It's been a long time between entries, so this is a particularly long entry.

Hello, fellow improvisers and Bag:Folk. As you may have discerned by the previous nakedness of this site, changes aplenty have occurred since my last correspondence.
Where do I start? (Eh-hemm.)
On my own side of reality, I had to change my living situation, and had one whole, whopping day to do it. I've moved so many times in my life that a system -- no, a style -- has been my preferred modus operandi. Being denied the usual well-laid plan, the sudden uprooting was chaos at its zenith. The majority of my stuff sits in limbo in a rented hole, with the exception of 'tools of the trade' and numerous garments.
With that now stated, be assured that all is well, perhaps even perfect. I happily reside in Encino, California with the beautiful and brilliant Audrey, my always mysterious son Mat, 2 dogs and 3 cats. My only current ordeal (much as yours, I'm sure) is financial, a problem that has certainly curtailed Bag: Theory's attempts at forward motion.

The lull in the bands' activity moved all of us into other creative directions. I've kept busy doing recording sessions and live gigs with some great, visionary artists and composers. Some that come immediately to mind...

Music For Chameleons, featuring vocalist Carol McArthur, absolutely the best I've ever worked with. A very eclectic batch of originals & covers, and players (guitarist Kevin Halloran, bassist Jesse Greenfield, and keyboardist Jan de Vries) that are so polished they shine. I've recorded with them, and done dozens of shows. I get to play drums to music that demands I always be at my best.
My highest praise also goes to The Amadans. They are a band that really impresses me with their fearless flair for uniqueness. Jon Wahl, Steve Reed, Bob Lee and bag:ish one Richie Häss make me sound like one hell of a congalero. We've recorded their next release, and gig often. 
I continue to lend percussive ideas to George, Mike Day and John Tompkins for Ritual, a band that has never stopped growing. Their new CD was great to work on, and the live performances are moody and intense. Also featured on the recording is early Bag: member guitarist Ken Rosser. At gigs, the superb Kwan Hearns takes Ken's place, and drummer Jerry Jones-Haskins is the queen of understated drum set professionalism.
The finishing mixes are currently underway for the upcoming Death & Taxe$ offering, a labor of love that also recruited Anthony, George, Marc and Matt Brown. Once mastered by the Living God of Killer Tracks, Frank Rosatto, this CD will fry the mind. 
Helping Marc with his horn inspired jazz band has also been very enjoyable. Mister Häss is wailing the drums, I get to indulge funky-groove congas, bassist Dale Upton lays it all down with distinction, and new members Death & Taxe$ guitarist Vince Martinez and pianist Jordan Clover make it all sound really gigantic. Much fun is had by all.
I have also been drumming with Richie (on guitar, no less) on his rock opera, using Steve Reed on bass to round out the power trio. This one may take some time, but hell, will it be worth it. It's about a struggling musician's trials and tribs as he wanders through a world of greed and illusion, counterbalanced by characters that love and believe in what they do. A winner in the making, I expertly predict!
I will soon have the honor of playing drums with Jonathan Hall, the ass-kicking guitarist of Backbiter. He and his girl Marea have a new band called The Motorcycle Black Madonnas, which Bag: Theory gigged with at the now-defunct venue Rumors (sniff-sniff) a number of months ago. I'm honored to have the chance to participate, courtesy of Steve Reed's recommendation.
I do many projects with Steve. He is one of the finest men I know, and his multi-instrumental prowess (much like Brother Greg Segal, Richie Häss, Matt Brown and Jon Wahl) is truly amazing.
As you can see, sanity and keeping busily creative are one in the same to this old freak. Boredom does not become me. It makes me fucking mean, ya got me?

And the other lads?
Anthony has been traveling to distant lands, doing soundtrack work and self- recording and producing a band with The Mighty Thor of drums, Runt Miller. Anything those two do is magic, as my tenure in their project Fried To A Crisp proved conclusively. He's also doing some shows with the barely clad Nudist Priest -- hey ladies; make sure you catch these performances.  Dig his swaggering, solid guitar slinging!
As previously mentioned, George forges ahead with Ritual, and has been working with Bag: Daddy Kenny Ryman on what will be the first new official Paper Bag: release in over a decade. More about this wonderful effort will appear in the PB: side of this site very soon. 
Marc is sharpening his jazz band, finishing the Two Separate Gorillas CD with cohort Owen Green, and also taking various solo projects to completion. As always, he is helping other artists record and finish their own material, ever the consummate engineer and producer. 

As far as Bag: Theory goes, getting gig dates has been a real drag. This is just not a great time of year for such things, so there may be nothing upcoming until early next year. If the scenario changes, I'll let it be known immediately.
Until then, we have decided to record a new CD, and will probably start on it this month. We will also begin the process of culling material from live performances (shit, it's always live, so what I really mean is, ' with audience') to release soon after the studio effort is available. As we know, one good hit deserves another. 

My friends, I know I speak for everyone when I say thank you for the loyalty and patience all of you have shown. We hope to give something in return in a thoughtful and timely fashion. 
To those of you that found this site through recommendation, curiosity or error -- don't forget to improvise.

M.

mdsegal@earthlink.net

Old News:
11/18/02
10/10/02