gigglejuice

October 4, 2011 – gigglejuice blasts neutrinos across the universe stunning scientists – chill-i says; “it was just announced last week that the world’s leading physicists have discovered neutrinos can travel faster than the speed of light!! Einstein would be shocked!!  and he may be even more surprised to know it was a result of gigglejuice music!!!  scientists everywhere are scrambling to find the source of these speeding particles, they need to look no further!! this revolutionary announcement comes as a result of gigglejuice performing a quantum concert, scattering neutrinos across the universe by simultaneously playing in Connecticut and California on September 18, 2011, 4:30 EST and 1:30 PST!!   i am sure you are shaking your head in disbelief, but i assure you this in no smoke and mirrors, it is scientific fact experienced and documented by hundreds of witnesses on both coast.  and after carefully examining the first hand eye (and ear) witness accounts, photographic and video evidence, it is conclusive, gigglejuice did perform on both coast at the same time, creating a sonic vortex resulting in neutrinos speeding, swirling and twirling across the galaxy, yes, faster than the speed of light!!  

examine exhibit A: the sweet jazzy extended juicy jam led by Brendan Kearney, with John Higgins on the sax and Juan Rivera on the kit, from the Hill-Stead Museum’s Dinner on the Hill, located on the lush green hills of Farmington, Connecticut.  a world class museum with an amazing collection of art, and good taste in music too.  sit back and go for a ride on the soaring melody as Brendan, Hig and Juan extend the gigglejuice classic I Don’t Care into a gentle rolling groove.  it is a long easy listen lasting over 7 minutes as the crowd gathered in a spectacularly beautiful location while the late summer sun set.  as soon as  you take a listen you know it is gigglejuice coming through the speakers, soft, sweet and rich as the cool evening breeze.  many best wishes and much respect for the helpful assistance of one fine giggler, Chris Castelli, for his photos and video of this historic event, you are awarded the keys to the gigglejuice kingdom!!

examine now exhibit B: the deep vibe and moving groove found in the gigglejuice duo of KevinMFNDay and chill-i, with the help of Sector 7G, laying down Silver Gate Bridge in a short and sweet set at Fi-Stock at LoFi Studio in Redlands, California.  and yes, at the very same time that BK, Hig and Juan were providing gigglejuice to the thirsty crowd of Connecticut.  it was the third year in a row that gigglejuice has been invited to play FiStock, the perfect weekend night cap to the Cracker and Camper Campout in Pioneertown, CA each fall.  this year it was KDay and i-chill-i again, the gj duo, ready to provide the gigglejuice west coast style.  well, playing gigglejuice is easy when you have KDay around.  i have played a lot with KDay over the 12+ years, and this was no doubt one of his most energetic, electric and emotional sets ever.  a short three songs, but it was all there, one the stage, in the air, flying across the cosmos faster than neutrinos going faster than the speed of light.  i really think i saw sparks flying around that studio, pure energy, pure gigglejuice. many best wishes and much respect for the helpful assistance of one fine giggler, Kevin iamacracker2 Olson, for his photos and video of this historic event, you are awarded the keys to the gigglejuice kingdom!!

and that’s how it happen.  that’s how gigglejuice changed the quantum mechanics of the universe.  it is here captured, preserved and presented for  your consideration and for posterity to study, explore and investigate.  you lucky ones, you know who you are, you can tell your children, ‘i was there’, in Redlands, California, or ‘i was there’ in Farmington, Connecticut, when gigglejuice music exploded neutrinos and expanded the quantum boundaries of science. 

September 6, 2011 – divide and conquer or quantum-juice – chill-i says; “gigglejuice is about to embark on a momentous and historic event in the history of our music.  on Sunday September 18^th  at 4:30pm EST / 1:30 PST gigglejuice will perform in Connecticut and California at the same time, that’s right the same time!!  yes it will be quantum-juice, the unexplainable phenomena of appearing in two shows simultaneously!!  

these plans have been devised by the nation’s leading physicist, well the brother in law of one, with the aid of scholars, mathematicians and divines.  the attempt to explore the nebulous cloud of gigglejuice began when we were invited back to play the fantastic Dinner on the Hill at the beautiful Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, CT.  this is a magical place showcasing  he best of Connecticut, rolling hills, lush green pastures, ancient stone walls, robust and fresh food, all at a well placed and classic home full of breathtaking art.  if you haven’t been there yet do yourself a favor and go.  and if you can, get a ticket for the Dinner on the Hill, what an amazing way to watch the sunset, a superb dinner cooked by expert chefs with local organic ingredients in a beautiful setting, an ample supply of fine wine, while the sounds of gigglejuice fill the air.  as you can see, we really enjoy this gig and our relationship with the Hill-Stead Museum.  so it comes to be this year that Kevin Day will be in California that weekend.  we talk amongst the band and decide we can play the gig, after all part of our manefesto is to Play Anywhere at Anytime!! we are gigglejuice, we have the musicians, we have the music, let’s do it.  we talked to the people at the Hill-Stead to say it wouldn’t be our standard line up but we want to keep the gig and we have options.  well the options are now the reality and when i tell you i wish i could be at the Hill-Stead i am telling you the truth.  actually, only a trip to California to play with KDay could keep me away.  Brendan Kearney has pulled out all the stops and is preparing a gigglejuice extravaganza that would make Doris blush!!!  he has rounded up a bunch of gigglejuice songs, learned to play them on guitar, learned the words, put his own spice in the mix and is singing them with real gusto, it is a sight and sound of beauty!!  much appreciation and respect to Brendan for pulling this off, you got gigglejuice in your blood for sure!!  of course with hig by his side and Juan playing a jazzy kit and some percussion i know it will be the real taste of gigglejuice to be had at this dinner.  and stepping up to the plate to help with equipment, video and other documentation we are grateful to a fine friend and long time supporter Chris Castelli, thanks for your help, enjoy the show! 

at the same time this delightful gigglefest will be happening on the East Coast, literally at the same time, KDay and i-chill-i will be taking the stage at FiStock, the post-Cracker Camper Van Beethoven Campout Music Fest, held at the new and improved LoFi Studio in Redlands, California!!!  going back for our third year in a row it is such a pleasure and honor to share the stage with our generous host Chris Leroy.  as talented as he is kind, Chris creates an endless stream of music with soul and his own rock groove.  FiStock is the perfect setting to end a week of amazing music and wonderful people, if you happen to be in Southern California on the 18^th stop on by.  the Campout and FiStock are a feast for the senses and never fail to offer those special moments where music transforms you and takes you to other places.  and this year prepare to be transformed and transported into a quantum reality where gigglejuice surrounds you, envelopes you, and explodes all around you, from coast to coast, Connecticut to California, gigglejuice is here, there and everywhere.

