how soon is NOW?

so, i've taken a week to let it soak in. the gravity of it all. last sunday we played at bartram park [in the late afternoon] & sluggo's [later that night]. and now we're about to embark on our recording journey in athens, GA. it's all happening in such a short period of time--everything is progressing incredibly quickly. like water through a funnel. i'm not complaining, i'm just a little overwhelmed. haha.

both shows were brilliant. we sounded the best we've ever sounded live. different crowds, different dynamics. bartram park was a more laid back atmosphere. playing outdoors in the sunlight brought a wistful, summer vibe to the set. this, of course, was balanced out by chad's subversive comments. the crowd laughed because they thought it was just between song banter. i laughed because i knew that it wasn't. haha. sluggo's was amazing for a completely different reason. we were in full "rock your face off" mode. we brought it. we were playing with all levels in the red, with all systems go! and we were having so much fun. we were completely at home on the stage. we walked it like we talked it. and the kids in the crowd tapped into our energy. i think we won them over [though i'm sure our musical operandi might have been a little over their heads for the most part]. what mattered was the moment that we were all sharing in that room. at the same time. it's such an intangible thing. that, my friends--is magic.

chase park. david barbe. athens, GA. monday morning. it's actually happening. it's not entirely real to me just yet. though the butterflies are starting to arrive. [1] one band + [10] ten songs = escapist vs. exit. our debut album. and to think that the rocketpack has only been together with all members installed since march. craziness. chad. ronnie. taylor. brandon. bob. aaron. [and samuel] all present & accounted for.

prepare for lift off in 5, 4, 3, 2...

love,
ronnie

ps : thanks again to the gills for having us on the roster for their EP release party. they are such a tight musical unit! and even more thanks go out to nathan dillaha for lending me his amp & tuning pedal. without either, i wouldn't have sounded as good. call me crazy, but there's just something about playing fender through fender... :)

pss : thank you brandon for making "in search of the nugget" an adventure to remember! i can't believe we walked that entire distance! those salty snacks tasted so much better to me because of the fact. haha.

the love you bring won't mean a thing unless you sing-sing-sing-SING.

[2] two shows in [2] two days. pure madness. i know, i know. it sounds like i'm complaining. it should be no great shakes, right? but i'd say we have a little room to speak, as these were our third & fourth shows, respectively. and how did these shows go, you may ask? they went quite well. we're still finding our legs, of course. gotta crawl before you walk so that you can hit the ground running. or something to that effect. haha.

friday night @ sluggo's we played to a packed room. i was surprised. a lot of people made it out to see us--which does wonders for the morale. though, it's a bit nerve-wracking playing in your hometown. there are people you actually know out in the audience. it's something you always have floating in the back of your mind.

saturday night @ the blind mule we played to a handful of people. mobile IS an hour & some change away. it was a more intimate gig, which may be why i enjoyed it a little more. perhaps it was because we were strangers in a strange land. [and a strange land it was. not that we're at all normal. but for us to say that it was weird is telling. haha.] seriously though, i think it was because i didn't expect anything from them [the audience] & vice versa. i think we really entertained the true believers who stuck it out to the end of our set. [which we played in it's entirety.]

"dresden" seems to be our signature song, at least in these early shows. keysha [bob's significant other & the photographer behind the amazing images featured in this post] has fallen in love with "apollo 1969" & "asleep in winter sleeves." can't say i blame her. those were definitely exclamation points.

i'd like to thank everyone who came out & supported us @ both gigs. and i'd like to send a special thank you out to our extended band family. you know who you are. :)

this weekend we play [2] two shows in [1] one day. caffeine + instruments = ROCK. i was never that good at math, but i think we can work that equation without looking in the back of the book for the answers. funny how they only gave you the odd numbers. hrmmm...

love,
ronnie

ladies & gentlemen, we are in outer SPACE.

here's a flier that i did.
kinda rocks the retro/japanimation vibe.
i like it. hope you do, too.

ciao for now,
ronnie.

ps : if you're in the area--GO TO THE SHOW! :)