So please tell me how you pronounce your name!

Your’is Vorn.

How long have you been a DJ?

I have been a DJ for about fourteen years now.

When did you decide that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

In 2003 I had a chance to survive making and playing music instead of working at my day job as an architectural designer. From there it was over. I was meant to be a DJ.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Form anything; could be a sample, could be a synth sound, my mood, a movie clip…

Where are you originally from?

I am from Moergestel, which is a small village in the Dutch coutryside.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you go?

I like Amsterdam; where I’m now, but I’d love to try out New York, Tokyo or Hong Kong for a while.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever performed for?

That must have been Sensation. It was held in Amsterdam in a football arena for 40,000 people or so.

The smallest?

I’ve done some home parties for a few people when I just started playing, which was just as much fun as playing for thousands of people now.

Are you excited about Electric Zoo coming up this September?

Of course, I heard many good things about it, and as I said, “I LOVE NEW YORK!”

Do you play a lot of festivals like that?

Very many, especially during summer, countless actually.

I really like your MySpace design. Who did that?

Thanks! My brother Christoph designed it, with a little bit of my help. It brought him a career as MySpace designer. (Laughs)

What are your thoughts on MySpace?

It’s over its peak. Facebook is much nicer and more personal.

Are you on Twitter?

My Facebook page is linked to Twitter; that’s all.

If you could be any cartoon character which one would you be and why?

Dexter (not the killer but the scientist).

Has your music really been featured in all of those films listed on your website?

I wish. Where does it say my music is listed in those films?

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

I have to dig deeeep into my memory for that, but to keep it simple I saw Prince in France and that was deffinately something very special.

Tell me a little bit about Balance.

My second mix DJ mix CD, a cross boundary a musical adventure that represents everything I love about music.

So you are a producer as well. Do you like production more than performing?

I love both, but making music is where my heart lies most. Very amazing is to play my own productions for the first time and see how the crowd reacts. I couldnt be a DJ without playing my own tracks also.

How many stamps do you currently have on your passport?

I have a business passport with double amount of pages from December 2006 and it’s almost full!

What is your favorite city to visit?

Tokyo or Hong Kong.

Describe your genre in one word.

Crossgenreelectronicmusic.

What does a typical Friday night look like for you?

Normally flying to my destination, having dinner if there’s time and then sweating the night away in a dark club behind the mixer.

You seem like a pretty stylish guy. Where do you buy most of your clothes?

Same three cities; New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Although Paris is good for shopping too, and Amsterdam’s not bad either.

Tell me about working with Ultimate DJ Gear.

My Ultimate DJ Gear is Traktor DJ software from Native Instruments.

So if someone has never seen you perform before, what can he or she expect from a live show?

A great amount of groovy high quality dance music that doesn’t stick to one sound.

What was the last movie you saw?

L’été Meurtrier, a freaky French thriller from 1983.

Did you like it?

I loved it!

What are you drinking up there on stage?

Champagne is my drink of coice. Not too much beer, as the bathroom is usually too far away to take a break in the middle of a set.

Does it ever get lonely on stage?

I like having people around on stage making a party. Sometimes you can be very lonely playing on a huge stage for a huge crowd that’s too far away.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

Answering interview questions like this!

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

I’ve had many sound issues with my laptop last year, hard to describe the feeling when the music stops and everyone is looking at you and you don’t know what went wrong.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully still coming to New York once in a while, maybe even for Electric Zoo!

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

By someone who made one or two unforgettable pieces of music, that would be nice.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

It’s hot here in my studio, and I think I need to take a break… See you at the Zoo!

Birdy’s is actually known for playing host to a ton of great local and Midwest bands. But there have been a fair share of regional and national acts as well. On this very stage I have seen the likes of Daughtry, The Fray, Mat Kearney, the Detroit Cobras, and many more. But on Saturday, July 24^th, 2010, there were four bands taking the stage. For one low price—only $8—you could get your face melted by Kramus, Alter Ego, Glass Halo, and Fred Shafer. The bill promised to rock the house. When we got there, maybe fifteen minutes after the doors had opened, there were already about fifteen or twenty people sitting around just chatting. We grabbed a table and got ready to have a great night of music.

Kramus Kicks Things Off

It was just after 9:00 when Kramus took the stage. These guys have been playing the Indianapolis scene for quite some time and have made some major changes over the last few years. Sadly, their former lead singer passed away early in 2008, but they have managed to come back from that and in all honesty, are better than ever. Their old sound was too close to Breaking Benjamin to impress. But now, they are on a whole new level. These guys play with heart, emotion, and are a true rock band. They played first, which surprised me, as they had double booked the night. I disagree with bands playing more than one or two shows a month in Indianapolis (or the surrounding area), let alone on the same night. But they were there. They rocked the stage and managed to get me to hum along for a few minutes.

Fred Shafer Brings the Noise

Fred Shafer, who I felt should have been the headliner for the evening, actually took the stage second. Fred, a guy that travels all over the world playing his songs for anyone ready to listen, has so much heart and passion in his voice and his stage presence. His disc, Resistor, is nothing like what you see on stage. And there is a reason for that. You will like the disc, that’s not the issue. He wants you to like, even love, the album, and then see him perform those tunes live. He wants to take you to the next level. And I have seen him play for ten people before, and it’s the same show as when he plays for 10,000.

Fred is actually a good buddy of mine, and I have been following his work for quite some time. It is neat following his tour schedule and seeing all the places that he plays. It makes shows like this, in smaller and more intimate venues, that much better. You can feel the music here, and he will shake every hand in the venue if he has to. Fred is just a nice guy.

He kicked things off and before the first song is over, he is dripping in sweat. But you see past that almost immediately. Driving all the way from Nashville, Tennessee, he played to a room with about fifty to sixty people in it. But that didn’t stop him from playing like it was the last show he would ever play. His songs are rock, that’s for sure. But he adds, in some of the tunes, an almost country feel. He is wearing flannel (I am not sure I have ever seen him in anything else) and he wears cowboy boots well, but he still throws the hard rock front at you. Regardless, listening to tunes from his album, new songs he has never played before, and some older tunes that you can find floating around the Internet, we got a huge taste of who Fred Shafer really is. He is coming back to Birdy’s Bar & Grill in October, so if you have not seen him, or even if you have, come see him perform this fall.

Alter Ego Rocks the House

I was first introduced to the band Alter Ego by one of their band members. Myles Berry, on bass, asked me to take a listen to his new band. They have been tearing up Facebook and Twitter and are on their way to something big. They all still hold day jobs, but they are playing all over the Midwest and getting their names in front of people. Here in town you can catch a show every few weeks, and getting the chance to share the stage with Fred Shafer is an honor. Myles and Fred have been friends for a long time, and this was a neat show to see live.

I had not seen Alter Ego play live before. But as soon as they started singing, the dance floor filled up. Girls (some intoxicated, of course) began dancing and singing along to the lyrics. It was tough keeping up, though. I was not sure if they did that many originals. They did a handful of covers, some from Godsmack and other popular rock bands, offering a mixture for the fans. It was nice hearing some tunes that I was used to, especially since I had not seen these guys before. And I have to admit, they did pretty good covering Godsmack.

The guys in Alter Ego fit the rock band persona perfectly. They were all wearing black shirts, tight jeans, and boots. They had tattoos and wrist bands and were just playing good old fashioned rock music. I loved watching Myles play. He has so much energy and his facial expressions crack me up. He is not only having fun up there, he knows deep inside that is where he is supposed to be. The lead singer didn’t play an instrument, which I enjoy seeing. There are too many bands out there that focus too much on the instruments rather than the vocals. Alter Ego, however, put a ton of emphasis into their vocals. Their lyrics are just as good, and they match the vocals well. Regardless, I am glad I got to see them perform and they are a true Indianapolis rock band.

Glass Halo Sends Us Home

I have not seen these guys either, and came to this show excited to watch them play. These guys, fresh off of a Battle of Birdy’s win last year, they are $10,000 richer and ready to make something of themselves. They are a complete package too. They have merchandise, professional photography complements of Melissa Brewer Photography, and even a laptop allowing fans to sign up for their mailing list. But when you see their equipment, the way the guys all have that rock band (almost an adult alternative rock band) look about them, you start to see why they are so good.

They play a ton around the city, but they are also playing a lot around the Midwest. As a matter of fact, they recently just played a show with Fred Shafer at the Elbow Room up in Chicago. After winning the Battle of Birdy’s they have an excuse to get out and play more shows.

From the first song I was in love. The vocals are polished, and remind me of a harder Killers matched with a dash of Wilco. Their drummer, who is fairly new to the band, doesn’t get too into the songs, but doesn’t need to. His style, his ability to be heard yet not over the top, is just what this bands needs. No offense to the drummer, but the three guys up front are what we came to see. The lead guitar player was a blast to watch, too. He was dancing around, shaking his shaggy hair, and just having a blast on stage. And the bass player, sporting a similar and familiar faux hawk, was throwing vocals into the mic and just making himself welcome on stage. They were all comfortable up there, and it just makes sense they perform together.

