Well, THAT went by fast!
It seems we just sat down to start the show and then had to get up because it was over. Whoever first said “Time flies when you’re having fun” obviously knew what they were talking about. As much as we’re really enjoying the time we now have to do what we want, when we want, returning to our Chicago radio home, at WGN, now and then for, as we call them, a “radio drive-by,” is one of those things that ranks high on our “let’s do that” list.
Thanksgiving is a time to be spent with family and friends and carving out a portion of our Thanksgiving morning to sit down with our radio family and friends to share old memories and make some new ones has become a yearly tradition that we really look forward to.
Steve & Johnnie rockin’ around the WGN Showcase Studio Christmas Tree
To our minds, this year certainly exceeded expectations. Performances by Muriel Anderson and Joel Paterson were highlights and the spontaneous version of “Cannonball Rag” that they did together was one of those real “moments.” You could feel the excitement in the studio as those two started feeding off each other’s playing. This was an introduction we’d been wanting to make for years. Hopefully, it will result in future collaborations.
Then, there was Christmas tech gift tips from our Cybersquad Chief, Patrick Crispen, and news of Steve’s brother Lee’s terrific new book, “Safe Inside” and a whole lot more. Fortunately, you can find it all online.
Thanks to podcast technology and, our producer, David Miranda, we can archive all those moments and share them with you.
So, in case you missed our Thanksgiving show or if you’d like to hear it again, the podcast is now posted. Just click on this link and it will all be revealed to your ears.
And, mark your calendars for this New Year’s Eve. Since the WGN studios are moving to a new location, this will be the last time Steve & Johnnie’s “Cheap Date Life After Dark New Year’s Eve Extravaganza” will welcome in a new year broadcasting from the Showcase studio location!!
Among our guests for this special New Year’s show will be one of the featured artists on the PBS Soundstage Special “Cornerstones Of Rock,” the man who sang lead on many of The New Colony Six’s hit records, Ronnie Rice. And, since we had so many requests after their last appearance with us, joining us again this year will be Josh Solomon and Erika Brett from The Empty Pockets. Also, following her New Year’s Eve “Rock The 80’s” show at Harrah’s, Joliet, the incredible, Lisa McClowry will join us along with her guitarist/co-composer, Lavant (Van) Coppock.
We’re still working out all the details and we’ll share them with you soon but, trust us, it’s gonna be a PARTY!!
More as we know it.
Finally, we hope you enjoy your holidays but, please, as you enjoy the season, stay alert and be safe. As we said above, we really enjoy sitting down with our radio family and friends to share old memories and make some new ones. We plan on making a lot more memories and we want you to be a part of them.
Thanks for hanging out with us on the air and online.
Steve & Johnnie
SteveAndJohnnie's "Both Sides Now" Blog 
Thank you, Steve and Johnnie, I will be listening New Year’s Eve! My brother and sister-in-law will be taking me out, but, hopefully early. Occasionally, I still like to be out late, but this year… it will be great to hear you before I start studying my eyelids!
Dear Steve and Johnnie….your show was great….you two haven’t aged at all! In all the years we’ve talked via the net, did I ever tell you I am a nag? IOW, you should know what I am going to say next because I say it EVERYTIME the wonderful Ronnie Rice Dear comes to radio waves. When is Ronnie Rice Dear, going to re-record “It’s Been a Long, Long Time”? The original was awesome but the time he sang it in Life After Dark, it was awe-inspiring! He really made the concept of a long, long time come to reality in the sound and expression in his voice. Do you understand what I am saying? The song is now at the right time for Ronnie Rice Dear to sing it.
As much as you may “nag” us and we may “nag” Ronnie, HE is the only one that has to make the decision to do it. You might try talking to him more directly on his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010251034458 He checks in fairly often and, if you could get enough people to join you, he just might finally decide to do it. Good luck.