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July 2018

The Quiet Place

A sleepy Saturday anywhere else would be just that.

Not at Bumper’s Landing.  There is no such thing.

Carl and I get in the van around four O’clock in the afternoon on a Saturday, to begin our musical “experience”.

Up until then, everything is quiet and complaisant.

All of that changes when we arrive at Bumper’s Landing.  That’s where the action is.

Always.

This Saturday was no different, as the summer now is in full bloom.  These boaters are in the groove by now, with their hearts and souls on autopilot.  They just know where the good times are, and steer right in that general direction.

Seems to me that Bumper’s is almost like Put-In Bay, North.  It’s crazy now.  We just hold on and hope to get through each night.  Kinda’ like gently guiding your canoe through the rapids as it careens towards the falls.

Like that.

So, our first set begins, and a young lady approaches from the east to play Tamborine.  She announced herself as Meghan, and decided to join our group for a while as apparently we needed a professional Tamborine player/dancer/singer/keyboard player.

She was right, of course.  We did.

Meghan was great fun, and certainly got all of the guys’ attention while set entertained with us.

The first sets this summer have really ben epic for us.  They have been long and fun and full of the diversity that is our musical trademark.  We try and play all kinds of music, so that everyone in the crowd feels included.

This afternoon was no different, as we threw in lots of alternatives to the usual musical fare as well.  Songs that might not have been the A side of a single.  You know the hidden gems that both of us love.

There were lots of good comments during our first break about the music that we had selected to begin the night.  It was getting busy and about now we could tell that it was going to be a big night.

During our second set, the Macomb Sheriff Department decided to liven things up even more as apparently a rogue swimmer who thought that it was a great idea to forge the Clinton River and jump onto someone’s boat, couldn’t afford an Uber.  So, they very generously gave him a ride.

We began throwing in some dance tunes as there were a few people brave enough to not care what anyone thought at the time.

That’s always a good feeling, when you have them dancing.

The best is when you have them singing along.  Then you know that you’re really doing your job.

Patrons, staff, dogs . . . everyone seemed to be having a good time.  Funny how fast things can ramp up here.  The Sheriffs returned again to patrol the establishment.

Great people watching, here.  No one can every deny that.

People laughing, singing and having fun.  Waitresses darting here and there.  Dogs wagging and barking, folks dancing and singing.  Great conversations.  Good food and an occasional drunken round-up.

Yup, sounds like your ordinary evening at Bumper’s Landing.

You know what?  How about next week, we throw in a parade of lights.  That should “liven” things up nicely.

See you then.  I don’t think that you’ll need your Nodoz.

Rb

Ain’t That America!

“Oh but ain’t that America, for you and me
Ain’t that America, we’re something to see baby
Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses, for you and me, oh baby for you and me”

John Melloncamp

That’s about the best way that I can describe our trip to Howell last Saturday.

Everything about it was as American as you can get.  The setting, the weather, the people the entire experience.

Camping, swimming, playing and partying.  We saw it all at the Taylor’s Beach Campground, in rustic Howell Michigan.  Even a little bit of music.

First of all, let me explain why we weren’t at Bumper’s Landing as usual on this particular Saturday.

Last summer, we were approached about playing in Howell at a camp when our schedule allowed.  Seems they heard us at Bumper’s and wanted Carl and I to come up and play for a tropical themed day.  However, at the time, we had no openings, as we were booked all summer.  So, early on this year, we provided a date, and worked it out so that we could entertain for them on Saturday, and play Bumper’s on Friday.  That would keep everybody happy.  Especially, us.

So after an interesting Friday night by the water, we began the two hour trek to Howell, to play by the water, once more.

Soon, we arrived.  Meeting with Alan Taylor, the family patriarch is a real experience.  He is as American as anyone can be.  Self reliant, warm, strong and amiable.  Knowing that he wanted us to play was the driving force behind why we eventually made it happen.

As soon as we arrived at the campsite, he made us feel right at home.  Showing us around, getting us room to park and set up, and letting us know that we were to begin entertaining  . . . in one half hour!

The campground was big, yet, cosy at the same time.  it seemed to all revolve around the cute little lake, which was teeming with campers and sportsmen from one end to the other.

Getting set up quickly was an understatement, as we needed to outrace both the clock and the rain.  Four O’clock was time to begin our first set, as well as watch the casino night set up in the same pavilion we were occupying.  It was going too be a very interesting day, and or night.

