Musical couple set to perform concert at Bay Lanes
By Charles Cassady
Insights
Published April 30, 2008

There’s an interesting and fun documentary feature on video. No, not the ones all saying Global Warming Will End the World. No, not the ones all saying Bush Lied About Iraq. This is entitled “A League of Ordinary Gentlemen,” and it recounts how the Professional Bowlers Association, faced with waning interest in their once-widely-televised sport, tried desperately to make ninepins seem more cool and hip in the 1990s. Part of the strategy included cooperating with the making of the cult comedy “Kingpin,” for instance.

Maybe a solution to the PBA’s marketing dilemma has already been discovered on the North Shore. Not more laser and dry-ice fog nights, but rather concerts in bowling alleys.

Mahall’s 20 Lanes, for example, at 13200 Madison Ave. in Lakewood, is a veritable Fillmore West of bowling alleys, with a variety of bands, usually in the rockabilly genre, making noise in the entrance area on “Rock and Bowl” nights. Put-In Bay Lakewood, at 18206 Detroit Road (the former Lakewood Lanes), has regular music shows as well as weekly karaoke and open-mic nights.

And now Bay Lanes, at 27229 Wolf Road in Bay Village, resounds with tunes to back up the tumbling pins and guttering balls. Be there this Friday for the acoustic stylings of Brent Hopper and Brittany Reilly.

The Bay husband-and-wife duo, full-time musicians specializing in folk, reggae, bluegrass and country, have been touring heavily in recent weeks in support of Reilly’s new CD “Good Old Country Sound.”

Last weekend they were performing throughout Arizona, and in a few weeks the couple sets out for Florida for a series of play dates.

The venues around the country in which they’ve done their flat-picking and harmonizing have included breweries, saloons, folk festivals, coffeehouses, cafes…but a bowling alley?

“This is the only bowling alley we’ve played in!” said Reilly about Bay Lanes, with the asterisk that the place where she held her “Good Old Country Sound” CD release party a month ago, the illustrious Winchester Tavern & Concert Club in Lakewood, used to be a six-lane bowling alley. The lanes and gear were, alas, removed to make the Winchester a much-frequented area concert stage.

As for Bay Lanes, she said “We had talked with the owner John about a year ago and he mentioned wanting to do some new things there, including music. So we set up some dates and started playing about once a month if we’re in town.

“We play while friends, family, and townsfolk are bowling or sitting at the bar or hanging out at the tables near where we play. It really is always a great time - music and recreation!”

Admission is free to the all-ages show, which begins at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

“No charge to come and listen,” said Reilly, “just hope that folks will come out and support the bowling alley.”

While other kegler-circuit acts tend to be raucous party bands, Reilly said she and Brent would play typical sets (frames?) from their repertoire, as well as pieces off “Good Old Country Sound,” which they will have for sale along with previous recordings.

Then it’s off to Florida. Brittany and Brent first met in Florida, in September 2005, when Bay native Brittany started attending concerts by Brent’s band. Straightaway they became a couple, moved to the North Coast, and had a daughter, Grace. They recorded their first CD, “Back to My Roots,” at a friend’s studio in Florida, and Brent’s family lives there, so they keep to a busy performing circuit. “We’re looking forward to the warmth for our travels!”

Further down the road for the duo, Reilly said, “We are looking forward to the Bay Village Country Music Fest (on June 14), and the events at Bay Arts - it’s always great to have nice events to play so close to home…We have some nice festivals down in Florida, and we are confirmed to play with our full band at the famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville this summer.”

You can find out more information at the homepage www.brittanyreilly.com. The Bay Lanes phone line is (440) 871-0911. And the Web site of the Professional Bowlers Association is www.pba.com.