On Monday June 10th 2019, my friend Bob (Bobbo) Ciciora turned 58,.same age as me. Bobbo has been my great pal since we were both twelve years old and shared classes at Bryan Junior High. Bobbo grew up with four brothers and two sisters while I had no brothers, just my dear sister Marianne. However due to our longtime friendship and seeing each other through many highs and some lows over the past 46 years, I consider the two of us to be brothers from other mothers. I know he does as well.
A couple months ago when wife Tammi asked what he wanted for his birthday, Bob said he wished he could get Sammy Llanas and his band to play a paid performance at their home.
FYI- For over twenty years Sammy was one half of the creative force behind the Wisconsin based band The BoDeans. Of the two mainstays of that group, Sammy Llanas’ voice and songs were always our favorites. I can’t count how many times we traveled to Summerfest in Milwaukee to see the BoDeans rock out as well as catching them playing shows in Chicago. When Sammy split off from partner Kurt Neumann he formed his own band and now plays concerts filled with songs he wrote for the BoDeans and solo work he’s recorded over the years.
Just one wish. Have Sammy Llanas play at the house. Well last night Bobbo got his wish! Tammi, with help from another close friend of ours, Marko Vasko, made the necessary arrangements for Sammy and his 3 back-up players to come in and do a concert. Tammi may have paid the performance fee but Marko was the masterful coordinator of all logistics and even took care of the band’s drink and food needs.
While Tammi and two neighbors wined and dined Bobbo at a nearby restaurant, friends and family gathered at the Ciciora’s back yard noshing on snacks and a couple of taps of Polyanna craft beer. Sammy and his band battled bad traffic to arrive and set up their gear as we patiently waited for the birthday boy to show up so the concert could start.
What a great party it was and a tremendous surprise for my buddy! He was thrilled and shocked as he saw what fun was about to unfold in front of him. Tammi even had laminated badges made for all guests to mark the special night.
I’ve seen Sammy Llanas play live as a BoDean more times than I could count. However, this was the first time for me to catch him as a solo act with his band and the Waukesha native did not disappoint. He opened the set with “That’s All”, my favorite song off the BoDeans debut album “Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams.” FULL DISCLOSURE, “That’s All” came out in 1986 and it accurately reflects the mood and feelings of my ‘first time’ with a woman which occurred a few years earlier.
Sammy and his three bandmates covered most of his best work as a BoDean. From “Still the Night”. “617”, “Heart of a Miracle”. “Black, White & Blood Red”, “Hey Pretty Girl” “Naked” and “True Devotion” to a fun mash-up of “Misery” and “Sylvia”, a song about a nasty pussycat who was ‘Spending all my money, driving my new car, scratching all my records & playing my guitar.”
They also slid in a good helping of Sammy Llanas’ solo work of which I’m not as familiar with but really enjoyed too. Guitarist Sean Williamson was an ace on the steel guitar for several cuts which included a couple of country flavored shuffles and the guests responded with the appropriate applause and appreciation for the newer works.
There was more BoDeans era music to hear including the late in the set stomp of “Fadeaway” and the track “Closer to Free” which many remember as the theme song from the TV series “Party of Five.” Sammy also tagged in “She’s a Runaway” and while that song is over thirty years old, its tale of a mistreated woman reflects well in today’s world of “Me Too” and related domestic abuse issues.
The ninety minute plus set was a great one and seeing Bobbo and Tammi rock out to every song was a huge kick for me. I remember the time the three of us saw Sammy and the BoDeans play The Vic Theater in 1993 when Tammi was several months pregnant with what would be her second baby, Aimee. Aimee is now a full grown college graduate and corporate airplane pilot. It should be noted that Bob and Tammi’s first child Alex and his wife Sarah are about a month away from making them grandparents. Shit, where did the time go?
After the show, getting to meet and talk a bit with Sammy and his band was a fun way to wrap up the party. They were more than accommodating for photos and some laughs. As I drove home at the end of the night I thought of how great music like Sammy’s provided a wonderful soundtrack to our lives together and Monday night’s private performance amplified that.
Add to all of what went down in Bobbo’s backyard, this was the last party to be held at the Ciciora house as they are just days away from moving to Bend, Oregon. Plenty of fun, laughs and a few tears have been shed over years at that locale and I’ll always look back on those times with fondness and nostalgia. Since Bob flies for American Airlines and he has much family back here, we’ll still see each other and of course stay close despite the miles between us.
So until we see each other again Bobbo, safe travels and God Bless. And Tammi, thanks for landing Sammy for that last blast and a night to remember!
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