I've only heard of the term runner's high... that zen-like state of euphoria a persons body achieves from breaking though the peak of maximum physical exertion. One could rightly assume for a member of Brother Trucker - athletically speaking - this could be achieved by say,  returning a grocery cart. Why do Scandanavians melt their muscles in saunas? I get this now. There is something seriously soothing about locking in with Jim and Lyle's pocket when the gears shift and Mike and Matt take things farther. It creates it's own breeze.

Brother Trucker returned to our roots this past weekend. Rock Island, Illinois. Rozz-Toxx - a 'NNerestin' venue (as Neil Young would say). -- Art comes first - Mike would tell you that the house coffee is actually first (some of the best he's ever tasted). I thought the room had the perfect vibe to catch a young Bob Dylan with just his acoustic and harmonica in say 1966. - Any place that serves Boetje's Mustard is gourmet however. "Boetje's! Cuz We Love It!*

Sugar Grove Winery in Newton closed the month. Very nicely. I was doing my "Diana Ross/Cher thing" (as Lyle Kevin Hogue has added to the BT vocabulary...) changing my sweat-soaked shirt for next set.... (a - ya,  that stuff above about the zen heat and yadda-yadda- is all BS. -- something about Jameson and Garlic says to mosquitoes "Come and Get IT!") --  So - I'm soggying off to get a shirt and this young fella comes up to me and says "Hey - it's real nice to hear some storytelling in music these days"...  He went on to elaborate about his thoughts on the music scene in general.

Ever since Mike and I started performing songs in front of audiences I've always looked for "that one guy got what we do tonight"... Mike and I have found our friends (cause "fans" seems like a silly word) of Brother Trucker "one person" at a time... I'm really looking forward to seeing this kid at future shows... and no bullshit - if you - the person reading this - is that "one person" - who got what we do on any giving night... we love you... and thanks.

See ya next Month Friends.

Big Love - your buddies in BT.

PS Thank You To the West High Falcons Class of '86 and of course the Fleming-Wiegand Chateau and Fried Chicken Emporium.

*by Gino Fleming

80/35 was swealtering for some - but honestly - we were all so cooked from the Thursday before - it didn't effect the band a bit.  The short version of our particiapation in the 2011 80/35 fest is full of gratitude for being invited. I'd venture to say Des Moines/Central Iowa music as a scene is energized and self-aware. I'm excited and hopeful for the future. Congrats to those who put their skin in the game.

Summer is half way through - hope it's going great for you. Hope to see you at show soon!

Best - andy

Night 2 - The All Iowa Wine Fest... dark skies and rain the whole way to Adel... the lone spot of blue sky hoverd directly above the fest - and continued to spread out from there for the remainder of the day/night. Just about a perfect Iowa Night... excellent crowd... food & wine. (a bar with Jameson across the street from the fest - I knew where to look for bass players and keyboardist on breaks). Iowa Wine growers are artist in their own right. They've allowed music (Iowa Music) to be part of their equation and it's very appreciated.

Came home from Adel to read on the web that Clarence Clemmons died due to complications from a massive stroke. My first double-record purchase - when I was 13 (I think) - was The River. The sound of The Big Man's Sax was the sound of The Party... on Meeting Across the River (from Born To Run) his horn was the embodiment of cinimatic scope of John Houston. There will never be another Clarence Clemmons. Thanks for all that music.

This week - Brother Trucker has a very special Friday Night in store... Perry, Iowa. - Opening for one of my favorite Iowa songwriters and friend - David Zollo ( & the Body Electric)...Perry on the Plaza...immediately following - BroTro will be loading into the *inFamous Rockin' Horse Tavern. We haven't played the Tavern in a few years - but I can honestly say ... the mere mention of the Rockin' Horse brings a smile to our collective Trucker Faces.

Here's hoping your summer is off to a great start... 80/35 fest is just around the corner!

Keep on Rockin'...

Anj, BT.

Adel's Penoach Winery had us a little gun-shy about the outdoor setup under the dark clouds... I think it spooked some of the crowd. But not a drop. It felt good to get the full night of music in-  with the Full Trucker in effect. We're outside next week Friday and Saturday.

Surprises/observations randomly noticed blog style.

A. First ever Magic Bus by The Who played right before the rain-as  extended introduction of the song Billy.

B. 3rd gig I've ran the battery on my mini-van down.

3. I proudly drive a mini-van.

D. Brother Trucker has a summer internship program.

E. My throat is still somewhere between Bonnie Tyler and Rod Stewart with a dash of Nick Nolte.

F. Jim Viner slips a hint of cowbell in the song St. Jude and it ='s people dancing.

G. No matter the venue - the mention of Rob Borsilino's name evokes applause.

H. Brother Trucker (minus Matt) was "interviewed" for 80/35... my guess is that due to our overall inchohearence in answers and extreem lack of fashion - it'll never be webcast. Just a hunch.

