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May
9th - I really did not need to see that.......
If you ever want to know when it is supposed to rain
just check out the Alive-n-Kickin’ gig schedule.
It is with most certainty that the rains occur during
load-in and load-out of most every date we play and
this past weekend at Cancun Cantina West in Hagerstown
was no exception. The spring deluge that has saturated
the earth and precluded me from moving my yard (I am
applying for savannah status – maybe a wild life
preserve) did not keep the patrons away from Cancun
West nor did it dampen our spirits. If anything, it
fueled the motivational fire, as wet weather limits
the options people have of things to do on a spring
night.
So after a lazy journey up I-70, over Braddock mountain
and down into the vale, our destination was at hand.
Gear was schlepped into the club and erected into its
appropriate place. The stage extension was brought forth,
much to the puzzlement and bewilderment of the staff
and patrons. In no time the entire production was erected,
plugged-in, tested, fine-tuned, and ready for an 80’s
metal extravaganza of epic proportions. We then exited
to our rooms at the Days Inn to cleanse, dress, primp,
and meditate in preparation for the concert.
Naturally the show was nothing but energy, fun, and
excitement the entire evening. We made lots of new friends
and saw many old ones as well. Thanks a bunch go out
to the birthday girls Kim and Dani, John and the crew
from room 218, Rita & Teresa, Jeff, Colin &
Tracy, Brian & Amanda, Tony, Cora, “50 Cent”,
Steve, Karen & Greg, Thanks also to Bill and pal
for the great sound mix and Jen and the gang at CC West
for the hospitality. We look forward to our next show
there on August 1st. Final thanks to Boots for hauling
gear, hydration, pictures, and repairs. Your boots and
attire really make for wonderful expressions on the
fans.
It seems the fun and excitement does not end with the
completion of the show. Several of us made our hungry
way to the Denny’s up the road at 2:30 am. While
admiring a Mitsubishi Eclipse, movement in the car startled
us. The emergence of a woman’s head from the area
of a guy’s trousers led us to assume only one
thing, that the gentleman was on the receiving end of
a snarlin’. That’s one heck of a way to
end the night, eh? I think the guy knew we saw him because
he gave us a hearty wave from across Denny's, a big
east-west grin on his face.
Our next night of adventure is Friday May 16th at Cancun
Cantina in Hanover, Md. New songs are going to be debuted
and this will be Glenn’s first gig with AnK in
the Baltimore area so come on out and show the new guy
some AnK love!
“Come a little closer baby it’s all right.
Maybe we can start a little fire tonight……”

May
3rd - Adversity part deux
You know, illness can really test the
character and mettle of the individuals facing its ramifications.
A few months back our own Corrupt Beast was unable to
perform due to some virulent strain of bubonic plague.
Luckily, Myles Evans was able to fill-in and save the
night. This time our own Billy Harris was struck down
by food poisoning and unable to make the show. Luckily
Cryers is not too far from my home though I have to
admit I was not too pleased in having to turn around
10 minutes from the club to go back home and get my
keyboard rig. Arriving at the club an hour later then
originally planned, I erected my keyboard and bass rigs
in a most expeditious fashion while the rest of the
fellas revamped the setlist. Being the consummate professionals
we are, we were able to pull off the evening with only
the most minimal of glitches and the crowd at Cryers
responded in a most positive fashion. The women were
so caught up in the fever of the night’s festivities
that a trio of Leonardtown’s own tore the shirt
off Steve’s back while he was playing! Needless
to say, the Corrupt One did not miss a beat while being
defrocked.
Thanks go out to a lot of people. Thanks to Peggy &
Steve and Jeff & Cat for the years of support of
AnK. We salute you! Thanks also to Dawn & Mike J.
and Karen for checking out how a dentist rocks. Shout
out as well to Al, Rose, Jim, Cindy, Meredith, Kelly,
and Mike. Final kudo to Brian Gullin for the great sound,
awesome light show, and the incredible ability to play
bass on the fly while I slid back over to keys.
The May tour continues with Cancun Cantina West in
Hagerstown this Friday May 9th. Last trip to this Western
Maryland outpost turned out to be a fun filled, alcohol
coated, dance riddled gala of epic proportions and we
expect no less bedlam this go around. If you missed
it before you will truly hate yourself if you don’t
make it this Friday. See you there!
“Ain’t looking for nothing but a good time
and it don’t get better then this.”

May
1st - The Winds of Change
Change is the only constant and Alive-n-Kickin’
is no more immune to its effects then anyone or anything
else in the universe. Out stalwart shredder for the
past 4 years, Ed Avella, has moved on, having received
an excellent career opportunity in Atlanta that anyone
in their right mind could not turn down. Ed has worked
very hard and this promotion is much deserved and we
are sure he will excel at the challenges faced before
him. It is a bittersweet time for us because we are
thrilled at the opportunity Ed has been given yet are
sad at him having to move on. We’ll miss you on
the stage, big guy (…sniffle…)
Well, obviously you need a guitar player to play the
best of the 80’s hard rock & heavy metal so
we in Alive-n-Kickin’ would like to welcome Glenn
Campbell into the fold. Glenn was the guitarist form
No Strings Attached (NSA) and those of you who were
around in the glory days of 80’s metal, one of
the top flight shredders on the scene, blistering the
fretboard in the band Temper Temper. Please help give
Glenn a special AnK welcome that only you people know
how to do. As with Billy, I’ll have wipes and
Bandicide handy for the clean up.

