Events

About this time of the year, everyone around these parts is looking to plan their hasty get-away.

Although we Michiganians are a hardy bunch, when the calendar pokes past the holidays, we urn for the tropic beaches and ocean-side destinations that fuel our restless dreams.

All of that certainly holds true for those of us who have grown up in the midwest.  We can take it, this cold, bitter weather, we simply long to be somewhere warm and slightly less frigid.

I think all of that goes double if you are a boater.  I’m not, remember, but Carl and I sure have been around our share of them over the last three summers.

Boaters love it hot and warm.

And so, when Bumper’s Landing, Macomb Counties’ new summer hot-spot was nearly filled on this icy Saturday night, it warmed more than our hearts.

Saturday was a realization that nothing, not even this harsh winter weather could keep real boaters down.

They, like no others, know how to party.  Even with the wind chill way below zero, they were out in mass, showing no signs of hibernation.

We got there earlier than usual, so that we could set up sooner and not get people chilled as we brought in our band equipment from the van.  The set-up went pretty well, as everyone inside seemed fairly oblivious to our entrance.

All that I remember from our first set was how much fun it was.  The entire staff from the busboys, right up to the owner himself, were taking great care in attending to each and every patron who arrived for the football, but stayed for the food, the drinks and the fellowship.

Everyone was smiling and laughing and reestablishing the powerful connection that runs so deep for these boating besties!

By set number two, it was a mass sing-a-long.  Dancing, singing and reveling was the order or the night.  It is so much fun to play in a venue that appreciated everything we do.

So gratifying when everyone takes part in the entertaining.  We try and set things in motion here at Bumper’s and then stand back and let everyone enjoy themselves.

The night was rushing past, as song after song added to the overall feeling of euphoria at making it through the holidays.

Like a gathering of groundhogs, all the boaters that hadn’t seen each other since the tarps covered their treasured crafts, smiled ear-to-ear as the door opened and another arrived.

it didn’t really matter what we played on this night, each and every song was met with the same level of enjoyment and empathy.

Before we even knew it, our last song had been played, and it was time to pack it all up and plunge ourselves back out into the cold of the winter’s night.

Even the cold itself was no match for the warm feeling of the brotherhood of boaters that we were lucky enough to be part of.

We will return to Bumper’s on January 2oth.  It is scheduled to be a “Pajama Party”.  That promises to be interesting, to say the very least.

Rb

Actually, its pretty easy to get kids to be excited about Christmas.  Just show up, set up and  the rest simply takes care of itself.

The smiles are everywhere; on each and every face.  Even our “musical expertise” can’t damper their spirits during this amazing time of year.

On Monday of last week, Carl and I fired up the O’l “Bob-and-Carl-Mobile”, and headed out to Garden City to begin our holiday music tour.

The inaugural show is always a bit clunky to us; as it is the very first show out of the gate, and lacks much of the polish and smoothness that we find after the first few shows are over.

No matter; those kids love it just as much as all of the other kids.  There are screams, bright faces and smiles as far as the eye can see.  We are always just more self-conscious, because we don’t have everything “down” yet.  While we might not think that the music is up to our standards that first show, the excitement level is always off the charts.

Seeing those kids watch in amazement as all of our props and lights burst fourth, always keeps us on our toes, and brings is joy.

We love playing music all year round.  We love playing at the many wonderful venues that we are lucky enough to be associated with.  We enjoy entertaining their customers, regulars, staff as well as all the patrons.

But most of all, we love playing for the children at Christmas.  There is something that is way more gratifying than anything else we ever do.  It might be the very first time that kids are exposed to live music being played.  (Well, mostly live).

These are the shows we truly love.

These are the very best of the very best shows that we do all year round.  We enjoy playing for the kids knowing whatever we do for them, stays with them for the entire year.

In 2017, we began with the Garden City show, and then had a day off to work out some of the timing issues.

