November 20, 2021
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Bally's
www.ballysac.com 

Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.


Seeing we only had an hour and a half drive from Wilmington, Delaware to Atlantic City, New Jersey, Alison's birthday party ran late last night. I wish I could have stayed up for the duration of the celebration, but my foot was in too much pain to accommodate my willingness to frolic and bounce about, and I won't lie to you; I was worried about my foot.  But it appears that the Disco Gods are with me. Late this morning, I reluctantly crawled out of my bunk, and my foot felt completely fine. I don't know how or why, and I will not question it. I am just deeply grateful it will be OK for this evening's performance. 

I will have to say; I have been looking forward to this show perhaps more than any other of the tour, simply because I have never been to Atlantic City before and have never performed at a Bally's. This may sound odd to most, but it is true. Further more, I have never enjoyed gambling and have no affection for casinos. They depress me. They always have. I am not implying that my experiences in casinos have been bad. On the contrary, they have always been quite the opposite. I have never had a bad experience in any of the casinos ABBA MANIA has performed, and we have had some fantastic sold-out shows in several casinos. We are always treated very nicely, but I personally just don't care for them. Be that as it may, I was really looking forward to this gig. 

The first thing I had to do was locate the ballroom we were playing. I was surprised to see it was smaller than I had anticipated. I was also shocked to find there were no dressing rooms, only pipe and drape sectioned-off areas on each side of the stage. None of that bothers me, of course, but I was just a bit surprised. However, there was one major concern all of us were sharing. Our traveling disco ensemble was very much in need of a shower, and since we were not staying the night, we did not have hotel rooms. The client and Todd were very sympathetic and did arrange to get us one hotel room which we could all use (one at a time, of course) to get all cleaned up before and after the show. 

Being in Atlantic City, we were located right on the Jersey Shore, and now that the gig is over, I regret not taking a walk along the beach. I was very tired today, had work to do, and in all honesty, did not want to push my foot any further than was absolutely necessary. The last thing I needed was a relapse before I went onstage. Believe me, if it got as bad as it was last night, I would not have been able to put my boots on without morphine. So since there was no dressing room, I spent most of my time alone on the bus online working on A1A business while some of the others went about having fun and continuing to celebrate Alison's birthday.

​When I broke for lunch, I ate at a nice restaurant in the casino that featured a live pianist playing directly outside at an open bar. As I was walking by, I noticed how upbeat and friendly she was and that she had a delightful voice. She reminded me of Carole King. She played her baby grand piano accompanied by some well-done, complimentary, but not overly made backing tracks. If it had been a free day, I would have pulled up a stool and sat awhile. But I was hungry and still had work to do, so I waved and smiled as I walked by, expressing my approval. Without thinking, I turned my attention towards lunch and proceeded to walk on. Until she broke into 'I Saw The Light' by Todd Rundgren. Being a Todd Rundgren nut and this being one of my very favorite songs, I had to stop, listen - and sing. Even though I wanted to, I did not jump up next to her and form an instant duet. No, I stayed put, smiled, and enthusiastically sang to myself.  She noticed me instantly. It would not have been too difficult since it seemed that, sadly, I was the only one who was listening. She quickly saw that I knew every word, so we sang to each other across the empty dance floor. It was fun, and she did an excellent job. When she finished, I applauded, tipped her a five-spot, and moved on to lunch with a song besides 'Dancing Queen' stuck in my head. Oh, what a beautiful feeling. 

We had heard reluctantly through management that tickets had not been selling well for this show. I found this quite odd, for I cannot think of any show we have ever done that wasn't sold out or very close to it. (Yes, I am blessed and extremely grateful) It turned out that this was Bally's first show since COVID, and they were still a bit reluctant. So reluctant in fact that the advertisement they gave our show was next to nothing. We were all quite shocked and a little ticked off. Sure enough, when it was show time and the curtain came up, the crowd was sparse. But kind of like playing in small rock clubs, what they lacked in numbers they made up for with their enthusiasm. Of all the luck, Rick's parents were in the audience, and it was their first time seeing him in this show. Lucky for everyone there tonight, we all gave a fine performance and were very well received.

Afterward, most of us took advantage of the showers again before retreating to the bus. If you have been following my blog from the start, I think you know what I did next. If not, I will refresh your memory. Hop on the bus and make a beeline for my bunk, bypassing all sweets and pizza. Quickly change into my Meat Loaf baseball jersey and sweat pants, climb ever so slowly into my bunk and turn out the light. With anticipation and a bit of sadness, I tried to drift off to sleep thinking about tomorrow night's show, which will be the last one of the tour. Turn the page...

November 19, 2021
Wilmington, Delaware
The Grand Opera House and Alison’s Birthday Party!
www.thegrandwilmington.org

​Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

​The drive from last night's show to this night's performance in Wilmington, Deleware was only about five and a half hours, so the bus stayed later in Virginia last night than I had initially thought it was going to. However, that did not bother me, for my trusty earplugs helped me make it through.
​
Tonight our show is at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Deleware, and to my recollection, I do not believe we have ever performed here before. It really is strange how all of the days and venues run together after a while.

