Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:08 PM
Subject: NOISE FOR TOYS DECEMBER 22 SUPPER CLUB

   Tis the weekend of the Noise For Toys Benefit yet again my friends. 
 Having lost track of the exact number of times we have done this thing 
 but believing it to have been close to 20 I am calling it--yet again--the 
 Umpteenth Annual NFT. Mr. Resistor was born in the Christmas season of 
 1982 as memory serves and played our first gig at a Christmas party at
 Waldo Peppers which is not called Qioutes, I think. Though it was not a 
 beneft gig it was a three band show with some overlapping members. Along 
 with Resistor was Ricky Rowell and a band I was in with the gone but not 
 forgotten Pierce "Coldneck" Hodnette, Cresful "Corky" Reeves and Thomas 
 "Aquinas" Dean that we called Blues From Another Planet. Somewhere around 
 here I have some snapshots and, strangely enough, I look more like my son 
 than myself. Time flies.
    Anyway, a quick review of the rules: Bring an unwrapped gift instead 
 of a cover charge to the War Eagle Supper Club on Saturday night, 
 December 22. The show will start at 9:30 or 10:00 depending on the number 
 of folks there (!) and will be Resistor followed by Leeroi Dynamite and 
 the John Bull Band. As was the case all those years ago there are 
 overlapping members and will likely be stage raiders of various stripes. 
 It should go well into the wee hours. Those attending early please be 
 sure to use your manners as my parents will be there for the first time 
 in probably ten years. Last time I recall my father dancing until he was 
 soaked in sweat with Greta. We'll see if either of them have the gas left 
 in the tank to repeat.
    The cash donations this year will go to the trust fund of Jeri Ward, 
 daughter of Kelly Ward who died of a heart attack this Fall. Kelly was 
 around way back in the day when the Rakes who later evolved into Resistor 
 were playing at the Casino here in Auburn about 1980 and was always a 
 joyful and sweet hearted guy. Every year it seems we put an old friend in 
 the ground. The Supper Club's owner, John Brandt, lost his brother a 
 couple years back, our drummer Dan lost his father this Fall and we all 
 miss Becky Sparks, Leeroi Meadows and Chris Hinds just to name a few 
 whose faces that used to grace us. Their absence makes me cherish the 
 ones that still remain with their new lines and greying and/or thinning 
 hair. We are all very blessed to be able to get together and play this 
 gig every Christmas and to reunite old freinds and lovers.
    Remember that the toys that we ultimately give to the AFD Toys for 
 Tots drive can be for anyone from infant to teenager and they needn't 
 always be brand new. Many of you have kids who have outgrown certain toys 
 that would really make Christmas day for some kid. So, let's get together 
 one more time and feel all right and help brighten the Season for someone 
 less fortunate than oursleves and, believe me, they are many. Wishing you 
 all a Merry Christmas and Peaceful and Happy New Year. Much love. B

