In 2014 Jimmy Cavanaugh (who had been taking guitar lessons for a couple of years) asked his friend, Rob Smola, to take bass lessons so that maybe someday they could put together a cover band and play in some bars.  Rob Blair used to sit in the Cavanaugh garage and listen to those two idiots struggle while they played to various songs thru a Blue Tooth Speaker.  These practice sessions were the beginnings of their imaginary cover band, BiPolar Bear.
Between August of 2019 and August of 2023,  Jimmy and Rob had the incredible pleasure of actually playing live gigs in backyards, bars and fundraisers with Ron Townsend (drums), Lisa Strzelecki (vocals), Richie LaFaire (vocals), Ellen Backlin (keyboards, harmony vocals), Dave Gonzalez (original lead guitarist), Aldo Kleine (second lead guitarist after replacing Dave) and the amazing Joe Smith (final lead guitarist).  These are some incredible players and fun people.  I am incredibly indebted to each for lending their time and talent to playing live music with us.  Each of them taught us, contributed to an amazing four-year run and made our dreams come true.  However, as we all know, change is the only constant.  The band members decided to go their separate ways with the final decision being made on Labor Day (09/04/2023). I am sure interested folks will be asking us individually "Why? What happened?" Here is the answer you will get from me, "I truly believe that entities, relationships, work experiences and bands run their course.  It seemed that this was the time for this line-up to end."  That is the only answer you will get from me. Very few things last forever (does anything?).

Rich is a talented singer who I am sure will be focusing on his DJ business and his health www.facebook.com/ripnrichentertainment/.  Joe is a fantastic, awesome guitar player with crazy stage presence and cool – you will be able to catch in his killer band, Hard Wire hardwiremusic4.godaddysites.com/. I am sure that Ron will, at some point, emerge playing guitar or drums with a band, if that is what he chooses to do. He is just a natural musician.  Lisa is someone I have known for a long, long time.  I know she is a loving grandma, mom and wife, and she has a wedding for her son coming up in the future.  I got money that says she sings at the ceremony if she doesn't cry like a baby. I am sure Ellen will continue to come to the garage and practice with Jimmy and me until we can figure out what the next version will be. Ellen probably doesn't even care if she will be in the new band or not, she just likes to play music.

It is sad, because it is the end of something.  Jimmy and I find ourselves exactly where we were in 2015 – two old morons who want to play in a cover band.  I think it will be scary, terrifying, aggravating, frustrating, wonderful and exciting to try to build BiPolar Bear --  Mach II.  That is the plan, we shall see.  No one can take away the last four years, which I would not trade for the world.  Those people mentioned above I will always be grateful to for helping us realize our dream.  I told Jimmy that I want to play till I am 65 and then re-evaluate.  I am 56 . . . tick tock, that's less than nine years left.    I can not thank all of our families for their encouragement, patience and attendance at the shows.  It has been a thrill to play and to make complete boobs of ourselves in front of you, whether it was Jimmy's back yard, at Pub 78, a different bar, or at some park.  We hope the hibernation won't last too long!  

Thank You!

Rob, The Idiot Bassist

  Ellen, our keyboard player had a family emergency.  Originally, she thought she would scramble back from Iowa in time for the show.  The band put together a set list based on that information.  Then, poor Ellen had more to deal with and informed the band that she would not make it back.  So – the band put together another set list the morning of the show.    I can not speak for anyone else, but that is a nervous situation for me.  I like to play the set list at my leisure at home as far before a show as I can.  This of course was an unforeseen circumstance, so that was not possible.   I have learned from playing with Rich, Lisa, Joe, Rich, Ron and Jimmy, that it will be okay, no matter what.  Also, I am learning that the fun of playing live is trying to adapt to whatever comes your way.  At the Tailgater's show, I had two shots before the show on an empty stomach (I really am not much of a drinker, so it always takes the edge off).  As we began playing,  I had not turned on my amp.  OOPS!    You just have to figure it out and react appropriately.  I can not commend the other 5 folks in the band enough, for stepping up and playing the best we could without 1/7 of our band.

