TUESDAY MAY 25, 2010
BK LOUNGE

The crowd that gathered at the BK LOUNGE on this hot Tuesday evening were in for more than one treat. In addition to an evening filled with outstanding music; during the intermission pieces of a wonderful Birthday cake were passed out to those present. At the same time, from the other side of the room, pieces of a beautiful
50th Wedding anniversary cake were being passed out. We certainly want to extend our congratulations to Laurence and Barb Keltner on their 50 years of marriage. I am sorry but I never did learn who the birthday person was but hope they had a very Happy Birthday!

Our thanks to Roger & Jean of MO-KAN OPRY.com for their song by song description of the program that follows

It was a scorcher out there today and it really felt good as we stepped through the door to the air conditioned comfort of the BK and heard the familiar strains of "Gordon's Boogie #1," a sure sign the festivities were about to start. We just found our seats and settled in a bit when Marvin Bredemeier on fiddle, Gordon Riley on lead, John Malone on drums and the rest of the band took off on the Bob Wills' classic "San Antonio Rose" with Larry Dean doing a great job on the vocals. Larry also did a great job next with a Travis Tritt number, "Living On Borrowed Time," "Bonaparte's Retreat" and somewhat later returned with Waylon Jennings' "I May Be Used" and the "Farmer Blues." Gordon and the band played some great instrumentals as well here tonight with "Panhandle Rag," "Steel Guitar Rag" and a crowd favorite, "Back Home Again In Indiana."

Our friend Marvin, who of course is the regular fiddle player at Annie's Country Jubilee every Saturday night, gave the folks a real treat tonight as he played the old fiddle tune "Soldier's Joy" and "Ragtime Annie" (Marvin wants it noted that he played this for Annie Little who will be on vacation for the next 3 weeks). Mary Bichelmeyer, the group's bass player, did an outstanding job tonight singing Skeeter Davis' "The End Of The World," Patsy Cline's "Crazy Dreams," "Sweet Dreams" and Terri Gibbs' "Somebody's Knocking." Husband Garry Bichelmeyer, who is not only a great performer but a super songwriter as well got a big hand as he sang Hank Sr.'s "You Win Again," Ray Price's "Are You Sure (This Is Where You Want To Be)," another Hank Williams number for a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary "Wedding Bells" and a 50's tune made famous by Ben E. King, "Stand By Me." It's always a pleasure to see and hear our pal Dave Purcell perform -- he sings a great song! Dave chose George Strait's "The Cowboy Rides Away" to begin with and followed it with Dwight Yoakam's "Streets Of Bakersfield." Dave returned later with a couple of Willie songs: "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and "Remember Me," the latter which he sent out to us. Thanks for the thought, Dave! What a pleasure it was to see Art Covey drop in with his mandolin and great singing voice! Art sang our favorite Darrell McCall song, "There's Still A Lot Of Love In San Antone" and "Missing You," a number he wrote while sitting in his front yard one evening and thinking of his grandson who was serving his second tour in Iraq and how his wife must be feeling. What a great motivation for a song!

Jerome Oberle brought his accordian along tonight and got the feet shufflin, the hands clappin and the dancers boogying as he joined the band to play "In The Good Old Summertime," "Beer Barrell Polka" and the "Pennslyvania Polka." Fun stuff!! Annie Little, although she'll be gone for the next three weeks, left us a little something to remember her by, singing a Garry Bichelmeyer tune, "I Must Have Been Out Of My Mind" and "Just In Case You Change Your Mind." Safe trip, Annie! Art Covey closed the evening's festivities with "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."

(Below) top - Jerome Oberle & Marvin Bredemeier and the band play "The Beer Barrell Polka" bottom - Dave Purcell sings "Remember Me"





Thanks to Roger & Jean Hawkins of MO_KAN OPRY.com for their permission to reprint the above from their column.
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MAY 20, 2010
GRINTER BARN JAMBOREE

It was rainy and cold as we started to set-up the equipment for the jamboree and we thought it would be a small crowd tonight. But as time for the delicious Lasagna prepared by the ladies of "Friends of Grinter" to be served drew near the crowd began to grow. By the time everyone had eaten and the band was on stage, we had a large group of brave souls present.