 Hello Cybernauts, 
    We can now all exhale with our ring for the sixth finger firmly in
place (would that be the bird/war eagle finger on the second hand?)  after
the local college team's win in the Iron Bowl Saturday. Life can now
proceed forward and we can focus on less important things like sustenance,
world peace and exactly what will become of Lindsay and Britney. There is,
however, one or two items that are a subset of the groups of important
and non-important things we can focus on and those are A) Leeroi Dynamite
appearing at Buffalos again this Thursday, November 29 like a
troublesome cold sore that pops up to remind you of  a deal of sorts made long ago
that you thought was a thing of the past and yet still remains and B)
similarly, the Mr. Resistor and the Incapacitators One Millionth Annual Noise for
Toys Benefit Gala at the War Eagle Supper Club on Saturday, December 22.
Mark them down in blood on your calendars or perhaps etch them into your
inner forearm with a woodburning kit. You won't want to miss it!
    Concerning the Dynamite at Buffalos...by now you all know the
drill. We should begin about 10:30 and play three healthy sets of
swampabillyfunkatelekineticrockinspazjazz at the very day low price of
free to the public. That's right. No cover. The price is right, regulated by
the Council on Wage and Price Stability and adjusted to compensate for
inflation, symptoms of euphoria and any costs involved with bodily
injury incurred on the mean streets of Auburn as you and your herd of goats
make their way to the pub. There is really little reason for you not to
attend. Rotting fruit will be provided to pelt the band with in case they
refuse your request for, say, You Light Up My Life by Debbie Boone or Louie
Louie by Chuck Cochran. Anyway, we will see you there..all of you...and there
will be a test.
    On the Resistor tip I'm just getting the word out early so you can
mold your lives, hearts and souls around this sacred event.  We should start
ten or so with, at present, the musical lineup being Resistor, Dynamite and
Square Bone with flexibility to bring in and subtract fellow artists.
I think most of you know how this works but for those who do not...it is
sort of a toys for tots thing where you bring an unwrapped as your cover
charge. These are then turned over to the Auburn Fire Dept. who have a system
to get them to the area's underprivileged kids. If you do not bring a toy
there is a cover charge and that money this year will be put into a trust fund
for the child of Kelly Ward who died of a heart attack this Fall. He was
one of the Resistor...and even Rakes...family from way back when we first
began blighting this town with our three chord pollutants. He will be missed
for his sweet demeanor and ready smile. I will continue to pound you with
info regarding this event in the coming month.
    So, that will be it for today. While our other guitarist Brennen
madly chips away at his novel on Dust Bowl Vampires to the whirring of his
unusually large table saw and happily bubbling vat of lava I will have
to be content to get my literary mojo working in these bi-weekly solicitous
diatribes. The world surely cowers in anticipation. Peace, love and
amps on eleven. B.

That day has come....that every other Thursday kind of day where
we, the members of Leeroi Dynamite and its affiliate franchises and circle of 
friends, do our thign at Buffaloes. The specific denotation for said
event that actually only represents yet another feeble attempt by mankind to 
impose his weak will on reality is October 18 at around 10:30 PM. In
the greater cosmos this is, naturally, immaterial, however, as we all seem
to be presently trapped like skunks in space and time it may be useful 
information.
    Not sure what to expect this time. We hope to avoid disgruntled and
possibly coke geeked harmonica players...unlike last time...in our
never ending quest to bring local legends in their spare time to the stage to
show their skills (and fill out our set). We are pleased that our drummer, 
Grover, will be able to make the gig as his appearance was in flux at
one point because his charming company was needed for his lovely wife, Dr.
Wood (that'd be a great porn name), on a trip to New Orleans for some sort
of conference. This trip is apparently off but they are off to other
regions outside the Hub of the Universe, i.e., Auburn, in the near future as
she looks to cash in on her recently acquired doctorate and in so doing
pull the rug out from under us by towing the baddest drummer around with her.
See him while you can. The drumming fixture on the Auburn music scene is
seemingly playing out the end of the string here. I've tried to explain to
Suzanne that us playing every other Thursday at Buffaloes ought to be enough of
a springboard to international stardom to convince her that there is no
need for her to work but she just isn't buying into the couch and bon bons
thing. C'est la vie.
    Anyway....not much new to report but I'll try to come up with some 
quasi-entertaining line of baloney should you venture to the pub for a 
listen. By the way, for those interested,  
Mr. Resistor  will be hosting the upteenth millionth Noise for Toys 
at the  War eagle Supper Cub  December 22. That is a Saturday. I'll be 
bombarding you with spam regarding this in the coming months.  Much love to all. B 

Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 7:37 AM
Subject: 280 Boogie

Just a quick note to our millions and millions of fans out there--as though this has not spread like
a wildfire in July already--but Mr. Resistor will be rearing his ugly head on a somewhat unsuspecting
public this Saturday (April 21) around 3:00 (CPT) at the Old 280 Boogie in Waverly, AL. I think this is
about the fifth or sixth one they've had but I lose track. Good family fun. I'll bringing my wife and kids.

