Ouch!!

I am not picking my nose here. This picture was taken about 3:30 AM, eleven hours after the renegade music stand attacked me, and after playing a 4 hour gig. You might be able to see the center of my lower lip beginning to bruise. Just imagine how painful it must be to play when the mouthpiece sits right on top of that gash. Am I whining a little here???

The band. The Teacher took my camera and got a couple of shots when she had a break. This is the best of the bunch. We actually have a new member here since the post below. The trombonist in the middle is "Skippy". He's a pretty good player, but he's only 17. He's a bit immature in this type of playing, but he'll develop. Besides, everybody should know a "Skippy"!

In Cahoots w/the Mob Rules Horns

This isn't a comprehensive description of the band, but it gives you an idea of who does what. We all sing, to some degree. The horns are mostly relegated to background vocals. And the horns rarely do any choreography. We're a bit boring in that sense. But we kick butt when we play!

This would be Drummer Boy (check out the Satan eyes!) and Princess Leia (the Princess, for short. Not to be confused with Eye Girl in the last post. She's a Star Wars geek). D.B. is the only remaining original member of the band other than myself. Technically, it's his band. He books us, owns most of the PA equipment, and drives most of the time. The Princess plays alto sax, but over the past year or so has claimed the lead vocals on a number of songs.

We call this guy Superman. He plays lead trumpet all night long, and rarely falters. Chops of steel. Here he is with his wife (Superwoman). In real life, they share the same first name. It's so cute you want to puke. They are the proud parents of Superboy, who was born a little over a year ago.

This is the Old Man and the Teacher. I couldn't find a picture of him without a microphone obscuring something. The O.M. has logged numerous years playing on the road from Alaska to Mexico. Even during the sequined jumpsuit, big hair, disco days of the 70s. Due to years of substance abuse, he plays guitar backwards and upside down. That means a right-handed guitar, left-handed, for those of you keeping score. More on the Teacher below...

This is the Teacher, me and the Princess at a Mexican Fiesta thing we played for (note my sombrero!). The Teacher is our newest member. She's our lead vocalist (most of the time). She splits her duties with the Diva (no pictures) who has cut back her gigs since having her baby this fall. Teacher's day job is, duh, teaching 2nd graders. She's also an actress, and has appeared in several musicals over the years. As for me, besides the trombone, I also play some keyboards, bass guitar when necessary, and write most of the horn arrangements. Since this is MY blog, I have no nickname!

3/4 of the Mob Rules Horns. The Princess, Superman and the Rookie, chillin' before a gig. The Rookie plays 2nd trumpet, but we also let him loose on bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and lead vocals on a Jimmy Buffet tune or two. Being the Rookie, we also make him schlep the heavy equipment, set up lights and the P.A. He can't wait until we have a new member join us.