This was a fundraiser for Fire Buddies  www.facebook.com/projectfirebuddies/.   Rich's brother is very involved in the charity and DJ'd the whole day before we started at about 6pm.  Give that man a Fresca, that was a long day for him, but we all know he relishes it.  He has not met a microphone he does not love.  The man loves music and singing.  He was in his element, happy as a pig in "Poop."  Note - I am working on my swearing, we have played a lot of family shows lately and I truly enjoy colorful language but understand I have to do better.   Jimmy once told me before a show, I only got 5 F-words, he put me on a budget.  God knows at some of those Pub 78 shows, I hardly said any other words but that glorious F word.
 
People passed in and out of the fundraiser, held in the giant parking lot of Duke's Drive In and the Great American Bagel in Mokena.  When it was time for the show a modest but enthusiastic crowd had gathered.   There was something about the evening that just made it ridiculously fun.  Rik Kroll of (RAK Sound) did an amazing job managing the band's sound, at the risk of sounding effusive, it was down right magical.  With no keyboards,  Joe and Jimmy turned up the growl as we pounded out 1 ½ sets with a 2 song bonus after the big raffle to conclude the evening. 
 
It was super fun.  Joe kept twirling bottle caps at me to get me to shut up.  One even stuck to Rik's laptop!  Lisa and Rich, along with Ron really did a great job on vocals and harmonies.  Ellen is big part of the backing vocals and with her out, the three of them blended to cover the absence.  Lisa and Rich are sounding like a well oiled machine (which I really don’t think either of them should oil each other)….  They blend and trade vocals brilliantly.  It is a blast to hear them sing.    "Counting Blue Cars" does not always make it into the set list, but hearing Joe add the texture and tones to that tune while Jimmy provides the rhythm guitar has become one of my favorite songs to (hear) play.  I love that as much as when Lisa rips the crap out of "The Story" and Rich delivers "Fooled Around and Fell in Love."

The show felt relaxed and a great freakin' time.  Rik Kroll got called up to play, "Stay in Time," by Chicago's own Off Broadway.  What a blast.  How lucky am I?  I get to play with Ronnie on the kit and then as a bonus, Rik who is also j a monster player.  After a break, the band ripped through six more tunes before concluding with the show closer, "Purple Rain."  After the drawing, Terry Lynn gloriously drummed the King's classic, "This Beat Goes on / Switchin' to Glide."  She killed it, and that is a tough song to just wing it.  It has several changes and is really two diffent songs sandwiched into one.  To close the night, Rik was called back and the band ripped through a version of "Rock You Like a Hurricane."   For those of you scoring at home, that is three drummers in one evening!!!

I wish I could bottle that feeling!  It was a magnificent night!!!  The beautiful weather, the charity and Rik's amazing sound lined up for one crazy awesome time,,,,


Rik's band info here:   www.facebook.com/people/BLOCK-PARTY-BAND/100083476188846/?paipv=0&eav=AfbWrQJr9jWgaJkH8dZt4jwy5yjSkTLuYQMAfkfkn8z89me_Y7wZh3WIB82nluBdZeA&_rdr

Terry Lynn's Bad Reputation (band) info here:  www.thebadreputationchicago.com/

Jimmy and I were trying to put the rehearsal space back in order a couple days after the how and he looked at me and said, "Those outdoor shows are tough."  There is such an unpredictability about them and at the risk of appearing daft by stating the obvious, I will.  

      1. You never know what the weather is going to be.  Jimmy C is obsessed with weather, in fact when you see him looking at his phone, he is either looking at a new friend on Linked In who liked his post to Blue Murder Bassist Tony Franklin or he is analyzing some weather pattern.  
               a. Our very first show in Jimmy's back yard, gave us great concern as it was cloudy and a bit drizzly, but by show time, it cleared up and was a pleasant night.  Too bad I had no idea how to play.  Ron, Rich, Dave and Jimmy did a great job that night (it was the only show we played as 5 piece band).  That was 4 years ago (8/17/2019).

             b. In July of 2022 we had another semi drizzly night that played havoc with our sound at Kiwanis Park in Brookfield.  It was a fun night and probably the largest audience we played in front of, but the weather was messing with us.  It was warm and I think Ron forgot to turn on his fan.  Drumming for 90 minutes in that heat is tough.
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             c. The next month, we got the chance to kick off the Mayfair Park series and again, it was overcast and drizzly all day.  That weather really was a bummer in that we had to occasionally cover the equipment while we were setting up.  We got the show in, but that damn drizzle!

             d. Best weather was probably at the June 2023 show at Salerno's.  Don't ask Ronnie about that show, he spent the night trying not to die and balancing his drums on the edge of a very small stage.  
Which brings us to the show at Walker Park.  No drizzle, just humid as all heck!  I think, as I write this some 10 days later, I may still have to yet another shower to get that sweat off myself. 

