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This Past Weekend in TN, OK & MO
Mon., Apr. 23. 2007 4:21pm EDT
Our concerts this past weekend put us in the metro areas of Jackson TN, Oklahoma City OK, and St. Louis MO, although the names on the schedule said Lexington TN (Friday), Chandler OK (Saturday), and Festus MO (Sunday).
We had such a great time that we're coming back to all three states in the next month or so -- Tennessee (May 11), Oklahoma (June 2), and Missouri (May 26).
We introduced an elaborate new lighting system to our show and were introduced to many fascinating new friends after our shows, including a guy named Dave who used to handle security for death metal bands like Diocide, and a former professional wrestler, Gary Huber, who wrestled under the name of "Sir Hubie." Of course, "Hubie" is what we affectionately call our keyboardist, Bill "Wild Thing" Hubauer, so if Bill ever gets knighted by the Queen of England like Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Bono, we can start calling him "Sir Hubie," too.
Speaking of similar names, we did advance interviews with two radio stations to promote the shows on Friday and Saturday. The guys we interviewed with were Brad McCoy of the Dove 94 FM in Jackson TN and Brent McCoy of The House FM in Ponca City OK. Brad and Brent are not related ... so which one is the real McCoy? Brad also emceed at our Friday show. Meanwhile, at Sunday's show, we hung out and interviewed with the Reverend Rob Weiter and C.J. the D.J. from the Journey Radio in St. Louis.
Speaking of "the Journey," while driving our rental van (the band van is in the shop getting its transmission repaired) through the Sooner State Sunday morning, our bass player and designated drive Keith "Holy Driver" Haynie said, "You know that guy who sang, 'Oklahoma ... where the wind comes sweeping down the plain?' Yeah, it's sweeping alright. It's almost sweeping us off the road."
That same morning we stopped at the so-called "world's largest McDonald's" in Vinita OK, although we hear it's since been displaced by one in Orlando FL. As the posted sign inside explains, the Vinita McDonald's has an area of over 29,000 square feet and seats 400. Curiously, according to the sign, the second-largest McDonald's is in Bejing but seats 750; and the third-largest is Moscow but seats 900. Go figure.
We also saw a couple interesting road signs shortly thereafter: "Hitchhikers may be escaping inmates" and "Do not drive into smoke."
Special thanks to:
Our concert coordinators: Lane Scott (Lexington), Anthony Elliott (Chandler), and Troy Brody (Festus).
Our merchandise coordinators: Alisha, Mary Beth, Camilla Ice, Brandy, Mandy, and Dr. Hunter (Lexington); Michelle, Amanda, Kelsie, and Alex (Chandler); and Audra,Tami, Carla, Lisa, Kathy, and Beth (Festus).
Our chauffeurs: David Neal and his son Christian, who picked up J. and Hubie Friday at the Nashville airport and drove them two hours to Lexington TN; and Doug Holtzmann, who drove J., Hubie, and Karl to the St. Louis airport after Sunday's concert. Trivia note: Doug is the son-in-law of nationally known author/evangelist Joyce Meyer.
Honorable mention to:
- Darrell "Mad Dog" Doesken, who promoted last year's concert in Wichita KS and came to Saturday's show. Darrell has seen ApologetiX play in four states -- Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.
- Eddy and his brother, a rare fan of both the Steelers and the Cowboys (well, actually that's the Oklahoma State University Cowboys) have been to all six concerts we've ever played in Oklahoma.
- Tom and Mickey (a.k.a. "Xena") Hall, who've been to all but one of our Oklahoma concerts.
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