The plan was to have a tropical themed party, and we did everything we could to make that happen.  We played song after song of island music, with some oldies and country dance music selections as well.

We played from four until about six, and then took a break to let the gamblers concentrate, and for us to meet some people.

Apparently there was to be a costume contest later, and one family of girls was going all-in to win.  Grandma, girls in grass skirts, and even the family dog doing her part to capture the top prize.

There were people everywhere doing everything camps-woodsy.  People were out and about and in and out of the animated lake.  Playing games, sitting by their campsites and whizzing around in all types of golf carts.  It was almost as if Dr. Seuss owned an RV!

After a short break, we got right back to playing again.  More tropical flavored songs to continue the vacation mood.  You could just tell that campers were loving it.

By now, the gambling was really taking hold of people, as the tables began to get crowded and quite loud.  Everyone was having fun.

Lots of the people even took time to welcome us to their little slice of heaven, and find out where wee were from.

Soon, it was time to wrap up the gambling and award some prizes.  Carl and I took a break and had some dinner.

Ribs were on the menu tonight and we wear ready to sample them.  The sun was about to set and nighttime fell on our little campsite pavilion.

Time to crank up the tunes to eleven!

Starting at nine thirty, we played all the summertime, tropical dance tunes that this group could handle.  We even threw in some country and rock numbers to round out the set.  The lights were low and the fog machine and disco lights filled the dance floor.

It was great fun as we played until ten thirty.  Then eleven.  Then eleven thirty, by request.

The crowd was going wild as we agreed to do one more.  And then, and encore.  We finished the night with a little John Denver traveling down his Country Roads.

You really can’t get more American that that.  It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.  Our hosts paid us, thanked us and invited us back again as soon as we could return.

They showed us out, got us some swag and sent us back home with big smiles and full bellies.

It was a very good trip.

Carl and I really didn’t know what to expect when we agreed to this event, but were pleasantly surprised.

Ain’t that America?

It sure is.

Rb


Little Pink Houses
John Mellencamp

There’s a black man with a black cat
Living in a black neighborhood
He’s got an interstate running’ through his front yard
You know, he thinks, he’s got it so good
And there’s a woman in the kitchen cleaning’ up evening slop
And he looks at her and says:
“Hey darling, I can remember when you could stop a clock”

Oh but ain’t that America, for you and me
Ain’t that America, we’re something to see baby
Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses for you and me, oh for you and me

Well there’s a young man in a T-shirt
Listenin’ to a rock ‘n’ roll station
He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile
He says: “Lord, this must be my destination”
‘Cause they told me, when I was younger
Sayin’ “Boy, you’re gonna be president”
But just…

Oh but ain’t that America, for you and me
Ain’t that America, we’re something to see baby
Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses, for you and me, oh baby for you and me

Well there’s people and more people
What do they know, know, know
Go to work in some high rise
And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico
Ooo yeah

And there’s winners, and there’s losers
But they ain’t no big deal
‘Cause the simple man baby pays the thrills,
The bills and the pills that kill

Oh but ain’t that America, for you and me
Ain’t that America, we’re something to see baby
Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses for you and me, ooo, ooo yeah

Ain’t that America, for you and me
Ain’t that America, hey we’re something to see baby
Ain’t that America, oh the home of the free,
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Little pink houses babe for you and me, ooo yeah ooo yeah

La Bumpa!

It’s about the music.

 

And, the people.

Ok, so it’s about the music and the people.  So on an afternoon in July that could have turned for the worse at absolutely any moment, it was the music and the people that saved us.

Well, saved us might be a stretch.

What I meant was, that sometimes during the year, as entertainers, things become rote at some point; especially when you play at the same venue for a long period of time.

But the people always seem to save us at Bumper’s Landing.  Nothing is ever what we think that it will be; and above all, it is NEVER boring!

Anyone who visits for very long there eventually makes the same comment, “This is a great place to people watch!”

Ah, yes it is.

You can see people from all walks of life there.  All having a wonderful time, just relaxing and being themselves.  Or, who they want to be. (for a little while).

So, as the sky threatened trouble, we ignored it all, and were rewarded with another wonderful, memorable evening but the water.