I will have to say that The Grand Opera House lives up to its name. It is a magnificently beautiful theater both inside and out. You know, touring is a big bag of mixed nuts in so many ways. One nut, in particular, is that you can perform in a tiny, sweaty rock and roll club one night and a majestic, beautiful, and awe-inspiring theater the next. When I was young, I assumed that when you 'make it big,' whatever that looks like, and there are a lot of different ways you can 'make it big' in the music industry and still not have a lot of money, that once you played large venues that performing in small venues again would be a large letdown. Looking back through my career, I discovered early on that it is all about the music and the audience. The size of the venue is irrelevant. I will be honest with you. I am kind of embarrassed to admit that. You would think for someone who loves music as much as I do that I 'would have just known.' But, oh well, there it is.

We could all tell that tonight's performance was to be special, but the one thing we did miss almost immediately was the beautiful weather we had in Virginia Beach. It was dreadfully cold all day here, so there would be no walking around, which was disappointing. But on the other hand, this made it possible for me to spend a lot of time in the theater, which I always enjoy. Also, the dressing rooms were numerous and spacious, and they fed us exceptionally well. On top of that, there was a lovely piano in Alison's dressing room. (I know, it should have been in mine) :-).

Tonight's show went very well, and our audience was very receptive. I never get tired of my seat behind the piano, looking out over the people into the beauty of majestic theaters like The Grand Opera House, and though my knees hurt much more leaving the stage after the encore than they did at the entrance, it is still worth the pain. But my dears, the pain and the night was just beginning. Big fun and more was yet to come....Check out the photos below from the gig and then keep reading. We are not finished in Wilmington, Delaware just yet.

​
​Let me tell you a little about Alison Ward. Alison Ward is a show stopping, lead singing rock star with enough positive physical and mental energy to light the entire planet. I have often told her that I want to come back as her in my next life, and I am not kidding. She is also gorgeous, hilarious, kind, gracious, caring, and incredibly talented. The Queen of Fun. The Life of The Party. Alison Ward IS the party, as designed by nature, and she is very contagious. 

Several years ago, one year before I joined the band, it was Alison's Birthday while ABBA MANIA was on tour, and the band threw her a party on the bus. The photos from that party are iconic, and it is always one I wish I had attended. Well, as luck would have it, her birthday came around this year while we were out on the road, and we secretly planned a surprise Birthday party for her after the show on the bus tonight. I have to give enormous props to my ABBA MANIA wife, Hana Freeman. Hana basically coordinated the entire party and decorated the whole bus on her own. She also searched out and purchased all of the birthday goodies. Hana, by the way, is just like Alison, and we all love the hell out of her. (More on Hana as time goes by)

The party was a huge hit, and Alison was completely surprised. Hana provided us with our party hats and glasses to create our new party personality. Alison had a badass disco playlist which we played loudly while consuming pizza, birthday cake, water, wine, beer, and bourbon, not necessarily in that order. The party went well into the night, and everyone had a blast, but unfortunately, I had to call it a night early.

Previously that afternoon, I had hit my right foot extremely hard on the back door in the bus, and it hurt like hell. Thankfully, there was no one on the bus at the time, so I could scream and curse loudly without embarrassing myself. After about 10 minutes, I shook it off and went in for soundcheck. I discovered today that after a lifetime of conditioning, even my feet know that the show must go on. My injured foot did not bother me too much for the rest of the day, and it wasn't until the show was over did I start to develop severe pain. By the time I made it to the bus, I could hardly walk. But I wasn't going to let that stand in the way of Alison's party. Unfortunately, the pain increased quite severely, and I became very worried.  Being the great wife she is, Hana kindly took it upon herself to take care of me. She gave me some Advil, made me an ice pack, and helped me tape it to my foot so I could stay at the party. Well, I iced my foot for about 40 minutes and realized that I still had two more shows left to do. If my foot did not work, I knew that I would be in a lot of trouble, so I politely excused myself, plopped into my Meat Loaf nightshirt, slipped on my sweat pants, dropped into my bunk, and pulled closed the shades while the rest of the bus carried on in hedonistic birthday bliss abandon. My kinda peeps.

All in all, it was a fantastic day and a helluva party.  A day I would do all over again despite the physical pain. Happy Birthday, Alison! You are the best!  - Benny out.  

November 18, 2021
Virginia Beach, Virginia
www.elevation27.com

​Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

A ten-hour drive lay ahead of us from Akron, Ohio, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, so we left Akron around 11:30 pm for our next destination. My evening in Akron had proved very enjoyable, and I was not ready to go, but the road beckoned. The bus and my heart were nice and warm, so I felt prepared to rest as I quickly donned my sweat pants and Meat Loaf baseball jersey before descending once again into my lower bunk. 