Garden city works so well for us, as the atmosphere is calm and laid-back while we set up and get ready for the show.  We have a lot going on in our heads, that first one, since we have no idea really how the timing is going to play out.

While watching, some time, think about all of the things that are going on, many of them at the very same time.  Something has to keep us young. . . .

Wednesday was next up.  We arrived after lunch at Emerson Elementary, and began setting up for the show.

We started right on time to the delight of the huge crowd filling the gym-a-torium.  Helping us capture the show was budding photographer, Isabella.

The gym was filled with cheers, screams and song.  Just the way we like it.

The new show elements were a big hit, as we had hoped they would be.  2017 had one tight running show, that was for sure.  Carl moves pretty fast, and tries to get as many kids involved as he can.  Each element has as many participants as we can manage during our slam-bang hour tour.

Santa was this years’ focus, as the old guy and his red suit has taken a back seat to a lot of pretenders over the last several years.

    

Thursday morning found us at Twain Elementary, in frigid Fraser Michigan.  Playing to our second new principal in as many years, we were delighted to bring the holiday extravaganza back to Twain.  She stepped right in and helped everyone share in the fun.

So many people, parents, staff and kids have witnessed our show over the last twenty years; but Carl and I always wonder what it must be like to see the show for the very first time.  Crazy is the word that mostly comes to mind!

Moving on from the triumphant show at Twain, it was time to unload at Eisenhower.  The principal at Ike is one of our great friends, and so this show had better be hitting on all cylinders!

Oh, oh, the principal was out sick.  We’ll still do a good show anyway.  (why not, after all, we’re the consummate professionals!)  ((riggggght))

The Eisenhower show had everyone singing along, right from the very beginning.  Its almost as if they were waiting to sing form last year!

The schools crazy big, and the gym was crazy small.  Carl always works hard during these shows.  I’ll bet that he runs ten miles during every Holiday Extravaganza.

Before we knew it, Friday was upon us, and time for the last two shows of the year.  So happy, but so sad.

By this point, the show had each and every bug worked out of it.  It is tight, smooth and running at a very high level.  We know where the breaks are, the lulls and the laughs.  We know which direction they are looking, why they are screaming, and just what they want to be picked for.

Friday morning found us at Disney elementary.  Disney is the longest continuing running stop on our Holiday tour.  We have played here on Friday morning, since it became a Fraser tradition, way back in 2001.

The staff, principal, parents, kids and even PTO people join in as one to make it the jewel in the entire holiday lineup.

The only tough part about the Disney show is the fact that we need to push them to begin a wee bit early, as well as excuse ourselves from the post-show afterglow because we have to be setup and ready to go at a completely different school in less than one hour.

Its a pretty neat trick.  One that I wouldn’t advise any band or entertainer to try at home.

We finished the show at 10:00, and were packed up and heading to Salk at twenty minutes after.  All we had to do was to load everything in the van, drive to the new school and unload everything, before setting it up in place.

Miraculously, we were ready to play at 10:40.

The Salk show this year was our last show of the season.  Time to pull out all of the stops’ and let our musical hair down, so to speak.

We put in all of the songs and all of the bits.  The response was everything that we could have hoped for.

In the end, all of the teachers danced and paraded throughout the gym, as they have in years past; excited that school was ultimately over until next year.

Speaking of next year . . .

Carl and his Bob and Carl Holiday Extravaganza Event Planning Team will have about eleven months to think up a bunch of new and amazing bits to entertain, enthrall and enlighten kids with, next year at this same time.

Until then . . .

We’re tired, horse, sore and most of all very, very contented with the show we brought to thousands of wonderful kids this year.

Each stop on the Holiday tour is one of a kind.  Each different and amazing for one reason or another.  We wish to thank all of the staff and the children for allowing us to entertain again at their school.

We hope to bring an even bigger and better show back again next year.  That is our promise!

Rb

After a near six-month absence, Carl and I returned to the Three Blind Mice Irish Pub, in winter-like downtown Mount Clemens on Friday.

