John Oliver, Drummer, Husband, Father, Collector

TOP FIVE GIGS IN 2014

An incredible year it was for 2014……and tons of firsts, including: first gig at Oak Mountain Amphitheater (more to come on that one…), first headliner gig at WorkPlay, appearance on national television……and the debut of a new duo project (think Black Keys but funkier and jazzier) called JOHNNYBUTTS!

Here are the top 5 music gigs as chosen by yours truly...and thanks to all of you who paid good money to come hear LIVE MUSIC for 2014……and here’s wishing too that I see you all out again at a gig or two for the New Year!

BENEFIT FOR APRIL STARNES-RIGGINS at CHAMPY’S in ALABASTER (July 21^st)

I played many, many gigs at Champy’s in Alabaster with a slew of great musicians in 2014. It’s essentially our home base for the Sassy Brown Band, Sassy Brown Trio and JOHNNYBUTTS. But hands down, the most memorable gig at Champy’s was for a dear friend of ours who we lost this past year. I will never forget April Starnes-Riggins, who was a server at Champy’s; each time I came through Champy’s door, she always had something interesting to say…….she was full of life and loved her family. The musical benefit for April was organized by Whitney Henson and Sterling Gros, owners of Champy’s and included The Sassy Brown Band, 2Blu & The Lucky Stiffs and Hunnicutt Willis and others who sat-in with the musicians too. It was an incredible tribute to April, raised a lot of money for her children and included family, friends and musicians…..all there to honor April. Godspeed, my dear.

DEBUT of JOHNNYBUTTS at FIVE RESTAURANT in LAKEVIEW (June 1^st)

If you had told me that a group consisting of only a guitar player and drummer (with no vocals, per the establishment, mind you) would be able to pull off a successful gig at one of the best restaurants in Southside, I wouldn’t have believed you……..oh, but we did. Glen Butts is a phenomenal guitar virtuoso and is a southeast legend. We clicked as a duo from the opening song (which, I recall, was Cold Duck Time by Eddie Harris). The owners loved us, and we’ve been a fixture there each month ever since that first Sunday Jazz Brunch gig.

THE SASSY BROWN BAND APPEARS ON NETWORK TELEVISION (September 22^nd)

Even though this gig ACTUALLY happened in October of 2013, it didn’t air until September 22^nd of 2014! Backstory: the Sassy Brown Band was booked into the world-famous juke joint GIP’S PLACE on the night of October 5^th……..a few weeks before, we had been asked if we would mind the Bravo Channel filming us. Of course we said we would love it……it was for some reality TV show called “JERSEY BELLE”. He had no idea who these people were, or when or IF this show would ever air. We even got together at Champy’s in Alabaster the night of our premiere, which was the show’s finale, on September 22^nd. Wow, our 15 minutes of fame (actually, I clocked our segment at a little over a minute, but I’ll take it) was awesome. Even my grown daughters HAD to tell their friends that their dad was on this show (albeit, a reality TV show). Scratch that off of my bucket list.

HEADLINING AT WORKPLAY (August 30^th)

My first headliner gig at WorkPlay (with THE SASSY BROWN BIG BAND) was an incredible experience. We shared the stage with the great musicians from 2Blu & The Lucky Stiffs. It was a stellar performance by both groups, and even though it was on the Saturday of Alabama’s first football game of the season AND it was also Labor Day weekend, tons of friends and fans came to see us. What a great night it was!

AND, the #1 GIG for 2014 (drum roll....please):

OPENING FOR ERIC CLAPTON AT OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATER (May 2nd)

OK, full disclosure here…..we were on the “WELCOME” stage as the 14,000+ in attendance came into the amphitheater to hear Eric Clapton, but, once again, I’ll take it. WOW. To see so many people, most of whom had never heard of THE SASSY BROWN BAND before……..it was a rocking solid hour, complete with green room stories (I can’t tell you)…….all topped off by sitting down afterwards to hear the master ERIC CLAPTON himself. I will never forget this night. My thanks to Seebie Camp, Lauren Brown, Glen Butts and Bill Park for their great musicianship and friendship!!!!!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Oasis in Lakeview (July 26th)

The Sassy Brown Band performed at Oasis right at the end of the street party on 7th Avenue featuring (I kid you not....) Vanilla Ice and Coolio....wow, lots of great inebriated fans witnessed Sassy for the first time!!

CHAMPY'S in ALABASTER (December 20th)

The Champy's gig on December 20th featured my dear dad and awesome horn player Vince Oliver. To say he stole the show from us is a vast understatement. Dad still has it!!!