From Lisa at the Event Center Downtown, this note: 

Restoring the old Coca Cola Bottling Buildings has been like an archeological dig. Built in 1938, the buildings had many hidden gems we were thrilled to find. We uncovered antique brick, beautiful wood, beams, and the best yet, a room size sheet of copper on the floor of a room in our second story. Research answered the mystery of the beautiful metal floor, we were standing in the syrup room and the copper was to prevent the sweet secret ingredient from dripping through to the first floor.

The hardwood floors in the lounge area are the original floors and the brick has been uncovered from the original interior. Also being reused in the Upstairs Lounge are the light fixtures original from the bottling and production areas which we cleaned up and painted fitting perfect for the scheme of the building’s original charm.

What once was the “syrup room” now is our Upstairs Lounge serving a different kind of “syrup”. Our concept is to provide a relaxing, de-stressing atmosphere where people can come in the late afternoon, have a cocktail or coca-cola and perhaps decide on a business deal or unwind from a day’s work.

The Upstairs Lounge is open Monday thru Friday from 4:00PM – 7:00PM. Each day a snack will be available free whether it be popcorn, chips and salsa, or perhaps a small taco bar. If you are hungry for a full meal you can walk a block up the street to many wonderful downtown restaurants like Mafia’s, Jimmy’s, Sid’s, Las Margaritas, Jefferson’s, Café 123, Breezeway or the Irish Bred Pub.

As always, handicap accessibility continues to be very important to us. What was once the freight elevator now occupies an elevator in the original shaft.

The final phase of renovations will be the basement which served as the boiler room and fallout shelter. Eventually it will be a wine cellar. Since the wine cellar renovation is a future project, we did design and install the wine cellar gate.

We are pleased to announce that our facility pricing has been revised to include a non-profit rate for need-based community service agencies, schools and churches to further serve our great community. Serving and helping others is what we do.  Thank you for your support.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

Under a separate credit agreement, Berkshire Hathaway will provide Media General with a $400 million term loan and a $45 million revolving credit line. The company said the new loan will be used to fully repay the company’s existing bank debt due March 2013 and will mature in May 2020. In conjunction with this, Media General will issue Berkshire Hathaway penny warrants for approximately 4.6 million Class A shares, which represents 19.9 percent of Media General’s existing shares outstanding. In addition, Berkshire Hathaway has the option to nominate a director to Media General’s board of directors.

The newspapers being purchased by BH Media Group include 63 daily and weekly titles in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama, in addition to digital assets, including websites and mobile and tablet applications. The newspapers also have a substantial commercial printing business.

“These newspapers are great institutions and powerful brands in their respective markets,” said Terry Kroeger, president of BH Media Group.

The Media General newspapers will be part of BH Media Group, along with the Omaha World-Herald Co. newspapers. A sister company of the Omaha World-Herald Co., World Media Enterprises Inc., will manage the Media General newspapers.

“In towns and cities where there is a strong sense of community, there is no more important institution than the local paper,” said Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. “The many locales served by the newspapers we are acquiring fall firmly in this mold and we are delighted they have found a permanent home with Berkshire Hathaway.”

Marshall N. Morton, president-CEO of Media General, said: “Selling our newspapers represents a monumental change for us. We’re very happy that our newspapers will become part of Berkshire Hathaway’s BH Media Group, a company with a strong commitment to local news leadership and community engagement. This single transaction for virtually all of our newspapers accelerates the timing of our strategy to focus on our broadcast television business and its future growth opportunities, including digital content and mobile DTV,” said Morton.

Media General said that in recent years its model has shifted toward its broadcast and digital businesses. Broadcast television accounted for 77% of total platform cash flow for the full year 2011; in the first quarter of this political year, it accounted for 87%. Morton said Media General is capitalizing well on this year’s event-driven revenue opportunities in broadcast. The company expects to generate $40 million-$45 million in political revenues and will benefit from operating in the key battleground states of Ohio, Florida, Virginia and North Carolina.

Super Bowl revenues on its eight NBC stations were strong and the company expects Summer Olympics revenues will be strong as well. Retransmission fees are expected to reach $32 million-$37 million, compared with $21 million last year, as a result of rate increases in renewed agreements. “Longer term, we have a solid plan for significantly increasing our broadcast cash flow margins and total company EBITDA,” said Morton.

