Muffin "Mow Down" Scheduled for Sat/Sun May 10/11

For those hearty folks that want to get their Muffin rolling early this year, this is your chance to get a jump on things. "Mow Down" is a long time Muffin tradition of showing up a week early to whip the property into shape for the big weekend. This year we are trying something a little different by scheduling the "Down" two weeks in advance to give folks a chance to recover from all that hard work, beer lifting and can plinking. The plan is to commence activity around noon, get as much done Saturday and then chill out by the camp fire and wrap up any loose ends Sunday morning. If you'd like to participate email the blog at the address below for more info or just show up with your tool box in hand and lots of gumption. A good time is guaranteed for all!



For additional info: thos.bell@gmail.com

Muffin Planning Committee Announces "Gas Tax Hog-A-Day" Saturday May 24th

Get a load of this rig! What a planet buster! Think you can top it? The Muffin committee has decided that in order to send off the Summer Consumption Season in proper form that we should all be burning as much fuel (preferably good ol' petroleum products) as humanly possible during this year's Muffin (end of the planet) celebration. That means of course getting your paws on the biggest gas guzzling 10 wheel'd hawg that you can find and drive it back and forth to the Muffin (at least once). And hell, if you have to pop out to Sacramento once or twice for brewskies then more power to you! So to mark this VERY special occasion there will be a series of prizes awarded including:

• Hauled Up Most Crap (that you didn't use) Award
• Largest Vehicle Volume (not hauling a trailer) Award
• Most Luxurious Bathroom (driven to the Muffin) Award

and by the way, if you plan to win any of these, you best leave those cheezy solar panels at home.

Courtesy parking provided by O'conno Lodge.

It's Official! The Muffin Flyer Has Landed!

Well I guess that's that. No more doubts. Muffin XXXIII I/III is GO for take-off. Well sort of. There is this little issue of ... where to start? Selling 100 tickets might be nice. So if you know some great people out there (leave the Hammerheads at home thank you very much) you can let them in on this little 33 year old secret and invite them and their 30 bux (25 before May 1) to one of the greatest little parties on the planet! Then again, maybe you are thinking, I'm too busy to do the Muff this year. Well 33 is an awful big number in human terms... 1/2 a lifetime for many. We tried to bury the Muffin back in 2000 but it came back to life. How many lives does a Muffin have anyway? At least 32 that we know of. So just keep that in mind when you think about doing something else this Memorial Day week(end).

Oh, and here is the terrific artwork that Paul Pot put together for this year's invite. Not sure how that 1/3 got in there. Fall fest perhaps. Seems to me we lost a 1/2 a Muffin (the 1/2 baked Muffin) about 15 years back and it took one hell of an effort to get it back. So consider this extra 1/3 as a preemptive Muffin... just in case. The last thing we need now is a Mushroom Cloud! Wait... did I say that? Thank you Paul for another flyer extrordinaire and thanks to Cyn for mailing them out! Hand addressed yet! Wow... this is a whole new dimension of class! And a note to Bill and Chris... it appears you guys are seriously on-the-hook for a first class drive-in theatre this year (and BTW this doesn't have anything to do with horseshoes).

Look Out! Here They Come Again! The Itchy Mountain Men Play Sunday April 13 in Berkeley!

In case you missed that fine show at the Ashkenaz last month, here is your chance to redeem yourself. The Itchies are playing as part of the St. John's Concert Series at St. John's Presbyterian Church in Berkeley on Sunday April 13 at 4PM. St. John's is at 2727 College Avenue. Tickest are $20 and $10 for students (see what a deal you missed!).

FOR MORE INFO GO TO: http://www.stjohns.presbychurch.net/concertseries.htm

Phone: (510) 684-7563

On other fronts, Muffin flyers have been mailed. If you don't get one by the end of this week, email your snail mail address to this blog and we'll try to send you one.

Muffin Committee Calls Emergency Meeting: Ticket Price Bumped To 50 Bux!

Due to the extremely "light" turnout of Muffineers at the so called "Muffin" Kick-Off show at the Ashkanaz on Saturday and due to lackluster response to early Muffin ticket sales the Muffin Central Committee has decided that the standard ticket price must increase to cover the anticipated budget gap. This slacker surcharge will bring the "gate" price for Muffin 33.333... tickets to an all time high of 50 USD's. Please note that the early bird ticket offer (1/2 price!) will remain in effect until tax day (April 15). Orders postmarked after midnight 4/15 will be charged the new outrageous fee unless somehow things turn around!