April
12th - “My name is Ed Avella and I approve this
message……………”
Actually, Ed approved of lots of paired
objects at McAvoy’s this past Saturday night,
the primary thing being dual-fisted helpings of Smirnoff
Ice. I have to admit the look of bewilderment by the
patrons at our sound check of the 1st half of Savatage’s
Edge of Thorns was humorous. It was in the vein of,
“what the hell kind of hard rock band is that?!?”
but it turned out to be all good as everyone quickly
fell in love with AnK as we belted out their favorite
80’s hard rock & heavy metal tunes. Check
out the pictures of the stage dancers for a small glimpse
of what I am talking about.
Adam and the gang have really invested some time, money,
and love into McAvoy’s. The place has a great
menu and a wonderful atmosphere and ambience. It is
definitely a place to enjoy time out with friends and
a great club to see a band in a more intimate and cozy
environment.
Thanks to Kelley for taking control of the lights and
pictures. What a joy it is to watch a seasoned AnK veteran
band aid hard at work. Poetry in motion to be sure.
Thanks to Pete & Dan for the help, thanks also to
Robin, Chris (how do you put up with 5 days a week of
Billy?), Tracy, Tony B., Kim, Christine, Dave &
Paula, the weightlifting dude, Rob, Kathy & Ron,
Travis, and Nick for helping out on Wanted Dead or Alive.
Thanks also to Barry & Mark for the great sound
and the eclectic break music.
The next couple of weeks has us recharging our 80’s
batteries (hey, we aren’t 20 anymore, you know?)
before firing up the AnK tour caravan for a glut of
awesome shows in May, which will begin with Cryers Back
Road Inn on May 3rd for a pre-Cinco de Mayo celebration.
We look forward to seeing all you peeps there!
"Cause I don't care what the people are thinking.
I ain't drunk, I'm just drinkin'!"

April
11th - Packed & Hoppin'!!!!
What a wonderfully grand old time Bamboo
Bernies turned out to be. The evening was replete with
people ready to party and we were up to satisfying their
elevated expectations. To that end we erected the entire
drum monolith to support the caged, dual bass drum edifice
that is the foundation for the pulsating tunes AnK pumps
out. Adorn that with the lights and you get an unparalleled
visual presentation, the type of presentation expected
with the caliber of musicianship presented. Everyone
head banged and gyrated to their favorite tunes of yore
and the sing along for the entire second set was awesome!
It looked like the wave at a ballgame. You people really
know how to have a good time.
Thanks abound to our numerous friends and supporters
there among the sold out crowd. The list is long so
here goes. We’ll start by shouting happy birthday
to Sandy, who has been out with her sister Stephanie
and supporting AnK the last couple of years. Thanks
aplenty to Hammerjacks Steve for audio and video production
and John from Metro Sounds for the killer house and
monitor mix. A plethora of hearty AnK gratitudes also
go out to Matt W., Photoman Tom, Sterling & the
Mrs, Lady Diana, Kimberly & Dawn, 1/2 Bearded Jeff,
Amy (thumbs up on the tattoo), the Bon Jovi girls (Tammy
& Amy), Jeanette, Linda, Becky, Wendy, Joe, Denise,
Jeanine, Larry, Keith & Brian (thanks for making
the long haul), Sean, trachea man, Jill & the gang,
the entire Lincoln Tech crew, Maura with a U, Carl,
Mr. Sloppy 2nds, Cindy & Dave, Kelly Davis, Mark,
Christie, Sam, and Connie. My back (specifically L4
& L5) would also like to thank Boots & Chris
for doing the majority of the set up and break down.
Special thanks go out to Troy and the Bamboo staff
for their hospitality and backing. It is always a blast
playing for you guys. Thanks to Laura for the buttery
nipple shots and Tracy for the energy (you need to bottle
and sell that – this Def Leppard’s for you!).
We also want to extend our thoughts and prayers to Matt,
whose Mom is in the hospital.
Coming soon, the chronicles of our performance at McAvoys!
"Tearin' in up in the daytime, burning it down
at night. How long does it take? To break the spell?
Straight to the top. Tooth and Nail!"

April
5th - Memories Chapter 6:2 - Beer & Liquor, Meatloaf
& Fabreeze
Memories never disappoints when we are
there. It is always a cornucopia of assorted head banging
minions that flock to the mecca of 80’s hard rock
& heavy metal to hear the message espoused by Alive-n-Kickin’.
Upon the heartily constructed AnK stage extension, Dimetrius
led our choir in delivering the message of the 80’s.
Our message was dispensed with passionate fervor and
returned just as zealously. It was an incredibly spiritual
night!
Lots of thanks go out to all the special people that
thronged Memories. Shout out to the Meatloaf gang of
Susie, Leah, and Michelle for the dancing and support.
I’ll practice until my fingers can make the secret
hand code. Anyone find the Fabreeze? A sisterly “we
luv ya!” goes out to Kelley for standing by her
five “brothers” and doing all the little
things that help keep things flowing. The Quiet Storm
is an octopus, simultaneously keeping us hydrated, taking
pictures, peddling merchandise, and helping with spontaneous
repairs as well as making last minute trips to the local
Wal-Mart for a camera (BTW, what’s with all the
butt shots?). To Hammerjacks Steve for the audio and
video excellence in capturing AnK at their best. A drunken
salute to Will for the head banging support. Hugs to
our buddy Kimo Kersse for coming out and hanging with
his brothers. Shout out to my lifting buddy Lou, the
heavyweight beast of the strongman competition from
earlier that day. Happy birthday to Brenda sporting
her lovely AnK spaghetti T! Thank also to Pam, Joe,
Jeff, Sandy, Jeff & Cat, Crystal, Anne, Ona, John,
Stacy, Michelle, Bob, Rick & Sue, the moshing and
head banging dude, Ed, and Dave. Final gratis to Phil
behind the sound board for the excellent job.
Next weekend has us pulling the ever challenging double
header. Friday night April 11th has the party heading
north to Pasadena to one of our favorite stomping grounds,
Bamboo Bernies. Get there early because last time the
line was out the door and around the corner to get in.
Rumor also has it that Ed Nugent will be making a special
appearance, entertaining everyone with naught but his
guitar and a loin cloth.
Saturday April 12th has us going even farther north
through the tunnel to Parkville for another night of
80’s hard rock & heavy metal at McAvoys, nee
Putty Hill Station. The environment is cozier but definitely
conducive to partying so those of you that don’t
want to deal with the daunting crowds should not miss
this one!
"Whoa, can we rewind to where we've been. Ooh
I wish you'd take a look and see the shape I'm in..."

March
20th - What's new in the world of AnK?
Hi Everyone. Just wanted to scribe a quick
note updating the latest happenings in the world of
AnK. Even though we have been off the last couple of
weekends, we have been diligently working up new material
as well as reviewing all your 80's hard rock and heavy
metal favorites. It is amazing how many frequent flyer
miles Ed has piled up in the pursuit of 80's heavy metal
perfection. The early half of April has us playing some
really cool shows so make sure to come on out and enjoy
a show reminiscent of the 80's concerts of yore, only
on a more intimate level. See you at a show soon!

