June 2015

On a Thursday.

In the morning. (11:00 am, no doubt)

On a hill?

Seems preposterous, I know; but none the less we did.  It was during the work week.  It was early in the day, and way out in Oakland County, on a beautiful hill.  Picturesque as it was, we still didn’t believe that there would be anyone much at all attending this, first-in-a-summer concert-series concert.  Boy, were we wrong!

What a magical time, we had!

We played kids’ music, and had a blast!

Well, we know from our winter time that playing for kids, (usually at X-Mas), is our very favorite time of the year.  A concert like this just re-affirms it.  So much fun.

We only played an hour, but what an hour it was.  An hour filled with fun, frivolity and great music, both young and old.

We had so many great comments about what we played and how much the kids loved everything.  The parents were so gracious and patient with everything that was going on.

We began with a blast, and ended with a bounce.  We splashed, we splashed.  We jumped and we hooped!

we hope that this is an annual concert, and we will be included each year.

Loved it, loved it, loved it!

Rb

Look what we found on the West Bloomfield Parks & Recreation site.  Great job capturing the fun and of the day.  What memories we created!

. . . there was even a very short video.  Can’t wait until next year!

  Click on the logo, to watch it!

RB

To be a father in this day and age is more diverse than ever before.  Nothing could illustrate that premise more than this a-tipicale fathers’ day.

Though we spent the morning with our families, the afternoon and evening was spent in the service of other fathers, (who were undoubtedly doing all they could to be the father they thought they should be to families).

Oh, its not really that complicated.

In stead of us being home lazing on the couch; we were entertaining in Roseville Michigan.  (Ok, we were lazing there, but at least we had a great time!)

Although the day started out in a mirky, quirky kind of cloudy funk; it turned quite nicely as the day evolved.  The sun came out and so did the families, as we entered the Rose-Fest carnival area on Sunday afternoon.

When we began, there was just a small crowd.  A smattering, really.  Well, possibly a gaggle, or a brace.  But not an clowder, for certain.  Ok, a smattering it was.  Until we played; then it was a clowder!

Seriously, it was a very fun afternoon.  The sun was out, but not too hot.  The music was good.  We enjoyed each and every phrase.  The crowd grew, and people stopped their merrymaking to listen; which was nice.  Even the gals in the Bingo tent had to make a pilgrimage to our stage to let us know that they were indeed listing, and they loved it!!!

Before we forget, we just have to thank the wonderful people at Gumbo’s.  Oh, my dear!

It was like nothing we have ever had.  Not only that, after requesting a few songs, and us sending out a few more, they actually brought Carl and I over steaming hot bowls of their incredible-edible gumbo!

Amazing, it was!

And more than that, it put a fitting signature on a delightful day; fit for a family, a mother or and father, celebrating or not!

Rb

. . . Well “Any press is good press!”, they say.  So making the cover of the Eastsider newspaper must be quite the coup.  In all seriousness, we always enjoy being on the cover of an local newspaper.  everyone gets so excited when the see it; they must show us, or save it.  Most of the time we get 14 copies.

This time someone very thoughtfully cut out a copy when the discovered it, and sent it in to us.  Good that they did, since although I had heard about it, no one had a copy, yet.

Fun show, by the way.  Both years we have been the very first act of the year.

Looking forward to it next year, already.

RB

Friday night at eight was the unofficial beginning of our summer schedule at the Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in Mount Clemens, Michigan.

The days are longer now, and so are the amazing nights. People dine later, and thus the later start. The time might have been an hour later than usual, but to us, the venue was just as comfortable as ever.

The Mice still felt like . . . home.

After taking care of some unforeseen technical difficulties, we had a moment to notice all the new faces at the pub. There might have been some new employees on this night, but the service and attention to the customers was still at the highest level, as usual. We have come to expect no less over the last couple years.

Kicking off our first set allowed us to relax and stretch our musical wings; playing some songs that don’t usually get much attention or coverage. In the right setting, an oft underplayed song can be just the perfect way to connect to patrons who have never experienced us.

To be honest; everything that we do revolves around our music.

It is the reason that we do what we do, after all of these years. Our music is how we communicate to our audience. It conveys so many things that we could not do on our own.

The music is the message, at any show. (You would be surprised at how many big stars forget that fact, later in their careers.). The music brings people together. It “speaks” to them in ways that many times, people cannot.

Our first set was quite enjoyable with lots of energy being drawn from the small but lively crowd. During the second set, we might have set a record for playing requests for a single table. That really makes things fun when the audience is so engaged.

After the first few sets, the crowd lessoned, but eventually picked back up at the end of the night. We met many new friends, (one thing we really enjoy), saw some old ones, and sounded pretty good for two guys that have been away for six weeks.

All in all, our first night back was a success. As always, we hope to build on it, with new music and greater dedication as the summer unfolds.

Rb