In 2012 Mutherockers participated in a fundraiser at Lucky's in Hampton for Wes Pack a 5 year old local child stricken with Neuroblastoma.There was a raffle that we donated merchandise for and entertainment from several local bands.They raised money through admission fees ,raffles and silent auctions.Wes's aunt graduated from High School with me and the last time I saw her she said he was improving and getting good news from the doctors.relapsed a year later. I was saddened to learn this week that Wes is still struggling with the disease when he made local news when he met the pope on his recent visit to the US. The hand of Pope Francis touched a Yorktown family in a special way.

Nine-year-old Wes Pak is currently in New York City receiving chemotherapy for stage 4 cancer.

Pope Francis blessed Wes and and ten other children staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Wes’ mother, Krista Pak, said  each child and parent received a rosary.

Wes needs a miracle, please pray hard for this child who has struggled with illness the larger part of his life.

You can follow Wes’ story on his Facebook page.

Well we didn't vend at the American Music Festival this year and I have to say that with a glad heart.I was actually able to attend the event instead of work it this year.There was something for every taste in music.Country,Reggae,Blues,&Classic Rock Their was quite a crowd at all performances some free events only $20 for the headliners which this year were the Wailers,Rebulution,Steve Miller Band,Sheryl Crow,Restless Heart and 38 Special The weather was a detriment 25 mph winds on the beach made the first two days difficult and made me really glad I didn't have a vendors booth this year,that and the fact that the only two vendors were located more than two miles from the main stage.Love this festival it is so close to home and I love supporting our local musicians and there was plenty of live local music up and down the boardwalk on secondary stages.

Its marching band season! Band camps are geared up and ready for the upcoming season.For those who were never in band in school,or have had a child in marching band I would like to share what the experience is like for most.
Band camp is grueling.It is done on an asphalt parking lot in the scorching hot sun in the hottest month of the year- every day- all day for about 2-3 weeks.The first day of school for these kids is usually a month before everyone else. Duct tape takes on new meaning as they mark their spots where they will be on the field.Hours of walking on their tip toes,side stepping,running,walking backwards,knee bends(all while carrying heavy instruments,some up to 20 lbs)playing the same thing over and over until they get it right.Do not be late for anything-you may get laps,pay attention to the drum major and band director or you may be sorry or in for an embarrassing experience.I have always thought that it should count for a credit in physical education.It is extremely physical.
Band students have a reputation of being band geeks.But what I have found is that they are the coolest kids in school.The smart kids,the ones who have a group they are bonded to that carries friendships through school and beyond,They learn the importance of fundraising,dedication,perseverance,drive,team effort,following instructions,and how to play a musical instrument.All things that will stay with them for life.I have the utmost respect for these kids.I admire their hard work and love to watch them at games enjoying the brother/sisterhood of their elite group as they show off their skills to everyone else in the school.
The parents of these kids are some of the most involved parents in the school.The amount of volunteer hours it takes and organization to keep this group working like a machine is mind boggling.But those crazy band moms and dads make it happen.In my son's school they surpass any of the sports teams in parent/student participation.When you go to home games, you better 'get there early or you won't be able to find a seat in the stands.But if you wait until halftime is over you may be able to find a seat.Our joke is that there is a football team on the marching band field and there is a football team opening up for the main event.When we go to competitions I am amazed at how many kids we have in our little county school's band compared to city schools with 5x the students.We are massive,a force to be reckoned with. While some city schools have only 40 kids in their band.It is all how it is perceived at that particular school.We need to be promoting these music programs more than sports for so many  reasons.It has been proven that learning to play music helps the brain function.The kids in band learn group effort and teamwork at a different level.There are no parents arguing with coaches and referees,no superstar members,no special privilege for being a sports player-everything is earned.There are scholarship programs for band -as many as athletics,and probably easier to get.The kids are the "good kids" in school,not the hoodlums and trouble makers.
I am so proud to be part of the marching band family at my son's high school.My older two sons were baseball players and it was fun,but this marching band experience has been so much more than that.I love it! I wish all schools would put more emphasis on the band program than athletics.Your child will never suffer a life long injury in the band.Our priority in this country is on athletics but having a child going into professional sports these days doesn't look that appealing to me as a parent.I kind of equate it with being a rockstar.The money is great,but look at the lifestyle that these guys have these days.Criminals,drugs,excess of wild living.Not all of them-but I prefer my kid be a dorky little band geek,who spends time with good kids and doing his homework.
Tonight the high school that my son plays snare on drum line for will be performing for the parents-we get to be the first to see their production.I will be so swollen up with pride for all these kids this evening.It is always one of my favorite nights of the year.Here's to all you band kids-you make us band parents proud.

