03/22/03
So now we are getting ready for our whirl wind schedule of live shows. We already had a pretty busy April, but Jager has hooked us up with the Dog Fashion Disco tour that's coming through town. Now, it's like we're "on tour" ourselves, even though we really aren't traveling too far from home. The frequencies of the shows is gonna be sick ! We have 6 shows in 8 days. Even though that's pretty normal for a touring band..... we (unfortunately) are not yet a full touring band and still have to juggle the day jobs.... so this is going to be interesting. The band is way excited....I wish we could just pack our bags and go tour the rest of the country with them. We are in the middle of writing some killer new songs, trying to keep our set tight, play all these shows, promote them and finish our full length....... needless to say, it's crazy and I am in much need of sleep. But the morale is really high right now in the band and we feel like nothing can stop us.

03/10/03
This are great ! We are starting to get lots of great opportunities coming our way, and each one seems to lead to ten others. The Jagermeister sponsorship has really been wonderful because now we are part of a great family and a support system all around the country. A great example of that was the show we played with OTEP and SWORN ENEMY at The Downtown out on Long Island. It was quite a change in attitude from some of the crappy clubs in NYC we are used to getting pushed around and rushed from. Sound checks, dressing rooms, riders, free drinks and personal service.... was this really for US !? Damn ! And if that wasn't enough the crowd waited in anticipation for us to hit the stage and while probably not everyone dug us (after all, it WAS a hardcore show and we are not) we gained lots of new fans, sold CDs and merch and were making friends all night... almost forgot it was a Monday night and by around 2am the sobering thought of the "day jobs" waiting for us in the morning loomed.... That was just the start of last week !!!

Next was Kevin Mooney's birthday show at The Whiskey Bar. This night sorta represented a culmination of all that we Jersey bands have been working so hard to achieve over the past 2 years. The night was a testament to Kevin's hard work and , of course, his great friendship. It seemed like everyone was there and all the bands (Muttr, D.C., Sluspuppy, Madjul and Slowdrown) were unstoppable.

Friday night brought a last minute invite to attend the JAGER MUSIC TOUR show (SALIVA, SYSTEMATIC, STEREOMUD and HED (pe)) at Roseland Ballroom. There, I ran into a new friend, and photographer, (Patrick) that I had met at The Downtown show. (where he had taken some pretty hot pics of me and Julya (from MUCH MUSIC)....... Tonight Patrick wanted more photos of the band and of me...... We went downstairs to find some "good light"...the best room ended up being the boys bathroom and so that's where we went. You'll soon see the pics...turned out to be an ingenious publicity stunt because about 50 guys wanted to know why I was doing a photo shoot in the guys bathroon. Who knew we were going to attract so much attention! he he he. Then it was up to the VIP lounge to hang out with the bands that performed and some other cool people including KANE (KRock). Gary was pretty drunk and talking Kane's ear off ! Sorry KANE ! I had to save him. The night once again proved that we joined a GREAT family by becoming endorsed by Jager.

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02/11/03

Boy time flies when you are crazy busy ! Let's see since the
last time I wrote, the band has finished 5 songs for the new CD, Gary and Imoved into a new place, my sister had a baby (I became a godmother), Coryhad a blow out birthday bash that lasted 3 days (literally); we wrote a few new killer tunes, played some killer shows and got some radio play down onthe WRAT......... yeah, I guess that's a lot to cram into the past 60 days.... but I've been loving every minute of it.

Ya know what is crazy about this band ? We all care so much....sometimes I think too much if that is possible. Our ultimately quest for perfection sometimes means that we are hyper-critical of ourselves, our performances and our music. I try to remember that this is about the journey, not the destination...and that it is good to always want to achieve greater things and better-ness. But you must also remember nothing will ever be perfect and in fact, there is greatness in vulnerability and imperfection -- it is what makes us human and we must not be afraid to be proud of where we are at
any given moment. Life is about small steps -- the great leaders,
thinkers, artists, etc of this world did not make their mark over night --
they not only "failed" many times along the way, but more than that they made "unremarkable" little strides forward upon which they built to make their "remarkable" achievements. So we all must be proud, keep moving forward and enjoy life for the learning process that it is !!!

I hope you enjoy being part of our journey :)

Dawn

12/23/02

Well, I don't know about you, but I've been feeling particularly filled with the Christmas/ Holiday spirit this year. Maybe because this year is in stark contrast to the cloud that loomed over our heads following Sept 11th last year. I actually contemplated wishing my entire subway car "Happy Holidays !" before exiting on my way home tonight but decided that might be too weird....even for New York City and didn't want to risk getting thrown in the joint two days before Christmas !

