Dino's Diary/Podcast/Posts

[klees]

It was VERY cool to hear the guys on the radio in my hometown! I hope they start playing them regularly now. Oh well, time to leave for the show!

[Trees]

Post from Dino today.... will post in ST section also Cheers


Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject: Get Live Tour - Posters, etc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dudes,

We have posters we can send to you to put up all over your towns. We are looking for someone near each venue to put stuff up, or distribute to other street teamers.

Please let Dan know if you are interested, or PM me.

Other than that, there are different flyers for every show on the message boards. We could really use everyone's help passing them out all over their cities, and spreading the word for these shows. Every show has been great so far, and we think it is due to all the hard work everyone has been putting in.

Let's keep it going, and make this happen together. If these shows continue to kick ass, we will be able to stay ont he road and rock with everyone, and that is what we want to do my little kiddies!!!

ROCK!

cid

[greeneyes]

Finally... we get word from the road.

August 17, 2006
on the road

hey dudes! I know everyone has been waiting to hear from us on the road, but we have a pretty tight schedule, and it is hard to get a decent internet connection. ANYWAY, the tour has been going great and most shows have been pretty crazy. We honestly didn't expect it to go this well as we technically just picked markets that we have the least support in order to buid it up, etc and get some visibility. Everyone has been so great to us with all the food and gifts you have been bringing - honestly, that is such a grat help for us and keeps us somewhat sane. Being able to eat some real food every so often is great.

For those of you that feel like we are avoiding your towns, stay patient dudes, we'll get there!!! We would love to get overseas as well - we know there is a strong fan base there, and it is just getting bigger, so hopefully we can make that happen sooner than later.

I also want to thank everyone for all the birthday wishes, cards, gifts, etc. There are way too many to mention all, but thank you. I read every card, and was really touched by all of you. On a side note, today is Frankie's birthday. She is 1 - boy do I miss my bitch! I can say that cause she is a dog dudes - chill out with the censoring!!!!!

We have like 8 shows left on this leg, and I hope to see as many of you there as humanly possible. Don't forget that the band birthday bash is at Canopy, and I think we should extend it to Madison - what do you think?!?!?!? Might as well right, they are so close. So everyone get your asses to Canopy and Madison, and let's party. We have some surprises for those shows, starting with Bottle of Justus playing with us in Champaign. They are a great band that we have been playing with for years - you will love them - trust me.

Hammerjam - we found out one of our best buds Dan Darrah will be playing there with us in his band Hotel 45. I have known him since kidergarten dudes - you will love him... Call him "neutral man" he likes that. Tickets are running out for this, so get them now. I don't know how many are left, but Tara told me that they are running low, so don't miss out.

Building Steam - cd sales are starting to really climb dudes. People always ask me how this can happen without a huge marketing push from a label or tons of exposure, and my simple answer is fans/friends, grassroots. There is no better marketing tool than word of mouth. It is real, it is natural, and people make the choice rather than having some slick commercial telling them what they like or a radio station playing a song a million times forcing you to like it. This is real folks, and it is growing. Us being on the road helps get some visibility, but all of you having those cards, spreading the word on internet sites, and anything else you can think of is what makes the difference. Marty is known by millions, but millions don't know the cd is even out yet - that is where everyone comes in - just get those "CD in Stores now" cards and take them with you EVERYWHERE you go. Take them to concerts, grocery stores, libraries, doctors offices, bathrooms, psychics, dog groomers, anywhere you go take them, and leave a pile or pass them out. Seems simple huh? well it is. this isn't rocket science it is just rock! So the word for the week is "exposure" I may have to run across a tennis match naked with www.lovehammers.com written on my back - LOL

ok, lecture is over. I'll see your asses soon!

PS. I am tired, so please dont tell me that my posting has spelling and gramatical errors. I don't care, this isn't English class. Even if it was English class, I wouldn't care. I always hated English class.

-dK

Posted by dinokourelis at 09:33 AM

[rachael]

Love that diary post~~~Thank you GE for bringing it here and the heads up.
Always great to read something from LH.
Thanks Dino for posting!

[ndavis021410]

Thanks GE....

Ok, I'm looking forward to that tennis match....I GET FRONT ROW.....

OH MY.............

He'd do it too, that's what is skeery.....But he's also soooo right, in getting that word out....It's just the "right" thing to do, and and and...Dino running where?......Later all....Nancy

[chk]

hmmm. the US Open starts next week. I think I'll record all the matches just in case Dino does some flash-y street teaming.

[ndavis021410]

August 20, 2006
Great Tour - until.........

Wow, so everything has been going so great, and I feel like we have really been geneating a buzz, and creating new fans all over the country. That is usually a warning sign for me, cause when things are going so great, so flawless, something usually bad happens. And what do you know - it happened today. I have been in charge of the merch money and checks from the shows - basically I hold them until we deposit them - we haven't been able to deposit anything since the beginning of August because of horrible luck with the banks - Dan and I have been hunting for BOAs but it seems like they are always closed or they changed into a different bank etc. ANYWAY, I LEFT THE BINDER WITH EVERYTHING IN THE HOTEL ROOM. I realize it and we call the hotel right away - the manager runs in there, and can't see it. He then looks around for the housekeepers cause our room is sitll a mess, but they are gone. Not only out of our room, but they left work!!!!! They have security cameras, and you can see them going in, then leaving, going back in with a back, then walking out again with a black binder in their bag. THEY ARE CAUGHT ON FRICKIN TAPE!!!! Cops come, but the ladies are at their other job, and make up some lame excuse of why they can't come back right away. Cop looks at the footage, and then realizes that she knows these 2 scumbags, as she has dealt with them before. So now what? Well, since all the merch money was cash, that is ALL GONE. Most of the gig pay was checks, so we are praying that we can just get those cancelled and get new ones.

I honestly am stick to my frickin stomach - I feel like a complete butthead, and can't believe I let this happen. Although those two are the real a**holes in all of this, I am responsible for leaving it there, and we honestly can't afford to lose that - basically 2 weeks down the drain. I think I am in the midst of a mental breakdown that is being fueled by hatred for my 2 new best friends - Karen and Delores. I cannot stress how much I HATE you 2 and wish you, your families, pets, friends, plants nothing but the most horrific pain you could imagine. People like you don't deserve to be a part of our society, and I know we will not get our money back, but I will get some satisfaction knowing that you will each get a felony. Hopefully I can be there in court to let you know how much you sicken me and that you have no right to take something that we have worked so hard for.......

-dK

[lilucy]

That is AWEFUL! I hope there is some way that the hotel can/will make some kind of restitution with your loss, but this will be a HUGE lesson learned to keep a CLOSE WATCH on the merchandize/gig $$$ ~~ you guys have WAAAAAAAY too much to concern yourselves with re your performances and traveling from points A-Z...you might want to designate a trusted crewmember to handle the sales/payroll aspect of it...(just a thought).

P.S. May those THIEVES rot in HELL, let alone jail!

OXO
Lucy

[ndavis021410]

Ok...There is information posted in the HAMMERHEAD section of this board on how to contribute and donate to make this BAD thing turn into a GOOD thing for not only Dino, but for Marty, Bobby, Billy, Dan, and Randy......

Please go there for any or anything new on this....Thanks again for everyone that has already contributed and GET YOUR BUTTS moving to the one's that haven't...Later Nancy

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

New Diary post today



October 21, 2006
hmmmm, now what?

Wow! After all that Hammerjammin', plannin', spammin', crammin', I feel like I got hit by a truck! Tara Jordan and everyone did a great job putting Hammerjam together, and I hope everyone had a great time. We brought up some friends to play with us (Ben, Bill, Matt, Dan), and that was really fun. I can't believe how many people came from all over the world - unbelievable! I tried to meet as many people as I could, but I am thinking I probably missed a few, since I left pretty early - 4:00 AM. Sorry dudes, but that burrito was calling my name!!!!!!!!

Now what?!?!?!?!? Well, there is a lot of work to do with the DVD. I have been going over the footage and audio we have, and it is pretty great! We are trying to incorporate a little bit of history in this, as well as concert footage. Think of a not-so-weird version of "The Song Remains the Same." We haven't really done any promo for it yet, cause we want to make sure all the hardcores get their orders in to ensure that they get them before Christmas - we are eventually going to have to cut it off, cause it will be impossible to get all the orders out. We will do everything in our power to get qas many out as we can. We will let you guys know when the cutoff is either way....

I have been really trying to get out to as many concerts as humanly possible, and will keep doing that. Anything from local stuff to legends. I just want to see what everyone is doing, what people are digging, and see what works in different venues. I get really inspired when I do this, so why stop right? I have been to Tom Petty, Aerosmith/Motley, Rolling Stones, and Jacks Manequin, Blackout, in the last few weeks. I think I got a grasp of the legends, so I am going to hit some new bands in the next few weeks - MCR, Switchfoot, Dashboard, +44, Panic, etc....

New music - I have been working on a ton of new stuff and listening to a ton of different stuff. I am a rock guy, so I want to listen to different types of music to keep growing. A friend made me a bunch of cds - My Mourning Jacket, Gnarles Barkley, Sam Roberts Band, and stuff like that. I still stick to my tastes as well: My Chemical Romance, Wolfmother, Buckcherry, and all the new rock stuff that is coming out - Rise Against from Chicago, Switchfoots new stuff, and believe it or not, I have always been a fan of Hip Hop. Don't worry, I am not going to start talking like this, "YEEEEEAH, YEEEEEEEAH!"

Ok, stay tuned, hopefully we'll have some news for you soon. Like maybe a NYE show???

SHIT!!!!!! I have to get to Q101!!!!

L8
-duck

Posted by dinokourelis at 12:54 PM

[ndavis021410]

Thanks for bringing that over, is always good to hear from my Dino man...He's so uplifting, and positive, and LATE....

I hope the interview went well, I tried to listen to it, but I couldn't find it....

Later Nancy

[chitowngirl]

A NYE SHOW!!!!!

How cool would that be?

Please, please, for the love of God, do not make it a last minute thing.

[my0bsess10n/my0]

where do ya think it will be hhhhhmmmmm!!! Chicago??

[ndavis021410]

my0bsess10n said:

where do ya think it will be hhhhhmmmmm!!! Chicago??

Just sayin'............

[Lilacia]

I'm marking my calandar. Save pennies, will travel if need be. Looking forward to welcoming 2007!!!

[feather]

I just finished reading all four pages of Dino's exquisit and prolific diary and boy was it worth it!! All the way from the police puppies liking him to his tardiness at Q101. Dino has an incredible grasp of the English language and expresses himself so well on paper. It's really a joy to read really good writing. You rock when you put pen to paper Dino!!! AND I met (through pic's) Freddie.....he is such a cutiie-sweetie!! Could he come to a pajama party week-end with me?? I have to take a nap now, I'm exhausted!!

[ndavis021410]

It's great that your enjoying the Dino man, he's sure one for entertainment purposes will put ya in a good mood...

Just for clarification...It's Frankie...not Freddie...Frankie is Dino's pooch.....heheeh

Later Nancy

[ratdigger]

And he's a she.

[ndavis021410]

November 21, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving my little bunnies

Hello bunnies! Well, again I have waited so long, that I have a million things to tell you and a few lines to say it in. I will try to hit the main points and not bore you with the fluff......

DVD - well, what can I say? I have been spending most of my time trying to get this thing done, so everyone can have it by Christmas. I can't believe we actually made it happen. Everyone on board has put so much hard work and so many hours into it, I can't thank them enough - and by them I mean the editors, producers, directors, as well as the band. Everyone has worked their asses off and it will show. I saw a rough edit of it last night, and I freaked out. I had a vision going into this, and everyone else through in their visions and this DVD has turned into something that I am really pround of. We have been spending time on the audio as well - not correcting errors, and inserting new tracks to make it sound better - rather, we are taking the opposite stance - making it sound more real, letting everyone feel like they were at the concerts that they are watching - pretty much enhancing the mistakes, improvs, everything, ha ha ha. I guess some bands are insecure about themselves, and have to redo audio cause they want everyone to think that they are perfect. To me, playing live is not perfect, it is about a feeling, a vibe, a passion...... Anyway, we are making this DVD seem more like a movie - a few songs, then some video of us showing and explaining the history of the band. I think that makes it flow a lot better and keeps it interesting. The title of this DVD is going to be" ...and the rest is History" Please spread the word, and tell everyone to order it at www.lovehammersdvd.net. We aren't sure when or if it will be instores, so this is the only place to get it for the forseeable future. We will also be doing a few things like placing an item in certain packages - if you receive that DVD, you will get to do something cool with the band. We aren't sure what this will be just yet, but we'll let you know when we decide what is possible. My idea would be to have the "winner" be a part of the band crew for an upcoming show - basically be with us, and work with us for a whole day - that might not really be a cool prize though - LOL!!!! Anyway, I hope you all dig this DVD and love it as much as I do. I honestly can't remember ever being so excited about releasing something.........

Merry Christmas (all year long) - by now, most of you have heard the song. Please spread the word on it, and stay tuned for it to be released on Itunes. Please don't buy it until we give the go ahead. Everything we do right now is strategic, so we need everyone to work together. It may appear somewhere before somewhere else, but please try and sit tight till we tell you to go hog wild on buying it - we will make an announcement on all major websites and MySpaces so we can all be coordinated. For now, this is just going to be a digital download, but we may make a limited amount of hard copies as well.

Videos - We just got back from Washington, and made a video for Merry Christmas (all year long). I saw some rough edits of it, and it is looking really cool. We were fortunate enough to have Miss Suzie McNeil be a part of it. She made everyday full of so much fun. I can't even to begin to put into words how much I love that girl. She is so talented, and has gone through the same rough stuff that we have all gone through, but her album will be coming out soon, and it sounds great. Anyway, back to the video - I am not wearing a dress the whole time you goofballs, so chill out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like the vido will be complete in time to put ont he DVD as well, so that will be a bonus for all you suckas!
Trees Video - FINALLY huh!?!?!? We initially wanted to put it on the DVD, but there is so much to do and so much on there, this will be a seperate video for us to try and get on some stations, etc. We have all the footage and a pretty good idea of what we want to do, it just needs to be edited. We would have put it out, but we want it to be great, not just good.......
Touring - there are a lot of opportunities, so we are just trying to do what makes most sense. Hopefully we can get something put together to promote the DVD in the beginning of the year. We are also planning on getting on some TV shows, so all of you that have been writing into them, it may be a great time to start again.....

NYE - tickets are going MUCH faster than expected.... Rooms are almost booked. I strongly suggest everyone get your tickets sooner than later, cause it will sell out, then you will be at home watching the rest of us party on ABC. You wouldn't want that would you?

ok, later for now.....

"I rock because I am"
-Dino Kourelis

Posted by dinokourelis at 07:32 PM

[ndavis021410]

And just a reminder, if you haven't ordered that awesome DVD that Mr. Rock Star Dino Dude is talking about, then well, why not?....It's inexpensive and priceless at the same time.....

Laters.... Nancy