Kip Lawrence: Kip's Blog

Christmas Toys For Girls And boys - December 3, 2009
On Saturday December 12th from 2-5 pm,please, bring a new, unwrapped toy for our 2nd Annual Christmas Toys For Girls And Boys Concert. You'll get a free concert starring The Yard Dogs and maybe even get your picture taken with our own resident Bad Santa, Brian "SuperSanta" Travis.
Woody's Waterside 3051 Stringfellow Rd in St. James City.

I've been moaning for a few weeks about festivals leaving Pine Island and going to Cape Coma,such as Mangomania and The SW Florida Blues Fest. I think I just may do something about it. Look for news on a songwriter festival coming to Pine Island/Matlacha.

Skinny Water is the name of the new band I've formed. Bob Brandt (from Triple Tail and Ronnie Dont Call Me Ronnie) on bass, Tim Kelly (from Aimee Lynn Band and Soap Box) playing percussion, Jim Seldin (a talented multi instrumentalist) on dobro and me, on guitar, harmonica and vocals. We call the music sea-grass as it has an element of bluegrass/blues to my original songs. You can expect to hear most of the stuff I do with The Yard Dogs, however, it has a little different twist to it. Miceli's in Matlacha every Monday night, 6-9 pm.

Did you know I founded a festival call The SW Florida Folk and Blues Fest about 10 years ago? I sold it to an island charity called The Matlacha Mariners about 7 years ago. The festival was at The KOA Campground in St. James City. Now, it has been moved to Cape Coral just like our other festival Mangomania. Get this...Pine Island has two big festivals but they are both in Cape Coral!!! Do you think Cape Coral would have a festival on Pine Island? I doubt it. Yes, I am pissed off once again.

I've been talking about this for a while and it has come to pass. The little band I put together for mondays finally played together last week. It's a cool sound....kind of like bluegrass with a lot of nifty picking. It is real fun to do something different....to stretch my wings a little.

Am still working on putting together another band...not to replace The Yard Dogs...but my attention deficit disorder makes me want to try new things. So far I have been practicing with Capt Bob on bass and Tim on percussion. This past weekend I tried out a fiddle player and today I am practicing with a dobro player named Jim. As you may piece together from this assortment of instruments, I am looking for a sound kind of like bluegrass. Of course it has to be original music. For now, I have added a number of cover songs...some Yard Dog stuff, some Neil Young, a little Elvis, Tom Petty, etc. So come on out to Miceli's in Matlacha on Monday nights at 6 pm. What would be a good name of us?

Hey...a little reminder
On November 20 I have a solo show with Gary and Kerri at Cape Harbour in Cape Coral. It's a benefit for my little brothers charity, Hand's Up, which distributes supplies needed by paralyzed people. Go to www.theyarddogs.com and hit the calendar button for more information.

If there is anyone out there who attended last nights show (Oct 9) at Miceli's, sorry about the cancellation. I've had the flu for the last couple of days and needed the day off. Plus, it was windy and raining, I didnt think anyone would attend. I dont mind playing gigs while sick but the prospect of playing for one or two local drunks, a seagull, a couple of manatees and the wait staff just didnt appeal to my congested lungs, stuffy nose and frequent trips to the potty. Once again, sorry.

Many of you know ol' Kipper had a show canceled on October 23 starring Kip with Gary and Kerri and Cindy Walsh. It was to be a test run for my upcoming tourist season concerts. I was, am and will always be pissed off about that. Pine Island and Matlacha is still paradise but it has been partially invaded by serious, no good assholes who instead of rationally discussing a problem, choose to call "johnny law" to do their speaking for them. I refer to Lee County Code Enforcement. A concert to benefit paralyzed people and veterans is hurting someone? Hell, our music isnt loud, stops at 9 or 10 pm and the people in the audience love it. Hold on a second...I'm going outside to scream and throw rocks at the seagulls until I calm down. Be right back.......................Ok...I'm fine now but I have to quit writing now....I've gotta take an injured seagull to the vet.

I have always wanted to start a new band, aside from The Yard Dogs. Of course, I am still in The Yard Dogs and still love the boys but sometimes you just have to stretch your brain a little. I was real lucky. Bob Brandt from "Ronnie Don't Call Me Ronnie" and "Triple Tail" agreed to play bass for me. He is currently working his ass off learning my original songs and is an asset to any band. Just arrived is Tim (I havent had time to learn his last name) just joined us on percussion and he recently played for "The Aimee Lynn Band" as well as "Soap Box". Next to join in November will be Jim Seldin in dobro. I am thinking we will play a style of music like a mixture of uptempo bluegrass with a touch of the sound of the islands. Come see us at Miceli's Italian Restaurant every Monday night at 6 p.m. as we form a new band. Be our guinea pigs!

I sometimes wonder why people are so enamored with Buffet-style "island" music. I know, I know, Jimmy Buffet is a great songwriter, performer and business man. But, why do so many performers copy him? I guess it is much easier to copy someone elses brilliance than to create your own. If I ever hear another song extolling Key West, I am gonna explode! See ya

Heather and I had to take some kittens to a no kill animal center in Englewood. Guess what! We brought home a new 7 year old dog. Her name was Cheyanne but we changed it to Shy Ann. She is a border collie mix and loves her new home. Today is Sunday which means we'll be at Pinchers. See you there

Hey
Big concert tonight with Kraig Kenning. Leoma Lovegrove will be painting and it'll be a party in Matlacha tonight! The best part is, it's only a few blocks to my home and I drink for free. What a world! Hope you come see us as I will be unveiling a couple new songs. Talk to ya later

Hey Ya'll
Today Charlie and I will play a benefit for The Animal Refuge Center. Since I have 4 dogs living here in Matlacha with me, I think I have a refuge center of sorts. We also have two birds and some fish. I have been to ARC and what a place. Every dog and cat has a home with air conditioning, toys, food and some human companionship. Too bad all human beings don't have that. See ya

Hello
Today we have a day off so I'm sure Brian will be fishing somewhere around here. I kept Courtney home from school so we can hang out in Matlacha. What a beautiful morning! I am going to practice a little for my set on friday night. I am going to try a song I wrote called White Gold Sailors about running drugs into Bokeelia. It was a story told to me by a longtime fisherman/drug runner. Have a good day and see you soon

If you ever read my article in The Pine Island Eagle, this site is for you. I will usually ramble on, get on a soapbox or two, piss some people off (sorry parrotheads) and generally write of things which give me joy or trouble me. This is an open discussion, so feel to write back to me and I will try and answer your question...of course...only if it interests me. Talk to you later and make sure you check out my calendar for upcoming events, too. Adios

Hey
I am starting this little website to promote some of the things I do besides The Yard Dogs. Keep checking back as I intend to promote some very interesting things like Friday March 13 with Jim Morris at The Olde Fish House. (See calendar) For The Yard Dogs and Mangrove Swamp, please go to www.theyarddogs.com. See you soon.