So what's new with:
...these days??
December 7, 1999 - A day... and a log entry... that will live in infamy.
We played the New Germany hall on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and Sports complex on the Wednesday before the big feast.
In fact, on Wednesday we were still wiping the residual reverb off of all the road cases from that town hall. Though I must admit that four seconds of reverb covers up a really long musical mistake quite nicely. A certain JoDee Messina song comes to mind.... And I'd never suspected we had such a knack for killing elevators. So, how can two fully loaded amp racks, a trap case, and our beer weigh more than one person in a wheel chair? I just dunno....
But the joint was jumpin and boots were stompin' the night away for a good and worthy cause. All that, and FREE ham sandwiches. Can you believe it? I love small towns.
We had the Complex on Wednesday... Wait. Let me rephrase that: We played the Sports Complex.
That's much better.
I'm not sure what the maximum fire code occupancy of the place is, so I wont mention how many people were there. Suffice it to say that I can't recall a better turnout in the two years I've been playing that venue. Just super! Apparently everyone showed up to tell us how angry they were that we were breaking up. I'm not sure if it's flattering to be threatened by your adoring fans, but I suppose we'll take what we can get.... Note to John: bring the chicken wire fence and kevlar cowboy hats for the last few gigs. Thanks, bud.
Speaking of which, there are now only three remaining engagements (thats five nights) before the last chord is strummed, and this High Horse is sent to the glue factory. We played the last Robert's Off 10 gig in November, December has our final Hitchin' Post, and Litchfield VFW bookings, and we round off the last night back at the cradle of the band's musical birth: The Hollywood Sports Complex. Sniff sniff.... I'm gonna miss those guys.... even if I don't know all their names.
But by my estimation, our remaining gigs still amount to 20 more hours of intense, focused partying.
So L E T ' S G O ! ! ! !November 18, 1999 - Did I write anything about our Ranch House gig on October 30? How about the fantastic costumes everyone wore there that night? Did I say anything funny about the country grunge rap version of Devil Went Down to Georgia? Or officer Barbrady's absolutely arresting drum solo? Or the crazy "High Horse spooking force" costume contest? Hmmm... What could I have been up to to forget to transfer these neuronic titbits into our web site before the beer washes them all clean out of my brain (along with all those years of piano lessons)? Well there they are now. And here we are...
Band meeting. I won't go into the boring details, but lets just say that from here on out I'm going to treat every remaining gig as if it was our last. And I think you should too. Come on out to see us! It may be too late before you know it! And what a sad regret to take to one's grave....
So, on that cheery note I deftly vector the subject to last weekend at Robert's. Here's an observation: I think it takes the "Robert's Off H" patrons an extra day to find the place now that it's not really "Off 10" anymore. Nobody shows up until Saturday now. And then it's EVERYBODY and their neighbor, and best friend, and dog! Ah, what the heck. We had fun both nights anyway. And they were kind enough to finally add a 24" stage extension. We could actually fit all the drums up there for a change.
Thanks for all the weary travelers who set off to find us from all over the metro area and it's outskirts. We're glad to see you eventually made it. High Horse fans are simply the BEST!
Ok... that's it! Party at Shawn's house!October 26, 1999 - I'd forgotten that it had been so long since we'd played the Hitchin' Post. Yet, still you remembered us! What a great ol' boot stompin', saddle rompin', hat tippin', 'chip kickin' posse of country music MANIACS you all were. We were truly "Amazed" by you.
Again, and I cannot ever hope to say this enough, thanks to all of you who made trips from afar to take in our show. Princeton, Watertown, Hutchinson, Litchfield, St. Paul ..... We are truly honored by "Something Like That"!
"All Thing's Considered" it was probably one of our most enjoyable gigs yet. And the fact that none of our vehicles were vandalized this time "Sure Feels Real Good" too. Yep, by the time we were "East Bound and Down, Loaded up and Truckin" we were looking forward to our return there again in December. Hope to see you all again next time!!
Get ready Ranch House..........October 20, 1999 - Whohhhhh Nellie! What a blast to get back on stage, and with new material to play on top of it all. Litchfield is suprisingly and consistently such a knockout of a place to play. I can't begin to express our many thanks to everyone who joined us over the weekend! We're also flattered that some of you drive as far as you do. And did anyone notice which band member had a bad cold? I didn't think so!
