Pat Savage Keeps On Rollin' With "Wind And Fire"

Pat Savage. Photo by Nick Davies

When you really love something, you want to sing it out, loud and proud. For world-travelling bluesman Pat Savage, love means hot licks, cool blues and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Many a musician has tried to write about the love of riding on two wheels, but many get bogged down, trying to find something that rhymes with "Shovelhead".  Others leave you feeling like you've just ridden over 4 and a half miles of loose gravel. "Wind and Fire", the 7th solo album for this 30 year blues veteran, is a smooth highway ride on a sunny day, full of sweeping turns and straightaways that allow you to really twist the throttle.

"Wind and Fire" opens with "Born To Ride" a rockin' homage to his love for the motorcycle, and ends with 'Wind And Fire", a tribute to all of the brave firefighters across the globe. In the middle, Pat picks it up with kickin Southern Rock, on songs like "Ridin Hard Livin Free" and "I Got To Ride", cools it  down with smooth ballads like "Keep on Rollin", and adds a little country twang with "Big City Lights". My personal favorite, however, is his take on the Gospel / Blues classic "John The Revelator". It got stuck in my head for days.

"Wind And Fire" was recorded in Phuket, Thailand, where Pat has been filming "Savage Roads, a reality adventure series, that takes riders  through the back roads of some of the world's most exotic places, exploring local culture and entertainment. Check out some of the clips on Youtube.. 

Pat has taken some time off from touring after a nearly 30 year career of playing the greatest bike rallies and event in the world, but with "Wind and Fire"  and "Savage Roads" now wrapped up, it's safe to say you'll be seeing him rocking audiences again soon! Pick up Wind and Fire at his website, either on compact disc or digitally. 

Detroit Bike Week Revs It Up July 27-29th

If ever a city needed a weekend to blow off some steam, it's Detroit Michigan. With an unemployment rate pushing 20%, a poverty rate of over 30% and some really curious ideas on how to deal with the rising crime rate, residents of the Motor City, while still fiercely loyal to their city, have not had a lot to look forward to in the last few years. This coming weekend, however, people from all over Michigan will get a chance to once again lose their mind in Detroit Rock City.

The Third Annual Detroit Bike Week is really cranking it up this year with a chopper giveaway by Poor Boy Choppers, Miss Detroit Bike Week Babe contest, Buffalo Wild Wings wing eating contest and Lucky Monkey Tattoo's ink awards. Multiple Guinness World Book of Records will be attempted this year - and Detroit Bike Week attendees will be invited to help break records in a variety of motorcycle categories. Over 20 band will be playing throughout the weekend, including favorites of ours, Badd Habitz and Iron Cowgirl Missy. Ryan Hurst, Opie from FX's Sons of Anarchy, will appear on Sunday for a meet and greet, and will lead a world record attempting bike run at 1:00.

Detroit Bike Week is making sure you'll have plenty to do all weekend long. There are bikers games, a Biker Babe contest, cage fights, stunt riders, bike shows, a Traveling Wall Escort ride, a bikini bike wash, and much, much more. There's even a bar onsite (And we love bars!).Over 100 vendors will be on hand during the event.

Held at the Multi-Lakes Conservation Association in Commerce Township, MI, about 20 miles northwest of Detroit, tickets for Detroit Bike Week are $10 per day, $20 for the weekend. Proceeds benefit several charities, including Cell Phones for Soldiers, MDA Ride For a Cure and the USO . 

Detroit Bike Week has come a long way in a very short time. Last year's even brought in over 10,000 bikers. This year is sure to top that. Get on up to Detroit Bike Week, and see what hard working, blue-collar partying is all about!

Easyriders Saloon Turns Up The Heat

The 72nd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is less than a month away. Hundreds of thousands of bikers roar into this little South Dakota town every year for a week of riding, camaraderie and entertainment. This year, the entertainment part may cut a bit into your riding.  Easyriders Saloon and Steakhouse has a week's worth of bands and shows that may make you want to sleep in the parking lot, so you don't miss any of the next day's shows. Foghat, Fuel, Blue Oyster Cult, Reverend Horton Heat, Shooter Jennings and the Kentucky Headhunters are the headliners, but every day brings you several shows by some awesome bands that you'll see at rallies all over the country. Incredible blues from The Dan Lawson Band and The Don Ray Band, hard rocking Jasmine Cain, rally favorites Blackberry Smoke and some serious metal by Texas Hippie Coalition, Plus awesome tribute bands like ZZ-3 and Aultimate Ozzy! It's all going to be hosted by Brett "Big Schwag" Wagner, formerly of Monster garage, and Riki Rachtman, from MTV's Headbangers Ball. Here's the lineup for the outdoor and indoor stages.

