After the death of his grandmother in 2004 Counting Crows frontman Adam Durtiz realized he had a problem. He explains, “I have a form of dissociative disorder that makes the world seem like it’s not real, as if things aren’t taking place. It’s hard to explain, but you feel untethered.”

Since ‘04 Duritz has worked with doctors to find the right balance of meds to “fix things”. Now doctors have asked him to cut his lithium dosage in half. But there’s a problem. He’s in the middle of two projects. Duritz is currently writing and recording a new record. He’s written 20 new songs so far.

He’s also days away from presenting a new musical he has developed with playwright Steven Belber called Black Sun. The play follows eight New Yorkers who must deal with the sudden disappearance of sunlight from their existence. Recently Duritz tweeted about his struggle, “I stopped dropping the meds dosages for recording. Couldn’t shake uncontrollably and sing at the same time.”

As we continue to remember the first 20 years of Triple M, I’ll tell you about the night that Sheryl Crow grabbed my ass.

Right off the bat I’ll say that it usually costs you a beer to hear this story- so if you are reading this, you owe me one.

It all started a few weeks before Sheryl Crow’s debut album was released and she was on a promotional tour. Record labels do this from time to time- they take a new artist out on the road visiting radio stations. The artists often perform in the radio station conference room for the station staff and management. This particular day was an extremely hot day- and the air-conditioner at the Triple M transmitter was broke. The transmitter overheated and we were off the air. That’s when a beautiful young woman walked through the door. Oh, that’s right Sheryl somebody is coming to visit…great!?!?

Sorry Sheryl, we’re off the air- you can’t play…unless you would like to head into Studio M and perform there- maybe we’ll play it on the air sometime.

She took me up on the offer and headed to Studio M with John Urban. They recorded a Studio M session and finished just as we went back on the air. I invited her to come into the studio and play something live on the air. After two songs, she left and the transmitter failed…again. Nobody, except me, heard that performance. We were literally (my wife hates when I use that word) on the air long enough for those two songs and then off again.

As she left, Sheryl asked if I would be in Boulder next week. There was an upcoming radio convention in Boulder, Co. that I was going to, so I said yes. I honestly didn’t think anything of it- thought she was just being friendly and that I would never see her again.

A week later I was in Boulder, waiting in line to register for the convention. Standing in line with me was Michael McDermott and a few minutes later Sheryl joined us. Michael went and grabbed us all drinks and I figured out that Sheryl really didn’t know anybody, so she just hung out with the two of us for the rest of the afternoon.

That evening the three of us went to the Fox Theatre to see Sonia Dada and a few other bands. And to drink. And we drank. A lot.

After a few drinks Sheryl started bouncing between Michael and Me and David Baerwald. She’d spend a little time with Michael and then a little time with me and then a little time with David and back to Michael again and so on and so on. This went on for quite some time and eventually she had both arms draped over my shoulders and looked up at me and said “somebody needs to take me out of here before I ruin my career.” I told her it wasn’t going to be me- I’m married – and she moved on. A little later, when Sonia Dada was on stage, we walked into the room where they were playing and my drink was dry, so I turned to the bar to order another drink (because I clearly needed another drink) and that’s when I felt a hand on my ass followed by a nice hard squeeze. It’s been a while since I have been single, so I didn’t know how to react. I said “can I get you something?” to which Michael interupted us and said “no- I think she’s had enough.”

The next night, back at the Fox Theatre, I was telling a few friends the story- and admitting that “I’m a guy- so I’m probably exaggerating a little bit.” That’s when Sheryl walkd in the door- as soon as she saw me, she made a bee-line for the other side of the room. As far away from me as she could possibly get. Eventually she got the nerve to come talk to me and she appologized. I said- “that’s o.k. Sheryl, someday you’ll be a big star and I’ll tell everybody about the night Sheryl Crow grabbed my ass.”

And I’ve been drinking free off of that story ever since.

These days I usually add one more line to the story- “…and that’s the night that Sheryl Crow decided that she had to have a biker guy…” although I’ll admit that isn’t true- in fact I doubt if I even owned a bike at that point. But either way I had a shot before Lance did.

I’ve been working full time at Triple M since Sept. 2002, and in that time have met and interviewed a lot of rock and rollers, some famous, many up and coming.  But one of my most anticipated (by me) was interviewing Trey Anastasio shortly after his first solo album was released. I had not done that many Studio M interviews at that time and was totally excited and nervous to meet and talk with him.

