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