2. Setting up the sound is a challenge no matter where you are at, but outdoors is definitely harder.  Jake Helm (Rik Kroll, Kevin Cavanaugh and Nick Madsen have all done sound for us) does a great job, but sometimes weird stuff happens and you do the best you can.  

3. Electricity.  With outdoor shows, you are trying to figure out how to power everything without blowing a fuse.  We again had chords going everywhere and the thought that kept dancing in my head was, "I hope no one pulls a chord out!"  It is weird where extension chords and surge protectors are everywhere.   There is a lot to power (not just Cavanaugh's outfits either).  Amps, microphones, the board, fans, etc….  It worked out, but it is always a worry.

4. I think I like outdoor shows, but they are harder than indoor ones.  I love the anxiety and challenge of having to adapt to the craziness of getting the equipment there, set up, getting the sound in place… then trying to play the show.  Although as I get older, I am pretty pooped by the time we start.  Playing live, without a net, you just have to figure it out.  That is fun and scary.

My son Zach was able to secure a giant trailer to get the gear there, and that is a huge advantage.  Normally, everyone is cramming everything in their vehicles in the hopes that we can get it all to the venue.  We are a 7 piece band.  That is a lot of shit!  Poor Ron.  The man is a killer musician.  He  can do anything.  He can play wicked guitar, he can play keyboards.  You should hear him belt out "Simple Man" when we are farting around in practice by Skynyrd.  He has done it all.  Recorded, written and played in countless original and cover bands.  Being the drummer sucks, though.  It is a pain in the butt to set up and equally challenging to take down when you just played for three hours.  At least he did not have to put it in his car.  We were able to load and unload it for him.  That trailer makes a huge difference.  Thank God I do not have to drive it (although I am an excellent driver, not so much with my son's monster pick-up truck and trailer).

For the second show in a row, I brought a speaker so I could have a monitor but had a problem hooking it up, so I had to rely on listening to the overall mix like everyone else.  I really enjoyed Lisa, Richie, Ronnie and Ellen's harmonies.  They are always good, but it sounded great that day to me.  Those are four pretty talented people, and do not forget that Ellen and Ron are playing instruments while harmonizing!   As usual, Lisa and Richie just do not disappoint.  I really enjoy being able to listen to both of them do their thing.  They bring such cool different factors to the songs they sing.  Every time I write one of these things lately (when Zippy McWiggy lets me – the normal writer of this blog), I end up gushing about Joe Smith.  He understands I am a moron, but that guy has it all.  First things first.  He IS A KILLER PLAYER.  I cannot believe I have got the privilege to be on the same stage (well as you know I am rarely on stage, as I wander around, but you are aware of what I am saying) these last 4 shows.  Our original guitarist Dave Gonzalez is also an amazing player, so I am just incredibly lucky to have had these experiences.  The thing that Joe does when he starts ripping those solos, is he is in the moment.  He just looks freaking cool when he does it, he has that stage presence that matches those chops!!!   Pretty amazing that he is as comfortable ripping a Steve Lukather, Neil Schon, Prince solo or creating cool textures in a song like "Counting Blue Cars".  He makes it look easy, and we all know it is not.  I feel that way about the other 6 folks in the band, but sometimes when Joe is taking a solo, I almost want to put the bass down and go sit in the audience to watch and listen. When Richie rips into "Second Chance" (which we did not play) or Lisa sings "The Story" (which we did not play) I get goose bumps.  I guess in my very annoying and verbose way I am saying how freaking lucky I have been to be playing music with these people.

For the second show in a row, we were unable to get through the set list in the time allotted.  Maybe I should shut up!!!  Set lists are a challenge to put together (because everyone has ideas and favorites), but it seems lately, it is harder to get through them.  At Salerno's, we only played a set and a half.  At the park we played 16 of 18 songs we had planned.  
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A special thanks to our friends and family who always show up, wherever we are playing. Another shout out to Laurie Murray, superintendent of recreation, who gave us the opportunity. 

I will shut up now!

Rob, the idiot bassist.

