Big Bash reuniting for Saturday night gig at the Legion

Sunday, September 7, 2014
Members of Big Bash, posing in a 1987 promotional photo, are (from top left) lead singer Andrea Riesberg, Rick Rhine, Steve Geabes, Henry Thomas and Chris Kersey. All but Kersey will come together for a reunion show at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Greencastle American Legion post.

The Big Bash theory is simple: Put the band back together -- not necessarily to go back on the road -- but for one reunion gig nearly 30 years since the group last played together.

And on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m., that will happen at Greencastle American Legion Post 58 on the city's East Side as all but one of the original members of the Big Bash band reunite for their first appearance since 1987.

Big Bash, which played about 400 gigs over a five-state area of the Midwest from 1984-87, was comprised of Greencastle natives Steve Geabes (owner of Chief's), Henry Thomas (owner of Thomas Garage Doors), Rick Rhine, Chris Kersey and Andrea (Pearl) Riesberg.

All but Kersey, who has another commitment, will be back on stage Saturday. Veronica Pejril will replace Kersey on keyboards.

The rest of the group will fill familiar roles with Riesberg on vocals, Geabes on guitar and vocals, Rhine on drums and vocals and Thomas on bass and vocals. Mark Meagher will do the sound, just as he did in the band's local heyday.

"From 1985 to 1987, we played Mr. Ron's religiously," Geabes said of a popular Greencastle venue that morphed back into Putnam Inn in succeeding years.

Known for playing a mixture of 1980s music and '60s and '70s rock and R&B, Big Bash "kind of fell apart and came to an end, like so many other groups," Geabes said.

But Rhine at least was bound and determined that the group hadn't played its last gig.

"There's no real reason (for the reunion)," Geabes admitted. "Rick seemed to think it was important, and he talked Andrea into it. Then it kind of steamrolled and Henry and I came along."

Lead singer Riesberg has been excited enough about renewing musical acquaintances that she's traveled back to Greencastle from Pittsburgh to rehearse a number of times.

Big Bash has been practicing once a week since April, trying to recapture that '80s sound and spirit. Things got serious when a date and a location were attached to the possibility.

It was Tony Sparks, a local Legion officer, who suggested the post as a venue.

"Tony has been a good friend of the band and was a roadie for the band back in the day," Geabes said.

Rhine actually tried to put a reunion show together about eight years ago, Geabes said, but that didn't happen.

"What's that John Lennon said, 'Life gets in the way'?" Geabes said.

"This will likely be the only time this happens," the Greencastle restaurateur said. "Better at 53 years old then at 73."

Reminded that another local music group, the Average House Band, has turned that first reunion show into a summer staple that next year will mark the 10th anniversary of its reunion, Geabes laughed at the notion Big Bash might get it back together enough to be the house band at Chief's.

"First of all, there's not enough room," he said.

But more than just one more gig on a Saturday night in September 2014?

"Never say never," Geabes said.

The Legion will start the night with an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner for $6 a plate, which includes a salad, garlic bread and dessert. Serving will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. with the band to follow from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Special guest Carly Rhine, Rick Rhine's daughter, will also perform, vocalizing cuts from her new CD.

Thomas and Chris Kersey. All but Kersey will come together for a reunion show at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Greencastle American Legion post.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: