Maple Point Grill - Year in Review!

Clik (Title above) for video of the Blues Jam at Maple Point. Photos provided by patrons. Thank you for a GREAT first year!

Maple Point 2/12/07

It wasn't a huge crowd but it was a respectable one (for the most part... you know who you are...). Hosted by the other "Every Other Week Band" of Pat Boyack - guitar, Drew Allain - Bass, Kevin Schemerhorn - Drums. Jammers who stopped by were Beth and Wade (Bet and Mann) - they FINALLY got the opportunity to test drive two of their newest songs for us! I love the line "I'm low maintenance but I ain't maintenance free"... truer words have neva ever been spoken! Great song and thank you for letting us hear it here for the first time!.

Also in attendance was THE Diva herself "Mz Marcy", throwing down some of that Durrty Jazz and Blues for us. Mz Marcy was featured in the Dallas Morning Guide this past week. Her song "Sugardaddy" went on to Round two of the IBC songwriting championship, it's also being considered by a notable Blues Singer out of Canada to include in their repertoire. She's lost an
astounding 50 lbs and has her goddess shape back. What can I say... The girl has got it going on! Thank you for the pep talk too, it was more helpful than you'll ever know.

Lets see... who else... who else.... WEll none other than Gary Yeoman of the Neighbors Band! All the way from McKinney TX along with bassist BRYAN BULLARD "slappin the upright bass and workin the groove...a quiet guy with a big big bass" . I don't believe we've had anyone tote a stand up acoustic bass to the jam before... Thank you for showing up and showing us the way McKinney lays it down! Woo Woot!

And a big ol' Happy Birthday to Vaughn (Von?). I hope we helped make your birthday a special one. Out of all the juke joints in town, you walked into ours, it must have been fate. Looks like a great year ahead for you girlfriend... Keep your head up!

Special props to Qween of SWBlues, Joanna Iz for stopping by. Also to other overly sexy patrons Mz Charlene, Mz Vi (my bbq mama), Michelle, Vinnie, Sharon, Dave, the guy that snuck in the back, the dude from the Windmill club who heard us from across the street and just had to take a peek...

Popcorn Louden stopped by to slap the skins for a while. Mike Johnson played quite a few rounds on Sax and Flute (great job on Sledgehammer). Brent Rozelle stopped in for a quick visit too!

If you've been putting off joining us until something big happens... Well Big BIG BIG is going down next Monday! Our ONE YEAR Anniversary party! Food, fun, games and BLUES!
See you then!

Maple Point 2/5/07

It was 9:15pm, we started out slow, the band; Jackie Don Loe, Kevin Schemerhorn and Stan Allison and myself. We had three jammers in attendance, the husband and wife team Bet-N-Mann, Stephanie the Pretzel girl and her friend Dan, Tony along with two of his friends and the rest of the 4 people in the bar were staff or regulars there to watch sports. Looked like a solemn and slow night for sure. We did our opening set along with all the jammers in the room. I just hoped they wouldn't mind coming back up to help fill out the night...
Jump ahead 3 hours and thensome the place is packed and were exhausted! We've been seranaded by Jeff visiting from Canada on vocals, another awesome song by Bet, a soaring guitar rendition of pride and Joy from Tony. Brent Rozelle closing out the show with a killer guitar battle with Jackie Don Loe, "Popcorn" Louden on Drums, a complete horn section with Ray Vaughn and Fred Harvey, the wah-wah genius of Rodney the dangerous! Can't leave out up-and-coming drummer extraordinaire Ms Sarah Bigelow, but folks there's more! Cheryl Arena, back from representing Dallas at the IBC in Memphis, relented to do her outstanding version of "Grazing in the Grass", and everyone knows I sho-nuff love that song and with a complete horn line-up it was outstanding!
But let me tell you about who showed up to watch the show! Queen of Dallas Blues, Joanna Iz stopped by and brought with her Kathy owner of KCs bar in South Dallas! Cindy "perpetual" girlfriend of Jackie was there showing off her ENGAGEMENT ring! (me thinks your single days are just about up Jackie). How could I forget promoter to the stars - Jean McCrander! A great friend and supporter of Maple Point and a true fan of good music! Throw in several more tables of couples out for the evening and you got yourself a party folks.
Thank you to all who showed up, showed out and tipped the band generously!
Andrea D Grateful

Alexandre's 2/3/07

It was last minute call, a fill in for a cancellation... time was short to put together a band, but then the snap the pass and ... SCORE! A touchdown! What a band and what a night! Pat Boyack on guitar, Josh Hanlon on Keys, Marc Leblanc on Drums and John Echols on bass. I couldn't have thrown together a better team if I'd tried... well I did try, but you get the picture.

I have to add that this performance is as much about the patrons as the band! They were off the hook once again! Several of my fans from previous engagements showed up and showed off! We made several more fans as well. I can't remember all the names but you know who you are, you sexy beautiful thangs you! The tips were appreciated and outstanding! oh and Happy Birthday to Ken and Jan, thank you for having your party with us!

A special thank you to Mitchell T Palmer "the bluest white man in Dallas" for sitting in with the band! I hadn't seen Mitch in a long time and it was just great to lay eyes on the grey fox and hear his rich vocals once again. He was outstanding as always! Look for Mitchell T Palmer around town, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

And a HURGE shout out to Lee Daughtry for hosting blues at Alexandre's! He is a blues lover from the heart and he believes in putting his money where his heart is. He took a risk hosting blues to a crowd that adores cabaret, but its been well received by all! Luv ya sweetie!

My next date at Alexandre's is February 17th for the Mardi Gras Extravaganza! It will be on like a pot o' neckbones with many guest sitting in with the band and tons of beads and debauchery... tell all your friends!!

Till next time....