Tags
13th Avenue Blues Band, Blues, Calgary, Diana Schwenk, friends, growing up, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, love, memories, music, Relationships, reunion
IN THE EARLY 90’s the 13th Avenue Blues Band was formed with members Herb White, Guy Plecash, Annelie McKenzie, Rob and Sue Webster.
They played weekly at The Mustard Seed Street Ministry when it was located at 521 13th Avenue SW.
They gave Amazing Grace a raw bluesy feel and took classics like Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven’s Door to a whole new level.
Suffice it to say that the 13th Avenue Blues Band was the favourite house band.
Well that was almost two decades ago.
Recently Annelie came back to Calgary to visit. Back in the 90s she was a cool 15-year-old drummer.
More recently, she’s been living in LA for 14 years. She recently completed her Masters in Fine Arts and loves her life south of the border.
On Saturday seven of us gathered to talk about the good old days and watch three of the original band members engage in a jam session.
Herb arranged this reunion of sorts when he caught wind that Annelie was visiting. He offered Cornerstone Youth Centre ,where he is the executive director, as the place that we could meet up.
Cornerstone provides a place for kids to go after school. One of the programs kids can participate in is the music program; and cornerstone has the coolest music room to facilitate that.
Photos of many of my favourite artists of the past hang in the music room. Greats like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and more.
Once we spent some time catching up, Herb, Guy and Annelie headed to the music room and played together. It didn’t take them long to get in sync with each other again. They played some of their old covers and Herb played some of his new originals with the others joining in.
The rest of us watched and danced and sang along to the songs we knew. A great time was had by all.
Below some pictures I took on Saturday.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
I always enjoy getting together with people I haven’t seen in a while. Do you like reunions? What one reunion did you attend that had the most years since the last time you saw an old friend? Can you play a musical instrument? Which instrument?
Kristi said:
No party is better than reunions. Looks like good times. I don’t sing or play any instrument. I wanted to play piano when I was a kid but somehow it never happened. Have a fun weekend Diana!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Kristi, you too! By the way, if I was a talented musician, I would show off all the time!
Diana xo
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stuffitellmysister said:
What an awesome time together!! Music ~ soothes the soul and stirs up our innards. ♥
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dianasschwenk said:
That it does, my friend!
Diana xo
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Jelaines said:
Hey Diana, your blog popped up in my news alerts this morning! And I’m sure glad it did. It sounds like you all had a marvelous time.
As for reunions, the only ones I’ve been to are family ones, but they are fun and the number of us just keeps growing (6 siblings + 10 children + 8 grandchildren, so far.)
The only musical instrument I’ve assisted with playing is the piano. My mom liked to play fun songs. She had a couple of books of music that included songs like “Shoo fly don’t bother me,” “Hard hearted Hannah,” and “the Little gold church in the vale.” Oh, I forgot, I’ve played the kazoo.
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dianasschwenk said:
Hey Jan, so good to hear from you! It’s like a reunion of sorts online! 😀
Wow 8 grandchildren – that’s amazing! Oh and the way, I love the kazoo. ❤
Diana xo
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joannerambling said:
I have always wished I had stuck with guitar lessons when I was a child as I think it would be great to play a musical instrument
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dianasschwenk said:
I hear you Jo-Anne! I play a bit of guitar but not well. It may be for the best though, because if I could play and sing well, I would bring my guitar everywhere I went and show off my ability!
😀
Diana xo
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elizabeth2560 said:
I am so happy for you that you had such a great time. I LOVE reunions.
BTW, how did you make the drum red in the B&W photo?
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dianasschwenk said:
Hi Elizabeth, I had nothing to do with that photograph. It was professionally done 20 years ago for their album cover. It looks cool though, doesn’t it?
Diana xo
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Don said:
Must have been a wonderful get-together Diana. Naming all those artists just brings a flood of memories in to my heart, especially Jim Morrison. Great post.
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dianasschwenk said:
It was a lovely reunion Don, I had a great time. Yes Jim, Jimi and Janis the three Js that passed away in ’71. 😦
Diana xo
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Val Boyko said:
Great post Diana … ah the memories!
I’m curious to know what you were doing when these guys were at the Mustard Seed in the 90’s?….
I have moved so much that reunions are not a part of my life. I think living overseas will do that. I do love to reconnect through FaceBook though! It’s always delightful to see who might show up 🙂
Val x
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Val! I was there. I was a volunteer at the Mustard Seed and then I was hired on. I was with that organization for 20 years! ❤
Do you ever go back to visit Scotland Val?
Diana xo
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Val Boyko said:
That’s awesome Diana!
I’m so lucky that I can visit Scotland every year to see family and some friends
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dianasschwenk said:
Glad to hear it Val. 🙂
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markbialczak said:
Now that looks like a wonderful reunion, Diana. It’s great when not only can you savor the past, but share the present, too. You and your friends were lucky to jam like that! I haven’t been to a reunion in a long while. Some eight years ago, I brought Karen down to Maryland, and we went to the college football game and walked the campus with my best friend, who still lives down there. We had a wonderful time!
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dianasschwenk said:
It was a lot of fun Mark, for sure. Your trip to Maryland sounds good to. How long had it been since you saw that particular friend?
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
It had been probably five years. Now it’s been another five years. Too long.
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mrs fringe said:
Love this. I don’t play a musical instrument, but I love live music. And old friends…the best. ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
It is the best! And I knew you would…makes me think of your Friday readings of Astonishing with your friend. ❤
Diana xo
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mrs fringe said:
Yes! 🙂
xoxo
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dianasschwenk said:
😀 !
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