Of course we're now looking forward to our return engagement at the ol' Hitching Post. This one's with our regular guitar wizard (as opposed to our fill-in wizards). They've yet to live the true High Horse "experience" out there. Let's just hope they've got that roof strapped down real good. They's gonna be a tornayduh in that ol' beer shed!October 7, 1999 - ..... I'm about ready to play again . So, what's new? Everyone in the band is buying houses this month.
September 19, 1999 - Add another Robert's gig to our jaded twisted and confused history. Only there seems to be some confusion as to whether the venue will be renamed to "Roberts Off H" since highway 10 has been re-routed two miles north (probably because of the smell). Oh... just kidding!!! It was only re-routed ONE mile north.
Still, it was a great time there as always. We even took the opportunity to drag a couple of people on stage (all in good fun of course). One was a bride to be that was worthy of comment - among other things.You can't see but those are dozens of candy life savers taped to her outfit. The most entertaining bachelorette item she had with her though was a - how do I say this - "phallically enhanced" and... well... musical bridesmaid bouquet.
If you weren't there, you missed a history making event when it played a lead solo on Michael Montgomery's "Sold" to quite a-rousing applause. This is getting just plain weird. Mom, if you're reading this please don't look up "phallical" in the dictionary. Dad, you would have been rolling with laughter had you been there.
Congrats to the 17yr anniversary couple there that night. I can't remember seeing a happier couple. And thanks for the round of celebratory shots for the band. Oh how we needed that!.
Now begins four weeks of intense rehearsal as we totally revamp our songlist in an effort to keep ourselves sane. And I'm sure in the process we'll be refamiliarizing ourselves with the phrase: "this song is stupid". See ya soon!!!!!!!!!!September 9, 1999 - Just added a "scrapbook" page which you can find by clicking the link at the bottom of any page on our domain. Does this site never cease to amaze and impress you? Tell us what you think!! This is YOUR site, after all.
Busy labor day weekend for us all. Friday and Saturday rocked the Litchfield VFW. Saw lots of familiar faces - some even close up.
Then we all stole a few hours sleep before playing the Hollywood Ranch House on Sunday. Super turn out. Thanks to everyone for coming! We had a great time. Now it's off to a few weeks of rehearsals for some new material. After this busy summer, we're all looking forward to it.
Oh and Stiftungsfest went off just great last week. "Testing.... ein.... swei..." Lot's of dear friends and family. Thanks all of you for staying around to watch us. Special thanks to young Mike who manned the lights and follow-spot all evening. Quite a feat considering he was recovering from severe "tetanus shot arm" syndrome. Great job!! Love, dad.August 22, 1999 - We knew we were in for a particularly special evening at the Sports Complex as Joe the manager was replacing the out-door light fixtures with FRESH BULBS as I arrived at the gig. I could smell a strange electric tingle in the air as the room became more and more crowded with High Horse fans. We found out later it was the ozone from a faulty smoke-buster, but still......
There was something amazing about to happen. And there probably still is as far as we all know. I think I might call Tuesday and see if anything came along. But I'd still like to point out unequivocally, that if there's one particular place that intersects county roads 122 and 21, it's definitely the Hollywood Sports Complex. And if you're not into the music, come for the splendid assortment of "cow-chicks".
Now you can't beat that with a High Horse whip... You'll definitely want spurs. Hmmm...August 15, 1999 - Thursday was our Carver county fair engagement. We were really worried about the weather, but as it turns out rain became our greatest ally. Yep. It poured, which in turn brought everyone into the beer garden tent where we played. And they couldn't leave without getting wet.... so they just had a beer, and another.... and another. It was great to see all our local fans, as well as the latest High Horse fall fashion wear some were sporting. Thanks for the stick on High Horse decals!!
Last night's weather at our St. Rosa gig was just the opposite. Clear and dry. But where was our captive audience? Heck... where was our audience??? We even wore fresh socks!! This music biz......
At least alumnist Troy Werth was out running sound. And YES, he got up and sang some tunes. Yes, he didn't forget a single word or note. And yes it sounded great! You made it a great time for everyone. Thanks bud. Now... about that bachelor party next week... Blondes or brunettes??
"Ohhhhh No!"