March
8th - To points north!
Not to be outdone by yesterday’s
heavenly deluge, Saturday turned out to be the hoar
frost winds blowing down from the arctic north at gale-force
strength. I’ll bet the mighty Zephyrs were bushed
after expunging so much force into their winded furies.
I drive an Expedition and I could feel it getting blown
about as I raced north up I-83 at the last minute in
the hopes of getting to Harrisburg to play the gig at
Gullifty’s alongside my heavy metal brethren.
Fate brought me to my destination unscathed with 30
minutes to spare and luckily I have my rig set up in
a most efficient manner, one that allows for minimal
set up and break down so 10 minutes later I was unpacked,
plugged in, tuned up, strapped in and ready to fire
out the best of the 80’s hard rock & heavy
metal. I must say the people in Harrisburg must have
never seen an extended range bass because the Kodak
moment faces of awe and puzzlement were too numerous
to count.
I have to compliment and thank all the people at Gullifty’s
as well as our newfound friends in Leadfoot for their
graciousness and hospitality. We were welcomed to the
stage to cheers and applause which rose into a thunderous
crescendo as the set went on, culminating in an orgasmic
spew of appreciative cheer at the conclusion of Still
of the Night. Even a broken E string (Snakeskin gauge
107) could not detract from the festive atmosphere of
the night.
Our friends in Leadfoot certainly did not disappoint
in their presentation of heavy metal or their animated
stage show. This is a band you all need to check out
next time they are in our area. Not only are they a
great group of musicians but they are also a great bunch
of guys as well.
Thanks to our friends that journeyed north to join
us, Pierre, Tawnya, and Rob. A thousand gratitudes to
our buddy Ray Justus who was on stand-by ready to weave
his magic on the bass in case I could not play the gig
due to Nico’s christening earlier that afternoon.
You are an awesome friend, the secret 6th member of
AnK. Thanks to Gullifty’s for taking a chance
on a band unknown to them and finally our friends in
Leadfoot for letting us share the stage with you. We
plan on returning the favor soon.
The next two weeks gives us a much needed repast before
our next whirlwind of live performances. Keep an eye
on our shows page, as it is constantly evolving. Don’t
forget to sign the guestbook and leave some love and
let us know what songs requests you have so we can get
to work on them.
“Your cruel device. Your blood like ice. One
look could kill. My pain, your thrill. ”

March
7th - "It's because it's a venue and not a bar"
I thought our last trip to Macs in early
February had us traveling through a torrential deluge
but it does not compare to the ferocity and sheer volume
of precipitation cast down upon us from the heavens.
The biblical-like monsoon coupled with the ever increasing
stupidity of Maryland drivers made what should have
been a 1 ½ hour trip into a 2 ½ hour ordeal.
I think it is safe to say with certainty that if someone
dropped a stupid bomb 85% of the people on the road
would be instantly consumed. My middle finger is actually
sore today from all the bird flippings cast about to
each moron that thinks they are participating in the
Indy 500.
After traversing over the Key Bridge and across the
Poo-Poo Choo-Choo, our destination was at hand. Some
higher being must have finally taken pity on us and
allowed a break in the rains so we could hump gear inside.
Immediately after we completed unloading the trailer,
our trucks, and Ed’s rental Hyundai the rains
began anew.
So even though the rains did not deter us from our
quest to deliver the message of 80’s hard rock
& heavy metal, it apparently thwarted the arrival
of many planned patrons, necessitating an early wrap
up on the night’s festivities. It was refreshing
to cast away the rigidity of the song list and allow
for a more spontaneous evening with the crowd offering
up requests that we gladly performed on the fly.
Special thank you’s need to go out to all our
friends that braved the weather to come party with us.
Special AnK shout outs go to Nancy, Beni, Dawn &
Mike, Steevo, Karen & Anthony, Ray & Angel,
and Lori & friend for coming out on an abbreviated
evening. Thanks also to Boots for helping schlep gear
on such a dreary night.
Tomorrow night has us heading north up into the deep
bowels of Pennsylvania to Gullifty’s in Harrisburg
for an hour long opening set for our friends in Leadfoot.
We are excited at the opportunity of heading north and
unleashing the best of the 80’s hard rock &
heavy metal to the denizens north of Maryland so to
those of you that gripe we play too far away, you have
no excuse for not showing up and to the rest of you
I say, “road trip!”
“The sun never sets for souls on the run. The
wild and the young.”

March
1st - Cryers Back Road Inn
The drive to Cryers Back Road Inn this
past Saturday did not seem as long, arduous, or daunting
as the initial trip back in December. Maybe it was because
it was not as cold, maybe it was because Steve was hauling
the trailer this time or maybe it was the fact that
I survived the trip once and it did not seem so daunting
the second time around. Regardless of the reason, Cryers
turned out to be a real fun night where we partied with
lots of old and new friends. We even saw many of our
Memories crowd here for another night of 80’s
hard rock & heavy metal mayhem! The night would
have scored a 10 for 10 had it not been for the heartburn
I got from the pizza there. I used to have the gullet
of a billy goat and I guess I’m becoming more
digestively sensitive in my old age.
Thanks aplenty go out to Shannon for the great rendition
of Screaming in the Night, Jackie for enlightening everyone
on auxiliary apparati for home pleasure, Jeff &
Cat, Al, Rob & Marley and her sister and hubby (sorry
I don’t know your names), Billie from MySpace,
Chaz, Mike & Kelly, and Pat & Laura. Thanks
to Brian and Dave for the stellar job on sound and lights
(those laser beams are COOL!).
This upcoming weekend has us back at Macs the Club
in Essex on Friday March 7th hammering out the 80’s
tunes of yore on the biggest, coolest, stage in the
Baltimore area. If you haven’t been to Macs you
are truly missing out on Baltimore’s next big
rock venue. Saturday March 8th has us loading the truck
and heading up I-83 deep into the heart of William Penn’s
colony (Pennsylvania) to New Cumberland to perform an
opening 1 hour set at Gullifty’s for our hard
rocking friends in Leadfoot. You definitely need to
check these guys out when they come back around here.
After this weekend we will be off for a few so make
sure to come on out and rock with the AnK!
"With trembling hand we reach for it all, two
restless hearts waiting to fall."