Our biggest take-away from the night . . . It was as if we had never left.

Some places will always give you the feeling of home, and the Mice is just such a place.

After spending most of the summer and fall on the bountiful banks of the Clinton River, it was a much different vibe, being inside doing what we do best; entertaining, acoustically.

As we have always felt, playing “In the round”, suits our style more than any other musical opportunity.  It lets us commiserate with the audience, which is usually only a few feet away.  That, we are good at.

We began our evening in just such a way, getting to know two fun couples who were right next to us while we set up our gear for the night.

They had a wonderful time throwing out requests of artists that we might know and be able to play, even before they had heard us play one song.  It was great fun for us, as it almost became an audition rather than a scheduled performance.

We had a lot in common, musically, since they seemed to like all of the performers that we did.  I believe that we nearly played our entire first set, comprised entirely of requests.  If you know us at all, you know that for us, that was great fun.

There was a lot going on at the Three Blind Mice that evening.  We were entertaining downstairs; the Red Wing game was on the television, and a band was upstairs playing to a throng on the big stage.

The band upstairs was excellent, playing a wide variety of musical styles and genres. People were dancing and listening to the high-octane sound.  I heard them do Motown with a fervor that really had to be experienced to appreciated.  The band was comprised of great musicians, who were a bit older than most of the bands that entertain upstairs.  To my ear, that was what made them really good.  They lived those songs and brought them back to life when the drummer clicked off each song.

It is so rewarding to be a part of a great musical venue like the Three Blind Mice.  Since it’s opening, they have had so many quality musical acts, that patrons absolutely know they will not be let down when they come out to visit.

Back downstairs, it was our turn to turn up the tempo and the volume, as the pub began to fill with several tables of holiday shopping refugees.

Huddled together and barking out request, we are torn between classic rock hits by Tom Petty, Bob Seger and R.E.M., as well as country songs by Cash, Brooks and Williams.

Throw in some Irish and Christmas songs, and you had a wonderful musical cornucopia of audible delights.

Carl and I still think of the Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in Mount Clemens, as our musical home.  We have worked, toiled, sweated and delighted at many of the sights, sounds and experiences we have lived there.  We have been there since the soft opening in 2013, and hope to be there in the future.

Can’t wait to return, and see what is in store for us over this next year.

Rb

 

 

Some people simply have an innate sense of order and direction.

We know that and understand all too well, just how someone with that talent serves an important purpose in all our lives.

And so it was on a chilly Saturday evening in December that we had the great fortune to come face-to-face with just such a person.

Let’s back up for a second, though . . .

Carl and I arrived at Bumper’s to set up our gear, early as we usually do.  Everything was going perfectly according to our ultimate plan.  And then, the gear did not operate correctly, as it was designed to do.  Throwing us off our schedule by fifteen minutes, only gave us a few moments to get up for our evening excitement that awaited us.  Working together, it was however, everything that we hoped for, and more.

Ready to take on the evening in front of us, Carl and I began our first set at Bumper’s Landing, by rolling out the Bob Seger music right out of the gate.

It was a very “stable” song, that gives us a chance to balance all of our equipment and get a handle on the acoustics of the room before we attempted music that was a bit more ambitious.

There were several people who ambled in and populated the bar on both side.  All of them were very polite and in the cheeriest of moods.  When we played, “Christmas Time’s A’ Coming!” for them, their mood became even cheerier!

Our first set comprised of lots of special songs that we ordinarily do not get a chance to play.  Country, Irish, Island and holiday music.  We played some songs a completely different way.  Its fun for us, and hopefully entertaining for everyone else.

We were well into our second set of the evening when the door opened, and in walked a group of revelers unlike any we had ever seen.  They walked into the place like they owned it; offering suggestions regarding when we could begin playing, and exactly what our set list should entail.

As I have already  stated, it is wonderful when we have a little direction in our lives.  Things move ahead much smoother; and additionally, it takes much of the burden of having to think for our selves off our shoulders.