Espeically not this year !!! There are so many good things going on and I don't want to miss any of them. The most important for the band collectively is of course, the making of our wonderful new record. It's been, at times a struggle, but anything good is worth the effort ..... almost like giving birth.

Speaking of giving birth.... my family is anxiously waiting for thet "call" from my sister, who at any moment is about to pop out a new baby.... and a new neice or nephew for me. This will be the first baby in the "Botti" family (Thank god.... parents are now off my case for now... he he ... but they are so excited to become first time grandparents !) As if a new baby isn't enough, there will also be a new "house" in the Botti family. Gary and I purchased our first home ! We move in in the middle of January.

To me, it is these things in life: the change, the anticipation and being surrounded by those you love that brings my inspiration. I used to always say, I wrote by best songs when I was heartbroken.......but then again all those songs were only about heartache. As the person grows and changes so does her/ his art. Sometimes the best expression is that which is so pure and focused on one emotion that it provides a microscoptic and thus magical kaliescopic view of that experience or emotion for the rest of us. But lately I have not been singularly focused. I have been too busy with life to dwell so deeply on one emotion. Hmmm, heck, I think I can even say I've been too happy !

My challenge now as an artist is to find a way to express the multiplicity of emotions--or is it ? ---- each thought seems to lead me full circle back to the only one thing that is truly important. (As Buffy says "it is all connected")....... We truly are all connected. I am in you and you are in me.

If there is one thing I wish in my music for 2003 is that I have the capacity to feel joy and share it. For if I feel it, so do you because we are all made of the same energy, the same blessed force. I make 2003's resolution to be a bearer of all that is good and beautiful in this world and not to dwell upon pain and hate. I will pay certainly pay those things the respect they deserve, as they are powerful and omnious..... but pain has no answers. It must only be used as a road to somewhere else, lest you will merely travel a long, hard road to nowhere. You only have one life, live it well.

HAPPPY HOLIDAYS !!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!! and God Bless Us, Everyone.

09/16/02
Time is flying by and it's been a while since I spoke up.... so here ya go !! Before I go on my rant, I want to say this .... COME OUT TO CBGB'S THIS SATURDAY (Sept. 21st) AND VOTE FOR SLUSHPUPPY. Saturday is an exciting show as we are part of a new music festival in NY called M.E.A.N.Y. Fest (Musicians and Emerging Talent, NY) There are shows all week throughout NYC. When you attend the show you will be given a "ballot" and get to vote for your 2 favorite bands in the Festival. The three bands with the MOST votes win all expenses paid trips to CLEVELAND to perform at the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME !!! Usually I don't give a shit about stupid contests...but this is such a wonderful prize..... Even many signed bands don't get this opportuntity ...so it would really be a dream come true for any band. So, if you can, please go to CBGB's this Saturday night. Slushpuppy is on at 11pm. Our friends Downpore are on directly after us. And.... PAUL COTE and the NICK CLEMONS BAND (Clarence Clemons son) are performing earlier in the evening......... so it will be a night of incredibly diverse (and great) music. By attending this festival, you will be not only supporting Slushpuppy, but supporting all emerging artists. You ROCK !!!!!!! And just think how much MORE EXCITING my diary entries will be when we take the trip to Cleveland..... ha ha ha !!!

Ok, enough of the sell....... so we've been playing some pretty choice gigs lately and each time it's a new adventure. Back in August we played at the South Street Seaport -- outside on the big stage in downtown Manhattan. I could almost see the big hole in the landscape from ground zero from on stage. But it was a beautiful night, weather wise and we got to fill lower Manhattan with our music. The crowd started out with about 40 or so people, but quickly filled up to a couple hundred as the music attracted more and more of an audience. I wish it was always that simple....... "play and they will come"..But of course it is the rare occasion when you can play outside and your music can be heard by passerbys..... I thanked the crowd for being there and together we celebrated the revitalization of lower NYC. It was one big F U to the terrorists !! Anyway, the outdoor bars surrounding the Seaport liked us so much they gave us free beer ! So after the show we sat outside on the docks drinking free Bass (oh, and of course doing shots of JAGER !!!! our sponsor ! ha ha ha I'm such a little promotion whore)