February
29th - Memories Chapter 6:1 - Happy Leap Year!
Before I go into the usual news presentation,
I have to express a sort of epiphany that hit me a couple
of weeks ago. Back in 1991 Ed and I were in an original
band called In 'n' Out. You can hear some of our originals
on my
MySpace page. That band practiced in the
basement of my father's dental office. Even though Dad
has hung up the extraction forceps (actually, he gave
them to me and I use them in my office now), the office
is still on Eastern Ave. and it is being used at times
as a practice facility for Alive-n-Kickin'. I find it
nostalgic and ironic that I am practicing music in the
same place from the infancy of my music career.
OK, enough of the nostalgic drivel. Even
with the dreaded smoking ban fully enforced Memories
was still packed to the gills and rocking out. Everybody
was firing on all cylinders with only the occasional
break to run to the designated outdoor smoking lounge
to grab a quick drag so as to minimize down time from
the packed and frenetic dance floor. Makes me wonder
if all those people were out celebrating Leap Year?
Nah, they were there for us :)
You people in southern Maryland deserve
a special thank you for the support you have shown us
since the band's inception in 2002. Some of the faces
out there have been with us since day 1. Thanks aplenty
go out to Monster, Quiet Storm, and Chord Bitch for
all the usual love and support that they have bestowed
upon us since the beginning. Hugs to our buddy Stewart
for coming out and helping move gear. Thanks also to
Faye, Kerry, Jeff & Cat, Crystal, Dawn & Fred,
Danny & Carrie, Juanita & Will, John, Bobbi
& Jody, Christine & Lisa, and Anne & Ona
as well as the Memories crew (Crash, Phil Donald, Kelly,
Judine, John, John).
Tomorrow night has us back at Cryer's
Back Road Inn in Leonardtown and we plan on having another
intense night of 80's rock. Hopefully Pete won't get
disoriented and end up in the wrong restroom again.
"You're too hot to handle, way too
cold to hold........................"

February
15th - Where's Ed?
Ya know, it seems lately there is always
some proverbial monkey wrench being tossed into our
well oiled machine. This time it was Trans-Air. Ed’s
flight back from Atlanta was delayed to where he could
not make it to the club until after 10 pm. Luckily,
guitarist extraordinaire Glenn Campbell (No Strings
Attached, Temper Temper) came to the rescue allowing
for an awesome first set. The casual fans were unaware
of the change but since most of the crowd was there
for AnK, you could see a lot of head scratching and
furrowed brows, puzzled at the stranger standing where
the mighty Smirnoff Ice usually is. Ed arrived unscathed
and we were able to carry on business as usual for sets
2 and 3. The only other glitch was Steve’s compensatory
appendage…err…Corvette ZR1’s alarm
blaring out front. You could see anxiety welling up
in a perspirous effusion as Steve expressed angst over
the well-being of his compensatory appendage …err….Corvette
ZR1. Luckily all was well and there were no marks on
Steve’s compensatory appendage.
A turdload of thanks need to be dispensed to our ever
growing legion of 80’s hard rock & heavy metal
fans. To Kelley and Chris for humping gear, lighting
production, pictures, and help in all things mundane.
Shout out to Nancy for pictures and the brainchild of
MAR, which will soon be a force for old-school metal
on the local scene. Keep an eye out for it. To Faye
for pictures and being there since day 1 – you
will always be family, :) Yummy to Momma-Beast Kathy
for the awesome cherry cheesecake. A techie holler out
to Hammerjacks Steve for all the behind-the-scenes hard
work in various audio and video projects for AnK. Look
for some of this stuff to be available here and on our
MySpace page soon. Thanks also to all the people that
came out just to have a good time with us on a pleasant
Friday night – Danette, Danny (thanks for being
Mark Brunel/Troy Smith), Myles E. (great job on R&R),
Jeanette (I found my cheese), Wendy, Vicky, Chrissy,
Dawn & Mike, Karen, Matt W., Marla & Jim, Brenda,
Kim & Charles, Katie & Dennis, Missy & Kenny,
Tina & JJ, Peggy, Ness, Danny, Gary, Josh G.Stacy,
Lady Di, Trachea Man, Tim, Bill, Ashley, Dave &
Regina, Lana & Bill, Lacey, DJ Mike, ½ bearded
Jeff, Miranda & Jesse, Lisa, Steve, Mike, Brain,
Jeremy, Josh, Pete, Chuck, JD, Mr. SS & pal, and
finally John at Metro sounds for the killer sound production.
As always, thanks to Troy & the staff at Bamboos
for the hospitality.
Final thank you to Glenn Campbell for coming in at
the last minute cold and helping keep things going until
the cavalry could arrive. You are a true gentleman and
scholar.
Thanks to everyone that also came out to help celebrate
the Corrupt Beast’s birthday, as he inches ever
so closely to that mark of 40. I shouldn’t talk,
as my next birthday is the dreaded 4-0 and I am sure
the plannings have already begun as to how to celebrate
such a momentous occasion.
Next weekend is an off weekend for the band because
of my implant residency (#7 of 8 – almost there!),
but the following weekend presents a southern Maryland
double header with Memories in Waldorf on Friday February
29th and Cryers Back Road Inn in Leonardtown on Saturday
March 1st. We plan on no repeating of songs so you can
expect a different show each night.
No one was able to answer correctly the riddle "If
Valentine's Day is for couples what holiday is for single
people?" Answer: Palm Sunday :)
"I'm in & out of trouble, I'm the talk of
the town. I get wild inthe streets when the sun goes
down."

