Schedule between now and Feb. 15, 2020

Here's what I'm up to in the next couple weeks...get ready

Friday, Jan. 31 - full band show (trio version) at the Winter Carnival in St. Paul (in Rice Park), 8 pm to 10 pm

Tuesday, Feb. 4 - duo show with percussionist Mikkel Beckmen at the Midway Saloon in St. Paul (formerly Big V's, right near intersection of Snelling and University), EARLY show, 6 pm to 8 pm

Thurs. Feb. 6 - I teach a SINGLE SESSION songwriting class/seminar called "Writing Song Lyrics for Teens" at the Excelsior Library sponsored by the Loft (part of the "Bring the Loft to You" series) - sorry I said this was at another place, this one is at Excelsior Library (337 Water Street in Excelsior) - it's from 4 pm to 5:30 pm and free and open to the public

Friday, Feb. 7 - I play from 8 pm to 10:30 pm at The Lab in St. Paul (767 N. Eustis Street) - solo show

Sat. Feb. 8 - full band show (trio version) at Tuttle's in Hopkins, 8 pm to 11:30 pm

Sun. Feb. 9 - I play at the James Taylor/Simon and Garfunkel tribute at the Turf Club, along with many other amazing artists from the Twin Cities

Wed. Feb. 12 - duo show with legendary guitarist Steve Brantseg at the 331 Club in NE Mpls, 9:30 pm to close, no cover

Thurs. Feb. 13 - I teach a SINGLE SESSION songwriting class/seminar called "Writing Song Lyrics for Teens" at Arlington Hills Community Center in St. Paul, sponsored by the Loft (part of the "Bring the Loft to You" series) - it's at 1200 Payne Ave in St. Paul - it's from 4 pm to 5:30 pm and free and open to the public

Friday, Feb. 14- Valentine's Day solo show at LTD Brewing in Hopkins, 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Sat. Feb. 15 - Katy Vernon and I play sets for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) at the Mall of America between 2 pm and 3:30 pm

Let's not even go past Feb. 15 right now - that's a lot! (But there will be a lot more too - this is what I do these days, so I'm happy I'm going to be busy!)

Sick again

This is not a plea for sympathy, nor do I want it to be very "TMI" - I just have had an unfortunate relapse in my chronic heath/illness situation in recent weeks and I feel like I need to be honest about it, publicly, because it impacts my ability to feel good and to smile and to be happy - it will NOT impact any of my upcoming shows/performances - if anything, I might have a little more "fire" in me when I'm feeling lousy and have to play, because I feel everything a little more deeply when I'm in pain (trust me, though, I would still rather not be in such near-constant discomfort)

I am, however, trying to get better. Have an appointment coming up with my gastroenterologist in February and hopefully, with any luck, I will already be feeling better by the time I go see her (that often happens - fingers crossed). Trying to eat right, exercise, stay positive, all of that - but I don't feel good, a lot of the time, and so I feel like I occasionally have to make a little announcement when I'm this debilitated by illness

It will pass. It always passes. That is one thing I have learned. I also have studied my "patterns" and it seems that my worst times of year are, well, now (late January) and also right after summer (Sept./Oct) - part of this is due to often eating and drinking too freely (without enough regard to the often-very-delayed impact my diet can have on my body).

So I know the pattern - and I am beating myself up a bit because I did not do enough to avoid it (did not eat/drink carefully enough in the months leading up to this flareup). I feel like "I never learn." Well, this time, I am really going to try to learn.

One big thing - I can't drink alcohol anymore. I mean, like, I really need to quit it entirely. And that can be easier said than done. Especially as a person who plays long (2 or 3 hour) solo shows a lot and the venue often offers me free drinks. Well, I need to turn them down. For good. Even if sometimes a drink or two or three can make a tough gig "fly by" a little easier - it doesn't matter. No more alcohol, especially "the devil" (which for me means craft beer of any kind - seems to be the absolute WORST for my gut problems). I am not someone whose body can properly digest alcohol - over time, it turns my "microbiome" (my gut bacteria) into a total mess. So I can't keep just saying to myself "don't do this to yourself again," I need to live it. I have poor willpower sometimes. I can't keep re-injuring my body with alcohol

But this is where I'm at - I am having a bad flareup and I'm in pain a lot and it helps me to talk about it a little. I didn't want to splash it all over my social media because frankly it's embarrassing, so I thought I would relegate the discussion to my little-read blog. I hope I get better soon. This sucks. But I know I will, because I always do - it just can take a while. And as it gets warmer out, and there's more sunshine, I probably will improve just from that (hope it doesn't take that long though) I'm playing all of my shows. I need to be active and earn a living, even when I feel bad.

But damn, I sure hope this flareup passes soon. It sucks. Thanks for listening

Early 2020 shows - with links!

