The Nace Brothers

Recent News & Upcoming Events
What a great New Years Eve party, for me, the greatest of all time. Everyone seemed to have a great time; there was not one bit of negative energy to be found. Had a great after party. Both motels across the street were sold out so we thought why not give them a free show. Maria made b’s & g in her room and we jammed for quite awhile Thirty years and counting. Who knew? I still think the best is yet to come. Opportunities still seem to be coming our way so we keep rolling on.

A couple of months ago I was asked by a friend and fellow song writer from Nashville, Roger Dillon, to submit a song for a movie he was writing for called “Independence”. He took my song to Los Angeles and they are still holding it but I get the feeling it’s on the chopping block. It was still nice being asked. Only a million more miles to go.

Thanks to everyone who’s helped us along the way in our long strange musical journey. Thanks to everyone who’s helped us along the way in our long strange musical journey. Buying a C.D. or coming to a gig is the best thing you can do. Because the DR. says along with walking and drinking water…music is good for you too. Also all the people that play us on the radio, Fish Fry with Chuck Haddock, 90.9 The Bridge, KKFI Kansas City community radio, Denny Perkins at Bob FM, Ken Dillon, Radio Margaritaville and anyone who has ever played a Nace Brothers song. Thank you! I couldn’t go on without mentioning Brother David who does all the dirty work,; booking the gigs, driving like mad and bringing my songs to life. I couldn’t have a better compadre and it could have never happen without him. (And he makes great fried chicken). He’s always got something good to say, the only time I’ve heard him stutter was last year on the radio in Indiana when we were asked how long we intended to keep doing this. We looked at each other and David said not sure we’ve never been asked that question before. Whatcha gonna do? We’re looking forward to the next million miles.

Just got home from Key West and as usual it was wild and crazy. The first night we got to town I went to see Nick Norman and the boys at the Lazy Gecko. Before I could get a beer I had a guitar in my hand and was singing with Lewis Brice, (brother of Lee Brice). What a great time. We jammed every night after the gig. Wow, now that doesn’t happen anywhere else. Thanks guys. Wednesday after a jog and some Con Leche, I was walking down Duval Street following the sounds of a sitar. On the corner was a person in a Spider-Man costume playing the Sitar. Now that’s something you don’t see everyday, he was pretty good too. What a bad time to be caught without a camera. We’re going back in March maybe he’ll have some more super hero’s jamming with him. I’ll keep you posted, it should be interesting. Until then keep the music playing… -jimmy

Archives Alright it’s back to feelin’ good again. Had a great night at Knuckleheads and really felt like we blew the roof off. Thanks to everyone who showed up and thanks for letting us play all our new songs. We’re getting together this week to learn some more new tunes. Going to work on “ She” by Gram Parson and “Everywhere you go” a new song of mine. Trying to stay ahead of the game (which is impossible but we’re trying anyway). Would like to thank Dan Bliss for opening the show and putting on a guitar clinic last Saturday night I, think he’s great. Also like to thank Frank Hicks for getting David and I on the Fish Fry. I’ve been listening to the Fish Fry for at least twenty years always wishing I could be on it some day and I finally got to. And yes it was everything I thought it would be. We got interviewed by the legendary Chuck Haddock who definitely does his home work. Thanks again guys.

And right now things are good, so lets get to what’s on the horizon, New Years Eve. In case you didn’t know, this New Years Eve marks the Nace Bros. Bands thirtieth year as a band that’s right 30th. We will be home to celebrate this milestone, and after thirty years in this screwed up business there’s nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile. So here’s the deal- we’re set to play at players lounge in our home town of Warrensburg, MO. $20.00 per person no reservations, doors open at 8pm, we will play our first set from 9:00 til 11:00 we will come back at 11:20 and play til 1:00 something tells me champagne will be involved- then it’s over to the motel for a night cap. Players has great food and seating for 190 people which has been plenty in the past and besides we couldn’t think of a better place to do it. We hope you will consider joining us for this very special occasion. Thanks and hope to see you there -jimmy

August is the official c.d. release party month. It started with WAMM fest Aug. 21st in Greenwood IN and moving on to Knuckleheads in K.C. MO Aug. 27th where we will be joined by good friend and guitar great Dan Bliss hope you can make it.

Well that was a wild week - tons of people, a little drama and some live music all adds up to some serious entertainment. It started with Nick Norman at the Trouser Mouse on Wednesday, August 9th. He has wild man guitar player and harmony singer from Key West FL, Caffeine Carl, and they sounded great. We jammed and had a great time then someone put pot brownies in the tip jar and some how they ended up in the hands of the boys in blue. I should just stop right there because everything turned out fine, the cops got the brownies and everyone was happy but man what a night.

The next night we started the state fair it was going great til Saturday and it went over the top. The most people I’ve ever seen in the Bud Tent. Jason Aldean came and listened for a while. He would have stayed longer but people finally started getting to him. It was still cool cause we gave him a c.d. Wonder if he listened to it?

The next Wednesday we left for Indy. It was a blast. We played a couple of tune up gigs and then WAMM Fest and once again the most people I’ve ever seen at WAMM Fest. It was the best. Vic had this idea about jamming at the end and it worked out perfectly. We ended our set and then Jennie DeVoe, Phil Pierle, Mike Moore and Vic Koons all joined us for the Jam. Our first song of the jam was The Weight and Jennie sang the Mavis Staple verse. That was cool, then she sang Runaway, the Bonnie Raitt version, she really brought the house down then Phil sang Squeeze Box and we ended with Like a Rolling Stone and we all traded verses.