The newspaper transaction is expected to close on June 25. A transition will take place over several months, in coordination with Media General personnel. World Media Enterprises President Douglas Hiemstra will closely oversee the transition and operations of the acquired newspapers for Berkshire Hathaway. After transaction fees and retaining $25 million in cash, Media General will use the proceeds from the newspaper sale to offer to repay existing senior secured notes, with any remaining funds to be used for repayment of the new term loan at par. The sale is subject to customary closing conditions, including Federal Trade Commission approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust act.

The $400 million first lien term loan will have an interest rate of 10.5%, which could step down to 9% if total leverage were to reach 3.50x. The new loan will be issued at a discount of 11.5% and is secured pari passu with the company’s existing 11-3/4% senior secured notes due 2017. The closing date of the new credit agreement is expected to be no later than May 24. The existing term loan in the amount of approximately $364 million will be fully repaid the same day the new credit agreement becomes effective.

Media General said it now expects total cash interest expense in 2012 will be approximately $67 million. Total interest expense, including non-cash amortization of issue discount, new issuance fees, and the warrants, is expected to be $80 million in 2012.

Copies of the new credit agreement and the asset purchase agreement will be included in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC later today. The 8-K filings will also be available on Media General’s Website www.mediageneral.com in the Investor Relations section.

Media General’s financial advisor is Peter J. Solomon Co. JPMorgan was the sole arranger and syndication agent on financing. (Source: TVNewsCheck.Com)

B

Before the BIG fun gets started, Webb will be appearing LIVE in the studio with Wildman Steve. That starts at 4:00, so make sure your browser is open to www.wildmansteve.com. And if you want  even more info, go to www.sundilla.org and www.facebook.com/Sundilla.

I’m not the only one who raves about Webb Wilder. But before you read the following quotes– and please do read them, especially if you’re still not convinced– check out this promo video from Webb himself. And just for fun, see how many famous people you can count. (Hint: It will take both hands. And you might have to take your shoes off, too.)http://youtu.be/LfkB9WZWzzU

Hey, as long as we’re doing the video thing, here’s one that shows that Webb has a romantic side: http://youtu.be/LfkB9WZWzzU

I’ve gotten messages from people in other cities and states about this concert, but know that there are still some people who aren’t familiar with the legend that is Webb Wilder. A couple of personal notes… I don’t know when I first heard of Webb, but I do know this: once upon a time, a great (though financially disastrous) little film called “The Thing Called Love” was released. The description was “A group of newcomers to the country music business seek love and stardom” and that’s pretty accurate; much of the movie took place at the famous Bluebird Cafe, and the stars were River Phoenix (his final movie), Sandra Bullock, Samantha Mathis and Dermot Mulroney, among others. Many of the wannabe-stars got rooms at a local motel, run by a character named Ned; when Ned first appeared on the screen, I said “Hey! That’s Webb Wilder!!” That was in the mid-to-late 1990′s, so even then Webb Wilder was well-known. (Totally useless trivia: Webb Wilder will not be the first member of that cast to appear at Sundilla; Kevin Welch is also in the movie, playing… Kevin Welch.)

Many years later, I noticed that Webb was going to be attending the Folk Alliance conference. I go to Folk Alliance every year to “discover” potential Sundilla performers, but every year there are a few “big name” performers I go see because I can, not because they’re Sundilla possibilities. Some of those have included Roger McGuinn, Guy Clark and Judy Collins. Webb Wilder was on that list,too, until his manager emailed and asked if we would be interested. I responded before she could change her mind.

So who is Webb Wilder, anyway? Where to begin… at his core, he would be described as a roots-rocker. Hardly a purist, he has described his music as “Rock for Roots fans and Roots for Rock fans.” In essence: Rock and Roll. There’s nothing new about combining R & B, Rock and Roll, Country, Blues, Pop and Rock. The Rolling Stones and the Beatles proved that it can yield marvelous and diverse results. I said he wasn’t a PURIST. I didn’t say he wasn’t very PICKY about the quality of the music. That includes everything from the sonics of the recordings, the choice of players, the influences he draws on, the songs he chooses to cover, or how attentive he is to the craftsmanship of his own songs. (Though he often tours with his band, The Beatnecks, this show will be just Webb and his bass player.)
The self-proclaimed “Last Of The Full Grown Men” hasn’t limited his creativity to the music business. There’s the picture business. His critically acclaimed indie films made him a cult hero and led to the aforementioned “The Thing Called Love.” He’s done guest appearances on others’ albums (Ben Folds, Jason and the Scorchers, Farmer Jason, William Shatner, Maura O’Connell), and a Disney produced duo of companion CDs for the animated movie “Cars.” His smooth baritone has been used for voice-overs on countless radio commercials; he even did a stint as one of America’s FIRST Satellite DJs on XM Radio for four and a half years. Using all manner of media, Webb Wilder has been impacting Popular culture (and it him) for way over 20 years, all the while maintaining a devoted worldwide fan base through a relentless, never ending tour schedule.

