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

JEREMY FACKNITZ SHOWS! Fall/Winter 2010

Hello, this is the Jeremy Facknitz newsletter, now in blog form. Seems Yahoo! has decided to make it increasingly difficult for indie musicians to send mass a amount of emails to fans. They call it "spam", and even though the people on my list have willingly signed up for this service, I am indeed "spamming".

I'll be doing things this way from now on.

Fall has seemingly come and gone, as I watch the snow fall from my loves' easy chair. It's been a long, long year and it's nearly over. The show I put on has been revamped, with many a new cover and some new original material.

Lindsay and I are going to start performing more consistantly as a duo, and we're very excited about this. You can get a sneak peak December 3rd (details below), but the big coming out party takes place February 17th 2011 at Studio Bee in the Pikes Peak Center.

Shows...

Friday, 11/12/2010
RICO'S CAFE AND WINE BAR
322 N. Tejon St. * COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80903
7:30-10pm, all ages, no cover

Saturday, 11/13/2010
BOONDOCK'S COFFEE
76 N. McCulloch * PUEBLO WEST, COLORADO 81007 8pm, all ages, no cover!

Saturday, 11/20/2010
JACK QUINN'S
Tejon St. * COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80903
9:30-12:30, 21 and over

Friday, 12/3/2010
MANITOU SPRINGS COMMUNITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
103 Pawnee Ave.
Manitou Springs, CO 80829 - (719) 685-5255
with LINDSAY WEIDMANN,
opening for JOHN SMITH
7pm to 10pm

Saturday, 12/11/2010
DOWNTOWN BAR
103 Central Plaza * PUEBLO, COLORADO 81003
10PM, $3

Thursday, 12/16/2010
BENEFIT FOR THE EMPTY
STOCKING FUND

Friday, 12/17/2010
THE SPEEDTRAP
84 S. HWY 105 * PALMER LAKE, COLORADO 80133
8-10PM, all ages, no cover

Saturday, 12/18/2010
BOONDOCK'S COFFEE
76 N. McCulloch * PUEBLO WEST, COLORADO 81007 8pm, all ages, no cover!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope to see you out there, kids.

Jeremy
www.jeremyfacknitz.com
www.myspace.com/jeremyfacknitz
jeremyfacknitz@yahoo.com

CABIN

I realize I've left this page to collect dust as I reassess my life from my cabin on the hill. Recently, I've also been made aware that there are real-life people who actually read this blog. I know this, because they have seen me at shows or passed me on the street and have inquired as to when I'll grab the Pledge and a paper towel and dust 'er off again.

Since I last logged on to blogger I've been busy getting my head straight, rather than dusting. I moved into a small cabin in Manitou Springs, CO. I've been able to pay rent thanks to my job as a freelance field-technician for a growing company out of Ohio who sends me all over America to install, download and upload various things for TJ Maxx and Marshalls (it is for this job that I leave for Portland, Oregon tomorrow for the third time this year - although there are no shows scheduled, if you decide to pop into an open-mic in the area, you may see me).

When the mid-west tour was cancelled I felt rather deflated and defeated. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't keep doing what I was doing to myself. I tried to blame it on age; "man, if I was only 22 instead of 32, I could sleep in my small car for another 6 weeks". I tried to blame it on the economy: "I don't mind not making money, but I do mind creating debt while constantly working my tail off." These things were both true, but there was a third, overwhelming and frightening voice inside my head that was saying "I just don't want to."

Don't want to? This is what I've been waiting for my whole life! A chance to throw everything I have at the endeavor. What do I mean, "I don't want to?"

The voice was loud and it would not quiet down until I gave it it's proper respect. "No, I don't want to". No, I don't want to live this way for the next 5 years so that I can make a decent wage living this way for the rest of my life. No, I don't want to live on the road. Then, more voices - what am I running from in Vermont? In Washington? In Nebraska? What am I looking for in Oregon, California, Massachusetts?

