A few months ago I received a Membership Inquiry from Rick Minervini. He wasn’t interested in membership opportunities, rather wanted to introduce us to The Bluebyrds, a tribute folk/rock band located right here in sunny Santa Rosa, California. Curious to learn more, I responded. We hit it off and he agreed to an interview. This has been a long time coming, but I am excited to finally introduce you to The Bluebyrds. I’d recommend you grab a seat… You’re in for a treat. Enjoy!
Where did the name come from?
The Bluebyrds play tribute to the folk/rock music genre. Two of the quintessential bands of the genre are Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds. One of the Buffalo Springfield’s biggest hits was “Bluebird”. The band name is a play on that song title with a “y” as a nod to The Byrds.
You are a folk/rock tribute band. What are some of your favorite songs to cover?
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds, “Bluebird” by Buffalo Springfield, “Sunshine Superman” by Donovan, “Do You Believe in Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Handle with Care” by the Traveling Wilburys, “If Not for You” by Bob Dylan and about 50 others.
Tell me about the band. Where did y’all meet?
Tom Richardson, Rick Minervini and Steven Nank met in the 1970s when they were in bands that played the same North Bay circuit, Tom in Saltson Trail, and Rick and Steven in The Buzzard Band. Tom had always wanted to put together a band playing tribute to folk/rock and thought “The Bluebyrds” would be a catchy name that would epitomize the genre. When, in 2018, he decided to make it happen, his first call was to Rick who pulled in Steven. Linda Hutchinson was an acquaintance of Tom and Rick’s and came with excellent credentials having played for years in North Bay bands like Gator Nation and Gator Beat.
You are NorBays 2020 Rock Band of the Year! 2020 was a weird year… What does this mean to you and any big plans for 2021?
The Bluebyrds got off to quick start in 2019 rapidly gathering a following at Peacetown, Coyote Sonoma and numerous other North Bay venues. By the time COVID kicked in, the band had considerable momentum that powered it to the 2020 North Bay music awards. As with many bands, the virus put a major damper on live performances. Fortunately, we’ve picked up where we left off and bookings are rapidly increasing. A goal for 2021 is to respond to inquiries from other parts of California and expand our geographic reach.
What can fans expect from a live show? Based on what I’m seeing, a good time with a lot of great music!
The Bluebyrds exist to perform folk/rock music in a way that is pleasing and fun for our audiences and each band member. The band is audience-focused, meaning that our first consideration is to make sure our audience for each specific gig will have a good time. We figure that we can’t expect our audiences to have fun if we’re not. So come ready to dance to a fast-paced, upbeat show!
Do you ever make mistakes while on stage? If you do, how do you bounce back?
The sign of a really good, professional band is that mistakes are not noticeable by the audience. When they happen, we act as if everything is fine and we just move on. On those (happily) rare occasions where things really go sideways and it’s obvious to all, we just stop, say, “Oops,” and start over.
My wife and I love craft beer. I see you just played a show at Anderson Valley Brewing Company Beer Park. How was that? Did they pay you for that show with beer? If so, I might need to learn to plan an instrument!
The AVBC gig was a ton of fun – beautiful setting, beautiful weather, beautiful people – and they were very generous with the beer. We look forward to going back there and could use a really good tambourine player for the gig, so start practicing.
COVID-19 put a damper on live music. Nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Big plans for this summer? I could see you guys on tour!!!
There only three ways to get good and build a following – play, play and play some more. So, for 2021, we’re focusing on booking as many venues as time allows. We take them as they come so if a tour materialized, we’re ready.
There are so many great songs to cover. How do you ever decide? Can’t imagine trying to write a setlist for you guys!
We have four criteria for the songs we chose: 1) in the folk/rock genre, 2) easily recognizable by at least two-thirds of the audience, 3) up tempo and danceable, and 4) enjoyable to play by each band member. We try not to be esoteric with our song choice and want the music to be easily accessible by our audience.
Could see you guys playing at beer festivals or at wineries around Sonoma County. Where can folks expect to see The Bluebyrds perform?
Sonoma County has such a rich offering of great music venues and we love playing the festivals, wineries, breweries, and music clubs. If you want to hear us at your favorite venue, mention us to the management. We’re adding to our bookings every week so be sure to check the website regularly. Currently on the list are venues like Whiskey Tip, Twin Oaks Roadhouse, REEL & BRAND, Sunny Manor Backyard Concerts, William Tell House, Matrix Winery, and Coyote Sonoma.
I am seeing a lot of guitars on stage. How many guitars do y’all have? Curious… What does a good guitar cost and how long do they last?
Folk/rock is a guitar-centric genre so having plenty of them is essential. Steven uses three guitars and Tom two, although we never stop considering adding to the collection. The price of a good, stage-worthy guitar ranges from about $500 to infinity. They last forever if loved.
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
We love the music so much that choosing a favorite concert is like choosing a favorite child. They all have offered differing blends of inspiration, motivation, and education.
Let’s say I want to hire The Bluebyrds for a private party. How far out are you booking and what would that cost for, say, a two hour set?
The Bluebyrds are available all year, any year. Our fee for a private party ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the specific needs of the people and the venue, e.g., lighting, backdrop, drum riser, etc. For overnights we also charge travel expenses. And, we will always consider playing at no charge to further causes we believe in.
You have a mailing list on your website. How many subscribers do you have and what sort of content are you sending out?
As of this printing we have upward of 100 subscribers. However, Bluebyders tend to know each other and our news mostly travels by word of mouth. We tend to fill the venues we play. Email messages announce upcoming gigs and, these days, include COVID provisions at the venues.
Tell me about the photos on your website. Some really good images on there!
The photos are provided by our fans and are mostly shot with phones – pretty good, huh? The posed shots were taken by Rick’s wife Gwyn Marshall on their lovely property in Cotati.
You’ll find Rick Minervini on drums. He also handles your bookings. How many leads are coming in and how do you keep schedules straight? A lot of moving pieces here!
Rick is a miracle worker with the booking. A well-seasoned Sonoma County musician and DJ, he has many contacts who have enjoyed his work over the years. The number of leads is starting to pick up as venues reopen. We keep each other informed about our availability and coordinating it all is pretty easy because we’re all committed to playing as much as possible.
Where can folks at home learn more about The Bluebyrds?
The best place learn more about The Bluebyrds is the website. There is a link there to contact us and we’ll always respond to questions and enquiries. Sorry ladies, we’re all in long-term, solid relationships.
Thank you for doing this. Wow, what a treat! In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
We all love those moments when, upon hearing a certain song, we’re immediately transported to a fond (or at least bittersweet) memory. Our ultimate goal is to provide people with those moments. It’s not easy to find folk/rock played live these days and we’re doing our best to recreate the magic.
Connect with The Bluebyrds:
Website: https://thebluebyrds.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BluebyrdsFolkRock/
