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January 2019

California Dreamin’

It was very cold.

However, we live in Michigan, and shrug off cold and wet and dismal and dreary, like so many untended potholes.  We know that soon, there will be the enviable, Spring.  The sun will awaken this slumbering land and promise will boom once again.

Knowing all of that, we are still faced with several more weeks of frigid and often bleak days and nights ahead.

What to do?

Well we Michiganders could retreat from it all; and I’m sure that some do, hold up in their fortresses of gloom, weary of everything the outside world assails them with.

But, by and large, most of us mush forward, short day by short day.  Bracing ourselves from the cold and finding warmth wherever it springs forth.

On a Friday night, people could steel themselves from it all at home, or venture out into the frozen unknown.  The choice is most always their own.  When they do come out and join us for a night of music and fellowship at a local watering hole, we appreciate it more than they will every know.

We met some fun girls who had already established themselves in front of the barrels at The Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in blustery downtown Mount Clemens, the other evening.  Fun and playful, they begrudgingly relinquished their spot so that we could set up to entertain for the night.

It was a good start, since they made us feel relaxed and yet, somewhat annoying.

By the time that we began our first set, the tables were mostly all occupied and already in mid-conversation.  Through the first and second sets, we were hardly acknowledged at all by the absorbed patrons.  After all, they ventured out on a night such as this, and were going to focus all of their attention on their conversations and thier friends.

No matter, Carl and I had one trick up our sleeves to break through the ice: our old buddy Al.

Alcohol, (his given name)

O’l Al would take care of things.  He would help us reach each and every single person within earshot, and in no time.

It didn’t take long as a matter of fact.  As the patrons who began the night with us said their good-byes, and more arrived, the focus turned to the music and then to song.

We met a delightful set of twins who made sure that we knew how much we were appreciated, even if the other people couldn’t or wouldn’t vocalize it.

That in-of-itself made us enjoy the rest of the evening to a much greater degree.

Every gig that we play is different.  The venue, the atmosphere, the calendar, the people.  So much goes into how a show is received that no two dates are ever the very same.

On a night like this, where the music was kind of secondary, we understood that mostly the patrons just wanted to be out with other people.

You know, people needing people.

The cold will subside.  The clouds will part, and the sun will take its rightful place in the hearts and minds of most Michiganders.

The Mice is a great gathering place for any night of revery and retreat.  We love to be part of it all; even if we’re mostly California Dreaming.

Rb

A Place For All Seasons

Some venues we entertain at garner most of their business only in certain seasons.

Ok, I’ll explain . . .

Take an apple orchard for example.  As wonderful and enjoyable as it can be in the fall or summer, there are times when a trip to visit it would not bare much fruit.

Showing up at the beach in November would make just about as much sense.  Don’t even get me started about a golf course in January, the ski slopes in July or even a visit to Santa’s Workshop in May.

While all of these destinations are seasonal, some things we enjoy are seemingly timeless.  Season-less, if you get my meaning.

  has become one such place.

While most people think about relaxing and drinking by the water only as the summer sun bakes all their troubles away, this bar is always open and exciting, twelve months of the year.

Some weekends are busier than others, but for the most part, this party is going on three hundred and sixty some days a year.

“How do they do it?” you might ask.

It’s not really a secret.  It’s become a destination.

Great location on the water, fun atmosphere, a sports bar, but a with bit more.  They provide all the amenities that any good time would need to thrive.

The food, the drinks, the excitement.

More than anything though, the staff at Bumper’s is what keeps people coming back, we believe.

They work hard for each and every customer that walks through that door.  That, more than anything is what has people coming back time after time, no matter what day the calendar proclaims.

They do the work, and we try and help people have fun.  Everything else just falls into place at that point.

That’s why Carl and I still enjoy going there to play even when the weather is snowy and the wind is whipping the temperature into submission.

When we came in to set up last Saturday, we walked in on Dylan’s first birthday party.  By now, this boy is a legend at Bumper’s and will most likely remain so for the rest of his days.  He’s just got that kind of a vibe about him.  You know when you meet someone, and there is just something about them?  Well, this little guy has it, and in spades!

So there was that, and lots of happy people everywhere we looked.

They stayed as we set up, they stayed as we began to entertain, and mostly stayed all night long.  Happy and drinking and eating as they enjoyed their conversations and their relaxation.

We kept the night humming.

One thing that I have said, over and over again about Bumper’s is that it’s never dull.  We mostly go into it not knowing what is going to happen that day or night, and it never disappoints.

We played our usual music and dusted off a few of the songs that we don’t usually get a chance to play.  That’s always fun for us.

We saw plenty of familiar faces, and met some new ones.  It was a good night.

Each season in Michigan brings us a new challenge.

The spring is so busy.  The summer has its fish-flies.  The fall can be friend or foe depending on the whims of the weather, (Just as the crew Edmund Fitzgerald), and the winters up north can be brutal.  However, we deal with them because we know that better days are right around the corner.

I believe that mostly what people frequent Bumper’s Landing for, is not the alcohol; it’s the good people that provide it.  They make each and every season enjoyable.

We’ll be back soon, and understand that whatever is in store for us, it will be something different, to be sure.

‘Tis the season!

Rb

 

City Mouse, Country Mouse

Very much alike, but totally different.

The city mouse is attracted to the bright lights and big noises, while the country mouse, feels just as strongly about the quiet calm and introspective moments.