While I knew it would be a different experience, I was looking forward to this evening's show at Elevation 27. Elevation 27 is a small rock club, and I love rock clubs, well, rock clubs like I grew up on anyway. Fortunately, the small number of rock clubs we have played during my years with ABBA MANIA have been very cool and just the kind I like. Performing in a rock club is an entirely different experience from playing in the large theaters and performing arts centers. A sense of excitement, urgency, and reckless abandon is always slightly hanging in the air, and it makes me feel young again. You are very close to the audience, so the crowd's interaction brings growing, intense energy that gets exchanged back and forth, which helps the band perform much better and helps the audience feel closer to the band. It is also a helluva lot of fun. Back when I was actually in my youth, attending shows or performing in rock clubs always made me feel alive, free, restless, full of energy, and with a strengthened hope for the future of my music. Small stages and dressing rooms, the darkness, the heat, the sweat. Excellent bars and bartenders who free poured. The smell of fog machines and excitement in the air, girls dressed in tight black leather, serious high heels, vintage rock and roll blasting loudly through the sound system, incredible live music, and girls dressed in tight black leather (oh, sorry, I already mentioned that). It never got old. Ahh, the good ole days and the countless stories that evolved from them. It's funny how time slips away. (As Willie Nelson so eloquently put it)​.

​I had some A1A friends and fans I have not seen in quite a few years attending our show tonight. Maryglenn Huffman and her daughter Michelle, Cynthia Hammitt, Jackie Ragan, and Peggy Hall Lee had contacted me some time ago informing me that they were coming, so I made plans to spend time with all of them before the show. I first met Maryglenn and her late husband, Ed, on a Parrot Head Cruise way back in the 1990s when I was performing with A1A. Ed was a larger-than-life character. Everyone loved him. He loved me, and I sure loved him. Ed was a hoot, I tell ya, and we all sure miss him. 

I also had a very old sailing friend of my Dad's, Dorothy Hall, and her husband, Bill, who are big fans, both of whom I had never met before coming to the show, and I was very excited to meet them for the first time. 

​The first thing that hit me hard when I stepped off the bus late this morning was the weather. Holy Mother of God, the warm air felt absolutely stunning!!! Every stop on this tour so far has handed us some unpleasant cold until today. It felt like an early spring day in Florida, so I knew come what may, and at all cost, I would get some walking in today. Unfortunately, I did have some work that I had to get done, so I walked to the nearest Starbucks, found a seat, and got through what I needed to get through as fast as possible to get outside for a quick walk before soundcheck. 

After a short walk, I strolled back to the club a little early to have some time getting acclimated before soundcheck. Entering the backstage door, I discovered it to be just about what I thought it would be; the stage directly to my left and one small dressing to my right, which had an adjacent shower, bathroom, and laundry. The club was small, dark, and black, just as I thought it would be - perfect. The only unsettling part was that chairs were set all the way up to the stage. Most rock and roll clubs leave a good part of the area in front of the stage open for dancing and expressing your feelings about the band. 

The club did have great food, and they fed us well after soundcheck. The club had a vast patio outback, so I knew that was where I wanted to eat since the weather was so inviting. I noticed that Hana had the same idea, so I joined her for lunch and discussed music, movies, and life in Los Angeles. 

​Maryglenn and the girls arrived at 7:00 pm, so I spent a good 45 minutes with them before I left to go change for the show. It was wonderful catching up with them, but it did feel strange, for I am usually dressed in a Tropical shirt and shorts when they see me, not white satin and high heel boots. :-) 

The show was an absolute blast. As I stated earlier, the crowd being so close to the stage allowed us to make eye contact and become one with the audience much better than we can when performing in large venues. Alison and Hana encouraged everyone to come up, ignore their chairs, get up, and dance. As expected, they happily and quickly did as they were told. Much like with A1A, we are blessed to have the type of audience that we have. They come to the show knowing what to expect and are already in a great mood and ready to have more fun than they are already having. It is almost always a win-win situation. Tonight's performance was a prime example of why it is so much fun to play in small clubs from time to time. 

After the show, I was again able to meet up with Maryglenn and the girls side-stage for a little more conversation and some photographs. I also had the pleasure of meeting two new fans, Kari Carter and Tammy English. They came down to kindly ask for a photo with me after MaryGlenn, and the girls had left, then we ended up talking for about 30 minutes. They were big fans and great people. We are now friends on Facebook, and I look forward to meeting up again the next time I am in Virginia Beach. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate Dorothy and Bill. I hung around long after Kary and Tammy left, but they never showed. Later I discovered they were unaware I was coming out, and they went ahead and drove back to their hotel. When I got home, we caught up on the phone and had a great conversation, so now they know that they better hang around after the show the next time I am in town. 

 And speaking of hanging around, our bus was not scheduled to leave until after midnight, so I spent the next couple of hours just walking around outside (near the venue and bus, of course) enjoying the cool night air and getting some exercise. 

Dexter and Wayne lived very close to Virginia Beach many moons ago, and they had some old friends they had not seen in decades come to the show, so it was a very cool time had by everyone. Great show, good food, lots of laughs, old friends and good company. As for now, my Meat Loaf shirt is calling me, as are my sweat pants and my bunk. Night Night. Don't let the groupies bite. 