I always dreamed of opening up for certain acts. "Michael Penn, man it'd be awesome to open up for him." "Martin Sexton - oh man, could you imagine?" It wasn't because I adore these guys as solo singer-songwriters (I do), or because I wished to shake their hands or see their show for free. All I wanted was to share the same spotlight as those guys. I wanted to share the bill with them. I wanted my talent to considered along with theirs, whether my talent deserves to be considered at that level or not. I wanted acceptance from their fans. I wanted validation for the years and years of smokey bars, bloody fingers and damaged vocal chords. Out of the coffee shops and into the streets! I had tastes of it in opening for "Blessid Union of Souls" and Tim Reynolds - fleeting tastes of "I could be a somebody", fleeting tastes of acceptance.

I realized acceptance isn't out there, it's in here (author pointing to chest in a dramatic fashion). That's why musicians who are seeking what I've been seeking through music get that "acceptance" as they're playing sold-out arenas... then develop massive drug addictions and/or kill themselves. It's never enough. You have to accept yourself for who you are, for what you bring to the table of life. That's what I'm doing from my cabin.

I was always quite fond of a Joni Mitchell line from the song "River"... "I'm gonna make a lot of money, then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene." I ALWAYS loved that idea, even in the midst of my recent quest! I don't know that I ever really wanted to tour the country for the rest of my life. I think I would have been fine (and would still be quite happy) with selling "Bijou Bridge" to Campbells soup for a few million dollars and retire - which, to me, looks like making more albums, playing regionally and spending most of my remaining time on earth with a new family nucleus, friends, and my ever-growing collection of sports and music memorabilia.

Anyway, I'm doing great! Man, I can go on, can't I? In summation, if I accept myself I don't need anyone else's validation. Now, once I do that, is there a desire to tour the country and go into debt trying to beat people over the head with my music? The answer to that is a simple and sane "no". I don't need a fan base in Portland, or Watsonville, or anywhere to feel acceptance or validation.

There are thoughts for a make-up tour of the mid-west come spring 2011. Just thoughts. I'm putting together new songs and revamping (or correcting?) old tunes I wrote 10, 12 years ago and discarded. The solo shows are making way for a new project, as Lindsay Weidmann and I are forming a duo. We haven't named ourselves yet, but you can see us February 17th at The Studio Bee in Colorado Springs... it will be our first official show as a duo (our 64th un-official show). Hell, we may even release an album together. I may return to school to study music, as I have no formal musical training whatsoever and wonder what I might be capable of as an artist if I had a clue as to just what I'm doing. That really excites me.

In the meantime, keep an eye on www.jeremyfacknitz.com for updates, shows, and pictures of my face.

I hope you are well.

Love,
Facker

Midwest tour cancelled.

This past weekend, with just three weeks until I leave for the Midwestern tour, things weren't looking good. The tour out west in June/July cost a lot of money. Blame it on the sunshine or the economy but people were not coming to the shows. I was hoping to recoup my losses here in Colorado and in this upcoming Midwestern tour and although I had moderate success re booking a couple of places, a lot of puzzle pieces and dates were still missing.

Currently I am very poor (in debt, actually), still homeless and with the economy the way it is at this time I feel it's best for my psyche and livelihood that I cancel this tour and try to find gainful employment here in Colorado for the time being.

I am extremely sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to the many venue owners who have supported me and given me a chance. To anyone who was looking forward to my return to Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and northwest Michigan - you have my deepest apologies. The show in North Platte, Nebraska 8/21 and a weekend of shows in southeast Michigan the weekend of 9/10 and 9/11 are still on.

Life is not all or nothing, and I want the reader to know that I'm not "giving up music". Songs will be written, shows will be played and albums will be released for anyone who wishes to hear them for as long as I'm breathing. To be frank, at this time - after 13 years, 1,200 shows in 24 states, 3 albums and countless vats of emotional blood, sweat and tears - I cannot go back out there and sleep in the car. I cannot go back out there and earn so little that I feel guilty for spending $10 a day on food, or rack up further debt.

Also know that there is peace with this. I learned in the last four months that maybe I'm just not cut out for hitting people over the head with my music in order for them to pay enough attention that will allow me to make a living at it. Maybe I'd rather create from love, and let anyone who'd like to listen, listen. Anyone who doesn't wish to listen, doesn't have to. They don't have to be won over by a clever marketing scheme or a sexy music video (like Vaguely Alamosa! Damn I loved that beard!). They sure as hell don't have to feed me, or clothe me. The attitude of need has taken something I find invaluable (my relationship with music) and given it a small, paltry number in USD. I need a break from that.

Thanks to my friends and family for your undying support.

P.S. - Today, I played my guitar and - in my ears - it sounded more beautiful than it has in months.

Jeremy

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Tour comes to a close/I can celebrate this independence.

Lindsay and I drove through the night to Portland so we could be the musical guests at the Portland Center for Spiritual Living Sunday morning. We enjoyed playing for this friendly congregation as our last costal show on this Pacific Northwest tour. We’ll be playing a show in Carbondale, CO at Steve’s Guitars on Friday, which will be the last official show after we meander back to Colorado over these next couple days. But in the meantime, the 4th of July marked the end of our west coast shows. We crashed at a friend’s vacant apartment for the rest of the holiday weekend, reveling in greatly earned naps, couching, and movie watching. We toasted ourselves and the tour with a bottle of Roxyann Winery Pinot, then watched distant fireworks from the balcony.

This tour is my third this year and each one has been significantly different from the others – different highs, different lows and different challenges. All of these things continue to lead to new epiphanies. For example, I’m having a garage sale in a few weeks. I’m selling all of my stuff. I want to fit everything I own into my Honda Fit. Also, I realized I don’t have to tour the rest of my life if I don’t wish to tour the rest of my life. Also, I want to open myself to the possibility of living in a different city. I am very open right now. I feel my mind is rather clear and getting clearer the more time I spend out on these interstates. I think that is I like best about this lifestyle. You’re trapped with yourself, you’re forced to look at yourself everyday. It’s sometimes sobering, often terrifying but I believe it’s a great way for Jeremy to grow quickly, and I’m loving this growing thing.

I can’t say enough about my tour partner, Lindsay Weidmann. So I won’t even begin… I’ll just say “thank you, Lindsay” into my guitar and loop pedal and let it repeat four or five thousand times.

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - 7/1 through 7/3 - WASHINGTON STATE SHOWS!

Thank you Lindsay’s Aunt Mary. I have not yet met you, but I’ve slept in your guest bed and thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast you so kindly prepared for us before leaving your house to run errands. After eggs benedict, fresh fruit and strong coffee, we headed down to Seattle’s southern neighbor, Tacoma, to see Lindsay’s cousin Will, a student at the University of Puget Sound. In the cafe where we were to folk that evening, we took full advantage of it’s internet, couches, excellent food, and pleasantly quiet and creative environment. We set up shop at The Mandolin Café for the afternoon to enjoy some interneting and much needed out-of-car-time. I scored a hair cut, as I could no longer see. We played our show and slept on Will’s dorm futon and I was able to relive the college days I never lived in the first place. I went to trade school, and commuted from home. I guess the closest I ever came to dorm dwelling was my time with “The Ottomans”. Aside from the rehearsing, shows and a laughable sense of entitlement, I recall hours spent with those boys laughing at movies that were heralded as much more hilarious than they actually were, thanks to the assistance of, shall we say, assets.

The next 48 hours were full of seeing WONDERFUL old friends of Lindsay’s. C & P Coffee in Seattle hosted the Jeremy Facknitz & Lindsay Weidmann show Friday night for their quiet coffee crowd. Lindsay’s good friend Victoria was visiting the area from Minnesota and brought a bunch of friends. Very fun to meet her! Then we slept at Dr. Julie’s apartment, a friend of Lindsay’s from catholic high school days. The next evening her fellow artistically inclined college friend, Josie, hosted a house concert for us. Old fellow camp counselor friend, Patrick, was in the audience as well as Julie and Lisa, another high school friend. I’m so thankful Lindsay has so many friends!

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - WASHINGTON STATE, BELLINGHAM - GREEN FROG ACOUSTIC TAVERN

FROM THE BLOG OF LINDSAY WEIDMANN:

Jeremy and I have been on tour for 3 weeks now and we still like each other. Although this is my first tour ever and have nothing to compare it to, I find that fact impressive. I would like to attribute our serenity to our agreeable dispositions. We’ve had some moments of annoyance with each other but on this morning, last day of June, we walked around Portland like two friends on vacation together. We decided to have a morning off from working or planning tour logistics and explored downtown Portland as tourists. We found a great diner for a 11 am brunch then walked down to the largest independently owned bookstore in the world, Powell’s Bookstore. Unfortunately, we had a lot of miles to cover so we could only skim through a couple rooms of this 4 story bookstore spanning a whole city block. It was quite a site. Having worked in a bookstore myself, I found the overpowering smell of hardbacks intoxicating.

Bellingham, WA was our tour destination. We had a late show at the excellent Green Frog Acoustic Tavern. A peanut shell laced, darkened bar full of smiling, jovial Bellinghamers, the Acoustic Tavern was full through the evening. We played our usual songwriter tag-team show for everyone, which is now like a well-oiled machine, and enjoyed making a few new northern friends. It was another late night of driving as we headed back down to Seattle to sleep at a relative’s house. Thank goodness for friends and family willing to take in last-minute ramblers."

WEST COAST VERSION 2.0 TOUR with LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Monday, 6/28 and Tuesday, 6/29 - Day off and casual Tuesday...

We awoke on the Yachats coast. Lindsay went for a walk and did some yoga. Jeremy organized his possessions and went over trip logistics. Then we did some more songwriting in the car as we headed back to Portland Monday morning. This was the beginning of a big driving week for Tour of Faith and this “day off” is no exception. We have experienced nights of sleeping on the ground or in the car and we’ve also experienced generously plush sleeping arrangements on this tour and lucky for us, the next two nights were of the plush category. We settled in to a friend’s vacant apartment in downtown Portland and actually enjoyed a home cooked meal of Lindsay’s famous spaghetti surprise and Jeremy’s badass blueberry muffins. Spontaneous singing and improvisation went on after enjoying one of our Roxyann Winery bottles of vino.

Lindsay went hiking with her friend Jonathan and enjoyed his native knowledge of different Portland hotspots on Tuesday morning. Jeremy worked diligently on the computer booking gigs for the fall and then we headed out for our Alberta St Pub gig. We met and jammed with our new musical Portland friend, Will West and his cello, mandolin playing comrade Skip. We danced around during Will’s intoxicatingly musical set while enjoying Irish Pub fare and brew. Great night all around!

Portland is a very clean city, one full of very progressive minds and green landscapes. It’s a city we’re gonna spend as much time in as we can while were here.

WEST COAST TOUR VERSION 2.0 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Sunday, 6/27 - DRIFT INN - YACHATS, OREGON

June 27th, Day 18: Yachats, our new costal home
“Let’s build a little house by the sea
build a little house by the sea
My worries from the land
Will sleep in the sand
Let’s build a little house by the sea”

These lyrics were inspired by our time in Yachats, Oregon. We arrived there Sunday afternoon and walked off our car-cramped legs on their famous inland beach where the surf is sandy and shallow. Yachats is the sea version of a one horse town. There’s about a dozen businesses along the main road and many scattered picturesque houses spotting the pine hillsides. But we forgot to take pictures of the town itself. We also forgot to take pictures of the Drift Inn where we played that night for many a sea-faring folk. This dining establishment boasts live music every night of the week for the Yachats locals and vacationers. We had an attentive Sunday night crowd of live people and mermaid murals. We fell asleep at a local hotel after stuffing ourselves with a complimentary seafood dinner by the Drift Inn. Oh, this is vacation!

