56 Hope Road - Journals

Hey 56ers The Chad has taken the blog over again. I will be filling you all in on 56 spreading the love around the USA and beyond. Read on to hear what the 56 has been doing the past couple of weeks and check back soon for recaps on our upcoming shows.

04/25/08 Fri
Charleston's Friends & Co. threw Rage Fest featuring The Fuz, 56, The Hue and Jim the Mule. The place was jumping and we had a great time. IT RAGED!!! Jared and Marcus from the Hue both set in and ripped the six string.

04/24/08 Thu
We cruised to Madison WI and kicked the High Noon Saloon in the butt with Chicago Afrobeat Project. The boys from Eua Claire came down and rocked it with us, much props

04/22/08 Tue
Tuesday started at the Cubs game in the bleachers. We made it down to Duffy's for a 56 all-star night that included Chris and Brendon of Eli Jones and the return of Mat Cashman on the sax. We then kept the party rolling at Stella's who stayed open late for us and the to the Continental for a full day of Chicago partying. Tim also let the band know that night that he would be leaving the 56 to do his thing. We will miss him and wish him the best.

4/21/08 Mon
The 56 didn't play a gig but we did meet up with and Adam and Jordan of Family Groove Company in Wrigleyville and watched the Cubbies and raged it all night long.

04/20/08 Sun
Sunday we celebrated 420 at the Mansion in the afternoon. We laid around the pool and enjoyed a beautiful day. We then moved the celebration to Springfield IL. Marley started early with Antioquia from Cali., The Station then rocked it and we closed it down.

04/19/08 Sat
The day started with an afternoon kickoff of Rock for the Cure in Decatur IL at the SAE house. A party to benefit cancer research. We wish we could have stayed and partied all night, but we had to roll out to the Venice in St. Louis. Thanks for the handle of JD; it came in handy. The Venice Café was unbelievable. The love in the room was so warm it made the music sore. After the show we all partied at Mike and Mickey's family mansion around Wash U with our peeps. Pool and ribs was on the agenda. Thanks to Mike and Mickey- some great fans and friends!

04/18/08 Fri
56 invaded The Cubby Bear Chicago. John Wasem opened up the night. We kicked it. And JC Brookes & the Uptown Sound closed it down. It was sponsored by WXRT Local Anesthetic and Green Apple Fest. Chicago was full of great music but the party was in Wrigleyville. We celebrated Richard Milne's Birthday and he graced us with his MC-ing brilliance. Thanks again to Richard Milne.

04/12/08 Sat
We got up early in D Town and trucked it to Stevens Point WI. We rocked out the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point with some awesome bands. We opened up the night early and proceeded to party all night long. When you get three bands of crazies together this seems to be the trend. I have just realized this after four years on the road.

04/11/08 Fri
Always great to be back in D-town with good friends. Matt Carter opened up the night with Bman on the guitar at the Cornerstone. Then 56 took over and we raged the night. Fans, you were outstanding as always-thanks for the love.

04/10/08 Thu
We had a few days off before our next gig at RIBCO in Rock Island, IL. The place was off the hook with some great fans new and old.

4/08/08 Tue
Greg and Dave met Richard Milne for the first live interview with WXRT in Chicago. They got a tour of this Chicago staple radio mecca and proceeded to do the best radio interview of their lives. The interview aired on Local Anesthetic on Sunday April 13th. We originally received the call from Richard on April 1st, all I have to say is I thought the guys were playing an April Fools joke on me or someone was playing it on us, but it wasn't. We have to thank Richard Milne very much for the honor of the entire show dedicated to The 56.

CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW HERE: http://www.93xrt.com/wxrt-podcasts-local-anesthetic/1522354

04/06/08 Sun
Casey drove all night long and Tim all morning to make it to Mahoney's in Cedar Rapids, IA for our next gig. We showed up a little weary from our travels and then busted it as always. We rocked it out with the Cedar Rapids crew and fans from Palmeroy, IA. Thanks ladies for makin' the trip!!! And to Julie!!!

04/04/08 Fri & 04/05/08 Sat
56 kicked a double header in Moorhead. Friday we rocked and closed down the place. Then hit the HOJO.

Saturday started with just hanging all day long in Fargo, mainly lounging. We then went to another venue to hang out before the show. Tim and Greg played with the band and we partied down. We headed back to Rascals and had a jam that started with everyone playing each others instruments. It was far far out. Thanks Moorhead!