July 22, 2011 – jam on justin jackson – chill-i says; “gigglejuice, like Confucius, believes; ‘They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.'  it is in the quest for happiness and wisdom that we would like to extend a true and heartfelt Thank You to Justin Jackson for 2 1/2 years of musical excitement and gigglelicous guitar grooviness.  yes gigglers, justin will be moving on to new fields of play, and we wish him all the best in all his new ventures.  i know i speak for a lot of people when we say we appreciate the fine effort and significant contribution justin made to the gigglejuice sound and Driving Around in Circles.  I consider DAIC one of the best musical efforts we have produced to date, raising the bar and keeping our feet to the fire.  but have no fear my giggling friends, there are plenty of surprises and excitement still in the mix for gigglejuice.  many of you know Brendan had his own band, BK and the Whoppers, and is a fine guitar player with lots of experience, creativity and energy.  I am personally looking forward to hearing more from Brendan as he switches bass for guitar on some songs, with KDay taking over on the four string, the old switcherooney, a theory we have long espoused here at gj central but haven’t taken advantage of yet.  now is the time.  like William Blake once wrote; ‘The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.’ and to that i would just switch opinion for instrument or musician and we’re all set.  there will be no reptiles of the mind here, well perhaps in the third set a few might come slithering in. 

as we wish our best to justin jackson, it seems like a good time to look back at some of the other changes.  KDay started this band in 1992, Hig has been here from the start, i joined the fun in 1995 (or something like that), we have survived many changes of personnel and are proud of our lengthy list of former members, many of whom have gone on to carve out their own niche after training at giggle u.  I have included a black and white picture of the early days, from about 1998, featuring the original gigglejuice line up of KDay, Hig, Tweet, Brian Warman and your’s truly, chilli chill-i chilleye, some things change and some stay the same.  Kday’s passion for music, creativity, song writing ability has laid down a solid base for Hig and i-chill-i to groove over, we all bring our own spices to the stew.  and there has been some spicy members of gigglejuice over the years.  I don’t think we have ever listed all past and present gigglejuice members, so for those of you keeping score at home, here they are with their bands, careers and destinies, in a sort of chronological order:

KMFNDay – songs, guitar – active giggler

Tweet – guitar - Ex-Nuns in Drag

Terry Demeter - percussion – Ex-Nuns in Drag

Hig – sax, flute – active giggler

Bruce Woodhall – drum kit - r.i.p.

Brian Warman – bass -  paranormal investigator

chill-i – percussion – active giggler

Jeff Miller – guitar - m.i.a.

Jeff Miller’s 17 yr old friend – drum kit – m.i.a.

Eric Miller – guitar - m.i.a.

Eric Miller’s Army friend – drum kit – m.i.a.

Steve – percussion – Christian rock band

Chris Weinland – drum kit – Bud Collins Trio

Steven from Middletown – drum kit – m.i.a.

Brandon Warren – drum kit - Straddledaddy

Craig Lundel – guitar – Straddledaddy

Juan Rivera – drum kit – active giggler

Justin Jackson – guitar – jammin’ on…

Brendan Kearney – bass, guitar – active giggler

June 13, 2011 - East Hampton Comes Alive!! – chill-i says; “Do you feel like we do!?!  East Hampton is coming alive and gigglejuice is feeling pretty good these days!!  last Saturday, KDay, hig and I jammed out at 70 Main Coffeehouse and Art Gallery, that’s right, on Main Street in East Hampton, less than 100 yards from the Ex-Governor’s Studio.  what a treat to play locally and see so many smiling faces jammin’ along with an evening of gigglejuice acoustic.  Many thanks to Kim and Chris, our gracious hosts, we hope you will support them for supporting us, the food is fine, the art is nice and the company is the best, good vibes all around!!  We have also been playing a bunch at their Friday Open Mic, a well run and well attended evening of local musicians, poets and percussionistas.  C’mon over and check them out, stop by for a tune or two, get on stage and explore your rock star self, buy some art, or just come sit back with a cup of coffee and a cannoli, we know you will have a good time.  We are working on another evening of gigglejuice acoustic sometime in August or early September, so stay tuned in, if you missed Saturday, you wont want to miss the next one!! 

And further excitement is growing in Bell Town as gigglejuice will be hosting a full on full band jamification groundation celebration during the Old Home Day weekend!!  Stop by the Ex-Governor’s Studio, also known as KevinDay’s house, on Saturday July 9 about 4:20pm for some post-parade after fair food giggleicous grooves!!   KDay has set up an event on facebook and he has the festivities lasting until 2am, that will be something to experience for sure.  And if you haven’t experienced an Old Home Day yet, you must show up for it this year, it will be one to remember, or more than likely, one to try an remember!!  We working on a world wide broadcast of all the giggley music and fun on our ustream channel, http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-gigglejuice-show.  

The Glorious Celebration, also known as the Glorious Disintegration, is always a jamtastic event each year, the sparkling highlight of East Hampton’s social calendar.  Start the morning with copious amounts of fortified refreshments on hig’s front lawn as we watch the parade roll by, one of the biggest parades in Connecticut, it is usually two plus hours of fun, fire works, super soakers and heckling.  How could we forget when Jim almost got into a fist fight with Ronald McDonald or when hig was almost, well partially, run over by his own car.  well it wan’t really his car, he had sold it a week before and the new owner was driving, just so happened to be when hig went running into the middle of the road with a pail of water to douse someone. Wait, there’s cars in the road???  well to be fair to hig, the car wasn’t just in the road, the guy was gunning it down a street lined with parade watchers, kids, old folks, and partiers as soon as the parade ended. Only in East Hampton!!  That’s right our own sleepy little brownfield infused town, home of the first meth lab bust in Connecticut, land of rusting water towers, crumbling railroad bridges and a seriously dysfunctional town hall, will be the star once again!!  please join gigglejuice for some fun, games, prizes and wide jams on Saturday July 9^th, 4:20pm, the Ex-Governor's Studio, be there or be square!!!!

Oh Sheeyat!!  I almost forgot to mention Justin and Brendan in the giggleblog!!!  they say they read it so they can see if they are mentioned, well here you are guys, you made it!!  these two fine young whipper snappers have been laying down some serious giggley good jams recently.  Our practice yesterday was full of super sweet wide jamz, everyone hitting on all cylinders, like a fine tuned Ferrari speeding down a twisted Italian highway leaving nothing but dust in its wake.  Justin and hig have been weaving together a quilt of solos full of super sonic sweetness and Brendan has been working his way up and down the neck, laying a foundation of solid rocking bedrock for us all to swirl, twirl and jump to.  i hope you all get a chance to hear the results of a lot of hard work and dedication, the vibe is alive, here at gigglejuice we are committed to making the best music we can make, hope you enjoy, i know i am~(:>}=

