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SEPTEMBER - 2002
Road
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09/27/02 -
RAIN RAIN, GO AWAY, DON'T COME BACK SO I CAN PLAY - Florence, KY
Hello friends, WILL IT EVER
STOP RAINING? I guess we're seeing the tail end effect of the storm ISIDORE. The
rain wouldn't stop as I awoke yesterday morning to make my way towards
Gray Sky Music where I
put the final drumming touches on the upcoming Kickback Jack record. Most are
old rehashed songs that we played live when we started, but there are a few new
ones. One in particular that we wrote a few months back has taken on a new life
called, "Words in my pocket". Matt has been working on over dubs and mixing.
Yesterday, he pushed play back on it as I sat in the drum booth listening on in
ear monitors. Tears almost came to my eyes because I was so proud of the life we
had all created into this new song. It's now a living breathing thing and I've
had it stuck in my head mostly all day. Matt is such a master at it all. A great
producer, writer, musician and all of the above. Mike Hicks, Matt Gray and
myself and worked on this song a few months back, tracked it the first run
through and it has now became a entire new thing, I'm VERY proud of it. Once
again, mega props to Matt Gray at Gray Sky Music, the man is a music machine and
never ceases to amaze the hell out of me. He sat in the control room and got my
reaction on it's playback and I said, "I'm about to cry" over the talk back
microphone from the drum booth. After the session, it was home to pack very
quickly, stop by Mom's house for some food then off to pick up some drum cases
in Evansville, IN on my way to Florence, KY to meet up with the Van-Dells. Eric
Duke, old buddy who I haven't seen in a while and I caught up for a while then I
swished and swashed my way towards the hotel. A few hours later, drenched, I
checked into the hotel as Paul drove in right behind me. I now lay in my bed
water logged as the rain pounds the roof and reminds me it's still there. The
subtle sound of it's groove is soothing and will soon put me to sleep. I just
hope the gig for tonight is still on, we'll see though. I called Britt from the
Beat Daddy's in Mobile, AL today to see if he had any damage. He said the only
damage where limbs and various items scattered in his yard which he was in the
process of cleaning up during our conversation, so that's a very good thing. I'm
praying for some sunshine today, as I would hate to end this great summer tour
in the rain, but we've done it before. Where's my umbrella and water wings? dp
09/26/02 -
OLD FRIENDS AND NEW THINGS - Home
Hello friends, the drive home
from Mobile was long and painful, for two reasons. I didn't want to come home
number one cause you know how much I love to tour, and also I was just drained
and very tired. I stopped off in Birmingham, AL to see the ex Beat Daddy's
drummer "Lewis Ross" who is now working at the Mars Music Store. Lewis was also
the founding member of the 70's rock group, "Wet Willie". He mentioned their is
an all original line up reunion in the works for sometime this year. He is an
old friend that I had met years ago when I first started hanging around the Beat
Daddy's. Speaking of the Beat Daddy's, it was confirmed today that I am booked
on the western leg of their upcoming tour starting on Oct. 20th in Tucson, AZ.
More tour dates on the "Schedule" page. My time at home has been a few studio
sessions, teaching drum lessons and trying to line up everything with the ole
P's and Q's for getting rest and packing for the next tour. I spent a few hours
today with Mike at my old apt. cleaning it and getting it ready for inspection
to get our return deposit as Mike has moved out now. It was a weird feeling
being in an apt. that we had so many good times in for the very last time. I
leave out today for the final two dates on the Van-Dells summer tour after yet
another studio session. Tomorrow we play Maysville, KY which has always been a
good show each year and Saturday is a show in Fairmount, IN which we have said
it's been one of the best crowds of the tour. I'm pretty confident that
Fairmount won't let us down as it should be the best one of the tour yet again.
I'll see you at the show, it promises to be a great weekend in the world of Rock
n Roll. Now if the hurricane down south would go away, we'd be sitting pretty.
Rock on...dp
Photos of Mike and David in their old
apt. for the very last time.
(click photo for larger image)
09/23/02 -
I DON'T KNOW...ISIDORE OR ISN'T HE? - Mobile, AL
Hello friends, the question
down here on the coast remains..."Is that damn hurricane Isidore gonna hit us or
not?". It has switched directions a few times, so everyone is on their toes.
