A Cryptic Premonition.

Hello everybody and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  As a good buddy of my always says "Big doin's goin' on this weekend".  I am so extremely excited to let you know about what we got in store for you starting on Friday.  We are back in action, live, uncut, and definitely uncensored this Friday, Feb 19th at The 21st Saloon.  The VIP Table is still available for reservation for this show and I don't want you to miss out on all the fun.  Saturday Feb. 20th is going to be huge.  First of all we start off with album rehearsals and now I can tell you if everything goes as planned we are slated to hit the studio in two weeks to cut the follow up to "The Midnight Devils" Album.  Speaking of The Devils, our acoustic project also called The Midnight Devils will be making a huge special guest appearance this Saturday at The Ralston Arena.  We will be opening The Omaha Roller Girls bout and we will also be playing at halftime.  After the debauchery on four wheels is over we move the party to Sneaky Pete's Saloon in Omaha.  The Midnight Devils will be doing a full extended set for our debut at Sneaky Pete's and we need your help.  We want to make a big impression on this bar so we are asking all of The 3D In Your Face Army to come out and show us some love.  This is going to be a close intimate Rock N Roll party with loads of singing and wild shenanigans.  If you can't make any of this weekends festivities please tune in to my radio show HAIR IN THE AIR, Saturday night at 10 PM CST on 101.9 The Keg.  It's the heartbreak's edition of the show.

Photos by Geraldography

I'm not going to say to much about this but the faithful readers will get this "Lost In The Volume", a premonition of things to come.  Last weekend I had the great privilege of seeing one of the bands that started it all for me.  I remember listening to this band when I was around 10 years old and loosing my mind, not knowing at the time I would actually get to meet these heroes of mine.  This band and their music has impacted me personally almost more than any other band besides KISS.  I was there a mere 5 feet away from one of the biggest bands in the history of the world and yet it felt as if they were playing for me.  I was surrounded by 20,000 people and yet I felt like I was all alone.  I was moved spiritually by the music and at the time I felt as if that was the closest to heaven I had come.  Maybe that sounds silly but I don't care.  This entire musical adventure we are all on revolves around moments of pure and utter joy, nothing else.  For that brief moment nothing else matters.  Your troubles and worries are gone, there's no drama, there's no tension, and there is no suffering.  "Lost" doesn't even begin to describe it.  I was welling up with  tears by the sheer volume and the songs that the band were playing.

Photos by Geraldography

On Sunday, Feb 14th I saw AC/DC live and I'm not sure I have ever seen a band perform better.  It was a concert that I will never forget.  It was one of those Rock N Roll moments that hangs with you and that you strive to attain again.  The songs themselves made me proud to have followed this path, they brought back great memories of my younger years, and most of all they were played to perfection.  Very rarely do you get to go see a show and know every word to every song and I think with a band like AC/DC, it didn't really matter what they played.  It doesn't matter that I was hoping they'd play this song or that song, even though I've heard "Highway To Hell" a million times I've never heard it played like that.  The air was so heavy with energy that it made me shudder.  The band and the crowd seemed to mold together and for a brief two hour moment we were locked in a celebration of life and of Rock N Roll.  I can begin to express my gratitude and my appreciation.  There aren't enough words.  Maybe someday when this all come back around.........................

Always Loud
Forever Proud

Love
Sam Spade

That's How It Goes Playing In A Band

New Blog.  What's up?  Welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official blog of 3D In Your Face.  Gearing up and going mental.  Get ready to shake those winter blues away.  If you are reading this in the Midwest USA then you know how much of that powder white is laying on the ground.  The winter weather makes everything a little more difficult but not impossible.  This Friday, Feb. 5th we are melting the ice and heating up your snow pants with our Friday Night Rock N Roll Residency at The 21st Saloon. New sets, a few new songs, and tons of hot sticky action.  Saturday the band will be at rehearsals working on the new material for our new album.  If you are still looking for some fun in the proverbial Rock N Roll sun you can take a little road trip with Sniper and I to Dow City, IA for an acoustic Midnight Devils performance at Cheers Bar and Grill around 10 PM.  My goal is to be the bartender for at least 10 minutes at Cheers.  Sam Spade becomes Sam Malone.  Count it.  Also my radio show HAIR IN THE AIR will be on at 10 PM CST on 101.9 The Keg.  No excuses to not go out.  You've been cooped up inside watching reruns for the last three days.

