Faces in the Crowd, 2006

*ING New York Marathon, New York City, NY, November 4-5, 2006* (Click on any photo to see a larger version.)
	For the 4th year in a row we were invited to play at the New York Marathon. Over 100 bands play that weekend along the route, and we are fortunate to be the featured band, playing just before the start as 38,000 runners prepare for the race as well as later in the afternoon about 500 yards before the finish line as the runners enter Central Park at Columbus Circle. The weekend in New York gives us the opportunity to see some of the famous sights as well. Here Joe tours the lobby of the Empire State Building after a trip to the top for a view of the city. We were told we even got some live coverage on NBC, although we have yet to see it. Anybody catch that on tape? We'd sure like a copy. Geoff warms up at the sound check the night before the race. Joe caught the first shot from the front while Craig caught the 2nd shot from the size.
	Craig ready to roll the morning of the race at the Coors Silver Bullet starting line stage on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge. Brion tries playing bass with gloves on as we get ready for a sound check late Saturday afternoon.
	Bob trying to keep the ice cold harp from sticking to his lips at the sound check on Staten Island. Later in the day on Sunday on the Columbus Circle stage, bob is a little warmer. The runners can be seen filing by in the past, almost 26 miles down and just 500 yards to go.
	Craig ready on the Columbus Circle stage. Brion in front of a group of runners entering Central Park.
	Peter Ciaccia, the person from the New York Roadrunners who sees that everything gets done at this massive event. Dr. Dan was playing his harp in front of the stage before the start and when he ran by near the finish, Bob called him up on stage to do a number with us. After 26 miles of running, he still had the energy to rip--and then ran off stage to finish the marathon. Way to go Dr. Dan!
	Brion in Times Square our first night in town. Brion, Joe and Craig atop the Empire State Building.
	The Statue of Liberty is one of the sights you'll see from the Staten Island Ferry. We took the Ferry to the sound check. It runs 24 hours a day and is free...one of the best bargains in New York City. The Coors Silver Bullet stage during the sound check Saturday afternoon.
	After the start of the race runners discard their warmup suits, blankets, food, everything they don't want to carry 26 miles. It's quite a scene as people scoop up the booty that has not been put into UPS bags to be reclaimed at the finish line. Joe's view from the back of the stage at Columbus Circle.
	Oh yes, there is a race that weekend too. Here is the winner, Gomes from Brazil as he approaches the Columbus Circle stage about 500 yards from picking up about $113,000. Last year's winner Tergat (L) runs stride for stride with Kiogora shortly before the finish. Tergat eventually prevailed, taking 2nd place overall.
	Recommended Bar BQ in New York City--Spanky's on 42nd near 6th. Good food and their own microbrewed beer. On stage at Columbus Circle.
	Bob stuck around an extra night and caught the famous Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club. Here you see Les posing with Bob and wife C.C. and another shot of him at work. At 91 years old he plays every Monday night at the Iridium and still tears it up according to Bob.
*Concert in the Park, Laguna Niguel, CA August 11, 2006*
	Signage advertising the event and other events at this venue this summer.
	The park offers a great natural amphitheatre and plenty of people came out to catch the music. If you were there, can you find yourself in the crowd?
	TK (sitting in on keyboards for a vacationing Craig) gets a kick out of one of Geoff's solos. Brion brings out the big, blond left-handed bass while Bob and his hula girl shirt entertain the crowd. Kids begin to gather up front to get a close look at how music is made.
	Bob gets ready to toss out some free goodies to the kids. The park concerts are a great place for families to bring young kids to introduce them to good live music. After dark, Geoff heats up the summer night with some hot guitar playing.
*Concert in the Park, La Habra Heights, CA July 26, 2006*
	What a great gig! Several hundred people showed up despite the heat and stuck around until the end. Here are some shots of the crowd before the band fired up.
	1. Band's eye view of part of the crowd from under the gazebo. 2. Bob started tossing out Mardi Gras beads and the dancing girls showed up.
	1. More beads, bigger crowd. 2. When the beads run out, what ya gonna do? Sorry folks. Guess we'd better buy more before the next park gig.
