Get yer motor runnin'

Big'uns will be on the Main Stage at Bikes Blues and BBQ, Saturday, Oct. 6, at 5:15.

Ride on out and join us.

Pink Trash--That's What We Are (at least for one night)

Good cause. Good venue. Good fun.

For Tickets.

Are you gonna eat that?

In an effort to continually add value (why can’t we all just contribute?) to what might be otherwise annoying notifications of the periodic Big’uns George’s appearances, I offer just a few of the things I’ve learned in my many years as an amateur gardener. I seem to relearn them each year, so maybe you can benefit from my experience:

• Crabgrass can actually make an interesting and (depending on one’s attitude about it) attractive ground cover. It's beats the heck out of bluegrass for durable. As my dad, Jim Nicholson so wisely said, pretty is as pretty does.
• A huge ripe tomato is no obstacle for a half-inch worm. Said worms taste like hell. Homegrown tomatoes are God’s own food. Growing them well can be the devil's work.
• Don’t fool yourself into thinking your friends want your extra zucchini.
• Mint, as prolific as it is, and as much as it might resemble basil, does not make good pesto.
• One can rent a backhoe without any specialized knowledge or license to operate it. There probably should be a license required to drive one into your yard. But they can be really fun to play with. If you can live with the consequences.
• Poison ivy will grow in an urban environment. Dead poison ivy is still poison ivy. You can develop an allergy to it, even after a lifetime of immunity. God only knows how, but it can get into places on your body normally protected by elastic.
• Bamboo is like 20-foot-tall Bermuda grass. Left unchecked, it would probably spread to and thrive on your roof. Unless you plan on setting up your house as a base for a paramilitary organization, beware the seemingly innocent, smiling older Asian lady who tells you it’s great for landscaping.
• Roundup™ won’t kill bamboo. It will, however, do very interesting things to your neighbor’s prize peonies. The best time to futilely spray Roundup on your bamboo is on Sunday morning. The worst time is Friday evening after a few cocktails. Whiskey and Roundup don’t mix.
  

But Friday evening—notably this Friday evening--is a great time to go to the George’s happy hour. Big’uns will be there this week, along with our best friends. 6-8pm. So put up the garden sprayer and get yourself on out. All that yard stuff will wait ‘til Sunday (or Monday this week).

"Hey you. Git-tar player. You ugly, too"

Okay, it’s getting late in the week, and I can’t think of anything to amuse even myself (and I'm easily amused) to put in my “Big’uns at George’s” announcement.
It’s coming up this Friday (the 20th). 6-8.
Come on out. The good thing about the Big’uns George’s happy hours is that you’re pretty well guaranteed to see someone older and uglier than you are (this coming from someone who is both beauty and age-challenged) probably doing something or wearing something that would have inhibited you when you were sixteen. In other words, you can let your guard down without being noticed.
Oh, and at this one, you can stay for the whole thing and still be home with enough light left to water the tomatoes.

Who are these guys?

Sterling says it looks like paparazzi caught us at a funeral.

This was at the Lefler/Cross wedding at Pinnacle Country Club this past Saturday, where we showed that we could be bastions of decorum, down to Pinnacle's rule of absolute temperance for the band.

This was actually a lot of fun. It was great to see my long-time friends from the Lefler family. The hosts and guests were all fun to work for.

If you need a wedding band, we can clean up and act nice.

Best wishes Erin and T.J. Live long and prosper.

What time is it?

Geez, it’s Thursday afternoon already. Time flies when you’re giving away chicken. I’ve been out in California this week celebrating Hunger Awareness Day by doing just that. I feel like Michael Anthony must have felt. It’s a job that doesn’t suck. Anyway, enough about me.
That’s a long way of saying this is a little bit shorter notice than you usually get, but Big’uns is back at George’s for happy hour tomorrow (June 8).
Then it’s off to the weddings—including Darren’s! So this is the last time we’ll be playing in public with a member who’s never, ever, been married. Gosh, I hope that doesn’t adversely affect our sex appeal.

Party in the Park--let's try again

Well, we had a little precip throw a monkey wrench in Thursday's performance at Gulley Park. At 4:30, it looked like that line of T-storms was going to slam Washington Co. at about 6:00, so the powers-that-be postponed. About an hour later, it all dissipated. Can't stop the rain. Sometimes you can't predict it. WTH.
The good news is that we're back on the schedule for this Thursday, the 31st.
So, we'll be hoping the weather gods smile upon us this week.
If not, at least the adults can join us at the George's HH on June 8.