Until next time…..
Peace out
ThechaD

Posted by Chad Sanders at 14:47

Sitting comfortably in Fargo, ND, getting some rest before hitting the stage at Rascals for the second night in a row in the neighboring Moorhead, MN. I’m watching my Cleveland Cavaliers on the television… they’re beating Orlando 55-47 at the beginning of the second half. (As I'm re-reading my writing, the score is now 75-72, Orlando...c'mon, CAVS!!!)

We certainly keep the van rolling in this group, as I look back over the past week and try to do a bit of reflecting. Quite a lot has happened, it seems… and our motion shows little sign of stopping. We safely cruised out of Colorado into Kansas back on the 27th after spending another night with our friends in Denver, who are always willing to let us sleep on their couches, floors, and beds as well as fill our gullets with beer, our minds with cheer. Thanks again, Home!

After a decent show on the 27th in Manhattan KS, at Pat’s Blue Rib’n… a regular spot for The 56, we drove through the night to Omaha, NE where another great friend, Wendy, is always willing to share her space with us and show us some Nebraska hospitality. On top of that, I let word out in Omaha that it was my birthday that very day, March 28th, which sparked the urge to have a roaring time that night. Omaha came out in full force to rock with us at Mick’s, a place I’m beginning to like more and more. Brian and Kari were both a sight for soar eyes, as it had been over three quarters of a year since any of us had the pleasure of each other. I’m really enjoying remembering that night, as I was shown nothing but proper birthday hospitality. The evening ended, or at least came to a quiet lull at some point in the AM at Brian and Kari’s – I somehow managed to fall asleep on a small love-seat thing, in their office, having apparently perched there while spacing out to Beastie Boys music and anything else Brian saw fit to expand my consciousness while the party surged all around me. I woke up not having any clue how to fall back asleep on the piece of furniture I had been sleeping on, and also having missed out on all the comfortable sleeping places. Such is life on the road, but the feeling of the night before was well worth the fee.

Then it was off to a brand-new place in St. Louis called The Gramophone. Our good friend from college days is responsible for bringing us in to help christen the establishment in its first month of operation. Ruth also cooked a great meal for us and offered a roof and party afterwards. Considering there were quite a few people milling about at the party, and Mike and Mickey were good as usual to be in-tow, they offered Greg and me the option of splitting for more private sleeping accommodations at Mickey’s parent’s place, which was an adventure as well. My memory and my state of mind the few hours I was escorted into and out of the house does not allow much in accurate detail, but I felt incredibly honored and even a little spoiled with the room, the bed, and the personal alarm clock in Mike, who made sure we got up no later than when we needed to – 9am. Those two are pretty amazing, and I for one am so grateful for the likes of them. See, I had to get the band on the road early to make it back to Chicago to see Brooke, get to Mass and meet with a Deacon. Mike and Mickey, and Ruth all helped to make that possible, Ruth getting up extra early herself to warm up a kick-ass casserole for us to eat before hitting the road. Thank you so much – I got back into town just in time to drop myself off directly on Michigan Ave (Greg jumping into the driver’s seat at a stop-light while I ran around the back of the van to grab a bag) and pick up my lady at her place of business, and then walk over to Holy Name to show up just a couple minutes late for Mass. Boy, was it good to be home! That evening ended quite well, with a small birthday homecoming with some more of my favorite people, Josh Johnson and Chris Corsale, and behind the bar, Vince Clark – my favorite bartender in the world. Brooke’s sister Drew even made it down from Loyola to wish me a happy birthday. What a lucky guy!!

And now, at the risk of taking way too much time of yours in reading endlessly, I’ll have to catch you all up on the past week -- I can say that I had a very nice day off at home on Monday before having to lace up the boots again the next day. Our trip up north has been similarly filled with great and special friends – I’ll tell you all about it in my next installment. But, if you haven’t had enough reading for one sitting, read below a little blurb I wrote in the van a week-and-a-half ago while climbing the mountain to Telluride, CO for the second time on our Colorado tour…

And until the next time, of course – be well. And GOOD to each other!

Peace – Jr.

The following was written on the way up the mountain to Telluride, CO 3-25-08

The warm, spring sun is beaming through the passenger seat window, as Casey takes us up into the mountains again. It’s 62 degrees and yet there is snow all along the sides of some hills – I guess the sides usually not getting sunlight. The sky is beautiful with light ghost-like clouds that are way up there and otherwise a brilliant blue. It’s 5:20 Mountain Time and we’re about an hour away from Telluride, where we’re playing at the Bubble Lounge again tonight. We had such a good time with the folks there this past Saturday, we were asked to come back since we had an extra day on our way back to the Midwest. I’m in pretty good spirits right now, after a couple days in the therapeutic land of the Mystic Hot Springs.

