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05.7.12Due to a minor unforeseen illness, today's show in Ulen, MN has been rescheduled for Monday, May 21st. Sorry for any inconvenience (but believe us, you'd prefer it this way). Read More... 04.23.12Now that weather is warming up (again), it’s time to hit the trails and pathways of central Minnesota with the goal of preparing myself for relentless Tough Mudder obstacle course. The to-do list grows from monkey bars and three mile jaunts through the woods, to swimming 50 yards in cold lakes (not too cold, of course), running through 100 yards of swampy mud and scaling 8 foot walls. It sounds fun, exhilarating and ridiculous all at the same time. A half-marathon does not sound like fun to m Read More... 04.20.12Preparing to record a new album is always an interesting process. What do I think is the most important element? Finding the right songs. Not always an easy task. Why? Gather 'round and I'll tell you. First of all, let's say you're a Tim McGraw or Carrie Underwood or Jason Mraz or even Jared's personal favorite, NKOTB. Now in the case of a Tim McGraw (and some of the others listed above), you don't write much of your own music, so your job (or whomever you trust to pick the right songs for Read More... 04.19.12You are now able to enter the mind of an award-winning blog writer, whose entertaining ramblings have graced the electronic pages of such websites as www.tonicsolfa.com and www.facebook.com/tonicsolfa to name a couple. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1XuCI7YUJE Read More... 04.18.12Yesterday, I heard of a small gathering in Ohio of a remaining few WWII B-25 servicemen who took part in Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle's raid on Japan (Google "Doolittle's Raid" if you get some time). Basically, the mission took place a few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and required U.S. servicemen to pilot large aircraft with enough fuel to get to the homeland islands of Japan...maybe enough to turn around and ditch in the Pacific Ocean, or perhaps fly to China before using eve Read More... 03.16.12It appears as though I'm late to voice my woes regarding our Tough Mudder participation. Last year I suggested we jump (fall) out of a plane to raise money for our charity. Easy cheesy. Plane takes you up. Gravity takes you down. No real preparation. No necessary change in exercise/diet preceding the big day. There's even a guy with you pulling the parachute ripcord. It was all good. This year, the "great" idea (not mine), was to run the Tough Mudder course and raise money for the Wounded Warrio Read More... 02.21.12At some point we're hoping there will be a stretch of highway in some far corner of the U.S. named after our group for the amount of money we've collectively "donated" to the various DOTs around this great country of ours. Chalk it up to career risks of a professional musician. Life on the road is a harsh mistress. The current award goes to Mark, however, this is not a reward he is receiving. httpv://youtu.be/q0MtobCA76Y Read More... 02.21.12I am pumped about joining the Tough Mudder challenge as a team to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. What a great cause and what a great reason to get off the couch and get in shape. Over the past couple of weeks, in preparation for this event (coming up just around the corner in September); I have been attempting to gauge my current level of physical fitness in the greater outdoors of Minnesota. After several two mile “jogs” and a short bought with a mean set of monkey bars, it is cle Read More... 02.8.12We are always trying to build "team spirit" within TSF and when this exercise is coupled with charitable work...Well, I love the idea! I've watched a few videos and noticed that older women and younger men, Jesus look-alikes and all shapes seem to be enjoying this trek through mud, ice water, fire and more. The idea that an obstacle course is about the collective and having a good time, rather than a testosterone-filled macho fest of secret ops woodsmen who live at Anytime Fitness (You know who Read More... 02.7.12So......last summer it was "what can we do for charity this year that's different than year's past?" Apparently the answer was skydiving. Jumping out of a plane. From 13,000 feet. In the air. Above clouds. Now don't get me wrong, although I was apprehensive about the prospect, it was something I had always wanted to do but never got around to. I liked the idea that not only was this something helpful for those less fortunate, but it fulfilled a small wish of mine at the same time. So, we did it. Read More... 02.2.12Not entirely sure what we're thinking when signing up for this event. Sure, last year we jumped out of a plane, but once you're out the door, gravity (and your tandem instructor) does the rest. This is a whole different ball of wax. You've gotta watch the video to get a real idea of what this is all about. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5HdPM_QuE The Tough Mudder boasts "hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental g Read More... 02.2.12For our Tough Mudder run, we've chosen the Wounded Warrior Project as our charity, because only a course this tough gives us a tiny ability to live vicariously through our service-men and women. As we've seen our fellow Americans step forward to do the impossible job of keeping our country free, protecting our families, and giving so much of themselves, we felt compelled to answer the call of making the transition home for them, a better one. The Wounded Warrior Project does an amazing job of he Read More... 02.1.12Please join Tonic Sol-fa in raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps provide programs and services for our injured service members! Tonic Sol-fa will be taking part in the 2012 Tough Mudder (Wisconsin) event as a way to raise awareness for this cause, excite our fanbase, and challenge our physical and mental abilities. We encourage you to make a tax-deductible gift of any amount, and watch as we work towards our goal. In addition, you might consider joining us at the event. Tak Read More... 01.11.12Holiday tour 2011 over. Check. Santa showed up. Check. Rang in the New Year with great crowds in St. Cloud. Check. Plastic Santa put back in shed until next holiday season. Check. Washed and returned tights, had some lovely time off to spend with my family, and am geared up and ready to go for 2012. Check, check, check. As I look out the window at this ridiculously gorgeous January (May) Minnesota day, I have time to contemplate my 2012 resolutions. Wait, have I really made any yet? S Read More... 01.10.12I was asked on Monday what I thought TSF's image would be and I stopped. Were we the "boys next door" or Midwestern vocalists? Soulful? Innovative? Quirky? Did we push envelopes or play it safe? Were we at the top of a genre or somewhere in the middle? Humorists remembered for a lawn ornament? Underrated? Overrated? How would our friends, family or fans describe us in a tweet to someone without seeing a picture or hearing a song? People typically relate very short stories to others abou Read More... 12.9.11The holidays are right around the corner, and with it comes big dinners and parties. We've been lucky enough to have our very own wine connoisseur friends, at Cru Wine Online, professionally pair each song from our new album, "March of the Kings", with an appropriate vintage. You're wondering if this is even possible. Below, we've included the Cru Wine's actual pairings for your enjoyment, and invite you to experience their remarkable ability. Additional wine pairings are available at www.cruwin Read More... 12.4.11A huge thank you to Blue Bunny, our fabulous corporate sponsor, for allowing us to give away free ice cream to winners at each of our holiday tour stops! Too, we have enjoyed our backstage meet and greets with others who "texted to win" this holiday season and thank everyone for entering. We feel it is such a good fit to be collaborating with a company that wishes to engage people across all mediums in a new and innovative way... just like us!!! Here's to Blue Bunny Ice Cream! shaun Read More... 11.28.11A blog by Greg entitled: "Hey Turkey!" or "Jared, move your big feet, you just about tryptophan.....of Tonic Sol-fa!" OK.....so we now have 6 shows under our belt for the 2011 holiday tour.......that's a record for us for November! Sometimes it's hard for us to get into the holiday spirit prior to Thanksgiving - especially if there's no snow on the ground - but the crowds thus far have been amazing and have pulled us through on some of the tougher nights. Right on, crowds! In the middle of all Read More... 10.26.11From John... As many of you know Tonic Sol-fa had a CD Design Contest about 4 months ago. There were “A LOT” of great entries, some that I like a lot better than mine. At the time of thinking up my design(s) it would have been the very first time using the program I used to design the entries. By teaching myself how to use the program I was able to come up with a Grand Prize Winning entry. I was pretty shocked at the various replies I had gotten from not only family members and friends, but also Read More... 10.24.11Yes, you read that right! Our very own John W. of Des Moines, IA and the winner of our "March of the Kings" CD design contest, wants to have his artwork forever inked on his person. Of course, we had to get in on the excitement, and with the help of our friends at Bigfoot Tattoo make this little hoedown, a bigger hoedown. One of the four of us is sure to get our own tattoo as well, so come check it all out. We're going to hang out at the shop from 1pm-4pm, this Thursday, October 27th, and there Read More... |
