05.12.08 -
Half a year for an update? Really? Okay, well, since I've been blogging
and posting on MySpace and Facebook, I've forgotten the ancient art of old-school
website updating. Duck Soup has been busy, and I am trying to change the format
of my calendar to reflect that, and keep you up-to-date on everything I'm doing.
Enjoy!
01.22.08 -
Happy New Year! At least I got an entry in before February. Check the
updated calendar. Check MySpace for CJB songs, some personal blogs, etc. Continue
requesting "Sultan" by What Made Milwaukee Famous on FM101.5 in Austin,
if you want to keep hearing my trombone, trumpet, and arranging skills on the
air! Vote for me in the Austin
Chronicle Music Poll, too!
11.03.07 -
Polka season flew by, and now it is time for the victory lap: Wurstfest!
Come on down to New Braunfels, TX, and celebrate with some pork-chop-on-a-stick
and some beers. The November schedule is now up. See you down I-35!
Also, check out the new Blues Traveler album, "Cover Yourself" - my
arranging and horn playing are featured on a re-done 'Runaround.'
09.06.07 -
Wow, August went by quickly. A little too quickly... Anyways, just
finished arranging and recording for What Made Milwaukee Famous, performed an
original trombone trio written in 3 hours (still a success), and have only just
recently been able to rest up a bit. And NOW starts the busy months. Polka season
returns, with a vengeance! Check out the calendar section for the dates, times,
and locations. THIS WEEKEND is in Walburg, TX, so try to make it out!
07.28.07 -
Writing and updating from Vail, CO. I have August's schedule up now,
and am playing 19 of the 31 days in August. Seriously, there is NO reason to
miss out on an opportunity this month. Especially being my birthday month, make
a point to come out to one of the shows. That would be the best gift ever! Thanks
to all those who already have come out to see the 80's band, Calling Jack Burton.
It's just like Lays potato chips, too - you can't just see one... show! You
guys keep coming back, and that rocks like nothing else. See you next month!
07.09.07 -
It has been a while. Among the most interesting activities of late
include arranging and recording for Blues Traveler, playing my trombone and
organ piece, Theopneustic, on Pentecost again, and playing in Hawaii with Duck
Soup. Life is good!
04.11.07 -
This was a great Holy Week from which I emerge. This is always a spiritually
rich time of year for me, and reminds me that one of the biggest reasons I call
Ausitn home is, in fact, St. Austin Catholic Church. Specifically, it is the
choir, under the direction of Dr. John Hoffman, that makes me feel such a part
of that religious community. And Dr. Hoffman always infuses the choir rehearsals
with little theology lessons that really makes you realize WHAT you're singing,
and WHY you're singing it. As a vocal instructor and songwriter, that means
the world to me. Thanks, Dr. Hoffman! And God Bless y'all!
03.19.07 -
A couple of updates to the calendar, both logging past events and showing
a few coming up. Finishing up revisions for a sacred piece of music. SXSW was
hectic. Interesting arranging possibilities coming up. Was praised for my Future
Clouds & Radar string quartet arrangements, which were performed at
their CD release and at SXSW. Very cool band! Speaking of cool bands, lots of
gigs with Nakia
and his Southern Cousins lately, and in the future.
03.02.07 -
I have been swamped with gigs, both playing and arranging, so February
seems a blur. A good blur, though. The drum
shop helped host a Jack DeJohnette drum clinic that was a resounding success,
thanks to our new friends at the Studio on IH-35 S feeder, just S of 2222. David
Chenu provided the pre-clinic music with his usual stylistic jazz prowess.
I designed the programs, and Jeff and Kat did all the hard parts! Actually,
it really was a team effort - thanks to all friends, new and old, of the drum
shop!
Check out my calendar - I've included the private gigs this time so that no
one thinks I'm slacking!
01.11.07 -
Happy New Year! Resolutions? Goals? Sure, here are the 7 in '07 music-related
ones:
1) Make some headway on the Opera.
2) Record and re-record old projects to a point of finalization.
3) Continue expanding teaching studio at Jeff Ryder's Drum Shop.
4) Make Calling Jack Burton the best 80's cover band EVER. Oh, wait we are!
5) Write and record the polka CD. Get Grammy with said CD.
6) Finish a couple of Sacred works that I've started.
7) Finish viola concerto.
12.14.06 -
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! This has been a great year for me,
what with Duck Soup taking me all around the States as well as Alpine Express.
There has been a ton of arranging work, and I'm starting work, under the guidance
of Jeff Ryder, on a vocal lesson book and program. This past weekend, I had
a breakthrough on the backstory of the opera I've had on the backburner for
a while, and received positive feedback from my bandmates, so we'll see if I
can get a few more songs written for it in 2007. I also feel like I'm playing
my best these days, so life is grand!