February
9th - How can violets be blue when violet is a purple
color?
Greetings & salutations my metal loving
brethren. Just wanted to pen a quick blurb reminding
all of you head bangers that we will be demolishing
the stage at Bamboo Bernies Friday February 15th. On
top of the theme of Valentine’s Day, we will also
be celebrating Steve’s not-quite 40th birthday
so make sure to mark your calendars, grab your honey,
and come on out and party like we used to back in the
80’s. Make sure to arrive early so you aren’t
stuck in line out the door.
Prize to the first person that can finish this riddle.
If Valentine’s Day is for couples, what holiday
is for single people? Answer to be posted here and on
our MySpace page when solved.

February
1st - Baltimore's coolest live rock venue!
Given the amount of rain that teemed from
the heavens all day long on Friday February 1st, I really
felt I was going to have to convert the trailer into
an ark and load up 2 of everything. The Gods must have
been smiling down as the deluge broke around 3 pm and
sunshine broke through the clouds, cascading down onto
the drenched earth. So the trailer would not need to
be altered into a flotation device after all. By land
and highway the gear made its way north and slightly
east over the Key Bridge and the world-renowned Poo-Poo
Choo-Choo to our destination of Macs the Club in Essex.
If you have not been to Macs you are truly missing a
cool club. The eclectic feel of a Legionaries Hall permeates
the current rock theme to bring a unique rock and roll
club. The stage is huge and the sound PA is one of the
best in-house systems around. We really enjoy getting
on that stage and feeling the music we create surge
through us and out into the crowd, especially when we
can play the true rocking songs from the 80’s.
It felt great to regale everyone with new songs and
also pull out some old ones we have not done in ages.
Thanks aplenty go out to all our supportive friends
that braved rain and cold to come party with us. Thanks
to Kelley for hydration and pictures and tolerating
the Chinese finger cuffs jokes :). Golf clap to our
musician friends Eddie from Eye 4N Eye and Bill from
Highwire. Curtsy and bows to Nancy, Juanita, Nina, Marion
(the Sisterhood!), Will, Cleary, Lisa, Dawn & Mike,
and Sterling for rocking the whole night with us. Final
loving “slap-in-the-back-of-the-head-Dickhead!”
goes out to Steve R. for hanging with us and feasting
on Samos Greek food with me the next day! Thanks also
to Michelle behind the bar, Jeff & friend for the
killer sound & lights, and Frank for having us.
It seems every time I leave an east Baltimore County
gig I have a story. This time a benign stop at the Royal
Farms to get a bite to eat turned uncomfortable. Upon
entering the front door of the Royal Farms in Highlandtown
on Eastern Ave., you will notice the magazine rack on
your immediate right. At the top of the rack are the
girlie magazines and some older gentleman was standing
smack dab in the middle of the aisle perusing one. He
was so engrossed in the printed flesh that I had to
interrupt his fantasizing to get him to realize he was
blocking my entry into the store. Last thing I feel
like dealing with is an old pervert at 3 am getting
aroused in the main entry aisle at the Royal Farms store.
Could you just buy the damn thing, go home, and take
care of business? Geez. And everyone wonders why I moved
away.
Anyway, after several days of therapy (j/k) we are preparing
for our next grand event, Bamboo Bernies in Pasadena
on February 15th. Not only will we be celebrating Valentine’s
Day but also the Corrupt One’s birthday so we
expect, nay promise, a festive night full of glee and
merriment worthy of the grandest of Mardi Gras stages.
You will kick yourselves immensely if you miss this
one. Heart shaped beads will abound searching for ample
bosoms to nestle between. Oh, and there will be 80’s
hard rock & heavy metal, too!
"I know you ain't a bad girl honey,
no matter what the neighbors say. Its just you wear
those skin tight dresses with your G string tuned to
A."

January
26th - AnK Happenings & Happy Brithday to the Quarter
Beast
In the middle of celebrating Mr. Shane
Dimitri’s 3rd birthday, I decided to scribe some
quick news and give you people a quick update on AnK
happenings. Lots of cool things have been going on and
I feel compelled to share these wonderful tidbits with
all of you, our loving and faithful friends and fans.
Alive-n-Kickin’ is proud to announce the addition
of William Harris Jr. to the AnK family. Billy is best
known for being the keyboard backbone in local sensation
Surreal and we are pleased to have him on board as a
member of Alive-n-Kickin’ so make sure to shower
him with love and affection unique to the AnK faithful.
I have extra towels on hand to wipe him down with afterwards
and Bandicide for disinfection purposes.
Our shows page is replete with 80’s metal shows
throughout the great state of Maryland. Our show has
expanded into new venues as well as additional gigs
booked in our staple clubs. Check out the shows page
for details. Our next show is an 80’s metal extravaganza
at Macs the Club in Essex. The place is under new management
and is on the verge of becoming the next real Baltimore
area hot spot for great live music so come check Macs
out.
New songs have been added to our ever changing repertoire.
As always, email us at alivenkickinband@yahoo.com
with your suggestions. Please remember only 80’s
hard rock & heavy metal. Keep it in the theme, ya
know?
“Rock, rock ‘til you drop! Rock, rock never
stop!”

