Pete has posted an early promotional film of the show from when it was known as SWEET HOME CHICAGO onto YouTube. Have we come a long way since those bygone days of female impersonation? Click here and see what you think...
Cheers- Leigh.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
'The future's so bright...'
Well... we've finally severed all 'negative and draining' ties with the previous regime, bring on the future!
Have we got some great dates for you!!!! Coming up in the Autumn we will be playing venues from The Lowry in Manchester to The Eden Court in Inverness and many many more in between.
2010 is looking to be monster! Bring it on!
Cheers- Pete.
Have we got some great dates for you!!!! Coming up in the Autumn we will be playing venues from The Lowry in Manchester to The Eden Court in Inverness and many many more in between.
2010 is looking to be monster! Bring it on!
Cheers- Pete.
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Keep on running
Hi everyone, Mike 'Elwood' Hyde here.
I've been asked to write another blog entry into these hallowed pages, on the subject of my most recent achievement - running in the 2009 Bupa London 10k Race on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May. As the name suggests, this is a 10km (approx 6.3 miles) charity race, held in London. As with the London Marathon, there are lots of amateur runners, club runners, people raising money for charities, etc. There were also some 'elite' runners, the best of whom on the day was Great Britain's Mo Farah, who broke the British record with a time of 27:50.
I've only been running for a few months, and even then only once or twice a week, so this was my first organised race. I was running with a friend, and so we got the train down to London that morning and made our weay across to Hyde Park Corner to register and get on the start line in plenty of time. The race started on Birdcage Walk, went up past Big Ben, up the Embankment, into the City, past St Paul's and back down to finish on The Mall with Buckingham Palace making a fairly wonderful target down the home stretch. Most of the course was lined with spectators, despite the forecasted rain - very little of which actually materialised. It turned out to be a lovely day with near-perfect conditions - fairly cool during the race, bursting into sunshine almost immediately afterwards.
I must confess that, even though I've run 6 miles on a couple of previous occasions, this race was tough. Partly, I think, because extra concentration needed when you're running with a LOT of other people, having to look for gaps to overtake and making sure you don't get your legs tangled with anyone else. Also because of running an unfamiliar course, so you're uncertain of where to push and where to ease off. But I think mostly because you're giving so much more effort, due to it being a one-off big event, so you want to make sure you give everything and run the best time you can. My target had been simple; to enjoy myself and run a time of under 50mins. In the event, I did both those things. We had a fantastic day and I ended running a 48:22, which (incredibly) put me in 846th place out of around 12,500 runners! I'll take being in the top 7% (if my maths is right) of any race, especially one in which the British record gets shattered!
I couldn't be more pleased with how the day went, both in terms of my performance and my enjoyment, though I suspect the two things are linked. This was only the second time this race has been held and I have to say, it was great. The organisation of the whole thing was spot-on from start to finish. The atmosphere was terrific and I don't think they could have made it any better. My plans are to step it up a notch now and run a half-marathon either in the autumn or early next year depending tour schedules etc. So fear not cherished readers, I'll be hitting you all for some sponsorship money soon enough!
Thanks for reading, and if this has inspired you to go out and do something active - my only advice is do it, and enjoy it! You don't have to go out road-running for miles and miles, it can be as simple as going for a walk round the park, kicking a ball about with your kids. Get those endorphins flowing - the weather couldn't be better!
Mike Hyde
I've been asked to write another blog entry into these hallowed pages, on the subject of my most recent achievement - running in the 2009 Bupa London 10k Race on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May. As the name suggests, this is a 10km (approx 6.3 miles) charity race, held in London. As with the London Marathon, there are lots of amateur runners, club runners, people raising money for charities, etc. There were also some 'elite' runners, the best of whom on the day was Great Britain's Mo Farah, who broke the British record with a time of 27:50.
I've only been running for a few months, and even then only once or twice a week, so this was my first organised race. I was running with a friend, and so we got the train down to London that morning and made our weay across to Hyde Park Corner to register and get on the start line in plenty of time. The race started on Birdcage Walk, went up past Big Ben, up the Embankment, into the City, past St Paul's and back down to finish on The Mall with Buckingham Palace making a fairly wonderful target down the home stretch. Most of the course was lined with spectators, despite the forecasted rain - very little of which actually materialised. It turned out to be a lovely day with near-perfect conditions - fairly cool during the race, bursting into sunshine almost immediately afterwards.
