Superior Horns and Blue Ice performs

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood - One might say the house was rocking for The Superior Horns and Blue Ice's performance at the Historic Ironwood Theatre Saturday night - but to imply the show was a simple rock concert would be a disservice to the wide variety of musical genres the group performed.

Composed of several local bands, the group played a a mix of songs, ranging from rock to jazz to latin-influenced instrumental pieces.

Each song featured a full horn section, a requirement that shaped the song selection for the performance, said Rob Ahnen, who helped create the group.

"We started off with a pretty broad list and as we narrowed it down, we would listen and listen and listen more," Ahnen said. "What it really needed to have was, the horns needed to be an integral part of the original arrangement of the song."

At least 22 people - including members of the Lowell Street Band, the Keweenaw Rhythm and Blues Band, several local school band directors and a number of other local musicians - formed the large group and took part in the shows on Friday and Saturday.

Ahnen explained he began working on putting together the group after talking with Nick Wulff - who was one of two bass players Saturday - in January about creating a "super group" of area musicians.

"So we started brainstorming, 'who could we get?' and (we started) making phone calls to musicians," Ahnen said. After the group began to form, Ahnen worked on securing the music for the performance and members began practicing in the Ironwood School's band room.

"That was the only way we could meet in a place big enough to fit all those people," Ahnen said.

The performances, which also served as a fundraiser for the theatre as the group is splitting the proceeds with the theatre, exceeded Ahnen's expectations.

"Just to have all these people come together," he said. "This is the first time some of these people (shared a stage) - they play in bands in the area and they've never played together."

He said he also hoped to use the opportunity to promote live music in the area, especially for young people. With that in mind, the group's youngest member was 6th-grader Faith Grewe.

Wulff credited Ahnen for his role in bringing the performance to fruition.

"Rob is actually the one that took the ball and ran with it once we got out of my basement. He's the one that got the charts, he made the contacts with most of the people. He really kept the whole thing going. he was really the leader of the band is what it came down to," said Wulff. "He's a very outgoing person, a very jovial person, easy to get along with and everything. His personality carried over to the band, we really got along very well ... everyone gelled really well and a lot of it was probably due to Rob's personality and just keeping everything on the light but serious side."

Given the positive reception, Ahnen said it's likely Saturday wasn't the group's last performance.

"There's interest in the group to keep on going, I asked them that on Thursday night at the dress rehearsal," he said. "... I got them all to commit to doing one show at the theatre. That's how I got all these people involved. There is interest to continue on, we may do another single show (at the theatre). ... I think we'll see more."