Remember that time we played at the Kenley Amphitheater and had such a good time with a couple hundred friends, new and old? It was last weekend, the final show of the Sunday concert series hosted by Davis Arts Council, and we already miss it and are looking forward to a chance to play there again. .
Thanks to all who came out, and especially thanks to the Davis Arts Council for supporting the entire series and our performance.
Here’s a few photos from our scrapbook of the evening. (Maybe some videos will follow so we can keep living in the moment until our fall gigs start ramping up.)
Pre show photo in the green room.In the groove on stage.Caryn steps aside to listen.Post-show selfie.
We haven’t made too much of a big deal about this, but we’ve been really really excited about our return to the Kenley Amphitheater since we signed the contract back in the spring. We get to play there again, 60 minutes of uninterrupted, all ages, free music on Sunday, August 25 from 7:00 – 8:00p.
So. So. Excited. We have the setlist with fun new stuff and playful transitions sprinkled in. Adam gets to play the big piano, Matt gets his own drum riser, and Tim’s bass gets pumped through the mains. Cheer as the Diva walks out onto the stage while the band backs her up — it will make her evening and set the mood for the whole show.
Summer is officially here and we’re ramping back up into the season. We have gigs coming up, including this Friday (June 21 2024) at Grand America Lobby Lounge, 7-10p. That’s followed by some backyard gigging the following week, and then returns to lounges of the Lighthouse in Ogden and Grand America in the big city again in July. And more to come — big shows on stages this summer and fall!
In the midst of all this, we’re waving goodbye to Ian, founding member and “no worries” drummer. He’s headed out to the Oregon coast and we’re already imagining how we can get out to visit. As we pivot and adjust, we have Matt Johnson sitting in with us at the drums, and as we’ve been feeling our way through rehearsals with him we’re excited to keep working with him for as long as he’ll put up with us. Matt’s well known in Ogden circles, stages, and studio as a drummer who can play anything and with anyone, so we’re lucky to have him. This Friday is Matt’s debut with the band, so come out and encourage him to stick around.
But here’s also to a fond farewell to Ian. In our last gig with him, a backyard celebration with friends and family, we had a rare impromptu addition at vocals, Ian’s daughter, Elouise. She took over and stole the show. Take a look at the proud dad behind the drum kit — and maybe admire the fact that the guy at keyboard is taking video and playing at the same time.
Elouise is our new diva.
Safe travels and smooth transitions to Ian and family! We hope to see the rest of you out on the music scene.
When you think “drummer,” maybe you imagine Ringo Starr or Buddy Rich, maybe Bonham, Copeland, Blakey, Peart, or even Animal. All good choices.
But we’ll take Ian over any of them.
p/c Ruth Silver for Van Sessions
Here’s the scoop: Our co-founding member of the band and foundation of all things rhythmic and sensible is moving with family out to Oregon. He’ll leave behind a successful music program at his school and a devastated band.
(Quick interjection here: We’ll figure this out and we’ve got strategies for the short and long term that include appropriate kick and hi-hat. We’re not going away. And Ian will always be a founding member and will hold the title of Drummer Emeritus. I just made that up, but I think we can all agree this is appropriate.)
But he’s still with us here in Utah for a few more weeks, including this weekend at what will likely be his last public gig with the band. Come celebrate with us at
Gandy Dancer, Saturday, May 11, from 6-8p. All ages, free — but please get ice cream and food and wish our most outstanding drummer and very good friend a fond sendoff.
Ian doesn’t draw a lot of attention to himself, but any band member or student or colleague will be happy to tell you that he’s the heartbeat and backbone of what we do. Buy him a banana split and cheer him on for a drum solo or two.
In other news, we had a great time out in Huntsville last weekend playing on their sunny stage before the snow fell the next day:
Standards & Substandards 