Hooters Grand Outdoor Stage

Thursday, August 2nd

11:00 am    Dan Lawson

3:00 pm    Aultimate Ozzy

6:00 pm    Ryan Rolando

9:00 pm    Texas Hippie Coalition

Friday, August 3rd

11:00 am    Blue Moon Swamp

3:00 pm    Aultimate Ozzy

6:00 pm    Arch Allies

10:00 pm    Monsters of Southern Rock

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Saturday, August 4th

11:00 am    Aultimate Ozzy

3:00 pm    Blue Moon Swamp

6:00 pm    Arch Allies

10:00 pm    Shooter Jennings

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Sunday, August 5th

11:00 am    White Buffalo

3:00 pm    ZZ-3

7:00 pm    Foghat

10:00 pm    Monsters of Southern Rock

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Monday, August 6th

11:00 am    Dan Lawson

3:00 pm    Kyle Turley

7:00 pm    Warrant's Cherry Pie Tour

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Tuesday, August 7th

11:00 am    White Buffalo

3:00 pm    Blackberry Smoke

6:00 pm    Blue Oyster Cult

9:00 pm    Jasmine Cain

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Wednesday, August 8th

11:00 am    White Buffalo

3:00 pm    Blackberry Smoke

6:00 pm    The Kentucky Headhunters

10:00 pm    Hairball

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Thursday, August 9th

11:00 am    Slick Willie

3:00 pm    Kyle Turley

6:00 pm    Sick Puppies

10:00 pm    Hairball

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Friday, August 10th

11:00 am    Slick Willie

3:00 pm    Reverend Horton Heat

6:00 pm    Gilby Clarke

8:00 pm    Rikki Rachtmann

10:00 pm    Fuel

All Day    Hellzapoppin Side Show

Saturday, August 11th

11:00 am    Joe Santana

3:00 pm    Reverend Horton Heat

9:00 pm    Rikki Rachtmann

10:00 pm    Gilby Clarke

 Easyriders Saloon Indoor Stage

Thursday, August 2nd

3:00 pm Don Ray Band

7:00 pm Lucas Hoge

11:00 pm Dom Wier

Friday, August 3rd

3:00 pm Don Ray Band

7:00 pm Jared Blake

11:00 pm Dom Wier

Saturday, August 4th

3:00 pm Don Ray Band

7:00 pm Dom Wier

11:00 pm Jared Blake

Sunday, August 5th

3:00 pm Don Ray Band

7:00 pm Dom Wier

11:00 pm Jared Blake

Monday, August 6th

3:00 pm Cash'd Out

7:00 pm Righteous Rectifiers

11:00 pm Jared Blake

Tuesday, August 7th

3:00 pm Slick Willie

7:00 pm Cash'd Out

11:00 pm Righteous Rectifiers

Wednesday, August 8th

3:00 pm Big Jim and the Whiskey Benders

7:00 pm Cash'd Out

11:00 pm Righteous Rectifiers

Thursday, August 9th

3:00 pm Big Jim and the Whiskey Benders

7:00 pm Righteous Rectifiers

11:00 pm Moustache Bandits

Friday, August 10th

3:00 pm Righteous Rectifiers

7:00 pm Big Jim and the Whiskey Benders

11:00 pm Moustache Bandits

Saturday, August 11th

3:00 pm Slick Willie

7:00 pm Big Jim and the Whiskey Benders

11:00 pm Moustache Bandits

Sickie's Garage Stage

Thursday, August 2nd

3:00 pm    Eclipsed Unplugged

7:00 pm    Slick Willie

11:00 pm    Joe Santana

Friday, August 3rd

3:00 pm    Dan Lawson

7:00 pm    Slick Willie

11:00 pm    Ryan Rolando

Saturday, August 4th

12:00 pm    Slick Willie

3:00 pm    Dan Lawson

7:00 pm    ZZ-3

11:00 pm    Jasmine Cain

Sunday, August 5th

12:00 pm    Blue Moon Swamp

3:00 pm    Slick Willie

7:00 pm    Ryan Rolando

11:00 pm    Dan Lawson

Monday, August 6th

12:00 pm    ZZ-3

3:00 pm    Joe Santana

7:00 pm    White Buffalo

11:00 pm    Slick Willie

Tuesday, August 7th

12:00 pm    Dan Lawson

3:00 pm    Eclipsed Unplugged

7:00 pm    Lucas Hoge

11:00 pm    Farrell Weber

Wednesday, August 8th

12:00 pm    Dan Lawson

3:00 pm    Slick Willie

7:00 pm    Josh Weinbrenner

11:00 pm    Farrell Weber

Thursday, August 9th

12:00 pm    Dan Lawson

3:00 pm    Kyle Turley

7:00 pm    Broadband

11:00 pm    Josh Weinbrenner

Friday, August 10th

12:00 pm    Dan Lawson

3:00 pm    Ryan Rolando

11:00 pm    Farrel Weber

Saturday, August 11th

3:00 pm    Dan Lawson

7:00 pm    Broadband

11:00 pm   Ryan Rolando

Easyriders Saloon and Steakhouse features over 25,000 square feet of space, including the Triple 8 Grille on the first floor. 400 feet of second floor balcony lets you catch all the happenings on Lazelle Street. There's even a VIP room. Check them out when you go to Sturgis this year. You may not want to leave...

