Friday, January 28, 2011
We have a manager!,
Tug My Boat is pleased to announce that we have a manager! Yes Tiina Oura has taken the post to manage the bands affairs and then the musicians can focus on the music. We are very lucky to have the talents of Tiina with us. If you any inquiries about the band, gigs and........coming soon..........t-shirts, contact Tiina. Her info will be soon published. Welcome on board Tiina!!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Pärnu
Parnu.... The band, fans and friends had a blast. Plain and simple. In fact it could be listed as one of the best parties ever! But......under the surface there were some problems that were tirelessly solved by our drummer Osku.
It goes like this. Pärnu is a tourist city in Southern Estonia, boasting a vast array of Health Spas and a beautiful beach on the Baltic Sea. A must to see in the summer. Estonia regained its independance after occupation by the Soviet Union and while the renasaince of rebuilding is very evident, the old scars still show. On the bus ride you can see an old abandoned Stalinist Industrial Unit and empty depots from the collective farming days. And scars of the proletariat mentality is still evident too.
A good example is when our bus did a stop at about halfway through the trip. A bus from Latvia also stopped at the same time and the lineup to the only WC was about 30-40 deep with people just waiting their turn. A friend commented on how they are all trained in the "art of waiting as it is a common part of their lives". In conclusion, the brutal clout of the Soviet system gave the Estonians this lifestyle attidude that this was the way and still is. "If you don't like it, too bad".
Osku with another organizer put together a wonderful package together where we can have a few gigs and spend a few days in Pärnu. A vacation/Party/Tour. It worked! As a band we decided to spread the costs equally and the money was forwarded. However when we arrived the package we had was different from the package on the email. Osku relentlessly went to work to make things right, even withstanding the "if you don't like it, too bad" attitude. This pub had mixed the old Soviet system to the new free market economy. There was a point were I started arguing with the waitress that my beer has been paid for by the package deal...... (I started a tab which after negotations it got lost), but being pissed off as I was, I decided that if I have to pay for a beer, I'm going elswhere. So I went outside in the dark wintery night to Pärnu's unplowed roads and realized that this was the only place open in the area....... "If I don't like it, too bad". I also noticed that there was absolutely no advertisement anywhere about the gig which was also promised.....I didn't like it and it was too bad.
Pärnu is much nicer place in the summer with all places open and with staff trained to do their jobs the way most people do in the 21st. century. Modern day service.
Fortunately all of the problems weren't noticed by the friends and fans as they were having too good of a time to notice and for a short while when they had to pay for their drinks, they were pleased to realize that it was about half of the price in Finland. And I should also mention the food was great. If only the pub staff could of figured out 24 guests means 24 dinners. Again Osku to the rescue. At one point I had 3 ice-creams and 1 milkshake in front of me. "If I didn't like it.....too bad......."
Fortunately we played great. It had an atmosphere of a private party and we rocked. It was the first gig for our new keyboardist Riku who sounded like he's been with us from the start. Now if can work on his jokes a bit..... Also a big thanks to our bassist Kari for arranging the ferry trips with his "commandeering" and the great sound and mixing from Ille and Jukkis. The sound was fantastic!
But this tour thing was great and we should do it again. This adventure shows that we need a sort of manager to take care of the business things while the musicians take care of the music. Maybe a new manager can arrange another tour, but this time, lets keep it in Finland.
It goes like this. Pärnu is a tourist city in Southern Estonia, boasting a vast array of Health Spas and a beautiful beach on the Baltic Sea. A must to see in the summer. Estonia regained its independance after occupation by the Soviet Union and while the renasaince of rebuilding is very evident, the old scars still show. On the bus ride you can see an old abandoned Stalinist Industrial Unit and empty depots from the collective farming days. And scars of the proletariat mentality is still evident too.
A good example is when our bus did a stop at about halfway through the trip. A bus from Latvia also stopped at the same time and the lineup to the only WC was about 30-40 deep with people just waiting their turn. A friend commented on how they are all trained in the "art of waiting as it is a common part of their lives". In conclusion, the brutal clout of the Soviet system gave the Estonians this lifestyle attidude that this was the way and still is. "If you don't like it, too bad".
Osku with another organizer put together a wonderful package together where we can have a few gigs and spend a few days in Pärnu. A vacation/Party/Tour. It worked! As a band we decided to spread the costs equally and the money was forwarded. However when we arrived the package we had was different from the package on the email. Osku relentlessly went to work to make things right, even withstanding the "if you don't like it, too bad" attitude. This pub had mixed the old Soviet system to the new free market economy. There was a point were I started arguing with the waitress that my beer has been paid for by the package deal...... (I started a tab which after negotations it got lost), but being pissed off as I was, I decided that if I have to pay for a beer, I'm going elswhere. So I went outside in the dark wintery night to Pärnu's unplowed roads and realized that this was the only place open in the area....... "If I don't like it, too bad". I also noticed that there was absolutely no advertisement anywhere about the gig which was also promised.....I didn't like it and it was too bad.