Going on this late it is hard to keep a crowd in the room, but they did a good job of entertaining the crowd they had. I had no expectations coming into this, so I was curious to see what they could pull off. I was impressed, and had the chance to actually meet some of the guys throughout the night. The lead singer graduated from Rose Hulman. The guitar player I was talking about earlier has a degree in public relations. But yet they know how to make good rock music. (They gave me a copy of their latest disc, and I am excited to listen to that to say the least.) I can’t wait to know all the words to their songs.

This is just another night of great music in the books here at Birdy’s. This show was well put together, thanks to the likes of Myles Berry, and kept me entertained from the moment I walked in. if you have not seen these bands perform, at least do yourself a favor and listen to them on MySpace or on their official websites. Regardless, you will be treated with some original, raw, and healthy rock music. Throw those devil horns up and start rocking already!

Where did this all start? Not the wine or social media stuff, I mean you. Where did the personality of Gary Vaynerchuk come from?

I would say if you look way back, I am no different now than I was when I was at baseball card shows at fourteen years old. I have always had confidence and some brashness. I always felt I was capable. There was no shot I wouldn’t do it. No shot I couldn’t do it. It was what I did well. I very much feel like all that is going on now is a replication of my DNA. This is what I am good at. This is what I do. It has been a journey of my DNA. Any new genre, the Internet, ecommerce, wine library; it has always been the same game.

I am going through the HubSpot Inbound Marketing University. You are one of the instructors in this webinar series. Do you suggest it and have you been certified yourself?

I do suggest, of course. But no, I have not been certified with HubSpot. It is great though. I love it any time I get the chance to educate. For someone who was such a terrible student it is amazing how much I enjoy teaching. That has been a lot of fun. Getting asked to be a part of the Inbound Marketing University was a great experience.

Tell me about your obsession with the New York Jets.

It’s one of the first things I remember about America. It holds a deeper meaning because of that. It means more to me than you could ever know. I have watched every game since. It’s pretty intense. I am a BIG fan. (Laughs) It’s what I want to accomplish professionally. I want to own them. It’s something I think about and I absolutely focus on.

Have you seen the trailer for The Social Network?

Yes, I have seen them all. I don’t go to a lot of movies, but I will go see that. It’s our world.

If someone were only going to use one tool, only one social network, which one would you recommend?

I would say Facebook. A Facebook fan page (business page) is the most important place to be.

If you could only drink one wine for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?

Probably Salon Champagne. It is great stuff.

It has been said that you are notorious for returning every email you get. Is that true?

Yes I do. Although I am very behind on them right now, but I try to return them all. I am flying to Utah soon and I am excited to answer a couple hundred emails.

Do you fly first class when you fly or are you okay sitting in coach?

When I fly,  I do both. I end up traveling a lot of times with business so much is taken care of with the people I am doing the business with. It is funny; I almost never wanted to sit first class. I didn’t want to seem like a sell out. Just take care of yourself when you travel. I don’t think one way or the other is good or bad.

When should we expect the new book?

The next book is coming out in February. It is called The Thank You Economy. It talks about the return on investment (ROI) of social media and manners in marketing.

Please tell me you are carrying an iPhone 4.

No, not yet. It was crazy busy when it came out, and with the antenna thing happened I wanted to wait to see how it flushes out. I hate AT&T already with the number of issues they have. I didn’t need another one!

How cool is it being a New York Times best selling author with your first book?

Pretty intense. It is so humbling and awesome. I was a terrible English student and I could just laugh at thinking what my teachers think about it now!

You have been on a ton of television shows. Does any one appearance mean more than another?

I would say the first Conan appearance. It was my coming out party.

Is there such a thing as a social media expert?

I think it’s abused and that’s terrible. Every subject matter has people that are more knowledge about it than others. I do think superlatives are being thrown around too much. Things like expert, life changer, stuff like that. The truth is undefeated. I think anyone who is getting paid that doesn’t deserve to get paid will ultimately not get paid. The ones that suck and are cheesy will chance the next trend, and I think the people who have chops will work around the new marketplace.

What do I have to do to get a guest spot on Wine Library TV? If not a guest spot, at least a follow Friday on Twitter or something!

I stopped doing guests. I am going back to basics. I want it to just be the bottles, the camera and me. You have to patient first and foremost. Secondly, I think you are in the running. I appreciate your patience for this interview. You have been beyond gracious, that alone give you a shot!

Do you play golf?

Never. I want to. It’s so funny you brought that up. I better start learning now. Most people learned much younger, so if I don’t start soon I won’t be very good. I might never do it if I don’t start soon.

Explain a typical Friday night for you.

Spending time with Lizzie. You will find us doing things like seeing a movie or having dinner, that kind if stuff. It’s all about family time now. It has been that way for the last eighteen months. Prior to that it was heavy email work.

Not all press that you receive is positive. How do you handle the folks that have negative things to say about you and what you are trying to do?

I think by ratio it has been more positive than negative. That is good! But I would say I respect it and that I listen to it. Then I try to figure out why people feel that way. I understand I am over the top, high energy, and I respect their opinions. More than anything else actually. I try to wrap my head around why people feel that way. I hope I get the chance to meet them again and make them realize who I really am. I hope that if I get my head down and work I will win. Anyone that thinks I don’t have depth will be wrong, and if I don’t, then I won’t win. It’s not too difficult . You are good, or you are bad. You win or lose. I don’t spend my time trying to convince people I am winning player, I go out and let the chips fall.

What was it like being on College Humor with Jake and Amir.

I love those guys. They are crazy talented. I am a big fan of their work

Why do you always say, “sniffy sniff” when you smell a glass of wine?

Not really even sure. You know what, I have no idea how it started. I just started saying it one day. I think that is why it works. It came from a natural place. It wasn’t researched or anything, I just did it.

Do you ever go back to your hometown and visit?

No, because it is really a mess of a place. It still has a dictator. It doesn’t allow me to go back and experience it. I was three when I came to the USA and I have not been back since.

What is the Vook platform all about?

Vook is awesome. It is like having a Kindle or an iPad, but with videos thrown in through out. It is really cool. I am a big fan of it.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I don’t. I don’t think about it that way. I am not very focused on that short term. I think about being happy along the way and I think about buying the New York Jets, and that is kind of where that ends.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

That nobody wanted to work harder and to do better and to care more than I did. I want to be known for all of my crazy DNA. That I was a good guy. I always say that there are two ways to be the biggest building. One is to tear down the other buildings. Or two, just build the biggest building. I just want to build the biggest building. I want every other building to be big, just slightly smaller than mine.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Love your family because no matter what you accomplish financially, nothing tastes better than having love from your family. When you are 90 years old that is the thing you will wish you did more of.

Never having seen a magic act before, I was a little nervous to attend the Mind Tripping Show. I had no idea what to expect and was curious if it was really a magic show, or more of a psychological thriller type of show. Either way, a good friend of mine had introduced me to it, and his brother was actually one of the main performers. Mind Tripping is brought to you by Christian Painter and Katalina Absolon.

Before I get into the show itself, let me tell you a little bit about the relationship I have with not only Christian and Katalina, but also his brother, Harrison Painter. I first met Harrison on Twitter. After coming to a handful of tweetups we became friends. Then I showed him to my blog and the rest is history. Harrison was actually the one that started telling me about his brother’s venture with magic. So I took immediate interest and started doing my own research.

Christian and Katalina actually met back in 1994. They were both soldiers in the United States Army and it seemed like love at first sight. Katalina was a captain in the military. Her focus was on intelligence, and after seeing the Mind Tripping show, you will see why. Christian, however, was a platoon sergeant. Because of his position in the military, there was a lot of yelling involved. That too is obvious during the show.

The two have been married now for fifteen years. During the show itself you can see how well they play off of each other. They tell jokes, they banter back and forth, and they just look like a couple that is meant to be together. They love each other off stage, and you can just see the love they have together on stage.

Part of what makes the show so enjoyable is their passion for the art. Christian studied psychology in college and became obsessed with the way people think. He also learned to watch people, to pay attention to small details, and to be able to spot someone who was telling the truth versus someone who was lying. He claims that the mind, and the way people think, has been a passion of his since his youth. This adds one more level of validity to this Mind Tripping show.

Katalina, while not having studied psychology in school, comes from a long line of Hungarian mystics. Based on her upbringing and her desire to follow her heritage, she has learned to be very smart, witty, and sharp. That, matched with Christian’s abilities to practically read minds and to understand the way people think, make these two a perfect match for a show of this magnitude.

The show itself has toured all over the world. They have played in living rooms and exhibit halls, and also play a lot of resorts and cruise ships. During our meal at 120 West Market Fresh Grill, I had the chance to chat with Christian about their résumé of shows. He says they like being on a cruise ship and staying at resorts, but miss being home. They live here in Indianapolis, Indiana, and travel more than they are home. But they are back, for at least six weeks anyway, and will be performing two shows every Friday and Saturday night at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites.

Speaking of 120 West Market Fresh Grill, if you are going to the show, make sure you stop in for dinner. As a part of your ticket, you get a buy one get one free entrée in the restaurant. Sheryl and I decided to go to the later show, starting at 8:30, so that we could grab dinner after work. It was perfect timing making our dinner reservations for 6:30 and managing to sneak in a couple of filets before the show. You can also get discounted parking with your ticket purchase.

