Here’s a last minute show update…

THUR, SEPT 7TH / 9pm
Turf Club (w/ Peter Bruntnell and Ben Weaver)
St. Paul, MN

This should be a very nice show. I haven’t split a show with Ben Weaver (www.benweaver.net) in a good long time and I’m looking forward to hearing Peter Bruntnell. Hope to see you all there if you can make it. For those of you who can’t, something to think about…

“Mindlessness, or no mind, does not mean being mindless like cats or dogs or bugs.
It means striving to keep the mind in the realm of clear purity, and having no warped mind.
Vulgar people have no clear pure mind, while people of the Way have no polluted dirty mind. That does not mean they are totally mindless like trees, rocks, cats, or dogs.” -Master Danyang

So you just think about that people.

take care, Jeff

I want to tell you that I’m playing 2 shows this weekend. One with Mr. Charlie Parr of Duluth (www.charlieparr.com) and one all by myself. Please come. I am so lonesome…

FRI AUG 25
8pm
Acoustic Cafe
MENOMONIE, WI

SAT AUG 26
9pm
331 Club (w/ Charlie Parr)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN

I realize that not all of you live in this area. For you, I include these wise words as recompense if you feel a little left out…

“…Whatever is not essential and not serious should be abandoned. It is like when people consume wine and meat, dress in silk, enjoy fame and prestige, and possess gold and jewels. These are all excess cravings of subjective desire, not good medicines to enhance life. The masses all pursue these things, bringing about their own death or ruination. If we reflect on this quietly, we see how very confused they are.” -Sima Chengzhen (Tang Dynasty)

Just so you know, Jeff Mitchell performances are both serious and essential and are, therefore, guaranteed to not bring about death and/or ruination. Unless you want them to. I would like a taco now.

love, Jeff

Wishing you well from Decorah, Iowa. We just got done weathering the storm that is Nordic Fest. Lots of lefse and lutefisk is consumed. Rosemaling is gazed upon. Sweat clogs the gutters on what is invariably the hottest, most humid weekend in the already god-awful Iowa summer. The Harrington sweet corn truck has arrived at the Casey’s gas-station parking lot. All is as it should be.

Got a string of shows coming up this month. It would be great to see you all. Here they are…

THUR AUG 10
Lawn Chair Night / 7pm
Decorah, IA

FRI AUG 11
Lakeview Castle / 9pm
Duluth, MN

TUES AUG 15? / ?pm
Fancy Pants grand opening?
Decorah, IA?

THUR AUG 17
The Main Entrance / 9ish?10ish?
Prairie Du Chien, WI

FRI AUG 18
Isabella’s (w/ Maureen Kilgore) / 8pm
Dubuque, IA

SAT AUG 19
Mother Fools (w/ Joel Arant) / 8pm / $6
Madison, WI

FRI AUG 25
Acoustic Cafe / 8pm
Menomonie, WI

SAT AUG 26
331 Club (w/ Charlie Parr)
Minneapolis, MN

That’s all the shows for August. Check out…

http://www.charlieparr.com
http://www.joelarant.com

You’ll just have to find out for yourself, in person, that Maureen Kilgore rules. In other news, my old friend Amalia Vagts came over the other day and I recorded her performing four of her songs. I played accordion on her song, “Calm Blue Ocean”. You can hear all four at…

http://www.myspace.com/amaliavagts

OK. That’s enough urls for one email, I’m sure. One last thought. If you haven’t seen David Lynch’s film, “The Straight Story” (the one about the old geezer who rides his lawnmower across Iowa to see his sick brother), I think you should. It’s a great portrait of Iowa and it combines sweetness with the most subdued freakishness from David Lynch to date.

Take care everybody. yours, Jeff

So the JACKSON STREET POLECATS, world famous JUG BAND and EXPERT MUSICIANS, will be playing this very weekend in the Fox Valley. “Where?”, you might ask. “When?!”. “Why?!!!!”. I will answer you…

POLECATS establish musical domination…

FRI. JULY 21 (8pm? / 21+)
(Jeff, Baer, and Nate / full-on show)
Cranky Pat’s
Oshkosh, WI
for free!

SUN. JULY 23 (9pm but come early to hear other performers)
(Jeff and Baer / guest slot at open-mic)
Rock Island Coffee
Neenah, WI
also free!