I must confess that, even though I've run 6 miles on a couple of previous occasions, this race was tough. Partly, I think, because extra concentration needed when you're running with a LOT of other people, having to look for gaps to overtake and making sure you don't get your legs tangled with anyone else. Also because of running an unfamiliar course, so you're uncertain of where to push and where to ease off. But I think mostly because you're giving so much more effort, due to it being a one-off big event, so you want to make sure you give everything and run the best time you can. My target had been simple; to enjoy myself and run a time of under 50mins. In the event, I did both those things. We had a fantastic day and I ended running a 48:22, which (incredibly) put me in 846th place out of around 12,500 runners! I'll take being in the top 7% (if my maths is right) of any race, especially one in which the British record gets shattered!
I couldn't be more pleased with how the day went, both in terms of my performance and my enjoyment, though I suspect the two things are linked. This was only the second time this race has been held and I have to say, it was great. The organisation of the whole thing was spot-on from start to finish. The atmosphere was terrific and I don't think they could have made it any better. My plans are to step it up a notch now and run a half-marathon either in the autumn or early next year depending tour schedules etc. So fear not cherished readers, I'll be hitting you all for some sponsorship money soon enough!
Thanks for reading, and if this has inspired you to go out and do something active - my only advice is do it, and enjoy it! You don't have to go out road-running for miles and miles, it can be as simple as going for a walk round the park, kicking a ball about with your kids. Get those endorphins flowing - the weather couldn't be better!
Mike Hyde
Monday, 11 May 2009
Change is good…….
Well, it’s been a while and after all, there has been a self inflicted news black out for the passed few weeks.
Thanks to all involved with the Spring shenanigans, in and out of the CBB fold; the dates have been truly enjoyable and much craziness was experienced by one and all – on and off the stage.
The end of the Spring dates heralded the end of another chapter in the ever growing book of the CBB. We are now very pleased and proud to announce that we are now THE OFFICIAL CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS SHOW with a brand new UK Theatre Promoter, NICK TAGGART of NETT UK.
Yes, there have been some very necessary casualties in dates and personnel – hopefully there will not be anymore - but then, sacrifices must be made to safeguard the stability and future of this show, which we love.
The date sheet is swelling as we speak and I am very pleased to announce that we will be coming in from some of the provincial theatres and performing in a lot more city centre venues – which will make it a lot more difficult for the old chestnut, “Just couldn’t get to that one!”
No excuses then and the new list will be ‘uploaded’ to the website once all the contractual formalities have been duly completed.
I will close on a saying that is synonymous with a certain President, and is something I truly believe…..
THIS IS CHANGE THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN!
Cheers- Pete Tobit (producer/president-in-waiting)
Thanks to all involved with the Spring shenanigans, in and out of the CBB fold; the dates have been truly enjoyable and much craziness was experienced by one and all – on and off the stage.
The end of the Spring dates heralded the end of another chapter in the ever growing book of the CBB. We are now very pleased and proud to announce that we are now THE OFFICIAL CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS SHOW with a brand new UK Theatre Promoter, NICK TAGGART of NETT UK.
Yes, there have been some very necessary casualties in dates and personnel – hopefully there will not be anymore - but then, sacrifices must be made to safeguard the stability and future of this show, which we love.
The date sheet is swelling as we speak and I am very pleased to announce that we will be coming in from some of the provincial theatres and performing in a lot more city centre venues – which will make it a lot more difficult for the old chestnut, “Just couldn’t get to that one!”
No excuses then and the new list will be ‘uploaded’ to the website once all the contractual formalities have been duly completed.
I will close on a saying that is synonymous with a certain President, and is something I truly believe…..
THIS IS CHANGE THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN!
Cheers- Pete Tobit (producer/president-in-waiting)
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Re-make / re-model
If you get 5 minutes over the upcoming Easter weekend and you haven't seen our website for a while then check it out; there's some new gigs including Summer festival dates, and new photos taken at last month's Epsom Playhouse show in the cast and gallery sections- there's even one of me smiling! Really!
Pull up some hot cross buns and have a look- you know you want to...
Cheers- Leigh
Pull up some hot cross buns and have a look- you know you want to...
Cheers- Leigh
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
The cat (mostly) in the hat goes North...
This weekend saw The Chicago Blues Brothers traversing the length of England and Scotland for a series of three gigs in Newark, Langholm and Glasgow.
