Video Update!

Check out a ton of new video on Cow Bop TV on YouTube! Here's a video of Pinto Pammy helping a turtle cross Route 66 and get to safety:



Check back soon for more updates!

Harley and Annabelle Perform "Route 66"

So when Cow Bop stopped off to see Harley and Annabelle in Erick, OK, they graced us with a great rendition of Route 66...

Devin gets the real Route 66 experience...

Our beloved Cow Bop bassist Devin gets a real taste of some the characters on Route 66...



Stay tuned for a phenomenal performance by Harley.....

New Mexicali Rose

Swung across New Mexico today, left Tucumcari...try saying that three times fast, at 9 am!!! Stopped at a few curio shops (weird how most of the stuff was made on a reservation called "China"?). Had lunch at a great cafe, they played mambo as we dined, Pammy and I had time for a quick table dance.

We were excited to get to Albuquerque...try to say that one as well! Pat Kelley, a compatriot, fellow professor at USC and swingin jazz guitar player is joining the band for two nights as he heads west (on his way home to Tulsa...where we just came from). We made our way into the heart of Phil Salazar's family, he has more cousins here than you can imagine, it bodes well for a decent showing at the gig, although, I have done a bunch of radio interviews, they are so helpful here. The Salazars run a mortuary, we took a quick tour (not everyday you do that!? and never thought I'd volunteer for one...other than my own) We went to a lunch of the best red chile I can remember macking down! (A Salazar family establishment) I'll let you know how the gig went...check out the eye candy too.

Can I ask you to make a pledge....pleeeze

Blue Ribbon Day

We headed out of OK City early and as the prarie opened up we fell into great stuff. We played at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum (were covered by the local paper) and then made our way to Erick, home of Harley and Annabelle, The Mediocre Melody Makers. These people are the greatest, a force of nature. They took us in, played for us and with us, fed us and entertained us, I can't even begin to describe it. While they use the term 'medicore', they are anything but, and Harley can pick with the very best of them, and I should know. It is no surprise that they are are the only living people who are designated as Route 66 landmarks...wow! No trip down the Route is complete without a stop there...but be forewarned...it will change your life!

Then we gobbled up a lot of the road, which is actually frontage to I-40 and made it into Amarillo as the sun was sinking into the horizon. The air was warm like velvet and the customary winds that rip across the plains there were unusualy silent. We decided to make a twilight visit to the Cadillac Ranch, found some people there (taggin the caddies) and we played a short concert. Then we headed into the sunset, crossed the halfway point and bunked down for the night as the biggest full moon rose to sing us a desert lullaby...this is what these trips are about!!! That, and raising funds and awareness for kids music-mentoring programs...will you help?
Stay tunded for video ...wahoo!

Route 66 Jam Session

A jam session along Route 66...



More to come soon!

We're OK in OK City

Rolled into OK City after a swingin party at Whit Smith's house, a rousing jam, a great meal in a wonderful section of Tulsa. It was really tough leaving the town, but we got a gig in Albuquerque on Tuesday and a date with Harley and Annabelle tomorrow. Lots of open road as Route 66 turns due west...the towns are further apart and the desert looks like it'll be scorching if this weather holds. We'll have some street playing in our future for sure.
I gotta say that everyone is holding up well, we'll be hitting the halfway point soon, can almost smell the Pacific Ocean drifting in through the stockyards pungent aroma. Near missed an unfortunately squished polecat that left us rather pungent as well...I don't think you can bathe a whole van in tomato juice and you sure can't outrun it...oh well. If they don't hear us coming they'll smell us. Got some video posting to happen soon so stay in close touch...just in case you were wondering why we do this...go here

Bruce

Archives

Here are some pictures from Phil's camera...Thanks Phil!!!



















A very expensive drum...has a great tone, though!
























Playing any and every way we can...































A bunch of troublemakers doing what they do best...eating, of course!


































Bruce

Checkin in

Howdy! Sorry to have been so remiss in my posts, and brief at best, but as you can imagine, I've been busier than a one-legged man in a butt kickin' contest! So many miles, so many cool people and situations, many jams...wow!



















We made our tri-state trek yesterday, finished of Missouri, swung through the corner of Kansas and into Oklahoma. Played at Galena, KS, the place that Tow-Mater comes from, the actual tow truck that inspired the character in movie, Cars. We got some video I think, should be posted soon. Then we arrived in Tulsa, the home of western swing, Bob Wills got his start and spent most of his career here, a town full of music history.















The Jazz Hall of Fame, where we played, boasts Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel, Oscar Pettiford, Chet Baker and many others as inductees...all from OK! (Pat Kelley, my compatriot at USC, and a homegrown Tulsan who is going to sit in with us in New Mexico while he is on his way home for a visit) Our sets had some great guests: Whit Smith from Hot Club of Cowtown, Rick Bentley and Chuck Cissell, who runs the place.
Then we went to a jam session at Rick's where Shelby Eicher (from our CD, Route 66) sat in...we played til 3 am! More today, a Bar B Q art Whit's, gonna have trouble getting out of this town.

Remember: we can use all the pledges we can get!

got some photos: the world's largest totem pole, a collection of fiddles made from various exotic woods, and the Missouri Hick (only on Route 66), gonna be posting more photos as I get the emailed to me, thanks for being patient!

Bruce

Missouri Time

We made it through Missouri today...a stop at the Missouri Hick Bar B Q, some street playing and then a back deck jam at Cartoons. We saw a lot of great Route 66 sights, beautiful Ozark greenery then we met up with our old pal Bob Reynolds, who helped us out. We has a great hang and are going to rest up for a big day tomorrow. We got lots of great pics, but no internet connect at the hotel, so, we'll post tomorrow. Hope all of you are swingin along, hope to see you out on the open road,oh yeah, why not make a pledge...it couldn't hurt...