So, the other thing…

The Willis, The Poles, Happy, and Self-Evident
DOUBLEPLUSGOOD SHOWCASE (21+)
SAT. JULY 22 (8? 9?)
Peabody’s Ale House
Neither me nor the Polecats are playing this show but I guarantee you it will rock very much. If you like to rock, this will be for you. For sure. Bring your earplugs! See you there…

That’s all for now. For more shows, check out the “schedule” on my website at http://lonesomegallery.com/

take care, Jeff

ps. for more info on all the kick-butt Doubleplusgood Records bands, go to http://www.doubleplusgoodrecords.com/

It’s been a little while. I’ve missed you.

First off, two big shows in the Fox Valley…

JACKSON STREET POLECATS!
Friday, March 24th / 5:00pm
Wheel and Sprocket (bike store)
Oshkosh, WI
This is a big party for Wheel and Sprocket bikes. They wanted to hire the Polecats and we said “heck yes!” We’re going to play all-acoustic for this. I mean no amplification whatsoever. Should be lots of fun. If you want to hear the Polecats all stripped down, I highly recommend this.

ANDREW JOHNSON CD RELEASE
Sat, March 25th / 8:00pm / 21+
Mainstream Music Building
Oshkosh, WI
I’ll be playing a solo set at Andrew(of Happy)’s release party for his new solo project, Holly and Plastic. There will be scads of great performers including Andrew (of course), Jeff from the Catastrophe, Jeremy from Ripp Winkler, Aaron Baer (Polecats), Steve Mccabe and Erik Van Thiel (the Willis), Steve Trier, Southerly, Mike Siddall, and more. This is a party. A BYO party. There’s going to be vegetarian chili and Andy’s CDs. Go to http://www.doubleplusgoodrecords.com/ to hear Andrew’s song, “This Particular Giant Today”.

So there’s that and then also there is that recording and mixing on my new CD, “Batteries and Blankets” is now complete. Steve Mccabe and Mark Powers turned in some wonderful performances on the disc, which was recorded at Topsoil in Oshkosh by Smart Studios’ Justin Perkins. I’ll be posting MP3s from the record really soon and am booking shows for the Midwest release tour in April and NW USA tour in May. I’ll send more complete details later but the shows so far are…

April 21/New Moon/Oshkosh, WI
April 22/Acoustic Cafe’/Menomonie, WI
April 28/Sabor Latino/Decorah, IA

Thanks so much to all of you. Can’t wait to see you on the road.
All the best, Jeff

It’s been a little while. I’ve missed you.

First off, two big shows in the Fox Valley…

JACKSON STREET POLECATS!
Friday, March 24th / 5:00pm
Wheel and Sprocket (bike store)
Oshkosh, WI
This is a big party for Wheel and Sprocket bikes. They wanted to hire the Polecats and we said “heck yes!” We’re going to play all-acoustic for this. I mean no amplification whatsoever. Should be lots of fun. If you want to hear the Polecats all stripped down, I highly recommend this.

ANDREW JOHNSON CD RELEASE
Sat, March 25th / 8:00pm / 21+
Mainstream Music Building
Oshkosh, WI
I’ll be playing a solo set at Andrew(of Happy)’s release party for his new solo project, Holly and Plastic. There will be scads of great performers including Andrew (of course), Jeff from the Catastrophe, Jeremy from Ripp Winkler, Aaron Baer (Polecats), Steve Mccabe and Erik Van Thiel (the Willis), Steve Trier, Southerly, Mike Siddall, and more. This is a party. A BYO party. There’s going to be vegetarian chili and Andy’s CDs. Go to http://www.doubleplusgoodrecords.com/ to hear Andrew’s song, “This Particular Giant Today”.

So there’s that and then also there is that recording and mixing on my new CD, “Batteries and Blankets” is now complete. Steve Mccabe and Mark Powers turned in some wonderful performances on the disc, which was recorded at Topsoil in Oshkosh by Smart Studios’ Justin Perkins. I’ll be posting MP3s from the record really soon and am booking shows for the Midwest release tour in April and NW USA tour in May. I’ll send more complete details later but the shows so far are…

April 21/New Moon/Oshkosh, WI
April 22/Acoustic Cafe’/Menomonie, WI
April 28/Sabor Latino/Decorah, IA

Thanks so much to all of you. Can’t wait to see you on the road.
All the best, Jeff

Just a quick one.
This thursday, the 9th, I’ll be traveling to Chicago to play with Dr. Kickbutt and the Orchestra of Death at the Flabby Hoffman Variety Show. This will be my first time playing in Chicago and I am therefore “psyched” as the young people in this country used to say. The show is at Phyllis’ Musical Inn in Wrigleyville at 11pm. I think you should attend. Will You? If you do, I will play the musical saw for you.

