Events

“We’ve got more of everything bad since the [heat] wave started. It’s the crisis atmosphere. People dress different, feel different, sweat more. They wake up cranky and they never recover. . . . Things are just a little askew. Pretty soon people think the old rules aren’t in effect.”

Lawrence Kasdan, “Body Heat” (1981)

When it’s this hot, the thermometer doesn’t even tell the entire story.  You feel it in your soul as wave after wave of heat saps the very strength from your fragile body.

These are the dogs days of Michigan summer, plain and simple.  These are the days we dream about when its twenty below, and winter winds are battering us with unrelenting cold.  And yet when they arrive, they are met with all the furor we reserve only for a treasured mother-in-law.

Everywhere we looked, we spied people hiding from the sun’s unrelenting gaze.  Many eyes peeked out from the shadows as customers scrambled to grab up all the shade they could find.

The Tiki bar is open, and the girls are hot.  (In both a good and bad way).  The sun is un-merciless today; and although its currently ninety-six  degrees, there are other fireworks on the way.

According to everyone’s radar, there’s a big storm looming.

We begin at Bumper’s Landing around six O’clock on these summer days, and just about an hour into our afternoon, we apparently are going to have an unruly guest appear.

It won’t break up the party though.  If we know one thing from all the dates we have entertained here, we know how the boaters will react to a big storm: they’ll just shrug it off and move the party inside.

So the set-up was slow and easy.  We took lots of time and talked with just about anyone who had input on the decision to either be inside or out and decided to start outside and then move in ahead of the rain.

Easy to say, but a lot more difficult to actually pull off.

To be honest, the first part of the night was all blur.  I remember vividly arriving and canvasing the powers that be for their input on playing inside or out.  After that, it all escalated pretty quickly.

We played the first set, beginning with a very apropos selection: Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season, by the contemporary master of leisure, Jimmy Buffett.

Squalls out on the gulf stream
Big storm commin’ soon
Passed out in my hammock
God, I slept till way past noon
Stood up and tried to focus
I hoped I wouldn’t have to move far
Sure could use a bloody mary
So I stumbled over to Loui’s back yard

Storms come and go in everyone’s lives.  It’s how we deal with them that defines who we are.  Carl and I have been around boaters for five years now, and have tried to learn a thing or two from them.  How to maintain an even keel.  How to drink all day.  (ok, so we might have already known that one.). How to not let anything bother you.  We are getting thee hang of it, I believe and maybe one day will be “honorary” boaters, at the very least.

As the Strom approached from the West, we had lookouts watching its’ every move.  We timed our first break accordingly, and as it happened, just in the knick of time.

The winds picked up and so did it’s urging to move our location to a dryer local.  With a little help from our friends, we gather all of our equipment and skedaddled into the bar.

Just in time as the heavens opened up and let us know once again who was really in charge.

Since the rain scattered everyone all at once it was a little bit chaotic inside, as the wet floor and band gear, coupled with all of the people outside trying to be inside at the same time, made for quite the maneuver.

Inside is always a challenge, as there is really no space for us, so to speak.  With equipment all over the wet floor, and people milling about, oblivious to what we needed to get done, it was a formidable challenge to re-setting up.

In twenty minutes, we were ready to play.  Everyone was now settled back in with their favorite food and drink, and ready for more entertainment.

Our music then was more up-tempo and direct as it was suddenly clear what our intentions were for the evening.  We were staying put inside, and cranking up the eleven on the party-meter.

Safe from the storm, it was now time to unload.  Carl and I blasted song after song as the enthusiastic crowd soaked in the musical goodness.

There were lots of friendly faces, and even more who were new to our sound.

During our next break we received lots and lots of kind words and plenty of musical suggestions.  I met a very nice family who had dinner at The Crews Inn next door, heard the music and stopped in for a set to just listen to us.  It was a wonderful moment, as they took time to listen and thank us both for the enjoyable music.

Sometimes kind words like that can make you feel musically, one hundred feet tall.

