Unreal Band Plays the Starry Plough Saturday, September 15th at 8PM

… and with “Special Guests” to boot. How can you go wrong?! Yea, they play again next month at Ashkenaz but somehow you just can’t beat that special Plough ambiance. Heck, I think half the band was born there. Muffin auditioned and hired the band at the Plough in what...1983? Ouch! Oh well. I’m sure it will be great show and you can hang with all your Muffin pals!

http://www.starryploughpub.com/

http://www.unrealband.com/

PLUS: Thanks to all of you that ack'ed the Muff Fall Fest/Duane Raising. The responses have been trickling in. At this point looks like we will have about 20 folks. Rumors are that a good portion of the Cavepainters might show! Now that would be very cool! Stay tuned!

Muffin's First "Fall Fest" Set For September 28 and 29th

Muffin in September? Mooo... Hate to see summer fading away? Dreading those shorter and shorter days? This is one last chance to “git out in them thar hills” while the sun still shines and the weather is fine!

The Meadow Muffin Commit-tay is announcing a first ever “informal” weekend camp-out in Browns Valley, Friday and Saturday September 28 and 29 (pack up Sunday), open to Muffineer’s and their closest friends. The plan is to set up a limited camp in “Muffin Holler” and just kick back and enjoy the outdoors for a couple of days. We will have a port-a-pot or two on hand, the firewood pile stocked and maybe plan a communal meal or two (Saturday night?). Other than that, it will be a "Muff in the buff"!

If you are interested in attending, or have ideas, please leave a comment on this post or email thos.bell@gmail.com. More details as they become available. This event will be "free" although we may ask you to donate what you can to Duane's recovery fund.

One final note: the O'Conno Lodge is closed for the season.

Play Pinball and Help a Worthy Cause!

You Are Cordially Invited To

Benefit Fundraiser for
Bay Area Outreach Program
Hosted by Greg Matthews and NBAM
Sunday, September 2nd, 4 to 8pm
At
Lucky Ju Ju Pinball 713 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
Entrance fee $10/adult, $5/children under 18 for unlimited pinball play on 40 machines. (vintage and modern) All proceeds will go to the BORP event. About BORP
http://www.borp.org/
Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to improve the health, independence and social integration of people with physical disabilities through sports, fitness and recreation programs. At BORP, we believe that sports and recreation provide a path to greater achievement to which all people should have access, and we continually strive to make this a reality.

Help us raise funds and awareness for this deserving cause and have fun playing the beautiful vintage pinball machines in the Lucky Ju Ju’s collection. All games are on free-play, no quarters needed! Come re-live your youth and show your children the original video game! There will be pizza and drinks available for a small fee.

For additional Info visit: http://www.nbam.org/   http://www.ujuju.com/

Itchy Mountain Men Add Some Class To Sausalito Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday, September 1 & 2

The Sausalito Art Festival is a major Northern California showcase for Art, Craft and Music, running September 1-3, 2007. The bill includes some classic talent such as the Quick Silver Messenger Service, New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Marshall Tucker Band.

Muffin's own Itchy Mountain Men will appear on the Children's Stage at 3:30 on Saturday, September 1 and at 4:30 on Sunday, September 2. This looks like an event with something for everyone. Check it out and stop by to say hello to Stretch (Roger) , Sweet Pea (Christine), Slick (Rick), Bean (Ben) and Snuffy (Joel)!

More poop to be found at:

http://www.sausalitoartfestival.org/entertainment.html

Unreal Band to Play John Havard Benefit on Sunday, August 26 - 5:30PM

The Unreal Band have a number of gigs coming up in Berkeley over the next few months starting with a benefit appearance for John Havard at the Starry Plough on Sunday August 26. Word is that the band is scheduled to go on at 5:30PM. John has been diagnosed with lung cancer and like any true artist has very few visible means of support. You probably know John from his stint with the Natives and a long list of other East Bay bands over the last 30 years. Will pass more info along when it becomes clear when the Unreal will play (it's from 1 to 7PM). It will definately be a huge event with no doubt many, many great musicians. More details are available at the web site announcing John's new CD.

http://www.davidelias.com/sideman/

Ungie sez that the band has also booked the following gigs. Details to be posted as they become available...

Saturday September 15, 2007 -Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley
http://www.starryploughpub.com/

Saturday October 20, 2007 - Ashkenaz, San Pablo Ave. Berkeley
http://www.ashkenaz.com/

So, come out and support the band!

Duane's Home Address

There have been many requests for an updated address for Duane and given that his location is tentative (he may be moving again), here is a permanent address:

Duane Stueve
4006 C North Beale Road
Marysville, CA 95901

Thanks to all who have expressed concern! I'm sure he would appreciate any show of support.

Cavepainters Get Down Saturday August 11 At Kellee's Bar in Albany

Yup, it’s your chance for some mid-summer slumming this Saturday, August 11, 8PM at Kellee’s Bar in Albany with entertainment provided FREE by the incredible Cavepainters. If you haven’t made it by the Starry Plough in Berkeley for their weekly Thursday happy hour gathering (6-8PM) this is a great opportunity to check them out and hang out with some Muffineers that have been missing in action since May. From all appearances Ed Wray is “back on that horse” and will be appearing with the band.

