Mojo Farmers-Desert Sun Charity Event

The Mojo Farmers, in their quest to provide a musical education and inspire a new generation, volunteered their time and talent at the Desert Sun Child Development Center's Casino Night Fundraiser. Throughout the evening, the Mojo's provided the crowd with plenty of great tunes to enhance the atmosphere. Darin is really fitting in well with the band, even though he was thrown into the song "Still" which I don't think he had heard before, but still played beautifully.




The evening was built around a silent auction and live auction, with plenty of donations from local businesses and talent to help raise funds for the school. There were also blackjack tables, roulette, and craps.


Plenty of fun was had by all, and the school enjoyed a successful fundraising night!

A Surprise Party!!!

As noted in a previous post, I completed the work towards my Master's Degree at the end of February. On Saturday, my friend Allen and I went golfing at Papago Public Golf Course. It was a gorgeous day for golf, 70 degrees, and I played well, considering I haven't played for 10 months or so. But back to the point. Allen hasn't been over for a while, so we were going to have a few friends over for dinner, but Becky texted me to say that the Alvars had plans, and it would just be us, and she had to run out to the store, so she wanted to make sure I had my key. So Allen and I get back to our house, I open the door, and there are about 15 people in the living room yelling "Surprise" I most certainly was!!!


It took a few minutes to even register what the surprise was for, take in the fact that there were people at my house, and the fact that I was standing there after walking 9 holes of golf so all sweaty, with my hair a mess while there was a party going on for me!!! It was a great party, a great surprise, and just goes to show how great my friends are!!

We capped off the evening by going to the Big Bang piano bar, as my sister Danielle just turned 21, then watching the Mojo Farmers play at the Loft in Tempe. It was a good show, and the second show with the new drummer Darin Lugar, who has so far been an awesome addition to the band.

Halloween Mojo Style!!

My friend's band, the Mojo Farmers, played at Hollywood Alley last night. They unveiled a new song, Day by Day, written and performed by my friend Jim King. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my camera into movie mode (still working on reading the instruction manual), so I don't have a video, but it was an awesome song. Hopefully I will be able to steal a portion of the clip from Becky's video camera.



The bar is an awesome dive bar half in Mesa, half in Tempe. There is actually a line down the bar that shows the city division. Bar hopping and band watching in Arizona is much nicer now that it is smoke free indoors!!



Happy Halloween!!

Third Thursdays at Tempe Marketplace

As if there weren't all ready enough; a new shopping center has sprung up in Tempe. I have to admit after walking around the Marketplace tonight, I thoroughly enjoyed the set up, with the brick walkways, water features, and even an outdoor fireplace! (I know it's Arizona, but in the fall and winter, an outdoor fireplace makes a nice, romantic touch.) There are several great restaurants, tons of shopping, a gelato shop, a Harkins Cine Capri, and even a Dave & Busters if you feel like gaming.



Every Third Thursday the Edge 103.9 is going to have a live band (or 2) playing in the open air amphitheater. The event is sponsored by Budweiser, so there is beer to purchase. All in all, not a bad way to spend a Thursday, wandering through the shopping center, drinking a beer, and listening to great music. Tonight's band was Authority Zero, a national band that started right here in AZ! It's always great when the local guys make it big. I'm looking forward to spending many more 3rd Thursdays at the Marketplace, especially with the excellent weather Arizona is currently enjoying!

Yucca Tap Room

Fortunately the live music scene in the Tempe area has started to thrive again. Last night my friends and I enjoyed the music of Greyhound Soul at their CD release party at the aforementioned bar.




The two opening acts were also very good, one was strictly acoustic, which to me is amazing when a band can sound great without any electronic amplification.



We also saw a bachelorette party in progress. The girls all had wigs on, and seemed to be enjoying themselves. They were handing out condoms, requesting condoms, dancing, and just all around providing entertainment for everyone else in the bar!

Mojo Farmers!!

As promised in my initial entry, I have included some photos of the Mojo Farmers. My good friend Jim King is the bass player, Chris Losey plays guitar and steel guitar, Bill Baker also plays guitar and mandolin, Tim Olsen on Drums, and Norm Herd on keys. Please visit their website or their myspace page and become a friend! Their music is an awesome rock/jam mix. Their next show is actually a weekend festival in Jerome, featuring several other bands, including Gelatinous Groove and What Laura Says.