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March 2019

The Real RockStars

We realize how most people perceive playing live music in a band.  Some see it as exciting.  Some see it as glamorous.  Some think that it’s easy, fun or even lucrative.  Honestly, it can be any of those things from time to time; but mostly, it’s just plain, hard work.

And as hard as Carl and I work, there are many others who labor tirelessly to support us.

While it goes without saying that our family and friends are always there for us, with love, nourishment, encouragement, and enthusiasm, there are some other people without whom we would ultimately be lost. 

I’m talking about the real rock stars: the staff and owner Bumper’s Landing.

Saturday’s in March are an exciting reason to bring people back out of winter hibernation. March Madness to be exact.  Basketball

The games bring them out to the bars, and we benefit from the residual action.  Make no mistake, it’s the local venue that is their ultimate destination, and the staff that makes the venue run.

Since the big game was on, Carl and I had time to sit and take everything in; the customers, the regulars and the staff.  The interaction was interesting, to say the least.

I thought that I had a pretty good idea of how hard the staff worked to make any even happen, but I was wrong.

They never stop!

From the moment they arrive to the moment they turn out the lights at the end of their very long day, they do not stop.  And many times, they need to be back in only a few short hours to re-open with smiles on their faces and a spring in their step.

We watch all of this and are amazed at their work ethic.

Cheerful, purposeful and patient; they approach each customer as if they were having their first experience at Bumper’s and wanted to make it a great one.  They listen, they learn and they help each other maximize their time behind the bar.  One will always help out or pick the other one up when needed. Wether its running food, taking orders or even cleaning up after unruly or unpleasant customers, they have each other’s back.

The more we observe, the more we have time to get to know them, the more we are amazed at how good they are at what they do.  Just like the old adage, when you are really good at something, you make it look easy.

And these ladies do!

It is very frustrating to me when people take to social media to condemn a business or establishment.  If they didn’t get their order completely correct, quickly and perfectly, it is someone’s fault and they are going to be held accountable! Never mind what else was going on, what the server had to finish or deal with perviously, or even how many other customers there were waiting, all expecting their own needs to be met first.

If every single nuisance of their dining experience  doesn’t go to their liking, they are now armed with power of the poison pen to achieve justice!

So for anyone who works tirelessly, (sometimes twelve hour days), serving hundreds of customers, and one of them has an ax to grind because their pizza had the wrong toppings on it; we see it.  We know and understand it.

We, get it!

You gals are the Rock Stars!

You make it all work.  You don’t get any glamour, any glitz or much credit, really.  You just work and work and work and work!

So this post is not about Bob or Carl, its about Brandy and Kim and Heather and Kat.  Chris, Natasha, Kristie and Kim.  There are more of course, and they all do a remarkable job.  Without them and the bar backs and cooks and security, we would have no place to play.

 

It would simply not last if it weren’t for these hardworking ladies and gentlemen.

This is our tribute to the staff and owner of Bumper’s Landing.

We know it’s tough.  We realize how much you give of yourself without hesitation, because you believe in what you are doing, and the people that you work for and with.

The big game was on, and when it concluded, Carl and I took over and played out the night.  It was another amazing evening at one of Michigan’s real treasures.

We get a lot of the glory and credit.  We get the praise, the thanks and the handshakes.  But the real rockstars wherever we play go mostly unnoticed.  They arrive long before us and are still cleaning up when we are home in bed.

For them, we have great admiration.  For them we have nothing but praise and humility.

They are the real Rock Stars; the wind beneath our wings.

Rb

 

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I’ve got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
You’re everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.

Songwriters: Jeff Silbar / Larry Henley / Larry J. Henley

Betsy And The Boys

I got an email from an old friend from the Macomb YMCA last month.

Seems as though she works at an assisted living complex in Chesterfield and was wondering if we would be interested in entertaining her guests in some time in March.

After making all of the connections and working out the logistics, we arrived at The Village Of East Harbor on a Thursday afternoon to set up.

The complex was huge, serving many many guests.  We were welcomed in and after a small tour, found the location for our first of two mini concerts.

Our first show would be in the chapel; a medium sized room with a beautiful stage area complete with festival seating.  We set up easily and got situated for the upcoming show.

Being ready early has many benefits.  We can ferret out most equipment problems if we are aware of them before the actual show time.  We can take a moment of two to catch our breath and contemplate the sets and how we are going to approach them.

And some times if we are lucky, we get to meet some wonderful people.

Sitting down and sharing a moment or two with our audience is one of the most rewarding aspects of entertaining.  Finding out what their expectations are and learning a bit about who they are, why they are there and what they really enjoy about music.

After all, the music is the reason we are entertaining.  The commonality that we all feel.

Since Betsy asked us to play some Irish music, that is exactly what we started out with.  Our traditional Irish first song: The Whistling Gypsy soon filled the room with Celtic mirth.  That went well, and the room reverberated with smiles and song right from the start.  Each and every person attending, a wonderful part of an audience we truly appreciated.

We began with several Irish favorites and then took a moment to salute all of the March birthdays in the house.  After that it was time to bring out songs from other genres.

Country, folk and of course, good O’ l Rock & Roll!

