RAMBLINGS FROM JEFF
 Yep, it has been a long time since I let you know “what’s new” with me. I hate to apologize – so I won’t. Instead, I will tell you that like all of the rest of you I have been as busy as a three- legged beaver.
So, the last time you heard from me here was back in March when I had just finished playing the Music On The Bay music festival in Tampa, Florida with A1A. When that incredible gig was over, I caught the next flight out to Idaho and hopped back into the last leg of the 2019 Abba Mania tour. Which once again finished up with two shows in Hollywood on March 17. Like every year the Abba Mania tour was a most enjoyable experience. I am very grateful to get the opportunity to tour across the country once a year in grand style with the most amazing musicians, entertainers and production people I know. To have the chance to perform in the most beautiful theaters and performing arts centers in the country and see a lot of my friends along the way who are spread out over the country is a blessing. The only downside I regularly experience while on this annual tour is that it takes a significant toll on my body. While I enjoy traveling on a big tour bus, I do not sleep very well at all in the beds we have. I toss and turn with insomnia. Hips hurt, feet hurt — backaches, etc. etc. Of course, right along with all that is the fact that it is so challenging to eat right and stay fit on the road. Every year I have come home weighing more than I did when I left, and it always takes me a few weeks to remotely start feeling myself again. So at the end of last years tour in 2018, I finally decided that enough was enough. I decided that I could not let this continue and that it was damn time I got in shape and learned to eat healthy again once and for all. I knew full well that I could not do this alone, so I set out to find a serious personal fitness and nutrition trainer so that I would be held accountable. I enlisted my very close long-time friend, business partner, and manager, Kathy Mullen to assist me in this serious life quest. We were lucky enough to be referred to Tiffany Bryson, who runs Faithfully Fit Fitness Center in Dawsonville, Georgia. She turned out to be just what we needed, and I started my new physical life trek in August of 2018. I committed myself to change the way I ate and to exercise daily. My goal was to lose 40 pounds so that by the time I went back out to Oregon this summer to do some work with Gino Vannelli I would be in much better shape. Looking and feeling a lot healthier. I didn’t quite make 40 pounds, but I did lose 33 pounds, going from 222 to 189 in 11 months. To help me stay accountable and committed, I use a Fit Bit Icon Watch, a Weight Guru Scale, and a Spark Hydration Bottle. These indispensable tools all have great I-Phone apps that sync together with the My Fitness Pal App. This makes all the information I need to stay on track accessible in my hand at any time. I have to say that it has been a whole lot harder than I thought it was going to be, but I have done my best to stick to regular and consistent walking, cardio and strength training program on and off the road. A huge thanks to Tiffany and Kathy for consistently kicking my butt and helping me stay on track. Thanks to all of the hard work I was able to impress Gino, showing him I mean business, and, for the first time in my life, I lost weight while on the road. I will admit that I was quite scared to go back out on the road with Abba Mania this year. I was so afraid that I would slip and all of the work I have done would be wiped away by bad eating habits and little to no exercise. But the show must go on. So Tiffany gave me some severe cardio exercises I could do in my dressing room, and we arranged Facetime workouts whenever there was an opportunity. Also, whenever we stayed in a hotel, I parked my butt in the gym as much as I could. Eating well was still a big challenge, but when it was all said and done, I came back from the tour in March eight pounds lighter than when I had begun. All of the exercises, lifting and walking I have been doing significantly helped this summer performing with A1A. It also helped my vocal performance, posture, overall health, and self-confidence. If you are up for the commitment, I recommend this for everyone. The band has had a good summer with a lot of fun shows. Every performance this year has had its own set of challenges and great memories, especially my Birthday weekend, which was spent with The Atlanta Parrot Head Club at Margaritaville at Lake Lanier Islands celebrating the clubs 30th Anniversary. In spite of our show being rained out and losing about $2,500 worth of equipment in the storm, I still had a great time. Seeing so many old friends gathered together in one place for three days brought back floods of memories of so many good times over the years. It was also very nice to return to The Marietta Square this year for their July 4 Independence Day Celebration. A1A and Marietta have an extensive history together that goes back 25 years. Our