Posts

October 1, 2015

Pete’s first paying gig–the Club Lido

Pete found this old photo of his first paying gig, the Club Lido, a strip club in Garden City, Colorado. Garden City began as a haven for establishments selling alcohol back in the days when Greeley was “dry.” The club is gone, now. It stood next door to where the Rancho Alegre restaurant is now, 26^th and 8^th Avenue in south Greeley. In this picture, Pete is fifteen and playing his first drum kit—a set of Japanese Tempo drums. “I thought I was on top of the world.”

On the left is Steve Grosskopf and on the right, Joe Hinojosa. Paul Gomez was in the band as well playing guitar. They called the band “WC Fields” and made $50 a night for the whole band–pretty exciting stuff for a fifteen-year-old.

September 19, 2015

We’re Back at The Suite!

September 18, 2015

Down the Rabbit Hole!

We’d like to thank the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens for inviting us to play for the Mad Hatter Mixer last Friday. What a wonderful night it was! It is a kick being the Queen of Hearts. Dave Lunn filled in for Jake Johnson on sax and played brilliantly as did Ben Parrish on guitar and Pete McDonnell on drums.

I got this lovely email from Pete Laybourn that meant so much to me:

“It is all too rare that we have an opportunity to thoroughly enjoy ourselves at a Cheyenne social function that was as all around perfect as the garden party Friday night. The night, the site, the food, the purpose and the MUSIC were all of the highest quality. On occasions like that I am always very happy when I feel that our community is hitting the right note and that the activity we are engaged in couldn’t be outdone anywhere, not in Denver, San Francisco or Santa Fe. All of your practice, preparation and equipment management came together harmoniously, what a wonderful accomplishment.”

August 21, 2015

Join us for the Mad Hatter Mixer, September 11, at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens!

August 21, 2015

Thank you, Renee, for a great party!

We had so much fun playing for Hansen and Associates’ grand opening celebration of their new offices in the the historic Whipple House and we were delighted to have our friends from the band, Swing That Cat!, sit in. Michele Lacovitti Peraino is their lead singer and also wrote one of the songs they performed. Her husband, Chris, plays guitar and Hugh Luck joined us on flute.

August 11, 2015

Looking forward to playing Friday at the Whipple House

Hugh Alan Luck, right, and Michele Peraino, both of Wenonah, N.J., paint a ceiling inside the historic Whipple House on Saturday in Cheyenne. The building is being restored and will house Renée Hansen and Associates, whose practice employs 14 employees who council children, families and couples. Blaine McCartney/Wyoming Tribune Eagle

We are honored to be playing for Friday’s grand opening celebration of the newly renovated Whipple House, the new offices of Hansen and Associates. We will be joined by these two lovely people–Hugh Alan Luck and Michele Peraino, both artists as well as fine musicians from Wenonah, New Jersey. The have their own band, Swing That Cat, and (I’m sure they will want to go home with Pete’s drums). Hugh plays the flute and Michele sings. Super-classy. What a kick!

Check out their website http://www.swingthatcat.band/

August 4, 2015

Pete’s Newly-Restored 1950’s Gretsch Round Badge Kit

My 1950’s Gold Sparkle Gretsch Round Badge drums. I’ve been restoring and getting them stage worthy. The bass drum has the original calf skin heads. The snare is a rare 4″ drum with Billy Gladstone lugs. I’ll be using 50’s Zildjian “K” cymbals and a Zildjian “Ping” ride. These were the most popular drums and cymbals used by Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and many more great jazz drummers. These drums were used by a drummer that played with a group from Greeley called “The Aristocats” led by Chuck Childers.