DAN ISRAEL - EARLY 2020 shows

Thurs. Jan. 23 - guitar/piano duo show at Crooner's (in the Dunsmore Room) with James Tyler O'Neill on piano, EARLY, 6 pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/401086610844059/

Sat. Jan. 25 - Dan plays solo at St. Paul Brewing in St. Paul (formerly Flat Earth Brewing), 7 pm to 9 pm, no cover
https://www.facebook.com/events/2189773731326288/ 

Wed. Jan. 29 - Dan and Mike Lane play a guitar-bass duo show at Carbone's in south Minneapolis (4705 Cedar Ave. S), 7 pm to 9 pm, no cover
https://www.facebook.com/events/576229592939587/

Friday, Jan. 31 - Dan and the full band (trio version - Dave Russ on drums, Mike Lane on bass) play at the St. Paul Winter Carnival in a heated tent, 8 pm to 10 pm (it's in "the Warming House", a heated tent on Market Street - next to Rice Park in St. Paul), no cover

https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/19/st-paul-winter-carnival-music-lineup-includes-seven-days-of-free-outdoor-concerts/?fbclid=IwAR1vuta5pnOWH2z0plv9OG4cnOp20vVOEQin2tN4WYYbcW7vW3Plo4kevCA  

Tuesday, Feb. 4 - Dan plays a duo show with percussionist Mikkel Beckmen at the Midway Saloon in St. Paul (formerly Big V's) at University and Snelling, 6 pm to 8 pm, https://www.facebook.com/events/2538924126396400/

Thursday, Feb. 6 - Dan teaches a songwriting class/seminar, "Writing Song Lyrics" for teens (mostly) sponsored by The Loft (as part of the "Bring the Loft to You" series) at the Arlington Hills Community Center from 4 pm to 5:30 pm

Friday, Feb. 7 - Dan plays solo at The Lab taproom in St. Paul (767 N. Eustis Street), 8 pm to 10:30 pm, https://www.facebook.com/events/597090820834386/

Sat. Feb. 8 - full band show (trio version) at Tuttle's in Hopkins, 8 pm to 11:30 pm, https://www.facebook.com/events/2450087985321880/

Sun. Feb. 9 - Dan takes part in the tribute to Simon and Garfunkel and James Taylor at the Turf Club (I will play one song by each artist - an S&G song from "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and a JT song from "Sweet Baby James") https://www.facebook.com/events/988338424898778/  with Doug Collins, Ben Cook-Feltz, M. French, Zachary Scot Johnson, Mare Lennon, Mother Banjo, Colleen Somerville, Katy Vernon, Nicole Wilder (Maple & Beech), Scott Wooldridge, and more

 Wed. Feb. 12 - Dan plays a duo show with guitarist Steve Brantseg at the 331 Club, 9:30 pm, no cover, https://www.facebook.com/events/1497875923721160/

Thurs. Feb 13 -  Dan teaches a songwriting class/seminar, "Writing Song Lyrics" for teens (mostly) sponsored by The Loft (as part of the "Bring the Loft to You" series) at the Arlington Hills Community Center from 4 pm to 5:30 pm

Fri. Feb. 14 - Dan plays a solo show on Valentine's Day at LTD Brewing in Hopkins, 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm, https://www.facebook.com/events/776754662840944/

Thurs. Feb. 20 - Dan plays a duo show EARLY (5 pm to 7 pm) at the Dubliner in St. Paul with percussionist Mikkel Beckmen, no cover, https://www.facebook.com/events/480606662629642/

Fri. Feb. 21 - Dan participates in a George Harrison/Bob Dylan tribute show with the Tommy Bentz Band at the Schooner Tavern, 8 pm

Sat. Feb. 22 - Dan plays the Big Turn Music Fest in Red Wing with a solo set at Oliver's Wine Bar from 6 pm to 8 pm

Mon. Feb. 24 - Dan participates in the "Morningside After Dark" music/arts series at Morningside Community Church in Edina

Wed. Feb. 26 - Dan plays solo at Republic MSP at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Thurs. Feb. 27 - Dan plays at American Legion Post 282 in St. Louis Park, 6 pm, no cover

Sat. Feb. 29 - Dan plays a duo show with guitarist Steve Brantseg at Welch Village Ski Area, 4 pm to 6 pm

Fri. March 6 - Dan plays a George Harrison/Bob Dylan tribute show at the Hook and Ladder with Tommy Bentz, Dean Wolfson, and others

Sat. March 7 - Dan plays the Capybara Lounge in St. Louis Park with Tommy Bentz

Fri. March 13 - Dan plays solo at Royal Foundry Craft Spirits from 7 pm to 9 pm, https://www.facebook.com/events/1677705875687513/

Wed. March 18 - Dan plays solo at Copperwing Distillery in St. Louis Park, 7:30 pm, https://www.copperwingdistillery.com/

Fri. March 20 - Dan plays solo for the "Granite City Folk Society" series at Bo Diddley's in St. Cloud, MN, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, https://www.facebook.com/granitecityfolksociety/

Wed. March 25 - Dan plays solo at Town Hall Brewery on Washington Ave. in downtown Mpls, 6 pm to 8 pm

Friday, April 3 - Dan opens for Chastity Brown at The Castle in Rochester - more details soon

Thurs. April 9 - Dan participates in the John Prine 1/2 birthday show at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis

Fri. May 1 - Dan plays the MWMF (Midwest Regional Music Festival) in Winona at the Acoustic Cafe, 7:45 pm, more details soon

SATURDAY, MAY 2 - FULL BAND SHOW - WILL BE RELEASING NEW MUSIC - PLEASE SAVE THE DATE, more details soon!