Looking back on that night, I still smile enjoying the wonderful people that Carl and I were lucky enough to get the chance to meet.

The Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in downtown Mount Clemens, Michigan can be a very friendly abode.  People just like it, and feel a welcoming that never really dissipates.

I hear stories of folks who have not been back in a couple of years, but eventually find their way back to have an evening of enjoyment all over again.

Great news to us, and very heartwarming as well.

When you think about it, that is what Carl and I do; everything within our power to foster an atmosphere of fun, relaxation and heartfelt entertainment.

We give all we can to please the patrons and give them just one more reason to come back and visit.

Friday night was fun once again because of the people.  When we sit down and talk music with the patrons its always enjoyable.  What they love, what they listen to and what songs have carved a special place in their hearts, minds and lives.

Always interesting to hear about how music weaves it’s way into people’s being.

We chatted with a principal, an auto worker and a professional photographer; each one, having a great time, and each one with their own personal favorite musical requests.

The fun is finding just that perfect connection with people.  That, musical connection.

Playing the songs that they hold dear for whatever reason, gives us great joy.  Sometimes their love for a song or certain artist will open up an entire conversation that shines light on an entire interesting life.

We have learned over the years to try and not be shy when we are entertaining.  It’s not easy, as neither one of us is really naturally outgoing.

But only when we take the time to interact with people are we rewarded in finding out a treasure-trove of amazing thoughts and musical incites.

We spend many nights playing gigs where there are so many people that we only get to visit with them for a mere moment or two.  It is a pleasant change to have a night when we can spend the better part of an entire evening, getting to know some amazing couples, who share their love of all things musical and memorable.

Entertaining can be many things, but it is usually, always something different.

It is up to us to recognize what’s right there in front of us.  Only a table-for-two away!

Rb

 

What makes a “Perfect night”, you might ask?

Well, as you can imagine, our definition is probably different than anyone else’s. For one thing, NOTHING can go wrong.

Even as we arrived and found Bumper’s Landing nearly overflowing with cars and people, there was still a spot for Carl and I to unload and set up our equipment.

Perfect.

Once inside, we noticed all of the new staff, running smoothly on all cylinders; set and ready for the summer.

Perfect.

Room to set up and plenty of familiar, smiling faces belonging to folks we have spent many pleasant evening entertaining in the past.

Perfect.

The sounds of hustle, bustle and laughter.  The smell of plentiful great smelling food.  Beer and pretty girls. . .

Perfect!

The stage was set for a great evening all right.  All we needed to do was to give it a nudge down the hill.

Perfect.

Not waiting for another moment, we began the night officially with some Jimmy Buffett, followed quickly by the Eagles and more up-tempo tunes.  The bar was electric and everyone was ready to party as a group.

I honestly believe that nothing could have gone wrong on a night like this when the stars seemed to be aligned in the heavens.

We met lots and lots of new people, all having a wonderful time.  The feed-back was positive and overwhelming.  Whatever were are doing, all we needed to do was to keep doing it.

All night long . . .

More and more music, more and more dancing, and drinking, and going back and forth, in and out and up and even down!

What a wild, perfect night.

Sometimes it’s fun, doing what we do.  Sometimes, it’s rewarding.  Sometimes its trouble, and always it’s a lot of hard work.

But, sometimes, its a night just like this, when everything is perfect.

And that is what we live for.  We hope that everyone who attended enjoyed the night as much as we did.  Always trying to do all that we can to please people and bring them back for more.

Sometimes we fail . . .  but not often.

Sometimes we connect, sometimes we inspire and sometimes we just play the soundtrack to people’s lives.

Fine by us.

Then, every once in a while, where comes a night just like this.

Perfect in every way.  We’ll remember this nights and hope to have many more just like it.

If we do . . .

. . . . well, that will just be perfect!

Rb

Sound needs to be heard.

“If a guitar is plucked in the forest, and there is no-one there to hear it, would it truly make a sound?“

Or better yet, “Would it truly uplift/empower/inspire anyone?”

Well, that is what we faced the other night.  All evening long, Carl and I were forced to spend more time being concerned with volume than with inspiration.

Such is the life of a “Rock Star.”

We all know that by now.

Playing in a place that we have entertaining at for going on five years now, suddenly we had no idea how loud we were.  Hmmmmmmmmmm . . . .

Sometimes it’s great to reassess things in life.  To look at them, (or, in this case, listen to them), and re-evaluate the strengths and weaknesses as a way of learning and improving the core ideals that make you who you are.

We want to fit in and be available for listening, and yet, not obtrusive enough to overpower someone’s evening from the stage.

It is a very fine line we walk, and many times not easy.  However, we do it on a nightly basis, and most times triumph.

Apparently, on some nights, we are not the best judge of our own volume and leave it up to others to manage our sound.  That works out most times well.

Our goal is not to be loud.  It never has been.  That is not why you play at higher volumes, anyway.  For most purposes, (as a acoustic duo), you just want to be heard and create a quality sound field.  We’ve all heard noise that is very, very loud, but not very appealing to the ears.  (A jackhammer, or screeching tire, or a politician).

One of the biggest hurdles in any venue is the ambient noise of the establishment itself.  One or two of the places that we play is so loud that Carl and I cannot hear each other sitting right next to ourselves.

And that is when we are not even playing our instruments!

Ideally, the goal is to have all the musical instruments that are being played to be heard by the listener, in equal measure.

Not loud, just right.

