I'll have a PINK Christmas With You!

Hello everybody and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  Well it's down to the wire and you only have one week left in order to get yourself ready for Christmas.  The time went fast we are counting down the last few days of 2015.  I now you are sad to see it leave but trust me I believe 2016 is going to be one hell of a year.  This week, on Friday, Dec. 18th we are playing our last official show of the year at The 21st Saloon.  We will be taking a week off for Christmas and we will be catching you again the very first Friday of 2016.  For this Friday's show we have teamed up with our good buddy Joey Neon and Neon Energy Drink to bring you "Glow-In-The-Dark Christmas".  We are throwing another glow party with our new partners Neon Energy Drink.  I am an energy drink junkie and I believe that this product is one of the absolute best things on the market.  It's healthier than any other energy supplement you take and it glows naturally under black light.  Neon Energy Drink will be taking off around the world so do yourself a favor and get in on this before it's to late.  For Friday's party we are encouraging everyone to wear neon colored clothes, we will be shutting off the bar lights and replacing them with black lights.  Break out the glow bracelets, necklaces, and tongue rings.  It's time to get freaky.

For this weeks blog I wanted to write something positive and uplifting.  This time of year can be the one of the hardest times for anybody.  It's easy to isolate yourself and the lonely feeling comes on strong at the first hint of a Christmas Carol.  It's difficult to face the holiday season by yourself not to mention the cold weather and the lack of sunlight.  I get it.  I totally do.  The positive side is that no matter how lonely you feel you aren't alone.  The friends, the family, and most importantly the music almost beacons you back especially now.  The friends and acquaintances I have made through this band alone, bring an almost uncontrollable shiver down my spine.  The music brings us all together and that is probably the coolest part about this whole thing.  We come from all walks of life and from all backgrounds to rally around the guitar like it was some bright star in the night sky.  (Oh did you see what I did there).  It's true though we all may come for different reasons but in the end we are all there to have fun and to be around people that share the same common interest.  We may not be the perfect family but we are family all the same.

As a musician you always are aiming for success.  That word "success" is such a difficult word to describe.  Money, fame, gold records it's all the same.  For me I I feel it the most when I step off of the stage a sweaty stinking mess.  Nothing left in the tank and nothing more to say.  I feel success when I see The 3D In Your Face Army walk through the doors of The 21st Saloon with smiles on their faces.  I feel it when I get a hug after the show or a text letting me know somebody made it home safe from a show.  Those are the things I judge my success on.  After that it's all just business and I didn't get into a band to do good business.  Sure I want to sell albums but that's simply for the fact that I want people to hear what I have to say.  I want to express my love and passion for this music and this art to as many people as I can.  I want them to share in the celebration.  I think my favorite part of Christmas is going to Midnight mass with my mother and listening to the organ shake the entire church.  We become lost in the volume and that's when your mind becomes free.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

Sam Spade

How Do You Celebrate A Lead Singers Birthday?

Hello everybody and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  I can't believe I am saying this but two weeks in a row.  How about that?  I realize I love you guys to much and I need to release some of this pent up mental steam.  This is another big week for the boys and I, as if any of the weeks aren't crazy enough.  This Friday, Dec. 11th we are celebrating our lead singer Alan "Hot Rod" King's birthday live, loud, and on fire at The 21st Saloon.  This party every year is quite the exquisite blow out.  What can I say about throwing this party?  Mix birthday cake, rock n roll, and tight pants together and well it makes for one hell of an evening.  For many of you that read last weeks blog we said goodbye to Mark "Storm" Mefford on the skins.  Now for a Hair In The Air exclusive I feel comfortable enough announcing that we have a new man on drums.  No stranger to the Omaha music community, Mr. John "The Hammer" Lovings has taken over full time drumming responsibilities.  John was a very natural fit and step up to the plate and knocked it out of the park.   We are excited for this new chapter in the band's career and we hope the 3D In Your Face Army welcomes him in as one of their own.  Again very special thanks to Dax for filling in and helping us through this rough patch.  Back to the weekend, this Saturday we are taking the night off to celebrate and our good friends at 101.9 The Keg have been kind enough to throw us a party of their own that features 38 Special and Lita Ford.  If I was a betting man I would say that a few of us will be in attendance at this show.  Come up and say hi.

