APRIL 6, 2010
BK LOUNGE

In spite of threatening weather, an enthusiastic crowd filled the BK Lounge to near capacity again last night.

A recent issue of "THE BEST OF TIMES", a Johnson County paper for the older persons in the area, spotlighting our band and weekly shows at BK LOUNGE has helped to bring in many new faces the last few weeks. These new people were not aware of our appearances at the BK LOUNGE before and every one that I have talked to enjoyed the show immensely and promised to keep coming back.

Tonight was our first venture out of the house for the purposes of hearing some real, live, first-class, old-time classic Country Music! There's just something about seeing a live band perform that transcends performances on radio, recordings or even live TV. And this band, known as Stranger Creek, performs this style or brand of music as well as any we've heard. Thanks to John & Mary Pettersch who gave up their prime parking space for our comfort and others who helped us get around a bit, everything went off without a snag. A big thanks to all of you for your understanding. The hip is coming along nicely, we get a little stronger each day, it seems and we're doing all the exercises we've been instructed to, so it appears to be just a matter of time before we're back to full operating condition.

Larry Dean opened the festivities tonight with an old Hank Locklin tune, "Bonaparte's Retreat" and "I Wish I Could Be 30 Again" before lead guitarist Gordon Riley led the band with John Malone on drums on "Bells Of St. Mary." Gordon gave the folks a taste of his vocal talents as he sang Hank Thompson's "Six Pack To Go." "Marvelous" Marvin Bredemeier, who will be playing fiddle at Annie's Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie, this Saturday night as he does every weekend, stepped front and center to treat the big crowd to "Black Mountain Rag" and "Milk Cow Blues." The soft, mellow vocals of Mary Bichelmeyer were next, with "Crazy Arms," and "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You." Husband Garry Bichelmeyer, who is a clever songwriter as well as a top-notch performer did a bang-up job with Waylon's "Storms Never Last" and Willie Nelson's "Are You Sure." Guest vocalist Annie Little sang the Garry Bichelmeyer-written "I Must Have Been Out Of My Mind" and "I'd Choose You Again" before Larry Dean returned with Waylon's "I May Be Used (But I Ain't Used Up)," and "Old Time Rock n Roll." We decided to call it a evening, but as we were leaving, Marvin stopped us in our tracks with our favorite fiddle tune "Ragtime Annie." Thanks, Marv! And thanks to all of you who made this such a wonderful evening! (Below) Annie Little sings "I Must Have Been Out Of My Mind" with the band



IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE TO SEE OUR GOOD FRIENDS, ROGER & JEAN HAWKINS BACK THIS EVENING AFTER ROGER'S RECENT HIP SURGERY. ONCE AGAIN, WITH THEIR PERMISSION, I HAVE REPRINTED HIS ENTIRE ARTICLE FROM MO-KAN OPRY.COM, THANKS TO THEM FOR ALLOWING ME TO USE THEIR WONDERFUL ARTICLES IN OUR BLOG!
************************************************************************************