to recap…
Dr. Kickbutt hosted by Flabby Hoffman
Phyllis Musical Inn (312.486.9862)
1800 West Division
Wrigleyville, Chicago, Illinois
11pm

to check out Flabby, go to http://www.flabbyhoffman.com/

kisses, your friend Jeff Mitchell

Just finished up a truly enjoyable weekend of music with my friends The Willis, from Oshkosh, WI. Split a show with them last thursday at the HayMarket here in Decorah, IA. They had all grown beards for the tour, with greater and lesser degrees of success. The Willis displayed a rugged, mountain-man demeanor as they took to the stage (floor) of the Market (dive bar). Decorah received the rock gratefully and demanded more, even when the band had spent every round from their bandaleros of song.

An evening of Texas Hold ‘em followed the show at my rural home. Willis members Steve, Todd, and Erik showed their gritty resolve, playing long into the night after all others had punked out and gone to bed. I truly couldn’t help but admire these single-mindedly determined men, as they played on, though their eyes were puffy and beards awash in spittle.

Saturday, I traveled to Minneapolis with my friend Schroeder and took in sets by Dallas Orbiter, The Willis, and Self-Evident, each band sharing with us in their own special way. All in all, a fine weekend with fine folks.

take care, Jeff

Do you live within driving distance of Decorah, Iowa? Have you always wanted to see me (JEFF MITCHELL) open for a rapping cowboy (SANDMAN THE RAPPIN COWBOY) at a house party at my own studio? Guess what! You can!

SANDMAN & ME
TUESDAY, JAN. 3RD / 8pm / hat pass
108 W. Rural Ave.
3RD FLOOR / around the back and up the stairs
Decorah, IA

You can hear Sandman’s music at http://www.rappincowboy.com/
Hope to see you there.

take care, Jeff

Hope you’re all well.

I’ve got a couple shows coming up in the Decorah area. On the same day…

Fri. Sept 23

Meadow Farm Fest
6:15PM
2682 Lannon Hill Rd., Decorah
This is a benefit for the NE Iowa Area Ecological Center. It doesn’t exist yet, therefore the fest, so soon it will. Leah Dunham, John Goodin and Erik Sessions, Pete Nelson and Zach Hawkins, and Peter Oyloe will be performing as well. I’m getting to fulfill a long-term wish as all the electricity for the show will be generated by the I-Renew Solar Traveler photovoltaic array. 4000 watts! Call the Oneota Co-op 563.382.4666 or Meadow Farm 563.382.3922 for details and tickets.

Marty’s/Luther College/no cover!
9:00PM
Opening for Jack Norton and the Mullet River Boys
If you haven’t heard Jack Norton, it’s about gosh-darn time you did. Enough said.

In other news, evil webmaster Faust is in the process of gutting lonesomegallery.com. Keep checking in as things develop. Take care, Jeff

As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been taking a break from playing shows for a little bit. Got a couple big things coming up soon however…

SUNDAY, AUG 28

Over the Back Fence radio show
Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, MN
I’ll be playing a short solo set (a few songs) for this great live radio show. I’ve played there a few times and it’s always fun.

I’m going to break from my tradition of only promoting my own shows here (oh yeah, i guess i told you about that Gwar show a while back)

On SAT. AUGUST 27th…

…my fair city of Decorah, Iowa will be hosting the massive FREE music, arts, and food festival LIVE ON WINNEBAGO. This will be my second year as stage manager for the event and I even got to design the t-shirt this year so that’s my connection. Anyway, there will be lots of good bands.

“who?” you say…

INTERNATIONAL GARIFUNA BAND
Afro-Caribe Arawak
HORNHEADS
played horns for Prince among others. very tight.
MIKE MCABEE
rules
CHRISTIAN HOWES
incredible hulk of jazz violin
HEIRUSPECS
hip-hop in Decorah? I may soil my pants. (in a good way)
ULALI
indigenous a capella
HORACE X
glow in the dark crazy people from the UK

There will be an iron pour, tons of art booths, great food, and I will be there with a walkie-talkie running around like an idiot, butt-kissing the bands, and trying to look important.

So, I think you should all come. Wouldn’t it be nice for you all to get to hang out together without having to listen to me? OK.

check out details at www.liveonwinnebago.com

take care, Jeff

Hi everybody. Three cheers for evil webmaster Faust who got the mailing list up and running again. You didn’t even notice did you? Oh, well.