November 17, 2021
Akron, Ohio
The Akron Civic Theatre
www.akroncivic.com

Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

The distinct and serene company of old friends is difficult, if not impossible, to replace.  Friends who love you for who you are and accept you for who you're not. Friends who have seen you at your best and your worst and are still there to laugh and cry with you when you need them. I am extraordinarily blessed to have had more than my share of friends like that. I know how rare that is. That is one big reason I am looking forward to this evening's show in Akron, Ohio, at The Akron Civic Theatre. The other is well; we are performing at The Akron Civic Theatre. 

Like many venues on this tour, we have played here before. And even if I did not have special friends attending our show this evening, it would still be the one show of the tour that I have been looking most forward to. The reason is that it is one of the most beautiful theaters I have seen in my life.

I am from Atlanta, Georgia, and my first memory of a theater is attending a movie, "Micky Mouse Goes To Mars," to be exact, at The Fabulous Fox Theater with my parents when I was five years old. Oh, and yes, Virginia, this was before Florida had Walt Disney World. I was a veteran of The Fox Theater long before I graduated high school, and with all thanks to The Fox, theaters are in my DNA. I can't explain it, but they all seem to be a part of me. I have never performed on The Fox mainstage, but it is definitely the #1 thing I long to do before I leave this earth. But I will tell you that performing at The Akron Civic Theater (and The State Theater in Easton, Pennsylvania) runs a close second. When I am onstage at The Civic Theater and look out over the audience, it looks like I imagine it might look if I were playing The Fox. For a moment, my emotions whirl, my eyes get misty, and I am lost in time. Having the opportunity to perform for old friends in this theater tonight is very special, and it means a lot to me. 

​My guests this evening were Anne and John Toptsidis, Stephanie Eller, and Dennis King, and his lovely wife, Karen. It was also great to see my two good friends, Cynthia Haskins and her husband, David. Cynthia and I met a couple of years ago through our love for the music of Gino Vannelli. Her knowledge, allegiance, and history of Gino Vannelli and his music equaled if not rivaled mine, so I knew we were destined to be good friends. She and her husband David are retired and they like to drive all over the country vacationing in their RV. This past spring, they made one of my shows in Atlanta, and they drove a long way to be here tonight. It was so great to see them!

I have known Anne and Stephanie for at least 30 years and Dennis for at least 25. I have known John a little less longer and only since he married Anne. Anne, Stephanie and Dennis all knew me back when I used to 'run hard,' as they say, way back in the early days of A1A. Anne and Stephanie especially...boy howdy, the stories we could tell. I met Dennis through touring with A1A back in the '90s also. 'DK the DJ,' as he is affectionately called, is a prominent legend in the Trop Rock World and has been running a weekly Trop Rock Radio Show out of Berea, Ohio, for over 30 years. Whenever A1A were nearby, Dennis would always kindly have us on his show. He was a big fan and became a good friend instantly. They just don't come any nicer than Dennis King. When I joined ABBA MANIA back in 2014, we always made regular stops in Akron. As luck would have it, we usually had a day off when Dennis was on the air, so John, Anne, Stephanie, and I would spend several late hours in the studio with Dennis, and I would be the primary interview of the evening.

I always love talking to Dennis. It has always been easy and pleasant, just like you are talking to your brother. What I am about to tell you may sound a little strange, but you are just going to have to deal with it. :-) Dennis and I both believe the bond between us that makes us blood brothers is not our love for Jimmy Buffett and Trop Rock music, but our love for the music of David Cassidy and The Partridge Family and Pablo Cruise. Yes, you heard that right. Anyone who even vaguely knows me is aware of how much the music of David and The Partridge Family played in my formative years and why they hold a large part of why I am a performer today. I won't go into any more of that here because there is more than ample evidence on our Facebook Pages to keep you busy for days. Check it out. Come on get happy.

As for Anne, Stephanie and John, I had not seen them in a long time, so it was a real treat to have dinner before the show and hang out for pizza (yes, I did say pizza. Please forgive me, Tiffany) after the show. Unfortunately, I could only spend a short amount of time with Dennis, Karen and Cynthia and David down front after the show, but I cherish the time we did get to spend together. Good friends are hard to find.

​As blessed as I was with the company of good friends today, I was equally blessed this evening with a great show and a fantastic audience. As I said goodbye, battling the cold as I lumbered back onto the bus, I realized how fortunate I was. Not everything is as I would like it in my life - not by a long shot, but looking back over the decades, I have made many people happy and built some beautiful friendships along the way. 

I laid in my bunk tonight going over the past 40 years or so. I wouldn't say I like to do that. It hurts a lot, but I usually find myself being forced there by my sleepless brain. It is mind-blowing that it went so fast and that countless people have come and gone with it. Family, friends, and fans have told me for decades that I should write a book. Perhaps, this blog is my subconscious telling me that it may be time to do just that. I don't know. I can't explain it, but time does feel to me like it is getting short. I would love to write a book sharing stories to thank all the people who have moved in and out of my life - to let them know how much they all meant to me. That would be a lot of people and a great number of stories. But you know, in the end, although people do seem to enjoy the way I write, I am a singer at heart.  So there has to be a song or two—some songs for me to sing at the book release party, a big book release party. A book party and a concert -  and there is only one place I know where I would want it to be held. Who knows? I suppose anything is possible. Mickey Mouse made it to Mars; why not me? I can dream....can't I? 