Next week it's back to Watertown for a Farber home gig at Hollywood Sports Complex and all our dear old friends and acquaintences. Are you READY!? We can't wait!!!August 8, 1999 - Litchfield, you never fail to be the greatest party town. Even in competition with other local events, so many of you turned out at the VFW and we cannot thank you enough. By the way, we like repeat customers. Oh... and there are those who called her...... "Thumper".
August 2, 1999 - Oh, them nutty kooky Polaczeski's! There's no doubt about it: Silver Lake on Saturday was definitely one of the major events of the summer, which bears even more significance considering that every major inlet to the town was DETOURED due to road construction. Everyone was there anyway!
There were old and new friends, family, young folks, old folks, and of course our dedicated fans. We hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. Thank you for a night to remember. You know, I've never seen a country 'mosh pit' until this weekend.
I should mention that this was the gig last year where Shawn tried to do a back flip off the stage and ended up in the emergency room. Does the fun EVER end with this band?!
ITHINK NOT ! !July 26, 1999 - Well tarrrrnation!!! This summer's gittin' away from us! Where to start.... Where to start...
Last Friday. Cornstalk 99 - Regal. Pounding sun. Scortching heat. Dripping sweat. Late start. Too many chiefs. One man (John) short. Thirty spectators. Salty cheese curds. Cold beer. Free ice. Sparkling glitter. Bright stars. On-site camping. Joe Diffe. Great show. Five hundred spectators. Backstage pass. Autographs. Nice guy.
Saturday. Rails to Trails - Watertown. Pounding sun. Scortching heat. Dripping sweat. Absolutely no wind. Cold beer. Fried chicken. John was back. AIR CONDITIONED DRESSING ROOM. UNLIMITED HAIR CARE PRODUCTS. Super crowd. Great time. What a weekend!!!
I should also mention that we had the pleasure to watch High Noon do their thing, and do it very well. Nick Hoffman, (fiddle, mandolin, guitar) from that band was even kind enough to chat for a while and show me his instruments and rig. We wish them all the best of luck.July 11, 1999 - It was probably like a scene straight out of a Charlie Chaplan movie. We'll never know for certain as no-one was there to see it happen: Man orders 100lb power amplifier, UPS delivers to man's garage, man unpacks contents and lifts out of box, man slips on packing material and is crushed by power amplifier. All I know is I got to the Sports Complex on Friday night to find employee number one (Dave) donning arm sling, finger splint, and some very nasty fleshwounds. But it takes more than that to stop a Farber.
Don't ask me how, but the show went off with hardly a hitch. The guy is a superman - even one handed. Amazing! As if that wasn't already enough for one weekend, he was back on his High Horse early the next afternoon stuffing those same amps that nearly killed him into rack cabinets, then loading them along with the rest of our gear into the trailer for the Clara City gig that night.
Clara City ROCKS ! We have no idea where everyone came from but they were there by the hundreds having a great old time with us. All the folks organizing the event knocked themselves out to help us load in and out. Thanks so much!
I hope someone had a video camera rolling when John took to the rooftops (literally) to blow us all away as he sang the last two tunes of the third set from quite a precarious perch. I wonder if there are any Flying Walenda's in the family tree? I couldn't help but think the whole time that it was almost exactly a year ago that Shawn nearly stopped the show by falling off the stage and cracking his head open (that whiner!!).
Ok... that's it! We're taking out liability insurance on EVERYONE. And a hazard pay bonus to the member who pulls the most dangerous stunt at each performance.
It's just insanity..... Robert's Off 10 next weekend, HERE WE COME!!!July 4, 1999 - Ooooooohhhhh..... Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh.....!
June 30, 1999 - I always get a bit nervous when I take off to an outside gig and I'm driving straight towards the most dark and foreboding weather in the sky. Saturday night I was terrified. I turned on the radio for some reassurance, only to hear of tornados touching down in the area and numerous other storm warnings.
By some incredible stroke of luck though, the Zummerfest festival in Hamburg this weekend went off without a single weather related hitch. Not even a drop of rain. Thank you God! Also, thank you to all who also took a chance on the weather and showed up. We hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. Big hugs to J.T., Serena, and Sara, our youngest fans who stayed up very late to watch us.June 23, 1999 - A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.....