It’s frikkin’ HOT in Decorah, Iowa where I, Jeff Mitchell, live. If you are someplace cool, pity us poor slobs here.

I am through with complaining. I want to tell you something.

COME TO DORKFEST 2005!!!!!!!!!

Do you like ukuleles? Do you like rock and roll music? Can you never hear them at the same venue on the same night? Are you a pathetic DORK?

COME TO DORKFEST!!!!!!!!
this SATURDAY JULY 23RD!!!!!!
at the NEW MOON CAFE!!!! in OSHKOSH!!!!!!
Featuring the JACKSON STREET POLECATS!! (the world’s most handsome jug-band)
HAPPY!!! (Oshkosh rawk superstars!)
THE LEMURS!!!! (PUNK. ROCK!)
and maybe STEVE McCABE!!!!! (dork)

I don’t know how much this will cost you but it will be CHEAP!!!!

Also, my suave jug band the POLECATS will be playing
Friday, July 22nd
at CRANKY PAT’S in NEENAH this show will also be awesome (did i mention DORKFEST will be awesome?).

take care, Jeff

Just a reminder that my jug band, the Jackson Street Polecats, will be playing Sabor Latino in Decorah, IA tonight (July 2nd @ 8:oopm).

You may say, “Jeff, I get a lot of emails from you about shows you’re playing in Iowa. I don’t live in Iowa. I don’t like Iowa and have no intention of visiting!” To you I say, “Jean Feracca of Wisconsin Public Radio, you’re right. I’m sorry. I will come to Madison where you live and play at the High Noon Saloon, on Wednesday, July 6th at 9:00pm. I’ll be opening for the bands Auburn and The Wrinkle Neck Mules”.

Hope you’re all having a fine day. love, Jeff

You know when I said the Polecats play at Sabor Latino on June 2nd?

I really meant July 2nd.

It’s not so much the heat…

It’s very hot here in Decorah. Peoples’ brain functions are slowing down. The economy is still crappy. Sadness permeates the hearts of all.

Alas, there is good news!

There’s a new zombie movie out!
George Romero’s LAND OF THE DEAD!
Check out http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/landofthedead/index.html/

Also…

THE JACKSON STREET POLECATS ARE COMING TO DEMOLISH DECORAH!!!
While Land of the Dead may or may not come to Decorah, the Polecats will!
On SATURDAY!
June 2nd!
At 8:00!!!
At Sabor Latino!!!!!

Join me and Aaron “dip-wad” Baer for an evening of tacos and jug-band music. There is no finer combination! We wish to entertain you! Please allow us to do so!

Also…

I’ll be playing at the farmers’ market here in Decorah the morning of the 2nd before the Polecats show. I’ll probably play around 9:30am. If you’ve ever wondered what my music sounds like surrounded by local produce, this is your moment. Come out and schmooze with the farmers and buy some pie or something.

take care, Jeff

This is a little awkward.

I don’t know how to tell you this, but…
I am completely selling out. I have enrolled myself in a new class called “How to Become an Indie-Music Marketing Whore in 28 Days”. I need your help.

Will you help me?

My Indie-Music Pimp-Man instructor (Mr. Bob Baker) has instructed me to develop what we in the Marketing Whore (henceforth M.W.) world call a “customer profile”.

See, now that I am becoming a M.W., you are no longer a “listener”. You shall henceforth be referred to as the “customer” or “consumer”. OK?

To develop each “customer/consumer/cog” profile, I will ask you a series of questions. These will be deeply probing (not like that, you sicko) questions which will tell me everything I need to know to develop a marketing (”whoring”) plan which will devastate the music scene and catapult me to stardom (”being able to buy lunch”). I have developed these questions myself so they are sure to be incisive and thoughtful.

I promise not to share this information with anyone, especially my peers in the music “biz”, as I intend to crush their pathetic fingers on the lower rungs of the ladder of success.

Let us begin. Shall we?

ALL ABOUT YOU (the Consumer)

1. Occupation (How much money do you Make?) Would you describe yourself as…
a. CEO of a Major Corporation
b. A mid-level drone in the mind-numbing malaise of the US business world
c. A proletarian class-hero stiving for a better tomorrow through hi/r labor
d. A dirty bum (aka. “Independent Musician”)

bonus: What is your profession and would you recommend it?

