TOP FIVE GIGS IN 2013

TOP FIVE GIGS IN 2013

What a memorable year it was in music for me…….I was very blessed to share the stage with some incredible musicians this year at too many venues to list. But, the top 5 gigs in 2013 for me behind the vintage sets of drums had to be:

#5 THE VIKING PARTY (11/16/13). Our friends Margaret and Ravinell Wilson put on a private party at their gorgeous home atop Shades Crest Road that you would have had to have been there to believe. Costumes? Check. Moonshine? Check. Shots of Fireball for the drummer? Check (five or six times I believe). The Sassy Brown Band played the entire gig without a break……..three hours of blood, sweat, tears, laughter, frivolity (I never dared venture onto the roof………but that’s another story), mayhem and great camaraderie with friends old and new. I want Margaret to hand-deliver my personal invitation to play there again next year very, very soon.

#4 DANIEL DAY GALLERY/DREAM MECCA GIG (6/13/13). I’ve played at Daniel and Melody’s awesome venue many, many times with various bands and musicians before, but the pinnacle for performing at their music palace had to be The Sassy Brown Band performance there this past summer in June. The weather cooperated on that steamy Sunday afternoon…..let’s just say that the performance was electric. Daniel said it was the largest Sunday crowd there in years (inside or out). My best memory of that great day was the impromptu song “Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix. I believe Christine Bartlett conned Matt Willis into playing it (as she is apt to do).  Matt, as you will see and hear in this YouTube clip, absolutely smoked it:
http://youtu.be/NVZkKurua80
And my great friend Janelle Frost was amazing (as always), and the crowd dug it. ‘Nuff said.

#3 FIRST PERFORMANCE AT IRON CITY (4/19/13). The Sassy Brown Band opened for 2BLU & The Lucky Stiffs at this new music venue in Birmingham. There was a great crowd, many of whom were seeing this venue for the very first time. Lauren put on a performance that was show-stopping. It was an amazing first-time experience that I won’t soon forget (I had the pleasure of playing there three times this year). The pinnacle of the night, hands-down, was the 13-minute encore which brought out ALL members of both bands for an amazing singular performance of Joe Cocker’s “Feelin’Alright” and The Stone’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”.

#2 BERNIE’S ON MAIN in COLUMBIANA (12/21/13). I know, it’s the most recent, but it would still have been #2 even if it had been earlier in the year. It was a gig with Glen Butts, Lauren Brown, Chuck King and Todd Brasher. Unbeknownst to us until right up to the song, we had no clue as to what was about to happen. Here’s what DID happen, as told by Lauren’s beautiful sister Leigh Harrison Reynolds in a FB status update the next day:
“Last night, my sister's band played at Bernie's on Main in Columbiana (neat little place) with a wonderful trumpet player sitting in with them. There was a large group of family and friends sitting near us. The trumpet player started a solo of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and was out walking around the tables. All of a sudden, a serviceman entered the restaurant and then you heard his mother scream out. His family had no idea he was home and had secretly set this up with Bernie. The entire place was clapping and crying!! It was so beautiful. That is the spirit of Christmas”.
Wow.

AND THE #1 TOP GIG FOR JOHN OLIVER IN 2013? DRUM ROLL, PLEASE………

#1 MARTY’s (MY LAST PERFORMANCE THERE)  (8/10/13)
It hadn’t been known but for a few weeks that Marty’s (that late night Birmingham music institution that was open 365 days a year from 4 pm until 6 am….no, no typos there) was closing its doors for good at the end of August. It was bittersweet for us in The Sassy Brown Band knowing this was our last performance at Marty’s place. Marty, as you may know, died earlier in the year after a very short illness, and Kay kept his memory and establishment open as long as she could. Word spread quickly that time was running out on going by Marty’s and seeing live music for the last time. Lauren quickly rallied everyone via social media and the rest, as they say, is Marty’s history. RECORD CROWD THAT NIGHT (Kay said it was the largest crowd in the 7 pm time slot at Marty’s, ever). The inside was wall-to-wall with music-lovers and friends, the courtyard (A.K.A. the smoking pit to my nicotine friends) was packed and overflowing too all the way out to 10^th Court South. It was an amazing night of music with lots of musician sit-in’s too and so many happy and familiar faces in the crowd. My only other recollection of the night was just how HOT it was inside Marty’s with the overflow crowd. I had the pleasure of playing at Marty’s eight different times in 2013. It was always an honor. Marty’s was a musician’s club (you musicians will know what I’m talking about). Rest in Peace, my friend. I will see you again one day on the other side!


JOHN OLIVER DRUMS
JOHNOLIVERDRUMS

Tremendous gigs the past few weeks.......one for a benefit at Good People Brewing Company with The Sassy Brown Band, then gigged with my friends Travis Posey and Brent Irvin at The Furniture Factory in Huntsville. This past weekend, I played two events with The Sassy Brown Trio one at Champy's in Alabaster (best tamales I've ever eaten!) and then a gig Bernie's on Main in Columbiana (with special guest Chuck King and others)! Great stuff!!!!

Great gigs this weekend.....I had two corporate gigs, one with The Second Chance Band and the other with The Howl. Also, The Sassy Brown Band performed with many different local bands at a fundraiser at Good People Brewing Company (see pics above and below, courtesy of Cindi cmg pictures). And it was great to share the stage with Glen Butts, Seebie Camp and our own soul singer and vamp Lauren "Sassy" Brown! Great weekend of performing!!!! johnoliverdrums john oliver drums

Here are more pics from a recent gig at Daniel Day Gallery/Dream Mecca Studios in Birmingham, AL, courtesy of Curt Davis at Expressions Fine Photography!
john oliver drums
johnoliverdrums

How to get "Experience" For A Gigging Drummer

There's no better teacher than experience......and the only way to get this much needed experience is to play out as much as possible.......don't limit yourself to one musical genre......! Ever wanted to play jazz, then go out and find other musicians who want to jam and learn along with you. One of the easiest and quickest ways to find these like-minded peeps is through social media. Also, get out and visit clubs, meet the musicians, give them your business cards and ASK for their help. The worse that could happen is they say "no". But I bet you a month's supply of moon gels that they will help you and listen!!!!

Another shot from Gip's Place in Bessemer.......I like this one....

great, great weekend with two shows featuring Rob Harris on guitar and vocals. What a great talent he is!!!!! Pics are from the world-famous Gip's Place juke joint in Bessemer and from the Daniel Day Gallery/Dream Mecca studios....both gigs were packed...and the dance floor was filled!!!!! johnoliverdrums

John Oliver Bio

From The Sassy Brown Band website home page:  http://sassybrownband.com/John_Oliver.html

Super, super weekend of fun, music.......and frivolity! I had the pleasure of playing this past weekend at two very unique venues: Gip's Place (an original juke joint...since 1952!!!) and the best new music castle for live music: IRON CITY! Special thanks to my bandmates in The Sassy Brown Band (Lauren, Matt and Janelle) for the great musical weekend.....!!! Best,  johnoliverdrums (PHOTO CREDITS:  Margaret Walter-Wilson and Sarah Fendley)

THE SASSY BROWN BAND had an incredible gig at Daniel Day Gallery/Dream Mecca on Sunday afternoon, June 23rd. There was a RECORD Sunday crowd that came out to hear the great music, food and camaraderie! This was the first gig for SBB with the very talented Janelle Frost. She's the real deal folks, and certainly fit right into the group. WELCOME JANELLE!!!!!!! Here's an incredible 12 minute taste of the day.......Voodoo Child! Enjoy! (Photo Credits: Margaret Walter-Wilson)

http://youtu.be/NVZkKurua80

My favorite pic from the Bob Sykes Blues & BBQ Festival on 6/1/13......courtesy of the very talented Roger Stephenson!

Great weekend playing with THE SASSY BROWN BAND at the Bob Sykes Blues and BBQ Festival in Bessemer on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Here are a few picture highlights!!!!  johnoliverdrums john oliver drums

And a few pics from The Sassy Brown Band's adventure to Gadsden at Rue Bourbon Blues Bar from 5/17/13. Don't ask any questions about the pic with Lauren and my "new friend"! I also debuted my new AYOTTE drum set......CANNONS!   johnoliverdrums   john oliver drums

Here is an audio clip of THE SASSY BROWN BAND at Zydeco in Birmingham from 5/7/13:

http://bfpmusic.podbean.com/mobile/2013/05/19/sassy-brown-band-zydeco-bfp-music-night/#

Note front-woman and sweet diva Lauren "Sassy" Brown at the end of the clip asking if it's not too late still for another drink. Vintage Sassy.......johnoliverdrums.....john oliver drums

IRON CITY!!!

April 19th, 2013. Great gig with The Sassy Brown Band at Iron City! And we ended the show (packed house, mind you!) by joining 2Blu & The Lucky Stiffs for a rousing closing encore!!! john oliver drums. 

The Sassy Brown Band, LIVE on Talk of Alabama 4/16/13

http://www.abc3340.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8779371

The Sassy Brown Band performed live on Tuesday, April 16th on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama program. We were promoting our upcoming performance at Iron City with 2Blu and the Lucky Stiffs........john oliver drums

...busy, busy week or two ahead. I have a corporate gig at Ross Bridge this Thursday night with THE SASSY BROWN BAND, followed by two gigs on Saturday. The first gig is at MECCA FEST VII at The Daniel Day Gallery at 4 pm with THE SASSY BROWN BAND, followed at 8 pm that night with THE SECOND CHANCE BAND for a corporate function at the Heart of Dixie Harley Davidson in Pelham!!!  CANNONS!!!!

LOVE, LOVE this picture of a live shot of me on the kit.....taken by the lovely and talented Caroline Wright during a gig at World of Beer in Five Points South with The Sassy Brown Band. Thanks again Caroline!!!!!!!

Vince Oliver, sitting-in on the sax with The Sassy  Brown Band.....wow!

I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Lowery this past weekend. Steve is an international known musician and artist who has worked with some of the finest musicians and celebrities around the world.......Muhammad Ali, Salvador Dali, The Neville Brothers, Jaco Pastorius, and (drum roll please) the greatest drummer to ever walk the planet: Buddy Rich. His stories on hanging out with Buddy, drawing his portraits, seeing him up close and personal, and of course, watching him night after night lead a full orchestra/band AND perform his incredible feats of rudiments behind the drum kit must have been incredible. Thanks for the time Steve!