Posted by RC on 1/31/10
With a little bit of sunburn and a few less brain cells, Rocket Club just returned from 4 amazing days in Mazatlan, Mexico.
Between acoustic performances, beach concerts, and many (many!) impromptu sing-along sessions, we literally never stopped making music. (If you don't believe us, just ask the people running the resort). All of this in the most picturesque setting a band could ever hope for.
We want to give a HUGE thank you to Sun Country Airlines for making us a part of their Minnesota Music program and giving us this amazing experience. SC has provided us with incredible exposure and opportunity this past year. Also, huge thanks to Cities 97 for the never-ending support they have shown this band since our debut CD was first released.
Finally, to all of our friends and fans who joined us in the sun: THANK YOU. No one is more lucky than we are and we'll never forget it. We are blessed.
Now, back to Winter in Minnesota...
Posted by RC on 10/6/09
This just in...a re-mixed, Nashville version of Rocket Club's "One More Day" has been added to regular rotation on K102 in Minneapolis.
If you're a listener and want to lend support, you can do so by ...calling the station @ 651-989-5102 or email wakeupcrew@K102.com. The song was done in support of Faith's Lodge (www.faithslodge.org) -- see the full story in our earlier blog postings.
It's All Happening! Thanks, everyone.
Posted by RC on 9/23/09
Please join all of us in Rocket Club in support of Faith's Lodge (www.faithslodge.org) at the 2009 "Hope Rocks!" event featuring a private performance by the BoDeans.
Tickets are still available at http://www.faithslodge.org/HopeRocks/index.php.
Hope to see you there!
Posted by RC on 9/22/09
"One More Day"
(Sayles/Smithmier/Lacek)
©2009 Saylesound (ascap) and Wrongway Wrongtime Music (bmi)
Produced by Matt Kirkwold & Joel Sayles
Recorded & Engineered by Matt Kirkwold at Rumble, Minneapolis MN
Additional Recording by Chad Carlson at Hipposound, Nashville TN
Mixed by Alex Oana
Additional mixing by Chad Carlson
Chris Hawkey: Lead & Background Vocals
Matt Kirkwold: Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Background Vocals
Brian Kroening: Acoustic Guitar
Joel Sayles: Bass, Background Vocals
Don Smithmier: Lead & Background Vocals
Billy Thommes: Drums
Tommy Barbarella: Organ
Jonathan Yudkin: Fiddle
Mike Johnson: Pedal Steel Guitar
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Posted by RC on 9/18/09
Like many people here in and around the Twin Cities, the death of Abigail Taylor (www.abigailtaylor.org) is something I'll never forget. There are only a few times in my life when I've shed tears for someone I never met, but the day of her passing was one of them. That little girl's death upsets me to this very moment -- the senselessness, the waste, the brutal sadness. Above all, I have reflected often on the destruction done to her parents; the helplessness and powerlessness they must have felt, and still feel, in having their daughter taken in such a cruel way. It is the stuff of parental nightmares.
Like so many others, though, my life continued as usual these past 2 years--raising my own three daughters, making a living, and writing music. I continued to give occasional thought to Abigail, but usually said a quick prayer and then pushed it out of my mind in order to avoid becoming too sad.
Fast forward to July 2009, when I received an e-mail from a good friend, Mark Lacek. Mark is the co-founder of Faith's Lodge (www.faithslodge.org), which was created to honor his daughter Faith, whom Mark and Susan lost as a newborn. Mark was writing to see whether I and my band mates in Rocket Club would consider helping him write a song in Faith's honor based on a poem he had written shortly after her death. I'd like to think Mark knew his question was rhetorical. Of course we would help. In fact, just a few hours later, my band mate Joel Sayles called me up and simply said "It's done. I wrote the song and it's really good. I'm coming over tonight to play it for you." I was blown away. First, by the fact that Joel had written the song so quickly, and second by the fact that he was right, the song was really, really good.
A week or two after that message, Mark, myself, and Joel came together at Joel's writing studio at Riverwood (www.riverwoodinn.com) to work through the song and finalize the lyrics and parts. It was a gorgeous July day and we spent hours talking about the tragedy that has touched each of our lives. Mark recounted the story of his daughter and what the lyrics of the song meant to him. I also shared with Joel and Mark the story of losing my father to a drowning accident when I was a little boy, something I avoid talking about almost entirely. And lastly, Joel leveled us both by sharing the story of his first wife, Molly, who died of cancer in her late 20s, shortly after her marriage to Joel. Suffice it to say, the three of us spent many years together in the studio that one afternoon. It was a very emotional, very powerful, very moving day. But one that made me glad to be a songwriter -- I was honored to have had the experience.
Not long after that day, Rocket Club recorded the song, "One More Day", and delivered it for inclusion on "Hope Rocks: Volume II" which will be released this month in support of Faith's Lodge. As part of the promotional efforts, Mark and Susan Lacek appeared this morning on Cities 97 to talk about the charity, the CD, and the song "One More Day." BT and Lee from Cities 97 then played the song on the air and it was a meaningful moment for me -- such a great sense of fulfillment hearing the song come to life that way. It was, again, very powerful--and about to become even more so.
After the song aired, and throughout the day today, the folks at Cities 97 kindly kept sending along messages they received from listeners who heard the song and had their own sad connection to its message. They wanted to share their own stories and learn more about the song, the band, and Faith's Lodge. But among the messages was a listener who texted the station to say that when he heard the song come on the radio, he had to pull his car off the road because his emotions overwhelmed him. The listener was Scott Taylor, Abigail's father. And once again, I found myself brought to tears by someone I've never met.
I'm so thankful to be a songwriter and so very honored to have taken part in this song--for Faith, for Abigail, for Molly, for Dad, and for everyone else who was listening. And remembering.
- Don Smithmier
