Blues Under the Stars

We have a monthly standing engagement at this place, Blues Under the Stars.  Located in the historic part of Englewood, Florida, a mere 15 minutes from our home.  Pretty nondescript from the street but enter from the street, walk through the restaurant and bar until you exit to the outdoor courtyard.

Reservations are a must, usually, a month ahead of time if you want to be seated.  It could be just BH and me but usually it includes whoever is in town.  Our biggest party included 15.  The trees are sprinkled with white, fairy lights, tables are candlelit, nights are usually in the mid 70s, and, of course, there are the starry skies.  The food is not gourmet but I’ll take their baby back ribs any day.

We come for the music.  Not just any music.  We come for Mike Imbasciani and the Blues Rockerz.  Naturally, there are a lot of other excellent musicians…blues and rock…who make their way to the courtyard.  But, we’re die hard Mike groupies….as are many local boomers.

The first time we heard him at a local concert, he was barely 16, still in high school, in 2013.  The headliner at that event was another Mike, Michael Allman, Gregg’s oldest.   Gregg met Michael’s mother, a go-go dancer at a discotheque near Daytona Beach.  At 18, he fathered his first child.  Mary Lou’s parents, a bank executive and librarian, were none too happy about it and ran him out of town.

I would venture a guess that Mary Lou was in the throes of a major rebellion.  Ya think?  I’m guessing they didn’t have much to do with her or little Michael, because when I met him at that concert, he was missing quite a few teeth at the age of 47.  However, I will say that didn’t interfere with his amazing voice….he sounded exactly like Gregg, except younger.  Listen to him on YouTube, you’ll see what I mean.

But, I digress.  At the age of 5, Mike Imbasciani pleaded with his father for guitar lessons.  So, they both took it up, but little Mike could run circles around his dad within a few months.  The dad quit, but he agreed to continue lessons for Mike as long as he learned “his” music.  We’re talking The Band, Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers, Santana, Eric Clapton, Arlo Guthrie and lots of old blues legends.  And, wow, did he learn them.  Listening to him play is pure joy!  No one can sit still….we turn into a whole lotta boomer shakers!  As bad as my structural issues can be, I cannot help but get up and dance!!

And, so, last night was no exception.  I was sitting next to a very old friend from our Florida State days back in the late 60s.  You can’t help but hear that fabulous music (I admit, I am biased) and reminisce.  Songs evoke some fairly strong memories and emotions.

Last night, I was back in Northampton, Massachusetts, living with my young husband in a boarding house paying in rent exactly what we were paying for a two bedroom furnished home in Florida.  We had graduated from Florida State and threw all our possessions into a VW bug and took off for New England.  Two reasons:  Jim had gone AWOL in New Haven and Mass voted for McGovern in 1968.  Of course, we had no jobs or contacts.  We never thought we were risk takers.  It was the 70s!!

We exited Interstate 91 at Northampton and drove down Main Street.  Hippie types everywhere smoking out in the open and I’m not talking tobacco.  No arrests!  No one batted an eye.  This was 1970!!  OMG!  I stayed 13 years.