News from TRICKS - May 2005

Added Sunday, May 29 - Polly & Nick Wedding

Tricks doesn't play at many wedding receptions. It has to be for very special people; family, close friends, and people who say "please, please, please, we just gotta have Tricks play for our wedding". We're no wedding band, we don't even know how to spell Markarina, Magaritta, Margareena. . . Anyway, Polly just HAD to have Tricks play at her wedding, and the bride gets her way, right? Polly is lead singer of the band Vertical Smile - a local band that Tricks crosses paths with in the local weekend rock bars. For this fun musical wedding celebration: First we had Tom singing some very nice dinner music, then Tricks played a set, then Vertical Smile played a set (Polly in full bridal gown get-up and Mother-Of-The-Bride Mary on co-lead vocals in full MOTB fashion). Tom helped out on keyboards with VS, then Tricks played a few songs, then Tom and Frank joined Tricks onstage, then Polly and Mary came up and sang a few with the Tricks/VS band. . . You get the picture. A gang of musicians mixing it up for a fun jamming Wedding Ballroom Blitz. Thanks to Polly and Nick for inviting Tricks to be part of your special day. This day will always be near and dear to our hearts. - see pics

Added Sunday, May 22 - Ye Olde Woodshed in Douglas - Weekend 3

Last big weekend at Ye Olde Woodshed in Douglas. Tricks always has fun at the Woodshed. It's a very comfortable and good-sounding room. We had tons of fun on "Saturday night Blow-Out" where no holds are barred and wild behavior is encouraged. Welcome to a few new faces. We're always happy to show a good time to the Tricks virgins. Happy Birthday to Grace. Happy Anniversary to Ann & Chris. Cheers to you, and many more!
- Fri-pics | Sat-pics

Added Sunday, May 15 - Ye Olde Woodshed in Douglas - Weekend 2

We started out nice and easy on Friday night. The crowd kicked our collective asses on Saturday. What a wild bunch. See the pictures if you don't believe me. Lots of "Tricks virgins" got broken on Saturday night. Thanks to all the Perrigo people who came for Sherri's Farewell Party! The dancers were showing off and showing up the band. Tricks did their best to keep up, but the crowd demolished us and showed us just who's in charge of the party - - YOU ARE! "You are the music, We're just the band".

Fri-pics | Sat-pics

Added Sunday, May 8 - Ye Olde Woodshed in Douglas

Tricks at the Woodshed in Douglas. YOW! We had a quality crowd on both Friday and Saturday. I had fun, I don't know about you, especially if you stayed home with the TV remote in hand. Some Tricks virgins got a good taste of the band getting down tight with good rockin' and dancin' tunes. With the winter break far behind us, Tricks is really hitting our stride; cruising through the set list, taking chances and having fun with it all. And, yes, we love you guys, you know who you are, the regular bunch. We appreciate seeing you there - We always put more into it when we see those regular smiling faces. Thanks so much!

Fri-pics | Sat-pics

News from TRICKS - April 2005

Added Monday, April 25 - Stan's in Dorr

Stan's Tavern in Dorr, what can I say? When this place starts rocking out and partying down, they really know how to have a good time. Tricks was firing on all eight cylinders, but the best thing was the great crowd of friends and fans who came out on a cold and snowy April weekend to get all heated up with Tricks at Stan's. Gr-r-r-reat crowds for both Friday and Saturday. FUN!!
Fri-pics | Sat-pics

Added Sunday, April 17 - Stan's in Dorr

Tricks is back at good old Stan's Tavern in Dorr. Great springtime weather makes for good drinking and dancing. The new Tricks songs went over very well at Stan's, where they like their music hard and fast. Lots of hooting and hollering and headbanging in the Stan's tradition. My neck is still sore. We've been trying out a couple cameras, so excuse the inconsistent quality in the pictures right now. We're shopping for a new camera so we can put YOUR picture here online, so your mother and everyone else can see where you were and what you did over the weekend.
Stan's Pics

