Posted 1:19 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013
With four upcoming gigs this fall, the university blues-rock band led by UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, hasn’t slowed down in its fourth year.
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From left, Carmen Wilson, Nizam Arain, Bart VanVoorhis, Kjerstin Lang and Joe Gow performing at a gig at the Root Note.[/caption]
August commemorates four years for The FurLow Riders.
With four upcoming gigs this fall, the university blues-rock band led by UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, hasn’t slowed down.
Gow encourages faculty, staff and students to join them for shows, which promise more of the classic rock and blues music Gow played on the stage about 20 years ago along with other roots music featuring various members of the band.
Continuing to perform is “exhilarating,” says Gow. He loves being able to let loose after a full day of administrative duties and connect with faculty, staff and students outside the work environment.
“Everyone needs to rock and roll now and then,” he says.
The fall shows will kick off with “Chillin’ With the Chancellor” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, on the Wittich Hall lawn near UW-L’s Hoeschler Tower. Although the event started as a welcome to new UW-L students, it’s open to anyone craving an evening of energizing music and fun.
An evening performance Friday, Sept. 6, at Cavalier Lounge will be a new venue for the group. The Cavalier reopened in Jan. 2011 as an upscale cocktail lounge, followed by the theater next door reopening as Cavalier Theater this spring. The space caters to an audience of all ages, as only the lounge side serves alcohol.
The FurLow Riders started as a trio, which formed in fall 2009 at an annual party to celebrate the start of the school year at Psychology Professor Bart VanVoorhis’ home. VanVoorhis started jamming on an old drum set with Gow on electric guitar. Both hadn’t played with a band in about 20 years. UW-L Director of Affirmative Action Nizam Arain joined the two shortly after on bass. Today the band also features members Carmen Wilson, UW-Rock County dean, on keyboard and vocals and Kjerstin Lang, UW-L University Relations Specialist, on mandolin and vocals.
The FurLow Riders don’t charge a fee to play, so none of this fall’s upcoming shows has a cover charge. Members say they just enjoy entertaining.
"For me, personally, it's like a form of therapy," says drummer VanVoorhis. "I love just getting lost in the groove of a song."
From left, Carmen Wilson, Nizam Arain, Bart VanVoorhis, Kjerstin Lang and Joe Gow performing at a gig at the Root Note.[/caption]
August commemorates four years for The FurLow Riders.
With four upcoming gigs this fall, the university blues-rock band led by UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow, hasn’t slowed down.
Gow encourages faculty, staff and students to join them for shows, which promise more of the classic rock and blues music Gow played on the stage about 20 years ago along with other roots music featuring various members of the band.
Continuing to perform is “exhilarating,” says Gow. He loves being able to let loose after a full day of administrative duties and connect with faculty, staff and students outside the work environment.
“Everyone needs to rock and roll now and then,” he says.
The fall shows will kick off with “Chillin’ With the Chancellor” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, on the Wittich Hall lawn near UW-L’s Hoeschler Tower. Although the event started as a welcome to new UW-L students, it’s open to anyone craving an evening of energizing music and fun.
An evening performance Friday, Sept. 6, at Cavalier Lounge will be a new venue for the group. The Cavalier reopened in Jan. 2011 as an upscale cocktail lounge, followed by the theater next door reopening as Cavalier Theater this spring. The space caters to an audience of all ages, as only the lounge side serves alcohol.
The FurLow Riders started as a trio, which formed in fall 2009 at an annual party to celebrate the start of the school year at Psychology Professor Bart VanVoorhis’ home. VanVoorhis started jamming on an old drum set with Gow on electric guitar. Both hadn’t played with a band in about 20 years. UW-L Director of Affirmative Action Nizam Arain joined the two shortly after on bass. Today the band also features members Carmen Wilson, UW-Rock County dean, on keyboard and vocals and Kjerstin Lang, UW-L University Relations Specialist, on mandolin and vocals.
The FurLow Riders don’t charge a fee to play, so none of this fall’s upcoming shows has a cover charge. Members say they just enjoy entertaining.
"For me, personally, it's like a form of therapy," says drummer VanVoorhis. "I love just getting lost in the groove of a song."
Upcoming Gigs with The FurLow Riders
- Chillin’ with the Chancellor, 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, Wittich Hall Lawn
- 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, The Cavalier Theater/Lounge, La Crosse
- 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, Holmen Band Shell.
- Football pre-game performance, 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, stadium parking lot.