After one of the most fun and busy June/Julys in recent memory (memory? what's THAT?) (what were we talkin' about?) things are starting to wind down for the summer in Blueville...
Tonight (Fri.) we're back at The 503 (503 Estes St.) in Iowa Falls. It's Prom/formal Night. I'm told it's a tradition for 503ers to go scouring all the thrift stores and Goodwill stores for old prom clothes and to come in formal dress for the evening's festivities. It's kind of like Halloween in a tuxedo! I've already got my ruffled shirt and light blue coat all ready to go. You don't HAVE to come formally dressed, but bow ties and corsages are encouraged. We play 9-mid and will be joined by Iowa Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famer, Muddy Watson, on bass and Eddie's horn section mate in The Diplomats of Solids Sound, David Bassinger, will bring his baritone sax and substitute for Al in the horn section. I'm looking forward to the slightly different sound of the band and the opportunity to wear that 30 year old tuxedo coat! (which was probably 20 years old when I bought it from the Ragstock store for one of our first gigs 30 years ago) I wonder if it still fits...
Saturday night marks our 3rd year at the Celebrate Washington Festival in Washington IA. This is a day long art/arts/music celebration in the downtown square. Our young friend Adam Todd and his band Starbolt plays prior to us. Adam is not yet a teenager, but he's already a rock star in Washington, with hundreds of "pokes" on Facebook (I'm told that's a good thing), chicks from age 8 to 98 trying to be his girlfriend, and cute looks that make Justin Bieber look like a haggard old man. He's agreed to play guitar with us on I Dig Your Wig again this year. As thrilled as I am about Adam playing with us, I'm REALLY looking forward to one of my personal heroes, Iowa Blues Hall of Famer, Patrick Hazell playing with the band. Pat lives in Washington and has hinted at coming down and playing a few tunes with The Blue Band. I have always wondered what the band would sound like with a REAL harmonica player and it looks like we're finally gonna find out! David Bassinger is also from Washington, so it'll be great to have a homeboy playing that baritone sax in the band too. We play 9-mid...
Next Sat. (Aug. 13) finds us making our annual appearance at the Cedar Trails Festival pre night-ride concert, 7-10p, in Gateway Park, right here in Sparkle City USA. Mark will be back to play bass, but Al and Eddie will be gone. Bob Guthart, who often sits in at The Hub, will be the second guitar player and we're still looking for a 6th piece. Horn, keys, ??, let me know if you or someone you know might be interested (and qualified) to play with the band. I'll have more info on this next week...
And then...It's the Grand daddy of 'em all, The Iowa State Fair (The Butter Cow is celebrating it's 100th anniversary, no, I was NOT there for it's first year) Actually, we think this is the 26th year of playing at The Fair for us Blue People (or it's 27, we weren't so good at record keeping back then) It, and New Year's Eve, are the two most exhilarating gigs of the year. Join us on the AE/TV 8 stage, Fri/Sat Aug. 19 & 20...(speaking of NYE, info/reservations for this year's gala: http://www.theblueband.com/newyear.htm...
It's been so hot and busy the last couple of months that I have not thought about, let alone acted on, finding The Blue Band work for the late fall/early winter and Holiday seasons. Please let us know about gatherings in your part of the Blue World that we might be able to be a part of, after all, there's only 142 days til Christmas!...
Just to even out my walking pattern, I dropped a desk table top on the foot opposite from the foot that's recovering from the ingrown toenail removal. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have any broken bones, but it's so swollen, it's hard to tell! It's beginning to remind me of the old Joe Tex song, Bad Feet!...
I hope you've been able to join us for some of the merriment this 30th Anniversary Summer. It's been lots of fun. Thank you for all the years of encouragement, support and love. It's too late to stop now, isn't it?...
See yas on The Blue Highway, rub yer washboard tie to the tune of It Ain't The Heat, It's The Stupidity, don't forget that WATERMELON is the perfect summer substitute for CAKE (whoa, almost didn't get that word in on this note) and always know that we love you. Bob Dorr & The Blue Band
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