Sorry for the various mystery pictures on the blog now! Been having some issues getting it up and running since the Taters’ site was switched over to a different platform on the Hostbaby servers. I’m not sure I’m keeping it the way it is (the site, that is) but for now it’s fairly easy to update using the tools that Hostbaby has, and at least for the time being I don’t need any more work to do!

I’m somewhat limited in what my options are with the new platform – I’m basically working with a site template at this point and changing/customizing what I can, but I don’t have the flexibility that I had with a standard FTP site. The folks at Hostbaby have been a huge help with things and have bent over backwards to let me make some changes that aren’t really supported thru their “wizard”, so a big thanks to them. I just really need something where I can get the site setup the way I want it, with a good content management system, but I don’t have the time or the know-how to build it from scratch right now.

Anyway, I wanted the mention the pics because I may go thru and try to correct the links that got broken for some of them, but for a lot I’ll probably just have to leave them and concentrate on moving forward!

things have been quite busy in Taterland over the last few months, and most times I clean forget to add updates! Sorry, I promise I’ll try to try harder. Or at least I’ll try.

I’m sitting in the studio now listening to final and near-final mixes on menagerie. There have been a few setbacks, but it’s still alive and kicking, just taking longer (always!) than I thought it would. I’m also working on finishing the cover art, liner notes, all the publishing stuff, etc, and working with the pressing plant to get that all setup. But all that notwithstanding, I’m hoping for a Halloween release, so keep your bony fingers crossed!

On a related note, watch for the October release of  Virginia Creepers: THE HORROR HOST TRADITION OF THE OLD DOMINION.  It’s a documentary featuring stories and clips of classic Virginia late night horror show TV shows. The Taters have a song in the soundtrack, a menagerie cut called “Wolfman Told Me Tonight”, so you’ll want to get a copy of the film ! A lot of you know the song from our shows over the years, but this is the debut of the recorded version. On an inexplicable note, the website for Virginia Creepers lists our tune as a “romantic ditty” (??), so I don’t know what to tell you about that. Not a big Valentine tune to my way of thinking but hey, it made the cut so we’re happy!

Spread a little Tater around

Think about the last time you bought something from a friend’s recommendation, or because you read a review of a book, movie, album, whatever. Chances are that review or recommendation made more of an impact on you than any “official” advertising from the manufacturer. One of the most beneficial aspects of the web is this ability to spread “word-of-mouth” recommendations across a much larger audience.

Same is true with Tater tunes. We have all sorts of people who come to see us or buy the CDs because someone told them about us, or they read a recommendation from someone. You could be a big part of spreading the word about The Taters, not only by telling your friends but also by posting reviews of our music or shows on the web. Nearly every place that sells the music online – CD Baby , iTunes , Amazon , you name it – has some way for you to post reviews and comments. It would be a great help to what we’re trying to do (merely get every single individual on the planet to hear us) if you’d add some reviews of your own. Say whatever you like, tell about your favorite song on an album, what you like about the music, etc. If you use iTunes, make a playlist that includes the Taters music and share the list so others will find it! Every single voice helps, believe me!

still trying to figure out this WordPress thing, but I really like all that you can do with it. I’m trying out a Christmas theme to get used to how “themes” work. It may change many times over the next few weeks, who knows? Also trying to figure out how to get everyone’s avatar to show up next to their postings. Every time I figure out one part, there are 3 new questions! But I’m having fun with it, when I have time to sit down and tinker.

Been off for a few days from recording -- everyone’s schedule got filled up, including Bill’s, so we’ve all been listening to what we have so far and getting some ideas on where to head next. Brad was doing shows last night (with BJ Kocen, Jim Wark, and Tater Emeritus Geo Garrett), and then tonight with the Bop Cats. I’m playing a show tomorrow night, Sunday, at the Barksdale Theatre in Willow Lawn, with Harry Gore & Buzzy Lawler (When Harry Met Buzzy), so looking forward to that. I hope to get to play some piano on that as well.

Then back in next week for a few recording sessions, in between several shows -- got 3 Christmas parties and one public show (Shenanigans, on Tuesday night). And, all the time, Christmas just keeps getting closer! It’s barreling down on us faster this year than ever!

In the meantime, here’s an odd little bit of Christmas cheer for you!