As we head into these hectic holiday weeks I want to wish you all safety, peace and joy. The temptation is to overspend as we are inundated by all the crap that TV and movies throw at us. More is better and even our children believe this.

Let me offer some alternatives that will bring enjoyment, peace and is pretty inexpensive. It also will help refocus us on what this season is all about and what gifts we should truly be sharing with those we love.

Instead of spending a lot of money on toys and gadgets and such that are mostly packaging that ends up in the landfill, take that money and bring your loved ones to a live show. Erie is blessed with a multitude of opportunities in this area. All of our local universities offer holiday shows. In addition the community itself (churches, civic organizations and businesses) all provide quality seasonal entertainment. 

Treat your loved ones to a meal at one of our great restaurants.  There are dozens of them and in these hard times they would welcome your support. What better way to spend your treasure than to treasure good food with those you treasure the most.

Best of all there are opportunities to combine the music and the food experience. Alot of Erie's best restaurants offer live music. Most of the bars do as well. Not only does your money bring you enjoyment but it actively and meaningfully supports the arts and entertainment scene in Erie.

You can find all these opportunities right here on RockErie.com. Spend a little time, save a lot of money and give a gift to your loved ones that is both meaningful and satisfying at many levels. If you like the music you hear, most bands offer CDs or downloads that you can share with your friends. Again, it is meaningful at many levels and helps ensure that these opportunities will continue to exist in the future. Spending time with loved ones is ALWAYS better than spending money!!

I will be appearing every Friday night at the Casablanca Grill at 8th and Pittsburg Ave starting December 11. The Casablanca is a Mediteranean Style restaurant that features all freshly prepared, unique food. It is by far the best food in Erie and on Friday nights you can get both a great meal and great live music!! My schedule is:

12.11 : Casasblanca: Hideous Primates (my duo with Mean Max), 7 pm

12.18 : Casablanca: Gaffer solo acoustic guitar and fingerstyle/slide, 7 pm

12.19 ; Scotty's Jazz Bar, 3rd and German: Hideous Primates. 10 pm

12.25 : Undetermined if we play this night or not

01.01 : Undetermined if I'll be ABLE to play this night!!

I anticipate that we will continue every Friday night through 2010. We have been the houseband there for over a year now. There is a good reason for that..... people enjoy our music as well as the food and the guests. Friday's are usually very busy there and it's not unusual for complete strangers to leave at the end of the evening with new friends!!

Come and join us and become one of our friends and part of our family!!

Spring is around the corner and the spring/summer concert season is warming up!

I am doing a regular Friday night gig at the Casablanca Grill, 2174 W 8th starting at 7 pm. If you haven't been to the Casablanca yet then you are missing Erie's finest and most unique dining experience! When not performing as part of Hideous Primates I will be showing up to do a solo show. A little, fingerstyle, a little rock and a whole lot of your favorites!! Once in a while we even get a jam session going so come on down!!

 I'll do a solo gig at Presque Isle Gallery and coffeehouse down on the penninsula on Easter afternoon. Bring the family, have a cup of the world's best coffee and shop the art! You'll find some of the most unique art and sculpture pieces that the Erie area has to offer. All are by local artists. In addition you get fantastic music and a great meal if you are still hungry!

 Then, put the kids to bed early and join Hideous Primates Easter Evening Vigil at Scotty's Martini Bar on German Street. You can burn off all the chocolate that the kids forced you to eat and sit and relax with an awesome martini and some of Erie's most original music!!

 I'll also be appearing at the Spring Fever Festival in Cambridge Springs (at the historic Riverside Inn) on Sunday April 19 at noon. I'll be doing a solo fingerstyle set with a lot of fun slide work. This festival is a 3 day event held every year at the Riverside Inn. if you haven't experienced it yet then this is the year to be there. There will be tons of local music plus soem regional/national acts. All 3 days for $20!! Plus, bring your instrument and join the impromptu jam sessions on the porch and the beautiful Riverside grounds!

Alot is happening in Erie and the surrounding area! Get out and enjoy it!!

Just a note to let you all know that I will be appearing at the Casablanca Grill (2174 West 8th Street, just off of Pittsburgh Avenue) every Friday night until the end of April. If you haven't eaten at the Casablanca then you are missing Eries finest middle eastern cuisine! The food is all made to order so it's always fresh and truly awesome! You can sit dowstairs in the dining room or in the cozy upper room on pillows on the floor. You can even enjoy a hookah if you like. 

Every Friday I will be there as either part of Erie's newest dynamic duo "Hideous Primates" or doing a solo set. Either way you can't go wrong. The food is great and the music exceptional, so stop in and check it out. 7 to 9 pm or longer if you want.