They loved them all.  And with a little urging, we had them singing along!

Just as soon as it began, it seemed, it was over and time to move to the other end of the building and set up again for an entirely different group of guests.

The second show was just as much fun as the first, with an entirely different cast of characters.

We played Motown, country, rhythm and blues and even some more Irish to be sure.  When we played our birthday salute, we found out that one of our guests was celebrating birthday number, one hundred and one!

All in all we had a blast playing for the guests and the wonderful staff of East Harbor.

Hopefully we will return in the near future to bring them even more music, smiles and birthday wishes!

Rb

Click here to watch a video of our engagement.

 

 

Saint Patrick’s Celebration 2019, (whiskey on a Sunday)

Nothing brings folks together like the promise of a grand celebration!

And so it was, on a Sunday in Harrison Township, by the water.  The location never seems to matter on this day of the year, as people will travel most anywhere to share a drink with their fellow man.

Or woman for that matter.

Carl and I were lucky enough to be at Bumper’s Landing, where we may never know what to expect; but we know we will always have a great time.

Performing at one O’clock, we arrived even earlier to find Bumper’s mostly full of thirsty patrons with bright, happy faces.  Green was out in full force as everyone wanted to show their inner Irish.

While special days like this are always well attended, there are several pitfalls that are inherent in their makeup.

It’s crowded, so we have to arrive earlier than usual to set up and navigate the roadblocks in our path.  Then, since we have lots of friends and family attending, we always have requests for tables or contacts or special details that logistically need to be worked out.

In the end, everything settles down and when we are all set up.  Things all falls into place without much tribulation, really.

There is traditionally a big game of some type on as well, so we need to allow for the sports fan who is putting up with Irish music.  At Bumper’s none of it seems to be a problem.  Boaters, by nature are pretty adept at rolling with everything.

We began at 1:00, and played for more than an hour to start.  Getting a firm grasp of the entire afternoon in one fell swoop.  Since it’s not a traditional Irish pub, the patrons aren’t really into each song as in some places.  Rather our music was more a backdrop to the excuse of doing some serious day-drinking.

With our afternoon well in hand, the basketball game got underway, and the bar took on another aspect of fun.  You had your sports fans, you had your music lover, and you had your alcohol enthusiasts. Throw in some great food, and everyone had a reason to enjoy something; or everything!

Uncle Kracker was all part of the fun as well.  Matthew feels right at home in his neighborhood hang-out; awaiting his next big tour.

Although spring still hadn’t arrived, the sunshine helped us all believe that it was right around the corner.  There were smiles at each and every table.  Even the leprechauns were part of the festivities.

All we needed at that point were some bag-pipers.

After the game, it was time to settle down to some serious partying.  We had played to Green Alligators, a Jug O’ Punch and Nancy Whiskey.  Now it was time to pull out some Irish sing-a-longs to make this day even more memorable.

However, as hard as we worked to make this day a success, it would have all fallen on deaf ears, if it weren’t for the efforts of the owner and his wonderful staff.

The staff at Bumper’s is amazing.  They never stop working.  They never take a break and they go all night without complaining about anything.  Each and every one of them is incredible; and, they do it sometimes three days in a row.

We admire them all and count ourselves lucky to be a part of such a hard working group of incredible employees.  Without their tireless efforts, Bumper’s couldn’t be as special as it has become.

Eight hours in, it was time to separate the amateurs from the professionals.

Playing all the Irish traditional favorites in a second wave gave the serious revelers a chance to end the night on a high, green note.  We even played some Randy Travis and John Denver to make some late attendees happy.

If you weren’t there, or for some foolish reason, chose to be with someone else instead, you will undoubtedly regret it for the rest of your life.

Saint Patrick’s day in the United States has become a day when we can all feel like we are as one.  We set out to do one thing; cherish and enjoy the awakening of spring.

After all, there is a saying: “If you’re lucky enough to be Irish. . .  You’re lucky enough.”

Rb

Bright Lights, Little city

Historic Downtown Lapeer

Nestled in the historic part of Lapeer, Michigan, is where the Pix Theater can be found.

Vibrant, yet more than that, still relevant in the heart of this hard working community, Carl and were lucky enough to be invited to perform there, last Wednesday.

Excited to be asked, we were even more excited to be given card blanche as to what we could play.  Knowing that, the sky seemed the limit as to what songs we would prepare for this special matinee performance.

Arriving early gave us plenty of time to leisurely walk around and soak up some local scenery.  Our hope was to actually get a small feeling of the heartbeat of this important, Michigan city.

There is a clearly a difference between the traditional old downtown and the more industrialized outskirts, to be sure.  The Pix Theater being recognized as one of the anchors of the traditional downtown area.

Finding our way inside and through the art gallery, Carl and I took to the stage, getting a first-hand look as only performers can.

It was a very cute and well maintained venue.  We could tell that the community takes great pride in its thriving bill of shows and worthwhile special events.

We both took a few minutes to explore and settle in before we set up and did our final sound check.

It’s interesting that from the outside, most small town theaters appear the same, but inside, each one is so very different.  They each have their own unique character and “personality”.