The band was in fine form as usual and the dance floor was full. We certainly have a nice group of good dancers come out for all of our shows. I am not able to name all of the songs performed by these talented musicians but they always come up with a nice mix of good music. The fans also know requests are welcome usually someone in the band knows almost any song asked for.

We will be back at the Grinter Barn next on June 17. We hope you all join us next Tuesday at the BK Lounge and on June 13 at the American Legion located at 7500 West 75 Street in Overland Park. We will be there at 2:00PM.

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May 18, 2010
BK LOUNGE

It is truly amazing to me the great fans the Stranger Creek Band draws to the BK Lounge every Tuesday. It seems the weather or nothing else matters, we always enjoy a capacity or near capacity crowd. A large majority of them are there each and every week eagerly waiting for Gordon to make that first strike on the guitar string to get things going. I don't know if anyone notices but the larger and more enthusiastic the fans, the harder the band works to please.

I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Jean and Roger Hawkins of MO-KAN OPRY.com for their generosity in allowing me to use their material in this blog. Their accuracy in listing not only the titles of songs performed but to also list the original artist that recorded it is amazing to say the least! I am the first to admit it is way beyond my capability to do that.

With a clear, sunny day instead of the rainy, overcast conditions we've been experiencing, a bigger than normal crowd decended on the BK this evening and the place was pretty well packed by the time Larry Dean and the band struck up the first chords of Merle Haggard's "Big City." Next up was George Strait's "Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" and somewhat later Larry returned to sing "Ramblin Fever" and Lefty Frizzell's "Always Late With Your Kisses."

One of the finest lead guitar players we know, Gordon Riley along with the rest of the band including drummer John Malone played the ever-popular "Under The Double Eagle," picked and sang the Hank Thompson classic "Six-Pack To Go" and Elvis' "Big Boss Man." Later was the self-penned "Gordon's Boogie #1 and "Harbor Lights." "Marvelous" Marvin Bredemeier, who plays fiddle every Saturday evening at Annie's Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie was kind enough to play our favorite fiddle tune, "Ragtime Annie" for us this evening as well as the beautiful "Maiden's Prayer, Bob Wills' "Milk Cow Blues" and "Red Wing." Great stuff!! Mary Bichelmeyer sounded super this evening as she kept up the beat on that bass guitar and sang Highway 101's "Walkin Talkin Cryin Barely Beatin Broken Heart," "You Belong To Me," Kathy Mattea's "Walk The Way The Wind Blows" and "Oh Lonesome Me." Husband Garry Bichelmeyer, on the other hand decided to test everyone's memory with an oldie but goodie - "The Ballad Of Jed Clampett" (Beverly Hillbillies, etc.), Johnny Russell's "Catfish John" and later teamed with Larry Dean for the Soggy Bottom Boys' rendition of "In The Jailhouse Now" and then it was Garry with "Stand By Me" and one of his many self-penned numbers, "Marie."

David Purcell is always a crowd favorite and tonight he didn't disappoint as he sang George Strait's "The Cowboy Rides Away," Merle's "It's Not Love But It's Not Bad," Willie's "Help Me Make It Through The Night," George Jones' "Walk Through This World With Me" and Alan Jackson's "Here In The Real World." Larry Dean closed the evening with a couple of R & B tunes, Gene Vincent's "Bebop A Lula" and "Old Time Rock & Roll." (Below) top - Our friend Marvin Bredemeier plays our favorite fiddle tune "Ragtime Annie" bottom - Look who we spotted on the dance floor tonight - Garry & Mary Bichelmeyer dance while the others play!





Thanks again Jean & Roger!!

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TUESDAY MAY 11, 2010
BK LOUNGE

A boisterous, near capacity crowd descended on the BK Lounge again last night and we had a lot of new faces join us. It seems like every Tuesday we see new people and most of them enjoy the music enough to come back again and again.