After dinner we headed upstairs, to the sixteenth floor, for the show. Seating only forty people or so, it provides for a very intimate experience. We sat in the back, hoping to not get involved in any of the action. Apparently this show includes a lot of audience interaction. Could that possibly be why all of these tricks work? Was it the audience interaction that does it? Who knows? But there was indeed a ton of audience interaction.

The show got started a little late. It was actually their very first showing, and they were still getting rid of some of the kinks. In the process of getting started, Christian started talking and telling jokes and keeping the crowd entertained. He told us where they had been the last few months, about their residency at the Hilton, and how we could all expect for our minds to actually be tripped that evening. About ten or fifteen minutes later it was time to get started.

When the show began, they did some introductions and told us all a little bit about where they came from. Then it was time for some magic. And while I won’t tell you every magic trick they did that night, I wanted to touch on a few of the ones I felt were the better tricks.

One of the first acts they did was basically reading minds. It started slowly, but eventually worked into the audience for some more detailed mind reading. Katalina put on a blindfold, walked to the front of the stage, and began answering questions thrown out by Christian. He walks over to an unsuspecting audience member and asked for his cell phone. Christian asked, “What do I have in my hand?”

“A cell phone,” Katalina claims.

“Yes, correct. What color is this cell phone?” asked Christian.

“I am getting a darker color, grey is the color of the cell phone.” Katalina sounded positive in her declaration.

“Yes, the cell phone is grey.” Christian was proud of his wife. The crowd clapped, the owner of the cell phone was impressed, and they went on to the next trick.

The evening went on like this with one trick leading to another. My favorite was either the guessing game or the numerous card tricks. I have always been impressed with card tricks, but for some reason, Christian had a way with cards. Sheryl and I were actually asked to stick around after the show for some personal card tricks, right in front of our faces. I was impressed through and through, and can honestly say that my mind was tripped during the show.

Another thing that excites me about these folks is their branding. With the help of Harrison on their side, they are all over Facebook, Twitter, and more. Even gaining ad space on sites like NUVO and Metromix and getting radio spots doing interviews and commercials. If you live in the Circle City, you need to see this show. If you live within driving distance of downtown, I highly suggest checking this out. You can buy tickets online, at the door, or just contact them directly for a true VIP experience. They have sold out every show since opening night, so make sure you pick a date and get your seats. You won’t be sorry.

When Lady Gaga headed out on the road this tour, she grabbed some fairly unknown names to go with her. I’m not sure whom she should take really; her sound is just so unique. But after taking just one listen to Semi Precious Weapons, you’ll understand why she picked them. If I was the one choosing whom she toured with, I would pick Adam Lambert, but that’s just me. I would love to see the two of them on the same bill. And speaking of Adam Lambert, he is actually coming to town soon. He will be in Indianapolis on Tuesday, August 31st. He will be performing at Clowes Memorial Hall on the Butler University campus. This tour is said to be his most intimate and will include a lot of new material as well as some of his hits from his first studio album, For Your Entertainment. But if you don’t already have your ticket, that’s too bad. The show is sold out.

Let’s get back to Lady Gaga for a second. She has been making waves lately, having become the most watched artist on YouTube. Not long ago she hit a billion views on the popular video sharing site. She also has been collecting followers on Twitter and has appeared on nearly every talk show you can think of. She has turned her music into a brand that is selling out arenas all across the country. It seems like every song she releases is a hit.

When she got into town on Thursday morning, Dave Smiley from WZPL grabbed her for an interview. She was not in the studio; she had just landed from another show, but took a few minutes with Dave and company on the phone. He asked her about traveling, performing for thousands of screaming fans every night, and her plans for an after party after the show.

That is where I stated to get excited. You see Lady Gaga was given a budget for each show. That budget has to cover the travel, food, and accommodations for everyone on the tour. However, she likes to spend money. She has consistently been spending more than she was given on nearly every show. When asked about it, she said that all she was doing was guaranteeing her fans have a great night, and an unforgettable experience. But that money she is spending, well, they have to make up for it somewhere. So to combat that, every city she plays in she does an after party. They charge $10-$15 to get in, a few acts spin records all night, and she comes out and does an entire set for these small crowds.

One of the bars having an after party was The Pub. Granted, it’s the closest bar to Conseco Fieldhouse, where the concert took place, but is not very big and just doesn’t seem like a place she would hang out. Of course, this particular after party was titled Show Me Your Teeth, which I am sure packed a few crazies in. Another downtown bar, Blu, was having an after party as well. Blu is a somewhat fitting scene for her to appear, but it’s almost too obvious. It’s nice, but when a bar charges $6 for a PBR, they can lose business fast. At least my business.

There was an after party going on at Metro Nightclub, a gay bar located downtown. There was one going on at Ten Bar, another downtown gay bar. Metro Nightclub is more known for appealing to men while Ten Bar is more known for appealing to women.  But with all the rumors floating around, Sheryl and I decided to go to the only official after party, being held at Talbott Street. Talbott is actually known as one of the best clubs in Indianapolis (my favorite dance club for sure) and has the capacity to hold an after party like this.

Tickets to this event were $15, the highest of any after party being advertised. Plus, all of the acts opening for Lady Gaga were appearing for a DJ set. And after a little digging on Google and Twitter, it made sense that she would be there. As a matter of fact, one of the opening acts, Lady Starlight, tweeted the night before, from Cleveland, about them being together at the after party. So we figured, if nothing else, we’d get to see a handful of solid entertainment.

On the morning of the show, and after Dave Smiley made mention to Talbott Street more than once during their interview, Facebook and Twitter began to light up with questions about the after party. However, tickets had to be purchased through the Talbott Street box office, and doors didn’t open until 8:00 PM that night. So in an effort to miss the crowd, we got to Talbott around 8:15. We missed the crowd, that’s for sure. When we walked in, there were only a handful of people sitting down. There were more bartenders than there were people! Through the night the crowd picked up, but I am not sure it was ever sold out. The one good thing about getting somewhere like this early is you get prime seating!

One of the reasons why Sheryl and I like going to places like Talbott Street is because they always have drink specials. Sure, the club is not located in the heart of the city, within walking distance of Conseco, but that makes it even better. Places off the beaten path, places with a solid reputation for great dance music, they just make more sense. Where else can you get a $5 Ketel One or a $3.50 domestic beer on a Thursday night?

As the dance floor was starting to get full, the DJ started spinning a ton of Lady Gaga songs and that got me thinking. The fact there were tons of staff walking around, and a few cops parked outside made it even more clear to me Gaga might be coming. By the time it got to be around 11:00 more folks started pouring in. Of course, SPW did not even start until 12:30 or so. But again, this is the official after party. Why wouldn’t she come to the official after party? If she wasn’t coming here, she wasn’t going anywhere.

Around 11:00, Lady Starlight took the stage. At first, I was excited to see her perform. But one 80′s song turned to another and they never stopped. After a handful of tracks I felt I was at the Vogue Theater on a Wednesday night for Retro Rewind. It was maybe the worst set I have ever seen. It almost felt like they were filling space and killing time. If this is the set she played opening for Gaga, I hope she was booed off the stage.

By the time Semi Precious Weapons came on, I was almost ready to go. I was so bored with Lady Starlight I could cry. And Isha Drake, a friend of ours who joined us later in the evening, thought she might! But I was ready for SPW.

I have been a fan of theirs for a long time. They are what I like to call, “over the top”. They are loud, extremely flamboyant, and just a hoot to watch perform. They truly are a great fit for Gaga. But as bad as Lady Starlight was (note that I have never seen her work) there was no way it could be any worse. And while they weren’t worse, they started off with rap. Their first track was a hit from Jay Z. It just didn’t make sense. I get it they are a rock band, but their original music is so much better than covers. They did end up playing a couple of their original tracks, but it was mainly cover songs. They were more popular tracks than what Lady Starlight played, but still. I wanted to hear their original music.

After hearing them spin for an hour or so, we were ready to go. I headed to the bar to close my tab. And when I closed my tab I was happy to see that all the drinks I ordered were on special. I had ordered a couple bottles of Blue Moon and a few Coors Light and the tab was under $20. As a matter of fact, it was $20 after tip. That would be only a couple of drinks at any of the other spots that had a Gaga after party.

I guess my biggest issue with the event is it was not what I had expected. It is not what Sheryl expected either. I don’t blame Talbott Street; I just wish I had known it was just going to be treated like any other night. I figured an “official” after party would be a little more organized. Also, there is no moving air in this place. It gets very hot in there. It’s a good thing the people-watching was enough to keep us entertained. Half shirts and feathered vests, that’s all I’ll say.

It was around 2:30 when we took off. I had already closed my tab, and we were sweating our butts off. That, and there was no sign of Lady Gaga anywhere. She claims that every city she visits has one. And she even claims to perform at one in nearly every city she visits. And sure, we were at an after party. The official after party at that. Yet we saw no Gaga. All night, we checked Twitter to see where she was, and nothing. Of course, we have to remember that this is Indiana. We are not New York or LA. Lady Gaga has played three times here in the last year, but still. As good as Sheryl and I are about always finding random celebrities, even when we plan it, still nothing.

