Since there are no liner notes in the CD this time around I wanted to make just a few thank you’s to the people who made $80 Whiskey possible…
There are many thank yous owed for this record. I can’t possible make them all, but there are a few people that without whom, it simply wouldn’t have happened and I’d like to briefly thank them here…
My bandmates, my musical compadres, the Lazy Susan Band:
Ben Young – Ben you and I have been playing together for over 15 years in 3 different bands (at least). I have a hard time imagining sharing new songs with another drummer. You know how to accent my playing and singing and you know where I need to be covered up with an inappropriately loud fill or repeated strikes with a splash cymbal. It was scary recording this album without you, I haven’t made a rock record without you since I was a teenager. I was sure you would hate my drum parts and was worried that you wouldn’t want anything to do with the final product…but I was wrong. I’m honored that you embraced this record and want to help me bring it to life…or live, whatever you’re supporting these days. Thank you.
Tom Adams – T, I feel it is my responsibility to keep your unique brand of musical genius flowing somewhere. You have saved the LSB more than once, be it filling in as a go-to guitar or bass or percussion sub, or joining up full time for our last official run. I thoroughly love playing with you and am so excited that you are on board for this new musical frontier with us. Thank you.
$2 Bill Turner – Honestly $2, playing with you over that last year is the biggest thing that got me excited to play again. Your honest joy and excitement to learn new music and try new things reminds me of perspectives I forgot about a long time ago. If you hadn’t agreed to start playing a few shows with me last year, I’m not sure that I would have made this record or wanted to try and put the band back together. I smile every time I realize I get to play with you at a gig or rehearsal. I think you are the future of the Lazy Susan Band. Thank you.
BPZMAG – my musical partner since 1996, the other half of Doc’s Kids, my first wife… Of course I’m glad you joined the LSB officially for this tour of duty after years of being on the fringes of the band. I needed you all-in full time to make this work. You listened to the early mixes of all of these songs, coached me through tough studio nights and listened more critically to these songs than anyone else ever will. I truly value your input and feedback as much as I value your friendship. Your support, promotion, enthusiasm and faith in this project inspires me to do more and think outside of the box every day. Your commitment and investment in this album re-motivates me every time I start to question it. I’m not sure I’m capable of doing anything musical without you anymore. So, thank you.
Sarah VanValkenberg – Sarah, producing your records is how I learned how to use my studio. I enjoyed helping to design your songs so much that my creative fires, that I thought were snuffed out, started to glow again. That first CD was quite the experiment with a steep learning curve but we both learned quite a bit. “Guitar Picks & Bottle Caps” is truly fantastic and I think my writing started again simply because of how jealous I was that your record was turning out so well. Thank you for letting me help shape those records and songs. I know for a fact that if we wouldn’t have made “Guitar Picks & Bottle Caps” together, there would be no $80 Whiskey. Now I will have to figure out a way to keep you from outgrowing me, so I get to produce your 3rd album too. Thank You.
Jason Narverud – you took all of our pictures, designed our album and promotion, built our website, produced and directed our new video…and who knows what else you’ve done that I just don’t understand yet. I certainly don’t deserve the effort you’ve put into this project, but it either wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without your work or it would have been much, much lamer. I owe you so many $80 Whiskeys, I can’t even calculate the tab. Thank you.
And finally, my Wife & Daughter – Yes. I promised I was done putting out and promoting records. And yes, I spent an inordinate amount of time building a studio in our house, learning how to use it, producing other people’s work and eventually making another rock & roll record…that I now have to promote. All in the abundant free time that we all have. An apology for all of that would be insincere because I think you both knew before I did that I wasn’t ever done. You both know me better than I know myself and still put up with me. I hope that I always allow and support the two of you being yourselves and being fulfilled the same way you have allowed and supported me. Making this record has made me happy in a way that I forgot about and it is 100% dedicated to my unwavering love for both of you. You two are my world and my life…and although I know it hasn’t always been, right now…life is very good. Thank you.
j. bell