Music is a reflection of feelings.It expresses feelings. Our personal taste in style of music is how that particular genre relates to our personal feelings,life experiences,how it makes us feel,memories it invokes and how it touches us.

For some, we reflect our passion for our music in our dress and personal style.

A country music fan will wear cowboy hats,boots,and western style clothing,where a jam band fan will dress like a hippie,a heavy metal fan will wear leather and metal studs or a rap fan will wear sagging pants ,big chains and their hat sideways.

To bash another person for their taste in music is like insulting their very being.Similar to bashing their religious or political beliefs.

People do not all think alike.We are different from one another because of the experiences we have had in life,how we were brought up,who we are.Not everyone is going to agree with one another and when you do not agree with someone,it is not your place to insult them for their taste, beliefs or feelings.You are certainly not going to change them with insults and condescending remarks. We all need to learn to respect one another and our individual right to like what we want without criticism or judgement.

I personally love many genres of music,what I listen to has very much to do with the particular mood that I am in.I lean towards rock and heavy metal.That doesn't make me an angry or aggressive person,it is what I enjoy and it is a great outlet to release those feelings.

I first became a heavy metal fan when I started working out.I hated it and was so pissed off that I had to put my physical body through this torment after gaining weight from my pregnancies.To listen to the angst in this music made working out more fun and tolerable for me. It continued to be my outlet through a very stressful management job I held for 18 years where I had to be fake and smile all day to rude,unappreciative customers when I really just wanted to slap them.I would get in my car and blast the most angry music I had in my collection for the ride home and by the time I got home I had released all that frustration screaming lyrics along with my favorite tunes.I didn't carry it into my home for my family to deal with.It was my cure,my release,my comfort.

I love jam band music I grew up a Dead Head.That genre takes me back to my younger,more innocent days when love and peace were infectious and there wasn't all this hate and violence that we have in our world today.I love country because it reminds me of my roots,my family comes from a pack of hillbillies.I love gospel music because of the spiritual feeling it gives me,it touches my soul.I love jazz because of its mellowing effect on me.I love the blues,I feel that music in my bones because I have felt the blues in my soul in my lifetime.

I know that for some people one type of music is all they like,all they listen to.That is their choice.I understand not liking a partiicular type of music as well.Some of it I cannot relate to-it doesn't speak to or for me.But I respect the opinions of others and their right to like what they like.I am not going to try to change them.

Last night I took my teenage son to the Slipknot Summers Last Stand Tour Show in VA Beach. We had 5th row seats-it was very loud.There was one band on the line up that I did not care for.I looked around and watched the crowd sing along with lyrics that I could not even understand what the singer was saying.I enjoyed watching the people enjoying themselves so much that I enjoyed being present.Although I considered this particular band nothing but noise I wouldn't have dreamed of screaming at the stage YOU SUCK GET OFF THE STAGE as I saw some attendees do.I told this guy behind me at intermission as he continued to complain about how bad this band was that if he would have took a look around he was obviously outnumber in his opinion.Not everyone feels like you do.Even though I didn't like the band it was not my place to insult their artistic effort.

This morning when I posted my pictures from the show last night on facebook I had a good friend insult me and my taste in music.I am kind of put off by anyone thinking that they have the right to do this.It was an insult and taken as an insult.If I have to explain then you  probably won't understand so you go ahead and be the jerk who insults a friend.

