More party pics

Our pal Marty took a bunch of pictures at the party the other day and here's his Flickr set of those. I pulled this sequence from his set just because they're too much fun not to show here too...we've got the most fun friends ever!

Mike's expression here is priceless!

Mike turns to quickly wash his face.

Kelly gets a little lovin' from the coffeeman...she's digging it, oh yeah!

Mike lingered a little too long, whispering sweet nothings...
Kelly nibbled and breathed heavily (I wish!)

Lori and me outside at the end of a fun evening.
I like this pic, the perspective down the street is cool.

A whole bunch of images

Flickr image sets from the last couple weeks:

Eric Nassau

Eric Nassau from 9/13/08 - What a totally enjoyable performance and nice guy Eric is...I think this was the third midday show we've hosted, and it has me thinking about doing it more regularly. Eric will be back on Saturday, December 6th.

Barb & Brian raise their glasses during Nick's gig

Nick Weiland from 9/20/08 - Nick's "Whiskey Jars & Scandals" partner, Brian, couldn't make it but Nick was fantastic all by his lonesome and we got a great recording of him. He was so good we asked him to play at our anniversary party (below).

Julie (and hubby Chad) loved Matt's performance

Matt & Steph Davies and Becky 9/27/08 - In just a short time Matt and Steph have become some of our most favorite people. These guys are so darn nice and so talented. Steph is funny...soon as she's done singing she's off doodling in her journal while Matt plays. Matt is the most uber-talented folk singer I think I've heard...right out of the Woodie Guthrie/early Dylan mold...great voice, awesome songwriter, and solid-as-a-rock guitar player. Becky rounded this night out quite nicely...what a fun trio these guys made. She performed her just-written Stumpjack Song and it darn near had me tearing up...AWESOME! And then the coolest thing...Matt, Steph and Bec did a few tunes together, including the old folk song, "This Land is Your Land," and everyone in the house sang the chorus! How great is that! Check it out on this YouTube vid below.

Anniversary Party from 9/28/08 - What a blast! We have the greatest friends and customers and supporters ever! Everyone had fun, the wine and tapas bar got off to a great start, took some casually fun video (on our YouTube page now), and Nick Weiland was the absolute perfect musical accompaniment to the party (a number of people used that very word about Nick and his music, "perfect"). I'll have to write a little bit more about the event in a follow-up post tomorrow and go through a few pictures with you, but for now here's the image set.

Friends at the Anniversary party

Updates and Flickr photos

Nick doin' his thang...

Ok, these last couple weeks have seemed hectic, yet I can't really think of anything substantively out of the ordinary that I got accomplished. Here, finally, are some images from the last few weeks of partying and music. Click on the purple text links for the Flickr pic.

November 3, 2007: Stumpjack One-Year Anniversary Party
Marty's Flickr pics of the evening again.

Nick Venturella Nov 9, 2007

Full house for Nick Venturella...Nick was a blast, lots of fun and silliness, interaction with the crowd, and some mighty fine music from this singer/songwriter from my old stompin' ground in Madison. We're planning on having Nick back sometime soon.

TRiP Nov 16, 2007

TRiP was just that...not music in the familiar, traditional sense. Here's what I wrote on the HTR Forum, along with a couple of responses from people who were here.

"The trio of upright bass, electronic cello and keyboard/accordion, performed what was in many ways an experiment in aural stimulation and sound. It was very much a free form, electronica and jazz improvisation performance from the three artists (from Chicago, Milwaukee and Manitowoc, respectively).

If I had to describe what they did I might also add that it was at times very intriguing and engrossing, and at times almost painful and unsettling...but always interesting. The interesting thing, as it relates to the subject of this thread on the power of music, is how people reacted to it. There were those who were totally into it, trying to follow and figure out where the piece might be going, and how each musician was playing off the others. And then there were those who thought it was just too weird, too harsh, too non-melodic, too unfamiliar...those people didn't like it at all, even to the point of appearing irritated and expressing themselves rudely to what they were hearing. Attentiveness and applause from one contingent...disregard and disrespect from another.