Speaking of the show, the Itchy Mountain Men turned in an incredible performance that was HIGHLY enjoyed by all who showed the gumption to attend. The Unreal Band sounded tighter than ever and performed some great new material. The scant handful of "faithful" that stuck around (or showed up LATE!) were treated to an awesome second set that went on and on into the early AM. Wow! Imagine how that'll sound in Muffin holler!

Also of note, expect a Muffin Flyer in the mail any day now! OK, the deal isn't real until you have the official paperwork in hand. Trust me, Monsieur Pot has promised to deliver on this one. After that, you don't have an excuse!

BTW: Happy St. Stupid's Day!!!

Hank Gimme Announces Grand Re-Opening of New and Improved Meadow Drive-In

In a press release earlier today, famous gold country millionaire and professional horseshoe impresario Hank Gimme announced the return of the Meadow Drive-In to the long standing Meadow Muffin music and arts festival. Launched back in the last century when drive-ins all over the country were closing the Meadow Drive-In bucked the trend, providing what was a long honored tradition, the concept of experiencing incredibly bad cinema from the comfort and privacy of other people's cars. A large part of this project will involve excavating the Meadow Drive-In sign from the pile of crap next to the Muffin hanger and restoring it to its former glory. On top of that, Gimme's latest media acquisition KMUF radio has promised to dedicate 100% of their bandwidth to provide in-car audio to the stunning array of cinematic gems projected each and every night at the Muffin Drive-In.

Calling all Bands! Muffin Band Roster so far...

So far the following bands have either commited or shown serious interest in playing at Muffin 33. Like last year, we hope to make Friday night an informal "open mic" for folks who want to get up and play without the benefit of the BIG sound. We are also hoping to do a "mostly accoustic" Sunday this year.

Here is the list so far (in no particular order)...

- The Happy Clams (Sensitive-punk)
- The Unreal Band (R&R)
- Dan Lange (Buskerman Blues)
- The Cavepainters (Traditional)
- Itchy Mountain Men (Funkgrass)
- Pseudo Cru (Headbanger)
- The Hokum Boys (R&R)

If you have a band that might be interested please email the blogmaster at: thosbell@gmail.com

Muffin (Mini Style) Kick-Off Show Set for March 29th in Berkeley (where else?)

I guess this means it's UNREAL! Here is the flyer/poster for the Muffin Kick-Off show later this month.

BTW: We should have Muffin tickets available at this show (yes, we are doing this again!). Tickets purchased on or before May 15 will be available for the incredible discounted price of 25 bux! Once again... any cheaper and we would be paying you to go the Muffin!

Come out and support these great bands!!!

Special thanks to LISA for this fabulous poster.

http://www.ashkenaz.com/

http://www.itchymountainmen.com/

http://www.unrealband.com/

Planning Meeting set for Thursday (3/6) at the Lanesplitter in Berkeley

The first formal Muffin planning meeting will take place Thursday, March 6th at 8PM at the Lanesplitter on San Pablo (1/2 block south of University) in Berkeley. Another Muffin VICTORY in the works??? That could be up to YOU! Feel free to pass this along to other interested parties and/or bring a friend. This is your chance to make this year's Muffin extra special!







The agenda might look something like this ...

1. Do we really want to do this again?
   
2. What is the interest level out there?


3. Where do we stand money wise?


4. What should we do differently/the same?


5. What bands are interested, committed?


6. What sort of budget is needed?


7. How much should we charge?


8. How do we handle promotion at the Ashkenez gig?


9. What deadlines do we have?


10. Who is going to do what?


11. Tickets/flyer needed by the end March!


12. Do we really want to do this again?

Bring your IDEAS! Hope to see you there!

http://www.lanesplitterpizza.com/

Itchies vs Unreal? Muffin Kick-off Show in the Works for March 29 at the Ashkenaz

Yup, it's that time again... the clouds are parting, the sun is warming up, trees are a blossum... the smell of meat is in the air! Can another Muffin be far off? Ungie has been hard at work arranging a special show at the Ashkenaz in Berkeley for March 29. Details to follow but expect the Unreal Band to headline the show with the Itchy Mountain Men and others as openers and jammers!

Stay Tooned for details!!!