april 24, 2011 - gigglejuice in the house!!  literally.  chill-i says; “gigglejuice is again in the house, KevinDay will be  representing at a Cracker Crumb Stock in California!!  we opened up for Cracker at Erinstock, we jammed with Johnny at Lubestock, we closed down the Campout with Chris Leroy at LofiStock, we rocked with the Doc at giggleDocStock, and  now Crockettstock follows these giggle-filled jamtastic events as another weekend of Cracker based musical bliss.  Nancy and Jeff, the Crocketthosts, are welcoming KevinDay as he plays a solo acoustic set full of tasty samplings from his wide and varied creations in the gigglejuice catalogue.  Opening the festivities with gigglefriends Ablaze from San Diego, KDay will get the groove rolling for Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker and Crumbs galore!!  The truly best part, Crockettstock is a gathering based on the love of music, the bond through which people connect, as we have connected for the ages, gathering to lighten the soul and open the heart.  Many of these audiophiles have traveled from far and wide to participate.  North, south, east and west, they are called to join together and celebrate, to sing to dance, to smile and laugh.  I think KDay is getting up at 4:00am to get his flight, that’s saying something.   It is a powerful motivation, it is the tempo of the universe, it is the pulse of life.  This new wave of house parties and Stocks is the scene of the future, people and music, cheek to cheek, hand in hand, feeling the groove together.  it is nice to know that again there will be a lively serving of gigglejuice in the mix, filling the California air, supporting the Stocks, adding that little bit of spice in the brew.   and from the Stock and into the Tavern, gigglejuice will be bringing a full band sextet back to our favorite lily pad at The Iron Frog Tavern in Simsbury on Saturday May 7^th.  we’re excited to be back, crossing the river and following the setting sun, going west, filling the evening with original jazzy jamz, spreading the giggleword from the mountain to the valley. the Iron Frog is  a  truly fine and classic Tavern, good people, good food, good times, and with gigglejuice in the house, there will be plenty good tunes, wide jamz, fun, games and prizes!!!  as always, there will be a Car Pool leaving the Commuter Lot on Main Street in East Hampton, right next to Center Package Store, how convenient, at 8:15pm.  so take a Road Trip and Support Local Music!!!

Whoa Snow!! – February 21, 2011 – chill-i says; “Record Breaking Snow Makes Record Making Slow!!  But unlike the weather, the music is heating up and the tracks are blossoming in a fine gigglejuice fashion.  us gigglers here in New England like to think we are a hearty stock, and usually some snow doesn’t phase us much, but this winter has been something else.  it was a fantastic run of about 10 storms in five weeks, 4 major storms, something like 20 inches, then 8, then 18, then 6, then 26, then 12, then 6, yesterday 3, and most of it is still on the ground.  if you take a look at the picture of The Ex-Governor’s Recording Studio on the homepage you can see something of what it was like.  the interesting part is that no one has pictures of the snow pack at its peak, we were all too worried about the roof  caving in, which plenty did in our area, or how much the ice dams were crushing the gutters. getting to the Studio became an adventure, the one lane ice covered roads, the 5 foot snow banks, and ice that turned the driveway into the slickest surface of the moon.  but when the music is inside of you it needs to get out.  and the first session was a sign of the jamtastic giggle-icous things to come.  I think it was somewhere between the second and third storm and we were ready to record.  a fine Sunday afternoon rolled around, the bright winter sun gleaming off the crisp white snow, perfect.  things got even better when Juan showed up in the company of his mom, a fine musician in her own right, now living in Hawaii.  she was in Connecticut one time we recorded before and it seemed Juan played with a little extra  inspiration, i guess mom’s will do that to us, he was on his best musical behavior.  it was great for us, but i think Juan’s mom had other ideas.  One minor detail about recording at The Ex-Governor’s Studio is that we have to turn down the thermostat so the large heater fan doesn’t come on when the tape is rolling.  that’s not a problem except when you’re in the depths of winter, which happens to be now.  well i don’t think Juan’s mom took her hat off once, and i am sure she kept her jacket on the whole time.  poor lady, i think she still may be defrosting on that beach back home.  they say sometimes you have to suffer for your art, or for your son’s art as it may be.  but again mom’s presence was an inspiration and Juan played beautifully, a sweet fill here, a nice triplet there, right on solid and groovy!!  and i think the rest of the band was equally inspired, that first session really set the stage for more good things to follow. KevinDay has busted out a super strong group of songs, with honest straightforward lyrics, his classic sense of humor, solid rythyms, catchy hooks and plenty of space for us all to build up our patented tapestry of sound.  Brendan Kearney is getting steep and deep on the bad ass bass, even pulling out a super sweet wa-wa bass track that noodles around in my head.  we now have 4 strong tracks on the machine and are building on them each week.  The legendary Hig and the explosive Justin Jackson will be adding their individual magic soon and we will keep adding new foundation tracks, inch by inch, row by row.  our plan is our promise, we will take our time and craft this album into the best gigglejuice cd ever, "we will release no line before its time."  we are so proud of Driving Around in Circles, we want this cd to follow up like a one-two-hi-low-phi-slamma-jamma!!  So far the tracks are; Long Days Are Gone, Top of The World, Rosemary’s Song and something else i can’t seem to remember the name of right now, let me just say it’s a new song and it’s killer. (come to find out, i do know the name of the song, and it is a real good one, it's called Long Way - and goes something like this - "it's a Long Way, gonna get in my car and drive....")  we will be posting some of the lyrics and ideas here from time to time, but we think we will hold out releasing any of the tracks before the cd is finished.  we are hoping to get some of that good old days surprise when we you unwrap a new disk and soak up all the sounds fresh and new, just like that daffodil bulb pushing up through the snow and exploding into the springtime sun with all the beauty of nature.  we might let slip a taste here, a short shot there, but the only way to hear the new tracks in all their glory will be to come see a gigglejuice gig in the next few months.  we will be posting dates soon, so come on back, get on down, and come on out to catch a big glass of fresh squeezed gigglejuice live and tell all your friends – Top of the World rocks, Long Days Are Gone is jammin’ and Rosemary’s Song is as sweet as she is!!!

June 3, 2010 – Road Trip!!!!! – chill-i says: “ ‘Got money in the bank and got a full tank, c’mon let’s ride!!’  Those words ring out the opening lines of the old gigglejuice standard, Money In the Bank.  Well we know we all don’t have so much money in the bank these days, but get yourself half-a-tank and C’MON LET’S RIDE!!!  gigglejuice is stepping out and heading to Simsbury – Friday June 11^th at the Iron Frog – it’s one small step for gigglejuice, one giant leap for original music in Connecticut!!!  But we really NEED your support.  Nothing spreads the word like a room packed full of gigglers rocking to the music and having a good time.  You have been there in the past and we are so grateful.  Each of you DOES make a difference.  Let’s hit the town with a splash and show them how we do it gigglejuice styleee.   Now I know it is outside of our well-worn path, but it really isn’t that far.  Carpools will be leaving the Commuter Lot next to Center Package (how conventient) on Friday the 11th at 8pm, the more the merrier. 