2. Interests (Are you a boring slob?) On a Saturday night, would you likely be…
a. Reading Tolstoy in an austere garrett, or perhaps crafting (”latchhook”)
b. Following eighteen holes of golf with a ride in the Benz and some coke
c. Dancing at the all-night techno basement party in sparkly pants
d. Caught in mine disaster. Again.

bonus: If I forced you to read a book, which would you choose?

3. Character (alignment) Would you consider your character alignment…
a. Lawful Good
b. Neutral
c. Chaotic Evil
d. Half-elven bard assassin

bonus: Please sum up your philosophy of life…

ALL ABOUT ME (And why you like Me)

1. When you experience my “work”, how does it make you feel?
a. happy
b. sad
c. emboldened
d. pathetic

bonus: what is the most profound “feeling/emotion” you have experienced as a result of listening to my “music”?

2. When you hear my music, how you respond physiologically?
a. goosebumps
b. a cold sweat
c. euphoria
d. arrhythmia

bonus: What other physiological response have you experienced at a Jeff Mitchell performance? Please discuss.

3. What other life experience does a Jeff Mitchell performance compare to?
a. gardening
b. a rollercoaster ride
c. a nap in a snuggly blanket
d. Pink Floyd laser light show

bonus: What is your favorite life experience to date and how would it compare to experiencing my music?

Thank you so much for helping me conduct this important customer-defining research. Please attach any additional comments, suggestions, recipes and/or stock tips. You have done me a great service. I hope to repay you someday, but don’t get any big ideas.

love, Jeff

First things first. As always, you would be a fool to miss…

SOLO AT ARTWALK/DECORAH
downtown decorah,ia
thursday, june 16 / 7-8 PM
Admire local art in the windows of downtown decorah and hear music on the way.

SOLO AT THE GREEN LANTERN/WINONA
w/Dr. Bob’s Puppet Cabaret
Green Lantern Coffeehouse and Cabaret
friday, june 24 /9 PM
This will be a fun, wierd, noisy show for you wierdos out there.

ok. that’s out of the way. thanks to HAPPY and THE POLES for stopping off in Decorah to play us some music. Also, thanks to everyone who came out for this weekend’s EDIBLE ALIEN THEATRE performance (fundraiser for Decorah’s August 27 eclectic music festival). I’ll post photos of the show on the site when I get some.

Also, just thought I’d share a treat with rock and roll lovers out there. One of my favorite bands of all time, the late CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DESCISION TO BECOME A PILOT (of Oshkosh, WI) have posted their eponymous album in its entirety on THE WILLIS’s website. Do yourself a favor and listen to it. You won’t be sorry. If you are, there’s obviously something wrong with you. Here’s the URL…

http://www.willis.kicks-ass.org/joes/average/steve/congrats.htm

Take care of your bad selves. All the best, Jeff

So, for those of you in the Decorah, IA area, just wanted to let you know that if it rains tonight (sat. june 4), which it could, I’ll still be playing at Sabor Latino at 8pm. It will just be down in the basement if the weather’s bad.

Also, if you like rock and roll, come out to the Magpie (in Decorah) Wednesday night at 6pm to see my show with Happy (of Oshkosh) and the Poles (of Asheville).

ok. that’s it. take care, jeff

i know i’ve been writing a lot lately but there’s a lot going on! what can i say?
i’m sorry…
this is awkward.

…so. BIG COOL SHOW IN DECORAH!

ROCK AND ROLL!
Magpie Coffeehouse
WED>JUNE 8th
6-10:00pm

I’ll be opening up with a solo set for Oshkosh indie røkkers, HAPPY (who will probably be upset with me for calling them indie, but they are, maybe they are math, emo, pop, dingleberry rock. who can say?) and Asheville, North Carolina’s THE POLES. The Poles also rock. These are nice guys (at least the ones I know). I bet they’d sure appreciate a warm Decorah welcome.

You can judge their character for your bad selves by looking at pictures of them on their respective websites…

http://www.happyisrock.com/
http://www.thepoleslive.com/

they’ve also got MP3s and all that junk.
That’s all I have to say. Please don’t be upset with me.

your musical servant,

Jeffrey Ryan Mitchell

Just wanted let you all know, I WON’T be at the farmers’ market in Decorah this Saturday (unless of course, I need some delicious, locally grown vegetables or tasty meat from animals to eat). Raymundo will be playing the guitar that day and I’ll play on a different Saturday. You should go hear Raymundo play. I’ve heard he actually knows what he’s doing.

Sorry for any soul-crushing disappointment I may have caused.

yours, Jeff