I knew Trey was a big Frank Zappa fan, so when he met me, held out his hand and said, ” Hi, I’m Trey. Thanks for having me”. I responded with: ” This is a thrill for me only second to the time I made Frank Zappa laugh.” I knew that would get his attention and I was right.

The start to the interview was delayed about 15 minutes, waiting for a client to show up for the Studio M, giving  Trey and me time to chat a bit. Of course he wanted to know all about my Zappa  encounter. When I told him that I had seen Zappa about 10 times, he was actually jealous and said so. It made me stop and think, that no matter how big a star you are and how many tens of thousands of people come to your shows, there is always someone who you admire who influences you.

Check out these candid shots of us: See.. we’re talking!!  ( am I a total dork or what? )

When the interview was over, he asks me to wait a second because he wanted to tell me something. ( Like I’d leave the room before he left).           

So he comes to me with his CD ” Rift” and tells me that he was excited that Frank Zappa had heard this album before he died. he was so cute in his admiration for Frank, and it  made me love Trey just a little  bit more . 

If you’d like to hear the Studio M, click  here

Have you seen the new Target commercial with the kids creating a good old summertime ruckus in the store, with the Status Quo song “Pictures of Matchstick Men” in the background?

Not sure this line from the song is a great sales point for the store:

“When I look up to the skies I see your eyes a funny kind of yellow.”

Lucky they didn’t use the next line, which is somewhat ominous.

“I rush home to bed I soak my head  I see your face beneath my pillow.”

Here’s the original song..

And here’s the Target ad.  Everything you need for summertime fun, except the hallucinogenic mushrooms.

It’s summertime and many of you will be traveling around our state and looking for a good meal. Of course, there’s no finer place to eat then a real Wisconsin Supper Club. But, alas, the Supper Club is a dying institution in our state. They’re closing as owners age, they’re burning down and, worst of all, they’re being converted to places with names like Le Fresco Italiano Restaurante.

But there are still some of the real things our there. Here’s my list of what you should be looking for to qualify as a Genuine Wisconsin Supper Club:

·        First, you are asked to leave the establishment if you are offered a cocktail before dinner and you either: 1) Order your Manhattan with whiskey instead of brandy or 2) Fail to order a cocktail.

·        Second, you get both soup and salad. Any soup choice that does not consist of a heavy cream base is immediately disqualifying unless they are French Onion or chicken noodle.

·        Third, the salad must be ice berg lettuce. Anything on the salad bar such as “spring mix” is immediately disqualifying. And arugula is an island in the Bahamas that you go to in January.

·        Fourth, you must get a “relish tray”. The tray must include radishes and green onions. You don’t need to eat the radishes. They can be reused for the next guests.

·        Fifth, you must get a basket of cellophane wrapped bread sticks. One must be garlic, the other onion.

·        Sixth, to accompany the bread sticks you must get a cheese ball. A cheese ball made of any cheese that would be sold at Fromagination is immediately disqualifying.

·        Seventh, the menu must consist of steaks and seafood. By seafood we mean fried fish and shrimp cocktail. Any menu that contains mahi mahi  is immediately disqualifying.

·        Eighth, for the health conscious among us, cottage cheese or tomato juice can be offered in place of the soup or salad, but in no event can they be substituted for steak or fried fish.

·        Ninth, extra points are awarded if your waitress’ name is Ethel, Doris or Rhonda. If your waiterperson insists on being called Michael or David points are deducted.

·        Tenth, place mats also garner extra credit as long as they depict game fish of northern Wisconsin or heroes of the Green Bay Packers.

So, there you have it. Dave’s rules of supper clubs. Enjoy.

I can’ believe Triple M is turning 20 years old over 4th of July weekend.  I was working  for another station in town as a news reporter when Triple M came on the air back in 1991.  I graduated from the UW the year before and I remember the exact spot where I heard my first sample of Triple M.  I was driving eastbound on Mineral Point Road near Yellowstone Drive.   My radio was on scan and missed the station, but I manually turned it back a few notches to 105.5.   The first song I heard was Black Water by The Doobie Brothers or was it I.G.Y. from Donald Fagen?  It doesn’t really matter, I just remember wondering if the station would last.

Before I got the job in 1999, I met with Kitty at Pizzera Uno’s across the street from the station.  She was very impressed when I ordered a Leinenkugel and even more impressed when I ordered a second.  Since then she’s probably never seen me have more than a single beer.

