2012 PIH Tree Lighting Ceremony

It's Ho Ho Ho time once again!  Looking forward to a nice Holiday crowd at the Whittwood PIH building parking lot (corner of Santa Gertrudes & Whittier Blvd) next Friday evening, 12/7, between 6-7PM...

So what going to be happening?  Besides Santa arriving to greet the kids... Yours truly will be serenading the crowd with Christmas music...  If you're looking for some Holiday fun & festivities, come on down and join us!  Ho Ho Ho

Sooo Long So Pas...

Sooo Long So Pas :(   We’ve had some fun Thursday nights at your farmers market.  Just won’t be the same without Greta, though.  Guess it’s time to be movin’ on…  Showed up for my scheduled gig earlier tonight and the “new” market manager said “Fred who?”  That’s cool…  More time for doin’ property inspections :)  Greta RIP…  It was nice working with a farmers market manager that treated musicians with respect!

Music Therapy Grows at Whittier's PIH

Sure has been nice to have a regular gig to keep me warm and fuzzy during the long winter...  Now that spring is in full bloom, other outside venues will be opening up sooon (Saucy Mama's here I come :)...

Recently, the PIH Volunteer Management Team was so gracious to publish some very nice recognition for yours truly and their MTV team of volunteer musicians...  Please check it out using the link below.

I want to take this opportunity to provide a BIG THANKS to PIH for the awesome hospital that they provide to serve our community.  I have been in both good and bad hospitals during my years, and PIH rocks!

I am so fortunate to be able to provide my volunteer service to help them further their cause of helping others within our community!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=393258097385093&set=a.190805160963722.46097.105212689522970&type=1

The Good Fight

Here’s a link to a new song I wrote for a dear friend beginning the good fight…  Please join me in wishing them much strength & courage as they fight their invader… http://youtu.be/hVafuxBOujY

Stalked By A Marching Band in So Pas

Know it's almost Christmas, but somethin' real spooky happened during my So Pas gig last Thursday evening...  I had just finished playing Elliott Smith's 'Rose Parade' song (the one where he laments about a 'ridiculous marching band started playing'), and then guess what?  I looked to my right and sure enough... There was a high school marching band strolling through the farmer's market.  No lie.

They all got assembled down on the corner and started playing Christmas tunes...  Thought I may need to finish early, but after 15 minutes or so they were done and marched back through the farmer's market. I applauded them as they passed by and then resumed my gig...  Now I hope I've seen everything :) Ho Ho Ho 

Tis The Season... Light That PIH Tree!

What a nice, cool December evening at Bright Plaza... We had a nice turnout last night for the 45th annual lighting of the BIG tree atop the Bright Medical building on Whittier Bl.   I was honored to be able to provide the live Christmas music for the event!  Besides getting a candy cane from Santa, I also got these cool reindeer horns (see pic on fb page)...  Ho Ho Ho!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fred-Gatchell/105212689522970

Maybe I Do Need A Roadie (Beat Up By A Bungee Cord)...

Funny thing happened to me on the way to my So Pas gig yesterday...  While loadin' up my cart to make the trek to my playin' spot, a bungee cord snapped and hit me in the face right below my left eye (ouch).  Woulda been nice if I was done packin' the cart, but nope just got started.  When I noticed I was bleeding I got a little scared.  I grabbed one of my packin' sheets and kinda stopped the bleeding so I could finish packin' and get my ass where it needed to go.  What a site to see...  Besides lookin' like a crazy homeless dude pullin' my cart through the farmers market, there I was with a sheet pushed against my face to hopefully stop the bleeding so I could set up and start playin'.  Mission accomplished!  Though I was a little late, I started playin' wondering if I looked as bad as I felt.  After a couple of songs, life was good again (at least for a few hours).  Packin' up my stuff and headin' back to the car in the dark (still wonderin' what my face looked like) was an extra special thrill. No worries though... A day later I just look like I got punched in the face, but I'm feelin' fine...Ya know, maybe I do need a roadie :)