BACK PORCH PRODUCTIONS???

This is the name of the band playing the Owl Cafe on February 28, 2015. This name perplexed me greatly and when I "googled" it became even more perplexing! Back Porch Productions is a limited liability corporation which is involved in big festivals all over the U.S. and especially in the South. It turns out that the group playing on the 28th is actually our old friends from Laurel who made up 3/4 of the original "Ramblin' Laurels" group: Benny Lewis, Dave Fischer and Joe Russell. The fourth member Mike Rolinson died a couple of years ago. While Fischer was working long hours full time Ben, Mike and Joe continued as a trio. Then I played fiddle with them for sometime and about the time I left they picked up Wade Steinmetz on banjo and Kenny Brandt on high vocals and dobro.  Ben and Joe decided to "retire" and Terry Indreland came on as vocalist and guitar with Laura Steinmetz on bass. Later Trent Indreland joined in on low vocals and mandolin. While the Prairie Winds Cafe in Molt was still open they changed their name to "Bluegrass for Breakfast" and violin store owner and Scottish fiddler, Janney Kirk, joined the band. When the Steinmetz's broke up Wade moved on to "Cold Frosty."  Brandt had departed earlier. More recently another name change resulted in "Canyon Creek." So if any readers wondered who that group was you now have the full story on that.

I knew that Lewis and Russell were retired and they began jamming again  when Dave Fischer also retired. After the Owl performances began I urged them to sign up for a gig as the hometown band and also to use their old name, but as the "ORIGINAL Ramblin' Laurels."  It seems they didn't want any confusion and while picking on Dave's back porch they decided that would be a good name. It could have been Back Porch Pickers, but the term "Production" was stuck in one's memory and they decided to use that. With no harm, no foul, the big corporation will probably never hear of the Laurel guys and not give them a cease and desist or be sued order. I'm wishing them good luck and good picking and singing on their first public gig in many years.  Let's get out and give them support on February 28th.