But again, this has nothing to do with Talbott Street what so ever. I love the club, I go there two or three times a month, and have always been impressed with their service and their sound system. I will go back, no question there. I will just treat this as a lesson not to plan meeting celebrities. If you have not seen a show here, I suggest coming in sometime soon. If not for the live music, you can catch the drag show with the Ladies of Legends. They are a real treat and with names like Rubi Santana and Asia La Bouche you know you are in for a treat. As they say, Talbott Street is where culture and diversity meet.

Where did you guys come up with that name?

(Dan) ALPHA PREVAIL is a mantra that our former lead guitarist Brandon and I came up with. As a group, our belief is that a perpetually positive and self-confident attitude combined with hard work and dedication will inevitably lead a person to success in whatever goal they’re trying to achieve.

How long have you been performing?

(Steve) In terms of performances, we’re still pretty “wet behind the ears” but definitely feel that we’re beginning to form our particular stage identities individually as well as collectively.

(Dan) Our first performance was at the San Clemente Fiesta Festival last summer where we humbly entertained the set-up crew and some friends and family. It was a great experience though and we’re definitely looking forward to performing again at this year’s in the afternoon.

Where did you all meet?

(Andy) Steve, our bassist, and I are cousins and pretty much grew up together like brothers, so we’ve known each other our entire lives. We met Dan while attending Laguna Hills High School. Actually, Dan was the first person I met my freshman year. We jammed in garages throughout high school, but officially came together as a group after completing higher education.

(Chris) I came along later after the departure of the original lead guitarist. Andy lives down the street from me and we met through a mutual friend.

So I hear you have a new album. A debut album at that. Tell me a little bit more about the disc.

(Steve) We devoted most of our energy/time to our self-titled debut album for the first year or so. We’re extremely fortunate to have a man of Dan’s talents and skills in the band. He recorded, produced, mixed and mastered the record in the studio.  Well, not really a studio. It was his bedroom.

(Andy) We’re very proud of the album and feel that we developed our signature sound, which evolved throughout the writing and recording process, and continues to do so today.

Where can I get a copy?

(Steve) You can get your hands on the tangible disc at any one of our shows. The album is available for  purchase on iTunes as well, but you should take us up on our free offer on our website.

You guys have a very distinct style. Did the style come before or after the music?

(Chris) Fashion before function baby!

(Andy) NO!

(Steve) Being from Orange County, I’d say that our “style” is pretty tame and low-key to be honest. I think most people are genuinely pretty surprised when they find out we’re musicians and “in a band” because we don’t exactly wear the typical “uniform” of tattoos, piercings and what not. We’re a pretty clean cut dudes with the exception of Andy’s impressive “Man-Mane” he’s been growing. Our personal styles are definitely reflections of our individual personalities and orange county roots.

(Dan) Let me put it to you this way. “I can’t pay my rent, but I’m ******* gorgeous,” as made famous by Semi Precious Weapons.

So I understand that Alpha Prevail is not a band, it’s a way of life. Elaborate on that if you would.

(Steve) What a good-looking question…In a single phrase, ALPHA PREVAIL can be defined as Self-Actualization; the achievement of one’s full potential through creativity, independence, spontaneity, and a grasp of the real world.  Regardless of what your passion is, ALPHA PREVAIL is the harnessing of that emotion, the recognition of the talents you possess, and the channeling of the two to achieve your goals and dreams.  Simply put, it’s about being the best you can be.  This particular mindset is the “prevailing” (see what I did there) theme to our music and is the core belief that we strive toward on a daily basis. I hope that gives you a little better insight as to what exactly we mean by that.

Who write all of the lyrics?

(Chris) When it comes to our lyrics, Dan is the man. He writes all the lyrics and does an awesome job in my eyes.

Where do you guys practice?

(Steve) Andy’s father is extremely generous in allowing us to set up shop in the loft area of his sticker business in Huntington Beach. It’s actually a pretty sweet set-up for a makeshift rehearsal space and we’re extremely grateful to be able to use it. If you or any readers ever need any stickers made, you should begin and end your search with Stickers by Sandstone.

What are you drinking on stage?

(Andy) Jack Daniel’s and Diet Coke or a Red Bull and vodka if I need a little added inspiration just before the show. Usually a beer during.

(Steve) While we don’t all share Chris’s love for the Miller High Life, but we definitely like to indulge in a few adult beverages when we perform just to stay loose. I personally like to have a beer or two with me on stage but definitely always have a bottle of water with me as well. I’m a pretty big “beer-guy” and can pretty much get on board with any particular style. I’m also a big fan of whiskey as well but usually stick with a beer on stage.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

(Dan) We just performed for a few hundred people at a student-run charity organization called Up ‘Til Dawn at California State University Long Beach benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. However, this year’s Fiesta Festival in San Clemente should easily outdo that as it typically attracts around 25,000 people throughout the course of the day.

The smallest?

(Steve) Ironically enough it was another charity show we performed at. This was a little acoustic show to benefit the Friends of Orange County’s Homeless Pets at Envy Lounge in Fullerton.  It was a really intimate show and I personally had a blast breaking out the acoustics and stripping our songs down.

(Chris) That was our first acoustic show, and probably my favorite.

Who designed your album cover?

(Andy) Dan did all the artwork for the album and came up with the ALPHA PREVAIL strike through script logo as well. As stated before, he’s an incredibly talented dude and I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work with him.

That is also your MySpace background. Speaking of MySpace, what are your thoughts on the service?

(Steve) MySpace…well it’s definitely a tool that we use.  Having graduated from San Diego State with a degree in business marketing, I understand the value in being involved in as many social networks as possible. That being said, I’m not the biggest fan of MySpace. I used to be all about it, sending out friend requests as well as managing our account. As of late, though, the activity is lacking, as well as the honest connection we used to feel with our friends/fans on there. I feel like almost every other message or comment we receive is just some kind of spam; it’s exhausting. Granted, there are still plenty of real fans out there on it and we greatly appreciate those individuals and their feedback and support. Personally, I feel that that it’s gone a bit stagnant in favor of other sites like Facebook and Twitter. MySpace used to be our home-base, but now, the goal with all our online media is to steer people to our website. Anybody can create a music profile, I believe there are over five million but it takes an investment of time and money to have your own website. We’re proud of that and feel that it’s something that helps separate us from the “noise floor” and many other bands at the same stage in their careers.

Are you guys on Twitter?

(Steve) Yeah, I’m pretty active on the band’s Twitter account and tweet, though I still hate that term, on a daily basis…come follow us @alphaprevail. Initially I was a little unsure as to the value that it had to offer to the band, but after going to a seminar presented by the Orange County Register and learning some tips, I started using it much more effectively. I personally love it and it has definitely helped open quite a few doors and presented us with some really cool opportunities.  I mean, that’s how you contacted us.

Where are you guys originally from?

(Dan) We’re all from south Orange County; the Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, and Mission Viejo area to be a bit more specific.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would you go?

(Steve) I suppose I’d have to move back down to Pacific Beach, San Diego, where I lived while I went to school at San Diego State University.  I’ve had some of the best times of my life down there and would love to be able to relive some of those experiences with my band mates.

(Andy) We live in the best area in the entire world as far as I’m concerned. I’d just take a new house on the beach right here in Orange County.

(Dan) I’ll get back to you after the ALPHA PREVAIL world tour.

(Chris) Why limit us to the world, there’s a whole universe out there?

If you could meet anyone alive or dead, whom would you choose and why?

(Steve)  Wow, that’s a really tough question…I’d really love to meet Zig Ziglar. If you really have to ask why then I would simply suggest you search, on YouTube, Prime The Pump. That will certainly explain why more than I ever could.

(Andy) One of my idols recently passed way before his time. The Rev of Avenged Sevenfold was an amazing influence on my play and view of drumming/music in general. I could pick that guys brain for ages about gear, set-up, composing, performing.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

(Andy) As I said, The Rev is one of my favorites. My progression of drum heroes is as follows: Lars Ulrich of Metallica, Dave Lombardo of Slayer, Chris Adler of Lamb of God, and Nicholas Barker formerly of Dimmu Borgir.

(Steve) Quite the laundry list Andy, got any more? My biggest influence as a bassist easily would be Scott Shiflett of Face to Face…the dude’s awesome. Some others that I love are Eddie Breckenridge of Thrice, Paolo Gregoletto of Trivium and of course Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

(Steve) Yeah we all have jobs outside of the band…for now.  I work part-time as a server to make ends as well as promote the band to my customers and co-workers.

Describe your genre in one word.

(Steve) Universal.

(Dan) Dynamic

How did you react to the passing of Michael Jackson?

(Steve) I was definitely surprised and think everyone in the world was saddened by his passing. It’s a trip to think that he was perhaps the single most famous person on the planet and is now no longer among us.  I think what I’ll remember the most are his epic music videos like Thriller, Beat It and my all-time personal favorite, Smooth Criminal.

Are you guys using a PC or a Mac?

(Steve) I’m Steve and I’m a PC…(Laughs) Sorry, I’m a marketing dude so I pay attention to commercials.

(Andy) We all use PC’s except for Dan. His Mac Book is apparently the best way to run ProTools.

