Bob Claire Orchestra

We're booked for a number of private functions through the spring, weddings, parties, etc. We'll update this page when we have announcements of more public performances.

Castlewood Crab Feed, Feb 18, 2006
A very upscale crab feed hosted by Bill and Cathy Lemos. Our second time playing at Castlewood, this time in the banquet room. Great sound in a large open room, the floor was packed with dancers. Hats off the the first couple to come out and shake it during the dinner set while the majority sat and ate crab.

Glorietta Father Daghter Dance, Feb 10, 2006
It isn't every gig when there are girls asking for autographs at the end of an evening. Very good playing, very good Thai eats afterward.

Corpus Christi Crab Feed, Jan 29, 2006
What more can be said about this event? Hundreds in attendance, a densely packed dance floor, our fill of food and drink. Thank you Robert Ferguson for putting together the lights. Way above and beyond the call of duty!

Wente Vineyards, November 17, 2005
Not the full band, but close. The tasting room at Wente was the site of a party hosted by Prudential wholesaler D.B. Makley, a most gracious host at that. An excellent setting in a small room, we filled the air with music without blowing out anyone's ear drums. Jeff and Rocky were treated to a round of golf the morning of the gig.

Montclair Metrathon, October 15, 2005
Drake McCarthy's first official BCO gig, he adds another trumpet part, the experience of his storied past, a wry sense of humor and knowledge of fine wines to the mix. Glad to have you along!

Crab Cove Concert Series, September 2005
The BCO returned for a second year at Crab Cove, and it was a near perfect evening. Having an experienced, professional sound engineer with top notch equipment makes an enprmous difference. Frees up our keyboard player to just play keyboards. We love you Ronnie, but when we have guys like Emmit running the show, the sound is hard to beat.

I've Gone Blank, February through September 2005
Lesson to be learned here: update this page while the gigs are still in memory. My bad (RL). In fact, I've probably missed writing about a dozen gigs. If you can find a way, please forgive me!

Father/Daughter Dance, Glorietta School, February 11
The description of this gig was sure to cause some apprehension in the days leading up to it, the explaination to my wife that we were playing to 6-10 year old girls and their dads, and that I'd be home early was met with a suspicious look and a little ribbing from my better half. But I speak the truth, and I think the whole band would agree with this, it was more fun than we could have ever imagined, blasting away any preconceived notion any of us had. The PA was absolutely dialed in, the set list was tight and right, and the stage lighting was industrial strength (I humbly take credit for our regular stage layout with horns on the far right - this played into Jeff's hands perfectly as he operated lights from the console). The result: a jam-packed dance floor and an energetic set that bobbed and weaved through our very best tunes for 2 straight hours without a break. Darlene capped it with a beautiful rendition of "My Love". I'd do an injustice to her eloquent delivery by trying to repeat it here verbatim, but she made a very touching dedication to the dads and daughters.

Corpus Christi Crab Feed, Jan 26, 2005
This is becoming an annual gig for us, we've played it 3 straight years now, with no sign of giving it up. In fact, we received a very flattering email from the organizers that thanked the numersous volunteers responsible for putting the event together. Though we can't count ourselves as volunteers, the last paragraph read someting like, "the band is here to stay!" Sign of a good gig: the dance floor is rocking well past 1am.

Bob Claire, Jr. wedding reception - September 19, 2004
The son of our namesake married the delightful Kenia, a bright and energetic young woman from Brazil at the Officers Club in the Presidio of San Francisco (trivia break: the 2nd oldest building in SF, dating back to 1776). With Darlene in the driver's seat and Earl exhibiting his usual stylistic prowess, the dance floor was hopping almost as much as the stage was bouncing. Par for the course for a 228 year old room. So lively were the attendees (many of whom spoke little or no English) the dancing continued long after the band finished. Kudos to Ron and Mike S for providing music till the bitter end!

Webster Street Peanut Butter Jam Festival - September 11, 2004
Major props to Francie of the WABA, a major BCO fan and fun loving, fine lady. She booked us for the Crab Cove concert and the PBJ, providing outstanding sound support (thanks Emmit!) and a spacious stage. We were one of 5 bands on the main stage throughout the afternoon, the variety and quality of music that day was outstanding!

Alameda Fourth of July parade
2004 marked our 3rd consecutive year participating in this event, sponsored by Alameda Auto Lab. Darlene and Earl wowed the crowd leading an extra soulful set. Staging for the parade took place on Lincoln Ave., and by some misfortune for the residents of a certain duplex, we found ourselves warming up on the street at 9:00 am. Hey lady, sorry you had a hangover, but we had to tend to businees at hand!