Bruce

Meet me in St. Louis

Hung out in St. Louis for the day, after a rousing gig at the Stagger Inn...we staggered out last night, we had a relaxing day (you really come to appreciate these on a tour like this) and played at Fazio's Frets & Friends, a great guitar store on the west side of town, right on old Route 66. Stephen Rekas, an old pal at Mel Bay came by and drew some cool pictures of the concert, I'll try and see if I can't post them. (Check out their site for some interviews about the past trips the books that I did with them).

Had an interview on the radio too, and got in a final hang with Mike and Judy the Catsup Bottle folks (That has come to be a relaxing day, funny how one's perspective can quickly alter) Now for a long stretch, we hope to make Springfield and find a place to Cow Bop for the night...it is Friday night so it'll take some doing. Between here and there there is a lot of 66 history. Gotta head west now so expect more detail and pictures on the next post. So far, everyone is getting along and happy...I hope their medication doesn't wear off?!

A mild suggestion: Consider helping out JazzMasters Workshop with a per-mile pledge?

Bruce

Ups and Downs

What a bunch of hours! Last night was tough, due to some misfires or whatever we were nearly skunked in Springfield. I'll tell ya, on the eve of my birthday, talking these people out on the road for a good cause I was feeling like I let a lot of us down...a tough night.

Then as mornings often are, everything was fresh, and what else...a birthday cozy dog?! That's right, the birthplace of the corn dog...we walked into an enthusiastic crowd, very generous, made us realize we were doing the right thing. Lots of historic stops, Soulsby's Station and The Rabbit Ranch, before sliding into Edwardsville. We had a cool hang with Mike and Judy, (the Catsup Bottle folks) and they set us up with the coolest gig at The Stagger Inn, just footsteps away from Route 66. Saw my pal Rick Heydon, he runs the guitar program at SIUE, a swingin picker. We got some video, I'll try and see if I can get it put on the web...stay tuned.

Just a reminder, we are out here raising funds and awareness for JazzMasters Workshop...could use your help...hint, hint, come on, put your money where your ears are!

Bruce

Route 66 Road Video Blog #1!

On their way to Chicago, Bruce and Pammy let us know what they were up to and gave us a quick tour of their humble (and mobile...) abode. Check it out below or at Cow Bop TV on YouTube!

On Our Way Down Route 66

After a fun gig in Chicago at Martyr's, we left this morning from Michigan and Adams, the beginning of Route 66. The long road of more than 2,00 miles will take us home to California, but not before seeing and playing with some old friends and making some new ones.

We made a detour at The Launching Pad and at Funks Grove on our way to a hit in Springfield. We will more than likely make a stop at the Cozy Dog (we have every time so far). Corn dogs for breakfast?????

Across the Mississippi

We made it, Chicago, the whole band is here...plus an extra friend, Keith Watkins, who is covering the event caravan style with his own blog. He is either an incredible free-spirit who knows how to have a good time or a glutton for punishment. In this case--as a veteran of two previous trips--I advise a healthy amount of each. You can access his blog by clicking on the icon (it'll be up any minute now). It is going to make a huge difference and will be fun to experience the trip from a more objective perspective.

I got to tell you that we ran into some hard weather getting here, but nothing like what has happened to the south of us. We are going to go through some territory that has been hit really hard, first with flooding this spring and now a rash of killer tornadoes. I know we are out here supporting kids music, but the whole band has an added purpose, to bring some music to everyone and in some small way help these people who are enduring hardship. The last thing they needed was a one-two punch from Mother Nature after the hand the economy has dealt.
They say music soothes the soul, well, we are going to put it to the test. Ultimately, I know deep down that people will help us out, I just hope they let us help them too!

We plan to do some hanging in Chicago tomorrow before the gig and we are all looking forward to hitting 66 on Tuesday morning. The whole thing: we leave from Michigan and Adams...all the way to the Santa Monica pier...yikes! See you out on the open road.

Bruce

Chicago here we come

In eastern Iowa, headed into Chicago, should be there by mid-late afternoon. Rode through a killer storm last night, now we gotta do it again...hope the guys have no trouble (they're flying in). It wouldn't be a "Challenge" if it was easy, although it might make for some soggy concerts when we play on the street. The Weather Channel has me a bit concerned, but then again, they got to make it interesting for everyone I figure. Happy Mother's Day everybody (especially you, Mom)

Do you remember why we are putting ourselves through this?

Bruce

Phiddlin Fill

I'm very excited about the Route 66 challenge. I grew up on Route 66
between Albuquerque and Los Angeles and I've never been east of Albuquerque
(unless it was in the 60's and I don't remember!) Playing with the master of Bebop Guitar is quite an honor. And wow...Pinto Pammy is a thrill to stand next to and hear that Golden Western voice.
Lets Ride.

Fiddlin' Phil

On our way

Woke up in eastern Nebraska...good thing I went to sleep here!? More than halfway to Chicago, kinda feel like the car we found in Rawlins, WY. Things are holding up well, getting better gas mileage than I hoped, but of course once we put the band in things'll change, that is, if we can fit them in. The Weather Channel is scaring us with typical spring weather across the midwest...hey we've done this before. What would it be without some of the hardships that everyone else endured in their expeditions west...otherwise, everyone would do it. Turns out there are a few other roadshows in play on the road, hope we can converge...why don't you consider doing it too? Come on, get out and do it..and bring your axe! And while you're at it, check out why we are doing this, that's right the kids and music.
ps>Pammy and I are getting along...so far!

Bruce