I occasionally wonder if the prevailing musical taste in our area is automatically antagonistic to anything that ISN'T a polka, punk or pop cover band. It was nice to see at least a few folks last night who were willing to entertain the idea of something completely different."

A few responses:

My family appreciates the local injection of diverse musical styles found at Stumpjacks. Thanks, David, for taking the risk of doing something new. We had fun last night and were lucky to get a table. You may have to invest in some folding chairs - or knock out a wall.

The urban atmosphere at Stumpjacks reminded us of being downtown Mad Town. If I didn't recognize the building across the street...

-- Gopnot

Although the music last night at the Stump was not 'my cup of tea' I am continually thankful for David broadening my mind. We were pretty sure we hear a rendition of happy birthday in there - and David - I would have applauded - but I was never quite sure when a song ended. lol.

-- Outnabout

I appreciate most sorts of music and was at Stumpjack for TrIP. I didn't recognize it as music at all, but it's great that [Stumpjack] brings those types of performers to Two Rivers. I didn't stay to listen because I just couldn't get into it at all - but it would have been the same case if it would have been a old style country band.

-- TR

Y'all have an outstanding Thanksgiving now! Be thankful for, among many other things, your family and friends...and for good coffee too!

Anniversary Party Pics

Ok, here's a few images from last Saturday's Stumpjack Coffee's One-Year Anniversary Party.

John Will Balsley was outstanding as he played some great bluesy tunes, including some on steel guitar. My amigo Larry on the right...lookin' pretty fit there bro!

Lots of people dressed up; lots of coffee, wine and beer was consumed; lots of good vibes and warm compliments from all the Stumpjumpers in attendance. We're thinking of hosting parties like this (maybe themed costume parties...can you say "toga!") at least a couple times a year now.

We drew names and a bunch of people won stuff, and I'll put the names and prizes up on the next thread (gotta finish this one up now). That' me above there, gettin' some lovin' from my own personal prizes (Debbie and Laurie..."StumpBunnies").

Go here to see a Flickr set of images from the evening courtesy of our pal Marty ("Thing 2")...click "View as slide show" in the upper right corner when you get there.

ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SOIREE!

Click on the image for a larger, clearer version.

I forgot to update this with more info like I said I would. Here's part of the text from the email we sent out to the Stumpers:

We are having a little soirée this coming Saturday, Nov 3rd from around 7:30 until around 10:00 at the Stump, as a way to say thanks to you for helping us survive the first year. It's something of a costume party too, although you are not absolutely required to wear anything other than your normal goofy apparel (some of you I wonder about)...but it is right on the heels of Halloween and so if you do wear something we're going to be taking some pictures throughout the night that will someday become a significant part of the Stumpjack Empire history and when the Stumpjack History Museum is erected and people enter the "One Year Anniversary Party" exhibit you can proudly point to yourself in the framed pictures and say to your great grandkids, "That's me there, kids...yup, that's me in the sexy pirate costume and there's your grampa next to me in the Tarzan get-up!" And of course the kids will go "oooooh...gramms and gramps, we had no idea you were so cool!"). But if I'm the only idiot wearing a costume all night that'll be okay too...

However, if you do come wearing a costume of any kind you will be the recipient of an extra little something special...(bwahahahaaaaaa...evil laugh...). Coffee drinks are on us this night too (of course decaff too, if you need it).

John Will Balsley from Milwaukee (and recently Chicago I guess...where he recorded his first CD) will be performing. He's a singer/songwriter in the old folk and blue tradition, and does some real nice guitar work too. Check out his music at his myspace site here (http://www.myspace.com/jwbalsley).

Mark it down...Saturday, Nov. 3rd at around 7:30/8:00 pm. Stumpjack Anniversary Party. Bring the attached invitation in, print your name on it, and we'll throw it in a drawing for some cool stuff too.

Be there or live in shame!