Such a great crowd yelling for more I was so high it was great and to top it off it was my birthday weekend so Vic had a reception party for all of us afterwards and this is where it gets blurry. It all starts with not eating and then drinking til 2:30 in the morning I remember pouring Sangria in my vodka and talking to Becky and Shelly until they went to bed. Then it hit me- queezy light headed and spinning like Saturn. Normally I could just hurl and feel better but this was different I just gagged for a couple hours went to bed and woke up doing the same thing. David got me some water and a sandwich but I couldn’t get anything down. Shelly said “man you look green”. So now its time to drive home. T.J. rode with Greta, Tim can’t really help and all I could do was hold my stomach and sit by the trash can in the van. So who gets stuck driving eight hours and doing all the work once again? My hero, Brother David. I love you man. Monday I made it through a whole piece of pizza all is good. No more drinking for a while. I went from being on top of the world to being down and out in about five short hours. Woke up today and felt pretty good. There were four big turkeys in the yard while I ate half of a peanut butter sandwich, that was cool, and then I took my chainsaw over to Mom’s house and cleared brush for three hours trying to get my game face back on.

Working on some new riffs right now, getting ready for the Knuckleheads show. Gonna be hard to top WAMM Fest but if it can be done, Knuckleheads is the place to do it. I’m going to play with pride and give it everything I got. I owe it to myself and David to seriously blow roof off that dump. Come join us if you can it’s going to be good. -jimmy
5 o’clock Sunday July 24th at the Monserrat Winery, covered dishes welcome. More than just a birthday party it’s a celebration to honor the greatest person in our lives, our Mom! Please join us for the Ellen Nace family bar-b-q. For the woman who’s seen it all and loved every minute of it- she’s heard more bands in her basement than most people hear in a lifetime, she’s cooked more breakfasts than Country Kitchen and no one was ever turned down or turned away from our house. So many good times I couldn’t count them all if I tried.

I guess the earliest memory I have is waking up at eight years old and hearing my Dad and his friend Billy Cox playing acoustic guitars and Mom saying “be quiet they’re recording this one”. There was always lots of music, lots of freedom and lots of love and the greatest thing is not much has changed.

So I guess we’re having our first c.d. release party for our newest c.d. “Well Traveled Road” in Sedalia Mo July 23rd at Dickie Doo bar-b-q. It’s kind of a practice release party before the official release party on August 27th at Knuckleheads in K.C. MO. You know practice makes perfect so maybe by August we’ll have all these songs down perfectly. Well I would hope so anyway. Check it out if you can I’ve really been trying to reconnect with the slide guitar, it sounds pretty cool, I think you’re going to like it… jimmy

Blinding rain, benefits, good times, and music, music, music is about all that’s been going on. I guess you could say we’re just trying to do our part hoping that good karma will come back to us some time.

Easter Sunday in Fayettville playing a benefit for good friend Sara Renko, it rained so much the highway was closed. Even though we backed up to the door to load in everyone was soaked. I was grabbing my amp out of the van and there was Baby Jason saying, “give it here I got it”. For me that was a special moment. It’s not everyday an artist the caliber of baby Jason carries your amp in out of the rain, wow.

Then the benefit for Mark in Sedalia, Mo, it went well. They raised some money and Carlene and Becky won the bidding on a pair of Willie Nelson tickets. I told Mark this benefit is costing me money and he said he’d get even with me at the Bud tent this year at the Mo state fair so I’m looking forward to it.

One bright spot was the Rock House in Reeds Spring, MO. A full day of great music and hot sun, we love outside festivals. We want to go back in the Fall and play an acoustic show indoors. The food and hospitality was just great we haven’t been treated that good since we left Indianapolis.

Also looking forward to our annual Father’s Day tribute June 18th and 19th where we will be playing hardcore country music all night long just like Dad use to. I never thought I’d miss playing five nights a week in the same place but I do. At the time I just wanted to go on the road, play music and see the United States. Now that I’ve done that I’m ready to go back to Maxine’s and play five nights a week.

In 1975 Dad had a black 1973 Chevy Impala with Cragar wheels and dual exhaust. It was a sweet ride. I was thirteen and every night I would stand behind the band with an acoustic guitar that wasn’t plugged in and play along until I slowly got better. We would go home and I’d ask Dad to show me the Johnny B. Good riff a few more times before we went to bed and he would. We’d get up and feed the cows and stuff then Dad had to be at the radio station from noon til three for his radio show. One day we were so late they were playing his theme song (Buds Bounce) on the radio and we weren’t there yet. We flew down the black top all the way to town then started passing cars on the wrong side of the road we jumped a curb and skidded into the parking lot, jogged into the station in just enough time to hit the control room out of breathe and say welcome to the Johnny Nace show and then spun a record. The first thing he said was- “remind me never to do that again”, and then he said “that things got a motor in it doesn’t it?”. Ah the good ol’ days. No seat belts and hard core country music, I’m looking forward to Fathers day. Hope you come out and help us relive it, it’s pretty cool…jimmy
Gotta give a special thanks to KCPT for showing our documentary Lifelong Road Trip on t.v. They are a brave bunch and we do appreciate it. When you’re as independent as we are, you need all the help you can get. As I’ve said before it’s not the big time but it’s a good time. And we’ve had some real good times so far this year.

For me the acoustic set in the Retro Lounge at Knuckleheads was really cool. It was just David and I. You’re so close to the people and it’s so quiet in there I was kinda nervous. A friend of mine use to say the smaller the crowd the higher the I.Q. I don’t know if it’s true but if it is we have some very smart audiences.

We had a great time in Florida as well, playing every night of the week and drinking scotch with our good friends from England, Phil and Maryann.

When we got back we played a couple of weekends and were asked to fill in for Bob Walkenhorst at the Record Bar. He had just finished a new Rainmakers album in his new studio and was on tour in Norway. He is still the best songwriter at least for right now and I will stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say it if I need to. I’ll just have to wait for Steve Earl to get down. Anyway the record bar was packed and some of the people thought Bob Walkenhorst was going to be there. I kept telling David I was gonna write a song titled Bob Has Gone. It was a joke at the time but when I woke up the next morning it was still in my head so I wrote it. Next time we fill in for Bob I’ll play it for’em. Now you can listen to our Record Bar shows anytime you want, at Internet Archive.