His concerts and CDs always feature an exciting blend of bedrock American music and bittersweet ballads incorporating a host of influences. Never overlooked is his ever present irreverent attitude and wit. According to Gibson Guitar magazine, this “gives Wilder’s music a sense of fun and imagination often lacking among his peers.”
A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Wilder moved to Austin, Texas in 1976 with his boyhood friend, Bobby “Crow” Field. Incorporating a British Invasion influence (among others) into their then double time tunes separated Wilder’s music from the pack. After moving to Nashville, Wilder and Field formed the Beatnecks in 1985. As Nashville moved toward unapologetically commercial fare, Wilder and Field were busy crafting their signature brand of rock ‘n’ roll, founded on classic influences from both sides of the pond. Wilder’s debut, It Came From Nashville, a brazenly rocking bar-band rave-up, seems even more unlikely now than it must have seemed then. His subsequent albums (Hybrid Vigor, Doo Dad, Town & Country, Acres of Suede, About Time, and Born To Be Wilder (live)), have continually maintained the high standard set by the first, becoming textbooks for aspiring roots rockers and showing there was (and is) a vibrant market for their hybrid brand of Southern musical gumbo.
In concert, Wilder spikes the punch between songs with potent doses of rustic wit and character, transcendent mediations, incantations, and codes by which to live. Webb’s first Blind Pig release, Born To Be Wilder captured that on-stage alchemy with a set featuring favorites such as “The Human Cannonball,” “Tough It Out”, “Miss Missy From Ol’ Hong Kong”, “Louisiana Hannah,” and others, at their rockin’ best in front of a sold out enthusiastic crowd. Elmore Magazine called Born To Be Wilder “a generous helping of fresh, tasty rock ‘n’ roll that will leave the listener asking for seconds,” while American Songwriter said it “highlights the musical attributes that make him appealing and unique.”

Music critics have always warmed up to the Webb Wilder juggernaut. The Associated Press described the band’s music and stage performance as “a glorious amalgamation of grunge chords, killer grooves, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins theatrics, a healthy sense of humor, and great pop melodies.” It’s “full of wit and personality, and devoid of technological or conceptual gimmickry,” added the Houston Post.

We’ll do the usual “quotes” email in a few days; some of the quotes about Webb Wilder can’t wait until then. For example… Vintage Guitar Magazine says “If Webb Wilder and his band are passing within 300 miles of your town, don’t miss them!” And Nashville Scene says “Webb Wilder, Nashville’s wildest, weirdest export, is actually kind of normal. Kind of. He has a deep Mississippi accent that cuts thru psychedelic power chords, singing with the kind of charisma that makes listeners want to buy whatever he’s selling. One of a kind? Hell, this guy is a rock music Sasquatch. Only he’s real.”

I admit it; I’m excited about this show, and I’m probably trying too hard to get everyone else excited too. When we have someone this outstanding, this… I’m gonna say it, this GREAT, at Sundilla, I want as many people as possible to take advantage of the opportunity. And those who were at the Lipbone Redding show last month, or who saw Act of Congress last year, know that the apparent belief that no one can be any good if they’re playing Sundilla for the first time is a crock, and that those who subscribe to that belief have missed some fantastic concerts over the years, and will miss even more until they have a change of heart and take a chance.

So make your plans now to join us for the next great Sundilla concert, this one featuring Webb Wilder. This one takes place on a THURSDAY, May 17; showtime is 7:30. Admission at the door is $15, and you can get $12 tickets at The Gnu’s Room. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, and as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer. Get a jumpstart of the show by listening to Webb perform in the studio with Wildman Steve at 3:30 Thursday.

OH… don’t forget that pretty much the only PR we are getting these days is word-of-mouth, so please help us out by telling people about the concert. Feel free to forward this email to your friends with excellent musical taste; if you’re on Facebook, “like” our page (www.facebook.com/Sundilla) then say you’re going to the show, and invite all of your Facebook friends to join you.

Hope to see you Thursday!

This event will be one of the new things you’ll find in the old Montgomery Cotton Warehouses in coming months and years.  I’m lucky enough to be able to call both Conan and Iain good friends and look forward to meeting Jonathan and see his works. Music with Harrison Hudson, Megan Jean, and My Two Wings. Check the videos below.