They came from Muscle Shoals area, where everyone is either a musician, a musical person, or a fan of music. These two guys are on tour with their new CD “Anything and Everyone”. That title seems to cover it all in my mind. Yet it does not cover the details of how very good they are with their guitar playing and their vocals. It does not help you to understand how personable they are when performing only a few feet away. Both named Rob (Rob Aldridge and Rob Malone), they have names sounding so similar, yet their personalities and their words and ways are worlds apart. The things they have in common are: Absolute love of music, natural musical talent, both are family men, and both are genuinely nice guys.
Last night they played a gig at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club with Mobile musician Eric Erdman (my son). A few years back, Eric lived in Muscle Shoals for six years while under contract as a songwriter with Fame Studios. He made many friends while there, which includes the two Robs.
Anxious to begin, Rob and Rob quickly ate what they could of their bacon cheeseburgers, saved the remainder in a “to-go” box then began to ready themselves to perform.
What a show it turned out to be. Most of the show consisted of original music for Rob and Rob as well as for Eric. However they sprinkled in an occasional cover and at one point the three of them suddenly decided to do a few Prince songs. They knocked it out of the park with all three Prince songs they played. The crowd at Callaghan’s was waving their hands in the air like they just didn’t care.
Life has a tendency to weigh us down sometimes with all that is going on in the world. For me, the loosening of the worries and cares; the singing along with the words of Prince, tapping of fingers and feet seemed to lift the souls in that room and brought smiles to once weary faces.
Rob Aldridge was the more outspoken of the two Robs and he proclaimed the Mobile crowd at Callaghan’s to be so much more fun than what he was accustomed. To me it was obvious that his spirit was soaring. He tore into the music like a ravenous termite into a fresh supply of wood. He unexpectedly broke out in a dance while playing one of the Prince songs and the audience roared and snapped pictures by the dozens.
These three guys who love music and love life, played the entire show without a break and most of the audience stayed to speak to them when the music ended. It was a perfect match of musicians and music fans who joined with love in their hearts to share with one another.
I personally want to thank J T (John Thompson) and Callaghan’s staff who are always attentive, always friendly (and who always get my order right, even though I did not eat last night; they brought me several Diet Cokes to keep me hydrated).
We all want joy in our lives. A peaceful gathering, shared ideas, entertainment and quality food were the order of the day. Music and fun was what was needed and these three men so graciously delivered. It was what a night out should feel like.
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