MidNite Alibi / Blog
Heavenly Music
When practice began last night we were working on an original song written by our guitarist Keith Goodman. Kelly and Keith worked on the song for about 15 minutes and then we got started on practice. Just as we were beginning the first song, a little elderly woman was knocking at the door. At first glance, I was thinking it was a neighbor coming over to tell us the music was too loud since it's warmer now and we had the windows open. So it was with trepidation that I answered the knock at the door.
When I opened the door, I could see the big wide grin on her face. She introduced herself as the neighbor across the street. She told me that she was outside doing yard work and heard our music and she just had to come over to tell us how heavenly it sounded! She mentioned that she stayed outside the night before, the entire time we practiced just so she could hear our lovely music.
I told her thank you and that at first I thought she was coming to tell us to turn it down! She said "Oh, no! I would never dream of telling you to turn it down! It sounds so wonderful, I could listen to you all sing all the time!"
How touching and sweet that exchange was with her! It made me so proud to be doing what we are doing. This is why we do it. There is nothing, and I mean nothing more fulfilling in life than knowing that you have brought joy to another human being. Music is my life! Music has the ability to touch hearts and minds like nothing else in the world. It is our desire to continue touching people in a positive way with our talents.
We thank God for what he has given us and I will always have an imprint on my heart of that sweet woman's face as she shared with me just how much happiness our music brought her!
Rock On Country Strong!
See you at JT's tomorrow night!
Roses in the Snow
One of my favorite songs by Emmy Lou Harris, is coming true in Kansas City this May. We have had two snows so far this month (not really significant) but still.....LOL
What a hard winter it was. I guess after living in Tucson for nearly a year before coming back was hell on my sinuses because of the dry. I came down sick January and still am dealing with phlegm! Blechhhhh! But, things are on the up-swing! We are writing new songs. To date Kelly had 11 to 13 songs before I met him and since we've been together we've written 10 songs that we've arranged with music and I'm sitting on three songs that need music. Altogether? We have approx 26 songs!
Unbelievable! We are gigging now and are hoping that soon we are picked up by a big label and can go on tour! We are dreaming big and won't stop until our dreams are realized!
We got some really potentially great news today from Nashville and we are waiting to see how it pans out. All of these things, make us realize that even though there are times that seem dark, if you just light a candle you find what you've lost and many things that you never knew you had all along!
We give all the praise to God and a great big thank you to all of our faithful friends and supporters who have been praying right along with us for great and wonderful things to happen with the MidNite Alibi project!
Rock On Country Strong!
Alot has happened lately
I can't believe I haven't blogged in so long. I caught that flu bug that went around and am still fighting congestion in my upper respiratory area that is causing issues with resonance in my transition area of my voice. FRUSTRATING! Regardless, "The Beat Goes On"..... We have been hitting things hard and heavy. We have purchased lighting, fog machines, new guitars, microphones and are looking for a board and PA to ensure we are "performance ready". We have two gigs booked with many mroe to come and hopefully, soon we can get the kinks worked out with our recording equipment and get in studio to record our first Album! Things are happening fast and furious and we couldn't be more happier! Oh...also we finally wrote "Rock On Country Strong"...and I must say, It's A WINNER! Have a great day peeps and please tell as many people as you can about our new website www.midnitealibi.com We love you guys! Rock On Country Strong Stormy
Cronin's - Saturday Feb 2
I just posted four of the best quality recordings I got at Cronin's last Saturday. One for each of us singers in the band, except for Seth. Maybe next gig we can get him singing.
The voice is better, still need to break through the phlegm that is blocking my transition area. I can sing upper register, or lower register and can't move between the two with ease yet. I'm thinking a good hot herbal steam for a couple of days will knock the stuff loose.
Rock On Country Strong!
Stormy
God Gives Gifts
I give. I accept what is happening to me could very well be a MAJOR life lesson. Whether it be Karma, yet another lesson in patience, whatever it may be. I'm tired of fighting it. My body is still hurting from my massage because my lymph nodes are so enflamed, it seems my every waking moment has been spent focusing on this illness. For what? A few minutes on a stage sharing my talent? There will be other days where I can shine. In 2008 at Mac's Place a man I knew walked in. He was happier than I had ever seen him in his life. I asked him to sit down with me and I listened to "his story". I was mesmerized and I fell in love with him that night. For that moment in time I was let into his life as a friend. I waited patiently in the wings as I have so many times in my life, and I remained his true friend, and he mine. Finally, God opened a door for love to develop for us together. I had already got a taste of performing and through him finally opening up to write.