If you do not like long posts, skip this one……..  There is a ton to cover and a lot of thank you(s) to be distributed.

I am writing this at about midnight on Sunday, March 19th, two nights after the St. Patty's day show at Pub 78, a place that has been great to us in the last couple of years.  I am still buzzed with fun and adrenaline.  It was a crazy experience, but as I told the band, it is the most fun I have had to date, and I have a great time every time we play.
 
I had a ton of anxiety about this particular show because it was the first one in which we were trying out a brand new digital board, replacing our old one.  Eventually,  we will be running all of our instruments out of the board, but for the Pub, which is a smaller place, we only ran the vocals (Lisa, Richie as leads, and Ron and Ellen on backing vocals, and me on idiot commentary) and Ellen's nineteen (well 3) keyboards through it.  I asked Jake Helm, seriously, a kid genius, to run the board for us.  Jake works at "A Sound Education" (Sound Ed Webpage)  and has his own recording studio in his home with the same board.  He plays in multiple projects and plays multiple instruments.   The challenge is how do you mix those things with Jimmy and Joe's screaming guitars and the bass as they are coming out amps equally with the stuff coming out of the board.  We only had room for two monitors because we are a seven piece band and the stage area is built for a four piece, so that poses another challenge.  Jake came in and helped set up and worked his butt off the entire night.  Given the evening, the circumstances, I think the kid did an amazing job.  I am also incredibly jealous of his hair, his age and his skills.  What a great kid, and he really is a freakin' kid!!!!! 
 
My second piece of anxiousness was getting all the crap to the show.  Two woofers, two speakers, the board, (the back up board, our old one just in case – {yes I am neurotic when it comes to that stuff – I mean, I am a shitty bassist and I bring three basses to the show and two amps in case something doesn't work…}. – Billy the Barrel, because he has not missed a show, the box of never-ending chords and cables, the bear rug…. You get the picture) and Rob Blair was out of town.  I asked my son's friend, Mitch Beasley to drive my son's giant monster truck to the show because there is no way I am driving that thing, and along with Cielo Oviedo, help bring in and break down equipment.  Cielo, also in addition to having equally fantastic hair as Jake, was invaluable.  He helped bring in equipment, set up and break down and assisted Ronnie with the drum assembly and break down, which as Ronnie will tell you sucks, big time.  Cielo also took the majority of the photos that can be found on the photos page for the last two shows.    Mitchell and Cielo were super helpful and the band really appreciates all that they did.  Additionally, Tom Wiener, an Illinois State communication and production graduate helped wind up chords properly after the show.  The man is a magician, because every time I do it, they end up a spaghetti mess.

First things first… I have to give a huge shout out to three distinct groups:

1.  "The Neighborhood" which is defined as the people Jimmy and Ronnie grew up with in the City – they came out in numbers and all of them went up to Mrs. Cavanaugh to tell her how cool she is. 
2. "The Westchester folks" – Smitty, the Kadens, the Rollags, Laurie Murray, Tom Wiener (yes we have a friend named wiener) Alicia Blair, Sara Blair, The entire Adam's family (I just realized how funny that sounded) and if I missed someone, I am sorry. They came out in numbers and partied hard! 
3. The third group is the "Cavanaugh clan" so friends of, brothers, nephews, nieces, and cousins of Jimmy show up at nearly every show.  Chris and Kevin (& his wife Jackie), two of Jimmys' brothers rarely miss and his sister in law, Trisha was out of town or she would have been there.  A HUUUUUUUGE THANK YOU TO YOU three groups for all the support and for making that night a crazy good time.

