a typical week of gigs - busy lately.

Last weeks gigs - yes I make a living playing music, but it is a lot of hard work.

Sunday/Monday - Orcas Island, Private party, over night.

Tuesday - Teach in Port Orchard

Wednesday - Tulalip Casino with DMQ

Thursday - Nothing! Went to my best friend Derek's police academy graduation. I can not believe he is a real cop now. Since we were little kids I knew along with everyone else he was gonna be a cop so it was like a important life moment to watch him graduate from the police academy.

Friday - Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival w/ May Palmer, Queen of Ivory Soul! Awesome gig, fun band, nasty RnB!

Saturday - DMQ played a private gig in Winthrop Washington. Woke up to hot air balloons, wanted to go on one sooo bad!

Sunday - Had to get up early to get back to the west side of the state to play a solo piano private party.

Monday - Teach at FMS.

Each gig averages four hours long, with another two to eight hours in prep/travel time! I am tired, and super excited to go to Hawaii in a little over a month!

Cheers,

Mack

Summer is busy time for us "Catz"

Have been playing a lot of gigs lately, corporate events, private gigs, and a few awesome club dates and stuff too.

Notable gigs :

Oysterville Jazz and Oysters festival - Rocked the house with May Palmer (R&B singer)  Totally fun, never ate so many oysters in my life!  Oysterville is a mysterious place, it is about 35 min. north of Long Beach Washington!  It was a great time, beautiful place!

Orange - Played Brewfest in Portland with the band Orange, lead by Ted Wallis.  Fun gig, crazy time.  Lots of bro's at this gig, we played at the Rockbottom in downtown Portland!

DMQ @ Highdive - Pretty good, unfortunately our draw was not what we were hoping for, but for the people that were there it was a good time!  Our next show is at the Tractor Tavern (Dudley Manlove Quartet's After School Special)  Come party and bring supplies to donate to local elementary schools!

Played a bunch more but those are the ones that I thought were really worth mentioning right now!  

Went and saw Ahmad Jhamal also at Jazz Alley!  Good show all around, however Ahmad's playing is somewhat of a mystery to me.  I have not spent much time listening to him, but I think I need to now!  I want to see if the way he was playing when I saw him is how he always plays!

Upcoming awesome things :

Dave Peck Trio @ Tulas August 28th and 29th - My mentor is returning to Tula's after a break from playing live!  This is going to kick ass.

Trio CD - A trio cd is in the works with fellow musicians Brad Gibson and Devin Lowe on Drums and Bass respectively!  Should be a fun time, we have  a very unique way of playing together!

Mack Grout Band - Quartet show in Lynnwood, Nov. 7th!  Benefit for the Lynnwood food bank.  This is a full on concert, be there or be square!  Trio featuring Clark Gibson on Saxophones.

This post might not be that interesting sorry!  Will update more from now on!  

Me and Ian Borak (Drums) have been working on a soundtrack for a commercial, should be on television in the next couple of months!  Will have to let you guys know!

Cheers,

Mack

P.S.  Also keep your ears out - yours truly has an interview/lesson excerpt on NPR!  I will keep you all updated.