Crab Cove Concert Series, July 9, 2004
BCO made a very memorable Crab Cove debut with over 1000 revelers in attendance. West Alameda Business Association (WABA) hosts this annual series, "Concerts at the Cove" at the foot of McKay Avenue at Central Avenue. Jeff was interviewed that evening by a program that runs on NPR, our intro and the first part of "Tore Down" can be heard at the beginning of the piece.

Corpus Christi Crab Feed, January 24, 2004
When the Corpus Christi community puts together a fund raiser, they do it up right. A combination all-you-can-eat crab feed, auction and dance, the room was filled with about 700 people, and about 400 of them ended up on the dance floor when the music kicked in about 10pm. Good eats, good music, fun time!

Kabira Technologies Holiday Party - November 5, 2003
Live from the Spinnaker in Sausalto, ladies and gentlemen...!
Kabira knows how to throw a first rate party, the Spinnaker is on a pier on the Sausalito waterfront, and the facility has an incredible view of the bay.

The 2003 Fall Benefit circuit
Here's one of the great things about this group: if one of the members is approached to play a benefit for their kids' school or similar organization, they ALWAYS come through. Organizers of these outdoor events are wise to choose September and October for the incredible Bay Area weather. September had us playing at the Skyline Community Church Fall Festival, in mid-October we played a benefit for Otis School in Alameda. Another annual gig for us was the Montclair School Walkathon where we had the distinct pleasure of being joined onstage by saxophonist Peter Cornell and vocalist Toni Warren.

Loftus - Lorel Wedding, September 6, 2003
With a guest list exceeding 300, the grounds at Sunsmile Farms in Grass Valley underwent an amazing transformation, a testament to the hard work of the bride and groom and a host of friends and family. The luau theme saw the bride carried in on a throne by 6 burly attendants in grass skirts, a pig on a spit, and a first dance to Hawaii 5-0. It was a longer distance than we usually travel for a gig - and not without its mini dramas - but playing to an appreciative and lively crowd who packed the custom-built dance floor to the very end was easily worth every mile of the way.

Habelsdon - Clemans Wedding, August 31, 2003
The Officers Club at NAS Alameda provided a classy setting for the wedding of Cheryl Clemans and Aaron Hablesdon, a fun loving couple and loyal followers of the BCO. After providing music for the garden ceremony, the band kicked it out in the reception hall for a crowd that was hungry for dance and thirsty for a good time.

Summerfest at the Encinal Yacht Club, July 25, 2003
Many thanks to those who joined us for an evening of midsummer revelry at the EYC. In addition to Mr. Bob Claire's end-of-the-month party, we wished farewell to friends and loyal band followers Dave and Jo and their kids, sending them off to the East coast with a bang!

July 4 Parade, Alameda
2003 marked the second consecutive year we played the 4th of July Parade on a float sponsored by Alameda Auto Lab. Huge thanks go out to Robert and his crew in setting up the trucks. Kids had fun throwing candy from the family truck, we saw lots of friendly and familiar faces along the way. A short while back there were pictures on this page, they now appear on the news page.

Glorietta School Benefit, Orinda, CA
The Oak Springs Club was the venue for Glorietta School benefit held June 7. The band played a relaxed set of standards and cocktail tunes to open, then let it fly with some very high energy dance music. Warren Williams, the band's horn arranger, stepped up big time on saxophone and wowed the throngs with his outstanding reed work. The band closed with one of the strongest renditions of Dr. Feelgood that we've ever pulled off, alternating between Darlene's fiery and heartfelt vocal delivery and dueling horn solos bouncing back and forth between Colin, Warren and Jeff.

Ely-Miraglia wedding, Alameda
Dave Ely and Caroline Miraglia tied the knot in early May back in Vermont, then came back out west to throw a party to celebrate the occasion with friends out here on the left coast. Kudos to Leslie Zander for putting it all together, and major props to those in attendance. An appreciative crowd enjoyed the music and atmosphere, the dance flo was rockin' at all times!

Encinal Yacht Club, Alameda
The ocassion for our first engagement at the Yacht club was a birthday party with a guest appearance by singer-songwriter Kathy Moxham, her set featured a number composed exclusively for the event. Good crowd, much dancing, many kids running about.

Corpus Christi Crab Feed/Auction, Oakland
Huge gig, boisterous crowd, packed dance floor. Hardcore attendees stayed on to the very end, about 1:45 by recollection. Broke out a bunch of motown material, people was eatin it up.

Group X Holiday Party, Sausalito
The scenic and historic Alta Mira was the setting for the annual party thrown by Group X. The acoustics in the room were far from optimal, but from what we were told later in the evening, the mix was best at the bar, where many were hanging out.