 
Jake and the band kind of struggled through the first couple of songs to figure out the right levels.  I thought the crowd was super patient and everyone worked hard to get it right.  We seemed to find a grove around song 3 or 4 and went with it through the set.  We had several weird spinal tap like moments during the both sets.  All of the sudden, Joe cannot get sound.   Richie says, "Folks, we will be back in five."  Right after he says it in the mic, Joe connects a cable, or I think more than likely did an Arthur Fonzarelli (the Fonz – Click here to see who Joe Smith is really.... ) and cooly smacked his equipment and then it worked.  I could not remember the stupid note sequence and took four runs to actually start "Hot Child in the City."  Jimmy forgot to tune back after "Tainted Love" and needed a second before we could start, "Time for Me to Fly."  Lisa told me I had to stall because Joe had to go the bathroom, so I broke into a 5 joke Rodney Dangerfield imitation.  Jimmy says hold on, "I can't get any sound."  After a few seconds he realized he pulled out his chord and just had to plug it back into the guitar.  None of these things were all that bad, just funny things that happen when you are playing live. I am still learning, Joe, Lisa, Ron and Rich have played hundreds and hundreds of gigs, Jimmy and I are not even at 20 yet.  It only seemed to make the evening just more fun and crazy.  The first set settled in and I thought we gained momentum, The crowd really came alive when we ended the first set as Dave "Evad" Gonzalez, the original lead guitarist, taking Jimmy's place so Joe and him could rip it up.  They did not disappoint as we tore through versions of "When You Close your Eyes" and "LaGrange."  Damn that was fun watching those two trade off.  Joe is freakin' amazing  and it was cool to have Dave back even if only for two songs.  
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The highlights for me were five specific things amongst a crazy fun evening. 

• The first is how many people were singing along with Richie and Lisa all night.  Nearly every song had a bunch of people singing back at us.  That is an amazing feeling.  One of those folks, my cousin, Patti Vendegna and her buddy Nancy, sang all night long.  Super fun having your relatives at the show, as Jim can attest because half the people at any one show are named Cavanaugh.
• Lisa cranking out "Here's to Us: by Halestorm.  Every time she sings it, it gives me goose bumps.  The first time she sang it was Tailgater's right after her older brother had passed away.  Both her and Richie are freaking amazing, singing every song in the original key, no tuning down because these two are AMAZING FREAKS OF NATURE.   The emotion in how she delivers with Jimmy and Joe's subtle and elegant guitar playing make the song one of my favorites.
• "THE LAST IN LINE" by DIO absolutely destroyed the building.  Joe and Ronnie kicked the shit out of it, but man oh man, RICHIE DESTROYED IT.  There were a lot of rockers left in the house for the second set, but Wayne Rollag and Chris Cavanaugh lost their minds!!!!   It was AMAZING!!!!  That is not an easy tune to play or sing, and the crowd loved it.  We are BiPolar Bear and we are gonna play a Eurythmics tune ("Would I Lie to You") and an oldie like "Vehicle".  But with the collective varied taste in the band, we are also gonna give "Line" a shot, and as I said, those three musicians brought the house down!!!!!!
• Jen, the co-owner of Pub 78 said if everyone kept tipping well she was gonna dress up in a banana suit, and guess what she did!!!  I snuck behind the bar while we playing "Drunk" by Elle King and Miranda Lambert and the banana started dancing with me!!!! WTF!!!!  You can not make that up.
• Jim Cavanaugh's clothes were amazing.  I believe they may have been purchased here.. (Jim Cavanaugh endorsed rock clothing ).  Jimmy always puts a lot of thought in what he is gonna wear.  Ronnie, gonna dress in a t shirt and some comfortable pants to drum.  Joe is gonna wear a cool t-shirt some jeans and killer boots make of eel skin or something.  Jimmy, well you just never know and tonight he was off the charts.

 
I sense another t-shirt coming with the catch phrase, "no one has more fun at a BiPolar Bear show than "JELLYBEAN"!!!!!"  Jellybean (I will only say her first name to protect her professional image as an esthetician) is an old college friend of Lisa and Rob Smola.  She let the party rip, singing every song, dancing on tables, we LOVE JELLYBEAN!!!!   Honorable mention goes to a friend of mine, a proud St. Lawrence Mom and rocking mad woman, Sara Morelli.  She was singing and dancing and really went nuts during the second set.  Sara designed a digital flyer for the show on the 22nd which you can see on the shows page.
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As we were playing "Last in Line" and "Juke Box Hero" I kept thinking to myself, how lucky am I that I get to play with these super amazing talented people.  Joe is pushing us to another level.  Ellen adds such cool pieces on keyboards and her harmonies are spot on.  Ron is just a monster behind the kit.  Jimmy works hard and provides a key sonic piece in filling the rhythm of each song.  Our singers as I said are just freaks.  They let it loose and both have amazing power and touch.  I really can't remember them not giving it everything during the shows.  There are some great bands out there, with amazing musicians, but I will tell you, when you see us, even when goofy things happen, does anyone look like they are having any more fun than us (except Ronnie when he gives me dirty looks for a wrong note)??? No way, and it is because of our friends, family and the folks that go to the shows are crazy supportive.
 