At ten O’clock it was up to us to let everything loose for the last set of the night.

We started with Tom Petty, Kenny Chesney and Dion, and reached deep into our songfest of dance tunes for the rest of the classic oldies.

As eleven rolled around it was evident by the packed dance floor that we weren’t stopping any time soon.  The hits kept on coming until all our requests had been played except one.

For our final encore on the sweltering summer evening, we played a very special requested, Beatles song that had just the right vibe to put the finishing touches on this long, wild day.

However, as the last notes of Hey Jude reverberates down the river, there were more fireworks that were to explode inside the bar.

A scuffle broke out as the heat did its job of making reason unreasonable, just when the night was and should have ended admirably.

It was soon sorted out of course by the amazing staff and security that keep Bumper’s the destination on the water that it has become.  Time to pack up, say goodnight to friends and look forward to the next time we all gathered to pay homage to the summer sun.

It’s difficult to blame the temperature for any craziness that happens there.  It’s not the heat, or cold or moon or tides or gravitational pull of the cosmos.

It’s just Bumper’s Landing.

A place where most of the time, rules are not in effect.  (In a very good way!)

Rb

Hot really doesn’t do it justice, since the thermometer has been nearly off the rails this week.  It’s kind of made people crazy.

Well, almost.

They still turn out for a burger and a good brew at their local watering hole.  Any watering hole.  However, in Mount Clemens, Michigan, that means the Three Blind Mice Irish Pub.

In fact, people have been coming to this same spot for a cold, adult beverage and companionship for more than a hundred years.

Imagine that.

Since before the first Great War, folks from this area have been getting together over a glass of their favorite brew.  Years before the invention of the toaster, radio and even cars.

Some things never change.

Then again, other things change a great deal.  Although we don’t play any songs that were popular in 1900, we do a lot of oldies.

As timeless as the classic rock songs are that we do, a great tasting adult beverage is right up there.

Something about amazing food, good live music and a refreshing ale has been a tradition for well over a hundred years.

Why I can imagine that Scott Joplin was sitting at his piano, banging out ragtime songs while the patrons sloshed their beers in tempo, since before all of us where born.

Carl and I both cut our teeth on the great songwriters of the fifties and sixties.  Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and Bob Dylan.  The Beatles, Cat Stevens and Simon and Garfunkel.  Van Morrison, Jim Morrison and Neil Diamond, to name but a few.

We can walk onto any stage and feel confident, knowing that we can entertain an audience, armed with songs written by those composers.

Night after night, the music that we re-awaken with our guitars and keyboards continues to delight and satisfy audiences without fail.

That is why we play the classics written by those songwriters, and their contemporaries.  It doesn’t matter the era, the style or the genre, the crowds’ reaction is always the same. . .

Pure enjoyment!

We began easy on this Friday.  Something smooth and islandy to start.  Some Jimmy, some Van, some Cliff, Some Bob . . .

So far, so good.  Just when they begin to pigeon-hole our sound, Bam! we hit them with some country.  Then some folk, or blue grass, or Irish.

Always keep ’em guessing, and always do it differently that we have before.  With the combination of tunes at our disposal, we can afford to not stick to the script.

Our enormous catalog of music that stretches over six decades allows us to be flexible enough to always keep them guessing, and always keep them entertained.

It doesn’t really matter if it’s hot outside or cold.  Wet, windy or balmy.  What matters is the fact that people need to be with people.

They need to congregate, the need to communicate and they need to share their lives with other people.  They need music, they need food and they need a good, stiff drink every once in a while.

We’ll provide the soundtrack.  That’s the easy part.  Music loves company.

Thank God, that with all of the places closed or going out of business in this last decade, people still appreciate time-tested music, time honored ale, and time-defying venues like The Three Blind Mice Irish Pub.

Rb

It was to be another great experience for us.

We had done it once before and it was an amazing gig.  Since The Bus was stopping at this year’s, Sterlingfest we thought we would kick them off once more.

