10 Year Reunion Show, "Standing Room Only"

Well, it's all finalized. The rehearsing is going well - individually, of course, since we spend our daily lives 1074.42 miles apart. The CD itself will be in my hands within a few days. Ken Van Wagoner is preparing The Anteroom, and all of Flint is counting down the days to December 28th rather than Christmas.

In my head.

Nevertheless, this is going to be a very special night. I can't stress this enough... come for yourselves, not for us... because we are going to seriously light up your post-Christmas weekend. Make sure you attend the STANDING ROOM ONLY 10 YEAR REUNION/LIVE CD RELEASE PARTY happening at THE GOOD BEANS CAFE in Flint, Michigan on Friday, December 28th 2012. My wife, life-partner and best friend Lindsay Facknitz will be opening the show, showing off her amazing gift to Michiganders for the first time ever in her career. Admission is only $5 for this once every 10 years event. CD's will be $10 and WILL NOT be available online until March 2013. So the only way you can get your hands on one before then is by purchasing yours AT THIS SHOW.

The Good Beans Cafe is located at 328 N. Grand Traverse in Flint, and the music kicks off at 6:30pm. Happy New Year! For more details, read below.

JEREMY FACKNITZ & JAROD FACKNITZ
STANDING ROOM ONLY
LIVE CD RELEASE AND REUNION SHOW
w/Lindsay Weidmann (Facknitz)
Friday, 12/28/2012
THE ANTEROOM @ THE GOOD BEANS CAFE
328 North Grand Traverse
FLINT, MI 48503
(810) 237-GOOD
6:30 to 9pm, all ages
$5 cover per person
$10 for CD (optional)

Thanks, and we'll see you there.

STANDING ROOM ONLY 10th Anniversary LIVE CD and Reunion Show

(For those of you who've entered my life in the last 10 years, "Standing Room Only" was the name of the acoustic duo I shared with brother Jarod. We played relentlessly to coffee-swillers in Michigan, Chicago and Cincinnati for 2 years).

Hey there, all you nostalgia junkies!

You know who you are... Weaselberries, Amy Wilson, Brandi Dicks, Jarod's Oakland University friends, Brian Harvey, Ken Van Wagoner, that Diane girl that made me a comp disc, Suzanne, Sneezy, Happy, Dopey and if I forgot you, enter your name here... "__________"...

You used to attend "Standing Room Only" shows. You used to scream. You used to listen. You used to undress us with your eyes, and don't think we didn't notice. We were all firmer, younger and full of hope. Now we're old, have children and nearly all of our dreams have died! So we all look back with fondness to days of old... when internet wasn't everywhere. When we cared about whether or not Rachel and Ross would ever be together. And when, to a tiny number of beautiful, supportive people in southeastern Michigan, our music and our effort meant something; to you and to us.

My brother and I have recently stumbled upon some really, really good live recordings of our shows from the height of our tightness (and, somewhat sadly, popularity), the spring and summer of 2003. We're releasing a 10th anniversary LIVE CD to the public, which will consist of tracks from some of our shows at the Lunch Studio in Flint, MI, All That Java in Fenton, MI, The Sunflower Cafe in Cincinnati, and others.

But we're not just going to mix and master some old tapes, release it online and make 10's and 15's of dollars off it... no, no.
We're gonna PLAY.

For the first time in 9 years Jarod Facknitz and I will perform as "Standing Room Only". The show will take place at Good Beans Cafe this fall or winter. There will be at least a 3 month notice, and it will be one night and one night only. We hope you can make it, as, like us, most of you no longer live in Michigan. We understand if you can't make it, but know that we will hate you forever if you don't come, and Jarod will hunt your first born. Haha! J/K! That mean's "just kidding"! (or does it mean, "Jarod kills"?)

No release date is set as of yet, as we are still mixing and mastering and trying to figure out song order as well as which songs we're going to omit (there's a cover of "Lovesick Blues" by Hank Williams that's less than stellar, to say the least).