The next time anyone reading this feels the need to bash someone's musical choices,think about whether or not you would say the same things to them about their religious or political beliefs.If your answer is yes then I suppose you might need to ask yourself if you would appreciate someone treating you this way-The good old golden rule my friend.

Respect one another out there people.Don't be one of those assholes who doesn't care about the feelings of others just so you get your opinion out there.Sometimes having an open mind about things can gain you the opportunity to find something new in life,something you might come to really enjoy.

I don't always like the music my teenager chooses to listen to but it brings us closer to share experiences like last night together,create memories together bringing us closer,and you know what? Sometimes I learn to love a crazy band like Slipknot and can go to a concert with my son and rock out and enjoy watching him have the time of his life! PRICELESS LIFE MEMORY

With all of this hullabaloo about the confederate flag,I feel I want to put my opinion and feelings out there,dammit everyone else seems to put theirs out there on this.Some of it is pretty ignorant.
I grew up in the south -I am still here.I am a dixie girl,a GRITs-Girl raised in the south.
The confederate flag was on everything.I listened in history class have a friend who majored in history.It was a symbol of being from the south a symbol of being a rebel.The south did not like the way those politicians and those in power were handling things(not just the slavery issue) and they rebelled against the government.Being a rebel  is what it symbolizes to me.It was a symbol of southern rock music,country music,being a redneck hillbilly who wore cutoff shorts 4 wheeled in the mud and walked around barefooted talking with our southern draw and not trying to pretend we were something we were not.Yes we lacked sophistication.
To all those who think it represents racism and a group of people who hate those of color and want them back in slavery or gone you are misinformed.There may be a few like this nut case who walked into that church and killed those people who look at it that way,(which I still have not seen any photographs of him with a rebel flag)but the Majority of us southerners don't look at it that way.If you did not listen in history class and you are misinformed on your history and this flag offends you it should be taken down from government buildings and anything that is run by the government.It is not a state flag,it should not be there. But as for the Dukes of Hazard being thrown off of TV-what about "The Jefferson's" I do believe ol George says the word Honky at least once every episode.NEVER does the Duke boys or anyone on that show make such a racist remark.Well I am offended by that.Its okay for you to call a white person a honky ?
Al Sharpton telling Kid Rock to remove it from his Sweet Home Alabama Video WTF??? I think Al Sharpton is one of the biggest biggots of our time.He preaches hate.Who does he think he is to tell someone how to live his life?
We are Americans,we are diverse,we are all different from one another even among our own race.We will never get past any of this with people like him continually stirring things up. No one in this country today in 2015 has ever picked cotton as a slave -or owned a slave.I cannot answer for my ancestors I did not know them or why anyone thought it was a good idea to keep slaves.All those stories in the bible about the oppression of the Jewish people in slavery and how wrong it was and our bible thumping ancestors start keeping slaves.Don't get it. I really don't.There were those who treated their slaves well and those who beat them.That is the differences in human beings.There are some mean damn evil people in every race.That is our battle on this earth against evil,not one another.
Whatever differences we have as human beings are not always race related.But if you are white and a black person doesn't like something a white person has done-that person is a racist.
I am a woman,I have been discriminated against in my lifetime because of it.I am sensitive to the issue,but I do not blame everything that does not go the way I want on it on the fact that I am a woman.
Being an old hippie deadhead,I just want peace and love to prevail.God wants us to love one another,if this madness does not stop we are doomed.Removing a flag is not going to make things better.Who knows what will.But in the words of Rodney-Can't we all just get along?

I love the summer festival season.I love live music outdoors .There is something about it that just does you nothing but good.The Hampton Roads area is a great place to be where the music scene is concerned.There is a music performance somewhere every day of the week.I have had the cabin fever over the long winter months and now its time to get out and live life.

On Wednesdays in the Port Warwick Pt Park.

