Subject: Haiti Earthquake - Red Cross - Strutting Duck/Auburn Ale House
Saturday March 20, 2010
To Whom It May Concern and Other Non-Spam Blocking Net Users:
My brother and band mate, Eric, was watching the coverage of the Haiti
earthquake and, like many of us, felt like he wanted to do some little
something to help out and suggested the idea of doing a benefit. Little did
he know at the time that it would be the Earth Quake Du Jour by the time the
gig date rolled around. So, with the desire to put a little in the pot we
will be playing at the Strutting Duck/Auburn Ale House Saturday, March 20
along with Mace Glasscock and Bandalar. Proceeds will go to the Red Cross'
general disaster relief fund.
I remember back in my salad days watching the African Famine coverage
that eventually resulted in the Live Aid concerts. I went to a club we were
playing at and suggested doing a benefit and the owner said that would be a
good idea and ultimately said, "Why do you want to do this?" Until that
moment I had never really realized that lots of benefits were done as much
as a publicity stoking tool as out of any general desire to do something
altruistically contributory. Oh well, the shedding of one of the many onion
like layers of idealism and naïveté that we all experience over the years
and, besides, the ends justify the means....idealistically. Few of us even
in our numbed state of 24 news cycle bombardment could watch these images of
Biblical level horror without being stung with pangs of guilt for our
relative good lot and sympathy for the poor souls in the midst of it all.
So, though "charity fatigue" gets the best of us all we offer this chance to
celebrate life and concurrently help people put theirs back together.
I think we will play in the middle of this lineup...so maybe ten or so?
Mace will open on acoustic which should be typically humbling The man can
play some slide as well as guitar in general. He's also a damn fine
carpenter unless he as retired to his palatial estate in the teaming
metropolis of Waverly. To be honest, I have not heard Bandalar so I look
forward to an introduction Saturday night. With the Duck's discerning love
of music I can only assume they will be excellent. As for Resistor, we are
thankful that our bassist, Keith Richardson, did not lose two of his fingers
in a mishap about a month ago with a metal fabricating machine where he
works in Dallas, GA. He is not fully recovered and will have to use a pick
but is grateful for the small things in life...like the last half inch of
his right forefinger and birdy finger. He was kind enough to sent close up
pictures of the injury the day after the accident. UGLY.
In summation, we hope to see a crowd there. It will be the end of Spring
Break so perhaps school oriented people will have trickled back into town.
My car was nearly crushed yesterday on College Avenue by an avalanche of
tumbleweeds rolling down the street. It is always good to see a reunion of
the Old School Gang when we play and we always enjoy an opportunity to get
the four of us on a stage and let the dog out when the chance arrives. Life
is fragile and precious. Tomorrow is never promised. We are all bound by far
more commonalities than differences and in the good times and the bad this
becomes the most apparent. Help us help some folks in bad times by having a
good time together. Peace, dude. B
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2009 Subject: NOISE FOR TOYS SATURDAY DECEMBER 19, 2009 SUPPER CLUBHello Ladies and Gentleman, In keeping with our depressed, recessed and distressed economy I'm a little behind this year in taking care of business regarding sounding the trumpets for our annual Noise For Toys benefit at the Supper Club. But don't let reports of elves being held hostage in Bora Bora let you think for a minute that this thing will not be happening. As we speak employees for Black Water are rounding up bands to play with us and fanning the flames of populace support with thousand dollar bills and promises of gift certificates to Best Buy. While the War on Recession may not have quite the cachet that the War on Drugs or the War on Terror...or even the War of the Waistline do it is indeed a battle that must be fought. The Economy must be riddled with dollars and carpet bombed with spending. And what better place to do it than Saturday night at the Supper Club? None of your loved ones really need that new cell phone, neck tie or Barbie doll with the mixed martial arts skill set. What they need is for you to blow your shopping money on long neck Buds and toys for the underprivilaged. I have totally lost count of how many years we have done this. It would have been interesting to look back over the years just to see what all bands have played with us. You know, the Europeans chronicled their history