Sugar Magnolia - Gig History

[rws1000]

Hi Guys,

I'm wondering if you have a gig history list for Sugar Magnolia?

Specifically, I'm wondering if you can verify whether or not Sugar Magnolia played the Odeon on 02/28/1997?

Thanks - I appreciate it!

Ryan
Boulder, CO

[Eroc]

Hi Ryan -
I do not have a gig history compiled for our Grateful Dead tribute Sugar Magnolia - yet!
However, I was considering putting one together at some point, probably by the time of our next reunion gig - which I'm trying to produce for this Fall. Jim & I really miss playing that music, as I'm sure Bob, JR, and Ginley do too... Jamie just did one gig with us (in '06) so he's really 'chomping at the bit' to do it again as well! So our determination is there, we just need to find the right time & place - with this goal in mind, I guarantee it will happen this year.

To get back to your question, I've got my '97 calendar here and I see that on Friday February 28 1997, the Jerry Garcia Band (w/out Jerry at that point of course) played at the Odeon... and in a strange twist (and even stranger booking by the club), Sugar Magnolia played there the following night, on Saturday March 1! And, our show was sold out, the previous night did not! I was there, too...

Wild stuff, eh?

Here's our webpage - www.floydtribute.com/sugarmagnolia.htm
For those not familiar with us, a little history - Sugar Magnolia was founded in 1996 by myself & Jim Tigue and was comprised of some members of Wish You Were Here augmented by a couple additional players. We loved the Dead music and put the band together soon after Jerry died, doing very well playing the same circuit and often opening for or sharing the bill w/WYWH. Back then when we started (sounds like it was so long ago, but it does seem that way, lol) there weren't that many tribute bands around, but by 2000 the scene started to get a little crowded and competition for that Deadhead dollar heated up... plus Dark Star Orchestra was now around, and after seeing their show (they did the Dead like WYWH did Floyd), I decided it was time to put it to rest. We put out a short-run compilation CD and have since reunited 3 times, and now are ready for another go!

So Ryan, were you there? And how are things out in Colorado?
Thanks!
Eroc

[rws1000]

Hi Eroc,

Thanks so much for the reply. I truly appreciate it!

That weekend ended up being incredibly significant for me. I was there both nights. The night Sugar Magnolia played, I was on the first date with my future wife. The music was magical for us, and the date went well (really well!). We fell in love that night and haven't been apart since.

We are getting ready to celebrate 11 years together this week, and I got to thinking about that night. We were reminiscing, and wondered what became of the band. The funny thing is, that all these years we thought it had been February 28th. Now we have to move the celebration to March 1st! Either way, it's a wonderful memory and the concert holds a very special meaning for us.

Is there any chance you record shows? I'd be thrilled to get a copy of your show from that night.

Thanks again for your reply, and the great memories!

Best,
Ryan

[Eroc]

Hi Ryan -
What a great story!! That is SO COOL that we were a part of it all, and congratulations on your 11th Anniversary!!!
Well, you might be interested in this...

People often refer to me as the Archive Master... Over the years I would always strive to record every show whenever & wherever I can, with both WYWH and Sugar Mags... so just now, in my sick & slightly drunk condition (I've got the flu, and Blackberry Brandy is hitting the spot!), I ran down into my basement to do a quick Archive search. Granted, my archives are not as organized as I would like them to be, I've been waiting for my next move to a new house to finally consolidate everything into one cohesive collection... so just now, I found a box of 8mm videocassettes... AND, it has that show of 3/1/97 on 2 8mm videocassettes.
For a 2 year period of around 97-98, when I bought an 8mm video camera, I recorded many of our shows on video, besides doing an audio record (so yes, it's probably somewhere on audio tape too, I think I know where it's at, but I found this video first, lol..). The thing is, my old 8mm video camera is inoperable, so I need to get another, OR find someone who has one, to dub it over into the digital/DVD realm. (btw, I do have a DVD burner here.)

The bottle was dusty, but the liquor was clean, indeed!!

Eroc

[rws1000]

Eroc,

Thats great news!!!

Thanks for checking the archives... It sounds as though you've got a seriously prolific collection of both WYWH and Sugar Magnolia.

Honestly, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get a copy of that show. I'm definitely willing to pay for the 8mm to be professionally transfered to DVD. Tell me how I can help, and I'll do it. Drop me a line at: rws1000 [at] yahoo [dot] com with any ideas or thoughts on that.

I was at quite a few of your gigs in the early days. I left Cleveland in late '97, but think fondly of those times.

Thanks for the memories, and feel better.

Best,
Ryan