​3 Bananas, 2 Encores, Pub 78 for the 5th time and the winds of change.

It has taken me a while to write this because it sucks when a year ends for the band.  It does feel that we are in year cycles.  Starts in January when we start to plan what we are doing, and unfortunately we seem to have to deal with the reality of personnel changes.  We knew Dave was subbing in on guitar and that he was helping us out until the year ended.  We are all so glad he did, because we played six really fun shows this year, two with Sebastian on guitar at Pub 78 and Bannerman’s, and 4 with Dave.  Those “Dave” shows were equally crazy and fun.  We started opening for the True Villains at “Westchester Fun Fest”, journeyed out to McHenry County and played Bugsy’s, opened for Eleven at Heroes’ West in Lemont and finished up with the show I am going to summarize in the following post.

There is something really special for us about Pub 78.  Each and every time we play there, it feels ridiculously fun.  Every show is fun, seriously, but Pub 78 shows seem to be even a bit more.  It is such an intimate experience, the audience is on top of the performance area,  the turnout is always great and you never know what is going to happen.  This time did not disappoint.  We were able to get Ellen’s boyfriend, Dennis Melzer to join the band on “Secret Agent Man” after we ripped through a few tunes including “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and “My Own Worst Enemy”.  After Dennis did a great job, it was time for frequent guest, Jerry Madsen to lend some vocals.  Jerry guested on Badfinger’s “Not Matter What” and The Ides of March’s “Vehicle” to which Jimmy C lended a closing scream to the conclusion.  Jerry then hit his vocal effects pedal and channeled Satan as he growled through the first few verses of ZZ Top’s “LaGrange”.  Billy Gibbons sings it low, but Jerry went Beelzebub low!  We worked in some of our newer songs like “What’s Up” and “Closing Time” and Creed’s “My Sacrifice”.  

The wheels came off during the second set.  Ma Cavanaugh, dressed as a banana got on stage and danced.  I do not remember what song it was, but I remember my bass bouncing off my midsection because I couldn’t stop laughing.  What a great sport Ma Cavanaugh is to just get up and have a great time!  Later, Jen the co owner of Pub 78, dressed in the banana suit,  was dirty dancing with me during a song (check the picture page) and later another Banana joined us on stage.  That is a three banana show!  I also laid on floor during the entire “Rocky Mountain Way” and my brother walked away in disgust (well that was what Jimmy Cavanaugh thought, but Jimmy Smola just had to use the washroom).  When Dave finished ripping the solo in “Purple Rain” we thought we were done.  But the crowd (a large portion who did stay for the second set), started to chant, “One more song, one more song.”  So, we plugged  back in and played the one hit wonder “Flag Pole Sitta”. Okay, now we should be done, but the crowd demanded one more.  We were able to give them The Foo Fighter’s “Learn to Fly”.   That was it, we were spent!  But what a great time and super cool to play 2 encores.  We did one encore two years ago at Salerno’s but this was a new record for us.

Lisa sounded amazing that night.  Paul was his usual incredible self and Ellen was awesome on harmonies and keys.  At the end of the evening when all of us posed for a picture, I took a deep breath and was thankful for yet another year with this band.  BiPolar Bear 2.0 had rebuilt and completed six shows and countless rehearsals.   I would like to thank Lisa, Paul, Ellen, Sebastian and Dave for making music with me this year.  I want to thank Jen Cavanaugh and Jimmy for providing the rehearsal space for us this year and our practice space since 2015 when Jimmy and I started on this goofy journey.  I want to thank Jimmy C for asking me to join him in this pursuit; it has been an amazing journey since we started.  I want to acknowledge our families for all their support in regards to the time we spend pursuing our hobby!  Most of all I want to thank everyone who booked us, came out to a show or said a kind word of encouragement.   The boys in Eleven, True Villains who we had the amazing privilege of opening for, we are grateful for the friendship and the musical encouragement.

I do not know what the future holds, the winds of change seem to always stir as we begin to plot the next year.   I can promise you, Bipolar Bear will be back, playing again, and as soon as we know when, we will let you know!!!

​HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE SLEEPING BEAR!!!!