Michael Loonan: Blog

Greetings! Hope you're having a super 2007. I'm a bad blogger, aren't I? Bad in the sense of, uh, bad. Things are well here. Keeping busy with endless musical projects and performances, balancing it all with family life. Hope you stop by a show soon! I have individual tunes available online:


See you back here soon!
Mike

Getting more chilly in Minnesota! I'm keeping busy with recording projects that never seem to end, ongoing voice-over work, plus upcoming performances. Check out my evolving MySpace page:
www.myspace.com/michaelloonan.
Great place to meet and network with tons of musicians and songwriters! See you back here soon -
Mike

Hello, hello - I've been gone way too long from the blog! Had a wild and crazy finish to the summer (is it over yet?). Played at the MN State Fair with Tom Mischke, on the 'Prairie Home Companion Show' on the Grandstand stage. Super fun experience, playing guitar with some awesome musicians! Played two more dates with my duo-sidekick, Chris Herriges, at the Ramberg Senior Center. That too was a blast. So fun to see how music touches lives, from infancy to elderly (I'm currently somewhere in the midde of the spectrum). In other news, I have an additional site that will focus 100% on my original music: www.myspace.com/michaelloonan). I was leery of getting a MySpace page, but found one too many musicians who use the site in a good way. Stop by and check out the page when you get moment! See you back here soon -
Mike

I actually played at Menards today - what a trip! There's a grand piano near the 'moving sidewalk' at the University location...a few months back I dropped off some promo stuff and ended up booked there today. Saw a few people I knew who were stunned to see me -- they were there for "grout," etc. I had a great gig at Rudy's in Rosemount last Friday night, and I'm there again next Friday (Aug. 4th). Staying indoor and cool as much as I can. Hope you're doing the same (if you're in MN). See you here soon : )

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this beautiful weather! I had a really fun gig on July 4th with Chris Herriges, a private party at a home on Lake Minnewashta, near Chanhassen. Super time. Playing again with Chris on Friday, July 14th, at Axel's Bonfire in Eagan. Life is going great. Grace just hit 8 months and is close to crawling! See you back here soon - Mike

"Don't tip the Milkman" (from the 'Share the Disguise' CD) is going to be in an upcoming movie, "Arnold's Park" - you can check out the trailer here: http://arnoldsparkmovie.com/
Ben Lexau and I wrote the song back around 1984, so we're pretty giddy about the whole thing! The song will appear in an amusement park scene, and will also appear on the movie's soundtrack release! Busy summer up ahead. Grace just turned 6 months - hope you're all doing well! See you back here soon - Mike

Hope you're enjoying the sun and blue sky today! Here's a couple random thoughts:
* I've been on the South Beach diet for a few weeks, and liking all the options I still have! I've found the most underrated salad out there - Bruegger's Bagels (of all places!). They dish up a huge salad for $5.99, full of goodies!
* Best printing company I've found thus far - "Speed Print" in West St. Paul (www.speedprint.net). How nice to call and have the owner answer the phone (Greg). Plus, he cranks out high-quality products at very fair and reasonable prices.
See you back here soon -
: ) Mike

Hello all - Sister St. Augustine, my second piano teacher, passed away this week, somewhere around the age of 103! She was in her 70s when she taught me (I was in 5th grade at Nativity Grade school). My first teacher (Sister Ruth Marie) taught me chord inversions - I never did get to thank her for that, as she passed away several years ago. She was strict with me, but taught me chords and also scales in all keys (those black notes scared me!). After two years, she was replaced by the sweet and gentle Sr. Saint Augustine, a woman who towered near 6 feet tall. I last saw her a few years ago at Bethany Convent, where I was able to play piano for her. : ) I'm heading to her wake in a few minutes, and wanted to post a tribute to a woman who helped mold my musical journey. I'm sure she's resting in peace. :)

Hey everyone. Life has been hectic with Grace, now 4 months old. But counting blessings and miracles all over the place. :) Playing a lot more music these days too. Currently working on a couple jingles for the Fort Myers Miracle and the Charleston Riverdogs, the latter being in Spanish! Performing tomorrow night (St. Pat's Day) with Chris Herriges at Houlihan's in Maple Grove, and then playing Saturday night at Axel's Bonfire in Eagan. Hope to see you at a show, and wishing you peace and good health.