Thursdays by the lake takes place from 6-10 on...you guessed it-Thursdays.This takes place in the Mariners Museum in the Arts Section of Newport News.A great setting for a midweek party!

Fridays by Fountain is a great way to wrap up the week with friends for a drink and some music outdoors.Free parking and admission from 5-9 on Fridays.

The Hampton Block Party-Saturday nights in the downtown Hampton area 6-10.Kids activities food and beverage vendors on a very cool party district of the city of Hampton

Check the web sites for the specifics on entertainment and bands.There are too many to list and choosing what to do has now become a difficult decision.Anyone can afford to get out with this free source of entertainment.Who knows you just might find your next favorite band of all time.

Also check out Meona.net and get a listing of local music happening in the Hampton Roads Area

How can I keep calm? This is my most anticipated of all events of the year and this is my most anticipated luau I have sponsored yet.There are so many preparations to make.This year,since opening the boutique,has been exceptionally challenging.Trying to keep a store from looking like its going out of business while packing up our best selling merch to display for 16,000 people to see.I think the attendance is expected to be the largest in luau history this year.
Aside from all that and looking forward to working with one of the best radio station staffs again,my most very favorite band in the whole wide world, Godsmack, is headling.Another reason I cannot stay calm.We traveled with Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival for some east coast dates back in 2012 with Godsmack and Shinedown.This is extra special to me because we are a sponsor for this event and they are the Headliner.
Their musical inspiration and Sully's sharing his" music is a gift" on his first solo tour in 2008 was the beginning of events in my life starting to change.I had been in a store manager position for a major retailer for 18 years when they decided to save money and cut off the satellite music played in stores.Not only did they cut off our music,but forbid us to play music on our own in the store.5000 stores with no music.We were left to only listen to cell phone conversations you would rather not hear,bad children,or just silence.No headphones,no radios,zip.My whole quality of life changed and I no longer felt that this was the path I needed to be on.
Around that time, my son was developing as a musician I started to realize that there were not many places to buy musician themed gifts,clothing and decor in any one place.So it was natural to take my love of retail and music and combine it into a business that I could develop of my own and pour myself into well into my retirement years.So thats when it all began.I started the web site in 2011,,graduated to music festivals after the first year and now have a brick and mortar boutique in Yorktown VA. Do what you love and love what you do.And you know what? We play some damn good music in the store for our employees and our customers to enjoy.
I hope I was able to convey how music inspires in aspects of our lives that we can never imagine.
It has become a major driving influence in my daily life,Now one of the bands whose music has inspired me in so many aspects of my life is here at a festival my company is one of the sponsors of...
Life is good and I cant stay calm

I have been let down and disappointed by the lack of availability of tickets for this show and all the shows associated with the Grateful Dead and the ending of their touring together.Anyone who is a fan of the Dead would love to be in Chicago for the final concert.But tickets went fast I dont think anyone I have talked to in my extensive Deadhead Family were able to get tickets or even able to get on to the site to purchase the morning of the sale.Three days worth of tickets gone in less than 30 minutes.
But there are plenty of tickets available on these secondary site like Stub Hub. Before the sale was even over there were tickets on stub hub.How is that? I always thought it was illegal to scalp a concert ticket. Scalping being- buying a ticket to any event and selling it at a higher price for profit.
Am I crazy or is this what Stub Hub does???
Before the actual sale of the Dear Jerry Ticket Sales there were tickets available on stub hub,world now,ticketsnow.com,vivid seats just to name a few where you can get all the tickets you want from $139-$10,000-yes thats ten thousand dollars- I had to do a double take too.
BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY WENT ON SALE!
The only way I can figure that this happened is if these companies were the ones who shut down the two different presales in less than 15 minutes.The ticket limit was 8 so that would explain how they went so fast.
I really dont understand how the average concert goer can compete with these internet companies out there jumping ahead getting the popular shows tickets and turning around and selling them at a ridiculous profit.
Guess I saw my last real dead show when Jerry was Living.I can remember standing in line overnight to get tickets back in the day,but you always got your tickets.It required some dedication and perseverence but you got them.
I have not had this happen to me before-I have always been able to get concert tickets when I wanted them.I suppose that is why I am having such a hard time dealing with this event and how ticket sales were handled.
Maybe I need to go wonder around outside the show and hold my finger up and hope for that "miracle ticket"

