumacher...just newly borned. That's right, I'm a great uncle again...actually a great great-uncle, but that's just my opinion. Deucie is gonna need some nice things, so if you need a custom home, remember Schumacher Homes-The Sole Name in Custom Homes. Contact me for the phone number (and if I'm wearing my t shirt that day, I can give it to you.)
(Oh by the way Schumachers, thanks for the t shirt!)


          Colt45 3 weeks ..."You want some of this?"

BlueRiverMolly ..."What the hell's wrong with you?"

Just bought the new cd by Dave Rawlings Machine...I'll let you know how that works out. Just finished the Eric Clapton autobiography that Tboz gave me for Christmas. It's a good read if you're an old hippie...it helps fill in the stuff that you didn't hear about Clapton from Circus magazine.

Ok, I gotta go...I'm getting tired of wiping off the computer screen if you know what I mean (hack hack wheeze wheeze.)

hbsongs 948 overandout     "have the best day you can"

flashbacks

2010-01-12T06:14:00Z

Windin' up a weekend of realwork that's been from hell...busy busy busy! What a treat to find this group on facebook titled 'growin' up in Opp, Alabama'. You know I was one of those peoples. Lots of memories- good times and bad--I'd have to say, mostly good. Smalltown usa lives on.

What's on my cd player now?

--Delanie and Bonnie and friends--yes, flashback and get it..'70's music-rock and roll with a touch of gospel and Clapton and Leon Russell and the best musicians of the time.

--Bankie Banks--not for everybody, but if you've spent any time in the islands, you'll like Bankie...he's not Jimmy Buffett (although Buffett recorded a live album/dvd at Bankie's place)...he's the real deal...go to Anguilla and hang with Bankie @ DunePreserve...March is Moonsplash

--still got some Hank III on and Joe Louis Walker---these guys kick...listen to it, I'm telling you!

hbsongs 948 overandout

Bad Weather...Baddddddd Weatherrrrrr!

2010-01-07T16:26:00Z

Lakelizards don't thrive in cold weather...

...but they gots to take care of their boat...

...so down the hill it is...

...you can see where it's not frozen solid at the top, which is towards
the main river chanel...

...pretty solid just off my dock...

...boat's good to go...I'm headed back up the hill...

...where it's so cold, I'm having to jumpstart my old Univox...DieHard rockin'....

hbsongs 948 overandout "let's go directly to the islands"

lakelizardmusic.com

2010-01-06T03:49:00Z

There's so much going on at lakelizardmusic.com that a lot of folks can't keep up with it all. Let's face it...there's a lot of stuff over there! There's lakelizardmusic accu weather---how damn cold is it today? Should we rename this site frozenlakelizardmusic.com? There's now some games to play and some links to some of my favorite websites and peoples. Check out the AngryPharmacist...it ain't me, but sounds a little familiar sometimes. Check my buddy Bankie Banx chillin' in Anguilla and getting ready for MoonSplash. Check out Rhonda Vincent, the reigning queen of bluegrass. And more and more and more...all that's just on the Home page.

Use the navigation buttons at the top of the pages and you'll find there's a total of 6 pages chock full of lakelizardmusic stuff. Of course there's music and songs and pictures from the lake and the islands and Opp and everywhere. Even a few videos of sunsets and lizards and mini-Mennonites.

Just a reminder...

hbsongs 948 overandout Have the best day you can...

selected lakelizardmusic flashbacks--think warm!

2010-01-04T22:29:00Z

hbsongs 948 overandout stay warm!