Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
POSING AFTER a well-received Saturday concert at the Historic Ironwood Theatre are members of the Superior Horns and Blue Ice, from left, front row: Sherri Holms, Chris Berquist, Barb Ahnen and Samantha Grace; second row: Tammy Grewe, John Grewe, Patrick Triggiano, Larry Gabka, Jacob Schmeltzer, and Bob Ahnen; and third row: Bob Michaels, Peter Grewe and Matt Clausen. Not shown is visiting member Thomas Harvey.
By P.J. GLISSON
Ironwood - Both the audience and the band had fun during a "Spring Fling" concert by Superior Horns and Blue Ice at the Historic Ironwood Theatre.
The 14-member group kicked off the evening with a high-energy rendition of Steely Dan's "Black Cow," which had emcee Peter Grewe pounding the keyboard and singing the high life with Bob Michaels and Tammy Grewe, while the rest of the band had no trouble keeping up.
The entire program included 22 songs, including an encore song following a standing ovation. Peter Grewe, who also acted as master of ceremonies, said the band likes to think of the combination of songs as a "buffet." In this case, he said it included selections ranging from the 1930s to the 1990s.
Tammy Grewe sang pretty classics such as "Fly Me to the Moon" and "At Last."
Other funny, more eclectic songs such as "Beyond the Sea" and "Groove Me" were sung by Bob Michaels, and included playful, rapid-fire dialogue between him and Peter Grewe.
The saxophone section blew through an exhaustive medley that included "Duke's Suite" by Duke Ellington, which band member and founder Bob Ahnen called "smokin' hot."
Overall, the night included lots of laughing, strutting, and gesticulating that added to the entertainment.
Some of the most popular songs were those in which the full band participated with great gusto. These included "On Green Dolphin Street" and "Sweet Home Chicago," which soared with busy horns, clapping and a trilly keyboard.
Bob Michaels sang "Maggie's Back in Town" as the encore.
Superior Horns and Blue Ice started four years ago and Peter Grewe said the horn players are not always the same. Volunteer soundmen also take turns, with Donald Osier doing Saturday's show.
In this performance, two guests were included: (1) Jacob Schmeltzer, former music teacher with the Bessemer School District who now works in Negaunee; and (2) Thomas Harvey, a Mercer teen who is a freshman in the North Lakeland School District.
Audience members responded with enthusiasm during the intermission. "It's very good," said John Stone of Bessemer. "It's a good mix," Regarding his young daughter, he added, "Audrey said, 'I don't really know all these songs but they're pretty good.'"
Audrey said her favorite song at that point was "Vehicle," which had been sung by Bob Michaels.
"I like the variety of songs," said Jen Terrell of Hurley, who appreciated the different eras and genres. She said her favorite was "Don't Know Why," a Norah Jones song by guest soloist Veronica Bolton.
Bolton and fellow guest singer Cassandra Bordner, who sang "When" by Dodie Clark, were both winners in the HIT Idol contest last fall and were well received by the band and the audience at Saturday's concert.
Bruce Greenhill, the theatre's managing director, told the audience during his welcome that HIT is very close to collecting the $90,000 it needs to replace the theatre roof and he said any additional donations would be much appreciated.
The theatre puts $2 of every theatre ticket sold to historic preservation of the theatre.