VOTE NOW FOR BATTLE OF THE BANDS

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

1. A panel of judges will select nine bands from the online entries to compete in a series of live battles at Big Woody’s Bar and Grill. Online voting will be a part of the criteria to pick the winners (see the rules). Voting begins March 16th, 2015. The nine finalists will be announced on March 25th.

2. The nine finalists will be divided into three groups of three. Group One will complete on April 1st, Group Two will compete on the April 8, Group Three will compete on April 15th. One winner from each group will be chosen by a panel of judges and announced the day after each competition.

3. The three group winners will compete on April 22nd where the Battle of the Bands winner will be chosen by a panel of judges. The winner will be announced on April 23rd.

Location sponsor Big Woody&Bar and Grill

We are very fortunate to now have available in Mutherockers Music Boutique"Lullaby" for you and your baby, you can listen online at www.musicweavers.com to sample this lovely lullaby CD.The songwriter Laura Leisring is Principal  Bassoonist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.She is very passionate about her profession and music,she has created this cd of sweet soothing music for baby to go to sleep with each night.Music forms and develops the brain to reason,problem solve and create.Starting baby early with a pattern of music is crucial in early childhood development.
Every baby deserves to hear the finest live musicians at an early age,and music played and recorded live will nurture the child in a way that computerized music cannot.
You will have a string quartet in your home every night playing a beautiful melody to lull your angel to sleep.
There is a poem that was created to go along with the CD to make giving this as a gift very personalized.
CD is available for $12 in our boutique.

A month ago a dear friend lost her teenage son in her living room,at her front door when an acquaintence of Dylan's came to the front door to rob him misinformed that Dylan had a large amount of drugs and money.When the gun was pulled and Dylan ran into the house,he shot him 5x through the front door while the entire family was present,including his severely handicapped,quadriplegic sister.Dylan was hit all over his body,the fatal shot through his heart.This act of violence has rocked our community and saddened us all.We suffer from a broken heart for the loss of one of our young people for no damn reason.Senseless and tragic.
Sunday we gathered together for a benefit to assist Dylan's mother Terri in the expenses she has been overwhelmed with.She has never been able to work a full time job due to caring for her handicapped daughter.She was part owner of our local music store and was in there whenever she could be,she has very strong ties to our music community circle.This event was proof of  the  caring hearts of our local musicians.
Gordy Price the owner of Pro Music has worked diligently collecting money,items for auction,and raffle from local businesses to help raise money at the event.He also organized to have numerous local acts play a set throughout the day on the main stage at Hoss's Deli and acoustic acts to work the outdoor patio area.
We contributed gift certificates for raffle and attended the festival to represent Mutherockers Music Boutique but also in support of my friend Terri in her time of overwhelming loss.
It was heart warming to see such a large group of people coming out to support the event.
It was a celebration of Dyaln's life,there were tears,but there was joy and happiness too.
I am so thankful to live in a community that cares so much and to be involved in the music circle that pulls together so selflessly to help someone in need.
This has been one of the most successful fundraisers Gordy has organized to date,and there has been quite a few.My deepest admiration goes out to this individual who takes the time and makes the effort to help those in need in the music community here in Yorktown,Gordy has a huge heart and that heart is made of gold.

