Melbourne Ukulele Festival

Photo by Nick Pitsas

For the past two springs (their fall) I have had the pleasure rocking at the Melbourne Ukulele Festival. This year was extremely special to me because after earning the respect of the MUK (Melbourne Ukulele Kollective) last March they asked me to come headline the 2015 festival. On top of that I got to open for Ms. Victoria Vox. What a pleasure.

I wanted to show with these three pictures the several different hair styles I showcased during my 40 minute performance at the Melbourne Ukulele Festival. You have to constantly switch it up to let people you know that you mean business and that is exactly what I did. Business.

Photo by Nick Pitsas

Photo by Nick Pitsas

Notice the camo hat that Azo Bell wouldn't trade his cap for. I still think that Azo would look good in camo. Azo, the offer is still on the table for the hat trade. I'm serious. Camo is the new thing. Just scroll down and look at the group photo. You have the hat in your hand, literally. It must be a sign. :)

I had to let my hair down for my rendition of Lionel Richie's Hello. It is a must when trying to channel one of the sexiest men from the 1980s. Eventually the sweat became too much and the mane had to be contained.

Ukulele festivals really aren't a huge part of what I do, however when I get the chance to show some of the stuff I have come up with locked away in isolation to my ukulele brethren there is nothing better.  Melbourne I really love you. Two years in a row you have rocked my socks and I thank you. I dream of the three-peat! The Australians are a pleasant and hospitable people. Haven't really met a bad one yet. Well... except the drunk on Hoddle St. last year that tried to sell me a warped guitar. I should have never humored the guy. When you see crazy in their eyes you should avoid eye contact and keep walking and a brisk manner. Like you have somewhere important to go and you are late. Long story short, I got away.

Bosko (lower right) is the only one that found my nip spot on.
He has some sort of magical powers I have yet to be able to
explain. Check him out at Bosko and Honey

Farewell land of funny animals and spiders that will kill you. So long place of deadly snakes and flying foxes. May your wombats and kangaroos avoid contact with motor vehicles. I will see you again next year. You can count on it.

Now back to the normal Alaska grind. Two shows with the All-Stars this week. This Friday at the Marlin in Fairbanks and Saturday at the Arctic Fox both starting at 10pm.

ALSO listen in at 11am Alaska Standard Time to KFAR 660am this Friday! Time for some serious pants! You can stream it live or listen to archives online!

To Cup a Wombat's Ass

All I wanted for my birthday this year was one thing; To cup a wombat's ass. Mission accomplished. I feel like after this trip down under I really have hit a good stride. Not only with ukuleleing, but with my life. I mean... come on... who else can say they fondled a wombat? I'm as gitty as a school boy.

Don't ask me why because I wouldn't have a good answer for you, but the act of cupping a wombat's ass has always been a bucket list thing for me. Am I a strange dude? You know it. In Alaska we have a saying to encourage ladies to move up and meet the fellas. "The odds are good, but the goods are odd". I'm odd. There is no way to candy coat it.

After this uplifting experience I was ready to rock the Melbourne Ukulele Festival with a clear mind and focus that only a wombat's ass can give you. It is the little things in life which includes a wombat's bum.

I will be doing my post for the Melbourne Ukulele Festival soon! Stay tuned!

Auckland!

I have to say I have been nothing but impressed with New Zealand in more ways than one. First off the people here are second to none. Some of the nicest friendliest people you would ever meet. It makes me feel like how people treat each other in Alaska. The hospitality from my hosts has been second to none. Avon and John I can't thank you enough.

Avon (the mastermind of the Ukulele Union
in Auckland. Without her my trip wouldn't
have been possible. 

Out on the "deck" (they pronounce this word
in quite a hilarious fashion. Use your imagination.

Today I got to go to the west side of the North Island of New Zealand into the jungle to enjoy some KILLER surf. 10ft waves and extreme rip tides on by the Sleeping Lion (a large rock formation on the beach). my friend Dave and I waded out to about out to the 5ft waves. That was enough for me. I have been in surf before and large wave pools, but nothing could compare to this.

