What Will Your Actions Say?

Hello everybody and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official blog of 3D In Your Face and The Midnight Devils.  Gearing up for another wild weekend and of course it snows like crazy all night.  No worries on our part.  There is nothing that can stop us from playing tonight's 21st Saloon Tribute Show at Sneaky Pete's Saloon in Omaha, NE.  It's been almost a month since we last played Omaha and the last place we played was of course The 21st Saloon.  We were devastated to see it go like everyone else but it's time to move on and remember all the good times we had there.  That's exactly what we are doing tonight at Sneaky Pete's.  We can't wait to see some familiar faces and this will be the first time we ever played with The Playboy at this bar.  I don't have to tell you how this is going to go down.  Saturday we are heading back west across the state to a bar that welcomed us with open arms back in July.  Get ready for a very special night of boogie woogie rock n roll at The Glass Bar in Grand Island, NE.  This is one of the coolest bars in central Nebraska and the basement/our dressing room is supposedly haunted.  I will try and get video proof for you.  I will be doing lots more radio this week with another show tonight/Saturday morning from 12 AM to 3 AM and my radio show also called Hair in the Air on Saturday night at 11 PM all on 101.9 The Keg.

Things are going very well for The Midnight Devils and that makes my job a little easier.  We have been traveling a ton hitting up towns north, south, east, and west of Omaha.  That's the one thing that makes me happy, we are finally getting out and spreading our wings.  Preaching the good word to the great people of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and soon South Dakota.  Our summer dates are starting to fill up and we only have about 8 more available dates until August.  Right now we are looking for a show in central Iowa, April 8th.  We also have April 14th and 15th available but not for long.  I feel so lucky that we get to hit the open highway every weekend and see people that we normally didn't get to see but once a year.  It's still exciting and it's still fun.  You never really know what you are getting into but you know there's going to be some great stories along the way.  Just wait until I start writing my book.  Our show schedule has been updated as of Wednesday and is available here.  Keep spreading the word because we can't do all of this without your help.

I wanted to address something but I wasn't really sure how to make this negative thing into a positive, so kind of read between the lines.  We as a band are relatively quiet on our social media pages and that is definitely intentional.  Unless it relates directly to the band or public appearances we don't post  it.  There are so many terrible things being said on Facebook and Twitter and if someone reads a post made by one of the guys in the band and doesn't agree with you the entire band comes off looking like a bunch of assholes.  It's pretty simple and we have had tons of conversations about this "don't alienate your audience by what you say on social media."  More importantly who has the time to focus on negativity when there are shows to be booked, emails to be sent, and songs to written.  It really comes down to priorities and putting your money where your mouth is.  In order to move forward and achieve the our goals we must first remove that "attack mentality".  Sure there are plenty of things I see on the Internet that I don't like or don't agree with but on the other side of the coin there are people that disagree with me and my outlook.  If I went after ever person I disagreed with than I would be no better off than I was before I started.  Go ahead and make your point on religion, politics, music but honestly how many times have you had that conversation with a person and changed their minds.  Never.  The focus needs to shift to taking care of business and progressing in a positive light.  Let your actions speak louder than your words.

Always Loud
Forever Proud

Sam Spade

The Best is Yet To Come - OEAA Bound

Hello everybody and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official blog of 3D In Your Face and The Midnight Devils.  Could this be two blogs in a row?  For you my friends, anything.  The Midnight Devils have been hitting the road pretty hard the last few weeks.  We would like to thank the great people of Kearney for an amazing time and the private party in Chapman, NE totally blew us away.  That was a show were we new absolutely nobody and they welcomed us into their family with open arms.  Now I know it's been a while since we've been home or in the area so for some of you the only way to stay in touch is with this blog.  I am trying to be more diligent with my writing.  Tonight we head out again to Benevolent Studios in Hamburg, IA, just 45 miles south of Omaha and I-29.  We will be teaming up with Omaha punk rock legends Cordial Spew who have been slinging skate inspired punk rock anthems since the 80's.  Not to mention my AA sponsor happens to be their lead singer Jay Bacon.  Saturday we head to Lincoln, NE to a bar that has become our unofficial home Gray's Keg Saloon.  For this show we have PolyFaze opening up the festivities around 8:30 PM.  For the biggest news of all we have the first official The Midnight Devils t-shirts available in sizes S-2XL but we only have 35 so supplies are very limited.  We will have a link available as soon as the graphics come in from the designer.  As for the upcoming tour dates I should have everything update by the end of the weekend.  There are only a small amount of dates left going into August.  Right now we are looking for a show March 3rd and 17th and April 7th and 8th.  Watch for a massive summer concert announcement coming very soon.  Last but not least, I can't quite spill the beans yet but I am doing some overnight voice tracking on 101.9 The Keg in addition to my regular Saturday night show HAIR IN THE AIR.  If you missed this mornings show from 12 AM -3 AM tune in tonight at 12 AM again and catch my overnight shift.  The wheels are in motion.

