The Greater Cedar Valley Chamber's annual Wing Ding Thing is what I always feel is the last of the summer gigs. As you can imagine, I LOVE being part of this hometown event, playing in an actual bandshell, blocks from my house, with nine restaurants offering chicken wings and other things to eat and generations of Blue People dancin' in the park. The weather is predicted to be ideal, $7 advance tickets still available at the participating restaurants, (still a bargain for the $10 ticket at the door) Doors open at 5pm, we play three sets between 5-8pm TONIGHT (Thurs) in Overman Park, 3rd and Franklin St. right here in Sparkle City USA! More info: http://www.cedarfalls.org/calendar_events.php?m=9&y=2011&id=570 And when it's all over we can all root for the Packers on TV! Yes, #4 has finally retired (we think) so I have stopped my boycott of the team I supported for 50 years. It feels great to be back with The Pack. What's not to like, right Avis? Speaking of Avis and The Green Bay Packers, I wonder if Avis' husband, the most avid Packer fan know, Bob Guthart, will bring the GREEN guitar and play a few songs with us (OK, I'm not strong on subtle hints)...
And then, The Blue Band is taking a well deserved weekend off. This allows me to do Saturday night's Backtracks radio show LIVE!! (well, yes, as a matter of fact, I AM workaholic) These shows always evolve into requestfests, so if you have a particular tune you'd like me to find, just respond to this email or call during the show (7-10p) 1-800-772-2440, ext. 5, that toll free number is good anywhere in the lower 48. I answer all the calls myself, so if you get through, let it ring and I'll pick up when I can. Remember, the show deals exclusively in songs that are at least 25 years old. More info: http://iowapublicradio.org/studio-one/backtracks/ Sunday night's Blue Avenue show (5-6:30p) is all new too and includes exclusive IPR recordings of Rev. Raven & The Chain Smokin' Alter Boys, recorded by Phil Maass at the 2010 Bluesmore Celebration in Cedar Rapids! more info on that: http://iowapublicradio.org/studio-one/blue-avenue/ BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!! Jeff and I have been included in Iowa Public Television's Iowa Remembers 9/11 special. IPTV taped us, in my garage, doing a duo version of the spiritual hymn Wayfairing Stranger (if you've wondered what that radio production facility, where I make the radio shows looks like, that's it in the background of Wayfairing Stranger!) That IPTV special airs Sunday night at 7pm and is scheduled for rebroadcast at 10:30pm. Get more info at www.iptv.org
Next weekend, (9/16-17) we're traveling further from home than we normally do these days. We've been invited to the new casino in Larchwood Iowa (where?) Yes, Larchwood IA, just 6 miles outside of Sioux Falls, SOUTH DAKOTA! The Grand Falls Resort and Casino is owned/operated by the Kehl family. I started working with the Kehls in the early 80s when they owned the original riverboat that hosted the early Blues Cruises on the Mississippi River. The deck hand on that boat is now the CEO of the new casino and it is by his invitation that we got this gig! Be nice to your deck hands, you never know when the karma will pay you back! ROAD TRIP! Party in your room at the hotel: http://www.grandfallscasinoresort.com/default.aspx
I mentioned the band's well deserved weekend off. After tonight's Wing Ding, we will have done 36 gigs in the last 98 days and traveled many thousands of miles, much of it in intense heat, most of the time we were also our own sound company, sometimes providing sound for other acts on the bill. Jeff, Steve, and Dennis didn't miss a gig. Mark, Eddie, and Al missed very few. Every one of the guys did whatever they could to make each show a success. Considering "band guy years" are similar to "dog years" these veteran players really demonstrated their true professionalism in every sense. Life is incredibly good when you're surrounded by great people. Thank you Blue People all over the midwest for what seemed like a roving reunion party for this 30th anniversary summer. It's too late to stop now!...
See ya on the Blue Highway (all 12 blocks from my house to the Wing Ding Thing), rub yer washboard tie to the tune of Sweet Summer, I Hate To See You Go, we've got all the food you need at tonight's Wing Ding, except we're counting on you to bring the CAKE! Always know that we love you. Bob Dorr & The Blue Band
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