Bob was kind enough to ask us to come over and do some recording some time on his new studio rig but we’ve been so busy trying to wrap up our new c.d. that we haven’t had time, but we will get there. Besides I’m already sick of this new one and it ain’t even out yet. Yes we have a new record in the can and right now I’m thinking that’s a good place for it. But we’ll get caught up and get it out hopefully sometime this summer. Just like filling up a bucket one drop at a time.

I have to say Bodie’s was the best sounding gig last month. We played for their 35th anniversary party and it was great. I mean 35 years, isn’t that some kind of world record? We had about 130 people and the place rocked. Cops were in the alley, the restrooms need repaired and the roof leaks a little but rock-n-roll must be played in the conditions that exist. 35 years one owner common-three cheers for Bodie’s! Thanks for the good times.

I'd like to say thanks to all the people that showed up for the living room set at Knuckleheads. I was a little nervous at first but managed to have some fun with it. Played a few new songs from the new c.d. that isn’t out yet. But someday it will be. Really.

We played in Hannibal, Mo with the Bel-airs a couple of months ago. The promoter was an old friend from Colombia, MO who use to own another bar we played. I didn’t remember him til I saw him that night and then it all came back to me. You’re the guy that bribed the waitress at breakfast one night with a 100 dollar bill so you could pour a bottle of champagne in the orange juice. That was pretty smooth at the time. Hang in there man Hannibal needs a good live music festival and you can’t go wrong with us and the Bel-airs.

We’re looking forward to playing with the Cate Brothers Band at the Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs, OK. Gonna get an adult dose of rhythm & blues that night. That’s one show you won’t want to miss. So catch us when can for some good tunes and good times. Balance and moderation are great but sometimes you gotta go out and hear some live music just to get that human element back in focus. Let’s do it…jimmy

Wow that was a nice holiday season. It kinda started with our two smallest gigs back to back Magoons in St. Joe MO and Cheeseburger in Paradise in KCK. But like the saying goes size doesn’t matter. Those gigs rock, it’s all about the people. When they start moving tables so they can stand in front of you and watch close and hear what you’re hearing, it’s really cool. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to being part of the band and for a real music lover those tickets are priceless. Just another reason I love this job. One time before a gig I introduced two friends of mine who had never met. One lives in Indy and the other in D.C. I was hoping they would hit it off but you never know. I walked to the stage and play a couple of hours and when I came back to talk to’em they were exchanging quotes from John Wayne movies, some things just work out.

We went to happy hour at George’s a couple of weeks ago. After sound check I ran into the Giant Mountain Troll, he had a small box of lucky buckeyes. Not so long ago he had givin’ me one and I had the best happy hour set ever. I never missed a note and everything was in the groove. This time I picked my own, thinking it would be just what I needed to blow the roof off the place. But strangely enough I broke a sting on the first song and couldn’t seem to get comfortable. Half way through the set I looked at the Giant Mountain Troll, held up my hands and said, what happened? He said “it’s got to come from within” and pointed to his heart. Wow that was really cosmic. But now I know the power isn’t all in the buckeye.

Had a great Christmas show at Knuckleheads on our second set David played guitar and I played the mandolin on the song Wagon Wheel, when the song was over I jokingly said you wanna play your Christmas you wrote for Pilgrim Chapel? He said, no but he wouldn’t mind playing Merry Christmas From The Family by Robert Earl Keen. Next thing we knew we were right in the middle of it and to our surprise the crowd sang along with him. It was great. Spontaneity is cool when it works it will keep you on your toes.

The next night David and I played at Pilgrim Chapel with Danny Cox and Bob Walkenhorst. We played a new song of mine called Well Traveled Road and a Christmas song David had written especially for this occasion. The place was packed it was standing room only and we had to go on first. Man we were both nervous. We played our two songs and it went fine and it’s a good thing we went on first because when Danny Cox got done there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It’s like watching Al Green or something, he’s unbelievably great. And he makes a great snowman. We were just happy to be a part of their Christmas program. But honestly I’m ready to head south and bring in the New Year. Can’t wait to jam with Caffeine Carl and the boys Wednesday night after we get done at Margaretville. It should be good and hopefully warm and sunny. Oh yeah-happy holidays! jimmy

Now that was a great Thanksgiving. The Bel-Airs were great and the p.a. system was working perfectly and Bodie's had heat. What more could we possibly ask for? When the Bel-Airs started I could hear every note, they played a song I hadn’t heard before called “It’s a Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It” It was way cool, I don’t know how they keep coming up with these great songs. To top it off Henry Clay got up and hammered the blues with’em, singing and playing the harmonica then we took the stage. Before we were finished they got up and we all played a few songs together including, “Everyday I have to Cry Some”. Now that was a blast. I still got that song stuck in my head.

I went to Mom's at noon the next day and ate so much I couldn’t even eat a french dip at the Trouser Mouse that night. Friday night we packed up and I kept telling Brad (the owner) I didn’t want to leave. He said we could stay and play Saturday but he couldn,t pay us cause he already had a band. So I’m hoping next year three nights of rock Thanksgiving weekend at the Trouser Mouse.

This week we finished all the overdubs at the studio and we can start mixing it down next week. I borrowed an electric 12 string Rickenbacher guitar from John Brandsguard to play on the song “Free”. Our producer Max Berry helped me carve out this really cool 12 string riff that I would have never thought of on my own. I was totally happy listening to it on the way home. Max has been a great help with all the arrangements. It really is a total group effort.

I guess more of the same isn’t a bad thing but it could always be better. We’re still rolling along making the best of it. Our new record is almost ready for the mixing stage, that’s when you get to sort out all the tracks you’ve laid down and fine tune everything, always telling yourself less is more. Sometimes I wish we had Quincy Jones or Rick Rubins producing our record but instead we have Kansas City’s own Max Berry and the truth is we’ve never been happier. He’s got us doing things we’ve never done before. He has a great ear for music and has helped a bunch with the arrangments. It’s by far the best thing we’ve ever done.We feel like we’re at the top of our game with the best songs and performances ever. As Henry Clay said after hearing a couple of our rough mixes “that’s the record you’ve wanted to make for twenty years”. We finally did it. And when it’s over we won’t owe any record company a huge amount of money we could never pay back. We can hardly wait for you all to hear it, but as smooth as it’s going, it’s still gonna be a while before it’s released.