I always find it hard to do a birthday blog and after all these years I don't want to repeat myself with gushy sentiments about how cool Alan is or how long we have been touring together.  So for this birthday blog I wanted to do something a bit different.  When I first started with the band ten years ago I was a shadow of the Sam Spade you all know now.  I think I was wearing shorts, a KISS t-shirt, very little makeup, and I thought it would be very punk rock to spray red streaks into my hair.  Under Alan's influence and training over the years I transitioned into my own special blend of glam, punk, metal, and dirty filthy rock n roll.  I could always bounce ideas off of him in an attempt to take my performance and look to the next level.  I think probably the most amazing aspect of our relationship is that I was never shunned or criticized for bringing an idea to the table.  It has always been a free flowing creative organization.  If I ever had doubts that I was going to far or being to extreme, Alan was always there to push my limits as a musician and showman.  From the look to the sound everything was amplified and I think we both kind of fed off the energy.

I never take for granted all experience and wisdom Alan has imparted on me over the years.  I think this may be the best gift of all.  I certainly never would have started singing on my own without his encouragement and leadership.  For that I am eternally grateful.  I want to wish a very happy birthday to one of my best friends.  Alan has been our leader, the founding member, and the cornerstone of 3D In Your Face.  The goals we have achieved have been together and I couldn't think of a better guy I would like by my side through all of this.  When we travel, most of you don't realize that Alan drives the bus after every show.  We are either headed back to Omaha or to the next town.  I always think of it as my duty and privilege to stay awake and keep him company on those long stretches of Nebraska highway.  We chat, drink coffee, and talk about life as the hours go by.  Those are some of my fondest memories.  Thanks for all the great years in this crazy Rock N Roll lifestyle.  I hope we have many more together.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

Sam Spade

A Special Goodbye To "The Storm".

My friends and family welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  Well I did it again.  I left you for a few weeks.  I am very sorry but I just seem to keep running out of time to write.  I have a ton of stuff to cover, some good, some bad, and some great.  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  We had a great time at The 21st Saloon and we are looking forward to this Friday's "12 Days of Christmas" Show sponsored by Bear Metal Works Chainmaille and Jewelry.  Jen produces one-of-a-kind jewelry that is easily some of the coolest jewelry I have ever seen.  Below is a picture of something that she can make and if you are interested these special 'pink and green' Spade pieces are made to order for just $15.  Follow the link, message her, and let her know you are interested in picking up one of these beauties for Christmas.

https://www.facebook.com/bearmetalworksbyjdebruin/?fref=ts

I must preface this weeks blog by saying that I did write this last week and never got the chance to publish it.  Sorry about the inconvenience but life seems to be funny that way.

It is with great respect that last we announced that Mark “The Storm” Mefford is no longer the drummer of 3D In Your Face.   After much deliberation Mark has decided to move on with his musical career and focus his unique skills elsewhere.  We as a band and as a family wish Mark great success and luck in the future.  We would also like to thank Mark for helping us through this period in our career.  As it sits now the drum position is still vacant.  We are looking for and auditioning drummers to fill this very big role in our band.  As a group, we have decided to keep searching until we find the right person for the job.  All future shows booked will happen as scheduled and we are still on track to record our next album in January 2016. 

A huge thank you to Dakota 'Dax' Nielsen for filling in on some of the last few shows.  It has been great having you back on the train at least for a few stops.  I can't remember ever laughing so hard in the dressing room before the shows.  You are an amazing musician and I am proud to call you a great friend.  

I know this may come as a shock to you and quite frankly we have been taken aback by this last bit of news.  Every set back we encounter just keeps pushing us forward.  I think I wrote this blog a few months back.  I for one feel so very strongly about this band, our songs, and our fans that I couldn't imagine not having 3D In Your Face in my life.  I love you people and that's why I have never thought of this as a job.  I love every moment of life in this band.  It's hard work but completely worth every second.  I keep reminding myself to stay positive this is bigger than just you.  This is bigger than being stressed out about an inbox full of message you still need to respond to.  We are building something out of nothing.  We are creating where there is nothing to create.  The best part is knowing that nobody can ever take this away from us.  The history has already be written and all we can do is keep moving and striving to be the absolute best we can possibly be.  Practice, write, practice, write.  Eventually something will happen.  You've got to stay positive.  I don't think I would even be able to function if I was focused on all the negative swirling around me.  I don't dismiss any of the shit that is piling up I just choose to deal with it and keep on moving forward.  My goal from day one has always been to play as many shows as possible, to sing as many songs as possible, and to prove that if you believe in it hard enough success will follow.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

Sam Spade