through writing and, therefore, got to "discover" the New World...much to the amazement of the civilizations that had been living there for centuries. Our tradition will be more like the Indians, i.e., word of mouth and quite possibly ending with us living in internment camps out West. So, I guess the question is this: If Mr. Resistor fell over at the Supper Club and there were no one there to hear it would he make a sound? It would be greatly appreciated if we don't have to test out this theorem the Saturday of the gig, however, something tells me that if Mr. Resistor fell over and there were no one there that the clouds would still part and the voice of God himself would say, "Hey Bruce, could you turn your guitar down?" Anyway...I think most folks who get this know the drill but for those of you who have been Spam I Am-ed let me go over what the refs say before they flip the coin. The gig is, more or less, a toys for tots sort of thing. Rather than pay a cover charge patrons are asked to bring an unwrapped toy or gift which will later be donated to the Auburn Fire Department's toys for tots program. One year way back in the day we simply got a list of the needy families from the Dept. of Human Resources and attempted to distribute them ourselves. I say "our" but it actually wound up being Dan and Keith while Eric and I slunk out of town to be with our familes. I don't think either of those two ever forgave us for that. Suffice to say we leave it up to the pros now who have 911 maps. At any rate, the toys can be for anyone from the very young to teen agers...dolls, balls, video games, bikes, cars (toy), clothes. You may have something "used" but in good condition that is collecting dust as a family member may have outgrown it. These are welcome as well. At times we have gotten enough stuff to fill multiple pickup trucks. If you would rather make a cash donation at the door that will, of course, be accepted. The plan is to give money this year to the East Alabama Food Bank. There are some folks really hurting this year. If you have a job and steady work and income be thankful because there are a lot of people who don't. As a friend of mine perceptively noted a while back, Auburn is a bit behind the times in both good and bad ways. I always say when you cross the Georgia border to turn your watch back an hour and 20 years. It took a while for the economic crucnh to really get it's teeth sunk into our hide but it has, indeed, arrived. These gigs always serve as a measuring stick of the passage of time. In a college town so many people come and go. Some move on to other places and you forget about them only to have them remembered in a passing conversation...or a Facebook contact for those of you who have willingly relinquished the anonymity that we sometimes describe as being under assault. Some folks have gone on to whatever awaits us when this life is over...and none of us are getting any younger. I'm continually perplexed by the old geezer looking back at me during my weekly shave. But it is always great to see the old faces that don't really have reason to convene in one place aside from this sort of thing. Now many bring their kids who are about the age we were when we started all this. Who says society evolves? A lot of people believe a lot of different things concerning what it's all about but I think it is hard to argue with freinds getting together and having a good time for a good cause. I hope we can get a good crowd. We will be joined by Big Toh Medicine which consists of drummer extraorinaire,Jay Knorr, who--for my money--is probably the best musician in town--and the Guitar Shoppe Possee--Josh, Paul and Emery. I'm not sure who else will be on the set. It may evolve into a Medusa Head jam in the wee hours. Either way, we hope to be able to embarrass ourselves in a good way to your viewing and listening please. Hope to see you and that you all have a Merry Christmas and that the new decade finds you and yours in good health and spirits. It's good to be alive. BSent: Saturday, December 6, 2008 Subject: NOISE FOR TOYS DECEMBER 20, 2008 SUPPER CLUB Hello Friends, Well, another 350 plus days have somehow slipped by like fog on little cat's feet across the harbor and the time is upon us for yet another installation of Mr. Resistor and the Incapacitator's "Noise For Toys" Christmas Benefit aka how four old geezers attempt for one night only to stave off old geezerdom through the production of hazardous noise and arthritic gyrations. The gig will be on Saturday, December 20 in 2008 the Year of Our Lord at the War Eagle Supper Club. As befits our advancing age..and bed time..Resistor will play first and will begin around ten o'clock. Also performing this year will be NFT veterans, Square Bone, and NFT neophytes, Jimbobwe. For those of you who