Aegis Senior Living Playout

August 29, 2013

By:  Bob Nelson
Photos By:  Bob Nelson and Linda Myers

It was a beautiful summer evening in Pleasant Hill. The weather was perfect and the audience was large and lively. The evening started with a very complementary introduction from Aegis Senior Living’s Activity Director, Ms. Kayla Brown, who explained that this was the last evening of their Annual Summer Concert Series and that they saved the best for last! Betty David opened the show with “Just Because” and quickly moved on to “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”  This was excellent timing because the large screen TVs in the activity rooms and outside porch areas had the Giants game on.

As mentioned earlier, the audience was lively and there was not a tune that they didn’t dance to!  In the front row, an energetic group of women just could not get enough of the music. After some investigation, I discovered that they followed the East Bay Banjo Club for years.  They rarely missed a Tuesday night at Round Table Pizza, just up the street, where we previously performed for 30+ years.

Our success goes to our players, Guy Black, Tom Brunetti, Kermit Collins, Betty David, Jesse DeTorres, Don Granberg, Deb Hodson, Ardie Jarrett, Mickie McDonald, Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, Linda Myers, Phil Myers, Kit Nelson, Bud Pearce, Sheila Welt, and Ken Williamson. Special thanks and appreciation goes to members Jim Abele, Georgette DeTorres, and Bob Nelson, who blended into the audience very well. Rumor has it that they provided crowd control, due to the aforementioned mentioned “Lively Audience.”

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Kensington Playout

August 25, 2012

By: Bud Pearce
Photos By: Bob Nelson
Video By:  Karen Hefter

A large crowd arrived early to enjoy the music that is not only familiar to them, but brings a smile to their faces as well! Nineteen members performed at this gig, most sporting straw hats. With Betty David at the lead, we quickly played through most of the tunes on Show List #1, and completed the hour with folks asking for more.

It’s clear they loved us because people spontaneously danced!

East Bay strummers included: Mickie McDonald, Don Granberg, Jesse DeTorres, Bud Pearce, Kit Nelson, Betty David, Chris Lardge, Bob Hodson, Deb Hodson, Phil Myers, Linda Myers, Karen Hefter, Guy Black Sheila Welt, Ardie Jarrett, Herb Moore, Ken Williamson, Bob Malucelli, and Diane Malucelli.

Bob Nelson photographed the event and sold CDs while Georgette DeTorres provided moral support.

 

“Bill Bailey” and “Just Because” from East Bay Banjo Club on Vimeo.

EBBC Picnic at Landers’ Landing

August 24, 2013

By: Karen Hefter
Photos By: Karen Hefter and Linda Myers

Bobbie Landers hosted the EBBC Summer Picnic at her beautiful home on the Sacramento Delta. Many EBBC members brought their spouses and children and several of Bobbie’s extended family members were there as well. The food was wonderful – barbecued sausages, corn, salads, and desserts galore. There were all sorts of things to do, from holding down deck chairs and socializing, to waterskiing, pedal boating, kayaking, swimming, and exploring the crow’s nest and its 360 degree view of the area. The afternoon air was filled with the sounds of banjos as the EBBC played out on the shaded back deck. Some highlights of the play out were when a student visiting from the Czech Republic sang “Beer Barrel Polka” in Czech with the band, when Sue Horn played her flute, and when one of Bobbie’s relatives tried out a washboard for the first time. The weather couldn’t have been better and this picnic was a fabulous way to end the summer. Thanks again to Bobbie Landers and her family for hosting this wonderful event (and to David Miller for driving the ski boat all day for everyone).

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Forest Hill Farms Playout

By: Linda and Phil Myers
Photos By: Linda Myers
Video By: Linda Myers

Our gigs this year keep getting better and better! Our August 10th performance at the City of San Ramon’s “Forest Home Farms” was well attended and fun. Jack Convery led participants Betty David, Diane Malucelli, Chris Lardge, Tom Brunetti, Don Granberg, Bud Pearce, Ken Williamson, Guy Black, Mickie McDonald, Bill Sullivan, Herb Moore, Phil Myers, and Linda Myers in a rousing performance.

The venue was a restored walnut drying ranch, which was converted to provide a place where the public could relive what it was like to be on a turn-of-the-century rural farm. The farm featured a tour of an historic home, a restored tractor museum and tractor rides, an organic garden, sheep being herded by working sheep dogs, old fashioned games for the kids, and an abundance of ice cream and root beer floats.

The East Bay Banjo Club performed for two hours for an enthusiastic audience of kids and adults enjoying the day. Our music fit in well with the overall theme and ambiance of the venue. At one point during the performance, Bud’s chair suddenly collapsed, leaving him flat on his back. Players and audience alike were stunned and concerned, when suddenly Bud jumped up and declared, “Not to worry – It’s all part of the act. Indeed, Bud was fine and picked up the song as if nothing had happened. Singers Herb Moore, Mickie McDonald, Chris Lardge, Bud Pearce and Jack Convery kept the crowd wanting more. In fact, by the end of our two hours of playing, we had attracted a barn full of people clapping and singing along. It was truly a fun day and chances are very good we will be back to perform for them again.

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Five Foot Two from East Bay Banjo Club on Vimeo.