ASCAP's Cover Band Death Threat

As reported in a story by John A. Torres in Florida Today, ASCAP has gone completely ape-shit with desperation:

Six months after raising the curtain on their gourmet coffee shop in the beachside Indian Harbour Place shopping center, Laurie and Jim Hall decided to offer [free] live music [by unpaid musicians] on Friday and Saturday nights...Then a few months later, music industry giant ASCAP started calling and sending letters saying East Coast Coffee & Tea was in violation of copyright laws. The fee to continue the music was $400 a year.

This is nuts, but it's rather entertaining to watch as the music industry repeatedly shoots itself in the foot.

Rockin' and Rememberin'

Rocking and Remembering
Originally uploaded by Bob Rhubart

Several Cleveland-area musicians gathered at 1899 Pub in Willoughby, Ohio for a memorial/benefit show honoring friend and former bandmate Dave Nida, who succumbed to cancer on July 5, 2007.

Far from a sad occasion, the event, dubbed Day for Nida, was a joyous, boisterous, liquored-up, and life-affirming gathering that brought together members of the The Balls of Fire (seen here), the Rasberries, the Choir, the Roosters, the Brick House Blues Band and others. Proceeds from the benefit go to Dave's daughter.

A Blue Note...

The Balls of Fire @ the Beachland
Originally uploaded by Bob Rhubart

I just learned this morning of the peaceful passing of Dave Nida. That's Dave on the right in this photo with Carl Czaga (left) and Jack Snyder (center), on stage at last year's Balls of Fire 25th anniversary reunion show at the Beachland Tavern. Dave was a fixture of the Cleveland-area rock and roll scene for many years. His network of friends is vast, and spans some of the best musicians in the area. He will be missed.