Band Brûlée

This will be our first 2022 show in the gorgeous outdoor setting at Windridge on their hill with the sunset view.  We'll be playing as a full quintet with the great Franklin Wade on trumpet.  Our drummer Mike won't be able to join, but here's some amazing news: Our original drummer Lex O'Brien is visiting from Austria this week, and he'll be taking his old seat behind the drums!  We're excited to play some of our older songs from the Lex era that don't get played much these days.  You can expect the return of "Count Sheep."  Windridge is about a 35 minute drive from where we live in Northwest DC, and Lou recommends ordering Inferno pizza for a pickup on your way home after the music. 

The only thing I miss about 2020 is the Sunday afternoon music out in our neighborhood.  This coming Sunday afternoon is predicted to be 75 degrees, which seems perfect for outdoor music! So come join us back in our usual spot on the 5700 block of 33rd St NW.      

We’ll be starting at 2:30 PM and probably playing for around 90 minutes.  Maybe more.  

This time, we’ll be a trio with Aura singing, Lou playing guitar, and our new friend Franklin Wade on trumpet!  We met Franklin last November, and he’s joined us at almost every show since then.  We played at a winery a few weeks ago as a small trio like this, and I really loved it.  We're so excited to bring Franklin to our neighborhood!  You can learn more about him here: https://www.wadetrumpet.com/about 

See you Sunday I hope. 

Thanks to everyone who joined us at Meadworks on Friday!  Such a great night!  This coming Friday, Aura and Lou will be playing as a duo indoors at the great Windridge Winery in Darnestown (near band-favorite Inferno Pizza).  Come join us if you can.  See the shows page for details.

Come join us on Friday, February 4 at the wonderfully unique Meadworks in Hyattsville.  We'll be playing as a quintet for this one.  Our amazing drummer Mike will be there, and the great Franklin Wade will be sitting in on trumpet.  Click on the shows page for details.

The peak of the omicron surge is expected to occur this weekend, and the Governor of Maryland has declared a state of emergency.  So although we REALLY want to play, we thought the right thing to do was to postpone the show planned for January 8.  The new date is Friday, February 4.  Click on the shows link for details.  See you there I hope.

Happy Week 52 everyone!  Come join us on Saturday January 8 at the wonderfully unique Meadworks in Hyattsville.  We'll be playing as a quintet for this one.  Our amazing drummer Mike will be there, and the great Franklin Wade will be sitting in on trumpet.See the shows page for details.

Really fun and freewheelin' night at El Golfo last night thanks to our special guests!  Franklin Wade dazzled on trumpet in his first time with our little band, and Rich expertly took over Mike's seat on drums for the evening.  Thanks to both for their adventurous spirit.  We'll be back at El Golfo on December 11.  See you there I hope... 

We love playing at El Golfo!  Great people, fun Latin American food, good margaritas, a great room for listening to music.  We'll be playing some of the night as an acoustic trio, but we'll also have two special guests joining us.  Taking Mike's seat on drums will be the great Rich Bloom.  He joined us for a spontaneous collaboration over the summer at one of our front porch Sunday shows, and we've been trying to get him back ever since.  And I recently saw a trumpet player named Franklin Wade.  I loved his playing, and last night, I invited him to come join us on Saturday.  Apparently, he has an adventurous spirit, and he says he'll be coming.  I'm hoping he'll bring the harmon mute for some of that Miles Davis sound.  We haven't rehearsed with either of these guys, so it should be an interesting night!  See you there I hope.

Lou had his broken thumb x-rayed this morning, and based on the results, we've decided to cancel all remaining September gigs.  So we'll see you in October.  We'll definitely be back at Wind Ridge on October 8.  See the shows page for details.  When this thumb heals, we'll be itching to get out there and play again.  So if you want us in your backyard, living room, yacht, cabana, or anywhere else, let us know so we can set up and play...

Just when live music was starting to come back, I had to mess it all up.  I have a long history of broken bones, and now I have a new one to add to the list.  I broke my thumb last night.  I was in denial until about two hours ago when the very kind Dr. Solomon at Montgomery orthopedics showed me the x-ray with a small bone chip.  It’s a relatively minor injury, but to make sure it heals right, I have to stay away from the guitar for at least 10 days.  Dr. Solomon says I should be ready for full activity in about three weeks. 

So we have canceled the early September dates that were previously on the calendar.  Right now, I expect the shows on September 17 and 25 to proceed as planned, although I will likely be comically out of practice. 

I won’t be able to ride a bike during this time either because I can’t hold the handle bars and shift gears.  Also, I can’t really write with a pen.  So I’m going to need to find some new ways to occupy my time. 

My broken bones never seem to arise from situations where one would expect any actual danger.  This is the second bone I’ve broken without leaving the comfort of my own bedroom.  Some of you may know our song called Plan B (with the chorus “I didn’t see that comin’ at me…”).  I think it’s the only song I’ve written about my predilection for unexpected pointless injuries.  When I can play guitar and hold a pen again, I may dive deeper into this topic. 

Anyway, September 17 should be a great night. Wind Ridge Winery is lovely at sunset, and we will be very ready to play again.  I recently bought a new amp (well, not really new, but it's new to me… a 1962 Brown Fender Super), and I’m really looking forward to trying it out.  See you then I hope. 

-Louis