For me personally at was a chance to get to share the same stage as my uncle Mike, who plays keyboards for both The Magic Bus, and Rare Earth.

Alas, Mike got a call only a few days before the gig, that he was to be in another state, playing keyboards for the other band. (the aforementioned, Rare Earth)

Never wanting to disappoint, Carl and I planned on making the day as memorable as we possibly could, no matter who was in the lineup.

While a gig like this calls on us to be as cool as possible, the man up in the sky had other ideas.  It was nearly ninety-five degrees by the time that we looked out at the huge Sterling Heights crowd.

Magic Bus was all settled in and ready, and were chillin’ back stage, like, uhm, er, rock stars!

It was our time to shine!

There was a timeline we were to adhere to as we cast out our very first song.   The Magic Bus played songs from a very specific era at their gigs, so that the people who attend become immersed in a virtual, “Summer Of Love“.

Since they perform songs from the end of the sixties, we were thinking that it might be best to do music that spans the other years.  I’ll include our set list, and let you decide if we selected the best songs:

Blowin’ In The Wind

Summer In The City

Solitary Man

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall

Feelin’ Groovy

Sounds Of Silence

Red Rubber Ball

America

Bojangles

Norwegian wood

Rocky Mountain High

Eve Of Destruction

Peace Train

The Letter

The crowd seemed very appreciative as we played song after memorable song, hopefully creating some new memories along the way.

Navigating through the turbulent decade, we selected music that blurred the line between country, rock,  folk and what was called popular music back then. Each song dipping its’ toe into that long lost pool of our treasured youth.

Music alone has the capacity to bring people together as they were when they first heard a song; innocent, caring and optimistic about the future.  When we hear the music, something inside of us triggers emotions that we cannot suppress.

Our goal on this hot summer day was to set the stage for the amazing band, Magic Bus that would then bring about their musical metamorphosis; if only for an hour or so

Even now, people hunger for the good times of their youth, when they had no responsibilities or anger.

The sixties were the decade of our youth as well.  We grew up then and looked at the world, not only through the eyes of our parents, but through our new found youthful innocence.  Impressions that would be carefully molded and shaken by events we will never forget.

It was a decade that showed us what we could achieve when working together, as one nation under God.  How we could strive to reach up and walk the moon, while building a great society, and how it could all fall apart, as the act of one small man destroys the our idealism in the blink of an eye.

The history, exuberance, innocence and pain of that entire generation is embedded in those songs.  When a person who lived through it hears any one of them, it all comes pouring out in a never ending river of timeless emotion.

If you wonder why that generation holds on to those ideals so tightly, it is because the feelings, hopes and dreams that they possessed were etched in them forever by the turbulent events that they lived through, together.

On this day, Carl and I wished to bring those powerful emotions back, and hopefully re-live them once more.  We are part of that generation, though a little younger.  Those ideals will always be our ideals.  That music will always be a part of us as well.

Rb

Old Hippie
Bellamy Brothers

He was sure back in the sixties
That everyone was hip
Then they sent him off to Vietnam
On his senior trip
And they forced him to become a man
While he was still a boy
And behind each wave of tragedy
He waited for the joy
Now this world may change around him
But he just can’t change no more

‘Cause he’s an old hippie
And he don’t know what to do
Should he hang on to the old
Should he grab on to the new
He’s an old hippie
This new life is just a bust
He ain’t trying to change nobody
He’s just trying real hard to adjust

 

 

Carl and I have found our musical pot of gold, right where we never thought to look;   on the banks of the majestic Clinton River!

“Follow your party instinct just about a mile past Mac & Rays as the road meanders towards the lake, and there it is!

Bumper’s Landing. 

We have never felt so appreciated in all the years we have been entertaining as we do there.  The customers, the staff and most of all the owner and his family.

It’s a true feeling of enjoyment to be able to entertain at this exciting establishment.  We literally can’t wait to arrive; mostly because something unexpected is always awaiting us.