Did you guys celebrate Earth Day this year?

(Chris) Yes, I was living the High Life in honor.

(Steve)  Can’t say that I did…besides, what exactly does an Earth Day celebration entail anyway?

(Andy) Yes, how does one celebrate the Earth?

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

(Dan) Pretty easy to get embarrassed when you’re singing…anything can happen.

(Andy) Every time I drop a stick, I die a little inside.

(Steve) Definitely messing up the last note of the song One Lie at Chain Reaction in Anaheim…where the song ends with just me playing along with Dan’s vocals.  Rookie mistake to say the least…

Do you ever forget the words to your own songs?

(Steve)  Luckily my vocal parts are fairly small and in a backing style so remembering the words is not all too mentally strenuous.  Dan on the other hand might have a tale or two though however.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

(Steve)  Returning to Orange County after headlining a national tour in support of our platinum-selling 3^rd album and absolutely dominating two sold out nights of shows at the House of Blues in Anaheim.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

(Steve)  That we did it “right”…Ideally, I’d like people to look to ALPHA PREVAIL as the consummate example of how you’re supposed to go about this whole business of being a band.

(Andy) The group that inspired you to pursue your dreams.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

(Steve)  Perpetual.

That addiction has carried over into an absolute love for the game and a passion for playing as many courses as I can. Similar to how I dislike drinking the same bottle of wine twice, I hate playing the same golf course twice. I want to get out there, experience as much as I can, and play as many tracks as possible. Not to mention the places I get to see and the cities I get to visit along the way. The travel portion of a golf trip is just about as exciting as playing.

This summer I decided to take a trip north. We went way north, all the way to Roscommon, Michigan. From Indianapolis it was about a seven hour drive. And trust me, it was a boring seven hours. Through Indiana you get pretty much cornfields and gas stations. When you hit Michigan, the terrain gets a little nicer, but rather than cornfields you get forests and lakes. Still a pretty boring drive. And we made most of ours at night, so it didn’t really matter much anyway.

When we got to Roscommon, and lost cell phone service for the next four days, I knew we were in the middle of nowhere. Upon our extremely late arrival, I was forced to pick up a late check-in package at the clubhouse. Sheryl Hugill and I were at Forest Dunes Golf Club. Here we would spend the next four days relaxing, playing golf, drinking various microbrews in the clubhouse bar, and chatting with two people who would soon become good friends of ours. Welcome to Forest Dunes.

Where is Forest Dunes?

Forest Dunes Golf Club is located in northern Michigan in the small town of Roscommon. Here in Roscommon there is not much to do. Well, besides golf. But in Roscommon you are reminded of the great American Midwest town. There are a handful of stores, most of them locally owned, a few gas stations, and a bunch of hole-in-the-wall bars and restaurants.

One day, looking for a place to grab some lunch, we did manage to make it into town to experience one of these holes in the wall. We ended up at Fred’s of Roscommon. This place was neat, actually, as it was a restaurant, bar, and bowling alley all wrapped into one. After ordering a couple lunch specials, we took some time to pet the huge buffalo head hanging on the wall and grab a view of the parade going on outside. It was the 4^th of July weekend after all.

If you are coming from the south, prepare for a long and boring ride. You can take interstate 69 all the way up until you reach 127, which will take you pretty much into Roscommon. It’s not that the city is hard to find necessarily, it’s just literally in the middle of nowhere. When we left 3G cell phone service, I got scared. But when we lost cell phone service all together I was even more frightened. We ended up going three days straight with no cell phone service. The only thing that kept us sane was the Wi-Fi offered in the clubhouse.

What is Forest Dunes?

A great experience, that is what Forest Dunes is. Imagine looking from an aerial view of the Huron National Forest. Look down, and all you see is trees, trees, and more trees. Now imagine that a golf course was just picked out of the middle of the forest. There you have Forest Dunes.

The highlight of Forest Dunes is the golf course. The course was designed by Tom Weiskopf. Tom used to play on the PGA Tour, but has made quite a name for himself designing golf courses. Forest Dunes is said to be one of his best designs yet.

Accommodations

If you are planning on staying at Forest Dunes, prepare to be impressed. There is not a hotel there. There is actually not a hotel anywhere near Forest Dunes. But that’s okay. You can just stay in one of the many homes located on the property. While there we stayed at the Buck, one of the homes sitting right on the water. No, not the ocean, but a manmade lake. There are actually a few manmade lakes at Forest Dunes, some just for looks, some meant for fishing (ice fishing in the winter) and others meant for boating and swimming. We didn’t get in the water while we were, but we sat out on the beach and read a few nights.

The house we were in had two double beds in one bedroom, a two-car garage, a king size bed in the master suite, a full kitchen, a view of the water, and much more. It literally was a house. I told Sheryl when we got there, “Pretty nice hotel room, don’t you think?”

One thing about Forest Dunes, besides its utter beauty and location, is how safe it is. I was a little worried when we got there, as the doors were all open and the lights were all on. But after asking Jennifer Middleton—the membership director at Forest Dunes—about the safety, she assured me we would be fun. She said that she hasn’t even locked her doors in six years! Refreshing as how I lock my doors when I run to get something from my car!

Amenities

Do you like the outdoors? I hope, because that is where you will spend most of your time here. If you like to fish, grab your pole and head over to Lake AuSable. They keep this lake stocked full of fish for that reason and you can fish all year round. Donny Fisher—the head pro at Forest Dunes—said that every winter you can find just as many people ice fishing as you can during the summer when the weather is nice!

If fishing is not your thing, then jump in one of the many random canoes just lying on the beach. They are sort of a first-come, first-serve kind of a thing, but that doesn’t stop people from taking a spin around the lake. Be careful though, the lake gets quite deep, and from the beach it tends to slope off quite quickly as well.

Don’t like splashing in the water? Then why don’t we go for a bike ride? There are trails everywhere at Forest Dunes. There are also volleyball courts, horseshoes, and more. There is always something going on, even when there is nothing going on.

Need to relax? Well, let’s just head over to the spa shall we? The spa has only been around for a little over a year, but you can get the true VIP treatment here. From a simple massage to hand and foot therapy, the Forest Dunes spa is ready for you to spend a relaxing day letting go. The spa is only open for reservations, so make sure you make an appointment soon.

If you are in need of some exercise, then head over to the fitness center. Located on the second floor of the clubhouse, you will find a huge workout facility offering yoga classes, fitness equipment, treadmills, and more. Of course, while we were there we decided against working out. There were just too many other things to do! This is a great benefit to the members though, and one that is used by a lot of folks.

If you are like me, and just have to have the Internet at your fingertips, then take advantage of their full service business center. The clubhouse also has free Wi-Fi for members and guests and allows you to stay in touch with folks back home or to check your email while on the road. Note that the homes do not have Wi-Fi, or cell phone service for that matter, so make sure to take advantage of the Wi-Fi offered here. I spoke with Donny about that actually, and he said they are in the process of getting Wi-Fi to the homes. (They do have satellite television in the homes though!)

If none of that suits your fancy, and you are still looking for something to do, you can jump in the car and find a wide range of other activities nearby.  Like to gamble? Then head to a casino. You can also go horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and more. Again, there is always something to do here at Forest Dunes, no matter how secluded it might be.

Golf Course

Oh boy, here we go. This is the main reason why I came to Forest Dunes. The golf course at Forest Dunes is the main reason most people come here. Well, that and the view.

When we first arrived to Forest Dunes, it was after midnight and all I could see were the lights around the clubhouse. I stopped in, grabbed our late check-in package, and headed to the house. We did see a deer when we were pulling out of the parking lot. But needless to say, we didn’t get a good view of the golf course. I wouldn’t get the chance to see the golf course until Saturday morning. Donny and I had an early tee time.

When the sun came up the next day, I awoke excited to get on the golf course. Being a Troon course, I knew it would be in great shape, but I was not ready for what was in store for me. When I first pulled up, there were only a few cars in the parking lot. I would later learn that is pretty typical as the course only gets around 10,000 a year.

I had not met Donny until that morning, but had seen pictures of him on Facebook. So, after saying hello to the greeters, I headed into the clubhouse to just kill some time. I was about a half an hour early, so I figured why not. As soon as I walked into the clubhouse, Donny walked out of his office to introduce himself. From there, it was off to the practice facility.

Most Troon courses I have played, if not all Troon courses I have played, have immaculate practice facilities. From the multiple targets on the driving range to the undulating practice greens, these facilities are usually taken care of just like the golf course itself. Forest Dunes was no different. When we got to the range, sitting to the left hand side of the massive clubhouse, I was in awe of the view from here as well. Behind you was the golf course, in front of you the practice range. This range is neat because you can hit balls from either side.

Donny said that both sides of this driving range offer unique shots to work on. From where we were hitting, there were about five pins in reach. I hit my usual wedges to start, then a few seven irons, a handful of three iron shots, and back to the wedges. One of the greens that was out in the distance was guarded by a bunker and an overhanging tree. Donny explained to me that hitting shots that you might actually see on the course makes all the difference.