This summer was great but for the first time in a long time we felt the crunch of the economy. We just try to stay focused and take the music to the people the only way we know how. I think WAMM Fest was the best gig for me and I can’t wait to get back to Indy. One highlight this summer that I can’t leave out was watching brother David play drums for the Bel-Airs. It’s easy having a guy set in on the guitar or a lead instrument for a song or two but nothing changes the sound or the feel of a band more than the drummer. So when we found out Mike Cherry couldn’t be there that night we started to wonder what was gonna happen. Looking back I don’t think David gave it a second thought. He wanted to do it. He sat down and played just like Mike would have. He has a live bootleg c.d. of the Bel-Airs that he listens to from time to time so we knew he could do it. It was just a question of which songs would give him trouble. And the answer was...none of them. The endings and kick offs were tight and he totally whipped the hell out of it. At one point in between songs I heard him ask how do you want the tempo on this? Dave Pruit the guitarist said “frantic teen”, you know that frantic teen beat. They nailed some wild sounding sixtys soul song I had never heard. Wow, now that was cool.

Had a great birthday at WAMM Fest in Indy. Lots of art, a big stage, lots of people, a great p.a. system...the best part of all, friends from all over, some that I hardly ever get to see, were there. Jennie Devoe, the Woomblies, and Tastes Like Chicken, all that musical talent and no ego. I think my favorite part of the day was when the sun came out right as David was singing the sunlight took a long time to come. Now that was cool. Thanks everybody, especially Vic, for having the festival in the city of Greenwood, Indiana. Probably shouldn’t mention the pool party or jam session. What I remember of it is truly great, it just never happens often enough anymore. I guess that’s why it means so much. It is something that money can’t buy.

Unlike the MO State Fair where some girl from Iowa is telling everyone she’s from Nashville and that she has a number 1 record but for some reason no ones ever heard of her and she’s butchering Waylon songs. Maybe the people in Austin are right-Nashville sucks. (you knew I had to say it) For me the state fair doesn’t rock til 9:00. After 13 years of playing at the Bud tent we would like to thank them all for having us back, it really is a great gig. This year was special because we were given our own handicapped parking sign. Thanks guys it sucks getting old.

Got rained out last Friday night at the Olathe concert series. We were scheduled to play with Kelly Hunt and everything was going great. We listened to her sound check and she was great as always but as we were setting up the clouds started rolling in. It was a real let down, this venue is really cool and these concerts are free. It just gets bigger and better every year. There’s only one obsticle that can keep you down and it got us this time and a hard rain did fall.

The next day we went to Bogart Music Festival, another great set up my personal favorite, as a matter of fact. The only thing was that after a little rain the heat index shot up to 110. It was still a great time they had a fish fry and pretty much anything you need but after a couple of days of over indulging you needed a generator and a motor home with a giant air conditioner to sleep out there. Before our set we presented the owner with a custom made Hawiian shirt. One of the good ones from mega-low mart. I had been trying to write this song about my good friend Brandon who just got divorced and the only line I had to start it with was,”Just a Dream We Were Livin’”. So I thought we should write that on the back of Craig’s shirt. So I turned it over to Carlene and she brought it to life for me, now that’s what I call customized.

And I did finish the song I was writing about Brandon, I got a lot of use out of that line. Anyway the show was outstanding. It’s not everyday you get Billy Ebeling and the Bel-Airs to open a show for you at Ceder Hills Ampitheatre. Looking forward to next year.

Another 4th of July in Key West and I have to say it was the best one yet. Getting there was a little tricky we had a flat tire in East St. Louis and that’s never good but luckily our experience at Panther Racing paid off and we changed the tire in 9.7 seconds. And were back on the road.

We were going out of our way not to gas up at any BP stations. Once we stopped in Lake City FL about 7:30 am and waited in line to get gas with everyone else doing the same while a giant BP station sat empty across the street with no customers. We’d never seen anything like that yet but people were patient and willing to wait.

When we got there David cleaned the shower floor in the band apartment and we went to Margaritaville to set up and began breaking in the new sound man (he’s gettin’ there). Wednesday night after the gig we got to jam with Caffine Carl at the martini bar, Thursday night after the bar we also got to jam with the Coal Men at the Hogs Breath Saloon but once again the best jam of all was at George and Shauna’s hotel room. Playing funny little songs with our friends and laughing til we had tears. Now that’s what makes life worth living.

The music really does help bring people together. Scotty B. and Sal have the best party songs I’ve ever heard. Thanks guys. Another thanks to everyone who made the trip it would really be boring without you. And a big congrats to Chris on catching a 125 pound Tarpon. And we’re glad Pete didn’t become the southern most hurler.

We’ll be in your neighborhood soon for WAMM Fest in Greenwood, Indiana on my birthday weekend August 21st (also refered to as Jim Jam). We get to hear all our favorite Indiana bands like the Womblies and Taste Like Chicken. This is always a great party, lots of arts and crafts and micro brew and food.

A couple weeks ago we played the early set at a casino in Joplin. The band after us was Live Wire they had a bus and a manager and an investor. And most of all they had the attitude. Which usually means they’re not very good and probably will get a record deal. But they’re music wasn’t bad, what really stood out was the way they treated each other. I wached them load they’re equipment in. The bass player could hardly get his amp up the stairs to the stage. While the fiddle player stood in front of him and drank a bottle of water refusing to help like everyone else in his band. Now that has to be up there with some of the best self centered arrogance I’ve ever seen. I just can’t imagine not helping one of my band mates carry his equipment. And they’re never gonna be able to change a tire in 9.7 seconds.