Looking to begin with a little twist on our usual first set selections, we began with some, ah, usual Jimmy Buffett; but then veered off in a totally different direction.

Someone in mentioned to us how since the last time they were there, they asked us to play some Lyle Lovett, and we said that we would try and learn some, and of course, now there were calling us out on it.

Ah, but Carl did learn some Lyle Lovett, and was all ready to go with it.  And, you know what, it was really good, too.

Just another example of how people will always surprise you.

Like I said, the clouds were threatening, and of course, the local and national weather experts, all to a man,(or woman), said that it was going to rain.

Long story short . . . nope.  It didn’t rain.  Didn’t snow and it mostly didn’t hurricane.

So, we forged ahead.

You must understand that at this point, everyone kinda leaves the final decision to us.  If we get to Bumper’s we know that most everyone comes to be by the water.  So, playing inside, though nice, is just not the same.

We start out by the water, and know that if anything becomes wet, we can always move inside.  It’s a lot more work, but then again anything in life that is worthwhile is a lot like that.

People with lots of smiles usually await us here.  Since we have been entertaining at Bumper’s for more than three years, we know most of the regulars by now.  That makes most of the smiles every more rewarding.

A perfect example of that would be Mike and Jessica.  While not regulars, they were something new and different on this rare Friday night.  Mike was signing up boaters to be part of the Guinness world record attempt at the Muscamoot bay raft-off on August 11th.

Back to the music, Carl and I have been doing all we can to integrate new, (old), songs into our nights.  We spend all week working on them individually, and then put them together in front of the audience.

It works most of the time.

Tonight, we played several new songs for the first time, with mixed results.  We played some Lyle Lovett, some Neil Diamond and some DeBarge.

Just about then, the strolling lady rhythm section arrived to thoroughly entertain everyone, including ourselves.

They danced, they shook and they rhythm their way into everyone’s hearts.

Great fun.

But on this interesting night, the most memorial song was an old Mexican folk song that was turned into a huge hit, way back in the fifties, by a man named, Richie Valens.

A young lady requested La Bamba, just at the right time, as the dance floor was hopping.  Playing that timeless hit put things into another gear all together.

It’s the kind of thing that happens most every night here, and why we say, that it is never boring.

It was another fun, fun evening by the lake.

We can count on a lot of things when we are going to play there, but one of them is not boredom.

The weather, the people and the music all have the effect of putting the patrons in a great mood.  It is the perfect tonic for what ails ya.

If you missed it, you should know that it would have been even better if you were there.  This is that classic summer that we will look back fondly on for years to come.

Don’t let it slip away . . . .

Rb

 

Bay City – July 18, 2018

“I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.”

Whitney Huston

 

People ask us why we drive two hours to Bay City on a Wednesday morning in the summer, and this is our answer.  Surly we could be doing other things.  Yes, we could.  However, children are our future.  And bringing them music is something that means a great deal to both Carl and I.

This year we we’re lucky enough to have been asked to come back to the city by the bay, (no, not San Francisco, the other city by this bay). Bay City.

Actually the ride up in the van was a great time to talk about all the things that we have achieved this summer, already, and over our long career as local musicians.  Probably no way to make the ride any better.  Well, maybe one way . . .

Anywho, we were chatting about how long that we have been doing this, and it brought us back to the old days and how we packed four of us young lads in a van to get to our gigs.  Add lots and lots of musical gear, and you’re in for a good time.  Just ask the Boys.

So, where were we?

Ah yes, the city by the bay . . .

Driving up through the scenic Michigan countryside gave us time to figure out about how many songs that would possibly cram into 45 minutes.  Yes, we were driving all that way to only play forty-five minutes?

Why?

Because of the children, remember?

As Whitney so eloquently put it, they are our future.  Be nice to them, because they will be the ones visiting us in the home.  Or, maybe not visiting.

So it was a slam-bang, live on the racer’s edge, laugh in the face of death kinda whirl-wind set of songs that kids to could relate to.

We began with the classic feel-good tune, You are my sunshine.  One that children and parents alike should each be invested in.

Then we did some We-mo-whacking to the Lion Sleeps Tonight, and then straight into The Unicorn Song.

You see where this is going?

Kid nirvana.  Throw in a generous amount of balls, whistles, shakers and props of all ilks and you have the makings of a matinee hit!

