February 27, 2000 - Update
Got some more details about the aforementioned Pepsi TV commercial.  Faith Hill, Michael Lennon, Pat Lennon, Mark Harris and Chris Horvath play an up and coming band.  The ad starts with them all lounging around in their tour bus, where Hallie Kate Eisenberg offers Faith and the gang some performance tips.  Thescene then moves to a small club, where the band is playing, and they sound good but not great.  More tips from Hallie.  Finally, we wind up at an arena show.  The band really has it together now, thanks to the little girl's coaching, and their song brings the house down.  The spot will debut during the Academy Awards, Sunday night, March 26, on ABC (with literally billions of viewers watching), and will continue to air heavily for months after that.

In other news, we now have an airdate for Venice's House of Blues webcast.  We can all tune in on Saturday, April 8 at hob.com.  If you miss it then, a tentative re-airing on July 15 is also planned.  It is my understanding that 100k and 300k modem connections (which means cable modems, ISDN, DSL or a T1 or greater) can be accessed by pay-per-view, while 28.8k and 56k connections will be free.

February 27, 2000
Michael Lennon, Pat Lennon, longtime Venice bassist Mark Harris and Pine Mountain Logs keyboardist Chris Horvath have spent the last several days filming a television commercial.  It's another in the series of Pepsi ads directed by Joe Pytka and starring Hallie Kate Eisenberg, the little girl from "Paulie," "The Insider" and "Bicentennial Man," where she talks using the voices of Marlon Brando, Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin, etc.  This ad features Faith Hill, and Lennon/Lennon/Harris/Horvath play members of her band.  No, they won't be really playing or singing.  They're on camera, mimicing a performance to a pre-recorded track.  Watch for this ad to begin airing worldwide later this year.


February 25, 2000
Who Wants To Win A Spin Art Machine?  I know, you'd rather be a millionaire, but that's someone else's gig.  Musicbase.com is giving away a Spin Art machine.  You can register to win, and also read a Q & A with Michael Lennon, over here.

In other news -- on March 6th, "2 Meter Sessies Volume 9" will be released on CD in Holland, and will include "Guinevere," performed by David Crosby and Venice, along with songs from Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows, Beck, Randy Newman, Willy DeVille and others.  (Catalog number: 731454135429.)  Thanks to Rene Steenbergen and Marius Suiker for the tip.


February 24, 2000
Got plans for late November?  How does a Venice concert cruise to Mexico sound?  Check it out!


February 22, 2000
It's been a long time since I've added new pictures to Venice Central, because my life has been way too busy lately.  But I got some black and white shots in my e-mail today that were way too good not to share.  So, I've added the first additions to the Pictures Pages in many months. Check them out here.  Fantastic work, Tim!  And thanks to Ananda for sending them!

In other news, MP3.com is offering a full download of "One Quiet Day."  If you don't already own "Spin Art," here's your chance to get the song complete and unedited - without paying for it!  Then, once you've done that, you should head immediately down to your local CD retailer and pick yourself up a copy.  What are you waiting for, anyway?


February 21, 2000
Sorry for the lack of updates lately.  So, how have you been?

Let's see...  Last night's show at the House of Blues was videotaped, and will be broadcast over the internet at the House of Blues website.  Watch this page for exact date and time as soon as it's announced.

In other news, for all you fans who have been asking me how to get ahold of the two "Garage Demos" CDs, I have great news for you.  The guys will begin selling them again at their shows, starting with the gigs in Holland.  Mail order will probably be available as well.  I will of course publish ordering information as soon as I have it.

And the best news of all, for those of you who have a chance to see the band live:  Because "Garage Demos" is making a comeback, expect to hear more and more of those songs creeping back into the sets.  Last night's show featured "The Water" and "I'll Be Drivin'," and many more classics will make appearances over the next few months.  There are even rumors of a Los Angeles reunion show of "The Magnificent Seven," the Venice lineup that featured the Lennons with Monroe Jones (keyboards), Mark Harris (bass) and Scott Crago (drums).  This lineup wrote, recorded and performed together all through the early 90s, and were responsible for the band's first three albums.  If this happens, it'll be a hell of a show.


February 7, 2000
I've added many more entries to the radio station list.  The ones in red are already playing the song, and will be especially receptive to your song requests.  Please call as many as possible every couple of days and ask them to play Venice's "The Man You Think I Am."  But remember, unless they broadcast over the internet, do not contact any stations outside of your geographical area.

I've also been able to update the info on many of the venues in the Netherlands, thanks to Marius Suiker, Rene Steenbergen and Jaap Stoffer.  You can find all that on the Tour Dates page.


February 2, 2000
Kipp Lennon has e-mailed me the tentative itinerary for the band's upcoming tour of the Netherlands.  I don't have venue information yet (addresses, phone numbers, etc.), and it's difficult for me to gather that stuff from here in America.  So if anyone can help fill in the blanks, I'd very much appreciate it.

As more details trickle in, I will of course post them right away.

By the way, Kipp will turn 40 on March 12, so the show in Nijmingen the following night will basically be his birthday party.  If you're going to that show, feel free to bring presents, streamers, signs that say "Happy Birthday," etc.