All right, I am finally gonna shut up!!!!!
 
Hope to see you on the 22nd.
 
Rob, the idiot bassist!!!

I was not real sure what to think when Jimmy Cavanaugh presented the idea of playing the polar plunge at Lawler's bar in Chicago.  A Sunday afternoon show in the city after some brave souls jump in Lake Michigan to raise money for the Special Olympics was yet another different venue for band.

It was an absolute beautiful day (March 5th) and I am sure the plungers (is that the word?) appreciated the sunshine and warmer weather as opposed to snow and death defying below temperatures.  Ronnie, Jimmy, Ellen and Rob (along with roadies Rob Blair and Cielo Oviedo) arrived pretty early as the tent was finishing being constructed.  They got an early start on setting up when we realized Ronnie's cymbals were still in Jimmy C's garage.  Ian Cavanaugh came to the rescue and brought them out in plenty of time.

The band had not played a show since August and worked with the newest part of the Bear, Joe "The Baron Von Tappin" Smith on the set list as well as adding new songs.  Wow, did the Baron deliver, ripping note for note solos by Steve Lukather, Neil Schon and Prince.   Holy Shi*, did he slay Purple Rain!

Perhaps my favorite part of the entire experience featured Richie getting a few of the Athletes in a circle and getting them dancing and singing during the first set.  Those kids were out there for a good chunk of the first set.  Dancing later occurred as several of the (overserved???) patrons were flying like airplanes during the REO – "Time for Me to Fly" classic.

I do not know how to spell Joe "the sound guy's" last name (phonetically it is Boe – Sell -ie, I think).  He plays in several bands all over Chicago including a country and Americana cover band.  He did a killer job on sound.  Perhaps we were a little loud because we were on one side of the tent and a good chunk of the audience was in back, eating, singing and drinking.  In my opinion, sound is such a challenging thing, especially with a seven piece band. Rik Kroll, Kevin Cavanaugh and Nick Madsen have done awesome jobs for us previously and Tailgater's was phenomenal.  Joe did a great job and I heard several comments that the vocals were mixed real well so everyone could hear Lisa and Richie clearly with no squeaking etc. as well as the background work of Ellen and Ron. 

A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ROB BLAIR AND CIELO OVIEDO for all the help in setting up and breaking down and loading equipment.  Cielo also took the pictures on the page for this event  {www.bipolarbearband.net/polar-bear-plunge---352023.html.}

It was a pretty cool experience, and we might just go back next year, you never know.

Rob, the idiot bass player!

It took a while to get this last show written up, and I think that is because I wanted to savor it a bit.  Show 13 (including the two yard parties we played at the Cavanaugh residence to our friends and family) felt like the end of a cycle.  The show at Salerno’s in Hodgkins took place on 9/24/2022, but it took 3 weeks for me to write this up. During those 13 shows, the band played 13 unique set lists composed of 51 tunes, some were played at nearly every show, and some were only played once.  Now with winter approaching, the band is probably going to take some time off, eventually reconvene and hopefully even further expand the BiPolarBear Palette with some additional material to get ready for when spring rolls around.  

The Salerno’s show (number 2) was marked by a modest but enthusiastic crowd, with a core staying to the very last note.  Richie had them screaming for more with his vocals on the White Snake Classic, “Here I Go Again” while Lisa had them in the palm of her hand for Halestorm’s “Here’s to Us,” marking only the second time the band played that live (with Tailgater’s being the first).  “The Prozac Portion of our program” as the idiot bassist introduced with Henley’s “Heart of the Matter,” and the Oasis classic, “Champagne Supernova,” appeared to go over well with the enthusiastic crowd.  All night Richie and Lisa were on their vocal games, but you have to add a tip of the cap (or a do rag to keep the sweat out of your eyes because of your bald head) to Ron and Ellen, who not only did a great job on keys and drums, but added killer layers of harmony vocals all night.

Richie was so pumped; he forced the band into playing one more song after Purple Rain (which has been the standard closer).  The one hit wonder of Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta” was the final song of the night.  Special shout out and thanks to Rik Kroll for his sound work (the vocals were amazing) and superfan Trish Cavanaugh, who seemingly is at every show and helped produce the silent film of nut shots, prat falls and goofs playing on screen behind the band.