don't know and the others who are senile and/or left the better part of their short term memory in the alleyway behind Darnell's in the 80s let me give a quick refresher course as to the rules, guidelines and mores of NFT. In place of a cover charge patrons are asked to bring an unwrapped toy which will later be donated to the AFD's Toys for Tots program for distribution. Keep in mind that the needy kids of the area range in age from infant to teenagers so anything from dolls, bikes, toy cars to video games or clothes will be greatly appreciated. For those who would prefer to pay a cash cover charge the charity this year is going to be to set up a scholarship fund for AHS jazz lab band students to use for college. Our bassist, Keith Richardson, was in the AHS lab band back in the 70s as was the bassist for Jimbobwe, Rob Cochran, until last year when he graduated. My son, Thomas, also played bass in the lab band and will likely sit in for a couple of tunes. So, there is a sort of connectivity here and with the legendary AHS band director, Tommy Goff, having died this past year we thought this might be a good time to get this ball rolling. Over the years we have donated to various things--Project Uplift, Alabama Food Bank, Safehouse, Storybook Farms and occasional trust funds for children of Resistor "family members" who might have died in the past year. Through the numbers we as a collective group have been able to mass for these shows we have given a little injection of goodness into various corners of the community and it has been our privilege and honor to attach our brand name to these things that are really done more by the great and loyal friends/fans we have had over the years. I'm always pleasantly befuddled by the fact anyone would pay money to see us play and the fact that they do so some 25 years after we struck our first chords is a blessing. The more things change the more they stay the same (Wasn't the Supper Club there during the Civil War?). Bringing out Jimbobwe to join us is kind of funny in that most of their members were not born when we began playing. Their parents used to come and see us. And what isn't funny is that they are half our age and can already play better than we can....bastards. Though Square Bone's members are a bit older the same holds true so the next time someone tells you it is all about practicing I advise you realize you either got it or you don't...though practicing doesn't hurt. I think I have actually mastered the three Chuck Berry/Keith Richards chords that constitute my entire playing style and will humbly submit this for the edification of the crowd on the 20th. It's nice to feel like there is a legacy of sorts on the local music scene. Sadly, Auburn has never been quite the hotbed for original music that it could or should be and I've never quite understood why. There are plenty of good players and a huge university to seemingly support it but whether it was disco in the 70s or DJs now it has always seemed that the natives largely prefer their music canned. But the fans that do like homegrown music are as good as anywhere and for this I am eternally grateful. With each passing year a face or two falls away. Last year we lost Kelly Ward and a couple years prior to that a couple of my dearest friends, Leeroi Meadows and Rebecca Sparks, died. John Brandt, owner of the Supper Club, lost his brother and, of course, we all still remember our friend Chris Hinds. And then there are just those who move along to another town who have been fixtures on the music scene. The hole left in the cosmic fabric by Chris "Grover" Groves moving with his wife, Suzanne, to the University of Iowa still has scientists baffled. Now the only time I get to see Grover is in Drummer of Fortune magazine. So, it is with appreciation that we look upon those who are still with us and whose legs and livers are of satisfactory heartiness to brave the night. What do you call it, Jane? Living in the Now? Yeah...let's do that! Anyway, let this serve as a little heads up. We hope to see a good crowd out there again this year and that everyone has a very merry Christmas. May the road rise to meet you and may you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead. BSent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:08 PM
Subject: NOISE FOR TOYS DECEMBER 22 SUPPER CLUBTis 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. BSubject: Leeroi Dynamite...Mr. Resistor
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:44:01 -0600
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.
Subject: Leeroi Dynamite at Buffaloes Thursday, October 18
Dear in the Head Lights,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. BSent: 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
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