Sugar's Journal Sunday, March 21, 2004 Nine months ago, I wrote my first journal entry for this Web blog, with the expectation that we would release this new Web site during the summer 2003. (So, technically, this is my second journal entry.) However, as many of your probably know, planning and designing a Web site is much more intense than it appears. Which is fine, because it's been fun and educational, and I think the final product is freakin' awesome. Plus, I've been fairly distracted with other things, including buying a house, making a new "demo" CD, traveling, and generally taking it easy. In fact, some folks might be asking, "What in the heck happened to Sugar Jones? I haven't heard from you in a while." (And, God knows, we like to e-mail you.) The answer is, I've been on a kind of sabbatical from playing live, since the band's last performance on September 6, 2003, which was at T.T. Reynolds in Fairfax, Virginia. After two years of non-stop gigging, I needed a break. The time off has allowed me to focus on the production of a new four-song demo, called Satsuma Skin, which I am already expanding into a full-length CD, to be completed this year. The demo version should be finished and available by April, which is great timing because that's when we will start playing live again. Oh, and by the way, a satsuma is a small orange that is abundant in Louisiana (my home state). The satsuma is very popular because it's sweet, seedless, and very easy to peel. And, before I forget to ask, please click here and vote on the which cover we should use for the Satsuma Skin CD. You'll know which cover "won" when you see the final CD artwork. In the past, when there were spells in which I was not performing music, I generally felt anxious or depressed. However, I've really enjoyed this hiatus. It's been a great opportunity to, in the cheesiest analogy available, "fill the well," meaning to do the other things in life that give you something to talk about musically. Otherwise, as a musician, you risk being just a technician, but not really expressing anything real or interesting. Also, time off gives a person space to appreciate and evaluate their opportunities. Indeed, building this Web site reminded me just how much we have done in the last couple of years. Sugar Jones performed more than fifty shows at more than 25 venues in D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. We earned a truck load of media, which is reflected in the wealth of content on this Web site. And, we sold about 1000 CDs and built a substantial list of supporters. Now, the issue is, where do we go from here, and how? I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. But, what I do know is that much of Sugar Jones' success is due to my current band mates -- James "Monty" Montgomery, Ben Marcheski, and Dave Hanbury. I want to thank them for sticking with this project for so long and for making the live shows dynamic, fun, and professional. Also, I want to thank our former bassist Dave Oliver for all of his time, creativity, and effort. Which reminds me, Sugar Jones needs a new bass player. Perhaps a reader knows of someone who might be interested? Is so, e-mail me at chad@sovereignmusic.com. Finally, and getting back to the subject of this Web site, I really, really want to thank Tim Munson, my good friend and colleague from Georgetown's Communication, Culture and Technology (CCT) program, for his incredible work putting this site together. He did ALL of the work. Everything you see here, including the Sugar Jones logo and a lot of the photography, is the product of his incredibly creative and focused brain, discriminating eyes, and nimble fingers. Tim and I got together in January 2003 to discuss building a Web site and creating some other goodies, I said "yes," and Tim just went crazy. He under-promised and over-delivered. I cannot recommend him enough for freelance communications work. You can contact him at tim@sugaimunson.com. (And, thanks to Hiromi, his wife, for putting up with a year of Tim being distracted by this project.) If all goes well, I will add a new journal entry to this site every 2-4 weeks, so please come back regularly. Plus, we'll always be adding new dates on the calendar, updates about the band's efforts, new photos, etc. And, if you have ideas or whatever about Sugar Jones or about this Web site, please e-mail me anytime at chad@sovereignmusic.com. And, don't forget to check out the "Kitchen" on this site, which is my very own, very personal contribution to my second favorite art form -- the culinary arts. Ya'll come back now, ya hear? Chad |
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