Sorry to keep you all waiting for a blog.  I have been pretty quite lately.  We have been playing a ton of shows and that is great to keep my mind occupied.  The band is getting to that point that I dread more than anything else.  In the very near future we are headed into the studio to craft another album.  I realize I have been talking about this now since Sept. but with the advent of our Rocklahoma birth n the horizon we want to have something tangible to tour on this summer.  Not to mention we have been sitting on some of these songs for over a year now.  For as much as love being a musician and crafting songs I hate the studio.  We aren't even there yet and the stress is already eating at all of us.  I feel the last album "Midnight Devils" was a great representation of where we were at the time.  I wasn't happy with all the parts but I don't think anyone ever is.  I'm proud as hell of that record and the work we as a band did together.  With this next record looming on the horizon and the big festival/tour season right around the corner, we have something to prove to ourselves and to the world.  We have to capture that sound and that energy that makes us an exciting live band.  We have to collectively as 4 individuals get on the same page and the same mindset in order to put out the best quality work.  After all this one of the reasons we sacrifice so much.  Making records is a tough business but those records are our history.

Now while I say this I know I can't stress to much about the future.  There is nothing I can control there.  There is a positive note and that is the point that we must lean on in all of these tough matters.  The band is doing better than it ever has.  We are successfully navigating our careers in the path we want to be taking.  We are playing to more and more fans and doing it on our own terms.  At the end of the day I still do fully and whole-heartedly believe in Rock N Roll and I still get the chance to prove that every night.  We are being booked for more shows.  We are making connections with some amazing people all over the world.  It's really quite the give and take kind of relationship.  But I almost guarantee that if I look back through my journals and old blogs I said the same thing this time last year.  "That's how it goes playing in a band".  That's the dynamic and I guess you can say that's what keeps it interesting.  I've never played in a band that was perfect, never fought, or never had it's hard breaks.  It's that bands that rise up over the adversity that become great.  It's the bands that keep pounding the open pavement when everything around them is saying "Just stop it'd be so much easier".  Well I'm not stopping and I'm not giving up.  If anything I'm coming at you harder and I'm going to do it my way.

Always Loud
Forever Proud

Sam Spade

Breakin' All The Rules

Hello everybody and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  I must apologize for my absence.  It seems things can get pretty crazy around here and I keep finding myself without enough time in the week to sit down and write.  I'm back and more determined than ever.  If you are just catching up on the good news then you might not have heard that 3D In Your Face will be playing at Rocklahoma 2016 this year in Pryor, Oklahoma.  Ever since they started doing this event ten years ago it has been a goal of mine to play there.  Check that one off the list.  Not to mention seeing your name on the same bill as The Scorpions is a dream come true.  This Friday, Jan. 22nd we are teaming up with Joey Neon and our good friends at Neon Energy Drink to throw you a Rock N Roll Glow Bash at The 21st Saloon.  Expect the glow sticks, neon shirts, and black lights.  It's that kind of party.  I know how the tables in the back love it when we turn the lights down low.   Friday we will also be making a very special guest appearance at The Omaha Rollergirls Season Opener at The Ralston Arena.  We will be there around 6 PM to cheer on our team as they launch into their new season. Saturday, Jan 23rd we will be taking the show on the road back to Beloit, KS for a return visit to The Down Under Bar.  The Down Under isn't so much a bar as a ballroom transformed into a magical Rock N Roll palace.  Expect a big crowd and lots of small town love.  Don't miss my radio show also called HAIR IN THE AIR, this Saturday at 10 PM only on 101.9 The Keg.

All photos courtesy of Geraldography

Wooooo.  Another wild weekend and this is only January.  I love this feeling.  It seems like we are on afterburners all week long.  Today we got together to begin album rehearsals with our new drummer John "The Hammer" Lovings.  I was a bit nervous heading in but I have to tell you John knocked it out of the park.  He is catching on fast and his ideas where a breath of fresh air.  We still have a long long way to go but baby I just got the tip for just a second and I definitely liked it.  It's to early to make you any promises but we are planning a record release before we leave for Rocklahoma.  I was actually fly real high after rehearsal tonight and that's an amazing feeling.  I'm very proud of these songs already and we haven't even put them on tape.  Now the key is momentum and moral.  As it sits we are riding high on a batch of really great shows, we are heading into our tour season, and we have announced the biggest show the band has ever played.  While these are all great things the key is going to be keeping the spirits and the moral high between the band and the crew.  The crazier it gets the more stressed out everyone becomes.  I for one thrive on the craziness but it's hard for me to focus my attention elsewhere.