10.29.06 -
Lots of great happenings of late. Tuesday night (Halloween), a few
of my arrangements will be featured by the Hill
Country String Quartet, with Zhenya Rock (Red Elvises) and Kim Deschamps
(Cowboy Junkies). It is going to be an amazing concert. I've been getting a
lot of arranging work, thanks to Thomas van der Brook and Thomas Lee (no relation)!
The XRP album is finished and is on sale at their shows, and will soon be available
at Waterloo Records and at Jeff Ryder's Drum Shop in Austin. I am furiously
writing new material for the polka band, that we may chase the ever-elusive
Polka Grammy. I've got about 13 songs in various stages of production. And look
for information on the benefit concert coming up in December for the Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society.
09.27.06 -
Polka season has officially kicked off! Tomorrow, I fly out for 10
days on the road. When I get back, I'll be playing with Toast on Wednesday,
October 11, at Flamingo Cantina. Check my gig calendar for the updated polka
places and times, as well. The XRP album is a session away from being finished.
Thanks to the producer, Tim McCormack, for putting in the extra effort to get
it done!
08.14.06 -
30 years old am I now. My birthday party/concert was incredible - thank
you all who made it and thank you all who sent well-wishes this past week. I
am currently working on some string arrangements for Oliver Rajamani's new album,
have some sound design work, recently finished the 3rd XRP single, continue
helping at the drum shop, and am mentally psyching up for the upcoming tour
season. Duck Soup public gig at ANTONE'S this Friday!
07.25.06 -
It has been a whirlwind month so far, what with moving, gigs, and the
opening of the Austin location of Jeff Ryder's Drum Shop. Anderson Lane and
Shoal Creek, just off MoPac. I'll be teaching voice and trombone lessons there.
As I build my studio, I'll also continue to help Jeff out with the store, so
you'll likely see me there if you stop by. Tuesdays through Friday, 11am to
7pm. Saturdays, 11am to 5pm.
Some great arrangement gigs are on the horizon, and I'll let you know as they
come up. I'm travelling to Vail, CO, Wednesday for a gig on Thursday, then back
to Austin on Friday for a Saturday gig. My birthday anniversary is coming up
on August 9th, and if I have time to plan something incredible, I'll post details.
06.08.06 -
A special thanks to all those who attended the premier of Theopneustic
earlier this week. If you don't know what I'm talking about, email me to get
on my mailing list. Long story short, it was my 2nd performed sacred work, and
it was met with incredible feedback. In the future, there may be a clip of the
performance on this site, but for now, if you want a copy, you'll have to email
me.
I am now in the midst of getting the 2nd XRP single out in time for this Saturday's
show at Trophy's. Visit www.xrprocks.com
to check out their show time and CD availability. Today, I head down to San
Antonio to play in the Texas Folk Life Festival with Terry Cavanagh and the
Alpine Express. We play at 7pm, and have a great set to show off with!
04.27.06 -
The XRP single is finished, with my first fully engineered track (In
a Long Time) and a killer trombone solo add-on to an existing track (Dream On
My Bed). Visit www.xrprocks.com
to check out their shows and CD availability. And I am flying out too early
tomorrow morning with Duck Soup to play on the same bill
as Tower of Power and The Pointer Sisters. I am having a great time right now,
what with lots of work and working with great people - there are many more projects
on the way, but I am never too busy to forget that I owe it all to you friends
and family, and to God for these blessings (that includes the blessings of you
friends and family)! I am a little behind on the sacred music piece so look
for May to be when I complete that. Much Love!
04.05.06 -
Hello Sophie! Just sending some international shout-outs. Check out
Toast on this Friday at El Arroyo in Westlake. First single from the new XRP
album should be out within a couple of weeks. Need a place to celebrate Easter?
Try St. Austin Catholic Church at the 12noon Mass, as I will be cantoring (leading
the congregation in song)! Speaking sacredly, I am publicly announcing that
I will finish one of the several sacred pieces I've been writing within the
month. Hopefully that will be motivation enough. Feel free to ask about it,
thus encouraging my work on it.
03.10.06 -
Greetings! Duck
Soup is still keeping me busy, I'm recording for Ghandaia's new album, several
arranging projects in the works, new songs in the works, and still mixing the
new XRP CD. 2 Public Performances of note, in calendar order:
Playing with Toast
on St. Patrick's day at the Bennigan's downtown Austin; and Sunday March 26,
6pm @ the Auditorium at the LBJ Wildflower Center, I will be performing Arabian
Waltz on Tuba with the Hill
Country Strings and Oliver Rajamani. Only $5 for "An Evening of Classical
Music and Singer Songwriters with String Accompaniment." Tickets available
at the door. As this is a concert rather than a typical gig, it would mean a
lot if you could make it out. Thanks!