Friday was the Princess Theatre in Newark. It's a lovely theatre which had been given a lick of paint since we were here last year. Unfortunately though there's not much that can be done about the low beams in the corridor leading to the dressing rooms, which cause considerable problems to those of us over 6ft! With sound check out of the way, it's off to find some refreshment. After wandering around the streets of Newark with limited success, we settle on a pub down the road from the theatre. It's a little local place for local people, so we receive some sideways glances when our number roll in making noise and sporting our strange, unfamiliar accents. Once we were finished there, it was back for the show. It's Matt's second show with us and the first time he's playing the Preacher and Cab Calloway characters. He does brilliantly, the crowd love the show and are dancing in the aisles within the first few songs. A good night is had by all and we get lots of positive comments and thanks in the foyer after the show.
Then it's off to The Hop Pole Hotel in Ollerton for the night. It's an old Grade II listed building in a small town and we're all in agreement when we arrive that it looks both fantastic and haunted (much to Tracy's dismay!). As the bar is still open when we arrive, we decide it would be rude if we didn't have a drink. It's a Samuel Smith pub, which means that rather than the Carlsberg, Stella & Strongbow you would expect to see, we're met an array of Sam Smith ales and organic ciders, most of which were sampled and all of which were delicious! Then it's bed, followed by a lovely breakfast, then the next leg of our journey, to Langholm (via a services on the A1 to pick up Matt, and Adam who's playing trumpet for the next two nights). I should mention at this point that in charge of our in-flight entertainment was Richard the sax man, who'd brought along a 4-movie dvd set that he's picked up for 99p! We popped on the first movie, which was the very camp 1970's comedy Grand Theft Auto, starring Happy Days favourite, Ron Howard. The next offerring was far more questionable - the early 90's sci-fi drama, Lawnmower Man, starring a pre-Bond Pierce Brosnan. By the end of it, most of the band were gripped, while still declaring it one of the worst films ever made. However, several sequels were suggested, such as Hedgecutter Girl, Strimmer Boy and Leafblower Woman... we haven't heard back from Hollywood on those?
Langholm is a beautiful town just over the border into Scotland. There's a river running through the heart of it and the whole place could scarcely be more picturesque. The venue we're playing is called The Buccleuch Centre (no, I wasn't sure how to pronounce it either!). It's a new place and they're really working hard to establish it as a venue for high quality theatre shows and musical acts, and judging by the sort of acts they've got booked to appear there, they might just succeed. It's not a huge venue, but the crowd more than make up for that with their enthusiasm. And barring one small error (where yours truly walked half way on to the stage for the second half, before realising I wasn't wearing my hat!) the show went very well.
We're staying in The Eskdale Hotel just round the corner from the venue and while it doesn't have quite the same character as the previous nights accommodation, it has a hospitable landlord, cheap drinks and hot & cold running pies, so we can't complain! There is however a disco happening in the basement, which attracts herberts and scoundrels from far & wide. But other than Squirrel having to step over one of the on the stairs, we're not really bothered by them.
The next morning we get up for breakfast, which included square sausage and black pudding- we must be in Scotland! Then we've got time for wandering around the local shops and across the town's wobbly foot bridge, before piling back into the bus for the journey to Glasgow!
The journey takes a little longer than it should, because we take a detour to Lanark in the hopes that we'll stumble across a lovely little pub to have lunch in. Those hopes prove misguided, but we do find a rather quaint little sweet shop where a few of us pick up, among other things, a quarter of Rhubarb & Custards! On to Glasgow then and to the Pavillion Theatre. It's a big old place right in the city centre and from standing on the stage I have to say it's one of the nicest I've seen. It really is a beautiful theatre, with a great tradition judging by all the old show posters they have framed around the dressing rooms. Once showtime arrives, it turns out to be a great way to finish our little jaunt as the show goes fantastically well. I keep my hat on throughout and Matt goes from strength to strength. The crowd were brilliant, making loads of noise and nearly raising the roof when Matt hit his party tricks of doing full box splits - how low can he go!
Then after the show it's time to pack 'em up, move 'em out, Rawhide! ...sorry about that, got a bit carried away! Where was I? Ah yes, packing up and getting on the road for the daunting journey back home. The first sign for 'The SOUTH' was met with considerable cheers from the band and we end up making excellent time. I'm at home tucked up in bed by 6:30 and that's the end of this little adventure. My word, I appear to have written a novel! But then, having spent 3 days and 2 nights with the band, LOTS of things tend to happen - you should see the stuff I've left out!!! Now it's roll on Epsom Playhouse on Wednesday!