OUR CONGRATULATIONS GO OUT TO  EVAN BUTTON FOR HIS 2015 VEER MUSIC AWARD.EVAN IS ONLY 16 AND ALREADY HAS 2 CDS OUT LOCALLY IN HAMPTON ROADS,HIS VOCAL STYLE IS VERY SIMILAR TO JOHN MAYER AND DAVE MATTHEWS BUT A SOULFUL TONE THAT IS ALL HIS OWN.THE LYRICS OF HIS MUSIC GO FAR BEYOND HIS YEARS,THEY ARE INSIGHTFUL AND SENSITIVE TO OUR TIME.HE TELLS A STORY THAT IS DOWN TO EARTH AND HIS MUSIC WILL MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE.HE HAS BEEN PERFORMING FOR CROWDS SINCE HE ,WAS 8 YEARS OLD,SO HE HAS EXPERIENCE IN ENTERTAINING AND PERFORMANCE.WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO HAVE HIS RECENT CD "WALKING ON EARTH" AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE MUTHEROCKERS MUSIC BOUTIQUE IN YORKTOWN VA.WE SHARE IN CELEBRATING HIS HONOR IN ACCEPTING THIS AWARD.AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE FROM THIS TALENTED YOUNG MAN WHO HAS SUCH A BRIGHT FUTURE IN MUSIC

CONGRATULATIONS EVAN!!

o

We have some new photographic artwork by Glen Woodell and Wendy Podmenick displayed for sale in store,These beautiful photographs are matted and some framed priced very reasonably.
Glen is a local musician in the Bill Miles band,their CD Peace and Music is also available at our Music Boutique location.
The photographs are creative shots of music instruments of area musicians.I have always loved photographic art because it allows you to see things through the eye of the photographer and their view of a subject,photography is truly an art,it is much more than just a picture of an object.Their work is just that. A unique vision of musical instruments.
These photographs would be a great gift for a music lover or musician to display in their home or work space. For anyone decorating a music room in their home,they would be a lovely addition and conversation piece to add to your home.
Glen and Wendy's work will also be on display at the American Theater in the Phoebus area of Hampton Va beginning February 21 through the end of the month.
Looking for music inspired art,Mutherockers Music Boutique has just what you are looking for.

We have a new program in the store to carry cds of local bands or musicians.We provide a retail storefront for bands to display any of their merchandise or music without any fees or commission.
So far we have two cds Evan Button a 16 year old singer/songwriter with the style of Dave Matthews or John Meyer.He plays guitar and sings along with a band.His lyrics are far beyond his years and are of substance and meaning.Evan is up for the Veer Music Teen Band Award this year.Vote for him if you have a chance,He is very deserving of this title.
Bill Miles band is our 2nd cd. A bluesy folk country mix with lots of good jams and party music,My personal favorite is Benedict Arnold's  Bank because I can relate to it and its reference to corporate greed,dealt with it plenty in my lifetime.Bass player Glen Woodell and his girlfriend Wendy Podmenik are also displaying their music related photography here at Mutherockers Music Boutique.They have done a beautiful artistic job in photographing local musicians and their instruments and made them works of art any music lover would be proud to display in their home.

Get out and support our local music and musicians,we really do have a great local scene here in Hampton Roads.I think its our best kept secret that needs to be shared.

Lots of new happenings and going ons.I was able to get out Friday night and see a new local cover band Super90.The band members are formed of performers from other well known local bands.My favorites JT from Krunch who literally can sing anything,sometimes better than the original artist.Chad Wise the drummer a real talent from the Soul Patch band .He is one of those rare drummers that can sing and play drums at the same time,something very difficult to do.His voice along with JT's was a unique harmoizing tone that I found to be perfect together,Their setlist was unique to what most cover bands are doing out there,a 90's theme of Pearl Jam,Creed,Godsmack,Alice in Chains,Matchbox 20 and other artists from that decade.It was a great evening out with good friends, great music and awesome service at Manhattan's NY Deli in Newport News.Found ourselves unable to sit down and up at the performing area taking it all in.Highly recommend seeing this band for anyone who loves good rock and roll music.

So this blog thing is new to me but I am always open to new things.The more I learn the better off I am.Hopefully what I have to share about my very musical life and career will be interesting,helpful and maybe make a difference in someone's life.Happy Blogging.