I think I have two of them (kids) but I lose track. Also on the bill are our old pals, Nothing Personal.
Their set will precede ours and it is my understanding they will also be playing an after the Boogie show
at Standard Deluxe. This is the event for the coolest of the cool and the soberest of the drunk to attend.
Obviously, I've never been but it should be fun.

As ever, much thanks to Scott Peek and the various asundry folks involved with putting this thing on.
I played the first one they ever had with long lost amd much missed, Pretty Beat Up, and it was one of the
grander Spring days I can recall. Then again, Tomcat was the winning pitcher in a little league game that
day so my euphoria may be misplaced. Speaking of which, has anybody seen my car keys?

B


STANDARD DELUXE the Town of Waverly

Old 280 BOOGIE / Waverly, Alabama Join Us for Live Music, ART, Food & Family Fun SATURDAY APRIL 21, 2007 10am - 4:30pm

7th Annual, FREE, Community-Sponsored Event
Music starts at 10 am on the lawn next to High-Corner Co-Op with performances by:

SWORN ENEMIES (Americana / Western Swing / Bluegrass)

SUNNY KING (self-taught Alabama Bluesman / One-Man-Band)

The FIDDLEWORMS (Muscle Shoals Alabama / Southern Rock)

The PINE HILL HAINTS (Alabama Ghost Country Music)

NOTHING PERSONAL (All Original Members / Rock-n-RoLL)

MR.RESISTOR And The Incapacitators (Auburn's Only Surviving Punk Rock Extravaganza)

Emcee : Wildman Steve

Sound By: The Guitar Shoppe

Booths by Regional Artists

Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. / Kennedy Prints (LetterPress Poster Exhibit at High Corner Co-Op)

Great Food provided by:

Oskars Cafe
Yellow Hammer Restaurant
Red Root Organic Farm
Waverly Baptist Church

Fun for the Whole Family:

Cake Walks
Mule Buggy Rides
Horseshoes
Chalk Drawing
Kids Events

Rain or Shine

Bring your Chairs and Blankets
No Dogs or Glass Please

SEE Front Page Article from Last Years Birmingham News at: Waverly AL

Directions From Highway 280: Turn at Waverly Business District Sign

Schedule also at: Standard Deluxe

THANKS for your Support.
Standard Deluxe / Scott Peek
Design & Silkscreen Print Shop

email: deluxe@standarddeluxe.com
Standard Deluxe
Opelika Daily News

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 09:35:07 -0600

Dear Ones,

I just wanted to drop a quick note to everyone to thank them for the success of the Noise For Toys gig this past Saturday. We raised over $2000 for Storybook Farms and more than three pickup truck loads of excellent toys. In addition to this material bounty a grand time was had by all in attendance and a feeling of much joy pervaded the proceedings. Several folks who were unable to make it in person sent in contributions via the mail. The collective power of one group of people can make a real impact on another and it was inspiring to be a part of that process.
I'd like to thank Nothing Personal for getting together their members from as far away as New York City and Nashville to play a set that did not for a second belie the fact that they had not played or practiced together for literally years. They showed up and sounded like they always did...err, that's either a good thing or a bad thing! ;) But seriously, it was great to see Walt and Tommy and Timberlake the Younger as well as the Brothers Lyden at it again. We hope to see them again next year. Also, big props to Walt from Square BONE (not Peg) for double duty as soundman and bassist extraordinaire. Jesse, Lance and Jeremy finished off the night for us with a couple sets of jamming blues and rock. Listening to Jesse play just reminded me how damn good a Les Paul sounds in the hands of someone who knows what to do with it. We did our usual three-chords-and-a-cloud-of-dust routine and our audience was both appreciative and forgiving. My ears are still ringing three days later so I know I did something right.
As ever, John Brandt and the staff at the Club did their best to decorate and keep the Christmas spirit going. Frank Chatham was on hand to film the festivities as he is so good to do every year. Wildman Steve always promotes the stew out of it on the air which is such a great help. Scott Peek from Standard Deluxe contributed his usual screen printed posters and the night was made even more special by the appearance of my son, Thomas, on bass for a couple of tunes. I've been doing this gig since before he was born and it was really cool to see him up there carrying on the family franchise.
We had printed up t-shirts and some CDs, in typical Resistor inattention to detail, pretty much forgot to tell folks they were for sale so I have enclosed a picture with the two styles (the models are forced child labor from Thomas and Jazzy). If you want one write me back. So, with that little bit of sloppy business detail out of the way I bid everyone a fond adieu until we meet again. Hopefully we can find occasion to get out and bend a few strings and dance a few steps before next Christmas but, if not, we will see you then. Have a great Christmas and remember that love cures all.