My concert / workshop was a smash hit! What a great crowd of eager ukulelers. Nothing like trying to help people escape the shackles of the first 4 frets of the ukulele. I live for the moment where I see the light bulb turn on above people's heads when a concept clicks into place for them. That and smiles are what I'm in this business for... Well and also ukulele world domination. That is a big part of my motivation also. There are enough guitar players out there, but if we keep spreading the good word of ukulele soon they will be the minority. Don't get me wrong, guitars are cool, I actually am a accomplished guitar player, but only because I feel like if you want to defeat your enemy you first have to study and learn about them. That is the only way. Shoot first and ask questions later.

I have now arrived in Melbourne to headline the Melbourne Ukulele Festival. This is my second time I have been invited for this festival and I intend to knock people's socks off. I should be back for a third time if everything goes according to plan.

Hawaii

There is nothing like being in the mecca of ukuleles. Hawaii is the place to get some rays (I have gotten a little too many over the past few days), enjoy the beach, and play ukulele. This short stop before I head down under is just what I needed.  However, my neck tan line is my favorite trophy of my time here.

I have been spending time with my sponsor Tom Parse of Hokukano Ranch Ukuleles. It is great to see him, his wife, and his shop on the ranch again. Nothing like being up 3100ft on the mountain looking out and being able to see the sky meet the Pacific ocean.

Tomorrow I head south... To New Zealand to see some friends before I head to the Melbourne Ukulele Festival to headline. I feel blessed everyday I get to just share my music and humor with others. It is even a bigger bonus to travel to foreign lands where we speak the same language and my jokes might work. Ha!

Fun with FISH

Spawn until you die! It is the Alaskan way.

Sometimes you just got to get create with the photo editing. Come on out to the Marlin this Friday and catch some fish action. It is only $5 to see some funktastic music. Pants will be danced off. Good times will be had. Right on College Road in pristine Fairbanks, Alaska. Land of the cleanest winter air quality! 

I'm on a CD with Bela Fleck!

When the late day winter sun nears the horizon the red spectrum of light reflects off the snow creating pink tones.  

There is no place like home, right? You are damn right. After 6 weeks on the road it is great to be back in good old Fairbanks. The city by the river where the banks are fair. Took the first few days to get all of my ducks in a row and most importantly getting our animals back from friends. Our dog and cat are lucky enough to be loved by some of our friends. They are two of the most well behaved animals for the most part they do tend to stray from the right path sometimes. Not because they are intentionally trying to be asses, but because they are animals.

Our large black cat Dave however does not understand how running water works. When he is staying with someone that has a full on bathroom he just doesn't know what to do. The toilet and shower / tub are foreign to him. Dave sees different uses for the two. Toilets are fresh bowls of water and tubs become the new litter box, however he has great aim when it comes to the latter. He even aims for the drain without any training. Smart cat. Love that Dave. Perhaps one day when we have running water I can teach him what the toilet is really used for...

Now it is time for a month of gigs in Alaska before I head out to Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia. I'm excited to get to Melbourne. I'm one of the headliners at the Melbourne Ukulele Festival! Yippy! Life is pretty good. Now I'm going to spend the week playing some gigs with my band and doing the old wonderful wintertime chore, firewood. At least this time it is for other people. My wood stash is quite large :) Time to spread the love.

Sometimes when you get home after a long trip and you finally make your way to the post office to clean out your post office box magical things are waiting for you. This time I got the pleasure to know that I had made the cut for volume 12 of the KUAC 89.9FM Alaska Live CD! Bela Fleck is track 4 and I'm track 16! I'll take it!

And so it begins

As with every trip to the lower 48 there is a beginning and an end. At this point we have reached the end and are now on our way back to the frontier. fyear's return trip is starting off right now with some wi-fi on the bus in route to Logan Airport in Boston.

How far we have come that I can now get the internets pretty much anywhere on my trips. They didn't even try to nickel and dime me for it. It is included for free with our bus ticket. How wonderful. Hopefully even with all this interneting my battery will full charge in my laptop. I have a long flight from Boston to Seattle and I want to be able to play Super Nintendo games on my computer. I would play my ukulele, but flight staff really frown on it and are quick to tell me to shut up. However I still operate my life on the premise that is it always easier to say I'm sorry than to ask for permission. I'm just sorry the don't enjoy ukuleles. I mean who doesn't?