Yesterday may have been one of the best days of my adult life… certainly one of the best while travelling with this band. I woke up feeling rested and fully well for the first time on this trip, which got me off to a good start. There was a casual nature to the day, but the day was never idle. I had a chance to spend some time hiking alone and climbing some relatively exerting hills of rock and dirt. I hiked out to a thing they call Red Rock, which is another natural hot spring a little bit west of the Mystic. I was kind of blown away, looking at a full bubbling force of steaming water continually come out, then to notice how the land around the point where the bubbles were coming from seemed to have been shaped by nothing other than the water itself… meaning that continual flow had been happening for a time span I’m not able to discern due to scientific ignorance, but I can say that it’s been a LONG time. Being out there completely alone, with nothing but the bubbling spring flowing out and down over a smoothed rock surface that had not had a breath of fresh air in likely hundreds of years, I got a great dose of perspective. Those are the moments that make everything worth it.

Posted by Chad Sanders at 13:57

Well we made it through Colorado and into Utah last night to be welcomed to the glorious Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, UT. The sun is huge and bright, and I’ve already almost forgotten about the dark, long the winter that we just came out of a couple days ago. Today is another beautiful day, and I’m looking forward to getting some computer stuff done quickly so I can get out and have a nice hike into the hills that surround us before soaking in some naturally hot water. I know it’s a rough life we’ve got here.

To be honest, this past week was a bit rough on me in some ways while completely beautiful in others. It’s just that sleep came in small, rough patches at very irregular intervals, but the stuff in between those intervals was often full of smiles regardless of the effort it sometimes took to get the corners of my mouth to move at all.

After I wrote the last entry while in Lincoln, NE, Casey’s friend Eric and I headed to the grocery store to obtain the makings of a feast of magical proportions. We all ate New York Strips, tasty twice-baked potatoes, a huge green salad, and then some apple pie after. In fact, our shopping experience took place at a brand-new Hy-Vee that literally had opened that day and was in proper Amusement Park mode. Now I’ve been in some grocery stores in my life, some big, some small, lets say a large range of accommodations… this place freaked me out in it’s sheer magnitude. The size of it combined with the amount of fresh, tasty-looking meat and produce and everything else was almost too much to handle. I also became a regular at the iron steak and grilled pork sample table – I should have gotten that guys name – he was very generous. Now – if the big feast we were fixed to grill outside and eat inside wasn’t enough, back at the apartment, Eric has a massive beer-brewing operation going on and we all had a pretty darn good time tasting inventive flavors discovered through the wonderful art of beer brewing. A couple of those brews were a little potent to be sure, and we all woke up with a little bit of a headache the next morning as it was time to hit the road. We had another party to get to in Denver, you see.

And so, after a full day’s work of driving, we pulled into Denver with the sun still a foot or two above the mountainous horizon and I once again found myself taking a trip to a grocer for some take-and-bake pizzas and good-tasting beer. Now I can’t really hang like I used to, and the altitude in addition to the shaky sleeping accommodations from the night before added a couple pounds to my eyelashes, but I did get a few good hours of company with our very good Denver friends, Home. I also was being aggravated by some kind of allergy to the change in atmosphere or something. It wasn’t bad enough to keep me from enjoying the bonfire outside for a bit before finding a dark, warm, soft place to hit the hay. A couple of the other guys shared their cheer throughout the night and into the morning as I heard the next day – there’s always plenty of good cheer in that space.

The next couple shows involved the presence of our Midwest buddies, Speakeasy from Missouri. First, a show in Fort Collins where we met a couple new friends while also seeing a couple of dear, and experienced friends Jason Tish and company. (Actually, I just recently met them, but they’ve been along with 56 since the very beginning as I understand) Good friends, to be quite sure. And every tine I hear Speakeasy, I’m reminded of how much I like their energy and their music. They’re just a lot of fun.
Friday night was the blow-out in Denver at Quixote’s with Speakeasy, Home, and The 56. It was definitely one of the more amped shows of this trip – and we got to enjoy the music of two groups of fast friends. Speakeasy just rocks – that’s all that can be said about them…. And Home’s energy could be described as actively volcanic. It was a wonderful and wild evening to say the very least.

