Celebrate the New Year at the Beachland

Posted as requested by Cindy Barber, owner of the Beachland Ballroom:

"The problem with New Year's Eve is that the pressure is on to have THE BEST NIGHT OF ALL TIME every single year. Often you are disappointed right? Or you just hide and wait for it to be over.

The good news is that this year the Beachland has created something really special because we're excited about ringing in a year that means a new chance, with a new president. So we asked the legendary Jason and the Scorchers from Nashville to make a special trip up north to ring in 2009 at the Beachland Ballroom, with Cleveland's own crazy toastmasters the Whiskey Daredevils kicking things off.

And here's the testimonial: According to head Daredevil Greg Miller, "Jason and the Scorchers is one of the ten best American bands of all time. These are the guys that created the "cowpunk" playbook, and are cited as influences by every cool band you can think of. Without Jason and the Scorcers, there is no Cowslingers/Whiskey Daredevils. I still listen to the "Fervor" and "Still Standing" records every few weeks."

Here's the back story: the original Jason & The Scorchers played a reunion in September at the Americana Music Association awards ceremony where they received a Lifetime Achievement Award. That two-song performance marked the first time in over a decade the original line-up shared the stage. Anchored by singer Jason Ringenberg and guitarist Warner Hodges, the band included Perry Baggs on drums and Jeff Johnson on bass, but Baggs had left the drum throne due to his fight with diabetes, which keeps him on dialysis on a weekly basis. Johnson left the band in 1997, moved out to the west coast and the movie business.

After the awards ceremony an altered version of the Scorchers, with former Clevelander Al Collins on bass and Fenner Castner on drums, plus Baggs on harmony vocals and percussion out front with Ringenberg and Hodges, took the stage at another venue and rocked for 2 hours leaving hundreds, including me, completely knocked out by the energy on stage, especially the interplay between Hodges great guitar work and Ringenberg's just pure twirling joy.

I called Ringenberg, who has been a regular solo performer at the Beachland (even performing one year at the E. 185th Street Festival), to ask about a New Year's Eve show. Jason had not planned on touring with a revised Scorchers until sometime in the spring, but rounded up the crew, which will include Al Collins' wife, Stacie as a featured guest, to play this special Beachland show, because, like many performers, the club is one of his favorite spots to play. The Beachland has invited all Scorchers fans to convene in Cleveland to usher in 2009. And a few folks are coming in from as far away as Oregon, Texas and New York to see this.

The plan is to kick off an hour set of Whiskey Daredevils at 9:30 in our balloon-filled, disco-ball-lite ballroom, where there will plenty of tables and chairs. Scorchers will go on at 11 PM with a midnight break to countdown the end of 2008, toasts, noise and kisses all around, and then they'll keep going until 12:30 or 1 PM depending on how the energy feels. Then you can make your way to our annual post show buffet breakfast if you want.

Tickets are set at $25 each and include noisemakers and champagne at midnight, but because you know me, live nearby, or I just think you should be there.... I am offering you a special TWO FER ONE PRICE for you and any friends you think would appreciate this special happening. You can buy tickets online at the Beachland website and enter the access code CHEAPDATE when you make your purchase for the 2 fer one deal or, if you want, you can also buy them direct from the Beachland at this price by mentioning the promo when you call 216-383-1124 in the next couple days.

Help us bring in a new year, with friendship and fun.

Cindy B."