Finally opened up. That right there is a rare thing for me. I spent the first year of my life crying. That's about as open as you can get. Yet, because of a life where my heart has been stomped on over and over and over, I have put walls of protection around me and became this closed off person. I'm stoic and strong. But that is not me at all.
As a little girl I was prissy and fragile and cried all the time. Probably why I have some extra sinus cavities that tend to get infected and wreak havoc on my life. So, I'm gooey inside. I'm sensitive and emotional. I have tried to hold it in for so long, be strong and like the fight with this cold, I just can't do it any more.
The man I met, my husband that I am so proud of and still every day amazed and thankful for, needs to finally step up and be strong. Oh, don't get me wrong, this is not an order to him from me, it is a gift God has given him. He too has been beaten down his life and although he is very strong it has caused him to be stuck in this pattern of taking the backseat. So as my past has caused me to appear stoic, so his has caused him to appear weak. Appearances that are not reflective of our true selves.
My husband loves to sing, and within our relationship he loves being the leader. When I could sing and we started MidNite Alibi it seemed I was in control. This was wrong. This illness, probably is a blessing in disguise, a way for the order of Things in my husband and mines life to be perfectly aligned. If the lesson I need to learn us to let go, then I surrender all!
I am tired of fighting it. I have asked God for years and years to bring me a man such as the one I have now. A strong man, a sensitive man, a funny man, a man who works hard and most of all a man with whom I can sing with, be sung to and whom I can sit and listen to singing and playing. God is just giving me what I've asked for.
I have always loved hearing my husband sing, to me he has the most wonderful voice I've heard in a long time. I will be proud to sit in the audience and listen to him and our wonderful band mates. So I gladly surrender to this cold and resign myself to the fact that MidNite Alibi is not just about me. It about much, much more. It is about music and life and letting go and sharing talent and joy with others. It's about what makes you feel good inside and expressing yourself and just being.
I want my husband to experience this "band" experience as the one in control. I don't want to do anything that would cause it to turn out any other way than how God wants it to be.
Now rest and healing can happen! Come watch MidNite Alibi with me at Cronin's Saturday night and enjoy their wonderful tunes! I really need someone to sit with me now!
Rock On Country Strong!
Stormy
Sunday Practice
Well, it's only 6 more days until we hit the stage at Cronin's in Lenexa. I still can't sing and today I woke up barely able to talk. I'm ok though, I have so much faith in all my band mates. I've asked myself over and over and over why this is happening and I just can't figure it out. Kelly thinks it is because he needed to step it up and take control and I'm inclined to think he is right. I am a very strong person and have an even stronger personality and this makes me a natural leader. Perhaps, I also had to learn to let go and just let things happen.
Nothing like being forced to let go. Regardless, of if I get my voice back or not, I know MidNite Alibi is gonna kick ass this coming Saturday night.
Music business is a very hard thing. Lots of people just getting into music may think that it's just fun and games, but it's not. You have to practice, and if you are a singer you have to find a way to stay healthy so you voice does not give out on you. I've prided myself in the fact that I try to stay healthy and neti-pot and sing every day to keep my vocal chords in shape. Nothing prepared me for this flu this year. I hope I get my voice back before Saturday.
I really hope that as many of you as can will come see us Saturday!
Oh, we finally wrote "Rock On Country Strong" yesterday with the help of Kelly's son Daniel. I truly love all of Kelly's children dearly and I really wish there was a way I could convince them of this fact. I know I"m a hard ass about some things, but that is only because I love so much!
Well, time to go gargle salt water!
Rock On Country Strong!
Stormy
Wednesday NIght Practice
I have to say that I have the most amazing band mates in the world. Still I can't sing because of the left-overs from the flu, so I had to just sit and listen to the guys hittin it! It literally brought tears to my eyes.
It reminded me of a couple of years ago when I had my own band here in KCK and Kelly and I were just friends. At that time I wanted him to be in my band so bad because I thought if we could just do music together, we could find a way to make the connection and finally be together. The guys in my band at that time, must have been jealous of Kelly or something because they did nothing but bad mouth him and his lack of experience playing rhythm guitar.