. . . and, in a good way!

The patrons are always happy and engaged.  The staff is hustling to do whatever it takes to make everyone’s experience satisfying.  And the entire vibe is crazy, laid-back fun.

Paradise by the lake!

Just pulling in the parking lot has us intrigued.  One look tells us a lot of things.  How crowded it is, what type of day to look forward to, and who is on deck working, amount other things.

Literally, none of it matters, as its always constantly good.  However we like to try and figure out how the night might evolve; (though, we seldom get it right.)  Just too many variables:  The weather, the calendar, crazy people!

They all play their part.

In that maelstrom of chaotic craziness that is Bumper’s Landing, there is however, one constant that keeps it operating at such a high level: the amazing staff!

Nowhere we have ever worked have there been such a crew of hardworking, highly functioning people that take such pride in what they are doing.

They work, and work and work and work and work some more!

Tireless, efficient, up-beat ladies and gentlemen who always go the extra mile to make certain that the customers are taken care of, no matter what.  We see it each and every time we play.

As I have said, the vibe is a lot of what attracts people too Bumper’s.  Its kind of like a secret clubhouse that you can go to, and do all the things that you can’t do in the “real world.”

You can relax there if you want.

You can eat a great meal there too.

You can interact with other like-minded, kool people, and most of all, you can drink!

Now couple those things together and place it right on the water, and now you know why people keep coming back!

Just look at those happy faces, the next time you are there.

I go from table to table during our breaks and capture lots of the smiles with my camera.  Some places that we play, I feel like I am intruding when I want to take a picture or two for this website; but not here.  Everyone is so outgoing and genuinely happy that they offer to pose for me before I can even ask!

We all know that in Michigan, no matter how much we love the other seasons, summer is king.  We love and look forward to our summertime beyond all else.

There is baseball, and parks.  Biking, swimming and of course, boating.

So many boaters know that Bumper’s in now a destination, rather than a bar on the water.  Boaters love things they can count on.

They want calm waters.  They want a full tank of gas.  They want clear sailing.   And maybe more than anything, a safe haven from this crazy, unpredictable world.

That’s why they dock at Bumper’s Landing.  For all those reasons and more.

Our music is just a bonus.

We work as hard as we can to make that a destination as well.  Always trying our best to bring new music with us each night we are performing.

since the crowd is like a living organism, moving, flowing and ever changing, we need to always adjust to its needs and desires accordingly.

On this night for instance, a huge boat with an entire group of young kids descended on the bar.  Three of the young girls put on a show with their dancing to the delight of the huge crowd.

They quickly filled a tip jar because of their amazing performance, and then turned around and shared half of it with us!

I truly believe that things like that don’t happen most other places.  But they do at Bumper’s, most every night.

We read the crowd and adjust our selections accordingly.  We start on time and play longer and extra, most very time.  We talk with our customers and find out how we can make the musical experience even better.

We do what we can to support the staff whenever possible.

Carl and I take great pride in what we do.  We feel so very blessed to be able to return time and time again to such an awesome place.

It’s true that we never know just what to expect at Bumper’s, but then again in paradise, you don’t really have to worry about too much at all.

Good food, good friends, great drinks . . .

 

just add water!

Rb

One way to enjoy all that a classic Michigan summer has to offer is to load the family in an RV or camper, point it north and let nature take its course.

Thats what hundreds of families do in Michigan, and last Saturday, Carl and I were right in the thick of it.  We were hired to bring the music, and that’s just what we did.  Music, and a whole lot more.

Why I say that is because an event like this that we entertain at is so much more than just the music.  That’s the easy part.

It begins with a long drive to simply get there.  Out past Brighton, in the heart of the woods is where this campground is located.  Just the drive is enough.

No matter, we love a good challenge, and this campground is just what the doctor ordered.  Miles and miles from somewhere, Carl and I arrived to settle in for the afternoon.

Down by the water would work best, if you want to get everyone to listen to music on a hot summer day.