Pärnu is much nicer place in the summer with all places open and with staff trained to do their jobs the way most people do in the 21st. century. Modern day service.
Fortunately all of the problems weren't noticed by the friends and fans as they were having too good of a time to notice and for a short while when they had to pay for their drinks, they were pleased to realize that it was about half of the price in Finland. And I should also mention the food was great. If only the pub staff could of figured out 24 guests means 24 dinners. Again Osku to the rescue. At one point I had 3 ice-creams and 1 milkshake in front of me. "If I didn't like it.....too bad......."
Fortunately we played great. It had an atmosphere of a private party and we rocked. It was the first gig for our new keyboardist Riku who sounded like he's been with us from the start. Now if can work on his jokes a bit..... Also a big thanks to our bassist Kari for arranging the ferry trips with his "commandeering" and the great sound and mixing from Ille and Jukkis. The sound was fantastic!
But this tour thing was great and we should do it again. This adventure shows that we need a sort of manager to take care of the business things while the musicians take care of the music. Maybe a new manager can arrange another tour, but this time, lets keep it in Finland.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Pt3-Tug goes International!!!!
Yep! Tug My Boat has a New Years Eve gig at Pärnu, Estonia. The details are being worked out now. This is kind of a feather in the band's cap but we will not mention the fact that Pärnu is essentially a summer tourist town and a "little" slow in the winter. However there seems to be a good bunch of friends coming along from Finland, so the hotel will be busy. Will keep you posted.
Pt.2 Welcome Riku!
The search for a new keyboardist didn't take too long as Riku Lönnberg decided to take the plunge to join the band. Riku and I go a long way back being hockey dad's and when I asked him if he knew of any interested keyboardist's, I was surprised that he expressed interest himself because he's mainly a guitarist (A Kari part2.....) Did that matter? Nyah..... The important thing that he is from the greatest generation and after a jam last week, it was a done deal. Welcome aboard the sinking ship Riku!
Changes Pt.1-Good Luck Stefan!
Our friend and keyboardist Stefan has decided to leave the band to follow his musical journey in a different direction. I'd like to state that the age differences had nothing to do with it. After all, it's not his fault that he's 20 years younger than the rest of us. ;)
And if you go, you may as well go with a bang as that last gig sure did have that "bang". Anyway, onwards and when all the dust settles on these changes, I'm looking forward to having a few beers with Stefan while listening to some live jazz and reminiscing of the good old days!
And if you go, you may as well go with a bang as that last gig sure did have that "bang". Anyway, onwards and when all the dust settles on these changes, I'm looking forward to having a few beers with Stefan while listening to some live jazz and reminiscing of the good old days!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
October gig, Magic, pure magic!
When the new owner of Robin's says that he was concerned that there were too many people in the bar, you know that something is right! And when the packed crowd responds with a wall of positive feedback, you know everything is just fine!
The sets went great and the band had so much fun playing, the songs often went longer than planned because it felt so good. One bad point was that I got so wired up and was moving around a little too much on small stage, that I stepped on Jouni's stomp box and broke the cable. For the last few songs Jouni was playing handicapped but it didn't stop him!
It's break time again as once again everybody is moving in different directions with their work. Keep you posted on where the next gig will be.
The sets went great and the band had so much fun playing, the songs often went longer than planned because it felt so good. One bad point was that I got so wired up and was moving around a little too much on small stage, that I stepped on Jouni's stomp box and broke the cable. For the last few songs Jouni was playing handicapped but it didn't stop him!
It's break time again as once again everybody is moving in different directions with their work. Keep you posted on where the next gig will be.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
New Owner, Old Pals Concert!
Once again we're performing at Robin's on friday, October 1st. This is going be the opening night for the new owner Tomi Kuusela and it should be a blast!
Let me use this space to lay rest to any rumours that Tug My Boat's beer tab at Robin's was one of the reasons for the ownership change. Our thirst has nothing to do with it!
Our friend Dave Rogers will be doing stand-up between sets, so hope to see you all there!
Let me use this space to lay rest to any rumours that Tug My Boat's beer tab at Robin's was one of the reasons for the ownership change. Our thirst has nothing to do with it!
Our friend Dave Rogers will be doing stand-up between sets, so hope to see you all there!
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