I'll be back next week with more of what's coming up at the Sturgis Rally. Til then, RIDE safe...

Jeff
Bars4Bikers.com

5 Bottles That Should Be Behind Your Biker Bar

There are hundreds of new spirits that have made their way into the market in the past few years. Flavored vodkas, whiskeys, new liqueurs and dozens and dozens of tequilas. Some are available nation wide, others are  only locally available.  How many of these have made it behind the bar at your favorite watering hole? For the shot and a beer crowd, I'm betting you aren't looking to try the whipped cream-appletini-gummy-bear flavored vodka to enjoy with your PBR, but here are 5 relatively new selections that will make you want to chase your beer with a shot;

1) Jesse James Outlaw Bourbon -  Made in Kentucky, as all bourbons should be, Jesse James Outlaw Bourbon is aged in new, charred oak barrels for 36 months to give it a smoothness you won't find in some other bourbons. Endorsed by Jesse James Dupree from the band Jackyl, it's a whiskey for the outlaw in all of us.

2) KAH Tequila - Certainly not your typical salt and lime shooter tequila. Available in 4 flavors, this aged tequila is meant to be sipped and savored. It costs about the same as Patron or Cabo Wabo, but comes in a much cooler, hand-painted skull shaped bottle.

Fireball Whiskey  - Don't get it confused with firewater, this incredibly smooth whiskey packs it's punch in the form of a cinnamon infusion that warms the stomach (and everything else). It's not harsh. like some other cinnamon liquors, and is like eating a box of Red Hots all at once.

Ron de Jeremy Rum - named after the hardest working man in the business, Ron de Jeremy comes in 2 flavors; 7 year old, well balanced aged rum and a complex, spiced rum. Both are great for drinking neat or on the rocks. It's currently only available in a small number of states, but you (or your bar) can get it online.

Moonshine Clear Corn Whiskey - This 80 proof clear whiskey is quadruple distilled in a Prohibition era copper pot still, in the same tradition that moonshine has been made for hundreds of years. It's smooth and mellow, with a clean finish.It costs a bit more than your average whiskey, but if you see it in your bar, you gotta try it.

Drinking the same old beverage all the time is like riding your bike to work everyday. While it's still good to get out, it's just not as fun. Take the road less traveled. And always drink responsibly.

Just R.I.D.E, 

Jeff

Bars4bikers.com

The R.I.D.E Principle

I'm a biker. Not a motorcycle rider, not a motorcycle enthusiast, but a biker. What's the difference? A true biker lives his or her life by what I like to call the R.I.D.E Principle. R.I.D.E stands for Respect, Integrity, Dignity and Empathy. There are far too many people in the world that can't understand any of these 4 concepts, but those who do have usually had 2 wheels between their legs. For those who find this a foreign concept, let's go over these in detail.


R is for respect. If you give it, you'll get it in return. That guy at the end of the bar could be a 20 year one percenter, or he could be a lawyer. Don't judge a person's look or bikes until you know that person. Unless you're 128 years old, somebody out there has been riding longer than you, and everyone has had different experiences. Give people respect, don't pre-judge, and you'll probably learn something.


I is for integrity. When it comes down to it, all a man (or woman) really has in this life is their word, so you probably want it to be unbroken. If you say you're going to do something, do it. If you commit to helping someone, help them. Stand be your friends, your family, and they'll stand by you when you need them. Screwing people over, even if it gains you something in some way, leads to a loss of respect, and eventually will make you a very lonely person.


D is for Dignity. The Internet is chock full of people who seem to have to need to bitch, gripe and moan about every little thing that happens to them in life. Life is hard, be harder than it. Show some self-respect. Nobody want to think of you as a whiny little bitch. If you really need help with something, and you follow the first two rules, then you already have a base of friends and family who will do anything they can to help.


E is for Empathy. Life IS hard, and the people in your life will go through some hard times. Show them that you are there for them, have their back. They'll do the same for you when your life gets tough. If you stand behind someone, the only way they can fall is forward.


Most of the people who have read this far already practice the R.I.D.E concept. Most of the others left when they had to Google to word "respect". For those that do practice this, I applaud you, and ask that you share this blog with your friends. If we can get more people on board with Respect, Integrity, Dignity and Empathy, the world will be a much better place.


Just R.I.D.E, 
Jeff
www.Bars4Bikers.com