01.24.06 -
The first update of the new year is long overdue. I came back from
L.A. where Duck Soup played a party thrown by Gov. Rick Perry, as well as the
official Texas Exes Tailgate party for the Rose Bowl. Go Horns! National Champs!
I watched the game at a bar down the street from the stadium, so I was deep
in enemy territory. The USC fans were gracious though. They've had their fair
share of titles for a while yet, anyway. This Thursday marks another XRP gig,
so check the calendar for details.
12.20.05 -
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year to all! Don't be
alarmed at the lack of gigs on the calendar- most are private functions. I may
start putting them up so that you can keep track, but for now, just take my
word for it that I will be playing a lot.
11.17.05 -
Polka season is over, and it was a good one! Thanks to all who came
out to the gigs and made it the best season ever. From one adventure to another-
I am now the trombone player for Duck
Soup. A host of adventure awaits!
Also, I'll be singing another song from Leonard Bernstein's "Mass"
this Sunday at the 9am Mass at St.
Austin's.
10.26.05 -
Over halfway through the polka season now! Check out the calendar section
for specific Wurstfest times and locations so that you can eat some pork-chop-on-a-stick
while watching some polka music.
09.17.05 - UPDATES GALORE!
5-hour gig down. 6-hour gig later today. Love the polka!
Note the changes to my services page. Also, for those looking for FILM SCORING,
I will have some samples on the media page next week.
09.16.05 -
In Huntsville, AL, at the Redstone Arsenal while I update. Thanks to
all who came out to The Parish - it was a great show! Please note that Gadjo
Bango is cutting down on our Monday performances. It will now be once a month
there, so keep an eye on the calendar for the next one.
09.02.05 -
I am now capable of updating the site on my own. That means the potential for
more updates - I'll try to follow through. Check out the new discography link
under resume, and check the updated calendar section for new gigs. Starting
next week, I'll be back into the teaching mode at Hill Country Middle School.
The Mantis Dojo will produce excellent students as always. Go Cougars!
08.04.05 - Howdy, y'all
The celebration of my birthday (August 9) will occur on August 10th, 7:30pm,
Fox & Hound (401 Guadalupe St). Some appetizers and free pool will
be provided. Fun will have to be supplied.
Every Monday night @ the Parlor (100-B North Loop), Gadjo Bango, 9:30pm.
Puyo-punk! We have stickers.
Sunday, August 14, Ego's (510 S Congress Ave), 9pm-??? 3 or more bands
playing, most of which I am in. Adam Sultan Moment, Gadjo Bango, Mistress
Stephanie and Her Melodic Cat, maybe more. What a line-up!
Saturday, August 27, 8pm-11pm, Nuevo Leon (1501 E 6th St), Nash Hernandez
Orchestra. This is our last patio thing for this summer, so check it out
if you haven't already!
I'll try to update the website soon, with these dates, as well as more as they
come in. Episode 2, part 4 should be up and running soon on www.clearthequeue.com
so be sure to check it out. Lots of music work and sound editing
done on that one. Very funny. This part is even kid friendly...
mostly.
Off to the beach for a pre-birthday vacation!
Michael Hoffer
07.13.05 - Update
Just returned from L.A., where Disneyland was hosting the anniversary of the All-American College Band. Fellow alumni of 1997 where there, as well as members of the 1971 (the first year of the program) to 2005 years. On Saturday, we rehearsed, I went to the parks with Matt and Denise Stiglich and family, then attended a dinner, followed by watching the Electric Light Parade at the California Adventure park. The following day, after church, I went back to the park and the massed band played in front of the castle. As always, it was quite well-attended, and, despite there being over 25 trombonists there, I could only hear myself... mission accomplished. Additionally, over the course of my 5-day trip, I was able to visit old friends, write 3 new songs, and relax. And - of course - eat at In N Out. Now comes time to start mixing the X Rated Presents punk album, resume production on Clear The Queue, and record all these new and old songs. Welcome to the site, and thanks Rene for its great design!
07.13.05 - Latest Dates
JULY
16th, Saturday, 10p-11p, Beerland with Gadjo Bango
18th, Monday, 9:30p-11p, The Parlor with Gadjo Bango
23rd, Saturday, 8p-11p, Nuevo Leon with The Nash Hernandez Orchestra
AUGUST
9th, Tuesday, all day, my freakin' birthday
etc.