Stay tuned to the blog for updates, and thanks for caring.

Happy New Year

Happy Twenty-Twelve, dear reader!

It's been long while since I posted a few words here, and I figured New Years Day was as good a day as any to do so.

While the blogs have been few and far between, I can assure you I'm still very much alive. In fact, 2011 may have been the best year of my life. I imagine 1979 is right up there - with the constant shower of love and attention, the 14 hours a day spent in slumber and the wiping of my butt being done by someone else. But I don't recall.

I've spent the last 8 months under the tutelage of my boss and former guitar student at Ameriprise Financial. Through this time I've laughed, cussed, spit and even quit for 6 hours. Most importantly I've learned the ins and outs of financial advising and believe it's something at which I could excel. I will take my securities licensing exam come March. We'll see what happens after that. After 14 years relying on tips for grocery money, a paycheck every two weeks seems like a beautiful thing.

Lindsay and I are now living together in Cheyenne Canyon. We're planning our wedding, which will take place this September in Colorado Springs. To say we're doing great, growing painfully but beautifully, and that I'm the luckiest man on the planet is the understatement of the young year.

Music is still a large part of my life, and will continue to be. I have four recording projects I hope to complete for 2012, but I no longer teach lessons and the shows stay close to home (Colorado Springs, Palmer Lake, Manitou Springs). I will say that due to the paycheck, the pressure's off when I'm behind the microphone. I haven't had this much fun playing music since the early days with The Ottomans. I guess it was around 1998 that I started taking myself uber-seriously as a songwriter, and woke up from that fog in August of 2010 really pissed off. With that behind me, with healing and proper perspective in place, I'm free to actually enjoy myself again.

Keep an eye on www.jeremyfacknitz.com for show information, and if you haven't already, friend request me on facebook if you're interested in remaining "in the loop" when it comes to shows and news on releases.

Thank you for your support, and all the best,
J

April update

Photo by Marty Murphy

With years of special kinship
and some deep, deep thoughts on life
my knee did bend
to ask my friend
if she would be my wife.
She said "let's go!"
(which isn't "no!")
And so we make this statement;
with roads to ho,
and phloem to grow,
t'will be a long engagement.
*
These lines are few -
what else is new?
from lessons, few are learning.
The shows today?
Well, so few pay.
I'm sick of underearning.
I care for me,
so on this sea
of life I shall not bob.
So soon I swam
and I'll be damned -
I found a full-time job!
Not only am I working for
a friend whom I like oodles,
this job will pay
for food each day
and keep me off those noodles.
T'will keep me cool
and deep in school
while I chase down degrees,
my "goodness sake"
as I go make
my life what'er I please.
*
"We are all celebrities!
Let's share our likes and ills!"
And so from Facebooks follies
I've gone flying to the hills.
The networks kiss
I do not miss,
my time online is better.
So should you wish
to "like" my fish,
feel free to send a letter.
*
Facknitz merch
and google search.
Who wrote "this guys da' bomb?"
your ego gets its sundae when
your name precedes "dot com".
So nice to feel
"it's no big deal"
and though it sounds syrup-sappy,
I put to test
this brand new quest;
to eat, drink and be happy.
*
I'll still teach periodically
and on the weekends, too
you'll see my nose
performing shows
Ah-doo-dee-doo-dee-doo!
The album is slow going,
but goal is still late May.
Hopefully we get it done
as I am sick of rhyming.

SHOWS!

LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Thursday, 4/14/11
INDIE SPIRIT FEST
5pm-7:30pm
Details to come!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/16/11
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO 80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 4/29/11
PARK EAST RESTAURANT
720 Goodnight Ave, Pueblo, CO 81005
8-11pm, FREE!
Call (719) 565-6655 for more info!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/30/11
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/1
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St
Colorado Springs, Colorado9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over - FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 5/7/11
HUMMINGBIRD MUSIC FESTIVAL
Noon-12:45pm
Details to come!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 5/21/11
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, CO 80133
8-10pm, all ages.
FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
MEADOWGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Saturday, 5/28/11
11am
For more details and ticket information visit:
http://www.meadowgrassmusicfestival.org/2011-Lineup.html

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 6/3/11
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
7:30-10pm
All ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 6/24/11
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, CO 80133
8-10pm, all ages.
FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 7/29/11
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
7:30-10pm
All ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
EXTRA SPECIAL "WE'RE ALL NUMBER 1" SHOW!
Friday, 11/11/11
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
7:30-10pm
All ages, no cover!

Peace, love and Detroit Tigers baseball,
Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com

In The "Studio", New Show Announcements.

THE "LINDSAY AND JEREMY" ALBUM

Check it out. That's none other than the great Lindsay Weidmann, recording new tracks to the upcoming debut release from "Lindsay and Jeremy". We're recording from my home in Manitou Springs and thus far all is sounding beautiful. I'm hopping mad about the content of this album. Seriously. Great folkness is birthing from our collaborative musical womb. We're hoping for a release come Memorial Day weekend at Meadowgrass Music Festival, followed by a tour to Michigan (through Belleville, IL) and back to sell copies of it this summer. We'll keep you posted.

JEREMY FACKNITZ AND MARIKA'S COFFEEHOUSE

Yesterday I performed solo at Marika's Coffeehouse in Manitou Springs, CO. Marika's is walking distance from my cabin, "the crow's nest". I had a great time and so we booked every other Saturday through April. What I love about Marika's, aside from their 7 layer bar, peach cupcakes and their wonderful sounding room, is that they don't pay dues to those BMI/ASCAP bastards. Meaning, I cannot perform any cover songs within their confines. Meaning, I need to fill two hours of coffeeshop time and keep people's attention with only the unknown songs I myself have composed in my 14 years as a songwriter. This really forces me to stretch my muscles; to relearn and reacquaint myself with tunes I wrote but haven't played in years.. and when the audience isn't listening, I can't reach into my usual bag of tricks and pull out a "P.Y.T." or a "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover". I have to make "Sweet Wedding Bells" worth their undivided attention. I absolutely love this challenge, and I believe it will help me fall back in love with my body of work. What else am I going to do on a Saturday afternoon? Watch college basketball? Not this year, not for me. The Michigan State Spartans suck like a Hoover.

So COME ON OUT! Every other Saturday afternoon at noon, Marika's Coffeehouse! Located at 739 Manitou Ave. in Manitou Springs, CO 80829! All Jeremy songs, all the time.

Here's an updated show list: Check out Lindsay and I at the Speedtrap in Palmer Lake, CO next Friday, and at Cucuru in Old Colorado City, CO the Friday after that! Great times.

LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/18/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
PALMER LAKE, CO
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 3/19/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/25/2011
CUCURU ART GALLERY AND CAFE
2332 West Colorado Avenue
COLORADO SPRINGS, 80904
(719) 520-9900 for more info!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 3/26/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
PUEBLO, COLORADO
10pm, $3 cover

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/2/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 04/08/2011
Kinfolks Mountian Shop
950 Manitou Avenue
MANITOU SPRINGS, COLORADO 80829
(719) 685-4433
8pm, 21 and over - no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 4/9/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
PALMER LAKE, CO
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
* RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/16/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 4/29/11
PARK EAST RESTAURANT
720 Goodnight Ave, Pueblo, CO 81005
8-11pm, FREE!
Call (719) 565-6655 for more info!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
RARE ALL ORIGINAL SONGS PERFORMANCE!
Saturday, 4/30/2011
MARIKA'S COFFEE
739 Manitou Ave.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO
80829
Noon-2pm, all ages, FREE!
Call 719-685-4438 for more information.

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/2011
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over - FREE!

Marika's photo's coming soon!