That’s just where we set up our equipment.  There was a tent on the sand, but that wouldn’t have worked out too well for us.  We chose the pavilion, and once we got ready, we reached into our musical bag of songs to let everyone know we were there.

We got lots of peasant compliments after finishing our first set.  Just before the DJ began to do his thing.  He directed all the kids in beach games while blasted played music in the sand.

The kids loved it!

There were squeals and laughter and all types of craziness as far as the eye could see.  It was another great day to be at the Taylor Family Campground.

For us it was kind of watching a very animated movie from the sixties, like Beach, Blanket Bingo! where everyone runs around with sun and surf and music and kids and craziness is everywhere, all at once.  We were there, we saw it, but really don’t have a handle on what’s going on!

All good though.

We came, we played and we packed up.  Our one big regret was to not be there for the huge bon fire that was going to happen later.

We will be back at the camp ground later this summer, and when when we return, I am certain that we will see more fun, more kids, Moree bathing duties, more campers and swimmers and shenanigans aplenty!

Really can’t wait.

Rb

 

 

 

On a Thursday after a long party weekend that was almost destined to be slow and steady, Carl and I prepared to showcase music that boasted about all the good things we take for granted, living in America.

It was never going to be crowded by any means, however we understood that, while preparing for the long afternoon under the music pavilion at Bumper’s Landing.

Understood, and yet there is still a great deal of enjoyment to be had by anyone on a beautiful summers’ day by the water.

The temperature was perfect, and though you could sense that a lot of the people who were by the water, were just doing a little coasting at that point, it was fine by us.

With the fourth of July being on a Thursday, it was almost pre-ordained to be a little different from the beginning.  Many people had plans for the weekend, and were pretty much taking a wait-and-see approach to the approaching holiday.

There have been holidays that fall on the Friday or Saturday, and those have been out of control.  Even on a Tuesday or a Monday, folks get a day before and a day after to spend some time recovering from one crazy day of being let off the chain.

This year however, it was a bit more subdued as most people were poised to party on the upcoming weekend.  Lots of family get-togethers, graduations and even others making poor choices to be with people they already regret being with.

By now, we’ve seen it all.

Our job is to entertain, no matter what.  Cold, warm, crowded or quiet.

What matters when we sing are not the size of the crowds, but the size of the hearts who would listen.

Since it was a holiday, another band was already entertaining as we arrived.  Foster and Lewis, a fun-loving duo, had connected with the people and were enjoying their last set.

Drums and a strong  purposeful  guitar had the crowd singing and fully engaged.  It is so great to hear talented musicians succeeding by playing classic songs in an creative setting.

They really sounded great!

Soon it was time for Carl and I to take the torch they had passed at 8:00.  We began, (as usual),  with some Buffett and cranked it up from there.

On a night such as this, we weren’t really going to get too wild and crazy.  Everyone was still burned out from the long week past, and anxious to leave something in the tank for the approaching weekend.

This particular crowd was really laid back and into chatting for the most part.  It was tough to make a connection with them.

They were quite content simply talking and listening.

Our music generously washed over them with a little help from Van Morrison, Tom Petty and Gordon Lightfoot.

There we’re fireworks close at hand being offered down the road at Mac & RaYs when dusk finally arrived.  We finished our last set just as the fish flies were showing up to join the party.

Actually, the entire evening was like a day in the life of a boater: pretty much even keeled!  Boaters don’t seem to get too high, or too low.  They maintain an even course.  It works out just fine on most evenings.

I cannot forget to thank the amazing wait-staff at Bumper’s once again, for all that they do.  Incredible, amazing, outstanding are all adjectives that fail miserably at summing up how hard they work.  We are always in awe of how they keep everything going, day in and night out.

As the last glow of the fireworks flickered and faded, Carl and I packed up our gear and headed out.  Another pleasant evening by the water.  Not the normal night, but deliciously different.  By now, we all know the adage, “You never know what to expect at Bumper’s Landing.”

