Hey! There’s a dance Saturday night! Good! Who’s playing? A disc jockey. Nothing against D.J.s, but what about a band once in a while?
Through the 1970s and 1980s local bands kept people dancing to the beat from Mammoth to Globe every Friday and Saturday nights. There were five bands in this area, and we all had gigs – the Sow Bellys, Country Four, Bidegain Band, Poarch Band, and Back Pocket Money.
Of course, most of the establishments where we played are no more – Blue Front, Jolly Roundup, Valentines aka Stage Stop, Club Royal, Riverside Inn, Sunset, and Down Beat. Those were good times, and also wild times depending on peoples’ mood – if you get my drift!
I think it would be great if some of the local places left could book a band, say once a month. So, people, think about it!
In the meantime, around midnight go down to the end of Riverside Road, and if you listen closely maybe you will hear echoes of good times past.
/s/ Neal Wood