Josh and the Empty Pockets Newsletter #3

Josh and the Empty Pockets Newsletter #2

Josh and the Empty Pockets - Live at the Double Door
Josh and the Empty Pockets will once again be rocking one of Chicago's legendary music clubs, the Double Door.. [venue link] Join the Pockets as we blow both doors off this puppy on July 17. Doors open at 8:00, The Pockets rock the joint at 10:15, cover is $7. The night of musical beauty includes such diverse talent as Hot Heels Records, Band Called Catch, Star and Micey (our dudes from Memphis!) and Chicago funk-monsters Deuce. Come on out and enjoy the night filled with good tunes, good friends, and good times. Plan for a few surprises!


Northbrook Days - Back by Popular Demand
That's right, Pocketeers, those wacky Pockets come to rock the 'burbs at Northbrook Days. [ venue link ] Josh and the Empty Pockets had such an awesome time last year and are glad to be welcomed back to the Days of Northbrook. You should really join them in rocking this place into the ever-loving ground. Seriously, let's do this thing!



May we introduce the Pocket Rocketeer
As you Pocketeers know, we recently lost our beloved 77' Dodge touring van, dubbed "The Pocket Rocket" in North Bergen, NJ over the last tour. Due to irreconcilable differences involving the retention of fluids, we had to part ways. With a tear in our eyes, we selected our next method of transportation carefully, including such options as a train, a zeppelin, and a clock-work mechanical beast. We found our girl in this beautiful Ford Econoline-350 XLT. We call her "The Pocket Rocketeer". Well, at least that's what Danny calls her.





Let the music be your guide,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

The Status Update (or Running, Gunning, Gone)

Holy hell, Pocketeers, it's been a a little while since we've had a blog, but we've been up to so much exciting stuff, we've barely had time to breathe. We've got a new Pocket Rocket, we've got some exciting shows coming up, and we have some news about the next album, but all that will be coming in the following days. If I may, I'd like to say a few words about a topic that everyone is talking about these days: Michael Jackson.

First off, it's sad to have lost such a huge figure in Pop music. Michael will continue to shape the face of pop music for years to come as subsequent generations of musicians are brought up with his time-honored classics in their ears.

I grew up with Michael Jackson tunes being played on the radio, watching his tremendous videos on MTV, peering into the eyes of a giant. I even had a Michael Jackson "Bad" portable 45 record player. I didn't know any of the words, but I sang along loudly, as did my sister. And oh, the dancing. We would both play air-guitar to "Black or White" and be filled with glee whenever the local radio stations would play "Thriller" around Halloween time.

On the road, the Empty Pockets crank the Michael Jackson and boogie along to "Thriller", taking pleasure in each "Jacksonism" inside the music. We sing along and make observations about pop music of past and present. When we heard he died, at the gig in Naperville, we played "I Want You Back" in tribute to the man who was rightfully declared "The King of Pop".

Here's a link to my favorite Micheal Jackson song, "Remember the Time" from the album "Dangerous".
Remember the Time

Stay classy, San Diego
-Nate Bellon(bass)