Additionally, thanks to everyone’s encouragement and attendance.  I know I have had a ridiculously fun time embarrassing myself in front of those of you who attend and I know the band is chopping at the bit to get back out there.  Hope to see you soon.

​In for Zippy, the idiot bassist  (10/10/2022)

Having completed three shows in 5 weeks, the band had to be pooped at the conclusion of the Mayfair Field show on August 3rd.   This show had a lot of crazy external weather things going on well before the band started to set up at 5 PM that day.  

The weather was absolutely bizarre.  I suspect that the bands very own Tom Skilling (Jimmy Cavanaugh) stayed up all night studying barometric pressure, wind charts, the farmer’s almanac, and the theory of rain (thegeoroom.co.zw/climatology/rainfall-formatio​n-theories/).  Monday and Tuesday were warm cloudless days, and Wednesday started off that way, and then depending if you stood in your back yard or front, it was monsooning (I believe that is a made up word, but you get the picture) on one side and sunny on the other.

When the band began carrying the equipment to the stage, the clouds would alternately clear, and then drizzle.  Forcing the band to start and stop setting up, start and then cover the equipment with tarps and garbage bags.  Did I mention it was humid as a Florida gator swamp  (img-aws.ehowcdn.com/700x/cdn.onlyinyourstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20160319-132629-largejpg-700x394.jpg?).  Doing the best, he could with the equipment he had, Nick Madsen tried to get the sound right.  But as this reporter is learning, this is an elusive and challenging art.  The Mayfair stage was set up on some planks and bricks in the outfield of the East Field, so there is no shell to really base the sound against.  The drizzle, the humidity and the gremlins that apparently follow the band around to these outdoor shows were affecting lots of things, but Nick and the band soldiered on giving it the old college try.

Hats off to both Lisa Strzelecki and Danny Dunn (open.spotify.com/artist/7muPMJKYfmShWtkfVEXZh2) on lead vocals.  These outdoor shows are not easy between the heat and finicky monitors, but they dug in and blasted through 20 songs.  The gremlins were particularly angry with the idiot bassist as his normally trusty wireless system failed him.  He could not wander about, scaring the patrons with his bare feet.  Instead, he was tethered to be near his amp and mic.  As a result of this stress, moronically, he had to be reminded to introduce Lisa because he simply forgot.

The purple Gatorade award goes to Ron “Rolly Tolly” Townsend, who frighteningly drummed so hard in the heat, he lost 1/3 of his body weight.  Carrying the percussion around, setting them up, breaking them down, unloading and resetting up in the rehearsal space is a pain in the keister.  Rob Blair, super roadie, was again there to help Ron, but it is still a challenging task.

The band dusted off a few cuts they had not played in a while.  Dishwalla’s “Counting Blue Cars” and Harvey Danger’s “Flag Pole Sitta” were back for the show. For only the second time, the band got to blast out the Scorps’ cover of Soft Cell’s, “Tainted Love.”  Scorpions’ version is quite a different feel than the camp of Soft Cell.

Jimmy Cavanaugh debuted a “Mad Max” shirt he got on Etsy in front of his hometown crowd.  Sadly Aldo wore a hat, concealing his rock star hair.  Once again, many people in the audience were in fact related to Mr. Cavanaugh. Quite frankly, at the conclusion of the Mayfair show, the 12th in band history, I am starting to believe there could be a town or a province which could be densely populated by people only of Cavanaugh descent!  Thank goodness they show up to these events and that they reproduce at such a high rate!

​Zippy McWiggy

The band got in a 90 minute set in front of a really receptive, fun and large crowd at Kiwanis park in B as part of the Summer Concert Series for the Brookfield Park District .  This reporter can confirm that it was freakin’ hot!  Rob the bass player was quoted as saying, “We are not going to comment on it being warm, but we are concerned the drummer will spontaneously combust!”  Poor Ronnie drummed through it like a trooper.  Perhaps it was his aerodynamic haircut that inspired his brave performance?

It was a weird night for several reasons.  Because of the humidity, rain and perhaps the invisible gremlins hiding amongst us, mics suddenly would go out, weird buzzing noises haunted Richie and a very small amount of rain fell on the crowd seemingly from a cloudless sky for a few minutes.  The crowd was kind and patient as the band and Rick Kroll from RAK sound battled through it.

