Today is the first day of July.  And never do I get to this point without wishing I had done a few more outdoor performances, or wakeboarded an extra hour or even attended one outdoor barbeque.  Since summer seems to start in June and end after the State Fair seasons, I can’t help but feel the weight of time’s second hand.  I know I’ll wake tomorrow to find September’s falling leaves but in the meantime, I’d like to ensure a thousand memories.  And so I push, pull and charge.  Isn’t there some cliche about screeching into your last day out of breath with a glass of champagne in one hand?  If so, I think I’d like to be the poster child.

shaun

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Many of you asked who you could write to help Tonic Sol-fa get noticed by some of the talk-show celebrities. Here’s your perfect opportunity to tell Ellen about TSF! Go to her page promoting her new record label called eleveneleven. Fill out the form, using our promo video on YouTube, located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHgXJe1feZo . Then write a short, flattering story about why you think she should consider us. There’s even a link from Ellen’s page for you to pass it on to your friends, to get their help as well. Let’s give this a shot and see if we can get Ellen tuned in to Tonic Sol-fa. Thanks for your help!

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“Rain, rain go away – I want to go outside and play……today……..hey!” (quote from my daughter this morning after 5 straight rainy days)……

I think that says it all…..I mean, seriously, who thought it would be a good idea to have this little spell of precip start the day school was out for the summer…..not cool.

At any rate, I’m sure we’ll get back to our cheery sunshiny(sp?) selves in no time, and before you know it, I’ll be asking for the rain again as I watch the grass in my yard turn a nice brown color and the plants around the house dry up……such is life……”what a world, what a world” *Wicked Witch of the West….

Alright already – who’s ready for the new TSF Holiday Special on Public Television?
Me too!  It’s been fun putting it together once again, and so far, it looks very tight…..now if we can just get rid of all shots with Jared in them……HA!  I kid!  Or do I?  Just kidding!  Or am I?

No matter who gets put on the cutting room floor, one thing’s for sure – we couldn’t have done it without all the people working with us through Kickstarter!  Seriously, could we have better fans and friends?  Surely we can’t, can we?  No, we can’t, and don’t call me Shirley. *Michael Scott – The Office via Airplane…..good movie…..

Keepin’ it realsies.

Greg

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We had a birthday in our group this week.  Our vice president (the title seemed to fit a person who is involved in nearly every aspect of TSF), celebrated in style on Thursday and we got the ball rolling with Post-it’s and candy, as she LOVES her Post-its (she also loves spreadsheets which she’ll readily deny if asked).  My point?  If you see Michelle at an upcoming show helping with product, or arranging meet and greets, or hobnobbing with fans, please pinch her.  She loves that.  Or slap a Post-it on her back with a wish for the new birthday year.  She likes that too.  Next up is Jared’s birthday.  What does the big guy want?  Clean socks and a new iPhone 4.  But then who doesn’t (want clean socks).

shaun

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As you know, we’ve had a successful pledge drive through Kickstarter to raise the resources necessary to complete our new holiday t.v. project.  We want to take a moment to thank a number of our backers, and although Greg wanted to shout their names from the mountaintops, as per our incentive description we’re relegated to printing them on our website, Facebook, and Twitter.  Please note that the following list does not contain every person who graciously pledged to our project.  Also, remember this holiday season when you see our t.v. special, that it wouldn’t have happened without these generous individuals (So give them a little pat on the back the next time you see them). Without further ado, a big thanks goes out to the following person, persons, or groups of people:

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Trish Kurylo

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Cheryl Griffin,  Carola & John Henry Vivian

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Lori Gartzke

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Christa Malinski, Laurel Duerwachter, Dave Perkins, Christine Collinet, The Lightfoots, Karen Bishop, Robert Moore, Sheryl Cochran, Terry Harris, Mary DeZurik, Trisha Anderson, Louis Sciez, Kathleen Jones, Scott Andreassen, Mark Milam, Ro Foege, Amy Rich, DL Herbst, Marilyn Pelkey, Lindsay Hutchinson, Darlene Huisinger, Scott and Ann Sutherland, Karleen Meyer, Jim Ummel, Katie Petersen, Jeff, Julie & Jake, Judy Glass

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Ben Tomhave, Lance Lennon, Terri Collins, Tricia Jacobsen, Connie Jacobsen