And when you do show up you will not be disappointed.   The Iron Frog is a real nice place and we have a bunch of new tunes all wound up and ready to roll.   KDay and I stopped out there to introduce ourselves to Pam, the co-owner, and drop off some posters.  The banner out front proudly proclaims “Best New Bar 2010 – Hartford Advocate.”  And you can see why it got the votes.  It’s right downtown Simsbury on an active corner, there’s a good size patio, where they had an acoustic duo playing, and a nice inside bar that had a festive crowd gathered.  We met a bunch of new people and an old friend, Bob Maxon, the Channel 8 weatherman.  We played a private party for him last summer at the Hillstead Museum.  He was excited about the show and was going to get Jackie and some fiends to stop on by. The food at the bar looked great, so maybe come out early for some dinner.  Well enough about the Iron Frog, the real reason to come is to hear KDay’s new tunes.  I don’t know how he does it.  He’s a song writing machine.  And these new tunes are some of the most interesting yet. The powerful Stranger Days can be heard on the video page from the Gov. Tav., where we played it for the first time.  We have been jamming on it steadily since then and it is tighter, punchier and on fire.  Then there is the grooving swinger Golf Course Reggae which will sink down deep to your giggleroots.  And there is this really peppy almost punkish ska other new tune that I can’t remember the name for but I am sure we will be playing and you will want to be hearing.  Add these to the excitement we have in spreading Driving Around in Circles across the sate and I am sure this will be a show to remember. 

Please join us Friday June 11^th at The Iron Frog, 6 Wilcox Street, Simsbury, CT, with special guest Brian Malone acoustic opener, free no cover, 9 pm until ??

May 15, 2010 – Erinstockiversary – chill-i says; “Here we are, a full year since gigglejuice opened for Cracker at Erinstock, the glorious celebration held by Erin and Tim, our benevolent benefactors and a couple that can really throw a party.  The anniversary coming on the heels of Lubestock may be starting to show a pattern that i like.  I am sure you know by now that i have a lot of respect for David Lowery and Johnny Hickman and all the guys in Cracker.  KevinDay really turned up my awareness and has opened a whole world for me, but after seeing them open for the Grateful Dead in 1995 i was hooked.  And as a musician how could i not respect Cracker.  They have such a pure sound and a directness,  the music right out there on the table, rocking and solid, and in an interesting way, with humor and good story telling, played by great players.  The Cracker set from Erinstock is up at http://www.archive.org/details/Cracker2009-05-16.KM140 

and you can hear the energy in the room.  These fans, the Crumbs, are so connected with the band, with the music, it is fantastic.  Of course gigglejuice would aspire to this high quality.  We were so thrilled to have been a part of this momentus occasion.  It is interesting now to read the giggleblog from last May.  The excitement of the moment, the support and encouragement.  And to have the full band six instruments all plugged in, turned on and tuned up, that’s rock and roll, that’s gigglejuice.  I like listening to our set from Erinstock  http://www.archive.org/details/Gigglejuice2009-05-16.KM140

I think we have played better before, but following the 19 hour overnight drive sleep deprivation experiment, I think the set isn’t too bad and we get it rolling pretty good.  Of course the crowd is great and we so much appreciate the support.  If you listen to the words you will hear the story of you, of us, our hopes, our joy, our pain, our love, our loss, our return to hope, as written by KevinDay and put to music by gigglejuice.  It’s about the song.  Cracker knows it, gigglejuice knows it, we are working everyday to hone our craft.  All of the band members have really been putting in extra time lately and i want to say thanks.  Kev’s writing even more new songs, Justin is working on plans for a gigglefest (in case anyone has a farm in CT and would like to host we can talk email gjjamz@hotmail.com) Brendan is really jumpin’ on the bass, Juan is on time (drummer humor), Hig has his arm out of the sling and is swinging on the sax again, and me, well you know, chill-i chillin.  We are thrilled our paths have crossed with Cracker.  A real rock band and super nice guys.  It’s good to take a moment, look back and be grateful for the special moments in life.  Here’s to Erin and Tim, Cheers!! Erinstock Lives!!!

gigglejuice is now on a push West – across the Great Connecticut River to Simsbury – we really hope that some of you can make the trip and show the people of the Iron Frog Tavern how we like to have a good time.  We will provide the soundtrack, free no cover, just come on over and help us spread the giglevibe-_-_-_->thanks-(:>}=”

gigglejuice Friday June 11th, at The Iron Frog Tavern, 6 Wilcox St. Simsbury, CT with Brian Malone acoustic opener - come on out and get your juice on!!

April 8 – 10, 2010 – Gigglecracker, Johnnyjuice or A Weekend at The Masters – chill-i says – “Lubestock now joins Erinstock in the gigglejuice mythology as a pinnacle shining moment of joy, music, friends and family, gratitude, appreciation and humility.  The generosity and support of Matt and Kelly Lube and their family opened a door for gigglejuice that allowed us to experience a truly special Weekend at The Masters.  No not golf, the Master here is Johnny Hickman, the beloved guitarist guru for Cracker.  A talented song writer and engaging performer in any arrangement, Johnny is a dedicated musician who makes his living with six strings and a big heart.  And to see him whaling out precision guitar solos night after night, keeping it fresh and keeping it real, you know he is a man at one with his instrument.  He is a Master at his craft.  And like so many artists over the ages, our Patrons, Matt and Kelly, gave us a chance to study under the Master.  While we knew the chance was there, it is certainly due to the generosity of Johnny Hickman to share his talent and connect with a couple guys from Connecticut.  I knew it was going to be a special weekend when I first saw Johnny and he gave me a big hug, holding on and saying in my ear, “Great to see you brother, Kevin Day just tried to give me a CD, but I won’t take a CD from you, I’ll buy it! You guys are family, you’re hard working musicians, I am happy to support you.”  Man, I was blown away, it was great, but that is Johnny, he’s just a super nice supportive guy.  He was so kind to us after Erinstock saying how much he liked our set, and he had been asking about CDs even before Lubestock.  Just to have someone of Johnny’s success level show interest in our music, it is a humbling and exciting experience.  Interestingly, Johnny wasn’t the only person at Lubestock that insisted on paying for the CDs we were giving out for free.  It is such a great chance to spread gigglejuice amongst a highly interested musical audience from all over the globe.  To have a group of people so willing to support us, it is fantastic, thank you all!