. . . .But, its never dull!

Rb

 

 

 

 

 

When you hear someone throw the word, “perfect” around, you would think that it was just that; absolutely right in every way.

Well, although last Saturday evening was pretty good in most aspects, it wasn’t “perfect”.

It wasn’t because of anything Bumper’s Landing did, by any means; it was just an unusual night for us.

Why?

Around two O’clock, (keep in mind we leave for the gig at four O’clock), I got a call from Carl that we had no van to transport our equipment in like we usually do.  We have been throwing our gear into vans since the seventies to transport our equipment to our gigs.

Well now we needed to go to plan B, and scramble to make that happen.  A seemingly small thing like finding another way to transport everything you use, need and require for a show can throw you off, if you let it.

(Ok, I will admit it did throw us off a bit.)

After loading everything into two cars we stood around looking at the cars, the gear, each other, the cars, the gear, each other, the cars, the garage, the house . . .  (Yes, this did go on for quite some time), to make sure we hadn’t left anything behind.

Maybe its not easy to understand, but when you pack everything a certain way for each gig,  you have a routine that sends up a red flag if something is not in its’ pre-ordained spot, or forgotten.  When there is no order, we have no idea if we have forgotten a valuable piece to our musical puzzle.

So we pulled out of the driveway and headed into either musical glory, or musical obscurity.  (Ok, that line might have been overly dramatic.)

We drove to Bumper’s Landing; home of the worlds’ funniest place for boaters!  (Ok, that line was a little dramatic too.)  I think I’m getting the hang of all of this hyperbole!!!!!!

Since it was now fully established that it was in fact, a beautiful day, the place was packed and already in motion.  As we assembled to load in our gear, it was still just an odd feeling, grabbing stuff from cars, and not in the usual order.  I know what you’re thinking, and YES, it does make a difference.  Just enough difference to throw us off.

A little bit.

You know when you look at something, and you think that it might not be right, although it LOOKS right, but still nags at your mind that it’s NOT right.  So you keep looking at it, and at that point it’s just a weird feeling.

Well, that pretty much sums up how the afternoon began for us.

So when the first of many patrons at Bumper’s told me of how “perfect” the night was going to be, I just had all of that back story as evidence, that while there was really nothing wrong with anything, it was just not what I would have called, “perfect”.

It was a pretty beautiful afternoon by then.  It was a beautiful day already, for many reasons.  Now the temperature, while quite warm, was not stifling.  And, while it was very busy, people were beginning to scramble for the umbrellas to cut the sun down to size.

Many friendly faces greeted our triumphant return to Saturday-by-the-water.  As six rolled around, we began the night on a more official note . . . (I believe it was a G major!). Jimmy Buffett is always a great way to get comfortable for the long night of performing ahead.  So we did what any self respecting musical duo would do; we trotted out some tried and true lyrics and music, guaranteed to calm any squall.

Squalls out on the gulf stream
Big storm commin’ soon
Passed out in my hammock
God, I slept till way past noon
Stood up and tried to focus
I hoped I wouldn’t have to move far
Sure could use a bloody mary
So I stumbled over to Loui’s back yard

With our feet firmly planted in the musical terra firma, it was  time to touch all of our musical genres one by one.

Country, Country Rock
Motown
Folk, Blues and Pop

We attempted all of requests as well, to the delight of the smiling Boat people.  Yes, getting there was the real challenge this week.  And for the most part, that wasn’t too bad either.

Maybe the night wasn’t perfect, but around these parts, a near miss is pretty, pretty good.

Can’t wait to get back into the Bob-And-Carl-mobile and settle in for the big July 4th celebration.

That might not be perfect, but I do know that at Bumper’s Landing, it will be pretty damned good.

Rb

We have been entertaining in Eastpointe since many of you were born.  Actually, long before Eastpointe was born.

When Carl and I first played in Eastpointe, there was not even a pointe to it.  There was however, a Detroit in the name.