May 12 is Garry Bichelmeyer's birthday and to celebrate the occasion there was ample cake for everyone during the intermission. Garry was so embarrassed by the attention that he threatened to go out and sit in his car; I won't announce here how old he is. Everyone joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to him and then we sang "Happy Birthday" to little Kylie Gilmore whose birthday had been on May 10.

Roger and Jean Hawkins were not with us last night and I have not yet figured out how to keep track of all the songs the band performs while working the sound machine. So, without their help, I will just have to tell you we heard an outstanding mix of good music all evening long.

We hope everyone joins us at the BK Lounge next Tuesday, May 17 and again on Thursday, May 20 at the Grinter Barn where the "Friends of Grinter" ladies will be serving a Lasagna Dinner before the show.

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SATURDAY MAY 8, 2010
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES
MERRIAM KS

The Eagles Club of Merriam Kansas put on a great dance program tonight. The building was nearly filled to capacity and the dance floor was full all night. Many Stranger Creek Band regular fans came out to dance along with a really good turnout from Eagles club members and friends.

All of the band members were in fine form as the music poured out. There was a good mix of classic and new country with some rock and roll dispersed throughout the evening. As usual, Dave Purcell gave an outstanding performance imitating Willie Nelson on several songs as well as performing a number of other songs during the evening. Dave is always well received and tonight was no exception.

As the show progressed there were many door prizes given away with all proceeds going to Diabetes research. With tonights proceeds the local club made its goal
for donations to the research program!

The Stranger Creek Band enjoyed the great turnout and we are looking forward to a return performance again soon!

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TUESDAY MAY 4, 2010
BK LOUNGE
It was a marvelous evening to be out and about tonight and a big crowd took advantage of the weather and decended on the BK for an evening of great classical country & vintage music, dancing, dining and visiting. Larry Dean has been accused of being a "walking juke box" and it was easy to see why as he opened the evening with Merle Haggard's "Working Man Blues," then it was a big band era tune, "It Had To Be You," followed somewhat later by "Old Time Rock & Roll," a tune made famous by The Platters, "Only You" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." This great band featuring Gordon Riley on lead guitar and John Malone on drums got the dancers wound up with "Panhandle Rag" and featured Gordon on "9 Lb. Hammer," "Windy & Warm," "Sugarfoot Rag" and "The Theme From Bonnie & Clyde." "Mighty" Marvin Bredemeier who plays fiddle at Annie's Country Jubilee every Saturday night got the toes tappin' with the "Beaumont Rag," "a beautiful but unnamed waltz" and a medley of "Soldier's Joy/Ragtime Annie."

Mary Bichelmeyer whose folks were visiting here tonight from Kentucky, did a supurb job singing Jeannie Pruett's "Satin Sheets," Loretta's "There He Goes," "I Don't Hurt Anymore" and "It Keeps Right On A'Hurtin." Husband Garry Bichelmeyer, who also writes such great songs, showed what a great performer he is as well singing George Jones' "Choices," "Kansas City" and John Anderson's "Swingin'." David Purcell is always such a treat to listen to and tonight he got a big hand as he sang "Once In A Lifetime Thing," a Garry Bichelmeyer tune, "Northern Star," Willie's "Help Me Make It Through The Night," Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan's "Tennessee Birdwalk" and "Today I Started Loving You Again." Scott Gilmore was also in the house tonight and sang "Boot Scootin Boogie," much to the delight of the line dancers. Larry Dean closed tonight's program with "Long Black Train."

We also want to take this opportunity to welcome Judy Engle, one of the regulars here at the BK every Tuesday, as one of our newest sponsors. Judy is a Realtor with Re/Max Heartland operating from the Lee's Summit, MO area. To contact Judy call 816-589-8933 or visit www.JudyEngle.com or check out her sponsorship banner on the Big Creek Country Show page accessable from our home page.

(Below) Mary Bichelmeyer sings "I Don't Hurt Anymore" with lots of encouragement from husband Garry



Once again we have reprinted the article from MO-KAN OPRY.com. Thanks Roger & Jean
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