Now Appearing in an Extended Engagement! Join Dave Robison as he takes you into his world and his daily life of reviving a stand-up comedy career. Prepare for side trips exploring Public Relations, marketing and business ethics. Enjoy some frequent detours describing his observations on life. Read the exploits of this self-proclaimed Renaissance-man and blooming blogger as you go
On The Road With Dave.
About Me
Name: Dave Robison
Location: Mobile, Alabama, United States
From Mobile, Alabama comes Dave Robison, a confessed Internet-aholic, middle-aged-married-man, who's generally a nice guy--he just has one or two issues.
Stand-Up Comedy by Dave Robison is available for corporate events, college campuses, and nightclubs.
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO ALL THE GANG ON SESAME STREET!
And if you've ever wondered where Kermit The Frog lived before he lived on Sesame Street; c'mon down to the Mississippi Delta and Leland, Mississippi and visit the Jim Henson Museum Exhibit and the real birthplace of that green frog who sings, dances, tells jokes and is stalked by a female pig.
To all those people and puppets that I grew up knowing "in the neighborhood", Happy 40th Anniversary and thanks.
For Wil, it was seeing the old CBS Special Presentation logo that signaled to all kids that maybe, a prime time cartoon was coming on the air. (Think, "A Charlie Brown Christmas)
But, after watching Wil's provided video; I stumbled upon my own "chill bumps" TV station logo identification.
When I was a teenager, I lived in a town that for a long time had no cable TV. Imagine that? No Cable; only Broadcast channels. And...AND..only 3, count them, THREE of those stations; CBS, NBC and PBS. Sometimes, on a clear day or a freaky cloudy day, our ChannelMaster Antennae would pick up a fuzzy ABC channel.
So, whenever we went to my brother's house in Columbus, MS--I was in heaven, because I could watch WTBS Superstation(It used to only show old movies and sports), WGN Chicago, and one great station that showed Hollywood movies on TV before anyone else, great music videos, and little short films. They called it Home Box Office(HBO).
For 50 years on the Causeway across Mobile Bay, The Blue Gill Restaurant has been a mainstay for purveyors of fine seafood, burgers, cold beer, and live music.
On most weekends, diners are treated on the covered deck to either a national act, local talent and regional musicians and bands on the verge of breakout on the national scene.
Last night I took the wife, and family to the Blue Gill to enjoy Atlantic Recording Artists, NeedToBreathe. This South Carolina-based rock band just released their second album, The Heat; and they brought the heat and passion of their music to the cool breezes blowing on the deck stage of the Blue Gill.
There were ballads to sway to and rock anthems to "bob" your head in time and quite a few times, audience members joined in and clapped along with the tunes.
I found myself comparing the lead singer's appearance on stage to a young "Kid Rock, but his music wasn't anything like The Kid's music.(That's no slight on either artist) The band's show and stage antics were filled with energy and showed no boredom or frustration from extensive travel or from playing the small venue. I had heard of the band, but wasn't familiar with most of their songs, so no one near me was cursed with me singing along with the band, however, upon hearing NeedToBreathe, I can say that I'll be listening to them more and in no time will be singing along. Watch out next time they are in town.
Even before NeedToBreathe came on stage, the music from the opening acts were also a pleasure to listen to. My wife bought a CD from the opening act, Birmingham, Alabama's, Matthew Mayfield. Mayfield is an acoustic guitarist with a soulful, blue-sy sound and my personal favorite was "Still Alive", which I would categorize as a "protest" song. Matthew was at home in the small venue and made a personal connection with the crowd.
In the "comedy world", audiences are usually treated to an Opener, A Feature, and A Headliner. Last night's schedule "featured" Keyboardist, Guitarist and Singer Andy Davis. I told Andy after the show that he made a good "Feature" performer, because he was on his way to "Headliner" status.
Andy was amusing when he spoke to the crowd, provided a "sing-a-long" segment with his "Let The Woman walk in", and was self-deprecating when introducing his "i-band" accompaniment via his cell phone. He did a wonderful job of covering Etta James', "At Last". Andy is an artist than can hit a falsetto note without sounding annoying.
