National Anthem

OK, so I just registered to audition for the opportunity to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the City of Tempe July 4th Fireworks Festival. 1st round of auditions are this Saturday morning in Tempe. It's a little scary, as I'm doing this solo (not with the MC6 guys), primarily b/c half the group will be out of town on the 4th, and so it would be silly to involve them at this point. Plus, since I sing the lead on our arrangement anyway, I thought what the heck! I'll probably have to change the way I sing it somewhat, but I figure I can just belt it like normal. My audition is only for 30 seconds, and I can choose any 30-second portion of the song when it comes my turn. Any ideas as to whether I should do anything other than just start from the beginning?

Update:
I was just informed that there will only be 25 other people auditioning with me on Saturday morning, so I'm relieved. If there were going to be 800, like when we auditioned for the Phoenix Suns, then I was considering just not going down there at all, due to the hassle, and the fact that I'll have all 4 of my kids with me. But 25 - I can handle that. And, it gives me that much of a better chance to make it to the 2nd round of auditions in 2 weeks.

My "band"

OK, so I'm in an a cappella performing group. My wife calls it a boy band. So be it. It's a hobby. However, if you happen to come see us perform and you are expecting some sweet choreographed dance moves and thousands of swooning teenage girls throwing their lingerie at us, well you'll be gravely disappointed. Dance moves are pretty much non-existent - we don't even let a couple of the guys snap (think "The Jerk", starring Steve Martin) - and the only girls swooning over us are our wives and daughters - and Mom. My wife, Melanie, does still harbor illusions of teenage innocence (see her blog : http://minipearls.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-could-still-pass-for-17-right.html) and my daughter, Kate, is barely 4, so I'm not sure if the swooning on my behalf is genuine fan adoration or simply family loyalty. I'll accept the cheers however they come! (Side note: still no sign of lingerie at any of our shows. Mom, keep yours on.)

We do have a lot of fun with it, however, and we actually have a few shows coming up:

On Nov. 19th, we'll be singing at the Festival of Trees fund raiser at the new Banner Gateway Hospital. On Dec 1st, we're headlining the City of Chandler Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. And on Dec 16th, we're performing at the Mesa, AZ Mormon Temple Christmas Lights concert. So, if you want to check us out, please stop by at any of these public gatherings.

As for us being a "boy band", I have some issues with that moniker. Now, I will admit that we do have the one bad-boy guy with facial hair, a couple of pretty boys, a sporty guy, and a quiet brooding type, but that's as far as it goes.

First of all, we all do have to shave regularly, and secondly, none of us, to my knowledge, has ever dated J-Lo. We don't (and can't) dance, and I'm pretty sure we're all straight. So there you have it.

We do have a great sound, though, and we're in the process of cutting a CD, so please check us out if you get the chance. We're called MC6, and we have a blog at http://mc6acappella.blogspot.com/.

Singing in the car

OK, so I'm driving to work this morning, jamming to "White Wedding" on my iPod and doing my best Billy Idol impersonation (yes, sneer and all),

when I look over at the car next to me and a dude that looks EXACTLY like Billy Idol is staring back at me! I'm talking blond spikey hair, earrings, and, yep, you guessed it, the sneer. Made my day, and it was only 8:30am.