J. Oldest Bt song played at the last two shows Pleasure & Pain... Most recently written song performed "I Thought I Knew Ya"

K. Children love dancing to live music - adults are at their most innocent when dancing. albeit drunk.

L.  Bo Diddely and Slim Harpo via the Rolling Stones in a cornfield is my happy sound.

M. Jim Viner observed a nick-name with a military rank and alcoholic beverage "Col. Jager" has a certain ring .

Yers always, Andy 

Samuel was born on July 11, 1920 in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the son of Maxwell A. and Virginia (Slade) O'Brien. Samuel served as a Regiment Liaison Officer during World War II in the 320th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division of the US Army and was awarded a Bronze Star and the French Legion of Honor. Samuel participated in the following Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland , Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), and Central Europe, among the cities that his unit helped liberate were: St. Lo, Mortain, Chataudun, Le Mans, Troyes, Nancy, as well as the Gremecey Forest.

Thank You Mr. O'Brien.

I've done the Dave Zollo cure for years... honey, baking soda and salt in equal parts - gargled warm. The Mike Fitzpatrick cure of Jameson should only be used for bad moods and celebrations. If I can manage to keep my big mouth shut for the next few days ... well, anyways... any arm chair E,N and Throat doc's out there with a suggestion for you're old pard anj... will be greatly appreciated and attempted. Jennie Rae Snodgrass's throat blessings/vibes worked wonders at El bait.

Highlights from the past two shows for me - The hometown applause for Lyle Kevin Houge in Ankeny. Mike Fitzpatrick's guitar solo on the newish song Night Of My Life and Jim Viner's Live version of Badlands arrangement on the song Downtown... most of all - my two daughters (and beautiful wife) dancing on stage (minus the beautiful wife) with Brother Trucker on Saturday Night... Sophia and Bella.

Life is Good. Live Is Better. Thanks for your support - always. Anj

Faithfully Reported - Andy Fleming/Brother Trucker 5/30/2011

set 1

Downtown

Voices

Pleasure & Pain

Burning

Mind Your Own Business  - (Hank Williams Sr)

Who Called The Cops?

Crackin Up - (Bo Diddly)

Rent is due

Bobby (Happy Memorial Day)

St. Jude (With Love for Rob Borselino)

Too Loose

Happy

Wild Things - (Gurf Morlix)

Wounded Dog - (Bo Ramsey)

New Day/Old Town

Bump In the Road

Joy - (Lucinda Williams)

Bonita

Well Enough Alone (aka Panama)

Sometimes Your Best

Pretty Girls Always Get Me Down

Friday Night Fight 

Folsom Prison Blues / I've Got Stripes - (Johnny Cash)

Valley Junction – Set 2

Move It On Over - (Hank Williams Sr)

Bar fight

Hipshake - (Slim Harpo)

Parnell - (Dave Zollo)

Night Of My Life

Forever For Now

Flat Horizon/Play It All Night Long (*Warren Zevon)

Something Big

Bought and Sold

Harold’s Barber & Beauty

Let It Bleed (Rolling Stones)

The Penderbecks

Billy

Who Do Ya Love? (Bo Diddly)

Bertha (The Grateful Dead)

Live With Me (The Rolling Stones)

I Thought I Knew You

Dead Flowers (The Rolling Stones)

Home Cookin'

They Took Off

All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan)

My name is Andy and I'll be blah-blah-blah-ing at you for the next several run on sentences. The Quick N Dirty version of the events that led to BT as we are today. Two life long buddies (Mike & Me)... dug the Beatles and the Stones... played as an acoustic duo... Met bassist and fellow music Freak - Lyle Kevin Hogue... recorded several (3) albums for Trailer Records...after our 4th self-released...(The Flyover)...added keyboardist/vocals Matt Jesson and landed Ace Drummer, Jim Viner. Quick N Dirty.

We've been releasing our recorded efforts since 2000. We first used the name Brother Trucker as an acoustic duo at a bar in  our hometown -Davenport, Iowa (The Washington Union Tap) in 1990. We played our first open Mic at Java Joes in Des Moines under the name TLC (Taste Like Chicken)...1994.

We've always been bad at naming bands.

Tim Flanagan and Tom Brinkleson - (Flanagans Lounge and Hamilton's Executive Lounge) were the first two establishments to give Brother Trucker a "stage" to thicken our skin and hone our craft... did I mention Jameson's Irish Whiskey? Brother Trucker carved out a loyal local following at these two venues... Julio's and Club 308 completed our circut in the 1990's of - waaay overplaying our zipcode.

I think I have managed to change tenses - at least 3 times in this first ever blog attempt. With the number of educators in the extended Brother Trucker Family... I'm going to call this a ramble before He starts talking about himself in 3rd person like he's known to do.

Thanks for reading. More to come.

Yer ol Buddy Anj.

andy fleming/brother trucker

@VaudevilleMews is holding a Twitter contest tomorrow (5/12) for the chance to win two tickets and two drinks for the Steepwater Band and Brother Trucker show 5/14. Check your streams at 2 pm.