News from TRICKS - March 2005

Added Monday, March 28 - Wayland Hotel

The 3rd Tricks weekend at the Wayland Hotel was the best weekend by far. We had several birthdays again, this time it was the boys celebrating: Willy, Craig, Sam. - The weather is finally getting a bit warmer, so people are in the mood to bust a move on the dance floor. Tricks is glad to help out with the danceable tunes. And the Wayland Hotel has a nice big dance floor for shaking your booty all over the place. Check out the pictures.
Steve and Dylan both took over 70 pictures each. I had to do some sorting.
Lots and lots of great band and crowd pictures.
Dylan pics | Steve pics

Added Monday, March 21 - Wayland Hotel

The Wayland Hotel seems to be packed every night on Tricks weekends. Mary Kay and her girls do a great job with the food and drinks - we appreciate the friendly staff. Thanks, girls!!
Saturday night was an especially energetic crowd. Lots of dancing and head-banging with Tricks. The band is starting to get nice and tight with the new songs that we brought out of the basement with us
pics - Wayland Hotel, weekend 2

Added Monday, March 14 - Wayland Hotel

Tricks got back to the bars for 2005 with a bang-up time at the Wayland Hotel. We had several birthday parties happening on both Friday and Saturday. A special Happy birthday wish goes out to Ali. Another "honorable mention" birthday was 21 year-old Marcus. It was so-o-o-o cold outside, yet it was cozy inside the Wayland Hotel. Lots of people came early for the great food. About half of our song list is new material for Tricks. The new songs are working out as well or better than we expected. "Misty Mountain Hop", "Here For The Party", "Cold Hard Bitch", "Heavy", and "Vertigo" seem to be the top new dance songs. But let's see what this new Tricks Season brings.
see pics from Wayland Hotel

Added Sunday, March 6 - Roger's 51st birthday party, Tricks-Style

Tricks came out of the basement for 2 windup rehearsals in Roger's living room, at his humongous and beautiful house, north of Byron Center. Friday was a private rehearsal for one last cram-and-tweak session working on our 15 new Tricks tunes, and 5 songs revived from the Tricks Graveyard.
Saturday we had an "invitation only" final rehearsal / party with the crême de la crême of the Tricks inner circle. Roger was celebrating his 51st birthday, so we had lots of good food and drinks, and carpet-dancing in the Great Room. And, best of all, Tricks did a great job with the new songs, rising to the occasion.

see pics from Roger's place

News from TRICKS - February 2005

Added Wednesday, February 16 - Steve prepares his drums for live action.

Go to the Tricks forum to see the amazing picture of Steve's Mapex drums - clean and polished.
Send comments if the glimmering drumheads inspire you. Sign up for the Tricks forum and get in on the occasional chit chat. We have 21 supporters signed up so far. The more the merrier!
Also, we've got a good start on our new "Favorite Tricks Links" page, Check it out!
Also, the new songs for 2005 are listed on the "Songs" page.

Added Monday, February 14 - Tricks Lite Benefit Party - Lake Doster Country Club

Happy Valentines Day from TRICKS! Love you all!

Krys, Rick, and Tim played a fun gig at the fancy Lake Doster Country Club, about 4 miles east of Plainwell (near guitar doctor Dale's house). The event was to raise money for Allegan County Crisis Response Services. They had fancy food, they had fancy drinks, they had a fund-raiser auction with lots of cool stuff, and they danced to our acoustic music with no drummer. (Steve was not happy to hear this.) Our good friend, Grace, hired us for the gig. Thanks, Grace!

Added Sunday, February 6 - Tricks In The Basement - Steve and Tammy's House

Sorry, no new pictures for now. We're revamping the website, excuse our mess.

TRICKS is in Steve's basement for our January/February winter "break".

*TRICKS start time is 9:30 p.m. (allow ten minutes for fast bartime).