There was a lot of folks singing back at the stage and 707’s “I Could Be Good For You.” Also getting a decent sing along and reception, were “Jump” (VH), Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and Chicago’s (actually Berwyn’ very own) Ides of March song – “Vehicle.”

During the first several songs a mosh pit of 5 to 7 little kids aging in ranges of 4 to maybe 8 took over the center area in front of the stage.  In one of the best moments of the night, during "Jump", the undeniable Richie LaFaire, attempted to get person after person to give him a vocal on his microphone.  Person one, refused, person two made a face - no vocals, third person gave him the "hand of no."  The fourth person looked to be an elderly man who might have fallen asleep before Richie finally got the fifth person to give him a  "JUMP!” Well done Mr. LaFaire.
​
Any of you that have attended biPOLARbear shows in the past must notice that Jim Cavanaugh carefully pieces together the clothes he wears for each performance.  The band was unaware that he was actually going to be dressed in costume as the construction worker for famed disco group, The Village People.
 

 Til next time,
Zippy McWiggy

Zippy will be back for the next show report, this is Rob (Bob, Bobby, Boober, Boobster, Bobert, Ellen’s Roadie, Hey Asshol*), the idiot bassist and I wanted to write about the experience of playing at Tailgaters bar and grill in Bolingbrook.

To be a bit selfish here, Tailgaters has been an important place to me for a long time.  For probably a dozen years or more, the bar sponsored the 12” softball team I played on for 31 of it’s 32 years of existence (Cool It Ringo stopped playing as of this year, 2022, It began in 1989.  Yes, the name of the team was Cool It Ringo, and if you really want to know the genesis of the team’s name, just ask me).  Additionally, over the years with either Jimmy Cavanaugh, my brother Jimmy Smola or fraternity brother Dave Kaczorowski I have seen killer national acts play at Tailgaters.  Uriah Heep, Stryper, Local H, Geoff Tate (formerly of Queensryche) and Dio’s Disciples have all graced the stage of that cool ass place.  I can now say, so did BiPolar Bear!!!  What a trip. 

This was the most fun I have ever had playing with the band!  And pretty much whether it is full band practice, mini practice with Jimmy and the blue tooth speaker, or a show, I have too much fun.  Tailgaters is an awesome place.  Food is amazing, the staff is very friendly and the bar/restaurant/stage inside is awesome.  Two professional sound and light people work for the bar and they are crazy good.  Starr Lee and Glenn Curtis are absolutely brilliant, they can even make me sound competent!!

We had a ridiculous amount of snafus trying to secure an opening band…. I think the final count was four or five bands that said they would play, then (much like lovers practicing the rhythm method) they pulled out! So… BiPolar Bear opened for BiPolar Bear.

The band ripped thru two 18 song sets!  We debuted three new ones, Eddie Money’s “Shakin’”, a Scorpions’ laced version of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” and Halestorm’s anthem, “Here’s to Us.”  I get goosebumps several times a show.  When Richie belts out Shinedown’s “Second Chance,” when I hear Ronnie do the double kick in Vehicle, When Aldo (and Dave before him) starts shredding in “Purple Rain” and I can now add Lisa’s performance of that Halestorm song to the list.  Before we played it, she gave an impassioned dedication to her older brother James, who battled Parkinson’s disease and recently passed away.  Her heartfelt intro and then her emotional performance brought me to tears.  It is a great song and she killed it!!!!

The band is a little leery of my effusive praise of them, but I can not express how much fun it is to play with these people!!!! On top of it, to be playing at a place like this with one of my dearest friends on the planet (Mr. BiPolar Bear himself), Jimmy Cavanaugh, is a lot of joy to process.  I am still on an adrenaline high as I write this on Wednesday evening/Thursday morning.

The show was even more special for me because I had six fraternity brothers there, several dear friends, my son and wife.  What a trip, playing on that stage, with that sound, with the awesome humans in bipolar bear in that place!  Finally, during “Switching to Glide/This Beat Goes On” after I had 4 other patrons doing the pogo with me (tying the record of Pub 78 second time), my wife came up to me while I was playing, and motor boated (www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=motorboating) me!!!  My God, can it get any better?
 
Rob (Zippy will be back next time).