Roots of steel was great. We love keeping Dad’s music alive. Maxine and Mom were both at the Sedalia show and we talked about having a Maxine’s reunion gig. We talked about other stuff too but we can’t tell everything. Ah the good ole days.

Looking forward to Knuckleheads on July 30 with the Bel Airs and Earl and Them. It’s not everyday you get to jam with the two greatest guitar players in the world, Dave Pruit and Earl Cate. Sweet deal. Can your heart take that much soulful guitar? Yes! Lets do it.

Hope to see you there. Jimmy
Wow, what have I been doing? Besides trying to get use to saying 2010 and keeping a positive outlook on the future. We’ve had more gigs cancelled because of snow this year than we’ve ever had, but technically we still have never missed a gig. Had a great time jammin’ with Seth Walker at Knuckleheads. It was another cold and rainy night on the poor side of town but I have to say we blew the roof off the dump. Seth is a great singer and songwriter. He played an hour by himself and then we played. We were setting up and he said does your amp have two channels so we can jam and I knew right then we were gonna have some fun. Its always great playing music with someone of that caliber. We were falling into those twin guitar parts like we had practiced or something. Now that makes my day. I think the people can see the musical spirits come together. When it clicks spontaneously there’s nothing better.

We just played Bodie’s Flip City and it’s still my favorite gig. It sounds great and everyone is so comfortable. That whole musical freedom thing is the greatest. Beer is cheap and the dance floor is big. Not to mention it was Bodie’s 34th anniversary. The same owner for 34 years thats got to be some kind of record. Mully told me back in 1978 Diamond Jim played happy hour and made a thousand dollars. I ask him how much they were charging to get in and he said fifty cents. He said it was a pain counting all those quarters but they really didn’t mind.

We just played at Players 20 year anniversary and it really went well even though the weather was awful. The next day there was a big add in the paper with our picture showing what a great place it is. The Bud man came and gave away beer, they even gave the owner a big eagle trophy for all the years of service. I was just thinking if Bodie’s is still standing next year maybe he’ll get a trophy and a write up in the paper. You never know they might even have hot running water and extra toilet paper in the bathroom next year.

New Years Eve in Key West was great . Hope to do it again next year but don’t know yet. I was walking back to my room after closing down The Green Parrot, at about 5:00 a.m. January 1st thinking, where can I go? I was close to Wal-Greens so I thought I’d go in and look at the doughnuts. I heard this wild piano sound on the street. I looked up and T.J. was playing an upright piano and singing like Tom Waits. There was a bottle of liquor on the piano so I thought, “maybe the doughnut viewing can wait”. There were about five hippie kids and a couple of homeless looking people hanging out listening to him, so naturally I fit right in. He even had a few dollars in tips scattered across the piano. It was fun but I still don’t know how they got a real piano out there. I made it back to my room and woke up to the sound of the vacuum cleaner banging into my door at about 9:oo a.m. Now that’s what I call a successful New Years Eve.

Things are starting to look up, we have a lot of new songs and we’re gonna start trying them out on you. It might be a little while but we are making a new record. Maybe this new record will shoot up to 103 on the Americana Charts like the last one did. I guess it didn’t hurt but those charts seem pretty worthless to me. Kinda like the rest of this business, sometimes the best gigs don’t pay a thing and the weird casino gigs make up for it.

That benefit for Greg Camp at the Uptown in K.C. was a perfect example. Greg was a great guy and poured his heart and soul into his music. He deserved it and he would have done it for me. It was great to see the Jolly Brothers back in full force. They’re a powerful band, a rolling party with a big entourage and that may have been what lead to their demise. But the real show stealers were Brewer & Shipley. I guess I forgot how great they are. Their songs and harmonies gave me chills. It was all for Greg and nobody made any money but I’m sure the owner made out alright, the place was packed. And it really was a great time.

I did have a great gig with Mick Luehrman at Players in Warrensburg. Brother David came and sang a couple of tunes with us. Mick and I had three rehersals before the gig. I thought it was the best we ever sounded. It was free to get in and we had 65 people in attendance. We wanted to do it again on Valentine’s day because it seemed like such a good deal for everyone but it just didn’t happen. Oh well,

Keep on keepin’ on.

Looking forward to May 30th at the Redneck Country Club in Holden, MO. There’s nothing better than playing a gig with all of your best friends. In my case that’s Rex Elkins and the Pilgrims. They’re really cool and so is the set up. One of the best things is the camping area. But the golf course is cool too. We can do it all at the Redneck Country Club. So ya’ll be sure and check it out.

Hoping to hit the highway and pick up the pace a little bit this summer. Still trying to take the music to the people, that’s what we do. We’re not free but we’re reasonable.
So don’t be a stranger.

What a great summer. I don’t know where to start but I had the greatest birthday of all time. We got to play at WAMM Fest in Indianapolis with the worlds greatest dance band Tastes Like Chicken. The crowd was great and the promoter, our good friend Vic, had a big party for all of us afterwards at his house. They had a big birthday cake and they all sang happy birthday to me. I can’t remember the last time that happened to me. Maybe it was the liquor but I got a little choked up. It was a little cool outside but I jumped in the pool anyway. Just in case I didn’t say it, thanks everyone for the greatest birthday of all time.

Went to Branson after that and what can I say, my how things change. We played to a bunch of people in front of Lake Taneycomo with piro teckniques going off behind us and when people started to dance they made them sit down. That was different but the production was over the top in typical Branson fashion.