Down in the Gulley

This week (Thursday, May 24), the family-friendly edition of Big'uns (we've been trying to call it "Big," but the name just won't seem to stick) kicks off the summer music series in Fayetteville's Gulley Park.
We'll be playing from 7-9pm.
If history is an indicator, there will be local TV news teams there (for about 15 minutes), ready to tape the first kids that even act like they're dancing. Parents, this could be the initial monumental step in sending your child down that grueling path to the American Idol finals.
So round up the young'uns, rinse the winter dust out of the cooler, dig out the Jarts set, pack up the pickup and head on out for an idyllic spring's evening of music wrought Big'uns style.

Heads up for your calendar: Next George's happy hour sighting will be June 8.

It's wedding season

Before we go into a busy two months of weddings and events, Big'uns will be playing a more casual happy hour at George's this Friday from 6-8.
If you've been there before, you know what a party this can turn into.
The next gig will be this happy couple's reception. If you'd like to send a gift, they're registered at Rod's Mobile Home Supply and the Tobacco Superstore in Farmington.


Actually, we will be playing some REAL weddings, in addition to some respectable engagements where we feel compelled to dress and behave nicely. So we'll need to get our ya-yas out on Friday. Come on out and help us. (We promise to behave better than we did on Sterling's birthday)

Big'uns Comix

Our pal, Gio got a new Photoshop filter and created this image from one of our old shots.

Pretty cool, huh?!

Thanks, Gio!

Put April 27 on your radar screen. We'll be back at George's for Happy Hour.

It was just that kind of a night

Every once in a while--even when you pass the half-century mark--you gotta paint your hair green and turn into a giant, happy Leprechan.
We can only hope that those who consider themselves otherwise musically discerning were approaching the same state of consciousness as ours at eight o'clock on Friday. If not, we apologize, and promise never to do that again. 'Til next St. Pat's Day/Sterling's Birthday, of course.

We're told we've been bringing record crowds to George's happy hour.

We just want to thank you all for supporting us.

You can't have this much fun playing golf.

An Important Announcement

To my valued constituency—

I’d like to use this occasion to announce, with regrets, that I am formally discontinuing my campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008. I know there are people out there who are quite convinced I could be an effective president (thanks, Mom), but it has become painfully obvious that the field is entirely too crowded. Plus, securing a major party nomination is now more about raising money and good looks (best of luck, Hillary) than it is about candidates with great ideas and ironclad principles. I know Tom Vilsack beat me to the distinction of being the first candidate to drop out of the race, but I figure I'm a much better candidate to likely lose (even though I'm pretty certain that little thing with the LRPD in 1972 has long been expunged).
On a positive note, I did have the good sense not to give up playing in the band, so I’m pleased to announce that Big’uns will be back at George’s this Friday, during our normal happy hour slot. While you can’t write the $3 cover off as a political donation, at least it’s cheap. And the experience, while fun, is not extremely time-consuming.
Friday is also Sterling’s birthday (please excuse his behavior in advance—we don’t act like that at real paying gigs), in addition to kicking off a gala St. Paddy’s Day weekend.
And as the old saying goes, on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone’s a Big’un.

Jeez, has it been two months since New Year's Eve?

Sterling ran across this photo he took onstage at our Fayetteville, Arkansas First Night performance. Ever tried moving your fingers accurately for an extended period in freezing weather? As uncomfortable as that sounds (and was!), it was lots of fun. Gave some young people a chance to hear the old guys. Some of them really seemed to enjoy it.

New Stuff

On Saturday, Feb. 24, we'll be playing the annual Arts Center of the Ozarks Ball at the Mall.
This is a gala affair, featuring great food, and perhaps the largest charity silent auction in Northwest Arkansas.
Usually 600-700 people there at the NW Arkansas Mall.

Following that, we'll be back at George's for our annual St. Patrick's Day/ Sterling's Birthday party, at happy hour on March 16.

Some dates to save. And some still open.

I know it’s probably a little early to be planning for New Year’s Eve. But hey, now might be a good time to think about it, before that frenzied Halloween candy shopping spree begins. After all, beyond that it’s just turkey and dressing, turkey and cake, turkey and presents, turkey and bourbon, turkey sandwiches... And maybe some ham. And before you know it, it’s December 26, and you couldn’t care less about how you’re going to bring in the New Year; just gimme another bourbon. And a steak.

This year, why not try something different. Each year, Fayetteville has a celebration on the square called First Night. It’s really lots of fun. Good music of all varieties in the businesses around the square. It’s a family deal, so you can bring the kids. It’s non-alcoholic, so you don’t have to worry about amateur night drunks stumbling all over you. And you wake up feeling great to start the New Year.

