The End of an Era

Once again, this winter I have to come to terms with the fact that a good thing never lasts forever. Once again the Savoys Blues Band has had to endure another upheaval. We have known for quite some time, but have kept it quiet, that our guitar player BG declared his intentions to leave the band. This last Saturday was his last performance, and thus, the last night he was a member of the band.

The band has clear intentions of moving on and finding a replacement, though our search is taking longer than we had hoped -- by a few months. In fact, due to this upheaval, we have sat on our haunches and haven't been looking for work, so at this point, the Savoys have no future performances, and the future seems uncertain, despite the best of our intentions.

What I find so perplexing about this situation, is that in one light, it appears as the end of something very unique to Southern Alberta. Our last few gigs have been very positive -- actually exceeding our expectations for crowd enthusiasm. The blues community in the Hat is very alive and well. So, in this light, I can see this as a time of rebuilding.

To further complicate matters both MA and I are members of Tung N' Groove, the new Classic Rock act that is gaining momentum like a high-speed train with a stuck throttle. It could be very easy for the two of us to focus all our energies into this new act; but if we did, we would be neglecting a side of ourselves that needs to surface. Our eclectic musical tastes just cannot be represented with one band alone. So the answer is clear; both bands must endure.

As for finding a replacement, we have our prospects which we hope to recruit. Issues surrounding this problem resides under the notion that it's not so much about liking the material or the people; it's a matter of who has the available time to dedicate to such an endeavor. The Savoys are moving away from being an old-school blues band into an act that will play everything from R&B to Soul to Funk to Big Band Swing, while retaining blues roots. We want to do more than have people sit and listen to our music; we want to pack dance floors, and we know that there is a great deal of work to be done if we want this dream to be realized.

But it all comes down to finding the right recruit for the job, and this job ain't for anybody. A great deal of dedication and perseverance will be required of the ideal candidate. A professional attitude and work ethic is integral, as the current bandmates are constantly trying to push the limits of our abilities.

So on that note, I'll send BG my warmest wishes and hope he is successful in his future endeavors.