The First Show as BPB 3.0; a bad "G" string and the genius of the "Stoic Squirrel."

Cut back to 11/2/2024 and as the band completes the last notes of "Purple Rain", little did everyone in that room and especially Lisa, Ellen and Rob know that the next performance would be very different.  BiPolar Bear has prided itself in a couple of things; one – to play a different show every time, whether that is a different set list, different songs etc, and two,  to have a good time.  That last show of 2024 was a really fun one.  But it was the end of something.  After that show, we as a band knew that David "Evad" Gonzalez was leaving because he was only sitting in for the last 4 shows of the year when Sebastian Marecki left earlier in 2024.   The band did not know that Jimmy Cavanaugh and Paul Wilhelm, two huge anchors of BiPolar Bear would be leaving also.   Lisa, Ellen and Rob, after recovering from such a crash of those departures decided to move forward and see if they could put together Humpty Bipolar Bear Dumpty. 

The steps in putting that band (egg) back together are detailed in Band Story Part 3 .   If you are offended by gushing about and complimenting people, please stop reading…..   So fast forward with only 6 full rehearsals under our collective belt to Heroes West in Lemont, 7 PM on February 15 and Don the sound guy yells, "You're Live."  Note, This is the most nervous I have been since the very first show in Jimmy's back yard in August of 2019 where I felt I was going to pass out during the first set. Doctor Keith Taddei starts strumming the beginning chords of "Closing Time", Ellen joins in with the keyboard part and then the wonderful and amazing voice of BPB (Lisa) starts the initial verse.  Oh my, all is good in the world again.  The adrenaline is intoxicating (which my bandmates will tell you, I am usually 'high" on the show for a week.  Eventually there is a horrible post show crash, which leaves me in a puddle of sadness when all the dopamine departs, but that is a story for another day).   We rip through a 60 minute set in about 62 minutes (which was the official count of the recording…)  I butcher "Uninvited" because my G string (not what you are thinking, pervs…) is completely out of tune making my octave jumps sound as if a speeding Etzel has plowed into a screaming Ostrich.  Kevin Vesel, who played an amazing show on drums, prematurely moves to the second section of "LaGrange" without allowing the stupid vocal intro, before Professor Mike Morsovillo calms us all down and directs us to float back to the beginning so we can give it the proper initial verse are really the only two burps besides us stopping "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" to change out my bass.  The rest of it was pretty freakin' fun!

The crowd was really responsive and appreciative.  According to Pete Covelli from Eleven the Band, all tables were sold out.  Doctor Keith Taddai, playing his first live show in 10 years, destroyed the house with his killer work all night (sizzled on "Rock You Like A Hurricane").  Professor Mike Morsovillo is just a cool cat, and his bluesy licks were devoured by those in attendance.   I think the guy who deserves the most credit here despite the amazing chops of the two fellas mentioned before is Kevin "Stoic Squirrel" Vesel.  He plays drums in Like A Stone and they just played a 3 hour set on New Years Eve, and then he had to learn all of our stuff for this show.  He was awesome (except when he cuts me off from my verse in "LaGrange").   He held the band together with his solid rhythm and cool percussion parts.  It allowed everyone else to do their thing with confidence.  Don't get me wrong, it was not a perfect show….I don't think there ever is one, but it was our first show together, live without a net.  Lisa and Ellen were their usual stellar selves.  I think other than my ruining "Uninvited" that night,  it is still my favorite song to play and listen to; Lisa and Ellen's harmonies are  ethereal and intoxicating and Keith's work on the song is absolutely amazing.   Mike was awesome all night but his singing and his sizzling solo work on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" were mesmerizing, plus he slaughtered the Lukather solo in "Hold the Line".  That was the first live performance of that song since the August of 2019 backyard debut of the BPB and I don't see it leaving the set list for a while. 

I cannot say how incredibly happy and honored I am to play in a band with these people.  I am pretty enchanted that they put up with me.   They are really amazing players, but they also are really good people!  They are talented, funny and kind.  Thanks for everyone who continues to support us, especially our families.  I really want to again emphasize how lucky we are that we found Keith, Mike and Kevin and  They saved the band, really.
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So, now onto the next one, our home, Pub 78 on ST. Patty's day weekend.  Dr. Keith will be on assignment (what does that mean, is he inventing a new Physics Theorem to save the world, is he working on a secret coup for the CIA……? We just don't know), and Jimmy and Dave will be back to help us through the insanity that will be that show.   The Pub is always nuts, but St. Patty's day will be even more crazy.  Hope to see you all on March 15th at the Pub.