I believe that these old buildings absorb a little bit of each and every movie, show or act that performs there over their long and storied life.

Our goal today was to add to that legacy by bringing smiles to the faces of each and every patron attending, by touching them with timeless musical classics.

Songs by The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Johnny Cash.  The Righteous Brothers, Elvis and Looking Glass.  Some country, some folk and even some Irish for good measure.

The audience was in place, and we hit to our marks:  Showtime!

Funny how when you walk out onto that stage, and the lights hit you in the face; you seem to black out for a moment, letting all the world fall away until you are left standing alone with yourself, your talent, your life’s achievements, and the simple thoughts of what and who matters most to you.

We played for and hour and a half, and tried to cover all the musical bases.  Since Saint Paddy’s was right around the corner, we did throw in a few more Irish tunes to get the folks primed and ready for the weekend.

So much fun to reach into our music bag of tricks and pull something different or unexpected out.  (Usually to the delight of our audiences).  We had a great time!

It was a very well received performance.

When we finished, we had the opportunity to connect with the folks before they headed for home.  Each conversation was complimentary and positive.

Hopefully we will get another call in the future so that we might be part of next years’ show bill.

Lapeer Michigan is doing just fine, thank you very much.  And Carl and I are so proud to have been involved!

Rb

The Sound Of Music

Sometimes an entertainer will get to a place in their career when they lose sight of what got them there in the first place.  Talent, hard work and above all, being at the right place in the right time sure does help.  However, in the end, (as it was in the beginning), it is always about THE MUSIC.

Always.

Carl and I hardly ever forget that, but when we do, we are very fortunate that we have some great patrons who remind us, without fail.

And so it was on another night at Bumper’s Landing when we knew not what to expect.  The word on the street was that a huge crowd was on their way in to watch the big basketball game against Michigan and Michigan State.  Since the game began at eight, we would wait until it was finished before we would take the stage.

All good.

We arrived at our very same time, and began setting up in our usual way.  The goal was to be settled in and ready to start as soon as the big game concluded.

All well and good.  The game began and everyone was glued to the big screens.  You know how men are with huge television screens to keep them focused . . .

We were set up and ready, and in the zone.

When half time arrived, we kicked off the music, with Jimmy Buffett urging everyone to think about a trip to Margaritaville.  A couple more songs got the patrons thinking about anything but basketball, just in time for the game to begin its second half.

Of course, some games, just like men are bigger than others, and the second half of the game turned out to be a prelude to nothing as State ran away with the outcome.

That of course, left many of the Michigan faithful to head out early, and with it, our chance to play their favorite songs.

We did however, (as luck would have it), meet a group of guys who loved live music just as much as sport.  They stopped in to watch the rest of the game, but stayed to listen to our first set.

That was all it took.  They loved each song we played and we loved playing more and more of their favorites.

This is when it really gets enjoyable for Carl and I, when we have a group in front of us that we can interact with.

They shout out a musical favorite, and we play it.  Simple as that.

It really doesn’t get any better.

We actually played only two sets on Saturday night, the first one, an hour long, and the second an hour and a half.

But what sets they were!

We really, really enjoyed the evening, and owe it all to those five guys.  While it really IS about the music, a lot of times, it’s about the people we are lucky enough to play the music for.

After all, that’s why we play: for them.  Song after song, week after week, year after year.  It’s a great job most of the time.  And when some wonderful people are there appreciating our effort, it’s not a job at all!

Rb

Just Down The Street . . .

Just down the street  . . .

 

. . . . is your friendly neighborhood bar.

That probably can be said for just about any city street in America, but in Mount Clemens, this particular bar is special.

Why, you might ask?

The Green Tree Tavern, circa 1905Well, this bar has been dispensing liquor, refreshments and fellowship, in the same spot for more than one hundred years!

Think about that . . .

When carl and I were born, (way back in the fifties), this bar had already been serving its fellow man and woman for over a half century.

As if that by itself isn’t amazing enough, consider the fact that while most everything in our society has changed: automobiles in stead of horses, supersonic jets and drones in stead of propellor airplanes, the information revolution in stead of books and newspapers . . .

. . . our need to gather together to talk about or lives has not.

Something about sharing a pint just brings people from all walks of life together.

When alcohol is flowing, any of the worlds troubles and woes can be solved.  Or so it may seem.  It’s theThree Blind Mice Irish Pub, circa 2013 promise of clarity and coherence that binds like minds and sets them on the task of righting all the worlds’ wrongs.

We see it every night from our vantage point under the bright lights of the stage.  People working as one to solve all the riddles before their drinks are dry.

Lucky for us, we provide the sound track to the solution.

If only the worlds’ leaders would come down from their lofty perches to walk among us common people, they would certainly learn a lot.  They might even have the daunting issues of world hunger, climate change and most government boondoggles resolved in one afternoon.

Well, we’ll be here at the Mice, sipping a brew and solving all the world’s problems.  We might even share a story, a joke or a song.

The world can be a cruel place if you choose to go it alone.  Why do that?  Stop by your local neighborhood pub or watering hole.

If it wasn’t the solution, then why was your great grandfather here sharing a pint?

Rb

BOB AND CARL