This time around, because of the kind of character of the players in our band, I see each and every week how much Kelly is growing into one pretty awesome Rhythm guitar player. I truly can't describe the pride that wells up inside of me when I sit and watch him leading band practice, with his guitar slung over the front of him, playing and singing his heart out. I fall in love with him over and over again whenever I see it.
Even though, it's so very depressing for me to not be able to sing because of all this stuff sitting behind my sinuses blocking my transition area, I have comfort in the fact that all of the MidNite Alibi band members are there for me and we are all on the same page.
I could not have ever in my life asked for a better bunch of guys! I love you guys!
Here's to Kelly MacDonald, Keith Goodman, Rick Sims and Seth Bohanon!
Preparing for Feb 2
I have been battling the flu that morphed into Acute Bronchitis, and I could not participate in band practice yesterday. This was very depressing for me, until I listened to the tape recording of the guys practicing! OMG I have never in my life had the pleasure of working with a great group of musicians. I am so proud of my husband Kelly, he has come such a long way in playing rhythm and singing at the same time! It's like I don't recognize him anymore!
Keith, our lead guitarist was wailing out those lead licks like a regular ROCK STAR and what can I say about our drummer Rick Sims? Well, they all are just the consumate professionals! Of course, my son Seth on bass just blows me away every time! I really can't express the emotions that I've experienced during this whole process!
I am super excited about our very first gig at Cronin's in Lenexa on February 2 and although they only hold around 80 or so people I know we are going to fill that place to the rafters? Why you ask?
Well, think about it. We were just #10 on here last week and I have listened to the recordings of the other bands on here that are in the top 10 and I see their gig schedules and I read their bio's and know these bands have been working their asses off to get to where they are in the rankings on here.
One simple fact though about MidNite Alibi. We went from #110 to 21 in only 7 days. We were at #10 in a little over a month and get this.......are you ready for it? We have NEVER gigged yet! We DO NOT have our studio quality produced recordings up on here. Kansas City HAS NOT heard exactly what we can do yet!
OMG, the thought of what is going to happen once we are finally let lose on the streets is forever sitting on the edge of my mind! This music moves me. This group inspires me! We can't wait to share it all with you Kansas City!
We believe we have a sound and a presence in music that has not been felt in Kansas City since FireFall was on the scene at the Old Merry Go Round! Tell as many people as you can to get to Cronin's to hear us on February 2. I promise you, that you will not be disappointed!
If you come to Cronin's and are the first one to mention this blog I will personally do a shot with you!
Rock On Country Strong!
Kickstand January 12
It was a great wonderful experience opening for "Shades of Grey" at the Kickstand on January 12! We started with Take it Easy by the Eagles, went into our original "Dimming Now" and then "Alright Now" by Free. By this time they were all screaming for more! So we did "Hotel California" for them!
What a great night!
Thank you to Shades of Grey for allowing up to open for them!
Encouraged
Last night we had some company over, so I pulled out the MAC and opened up for the first time a Garage Band recording of our very first practice with our new drummer Rick. I am such a perfectionist, that I have to admit in the last few weeks, I've worried (I'm a worry wart too), that it would take us a long time to get ready to start gigging on a regular basis.
After listening to this "practice" recording, I was floored! Don't get me wrong, I've known that we are definately on the right track wtih this group that we now have, but I was so very impressed with what basically was our very first practice!
I really can't contain my sheer excitement about MidNite Alibi and what this project is shaping into! I have never in the 10 or so years I've been in bands, worked with a nicer, most professional group of guys.
We still have a delimma of needing a bass player to sit in when my son Seth or Kelly's son Seth can't make a gig, but for the most part; I just can't complain.
I can't wait until we get some songs recorded for our demo and I get my press kits made and ready for distribution! I have this sneaking feeling that once I get out and beat the streets handing out the kits, that the calls wanting to book us are just going to start pouring in!
It's very comforting to know that we've got a solid group for th emost part and that we are also going to be "in studio" soon working on our first album! The future is so bright for MidNite Alibi and I'm glad, cuz I look soooo good in shades!
Rock On Country Strong!
Stormy
