What a weekend! The Tour de Big Bear, a karaoke gig, filming The Duke Michaels Band, The Tubes, a walk around Meadow Park and a barbecue with friends! As some of us locals say “If you are bored in Big Bear, you must be boring!”
Coming into town on Thursday night after being in San Diego all week felt just like when used to come up on weekends before I moved here. What to do? First thing is to check The Big Bear Times Event Calendar to find out. The new agenda layout makes it real easy to see what is happening each day. Then call and verify events are correct (sometimes things change), write up the Weekend Update and make sure it is out by noon on Friday.
Friday morning – I took a walk down to Meadow Park to gather pictures, research and explore for my ongoing chronicle of Big Bear Parks. I am still working on that permanent page for The Big Bear Times. I hope to add that page later this week. There is more there than meets the eye from the street. Here are a few pics:
Friday – noon. Head off to Nottinghams to check out the bike expo and learn all about the Tour de Big Bear. The sound of silky jazz piano up here in Big Bear usually means Mike Cross is playing.
I said hello and walked around and checked out the bikes, met some interesting people and learn more about cycling at 7000 feet. I wrote a separate article covering that so if you want to read more: click here.
Later Friday night, I was off to The Boathouse Lakeside Tavern for a gig with Beyond Karaoke. Everyone knows what karaoke is, but Beyond Karaoke adds live musicians so you really get the feel of being onstage with a band. Stephen Tebo (the K.J.) and Chris Canzoneri (Guitar) anchor the show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 8pm (more or less). I add synth on Friday. Saturday and Sunday alternate with other guest musicians on keyboards or bass. Its a rockin’ good time and the sunsets are spectacular!
The video company I work for, Rebel Video Production, got a call on Wednesday from Duke Michaels to film The Duke Michaels Band Saturday, August 2nd at The Cave before The Tubes. Arriving at 6:30 to set up cameras before the show, I was pleased to learn we could stay for The Tubes. Can you say BONUS? The Duke Micheals Band had a flawless perfomance and the sound at The Cave was great! We have permission to show you this video here – so take a look!
I had to leave to take one of the camera operators home so I missed out on Direct Divide but made it back right as The Tubes took the stage. I have never had a chance to The Tubes before and was curious. I have seen quite a few “comeback” shows and you never know how good (or how bad) they might be. Let me tell you, this was one awesome concert! Fee Waybill did not disappoint dressing up in various costumes that mimicked the original music videos. He came out in well tailored suit first with highlight of that outfit being “What do you want from life?” Then he came out in a jail outfit with a crazy cage on his head. He leaves for a bit while the band plays and returns in a straight-jacket singing Mr Hate. He never misses a lyric or note and at the end of the song he has freed himself from the jacket. White Punks on Dope was one of the most outrageous performances I have ever seen live and I dare say it rivaled an Alice Cooper show. I was really surprised at the full range Fee was still able to hit. The band was extremely tight and the sound was fantastic. Two Bear-Paws up for this show.
No pictures of the show are authorized but I did get pics after the show with one of our camera operators, “Sneaky Jimmy” posing and being his sneaky self with the band.
Sunday morning I woke up late (natch) to the sound of rain and thunder. I put on a pot of coffee and enjoyed the morning doing nothing, listening to the rain, contemplating the past week. My week had been so full, it was nice to slow down for a bit while the storm soothed my soul.
Being a resident in Big Bear means you run into your friends all the time. At The Tubes concert, I had run into a few that went together. They called me up on Sunday and invited me over for a barbecue. What a perfect wrap up for a weekend! We talked about the show, looked up other bands from that time on YouTube while telling stories about “the good ole days” and enjoyed great food, cold brew and good friends.
Isn’t that what Big Bear is all about?
The Big Bear Times 