But Johnny’s good words and the CDs were only the beginning.  It was Friday night and the Cracker Duo was on after Dust on the Radio.  Chris Williams and Brad Rosen of DOTR are from LA and asked if I would sit in while they played a set of guitar and bass.  I was psyched.  They sent some tracks a couple weeks ago, we had a chill practice set in the house before hand and then came out and laid down a pretty tight set.  Really good tunes, super good guys.  Lubestock was hitting its stride now, people showing up in waves, the webcast was streaming, the refreshments were flowing liberally, the energy was building quickly.  By the time the Cracker Duo hit the stage the crowd was raging!  Everyone was screaming the words, dancing, jumping, singing, drinking, staggering and stumbling!  It was awesome and the Duo reacted with a phenomenal set, great song choices, unusual versions, dynamic performance, it was the real deal and it was right there in Lube’s backyard.  I have a somewhat foggy memory of a superb, trippy veriosn of Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey.  As highly memorable as the Duo set was, it was about to get a whole lot better, particularly for Kevin Day and I.  At one point I was walking and someone, I cannot remember who, but would like to thank that person, said to me, “hey. Kev and Johnny are playing in the guest house.”  Ahhh yeah, I gotta get in on that was my immediate response.  I walk in and there is Kev and Johnny sitting on the edge of the bed, Johnny playing Kev’s guitar and Kev playing Johnny’s guitar, with Lube, Splinter, Kathy, Soraya, Rosemary, Mungo and a few other people sitting around while Johnny sings and Kev strums along.  Luckily my bongos are right near the door and I can slip in with a couple of taps.  Johnny says a few words of encouragement and we’re off to the races, Kevin Day and I jammin’ Johnny sings with Johnny!! Sweeeeeet!!  We play a couple more songs from Palmhenge and Johnny says to Kev, “Hey, play that song about the Campout.”   Sheeeyat yeah, we’re gonna get Johnny to play gigglejuice, someone get a camera and someone get BigDave!!  And before we know it, “Miles and miles to the other side…” And we’re having a great time, of course Johnny fits right in and lays down a sick guitar solo.  I thought Kev might burst in spontaneous combustion from the joy, he was floating on air, it was awesome.  BigDave was yelling and jumping around, fantastic!  Well word of Bedstock was out.  People soon began pilling into the small single room guest house, which is about 15 feet by 10 feet.  Before I know it I was behind a couple people and couldn’t see Kev or Johnny.  All of a sudden Johnny stops the song right in the middle and says, “Hey, where’s our drummer?”  Everyone yells “Chill-i!” and I wedge my way up to the bed.  By now there are about 30 people in this tiny room and as I get ready to play again people are hanging over my shoulders, squeezed up against my sides, unbelievable.  Now as Johnny Kev and I are crammed into a 3 foot square we get a chance to really lock in a make some music.  My heart is racing, my jaw has dropped and I am looking Johnny in the eye jamming away to a string of gigglejuice tunes including 6299, I Can See The Future and I Don’t Care.  Johnny is a Master and the feeling of being eye to eye, note to note, jamming with Johnny Hickman, man that was a moment I will cherish forever.  I am sure Kev feels the same way, perhaps even more.  I could see the sheer joy as Kev yelled, “Take it Johnny,” as Johnny ripped into a fantastic progression soloing to a song Kev wrote himself.  That is a moment indeed.  Being able to stand next to a Master and weave a musical tapestry together is an opportunity to cherish.  I know I will think of that moment often, grateful to all who opened their doors and their hearts.

Amazingly, that was only the first night of a two day bonanza.  The next day was gigglejuice opening for Cracker, live and on stage, webcast across the planet for all to see, not a bad follow up plan.  However, all good plans have their pitfalls.  As soon as we were done with Bedstock it became clear that Kev was having some increasingly serious issues with a sore throat.  A few cracks during Bedstock seemed normal enough at 2 o’clock in the morning, but by the next day Kev could barely talk.  He decided the show must go on, I agreed, let’s jam.  But it unfortunately soon became clear that Florida’s record pollen count and three days of non stop jubilation had left Kev struggling to sing.  I give him a lot of credit, he didn’t stop, he kept going, making the best out of a most challenging situation.  Fortunately, we played well, and I think Kev hit three or four songs pretty close.  Of course the Crumbs were all so kind and supportive, cheering Kev on and appreciating his effort.  I know it was tough for Kev, and we both wanted to play our best and put on a good show, but hey it’s rock and roll, sometimes it’s “The Spirit of the Game” that counts. 

We finished our set to cheers and hugs from some of the nicest people you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet.  Cracker was soon on stage taking us on their own musical journey as the Crumbs once again sang, danced, drank, loved and cheered as the Masters shared their gifts. 

Thank you, thank you all, gigglejuice Loves Lubestock!!

March 21, 2010 -  April 3^rd is A National Holiday – chill-i says: “in the world of gigglejuice the date April 3^rd stands as the center of the celestial calendar, kicking off a month of celebration, exaltation and jubilation!  it is Kevin Day’s Birthday!!  now if you know KDay, and we hope you all take some time to do just that, you will understand the significance of April 3^rd.  it is when time starts.  the winter’s grey snow has melted, the tan grass gets a hint of lime, the spring flowers wake up, the bulbs start to push through the warm mud.  the branches of the trees may be bare, but they now have a reddish hue as the leaves start to appear as small shiny bumps. the tilt of the axis of the earth brings us back in the warmth of the sun.  just in time for KDay’s birthday celebration i am sure.  it is magical, beautiful.  it’s the same day as Doris Day’s birthday. it’s bigger than the Super Bowl.  it’s Kevin Day’s Birthday.  and as i said, if you know KDay, you will want to be there on April 3^rd to celebrate this special day.  and special it will be.  we rarely get the opportunity to play a gig on our actual birthday.  knowing Kev, i know this will be special.  he gets to play his songs, with his band, in his favorite bar, in front of his friends and family, on his birthday.  this will be something to see, and to hear, let the inspiration flow……on April 3^rd at the Governor’s Tavern, 26 east High street, get yur kicks on Rte.66, in our fair village of East Hampton, ct-_-_--_-_-_-->>>" 

February 22, 2010 – The Miracle on Drop Day – chill-i says: “ We knew the CD Release Party for Driving Around in Circles was going to be special, we just didn’t know there was going to be a miracle.  After a late start getting set up, due to some slow chewing diners, we scrambled to get our the tables moved and the gear set up by 9:30.  We are all set up and ready to go but there is no Hig.  He just had rotator cuff surgery 10 days ago.  He thought he might try and play, but it seemed that wisdom was winning over valor.  How could he possibly hold a sax and blast out his blazing riffs with his left arm in a sling and fresh incisions inside his shoulder?  So here we were about to start without Hig, sad but true, when all of a sudden, bursting through the door with his jacket thrown over his shoulders like batman’s cape, Hig rushes onto stage with Nate trailing close behind carrying the saxophone!!  Hig is here and he’s gonna play!!!   He throws his tenor together, puts on the strap, his left arm still in the sling, moves to the front of the stage and we are off!!  You Draw Me In and Hig hits his riff and all is right in the gigglejuice universe!! It is a MIRACLE!!  Hig puts it all out there and plays with us the complete Driving Around in Circles from beginning to end and he is ripping it up!!!  I really stood there in pure amazement sometimes, a huge smile on my face, the joy in Hig’s face, in Hig’s playing, in the whole gigglejuice experience. And that wasn't the end of it either, Hig continued to play like a man inspired for the rest of the night, all three sets from beginning to end.  Hig is my Hero!!!

