http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1 en-us Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:24:32 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=34 Woodford Reserve.

I walked into the visitors center with my mic and the people there kinda of freaked. They went and got a manager and she told me that I needed written permission from management to record any of the tour. Woodford Reserve may be a small distillery but they are owned by Brown-Forman, a very large corporate entity in the adult beverage industry.

We had lunch at a nearby sandwich shop called Wallace Station which features panini pressed style sandwiches and soups. Their desserts were decadent and very popular with our group.

After checking into our hotel and relaxing for a bit we headed to the performance site for a quick check up on our program. Things went pretty well.

At about 9:30 we arrived at a restaurant just on the boarder of Kentucky and Indiana that had many good beers on tap and had many nice hand-made pasta dishes to choose from.

We are all looking forward to today.



















]]> Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:24:32 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=33


I was reading many headlines from the UK today about education. It seems that the teachers is the UK feel they are suffering from the same deficiencies as our American schools.  Overcrowding, foreign born students making more demands on the system and students that are not driven to suceed. 






]]> Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:20:52 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=32
We returned to the hotel and changed and began our celebration even though we hadn't gotten the results. Everyone we talked to was very impressed with our performance but no one would make a prediction other than we wouldn't beat New England Brass Band (who has some professional players as well as Doug Yeo as their conductor. Even I began to believe that if we come in second-we have achieved a win. But something kept gnawing at me- we could win this thing!

A friend from the Brass Band of Columbus (10 time NABBA Championship winning band) invited us over to their room in the other tower of the Galt House. While going up the elevator, Todd recieved a text message from Jess, our conductor. The text message contained two little words- WE WON

The party didn't stop until 4am this morning.


]]> Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:01:34 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=31
The tour was fantastic and it will be featured in an upcoming EdTech Musician Podcast. We saw the entire process from beginning to end. Grain grinding, making the mash, fermentation, filtering, bottling, labeling, and wax seal dipping. We even got to put out hands into the fermentation tanks to smell and taste the young bourbon.

We dipped our own bottles in the trademark red wax and had a wonderful scenic (albeit hilly) drive up to Louisville passing two other distilleries.

After checking in we took a little rest then headed to the performance sight vis shuttle bus. We waited outside the rehearsal room and listened to the Cincinnati Bass Band run through their program which, by the way, is the exact same program as ours. They sounded clean and precise. This should be a tight competition. Our rehearsal was as expected but seemed to lack the energy and shine that we were used to. The performance should be better.

Everyone seems very business like today. No nerves, no anxiety, just business as normal. Well! At least that's how I feel.

The food on the trip has been great. We ate a Willies Sport's Bar Thursday night and then headed to The Rock Bottom Brewery for a night cap. Saw a strange family almost get into a redneck all-out brawl at Willie's. Friday night after rehearsal we went to The Pub in 4th Street Live Louisville and had fish and chips, shepard's pie and great beer. Todd and I enjoyed Speckled Hen on tap and Lori had a Schmitick's. Jeff had Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale. Todd and I had a bourbon sampler as a night cap.

Today, we slept in-not because we had to. I was in by 11:30 the night before and I slept in because I could.

We met for an early lunch here a the Galt House and had a wonderful Hot Brown (a Louisville specialty of toast, sliced turkey, mushroom sauce, tomato, cheese and bacon.).

We are waiting to go to the performance venue. We are going to drive ourselves instead of taking the shuttle. We anticipate a huge rush on shuttles after our late performance so we decided to take our fate into our own hands.

More to follow!
]]> Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:13:09 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=29
We plan on visiting Makers Mark distillery-maybe even Heavens Hill distillery. Maybe a soundseeing tour will come out of that day.

COBB is rehearsing 2 time a week to get ready for the competition and I must say-we are getting much better. We just want to do the best we can and then let the results fall where they may. I am looking forward to hearing all the great bands at NABBA! It is a highlight of the year for me.

See ya on the road!
]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:50:12 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=27
We all enjoyed the Buckeyes whipping the Longhorns on Saturday.  I was a little surprised that Texas didn't put up more of a fight.  Well, here is my prediction! NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP for the Buckeyes in 2006!

Gonzalez was incredible as was Troy Smith. The defense came a way with alot of confidence to take on any team in the country!

Today we all remember where we were when our country was attacked five years ago.  True, we haven't caught who was responsable but there are brave men and woman (including our friend Sara) who risk their lives to complete this task.  Keep them in your thoughts.

On another note.....

A simple fact about working with musicians... they want to know when the gig starts, when it ends, how much it pays and if there are drinks involved.  That's pretty much it...


]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:09:25 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=25 Abingdon Winery and enjoyed a tour and a wonderful wine tasting.  Very good wine, so good that Lori and I walked away with a case.

]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2006 18:27:34 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=24
Scioto Valley Brass and Percussion Brass Band was paid $7200 to travel from Columbus to Bristol, VA to play at a family reunion and a church service.
]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2006 18:21:35 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=22
We were to leave Columbus, by coach at 2:30PM on Friday but didn't leave until 3:15PM due to someone forgetting their music.

Near Charleston, WV, we got stuck in a traffic jam for over two hours.  We were to arrive at our hotel by 10:00PM bt didn't get into our rooms until well after 2:00am Saturday morning.

We are to be on the bus by 9:15am to go to the location for the performance.  Todd and Lori smile after a wonderful continental breakfast including belgian waffles that you make yourself with very litle effort.

]]> Sat, 29 Jul 2006 12:31:44 GMT http://andrewseymour.com/blog.html?cq=1&p=21
We spent Friday night with everyone from Emerald Seas as it was their last night. (See photo)  Saturday we lounged around the hotel then decided to take a road trip to the Florida Keys.  We encountered heavy weather on the way.  We arrived, picked a place to have lunch and then the weather hit hard as we were doing some shopping.  We decided it wouldn't be wise to go to the beach or try snorkeling so we headed back to the hotel.  It was about a 2.5 hour trip one way.

The vacation was a good one, not packed with a ton of outings which is what we wanted.  Sydney liked the fact that she had kids to play with and she enjoyed the fishing trip early in the week.  Lori got  the time to just kick back and unwind.  The boat fishing trip was a highligh with the big grouper Ben caught and the time spent with friends.

Time to pack and head on back to the Buckeye!

]]> Sun, 23 Jul 2006 11:55:59 GMT