Eh, I'm WORKIN' 'ere. It's Labor Day weekend. Work it, baby...
Jeff and I got started a day early with the Labor Day weekend music
playin' EXTRAVAGANZA, when Iowa Public Television stopped by my garage
Thursday morning to video tape a duo version of an old spiritual song
that The Blue Band played in the early 80s, called Wayfairing Stranger.
IPTV is planning on using that song in their Iowa 9/11 Tribute Special.
What an honor for the two original members of our band to be invited to
be part of this. The show airs on Sunday, 9/11, at 7pm and then again at
10:30pm. I have no clue as to which of the 4 takes we recorded they'll
use. Join us in my garage a week from this coming Sunday on state-wide
Iowa Public Television...
But we got a WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' goin' on before that!! (before that, I
swear this is true, I saw a sign outside of the HyVee "Spirits" (liquor)
store that said they have CAKE flavored vodka) (I really had no desire
to jump off the wagon, but this could be a game changer) (just warning
you) (it would add a whole new meaning to BRING CAKE!) (aren't ya glad
we got this CAKE thing taken care of early in The Note this time so we
can get on with the important stuff? Which is:
TONIGHT! (Fri) another honor, an invitation to the Illinois Blues
Festival in Peoria!! Now don't be late, because we only get to play 60
minutes (that's right, a five hour drive, one way, to play for 60
minutes) We're the opening act of the two-day festival and play 7-8pm.
The Blue Band played in Peoria rather regularly in the late 80s, early
90s and I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with Billy The Kid,
Whiskey Drummer, Cindy & Mindy (The Blue Belles) Jeff & Pink,
Danny, Ed Knott (who got us the gig!) all the folks at Coop Records, and
Jay Goldberg Events who actually extended the invitation to be part of
this. Get more info on this cool festival
at:http://www.illinoisbluesfestival.com/ One of the first places that
we played in Peoria was a place called Wet Willies (which was close to
the riverfront park that we play tonight) I have a "Blue Band At Wet
Willies, Aug. 1990" poster that I'm hoping the crowd will sign for me as
a special gift for this 30th Anniversary Tour. Please stop by the merch
table and give me your autograph!...
Let's see, runnin' with my old buddies in Peoria, CAKE flavored vodka in
the stores, a blues festival, and I have a room. What could possibly go
wrong? Nothin'! cuz I'll have to get to bed pretty early so we can
drive from P-town to Bankston IA Sat. morning. (yes, the Bankston IA
that is close to the girlhood home of the famous Sheehy Sisters in
Farley IA) (I love Rena Sheehy despite the fact that she is a Yankees
fan) for the annual Grape Stomp at the Park Farm Winery. Yes, you can
actually STOMP THEM GRAPES, but most of the hundreds of people that show
up for this like to sip the grape on the beautiful deck outside of the
winery and dance to the band (depending on how many sips you have!) We
play 4-7pm. Get more info at: http://www.parkfarmwinery.com/
But wait, there's more!! Sunday! Sunday! (beautiful Sunday, at Aswego
Dragway, the racing Capitol OF THE WORLDDDDD!) (how is that I can
remember that commercial on WLS radio when I was 10 years old, but
recalling what I was s'posed to get when I went upstairs 15 minutes ago
was impossible?) Sunday, our annual show at FB & Co. Literally on
the bank of the Wapsipinicon River in beautiful downtown Waubeek IA
(about 20 minutes NE of Cedar Rapids) It's not often that you get to
catch two bands, both in the Iowa Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame and both
having a longevity of over 30 years, on the same bill. The Mississippi
Band starts playing a little after 2pm, The Blue Band will be on before
6p and play until dark, when the evening will end with a 15 minute
fireworks display. The weather is predicted to be gorgeous on Sunday.
Perfect for a ride in the country to join us for what I believe is close
to our 25th year of celebrating Labor Day at FB. If you need more info,
FB & Co has a Facebook page or call 319-438-6582...
Nope, not done yet. (we're workin' it, baby) Thursday (9/8) is our
annual appearance at the Cedar Valley Chamber's WING DING THING! Wings
and many other things offered at many food stations, desert includes ice
cream (what, no CAKE?) and The Blue Band all for $7 advance ($10 at the
door is still a heck of a deal) That happens in Overman Park, right
here in Sparkle City USA (Cedar Falls) We start playing when the doors
open at 5pm and play until 8pm. Bring yer appetite and yer dancin'
shoes. More info:
http://www.cedarfalls.org/calendar_events.php?m=9&y=2011&id=570
This is the final "vacation" week from the radio shows, but the rerun
programs are pretty cool. The promo for Sat. night's Backtracks show
(7-10pm) says: Another potporri spotlight segment show including classic
rockabillys of the 50s, Canadian rock bands of the 60s, some left over
requests from our most recent live show (expect another LIVE show,
Sept. 10!) and some left overs from the last Cheap Date Night, including
$1 LPs by Cher, Grand Funk, and The James Gang. Sunday's Blue Avenue
show (5-6:30p) is all about the ladies: A reprise of the Ladies Night
show that originally aired 3/27/11 featuring new blueswomen on the scene
like Eden Brent and Jackie Scott, award winning blueswomen Janiva
Magness and Fiona Boyes, classic blueswomen Memphis Minnie and Ruth
Brown and Iowa blueswomen Vickie Price and Cindy Grill. Ladies sing the
blues! And the Sunday Night Beatles Medley (6:30-7p) carries the Ladies
theme one further: It's about the ladies! All songs with women's names
in the title including Lovely Rita, Lady Madonna, The Lovely Linda and
Dizzy Miss Lizzie. Need more info on the radio shows start at
www.iowapublicradio.org
Our country was built on the backs of laborers. I can think of no better
way to spend Labor Day weekend than working with my friends and
brothers in The Blue Band. I hope you can help us celebrate by stopping
by any of the above work (and play) places. And speaking of work (a not
so subtle segue) Please keep us in mind for holiday celebrations (we've
got Halloween weekend open) and spread the word to your favorite
casinos, nightspots, corporate party planners and neighborhood
block-party organizers. We need the work!
http://www.theblueband.com/contactBob.htm
Be careful on the Blue Highway this holiday weekend cuz the Highway
Patrol never stops workin', rub yer washboard tie to the old Isley
Brothers song Work To Do, accept only real CAKE (no vodka laced
imitations) and never forget that our love is workin' on you! Bob Dorr
& The Blue Band
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