Thanks for reading
Mike 'Elwood' Hyde
Friday was the Princess Theatre in Newark. It's a lovely theatre which had been given a lick of paint since we were here last year. Unfortunately though there's not much that can be done about the low beams in the corridor leading to the dressing rooms, which cause considerable problems to those of us over 6ft! With sound check out of the way, it's off to find some refreshment. After wandering around the streets of Newark with limited success, we settle on a pub down the road from the theatre. It's a little local place for local people, so we receive some sideways glances when our number roll in making noise and sporting our strange, unfamiliar accents. Once we were finished there, it was back for the show. It's Matt's second show with us and the first time he's playing the Preacher and Cab Calloway characters. He does brilliantly, the crowd love the show and are dancing in the aisles within the first few songs. A good night is had by all and we get lots of positive comments and thanks in the foyer after the show.
Then it's off to The Hop Pole Hotel in Ollerton for the night. It's an old Grade II listed building in a small town and we're all in agreement when we arrive that it looks both fantastic and haunted (much to Tracy's dismay!). As the bar is still open when we arrive, we decide it would be rude if we didn't have a drink. It's a Samuel Smith pub, which means that rather than the Carlsberg, Stella & Strongbow you would expect to see, we're met an array of Sam Smith ales and organic ciders, most of which were sampled and all of which were delicious! Then it's bed, followed by a lovely breakfast, then the next leg of our journey, to Langholm (via a services on the A1 to pick up Matt, and Adam who's playing trumpet for the next two nights). I should mention at this point that in charge of our in-flight entertainment was Richard the sax man, who'd brought along a 4-movie dvd set that he's picked up for 99p! We popped on the first movie, which was the very camp 1970's comedy Grand Theft Auto, starring Happy Days favourite, Ron Howard. The next offerring was far more questionable - the early 90's sci-fi drama, Lawnmower Man, starring a pre-Bond Pierce Brosnan. By the end of it, most of the band were gripped, while still declaring it one of the worst films ever made. However, several sequels were suggested, such as Hedgecutter Girl, Strimmer Boy and Leafblower Woman... we haven't heard back from Hollywood on those?
Langholm is a beautiful town just over the border into Scotland. There's a river running through the heart of it and the whole place could scarcely be more picturesque. The venue we're playing is called The Buccleuch Centre (no, I wasn't sure how to pronounce it either!). It's a new place and they're really working hard to establish it as a venue for high quality theatre shows and musical acts, and judging by the sort of acts they've got booked to appear there, they might just succeed. It's not a huge venue, but the crowd more than make up for that with their enthusiasm. And barring one small error (where yours truly walked half way on to the stage for the second half, before realising I wasn't wearing my hat!) the show went very well.
We're staying in The Eskdale Hotel just round the corner from the venue and while it doesn't have quite the same character as the previous nights accommodation, it has a hospitable landlord, cheap drinks and hot & cold running pies, so we can't complain! There is however a disco happening in the basement, which attracts herberts and scoundrels from far & wide. But other than Squirrel having to step over one of the on the stairs, we're not really bothered by them.
The next morning we get up for breakfast, which included square sausage and black pudding- we must be in Scotland! Then we've got time for wandering around the local shops and across the town's wobbly foot bridge, before piling back into the bus for the journey to Glasgow!
The journey takes a little longer than it should, because we take a detour to Lanark in the hopes that we'll stumble across a lovely little pub to have lunch in. Those hopes prove misguided, but we do find a rather quaint little sweet shop where a few of us pick up, among other things, a quarter of Rhubarb & Custards! On to Glasgow then and to the Pavillion Theatre. It's a big old place right in the city centre and from standing on the stage I have to say it's one of the nicest I've seen. It really is a beautiful theatre, with a great tradition judging by all the old show posters they have framed around the dressing rooms. Once showtime arrives, it turns out to be a great way to finish our little jaunt as the show goes fantastically well. I keep my hat on throughout and Matt goes from strength to strength. The crowd were brilliant, making loads of noise and nearly raising the roof when Matt hit his party tricks of doing full box splits - how low can he go!
Then after the show it's time to pack 'em up, move 'em out, Rawhide! ...sorry about that, got a bit carried away! Where was I? Ah yes, packing up and getting on the road for the daunting journey back home. The first sign for 'The SOUTH' was met with considerable cheers from the band and we end up making excellent time. I'm at home tucked up in bed by 6:30 and that's the end of this little adventure. My word, I appear to have written a novel! But then, having spent 3 days and 2 nights with the band, LOTS of things tend to happen - you should see the stuff I've left out!!! Now it's roll on Epsom Playhouse on Wednesday!
