GARY TU: News

Darren, Kurt, and I played outdoors tonight. the crowd was come and go tonight but the topper has got to be being told by the police to stop during our second set due to noise complaints from the neighbors. I swear we weren't all that loud.

Another one bites the dust. Jake Vinsel subbed in for Kurt tonight. It was a great relief to know he was able to do the gig last minute. Not to mention Jake sounded great. The crowd was attentive and people were actually clapping. I guess there's a first for everything.

Good gig tonight. There were some fun moments and stuff that I could have played better on. We had a pocket-trumpet player named Dan who requested to sit in on a couple of tunes. It was okay. Kurt and Leah brought some people out too.

It always amazes me how people don't know how be behave in the presence of a jazz group...I had to shoosh a woman tonight who started counting with me (copying me) as I was counting off a tune. Also, why do people think they are adding to the atmosphere by talking louder than the band?

It was cancelled at the VERY last minute. I got the call as I was driving there.

Bobby Flay was doing a Food Network show and had his own band playing. I apologize to all who came out. I hate Bobby Flay. Morimoto rules!

We have been reschedueled for 8/17 so please come see us then.

I was on and off tonight. Some tunes felt great and some.....well let's just say my head wasn't in the right place to play them. My sister-in law Kay, her better half Chris, and my nephew Cass are in town and came to see our first set. It was nice to have them there.

Afterwards, Andre, Kurt, and I went to the Hopleaf for an after-gig drink where we ran into Chris Neal. We chatted some but I think I was talking Chris' ear off.

The crowd was sparse (apparently Sundays are their worst days) but the bartender was cool. I chatted with Cliff, a fusion bass player from NY, who was very gracious. Andre ordered salmon but they were out of it, then he ordered the chicken and they were out of that too ("what does that mean??"). Finally, he settled for the halibut.

Then I went over to Phyllis' Musical Inn to play a set with (Partial) Orange Alert for the Wicker Park Social Club. I showed up when the band before us was playing. They scared off alot of people. By the time we went on, the place had started to empty out. There's nothing like following a grungy, dumb-ass rock band.

The Renaissance gig with Terry Higgins was cool. Terry warned me about asking for a soda from the bitchy bartender. I only managed to get one drink out of her. The security guard Howard said that Will Smith was staying there tonight, cuz his wif'e's band is playing at the House of Blues. Apparently the band sucks. Just what we need, some rich people getting the good gigs in town. Do I sound bitter?

The crowd was sparse but the two ladies who sat in front of the band were very nice. Kurt, Darren, and I went down to Fado just down the street to grab a beer on our break. It was a nice moment.