January
11th - The Nuclear Onslaught!
The final leg of the Tony's Clubs Tour
culminated with an intense and exhilarating gig full
of energy and passion at Cancun Cantina. Actually, the
fun started the night before. With me unable to make
the drive to set up, Steve coordinated the methodical
construction of the AnK stage show. The monolithic drum
riser and concert-esque light show were all erected
in anticipation of a phenomenal turn out Friday night.
And what a turn out it was! Throngs of people packed
the deck side of Cancun with everyone head banging and
dancing in frenetic fashion. It was awesome, so much
so that we lost track of time and had the power cut
off mid-song (well, almost the end of the final song)
due to strict liquor laws. You people definitely know
how to party! I still get chills at everyone singing
along to Faithfully.
Many thanks to our numerous friends and fans that graced
us with their energetic presence. To our faithful core
of friends that help take care of all the various duties;
Kelley (photographs and hydration), Ajay (lights), Hammerjacks
Steve (set up and video production), and Chris (trouble
shooting and break down). An AnK "you rock girl!"
to Shannon for the stellar rendition of Screaming in
the Night. Great job to the Metro sounds tandem of Les,
Les II, and John for the impeccable sound, audio tips
& advice, and use of the spare Eon cabinet to power
my ER Beasts while my current cube is being serviced.
Thanks also to all of you peeps that came out to support
the best of the 80's hard rock & heavy metal; Kathy
(momma-beast! - your son is corrupt), Danette (Mrs.
C-Beast), Matt W. (beer!), Patrick (great job on R&R
All Night), Bill from Highwire, Nancy, Ed, Tawnya, Douglas
M. (don't be a stranger! Miss you big fella!), Rob &
Marley from Solomon’s Island, Jeanette & Linda,
Vicki & friends, Julia the marketing guru, Butch,
Jim & Carol, David, Dawn, Phil, Mike G. & Dave
G. from Stiff Richard, Michelle, Tammy, the girl with
the horseshoe tattoo on her left gluteal, the Judas
Priest guy, Joe from Bamboos, and the throng of female
dancers that mobbed the stage, forcing Dimetrius to
sing from atop a barrel. Thanks also to the staff and
management at Cancun Cantina for the hospitality.
The next couple of weeks has us taking a little time
off to complete courses, celebrate the Quarter Beast's
third birthday, and ponder the mysteries of the universe.
In the meantime we will be working up a couple of new
tunes for your listening enjoyment, as playing the same
old stuff can get stale for the players and fans. We
will return with an onslaught of shows in February starting
with Macs the club on February 1st. The best kept secret
in Essex has one of the best stages, light shows, and
sound systems around, worthy of national concert acts
so if you really want to experience a true 80's metal
show, Macs is the place to see Alive-n-Kickin'.
"She gave me a wink and said I should think about
it, maybe."

January
4th - Go West young man
If you have not been to the Cancun Cantina
West then you need to make sure to mark it on your list
of places to see when you are in Hagerstown. Tony’s
latest club is a very nice, spacious, clean establishment
with good food and great staff. Everyone working there
was very kind and gracious. The hospitality afforded
by the staff was refreshing so thank you and an AnK
shout out to Jen, Gina, Misty, & Liz for being genuinely
nice and keeping us (well, at least me) maximally hydrated
throughout the evening. It was truly a fun gig and we
look forward to a return trip.
Another plus was that the club is next door to the
Clarion hotel. Being physically connected made it that
much easier to stagger my inebriated self back to my
room, though my sleep was constantly punctuated by Steve’s
plaster-peeling, ear-splitting snoring. Sounded like
the mating call of the North American Red-backed Moose.
He was so loud the alley cats were ready to lob shoes
at him.
We made lots of new friends tonight. Thanks to Rob,
Kevin & Grace, Rene M. from Surreal for the great
drums on R&R All Night, Tommy & Gina, the Wasted
Years dude, the biker-marine guy that rocked and danced
all night (sorry I did not get your name), Paul, Cheryl,
Connie, Cindy & Ray, Tucker, Bill A., and Boomer.
Special thanks to Les and Les Jr. for the always great
job in sound production and bailing me out by having
a spare monitor cabinet to replace my on-the-fritz bass
cube. Thanks to Steve Baer for plowing me full of Jaeger
bombs and home-brewed West Virginia moonshine. Now I
know what turpentine tastes like.
A very special thank you and “I love you, f**kers”
to my friends Steve, Beth, Larry, Karen, Uncle Mike,
Mary, Craig, and Brenda who drove down from the mountains
of Frostburg and beyond to come hang and party with
us. It seems like yesterday that a newly graduated dental
student and his-then fiancé moved to Cumberland
with hopes and dreams and luckily met up and made friends
with some of the greatest examples of human beings one
could ask for. If you are ever in the Cumberland/Frostburg
area, go check out their band Takoma Park, country music
with a bang! (www.takomaparkband.com)
Miss you guys! BTW, where the hell was Dave? Tell the
old man I am disappointed!
This Friday is the final leg of the “Tony’s
clubs” tour. We will be back at Cancun Cantina
ready to bring the house down again. Be ready to rock
and get ready to hear some new tunes we have been working
on. We guarantee an evening worthy of remembrance and
you will hate yourselves if you do not make it!
“In the night, call to me. You know I want your
touch of evil.”
December
30th - Bye, bye 2007!
What an exciting night the final gig of 2007 turned
out to be at Bamboo Bernies. The energy and passion
was so intense the fog machine blew a gasket and proceeded
to spew ungodly amounts of smoke. When the yellow light
shined through it I wanted to grab a gas mask and dive
to the bottom of a trench. Luckily the ventilation system
is top-notch and the mustard gas cloud was quickly disbursed.
I think Steve was secretly supplying the smoke machine
with performance-enhancing drugs, which would explain
its inflated statistical output (sounds like Viagra).
Of course, no Viagra was needed, as a purple clad well-endowed
young lady in the front row danced and undulated madly,
unknowingly dictating the tempo of the music. It was
apparent at that point that Steve was over his previous
night’s illness.
As always, it was a pleasure to perform the duel-keyboard
Xmas Eve Sarajevo (Carol of the Bells) for everyone.
Your response to it was awesome and intense!
It seems the list of characters to thank gets longer
at each show. I am at the point where I have to jot
down notes to remember everyone. My apologies if a deserving
person was omitted from the list. The news thank you
is never complete without the initial lauding of appreciation
to the people behind the scenes that keep us in order
and whose help is invaluable – Stacey, Kelley,
Pete (pendulous ankle swinger), Hammerjacks Steve, Ajay,
and Chris. Thank you to our friends in Highwire (Bill
& Lurch), Nancy, Binelda, Nina, Ed, Wendy, the Journey
Girls (Becky, Debbie, Vicki), ½ bearded Jeff,
the Judas Priest guy, Martie & Joey Dove from Stiff
Richard, David, Kyle, Rich, Mikey, Rob & Marley,
Debbie, Christine, Jessica & Rob, Ronnie W., Mr.
sloppy seconds, Joann, Tiffany & Brandi, Mrs. Dash,
and finally to the mammaric metronome for establishing
cadence. Happy birthday to Stacy! Thanks to Les I and
Les II for the awesome job with sound and Ajay for the
stellar light show. Gratis to Troy and the entire Bamboos
staff for their utmost professionalism and accommodations.
A final thank you to the rest of Anne Arundel County
for showing up.
No rest for the weary as we load the gear and head
up the road to Hagerstown, Md. for our debut gig at
the newly opened Cancun Cantina West. All of you people
out in Western Maryland that have been clamoring for
us to play that way now have no excuse for not showing
up. The rest of us will be bringing our lunchables to
stay nourished on the long ride. There is also a hotel
(Clarion Antieta – 301-733-5100) connected to
the club that anyone that is too tried or too drunk
to drive can stay at.
Hey Ed, dirt called again. Please………..
“Just when I thought she was coming to my door,
she whispered sweet and brought me to the floor”

December
29th - Through adversity we shall triumph!