Thanks for reading
Mike 'Elwood' Hyde
Monday, 9 March 2009
My first night as Jake with The Chicago Blues Brothers
Having negotiated the wonderful Norfolk tractor express way, I found myself in a blustery Hunstanton at around 2pm.
I had a little time till I met Pete, Jayne and Squirrel at the theatre so I took the opportunity to check out some old haunts from my childhood holidays in sunny Hunstanton. £10 worth of 2p's later I was broke, frustrated and ready to throw those stupid slot machines into the sea! Time to meet the guys I think!
We loaded in to what is a lovely little theatre and with the help of the top draw house crew, we were all ready in double quick time. The rest of the band arrived not long after and I was formally introduced to them all (I have met and worked with most of them before) and I have to say the family vibe of the whole show kicked in almost immediately!
After some rehearsals to try and hammer in some dance moves to my increasingly hard head, we all enjoyed the Norfolk coasts greatest export.....Fish and Chips. Then all that was left to do was try and remember what came where and when, get changed and get on with it!
Now I have never been nervous about going on stage- as far as I am concerned the more people the better- but the only thing I do get nervous about is letting the people I am working with down. In an earlier life I fought internationally in a discipline called Knockdown Karate where obviously the objective was to knock the opponent down or preferably out! I was honestly never afraid of getting hurt (that was what I was there for) but I was afraid of letting down everyone that I had been training so hard with and that had given me so much of their time over the months before. This was a similar fear!
As the music started though, any nerves seemed to disappear as both myself and the audience became infected by the music. Mike and I walked on to stage and straight away I felt at home.
There were a couple of dance moves I messed up or completely forgot, and the odd harmony was missing but on the whole we all seemed to gel quickly as a unit, helped in no small way by Pete coming on and ripping the stage apart as the Reverend and later singing 'Minnie the Moocher'.
The show flew by and before I knew it we were taking our bows and being cheered off stage. Sweaty but happy we rushed to the front of house to sign some CD's and meet the audience, who to a man and woman loved the night and congratulated us all on a job well done.
On a personal note I would like to thank everyone of the band for their help and support and in particular Pete and Mike who got me through my first night and I hope on to many more with "The Chicago Blues Brothers". Bring on Newark!!
Matt
I had a little time till I met Pete, Jayne and Squirrel at the theatre so I took the opportunity to check out some old haunts from my childhood holidays in sunny Hunstanton. £10 worth of 2p's later I was broke, frustrated and ready to throw those stupid slot machines into the sea! Time to meet the guys I think!
We loaded in to what is a lovely little theatre and with the help of the top draw house crew, we were all ready in double quick time. The rest of the band arrived not long after and I was formally introduced to them all (I have met and worked with most of them before) and I have to say the family vibe of the whole show kicked in almost immediately!
After some rehearsals to try and hammer in some dance moves to my increasingly hard head, we all enjoyed the Norfolk coasts greatest export.....Fish and Chips. Then all that was left to do was try and remember what came where and when, get changed and get on with it!
Now I have never been nervous about going on stage- as far as I am concerned the more people the better- but the only thing I do get nervous about is letting the people I am working with down. In an earlier life I fought internationally in a discipline called Knockdown Karate where obviously the objective was to knock the opponent down or preferably out! I was honestly never afraid of getting hurt (that was what I was there for) but I was afraid of letting down everyone that I had been training so hard with and that had given me so much of their time over the months before. This was a similar fear!
As the music started though, any nerves seemed to disappear as both myself and the audience became infected by the music. Mike and I walked on to stage and straight away I felt at home.
There were a couple of dance moves I messed up or completely forgot, and the odd harmony was missing but on the whole we all seemed to gel quickly as a unit, helped in no small way by Pete coming on and ripping the stage apart as the Reverend and later singing 'Minnie the Moocher'.
The show flew by and before I knew it we were taking our bows and being cheered off stage. Sweaty but happy we rushed to the front of house to sign some CD's and meet the audience, who to a man and woman loved the night and congratulated us all on a job well done.
On a personal note I would like to thank everyone of the band for their help and support and in particular Pete and Mike who got me through my first night and I hope on to many more with "The Chicago Blues Brothers". Bring on Newark!!
Matt
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