Earlier that morning, while enjoying fresh picked raspberries from friend Jonathan’s garden, we employed a new tradition on our tour: Appreciation Workshops. Lindsay has decided she’s starting a new career of professional appreciator. So she led a workshop with Jeremy. Let’s try one now:
“Take a medium sized breath
Now take a long deep breath
Close your eyes and take one more slow, deep breath
Now, open your eyes and look around
Do you see anything you appreciate? Feel any appreciation?”
I appreciate the blue house over there on the corner. I appreciate laughing a lot this morning. I appreciate my healthy body. I appreciate being well fed. I appreciate Jonathan’s garden peas. I appreciate that I’m alive one more day and I can choose how much love I feel at any given moment. I appreciate feeling really happy right now.
Now, you try…

WEST COAST TOUR VERSION 2.0 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Saturday, 6/25 - HONORING DAY, FLOYD'S COFFEE IN PORTLAND, OREGON

Today would have been my wedding day.

I was engaged to be married and it fell through. It's no big deal. It happens.

I'm glad it fell through sooner than later. Nobody had to take back tuxedo's or cancel flights and, what would have been worse yet, nobody left anyone at the altar on front of 150 friends and family members.

But a date was planned, and it was June 26th, 2010. Matchbooks were made up as party favors. Gifts were purchased for the wedding party. The chapel and reception location were booked. Somewhere online, I believe there is still a weddingchannel page for us, but I don't posses the password required to dispose of it.

We broke up 7 months ago, and while we had many a good time together, it was past due and my life since then has gone through a Renaissance of sorts. Without divulging what's too personal for this blog, I will say that I'm apparently more "over it" than my family. I will say that I'm so thankful and honestly happy to be here in Oregon on June 26th, 2010. I will also say that the biggest issue I've had with the relationship and its demise has been my roll in it, because when it comes right down to it, all we can change is ourselves and our own behaviors and even this is a tremendous task.

Lindsay's proving to be a stellar tour partner. My sweet, dear friend blessed me with gifts this morning - a toy dog that sings "Singing in The Rain", inspired by the movie we rented recently in Crescent City, CA (we've named him Gene); an angel for the dash board of our tour "bus"; and a ring with a big fat J on it which led to a small ceremony in which I married... myself. Lindsay dubbed it "Honoring Day". It was a good Honoring Day today. The best ever.

I feel an extreme amount of gratitude and contentment to be in Oregon with my friend Weidmann, playing shows and living my life for one person and one person only, my new wife... ME. At times, part of me feels as though I have gotten away with something. I feel special, in that so few people get to look at their wedding day that's not happening from 7 months and 1,000 miles removed and actually celebrate it.

Thanks Lindsay, thank you to me.

Thanks also my ex. I toast you today as well.

We played a show at Floyd's Coffee in Portland with Jonathan Brinkley and Hans Barklis, a songwriters in the round show which was a great deal of fun. So was the walk in the rose garden afterwards with Jonathan and his roommates. I look forward to Honoring Day, 2011 already.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 WITH LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Friday, 6/25 - Roxyann Winery - Medford, Oregon.

"Inspired by the Rogue Valley’s natural beauty and bounty, RoxyAnn Winery was founded in 2002 at the historic Hillcrest Orchard in east Medford that has been bearing fruit for over 100 years." - www.roxyann.com

Tonight Lindsay Weidmann and Jeremy Facknitz were blessed to bear their fruits of song to the appreciative wine sippers at Roxyann Winery. The sunset, a gentle breeze and the rolling hills of southwest Oregon were also in attendence this evening. The touring duo crooned while those in attendance swooned. Specifically, the rolling hills and the couple at the table stage right were most appreciative of the duo's efforts.

Having been compensated with two bottles of wine and nice check, our fearless folkers drove off in Lindsay's prius and headed north, bathing in the warm summer glow of the moon.

Tomorrow, Portland.

WEST COAST TOUR #2 w/LINDSAY WEIDMANN - Monday, 6/21 through Thursday, 6/24 - FOLKIN' IT UP FOR ASHLAND, OREGON

MONDAY, 6/21 - LIQUID ASSETS

After a swell meal and even "sweller" night's sleep in Crescent City, California Sunday night, we packed up our guitars along with the remnants of our fatigue and made our way to the beautiful state of Oregon. We stopped along the way for ice cream. Chocolate. My diet on this tour has run the gamete. I have good-boy days where I'll consume veggies and fruit, and bad-boy days where I'll live off of milk shakes and gas station donuts. It's not always easy to eat well on a budget with no fridge as well as the overwhelming temptation to eat crap looming everywhere. Either way, I'm still here, still folking and I'm not hungry, so I applaud myself. Clap clap clap clap clap...