We didn’t get a chance to putt before our round; it was off to the first tee. I had not hit a driver on the range either so I was a little nervous I might yank it into the high grass. But I didn’t. I placed the ball right down the middle. I caught it a little thin, but the ball ran for quite a while on the hard, yet smooth fairways. It left me with a seven iron onto the green. I yanked it, again blaming it on the tense muscles, into a greenside bunker. From there I would hit out to about ten foot, two putts, and happily walk to the net hole with a bogey.

I actually didn’t mind starting off with a bogey. I was just happy to be there, playing golf, and being able to take in all the sights and sounds of Forest Dunes. From there, I would bogey the next, then the next, and then hit a streak of pars.

On hole two, before I get too far into the round, we saw some wild turkeys just off the side of the fairway. I had seen a turkey before, sure, but not on the golf course. Never mind the deer that would later run right beside the fairway on hole sixteen. Donny said the later in the season it gets, the more wildlife you see. They even have guys hunting out here in the fall and winter.

The front nine was fun. Hole eight had to have been my favorite on the front side. It had a great view for your second shot. It went downhill, toward a lake, and had the clubhouse in the background on the left with trees and forest on the right. From there, hole nine would have you hitting over that same lake to a small green to finish with a par three. Donny said no matter what the distance says, hit a club, if not two clubs extra. There was wind over that lake that you just didn’t feel from the tee box. (Playing with someone that had the local knowledge like Donny did made my day even that more enjoyable. Better yet, I was playing with a guy who had local knowledge and was a professional. It couldn’t get any better.)

By the time we hit the back nine, I was ready to make some birdies. That sadly never happened, but I did start hitting some better shots on the back. The back actually starts off with a short, almost reachable par four. However, there is trouble right, trouble left, and with a split fairway you almost want to hit an iron off the tee. Of course, I took out a driver and ripped it into the junk on the right. I did manage to get out and up and down for a par.

The back nine is nothing like the front. On the front side trees and tight fairways surround you. And while there are a couple of tight fairways on the back side, it is a lot more wide open. The backside, just as pretty as the front, proved to be the easier of the two sides for me. Maybe I was starting to putt well, I don’t know. But by the time we got to hole sixteen, I was just so overcome by the golf course all I wanted to do was camp out on one of the tee boxes.

We got to the last hole, I ripped a driver left, and ended up finishing with a bogey six. But not really. Here at Forest Dunes, you have one more hole to play after you finish your eighteen. Most golf courses consider the bar inside the clubhouse to be the nineteenth hole. But not here. Here you play one more. The hole, titled the Bye Hole, is setup to settle bets. So if you are done and tied, well, no more.

This hole is pretty cool. Water comes into play, as does a bunker. But this bunker is not your typical bunker. This bunker is in the center of the green! You might have seen this a few times on the PGA Tour as they have some holes with a bunker in the middle of the green. But it is a sight to see from the tee box.

When the round was over, we all shook hands (Donny’s apprentice joined us on the back side) and headed into the bar for a bite to eat and an ice-cold microbrew. I ordered a wedge salad, a club sandwich, and a blackberry stout to drink. It was the perfect end to a perfect round of golf. I ended up shooting 82 that day, and while I would have liked to be lower (excluding that nine I had on the front side), I will take it. And apparently I beat Donny. But I think he let me win.

Restaurant

As if the golf course was not enough. They had to go and throw a restaurant into the mix. And you all know how much I like to eat. So after our round, I had my first chance to see the restaurant and to take a gander at the menu. When I sat down, I was handed an over sized menu on card stock. I was a little surprised the menu was not a tad bit nicer than this. Especially considering where we were. But I quickly saw past that and started reading the menu. I was immediately turned to the wedge salad.

I ordered that, and while Donny decided what he wanted for lunch, I also snagged a club sandwich. Based on Donny’s recommendation, I thought I would give it a shot. Oh yeah, and the blackberry stout. Imagine taking Guinness and mixing in a handful of blackberries just to give it that added kick of flavor. Yeah, they have that…on tap. I also had another beer that I had never heard of, but nothing could top the blackberry beer.

When the salad arrived I was ready to dig in. I poured my bleu cheese dressing all over it and went to town. And it was delicious. If you have never had a wedge salad, I must suggest you drop what you are doing and go get one. Right now! They are that good. And by the time the club sandwich came, I was ready for another beer. And I finished the club, don’t you worry. It was equally delicious. I would later learn that they had a new food and beverage director and he is bringing in a lot of ideas for the menu. I must say, if this is what is to expect from the new menu, appearing in early August, then you are in for a treat.

By the time we got to dinner a few hours and a nap later, I was hungry again! I was looking over the entrees and had no idea what to order. They had some interesting menu items on their dinner menu, including roasted duck in a chocolate chili glaze. That is what I ended up getting, and it was the tenderest duck I have ever eaten. It was just enough to satisfy. I had another one of those beers, and sat back after dinner satisfied. Of course, Sheryl ordered dessert.

She ordered a slice of cheesecake, one of her favorites. Donny and Jennifer also ordered dessert. I had another beer. I am telling you, this blackberry stout is really that good! By the time we were done eating, I think everyone was ready to just enjoy a nice Saturday night in. Sheryl and I headed back to the house to read on the beach by the water. It was a great way to end a perfect day of golf, food, and friends.

Surrounding Area

I wish I could tell you there is a lot of stuff to do around Roscommon, but I can’t. That’s because there isn’t. But for someone like me, who just wants a place to relax, lie on the beach, and get in a few rounds of golf, it is a perfect destination. Sure, there are a few shops here and there in downtown Roscommon, but nothing worth getting excited about. We did walk through one of the local grocery stores, and had lunch in one of the local hangout spots, but again, it is a small town, with nice people all around, and not much to do besides relax.

There are some bigger cities nearby. When I say nearby, remember we are about five miles from cell phone service here. A good hour, hour and a half drive will have you in a number of casinos. You can even head over to Traverse City, about an hour and a half from Roscommon, to visit the cherry capital of the world. While we were in town they were having the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Sheryl tried to go on Saturday, while I was playing golf, and ended up coming back because traffic was so bad. But according to Donny, Traverse City is a great town. He compared it to Scottsdale, Arizona, only in Michigan.

If you come to Michigan, or to Forest Dunes for that matter, just bring some good books, a board game or two, maybe a DVD, and an open mind. This truly is a place where you can leave your doors unlocked at night.

Press Coverage & Awards

Forest Dunes is not as secluded as you might think. They have been recognized by various magazines and media outlets for the facility, the golf course, and more. Below you will find a list of just a handful of the media coverage Forest Dunes has had recently:

2010

• Golf Week Magazine: Best Residential Courses in (America) – #30 Forest Dunes
• Golf Week Magazine: Best Modern Courses in (America) – #90 Forest Dunes
• Best Courses you can play (Michigan) – #3 Forest Dunes

2009

• Golf World Magazine: Readers’ Choice Awards (America) – #1 Forest Dunes
• Golf Week Magazine: Best Modern Courses in (America) (1960 – Present) – #82 Forest Dunes
• Best Courses you can play (Michigan) – #2 Forest Dunes
• Best Residential Courses (America) – # 24 Forest Dunes
• Golf Digest: 2009/2010 America’s Greatest Public Courses – #18 Forest Dunes
• 2009/2010 America’s Greatest Courses Overall (Michigan) – #6 Forest Dunes
• 2008/2009 Best Places to Play – 4 1/2 Stars

As you can see, some of these publications are serious business. From being featured on the front cover of Great Lakes Midwest Golf Life to having an all out featured article in Golfweek’s Definitive Guide to The Golf Life, this club means business. How cool would it be to work at a place that has been recognized by Golf World Magazine as the #1 Reader’s Choice Award?

Faculty & Staff

Nice would not even begin to describe the people at Forest Dunes. I had first been introduced to Forest Dunes through my work, but had no idea it would turn into friendships and a chance to visit the property. I had been in contact with Jennifer, the membership director, for a few months before I headed north. I had chatted with Donny here and there, and we were Facebook friends, but never had communicated as much as we did during our stay.

When I got out of my car on Saturday, my first chance to meet anyone from the club, I was greeted with a friendly hello and was offered assistance with my golf bag. I felt like royalty or something. It seemed that even the guys handling the carts had a genuine interest in my enjoyment at the club. Not to mention the guys working in the pro shop and the ladies tending the bar – even the servers, for that matter. Everyone was just so darn nice.

Donny and I had the chance to play on Saturday, so we got to know each other quite well during my trip. He and his wife even invited Sheryl and me to watch the fireworks with them on Sunday evening. He said he knew just the spot to take us and would pick us up around 9:00 PM. Long story short, he did know a great place. Good thing he had four wheel drive. We ended up literally on the top of a mountain. Now, granted it was only a few thousand feet high, but we ended up watching fireworks displays from about the best spot possible. We saw roughly six or seven different fireworks displays that night. We could see that far. It was a great way to spend the holiday, that’s for sure.

The moral of the story is, the people at Forest Dunes are not just nice, they are genuine. They care about their job, they care about the people who play the course and that eat at the restaurant, and they truly cherish the relationships they build. I am happy to have met the people that I did and I look forward to growing better friends in the future with all of them.

