Knott's Merry Farm 12/23, 26, 27/15

Hello friends,

Yes, I've been putting in a lot of performances at Knott's Merry Farm. The park has been jam packed lately, almost as much as Knott's Scary Farm. The crowds make us park a little farther away and it takes a little longer to work our way through the crowds to get to our dressing room and the stage. But everyone is here having a good time so I can't complain.

I think these first three pictures are from the eve of Christmas Eve, the 23rd. (It's all starting to run together.)

Since I don't have an amp I put my camera on the sound rack for my selfie.

Art and Kelly chat with one of Art's friends who stopped by to see us.

Here's our glam shot, taken by the sound tech.

Don't the scarves add a nice touch?

I was back the day after Christmas (26th) and the park was CROWDED! They had to open the west gate, the west and north parking lots to handle all the extra attendees.

Normally only employees use this gate but for the rest of the "Merry" season the park is expected to be jammed. Employee parking has been really full. It seems to be a half mile trek to the stage after we park.

The day after Christmas Kelly called in sick. She had cold symptoms so bad she couldn't sing so Art, Jeff, and I had our fun that day. Here they are getting set up.

Amanda was our sound tech that day. She does really well and even reminds Art to plug in his guitar so that we can hear him.

Then Amanda always takes a picture of the band for me.

Here's one from the crowd.

Here's a little video of the trio with Art, Jeff, and I.

Kelly was back the next day, Sunday 12/27/15. I could tell she wasn't 100% but she still sounded terrific.

We had great crowds at the barbecue. Some of them were there to actually listen to us too.

I took this picture of Kelly and Art on stage.

I have become a fan of these two beautiful young ladies, Rhianna and Ro. I enjoy seeing their friendly faces at every gig. They work at the boysenberry booth near the stage. They give me free samples of the boysenberry coffee and cider. (They actually give everybody free samples.) But I can see them having fun, dancing and singing along. I bought some coffee to take to the office and they let me have a picture.

I've got three more dates at Knott's before it's over for the season. I've also got a New Year's Eve gig at Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure. Then I'll slow down a little bit in January, maybe play four or five gigs instead of seventeen(!). It's feast or famine in this business so I get it while the getting is good. (So they say.)

Thanks for looking! I appreciate your stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 

Chestnuts Roasting at Knott's Merry Farm (Video)

Hi,

Here's a video that the sound tech took with my phone, a Droid Maxx.

Thanks for looking!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Knott's Merry Farm 12/20/15

Hi everyone!

Here are a few pictures from my performance with the KRB Trio at Knott's on Dec. 20th.

There are several very scenic areas at Knott's. On the way to our dressing room I stopped for a photo op in front of the waterfall next to the Mystery Lodge.

Our dressing room is in this building, The Wilderness Dance Hall, which is renamed "Santa's Christmas Cabin" during the season.

Here is my rig on stage. I bring a bass, a stand, and a cable. Tough gig.

Our FOH guy, Brandon, took a few pictures of us.

There were lots of kids in the park today. We had fun doing lots of Christmas songs and letting the kids play the rhythm instruments. The parents enjoy taking lots of pictures and video of their kids with the band.

As you'll see above, I'll be back again with Art and Kelly on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. I hope everyone enjoyed a very Merry Christmas and enjoys happy and safe holidays with friends and family.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Knott's Merry Farm, 12/18/15

Hello friends,

We've been back at Knott's several times since my last entry. I'll try to share a few highlights and get us all caught up. These pictures are from our appearance on Friday, 12/18/15.

Here's our buddy Brandon the soundtech, with Art, getting the stage ready for us.

Brandon helped set up the stage but Amanda worked FOH for us. I didn't get a picture of her today. She looked cute in braids. But she did take a few pictures of us today.

Brandon took this picture of Art and I. We were thinking of auditioning this guy for a lead singer, but he seemed too wooden.

 This is some of the art that the chainsaw guy makes. Sometimes his chainsaw is in tune with us.

Here's a picture I took of Kelly and Art just before we got started today.

Then Amanda took a few pictures of us.



Art is singing one of his big hits.

Following us on the Fireman's BBQ stage were a couple of old friends, Harvey Walker and Johnny Blankenship.

These two guys play guitar, banjo, fiddle, and just about everything else. Harvey used to book all the talent at Knott's. Johnny and I used to work the same club in different bands. In the mid-80s Johnny's band played Tuesday through Saturday at a club called Nashville West in El Monte (CA), a real honky tonk that's been gone for quite a while now, and my band played the off-nights, Sunday and Monday. I worked there for five years. Johnny worked there for eighteen years as the house band. Yes, it was a little different back in the day. I don't know of any "house gigs" like there used to be.

After our sets Art and I make a hasty getaway. Art didn't want to ride any roller coasters with me after our gig. Maybe next time.

I'll be back (above) with a few more pictures to get us all caught up. We've enjoyed our run at Knott's Merry Farm and have just a few more dates through Jan. 3rd.

I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Knott's Merry Farm, 12/12-13/15

Hi!

We are back at The Merriest Place In The West! Just in case you don't know, Knott's Berry Farm is known as Knott's "Scary" Farm in October, and Knott's "Merry" Farm starting the middle of November through the first of the year.

We were back at Knott's Merry Farm over the weekend. Jeff, Kelly, and I did Saturday afternoon. Then Jeff, Kellye, and I did Sunday afternoon.

This is Brandon helping Jeff with his mic stand on Saturday. It seems Jeff is always getting the bad mic stand.

It was a nice day on Saturday. We had lots of kids to join in the merriment.

Kelly hands out rhythm instruments to the kids and they sing "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolf" with us.

Parents love it because they can take lots of pictures and video of their kids with the band. Fun stuff.