The forty-five minutes vaulted by, until it was time for our big finish . . . Under The Sea.  Nothing kids like better than being wet!  (even some adults).

Before you knew it, Carl and I were on our way and heading back home.  We did what we set out to do; bring some fun to Bay City.  And we did accomplish that.

Apparently there will be a brand new amphitheater down the road on this very location in the future.  We certainly hope that we will be a part of it when it is ready to welcome more kids in the years to come.

Children are our future.  Our music is a bridge from things that were meaningful in years past to what we envision our kids to enjoy in the days they have awaiting them.

That is our gift.  We are so very lucky to be able to share it with Bay City, and every city we play in between.

Rb

I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
And so I learned to depend on me
I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone’s shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity
Because the greatest
Love of all is happening to me
I found the greatest
Love of all inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be
I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone’s shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity
Because the greatest
Love of all is happening to me
I found the greatest
Love of all inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
And if, by chance, that special place
That you’ve been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love

Let Them Eat Music!

Well, you get the reference, hopefully.

All the unrest and turmoil that the French have come to associate with Bastille Day was nowhere to be found by the water in Harrison township Michigan on this particular, amazing day.

Whew.

Its was a very pleasant afternoon as we took the pavilion at Bumper’s Landing.  Hot, but nice.  It was fun and upbeat, with everyone in great spirits, looking forward to an impending night of musical enjoyment.  Too bad it was us they we’re listening to!

So the summer night was in full swing with lots of drinking, eating and relaxing to be had.  There were even those that wanted to dance, of all things!

Why not.

We could arrange that.  It was apparent that both Carl and I were in a bit of an eclectic mood, as the crowd and the weather conspired to turn up our creativity nob to eleven.

There we’re all sorts of songs that we treasure and only pull out when we believe that the people we are playing for would appreciate them.  Most of the time, the patrons want to hear a certain kind of music that is expected.  Like, “boat” music.  We get that most of the time, that genre goes over very well with the nautical type.  That being said, there are times when we want to be a little selfish, and do some songs that we really enjoy playing.

Songs like, Galway Girl, Big Iron or even Into The Mystic.  We love these songs.  Although we treasure them, they my not be for everyone, or even every venue that we entertain at.

So it was that kind of a night.  We balanced requests with some songs that we really wanted to play for ourselves and made it a perfectly eclectic musical evening.

Great friends, lots of family and even meeting one or two new people cast a perfect spell on this enchanted evening.

By the water, with drinks aplenty and guitars at the ready.  That’s how you spend any day you can get your hands on.  Although we weren’t doing anything that would provoke the French Foreign Legion to throw us into the Bastille to rot, we were pretty devil-may-care with our last set song selection.

Who knows, if playing music badly was a crime, we could be arrested and wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

But not tonight.  Tonight, we had almost everything we could ever want; including our  FREEDOM!

Rb

EastPointe July 11

Back in Eastpointe for another summer show.  Always a good time, always fun, always entertaining.  Sometimes its quite hot, playing on the cement slab by the Eastpointe offices, but always a reason to smile.

We arrived early, and this time, needed to avoid the street sweeper guy who had it out for us.  Dodging that bullet, it was a pretty easy experience setting up our gear.

Playing in Eastpointe always gives us lots of musical options when it comes to what we can play.  They like all types and genres of music, and even an Irish tune or two.

Since the summer was truly upon us, there was no doubt that we would begin with our trademark, Jimmy Buffett song or two, to get us started on the right musical foot.

The good folks who arrived for the concert were all very welcoming, right from the onset, as we took several requests in the first few moments.

There were Van Morrison, Jimmy Buffett and even some Neil Diamond songs that were asked about.  All of them sounded just perfect on this wonderful summer night.  People were happy and very cordial.  Who could ask for anything more?

Eastpointe has become almost timeless to Carl and I, since we have been playing in this community for more than forty years now.  The only thing that differs over the years has been the location of the concert venue.

Be it Kennedy, Spindler or the recreation center, we always enjoy the opportunity to entertain for these great people.

We both hope to come back next year, as we have many, many more songs that need to be heard.

Now, it’s time to enjoy another Eastpointe treasure . . .  Cloverleaf pizza!

Well, we’ve earned it!

Rb

Fish Flying Away

Fish Flyin’ away
Fish flyin’ away
You know the nearer your destination
the more your fish flyin’ away

Our apologies to the great Paul Simon as we steal his lyrics and twist them to our own advantage.