Long ago, when we first came to this area, (no matter what it was called), we played in Kennedy park.  We all should know that name, without any fear of contradiction.

Kennedy park was beautiful and fun and very family friendly.

We began playing there as The Boys, in the eighties.  Dance music mixed with good old Rock N’ Roll!

We played there for many years; and always had a blast.

After a while, we moved on to Spindler park, and a show-mobile style show.  Lots of line dancers and family fun.  We had a wonderful time playing those shows as The Boys, and began playing some extra shows as a duo around this same time.

It was now 1992 and the city dropped Detroit from its name and added a Pointe.  (To this day Carl and I are not absolutely sure the reason they did that was to protect us from any and all legal action we might have incurred along the way.)

We continued at the park on the show-mobile until the mid 2000’s.

Soon there was a new municipal building with more emphasis on seniors and family interaction.  Part of the new structure was a stage and gathering area outside for music and or special events.

Since around 2009 we have been playing at the new structure.  It’s a much different environment and “feel” to playing there.  Hopefully the crowds enjoy the music regardless of where it is.

It is now 2019, and a hot Wednesday night.  We had been contracted to play from 6:30 until 8:00 on this warm summer evening, and began right on time with some Ricky Nelson.  (Something different than we usually begin with.)

That got them dancing right away!

Next was a trip to that dock-by-the-bay, and some Otis Redding for everyone’s approval.  From there we played a Peaceful Easy Feeling by none other than The Eagles.

Can’t Help Falling In Love, Brandy, Sea Cruise, Daydream Believer, Five ‘O Clock Somewhere and The Banana Boat Song all found their way to the ears of our contented listeners.

We play each song as if we were playing them for the most important person in our lives, whether they are in the audience or not.  The fire and passion that we feel from performing is always about whom we are playing for.

Music is how we reach people.  Our reason for being.  And the language we use to communicate is song.

Cheeseburger In Paradise, Mary Ann and The Limbo Song.

Everyone has a special song.  Something that is so personal and meaningful that when they hear it, it awakens emotions and feelings they cannot contain.

My Girl.

This is our goal.

As I have said many, many times, it is the people that keep us doing what we do.  It is our connection with them, and theirs with us that makes it work.

That, and that alone keeps us going.

There was a young man and his gal that helped us get acclimated when we arrived.  His job was to make sure that the bands got everything they needed to set up.

He was great.  He wants to be performing someday, and I am quite sure that it will happen.

After a couple encores, our evening in eastpointe ended.  Time to tear down, put everything back in the Bob & Carl-Mobile and head to another event.

It doesn’t really matter to us where we play.  The real question is . . .

. . . will you be there?

Rb

We knew that it had to happen.

. . that summer would eventually get around to stopping by.

Although we had no idea that it would take this long to do it, to be honest.

I remember in the past there were plenty of spring days that seemed like the heat would overpower us.  Long days of sun, light and spray, marketing all the goodness that lay ahead.

Not this year.

As most of you already know, any and all sunny days have been few and far between.  In fact, this year seemed more like we a live in a rain forest, not a water, winter, wonderland.

So with the weather finally presenting Carl and I an opportunity to actually entertain outside, we took full advantage of it.

Arriving at Bumper’s Landing early, we were able to take our time setting up and getting the feel for the pavilion once again.

It didn’t take much as after only a few moments, we settled right in and felt at home by the water.

The first thing that we noticed however was the fact that since we were playing on a different night, (Friday), the crowd was completely different than what were were used to. To be honest, there weren’t many faces that we recognized.

The weekends at Bumper’s means that the start time is moved up an hour.  That’s fine by us, as we were more than eager to get the party started.

With the summer sun shining down, we began the not long enough, season-of-song by the water in earnest.  Nothing really makes us happier, (other than playing holiday music for the wide-eyed school kids.)

The eagles were selected to begin our first set on dry land; then some Seger and of course, Jimmy Buffett.  It always seems the perfect beginning to any set we play for boaters.  Playing his music on the longest day of the year is an extra bonus.