So with a little direction and purpose, we were led on an unique musical journey of exploration and self awareness.  It was fun to play, fun to watch and even more fun just to be a part of.

They were a great group of happy people.  They were all in the right place, as it tuns out.  Bumper’s Landing caters to happy people!

The night wore on with things accelerating from Billy Joel right into Van Morrisson, and well past Neil Diamond.

It was a very intimate evening that we were lucky enough to share.  Spending a night with this group was quite memorable.

It was also our very last night to play at Bumper’s this year.

Looking backwards gave us pause to admire all of the amazing shows that we played, summer through fall and now onto winter.

We are very lucky to be a cherished part of the Bumper’s Landing “family”.  We do not take it lightly.  We all work hard, and expect only excellence in our work ethic there.  The staff and all of the regulars each add so much to the experience that we are both so very excited to begin and optimistic new year!

Rb

So its the holiday season around these parts; and everyone seems to be into the holiday spirits.

That’s perfect for us.  We love the holiday spirits.  They keep everyone happy and in the right frame of mind during a busy time of the year.

It was just such an experience that we had last weekend at Bumper’s Landing in Harrison Township.

Right from the start, there were smiles and happy faces when we opened the door to set up for the night.  It seems that there were lovely ladies in the house from a salon in Macomb Township, hosting their holiday party.

They were so much fun that Carl and I were just hanging on for dear life from the very first set.  Some groups come in and visit Bumper’s . . . .

. . .and, then there are groups that simple come in and make themselves right at home.
They are all good and welcome, for sure.

We love it when we are told what to play and just when to play it.  You know that works for us.  The food, the fun, the drinks were flowing, and we did the best that we could just to keep up.

Bumper’s was open to the regular customers as well, as it has been this entire winter.  Its a new thing for them and they are adjusting accordingly.

The music was up-tempo for most of the night, with a few slow songs in there to keep everyone honest.

We had some wonderful fans that come to hear us at other venues, who decided to drop by and visit.  Always nice to connect with them.  We even had some gals that needed to sing, and a place to do it.  We were happy to oblige them.  Always happy to help a rising star on the way to reaching their musical goal.

This night simply flew past, as it became midnight before we even knew it.  One thing we can count on at Bumper’s is that we never know what to expect.  Its always something there, and mostly always something different!

Rb

The very first thing that we noticed were the smiles.

The girls at the door as we arrived; the friendly bartender who gratefully brought us cold, refreshing beer.

The manager, the busboys, the waitresses and I would imagine, the owner as well.  Everyone was smiling. . .

Got to be a happy place, right?

The Rochester Tap Room is all of that, and even more.

Let’s begin with the acoustics of the room.

Although it is certainly not a traditional shaped venue, (It kind of winds and meanders around).  Whatever shape it is, works acoustically.  The sound is great from where we are playing.  You can tell by simply playing at a lower volume.  If you can hear everything, then you have a great room to entertain in.

Jeff the manager mixed the sound the was sent from our board, and got the level perfect for the entire restaurant.  We didn’t even need to bring in our big speakers to accomplish the task.

There were lots of people already frequenting the Tap Room on this night.  Although the weather was pretty nasty outside, there were several tables of hardy folk, enjoying the fellowship and food.

Our first set was pretty quiet and careful.  Carl and I never want to be shown the door before we even get to use the bathroom.  We took it easy and let our sound matriculate throughout the place.

When we finished our first ever set, we asked the staff if everything was to their liking.  So far so good.

It was then that a few tables of our good friends came in to share our evening with us.  A big birthday celebration was front and center.  Some wonderful friends from The Great Oaks Country Club.  They had been looking forward to this night for a while, and we were looking forward to being able to play some Irish favorites as soon as everyone arrived.