And that was all happening on stage! Meanwhile, The Governor’s Tavern is bursting at the seems.  The place was absolutely wall-to-wall people, packed in like sardines, facing the stage, soaking up the sounds and giving back so much love, it was perfect.  Thank You to All of you kind and generous people that showed up and lit up the night with your glowing goodness.  It was a super fantastic extra special momentous watershed landmark of an evening, we were thrilled to have each and every one of you there, some of you who traveled from far and wide, Chicago, Winsted, Vernon, Amston, thanks.  We regained the record for most business at the Gov Tav, taken from us by St. Patrick’s Day, but that’s not really fair since it runs all day and the owner’s name is Colin Kilpatrick.  Not long into the evening the bar actually ran out of glasses and had to use the flower vases to serve drink in, sweeeeeet!!  But really, many thanks to Colin, Betsy and all the staff at the Governor’s Tavern for helping us have such a successful Party, you guys ROCK.  Please support them if you are in East Hampton, they are right on Route 66 next to Food Bag, really good food and a nice friendly vibe always.

And an extra big Thank You to all of you who put your money down and bought a copy of Driving Around in Circles.  We sold about 40 cds and we couldn’t be more grateful, appreciative, moved, honored, thrilled, thank you and much respect, you are the core, the family, the assemblage that makes it happen!  We really hope you enjoy this album of ours, it means so much to us. We hope those lucky few who got a gigglejuice t-shirt were pleased, I wish there were more to go around, we gave out about 30 and they went really fast.  They were just iron-ons so don’t feel too bad if you didn’t get one, we’ll be getting real silk screen t-shirts soon. 

I just can’t say Thank You enough, The CD Release Party for Driving Around in Circles will go down in gigglejuice mythology as the place you had to be, perhaps second only to erinstock.  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!!!!!

February 20, 2010 – The Day – chill-i says: “Today is The Day!! The Official Release and Drop Day of Driving Around in Circles!!  This may be the third gigglejuice cd, after Maraca Shakin’ Monkey and Not From Concentrate, but in a lot of ways it’s the first.  It captures the first essence of the freshest squeezed gigglejuice, with a new arrangement showcasing the newest members of the family, Justin Jackson on guitar, Brendan Kearney on bass and Juan Rivera on drums.  We are excited for you to have the opportunity to hear these guys put down the goods, to rock, to jam, to play with feeling.  For Justin and Brendan it is their debut, and what a debut it is, they both play exceptionally throughout.  For Juan it is his first gigglejuice release following two albums with the collaboration DayDrug that included FEO7, and we count our blessings every time he sits down behind the kit.  Added to the trigglejuice core of KevinDay, John Higgins and myself, chilli chilleye, the energy is real.  There is a connection flowing through all the players that has resulted in the creation of new, original, unique episode of gigglejuice music.  It is no one else, it is US, together, united, fresh and ever changing.  We hope you can really hear how much fun we had putting this collection of songs together.  And we hope you can hear how hard we worked at getting it right.  We tried to define every part, every element, each sounds, each riff, each rhythm and combine it into groove that you can feel, a moment you can experience.  Of course it all starts with the songs, this group of adventures, KevinDay’s travels, trials and tribulations, promises, thoughts, memories and hopes.  We have printed parts of the lyrics inside the cd and have added a Lyrics Page here on the web because we want to share the whole gigglejuice experience with you.  Because it is you, our friends, our family, our fans, our detractors, that have made these songs possible.  It is important to take a moment to Thank You for each aspect you have contributed.  If you listen to the words, this cd is about you, it’s about me, it’s about the people closest to us, the people we care about.  All the details, all the variety, the pleasure, the pain, the world as seen through KevinDay’s eyes and expressed by the collective spirit of gigglejuice.  I really enjoy the first two gigglejuice cds, but this one is different, it is a true reflection of the soundtrack of our lives.  It is me and my friends, putting down digitally coded files of musical expression for all to hear.  We really hope you enjoy listening to it as much we did making it.  We hope we get to see you tonight, if not, just know you are there in spirit, and don’t forget to order your copy of Driving Around in Circles today!!!

February 5, 2010 - The CD Release Party That Can't Be Held Back - chill-i says: "we can't hold back, the CD Rlease Party for Driving Around in Circles WILL be held Saturday February 20th at our gig at The Governor's Tavern in East Hampton, Ct, 26 East High Street, we have put alot of thought and discussion and the time is now, Driving Around in Circles is ready, we can't hold back, it's for sale here on our website, we are so proud of the sound, the vibe, the music, the feeling, the connection, the juice.  please enjoy a fresh glass today.  so it's true, let's party and celebrate this long awaited moment, we have it, and people want it, it is Driving Around in Circles, thank you for odering, click paypal today and its in the air tomorrow.

February 3, 2010 – ***important late breaking news*** – chill-i says; “Hold the Phone!!!  while in the midst of celebrating the arrival of our latest cd, Driving Around In Circles, it has come to our attention that gigglejuice’s beloved Saxophone Guru John Higgins will be going into surgery to have his torn rotator cuff repaired and will be out of action for a month recovery time!!!  I guess all those years throwing curve balls as a late inning reliever for the Boston Red Stockings has finally caught up with High Heat Hig.  We are so psyched to have Driving Around in Circles back from production and ready for all you gigglers out there, but, it would be a travesty, a crime against humanity, a slight against all that is good in our universe, to hold the CD Release Party without Hig.  He is such a huge part of our sound, our vibe, our magical mystical connection, we will wait.

The show must go on and so it will.  gigglejuice WILL persevere and play the February 20^th gig at the Governor’s Tavern in East Hampton, but we will wait for Hig’s return to action before celebrating Driving Around in Circles with a CD Release Party.  We will use this opportunity to raise some money to buy Hig a stand for his saxophone.  We have been talking about one for years while Hig has lugged around his two ton tenor, so now is the time to come through and literally give Hig the support he needs.  We really wish we could share our excitement over the completion of Driving Around in Circles, the third gigglejuice cd and the best one ever, but we will wait until the time is right, carefully planning and plotting, scheming to make the CD Release Party all that it can be.  Rumors have it that plans are under way for a Saturday April 3rd CD Release Party, well known to all as KDay’s birthday, will serve as a combo blow out event of major proportions.  So stay tuned to the giggleblog and send Hig your best healing vibes and positivity for a successful surgery as well as a full and quick recovery, irie irie irie!!!