Every gig has a pre-show routine, a preparatory
ritual that has been honed and tweaked since day one
so that nothing is forgotten and all matters have been
addressed to ensure a smooth transition to the gig.
Imagine my horror and shock at the phone call this Friday
around 4:15 pm from the Corrupt Beast expressing his
inability to play tonight due to illness. Apparently
a bad case of Bubonic Plague had struck down the bedrock
of the band. But have no fear! Through addled and clouded
mind, Steve called friend and mentor Myles Evans (DC
Star) to sit in. Myles is truly a professional and one
of the great drum wizards. His performance was excellent
and even more stellar given the short notice he received.
Think about it, how many people can show up to a gig
and play a night’s worth of songs cold, with no
rehearsing or preparation and not miss a beat? Incredible!
The night went very well and everyone was definitely
into the best of the 80’s hard rock & heavy
metal. The newly reconstituted version of Alive-n-Kickin’
pounded out all your favorite tunes without missing
a beat.
Thanks abound aplenty for the mass of people that thronged
Memories and rocked with us. Smooches to the usual suspects
Kelley (wake up!), Stacey and “cord bitch &
shirt folder” Pete for always keeping us hydrated,
photographed, and on our best behavior (much easier
to do with Santa Beads out sick). Shout outs to our
friends Faye, Susie, Molly, and Kerry for the support.
Hey Faye, have you reciprocated for the camera yet?
;) A “you friggin’ rock!” goes out
to birthday boy Dion and the Gold’s crew (Jeremy,
Bryan, Jamie, Sarah). Thank you also to Rod and the
misses, Scott, Lisa, Paul, Mike, Tracy (happy birthday
as well), Linda & Jen, Rob & Sarah, Bill, Devin,
Colleen, Brandi, and Joe. Special thanks to Carol for
helping fold and peddle merchandise and to John for
keeping her energy up through yeast & hop based
alcoholic infusion. Kudos to Phil for the usual great
job of sound & lights. Thanks also to Judine for
the pizza and advertising and finally to Donald for
just having us.
Special shout out to Wayne from King’s Mountain,
North Carolina who knows that Alive-n-Kickin’
rocks!
Again, a special thank you with all the appropriate
hugs, kisses, licks and gropes to Myles Evans for helping
turn a potential disaster into an awesome night. You
da man!
I personally want to send out a thank you and “aw,
shucks” to all you people that have been complimenting
me on my playing these past few gigs. I have been wood
shedding a lot, working on my theory and chops and it
must be paying off considering all the kudos I have
been receiving. Thanks again!
Tonight we are heading into Bamboo Bernies ready to
start the New Years party in Pasadena early. Our rendition
of TSO’s Xmas Eve Sarajevo (Carol of the Bells)
will be performed tonight as well as the usual best
of the 80’s hard rock & heavy metal. Steve
will be performing tonight and we plan on having our
last gig of 2007 be our most memorable to date. Don’t
miss it!
December
23rd - Happy Frickin' Holidays
We in Alive-n-Kickin' would like to take
this opportunity to thank all of you for your support
of the band these past several years and we look forward
to continuing to bang out the best of the 80's hard
rock & heavy metal. It has been your unwavering
support and loyal devotion that have made AnK the musical
force it is today. So from all of us in the band, please
have a safe and Happy Holidays as we get ready to climax
the old year with a double header weekend (Memories
in Waldorf on Friday 12/28, Bamboo Bernies in Pasadena
on Saturday 12/29). Happy Christmakwanzaanukah!

The only local band able to pull off Xmas
Eve Sarajevo (Carol of the Bells) by the Trans Siberian
Orchestra au naturale.

December
7th - and the winner is.......................
Congratulations to Chris, Stacey, and
Susie for all answering the news stumper correctly.
Road to Nowhere is an Ozzy Osbourne song. Your prize
is the privilege of being acknowledged on this here
news page. It is truly an honor reserved for only the
most revered and unique people, individuals that have
proven their mettle and risen to a height few mortals
in all the annals of recorded history have achieved.
Kudos to you all.
Gotta go, Rudolph's Shiny New Year is
on!
"Zounds
and Gadzooks! We must save the baby Happy!"

December
1st - I have to pee!
Even though I live in Southern Maryland
I did not realize that it extended so far to the southeast.
Living so close to the Nice Hairy Bridge gives you a
false sense of where the borders of the great state
of Maryland are. I am submitting paperwork to the Maryland
Transportation Authority to have Rt 234 renamed as the
Road To Nowhere (quick: first person that can guess
the song and artist reference gets a quick shout out
on these here news pages). They will probably tell me
to go place my phallus in my own rectum. Anyway, after
feeling like Columbus’ crew as they sailed farther
away from the old world, civilization appeared on the
horizon. The familiar sights of capitalism (gas, food,
booze, retail stores) brought a soothing calm to my
worked up self from the drive. Another couple miles
down the road and our destination was at hand!
First glance at Cryers may not give the impression
of a rock club but looks can be deceiving and the people
in Leonardtown sure know how to party. The cozy confines
of Cryers actually enhanced the festive atmosphere,
as everyone was so close to each other you could not
help but absorb the love emanating from the patrons.
It was so great that poor Pete became disoriented, innocently
ending up in the ladies room while on attempt at a routine
10-100, his faux pas unbeknownst to him until an awkward
meeting with Kelley in said restroom brought him the
realization of “oops, wrong pisser.”
A special shout out to all our new friends we made
at Cryers, Tracy, Shannon, Colleen, Eric, Scott, Jerry
(thank you for the bass compliments and intelligent
inquiry). Get ready to really rock when we return on
March 1st. Special licks and slurps to our usual AnK
support crew of Stacey, Kelley, and Pete (the sign should
say “Mens”). Than you also to Danette, Al
& Kelly, Tawnya, Caitlin and my lifting buddy Lou.
Kudos to Brian G. for the terrific sound and musical
camaraderie and finally a special AnK welcome to Bill
Harris for being able to come on board with minimal
notice and do a bang up job on keys.
Child labor laws aside, thanks to Steve's niece Hailey
for stringing together a plethora of beads just in time
for the show. It was reminiscent of a demented Oliver
Twist, Hailey being poor Oliver and Steve being the
maniuplative Fagan (no, not Faggot you deviants).
Our condolences go out to Steve as he still holds faith
out in the Redskins having success this year. Someone
needs to get the burgundy and gold Kool-Aid away from
him.
The next couple of weeks has us off preparing for the
holidays. In between the shopping, decorating, gift
wrapping, and eating we will be working on old and new
material and getting prepared for our double header
shows of Memories on Dec. 28 and Bamboo Bernies Dec.
29. If we do not see any of you before the holidays,
we in Alive-n-Kickin’ wish you and your families
a wonderful, safe and happy holiday.
"Keep on walking that road and I'll follow. Keep
on calling my name I'll be there................"

November
29th - The victorious Beast!!!

Thanks to all of you that voted and nominated
Steve as Baltimore's favorite drummer on the Baltimore
Rock Review poll. He is honored and humbled (if that
is possible). I believe the next voting will be for
best bead distribution, which Steve should win hands
down (or shirts up!).

November
17th - Beware the Enforcer
Even though there were several bands playing
within the local area at every venue that features live
music, the people of Southern Maryland knew where to
go for the real party as Memories was packed to the
gills. We have been playing Memories since the bands
inception back in late 2002 and we still love gigging
there. From the staff to the clientele, everyone is
wonderfully pleasant and easy to interact with. Just
a great wholesome place for fun and good times.
The thanks abound aplenty to all our friends here in
Southern Maryland. They include the usual band cache
of Kelley, Stacey, and Pete. Honorable mention to Rebel
& Angel, Kerry, Pam, Big Lou, Scott, Cindy, Brian,
Al & Kelly, Susie & JoAnn (even if you could
only stay for one set), Judine, Brenda, Paul, Jim, Tim
McGraw, and Niki. Kudos to Phil for the awesome job
running sound and Donald for the great light show.
A special shout out to Pete “the enforcer,”
who did not hesitate to defend the honor of a young
woman when some besotted lout made inappropriate advances.
Finally, on a more somber note, we bid Kimo a fond
adieu and good luck as he is bowing out of Alive-n-Kickin’
to work on his own project. Kimo is an excellent musician
and even better person and we wish him the best in all
his endeavors. Keep a look out for his yet unnamed project.
Next up is Cryers Back Road Inn in Leonardtown. I hear
that this place is happening and not to be fooled by
it’s cozy confines. We look forward to traipsing
down to the bottom most point of Maryland to bring you
the best of the 80’s hard rock & heavy metal.
Be there!
Finally, we in Alive-n-Kickin’ would like to
wish all of our families, friends, and fans a safe and
Happy Thanksgiving. I will be with my in-laws, overeating
and then doing my best Al Bundy impersonation while
watching football. Life is so good :)

November
16th - Kicking off the Bad Santa tour
Traffic. ‘Nuff said. Next idiot
driver that tries to squeeze by the trailer while it
is backing up is going to feel the wrath of Sparta on
their asses!
The show at Bamboos was HOT!!!! I don’t
think you could have packed anymore intensity into the
place. The disciples of the 80’s were out in full
force absorbing the audible creations emitting forth
from the stage. Our duel keyboard version of Trans Siberian
Orchestra's Xmas Eve Sarajevo (Carol of the Bells) was
a major hit and we will continue to play it throughout
the holiday season.
Thank you to the slew of people that came out to support
AnK. Shout outs to Matt W. (you forgot someone), Stephanie,
Sherri, Sandy, Wendy, Jeanette, Linda, Nina (the bass
is not that heavy!), Chuck, Stephanie with
the ninja tattoo, Charles R., Toni, Photo Man Tom, 1/2
bearded Jeff, Tracy, Brian, Joe S, Vince, Ron &
Karen, Jill & Bobby, Ken, Tony, Cindy, Mark, Christine,
and Valerie. Special shout out to our friends Kirsten,
Bill, and Lurch from the band Highwire. You really need
to check them out. Also thanks to Dave & Sean from
Korupt, our 80’s metal brethren that started out
playing the same clubs and dives we did back in the
80’s. God help us all we are getting old! Thanks
as well to Troy and the staff at Bamboos for their usual
accommodation and professionalism. Thanks also to John
for the great sound and being director of bead distribution.
As always, a special round of hugs, feels, and scratches
to our friends (Kelley, Stacey, Pete, Ajay, Steve) that
take care of all the behind-the-scenes BS grunt work
without ever complaining or asking anything in return.
If they do complain we don’t pay attention anyway.
They are all part of the family and without their help,
love, support, and ass kicking, we would not be able
to present the music to all of you. Special thanks to
the momma-beast for stringing together about 600 pairs
of Bad Santa beads, which her proud son distributed
to every individual with anything that remotely resembled
a pair of mammaries.
An Alive-n-Kickin’ happy birthday goes out to
Wendy. We truly appreciate all your support.
Tomorrow night has us invading Southern Maryland back
at one of our favorite stomping grounds, Memories in
Waldorf. We look forward to seeing Donald, Crash, Judine,
Kelly, and the rest of the staff as well as all our
rockin’ friends and plan on having just as intense
a night.
"Passion burns, I felt the fire. Heaven sent but
baby you're not the one."

Greetings and salutations! Welcome everyone to the
introduction of the Alive-n-Kickin' news page where,
just like CNN, you can check in to the latest news and
happenings concerning Alive-n-Kickin'. You can also
contact the band through this link and we will gladly
announce whatever you like (within FCC guidelines).
Also, you can let us know what songs you would like
the band to do by contacting us at george@alive-n-kickin.net
or signing our guestbook. Peace!
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