H I G H H O R S E
As the Serbian NATO conflict comes to a close and the alliance begins the work of rebuilding another defeated country, a new ominous presence is emerging.Episode LXIV - A New Bridle
Chace Vader, an evil apprentice of the dark side of the Horse has emerged, and is systematically assimilating then draining the creative energy from every talented musician throughout the Sol system in a pathetic attempt to eliminate all possible competition from his own egotistical cause.
A small band of rebel musicians remains to carry on the fight against this tyrany. Led by two brothers and armed with only their instruments, these rebels have subbornly resisted all attempts at defeat and despair as their support throughout the galaxy grows...June 10, 1999 - Why, oh why do we do this to ourselves? Everyone decided to take the hang-around-the-lake all day and play all night approach to the Blue Goose weekend. As Saturday night rolled around, we were all comparing sunburns and fishing injuries of various degrees. Fortunately most of our voices were still intact enough to make it through the evening. Never again……… until next time of course.
I cannot recall ever encountering as varied an audience as was there to greet us at the "Goose". So we broke from our typical mold and did our best to mix up the song list to accommodate all the 50's, country, and rock enthusiasts present. It seemed as though we could play no wrong as we'd hop from Diamond Rio to Beatles to Elvis to Doobie Brothers, and back to country again. What a gracious lot of people they all were. And what a great time the band had.
Once again, thanks go to Joe Pavlick for sitting in and making it all work so seamlessly on stage. Oh. And thank you John Farber for your gift of strep throat to all of us.May 31, 1999 - I can remember back when a nickel could buy you two tootsie rolls, a bazooka bubble gum (with comic), and a jolly rancher. Who'd have thought that the day would come when that same five cents would fetch only one tootsie roll, and an annoyed look from the man behind the counter. Well it has. But you'd never have noticed it bothering anyone if you were where we were last night.
I'd have never guessed that only a week after having such a great turnout at Hollywood Sports Complex we'd have such an outstanding crowd for the Ranch House - a mere seven miles away. Heck, I'll bet a couple of our fans can SPIT farther than that. Thank you all so much for coming out - especially those who drove from out of town, and out of state.
Apparently, it was also the unofficial four year anniversary of the first High Horse gig. I'm taking that on faith, as yours truly has only been saddled up for the last two, daylight savings. It was fun to pull a few very dusty songs out of the closet for the occasion.
Which reminds me: I think it's about time for me to ask original member Troy, to come back on board again to bring our ranks to an even six. C'mon bud! The stable's always open and there's a bit waitin' fer ya pard'ner. In case you don't remember, you lost the first one we loaned you. So now that'll be two bit's you owe us. And that brings us back around to the value of a nickel...May 24, 1999 - What a blast it was Friday at the Sports Complex in Watertown. Not only was there a great crowd, but everyone in the band actually showed up! Someone write that down.... oh... I just did. Well good, then! Not only that, but Michael Dean's acoustic guitar didn't get stuck in the ceiling fan once this time!!!
And as if that wasn't enough for one weekend, Saturday at Trobec's was one of the cozy-est gig's I can remember. But what the audience lacked in size, they surely made up for with enthusiasm. Thanks to you all for sharing some of your time with us and making our weekend special. To Ray Trobec: It's always a pleasure... always.May 9, 1999 - We had a fabulous time out at the Hitchin' Post this weekend. It was super to see so many of our fans from the Twin Cities area who stopped out to support us. As always, you are truly AWESOME! And for all the new friends we've made in the St. Cloud area, you can see us again at Trobec's bar in St. Stephen on Saturday, May 22.
A special "thank you" goes out to Joe & Joe who were our fill in guitar players for Friday and Saturday night, respectively. They both did such a wonderful job on short notice. We were very fortunate that they were available. And we hope Ross recovers completely from his nasty bout with unavoidable detainment. I probably shouldn't elaborate any more than that... but if you would like to know more you could ask him personally. His number is 555-1234. Just please remember to call between the hours of 2:00am-5:00am.
Also, as far as we could tally, there were only two malicious acts of auto vandalism in the parking lot on Saturday night. One was a set of slashed tires on a nice new full sized pickup truck, and the other was a busted license plate holder and dented bumper on a Chevy Blazer belonging to one of the band members. Hat's off to the staff of the Hitchin' Post for all their concern over the loss to their patrons and ourselves. We really feel like you're there for us! And we'll remember that the next time you need our support.
We now look forward to unveiling a few new tunes for our next appearance on the 21st as we launch into our summer tour. Hope to see you all there!
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