We decided to avoid the hassle of running up and down the traffic-packed highways this Memorial Day weekend and decided to stay around home and enjoy some of the great talent available right here in the Kansas City area. Ronni & Ted Ward are, of course intregal parts of Annie's Country Jubilee Band, Ted playing bass and Ronni, a featured singer and rhythm guitarist and although we have seen them perform around this area in smaller groups, this was the first time we have seen them as a duo.
Scooter's Coffee House, located on the SW corner of College Blvd. & Antioch with it's cozy, intimate surroundings was the perfect venue for the mellow, smooth but somewhat upbeat music these two produced and everyone seemed to relish. Beginning with "Count Your Blessings," "My Sweet Love Ain't Around," a duet of Hal Ketchum's "Someplace Far Away," "Angel From Montgomery," "Down To My Last Cigarette" and James Taylor's "Hey Mister That's Me Up On The Juke Box," 1967's "When Love Comes A' Knockin' was next followed by "Landslide," Pam Tillis' "Maybe It Was Memphis," "Natural Woman," an Ira Gershwin tune, "Our Love Is Here To Stay" and Ted with "There's A New Kid In Town." This "dynamic duo" conclued the evening with "Rock 'N Roll Woman," "Weasel & The White Boy," "Free Man In Paris," "Long Long Time" and The Pretenders' "Back On The Chain Gang."
We throughly enjoyed ourselves and came away with the thought that these folks can play and sing just about anything that's worth hearing. For more information on where you might be able to catch them in the future, check with Ronni's MySpace site: www.myspace.com/ronniward (Below) Ted & Ronni Ward entertain the crowd @ Scooter's Coffee House
