Wednesday, November 25, 2009

November 24, 2009
The BK Lounge


I sat down to write about tonights show, thinking about the outstanding banjo work of guest Mark Hayden, then we heard the beautiful voice of Amanda Brock who just happened to be in the BK Lounge to get a hamburger and hesitantly agreed to perform for us. Then Art Covey, our third guest put on a great performance as usual. Then, I went to MO-KAN OPRY. com and read what Roger and Jean had written about our show. Wondering how I could ever top that, I gave up and decided to reprint their article again.

We were late getting away from home tonight, but managed to catch "Marvelous" Marvin Bredemeier and the rest of the band including lead guitarist Gordon Riley, drummer John Malone and Mark Hayden sitting in tonight with his banjo as he sang and played and sang the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans classic "Happy Anniversary" and "Rubber Dolly." Marvin of course, plays fiddle every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie, KS and returned later in the evening with "The Waltz You Save For Me" and a seasonal wake-up call - "Jingle Bells." David Purcell with help from Art Covey did a great job with "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me" - a song that Willie Nelson & Ray Price recorded a great duet of. David followed with a Garry Bichelmeyer song, "Northern Star" and later it was an original song David and his grandchildren collaborated on, "Come On Santa To My House" and Willy's "On The Road Again." Garry's wife, Mary Bichelmeyer sang some great old standards tonight: Patsy's "Crazy Arms." "Dark Moon" (recorded by many, including Gale Storm. How many of you remember "My Little Margie" on TV?) and a little later "Crazy Dream." Garry dug up a golden oldie himself as he sang "Red River Valley" and then it was Charlie Pride's "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone," John Denver's "Back Home Again" and a great old bluegrass tune "The Old Home Place."

After a short intermission, emcee Larry Dean sang Brooks & Dunn's "Boot Scootin' Boogie" for the linedancers, then it was Chuck Berry's "Nadine" followed by Gene Watson's "Farewell Party." Gordon Riley did a marvelous job singing as well as picking Buck Owens' "Love's Gonna Live Here Again" and he and this super band did an awesome job with Chet Atkins' "Meet Mr. Callahan." A special treat tonight was Amanda Brock who used to sing at Glen's Opry several years ago and had just stopped off for a hamburger. She was quickly pressed into service and did a beautiful job singing Anne Murray's "Snow Bird" and a duet with Garry of Keith Whitley & Lorrie Morgan's "Till Each Tear You Cry Becomes A Rose." Our friend Art Covey did a swell job himself tonight, playing mandolin and singing Pat Boone's "Love Letters In The Sand," Ferlin Husky's "Deep Water" and closed this evening with "Mountain Railway."

Thanks again to Roger Hawkins @ Mo-Kan Opry. com

Friday, November 20, 2009

November 19, 2009
Grinter Barn Jamboree


A large crowd came to the Grinter Barn last night hoping to enjoy good some good Country and Rock & Roll music. The Stranger Creek Band more than fulfilled their wishes.

After everyone enjoyed the Nachos prepared by the volunteer ladies at "Friends of Grinter House" the show began. With a larger than normal dance area set up in the center of the hall many dancers kept the floor full all evening. About the only thing missing was Sharon, one of our most dedicated dancers. Apparently Sharon suffered a fall in her home recently and is still Hospitalized with a back injury. That is all the information we have but our thoughts and prayers go to Sharon and we look forward to her quick return to our dance floor.

The Stranger Creek Band will be back at the Grinter Barn on Thursday, December 17 for the only show scheduled there in the month of December. We look forward to seeing all of you there and of course, the Band will be at the BK Lounge every Tuesday.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

November 17, 2009
It was a cold, rainy evening as we rolled into the parking lot at the BK and actually found a parking spot near the rear entrance! The crowd might have been a tad smaller than usual, but there were still quite a number of listeners and dancers alike that gathered in the dining areas of this Johnson County fast food restaurant to enjoy an evening of classic country music compliments of the Stranger Creek Band and friends. Emcee Larry Dean welcomed everyone with a Merle Haggard tune, "Working Man Blues" and Josh Turner's "Just To Be Your Man." Larry was to return later with a Garry Bichelmeyer written song, "I Must Have Been Out Of My Mind" and for those who are into rock and roll, it was "Old Time Rock & Roll" and "Shake Rattle & Roll."

David Purcell's hand is healing nicely and he was up to par tonight as he treated the audience with "You're A Once In A Lifetime Thing," Willie Nelson's "Remember Me," "On The Road Again" and George Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today." Great job! Lead guitarist Gordon Riley and the band, Including drummer John Malone played some great instrumentals tonight including "Bells Of St. Mary," "Honky Tonk," "Wheels" and "Harbor Lights." 'Marvelous" Marvin Bredemeier who plays awesome fiddle every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee got a big audience response as he playled "Tennessee Rattler," "Ashokan Farewell," "Ragtime Annie" (he spoils us!) and did a terrific job with the vocals as well on "Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette." Mary Bichelmeyer turned back the clock as she sang Kitty Wells' "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" and "Walking After Midnight." She returned later with "Don't Come Crying To Me" and "Blue Kentucky Girl." Husband Garry was up next with Charlie Pride's "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone," "People Are Crazy," Nodaway River (which he also wrote) and joined by Mary, a terrific duet of "Black Coffee."

