Bob Dorr And The Blue Band Update: YES THEY ARE PLAYING TOMORROW:-)

Wasn't it Mark Twain who said "everybody talks about the weather, but nobody DOES anything about it!"? Well here I am proving my shallowness by talking about the weather. This morning, Sparkle City tied an ALL TIME record of 34 below zero. This is without the windchill! That's right, I've now lived thru the coldest temperature EVER recorded in my hometown. Something people never talk about, is that when it's 34 below zero, it's SIXTY SIX degrees below the temperature that water freezes! Wasn't I the one who said last year "NO MORE IOWA WINTERS!"? (yes I was)...

Speaking of the weather, (the shallowness continues) the 7" of snow on Tuesday forced postponement of the trio performance that Jeff and I were going to be part of in Storm Lake. It was postponed until yesterday (Thur.) Then -45 windchills forced a second postponement. So, Tuesday Jan. 20 will now be attempt #3 (third time's the charm, 'eh?) Jeff and I will join Tom Gary for a trio performance in Anderson Auditorium, Buena Vista University, in Storm Lake. Showtime is 7pm, open to the public, free of charge. The prognosticators say Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week and may even be above freezing! Break out the Hawaiian shirts and shorts! And speaking of 7" of snow (no shallowness there) Cedar Falls now has TWICE as much snow at this point this year as we had last year at this time! Last year was the 4th greatest snowfall total of all time. I'm thinkin' THAT record will now be ours too. Aren't we special?...

Let's face it. The reason that I'm still enduring Iowa winters is because this is the only place that I've got something going on! But that could change too! Usually the band's summer performance calendar is pretty much filled by now. Not so this year. We've got more open weeks at this point of year than ever before (apparently it IS a record setting year) and an all staff meeting has been called at (the station formerly known as) KUNI for 2:30 this afternoon. Rumors of budget "challenges" are rampant. So be sure and let your local town festival organizers/entertainment committee know about us and be sure and pay your annual dues to the Friends of Iowa Public Radio. Otherwise, I might have to come and live in your garage and you don't want that!...

We're hoping to see you Saturday the 24th at the Ottumwa Elks Club and Friday the 30th at the new Porky's Pub and Garage, 5125 NE 14th in Des Moines. Sorry, you need an invitation to attend the birthday party on Jan. 31...

My annual Elvis Presley special on Iowa Public Radio's Backtracks show happens tomorrow (Sat. 1/17) 7-10p and will include a nationally syndicated hour long spotlight on the King's 1968 Comeback TV special. Listen anywhere on the planet at www.iowapublicradio.org. You can make a pledge of support there too! Thankyou, thankyouverymuch for listening...

The weatherman is saying that the temps have zoomed up to -6, so I gotta get out and start shoveling out the band equipment truck (maybe if I start now, I'll have it dug out by next Saturday when it's got to go to Ottumwa) See ya on the Blue Highway, if you rub that zydeco tie fast enough, maybe it'll become like a space heater, it's not too late to send birthday CAKE (hey, it's still my birthday WEEK) and remember our love for you runs hot, even in record low temperatures. Bob Dorr & The Blue Band

PS: our friends Checker & The Bluetones play the "geezer gig" at The Hub tonight, 6-9p. Bring your dancing shoes...