bisbee reborn
Bisbee-Ites!
It was just a year ago, as I sat alone by my little campfire at Maine Vocals’ Hash Bash, I asked myself wouldn’t it be a gas to put on a Rio Bisbee show at next year’s events? That would be a solid reason to attend, and friends could be invited to a reprise party of live Rio Bisbee music. I spoke to Don, who recalled my participation in Freakwitch from previous concerts, about scheduling Rio Bisbee Band for 2014 and he said Sure! Yow!
That was only the beginning. I kept Rio Bisbee music alive over the years in unplugged version, I replaced the decrepit BISBEE van with a newer, bigger Bismobile (pre-adapted it with RIO BISB initial plates) from Uncle Henry’s, and the Rio Bisbee Band instruments and equipment were still available, but there were no other players. I approached a couple of local musical acquaintances, but they weren’t into Bisbee.
Then it hit me. Why not enlist former Bisbees? They may be out of state, but at least they know the material! I got in touch with guitarist Rob and drummer Scott, and they both said Cool! They would love to join in when they come back to Maine in the spring. All right! Once a Bisbee, always a Bisbee!
In order to garner more exposure, I volunteered as Maine Vocals’ media liaison with WERU Community Radio, composing promos for the events, featuring inclusive band lists plus web address. For the first time, Maine Vocals was heard over the airwaves. Muchas gracias to Denis for all his behind the scenes work organizing and broadcasting our propaganda, and to radio volunteer Melisenda for recording it in her sweet voice. It was not the first time Rio Bisbee Band was heard on WERU Community Radio, having done several live in-studio broadcast performances early in our career, but it was the first time in many years - certainly since Radio Jones’s passing.
Come spring, the Bisbees were all in state. As usual however, it was a challenge to schedule rehearsal with players living a hundred miles apart. When we did get together for practice, we found it was not so easy to pull versions out of thin air – it requires dedication, hard work. Nevertheless, for the first time in twenty years, on the summer solstice Rio Bisbee Band was ready to play for Freedom Fest in Harmony. We performed some of our originals, and a smattering of sixties rock covers to a sparse, but appreciative audience. It may not have been a huge crowd, but that meant a higher percentage of our friends! Welcome back revered Bisbee-Ites from the eighties and nineties – thanks for coming forward!
It was a shock when after Freedom Fest Rob and Scott each announced he would be unable to play Rio Bisbee. For the first time ever, Rio Bisbee Band had a series of scheduled gigs, and suddenly there was no band. Absolutely absurd! It seemed like the end; but I am a get-up-after-a-fall kind of guy, flipping crisis into opportunity. Guitarist Todd, whom I had known in Freakwitch, stopped by one day and mentioned If I knew anyone looking for a guitarist to think of him, so I gave him a call. I met Caleb on the job site, and was impressed by his power output. When I learned he plays drums, quite well as it turns out, I called him too. Within two weeks of the old Bisbees quitting, we scheduled Rio Bisbee rehearsal with eager new players.
Meanwhile, I had made arrangements for a Rio Bisbee Band presentation on WERU’s Wicked Good Music Hour, to air the week prior to Aurora. As the date approached, it was clear the schedule was too tight for a live on-air performance with the whole band, so switching to Plan B, I collaborated in producing a prerecorded Rio Bisbee Band/Dave Piszcz retrospective which filled the slot AND freed up everyone’s calendar. Many thanks to Matt for a fine job hosting and engineering that pizmatological program.
Not long before the Aurora Music Festival, I had a note from Sistah MRL wanting to sing lead. Why not? She had Bisbee performances in Her resume, and was familiar with the songs, so we reordered the set for Her participation. There was a strange moment when it seemed a faux Rio Bisbee Band was vying for our slot. We often had been overlooked, and double-booked, but we NEVER had to contend for the stage with a parody Rio Bisbee Band of pretentious posers (made me wonder who they got to play me..). Lucky for them they didn’t try it!
Aurora was awesome! Here’s a big thank you to Dan deLuca and family for the red carpet welcome to their fabulous Featherfoot Farm. It wasn’t the first time I went swimming at a gig, but Giles Pond is much more pleasant than the beer colored “water” at USM Pool House. After swimming, we ate fresh-made brick-oven pizza all day, rubbed elbows with lots of cool people, and listened to great live music. If you are near Ellsworth, or not, you should definitely put Aurora Music Festival on your 2015 late summer calendar.
Rio Bisbee Band was scheduled to play the next weekend at Heads in Harmony, but Caleb was unable to attend because previous family commitment. Iyiyi! Luckily Sistah MRL invited Selecta Heat to sit in on the traps, and thanks to him we went onstage as scheduled and did an all Rio Bisbee set for Maine Vocals. No two alike!
After a week’s break we resumed Rio Bisbee for Harvest Fest, our final show of the 2014 season, adjusting the set by adding more rock n’ roll. Once again scheduling was a nightmare. Harvest season is a busy time for us all! Too busy, too bad. Late in October, Sistah MRL announced She was unable to continue with Rio Bisbee. A couple other candidates were unable to schedule rehearsal on such short notice. So instead, I added to my duties as propaganda minister, cable guy, bus driver and bass turpitude by filling in on lead vocals. I had never led the show, and I had never sung an entire set before. I dug in with the handy little Ibanez Artwood bendaway I picked up from Tim at the Creamery, repeating the songs to any available captive audience. All that work paid off – I only flubbed a couple of lines at the Harvest Fest show. Thank you also to Tim, and Tim, and of course Phineas at Buckdancer’s Choice, and Mike of Portland Percussion for providing materiel aid to a terrific organization.
It’s been a crazy roller coaster ride, but a marvelously rewarding journey with Rio Bisbee Band, and I am very grateful for this opportunity to add a chapter to our saga. Thank you to everyone for supporting Rio Bisbee Band by attending the shows and listening on WERU Community Radio, by purchasing registered Rio Bisbee Band spin-off products, and by believing in us. Thank you.
Be cool!
Yobassman
