Saturday night music

[norseman]

The bride and I found a sitter for Allie last night and took in a really good show. We went and saw a Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison tribute concert to support our troops. The show was at the Moorehead Mn armory. Both guys did a very good job (exellent). They were backed up by the shadows, the backup band for Bobby Vee who filled in in the old arena that fateful night in feb. There was alot of chronologically enhanced teenagers there If you closed your eyes you couldnt tell it was 2008. When they started they asked the audience if anyone was at the original show, there was quite a few hands go up. We're on the waiting list for tickets for the 50th anniversary winter party tour show coming up this winter.
One thing that really kinda bothers me is that Karrie and I were the youngest people there, we're in our early 40s.The music is awesome, just pure old rock and roll the way it was meant to be. The younger generation isnt catching onto this and our roots are disappearing, kinda sad..

 

[tfeverfred]

Glad you had a good time. Good rock and roll will never die.

 

[Tbucit]

Not to worry Paul like the rest of us old uh uh vintage guys you'll be there soon enough.

Randall

 

[der Spieler]

In 1999 I went to a show at the Laramar in Fort Dodge that was billed as the 40th Anniversary Winter Dance Party Tour. It featured John Mueller as Buddy Holly, Ernie Valens (Richie's cousin) as Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson's son doing the Big Bopper set. The tour ended in Clear Lake at the Surf Ballroom, where the music died. The show was great and there were a lot of kids there but that may be due to the fact that there are still a lot of people in this area who were at the concerts in 1959.

The crash site is about 45 miles from me and I used to manage the weather station at the Mason City airport, where the plane was rented that took Holly and the others to meet their fate. Jerry Dwyer, who owned the FBO (and the airplane) at the time and who still owned it when I worked up there was a much sought after interview every February when they reenacted the Winter Dance Party at the Surf. (I just checked the Surf's website and the 2009 Winter Dance Party is sold out.) The story was that he still had the plane's wreckage stored in a warehouse somewhere in the area. I was told it was on the airport but I don't remember if I ever asked Jerry about it or if he ever gave me an answer.

People from all over, including from as far away as England, would come for the 4 day celebration of the music. I just wasn't us old folks that attended either. There were lots of young kids, probably from 8 years old on up, who came with their parents. Little girls in poodle skirts and pony tails and little boys with pegged black jeans, white T-shirts and hair combed back into DAs. Every effort was being made to keep the music alive.

When I was in high school the Surf was our weekend haunt when the 'good' bands were playing there; Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, and others of the early 60s. The place was restored to its original 1948 appearance several years ago and was still going strong. I haven't been in about 5 years but the last time I was there the old magic was as strong as ever.

To get to the Surf exit Iowa I-35 at exit 195, go west about two miles, turn left on Buddy Holly drive and go south to the 'T', turn right and it will be a half block down on your right. The Surfside Cafe is open every day and you are free to wander through the ballroom and look at all of the memorabilia and historical mementos of the era. If you are into the oldies and are ever in the Clear Lake area it is worth a visit. There are several gold records on the walls, autographed photos of all of the acts that have performed there over the years. There is a Gibson guitar in a glass case on a wall that was presented to the Surf a few years ago. Waylon Jennings performed there a year or so before he died. It was the first time he had performed there since the 1959 Winter Dance Party. The guitar was removed from the case and Jennings played it for awhile and then they put it back. That is the only time that Gibson has ever been played.

So that's the end of my treatise on the oldies and shameless plug for the Surf Ballroom http://surfballroom.com. Hope I didn't bore you too badly.

 

[norseman]

Thats great news speiler! Ive been tossing around making the pilgrimage to clear lake some weekend, its only about a 6 hour drive. Less if I get in a hurry.
The old moorehead armory was replaced many years ago. I lived a couple blocks from it when I was a youngster. Coming up for us its a get togather at the old fargo theatre, I dont think its an official winter party tour stop. Just a show put togather locally. I guess rock and roll will never die but its hard to watch it change. I sound like my parents..
Around lakes country here we had alot of old ballrooms/pavilions most of which are now gone.where these old bands played. Hards to believe they would have stepped foot in some of these old dives...