2010

Can you believe it - a new decade? I am very sorry about the delay between posts this time. Fortunately, I was very busy working and being daddy O and unfortunately also very involved with my mom's passing in mid November. My mom was a great mom and a dear friend and always very supportive of my music. I will forever remember her in our living room reading while my brother Peter was wailing on electric guitar in one end of the house and I was in the other end of the house bangin the drums. I am very grateful that she had the opportunity to hear some great gigs. Love you mom! I know you will always be listening.

On the musical front, the trio had a very busy Fall with numerous vineyard gigs and concerts. We really enjoyed the venues and people. Mike and I also started up a duo act with guitar, drums and vocals that we call the East End Duo. I am playing a cool retro HB cocktail kit along with some percussion instruments. My big plans for the winter are to rebuild my early 1970s gold sparkle Slingerland drum kit. This was the drum set that my parents bought me as a kid when they realized I was very interested in playing the drums. I have kept the drums in good shape and thought it would be a wonderful idea to get back behind them in honor of my folks. As I have gone over the drums it has been a reminder of how well these vintage instuments were made! No wonder most of the American drum companies went out of business... these instruments were made impeccably and if you took care of them, you would have never needed to replace them. Along with rebuilding the drums, I hope to do some recording work and catch up with some new players. I have also had the opportunity to connect with some old musical friends through facebook over the past few months.

On a listening note... the Fall hit CD for Diane and I was Mark Knopflers Get Lucky. A beautiful record with lovely melodies and a great blues guitar tune. A reminder to all of us that less is more when you can play. I also had the opportunity to pick up a bunch of the Beatles remasterd CD's. I just can not get enough Ringo and the boys. What fun! Our Christmas albums featured, JT, Sarah McLaughlin and Bob Dylan's Christmas in the Heart which has a cookin versions of Must be Santa and Christmas Island. One of my other all time favorites is the Chieftains Bells of Dublin album... great musicianship. The high lite of the Christmas season at our house was celebrating the holiday with Antonio and Santa. Tony got a starter set of red Ludwigs and some trains, cars and trucks.

Videos of the month http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus /
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qIA3OyeSvA

Link of the month http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/buddy_rich.html


Love/Peace
D

http://www.dougonthedrums.com/
http://www.theeastendtrio.com/