In our little group, (we had friends meet us and offered some seats to some strangers) everyone had a favorite. My wife, daughter and my daughter's friend like Matthew. I, along with a few of my friends, like Andy. Everyone seemed to rock out to NeedToBreathe.
Last but not least, let me say the food was fantastic. Simple, affordable and tasty. The waitstaff was friendly, prompt, attentive, and not a bit shaken by the large crowd.
In my opinion, The Blue Gill Restaurant and last night's performers proved once again why the Blue Gill is a frequent winner of "Best Place to Hear Live Music" competitions (as well as being named one of the Best Bars in America by Esquire Magazine), the Bluegill features great food, a gorgeous waterfront deck as well as an Amphitheater where patrons can enjoy great live music.
Final Destination 4: My Son Will Be A Movie Star...Sorta
It seems that Hollywood decided that Mobile, Alabama might make a good place for a movie and decided to have a casting call for movie extras for the upcoming Final Destination 4 movie. My wife and oldest son decided that they'd like to get up at 5AM last Saturday morning and head down to the Mobile Civic Center to stand on line for a chance at being a face in the crowd.
I'm happy to report that today, my oldest son, Aaron, was "called back" and will be an extra portraying a photographer(among other "photographers") in the opening sequence of the movie to be released in 2009.
Filming starts Tuesday.
(By The Way, the "casting call" link is a news story from Mobile's FOX10 news and at the video link of the story; watch carefully the first 4 seconds and you'll get a glimpse of my wife and son. My wife is in what appears to be a white shirt on the video and sunglasses.)
I heard last night that Roy Scheider, a two-time Oscar nominee best known for his role as a police chief in the blockbuster movie "Jaws," died Sunday. He was 75.
Scheider was best known for his role in Steven Spielberg's 1975 film, "Jaws." Widely hailed as the film that launched the era of the Hollywood blockbuster, it was also the first movie to earn $100 million at the box office.
In 2005, one of Scheider's most famous lines in the movie - "You're gonna need a bigger boat" - was voted No. 35 on the American Film Institute's list of best quotes from U.S. movies.
He was nominated for a best-supporting actor Oscar in 1971's "The French Connection" in which he played the police partner of Oscar winner Gene Hackman and for best-actor for 1979's "All That Jazz," the autobiographical Bob Fosse film.
"All That Jazz" made an indelible impact on me. As a teenager growing up in Northern Mississippi, you'd have to understand that Broadway plays--Broadway music; would be "not right" to be interested in.
But THAT movie, that guy Fosse and that actor Scheider changed all that jazz.
Here was a story about Joe Gideon, a Broadway choreographer and director, who was working on a play that was sex-laden, AND at the same time he was directing a film about a stand-up comedian. (Fosse directed "Lenny", the Broadway play and movie about the life of Lenny Bruce.)
Joe was an alcoholic, a womanizer, a drug addict--not exactly a role model. BUT, he was cool. Not "Oklahoma-wind-sweeping-down-the-range-Broadway" cool; but sex, drugs and rock and roll cool. Roy Scheider played him perfectly.
In the movie, Joe Gideon is one cigarette, one drink, and one night of sex away from a major heart attack. He fantasizes about the extravaganza that will be his death. So much so, that the finale of the movie is a Broadway show fantasy of Joe's choreographed death. Dancers, music, a complete horn section and actor Ben Vareen singing a duet with Roy Scheider of the Everly Brothers' "Bye, Bye Love". (Ben Vereen appeared in Fosse's "Pippin")
Okay, I shouldn't tell you this; but you probably already know I sang as a kid in front of the mirror.
My best friend, Jim Folse and I used to do this song. I was the Ben Vereen part. Go Figure.
If you have ten minutes, this is the finale. It starts slow, but it builds. Considering the death of Roy Scheider, some may find the end in poor taste. I offer it as a tribute from a fan. Yeah, "Jaws" was good--big shark, blah, blah, blah; but this is why I'll remember Roy Scheider.
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY
