After
many months of planning and dozens of emails and phone calls, The Badgers
2005 Tour of the USA finally began in Annapolis, Maryland.
Sometimes accompanied by Larry Melton on bass, we played a total of four
gigs in and around Annapolis including the Rams Head, The Woodfire in
Severna Park and culminating in the Maryland Seafood Festival which was
held in Sandy Point State Park on a blazing hot weekend. We also had impromptu
performances at The Acme and The Armadillo in Annapolis and had an interview
and session on WRNR Radio.
We
then flew to Kalispell in Montana, via Salt Lake City for twelve gigs
organised by the intrepid Dennis Wolfe from Big Arm, who provided us
with accommodation in his cabins next to Flathead Lake.
After collecting the sound equipment and paying the first of several
visits to the KXZI Montana Radio Café, we set off for a nine
hour drive to Driggs in Idaho, overlooking the spectacular Teton Mountains
where we would be based for the next five days.
After the first gig in The Timberline in Victor, we played two gigs
in Jackson Hole in Wyoming, which involved navigating the steep and
winding Teton Pass.
The last gig before going back to Montana was an intimate performance
to an attentive audience at the Miso Hungry Café in Driggs.
No sooner had we arrived back in Big Arm, than it was a drive down to
Missoula to record an interview for Montana Public Radio, KUFM with
John Floridas to be broadcast the next day, immediately before a further
session on Scott Johnson’s KXZI.
On Friday the 23rd
September was the main gig of the tour at The O’Shaughnessy Center
in Whitefish. Around 150 people turned up for the performance, 25% of
the proceeds of which, were donated to the Glacier Institute.
The Glacier Brewery in Polson was the next port of call before another
drive down to Missoula for a further two gigs.
Back to Kalispell for a gig at Reds Wine and Blues in the KM Building,
where we played in the first floor theatre last year.
The next day was a final visit to Missoula for a gig at Sean Kelly’s
Pub and then the last gig of the tour at Central Station in Whitefish.
It was now time to relax, wind down and jam for a while with a variety
of musicians we had met on the tour.
The tour was a great success and we met many people who were all too
willing to help us to book venues for next year’s visit. We will
be back!
If you would like to be kept informed about The Badgers 2006 USA Tour
or if you have any photos we can use on the website, please email
us.
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One
day, all these will be mine
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Catch
phrases of the tour
“Geddit
down yer neck” Used when educating Larry in the quaint English
custom of binge drinking.
“Get outa ma tree” Dennis, voicing displeasure
to bears stealing his pears.
“You guys …” Dennis again, in a state of
dispair after failing all attempts to get The Badgers to do things his
way.
“Any chance of stopping for a coffee?” Only to
be used when the nearest Starbucks is at least 200 miles away.
“A minor technicality” James will need to explain
that one …. “Best just leave it”.
The
Badgers would like to thank the following people for helping to make
the tour happen :-
Larry
and Michele Melton for their hospitality and accommodation in Bowie
MD.
Meg Murray
for her help in arranging gigs in Annapolis and for the loan of her
p.a.
Rob Cosentino from Nonesuch
Productions for his help in driving us from place to place.
Janet and Chuck Kunz for their hospitality and accommodation in Driggs
ID.
Scott Johnson from the Montana
Radio Café for allowing us almost unlimited access to his
radio station.
All of the people who provided us with food and a temporary refuge during
our travels.
And of course, Dennis Wolfe from Big Arm MT for the work he has done
in making this tour happen and for stoically standing firm in the face
of adversity as his world is faced with another invasion of Badgers.
Read
about the "Big Arm Bear Incident"
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