Met with ace photographer, Rod Wilson (www.andrews-photography.com) for a series of new photos. I wanted some new piano and guitar shots, and Rod is amazing with creative angles and lighting. Stay tuned! In home news, Grace will be 14 weeks this Thursday! She smiles all the time, and is getting more and more alert. A true blessing in our midst. Hope this finds you well and healthy. Best,
Mike

Hey all -
Sorry to report that I won't be playing at Axel's Bonfire in Eagan this Saturday. My apologies if you were planning to attend. Grace turns 12 weeks old tomorrow (1/19) and she's almost sleeping through the night. Chris Herriges is filling in for me, a talented singer/guitarist (and great buddy/music partner of mine). He's scheduled to be joined by Mr. Jim Steinworth, a veteran of the dueling piano scene, a man with great chops! I'm playing a couple Bonfire gigs in February - planning to be there and I hope to see you there as well! All the best, Mike

I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who purchased a copy of "A Season of Grace," the holiday CD I released with violinist, Brigid McCarthy. The CD sold better than expected, and we're looking forward to more releases in the near future. Thanks to CD Baby, all my music is available via digital download at various sites (I-Tunes, etc). Great way to buy individual tracks! Geez, a few years ago, it was amazing to actually record a 'CD.' Now, music can be recorded and sent across the world in a heartbeat. Unbelievable.

PS: My New Year's Resolution is to make each 'moment' a New Year, since I always have things to work on and improve.

Hope this finds you well, in the midst of a peaceful New Year mode. My resolution this year is to make every day a 'new year,' so to speak. I know I always have things to work on in my life, and I'm resolving to working on them, one by one, moment by moment. Perhaps I'm inspired by my newborn, Grace Kathleen, who is 9 weeks old today! She's a real joy, and a very well-natured child. Smiling a whole bunch now, and possessing her own personality, no doubt. : )
She keeps us going! I'm still doing music projects and gigs, but Kelly is now back to work full-time, so I'm technically a stay-at-home dad. So far, so good!
Playing at Axel's Bonfire tomorrow night (Friday, Jan 6, 2006) with Cal Spooner (Eagan location). Check my calendar page for exact address/times, etc. See you back here soon - wishing you all the best, Michael

I hope you all have a safe, warm and reflective Thanksgiving. Baby Grace will be 3 weeks old tomorrow, eating a bit more, growing steadily, and keeping a really warm and inquisitive personality. :) She's a true bundle of joy. Musically, things are ramping up to a busy December. Playing two Bonfire gigs this weekend (Friday at Eagan with Chris Herriges, and Saturday at Woodbury with Mark Mraz.) Check the calendar page for address, times, etc. Also playing this Saturday at St. Patrick's Guild with violinist, Brigid McCarthy. We'll be playing selections from our new CD, "A Season of Grace." Thank you to everyone who has purchased a copy! It's available online at CDBaby, and via digital download at I-Tunes. Also selling locally at St. Patrick's Guild, Borders (Midway), J+S Bean Factory, Applause (St. Paul and Uptown), and Statements in Highland. Wishing you all the best, Mike

Grace Kathleen Loonan was born on Thursday, November 3rd, 2005. She weighed in at 8lbs, 3.5 oz, stretched 20.5 inches long, and has beautiful strawberry-blond hair. She's now five days old, full of personality, cries only when she needs something (don't we all?), and has brought a beauty beyond our expectations. Mom and baby are healthy, and we all feel very blessed. Thank you all for well wishes, prayers and good karma. We're not sleeping a lot at night, but our hearts have been injected with a new love for Grace.

Wow -- the anticipation continues to mount, as we're waiting for a baby girl to safely arrive into our world. Any day now. :)
Our 5-year wedding anniversary is Oct. 27th, so who knows? My new CD is up on CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com/loonan4), and selling locally at stores (St. Patrick's Guild, Statements in Highland, The Bean Factory, and more). Hope you're doing well and counting the blessings around you. See you back here soon -Mike

My new CD (A Season of Grace) is finally here. I want to thank Gerald Mischke for helping me with creating and finalizing the graphic design aspects...quite a tedious job, and he exceeded my expectations. The CD will soon be available from this site (via CDBaby), as well as at St. Patrick's Guild, Applause and Border's Bookstore in St. Paul. Now I'm gearing up for the birth of a new daughter, which could be anyday now. See you back here soon.

I'm excited and anxious about two big things: we're expecting a baby girl any day now! More on that as things develop, although they're pretty well developed now. :) We're praying for continued good health and blessings. I'll soon be releasing a new CD, "A Season of Grace," a collection of 15 instrumental piano pieces, accompanied by violinist, Brigid McCarthy. The songs are 80% holiday, with a couple traditionals thrown in. More details coming soon. : )

Chris Herriges and I played a wild disco party last night for Ernst and Young. I'm working on a new piano CD, featuring Brigid McCarthy on violin (she's amazing!). More stuff going on, most importantly: the anticipation of a new baby girl entering our world! Due date somewhere around November 5th, 2005. More details to follow.

Just finished a wild stretch of performances and church services (total of 10 in the past 4 days!). I'm pretty beat. But I feel blessed and fortunate. If you're reading this, chances are good that there are many blessings in your life as well. Let's keep the victims of Hurricane Katrina in our thoughts and prayers. See you back here soon.