Saturday night in Biloxi was a great Van-Dells show. I spent all my energy and
literally passed out backstage immediately afterwards for a few minutes. Yes I'm
out of energy, but it was all well worth it. All the boys headed north to their
respective homes as I stayed and made my way over to Mobile, AL to perform two
shows with one of my favorite bands, "The Beat Daddys". I had worked with them
earlier this year (refer back to my March 2002 road notes) and again it was
another great time. I was so excited to work with them again as each player is
tremendous at his own instrument and so much fun to work with. Their original
music is just so pure and so wonderful, you can't help but to get caught up in
it. John on bass, Britt on lead guitar, and Larry working his magic vocals and
guitar just made my whole night wonderful. It was truly a pleasure to work with
them. I suggest EVERYONE go to
www.beatdaddys.com and order some of the coolest shirts, hats, stickers,
CD's and other merchandise that you'll ever find anywhere. We started out the
day working a benefit at one location on the ocean where the original plan was
to perform outside, but spin off weather from the hurricane moved the
festivities inside. That show went well, but was a quick set as there were many
bands to play on the bill. We soon moved all the gear over to another venue on
the beach called, "Traders". I must say the owners, workers and crowd treated me
tremendous. The coast is calling me to stay here, it's gonna be hard to leave in
the morning. Great food, great music, great scenery, great music, and even
greater friends, so what more could I ask for. Rain had taken over the day, but
the sun was shining inside as the blues music took over everyone and the party
began. I can't explain the thrill I had tonight. I had so much fun, I had
forgotten that it was a job until I was handed my paycheck. Just a fabulous time
had by all and I hope to work with them again soon. I'm over at Britt's house at
the moment and I'll be driving north tomorrow. *sigh* I really don't wanna
leave, but I'll be back soon as the Van-Dells will be performing in Bay St.
Louis, MS next month. I have a studio session to look forward to on Tues, then
hitting the road soon after. This is my crazy ass life...hope you can keep up,
it's a wonderful one. Life is good...dp
09/21/02 -
I'M DAVID, I PLAY...EVERYWHERE, I LIVE...NO WHERE - Biloxi,
MS
Hello friends, it's been all
on the go here in the world of David Parks. Since the last post, there have been
problems with my server and haven't been able to post. Monday and Tuesday seen
the shows in Indy come and go as they were very different from previous shows.
It seems that Duke has sprained his ankle and is in need of a cane. The cane
immediately became the butt of sound check and set up joking sessions and then
quickly became a prop in the show. The crowd seemed to love it all and the
parties that followed where damn near dangerous. If the photos ever get
out...God help us all. Wednesday night was a great night in Manchester, TN. This
is a gig that the tour sees every year and to be quite honest, it isn't a bowl
of cherries for us. Usually muddy and rainy with a crappy stage and all. This
year was different though, the weather was fine and the crowd was great. Buddy
Leach has been playing Sax with us on this leg of the tour, it's been feeling
really great. The original bass player showed up backstage, he came bearing old
stories and shaking hands. He introduced me to a drummer friend of his, it
turned out that him and I have been in the same bands, knew A LOT of the same
people and have even played the same drum sets before. Join with me on the
chorus, 1 2 3..."It's a small world, after all". The night turned into a great
night with a little traveling to follow the next day for the trek to Biloxi, MS.
I drove myself as I had a call from Larry of the Beat Daddy's to work a fill in
gig after the Van-Dells shows. Coming down the interstate, I could feel the
weather changing and smell the gorgeous ocean front waiting. Coming over the
last mile, I rolled down my window and cranked up the song, "Cabo Wabo" to be my
own welcoming section to Biloxi. I really do love this town, I've spent so much
of my life down here, I know it like my own home town. I have a lot of memories
and I still have memories to make here, I know this. The coast was just about to
burst from all the people out and about Thursday night. Duke, Glenn, Dayne and
myself went to Hooters for dinner. Fans there greeted us and mentioned they
couldn't wait for the shows. I mentioned to a friend tonight that it felt so
great that I recognized about 90% of the crowd tonight. I woke up yesterday to a
million and two phone calls, and finally giving in to the day, I tore open the
blinds to see that the world was passing me by. I quickly got with program and
jumped into the day meeting the boys at sound check. I reminded Paul that it was
his birthday as we sang happy birthday in 7 different keys to him. The show last
night went very good. I couldn't wait to play, I hyped myself up back in my room
just dying to get onstage and play. When you have a not so good monitor mix and
you still have a kick ass night, then you're doing REALLY well. The crowd, I
loved you, thank you all for all you do for us. What a fabulous night, I can't
wait for tonight, it promises to be one helluva night. Sunday, I'm off to play
with the Beat Daddy's. If you're near us, then come over. We're playing in
Mobile, AL at 1PM at a benefit that I'm not all up to date on. Then at 6 PM
we're scheduled to play in Mobile, AL at a place called Traders. I played with
the Beat Daddy's earlier this year and I just can't wait to hit the stage with
these boys. There's talk of a tour in late Oct. The contracts aren't in yet, but
it looks like the tour falls on the off dates of the Van-Dells tour, so I just
may be hitting the road with the Beat Daddy's. If it should come to pass, I'll
update this page to let everyone know when/where, etc. Have a great day, Life is
wonderful here in the land of the Dave. dp
09/015/02 -
HERE WE GO DOLPHINS...HERE WE GO!!!! - Indianapolis, IN
Hello friends, a relaxing,
tiring and fun week at home was very nice. Went to see a few old friends bands
and catch up on things around the house. A studio session for a local artist led
up to musician and friend Randy Lanham and I working on some song writing
together. Randy has toured with a lot of big name country artist. You can find
more about him at www.highhopesmusic.com
A late night pool party turned into a early morning pool party and quite a few
comical events from the hangovers where to follow. I can't tell you these to
protect the guilty, but he knows who he is, ha ha. Another friend/musician
"Chris Cart" and I also brain stormed and thought up the plan to go see the
Miami Dolphins (our favorite pro football team) in Indianapolis. We hardly get
to see them other than on TV because of travel and time. I'm in Indianapolis
now, as we (The Van-Dells) are playing here tomorrow. Chris accompanied by his
family joined myself and Jeff today at the RCA dome for the game as the
Indianapolis Colts hosted the Miami Dolphins. We all dawned our Dolphins
jerseys, shirts, hats and colors to support our team. Jeff really didn't care,
but he wore a jersey I had lent him. We were surrounded by Phins fans in our
section and we all cheered them on. They looked GREAT on the field. It was my
first game seeing them without Dan Marino. They guys took over as they won 21 -
13. GO PHINS!!!! Tomorrow is the first of two nights here in INDY,
the crowds are always wonderful as there is a after show party already planned.