B

mrresistor.net

Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2006 21:49:30 -0600

Friends, Lovers, Countrymen lend me your ears...and whatever small change you might have lying about,

Another year has somehow slithered away and it is time again for Mr. Resistor
and the Incapacitators to rear its ugly head on an unsuspecting public for the umpteenth
rendition of Noise For Toys at the War Eagle "Under My Thumb" Supper Club on
Saturday, December 16th, 2006. I cannot really recall when we started doing this tot
toy acquisition and dispersal program but it was some time back in the 80s. We have
missed a year or two with group members having been flung afar and/or having fits
of hissy or troubling delusions of adequacy but, by and large, we have been good little
tin soldiers and marched down to our favorite Den of Iniquity to do what we must do to spread
and fingerprint our own brand of Christmas Cheer. I do know that Mr. Resistor's first gig was a
Christmas show at a local watering hole in the year 1983 and we are pleased to be blessed with all
four of us still on speaking terms and retaining large quantites of our sanity and faculties...well,
at least enough to play our little three chord ditties one mo' time!

The way this thing works is that rather than paying cover patrons are asked (told, actually) to
bring an unwrapped Christmas gift to be put beneath the tree which will do its best to sparkle
brightly and cheerily despite suffering from the ravages of second hand smoke. The presents can be
anything from a toy truck or doll for a little child to perhaps a video game, ball glove or clothes
for an older one. These will then be given to the APD's Toys for Tots program to be given out to the
area's under privilaged.They needn't be brand new so long as they are something that someone less
fortunate might appreciate. Many of us have kids who have outgrown certain toys that are lying around
the house that would make another kids' day. For example, my son has a remote control tank that has
been in the basement waiting for the government to supply sufficient armor to be deployed for years.
Maybe it needs to be re-deployed to another home as Greta thinks it is unbecoming for me to ask my
other "grown up" buddies to come over and play army and Thomas, well, he understands but let's just
say watching dad crawl around the backyard hollering, "If you don't let me liberate you I'm going to
blow you into a million pieces!" while making machine gun noises isn't a Hallmark moment he wants to
cherish. Anyway, you get the idea.

If you don't want to part with your kids toys or just are the sentimental type who prefers to use
cold cash then this too will be accepted. We have given to various charities over the years and this
year intend to give whatever greenback haul we make to Storybook Farm in Cusseta which runs a program
of theraputic horseback riding for disabled children. We have picked this particular charity in honor
of our recently deceased friend, Rebecca Sparks, who loved us, our music and horseback riding. I know
she would really like this idea and hopefully in some capacity she will be there with us if only in our
memories and hearts. As many of you know, we have some spouses in the school system who work with Special
Education so these causes are near and dear to us. As an aside, it is remarkable how many local musicians
have wives who teach Special Ed. Hmmmmmm.

I am especially excited and delighted this year to have as one of our supporting acts Nothing Personal.
Back in our heyday (yes, smart-ass, we had one!) Resistor and NP were constantly playing downtown
around the corner from each other and were big fans of each others' music as well as just good friends.
Walt, Tommy and the Brothers Lyden will kick off the show at 9:30. They swear to God they will start on
time so all of you/us poor grey haired working people who fight to stay up until midnight will be able
to get out early and be entertained. We will play next followed by Square Peg, some of whom played
the show last year. The whole thing should run late into the night and early into the morning
(long after my beloved Falcons will have no doubt finished having their brains beat out by the Cowboys
at the Georgia Dome).

