Here’s how it works: Bryan hosts this songwriters circle, you see … and every year they make a compilation CD.

Then they have a CD release party.

And at that party, there’s a cover charge (a lousy five bucks) and sell the CDs (also a lousy five bucks).

And they have loads of great entertainment and pass a tip jar.

Then they take aaalllll the money that is collected and buy guitars.

And then, elf-like, they give the guitars to children’s service agencies like Boys and Girls Club, Maude Carpenter’s Childrens Home, Youthville and many more.

In the past five years they have delivered more than 50 guitars to underserved kids who really, really want ‘em.

You can be a part of it, too.

This Saturday, Dec. 6 at the infamous Artichoke Sandwich Bar at 811 N. Broadway in Wichita.

Here’s the lineup:

• Uche
• Tom James
• Robert Baker
• Carrie Cooley
• Amanda Lind
• Elvie Malcom
• The Melodivas
• Nikki Moddelmog
• Back Porch Buddha

Learn more at the Songwriters Circle web site.

It was a heckuva lot of fun.

The first set was just Bryan and Dennis, the Buddha regulars. And it was a weird set list — full of cover tunes and old, odd or underserved selections from the Buddha repertoire. Fun stuff.

Then we were joined by bassman Dan Russell and drummer Rob Farmer for the rest of the evening. We rolled out the Abbey Road medley again, and these guys really brought it to life. In fact, their hard work resulted in a call for an encore — so when Bryan and Dennis threw down with a Jackson 5 tribute, Dan and Rob were there to accept the charges. Killa crew, I say.

Most of the show is available for download below. Enjoy!

(ps: If anybody has any photos from this show, please e-mail them to us. Thanks!)

The multi-headed Buddha is back.

This incarnation features the infamous Rob Farmer on drums and bassist-philosopher Dan Russell.

Catch us all at the Artichoke this Saturday, May 31. Dennis and Bryan will start the show with a duet set, and they’ll unleash the beast when Dan and Rob join the second set.

Listen to a little bit here … (4.1 mb mp3)

Again:

Back Porch Buddha
with guests Dan Russell and Rob Farmer
Saturday night, May 31
Artichoke Sandwich Bar
811 N. Broadway, Wichita KS

And it’s pretty damn dandy, if I may say so myself. 18 songs, just as performed in concert. 10 of those songs are previously unreleased (well, to be fair, 3 of those were “released” on Songwriter Circle CDs that were sold to raise money for the Guitars For Kids initiative. But they weren’t released in our actual catalog. ‘Nuff said.)

Only three songs from the concert were omitted from the CD: Put Down Your Gun, by Peter Case; Lucky Day, by Terry Quiett; and an awesome version of the Abbey Road Suite, by Lennon/McCartney. We didn’t put them on the CD because we didn’t want to mess with the licensing concerns. BUT CD buyers will find super-secret access inside the packaging. Nudge, nudge.

Many thanks to our kickass rhythm section of mad bassist John Probst and King Drum himself, Steve Hatfield. They made us sound 10 feet tall and bulletproof.

Want to know more? Check it out for yourself.

Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered their copy of the recording of this concert. We just don’t know how long it will take to make the CD, but we promise to move as quickly as our feeble old legs will carry us.

Meanwhile, please make it a point to take in the Cabaret Old Town production of “Route 66″ just to return some of the love.

Here’s the whole crew onstage during the Beatles medley …

Yesterday was Mardi Gras Day at the River Festival, and Dennis and I spent the afternoon/evening downtown singing to strangers for a few hours before the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert.

Highlights:

• Getting rousted by Festival volunteers asking for our performer’s badges (Badges? We don’t need no steenking badges!)
• Charlayne, who brought her dad’s multi-headed Hydra of a harmonica (photo below)
• Danelle and her crew of young ladies, who came to urge us on with their charming smiles (photos below)
• The little (really little!) girl who stood hands-on-hips and gave Bryan world-class stink-eye all through “You Again” (no photo, dangit!)
• Nicole, who brought us lemonade and comfort (photo below)

This whole thing is a reminder of how much fun street music can be. And hey, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy wasn’t bad either!

Charlayne and the bizarro harp

Bryan with Danelle and her lovely crew

Note how Dennis’ big hand has sprouted a little hand.

Nicole, who rocks.

Mark your calendars: Bryan and Dennis are hosting a special afternoon concert on Sunday, June 3.

Here’s what’s special about it:

• Special guests — Instead of a plain ol’ duet show, we’ll be a full-sized band. The amazing Steve Hatfield will join us on drums along with bassman John Probst. These guys are a remarkable rhythm section, and they’re extraordinarily handsome. We’ll also be joined on one number by guest vocalists Barney Byard and Shalen Scheltgen, who just sing like li’l angels.
• Special venue — Cabaret Old Town is a great-sounding room and a darned classy venue. Full bar and some food and seats with tables and little umbrellas in your drinks. (Actually, I made up the part about umbrellas, but you get the idea. It ain’t your typical smoky bar.)
• Special time — It’s on Sunday afternoon at 4pm, which means you’ll be done in plenty of time for an evening at home. It is, after all, a school night. Sort of.
• Special specialness — We’ll record a live CD that night. Lots of great new original material, and lots of old favorites.

Steve “Hatdaddy” Hatfield says, “Since playing on their CD ‘Thundar, the Boy Giant,’ I have been itching to get to work in a live setting with Bryan and Dennis. Well, that itch is now officially scratched and it feels great! I’m having a blast and I get to have my partner in musical crime, John Probst, along for the ride. Viva La Buddha!!!”

We’ve been working toward this show for quite a while, and we’re really happy with the way it’s shaping up. Please join us for what promises to be the Back Porch Buddha Deluxe Edition Original Folk-Rock 2007 Spectacular.

Here it is again:

Back Porch Buddha in Concert
Sunday, June 3, 2007
4:00 pm / $7 ticket
Cabaret Old Town, Wichita KS
Live CD recording concert

Dennis and I opened the proceedings with a full (really full!) house. We were followed by great sets from The Crowsons, The Bennett Brothers, Medicine Finger and Good Question. MVP shoutouts to Haley Crowson, who turned in a great fiddle performance with her parents, and Phil Burress, who sat in with The Crowsons and subbed as bassist for Medicine Finger as well.

When the last notes had rung out and the last dollars had been counted, there was a little more than $3500 in the hat to help Kelly and his family.

Today I’m very proud to be a Wichitan.

Cabaret Old Town
Sunday, June 3
4pm

The Cabaret is a fantastic venue, and everybody loves a Sunday afternoon.

Will we record this show for a live CD? Good question. We’ll keep you posted.

The place was packed — 100 squillion people were jammed in, with more hanging out in the outdoor beergarden.

The Huddlers were excellent. A new round of originals (mostly by Wayne Gottstine) and some great old AM country songs (Saginaw, Michigan) were rolled out expertly by the boys after only a handful of practices. I made sure to procure my first-ever Huddlers tee-shirt.

The Buddha boys were treated very well. The crowd was loud and rowdy, but still listened and remained engaged through the whole set. We introduced our duet version of the Abbey Road Suite, which delighted the graybeards and confused the youths. In all, our reception was fantastic, and I believe we made some friends. (For anyone following the Saga of Dennis’ New Pickup: It sounded really good.)

It was great to play for such a large and enthusiastic audience. Thanks to The Huddlers for putting us in front of their folks, and thanks to their folks for treating us so well. Hope to see you all again soon.