Those fish flies, (actually they are Mayflies), turned what was another amazing night at Bumper’s Landing into well, another amazing night with lots and lots of fish flies.

Pretty much, it was only Carl and I that suffered their plague, as our stage lights acted as runway landing lights for those cute little devils.

But, I digress . . .

The afternoon at Bumper’s started out in the usual way.  Boaters enjoying a cool adult beverage and the casual “Island” lifestyle

Another perfect day by the water.  How could anyone know what lay in wait for the unsuspecting drink aficionado.  Just kidding.

It’s truly only fish flies for crying’ out loud.

So we played our first set and enjoyed every moment of each song.  Sometimes the reaction of people can be priceless.  This time, we got to watch this young mother dancing with her child.  They were both having such a wonderful time.  Priceless!

More and more people began to fill the deck, all of them having a wonderful time.  It really is rewarding, know that we get the chance to entertain so many people at such a wonderful venue.  It is really quite picturesque, being right on the water.  The perfect background to the many songs about the sea and the island lifestyle.

Many fun people stopped by to have a drink, have a listen and to simply soak up the cool, casual wonders of the Great Lakes.

Our songs were bringing lots of smiles with even a few joining in to help carry the musical load.

We wait all year for days like these, and when the arrive, they become even more precious that ever.

Dogs, women, waitresses and wine.  What ever or whomever could be missing?

Oh yes, the fish flies.

Sure, just as we were getting all comfortable before our very last set at 10:00, those little devils awoke from their summer slumber.

As the bar turned off all of their lights, our lighting became the homing beacons that they used to stop by and say, “Hello!” in earnest.

Carl and I were quickly covered with them, just as we began to play.  Thankfully we had some special bug repellant that we were given in Auburn Hills to ward them off.

By now, we knew what to expect, what to do and what to avoid at all costs.  While they were pesky and a bit of an annoyance, thy really didn’t even slow us down this time.  Except when they started to land on Carl’s touch screen that controls the drums and change all the settings.

No matter, we were there to finish up the night in grand fashion and that was exactly what we did; bugs or no bugs.

By the way, nothing really bothers us, we are both members of Brad Savage and The Amazing Cockroaches.  If we can handle those bugs, we can handle some little fishy flies that only hang around for 24 hours.

Rb

 

Have A Drink

“C’mon in and have a drink!”

This immortal words will forever beckon the tired stranger or the grizzled life-veteran to walk through those doors, sit down and cast off all the troubles and cares that imprison their psyche.

Sounds pretty good, actually; to find a place that can shed your inhibitions, and worries if only for a little while.

Well, such a place does exist, right here in historic, downtown Mount Clemens, Michigan . . .

The Three Blind Mice Irish Pub.

Of course by now you realize that people have been arriving on this very spot for over one hundred years to escape from whatever malady or infliction the world has saddled them with.  The escape hatch being the front door of the Mice.

Once inside, the tired become rested.  The hungry become fed and the thirsty become slated.  And while they are at it, we ply their souls with a little bit of song, for good measure.

It relaxes some, and emboldens others.  It stokes their flames and touches their hearts.

Music mixes between these walls with the right measure of alcohol to fuel the heart, mind and soul.  Not a secret recipe, but one that time has honored no matter what culture, creed or race you happen to be.

We realize, Carl and I, that when people come into the pub for en evening, they want to find whatever they are looking for.  To quench their thirst, to contain their hunger and to share their lives with others of their own ilk.  Our music is designed to weave a tapestry that will somehow wrap them up in, if even for a few hours, without their knowing.  To hold them captive while alcohol and song transport them to the place they really want to be.

Our music may not bring them in; but it certainly is a conversation starter, once here.  It opens doors and lights rooms without question.  It enables thought and curries optimism.

Each song, a modern day classic by a songwriter who traded his or her  identity for immortality.

Our gift is to make it all new again, each time we sing it.  If entertaining is anything, it is immortality, for many of these same songs have been sung for more than fifty years now.

What a thought . . .  to create something that will stand the test of time.

The music we perform, like The Three Blind Mice, has done just such a thing.  Stood the test of time.  It’s been open for more than five years now, and still going strong.

We always enjoy being there, and hope to be back soon.

Rb

BOB AND CARL