Oh and did I mention Big’Uns will be the headlining act, playing up to the spectacular fireworks show at midnight? That’s right, all your favorite tunes, plus the Allman Brothers-meets-Queen version of “Auld Lang Syne.”

So put it down on your calendar now, before you get invaded by turkey.

Beyond that, we’ve just been informed we’ll be playing the Arts Center of the Ozarks Ball and Auction on February 24, 2007. This is another fabulous event, featuring, without a doubt, the biggest and coolest silent auction you’ll find anywhere. And this year featuring Big’uns. Or simply Big, as we’re known in the black tie circle.

Meanwhile, we'll be at George's for another happy hour on October 27. I'll send out a reminder on that one.

In case your organization needs a band for a holiday party, we do have some prime dates open in December. We can dress up nice and play a “grandma set” if you want us to. Just ask anyone who’s hired us for a wedding recently. If you or someone you know might be interested, email Ed or call me (479) 871-8006, or Sterling (479) 770-8901.

If you would like to be added to the Big'Uns email notification list, drop a line to Ed at the link on the right.

Back at George's this Friday

We've had some great gigs so far this summer:
Allison Leonard's wedding at the Springdale Country Club (a BIG improvement over the old room out there), followed by the Summer Salsa to benefit Children's House at the same venue.

The Cancer Road Challenge (we've really honed our "biker" repertoire--should come in handy at this year's Bikes, Blues & BBQ).
The annual fundraiser for the Ryan Gibson Foundation at the Fayetteville Town Center (where they're edging toward bearable acoustics).

This Friday (July 28) we'll be back at George's for another Happy Hour. It's big fun for those who've never made it out.

Coming up, to kick off the summer

Next up is the annual Summer Salsa event to support Children's House in Fayetteville. We'll be a the Springdale Country Club from 7-10 on Friday, June 23rd. Tickets are 50 bucks a pop, but that will get you free food and libations and it all goes to a great cause. This is probably one of those gigs where we'll put on our best behavior and really be more "Big" than "Big'uns."

Saturday, June 24, we’ll be playing from 11:00-1:00 (mid-day) at the Poker Run for the Northwest Arkansas Cancer Challenge. Also a great cause, and a rare opportunity to see Big’uns for people whose normal bedtime is before 5:00 PM.

Feather Fest---HHS Class of '76 Reunion

Feather Fest 06 2
Originally uploaded by Ederdn.

We'd like to thank the Springdale Chamber of Commerce for putting on a fine little festival in Feather Fest. We were out on a warm Saturday night, with a crowd of friendly, receptive folks, on both sides of the beer tent line.
We want to thank Stan Jackson, and especially our buddy Phil Mayo for making us part of this event.
Hope to see you there next year.


Also a big shout out to our friends from the Harrison High School Class of 1976, who had Big'uns over to Boone County for a rockin' party on Saturday the 17th. I can't believe these people are over...well you do the math to figure out how old.
They were still dancing and shouting for more at 1:15 AM. Wore us out. I graduated (also from HHS) with a special bunch of folks, but I'll guarantee there weren't too many of us awake much past 10:30 at our last reunion. We want to thank all of these people, but especially the "regulars" from this class who live in the Washington/Benton County area, who are out to George's almost every time we're there. Great party.

Big'uns Blogged

A welcome mention of the weekend from the guys over at the five forty.com. Thanks, guys.
Greg and Andy run an informative, entertaining piece of bloggery that delves into life inside and outside of this corner of the world.
I stumbled upon it quite by accident, and it's become a daily staple of my info diet.
Check it out.

Lots of Stuff Coming Up

A couple of Big'uns outings this weekend:
Friday afternoon finds us at George's for happy hour, but because of a later show, we'll be _inside_ this time. Kind of cozy, but usually still quite a bit of fun. Come on out; get to know someone new.
Later in the evening, Slim Big'uns (Sterling, Darren and I) open the show for Leon Russell in the garden at George's.
Then Sunday night, the band will be at Powerhouse for a "Tomorrow's Really Not Monday...is it?" Party on the Patio, from 7-11. You can come early, leave early, and be home in your jammies by TV news time. Or not.
Coming up on June 10, we play Springdale's Featherfest at 7:00 PM.
Stay tuned. We'll keep you posted about more.
For those thinking ahead to planning holiday parties (yes, it's time to start thinking about booking the band), we still have some prime December real estate open.
Oh yes, and in the interest of political correctness, we have decided that henceforth, we will book "respectable" jobs (your daughter's wedding, events for corporations with sensitive core values, any event that requires formal wear, etc.) under the moniker of Big. We want to be Big in Northwest Arkansas. And we can play a grandma set. Since we're that old, anyway.