We always enjoy hearing Art Covey sing and play his mandolin and tonight it was "Falling Leaves," Kentucky Waltz" and a Jimmy Rodgers classic "Hobo's Meditation." Andrea Harrington Summers, who with her husband have the Last Call Band which plays various venues in the area and lives in Bonner Springs, stepped front and center to sing "Crazy Arms" and "Help Me Make It Through The Night" for the appreciative audience. We would love to hear this lady sing a lot more and the audience seemed to agree. Art Covey closed the evening with "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."

Many, Many Thanks once again to Roger Hawkins At MoKan Opry.Com for providing the above blog to our website.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

November 17, 2009
Finally some information on the Concordia Kansas Bus trip!

At 12:00 Noon on October 23 our big Kincaid tour bus departed the parking lot at Burger King in Lenexa. We were finally on the way to Brown Grand Theater in Concordia KS. The cargo compartment in the lower part of the bus was stuffed with musical instruments and sound equipment. Up above fans and band members filled every seat in the bus.

When we got on the highway headed west, Rosie Inman got the entertainment started. For the next 3 hours or so we played games, answered trivia questions. Various members of the band stood and talked about the band and their own experiences in the music business around Kansas City. It was such an entertaining and fun time that before we knew it, we had arrived in Concordia.

Jim (I have forgotten his last name but he was a very capable and good driver) drove us directly to the Brown Grand Theater. People were waiting to help unload all the equipment and move it inside. The band members and the soundman stayed at the theater to set up equipment and run sound checks while the rest of us moved down the street to "Heavy's BBQ" for a delicious dinner. Rosie made arrangements to have dinner taken back to those that had stayed at the theater.

The show began at 7:00 PM and the band along with our guests; Kurt Shoemaker on steel guitar, vocalists Dave Purcell and Larry Smith were all in top form. No one missed a beat all night and the show was outstanding. Elton Flod who had been instrumental in arranging for the show is a very good Elvis Presley sound alike. He entertained us with some Elvis music. Before the show ended, he announced that discussions had been started to make a return engagement in the spring of 2010, probably in April. Watch this web site and information will be posted as soon as plans are completed.

After the show everyone was tired and happy to be on the way home. The bus grew quieter and quieter as we traveled. Finally, I think Jim was the only one awake. We arrived about 3:00AM and most of us had to scrape a heavy frost from the windshields before we could drive home. We are looking forward to doing it again next spring.

Watch this site and we hope to have pictures posted soon through the courtesy of Beth Dawson at Dawson Photos. If you wish to purchase any pictures of the theater or band, go to DawsonPhotos.com - click on "my photos" - click on "Stranger Creek Band". There are more than 60 pictures and prices for each size. Many thanks to Beth!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Tuesday, 10 November 2009

TONITE AT THE BK IT'S GOOD MUSIC GOOD DANCIN & A COUPLE OF SURPRISES
As usual, the BK was close to overflowing tonight as, sound check and set ups completed, the band struck up the familiare chords of "Gordon's Boogie." Emcee Larry Dean welcomed the big crowd to the regular Tuesday night get-together and began the evening singing a couple of western swing numbers, "Rose Of San Antone" and "Corine, Corina." Larry returned a little later with Alan Jackson's "Designated Drinker" and Merle Haggard's "Let's Rebuild America First." Lead guitar Gordon Riley and the rest of the band, including drummer John Malone played the Chet Adkins number "Meet Mr. Callahan." Getting a big hand for his vocal and picking on "Nine Pound Hammer," he returned later to play the beautiful "Sleepwalk." "Mighty" Marvin Bredemeier, who plays fiddle every Saturday night at Annie's Country Jubilee, got the feet tappin' and the fingers snappin' as he played "Fire On The Mountain, "Missouri Waltz" (Harry Truman's Favorite) and returned later with our request - "Ragtime Annie." Mary Bichelmeyer, the group's bass player showed her vocal skills, doing a bang-up job with "Crazy Dreams," "Don't Tell Me What To Do" and the Judds' "Grandpa."
It's always great to see and hear Garry Bichlemeyer perform and tonight he sang the popular Billy Currington number, "People Are Crazy" followed by a duet of the Soggy Bottom Boys' "In The Jailhouse Now" with Larry Dean. Garry returned a little later with one of his clever, self-penned numbers "I'm So Lonesome In The Saddle Since My Horse Died" or as it is commonly called "The Dead Horse Song." David Purcell's hand seems to be healing nicely after the surgery and tonight he sounded marvelous as he sang Merle's "It's Not Love, But It's Not Bad" and Willie Nelson's "Remember Me" and "Help Me Make It Through The Night." After Scott Gilmore sang "Boot Scootin Boogie," Art Covey got a big hand as he played his mandolin and sang "Mountain Railway" and "Rebel Soldier."
Bill White, whom we recently saw perform and visited with at the Barn Door Opry in Ravenwood, MO, kindly dropped in tonight and sang a few numbers with the group. Beginning with "Big Blue Diamonds" and "Long Gone Lonesome Blues," it was "Slewfoot" and a little later "Please Release Me" and "Jambalaya." Dancers and listeners alike gave Bill a huge hand and we hope he can return soon. Art Covey closed the evening out with "Royal Telephone."

The above obtained through the courtesy and generosity of Roger Hawkins @ Mokan opry.com Thanks, Roger