Only a few more shows on the summer tour. This week is full of some, catch one
if you can while you can. C-ya at the party. Rock on...dp
Miami Dolphins, "Brock Marion" celebrates the 21- 13 win over the Indianapolis
Colts 9-15-02
(click photo to enlarge)
09/11/02
- Turn up your volume and click the following link -
GOD BLESS US
ALL
dp
09/09/02 -
HEY!!, AREN'T YOU FAMOUS? - Home
Hello friends, I still hung
over from the energy that we experienced in Marion, OH last Thursday. The shows
were odd set times as we where scheduled to play at 1PM at the Palace Theater
and again at 8:30 PM on a different stage. The first show at the Palace, (which
was a beautiful theater) was one I don't really remember because we're not used
to being up that early. We must have done something right. I was walking around
backstage by the busses and trucks as I was asked for my autograph ever 4 steps
and compliments from concert goers followed through out the day. The 8:30 show
as on a huge stage downtown near the festival. The crew, I must applaud you
boys. We had actually worked this very same stage in another town as we've
worked with this crew before. One guy in particular , "Allan", had worked with
us a few times. We buddied up immediately and we swapped road stories over
dinner backstage. He's had many miles on the road with such artist as Prince,
Styx and many others. He told me the sad story of the spot man (his cousin) who
had worked our show in Rising Sun, IN earlier this year who had passed only a
few short weeks prior to the Marion show. He explained how he loved the GSP CD
that I had given him and would have been there that day. The 8:30 show was
purely magic and possibly one of the best shows on the tour so far. At the end
of the show, I didn't want to come off stage. The crowd was perfect, the stage
and the crew and the band kicked ass if I do say so myself. Mark and I talked
about it back at the hotel and I told him how I got goose bumps looking at his
image in the spot light as he rocked out on "it's over". He noticed that I was
in another world also as he mentioned that I usually look back at him, but he
said, "You were so into it, you were just in another world where no one could
touch you". I have to agree. It was the most magical feeling one could possibly
feel. The aftershock was still ringing out in the beer garden after the show as
myself and some crew went to have a after show toast. The next day 38 Special
was to play as I'm a huge fan of them. The morning after was the ride home, Mark
and I turned on the radio and the first thing we heard was a radio review of our
concert. We kinda cringed hoping for the best but always expecting the worse.
The announcer went on to say "how fabulous the Van-Dells entertained the crowd
last night". We just smiled knowing that it was all our pleasure also and that
we did our job properly. I was notified that my friend John Vanover and his wife
Sandra gave birth to their son "John Jack Vanover". Congrats, I'm very happy for
them both. Arriving home, out and about with old friends and catching up for a
week off. The weekend rung out in party fashion as I jammed out with old band
mates at the Yellow Rose on Friday night. Saturday night had myself, Joe Day and
Mike Hicks playing a prank of some friends at a bachelorette party. A friend who
is getting married had friends who had called us for some goof strippers. As we
made our way to the hotel for the prank. Joe, Mike and I were all decked out in
our finest suits as a woman on the elevator looked up at me and said, "Hey,
aren't you famous?"...Joe and Mike looked at me for my response...also we were
nervous about the events about to take place, as I responded with , "well, we
will be famous here in about ten minutes". We chuckled and off the to room. We
had all our regular clothes on underneath as everyone got a kick out of it, then
it was off to the bar to top off the night. The party we had played the prank of
earlier in the night, showed up at the same bar. Jokes where thrown around all
night as we had a great time. This week, relaxation, but some work as I have
studio duties all day today. Opening day of football was a good day. The phins
scored 49 points. Next week, Jeff and I will be cheering them on in INDY live.