Then the next day, Sunday, I took a stroll around to look at some of the changes. The kids were on the big Calico stage, where we played a couple of summers ago. There were very talented song and dance troupes.

In front of the Calico stage on the other side of the train tracks there used to be a huge swing in this area behind the fence. This swing was two stories tall and was a ton of fun to ride. It was taken out and I've heard that a big new stage will be built here to take the place of the current Calico stage. That's part of the Pony Express coaster you see behind the fence.

Jeff and I caught a Calico Saloon show with our daughters. Jeff's wife plays Cameo Kate.

Dakota Dan and Cameo Kate actually get engaged in this episode, after thirteen years of courting.

After the show Cameo Kate lets us have a picture with her.

Then I have to get to work while my daughter (on the right) and her friend enjoy the park. This is the only picture I got of us with Kellye that day. We're just about to leave the dressing room for the first show.

After the second show the clouds really started moving in. I was hoping the rain would hold off until I got a chance to ride some coasters with my daughter.

Alas, the rain did not hold off as long as I'd hoped. Our last set was really rainy but we still had a fun crowd. When we invited up all the kids from one to ninety two, these two young hipster dudes grabbed some shakers and had a blast with us. They thought we were so awesome they even tipped us a dollar each. I thought it was a very nice gesture.

We're back a Knott's next weekend, Friday and Sunday (12/18/15 and 12/20/15) for me. I'll see you then! Thanks for looking!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Rodeo Revival at Brandin' Iron 12/10-12/15

Hi gang!

This particular weekend was quite busy for me, three nights at The Brandin' Iron and two days at Knott's Merry Farm (5 gigs in 4 days!). Here's my three night run with Rodeo Revival at the Brandin' Iron. This is a pretty easy gig, only half hour sets but there are five of them. Except for Thursday night when you can usually go home after the fourth set because the crowd really thins out, as it did this time. That was good for me since I had to be at work Friday morning. I'll step you through the whole experience.

It's kind of tricky getting into the place if you're driving on the wrong side of the street. You see the bus lanes in the middle separated by the reflective poles.

This is one of the nicer dives in the Inland Empire. They even give the band their own parking spaces.

It's in a nice part of town, right next door to this fine establishment.

As you walk in the back door you see the band room to your left. The black light paint is just classic.

Inside the band room a couple of the walls are covered with pictures of previous performers.

There are some recognizable names there, Eddie Rabbit, Johnny Lee, etc, but I think the real stars are a little farther up the wall.

This is Mark, the stage tech/lighting guy. He helps DJ Dave with the sound.

Here's a view from the FOH.

My rig takes its place proudly in front of the polar bear.

Drummer Jim gets set up. He's such a solid and steady drummer. I love working with him.

Justin is looking forward to making some country-rockin' noise tonight. He brought his tube head tonight instead of the lightweight solid state amp. 

Here's my old friend Jesse and his daughter Chelsea. Chelsea and her husband are expecting their first child. I called Jesse "Grandpa" all night.

My buddy Chad, from Disneyland, is with us this weekend on keyboards.

Jim concentrates on his audiovisual click. He uses in-ears for his mix, click, and also has a metronome on his tablet that he watches. Talk about steady.

Justin shreds!

The lovely Chelsea and the dorky bass player.

The ever-present amp-selfie.

My cord is just long enough to get to the side of the stage for this shot.

For the fourth set on a Thursday nightand the crowd usually gets pretty thin. But it'll be much better Friday and Saturday night.

Here's a staff picture from the night.

When I arrived Friday night the dance lessons were going full swing. Here's the view from the FOH.

This is Dennis, one of the staff there, who does some bouncing and runs the mechanical bull. I'm not quite sure what he's doing to the bull but I guess it needed some lubrication. Perhaps this is some kind of mechanical bull "animal husbandry""?

Dennis is a nice guy and a connoisseur of moonshine whiskey. That's all he drinks, and he knows the good stuff from the bad stuff.


Since Chelsea is "with child" she did not want to work all weekend so Michelle joined us to cover the lady songs. Here we are with Justin and I showing off our $2 beers. (The band gets beer for $2 all night long.)

Jesse and Michelle have known each other for a very long time. Michelle did a good job and was fun to work with.

Friday night was a blast and so was Saturday night. We had an additional guitarist Saturday night. Seth and Chelsea smile for the camera.

We also had a different drummer Saturday night. His name is Jim too and he was very solid and you could tell he had done his homework for this gig. I even got his number because bass players like good drummers. Justin was coaching Jim on a few of the tunes he was unfamiliar with. He did a great job.

You can't really tell yet but Chelsea is due in June and will be taking some time off from the band starting around the end of February. I guess that means I'll have to sing more in this band when I sub in. Heaven help us.

I just had to get in one shot of the line dancers. This crowd must know a hundred different line dances.

I got a kick out of Chad's reflective beanie. He's such a hipster. He's a terrific piano player. I guess he can't find enough jazz gigs so he slums around with us in our little country band. Jesse does his best George Strait impersonation.

My friend Luke showed up Saturday night. He plays bass with the band "Brad Johnson and Killin' Time" who are also in the rotation at The Ranch. Luke graciously agreed to sit in on a couple of numbers. He wasn't afraid of my 6-string Carvin. Although I did have to use a different strap to make it low enough for him.

While I was off stage I took a few action shots of the band.

I guess you can just start to tell that Chelsea is showing.

We finally finished our five sets. I tried to make a hasty getaway because I was playing at Knott's the next afternoon.

I've got just last weekend at Knott's to post up and then I'm all caught up. That is, until I play this weekend at Knott's. I hope my schedule will slow down just a little after the first of the year.

Thanks for looking!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff