GILBERT TALKS ABOUT THE BAND
Tucson & Green Valley’s Music Juggernaut
Mid Life has evolved from casual garage group to popular dance band that has bookings two years in advance. After seeing a variety of participants pass through, I joined John Ankiewicz, Khang Nguyen & Don Warren in 2001. True to it’s roots, the band used Khang’s garage as a base of operations. Credit Joanne Castillo with naming the group – when asked what we did on Thursday nights (“we get together in Khang’s garage, play some songs and sing”) – her response was “Sounds like a bunch of guys going through a mid-life crisis.”
The band’s first gig was a spring festival for Sonshine Pre-School (for free of course). We then played a patio party for a friend who worked at Desert Diamond Casino. That was well received, led to a few more private bookings and she encouraged us to put our name in the hat when the Sports Lounge opened at the Casino. We were booked and played there regularly during 2004 & 2005.
In the interim, lead guitarist Steve Swinehart was recruited and opened up a new variety of guitar driven rock for the band to explore. Don Warren retired from IBM and left the band to travel. Steve’s friend and former bandmate, Bob Diedrich joined as a replacement on vocals and rhythm guitars. The band hit its stride in 2005 and was a runner up for the TAMMIES Best Cover Band award.
In addition to a number of private parties & festivals, the band has long-term contracts with the Elks and American Legion Clubs in Green Valley. The Hideout (1110 S. Sherwood Village Dr.) plays host to the band once a month. Mid Life hopes to find a regular venue in Northwest Tucson that will provide the adult crowd a destination for some dancing.
Our musical selection has evolved greatly over the last five years. Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan & the Eagles were part of the mix in ’01 – the current set lists run the gamut from Buddy Holly to Jimmy Eat World. We pride ourselves for being a vocal dance band ; we cover rock, country (traditional & modern), Tejano & even disco. Our musical selection has one criteria: if the audience doesn’t dance, we drop the song. We strive to interact and include our audience as much as possible – we always enjoy being a part of someone’s party evening and we think it shows.
Mid Life has evolved from casual garage group to popular dance band that has bookings two years in advance. After seeing a variety of participants pass through, I joined John Ankiewicz, Khang Nguyen & Don Warren in 2001. True to it’s roots, the band used Khang’s garage as a base of operations. Credit Joanne Castillo with naming the group – when asked what we did on Thursday nights (“we get together in Khang’s garage, play some songs and sing”) – her response was “Sounds like a bunch of guys going through a mid-life crisis.”
The band’s first gig was a spring festival for Sonshine Pre-School (for free of course). We then played a patio party for a friend who worked at Desert Diamond Casino. That was well received, led to a few more private bookings and she encouraged us to put our name in the hat when the Sports Lounge opened at the Casino. We were booked and played there regularly during 2004 & 2005.
In the interim, lead guitarist Steve Swinehart was recruited and opened up a new variety of guitar driven rock for the band to explore. Don Warren retired from IBM and left the band to travel. Steve’s friend and former bandmate, Bob Diedrich joined as a replacement on vocals and rhythm guitars. The band hit its stride in 2005 and was a runner up for the TAMMIES Best Cover Band award.
In addition to a number of private parties & festivals, the band has long-term contracts with the Elks and American Legion Clubs in Green Valley. The Hideout (1110 S. Sherwood Village Dr.) plays host to the band once a month. Mid Life hopes to find a regular venue in Northwest Tucson that will provide the adult crowd a destination for some dancing.
Our musical selection has evolved greatly over the last five years. Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan & the Eagles were part of the mix in ’01 – the current set lists run the gamut from Buddy Holly to Jimmy Eat World. We pride ourselves for being a vocal dance band ; we cover rock, country (traditional & modern), Tejano & even disco. Our musical selection has one criteria: if the audience doesn’t dance, we drop the song. We strive to interact and include our audience as much as possible – we always enjoy being a part of someone’s party evening and we think it shows.
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