Do you like to play golf? Maybe you just like good food and enjoy being treated like a king or queen. Or perhaps you just like to relax, read a good book, and go for a quick swim right off your back deck. Whatever the case may be, go to Forest Dunes. This place is hidden, in the middle of nowhere, and lacks the luxuries like cell phone service and Wi-Fi that you get at home. But that is just part of it and even adds to the enjoyment of spending a weekend away. I will be back, rest assured, and I will be taking friends with me when I go. I want as many people to experience Forest Dunes as they can. Thank you to Donny, Jennifer, and the rest of the Forest Dunes staff for providing me with a unique and nearly perfect weekend. Fore!

Where did you guys get that name?

It’s a metaphor for good/evil, hope/fear, seasons of life, etc. September is the first month of fall.  Fall is the transitional season between summer (the light season) and winter (the dark season).   The name September Sky represents the changes and seasons of life.  Got the original name/idea off a t-shirt but that was October Sky so we wanted to change it since that’s a movie title.

How long have you been performing?

We’ve all been in different bands for the last decade but September Sky has been performing a little less than two years. We formed in late 2008.

Where did you guys all meet?

Through work and family.  Larry (guitarist) and I met through work where we became friends and started working on acoustic projects.  Our bassist Jeff is Larry’s brother in law.  And our drummer Martin is also family.

Where do you practice?

We practice down in Larry’s basement.

You guys only have a few shows coming up. I assume you guys have day jobs outside of music?

Yep, we all have 9-5’s.  Have to pay the bills and unfortunately we aren’t rock stars yet. (Laughs)

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

Around three hundred.

The smallest?

Forty or fifty probably.

I see you guys are on Facebook. Are you on Twitter?

Yep. You can follow us anytime you like!

Do you guys have a favorite venue?

It’s tough to pick a favorite venue.  We like different venues for different reasons.  We really enjoyed The Music Mill back in its glory days.  Birdy’s Bar & Grill is always a good time.  The Rock House on the south side has a great thing going on.  Spin Night Club was cool, but it’s gone now. We enjoy playing anywhere that has a good sound system with a cool staff.

What are you drinking on stage?

Mostly water. Our drummer Martin is partial to PBR (that’s usually post stage).

How did you guys react to the passing of the King of Pop?

It was surreal for sure.  Man, I grew up to Michael Jackson and his music.  It’s kinda strange (me being mostly a rock music guy) but he was someone who made me think that being a musician/singer was really cool. We all have massive respect for the guy even though his personal life started to unravel towards the end.

Describe your genre in one word.

One word? (Thinks) How about rock?  One word is tough. But rock best fits us.  More like hard rock, but that’s two words!

Who are some of your biggest influences?

We like the Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Shadows Fall, and Rush.

If you could only perform one song for the rest of your careers which song would you choose?

It’s brutal to just pick one, but I would say the song Awakened. That was one of the first tunes we wrote that gave us a bit of direction for where we wanted our music/writing to head.  It incorporates a lot of elements.

Who is writing all of your lyrics?

I (Scott) write 90% of them.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

In life’s moments.  Usually a dark time in my life. When I’ve felt fearful or confused.

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

Hurt & Army of Anyone at Pierre’s in Fort Wayne.  First time I ever saw Hurt live and those guys were amazing! Our guitarist Larry would probably say the Pantera show where he about got trampled to death when the giant barricade wall fell down between the crowd and the stage. Complete chaos.

Do you ever forget the lyrics to your own songs?

Guilty.  Not often but it has happened.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

We literally almost got into a fist fight with a sound dude.  Apparently he didn’t think it was his responsibility to do a good job running sound.  He started screaming and cussing at all of us on stage when we made requests like “more guitar/vocal in the monitor”…of course this was all in front of a crowd. Not cool.

If you could live anywhere else in the world where would you go?

Ireland…or Brownsburg, Indiana.

Are you using a PC or a Mac?

PC.

I know you guys just got a new MySpace design. What are your thoughts on that dying service?

I agree that it’s not the #1 networking site it once was.  There are others that are better.  But I believe it really serves a good purpose for bands who want to have a web presence without designing a website from scratch.  A lot of time and cost involved with that.  And at the end of the day you’re showcasing the same things (pictures, song tracks, bios).

You guys getting any radio play on X103.3?

Yes, sure am.  But we could always get more.  In fact if anyone has a second feel free to go to one of the below links to request us on X103’s Facebook page or to listen to us from their local band section.  Local bands need all the help we can get to get on the radio stations.  You guys can help a ton…

I see that you guys are unsigned. Are you actively seeking a record deal?

We would never turn down a good record deal, but aren’t actively pursuing one.

Any thoughts of releasing a full disc this year?

Not this year.  Our upcoming debut album is actually a six song EP. It releases in August.  We hope to be doing a music video in 2011 to follow that up.  Full length will be awhile out.

Where can I get some September Sky merchandise?

You can get it through our MySpace page, through our Facebook page, or just email us and we’ll hook you up.

Tell me about the show you guys just did at Birdy’s Bar & Grill. (Are you coming to the rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks?)

It was a great show.  It was a ticketmaster event that featured five local bands, mostly hard rock.  We saw about two hundred fifty people throughout the course of the night. Not too shabby. Was a lot of fun. As far as the 6 bands for $6 event, count me in!

Explain what someone could expect seeing you perform for the first time.

Probably something different than what they expect.  At least that’s what we’ve been told time and time again.  I think people listen to our music (without seeing us live) and expect us to look a certain way or have a specific image.  But we’re really just a bunch of “dudes next door” type guys that enjoy rocking out. No dog collars or crazy piercings. (Laughs) (Not that those are bad things).  Just a live show that contains lots of energy. We really feel our music and enjoy getting into it. Some people like that.  Some people are surprised by it.  We love em all!

What does a typical Friday night look like for you?

Generally low key.  Hanging out at home with our families.  Or going out with some friends to catch a live show or a movie.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

Anything could happen.  But I’d like to be in a spot where we’re well known locally and even regionally…and have had the chance to play with some awesome bands (locally and nationally). Full length album? Possibly. Music videos? Definitely. Tour? Hopefully.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

That we were four guys that wrote music from the heart and did our best to put together quality tunes. And that we promoted the local Indianapolis scene best we could.  There are so many talented bands in Indy, and it is frustrating to know that many of them go unnoticed.  We’d like to play a part in changing that.  Even Seattle had to start somewhere right? (Laughs)

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

First and foremost we want to thank all of our families, friends and fans for supporting us.  You guys make it all worthwhile.  The debut album has been in the works for a long time now and we have a lot of people to thank for that. The album will hopefully be available online as your reading this through Reverbnation, our MySpace page and eventually iTunes.  We will have full CD production by August 20^th.  Our CD release will be August 20^th at The Rock House Café.  Special thanks to Scott Rainey at The Hit Department, Eric Gray at Eric Gray Designs for our album and merchandise design, Andrew Taylor of PROFILErehab for our brand new MySpace design.  And thanks to you, Ricky, for doing this interview.  We really appreciate your support of local Indy artists.  Keep rocking!

Tell me your first memory of the guitar.

My dad got an old Harmony with Green Stamps. He would drag it out of the closet once or twice a year, play it for about five minutes, then it would go back in the closet. I taught myself to play on this guitar while I was in high school. I would play from the time I got home from school until it was time to go to bed. On the weekends I would play until my fingers would bleed. Eventually a crack ran around the sides of the guitar. You could pull it apart like an accordion. Then one day someone sat on it and broke the neck.

How many guitars do you currently own?

I have four guitars. My pride and joy is a 75’ Gibson Dove. I have played it so much the face has been scraped off and a hole worn through it. It looks like I tied it to the back of my car and drug it around for a while. I also have three other guitars which are nothing special but they get the job done. Also, they aren’t too expensive.  I wouldn’t be devastated if they were lost or stolen or damaged. My goal is to have a slew of Rickenbacker guitars by the end of the year. Like the old joke says. How many guitars do you really need? And the answer, of course, is “just one more.”

Do you play any other instruments?

I play a harmonica with my guitar. I’ve tinkered with the mandolin a bit and even less with the piano. That said, I’m really only interested in playing guitar.

Do you write all your own lyrics?

Yes, for better or worse.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

It’s funny. You can rack your brains trying to write a song and get nothing you’d want to repeat. Then while you’re backing your car out of the driveway or waiting for a piece of toast to pop up you strike gold.

Do you only play solo shows?

For the time being. I’m looking to have something going with a band by the end of the year.

Where are you originally from?

I am from Indianapolis. It doesn’t matter how many times I try to leave, I always seem to end up right back home.

If you could live anywhere else in the world where would you go?

Europe. I’d love to see it all but particularly London and of course Liverpool.

You have a ton of shows coming up around the area. Do you ever travel?

Slowly but surely I’m getting farther away from home.

What is the best concert you have ever been to?

Paul McCartney. Chicago. It was my birthday. I had a seat in the 24th row…and binoculars.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

it was at The Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve played larger crowds but this was kind of a big deal for me. Songwriters come from all over to play there.

The smallest?

There was a little bar that is now a parking lot.  A lot of songwriters honed their skills there. I had a regular Tuesday night show. Often times it would just be me and the bartender. When he would duck into the kitchen for a sandwich it would just be me and the empty chairs.