Tonight, Liquid Assets (thanks Olivia!). My second time performing at this wonderful wine cafe in downtown Ashland. It seemed as though the most attentive of audience members were also members of Olivia's family (thanks Olivia X2!) as they tapped their tables, chairs and toes to our Monday night sounds.

We took advantage of free wine. The Merlot is most excellent. It has good legs and a hint of chocolate.

TUESDAY, 6/22 - DAY OFF

Kara Rosengren is my sister. She runs a non-profit dance company known as "Against The Grain" (www.againstthegraindance.org). She's quite gifted. She has also had the fortune of landing a good husband in my brother-in-law Ken, who is a pilot for Delta. Sissy (as I call her) can fly for free pretty much anywhere she wants to go, so she decided to come see big brother in Ashland.

Unfortunately, she must fly stand-by, which can be tough when you're traveling with kids out of school and your destination is the tiny airport of neighboring Medford, Oregon. It took her 20 hours, but she arrived to the Roadway Inn as bright, sweet, chipper and effervescent as ever! That's my Sissy!

She took real good care of us, and I can't thank her enough for her support in my endeavors.

While she was fighting her way across the country from Chicago, Lindsay and I worked... booked shows, blogged a bit, played guitar. Lindsay is now joining me on "Vaguely Alamosa" and "Better Than Us" and improving the live delivery of these nuggets immensely.

WEDNESDAY, 6/23 - TEASE

I love window shopping. I'm rarely tempted to buy things I don't need or can't afford. For this, I am thankful. Sissy and I walked around Ashland during the day sipping coffee, munching on Cinnamon rolls and talking about Jarod Facknitz behind his back while Lindsay toiled away on the laptop. Lindsay's a go-getter. I felt a twinge of guilt but I'll get back to "me" come Friday. I welcome my sister's visit and shall use it as a valid excuse to turn into tourist for a few days.

Thanks to Julie who booked us, and Allan who volunteered to take money at the door. Tease is a new business here in Ashland... rather posh but without pretentiousness. Me and my clothing ensemble of faded jeans/cowboy shirt felt quite at ease inside of Tease.

We put on a great show. We know this because we have proof; Sissy attended and filmed a few songs for us, some of which I'd love to post on blogger but I don't have the 67 years it takes to download a video on blogger. What's that? Will they be on Youtube soon? Hopefully. I will keep you posted. Thanks for your interest!

THURSDAY, 6/24

This day will live in infamy.

Although I'm still getting to know her, I'm sure Lindsay Weidmann has made many discoveries throughout her life. But I trust they pale in comparison (in my mind, anyway) to the discovery she made as the sun hit the side of my face just right on Thursday, June 24th 2010 at 7:23pm pacific standard time and brought to light another reminder that I am not a child, nor will I live forever.

An ear hair.

I have a hair growing out of my ear.

This is not a big deal. Just as everything poops, everything also grows old, grows hair in odd places and dies.

My initial reaction was disgust. Followed by panic, then sadness, then acceptance. This all happened within about 37 seconds, but I felt this is something you, dear reader, would find interesting.

We performed for a few lucky patrons and the beautiful staff at Culture Works in Ashland, Oregon. Chris was kind enough to feed us with sandwiches and salads.

I love Ashland. I love the people here, and the way I'm received and welcomed as a performing artist. I will return, probably sooner than later.

I just hope I get over the whole "this is where I discovered my first ear-hair" thing.

To hear all this from Lindsay's point of view, and expose yourself to a higher quality of writing, visit www.lindsayweidmann.blogspot.com!

ALSO! ORDER JEREMY'S SOLD OUT CD "GIMMICK" (just a few copies left!) OR DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM AT www.cdbaby.com/jeremyfacknitz!