So we're celebrating our actual 30th birthday this weekend and looking forward to the next 30 years starting next week (hey, Pinetop Perkins played music and won a Grammy at age 96) Tonight starts a string of 14 one-nighters in the next 24 days beginning with a show at The Jasper Winery in Des Moines, the proceeds of which benefit Planned Parenthood of The Heartland. Tickets are $100 and includes food, wine, beer, The Blue Band and a contribution toward funding women's health services provided by PP. More information: http://www.ppaction.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=100936&autologin=true
The Blue Band actually started a month before our first gig with rehearsals in the living room of a little duplex across from Lewellen's Market at 8th & Tremont St. in Sparkle City USA. Mrs. Lew proudly displayed our first 45 rpm record right next to the shelves of penny candy. We thought we were rock stars after selling 3 copies to our neighbors. The band has been based in Cedar Falls all 30 years. No matter where we traveled, from Sun Valley ID to Memphis TN, it has always felt wonderful to get back to Sparkle City. I hope you can join us Saturday night at The Hub for our hometown 30th birthday party. It's summertime GEEEEZER Gig hours (7-10:15pm-ish) BRING (birthday) CAKE!...
And speaking of (birthday) CAKE, cheeeeeese CAKE goes well with wine, so stop by a beautiful little vineyard outside of Traer IA, The Fox Ridge Winery, Sunday afternoon/evening to help cap off the birthday week celebration. We play 3-6pm. For more info on the vineyard or their complete entertainment schedule try: http://www.foxridgewine.com/
Next week we start the next 30 years with a just added show in Des Moines on Friday June 17 at The Ingersoll, the old Ingersoll Theatre building. It's under new management and they have invited us to be part of their kickoff month (they officially opened May 28) We have played SO MANY great spots in Des Moines in the 30 years. But not this building. It'll be great to start the next 30 years in a brand new spot. Then we continue down I-35 to that swingin' town with those crazy little women, Kansas City MO. for our annual show in the Zona Rosa Shopping District Concert Series on Sat. evening 6/18 and then back up I-35 with a stop for our annual appearance at Summerset Winery in Indianola on Sunday 6/19. I'll have more info on these gigs next week...
You may have noticed that Jeff Petersen is not on the list of the 6 people who played that first Bobby's Blue Band show 30 years ago. After spending many years in Waterloo/Cedar Falls with another Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame band-Headstone, Jeff had moved to Sioux Falls SD. It took the ragtag Blue Banders a couple of months to talk him into moving back to Sparkle City to play with us. I am so thankful that he did. Without Jeff, we NEVER would have gotten to celebrate 30 continuous years of averaging well over 100 gigs a year...
I take great pride in the perseverance that it takes to reach a 30 year milestone. It's been exhilarating, heart wrenching, challenging, boring (have you ever driven across Nebraska in the dead of night?) funny, sad, farcical, tragic and a few thousand other adjectives, some which would probably not meet with my Aunt Dolores' approval. Fans and band members have seen some fabulous talent pass thru this group. (Al says that the young sax player that is playing with us this weekend is "the new Nathan") (wouldn't it be cool if the "original Nathan" played some shows with us again) Anyway, they say that it's not really about the destination, it's about the trip getting there. This trip ain't over. I hope you can get the chance to help us celebrate our longevity in the coming weeks and help provide the inspiration to keep it going. See ya on the 30-year-long Blue Highway, rub yer washboard tie to the tune of I've Been Lovin' You A Little Too Long (To Stop Now), it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) BRING (birthday) CAKE and always know that we love you. Bob Dorr & The Blue Band
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