It was a long second set.  It was also a lot of fun.  We were lucky enough o have Jerry and his wife join us.  (The third member of Bob and Carl).  Also, the indomitable Eddie Stein was there, to make sure that we weren’t playing any Cockroach music without paying royalties.  (He did mention that he was thinking about adding a new pool on to his new house). Hmmmmmm….

Anyway, by the end of the third set, the entire place was singing along in unison.  We were so happy to be making a connection with the people at the Tap Room.  Always worry that in a new venue, we might not be the right fit.

Although we did begin a bit early because of the weather, we finished the night late.  we played about a half hour of encores before the people would let us go.

Our first impression of the Rochester Tap Room was very warm and enjoyable.  The room was really fun and the people were great.

Hope to come back and play again, sometime down the road.  If this night was any indication, it will be something worth waiting for.

Rb

Well,

It certainly felt like it, on wonderful November Saturday evening at Bumper’s Landing.  Everywhere you looked there were smiles and happy people.  They were singing and dancing and partying until they couldn’t party any more.

That was what we will remember about last Saturday night as we loaded our equipment back into the van, before heading home.

We, pretty much have the whole world in our hands.

When we are entertaining, and everyone is happy and smiling and singing . . .  it doesn’t get too much better than that.  We certainly feel like our job has been accomplished when that happens.

When we arrived earlier that evening, there were already lots of happy people at Bumper’s.  They were celebrating Vince’s birthday.  Why wouldn’t they be happy!

Lots of dancing, lots of partying, lots of fun.  We were enjoying everything.  The food, the drinks, the sights and sounds.  Never dull at Bumper’s!

The football game was also lots of fun.  When the home team is winning, everyone is much happier.  Tonight, both teams won.

The drinks were flowing, the music was echoing throughout the bar, while girls and guys got up to shake a leg.

We threw out some of our best summer-time songs, much to the delight of the patrons on the dance floor.  We also got a chance to play most every request that we were asked to play.

Things got hotter and hotter until the regulars broke out into song of their own: “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”

It was truly the highlight of the night; unfortunately, things deteriorated quickly from there.  Everyone was feeling great, and at that point, eager to express themselves and their feelings.

After a brief bit of mayhem, Carl and I shoulder’d our guitars to truly mellow out and restore order for the evening.

It was another great Saturday evening at Bumper’s.  For the most part, everyone had a wonderful time.

We can’t say enough about the incredible staff working here.  They go above and beyond each and every night, for the customers as well as the owner.  Carl and I are continually in awe of how hard and how tenaciously they work.

It will be a few weekend before we return.  However, when we do, we have no doubt that another amazing night awaits us!

After all . . . it will be a Saturday night at Bumper’s Landing!!!

Rb

 

No, its not Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Just one of those nights when Carl and I have free rain to do whatever we choose.

Sometimes things just work out that way.  Saturday was just such a night at Bumper’s Landing.  With a combination of the cooler weather and the calendar, it was apparent that it was going to be a slower night, in a place where we usually are holding on for dear life.

With the Halloween parties in full gory all around town, it was very clear that the crowd would be much more intimate tonight.  Sometimes, that is great fun; and tonight was going to be just one of those nights.

We were dressed as cowboys, and took that cue to begin the night with a big dose of country music.  After playing a few sample songs, we noticed that the music was just perfect for this night.  Each and every person on hand was singing along with the tunes that poured out of us.

It was kind of fun to be able to play any type of music that we wished.  Country turned to pop, and then different oldies that we haven’t played for many years.

Before we knew it, we were simply playing music for ourselves.  Music that made us happy.

Songs like the theme from The Urban Cowboy.  Rollin the Thompson Gunner and some eclectic songs by Tom Petty.  We played lots and lots of songs that we never have gotten to play for a long while.  Not because they weren’t good songs; but because normally we need to play music from a certain genre, just to make everyone happy.

It was fun to do music for ourselves for a change.  We played song after song of odd, unusual music.  Songs that didn’t necessarily fit into any one category.

I think that the patrons there that night really were enchanted with some of the music that we were sharing.  It was just as much fun for them as it was for us.