The wheels keep moving in this group, and Saturday we were on our way up into the mountains and into Telluride, CO. We arrived at an early hour in the evening and I, after drawing the early-morning driving straw again, needed to get some more van sleep when we arrived and had some time to kill before the club opened up. I will mention on the driving tip that Chad came to my rescue again when the dizzies were threatening to take us off the road. The week of constant motion and little comfortable sleep had started to put a hurt on me. Not enough of a hurt, however, to keep me from really enjoying a new venue for us in Telluride, a place called Bubble Lounge. It has a really warm atmosphere and the people there to see us fueled us with their enthusiasm. Hey, we also got to meet the youngest O’Connell brother, Patty, brother of Brendan O’Connell (Eli Jones in Chicago who is a very good personal friend and colleague in funk-making). All I can say is that their mother must be one hell of a strong woman. There apparently were seven guys like these two growing up in one household. I can’t imagine. Another great part of Saturday night was the fact that we were put up at the owners Troy and his wife’s (sorry I’ll have to be sure to get her name when we pass through Telluride again tomorrow) house, just down the road from the club. It was the most independent, clean, and quiet sleeping opportunity for the entire band that we had thus far on the trip. The fresh, soft, solitary bed could not have come too soon for me. I was tired.

Easter Sunday morning brought us a huge, bright sun high up in the mountains and we got on the road about ten in the morning, Fundis behind the wheel. The trip from Telluride to Monroe , UT, is surprisingly beautiful and with the sun as bright and unopposed as it was, the colors in the landscape had come completely to life. Since I wasn’t doing any driving (Dave took over for Fundis somewhere into Utah) and I had had a full night’s sleep, I had a chance to do a lot of writing, reading, and reflecting on the 7.5-hour journey. We showed up at the Mystic Hot Springs to find another great surprise – Elephant Revival Concept had played here the night before, and this being the third time within the last nine months that we’ve run into each other, we’re starting to feel like good road-friends. Mystic Mike insisted upon our arrival that the two bands hang in the evening sun and make some outdoor, acoustic communal music, and for an hour or so we all enjoyed each other before ERC had to hit the road back to their home in Colorado. I then went up to catch the last hour of sunlight while soaking in the natural hot springs, completely at peace and feeling half-way healed already. After drying off, we were fed well as usual here, and then we prepared to rock it for the good people sharing their time and space. We met a lot of people last night, and there is still a nice collection of people coming and going about the premises – the place is really alive, and I don’t struggle to understand why – I’m itching to hit a hiking trail or something myself.

So on that note, I’m going to enjoy this day I’ve somehow stumbled upon and look forward to playing another set here tonight, under the lights and cameras and general positive energy of the Mystic Hot Springs.

Be well, and good to each other!

Peace – Jr.

Posted by Chad Sanders at 11:40

The sun is finally shining, and I’m smiling yet again, sitting at the coffee table of Eric, who is sharing his hospitality with the band here in Lincoln, NE. It’s nice to have a place to hang for a day before we make the trek into the Rockies, and even better when that place houses extreme beer brewing enthusiasts. There are so many flavorful creations around here – most of the apartment furniture consists of boxes upon boxes of home brewed beer. These guys know what they’re doing.

Right at this moment, Chad is watching The Wire on HBO on Demand, Greg is in another room hammering away on the computer keys, Dave is still in bed but seeming to slowly come out of it, and Casey is probably still in the bathroom. I think he’s having a little trouble due to a particular late-night sausage I believe. So there ya go. Last night we tried to watch the first two episodes of the John Adams series, which is on HBO… I had read the book by David McCullough, so was really looking forward to checking out the film series, but this kid was hanging out and would not stop bantering nonsense at a very loud level the whole three hours we were watching it. Now, I’m usually a pretty tolerant fella, and especially on the road, in someone else’s place and all that – but when the guy who lives there has already gone to sleep, the hour is approaching 4am, and the others around continue to request a quieter attitude (progressively less subtle requests, mind you) why the guy just kept on going and going we will never likely know. Anyway, I now have to waste the same period of time watching both of them again if I care to have any valid opinion. What I could gather from it, it’s a pretty special film experience.