I want to publicly apologize to anyone that I  may have missed or not got around to in the last few weeks.  We are busy but that's never an excuse to not answer a message or return a phone call.  My friends and family are the highest priority and you mean the world to me.  I am trying to get better at talking to people and not blowing them off.  At least know in my heart I want to return ever message I get.  That was always the goal.  "Big Rock N Roll player to busy to answer"  that's BS and I won't stand for that.  My heart is with each and everyone of you even if my mind is going 1,000 miles per hour.  Someday we will all take a vacation, no phones, or computers, and certainly no alarm clocks.  For now I look back and realize that every day I have had a guitar in my hands.  Every day I am doing something to better this band.  Every day I represent you to people to the rest of the world.  Last Sunday 3D In Your Face didn't take home an OEAA award but that is totally OK.  I didn't start playing rock music to win awards.  I did it for the adventure and the passion for the music.  I did it to create something from nothing and achieve something everybody said was impossible.  Break the rules.

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

We Have Something Special

Hello everybody and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  Sorry I have been a very bad boy and haven't sat down to type out a blog in a few weeks.  I want to thank those people that keep pushing me to write these.  I know sometimes I get so tied up in my own little sphere that I forget that HAIR IN THE AIR is as important to you as it is to me.  I promise I will do my best even if it's just a little something here and there.  Communication is key.  HAHA.  OK for this weeks events we are really rolling out the Rock N Roll wagon.  This Friday, Nov. 13th our residency continues at The 21st Saloon.  We are throwing a 3D In Your Face 'Salute To Veterans' Show sponsored by Ugot2BU.  Three members of this band are vets and I know a ton of our fans are as well.  We want to say thank you in our own way by throwing you a Rock N Roll Party.  All veterans get in for free on Friday.  We will also be handing out 150 American Flags to you, the audience.  The goal is simply to say thank you.  We are working on another special surprise for Friday that may involve a video shoot.  So fair warning you may want to dress to impress or at least put on you American Flag Speedo.  Saturday, Nov. 14th we are FINALLY FINALLY taking a well needed road trip back to our 'home away from home' Kearney, NE.  The bar you formerly knew as Shooters has been remodeled, is under new management, and is going to be hopping.  This will be our debut at the new bar so we need your help spreading the word.  Kearney is always wild but when there is something to prove I've seen the crazy eyes.  If you can't make the trip please tune in to my radio show also called HAIR IN THE AIR on Saturday night at 10 PM on 101.9 The Keg.

So after this long without a blog you figure I would have more to say.  Well to be honest the shows have been going great.  The residency at The 21st Saloon has been packed to near capacity already on several occasions.  It's become the place to be seen.  I look to my left and I see the look in the other guys eyes as the crowd before us is screaming their heads off and it's pure magic.  Most importantly we have got back in contact with our friends and family that are from out of town.  It's become a destination and now people know where we are going to be like clock work and they have been making the trip.  That's worth it's weight in gold to me.  So as we head into the winter we are focused on two very important things.  Firstly our goal is to consistently provide one of the most entertaining Rock N Roll EXPERIENCES every Friday night no matter what.  Make it interesting, make it unique, make it creative, and make it special.  "You're only as good as your last show".  Secondly, the album is still looming over our heads.  That in itself is one of the biggest hurdles that we as a team have to over come.

So where are we sitting?  At this point I kind of have to play the bad guy and withhold information from you.  As I write this we have demoed all the songs except one late addition.  There is a CD only in the hands of the band members that contains 11 tracks of new material that have been played only  in our practice studio.  Last week at rehearsal we decided to set a recording date for January, after the holidays.  Most importantly the songs are great and I am already proud of the work we have put into crafting these 11 songs.  Like I said many blogs ago, this album will set the framework for the next tour and our next move as a band.  Focus, determination, and persistence.  If this was easy everybody would do it.  Just when I think I'm not sure how we will go any further we get that little bit of encouragement that we so desperately needed.  When it gets dark and believe me that happens a lot, the light that shows the next step always seems to come at the last second.  Sure I'm nervous, sure I'm concerned but I know that we have something special and I refuse to give up on that.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

Sam Spade