Byron's Newsletters Archive

Mr. Procastinator here. It has been awhile since the last letter. I haven't been able to sit for a while since I lost my ass(again) on my last show. Dexter Grove was fantastic, but only nine people paid to watch them. Besides the monetary loss it was a shame more people didn't get to experience them. They said it was the most attentive small crowd they ever played for. They will be back.

My next show is the jam band, Cerulean City, from New York City. The three piece band is going to rock at 5:00pm on Sunday, March 21, 2004. I love how music critic Noel Black put it. "Believe me, Hegelian dialectics dictate that this kind of music will be the hipster flavor of the month in the next six months." So please come out and restore my ass to me.

Saturday, April 10, 2004, brings in the duo of Andy Durand featuring Jeff Mark. Andy has been playing guitar professionally for 35 years and brings his own jazzy feel to old favorites and also his own material. Complementing his guitar work is Jeff Mark, on saxophone, to bring a full enjoyable sound to the music. Show starts at 9:00pm with a $5 cover charge.

My 9th Annual Benefit for Hemophilia of Iowa, Inc. is scheduled for April 16 through April 24, 2004. Rob Lumbard, acoustic guitarist from Des Moines, will again kick things off on Saturday, April 17, 2004, for a no cover show starting at 9:00 pm. Hemophilia is an inherited blood disorder where their blood doesn't clot as effectively as a regular person. Tyler Carlson has been my poster child all these years but now he has moved to Dublin, Georgia. Tyler is now 19 years old and is doing well. The benefit consists of a balloon bust, raffle, and an auction of donated items. The auction is the big event on Saturday, April 24, 2004, at approximately 10:00pm. Come early and loosen up those wallets. Anyone having items to donate contact Byron at 712-468-2372. This benefit has always been a fun time and the money is used to send kids to a summer camp where they learn to live a more normal life. My clientele has been extremely generous for my benefits so let's keep the trend going.

The Palmer Kaleidoscope and Gavel Manufacturing Co. is relocating to Pomeroy with a May 8, 2004 Grand Opening from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Then Rob Lumbard will be playing at 5:00pm at Byron's. After supper, Rob will be playing some more. Come help support Leonard Olson, the hardest working kaleidoscope maker in Iowa.

On June 12, 2004, a first will be happening at Byron's. The Creek Dwellers from Des Moines, are going to record a live CD that night. They told me that they are a better bar band than a studio band and Byron's is their favorite bar to play. Come and be a part of recording history.

Friday, June 25, 2004, Bo Ramsey's son, Ben Ramsey, will grace the stage at Byron's. Along with fellow guitarist, David Huckselt, the $5 Cover show will start at 9:00pm. Ben and David hooked up in Tucson two years ago and now live in Minneapolis. David Zollo highly recommends this duo.

Well, time for another newsletter. The weather sucks. Too @#%@ cold and way too much snow. Luckily, so far, it hasn't affected my concert schedule. Four of us made the snowy trip to Ames to surprise Back Porch Mary, who opened for Lee Rocker(former bassist for Stray Cats), at the M-Shop. They were happy to see us and put on a show that was well worth the trip. This past Saturday, Brother Trucker, played to a packed house(finally, I kept my entire ass for this show).

This Sunday, February 8, 2004, brings Rochester, New York bluesman Chris Beard to Byron's. Chris comes on strong with his band of funky, comtemporary blues. I'm trying a 5:00 pm show to see if this brings more people in to see some good music. If it does, I'll consider doing earlier shows on Sundays. Let's keep this momentum of good crowds, and show Chris Beard some good ole Iowa hospitality. $10 tickets are on sale now. Call 712-468-2372 to reserve a ticket. They will also be on sale at the door. All of my shows, and links to all the bands, can be found at my web site, www.palmerwebservices.com/byron's .

The Erick Hovey Band is is making a return appearance to Byron's on Friday, February 20, 2004 at 9:00. It has been a couple years since Erick's cool blues guitar licks have reverberated inside Byron's. Come hear some high energy blues and roots rock at its finest. My friend, Erick, is trying to introduce "Blues" to small town people who don't get much chance to hear this purely American form of music. If you know any blues "virgins", this is an excellent band to be "deflowered" by. Excuse the prose, I just got back from the cooler. To help with the cause, this will be a No Cover show.

Celebrate Leap Day at Byron's. Enjoy some "acid folk music" from Denver duo, Dexter Grove. This acoustic duo has put out four CD's, including their 1995 debut album, "420". This February 29, 2004, show is at 8:00 pm and will have $10 tickets.

Well, here it is, my next newsletter. First off, I want to thank all of the people that came to the Back Porch Mary and Larry Myer shows. I only lost a quarter cheek instead of my entire ass, lol. I didn't know if Back Porch Mary could capture the same magic that they had at the first show, but this show was even better. I couldn't believe the energy these guys put out. I am definately looking forward to BPM's return. Larry Myer was, as usual, great. He had a little more banter with the audience and his guitar playing was excellent. Larry has a new girlfriend, Amy, and she seems a good influence on Larry.