October 23, 2009 – to the smell of melting plastic - chill-i says; “That’s right!! The new cd is on FIRE!!  Somehow the tracks are cleaner, brighter, more solid, more rocking, more jamming, more gigglejuice, than any other recording from the Ex-Governor’s Studios.  Is it as simple as Justin’s red wrestling mat baffle?? Or is it more like that musical mojo, that fickle muse of time space gravity energy??  I think the latter!!  But unlike so many bands today – we in gigglejuice have decoded NOT to release any mixes or half worked copies – no art ideas – not even the name – We will be holding out – making you wait – and wonder – while we cook the stew – simmer the soup – waiting and watching until all the flavors are bubbling up to the surface – waiting UNTIL the time is right!!  and by the look of things from here - we expect the time to be right in the beginning of December – finished, completed, ready to be ingested, digested, inspected, reflected, detected, expected and delivered!! ahhhh  a big glass of fresh squeezed gigglejuicey goodness!!”

september 26, 2009 - jake and laura's wedding in  the woods - chill-i says; “gigglejuice is so glad to have just been a part of the magical celebration that was known as the wedding of jake wein and laura higgins, two great friends of gigglejuice, music, love and positive living.  laura also happens to be the daughter of our beloved saxophone sweetheart, hig, the higmeister, hig-a-rama,  john Higgins.  the festivities were located way up a winding narrow road, nestled in a rustic log cabin lodge, perched on an Adirondack mountain side, surrounded by the untouched and preserved beauty of mother nature.  we were treated to two days of shining blue skies, crisp September air, spattered with the beginning of fall’s colorful dance of delight. sometimes you’re at a wedding and sometimes you’re lucky enough to be there when the magic happens, you feel the energy in the air, like aurora borealis enveloping the gathered crowd, binding two people, two families, two lives together.  we were so thrilled to be invited by laura and jake to come and play the night before the wedding.  after the long and windy drive we pulled in to the lodge right at sunset, watching the evening sky change from apricot, to fushia, to lavender and beyond.  we did the quick set up, many thanks to Dave Machan who lent us his PA after playing a fine Folk set on his guitar.   all tuned up and ready to go, there we are standing in front of the gathered wedding dignitaries, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins. I see a lot of gray hair in the room and get a touch nervous, but we give them the ole gj soft touch, easing our way into the first set with a little extra jazz to the jazzy jam.  of course the entire Higgins family has been one of most stalwart group of supporters and we love them all.  they quickly let us know we were sounding fine and fitting the bill.  it was nice to see that jake’s family also warmed up to our sound and really seemed to get into the groove.  watching laura and jake and fine group of gigglers twirl and whirl and sway to the music filled my heart with joy.  the little log cabin lodge rang out with the music of gigglejuice, the higgins’ and the weins.  spot light on the father of the bride whaling out solos, sharing his heart through his music, showing how it is done, setting the stage for a lifetime of passion, happiness and celebration.

august 31, 2009 – chill-i says: “the replacement doors are on the way!!  

well you guys did it again – yes you – our generous, lovely, fantastic fans – you made the Governor’s Tavern ring out with positivity, fun and joy, we truly blew the doors off the place!!  There are two comments I heard last Saturday night that I thought, hey, that’s cool; one was from a bar local who said to KevinDay - “I’ve never seen this place so packed before.  What’s up with your band??” - and the other was from KevinDay to me - “There’s a lot of people here I’ve never seen before.”  And I agree on both accounts – What is up with this band?? I think it was one of our best shows technically, well practiced and well played, all you dudes played super fine – I hope you all enjoyed the show and a major big thank you to everyone that showed up and cheered and danced and sang along – you bring a special light to the room – you are indeed the 7^th member of gigglejuice – especially some of those foundation people that have supported us all along - I would love to name all of you but I might miss someone so I won’t – but you know who you are – and thanks for bringing your friends and friends of friends – it’s the word of mouth that helps us more than anything – thanks!!  and if you are reading this giggleblog for the first time, or Saturday was indeed you first gigglejuice show, we salute you!!  thanks for coming and please come back, bring more friends and we will all have another special evening of inspiration, jamification and irie-tion.  of course thanks to one of the best bartendresses in the world, the lovely Besty, as well as Colin and the patient staff of the Governor’s Tavern, please support them for supporting us. another special mention to JeffDay, Kev’s brother, for recording the show, soon to be posted on archive.org.  so stay tuned for that, in the meantime you can hear gigglejuice live from erinstock, where we opened for Cracker, peace and love”  : 

http://www.archive.org/details/Gigglejuice2009-05-16.KM140

good mention to justin jackson for moral support during the session, he was relegated to sitting in the dining room quietly playing his acoustic guitar.  there’s a picture of him doing just that, and a few others from the afternoon on the pic page.  and for an insight into what a recording session sounds like from outside the headphones check out the videos on the vid page.   peace and love from the Ex-Governor’s Studio in picturesque East Hampton, Connecticut!!!"

May 22, 2009 - chill-i says - Erinstock will forever live in gigglejuice history.  It will stand as the pinnacle of years of music, exploding in one joy filled day, complete with many close friends, lots of tequila, more brown liquor and the Last Rock Band on the Planet.  To imagine that you can still work hard, write good songs, practice endlessly, play ridiculous gigs, and eventually end up opening for a band like Cracker, is just amazing.  It is the rock and roll dream and it happened to gigglejuice on May 16^th, 2009.

The adventure starts on Thursday evening with Justin, myself and KDay sitting on the porch waiting for Juan.  The van is loaded, fueled and ready to roll, 1150 miles to go to Erinstock.  Juan called to say he was late but will be there soon.  We try not to look at every car that passes to see if its him, but we can’t help it.  Finally we hear an engine whining up the hill, tires slide on sand and Juan has arrived.  Yalla Yalla let’s go!!  We hit the road, pick up Brendan on the way and its off to Troy, but there’s thunder storms on the horizon.  We hit them just west of Scranton, PA, a crappy stretch of roads anyway, but now there are inches of water on the highway as rain pours down in sheets, damn!!  We struggle through only to hit patches of dense fog, not a great start. Somehow we made it, with Brendan pulling the 11pm to 4am shift at the wheel and bringing us into Ohio.  I think KDay drove next, before Justin took over, with most of us trying to sleep through his minor case of driver’s turrets.  It was a hell of a drive, sitting in a van for 19 hours straight, like some sort of weird sleep deprivation experiment.  Well, for most of us, as soon as we arrive at Tim and Erin’s house KDay says, “That wasn’t so bad.”

We were so psyched to be there, soon meeting up with the Cracker Crumbs at the Red Roof Inn.  Everyone was gathering for the evening’s Cracker show at Blueberry Hill in St. Louis.  We see Rosemary in the lobby, then find bigDave, Kimmy and Aaron, quickly to be joined by the Beachbum, OC Woman, Sector 7g, Angel in Black, Splinter and Cathie, T&V, Jan bbs, and a few others my fuzzy mind cannot recall.  We head on out to Vintage Vinyl, a great record store just down the block from the gig on Delmar.  The sidewalks are hopin’, lots of young people, lots of hipster shops and cafes, it’s quite a spot.   And in the middle of it all, in wanders Hig with a big smile on his face and a cold PBR in his hand.  The gigglejuice crew was finally together and ready for action.  Actually most of us seemed kind of dazed from the ride and lack of sleep, I think we were more interested in the beds at the hotel than the Cracker show.  But we were handsomely rewarded by one of the sickest shows of all time!!  The Duck Room at Blueberry Hill is downstairs in the basement, low ceilings and not great ventilation.  Cracker came out swinging and laid down three news songs of the album Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey.  They continued with a great set, and as all the Crumbs danced and sang and yelled the energy on stage just grew and grew and grew, until David, Johnny and Sal were jumping up and down on stage, David yelling so hard the veins were popping out of his forehead, it was awesome!!!  A great prelude to what was going to happen the next day.