fan base there has always been significant, and I have made many friends in and around the Marietta area since I started playing there way back in 1985. Although I have never lived there, it does not feel strange at all to feel quite at home when I am performing, relaxing at Hemingway’s, or just visiting the Marietta Square. It had been a few years since A1A had performed on the square and it felt lovely being able to play on such a great American Holiday. This past weekend on August 30 we returned for the third year in a row to play The Rock N’ Rails Music Festival in Griffth, Indiana. The Rock N’ Rails music festival is a massive 4-day event in Griffth showcasing the very best Tribute Bands in the nation. I have to tell you that there are some SERIOUSLY good tribute bands out there. Some are better or just as good as the acts they are paying tribute too. While attending The Rock N’ Rails music festival, we have seen tribute acts to Elvis, Chicago, Led Zeppelin, Prince, Heart, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, and Simon and Garfunkle. All of these acts will leave you spellbound and speechless. They are THAT good. The Rock N’ Rails Music Festival is a very cool festival to be a part of, and we are very grateful to have been included in the lineup for the past three years. I have my fingers crossed that we can return next year. On Sunday, September 1, we had the distinct opportunity to play the legendary Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. We were brought in by Bart Mason and The Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club to headline their annual Labor Day Weekend Show. I have heard about The Surf Ballroom all of my life but have never given it a lot of thought since we do not play that part of the country very often. Although several years back, A1A did fly into the same airport where Buddy Holly’s plane crashed. We were in a tiny plane, and the weather was not that great, so it was a little surreal. Even though we were that close to The Surf Ballroom that day, we did not have a chance to visit. So this past Labor Day weekend was the first time that any of us have visited this historical and legendary rock and roll landmark. I have seen a lot of rooms like this across the country when I am on tour with Abba Mania. But the history of the dressing room and the venue hangs in the air. I knew that performing here was going to be cool. However, I was not prepared for the intense emotion and aura of rock and roll history I experienced while in this building and on this stage. The vast number of legendary and iconic performers who have gone before us at The Surf Ballroom since it reopened in its current location in 1948 is mind-blowing. The entire band felt this way. This extraordinary feeling, along with a full house and a very energetic audience made this a night we will always remember. This coming Friday, September 6, we return to play our annual concert at Thrasher Park in Norcross, Georgia. I have lost count on exactly how many years in a row we have been playing this event. I know that it is well over 15 years. It is probably our most anticipated shows of the year and possibly our most well attended. Norcross has a stupendous summer concert series, and they bring us home to close it out every year. It is generally our last huge show of the season which makes it all the more memorable. Looking out over the crowd every year, I have so many memories of faces gone by that I can’t even begin to count them all. This park has special memories for which also date back before A1A even existed. One that stands out is when I used to bring my daughter to this park to swing and play in the playground when she was just a petite little girl. She even had her 3rd Birthday party here. So yea, lots of good times and memories here at Thrasher Park. To be closing out this season with this lineup of A1A along with the phenomenal Rhythm Jets is an excellent feeling and I am very grateful. We have a couple of more A1A, and Abba Mania shows left in 2019, and I have some other solo shows too. If you get a chance to make one, I hope you will come up and say hello. If not, I have some other very cool stuff to write about which I did not get to in this blog, so stay tuned. Jeff  Another Labor Day Holiday Weekend is over, and I want to take a minute to thank everyone who came out and saw the band perform. We had three highly successful shows that were all extremely well attended. It was a fitting way to take out the season, although I am feeling a bit beat up today. The band played fantastic every night, and everyone had a great time. I have to say that after 26 years I am amazed at the huge number of people who continue to come to our shows and completely enjoy what we do. After so much time sometimes I forget just how much joy and happiness our performances give to so many people. I had a vast number of concert attendees talk to me this weekend. All of them expressing how long they have loved the band and how much our performances mean to them. It was quite humbling.