The fast, upbeat aural excitement of a seventies dance tune, or the slow, even-paced steady tones of a sixties, timeless classic love song.

Two distinctly different vibes, yet inhabiting the very same host.

That, my friends is the Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in historic, downtown Mount Clemens, Michigan.

Two guys, playing acoustic music in the same venue, on the same night, experiencing two totally different vibes.

Walking in to the Mice at seven thirty, there were hardly any tables left unattended.  That alone will illicit smiles from Carl and I.  We were greeted cordially by some new staff members on our way in, and that made us feel even more excited about the evening ahead.

Setup was a breeze, and soon we were ready to launch into our opening song.

Somehow though, we lost all control at about that point, when a young lady from the bar shouted, “Play Seven Old Ladies!”.

After a moment of careful reflection in which Carl and I struggled to decipher if she wanted us to PLAY Seven old ladies, or PLAY WITH seven old ladies, we decided upon the former, and put our Irish hats on to begin the nights’ entertainment in earnest.

Of course it was an instant hit, and paved the way for several more Irish favorites to the delight of all those attending.

Turning from the Irish music, we dove into country, then Island and finally some old time classics that delighted each table in attendance.

The night got off to a wonderful beginning, complete with smiles, laughter and audience participation.  Everything was going according to plan; until the music stopped.

When we took a break after an hour and a half of playing, two thirds of the tables stood up, thanked us for a great evening and went home.

We know that folks are not staying out nearly as late as they once did, for a variety of reasons.

To begin our next set, there were many less patrons to sing to.  Carl and I muddled on, entertaining our little hearts out as we went.

The middle hour of our night was quite sparse, but still enjoyable.  We did have plenty of song suggestions to keep us occupied.

Having about a half hour left, we began out last set of the night at eleven thirty.  We were all set to finish out the night and pack up our gear for home, until . . .

That was until the doors opened and another entire generation of music lovers arrived to fill the Mouse back up for good.

Seeing the bar full once again stoked us to finish the night on an strong note, complete with a forty minute encore!

The evening began strong, then diminished into a quiet introspective one-on-one complete with several eclectic requests.  By evenings’ end, the night finished loud with a crescendo of epic proportions.

The Three Blind Mice is many things to many people.  It can be quiet and calm, or loud and boisterous, sometimes within minutes of each song.

It has become home to many different types of patrons, some calm and some loud and obnoxious.  Like the country mouse or the city mouse, we play the music that attracts and entertains them all.

Rb

Hello Nineteen!

2019 is already shaping up to be a break-out year if last Saturday is any indication.

To say that our first gig of the year was a success would be quite the understatement.

When we arrived at Bumper’s Landing in scenic Harrison Twp. Michigan, it looked as though there were no more tables to be filled.  The room was as vibrant as we had ever seen, and ready to explode.

Great to see the people and the fun they were already experiencing.  It was up to us to keep them smiling and enjoying the evening ahead.

Setting up was a blur as the entire cast of Bumper’s regulars were in motion, watching the game, drinking their drinks or eating their delicious entrees.

Even before we began, there were people letting us know that they were ready to help entertain, when needed.

Perfect!!!

Doing what we do most times goes smooth.   Annnnnnd then there are some nights when we have to jump through a few hoops to accomplish anything.  This was just one of those nights, as some things were not working from the beginning.  However, Carl is pretty prepared, so when things go awry, we can roll with the punches.

There’s a saying that goes, “The customer is always right.  We’ve all heard it, and in the music biz, it pretty much holds true.  Even before we began we had a suggestion of what song needed to be played before any other; “What Do You Do With A Drunken Sailor!“, apparently was what the crowd needed to hear to start the night out on the right foot.  (or, peg-leg.)

Well, it worked, that’s for sure.  They were singing after that.  Some nights we love rocketing right out of the gate, as it is a change from the norm for us.  If you know anything about us, you know that we don’t like boring, anything.

More “up-tempo” was the vibe on this particular night, as more and more people came in to share the fun.  So many friends, so many smiles.  It was truly great to see the walls ready to burst and the new year cheer being passed from patron to patron.

The byproduct of all this merriment however was the decibel level in the bar.  It was LOUD!

So loud that Carl and I couldn’t talk to each other, from four feet away.  Probably for the best, as we really don’t have anything too exciting to say in the first place.

When the group of eight arrived, including Dan, The Singer Man, it was really time to blow off the roof.  You thought it was loud before?

Just at that point we had finished our first set, and were putting our heads together to find just the right song for one of the Bumper’s singers who happened to be in the house.

To begin our second set, we put Judy’s vocal talents to good use in making everyone feel like they were at a Red Wing game, when Judy wowed the crowd with her rendition of the that great Four Non-Blonds tune, What’s Going On.

Now that everyone was singing along, we played a few more classics until Dan took the stage with his musical staple. For What It’s Worth.

Now it was a party!

Since the sing-along ice was truly broken, we played all of the shameless tunes we could to keep everyone on their post-holiday high, like Country Roads, Evil Woman and the ever popular, Piano Man.

I know, “Not Fair!” right?

I get it, but what are you gonna do?

It’s a brand new year; we might as well break it in the  right way.

Keep ’em guessing, keep ’em singing, and by all means, keep ’em coming back for more!

Both singers joined us again for another great rock ballad or classic, and before we knew it, we were playing our second encore of the night.

So great to be back.  So great to see so many faithful friends.  So great to begin a brand new year, just the way we like it . . .

. . . out of control!

RB

 

 

BOB AND CARL