It was finally May 16^th, the day of Erinstock, a day we were looking forward to for months and working towards for years.  We arrive at noon and get Labrador Dali set up and ready for their set..  It all went so smoothly, LabD playing a nice set of Rob Emmet’s proto-psychadelic space rock, including Lem’s funky work on the theremin.  Next Cracker came in for their sound check, we stepped outside for some fresh air and prepared for our set.  It was finally here.  Time to play!! Enough of the butterflies, jitters and anticipation, finally time to put our hands on the instruments and let the juice flow. 

Away we went, stepping right into 6299, followed closely by a rowdy Welcome to Santee.  The crowd was immediately into it, dancing, cheering, calling people in from outside to come check out the music.  The webcast was streaming and gigglejuice spread across the globe from England to Germany and all the way over to Japan and Australia, fantastic!!!  Reports coming through the chatroom said we were sounding good and the music was coming through loud and clear, sheeyat yeah!!!  About the third song we got the dust off and started laying it down for real.  At one point I look behind me and Sal Maida, the bass player from Cracker, was standing like two feet away checking us out and enjoying the set, freakin’ excellent!! We filtered into BigDave (Please Bring Two), starting out with the digeradoo intro, and people started looking around, trying to figure out that sound and soaking up the positive energy.  It rocked, a fantastic version, deep and rockin’, good dynamics, sweet solos by Hig and Justin, with Brendan and Juan throwing down the mean rythems, my personal spice on bongos and KevinDay howling on the vocals and banging his ovation like it’s a tom tom drum!!  We heard later that Johnny Hickman of Cracker loved the song and posted some very nice comments on the webcast chat room.  A few songs later and KDay announced, “This is my friend G-Money’s favorite song,” and right into You Draw Me In.  Wow, the room was packed, everyone was dancing, the place was just rockin’, sweeeeeeeet!!!  This was it, the moment we have worked for, the music was flowin’,  we were surrounded by some great friends, everyone was dancin’ and they were loving it!  I will never forget how special that moment was.  It was like time stood still, sort of an out of body experience, surreal, ecstatic, warm and fuzzy.  I know my feet were not touching the ground, and the tears of joy were hiding behind my sunglasses.  I was so proud to be a part of this band of brothers, KDay has worked so hard for so long to get to this moment.  The chance to open up for his most favorite band, and now there he was rocking it like there was no tomorrow.  It really gives you hope that you can still work hard and achieve your goals.  When we finally came to the last song, Story of the Man, I think we were all in shock to realize it was over.  But as soon as we finished it only got better.  Johnny Hickman came right up to the stage with a huge smile on his face, shaking our hands, telling us how much he enjoyed the set, “You guys have an original sound, you really set the mood.  I was standing outside talking with people when you started and your music kept pulling me inside, I had to come in and check you out.  It was great, we will have to do this again.”  Holy Sheeeyatt!! Freakin’ Johnny Hickman loved our set!!  He turns right to KDay and asks, “You wrote a song about the Campout?”, he was so impressed, he loved the idea, he loved the song, he loved the didgeradoo, he loved the band, “we’ll have to do this again,” sweeeetness!!!  This was it, the moment we have been waiting for, it was great to have a gifted musician like Johnny really enjoy our stuff, it is an amazing experience.

The rest of the night was just like a dream, I was floating on air. Not to mention that Cracker was on fire!  Great sound, not too loud, nice and clear.  David’s new songs, some oldies, some rarities and an ass kickin’ Low, all worked so well, filled in with way sick solos from Johnny and Kenny’s mesmorizing accordian and keys.  Sal is the freakin’ most excellent bass player, he just lays it down like there’s no tomorrow, and of course Frank holding it all together, and right, this is all happening in Tim and Erin’s living room!!  They played an incredible set, continuing the intensity they started the night before.  They all seemed to have a great time, for sure the lines between stage and audience were very thin, the love was flowing both ways, it was just intense.  We danced and partied the night away, shouting the words to each Cracker song at the top of our lungs, hugging, high fiving, toasting our good fortune, living the good life.

After Cracker finished their set it was one big love fest.  The house was electric the music seemed to still be echoing as positive energy filled the night air.  And then the most amazing thing happened – Mishawaka.   I was standing in a small crowd talking to Lee (Sector 7G) and KDay and Johnny walks over to say hi.  We all say how much we loved the show tonight, how special it was.  He agrees and says, “Yeah, it was special for us too.”  Then Lee and Johnny start chatting about Colorado and how DougE knows everybody in the whole state.  Then Johnny says, “Yeah I’ve always wanted to have a weekend thing in Colorado in the summer.” Johnny and Lee talk about a few places and then Johnny says, “Mishawaka, that would be a cool place, and you guys could come there too (pointing directly at KevinDay and myself), they would love you guys in Colorado.  We can get the Railbenders, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, we could have a great time.”  A great time?  Holy sheeyat yeah – it would be so freakin’ excellent to play a weekend in Colorado with Johnny, Jim, Roger and gigglejuice!!!  Well, it was all coming together. 

But listen, we live in reality too, who knows if gigglejuice will get a chance to open for Cracker again or play in Mishawaka, but either way, we will cherish that moment, that evening, that weekend, as a highlight of our lives.  We all love Johnny so dearly, he is a great gentleman, full of warmth and goodness, his generous encouragement is so appreciated, it means the world to us.

The gigglevan floated down the highway on the way home, finishing off the 2,300 mile journey riding on a cloud of citrus scent and pine trees without incident.  We were all way tired and cramped, but I know we were all beaming on the inside, it was an easy ride home.  We cruised the northern route on the way, going across Illinois and Indiana, into Ohio up through Columbus to Erie across New York State to Albany, a much better drive than through the hell trail of southern Pennsylvania.  

Back in East Hampton my head is still spinning, memories overlapping and competing for space, so many laughs, such good times and such great music, perfect. And all of us in gigglejuice know it wouldn’t have happened without the faith and support of many people, especially Tim and ErinDepp.  You are now our Zeus and Athena, the ultimate peak of gigglejuice mythology.  We have worked hard at our craft, but you have given us opportunity, we will always be in your debt.  It is through their generosity we are able to share this story, the rock and roll story, the gigglejuice story.