Now, just a bit more reflecting on the first little stint of our mini-tour… last Thursday we had come back from about five days off and rocked it down in Edwardsville… as it always is, it was a pleasure to see our good friends Toni, Caitlin, and Ashley – and Elaina in addition to our gracious house hosts Mike and Mickey. This was one of those evenings that the beer caught up to me by the time we had packed up and left the bar, so when we did get to Mike and Mickey’s my head soon found a pillow on the couch while the party around me continued. I did manage to wolf down a kick-ass taco before retiring, and I heard there was some fantastic hot tub action in the wee small hours…my world was full of dreams by that time.

Friday we headed back to Chicago and played at one of my favorite venues out there – Martyrs’… I just love that part of town and the place especially – and we had a good contingent of Chicago friends and fans come out to see us. Boom Box headlined that night, and those guys are a lot of fun. It was really great to play early and have the opportunity to hang with our loved ones at a place I love to enjoy live music. What’s more, is I was able to see some old friends that I haven’t seen in awhile, including THE Josh Johnson and his lovely wife Meg, Vince Meno and the 1998 Westlake High School Homecoming King, Hung To was there – Pete and Erika, even Sara Borowski was there – I haven’t seen her in half a year. Ah, it was a night of familiar faces from home and so good to see all of them. What a perfect way to launch a three week stint on the road. It was especially nice to enjoy an evening out with Brooke. We don’t get many of those these days – and they’re always extremely valuable.

Saturday brought us back to Decatur and we had the pleasure of playing the newly renovated Cornerstone, with MUCH more room for dancing and conversing. We had a full house and partied D-Town style into the wee hours at Rain’s house with none other than Chicago's Eli Jones, who also happen to be very close personal friends, before having to hit the road at 8am the next morning. I drew the straw for driving and had to really force myself into “road-warrior mode” after about an hour and a half of shaky couch sleep before the wheels were rolling. I was very grateful for a sunny day to keep my spirits up and my adrenalin moving. After 3.5 hours, we had to stop to pick up Chad, and he relieved my drooping eyes (he not having much sleep either) and took us the other five hours to Pomeroy, IA, where friendly faces were awaiting. It’s not easy, but when you’ve got places like Pomeroy to get to, the reward is more than worth it.

So that catches you up – I appear to be a little chatty this afternoon, but I wanted to get it all out there for ya. Enjoy your week – for those who are so inclined, this is Holy Week and the end of Lent is near… We will be spending Easter Sunday at The Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, UT… I can’t think of a more spiritually conducive place to be... Ah, what fun ahead!

Be well, everybody – and good to each other!

Peace – Jr.

Posted by Chad Sanders at 12:40

Back on the road again, and feeling good so far. Right now I’m listening to a disk that Rollie gave me in Pomeroy, IA – some incredible B-3 playing by a collection of today’s best players. I think he was trying to tell me something… like “you’d better listen to these guys before you come back here, kid!” Ha… but in all seriousness I need to be listening to these guys a lot more – I’m talking about Joey DeFrancesco, Mike LeDonne, Charles Earland, Rueben Wilson, and Bill Heid. I’ll be putting in a few listening hours with this record for sure. Thanks again, Rollie!

As I slightly bop my head, sitting in the third bench back in the ole van, I’m looking out at endless fields almost ready to be shake off the snow and start growing stuff. But yes, there’s still a gray, wintery, snow dusting all around. It seems this winter has not given up on the good people of the Midwest just yet. She has been quite the winter, this one has…anywho…

We always are on a high leaving Pomeroy, having usually had an incredible performance the night before, full of freedom and unity and pure energy. Last night topped all others, as we started playing about six in the evening and even played a total of four full sets of music – that might be the longest stretch this particular formation of 56 Hope Road has ever had the pleasure of sharing with people who actually wanted to hear that much of us. It was quite the experience. After we finally stopped playing, it was time for the bar to close and for the party to start at Byrons. There was much fun conversing and self-entertainment of several sorts. It was nice to meet a couple new people throughout the evening, along with so many close friends of the band that are so often eager to share support. For the third day of our little tour, it felt like a rough start, but I’m already feeling a great deal better and my body and mind are getting in sync with the road motion.

Well, we just pulled up to the place we’re playing in Lincoln, NE – or at least we’re around the corner from it – there are a couple bands sharing the bill with us this evening, and I may have more to report on all of this Lincoln business later in the week. I must now prepare to unwrap and think about loading in. It’s still gray – almost dark.

You’ll all hear from me sooner than later – until then…

Be well, and good to each other!

Peace, Jr.

Posted by Chad Sanders at 16:50