Chances are the the next week at Bumper’s, we will be back to business as usual.  Island music-boater fun.  We love that too.

Just fun, every once in a while to be able to just play the music that we never get to share.

We will see.  The only thing that we know for sure about Bumper’s, is that we never know anything for sure.

Rb

 

It’s always exciting to be asked to entertain at a new venue.  Last Friday, Carl and I had the good fortune to play at Steiny’s Restaruant & Banquet hall, in beautiful Shelby Michigan.

It was  a different experience altogether to play at a restaurant that is not usually designed to showcase entertainment.  What I mean by that, is that Steiny’s is primarily a place that people go to when they are either hungry or thirsty.  Music is an added bonus.

Everyone there was nice to us; (something that makes any situation better.)  It also helps us in our struggle to move in and sort out our set up for the very first time.

I know it an musician thing, but It is important for us to be comfortable, before we can even think about entertaining someone.

One nice thing about our very first night in this new location, was having good friends there to make us feel at home.

Smiling faces always help, no matter what.

Before we knew it, we were off and playing our first set.  We did our best to sprinkle a flavor of what we do best, right from the start.  I guess that way, if they didn’t like us, they would know right away. Lol,

The first set was an interesting one for us.  The room sounded good.  (Something that we always evaluate in our minds.)  They music seemed to be appreciated by the patrons and the regulars.  It seemed to go over well.

We chatted with people between the first set, and they seemed pleased with the music.  That helps too.

It was a short one, to be sure.  We were only there for three sets.  All that meant was that we would have to pack lots and lots of great music, into pretty much, two long doses.

We were able to accomplish our goal, I believe.  We made a good connection with he audience, from what we could gather.

There were lots of applause when we finished our songs.  I seemed like a positive experience for everyone.

Only time will tell if we come back to visit, down the road.

It was a nice restaurant, with a very friendly staff.  We hope that they prosper in the future, wether we are a part of the experience or not.

Rb

Saturday nights at Bumper’s Landing can be a little scary at times, but tonight was downright frightening!

It was the fourth annual Bumper’s Landing Halloween party, and it was everything you would expect, and a little bit more.

First of all, they spared no expense on decorations and spooky atmosphere, as the new bar was all decked out in superb Halloween kitsch.

Fun was in the air, as you could almost anticipate the ghoulish grooves that would permeate the evening chaos.  Bumper’s was ready and waiting for each unsuspecting customer to come by and show off.

Once inside, they took full advantage of every opportunity to let loose their inner spirit.

Everyone wanted a snap-shot near the cranium ice sculpture.  The perfect “Elixir” for a Halloween party-to-remember.

The deck also was all “decked-out”, with a huge tent and heaters, to keep the chill away from the customers.

It was a big crowd.  Everyone was excited, as the sun went down and the creepers came out in full force.

There were cops and bad guys.  Cow-pokes and bad girls.  Creepy zombies, spooky bees and even a joker or two.

One by one they crawled through the door, to take refuge from the night air.  One by one they fell under our spell as the music grabbed them and commanded them to dance!

Smiles were everywhere, as the costumes were paraded by for maximum effect.  Carl and I were asked to judge all the spooky attire and award prizes for the best-of-the-best.

There were lots to pick from, so we needed to examine them all carefully during our breaks.  (Too bad that the Bumper’s staff were not eligible, ’cause they certainly would have given the customers a run for their money.)

Right from the very first song, we thought that we would sprinkled the Halloween favorites to distill just the right elixir that would make the party howl at the moon.

It worked.  There were revelers crawling, hopping and creeping everywhere you looked.  It seemed that our spell was unbreakable.

Only past the hour of two did it release them to crawl back into their own humble abodes.

A party of this size and magnitude does not happen by itself.  We need to make sure that the amazing staff at Bumper’s knows how much they are appreciated.

They worked so long and hard, and never stoped until the last demons were exorcised for the night.

Rb