With every passing year and the passing away of good friends (Rebecca, Leeroi Meadows) I more greatly
appreciate the opportunities to play with my brothers and to see all of the old faces with new
"character lines" like a pair of well broken in shoes. From good times in the recent and long gone
past ties that bind have been formed that we don't even think about until our eyes meet those of old
so and so that I haven't seen or thought about since last year's gig. A smile erupts and it makes you
realize all over again how very good it is to be alive. I hope to see you folks out at the Supper Club
and that we add one more great memory to the collection of past ones from N4T. If I forget the words
or chords be gentle! Much love to everyone and Resistor wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas. B

Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 9:43 AM
Subject: Thanks to all for the success of Noise for Toys

Dear Sirs and Madams and Those in Between,
I just wanted to write a quick note to thank everyone for helping make our Noise For Toys Benefit such a splendid success this past Saturday. The quantity and quality of toys under the tree was as good as I can ever remember. The graciousness and generousness of people when offered a chance never seems to astound me. On Saturday afternoon I ran across the Supper Club's owner, John Brandt, in Wal Mart with a shopping cart full of bicycles. He said that a FORMER employee had come by the bar and dropped off $200 and said to buy a bike if he could. I think he got six. In addition an excellent earth cruiser bike Brian (Chunky/Bike Dude) Henry was brought as he does every year from the Bike Shop. Scott Peek from Standard Deluxe printed up a really cool poster especially for the event and many people bought them as well. All the bands autographed the posters. This would make I think, aside from checks and parental consent forms, my #3-35 autographs in 46 years. The first two were for children who saw us play back in the day in Pensacola and obviously didn't get out much. The Clods, my brother's band from Atlanta, are also to be commended for playing an opening set and playing it well as is Keith Richardson for gamely playing on until about 4:00 AM, jumping in his car and driving back to Dallas, GA to get his church's praise band set up and ready to go for that morning's service. Heathen that I am I slept in as long as this former Night Owl's internal body clock would allow which was about nine. Ah, cruel is the day job world. In addition to the toys we collected close to $1300 on the door which will go to the autism clinic they are trying to set up at the Auburn Early Education Center. I'd also like to single out and thank my mother and father for sending an additonal check for $500 for this fund. For those of who know Eric and I personally, it might surprise you to know that our parents are actually two of the nicest and most virtuous folks you'd ever want to meet. Funny how that DNA stuff can just go haywire sometimes. Maybe if I had paid more attention in 8th grade Biology I would know why. I'm getting a second chance on this matter as my son takes these classes so by this time next year we hope to have a hypothesis formulated. This year's show saw a collection of old and familiar faces that was as good as I can remember. Notably, Resistor's old soundman and full time know-it-all, Tim "Hey Buddy" Moore, made it all the way from Hawaii. OK, so he was visiting his family here in town for Christmas too but I am sure that was a secondary consideration. Dan's sister Rhonda came up from Pensacola and my nephew Adam made it down from Carolina for the second year running. The band is about three weeks older than Adam at 21 years this Christmas. It was also food to see my spiritual guru, Patty "Perfect" Branum (and her sidekick!!!), my first rock and roll employer and owner of the long gone bur never forgotten Casino, Mike Klein, Kathy "What Time is the Sound Check?" O'Donnell and too many more to mention. At this time of year we all should be and I think are especially grateful for the blessings of good friends and the fact that we are still around to slither the planet's face. We appreciate you all and wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year. Do your homework, say your prayers, brush and floss regularly, keep the shiney sde up and the greasy side down and we hope we will see you all again next year. Peace, Love and Telecasters,
Bruce


Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 7:52 PM
Subject: Mr. Resistor Noise For Toys December 18 War Eagle Supper Club

Dear Friends and Countrymen,

Before time gets away from me and I don't get the word out in advance other than via my withering grapevine let me
take a moment of your time and mine to say we will be doing our annual Christmas show at the Supper Club on the 18th
of December beginning around 10 or so. As the lineup is kind of nebulous at best let me call it Resistor and Friends.
Notably, the band Eric has been working with in Atlanta, the Clods, will play a set and the return to the fold of Keith
"Rock Steady" Richardson on bass. So, you will now have the original prehistoric lineup there to look at and listen to
and be able to say, "Wow, I thought I was old but look at them."