November 16, 2021
Warren, Ohio
The Robins Theatre

Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

Again, I awoke in a bit of a daze early this morning, thinking I would be the first one out, but I quickly discovered that Dexter and Rick had beaten me off the bus and were already downstairs lounging comfortably in the green room. We have been to The Robins Theatre a couple of times before, if not more, but I could not place it in my mind; that is, of course, until I saw the green room and then it all came back to me. If you have been following my blog, you may recall a previous blog where I explained how sometimes I can only recognize a venue and whether we have been there before by my dressing room, which I usually see before I see the stage. The Robins Theatre is one of these places. 

The Robins Theatre is a gorgeous venue, and unlike some, has a very comfortable green room which is always full of food, goodies, munchables, soft drinks, water, and coffee. It is also furnished with some seriously comfortable sofas and lounging chairs that you can easily spend all day in if you aren't careful. FYI - most of us do. However, for me, the absolute coolest thing about The Robins Theatre green room is that it has a TV that plays nothing but old TV shows non-stop with no commercials. Today it was 'Happy Days' and 'Lavern and Shirley.' Every green room should have this! Hell, if I could only get them to run Star Trek day and night, I may apply for a job here. 

The only downside, and I only call it a downside because it may be for others, is that my dressing room was tiny, but it did have a private bathroom. I am not particular at all about dressing rooms as long as they have power, a chair, a table, and a mirror. Private bathrooms are nice but not necessary. I am pretty easy to please on the road and do my best to take everything in stride. Every venue, performance, stage, town, and experience is different. That is part of the magic of being on the road. 

As I mentioned, The Robins Theater is very nice, and the audiences and staff have always treated us very enthusiastically and kindly here. If you ever have the opportunity to see a show there, I highly recommend it; however, I am not too sure about the overall safety of the town of Warren, Ohio. Chris was out for a walk and noticed that the streets were very vacant and thought about turning around at one point. He has been very good about walking every day and getting his exercise in, so he kept going. In doing so, he was almost mugged by two men. He escaped by sidestepping quickly into the middle of traffic and crossing the street. Hana had a similar experience but luckily escaped with no trouble. Yea, I know... I went out for a walk and did not find any of this out until I had returned to the green room to eat a salad and watch 'Happy Days.' So I consider myself very lucky that I was not confronted, especially since I did not have The Fonz by my side to sort things out. I prefer to keep my days happy if you don't mind. 

FYI - The green room made us happy. Dinner was filling, fattening, and fantastic, and we all hung around together, laughed, and shrugged all the bad stuff off as just another day on the road, which is something you have to do when you are on tour. You have to have tough skin, and to be able to let things roll off your back, less a bad attitude can develop and spread rather quickly, and you don't want that. 

We had a good crowd, and they were very enthusiastic, so our show went off without a hitch. After the show, we all hit the showers, hit the bus, and I hit the sack. I want to get some rest before our next show. Tomorrow's show is at The Civic Theatre in Akron, Ohio, probably the most beautiful theater we play. I have some very good friends coming, and I feel I will need all the rest I can get. Lights out in Abba Land. ​

November 15, 2021
On The Road
​The Bus

The bus left late this morning for our long drive to Warren, Ohio, for our show at The Robins Theater on November 16. We had today off, but like all but one of our days off on this tour, it was spent on the bus. 

Even at its best, touring in and of itself is a whirlwind life that is not suited for everyone. People, places, full days, music, venues, hotels, and shows fly by and run together like two colors quickly mixed on a painter's canvas. Time goes by fast. Time goes by slow. Time is forgotten. Bizarrely, time seems to stand still, for you are not at home, and you are never in the same location for more than a day before you are on the move again. Then, when it's all over, you can hardly even remember where you have been and what you have done. I walk in my front door exhausted after a tour. As I put my bags down, it feels like I never left, like I have been gone a year, and I am depressingly at a loss at what to do next. It usually takes me at least two weeks to get my footing back. But for the most part, I do enjoy it. However, I will confess that the older I get, the harder it becomes on my body and psyche. Thus one reason I decided to try writing a tour blog for this tour. On a more positive note, we are blessed to be very well taken care of. We have a team and crew that all get along very well, so time spent traveling is never a problem unless the bus breaks down. Thankfully, our bus did not break down today, and we spent most the day and early evening of it riding from Kansas City, Missouri, to Warren, Ohio. 

I do enjoy touring on a bus as opposed to flying. Yes, it takes a lot longer to get where you are going, but being able to sit and look out the window and watch America go by is soothing for my soul. On days like this, most everyone sleeps late, lounges around, watches TV and listens to music. Sean and I got to know each other a little better today. We talked about music and discovered we both have an enormous love for the guitar playing of Derek Trucks. This conversation led to a long session of YouTube videos of Derek Trucks and The Allman Brothers being played loudly over the roar of the bus. I wish I had recorded it. Outside of that, the day was pretty much uneventful, and it was good to get to our hotel room and crawl into bed—lights out for Benny. 

-November 14, 2021
Kansas City, Missourri
The Uptown Theater
www.uptowntheater.com

​ Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come. Well, friends, neighbors, and ABBA MANIA fans, I am here. It is not my first time in Kansas City, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it will not be my last. We are here once again to play a theater that I am quite fond of. Built-in 1926, The Uptown Theater has a dark and broody atmosphere. Its mood reminds me of the floorshow theater in 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' and I adore it. A perfect venue for rock and roll, and ABBA MANIA has always done well here.

I have looked forward to this stop on our tour, for I will be seeing a dear special friend who I have not seen in a very long time, Suzey House. Suezy has the distinct honor of being the first person I ever talked to and became friends with online. The year was 1994, and I had just gotten my first computer, powered with a 14.4 dial-up modem and an 8.5 gig hard drive. Boy, was I in the big leagues. Once I installed my new AOL software, I immediately looked for music websites and music forums. I met Suezy in an 'Angel' forum Classic Rock music room on AOL Chat. (FYI- Angel the 70's classic rock band, not Angel as in coming to watch over you as you sleep.) After quickly discovering that we had the same passion and taste in rock and roll, we became instant internet friends. Believe it or not, tonight will only be the second time we have ever met face to face, so it is quite a special occasion. Making today even more remarkable is that today is her sister, Mary Janes, 71st Birthday. Furthermore, in an odd coincidence, Mary Jane is also a singer and has been in several stage productions of Mama Mia. How perfect and wild is that? Along for the party were Suezy's nieces, Barbara and Debra. Getting the party started, we met up after soundcheck and headed off in search of food. Mary Jane, Barbara, and Debra were just as cool as Suezy, and we had a lovely time at dinner, laughing, telling stories, stuffing our faces, breaking crab legs, and hanging out before the show. Suezy bought us dinner at this fantastic seafood restaurant called King Crabs. It looked like a dive, but it had the best seafood I may have ever tasted. I could not believe it. The next time I am in Kansas City, I will definitely be going back.

Suezy had bought tickets very early, and her proactiveness paid off, for she scored some great seats directly in front of me about four rows back. They had a fantastic time, took many pictures, and sang their hearts out, especially Mary Jane. It was a real treat to be a large part of her 70th Birthday and to help make it as special as it turned out to be. When the show was over, they came over to the side of the stage in order to get some more pictures and give me their review of the show. They were delighted and blown away, which of course, pleased Benny (me). :-) Some other fans noticed what was going on and followed them. I always enjoy talking to people before or after the show. I feel as an entertainer it is my job, my duty to give of myself as much as I can within reason to the people who listen to our music and pay good money to come to our shows. Too many artists forget that if it were not for the audience, they would have no job. I have always prided myself in going the extra mile to ensure everyone gets all the pictures, autographs, discussions, and time they need, regardless of how I feel physically or emotionally. It really does make a difference.

I was thrilled the band was on fire tonight and that we all gave a brilliant performance. I had no reason to worry about the audience, for every time we have played The Uptown Theater, the crowd has been enthusiastic and appreciative, and tonight was no exception. Winding the evening down, the girls and I hung out as long as we could before they had to leave. It was a drag to say goodbye, for they were all wonderful and fun, and it was fantastic to see Suezy again. Bringing it all back to the beginning, before she left, we promised to attend an 'Angel' concert together sometime next year, a historical event that would officially cement our rock and roll friendship and bring everything full circle.

Speaking of circles, it is time for the big ones beneath me to start rolling on to the next town and for my head to hit the pillow. As I reflect on this evening's festivities, a lyric by Jimmy Buffett comes to mind, so I will close the curtain now and leave you with this.
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"I enjoy this life as a jester...seems to keep me moving around. Like the wind that blows, tides that flow. I have my ups and downs." - Jimmy Buffett

November 13, 2021
Wichita, Kansas
The Orpheum Theater
www.wichitaorpheum.com
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Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

Sleep again escaped me last night, which naturally led me to be the first one off the bus and into the venue to locate my dressing room. An odd phenomenon has started occurring on this tour which I will share with you.  It is becoming easier for me to remember if I have played a venue or not by what the dressing rooms look like. We have played a few theaters where I was not sure we had been to before, even after being inside the theater. It was not until I got into the dressing room area when the memories would come back to me. Odd, isn't it? However, tonight's venue in Wichita, Kansas, was not like that because the Venue's marquee is large and hard to forget, and we have been here several times. But this time, I forgot what the dressing room situation was like until I descended the stairs. Ha! I think it is time to go home. :-) Furthermore, returning to the same dressing room that I have used repeatedly in previous years brings a sense of comfort. Heck, sometimes it feels like home. Fortunately, I did get that feeling today when I found the little room below the stage and next to the laundry room that I have used several times over the past eight years. To quote Elwood Blues from The Blues Brothers, "It ain't much, but it's home."

They always treat us well here at The Orpheum, and coffee and snacks are always welcoming when we get there. Yes, most of them are unhealthy, but they are snacks provided with kindness all the same. I will not lie to you; I did have a few small chocolate tidbits with my coffee before retiring to my dressing room to set up my office for the day. 

Being an old theater and given the fact that my dressing room is located directly below the stage, you can hear all the creaks and moans of the tired wooded floor as all of the gear is being unloaded off the trucks. I am also directly near a large heater and generator, so while the place is warm, the walls shake, and it is a wee bit noisy. But nowhere near as bad as the noise in my head, which I live with regularly, so in its own way, it is oddly comforting too. 

I worked online up until lunch which was provided by the venue. They gave us a wide variety of local restaurants to choose from, and our runner, an adorable young woman, named Baily, was at our service during our stay. She was wonderful, and we were treated very well. I had a delicious soup and salad combination for lunch and the same for dinner. My tummy was happy.

Sound-check was uneventful and successful, and after dinner, I walked around town to get some exercise before the show. It was a cold, clear late afternoon, and hardly anyone was out, which was rather soothing. About 45 minutes before showtime, I made my way back to my dressing room and prepared to become Benny. 

We had a good show which was well received, and everyone was back on the bus after each band member had taken their turn with the one shower stall available to all of us. Since we had an early show, I spent the rest of the evening walking around the block to get my daily 15,000 steps while the road crew loaded all the gear into our trailer. I finished my walk at midnight, succeeding but barely getting all my steps in. If you have been reading all of my blogs, you can guess what came next. Yep, into my sweat pants and Meat Loaf 2003 tour jersey and then into my bunk. Thank you, and good night. 

November 12, 2021
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Paramount Theater
www.artsiowa.com/paramount-theatre/

Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

There are specific venues and towns I am always delighted to see on our tour schedule - each sometimes for their own particular reasons.  The Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is one of them. The biggest thrill for me on tour is thinking of all my heroes who have graced this stage before me or will be following in my footsteps once we depart for another town. When I arrived at the venue, I saw that 'Kansas' would be performing the following night. I grew up on their music and would have loved to have stayed for an extra evening to see their show, or at least get a T-Shirt. Speaking of T-Shirts, I did come across a few boxes of 'Kansas' T-Shirts that the band would be selling the following evening. Sadly, there was no one there at the time to sell me one.

The Paramount is an exquisitely beautiful theater, and I am proud to be able to perform there. In 2007, it was almost destroyed by a major flood so to see what they have done with the restoration is absolutely breathtaking.  But like many other theaters and venues in which we perform, it is in a town that holds a history for me, where I get to see some old friends and fans. Through the many years of traveling with A1A, I have had the pleasure of meeting many people and developing close friendships and fan-based relationships. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is one of several towns in Iowa like that, so I have been looking forward to this show.

Since I left Atlanta for this tour, I had not seen my girlfriend Kathy Mullen, so I have been excited to have her and her best friend Libby Lystiuk as special guests at our show. Most of you know Kathy through her years managing A1A and her nonprofit, Mullens Miracles. If you are unfamiliar, I ask you to please check out our website at www.mullensmiracles.org. Kathy and I founded Mullens Miracles after her only son, Eric, took his life in 2018. By the grace of God, and through the miracle of organ donation, Eric was able to save five lives and help many others. Tonight was going to be extra blessed for one of Eric's organ recipients, Greg Murphy, would be meeting us for dinner, accompanied by his very pregnant and lovely wife, Brittany. Being in the presence of organ recipients like Greg and hearing their stories and being so close to them is extraordinarily moving and wonderful. It makes you realize how lucky you are and that you should never take life for granted. If you are not an organ donor, I encourage you to be one, and please check out our website at www.mullensmiracles.org.

In addition to Kathy, Libby, Greg, and Brittany, I was looking forward to meeting up with my old friends Doug Rassler and Ed and Julie Nealson of The Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club. We all met at a lovely restaurant before the show to eat. It was called Pub 217, and the food was incredible, as was the company. Special thanks to our friend Randy Havlik for organizing the dinner. It was especially great to see Doug. Doug was the leader and frontman for a very successful Trop Rock band called 'The Cedar Island Band' for many years. Due to health reasons, he has recently retired from the band, but he is doing well. Doug has a unique and special place in my heart, for he hosted one of the very last house concerts that Hugo Duarte and I ever gave as The Frozen Gringos back in 2013. But the most treasured memory I have of Doug is that one cold, snowy afternoon in 2013 when he took Hugo and me to visit The Field of Dreams, where we tossed a baseball around in the snow and walked through the frozen, dead cornfields for hours.