This week 3D In Your Face is so honored to be heading back to the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards Ceremony on Sunday night.  This year we are actually closing the evening with an explosive celebration of "In Your Face" rock n roll.  I don't want to write the same blog I write every year but honestly I always think of this as one of the biggest honors a band from Omaha can get.  A nomination by our fans to represent them in front of the rest of the Omaha arts community.  It's a privilege and we don't take that lightly.  It's not about us this award has always been about you, our loyal fans, friends, and family.  The best part about this years OEAA experience has been the great friends we've already made along the way.  From the other great bands, to the promoters, to the talent, and the organizers I can safely say I'm proud as hell to be from this great state.  The first few times we lost the award I was absolutely torn up but I tried to keep it in check.  This year I already feel like I won the lottery, no trophy needed.  On top of all of this craziness, The Midnight Devils will be out for two nights and cap the weekend of with an award ceremony rock n roll bash.  That right there is the reason we keep going out for more.

I want to thank personally thank everyone that got us to this point.  I don't say it nearly enough but thank you to our fans for being the light in an often dark place, thank you to our families for being there even when we are off traveling around the country side,  thank you to all of you that have taken a chance on us and talked us through the rough patches.  That we can never repay.  I feel blessed and even as I write this I am smiling.  There's still a long road ahead of us.  There are a lot of things to get done, a lot of shows to book, a video to shoot, a trip to Rocklahoma, a new tour to plan, and a new album to write.  I know that with all of you standing in our corner pushing us forward we can accomplish these goals we have set out for ourselves.  I truly believe that the very best is yet to come.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

Sam Spade

Here's To You and Here's To The 21st Saloon

Hello everybody and welcome to Hair in the Air, The Official blog of 3D In Your Face and The Midnight Devils.  I want to apologize for missing last weeks blog.  Things were quite crazy and we were all trying to sort out what to do next after the closing of our home bar The 21st Saloon, but I will get to that later.  The Midnight Devils are beyond excited and ready to hit the road later today.  It seems we do the best when the van is full of gear and we are cruising with the radio on.  Tonight we will be making our debut at Nick's on the Bricks in our "home away from home", Kearney, NE.  I already know this is going to be a wild rock n roll party and we can't wait to see all of our Kearney friends and family.  It has been way to long.  Saturday was originally scheduled for Groovy's Pub in Oakland, NE but due to some unforeseen circumstances the show was rescheduled to Friday, May 5th.  Instead we got offered a private party in Chapman, NE on Saturday and it will be quite an honor for us to play this party.  Please don't forget to listen to my radio show on Saturday night also called Hair in the Air, on 101.9 The Keg.  I can't divulge the information yet that I want to but because you people are always so great to me I can tell you that I'm working on something really cool and it has to do with rock n roll radio.  Don't ask because I can't tell and I don't want to jinx it.  Just keep sending your good vibes my way.

So the big news last week that took the Omaha music community by storm was the sudden closing of The 21st Saloon.  I promised myself this would not be a negative blog but a tribute to everything that Scott Kirk and The 21st Saloon stood for.  We started playing The 21st Saloon almost six years ago.  I remember being sober at the time we got the gig and I was still the guitar tech and stage manager for 3D In Your Face.  I remember getting on stage to play Thunderstuck, running out into the audience, jumping on a rolling chair, and the whole thing slipping out from underneath me.  Luckily it was somebody's birthday and their cupcake table broke my fall.  Frosting everywhere.  The 21st Saloon was a bar unlike any I have ever been to and I doubt anything like it will take it's place.  Scott and his amazing staff believed in the music, the blues, and the rock n roll so heavily up until that very last day.  Scott, Sniper, and I talked often about only bringing in quality bands with heart and soul because the people would be able to spot the wanna-be's.  It was a bar built on a reputation of great live music, guaranteed.  We played over 160 shows there with 3D In Your Face and without The 21st Saloon there wouldn't be The Midnight Devils.  Scott gave us a chance and place to realize our dreams.  I met so many amazing people that I love dearly to this day at this bar.  At the end of the last 3D In Your Face residency it had become a family affair.  Every Friday we would all gather to celebrate life, love, and rock n roll.  I know this bar meant as much to you as it did to us.

With all that being put out on the table, I am a firm believer that The 21st Saloon closing happened for a reason bigger than just money.  Most of the time these reasons are never clear and you're always asking yourself "I don't understand why something like this would happen."  I was floored and heartbroken last week but I just kept saying "we are moving to bigger and better.  Don't let it stray you from the course."  Last week we ended up losing three gigs.  This week I was pretty down but still pushing on cold calling any bar within 500 miles of Kearney.  Out of the blue a guy called me about a private party that is routed perfectly for the trip.  I was so excited I was dancing up and down in my apartment, just the cat and I.  Later that night we landed a gig in Carrol, IA on our trip to Des Moines next month.  Then we confirmed with Sneaky Pete's in Omaha to pick up our lost 21st Saloon show on Feb. 24th.  I just looked at my cat in disbelief and said "I told you everything happens for a reason."  Sure we don't know the plan and we are mostly just along for the ride but it's so amazing to see bad things turn around into great things.  The rest of the week I've felt pretty inspired and grateful as hell.  I said it on a Facebook post but this business never ceases to amaze me.  It's very fluid and goes this way and that way and you never really know what to expect.  What I have learned is that if you put in the hard work, pay your dues, and do everything from the heart it will always come back to you positively in the end.  I always push to go that extra step and do the things that other bands in our position wouldn't do.  Whatever it takes.  Unanswered messages and phone calls are just "yes's" later on down the line.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

Sam Spade