*Pete Mallory's Bar and Grill, Hyatt Hotel, Huntington Beach, CA July 4, 2006*
	The Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach is a pretty nice place to spend the 4th of July. This year they have a nice stage set up outside Pete Mallory's Bar and Grill in the courtyard in preparation for the summer "Blues and Bar-BQ series." We will be playing there again on September 2nd.
*JoJo's 5th Annual Blues Party, Huntington Beach, CA July 2, 2006*
	Partiers
	Partiers
	Partiers
	...and more partiers
	The pool crowd had a front row seat. Blue Daddy was the first band up
	Buck Wildstar--Geoff Gurolla, Bobby Abarca and Joe Hughes introduced their new CD. Craig sat in on keyboards on the CD and at the party. This is a HOT CD, see www.buckwildstar.com for more.
	United Blues Band with guest TK on keyboards and Blues Bar-BQ with special guest Damon on guitar.
	Craig and Joe of Blues Bar-BQ.
	Bass player Bill Stuve joined the party after playing with Blues Bar-BQ the friday before at the Long Beach Memorial Veterans Hospital for wheelchair-bound vets. Hostess and host: Vicky and JoJo Hughes
	TK rips it up on keyboards with United Blues Band. Blues Bar-BQ's bass player Brion dances to Blues Straight Up.
	Dancers enjoying the last act, Blues Straight Up. Joe with Blues Straight Up.
*Inkslinger's Ball, Worldwide Tattoo Convention, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA April 22, 2006*
	1. Angels Stadium, home of the Worldwide Tattoo Convention in 2006 and the Inkslinger's Ball. 2. A view of the crowd from behind the drums.
	1. Another view of the crowd. Were you there? 2. The band on stage with TK on keys.
	1. The band on stage. 2. Joe's son Joseph gets his first tattoo.
	1. Joe selected artist Jeromey "Tilt" McCullock, owner of New Life Tattoo in Champagne, IL to apply a pretty major tattoo on his arm. 2. Joe's tattoo incorporates a patriotic theme, and the eagle is holding a drum.
	1. Jeromey "Tilt McCullock with Joe after his first tattoo (Joe's, not Jeromey's). 2. One thing you can expect to see at a tattoo convention is some skin. Here are a couple of blank canvases just crying out to be decorated.
*First Southern California Music Awards, Warner Grand Theatre, San Pedro, CA, February 11, 2006*
	1. Blues Bar-BQ won the Best Blues Band division of the First Southern California Music Awards. The artistic award sculpture contains 4 harmonicas, a drumstick and other items. 2. The band poses outside the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro where the award show was held. Brion missed the show due to previous commitments. Our congratulations to the other nominees in a very tough field: Michael John and the Bottom Line, Blues Train, Connie Ray and Mandy Gale.
	1. Craig, Bob and Joe take the stage to accept the award. Geoff was backstage with Dick Dale sharing guitar lore and missed the presentation. (Photo: ToDoExito) 2. Geoff gets a look at the trophy later.
	The Warner Grand Theater is a great venue in the old tradition. Blues Bar-BQ had the honor of representing the Blues on stage. It was quite an honor to be nominated and also to be asked to play. To win the award really topped off the evening. Our thanks to Martin and all the people who put on the awards. Thanks also to the sound crew who had a tough task setting up for that many bands doing just one song each.
	1. Surf guitar legend Dick Dale was honored with a special lifetime achievement award and performed along with his young son Jimmy. 2. Joe backstage with the lovely Eha after her solo performance. She was nominated in the Best International category and Best Out of Area category. She is from Estonia.
	1. A band that had an "interesting" sense of sartorial presentation was the winning band in the Punk division, The Attraction. They were very much enjoying the occasion and always game to pose for a photo. 2. Sometimes the non-flash blur shots work out OK. No flash was allowed backstage, so you have to go for the long time exposures. Here Dick Dale and his son Jimmy prepare to take a bow after the conclusion of their show.
	1. The group on stage with Tom standing in on bass for Brion playing Sugar Mama. 2. Joe (Photo: ToDoExito)
	The on-site photographer liked Bob--he got two shots on their web site. (Photos: ToDoExito)
	Geoff and Craig (Photos: ToDoExito)
	The group with stand-in bassman Tom outside the theatre.
	1. Joe with Jamie Kivisto, the artist who created the trophies for the event. (Her web site is www.jamiekivisto.com.) 2. Trophy wives show off the Best Blues Band trophy--(front to back) Marda Libuse, Vickie Hughes, friend Penn and C.C. Landgraff.

Faces in the Crowd, 2006

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