Week of 12/28 - 12/31
Welcome to 2025. Here's hoping you all had a safe and Happy New Years celebration.
Our week actually got off to a rather depressing start as we all attended the Celebration of Life for our Topcats brother Glen Casper (Angel) on Friday. As I said before, I've known Glen for what seems like my whole life and personally I was really proud of the fact that Buzzy, David, Robert and Frank all showed up for this event as some of the guys hardly knew Glen at all. It was just out of respect for the history and lineage of the Topcats brotherhood. There were quite a few other musicians there as well showing respect for Glen, his sister and father.
So on Saturday night we played a wedding at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. We had a 7 o'clock start time but had to be there and set up before 6 as the ceremony was in the same place. When we arrived we were told we were to set up outside. "Um, you do realize that there is tornado warnings and thunderstorms coming in a couple of hours?" "Yes… the ceremony is for 6 the Topcats play at 7… outside." So we set up outside and the ceremony proceeded at 6. At 7 when were ready to start playing the wind picked up and the rain started and… "maybe you guys should move your stuff inside". So we did. Fortunately we went right inside a door that was right behind us and were back in business in about 45 minutes. The four hour reception was just fantastic with dancing right from the start. Congratulations to Elizabeth & Kevin Doiran. (I apologize for mispronouncing you last name) Sunday night we had a really great night at Rock n Bowl. As always a whole lot of dancing going on there. We thank all of our friends for coming out to spend a Sunday night with us.
Tuesday night was New Years Eve in the Riverview Room in the Jax Brewery. We say it every year and there can be no doubt the Riverview Room is the best place in New Orleans to ring in the new year. With the exception of the Katrina year and the Covid year the Topcats have had the honor to ring in the New Year at the Riverview Room for over 25 years. (the Katrina year we actually played at the Bengal)
As probably a lot of you did as well, woke up on January 1st to the awful news of the attack in the French Quarter. Thankfully we were out of there about an hour before. So again Happy New Year to everybody. We 're hoping to see you soon.