Kellee's 953 San Pablo Avenue Albany (510) 528-1734

On other fronts… Greg reports is that Duane has been moved from Reno to a long term care facility near Woodland. Apparently his condition has not significantly improved. There has been some discussions about a possible fund raiser… possibly in September. Stay toon’ed! Many thanks to all the folks including the Itchy Mountain Men who have sent donations to help out Duane and his family. A new address for Duane will be posted as soon as it is available.

PLUS: anyone interested in a casual weekend campout in Browns Valley in mid to end of September please post a comment here!

Duane Update: Condition Improving, Many Hurdles Ahead

Greg paid a visit to our injured wagonmaster, Duane Stueve, in Carson City, NV on Wednesday (7/11) and reports back that he appears to be making progress. As Greg sez, "He is one banged up old cowboy". The hospital is hoping that he can improve enough in the next few weeks to be moved closer to his home near Linda, CA. Greg made a $300 donation to Duane's family from the funds remaining in the Muffin account. Duane's wife and daughter have been at his side since the accident early last month and the donation was a welcome show of support.

An article "Horseman Gets Hand", appeared in the June 25 Marysville Appeal Democrat (http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/stueve_50260___article.html/family_horses.html) providing more details on the accident and Duane's condition. A fund raiser was held on July 7th by the Linda Fire Department.

From the information at hand, you should be able to send cards or letters to Duane c/o:
Tahoe Pacific Hospital- Meadows 10101 Double R Blvd Reno, NV 89521

Longtime Muffin Teamster, Duane Stueve, Hospitalized in Reno

Details are a bit sketchy, but Duane was involved in an accident at a draft horse competition in Winnemucca in early June. Apparently there was a mishap involving a mixed team of his and an acquaintances horses resulting in a bad fall and a head injury. His prolonged stay in a Reno hospital has resulted in various complications and the word is that he is not doing well. It is hoped that he can be transferred soon to a Marysville facility where he can be close to his family and friends. Muffin would like to get word to him that we are thinking about him and wish him a speedy recovery. Any comments to this post will be passed along to Duane. If you would like to contribute to Duane’s recovery fund please send contributions to Greg Popejoy, 2016 F. St. Sacramento CA 95814.

Ju Ju Art Opening for Joe Bansuelo this Friday!

“female" © 2007 by Joe Bansuelo

The Lucky Ju Ju Pinball Art Gallery Codially Invites you to the Opening of

"JUST ANOTHER STICKER JUNKIE"

The Photography of
Joseph Bansuelo
Opening Reception
Friday July 6th, 2007 from 6:30 pm to 10:30pm at
Neptune Beach Amusement Museum’s
The Lucky Ju Ju Pinball Art Gallery
713 Santa Clara Avenue
Alameda, Ca 94501

Runs from July 6th to July 31st, 2007.

See Website for more information: http://www.ujuju.com/ or http://www.nbam.org/

The past 20+ years playing in bands, touring and recording music has earned me a Masters Degree in duct tape and its never-ending fix-all properties. My Dad fixed everything with a little tape, this should have given me a clue to my eventual addiction to adhesive backed products!
I have friends that used to keep razor blades in their wallets just to lift cool stickers they would come across. Instead of an old shoebox full of baseball cards, I have the back of a van full of stickers. I feel that stickers never really reach their true potential in life until stuck someplace or on something. There is nothing more satisfying than a properly placed sticker! Whether it's on your car, skateboard, bicycle, guitar, motorcycle or refrigerator. It is amazing how much money is spent on endorsements and advertising with the end result being the proper placement of a sticker. Today's NASCAR is cut up similar to the way a side of beef is laid out by the butcher. The tastier cuts costs more money.
The area of pop culture is a slippery slope. The idea of sharing a portion of today's sticker culture is one that I have been excited about for a long time. With the ever popular online community and photo sharing websites it's amazing how many others are documenting and sharing what you are thinking about doing right this moment! I have chosen to share a few locations that are actually indoors as opposed to the popular street locations that many people see everyday. Maybe you recognize these places and actually slapped one of the pieces up personally?
The next time you go out to see some live music or are waiting for a taxi at the airport, check the back of a sign or pole for a few of the vinyl and paper messages left behind. Don't be so quick to dismiss these little artistic artifacts left by some nomadic art lover.
Enjoy, Seph
Notes from the Curator
This is Joe’s 2nd time here at the Trans-View and his first solo. Joe has been haunting the Ju Ju since its inception and thru Oakland’s Pinball Mafia has been providing us with protection services from day one. But it is not thru any “favorism” that Joe is gilding the panels of the Trans View. Joe has taken more pictures and has an appreciation for graphics and the printed image that far surpasses anyone I’ve ever met. He can study the silk-screened lines of a playfield and soak up the minute detail waxing eloquently on their aesthetic qualities. His keen eye captures a story and gets it into the camera like no other. I never had a taste for stickers until I met Joe. And now, we’ve got a whole room full to share with everyone! Thanks Joe!