The crowd was cordial, but quiet to to begin.  Spending every moment so far, soaking up all the sunny goodness that could be mined from the sky.

Our music was the perfect backdrop to this boater’s paradise in Harrison Twp.  Smiles were already plentiful as we began our second set of songs.

One thing that you can count on at Bumper’s is the unexpected, and this Friday evening was no different.  In fact, it was Brad’s birthday!

Although we didn’t realize it yet, we were in for a treat of epic proportions.  Brad was more than ready to drink, sing dance, drink, cajole, drink, entertain and drink a little bit more as needed to get the celebration amped up and elevated to the level you would expect any Brad party to attain!

Even the entertainers were entertained on this particular Friday evening.

The sun was out, but it was not particularly warm yet.  Summer was here, but guarded and reserved at this point.  The music was was now even more upbeat than ever, and dancers were taking full advantage of the opportunity to groove to the music.

The groove was powerful and everywhere at this point.  Song and smiles put everyone in just the right musical “place”.

Even as the air turned cooler, people still wanted to get into the act, and the band.  While Carl gave piano lessons, I fought off the first army of fish-flies that stopped by to salute summers’ rightful appearance.

Some things just become part of your life/soul, and it’s very difficult to imagine your life without them.

We will just continue to sing our songs, and hope that the hearts that they were intended for hears them.

Rb

   

 

There are places where everybody knows your name.

Places you feel right at home.  And, then again, “There are places, I remember.”  (Thank you, John and Paul).

However, the place  we want to talk about is the place where everyone is always happy.  (There might be more places like this around, but we haven’t found them yet.)

Sometimes it’s crazy.
Sometimes it’s wild.
Sometimes it’s all of that and more.

We never know what we are walking into, actually.  Bumper’s might be many things, but it is never, ever dull.

As a matter of fact, for us, it’s always the right place.

It’s fun, it’s interesting and it’s dynamic in ways that are difficult to quantify.  Even as we arrive, Carl and I have virtually no idea what will happen.  We know that we will entertain, but whom, when and where is always up for grabs.

Just last Saturday night as we pulled into the parking lot, we were still trying to ascertain wether the weather would cooperate or not.

It was cool and ready to rain at any moment.

This time of year can certainly be tricky, and most likely as soon as we would set up and get ready to play, it could very well pour.

If we were to make the wrong call, and get rained on, we would have to dry all the equipment, tear it down and then move it inside and set it all up again.

Not the end of the world, but no fun for anyone.

So after considering the options, Carl and I decided to play it safe and set up inside.

That went smoothly, and as we had lots of time before we were to officially begin.  It gave us the opportunity to talk with some of the hardworking staff who make it all run.

They are as nice as they are talented.

Ready to begin early, Carl and I started with some Jimmy Buffett to get things rolling along.  Some country, then rock, then Island and more Rock & Roll.

One song melded into the next as we began to hit our stride after being away for several weeks.  The patrons didn’t care, they were by the water, well cared for and with sustanance and drink.

Inside, some little guys and their grandpa were making the most of every song.

(Kids seem more involved in music than we ever were at their age).  They were singing, dancing and having a splendid time.

Soon, however, they were heading home and most likely to bed.  It was time for the adults to shine.

After two solid sets of everything from country rock, to rocking’ country, and everything in between, we had the entire place going!

The Tamborine was out and girls were dancing and prancing to the music.  We slowed it down and the dance floor was filled.  We sped it up and we saw more moves than a bucket full of worms!

It was another great night.  Even with the weather, so, so, it was another fun evening for everyone.

We are so lucky to be a part of it; and miss it terribly when we are away.

You might go to your favorite restaurant for a good meal, your favorite bar for a refreshing drink and your favorite concert venue for great music . . .

. . . or, you could just go to Bumper’s Landing for all of it under the same roof!

We hope you do, because we’ll be here waiting.  It’s truly always the right place!

Rb