-Mark

As you can see, the recording process goes soooo smoothly… I tend to prepare my solo’s ahead of time, for the most part, but occasionally will wing it, hoping for happy accidents. Obviously, if I don’t like the results, no one but Mark and I will hear them, so consider yourself “special”, hahahaha! We’re also working on the new FM record, with several tracks pretty much done-we’re currently playing two of these live: “When Love Plays Dead” and “Die Hard”. We’ll see you all in the trail! Peace-D!C!/FM

Dean’s not a guy to toot his own horn so I’ll do it for him. Usually guys like us like to keep that sort of thing “in the closet” but hey, if we could all toot our own horns we’d never leave home! (wacka wacka).

So Dean entered a contest and won an effects pedal from a company called Modtone. Kewl right? Well not as kewl as trying the pedal out and actually liking it, then having the pedal maker actually check out your music and your projects and give you the big E as they did for Dean. Very nice of them! Check them out, check out Dean’s artist page over there, and if you’re in the market for a pedal or two, know that it’s good quality stuff and sounds great!

Dean Cramer at Modtone Effects

If you’ve been watching Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew lately, you’ll notice a particular notorious drummer guy on there is rather smartly dressed each episode in some rather snappy looking pants and shirts. Marc Vachon is the designer and he makes clothes, very kewl clothes, for very kewl people – and he’ll even make a few threads for guys who aren’t as kewl as Slash, or Duff, or Weiland, or Jacoby - or even Ronnie and Brian, and even use a picture or two. Check out his web site, and search for his name on eBay for some great deals – Marc Vachon – “worn by the fine since 1999.”

Mark Schenker at Marc Vachon

We say Merry Christmas! And we mean it!

I thought that I’d drop you a note, after getting settled into my new home, that being FM, of course. Yes, I’ve returned and glad to be back! It’s been several years and I’ve been through numerous musical endeavors-some successful, some not so successful (hopefully not of my doing!). About a year ago, Mark and I got back in touch, in a parking lot in Leesburg and talked about Rush (there’s a little more, but that’s the nutshell version). Being aware that I was beginning the process of recording a disc of my tunes, he fully offered his assistance & resources, to which I said, “Yes!” to. He even suggested that he’ll sit there and turn the knobs, with his mouth shut, if that was desired, but I knew better-he’s got a good set of ears on him! Things rolled along and we “reconnected” in the process. I’ve always had a fun time hanging with him (that’s a non-gay kind of comment…not that there’s anything wrong with that…), so that was a big plus to the fact that the music was sounding great. He liked the idea of playing bass on the tunes…he’s a bassist…so that was “no brainer”. Still, things rolled along…

Fast forward…no, further than that… Coming to the end of another recording session, Mark fills me in on situation with Rob’s departure and offers up the idea of my filling the vacancy. After a couple of phone calls among all of us, things were a go. My first show was on Nov 15th at an old haunt, Fat Daddy’s in York, PA (there’s pix posted elsewhere on our site and on our Flickr site-check ‘em out!). Since then, it’s been quite enjoyable to be out there rocking with my friends, on and off stage, as well as starting to catch up with my FM friends & supporters.

We are currently working on a new FM record, which we hope to unleash up your ears…and receive a overwhelming “YIPPEE!” for. Also keep an eye out for another block of tunes from my solo CD to be released soon. If you wish to contact me directly, please drop a line to: dean [at] funnymoneyband.com

I truly hope to see you front & center at an FM show in the near future!

Peace-D!C!

Last gig with FM 11/08/08

We had a great time and there was a full house at Sweet Caroline’s in wonderful Winchester, VA. We drank and played sloppy. Well, I didn’t drink, cuz I don’t- but I played sloppy, cuz I do sometimes - see intro to Sickness X-1, right Jimmy? First ever DO OVER !! Let’s have a couple of those next week on Dean’s first day back to throw him a curve ball or two. Just one or two random stops and then - DO OVER! We packed the place so well, the owner was even happy. And owners are hardly ever happy. A drunk guy fell on my pedals and triggered some random bombs. He was happy.

...and the fans go wild for him one last time!

Rob gave a nice heartfelt thanks from the stage to his wife Heather for watching the kids every Saturday night for the past five years. (All the girls sigh in unison now ready? Awwwwww!) Steve gave a speech. We all cried and felt very gay. We spent the last bit of dressing room idiocy we had left with Rob in the ‘dressing room’ type we love so much and see way too often – the kitchen! With the freezers buzzing away busy doing all their freezin’ stuff, the giant jars of mayo staring back at us, listening to all our dumbass jokes that only a mayo jar would laugh at. I don’t know about Steve and Jimmy, but I was very aware that it was ‘the last time’ to be in the little clubhouse that we build each week with Rob. Unfortunately, Rob was just plain unaware! He had a few, Gene lined up four shots of an appropriate whiskey named Jack on his amp and then something happened to them. On Sunday, had a really tough time remembering if he was a blithering idiot or not. He even had to call me and ask!

Rob and Gene - outed by the paparazzi! (all pics by Kosta Tzamalis)

We raised over $1700 for the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland in my brother Jason’s name. If you didn’t make it this year, you missed a great jam with some really great bands – do try to make it next year.

Here’s the set list Rob, Mark, Jim Foltz and I performed:

Houses Of The Holy – Led Zeppelin
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Waiting On The Bus – ZZ Top (with Ronnie Younkins joining us)
Jesus Just Left Chicago – ZZ Top (with Ronnie)
Toys In The Attic – Aerosmith (with Ronnie)
Pinball Wizard – The Who
The Real Me – The Who
Space Truckin – Deep Purple

Ronnie and Steve then joined us for a grand finale of a few KIX songs. Check out some video from the Jam.

Houses Of The Holy:

The Real Me:

Space Truckin:

Thanks to all the Funny Money fans for your rabid support over the years, let’s keep rocking!

-Steve