photo
by © Rick Weldon
April 30th--Robert Cray
Concert w/special guests, Oreo Blue--George's Majestic
Lounge--Fayetteville, Arkansas-- Robert Cray is a household
name. Many know him from his hits such as Right Next Door
(Because of Me), Still Hot Smokin' Gun, and I guess I Showed
Her. However, if you haven't seen the Robert Cray Band live,
then you have only gotten a fraction of the power, intensity, pure soul,
and musical magic the man and his band can deliver. As tight a
band as you'll ever hear, all parts were perfect. My impression
was that every micro-moment of the show was notable. If there had
to be a moment that pushed the sold-out crowd over the top of their
already dizzying whelm, then it would have been when the hail storm
rolled in with its lightning in tow and a misty whirl of rain. The
new light show at George's Garden made the rain glisten like a billion
jewels falling on the crowd. They stood in religious mass as the
storm seemed to become part of Robert's act...lifting his intensity to
unreachable heights. It was a perfect storm for a perfect show.
Oreo Blue always feels honored to open for acts such as this and it was
also an honor for Robert Cray to acknowledge us as his set began.
His crew was top notch and extremely gracious. This is one show
that epitomizes the quality that has come with Brian's renovation of
George's Majestic. Look for much more to come...
photo
by © Rick Weldon
April 23-24th--Vietnam
Veterans Biker Rally--Madill, Oklahoma-- (report coming soon)
photo
by © Rick Weldon
April 19th--Ft. Smith
Chamber BAO--Rheem Classic-- Hardscrabble -- Ft. Smith, Arkansas--Thanks,
again, to the FS Chamber for having us back to Hardscrabble for their
after hours social to kick off the Nationwide Tour-Rheem Classic.
The rain dampened the golf tournament, but the dry souls inside chowed
down on some tasty fixins from Golden Corral and danced the night away
to Oreo Blue. Our great buddy, Chuck Fawcett, once again showed
the revelers how to party.
photo
by © Rick Weldon
April 16th--Eskimo
Joe's--Stillwater, Oklahoma--This storied landmark has its trademark
plastered on t-shirts that can be seen traversing every nook on the
planet. Nestled just down the block from Oklahoma State University
in Stillwater, the "Jumpin' Little Juke Joint" was certainly
jumpin to the transient crowds of tourists during the lunch and dinner
hours. The food was excellent and the town was aflush with sweet grandeur.
The music scene at EJ's was a bit tart, though as the dinner crowds
rushed off soon after dark. Thanks to a small group of Vietnamese
students, the band rocked the foyer and blew off the front doors with
our brethren from the Far East oohing and ahhing to every twist and
turn.
photo
by © Rick Weldon
April 15th--Classic Rock
Cafe--Oklahoma City, Oklahoma--Classic Rock conjures up a notion of
loud, pile-driving music in big auditoriums. The Classic Rock Cafe
has taken a pile-driving PA system and crammed it into a smallish
venue. In other words, the sound stage rocks at the CRC. The
food is excellent, too. Great burgers and fries. We had a
local band, Red Bud Revival, open the show for us and they are quite
salty. Keep an ear open for them coming out of OKC.
photo
by © Rick Weldon
April 2-3rd--University of
Arkansas-Fort Smith Spring Jazz Band Concert--Fort Smith, Arkansas--At
51, Gary is what you might call a "non-traditional student" at
UAFS enrolled in the Jazz Lab course under the direction of Don
Bailey. Gary has been doing this for the last few semesters in
order to improve his knowledge and chops (if that is at all
possible). Brian is a former member of the UAFS Jazz Band.
For this year's spring concert, Don invited Oreo Blue to come perform as
special guests. He charted out a big band arrangement for two of
our original songs: Love My Baby and Granted. In
addition, we would perform two others on our own. I must say,
being an alum of the UA-Fayetteville Jazz Band myself, I was a bit
nervous going into this arrangement. You see, the UAFS Jazz Band
(formerly WestArk) had always had a reputation for being so much better
than the Fayetteville campus band. And so much more hip having
previously invited Louis Bellson, Dizzy Gillespie, Ed Shaugnessey, and
other Jazz greats to perform with them. With so much history and
so much hype, Don Bailey and the band made us feel like we were up there
with the stars. We were supplied with our own private dressing
room complete with blue Oreo's, snacks-a-plenty, and our names in stars
posted on our dressing room door.. The UAFS band lived up to its
hype with screaming renditions of Malaguena, Stars and Stripes, and
others. In the second half of the concert, we took the stage with
the band to perform and it felt like old-home week for Brian, like a
proud moment for Gary, and for me...it was like going back in time and
getting to play in that school band that everyone talked about. We
certainly appreciate Don and the UAFS Band for letting us be a part of
your spring concert. And for making us feel like stars...