Rave Review, Studio Bee, "Lindsay and Jeremy" to play Meadowgrass Music Festival, Updates and other "news"

On tour in Watsonville, California - June, 2010

Hey there blog followers! It's been quiet here on the blog as of late, which isn't exactly representative of my actual life, so I'll fill you in.

My latest album, "Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (aka MFTOMPS, pronounced 'miff-tomps') received a glowing review in the blogsphere. Ron Logan says, "A native of Detroit, Facknitz enjoys the claim to fame of having beaten out the White Stripes for “Best Alternative Band” at the Detroit music awards in 2001. It’s no surprise either—his music has loads of the catchy melodies and rhythmic drive that powers the popular music scene today. But what really sets Facknitz apart is his incredibly original lyricism and sense of humor, blended with his own folky, feel-good style."

Read the full article here, http://40ozrobot.com/home/?p=1102.

Thanks Ron!

"Lindsay and Jeremy" is making their (our) Colorado Springs debut a week from today, Thursday February 17th at the Pikes Peak Center Studio Bee in Colorado Springs. The show is free and it starts at 6pm. We'll be hitting the stage at 6:45. Some things to look out for - dance moves, flying stuffed animals, new duo versions of "Bill Murray" and "Cup Of Noodles" and other great original music.

Speaking of Lindsay's song "Bill Murray", which was released this past spring on her E.P. "Quasi-Erotic Dreams of Middle Aged Actors", this rockin' song has been used in a video showcasing the many different faces of Bill Murray while Lindsay sings her heart out in the background. The video has received almost 18,000 views in a month. I'm hitching my trailer to this star, since I composed the music for this number.

So...

... this is the most famous I've ever been, and so I pause to celebrate.





Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=112aZ_C6bmE - and turn it up.

"Lindsay and Jeremy" has also been selected to perform at the Meadowgrass Music Festival in Black Forest, CO Memorial Day Weekend! This is quite an honor, and we are indeed honored. More details to come.

COME TO A SHOW WHY DONTCHYA?

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
COLORADO SPRINGS DEBUT!
Thursday, 2/17/2011
STUDIO BEE/PIKES PEAK CENTER
190 S. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
80903
6pm, FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 02/18/2011
Kinfolks Mountian Shop
950 Manitou Avenue
Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829
(719) 685-4433
8pm, 21 and over - no cover!

COOL FOR CATS
(NICK DAVEY AND JEREMY FACKNITZ)
Friday, 3/4/2011
RICO'S CAFE
322 N. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, CO
7:30pm, all ages,
FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/18/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 3/26/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
Pueblo, Colorado
10pm, $3 cover

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 04/08/2011
Kinfolks Mountian Shop
950 Manitou Avenue
Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829
(719) 685-4433
8pm, 21 and over - no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 4/9/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/2011
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over - FREE!

Hey, I love you for reading this far.

My music has been submitted to Slacker radio, so look for it if you're a "Slacker". Still trying to submit to Pandora but it's proving to be kind of a pain in the ass, and I have a life to live aside from hoop jumping. Soon, I promise.

School is going well, I find it challenging (good) and 10 times as time consuming as I thought it would be (bad). I love math. Actually I hate it but I'm trying to adjust my attitude. I'm recording bass tracks for brother Jarod's Chicago based band, Beaten By Yuri. Their upcoming release is swimming in my head as I type, and I'm thankful for the sneak peak in return for fumbling, so-so bass lines.

Peace to all beings. Even Mubarack.

Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com
513-310-1374

A year past the second space odyssey, "Lindsay and Jeremy" the band, and college.

At the risk of kicking off the New Year by offending a small number of my readers, I shall open this blog entry by saying I have little nice to say about the state of Indiana. Maybe my view comes from growing up in Michigan, where all bordered states are considered "lesser". But I believe there is a reason (or six) the most romantic song composed about Indiana in the last 30 years is a song wherein the writer recalls the first time he "drove through" Indiana.

