After ‘a great run’ of 15 years, the popular West Michigan acoustic cover band will play its farewell show Saturday night at One Trick Pony in downtown Grand Rapids. (Story, video)
Ending It Where It All Began: The Lazy Blue Tunas at One Trick Pony. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
UPDATE: IMAGES FROM THE FAREWELL SHOW IN THIS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY
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My, how time flies when you’re having fun — 15 years’ worth of fun.
Grand Rapids’ Lazy Blue Tunas never envisioned that a humble musical venture which started out as some guys bolstering a solo project would build into the impressive legacy that it’s become – with a devoted fan base, sold-out shows, powerful harmonies, tongue-in-cheek humor and a generation- and genre-spanning repertoire that includes everything from The Beatles and Linda Ronstadt to Yes, Ted Nugent, Coldplay and Mozart.
A ‘Following of Great Friends’: Pete Bardolph, with Mary Rademacher, Dave Marsh and Mark VanderKolk of Lazy Blue Tunas. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Oh, and of course, there was the band’s signature a cappella rendition of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” that became a Christmas show mainstay and a packed-house, sing-along favorite.
All of that comes to an end on Saturday when the Lazy Blue Tunas play their farewell show at the venue where it all began, One Trick Pony, 136 E. Fulton St., in downtown Grand Rapids.
As upbeat band members put it, they’ve had “a great run” and it’s time to go out while they’re still on top – or at least, while they’re still drawing ultra-enthusiastic crowds.
“I don’t think we would have predicted that the Lazy Blue Tunas would go for this long. And we are thankful to have developed a following of great friends who have kept us going for all these years,” said guitarist Pete Bardolph, who started playing solo gigs at One Trick Pony in 2001 but decided he needed “more horsepower in the act” by adding musicians Mark VanderKolk, Dave Marsh and Bob Keeley.
Mark VanderKolk (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“We were not looking any farther ahead than that next gig, but it was so much fun, that we decided to keep it going. … We have tried to offer something unique and it has been gratifying to see that our fans get what we’re trying to do and actually like it.”
Guitarist and singer Marsh suggested “fans had fun because we were enjoying ourselves. We didn’t play often enough to get bored, each event was greatly anticipated and we were always expanding our repertoire.”
The band kept its sound distinctive with spare acoustic instrumentation, challenging and sometimes unusual material, tight harmonies and original arrangements.
“The musical legacy of the Lazy Blue Tunes is, I would say, making the most of a simple configuration of instruments and voices,” said Bardolph, who’s also co-owner of Grand Rapids’ Rainbow Music.
ROLLING OUT ‘PASSION AND POLISH, THE FURY AND FINESSE’
“There are limitations on what kind of music a band can tackle with no electric guitars, no keyboards, and no drum kit. But we have found a lot of freedom in working within the confines of the instruments we do use. We’ve done Yes and Ted Nugent. We’ve done Handel and Mozart. And from the beginning, we have tried to sing as fully as we can, dividing lead vocals among all of us and harmonizing on most of the songs. That’s what I’ll miss about the band.”
‘A Good Run’: The Lazy Blue Tunas at One Trick. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, the current lineup of Lazy Blue Tunas – Bardolph, Marsh, VanderKolk and singer Mary Rademacher – will roll out its final performance on “a high note,” with former members of the band — Keeley, Scott Vander Ark and John Gelderloos — making guest appearances.
In an email to fans, the band vowed it will “unleash the passion and polish, the fury and finesse, the zeal and the zen. There will be beers and tears, laughs and gaffes, shocks and botox.”
“Pete told us early in 2015 that it would be the last year for the Tunas,” Marsh said. “Fifteen years is a good run and it’s a good idea to go out while we’re still popular and appreciated.”
Dave Marsh (Photo/Anna Sink)
Bardolph said the decision doesn’t involve “any problems or scandals. We all get along great and we truly have enjoyed every gig. We could certainly do this for X number of additional years, but we feel that 15 years is a good run and a long enough one.”
It makes sense to wrap up that “good run” at One Trick Pony where “the band was born and also a place that has supported us thoroughly since the beginning,” Bardolph said. “There is a unique intimacy that comes from the band being just a few feet from the audience. We’re happy to be able to do our farewell show at this place that we love.”
One Trick Pony owners Dan and Lisa Verhil “have been very supportive of the band,” said Marsh, “and we consider it our home base.” The intimate venue is expected to be at capacity for the final show; call 235-7669 for reservations.
And while Marsh said he’ll miss his bandmates “and those nights when we were hot and the house was full,” retiring the Lazy Blue Tunas offers an opportunity “to do something different or take it easy.”
Mary Rademacher (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Of course, the band couldn’t call it quits without injecting some of its trademark humor into the situation.
“We all know that superwoman Mary Rademacher will keep right on ticking. We hope she will miss the Lazy Blue Tunas, but she will continue to be very visible in her many other bands,” Bardolph said of Rademacher, an award-winning vocalist with a commanding jazz, pop and cabaret resume.
“Speaking for the guys, we are definitely not going to sell the guitars, but we are not committed to any particular next thing. Anyone who has been to our gigs will tell you that we think we have a lot of prospects as comedians.”
VIDEO: Lazy Blue Tunas on Local Spins Live
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Nice article on a great group who quickly became great friends
Great musicians, great sound, very entertaining..I wish all of them success in whatever they decide to do.