March 26th--The Flying
Saucer--Memphis, Tennessee--Memphis can be a really hip town.
When I get off the bridge and head down Riverside on my way to Beale, I
get that same feeling every time. The soul and history of this
town speaks to you. I realize it is probably myth-based, but it is
enough to make you feel like you are in the epicenter of
something. W.C. Handy, Elvis, Sun Studios, Bobby Bland, Johnny
Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, BB King, the MGs, the Memphis
Horns, Stax, MLK Jr., Albert King, Howlin Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and so
much more. The Flying Saucer is not really at the heart of all
this history, but it is just caddy-corner to it all. The wait
staff at the FS are top-bill. The band performed strong and wowed
the many onlookers both in the club and passers-by of the open air
windows. A few comments of "best band we have ever seen
here" were tossed about. I think the venue was a bit
peculiar, but the Memphians and tourists know the deal...
March 20th--Neosho
Powersports Grand Re-Opening--Neosho, Missouri--If you need any sort
of power sports equipment: motorcycles, seados, parts,
accessories, customization, then you need to go see these folks.
They are cool and treat their customers great. It's not often that
we get to perform inside a motorcycle shop, but it always proves to be a
great time.
March 18th--FREE BEER at
Georges Majestic Lounge-- Fayetteville, Arkansas--At least once a
year, Brian has a delight in calling up his old boss, Jed Clampit, and
having a party-like jam along with Jed's brother Bil [sic], and band mate
Gary Hutchison. I was fortunate to be called along to play drums
for this all-star lineup and boy was it fun. Jed has a way of
lighting up the room with his self-proclaimed "Arkansas State
Musician" status and back-porch, home-grown, feel-good music.
2004 has been a great year thus far for performing with others. If
it is any indication, the year will plow on with more great performances
to come...If I were ya'll, I would follow the OB members around, because
each show will be tremendous...
March 13th--The ByPass--Joplin,
Missouri--Spring is not without its rains. It was a dreary day
in Joplin. But after last nights' triumphant return, our spirits
could not dare be dampened. Joplin, as Gary reports, has always
been a great town for live music. Oreo Blue has been performing in
Joplin for over 10 years and has consistently packed the house.
Not that we expected anything different, but after how hard we worked
last night, we felt as if we deserved a good crowd to help lift us over
the aches and pains. Joplin didn't disappoint. The crowd was
great even if it hesitated at first. Brian flip-flopped some
guaranteed crowd-pleasers and we proceeded to drive the revelers not
only out of their seats, but right through the roof! Some of them
have yet to come down. The band was tight again tonight and Brian
had the PA slammin' out front. I have often said that within Oreo
Blue, we are our own biggest fans. We each appreciate each other
more than any fan could ever appreciate us from afar. That is what
truly makes this band so great and has certainly contributed to almost
14 years of longevity.
Tonight we had many friends
and family in the crowd as well as some familiar faces that we enjoy
seeing on occasion. Included was Debra Bingham who has admired the
band for years. She is a budding guitarist and singer. Gary
invited her to hop up on stage to perform one of her original
songs. She was overtly nervous. I don't blame her. I
would be intimidated, too, stepping on stage with this band. She
did well, though. And we appreciate her spirit and support.
March 12th--The Kitchen
Pass--Parsons, Kansas--Spring is nigh and there are signals in the
air that all begins anew with this season. As you have noticed,
the band has been on hiatus for nearly a month. There was heightened
tension among us that we might not have the stamina to perform to our
standard of high-energy, high-intensity music. As you have read in
the past, our club sets can last up to 5 hours with only one short 15
minute break in the middle. It's a workout. I have often
said that I would weigh 300 lbs if I didn't play drums with Oreo
Blue... So, the pressure was on.
What transpired, though, was
quite the opposite of what might have been expected. The band was
cooking as hot as ever to the packed house of Kansas revelers. Not
that we didn't feel the pain afterward. Musically, however, the
layoff was a benefit. I think it heightened our senses to what we
had been missing over the last month. Yes, we each have some side
projects that allow us to perform on our instruments in the meantime,
but it's not like performing as Oreo Blue. Also, as you have read
before in this newsletter, the whole of Oreo Blue is greater than the
sum of its parts. It's a chemistry, if you will, that feeds on its
own ingredients to produce what cannot be generated if an ingredient is
substituted. Each knowing what the other requires to produce the
desired reaction from the crowd or from within. It's truly
awesome. Every soul in the house was denied anything but a
positive reaction. Including us musicians. So as if we begin
a new in this Spring season with something fresh built out of something
overworked. When the work is taken for granted and then realized
how sorely it is missed. Spring shows us all that what once was
old can be new again.
