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When in Ventura,
Hello friends, Last night at the Majestic Theater we returned to one of the coolest towns in all of California--Ventura. The last time we played there was several years ago and we've been wanting to return ever since. We heard about the Majestic when STYX Production Manager Keith Marks worked there with another act while we were off the road for a while and last night got to experience it for ourselves. It was a great Rock Vibe there. We noticed that young, first time STYX fans outnumbered returning fans considerably, so we were thrilled to have found a venue that made this possible. Their unbridled energy spilled over onto our stage and propelled us relentlessly through our 2+ hours, and when we left there we were spent! What a great way to end a fine Southern California day. Our bus dropped me off just before sunrise and I was planning to get a couple of hours' sleep but my dogs were so happy to see me that they would not have it so I took them each out for a little walk on the beach enjoying the warm sand beneath my own feet. When the morning clouds burned off we all got in the water, including my two brother-in-laws, Rick and Don. Clyde, our yellow Lab swam so much that he was toast and spent the rest of the day on the floor looking like a blowup dog who someone had let about half the air out of. He was one tuckered out, but happy boy. We've been on an intense roll lately, finding deeper and deeper grooves, increasing the microscope to fine-tune more and more tiny details which you may or may not be able to detect, but as a band it is what you live for, look forward to and miss terribly when you have too many days away from it. Extremely addictive too. This sort of thing is only possible when you perform as often as we do and it might help you understand why we don't take as long of breaks as we used to. Since we were challenged to replace some members of the band or to walk away from STYX a few years ago, we have had the incredibly good fortune to rebuild it on the same foundation, and with members who, like us, wanted to see just how far we could push the classic engine of the band. So far we are not red lining this baby and it's running cooler than ever. Leon and Patti Taylor, just back from an extensive tour of Japan with The Ventures, attended last night's concert and Patti surprised me with a photo she took of me behind a frying pan with a spatula at Billy Bob Thornton's house the last time Jeanne cooked up a big Southern Dinner of fried catfish, greens, fried okra, hoe cakes and other mouthwatering delights. It was when Leon, Don, Nokie and the rest of the Ventures were there to record with Billy. I was assigned catfish duty with my buddy Coby, who discovered along with me that in doing so, we had first dibs on the choicest pieces. By the time dinner was served, we were full. The photo was significant because the last time I was photographed bellied up to a stove was in the early 80's in my friend Bobby Riccio's restaurant RICCIO'S in Palm Springs when I joined brother Danny cooking up my own Fetuccini Alfredo. Now, married to Jeanne who is an acclaimed culinary wizard, I have really not felt worthy of getting near the stove in ages, she considers this photo an extreme rare and curious wonder. Thanks Patti! Well, I have once again managed to ramble off course to the point where I am almost back where I started, and now it's time to shower up and get ready for Ricky, Todd and Daniel to show up here at the house where we are meeting to head over to the OC for today's Arrowfest. It will be the antitheses of last night (outdoors, daylight, massive venue) and we're looking forward to it. Boredom will never be an issue in STYX. See you behind the Orange Curtain!!
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