After that we went to Bikes, Blues & BBQ in Fayetteville, AR. The first night we opened up for Blackfoot & Molly Hatchet. When we arrived at the backstage area we saw a giant bus with Gibson written on the side. Gibson was giving tours through the bus promoting and trying to sell stuff. We started to set up. We could see the Gibson rep. and he could see us. He was smoking a cigar and wearing a big Gibson t-shirt. So the first thing I did after noticing there were no real Gibson guitars on stage, only cheap japanese replicas, was whip out my Doug Whitney custom shop Gibson Les Paul. Immediatly road managers and road crew guitar techs I had seen talking to the Gibson rep were all asking me about it. Everyone but the big guy from Gibson. I kept thinking he would at least take a look at it or invite me to go on the bus and check out his stuff. Later on, during our set, David said “Jimmys gonna play the Les Paul on a couple of songs”. The crew guys all came over to my side of the stage. I played Soul Shine and Rock Bottom and I gassed it. The guys loved it and I could see the Gibson rep from across the pavilion. We ended our set and I had to take it back out of the case for all the guys in Blackfoot to see, they were really cool, everyone was, except the Gibson rep. You know jealousy can eat you alive if you let it, Gibson man. Damn that felt good.

We had a great jam at Knuckleheads with the Bel-airs and Earl & ‘em. It’s like one big family reunion with all the love and respect that we all have for each other. There are times when I’m closer to them than my own family. They’ve been through everything we’ve been through and we all try to help each other. Then there’s those moments of magic that always happen with the music that make it all worth while. Like when I was playing with Earl&’em. I was standing by Jason, both of us playing rhythm behind Earls solo, I said damn sounds like Chet Atkins and almost simutaneously we looked at each other and said Chet wishes. Next thing you know we’re loadin’ our stuff out the back door talking about doing it again. We all gathered ‘round the piano while T.J. played an old time gospel number and Dick Pruet downed the last of the Patron. What a great party.

I really wanna thank everyone who came out to Tiger Jacks Red Neck Country Club. What a beautiful set up, it was just a little to cold. I guess it’s never to cold to rock-n-roll. Especially when you have the Pilgrims opening up the show. I hope everybody got a big dose of Rex Elkins and the boys because I have to say they burnt that barn down. We’re already talking about doing it again next year when it’s warm. Rex and I were just saying we should start earlier and quit later. Now thats a good plan.

Man, do I have a news flash for you, this just in, the Cate Brothers and the Nace Brothers share the stage for two nights December 13th & 14th at the Cherokee Casino in Siloam Springs, AR. Don’t that make your big toe shoot up in your boot. I’m not a casino type guy but this one is pretty cool. The good thing about this is that the casino spent thousands on the sound system. The staging and lighting is state of the art. And with our good friend Boochie piloting the ship, it will sound crystal clear. For me it’s like listening through marshmellows.

We just got word that Margaritaville wants us back again for New Year’s Eve and yes we are more than happy to accommodate their needs. Why not, eighty and sunny is always a good way to start the New Year. If it’s anything like last year, it’ll be great.

Looking forward to Mom’s birthday party August 2nd at the Montserrat Vineyard Winery around 5:oo. Our friends Paul and Juggy will be bar-b-qing a hog and we’ll be playing some music, so come say hi to Mom. She’ll be 75 this year.

Then we’ll be playing a gig with song writing partner Rex Elkins of The Pilgrims. The Pilgrims will be opening for us at the Redneck Country Club in Holden, MO - Saturday October 3rd around 8:00. If you haven’t seen the Pilgrims, now’s your chance. It's sure to be a blast (Holdens best kept secret).

We just finished a week in Key West at Margaritaville during the 4th of July and it was the best time we’ve had yet. I know I say that every time but this time it was nonstop music. Good friends, good times,Trudy’s birthday and lots of serious jammin’. I gotta thank Caffeine Carl for letting us crash his gig at Virgilio’s Wednesday night, it was a blast and he is playing better and faster than ever. That’s why he’s Caffeine Carl. Hope to do it again next time around. Also my newest favorite band from Nashville the Coal Men, what a great sound and style they have. So where do you think we were Thursday night from 1:00 til 2:00? Yep, jammin’ at the Hogs Breath Saloon with the Coal Men. I even had my own personal security and entourage. Special thanks to George (aka the Big Indian) for carrying my amp down there and back. That’s a long haul. Friday night after the gig T.J. and I had a rehearsal for our upcoming show at Cheeseburger in Paradise on July 25th. We decided that writing chord charts and time signatures isn’t as much fun as partying with our friends after the gig. So after a few songs we said, “hey lets just wing it at Cheeseburger”. We left the rehearsal and met up with David, Dan, Pattie, Eric and Andrea. They were drinking beer and eating wings across the street. The next day the Big Indian was having a party at his condo. So we all went over to jam and have a free lunch. What do think they were having? Thats right more wings. We played a few songs and my good friend Scotty B. grabbed the guitar. He played a song he wrote called “My Buddies”. It was great and he had everyone laughing. Then our good friend Sal took the guitar and he brought the house down with a song called “Charlie Browns Blues”. I felt bad, my songs weren’t funny at all. Their songs were funny, I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt.

We finished our last night and got packed up. We went to get gas at Dion’s and what do you think they had on the hot bar, thats right...wings. It was a great trip but it’s good to be home, maybe we can go out for some pizza.

Hope to see you somewhere along the way. -Jimmy
The Emergency Circus by T.J. Erhardt
Sunday night. The band has played the whole week in Marg'ville to a smallish and reasonably polite crowd. A double handful of our fans from different places, a buttload of tired tourists and a pinch of crazy but harmless conchs honking harmonicas in the wrong key. You've been there; you know. This particular Sunday was shaping up to be one of those particular Sundays.

By the way, playing for two hours and being done by 11:30 has proven to be a dangerous set of circumstances for me. I just don't really need that extra couple of hours running around the island without supervision. You've seen me; you know. Forty minutes into the set, my head is down with my hair in my eyes and I'm in the middle of the solo to "Walkin' To My Baby" when the music stops cold. I keep playing, thinking Oooh, cool, new breaks. But the boys don't pick back up. What the hell?