Do you ever forget the words to your own songs?

Yes, all the time.

Tell me about D&S Productions.

This is a booking agency. I’ve only just started working with them recently. I’m pretty excited about this. It means I can spend more time concentrating on music and less time chasing down club owners.

You are no stranger to the music business. What are your thoughts on the future of live music?

I’ll just quote Neil Young.  “Live music is better, bumper stickers should be issued”

Do you have any merchandise people can purchase?

Not at the moment but I hope to have something on iTunes before long , and  a CD  soon after…could a bobble head be far behind?

If you could only play one song for the rest of your career which one would you choose?

Funny story, the first song I ever wrote, which is to say the first song I didn’t throw away after writing it, was a song I came up while sitting in the backseat of a Toyota watching the desert roll by. I was leaving Nevada on my way to Colorado. My guitar was in the trunk and I couldn’t very well tell the driver to pull over so I could fish my guitar from underneath three or four suitcases and sit on the roadside for an hour so I could write out a song. So I had to keep this song running through my head all the way to Colorado. This was a sixteen hour trip. I got home and wrote out the song and put it on tape. After that I couldn’t play the song for about three years. Take your favorite song and play it too much and it will become your least favorite song.

What are you drinking on stage?

Water, shaken not stirred.

Explain to us what a typical Friday night looks like for you.

For this summer I have designated Friday night as songwriting night. My goal is to write something I like each week and then see what I end up with by the end of the summer.

You are playing a show at a winery here pretty soon. Do you drink wine?

I’m not even a fan of grape juice. For someone who doesn’t drink I spend more time in bars than anyone I know.

Your songs all tell a story. Songs aside, tell us a story right now.

When I was three years old I loaded up on this cereal which was mostly sugar. My mom was trying to get her ironing done and I was burning off a sugar buzz. Out of sheer desperation she pulled out a record player and a stack of 45s. Then she dropped the needle on the record.  I had found my first favorite toy. I would go through the stacks of 45s looking for buried treasure. I couldn’t read yet, so I went by colors. When I had two songs on the same colored label I could tell them apart by the scratches. I listened to everything from big band to country to rock n roll.

Where do you practice?

My favorite place to practice is in my kitchen. It has pine walls so it feels like an old cabin. Its sounds great in there and it’s comfortable but not too comfortable that I don’t get any work done.

Describe your genre in one word.

Pop…Sometimes they act like folk songs and sometimes they act like country songs  and sometimes they do what they’re supposed to do and act like pop songs. But no matter what they appear to be at first, when you look closely, they always turn out to be pop songs.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

The Beatles are first and foremost. Neil Young. Tom Petty. Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Crowded House, Freedy Johnston, and Fountains of Wayne.  I’m looking to write somewhere between indie pop and alt-country.

How did you react to the passing of the King of Pop?

What! The CEO of Coca-Cola is gone?

What is your favorite venue to play?

I really like the Players Pub in Bloomington, Indiana. They really support original music. Plus Bloomington is such a cool town.

What advice would you give to someone just beginning his or her career in the music industry?

Do it because you love to do it. Do it only if, you can’t NOT do it.

Man I hear a lot of Tom Petty in your voice. Anyone ever tell you that?

Little by little he has become one of my favorites. But what you’re hearing could be a Hoosier accent that just won’t go away.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Five years older…But hopefully with more songs I’m proud of and more guitars than I really need.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

That I was a good songwriter.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

FIN.

Where are you originally from?

I am from Eschwege, Germany.

You are currently living in Miami. You like the heat down there?

It’s an amazing city, amazing vibe. I love the ocean and, yes, the warm weather. I’m on the road a lot, so for me to be able to go home to Miami is very welcome.

You have played in countries all over the world. Do you have a favorite city you like to visit?

No favorites, it’s sort of a rule of mine. I’ve found in the past that if you come with anything other than a long-considered answer to ‘favorite’ questions you can fall foul of yourself. You can look back and think, “Now why did I say that then when I’ve been to so many other incredible places?” Was that really fair? The other thing with doing so much in-and-out traveling is that you never really have the time to really get the full, proper measure of at place. Hence if I said that X, Y or Z places was ‘favorite’ just because I went to one amazing after-party, it wouldn’t be balanced or reflected on enough.

What is the biggest crowd you have ever performed in front of?

40,000, I think.

The smallest?

Probably 2. My son and my dog!

When you perform in Las Vegas, do you ever gamble?

I do, but not very often. A roll of the dice here, turn of the card there, if I’m walking past a table. I did have a stake on the Superbowl though. Happy to say that came off!

Tell me a little bit about your new album.

Well it’s called Do You Dream? If your local music store had a section marked ‘not 100% trance’, it would probably slot right in there! There are many tracks on there that I personally find impossible to categorize. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about the first track ‘Alpha State’ is beatless and has some lovely slow arpeggios in it, but it could never be called ‘chillout’ or ‘ambient’ – in terms of the album’s overture its way too intense and scene-setting. Likewise there’s a track called ‘Away’ (which has the fantastic vocals of Sir Adrian on it). It’s got real pace and tempo and drive behind it, but nothing really overt in terms of riffs – just this really amazing rolling bass-line and the vocals that carry it. It’s not tech-trance, it’s not deep trance – I really don’t know how you’d classify it!

The title, I wanted to put in the form of a question: do you dream? I want people to interpret that in their own individual way. As questions go it’s a highly open-ended one!

It’s been long enough since my last album that’s I’ve had time enough to hear many other vocalists singing on other tracks. When you do you either think to yourself, “I like that voice but I’m not sure its right for what I want to do,” or, “heh, that sounds great! I think I’d like to work with that person”. That was very much the case for people like Susana, Jennifer Rene and Ana Criado too. In terms of the vocals, I don’t write them, no. I leave that down to the lyrical professionals! I was very lucky indeed to have many talented ones working on the album. Raz Nitzan and Adrian Brockhuyse are two guys from the Netherlands and they wrote the lyrics for three of the tracks (Away, Surreal & Unsaid). These guys are basically the hit machine when it comes to electronic dance music. If you look them up their list of credits is really extraordinary.

So I hear you first started getting into dance music when you were young. What made you decide to make a career out of it?

There comes a breaking point I think. One day you’re thinking this is great, it would be a dream to do it for a living. And then something snaps and you think, “Heh, what’s stopping me, why the hell not!” And off you go!

How many stamps do you have in your passport?

Unknown! I don’t have it on me I’m afraid (which is unusual!). Let’s just say a lot!

Who do you think would win in a pillow fight between Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk?

Man, I’ve seen both those guys swing pillows in the past and let me tell you its fierce! I think that Paul would probably get some really good early shots in, but ultimately Armin would prevail. Now if you’d said snowball fight, probably the reverse would be true.

Do you speak any languages other than German and English?

Fluently, that’s my two. However you can’t travel the world all year round without picking up the odd phrase or two in a different language!

You are currently working with Armada Music. What is like working with a label as a DJ?

Great!

Do you still have a lot of creative freedoms?

Well it’s not quite George Michael at Sony or Prince and Warner. Creative freedom isn’t really a factor. I take my music in, sit down, play it to them and get their feedback. The spread of music on Do You Dream is a case in point to that I think.

I see you are on Twitter. What are your thoughts on these social media outlets available to you today?

I am indeed on Twitter, but then so is my dog! I’m a fan of virtually all social media; they all serve their own individual purposes. I think that maybe I’m just that much more of a fan of Twitter though, specifically because it’s just so neat. You say what’s on your mind and then it’s out there. I sometimes think of it as digital-therapy. You’re feeling something, you’ve experienced something and it allows you to instantly ‘share’. There’s nothing wrong with that; I think it’s great.

Do you have any rituals before you go on stage?

Yep, my pre-set checks…CDs and DVDs packed, headphones working, sound recording equipment ready to roll, drinks close at hand. You get the idea!

What are you drinking on stage?

Vodka and water, though not in equal measures and not necessarily in that order!

You used to have a spot at the Works in Phoenix, Arizona for quite some time. I am actually planning on moving to Scottsdale in the near future. Can we hang out sometime after a show?

The location for The Works is now a parking lot but I’m sure that we can! Have your people call my people!

You worked with Armin on A State of Trace. What is he like in person?

Very, very down to earth. If you see him doing one of his videos, where he’s interviewing people and you think, “That guy looks really on the level”. Well you’re right. That’s just what he’s like.

How cool is it to be considered one of the top 10 DJs in the world according to DJ Magazine?

It is cool, certainly. It is nice that what I do throughout each working year is reflected in someway. But let me put it to you this way, what I get up thinking about every morning isn’t the Top 100, it’s about where I am in the world, which country, city and club I’m rocking next and what I’m going to rock it with!

If you could only perform one track for the rest of your career, which one would you choose?

Impossible! It’s that old favorites thing again!

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Top of the world, looking down (I hope)!

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

As a guy who came along, made some music, went out and played that music (along with a lot of other peoples), blew some parties apart, made lots of people happy and did okay out of it.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Lipsmackinthirstquenchinacetastinmotivatingoodbuzzincooltalkinhighwalkin fastlivinevergivincoolfizzin!