Watch for us on TV. GO PHINS!!!! Rock on...dp
1.
2.
3.
4.
Photos from 9-5-02. (click each photo for
larger image) Photos 1 & 2 from the Palace Theater. Photos 3 & 4 from the
festival outdoor stage.
09/04/02 -
BEWARE, EMOTION AHEAD, BLIND CORNERS AND SHARP TURNS - Home
Hello friends, another great
Holiday weekend come and gone. The Barberton, OH show went fantastic. The crowd
= huge, the weather = perfect, the fireworks = one of the best displays I've
ever seen. Promoter Bill Curtain and our sales manager Dayne ragged each other
as one is a Cleveland Indians fan and the other a Reds fan. It's all in good
fun, as a bet of some sort was made a few concerts ago and the prize was a
Chocolate sundae. Bill lost as he presented Dayne the sundae in front of the
audience. These two are quite amusing to say the least. The drive home was on
the other hand not such a great time. Not that anything went wrong, but it was
then when I realized how abused our bodies are. I slept only a few hours in a
hotel to drive home the next day in a zombie type state of mind. I literally
felt numb, just drained of ever ounce of energy. Rounding off the trip was a
phone call from my mother informing me that my cousins from Florida where in
town and had extended a invitation to come eat/visit for the holiday. I haven't
seen my cousins Danny and Jimmy for a long time now and it was so wonderful to
see them. They're the only thing that could even get my adrenaline to pump that
day. Visiting with many family that I don't see too often filled the house and
back yard cook out. The visit was very nice and heart warming, but as all good
things do, it came to a end and it was off to that place that I don't EVER see,
"HOME". I immediately passed out upon walking in the door. As I've said before,
"rock n roll doesn't sleep, it just passes out". Well, that's what I did, it all
caught up with me. Actually, I'm still at this point not caught up, but I am
better for the rest I did get that night. I REALLY had no choice in the matter.
My body went on strike, and it's still in a grumpy mood, but getting better
little by little. The only thing is, I'll be leaving on tour today, so my body
will start up the old aches and pains campaign again. Next week is off days from
touring, but I have plenty of side stuff filling up my time. I love it though,
so no complaints here, but I sure do NEED the rest, both mental and physical
rest. A little relaxation was in order as Mike and Mark and myself talked over a
beer at the Boiler Room. I'm telling ya, that was needed. Didn't get sloshed or
anything, just setting out under the stars and having some great conversation,
laughs and a beer with two of the best friends a man could ask for. If a man is
judged by his friends, then I'm the luckiest man alive. Mark and I spent the
rest of the night back here at our apt. talking about everything from music to
relationships, trying to figure out the meaning of life, love and everything in
between...you know...that old chestnut? Well, there are some good lyrics in all
this emotion somewhere, I'll find them, set it to music and put it on record so
you can buy it. I'd better get to work...thank you...dp
09/01/02 -
NOW THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT ON THE ROAD - Cambridge, OH
Hello friends, the show last
night in Jacksonville, OH went smoothly. The country side resort where managment
had taken us to eat held a very beautiful scene out the window. A lake with the
sun sparkling over the water and miles and miles of hills, valleys and woods
drenched the view. Dinner was filled with a lot of jokes and conversation as
usual. The rides have been nicer with the new vans. The DVD player, CD player,
wireless headphone system and extended cabs have been keeping us all entertained
on the road. I watched a little TV on the way back to the hotel after the show.
I ran across a station playing old Stryper videos. I grew up with this religious
band. Actually, their record, "To Hell With The Devil" was my first record I
ever learned drumming from front to back. That record actually set a little of
my playing style from the beginning. The station did a few interviews on the
band and where they are now in their lives and careers. It was so interesting,
because some of the videos and songs I haven't heard/seen since 86 or 87 and I
started to air drum a long with them. I found out that I haven't forgotten any
of the drum parts. It felt good to remember the tunes I started out on drumming
in my room and driving my neighbors and mother crazy with. As I heard them, I
remembered my first drum teacher and how he turned me onto Stryper and their
music. His name was Aric Baker. I actually stopped in to see him at Randy
Baker's Music World in Owensboro, KY (where I took lessons as a child) while I
was home last week. It was nice to visit and catch up with the Baker
family. Turns out they've been keeping up with my career. Tomorrow we play
Barberton, OH. A annual show which pulls out a very huge crowd by a lake and a
wonderful fireworks display. Being a holiday weekend, the choppers (cops) have
been out in full force. Be safe but have a blast. One more week til the NFL
season starts. AMEN!! dp