Outdoor Show Notes 2011
by Smoky P - "Mr. Bassman"
June 4th began the madness with a fundraiser golf outing/picnic near Pottsville. When driving into the area for the show, we noticed a number of newly-downed trees, and that a large bank barn on the golf course was pock-marked and obviously damaged from flying debris. We were told that a flash storm a day or two prior included a tornado touch-down. At the show, we had to dodge a fair amount of rain, but all in all, the event went great. Next was Knoebel’s for two shows on a Sunday. Shock of shocks, we were pelted with rain, wind and even got to experience playing in hail! (Our first year there, there was a power failure all afternoon; at least that didn’t happen this time). Eric learned how to play keys under a tarp! What fun! The following Friday we played a Relay For Life event at Hatboro-Horsham High School… Shazaam! It was a perfect night weather-wise. The real excitement was when Smoky’s trick knee quit and he took a tumble while setting up…
The weather gods got even the next week, when we played the (quite large) Enola, PA EMS Carnival just west of Harrisburg. It was another perfect night – until about 9:30, when we were again washed away. The good news? We were under a large gazebo. The less-than-good news was that the rain was coming horizontally, and there were no lights under the gazebo other than our stage lights. Two days later we played the Phoenixville Polish Club, always an absolute kick! – and indoors, to boot. That was Saturday night. Noon the next day, we were to play a beach show in Avalon, NJ. It’s a good thing we all get along; we were done at the Polish Club at 1 AM, and had to leave for Avalon around 8 AM…Avalon was sunny and a bit hot, but a total blast! Nothing like playing a show at the shore on a picture-perfect day!
After a much-needed week off, we played Phoenixville's Main Stage for the First Friday event. This year the borough's TV channel crew was there, and did an interview with the band just before the show. The (video) interview is posted on this website along with a few of our other live shows. Check it out when you have a moment. As in the last 3 years, this show featured perfect weather and a large, dynamic crowd.
We took the week of July 4th off, because we knew what lay ahead: 5 show dates in 8 days, including all of us "pulling an all-nighter," like when we were back in school... Friday, July 15th we drove to the Rehoboth, Delaware area where we played the AmVets club Friday and Saturday nights. Working full-time jobs, this kind of travel becomes a challenge; but what made it truly nuts was that, after tearing down from Saturday night's show in Rehoboth, we left Delaware at 1:30 AM and headed for Fairmount Park in Philly, where we were to set up and play at 8 AM (yes; AM) for a fundraising Mud Run. A stop at a Denny's near the Philadelphia Airport at 4:30 AM was unforgettable. I could write a juicy book about the 'ladies' and a few others we encountered there.
We arrived at the park around dawn, set up with a bit of time to take a catnap, and promptly butchered A Space Oddity by Bowie, the tune we opened with. The crowd - and it was huge, as there were over 6,500 runners registered, plus their friends and families - was preoccupied with registering for the run, so we shook off the cobwebs and proceeded to have a great show. This event is part of a national series based on military training course obstacles. Runners do either a 5K or 10K length course, which includes a crawl through a mud bog. It is the "Merrill Down & Dirty Mud Run." We played it in the Bronx, NY in October, too -- last year in addition to 2011.
The band's 8-day marathon continued the following Friday with the Trumbauersville Fire Company carnival, home of the best carnival sausage & pepper sandwiches around. This year's carnival featured 102-degree heat; but as we all know, it isn't the heat, it's the humidity. (Sorry; I couldn't resist.) Saturday's weather was even hotter, topping out at 103. In the afternoon we played a luau-themed wedding reception at the Morwood Gun Club; fortunately the band was in the shade under a large pavilion -- with 'just enough power,' according to Jack.
Next was the Gilbertsville Carnival in early August. The weather had moderated by then, and our run of dry, clear show dates continued. Buddy wasn't available for this show. We have a rule that we only play when all can be there; however we didn't want to say 'no' to the fire company, so we re-worked enough tunes and made it happen. It went well -- just don't let Buddy know that!
The following weekend we had another back-to-back schedule, playing the Bloomsburg Hospital Car Show on Friday and the Dublin Fire Company Carnival on Saturday. Bloom was sunny and nice; the car show was amazing, with about 800 cars there over the 3-day event. Dublin features a 'real' bandstand, which isn't always the case. It proved to be important as our old adversary, a rain/wind storm, showed up as soon as we had set up. The weather was predicted to improve quickly, so the show went on. It turned out to be a really nice night, as the flash rain storm lowered the humidity and freshened the air.
Sunday of the next weekend saw a particularly ominous forecast for violent thunderstorms throughout the afternoon, which is what happened. We played a poolside surprise birthday party near Spring City. The hosts had planned quite well, constructing a covered, raised stage for us overlooking the pool. Boy, did it rain... and boy, did the wind wail. There was no lightning nor thunder, though, and since the guests were wet from the pool anyway, the party rocked in spite of the conditions -- though we all got wet at some point.
We played indoors on Labor Day weekend, doing a wedding reception at Bella Vista Golf Club, near Gilbertsville. We welcomed the chance to play nearby and in controlled conditions - with air conditioning, too! -- after so many outdoor shows. The two other shows in September both required a bit of travel. We played a wedding in Mountaintop, PA and a birthday party in Virginville. Mountaintop was outside under a large tent. It was just a few days after the flooding of Hurricane Irene; we dealt with some mud, but not with rain or oppressive heat.
We closed out 2011's outdoor season on the first weekend in October -- with another overnight road trip. Saturday night we played a dance club in Jackson, NJ, then left at about 1:30 AM for the Bronx, where we would play at 8 AM for the New York Merrill Mud Run event. There was a major rain overnight Saturday into Sunday. When we arrived at Pelham Bay Park at about 6 AM, we almost had to wade our way to the start-finish area, where our stage-tent was. But, the skies cleared with the dawn, and over 5,000 runners wouldn't be denied. As the clouds left, there was a remarkable sunrise over the skyline, in case you slept through it. We didn't, believe me! Oh; and if you have to drive through the Bronx any time soon, watch out for the potholes. Some of them could have diving boards! The weekend went really well, and we got home just in time to fall asleep at dinner time Sunday.
If you got to this point in our summer saga, we all thank you; though we might also suggest that a real life might be passing you by! Seriously, we absolutely love playing, and we especially love playing for such loyal and enthusiastic friends and family!
The five of us get along really well. Considering how much time we spend with each other, we'd better!
Be sure to check our schedule here on the website – and better yet, e-mail us and we will add you to our e-mail list. We hope to see you soon!
