PUB 78 (8th Pub Appearance), A GIANT BUNNY, A DISAPPEARING, REAPPEARING THEN DISAPPEARING CROWD, STOIC SQUIRREL, AND A BITTERSWEET END (show date - 4/4/2026)

​We knew when we booked April 4 that attendance could be dicey. It was the day before Easter, and the two men’s NCAA basketball finals were scheduled during showtime. During soundcheck and the first 28 minutes of the show, we were worried—the Pub had maybe 40 people in it. As soon as Illinois lost to Connecticut at about 7:29, the place filled up. I asked Rhythm Guitarist Emeritus Jimmy Cavanaugh (Jimmy's alter ego)  , who was in attendance, what he thought the number swelled to. Jimmy and I estimated the bar ended up with about 100 people or so. What a relief—and what an amazing crowd, who got to hear new songs like “Paradise City,” “Beggin,” and “Stacy’s Mom.” Unfortunately, they missed a band member in a giant bunny suit (Pictures from show) because that came off around the 28-minute mark. The bunny also handed out candy from his basket before the show started.  After the first set concluded and half way through the second set, the crowd reduced again to about 40 to 50 who remained for the one song encore.
 
In another turn of events, as the bunny was passing out candy, Kevin Cavanaugh—sitting at the bar with his wife, the lovely Jackie—asked, “Did you guys really change the band name?” The oblivious bunny, focused on distributing treats to the crowd, did not notice Mike, Ellen, Kevin, Lisa, and Keith standing on stage sporting beautifully fresh “Stoic Squirrel” shirts. For the past two years, on April 1st, the band has sarcastically changed its name—and will continue to do so every April Fool’s Day—to Stoic Squirrel (famously named after Kevin’s misinterpretation of an Alanis Morissette lyric).
 
As a band, we record every rehearsal and every show (when Rob remembers to hit record) on a device (like a Zoom mic) that gives us a good sense of what’s going on, though it’s not professional per se. This is not an exercise in hubris, but rather a quality improvement activity to identify anything that needs fixing (like Rob wandering off and starting the chorus of “Drunk” before Mike gave him the look to get back on track) or to gauge how the audience responded to a song or performance. One of the most fun parts of listening back to a show is hearing Lisa’s sneaky comments on the microphone. She slips them in quickly, and they are sharp and hilarious. Kevin, who does not have a microphone, often yells things out from behind his kit that the recording catches—and those are equally amusing.
 
Other highlights for me are the new songs. It was fun trying to keep up with Keith’s riffage on “Paradise City,” nailing the timing of “Beggin,” and trying not to get hypnotized by Lisa’s amazing vocal on “One.” Dr. Keith’s beautiful guitar intro to “Eruption,” blending into J.S. Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” was a great and appropriately serene surprise. Mike’s strong vocal deliveries on “You May Be Right” and “Secret Agent Man” are becoming show staples. I always write about Ms. Lisa’s vocal gifts—her ability to move from Mary J. Blige and Brandi Carlile to Axl Rose, and even a kind of supercharged fusion of Eric Burdon and Haley Reinhart on “House of the Rising Sun” (brilliantly arranged by Mike with a loud-soft-loud dynamic), is breathtaking.  Keith’s debut scat/wrap vocal on “Beggin” was worth the price of admission (which was free and that makes no sense).  The Pub and BPB are a super fun combination.
 
A final note: Show 34 (Pub 78—#8) was Ellen Backlin’s last as a member of BPB. She has been an important part of Bipolar Bear’s evolution, playing in 32 of our 34 shows. She has an enormous heart and a love for music and performing that has been a cornerstone of the band since she joined in October 2019. As I have learned, change is inevitable in bands—they are not static entities. To grow and improve, they must constantly push forward, evolve, and adapt. Even when membership stays the same, growth is essential. Being in a band has taught me that change is inevitable (just like every other aspect of life), and Bipolar Bear is no different. At the show, Dave Gonzalez (another Guitarist Emeritus) and Jimmy C were both there. We usually have a show once a year where alumni come back and play a couple of songs with us. Hopefully, Ellen will do that in the future as she navigates what comes next musically. Whatever she decides, BPB will be cheering her on.
 
Now we look ahead to the six shows we have coming up (I think). As always, thanks to those who come out to our shows and have fun with us, and for the support our families provide. A final shout-out to Nick Madsen, who continues to do great sound for us when called upon. The Pub is a tough room for sound, especially with an audience that changes so much throughout the night.

​Rob, Bass, Bunny Suit, Stunt Vocals