I am very thankful and appreciative of everyone who has been part of A1A for so many years, both past, and present. I cannot stress to you how blessed I am to be able to play with the extraordinarily talented and world class musicians that I do. They give so much and push me to rise above my limitations which always make for a better show and sometimes a lot of laughs as well. I probably never thank them enough, but I want every one of them to know that what they have brought to A1A this year means more to me than I can say and that I would not have the incredible band I do without them. I would like to extend a massive thank you to Vance and Kelly Kelly for always opening their home up to the band for rehearsals, recording, fellowship and more. It has been a long and topsy turvy year for me, both personally and professionally; a lot of big ups and downs, not to mention all of the insanity that is enveloping our society and world today. We never know what is going to happen tomorrow or even if we will have it. The best we can do is to make the best of every moment and live as honest and authentic as we can. The rest, as they say, will take care of itself. With that said I continue to feel very blessed in knowing that A1A is still an active force and historic milestone in the Trop Rock Community. Knowing that we bring happiness and smiles to thousands of faces, even if only for a day is a wonderful feeling. I look forward to what the 2018 season brings. Thanks again to everyone who has touched my life and listened to me sing. Jeff Pike  Well, I am sitting here today, snowbound in my domicile of residence in Lawrenceville, Georgia. While staring out the window just now at the white stillness, a long awaited peace came over me. Here is what caused it. Through years of hope and positive thinking I have !nally given up. I !nally consent to the reality and accept the fact that the state of Georgia will never be prepared for snowfall. Regardless of how much or how little, it really is quite laughable. But be that as it may, I suppose that I should not complain too loud for there is still a bit of childhood fun that my soul receives from being “snowed in.” I do believe though it is only a feeling that we Southerners, who are not blessed (or cursed) with snow on a regular basis, feel and occasionally enjoy. So with that said, and having a little more free time on my hands today than originally intended, I thought I would just update you a little on what has been going on this month in my world.
First, I would like to share with you the fact that I am still reelin’ and rockin’ from attending the 2014 Annual APAP Convention in New York City earlier this month. My manager, Kathy Mullen and I were up there in the thick of it for 4 days. We met so many people, made some really useful contacts and saw some tremendous showcases. It was our !rst time attending this annual worldwide convention and I must say we were awed and overwhelmed. It was a tremendous experience and I hope that we have the chance to be a part of it next year. On another note but a related one, I am just now learning how to use Word Press and am having some problems with it. This is why I have not had a lot of updated material here on Je#Pike.com since launching the new website recently. But when I do, I will have a lot of recent pictures from the convention posted for you to enjoy. Speaking of the website, (www.je#pike.com) here is a little more current information that may be useful for you. While the main purpose of this website is to promote my original work there will also be a small part of it that I will use to promote cover gigs. (Restaurants, clubs, corporate work, private parties, etc.) Today I posted a quick impromptu promotional video that I recorded at Bahama Breeze this past week. It came out a lot better than I thought it would so I put it up on the video page for you to enjoy. Feel free to pass it along to anyone you know who books entertainment, for as you may or may not know, I am always looking for work and networking is never done. Thank you for your time today, but before you leave be sure to sign up for my mailing list, read my blogs and check out my concert calendar. ( Assuming of course that you are snowed in and have a lot of time on your hands today ) Anyway, I hope to see you on the road (or in the snow) sometime soon! If you are on the road, travel safe. If you are at home, lounge aggressively. Jeff Pike  Greetings friends and listeners,
