We picked our cousin Suzanne up at the airport earlier this afternoon (she lives and works in Helsinki, Finland and is back in the states for a short vacation) and decided we'd invite her and Aunt Bernice to join us for dinner and to see Mike O'Roark and his group play the first hour of tonight's jam session. It was nice that John & Mary Pettersch and friend Jim Bledsoe were along as well. The place was literally packed although we got there early, but we got a nice table with a great view of the stage, nevertheless. Mike's band, which consists of C.J. Sanders on bass, Roger Bough playing lead guitar and harmonica and Don Wiser on drums was joined tonight by Loren Reid on banjo who, we thought, sounded super. Mike sang and played some great tunes tonight, among them were Hank Sr.'s "Mind Your Own Business," Tom T. Hall's "Pamela Brown," "Today I Started Loving You Again," "Did She Mention My Name" which was recorded by Gordon Lightfoot," "You Can Feel It In Your Soul," "Sailor's Dream" and "Blue Moon Of Kentucky." He did impressions of George Jones and Johnny Cash, singing "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and "Folsom Prison Blues." As the clock approached 9PM, he closed his set with the Carter Family's "You Are My Flower" and his signature song "Free Born Man."
We hated to leave, but our aunt who will be 90 in November, tires easily, so the evening came to a halt. But not before Mike was kind enough to pose for a picture with the two ladies. What a classy guy! Try and make Dirks some Wednesday night -- you'll have a grand time. (Below) Cousin Suzanne Louis, Mike O'Rouke and our aunt, Bernice Thomas