In most venues, this can be accomplished at normal decimal levels.  The patrons can still have a conversation, and yet, still hear each auric element as it was intended.

Most nights Carl and I excellent at this, but occasionally, we are reminded just what a fine line we walk.

After being shown a pocket decibel app., we then lowered our volume to an acceptable level that made the staff happier.

It was an interesting night, to be sure.  Once again, we met some wonderful people who made the entire experience enjoyable.

Some people really love music.  You can almost see it in them.  They light up and are truly happy when listening.  Kind of like how happy boaters are, just to be near the water.

We can read it in their faces when you talk to them about what they are listening to.  It really makes our night fun to be able to share our love of music with them.

It was an odd night at TBM.  We were thrown off, but righted ourselves just in time to share our love of music with some amazing people.

In the end, that is what it’s all about.  Hear that?

Rb

 

Spring needs to officially begin some time, and for us, this is it!

From the moment we approached Bumper’s Landing we knew something special was in the air; there was not a parking spot to be had, anywhere!  Parking is not actually plentiful at Bumper’s, but on Derby Day, a spot can be as scarce as an honest bookie!

No matter, we forged ahead and began setting up early, since more and more people were pouring through the doors.

Folks were everywhere, milling about on the newly-opened patio, lounging at the Tiki bar, and jockeying for position inside, the long bar.

The Kentucky Derby was poised and ready to run, enchanting every wide eye in the house.  Carl and I  were doing our final sound check just as we heard, “Riders up!”

Two minutes later, the one hundred and forty-fifth running of this historic race was in the history books.  Then twenty minutes later, that same book was re-written, as the winner was disqualified!

Somewhere lost in all of that, Bumper’s was still packed as we began our first set.  There was still plenty of electricity in the air as the requests began pouring in.  It was a fun day, and it looked to be a very interesting evening.

We continued our high energy format from the night before; figuring, “If it ain’t broke, keep on playin’ it!”  The music was uptempo, irreverent and fun; party style, you might call it.  By that time of the evening, everybody was up, engaged and ready to play.

Now filled with revelers, it was getting close to the edge chaos, at the bar.  Everyone was into something, and all of it fun!  Just about then, the alcohol was reaching the user-maximum-saturation-point.  (always good for us).

From that point on, things started to get a lot more fuzzy, as things began spinning out of control.  I remember a lot of crazy music, a lot of dancing, a huge amount of drinking, and some fine Tamborine playing.  Everything you would wish for at any good Shindig!

It’s really difficult to have a bad time at Bumper’s and it hasn’t ever happened so far.  This night started as a horse race, but ended as a rock concert as Carl and I flexed our musical muscles.

The Kentucky Derby, and Bumper’s Landing; you really can’t get more American than that.

Well, possibly, including American pie, you might say . . .

Rb

That was the take-away from our enjoyable Friday night at The Three Blind Mice Irish Pub.

Carl and I had just been talking about the three owners who have been the steady hand on this venerable pub since it’s opening, more than five years ago.  We just haven’t seen them much, since they have such a great staff that keeps it going, week in and week out.

Speak of the devil!  During our setup, we saw a glimpse of Tony, and before we could even  say a word, there was Brad!

Funny how things work out some times.  It was great to see Brad and catch up on The Mice from the inside.  Chatting with him always gives us an interesting perspective that was couldn’t get any other way.

We discussed how the pub has been undergoing some upgrades to keep pace with all of the foot traffic over the last five years.  (New carpet upstairs, new chairs and an entire main floor refinish, etc.).  There have been a lot of things happening at this watering hole, open nearly seven days a week.

After our conversation, it was time to begin our night officially by singing the very first song.  Something up-temp was in order, and would be on the menu all night long.

Buffett, Chesney, Seger and Morrison to begin.  Start strong and keep throwing wood on the fire.  That was our goal.

We had attained the perfect formula: Good crowd, amazing food, and plenty of alcohol!  All we needed to do was to wrap it up in a classic, well-loved melody, and the night was ours!

Brad was doing his part, by interacting with the pliable customers.  His knowledge of what’s on tap is extraordinary.  It was Founder’s night at The Three Blind Mice, and that means some serious imbibing.

The tempo right through the third set was still fast and furious, keeping pace with each and every request that was tossed our way.  Cat Stevens, Elton John, and more Seger were heaved at us, nearly overwhelming us in the process.

Don’t worry, we played them all and were thirsty for more!

Nothing is better than a happy customer armed with playful requests.  One after another, they were played, all of them up-tempo and up-beat.  It was a perfect way to usher in the spring singing season.

The night was coming to a close, and with it, our time with Brad.  He wished us well and faded into the dark night.  Like a springtime sprite, his suggestions and incites echoed throughout the wood-toned walls of our favorite, local pub.

Carl and I never took our foot off the accelerator even as the evening drew into the midnight hour.  We finished the entire night without playing even one slow song!

Not an easy feat.

Brad likes “Up-Tempo”, so that is exactly what we gave him.  All in all, it was a very fun night.  The patrons of course, as always, are the stars of our show.

They came, they dined and they sampled.  Our music was simply the tablecloth to underscore all that makes this classic pub the timeless establishment that it is.

Another memorable evening in downtown Mount Clemens.

We really enjoy being part of the legacy that is The Three Blind Mice Irish Pub.  We have given much blood, sweat and tears to make it flourish in a city that still is searching for its’ identity.

With such great leadership, we have little doubt that it will continue to be the focal point of   a town who’s star is on the rise.

We sing, and will continue to sing its praises!

Rb