Yoohoo! Hello, everyone. Now this is Spring! Hot days, warm days, cool days ... I like it. And I like the increased activity of music, too. Last weekend was everything we were hoping for with the amazing Johnny Bling & Tranzfusion opening up for M.R. Ducks ... and the weather - beautiful!
    Just a little way north along the bay, things are heatin’ up at de Lazy Lizard, too. Word is their tiki bar will open on Thur., April 26. I stopped in last week and heard Ken Fischer and Frank Garcia who were playing inside to a big, appreciative crowd. The outdoor bar has been expanded and there will be more room for the bands and dancing area. Cool! This weekend stop by to hear Willow Hill on Fri. and Josh Pryor on Sat.
    There’s another bayside venue that has just opened up and it’s way cool. On the picture pages you’ll find one taken from the tiki bar at 45th St. Taphouse that has a glorious bay view and amazing sunset vista. My Reuben sandwich was the bomb too. This Fri., tonight, Chris Button will be on hand to entertain you and Sat. night will be Honu. Cool! Beautiful new venue for quality entertainment. Dave Sherman will perform on Thur., April 26, for the grand opening party. Welcome Taphouse.
    I’m so excited that the fabulous music at The Purple Moose is about to explode for 2012. They begin with a surprise free concert visit from Candlelight Red sponsored by 93.5 WZBH & the Purple Moose. Catch them Sat. night following Prestige Worldwide. In addition to playing a variety of covers in their own innovative way, CLR does plenty of modern original material, such as their hit “Closer.” They are currently touring to promote their latest CD and will stick around for a ‘meet n’ greet’ too, after the show. Can’t wait for the tribute shows to begin. More later.
    Fager’s Island is busting loose this weekend with Animal House playing for two nights, Fri. & Sat. It’s always a party when these guys come to town. They always have the dance floor jumping from beginning to end of their shows. The Fri. deck parties begin today with Danny Shivers. This singer/songwriterhas been doing a lot of solo work since he moved here from Long Island (also home base for Chris Button & John LaMere) but he also plays in his band called Kings Ransom. Danny is an awesome player you’ve gotta hear. Next week, Kevin Poole slides into his regular Fri. slot here. Also, Sat. deck parties begin with Opposite Directions; and what everyone is waiting for, the first Monday Deck Party with legendary DJ Batman is Mon., April 30. It’s gonna be a big day ‘cause following the deck party, you’ve gotta stick around for the Kelly Bell Band. As Jen tell us in her Barhopping column, Kelly has been touring the country with G. Love and Special Sauce, and will be releasing  'Phat Blues Music' on May 5. So, he has a lot to sing for us. Check it out.
    High Stakes will feature the lovely DJ Marla (Ocean 98) spinning tunes tonight so pop in and party with her. Plus, everyone is excited to have Lower Case Blues returning on Fri., April 27. It’s always a packed house when these guys play. Anyone who’s ever heard them has no problem heading to Rt. 54 to see this talented trio, right? So if you haven’t heard them ... I’m just sayin’.
    The 19th Hole in West O.C. has become quite the happy hour hotspot with excellent entertainment three nights a week plus Sunday Brunch with Louis Wright. I really enjoyed Scott Glorioso last week. Great voice, excellent song choices ... most entertaining. Tonight hear the irrespresible Johnny Mojo and Sat. the wonderfully talented Blake Haley. Blake is doing some regular Fri. gigs at M.R. Ducks, too. Then Wed. evening stop in to hear the lovely Melissa Alesi. This gal has it all: wonderful voice, excellent guitar player, covers and impressive originals, and she’s beautiful, too. So, make the 19th Hole your new watering hole where the food is just as excellent as the entertainment and the staff is really friendly.
    Did you see the Coconuts Beach Bar & Grill ad? Oh, yeah! Opening soon .. not this weekend but I have to tell you about it now because their opening date is a day before our next issue. Thur., May 3, John LaMere returns to Ocean City to kick off the season for Coconuts with a Cinco de Mayo party. That’s right - music from John and a Mexican buffet! Let the parties begin!
    Hello, neighbors, Macky’s opened last night. As I’m writing this, it’s Thur. and I can’t wait to finish up and head over there to check out the renovations and party with DJ Jeremy. Happy birthday to his lovely partner Nicole who, I’m sure, will be there partying, too. They’ve got a lot of cool things in store for us this season as Stan mentioned in his barhopping article ... Wed. live bands. Cool. I’m in.
    We all had a blast last at Johnny’s Pizza Pub Sat. partying with Randy Lee Ashcraft & friends for his 50th birthday. My goodness, can it be? Lookin’ good! It’s always such a cool party with Randy - lots of great music, smiles and laughter. Check out the rockin’ sounds of Lime Green there tonight with Simple Truth making their first appearance at Johnny’s on Sat. night. The fun continues next week with Old School Fri. & One Night Stand Sat.        Speaking of Randy Lee, you know he and the Saltwater Cowboys still play every Fri. at Smitty McGee’s where we can also catch live bands every Sat. now. This week sees the return of one of their favorites, the Bo Dickerson Band. Is it country? Is it rock? You tell me ... put ‘em together and you’ve just got a whole lot of good time music.
    It was another fun time singing with Teenage Rust last Sun. Oh, right ... it’s not about me (teehee!). It’s all about the wonderful fundraising job done by the tireless efforts of the Relay for Life team. And, of course, the release of the long-awaited, much anticipated CD Teenage Rust & The Fabulous Rustettes Live at BJ’s on the Water. Mine’s autographed. There I go again, huh? Well, you can get yours, too, at BJ’s. Party safe, my friends.