People on the mountain

Music on the Mountain gig went smashingly. Lots of people came, and they seemed to enjoy our music. They happily stuck around for the Amber Norgaard Baand despite the intermittent rain, which started just after our set. The tent kept everyone dry.

The surprising thing: many of the people who came to hear us had never heard OF us until today.

Bonnie Vining, founder of LAVA and mastermind of MOTM, is a freaking genius. Has to be. It's so hard to get people to venture out to see bands they already know and like. Bonnie created a concert series that not only gets people to venture out for bands they know nothing about, but go all the way up Mt. Lemmon to do it.

If you live in Tucson, you know why that's impressive. It takes a good hour to drive up Mt. Lemmon.

Anyway, yeah. Smashingly. I hope Bonnie does this again next summer.

How far to the top?

Someone on the Cinder Bridge mailing list pointed out that saying we'd be playing at the "top" of Mt. Lemmon was a little vague. If people literally go to the top, they'll be at the Observatory ... a thousand feet above where the music is.

So. The gig is in Summerhaven, which is around the bottom of the top of the mountain. Music will be right past the visitors center. When you see the big tentlike thing, you're there.

Now to send another e-mail to the group. Hopefully they won't get too annoyed by the multiple messages.

Cinder Bridge atop the mountain

Sunday afternoon, from noon to 1:45, Cinder Bridge will be playing Music on the Mountain.

What is Music on the Mountain, you ask? It's a concert series put together by LAVA (Live Acoustic Venue Association), and it happens at the top of a mountain. Specifically, Mt. Lemmon in Tucson, Arizona.

Here are a few features bundled with MOTM events:

1. Significantly cooler air
   
2. The smell of fresh pine needles
   
3. Good food & libations (try a La Indita popover -- you will thank me)

To get there, drive up Catalina Highway and keep going 'til you reach the top.

The awesome Amber Norgaard takes the stage after we do and plays until 5 p.m. If you haven’t heard her yet, now’s the perfect opportunity.

Oh, and according to the weather forecasts, there's a chance of rain. Whatever. The musicians play under a big freakin' tentlike structure, and the audience listens to us under same. Rain or shine, we'll all stay dry.

Music on the Mountain

I finally got to catch some Music on the Mountain performances today. For the uninitiated, Music on the Mountain is a summer concert series held every Sunday at the top of Mt. Lemmon, just outside of Tucson. People who go can enjoy good music and the great outdoors at the same time. Because of the altitude -- and this is key -- they can do so without melting into a puddle.

It's such a good idea, I'm a little surprised nobody thought to do it before Bonnie Vining and LAVA (Live Acoustic Venue Association) started it this year. (And I'm not just saying that because Cinder Bridge is going to be playing up there in a couple of weeks.)

In addition to hearing Duncan Stitt, Brad Fritz, and Chuck Wagon and the Wheels, I finally scored Duncan's new CD, Shortcut to the Promised Land. I'm very psyched.