Now, for my upcoming shows. Put Sunday, November 9, 2003, in red ink on your calendars. Delta Blues great, Joe Price from Lansing, Iowa, is gracing Byron's stage. Joe is a recent inductee into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame and is on David Zollo's Trailer Records. Joe Price has shared the stage with blues legends like Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGee, Homesick James, Willie Dixon, and Clifton Chenier. Joe specializes in down-home Delta-styled blues, played on an electric National Resophonic guitar. Joe ia a "musicians musician", he oozes the essence of the blues in a manner so untouched by modern developments as to suggest he tumbled through a crack in time. I have been trying to get Joe to Byron's for two years but he doesn't make it to NW Iowa much.

To top off the evening, my friend Rob Lumbard is opening for Joe Price. I first saw Rob opening for The Band and enjoyed him more than the stars. Rob has played at Byron's several times and is a crowd favorite. Come hear about the Russian whorehouse (Kretchma).

In the near future I have two "up and coming" bands from Des Moines. On Saturday, December 6, 2003, Creek Dwellers and Remedy will be at Byron's. Both have played here before and are friends of Brother Trucker. More on this show in a later newsletter.

As a side note. The Lizard Creek Blues Society is presenting new blues sensation Renee Austin, this Friday, November 7, 2003, at Starlight Village in Fort Dodge. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door, with an 8pm start.

I had to send another Newsletter. Great News. Back Porch Mary is coming back. Sunday, October 19, 2003 at 8pm. The people who saw them the first time know what a great show they put on. Good old Rock and Roll. Jumping on tables and a fantastic aluminum upright bass player. That along with "Thelma and Louise" being there made for one hell of a night(You'll have to come to the show to hear the story behind that.). So for the ones that were here the first time, please spread the word. I would like a much bigger crowd this time. For those that didn't see them, they are well worth it. Please com and enjoy some more quality entertainment at Byron's.

Al Sroufe was great as usual. He brought another friend with him, Al (I'm sorry, I can't remember his last name). The crowd suggested Al Squared for a band name. Al Sroufe always makes the evening fun.

There is a change in the last posted schedule. Joe Price with Rob Lumbard opening has been changed to Sunday, November 9, 2003. The Lizard Creek Blues Society is having Minneapolis blues singer, Renee Austin, on Friday, November 7, 2003. The show is at Starlight Village in Fort Dodge. So you blues starve people can have 2 great shows in one weekend.

Thanks to the people who showed up for the KungFu Hippies. As Leonard said, I only lost one cheek instead of my whole ass. The music was great. The first set was entirely Grateful Dead. I was in heaven. The second set was even better. They played from eight until midnight with only one short break. Two of the guys had to be back in Minneapolis the next morning to work. Oh, to be young again. These guys are definately welcomed back.

Some more great music in in the works. Saturday, September 27 brings Greg Klyma. An acoustic guitar, harmonica, and mandolin player from Buffalo, New York. I sat next to him at a Todd Snider show in Ames and started talking to him. His CD sounds really interesting and "Live" should be great. His promo likens him to Steve Earle if he had done acid instead of crack. Sounds worth listening to, doesn't it? So tell everybody about this free show (9-?).

Don't miss the show on Friday, Nov. 7. Joe Price from NorthEast Iowa is coming for a show 9-?. This one will have a $5 Cover. Joe plays Delta Blues and is good friends with Bo Ramsey and David Zollo. I have been trying to get Joe for a couple years. He doesn't get to our area much and this will be well worth it.

Well, here it is people, my first attempt at a newsletter. These letters will come out semi-regularly. In other words, whenever, I get motivated. I am glad all of you requested to be on my e-mail list but if you wish to be removed, please let me know.

The reason for my first letter is to let you know of my next live music event. As some of you know, I have had some great music this summer. July 20, 2003, saw Swivel Hips Smith from Boulder, Co. play here. Wow, fantastic jam band. On July 27, 2003, Back Porch Mary from Austin, Texas blew me away with some good old "Rock and Roll". Both groups were not only great musicians but really nice people, too. Unfortunately, only a handful of people got to experience this music and I had trouble sitting the weeks afterwards (I lost my ass, lol).

My next music (I won't give up on bringing quality entertainment to Northwest Iowa) is Sunday, August 24, 2003. A young jam band from Minneapolis called Kungfu Hippies. A friend saw them at the 10,000 Lakes Festival over the Fourth of July and said they were one of the high lights of the festival. Here is how they discribe themselves. "We are a "jam band" oriented act with really too many influences to name! Grateful Dead, Santana, Allman Brothers, Phish, SKB, Neil Young, Beatles, Stones, and even reggae and country from time to time. Basically, we play music that we love! The original material takes a little bit from each influence and creates an original sound all its own." Their debut CD is entitled, "Subtitled". The show is at 8:00pm with the doors opening at 6:00pm. $10 tickets are on sale now. Call 712-468-2372 after 3pm for more info.

Coming September 27, 2003, is Greg Klyma, an acoustic guitar player form New York. I sat next to him at a Todd Snider show in Ames. I am looking forward to hearing his creativity. More on him in another letter.