I look up(still playing)to see a big guy with a big Mustache intently gesturing to halt the music. Oooh, great, I'm sure that it's his girlfriend's birthday and he's gonna make us play a song we don't like and try to give us five bucks and never ever ever leave us alone until we do it. Dave isn't buying my mental explanation and waves the man forward. "What's the deal?". We hear "There's been a report of a fire somewhere in the building and I need everybody out until we find it." A fire truck is parked to the right of the front door. Ahh, ok, the teriyaki chicken got overdone and none of the cooks will own up to it. Dave makes a reassuring announcement to the crowd and we gradually meander toward the door behind them, guitars and squeezebox in hand. By the way, the fire truck siren is in the key of E.

I arrive at the door to see a much larger crowd (cell phones and cameras in hand) gathering round to join the hubub. The sudden appearance of two more fire trucks to our right and a cop car on our left add a bit more urgency to to the scene. The suggestion of smoke crosses my nose, and it smells nothing like teriyaki chicken. It's the stench of several storefronts on fire, right next door. Hey, there might be something to this. Mustache Man commands that we EVACUATE THE STREET NOW.

This hits the panic button. Grab the gear, boys. We are now a three-ringed Emergency Circus. We jump back inside past the now stridently yelling fire marshal (Mustache Man). In the blur of a few minutes we dismantle the stage, handing amps and instruments to people we don't know. They have bravely and miraculously appeared with open hands and bright eyes saying "Does this go?" "This?" "This ready?" Now we've had to get stuff off a stage in a hurry before at big festivals and such (J--- H---tt's on in two minutes y'all--move it.) and usually have busy, greasy, smelly well-tattooed roadies that help. You've smelled 'em; you know. You can trust that smell. Finally I'm a little concerned. Who are you and where are you going with that piano? Most but not all of the gear is now on the sidewalk, and the Emergency Circus takes a collective breath.

Police tape comes out. A lot of it. Presidential-Inauguration-Parade-Block-Off-Everything amounts of the stuff. In three heartbeats the Emergency Circus is on the wrong side of the Law.

The Law doesn't care what you have in your hands when the Law wants you to move.

Officer:"Drop that stuff and MOVE!"

EC Ringleader: "No, man, this is my livelihood."

Officer :"Then I WILL take you to JAIL".

EC Ringleader:"Great, man, got room for my drums in the squad car?"

Waco Bob, our doorman, is the last man under the tape. After juggling equipment for the Circus, he ran back to the palm tree directly in front of the club to unlock and rescue his custom ConchCruiser bike .

(That's conchcruiserbikes.com folks, check it out. Bob makes 'em. They're worth rescuing.) The rest of the Emergency Circus is trying to get all the clowns back in the little car and move across the street when BAH-WHOOHMP. The flames inside the storefront that sells crepes and ice cream ignite a propane tank. The fireball shrieked and rushed forward like drink-dropping sorority chicks toward a dance floor at the kickoff of "Brown Eyed Girl". With surprisingly similar results; the crowd winces and ducks but stands, not moving itself to a safe distance despite the flying glass. This is serious. I think Waco Bob lost some hair.

We mostly end up on the sidewalk in front of the Ghost Tour office. The flames leaping from the roof at the back of the building are more than just visible through the heavy stinging smoke. Several times over the course of the next two hours firefighters would come walking out through the haze. Each time I think ok, they're winding it up. The firemen walked calmly to the pumper truck, exchanged O2 tanks, and calmly threw themselves back into the boiling fire. I calmly vowed to never become a firefighter, no matter how badass that looked.I play in a band. I can get chicks. Real-life action heroes, these guys.

The sidewalk begins to resemble high ground during a wilderness disaster. Disparate species trying their best not to eat each other. Vagrants tussling over who gave whom that last half a cigarette. Tourists pulling suitcases from cars blocked in by dozens of hoses. Locals staring wistfully at their scooters inches away impounded by impassable streamers of yellow tape. Red-eyed and coughing (from the fire, people, really) Jimmy schmoozes a cop (I know! Jimmy! Schmoozing cops!) to let us bring the van to the end of the block. The rumor is that it will be days before anyone gets back in to the building, so we load up what we had dragged out. I hear Tim thank someone for the beer. How does that guy find a beer next to a four-alarm fire? Charming bastard, anyway.

The Emergency Circus begins to disband as its members trust that the band will survive. A huge shout-out to the Louisiana folks, our hard-core fans from the UK, the staff and mgmnt. of Margville and Ghost Tour Jay. The boys in the office are shipping most of what we left behind out to us; some replaceable gear, a bunch of dirty laundry and my damned cell phone. What we most regret leaving behind is the concern and goodwill of beautiful strangers and the down-and-dirty help of true friends. I can guarantee that we'll be back to pick those things up, come fire, hell, or high water.

We know; we're doing it. -T.J.
Good Times What a great time in Indy. Diane and Pete cooked for us, Vick took us to a Pacers game, and I drank all Dan’s beer and liquor. Isn’t that what friends are for? The Pacers game was great. They beat the Miami Heat and Dunleavy had 30 points. It was the closest I’ve ever been to court. Vick’s tickets were on the second row right behind Jack Nicholson. What a treat. Thank you Vick. Now lets talk about the half time show. Those two Russian acrobats wearing nothing but body paint and G strings doing push ups on each other. I know it takes some skill but that was a little off the wall. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. We made it back to the gig and met up with the rest of our friends. We made plans to party at Vick’s house the next day. Pete and Diane cooked and once again it was unbelievable. Red sauce and road kill falling off the bone. Food that’s dripping with love. We were ridin’ high, feelin’ like rock stars then we had to go back and play at the casino. No drums, no monitors, no nothing. It sounded funky. As far as casino gigs in my opinion that was the worst one yet. But that money spent real good when I got home. Once I started stealing Dan’s beer and liquor I felt a little better about it. I can’t wait to get back. I’m ready for the Indy 500. Vick is organizing a festival for the city of Greenwood in August. So if everything works out we’ll be seeing everyone real soon. I guess all I can say is thanks. That gig might have been torture without you. You’re the best family a band could ever ask for.