Nevertheless, it was at a quaint Michigan City, Indiana establishment known as "The Dune Beach Inn" where Lindsay and I rang in the New Year.

As I approach the age of 33, New Years Eve generates all the excitement of another birthday... I can hardly contain my yawn. Still, this was our first New Years together and I - being the self-proclaimed romantic I am - wanted to do something special. We spent Christmas with my folks in Holly, Michigan so by the 31st we were ready to move out on our own and head west to Colorado. I had visions of booking a Bed and Breakfast in South Haven or St. Joseph, walking along the beach in the balmy 45 degree Michigan gray and window shopping outside closed boutiques New Years Day (gosh, even in my dreams it wasn't so romantic).

But alas, my procrastination had left us with little choice... and we ended up in Indiana. "I remember the first time I drove through Indiana..."

I kid, I kid. It was lovely. And as the ball dropped in Times Square, I reflected, as most do on New Years Eve...

2010. What a year! Why, just look over this blog. From coping with the end of my relationship to the thrill of opening for Tim Reynolds... from feeling stuck in February to cursing one-too-many consecutive nights in the Honda Fit as I made my way across the midwest in April... from feeling as though my career was about to "take off" to all but bashing my Martin over a rock. Have I mentioned that I made a new best friend and before I knew it I had fallen in love with her? Did I forget to tell you that I played over 70 shows from Seattle to Boston and just about everywhere in between (above the Mason-Dixon line, anyway)?

I shook hands with so many lovely people all over this country, and slept on most of their futons. I ate a barrel of humble pie. I had my identity, or what I had thought was my identity, swept out from underneath me. I think I cried a lot.

It was AWESOME.

I can't recall a year where I accomplished more, if you consider just doing what I did an accomplishment. I do.

Emotionally, I don't think I've grown this much in a one year period since I was a little nipple-nibbling, toddler-sponge.

2011. What a year! I'm staying put. I'm so, so tired of the automobile. My cabin is warm and inviting, and it has no wheels. Many shows will be played, but 98% of them will be within the friendly confines of Colorado's borders... "Lindsay and Jeremy" is a new, dynamic duo that will be releasing an album this summer (see show schedule)... I'm taking piano and guitar lessons... I'm going back to school. Yes, just like Rodney Dangerfield. Classes at Pikes Peak Community College begin January 25th and I will be there. What am I going for? I don't know. I'm just dipping my toe in the collegiate waters. I am degree-less, I struggled with schooling all my life and at this point I would like to rewrite some of the stories that have been going 'round my head for the last 15 years.

Let's see, what else? I don't know. I'm open. I'm just going to keep on doing. I learn by doing. Trying new things. Being open. Celebrating this bad-ass life.

As always, I am full of gratitude for those who have supported me in all their unique ways. This includes you, dear reader. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Here's the Lindsay and Jeremy show schedule for 2011, as of 1/6. If it is no longer 1/6, you may want to check out www.jeremyfacknitz.com for possible additions.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Thursday, 1/20/2011
NORTH PLATTE COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE
301 East 5th St.
North Platte, Nebraska
69101
8pm, $10 cover - ALL AGES! CALL 308-532-8559 for more information.

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 1/28/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm
All ages, FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 1/29/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
Pueblo, Colorado
10pm, $3 cover

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
COLORADO SPRINGS DEBUT!
Thursday, 2/17/2011
STUDIO BEE/PIKES PEAK CENTER
190 S. Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
80903
6pm, FREE!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Friday, 3/18/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 3/26/2011
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza
Pueblo, Colorado
10pm, $3 cover

"LINDSAY AND JEREMY"
Saturday, 4/9/2011
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105
Palmer Lake, Colorado
8pm, all ages, no cover!

JEREMY FACKNITZ SOLO
Friday, 5/6/2011
JACK QUINN'S IRISH PUB
21 S. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
9:30pm - 12:30am, 21 and over
FREE!

Happy New Year.
Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com