The last time I touched base with you about a month ago, I was sitting in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Well, New Orleans, along with all of the other stops I made before I arrived home just yesterday were very kind to me. Sitting here in the warmth of my home this morning I feel very blessed. As you may know, I have been on tour with my musical com-padre Hugo Duarte as The Frozen Gringos since February; and as I mentioned in the previous paragraph I made it safely home from the road just yesterday. Our tour was very successful and it was a joy to get back out on the open road again. The audiences were quite heavenly; and while traveling at it’s best is quite taxing, I do so enjoy seeing our country through a windshield as opposed to #ying. I have always enjoyed the road – still do – and it may come as no surprise to some that much more than a smidgen of wander lust has always held court around the clock in my semi restless soul. But as time goes by there has remained a small part of me that feels like staying put, settling down, and leaving the ways of the road and the single wayward minstrel behind. As you can see it has not won me over yet, but I do !nd that piece of me growing larger upon each return from the repetitious, and dare I say it, shallow world of rock and roll on the road. But let’s be realistic. I am a musician and the road is part of that life. So in reality I just need to suck it up and remember that moderation is the key; and speaking of moderation I would like to take this opportunity to wish myself a Happy Birthday..... Three years ago today I made a decision and started my new life – a God driven life without alcohol. It has turned out to be the best decision I have ever made for myself, my family, my friends, and for my life. Upon making this decision I immediately joined a Celebrate Recovery Group in Duluth, Georgia which has been my home every Monday evening when I am in town. The impact of following a sober and God driven path has impacted my life, my spirit, my career and those close to me in ways I never, ever, ever could have imagined. Today I want to thank God, Celebrate Recovery, Amanda Ferreira, Ken Mercer, Hugo Duarte, Vance Kelly, Marti Woodward, Kathy Mullen, Chaz and Angela McDonald, my family, very close friends, band mates and listeners for supporting me – even when they may not agree or understand my life choices. Today is a day of re#ection and celebration for me, in many ways that only I will understand. I am just glad I am still here to do it and was given a second chance. God is good. Life is good. Love is good. Family, friends and fans are good, and music is still amazing. I will close now for I have new music to make and miles to go before I sleep.... From the heart, Jeff Pike  Greetings friends and listeners,
At this exact moment I am sitting in The French Quarter in New Orleans at the Community Co"ee house watching the city move. No, this is not a vacation, unfortunately. As I write this I am on tour with Hugo Duarte as The Frozen Gringos. This weeks stop – The Big Easy. Ahhhhh....New Orleans. She and I have had a tumultuous, yet satisfying love a"air for many, many years, and it is always a pleasure to return. I have been on the road with The Frozen Gringos since February 19 and it has been hectic, eventful and successful. Given all the good times; however, taking care of ones life let alone on the road can be very di$cult, to say the least. So, before I go any further I want to apologize to some of you who have written in regard to my lack of personal updates, album reviews, etc., on my Facebook page. This time of year it does prove di$cult for me not to make all things “Frozen Gringo,” especially since we spend so little time during the year performing together. Having said that, I am going to try my best to keep up for the rest of the tour, and things will de!nitely be back in full swing when I return home. As I just mentioned, The Frozen Gringo tour is moving along successfully. What I failed to mention however, is that our !rst CD is almost !nished. A couple of more long visits to the studio and we should have it completely thawed out for public consumption. Just so you know, Jeff Pike Music is still in full swing with a new acoustic CD scheduled for release by the !rst of summer. Recording has also started for my !rst Christmas CD, and, another all original acoustic CD scheduled for release during the !rst quarter of 2014. So needless to say, I am very busy. On a personal note, my lovely daughter turns 18 next month and graduates high school in May. In the fall she will be attending The University of Georgia where she will be studying Journalism and Finance. All of us in her life are over the moon proud of the amazing young woman she has become and cannot believe how quickly the time has #own. I never thought this day would arrive, but it has...with many, many mixed emotions. But overall, I am excited, happy, grateful and blessed with the new season of life which is about to start for both of us. Well, Tropical Isle is calling my name so I need to bolt....Thanks to everyone for listening and having faith in me, personally and professionally. Let the good times roll! Jeff Pike |
ABOUT"Ramblings From Jeff" - is a dedicated personal blog page within JeffPike.com written and posted by Jeff Pike. 
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