That evening we discussed our big plans for the show which included a goal of broadcating from all seven continents by the year 2005.

Well…um…only 6 more to go!

I recently went through my”Radio Shoebox of Memories” to find an early picture of Kitty and me.  Sadly, it was filled with cleaning supplies.  However, after some more digging I found our very first publicity photo together.  I remember we were both so excited and debated whether we should dress formal or casual for the picture.  After much thought, we went with formal:

We were so young and foolish and ready to take on the broadcast world.  We had a lot of bright ideas and big dreams.  I think we’re still just as enthusiastic about the job and ready to entertain all those who are willing to listen.  Here’s a publicity picture from just last week:

Here’s to 20 years of Triple M and to at least 20 more!

Happy almost Independence Day. Hope you have great plans for the long weekend. I hope they are more fun than mine: moving cross town.

Since people like to take vacations this time of year, so will the caption contest, returning July 13.

To tide you over, here are some of the photos that DIDN’T make the cut.

These are the rejects. just WAIT until you see what I have planned for July 13.

Meanwhile, have a safe 4th of July. Wish me luck in my move. See ya soon!

Triple M’s 20th birthday is on the 4th of July. That’s got some of us waxing nostalgic around here.

I’ve been at Triple M for a little over 19 of those years, and I’ve got pictures to prove it. Here are a few.

1. Meet Bill Collins!

2. Nervous John Urban

3. My first gig with Jonathan

4. Live From London!

5. Singing the blues

1. I had just started working at Triple M when I got a crazy idea for a promotion before the Genesis show at Camp Randall. I had this friend that people said looked a lot like Phil Collins..so we brought him in and he played the part to the hilt. Free photos with “Bill Collins.” The photographer in this photo is my future co-host, John Urban. They guy in the wacky shorts is Ralph Cohen.

2. John Urban in the old Triple M studio on Odana Road. He put up with me from 1993-1998.

3. With Jonathan at the second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 1999. That other dude is Radio Free Madison’s Rick Murphy. And yeah, I’m the one in the funny hat.

4. Live From London (Wisconsin). Our first photo shoot with roadkill.

5. At a Madison Blues Festival..with Westside Andy. Awww, shucks.

After a decade spent excelling in hazy melodies,  My Morning Jackets’ recently released album, Circuital, has managed to catch the attention the attention of music lovers by putting them back on track after their “Evil Urges” detour.   Circuital combines their experience with a rediscovered youthful zest.

Although the album was recorded in a makeshift studio carved out of the gymnasium of a local church…according to Rolling Stone, the new record features “trippy keyboards, twisted pop hooks and fuzzed-out guitar attacks,” and “feels like the culmination of the sonic adventures the band began with 2005’s ‘Z’ — while also capturing the power and dynamics that have made MMJ one of the greatest live bands of their generation.”

Check out this video of the band performing on Conan – the enjoyably daft Holding on to Black Metal suggests Evil Urges lurks in the band’s DNA – but the addition of a teen choir and the horns creates an almost transcendental sound.

In the past few years, many cars have disappeared.  Even if I never had any plans to buy an Oldsmobile or Saturn, it was still a little sad to see them go.   One car that has been brought back from near death several times is Saab. I’ve always liked Saab.  When I was a kid, my dad used to say a Saab was like a bulldog.  “They’re kinda ugly, but they’re unusual and that makes them cool.”

I agree.  The Saab is the bulldog of the car world.

Just last week things were looking dreadful for the Swedish car maker.  In fact, Saab stopped production because the company couldn’t pay its workers.  However, there’s now word a mysterious buyer from China wants 582 Saabs and is paying 18.4 million up front for the cars.

Hurray!  Swedish fish candy for everyone!

Hopefully.

I’m wondering if this is really a prank by some rich bratty Chinese kid having  fun with the Swedish.  It reminds me of kids here in the United States ordering 100 pizzas to a school teachers house.

The story says it’s a “mysterious Chinese buyer”.  It sounds awfully shady to me.

I hope Saab doesn’t start making all these cars only to find out the mysterious buyer is named Ms. Anita Nucar or Ms. Barb Dwyer or Mr. Ali Goricle or Ms. Annie Bodie.

However, if the order comes from Mr. Seymour Butts there will be no worries.  My friend, Artie Choke can vouch for him.