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Joan Smith, The Discords, Debra Anderson, David Andersen, Gina, Patti Keller, Brent Scoles, Elizabeth Johnson, Willie Whitener, Patsy Murray, Dawn Clark, John Deyo, Michelle Massman, Scott Epstein, Ann Erdmann, Linda Blake, Sally Phenow, Eric Schultz, Jay Kuperman, Jean-Bernard Herbert, Dave Kalil, Jill Schafer, David Scott, Missy McDermott

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Paula Bonelli, Karen Igielski, Evelyn Otto, Amy Goette, Amanda Carlson, Barb Jung, Kevin Lee, Karen Hathaway, Lori York, Bonnie Stineberg, John Hargrave, Paige Kohler, Lynne Dickey, Carl Hill, Julie Gethmann, Dick & Linda McCoy, Chuck Fritz, Beth Douglas

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Rhonda Huegerich, David Kish, Rachel Mendel, Cindy Thompson, Jody Hodgdon, Glenda Johnston, Janel Heck, Vicki Rathbun, Linda Smith, Stella Mowery, Michelle Tjernstrom, Roberta Hartley, Roy Charleston, Jenine Abner, Dusty and Joan Rhoads, Mark Kulda, Judy Boyle, Heidi Haugen, Shannon Kallas, Jennifer Konz, Janene Lenard, Nancy Sundholm

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Tosha Bentz, Christopher Lum, Gayle Wiegand, Patrice Pierce, Vicki Scarpellini, Julie Bogner, Susan Brettschneider, Rich Turner, Rachel McGuire, Lou Haffely, Kym Nitcher, Lynn Fitzgerald

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We spent the first few days of this week rehearsing on sound in a theater in the area.  The technology we are researching and testing is exceeding my expectations.  Frankly, it’s phenomenal and a near perfect fit for our live sound needs.  In my experience, most improvements are either incremental and/or proportional to the amount of money available to invest in the upgrade (at least as far as sound and lighting gear).  In my opinion, the move to software-based mixing for front of house sound is a five to ten year jump in FOH mixing capability and quality AND is relatively inexpensive to get started with 8 to 10 channels of I/O.  We traded in our digital mixing board plus a rack full of gear for a laptop, audio software and an audio interface and couldn’t be happier.  There is a down-side in that it is not completely proven or necessarily road-worthy technology and when a personal computer is involved, a potential crash is always looming.  So, backup units running in real-time would be ideal…I’ll let you know how that pans out.  In the meantime, we’ll be flying without Annette.

Mark

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As I look out the window at the rain and contemplate why it was snowing last Friday evening as we drove home from Sauk Rapids ( yes, I said snow for all you non Minnesotans), I have to wonder….where did the summer go?  Or has it not shown up yet?  Who knows in the land of 10,000 lakes and 2 seasons.
Anyways, that’s probably enough of my ballyhoo….let’s talk about something fun – like us reaching our Kickstarter goal!  BTW, thanks a mega bunch to all who donated…U ROCK!  And to all of you who didn’t……u rock.  But not in caps.
GREG

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After our last show, we have been receiving quite a bit of mail about two songs in particular – our version of “Human” by the Killers and “Haven’t Met You Yet” by the man, Michael Buble.  I have to say that I have been shocked by the response to that last song as I don’t know that a performance has gone by without the crowd on their feet dancing.  I love the song, but didn’t realize that so many people were in the same boat as I.  As for the questions about what do the lyrics to “Human” mean… I haven’t the foggiest.  However, I do like to think that the main lyrics asking “Are we human, or are we dancer?” might refer to the choice we all make to jump in with the good and the bad of life or to dance around the edges.  Dancing is sometimes more beautiful and probably easier as an act of practice and grace (unless you are me), I have to imagine that being human is much more satisfying as a whole, even if the exercise is a bit messier at times.   Okay, I will now step off of my cliche podium, hand Plato’s mask to the next in line, and go get some sleep.

shaun

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The surplus footage from our trip to the big T.

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Last night in Iowa we had a fantastic crew!  Oftentimes, when we are in the midst of preparing for a show, we don’t get to spend as much time as we would like getting to know those who volunteer their time and talent.  After the performance I couldn’t help but notice how helpful and professional these high school guys had been and, on top of that, how they all gave up a Saturday night to set-up, sell, take tickets, etc.  Thank you!  And happy birthday to the group of girls with the Transformer hats celebrating with us!   I hope the Transformer cake was as amazing as I pictured it in my head.  Also, to the janitor of the men’s locker room, Mark is sorry.  Oh, and to everybody who waved at us as we tested the horn on the new Toyota Tundra, I applaud your neighborliness…

shaun

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