Seeing Ed and Julie was fantastic, and it was great to catch up with them also. I will share a hilarious tidbit about Ed and me. The last time ABBA MANIA played The Paramount Ed happened to video our last song of the evening, which is, of course, 'Dancing Queen.' As we were taking our bows to a standing ovation, I spun my lovely wife, Amy, around onstage, lost my footing, and we both fell to the ground. Oops! Nope..not in the script! Being the klutz I naturally am, everyone got a huge kick out of it, and it was the source of much laughter and ribbing for the rest of the tour. I have posted the whole YouTube video below for your enjoyment. Naturally, I was hoping that since we were laughing about it again and we were back at The Paramount, we would not be repeating that performance. Believe it or not, later that evening, when I spun my wife, Hana (Amy was unavailable this year) around after our performance, I almost tripped and fell again! I must admit that it was on my mind as I took her hand and gave her a whirl. That was most likely what did it. Fortunately, we got out of the spin OK, but it was a close call. Aside from that, the only downside of the evening was that the showers ran a lot of water from the stall into the dressing room floor. So those who chose to take a shower went through a substantial number of towels.
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It was a freezing evening, so after dinner, we ran back to the venue just in time for the curtain call. We gave a fantastic performance, and I got to hang out some more with Kathy and Libby afterward. It was wonderful seeing everyone and knowing that we gave an excellent show for them all to remember. But as it always does, our time ended too soon, and we had to say goodbye just before our tour bus once again drove off into the dark, cold, midwestern night in route to another adventure.
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November 11, 2021
The Des Plaines Theater
Des Plaines, Illinois
www.desplainestheatre.com/

Check out the TOUR page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates.

When I awoke this morning and walked outside, it was cold and raining. I was the first of the band who was up, so I would have the luxury of scoping out the dressing room situation all alone. I do not sleep well on the bus, even though, for the most part, I enjoy the overall touring experience. Once in a blue moon, there will be a comfortable couch in my dressing room on which I can catch a quick nap, but generally not. Luckily, although they were in a different building than the stage, the dressing rooms were only a stone's throw from the bus, which was about the same distance from the dressing room door to the backstage door. The Des Plaines Theater is a very new venue, nine days old to be exact, so we have not played here before. We are only the 9th act, but they already have a stellar lineup of artists who have come in with a great lineup already booked for the months ahead. We were all excited and curious about this venue because it is the sister venue to the famed Arcada Theater in St. Charles, Illinois. So we knew come what may, we would most likely have a great time.

Upon entering the dressing room area, I noticed it was clean and new. It was, in a way, laid out like an old 1950's malt shop. Red and White cushioned covered tables accompanied nice Formica tables, and there are even a couple of cool booths with red leather, the kind you might have found inside a 1957 Chevy. With hot coffee and breakfast snacks laid out, I felt we were off to a good start.  

My dressing room was tiny but comfortable, with three plush chairs, any of which were nap-worthy (I did not get one). By this point of the tour, we all have our routines down and get things moving rather quickly. Upon securing my dressing room, the first thing I do is to pull out my laptop, notebook, pen, paper pad, and Ipad. I then pull out my cosmetics, tidy up a bit, and see if the wardrobe suitcases have been unloaded from the trailer. I then locate my garment bag, take out both wardrobes, examine them and hang them up. Occasionally, my act 2 outfit will need steaming, so I always make sure a steamer is on location for me to use later in the day. 

I feel the need to add here that there is one significant difference for me on this tour than on all previous tours I have done with ABBA MANIA. It is the sad fact that I have spent almost all of my time in my dressing room when I am not at soundcheck or eating. A large part of this is due to my decision to write these tour blogs. While I enjoy writing them, they take up a lot more of my time than I had initially thought they would. Add the A1A and other business and other increasing responsibilities that need to be tended to back home, and I am already behind before my day starts. Not to mention all we have to do to get ready for the show daily. In tours gone by, it has always been my main priority to spend as much time as I possibly can outside walking around, getting some exercise, and taking advantage of the fact that I get to travel to so many different towns. If I continue these blogs on my next tour, I will have to find a way to get more of that in. It is personal time for me which I desperately need out here to stay focused, healthy and balanced. Something which is already very difficult for me as it is. But alas, I did indeed once again spend the day in my dressing room when not in soundcheck. Which by now is not taking a long time at all once Sean and Andrew have everything set and ready to roll.

Everyone at the venue was very kind, as expected. They fed us well, and yes, there were also tons of sweets that I was able to avoid. We all took our time eating, and before we knew it, showtime was upon us. There was a big buzz about our performance tonight, and upon entering the backstage area, we could feel the excitement. The first set was very well received, and we kicked it hard. The stage looked great, and I especially liked the huge LED screen on the back wall. Todd wanted the main four of us to shoot a couple of quick promotional videos for upcoming tours before our second set, so we managed to get those in before we rushed out for set two. 

As I have mentioned before, another enjoyable aspect of touring for me is that I can see many friends and fans I have made over the years through A1A. Many who are spread out all over the country. Tonight I was excited for my good friend Susan Hart. I have known Susan going on close to 25 years, I believe, and she never misses a show when I am near her, whether it is A1A or ABBA MANIA. I always spend some time with her before and after the show, and I  look forward to it every year. Thank you again, Susan, for coming to the show! xoxo

Once Susan left, it was back to my routine. Pack my clothes up as quickly as possible, head out to the bus sprinting past the aftershow food and crawl directly into my bunk. Bedtime for Bonzo Benny. Lights out. Another night of disco madness behind me. 
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