Infernofest.org

If any of you out there  know how I can get in touch with the Ohio Express’s Doug Grassel, please reach me thru this blog. I have a very important message to get to him.

Thanks!!!

Nancy

All of us at Infernofest would like to send a birthday shout out to the Es-Shades’ Mark Lance who had a landmark birthday this past week. I have known Mark since about 1966 and have to say that he has kept his good looks thru the decades and been a good friend.

Hope you had a rockin birthday Mark and was good to party with you last Saturday at your “surprise” birthday party at Club 42!

I was sad to get a phone call the other morning from buddy Hal, saying that Willie Pooch had died. Although Willie never graced the stage of Infernofest; his good pal, Dave Workman, has been a staple at Infernofest and thru Dave I got to hear Willie quite a few times over the past 10 years. Dave and Willie played off and on together for decades and most times that Dave would fly home there would be a gig or two with Mr. Pooch.

Willie had diabetes and last I saw and heard him was at a benefit held for him not that many months ago. I will post some photos of Willie over the years and next time you hear some great blues, tip your glass to the memory of Willie Pooch!

Benefit for Willie Pooch

Mohican Blues Fest 2006 with Willie Pooch

Dave Workman, Willie Pooch and Ric Collura

All of us at Infernofest want to send out a big Happy Birthday to one of our favorite singers; Barry Hayden, who will be a year older on the 29th of April.

Barry Hayden at the Rock Hall

Lynn Wehr, of the fabled Columbus Dantes, has a band that still gigs, called the Neighborhood Boys. Not much happens in the summer for them but they do have two gigs for any of you in the Columbus area.

They will be playing Eldorado’s (Morse & High) on July23 for Lynn’s class reunion but the gig is open to the general public and then a gig in the fall at a cool place called Mudflats Bar and Grill in Galena Oh. Will update with any others and remember to get out and hear live music whenever possible!

Ok boys and girls. We are really really pondering another Infernofest, maybe fall of 2010 or spring of 2011. We thought about the Ski Lodge, but too expensive and steps are murder to get gear up and down and even the road crew ain’t no spring chickens.

We have the Liederkranz in Mansfield where the last fest was held which was a nice smaller venue with good bar and decent food. OR I have been told we can have it at the Eagles Club in Ashland which is pretty new, nice bar, food provided, lots of parking and the best part: free; which would give us more $$ for Hospice. 

I am curious for those of you who read the blog, what you think? I am sure Ashland people would love to have it in Ashland but I need the input of my Mansfield, Columbus and Cleveland readers. You can comment here or you can email me at nwasen@zoominternet.net

Thanks and please do let me know your preference!

Word has come to me via Dave Workman, that there is a benefit that will be happening , for Columbus blues legend Willie Pooch.  Hope some of you Infernofest fans will be able to make the trek to Columbus and help out Willie.

Here’s the scoop: January 31st. Doors open at 2 and music kicks from 3 till 10. Roadhouse 66 Bar and Grille located at  480 E. Wilson Bridge Rd.  Worthington Oh. Cost is 10 bucks to get in. Menu for bar and food sounds great and 10% of sales will also go to Willie.

Looks like plenty of parking. If lot in front is full there is a large lot out back with wheelchair accessibility. This should be a killer show with Dave flying in from San Francisco and most of the usual suspects in the house.

See you there with bells on! 

Willie Pooch and the Upsetters

Welcome your musicians for 2003

After taking a year off to recharge our batteries and ponder on how to make the show bigger and better we found the key to our next success: the snagging of ALL original Dantes. We were thrilled to have one of our fave area 60′s bands come from all over to play Infernofest.

The Commerce Center was excited to have us back in the house. They knew we attracted a large group of pretty well behaved people who also spent some good money at the bar. We got good press coverage and kicked out the jams with some great bands.

New band and one that was not even born in the 60′s, let alone played any venues in that era but had the tunes and the sounds was Shelby’s Duff. They hit the stage and I saw some people looking at them wondering why they were playing Infernofest. But after one Beatles song; the crowd was hooked and they gave the kids a rousing hand.

Dale Powers graced our stage with Jim Bush and Mike Brumm. Dale can plaly anything he wants, with or without a band and we all know he is always the consumate musician.

New friend Tom Fallon brought his Cleveland band to the fest billed as The Satellite 4 (actual name Satan’s Satellites!!) and they were a kick to add to the fest.

The Dantes really wowed the crowd after not playing Mansfield since the late 60′s. We had Barry and Lynn come from Columbus, Dave flew in from San Francisco, Joe from Portland and Carter from Virginia. When the curtain opened and the first notes were played, the crowd rushed to the stage just like when we were teens. Those who thought they would have no drawing power were sure quieted!

We were also thrilled to have the Wildlife onstage with Bob Tousignant. A set of always rock steady songs made us wish the night would never end.

Infernofest brought the night to a close in 2003 with a killer jam with some of the musicians from the bands that played earlier and also featured Tommy See on harp, Mark Norris and local legend, Pat Wasseman on guitars.

A great night for rock n roll in the heartland benefitting again our fave orginazation Hospice of North Central Ohio. An evening to hear those songs that touched us in the 60′s and