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Summertime also saw the band
performing at an outdoor corporate picnic in Clarksburg, Md.
Outdoor gigs are always interesting, because you
never know who's going to come through with a water balloon and
throw it into an amp (true story). The kids (of all ages) were
well behaved, though, and the picnic was a real blast. |
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| August saw Jeff out on vacation, so
Steve Treado of The Jim Bowie Band stepped in to help cover at
several of the performances, including this one at the
Fleet Reserve Club in Annapolis.
Steve's knowledge of so many hundreds of songs
made for some very fun times as we tried out songs the band hadn't
performed before.
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Jeff did manage to make it back in
time for what turned out to be one of the most unusual performances
of the year, at Six Flags America for their big gala anniversary
party.
While it was hotter than an oven that day, and we
had to roll all the equipment 1/4 mile into the park, (Steve
collapsed on a pallet of ice that had been delivered at the back
gate), the staff at the park were absolutely the best people to work
with, addressing our every need.
We sure hope we get an opportunity to go back, as
it was really a blast to perform down there!
The other special event taking place that day was
Steve's official announcement that he was offering his services full
time to the band...an offer they quickly took him up on!
Oracle was now officially a quartet.
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| Who would have imagined
that a mere 13 days after our lighthearted and carefree performance
at Six Flags, the whole world would come crashing down with the events
of September 11th.
Lucky for us we weren't performing that
weekend...who felt like going out when the entire world was mourning
with us over the despicable acts of a group of cowards hiding in
Afghan caves?
The following weekend the band was back in action,
and there could be no more fitting place to perform than at the
American Legion.
There was something special about the performance
that night. As we performed "God Bless America", you
could look around and not a single person was sitting down. |
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Nearing the end of November the
band decided it was time to get some new photos done.
After an initial sitting for some posed formal
shots, we went on an adventure down in Fells Point in Baltimore,
where on an early Sunday morning with fog rolling off the harbor we
posed in alleys, in the street (stopping traffic a couple of times),
alongside storefronts, and in other little nooks and cranny's that
our photographer managed to find.
It was really a lot of fun finding new places to
pose, and we think the resulting photos speak
for themselves. |
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| As we wound down the year
we were finding that patriotism lies everywhere, and that even in
bars and nightclubs songs like "Proud To Be An American"
and "God Bless America" brought everyone to their feet.
This shot was taken at Perry's Restaurant and
Sports Bar in Odenton. |
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The weather was surprisingly warm
when the Elks Club held their big Pig Roast in November.
Oracle heated
things up even more by getting everyone out on the dance floor, and
we're scheduled to be back again in January for a return engagement.
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| The holiday season felt a
little empty this year, but Oracle got in our share of holiday
parties. The band brought along their own festive touch to add
to the proceedings, but them someone started getting frisky with the
inflatable snowman, and well... |
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...and so friends, that brings us
back to New Years 2002. Appropriate once again that we were
performing at the American Legion.
We seem to have a cosmic connection with this
place. Maybe it's fate, but then again, maybe it's just the
great people that are there.
Anyway, just after midnight, there we were...a sellout crowd for the
first time at the Legion, the dance floor packed with people...and
suddenly Veronica starts picking up a radio station in her in-ear
monitor. You should have seen the look of sheer terror on her face
when she realized she'd have to try and sing one song while another
played in her head ;-). What a great time! |
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| So, that about wraps it up...our year
in review. We are all looking forward to an even more
prosperous 2002, and it is the sincere wish from everyone in Oracle
to you our friends that you all have a safe, healthy, prosperous,
and joyous 2002.
Our best wishes to you all. Don't be
strangers! |
