Can you spot the AARP member?

Can you spot the AARP member?
Originally uploaded by Bob Rhubart

The Elderly Brothers (L-R: George Hanrahan, Bob Rhubart, Jeff Zanders, Gene Orlowski) had big fun playing for the very appreciative crowd at Bloggapalooza 2.0, held this year at the Beachland Tavern, in conjunction with the Waterloo Arts Festival.

Elderly Brothers @ Bloggapalooza Again

Elderly Brothers @ Bloggapalooza
Originally uploaded by Bob Rhubart

Influenced, apparently, by the fact that the audience didn't throw any food or furniture at us after our set at last year's Bloggapalooza, the folks who organize that event have invited us back for Bloggapalooza 2.0.

This time it's being held at the Beachland Tavern, in conjunction with the Waterloo Arts Festival.

All proceeds from Bloggaopalooza benefit ArtsCollinwood.

For more information, see Bloggapalooza 2.0

Scratchin' the itch at Ingenuity 3.0

Scratch that itch
Originally uploaded by Bob Rhubart

Met up with Brother George and Brother Jeff last night at Ingenuity 3.0 in downtown Cleveland. In between cocktails we caught sets by Nation Beat, and Cyro Baptista's Beat the Donkey (no animals were harmed), and local cow-punk soul-savers Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival. It was my first time seeing Uncle Scratch, but it won't be the last. Way, way, way too much fun.

ASCAP's Cover Band Death Threat

As reported in a story by John A. Torres in Florida Today, ASCAP has gone completely ape-shit with desperation:

Six months after raising the curtain on their gourmet coffee shop in the beachside Indian Harbour Place shopping center, Laurie and Jim Hall decided to offer [free] live music [by unpaid musicians] on Friday and Saturday nights...Then a few months later, music industry giant ASCAP started calling and sending letters saying East Coast Coffee & Tea was in violation of copyright laws. The fee to continue the music was $400 a year.

This is nuts, but it's rather entertaining to watch as the music industry repeatedly shoots itself in the foot.

Rockin' and Rememberin'

Rocking and Remembering
Originally uploaded by Bob Rhubart

Several Cleveland-area musicians gathered at 1899 Pub in Willoughby, Ohio for a memorial/benefit show honoring friend and former bandmate Dave Nida, who succumbed to cancer on July 5, 2007.

Far from a sad occasion, the event, dubbed Day for Nida, was a joyous, boisterous, liquored-up, and life-affirming gathering that brought together members of the The Balls of Fire (seen here), the Rasberries, the Choir, the Roosters, the Brick House Blues Band and others. Proceeds from the benefit go to Dave's daughter.

A Blue Note...

The Balls of Fire @ the Beachland
Originally uploaded by Bob Rhubart

I just learned this morning of the peaceful passing of Dave Nida. That's Dave on the right in this photo with Carl Czaga (left) and Jack Snyder (center), on stage at last year's Balls of Fire 25th anniversary reunion show at the Beachland Tavern. Dave was a fixture of the Cleveland-area rock and roll scene for many years. His network of friends is vast, and spans some of the best musicians in the area. He will be missed.