Our Latest "Best Gig Ever"

We were jokingly calling it "Dougstock". Or "Sarapalooza". We set up on a wooden stage in an outdoor natural amphitheater and played to a wildly enthusiastic audience.

Of course they were enthusiastic. Most of them were related to our bass player Doug Sovern, or to the woman he would wed the next day, Sara Newmann. The concert was Doug and Sara's idea, a way to entertain their guests the night before the wedding.

Talk about a great vibe. Not only did we gain the services of Dean Angermeier, a terrifc Oregon-based keyboard player who's married to Sara's cousin, but all sorts of family members climbed up to join in at one point or another. Doug's mom played piano. One niece sang and another hopped on the drums, cheerfully acknowledging she didn't know "Sympathy For The Devil" and then proceeding to blow us away with her talent. Doug's old buddies Brad and Rustam played.

We had to shut down at 10 PM (campground rules), but we truly could have gone longer. By then, the stars were shining brightly in the Wine Country sky and despite the chill in the air, we all had a nice, warm glow.

It's as if Doug and Sara gave the rest of us the wedding gift.