A couple of weeks ago at the Trouser Mouse bar we were playing our usual gig when a couple came up and said we want to get married. I didn’t think much about it til they said no we mean right here right now. And they were not kidding. So for the first time in the history of the Nace Bros. Band, a couple got married in the bar at the gig between songs. Then we played a song for them. It really worked out rather well. No rehersal or warning or anything like that. It just worked out. I guess it was meant to be. Think they’re still together? Just kidding.

You know this Christmas was the best ever. I say that every year but I can’t see this one being surpassed. Everything seemed normal and our family had made this pact not to spend a bunch of money on each other. We all already have everything we would ever need accept maybe a Les Paul from the Gibson custom shop. But who could afford something like that. Besides I’ve been beating this old Telecaster so long it’s about the only thing I know how to play. I drew Becky’s name and got her a bottle of Milagro tequila. That made my shopping easy. We were all going to Mom’s on Christmas day for fried chicken. Nothing says love like Mom’s fried chicken, it’s the best in the world.

Everything was set. Dec. 23rd our last gig before Christmas we were playing at Knucklehead’s in K.C. The weather was bad with a little bit of sleet and snow. We got there early and set up. About that time my good friend Doug Whitney showed up carrying a guitar and a Christmas card. Stamped on the guitar case was a logo that said Gibson since 1894. We said Hi like we always do and he said here I want you to have this and handed me the case. I opened it up and it was a Gibson Les Paul from the Gibson custom shop. It had a red flamed maple top and a chambered mahogany body. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I just thought he wanted me to play it for the night. He handed me the card and inside was a poem he had written. It read ”Christmas day is almost here when good friends raise a cup of cheer - and sing and dance the night away as we all watch the Nace Brothers play - I wish them all the best of times I consider them good friends of mine - so this gift I give on Christmas day so Jimmy can have a red Les Paul to play.” I didn’t know what to say. He said you don’t have to say anything I just wanted you to have it. It’s still hard to believe that it’s actually mine. The only way to descibe the way it makes me feel are by hearing the notes that come out the amp when I’m playing it. That’s the reflection of my soul. That point in the night when you’re lost in the groove and it’s almost like the guitar is playing you. That’s what I live for. So thank you Doug for making life a little bit sweeter. I hope I’m worthy.
Happy New Year I guess Happy New Year doesn’t really describe it very well. That was the greatest New Years Eve party of all time and defintley the warmest. I gotta say thanks to everyone who made the trip. I know it wasn’t that easy, times are tough and everything is over priced in Key West on New Years Eve. Thanks for making our trip a success, power to the people.

Recent Shows We came back home built a fire, did some laundry and went back to work. We had to play a couple of gigs without T. J., he wasn’t in rehab he was just visiting his Mom in California. We were a little nervous but it went surprisingly well. It was twenty degrees and blowing snow but the people still came. Bob Walkenhorst was great and we had the big monster jam at the end. I got to play slide on the song “Down Stream”, one of my all time favorites.
The next night was in Sedalia at Dickie-Doo-Bar-b-que. A“Roots of Steel” show with Brad Rigby on the steel guitar. It was fifteen degrees with gusting winds, but the joint was packed. It’s not very often that people fall over your equipment on a Roots of Steel gig but this was an acception. This usually older mellower crowd must have had a serious flashback. Ghostly back stabbin’, ass grabbin’, hard core country music at it’s best. I kinda felt sorry for the lady who yelled out Mustang Sally. But as for the girl who grabbed the back of Carla’s hair and bit her on the neck, that’s a different story. I found myself drinking fire water playing the acoustic guitar with Darrel Granfield at 2:00 a.m. just wishing T. J. would come back and load my equipment. Wow what a night.
Thanks for supporting our music and don’t forget to check out that new dvd. Power to the people, thats more like it. -jimmy Hey Bo Diddley Well I’m sorry to say we’ve lost another rock-n-roll legend, the great Bo Diddley. But it brings back great memories of the two gigs we did together. I can’t think of anyone who is musically more famous. Almost any musician, anywhere, knows what you mean when you say “play that Bo Diddley beat”. From the first moment we met him he was never out of character. It wasn’t an act. What you saw was what you got. He was a big black man with a badge on his hat who was matter of fact and didn’t hesitate to scold me at our first sound check/rehearsal for not playing what he wanted. I had practiced a bunch of his songs so I would be ready for the gig. About half way though the first song we were practicing, he stopped the band and singled me out. He said “don’t play what I’m playing, that’s my riff. Just be yourself”. It was a little intimidating,to say the least. From that moment on I played around what he played with counter rhythms and melodies and it worked out fine. The gigs were sold out and it was great. The last day we ate lunch with Bo (bar-b-qed chicken) and talked about doing it again when he came back. But that would be the last time we would ever see him. It really makes you feel lucky, not many people can say they hammered the blues and ate bar-b-qed chicken with Bo Diddley. Thanks Bo, your beat will rock on forever. Indy 500 Well I must say the Indy 500 was over top this year. Hats off to Panther racing, who finished 2nd and almost won it. What a rush. We were all jumping up and down for those last few laps. If you’re going to be a garage band...The Indy 500 is the place to do it. I even got to ride in the two seat Indy car. And to top it off I got to meet Jim Nabors. There’s nothing like hopping in an Indy car with Davey Hamilton and going 181 mph down the back stretch. Then meeting the man who sang back home in Indiana before the race for the last 30 or 40 years. The mans a legend. Once again I feel luckier than hell.

Thank you John and Jane Barnes, without whom none of this would have been possible. Thanks for shining your light on us. There are truely some things that money can’t buy. I’ll say it again, “it’s the best time I ever had with my clothes on”.

Now Patty doesn’t have to ask me if I know how lucky I am anymore. We’re all very grateful. Now lets turn around and do it all over again. I don’t know if my heart can take it. I also need to thank Vic who keeps us going with his great American Spirit. Thanks for the pizza by the pool and the jam at the house. Lets keep our Indiana family together the only way we know how. With love, music and whatever Diane wants to cook.

Til we meet again.
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