Then it was on to CBGB's for our first true label showcase. It was a great night with Downstage, Madjul, Base 2 and Downpore !!!!! Together we packed the placed !!! So many people were telling me it was one of the best lineups they had ever heard/seen. That made me feel really good. With the anniversary of 9/11 looming in the near future.... It was good to return to CB's..... the place where we played our FIRST show after 9/11/01. Gibby says that night (back on Oct. 5, 2001) "restored his faith in humanity" -- and he's right..... it was almost as if you could SEE the camaraderie, faith and love amongst the fans and musicians... a feeling like "WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY and as Gibby's song said "You can't keep us down". Returning to the CB's stage on 8/21/02 I again felt that empowerment .... embraced it and we put on a kick ASS show !

The beginning of September brought our first show in CT ! All in all a successful night except that some dumb fuck stole our MERCH bag. I don't know what posseses people sometimes. If it was motivated by money they would have done better to steal a guitar or something; if it was motivated by wanting Slushpuppy merch..... well shit, I would have GIVEN you a free TShirt whoever you are. And if it was motivated by beer......just some drunk stupid prankster shit -- well then that's truly f*cked up b/c all a struggling original band has to make money is their merch. It's like their life blood...... and to steal that stuff from them is just pure evil or pure stupidity. So who ever you were........watch your back cuz karma will come back to get you. But meanwhile we made new fans and new street team members ! And nevertheless we WILL be coming back to CT more and more.......... so Thief, go ahead and WEAR those SLUSHPUPPY shirts...... WE NEED THE FREE PUBLICITY !!!!!!!

See you all on Saturday....... wear you Slushpuppy gear if you can.... and bring your friends. And as always, THANK YOU........ your humblest servant........

Dawn.

07/22/02
Well this was quite an interesting weekend for the band ! We played the Wildwood, NJ neck of the NBA Rhythm & Rims Tour. Gary, Rich and I made a pit stop on Friday night in Atlantic City and all three of us came out winners -- a very rare occurrence for three drunk idiots with too much time on their hands -- but we did it ! Then it was on to Wildwood on Saturday morning. Ya know, I've lived in Jersey all my life, but have NEVER been to Wildwood..... as we entered the town I felt like I was transported back into an early 60's movie... I was waiting for Annette Funicello or Valentino to jump out around the corner-- But it was cool.

When we got to the hotel, there was a little mix up and they couldnt' find our rooms, but eventually they did. The NBA put us, and all the other acts, up in a nice hotel with views of the ocean. After we checked in, we all ran down to the beach to take a quick swim..... everyone was looking at Cory's new blonde mo-hawk like he was some freak -- too funny... Drive 3 hours and it's like a different world.

We met up with our friends Base2 -- I was so psyched to play the "big" stage . I think it's one of the biggest stages that I've performed on. It was awesome to have so much space, but a true challenge to figure out what to do with it all and how to fill it. I had a wireless mic. too, so I kept running from one end of the stage to visit Cory, to the other to say "hi" to Rich. That was awesome !! Bunches of people up on the boardwalk gathered to watch the show. Afterwards we got to sign autographs (THAT was cool !) and then we all went out to roam the boardwalk.

On Sunday we grabbed breakfast in the first restaurant serving that we could find. The eggs were gross and runny and Cory sent his omlette back. The waitress wouldn't take it off the check because she said her boss wouldn't let her. Cory asked to see the manager and the manager took one look at this 6'3" brunette with a blonde mohawk and tattoos and said "just take it off his bill".... haa haa --- She was probably right not to mess with him....especially because he was hungover...and now still hungry :(

In other news.... Slushpuppy has over 16 members on the street team now !!! And we just officially started it about 2 weeks ago. For those of you on the Team -- keep checking the website and your email because we are going to announce a really exciting contest for you to take part in very soon (by Aug. 1st) !!! Ok, that's it for now !

06/08/02
I'm getting yelled at because I don't update this diary enough.... I'm sorry, the band has just been crazy busy, but I guess it's no excuse. Let's see... so much has been happening I don't know where to start. TONIGHT WE HAVE A SHOW AT THE VILLAGE UNDERGROUND SO PLEASE COME OUT.. CHECK THE SHOWS PAGE FOR DETAILS. It kinda sux because it is the same day as the Dsyfunctional Family Picnic and we could have had tickets and backstage passes.... oh well. I'd rather be playing then watching any day...but man, backstage passes for System, Incubus, P.O.D. !!!! mannnnnnnn........ anyway......what' else...