We have enjoyed the hospitality of the International Pop Overthrow Festival many times. Started by pop activist/supporter David Bash, and run by Mr. Bash and his fantastic girlfriend/ rockin’ partner Rina Bardfield, the “I.P.O.” hosts festivals in numerous cities every year. We’ve participated in their San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Liverpool shows (as well as contributed several tracks to their annual CD compilations). These two shows at the Cavern were part of the 13th Annual Liverpool I.P.O..
For anyone who saw our 2011 shows in Liverpool, you know what a struggle they were. I began that tour with a cold that had turned into a crippling laryngitis. No voice. We’d traveled some 6,000 miles, and I could not sing. We muddled through, and after a couple of shows, (only one would I classify as ‘terrible’ [laughs]) we got back on track.
Cousins Terri and Wendy grabbing a 'selfie' as we tuned up for our first show of the tour on the Cavern's classic "Front Stage"
All this to say, these shows were a triumph and a payback for the metaphorical blood we’d spilled on the Cavern stage in ’11. It was also a great way to kick off the tour; both Ron “Doc” Morse and Barbara Anderson-Jones, relative new-comers to the band, really stepped up and gave the rest of us a run for our money. It felt so good to connect with these great crowds. We were elated and thankful.
Our second show of the day. This time on the Cavern Club's "Back Stage"
Two shows that day at the Cavern: the first one in that classic looks-like-a-wine-cellar “Front Stage”, and the second in the larger, more-equipped “Back Stage”. In between, we enjoyed a magnificent performance from The Fast Camels a band out of Glasgow, Scotland (psychedelic, progressive, garage-rock-heavy).
The Fast Camels from Scotland
members of the Fast Camels cheer us on
Later that night I even came back to the Cavern to see the Lannie Flowers Band out of Texas. They’ve been good friends of ours for a couple of years now—shared stages with them in L.A., S.F., and Fresno. Great folks. Great and rockin’ band.
Lannie Flowers Band