Frankly, I have lost count of the number of years we have done this gig but I would reckon it is in the range of 15 and I
believe this will mark 21 years since the band first attempted to play the wrong chord at the right time. The idea for
Noise for Toys was hatched in the late 80s when we were still filled with delusions of adequacy and success after playing
a similar type benefit in Pensacola, Florida. In that particular one the participants and patrons wore pajamas which,
ironically, was also a theme for one of the first gigs I ever played with my original group, the Rakes, at Ford Court here in
Auburn in the late 70s. Being that I have never been much of a pajama wearer (we'll leave that cloaked in blessed
mystery) we kind of squashed that aspect of the benefit. At any rate, for the uninitiated, the way it works is that instead
of paying a cover charge you show up for the gig with an unwrapped toy that would be suitable for one of the area's
needy kids. This can be a clean used toy or a brand new one and can be anything from dolls and toy trucks to baseball
gloves, video games, clothes or books...anything that might be appreciated on Christmas by someone who might
otherwise have little or nothing. If you do not bring a toy, the cover charge will be donated to charity.

In the past it has been our privilege and pleasure to be able to direct the funds raised by this event to what we deemed
a worthy cause. Often a part of the money would be used to buy some extra toys to add to the stash we collect and then
part donated to projects we believed in such as Project Uplift or Safehouse. In the last couple of years we have donated
to a trust fund for the son of Chris Hinds, an old and dear friend of the band and many others surrounding it who died
too young of cancer, and then last year to the family of Officer McMenimum of Opelika who was wounded in the line of
duty and is the brother of John McMenimum who actually attended that pajama party at Ford Court referenced earlier.
John and I both had more hair back then but I will say I now know three more chords than I did then and two more than
John knows now. He does have a wicked curveball though.

This year the money is going to be donated to Auburn University Autism Center in hopes of establishing a second
location at the Auburn Early Education Center (kindergarten) for the children of the area who are dealing with autism
to augment the one presently at the Yarborough Elementary School. Some figures suggest that autism is on the rise in
the population with numbers as great as 1 in 166 kids. There will also be a benefit half marathon held on March 5th (my
birthday) at the Auburn Links Golf Course (www,auburnrunning.org).Greta and Pam, my brother's wife, have been
involved in Special Education as their profession for many years and have both been dedicated to improving the lives of
some folks who are born in many ways less blessed than many of us, however, no less cherished. A particular favorite of
Greta's was an autistic boy who loved Elvis Presley and was a bit of a musical prodigy at a young age and would entertain
the class with renditions of Blue Suede Shoes on an autoharp with a batting glove on his hand to spank the perfectly
adjusted chords of the song. It will be nice to help out everyone in the community and touch on something very close to
my home in particular.

As the years get by and my senile dementia melds with my standard issue dementia it becomes hard to remember all
the people over the years that have been involved with the band and/or its satellites and are either no longer of this
world or simply this area code. This year I will miss Barber Bancroft, Chris Hinds, Glenn Vaughn and Pops Brooks who
are no longer with us as well as my old pal Rebecca Sparks out there in Texas who I hope one day can make it back here
for the show. A special prayer goes out to the soldiers and families of the soldiers who have lost all they had to lose this
year... "To all the world he was a soldier but to us he was all the world." And as ever we wish you all a Merry Christmas.
John Brandt (War Eagle Supper Club Czar and Despot) and the band hope you can make it out.

Your Pal,

Mr. Resistor