Rowdy Does a Doozy at Dillons

Nobody kick-starts a Saturday night like the RJB, and last Saturday at Dillons in Sierra Vista was no exception!  From exploding motorcycle sound effects to Drunk Chicks taking over the dance floor, the  bar was transformed from a sleepy bowling alley lounge to a carousing, kick-ass, free-for-all within a couple of "Hell, Yeahs!".

The excitement proved too much for guitarist Dan Showalter, who had to flee the stage, pronto, to make room for more energy to make it through the last set. Don't try this at home, folks, we are trained professionals...

 Speaking of 'exit stage right', Rowdy himself took a powder for several tunes, ostensibly to rest his basso profundo (look it up, Rowdy), but in actuality to take on his bandmates in a raucous round of heckling.  Hey Rowdy, just because the band did its best Justin Beeber imitation is no reason to... well, maybe it is.

RJB is looking forward to the 20th annual "Run To The Border" at the Western Junction Bar & Grill outside Bisbee next Saturday, May 5th.  Festivities continue throughout the day including our friends,  Thunder Mountain Band from 1-4PM, and culminating, exclaimating, and procreating with the Rowdy Johnson Band at 7PM.  They have a pole there and girls that know how to use it...Y'all come now, y'heah?

RJB at the PCC! OMG!

RJB rocked Pima Community College's northwest campus Friday, April 27 as the headliner for several bands.  Thanks to Mindy, Tiffany and the gang for the hospitality AND the hospitality suite!  The event was well-attended by band fans & friends, and was missing only one thing- Students!  RJB is looking forward to performing this event next year and letting the great folks at PCC know that the Rowdy Johnson Band is kicking ass & taking names!

Look at keyboardist John Monfore striking his best Tebow pose asking for a glitch-free show.  His wish for pole dancers will have to wait a week for Western Junction.

just a thought!

Just realized that I have more hair than the rest of you put together :)

Oops, We Did It...All Weekend

Wow!  Our weekend at Western Junction Saloon in McNeal, AZ was beset by problems large even by RJB standards!  First, on Friday keyboardist John Monfore was called off on a mission of mercy.  His place was ably taken by harp player Steve.  Great job, Steve, & thanks! 

To add insult to injury, Rowdy himself, recovering from a bout of flu that would have floored a 2-ton rhino, developed a case of laryngitis that brought his powerful voice down to a basso profundo croak.  Leastways, that's how Rowdy described it, & Rowdy doesn't know what basso profundo means.  Something bad, no doubt.  The band stepped in, and, well, they stepped in it good.  Good thing they had on high-top boots.

Saturday started off with self-induced technical diffculties, beginning with John dumping half a cup of coffee into his amp.  A silly thing to do, for, as everyone knows, amps only drink beer.  Lite beer.  Then the PA started its own performance on a little number known by every musician as "Feedback". 

As for Rowdy on Saturday, despite being fortified with substantial amounts of Jack & Coke (the fizzy kind), his voice missed its usual princely calling and, alas, resorted back to the lowly frog.  A growly frog. 

To save the day, the intrepid band members stepped up to the mic and played their little hearts out. It took the better part of the night to clean up that biohazard mess, but the bandmates were no worse the wear for it.

The saving grace of the whole weekend was the brave, selfless determination of several lovely ladies who, taking the bull by the horns, took the stripper pole into their hands (and legs) and provided entertainment more memorable than a whole set of Texas 2-steps.  If you don't believe this, check out Rowdy's reaction.  Doctors are still busily at work trying to reattach Rowdy's eyeballs to their sockets.

Please don't miss the next installment of RJB capers with the theme, "3 Stooges + 2".

Losses in RJB

Last weekend was a time of sadness for RJB.  Within 24 hours, Rowdy lost his grandmother, & John lost his mother-in-law.  Rowdy only found out about his loss during our Saturday night show at the Silver Nugget Saloon in Tombstone.  Rowdy & John appreciate all the support shown by RJB fans & fellow bandmates.  Thank you so much!

On the Road with RJB this summer

Well fans, our schedule for this year is pretty much full!  We will be putting close to 20,000 miles on the van this summer, with some exciting gigs!

On June 16, we will be at the 10th Annual Waylon Birthday Bash, in Whiteface Texas, on the stage with Shooter Jennings, Whiskey Meyers, Jason Taylor and the Sinners, William Clark Green and Jimmy Miles'

July 25 through July 27th we will be in Morgantown, West Virginia at the Mountainfest Bike Week, sharing the stage with Trace Adkins, Steppenwolf, Colt Ford, The Cherry People, Hells Bells,and Bad  Mother Trucker.

July 28th we will be headlining at Suck Bang Blow in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 40,000 square feet of biker bar!

July 29th you can find us in Apopka Florida where we are playing a Rowdy Johnson Homecoming concert at the famous Bat Ranch.

In September 13th through 15th we will be in Ocean City Maryland, opening for Charlie Daniels, and sharing the stage with Grand Funk Railroad, 38 Special, Jackyl again, Messenger, and Kashmir.

Bike Week on the 4th 5th and 6th of October, where we will be featured at Suck Bang Blow.  We have arranged to have a condo with a walk-in cooler for Mike.

After that we are heading home for a much needed rest for all us old graybeards!

Ken Whitcomb

Newest Band Member!

Welcome our newest RJBer, John Monfore pickin' the pinano!  John's been playing since he was knee-high to a snake's belly, & the guys don't hold it against him a bit.  Thanks to Duncan for pioneering a ragtime sound into the Rowdy soundtrack, providing a model for John to emulate & expound upon.  (Think I hurt myself with all those $20 words.) 

While not a front-and-center soloist, John provides a depth and mood for the band that enhances the overall sound.  You may not always hear the 'boards above the row onstage, but you'll sure notice when Ken trips over John's cord & blacks out the organ.  We just love slapstick...

Next gig, hunt John down & make sure he has his coffee cup in hand.  He's pretty much a teetotaler, & makes a very cheap date when he does imbibe.  Anyway, he sounds much better on caffeine.  And keys.  Just don't give him a microphone...lovesick moose make lousy bar patrons, especially in Arizona.

RJB- Unplugged!

The Rowdy Johnson Band has passed a new milepost- Rowdy, Dan & Ken performed an all-acoustic set at Four Deuces in Tombstone.  Called RJB from A to Z, these intrepid musicians interpreted songs from Rowdy's humble beginnings in songwriting to some of the latest & greatest.  Many familiar stories and some never before performed in public.

Look forward to another acoustic set at Cactus Moon this summer- Stay tuned! (Said the gitfiddle plucker...)