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Extension and Anniversary Shows
Great news! The Soulcasters have been extended at the House of Blues and Jazz. We will be rockin’ the best live music in Shanghai until January 2nd!
The House of Blues and Jazz has become a live music landmark in Shanghai. In the club’s 15 year history, some of the best foreign artists and bands have passed through its doors, expanding and enriching the local blues and jazz scene. This November, come celebrate the club’s 15th anniversary! This exciting month long event will bring some of the club’s greatest bands back to Shanghai to play, jam, and fan the already scorching flames at one of the greatest live music venues in all of China. Come witness the entertaining power of Carlton J. Smith, the original and authentic blues of Sam Hooper, and the house rocking soul of Greg Luttrell, all backed by the current show stopping lineup from Boston, Mike Null & The Soulcasters. If you are a blues and/or jazz fan in Shanghai, this event is not to be missed!
Virus and Malware Free!
Hi all.
As of today, my website is officially virus and malware free! Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience you may have experienced in not being able to access my site for the past month or so.
I will continue to post new content and keep everyone updated!
Be well,
Mike
Settling In
The most recent post on the Boston Blues Society Blog:
Mike Null
Special to The Killing FloorIt’s great to be back. The band received a warm reception and despite some basic house sound issues, we had a pretty successful first week.
We have definitely been busy…from rehearsing three hours every day to going to a sterile government health facility and getting the required “health check”. This consists of changing into a little white robe and slippers and being bussed from one room to another for a series of tests. I even tried to crack a joke as I laid on the bed getting my sonogram…”Is it a boy or a girl?”
The doctor didn’t laugh, but he did give me a chocolate afterward.
There is always the necessary trip to some of the local fake markets to get the Boston boys hip to the International standard of dress: suits that actually fit to the T, and gig clothes that don’t look like you’re about to start your shift at the local Citizen’s Bank. And, of course, everyone wants to try the Chinese McDonald’s.
Once the loose ends are tied up, we can finally focus on the main reason that we’re here, the music, and lots of it. Three sixty-minute sets a night, six nights a week. A lot happens to people when they realize that they have to play that much. Back in the states, Asia-bound players become so overwhelmed by the fact that they’ll be in China in a few weeks, that the whole “six nights a week” thing doesn’t quite sink in.
It’s not until they actually physically get here and have to do it for a week before they find out what they signed up for. Anxiety begins to set in and people go through a lot of mental changes. They begin to feel trapped and their “inner divas” come out. They can become extremely sensitive to sound issues and they worry about how their hands are going to hold up. Part of my job as a band leader, and I guess being the more experienced one because I’ve done this before, is constantly reminding people that everything will be okay.
“It’s cool…I know where to get a good cheeseburger.”
“If the bed is too hard, there’s an IKEA in Shanghai where you can buy a softer mattress.”
“We don’t have anything to do in the mornings. Sleep in…every day.”
My favorite thing about six nights a week is that I have to get up there and give it everything I’ve got—no matter how I feel that day. The worst part about six nights a week is that I have to get up there and give it everything I’ve got—no matter how I feel that day. It’s a real growing experience. A contract like this will cut through all of the mental excuses holding you back from musical evolution. One can say, “but…but…” and it doesn’t matter because you still have to get up there and kill it.
Again. And again.
There’s life before Shanghai, and there’s life in Shanghai. And right now, I’m here…on a contract, and there’s a room full of people here to experience this American thing called “the Blues”. If I’m not feeling it, they’re not going to feel it.
I had better get some sleep! Until next time…
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The Holidaze
I don’t know why it never dawned on me before.. Ya know, you really don’t do HAVE to do the whole holiday thing.
For me, in addition to “tidings of joy”, the holidays can be filled with dread, stress, obligation and financial woe. Maybe I’m just selfish, but I really don’t like buying presents. Gift giving always seemed like such a weird way to express your love for them. “Hey, I love you.. here’s a little tin monkey that does backflips!”
I guess it’s really all about getting people the gifts that they really need. What you’re really giving them then is the gift of time. You’ve put in the time to think about them and what they would really want.
Giving gifts is great and everything, but I’m not exactly rich, so it’s always stressed me out. That, and I’m crap at organizing myself so I often leave things until the last moment.
In the big picture, isn’t life about living? I’d rather be rich with experience than have 10 horses a giant house and a hedge fund. I think the best way to share the holidays is to share experiences with one another.
My family recently lost my great Uncle Vic, and he left a small inheritance. My dad, being the great guy that he is turned the money around right back into the family and bought us cruise tickets for the holidays. I just got back and I had an absolute blast. It was fantastic because we all spent time together, relaxed and shared an experience.
My parents are a little religious, but my little sister and I aren’t really.. so this really works for me. I would love to start a new family tradition: instead of exchanging gifts, we should all just take a trip somewhere. It doesn’t always have to be the Bahamas.. maybe even just somewhere cheap and close.
I feel like it means so much more to just make an effort to be present around each other and just enjoy their company. Besides, who is this Santa guy anyway? He’s been distracting us from what the holidays are really about for a long time.. family.
Well, here’s wishing you a happy holidays from my family to yours:
The Official Introduction
Check out this latest post on the Chicken Slacks Official Band Blog:
It’s Officially “Hammer Time!”
Folks, we want to officially introduce you to the latest member of the Slacks entourage, our new guitar player Mike “The Hammer” Null. Mike comes to us from San Francisco where he grew up singing in a world-class boys choir (no kidding!) where he travelled extensively performing for everyone from your grandmother to the Pope! That’s right, Mike’s larynx has been blessed by the holiest man on the planet. If it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for the Slacks!
But of course Mr. Null (the name means “zero” or “absence of anything” which Mike tells us is a GOOD thing) can also play one mean guitar. One day a few years back he quit college to practice all day, and it certainly shows! The man has a great sense of rhythm and will tear your face off whenever we cut him loose with a solo! Those of you who have seen him in action will attest!
Of course the big question since Mike joined the group has been “What happened to Mighty Slim?” Well, it’s a sordid, foggy story that would make a great network mini-series someday, but as far as we can make out, Slim blacked out one night after the Cantab, woke up in the U.S. Navy, went AWOL because they wanted him to cut his hair, got shipwrecked on the Ivory Coast and fell in love with a rebel leader’s daughter. Soon after, she was killed in battle, and he was so heartbroken that he sought amnesty in China and is now studying Shaolin Kung Fu. He now goes by Mighty Sahn. We wish him well on his journey to find peace within himself.
I’d like to send out my thanks for the kind words!
New Design Coming Soon!
I know what you’re thinking.. “Thank God!”
Ha. No, but seriously.. I have decided to throw in the towel. As much fun as tinkering and self educating can be, I’ve decided to leave the design work to the designers.
Fortunately, I happen to live across from a great designer. He work is clean, minimalist, concrete, and always with a pinch of style.
We’re on a pretty relaxed time schedule, but I’m hoping to have it up by the end of the year.
Stay tuned!
