Bluewine

2009 was the year I joined Maple Road. I've been gigging almost weekly ever since. Daryl

Another beautiful crowd shot with proper lighting. Daryl

We have a saying too, " We're going to bring it way down so we can bring it way up." Daryl

That's about 90% of what our show is about. We had a dep drummer Saturday night, a real nice guy and I told him; " keep your eyes open and watch for the ques and what we're doing." He had a great night. Daryl

So what I'm hearing is, it's not going to be like the re-runs of Top Of The Pops and The Beat Club. I'm not going to see guys in dark tailored double breasted edwardian suits and attractive ladies in colorful mini skits going to The Marquee Club ? I guess I missed all that by about 50 years. Daryl

I've played those S holes too. And at 71 I love the fact that we mostly play the nicer venues. I'm talking about the upscale Winery's Brewery's and clubs. The larger festivals and fairs. It's cool when you arrive at a gig and someone from management introduces themselves, answers any questions. They understand bands and what we need for a successful evening. As opposed to arriving at a venue and the staff ignores you. And on the other side of the coin I don't like it when a band shows up acting like Prima Donna's thinking the world revolves around them. Daryl

Time moves fast Pete. To me it seems like that British Invasion period happened yesterday. I keep thinking if I ever get to visit London it will still be like the "swinging 60s" you see on those old black & white news reels. Daryl

Being on stage playing in a band is the only time when I feel completely in charge and know exactly what I'm doing. That's excluding " the invisible bear " incident. Daryl

Same for me. My bandmates are fantastic. I'm spoiled . I feel sorry for guys that are stuck playing with " goof balls " Daryl

Seems like 99% of the British Invasion bands 1960- 1965 have origins in the blues even The Moody Blues. I'd say the blues scene in my neck of the woods is a viable, respectable size niche. I think it's because I'm a little over an hour north of Chicago. However, the blues bands don't get the cool high profile big money gigs like the top tier represented cover bands. We're able to slip under the radar because of our Americana stuff. And I think having a female lead guitarist and lead vocalist fronting the band helps too. Daryl

Sounds like our gig at last week. Except add having the van stuck in the mud. We tried everything to move it until we figured out driving it forward instead of reverse was the answer. Daryl

Stay awhile this time. Daryl

A packed room. Those are the best kind of rooms. Lol Daryl

I'm going to start taking pics of my footwear. Daryl

That's what I call a proper gig. Very nice. Daryl

Agreed, just think of that feeling a big applause from an appreciative crowd gives us. Only those of us that entertain understand it. Daryl

It amazes me how popular Blues bands still are in England. Do you think the blues band are more popular in the UK than here in the states? Daryl

Sometime those gigs that have " disaster " written all over them can turn out to be awesome gigs . Daryl

Our first outside gig this year. Good gig, why? We were tight. The dep drummer kept great time and actually learned most our set. Not a lot of technical stuff and crazy fills he just provided a great foundation for me to play in. I was very impressed and pleasantly surprised. The opening act was really good. A solo singer song writer with good material. I was so confident I actually got into some on stage banter with Jenny. Not much for pics. Daryl

Agreed Daryl

80 is great as far as I'm concerned. Dave we've had high profile gigs cancelled due to poor ticket sales. That's no fun. Daryl

Man what a cool shot. Love the lighting and the crowd. I wish we could get a photo like this. Daryl

That's great. Appreciative crowds make the night go fast. However, all gigs are not going to be great. You have to take the good with the bad. Daryl

When talking to random people at a gig always have a good exit plan. Daryl

I like where your head is at. When I think of the guys I played with as a teen I think some lost interest, some had awful tragedies in their lives that hit them so hard they stopped playing. And some I think we're never really into it. Daryl