The Tack Room Tavern at the Empire Polo Club

Indio, CA

January 29, 2010

Story and Photos by Renee Vargas

To see a photo slideshow by Renee Vargas, click here.

Alyce Bowie once again treated the Tack Room audience, on Monroe St. in Indio, CA near Palm Springs with music from the 70’s and 80’s; a combination of classic rock, southern rock and blues and even some of their own originals.

Tack Room food is good and served only until about 9 PM, if you want to eat, come early and eat first so you can listen to the music.  The music was excellent.

The Alyce Bowie Band played outside under a huge white tent. There is plenty of room for dancing and dining without feeling crowded. Don’t worry about the cold for the Tack Room provides heaters that keep you warm on those cool evenings.

Lou Galvan and his wife, Kymm formed Alyce Bowie Band several years ago naming it after her grandmother and coining themselves the “Masters of Music and Mayhem“!!!  Well, yes, they live up to that moniker. Lou plays bass guitar and spends a good deal of his free time promoting other bands in and around the Coachella Valley. You may have seen him at the Art in the Dunes Festival as well as the Coachella Valley Chile Festival and the Riverside County Date Festival Pageants.  Lou also performs in local theatres and brings a musical finesse to the stage when performing. Lou has also received several awards for his acting from the Desert theatre League.

Kymm, a fine thespian in her own right, has also performed at the Riverside County Date Festival Pageant for years now. Kymm has been nominated for awards in theatrical make up and costume design as well as Best Supporting actress from the Desert Theatre League.  She has an incredible voice range spanning genres including musical show tunes to gutsy hard rock.

The Alyce Bowie Band has had some very fine musicians come and go.  When this writer met them around three years ago, Kevin Quinn played lead guitar and Alex A was on rhythm and lead. Alex A  subsequently moved on to lead the Desert All Stars. Mike Ruiz joined the band a little more than a year ago playing rhythm guitar, he is also perfectly capable playing lead.  Most recently Kevin Mogan joined the band replacing Kevin Quinn.  

Mogan also works for Ricorama Music in Indio, CA as an “in house” repair person. His focus is on repairing stringed instruments and his experience covers bands such as Def Leppard, Machine Head and Soul Mother.  Mogan also builds guitars and does custom modifications.

The drummer is Robert Hamilton, well known in Coachella Valley for his superb drumming, is an electrician by day…and a drummer by night. Hamilton plays with the SOB (Suzanne Oliver Band) but prefers to spending a lot of his time playing for Alyce Bowie.

This night Eric Frankson who debuts in Cinch on January 30, 2010 at the Tack Room played keyboards.  His resume is incredible and his talent even bigger.  He can play almost anything from long hair to short hair. Frankson is involved the Coachella Valley Youth Symphony playing the violin and teaches children how to play.  He did not play the fiddle tonight as he often does when  “jamming’ with local talent, but we expect to see him play it and the mandolin with his new band “Cinch” which will be spotlighted, Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 8pm at the Tack Room.

By the way, Alyce Bowie is looking for another guitar player. Mike Ruiz has increased demands in his personal life and will have to spend less time playing for Alyce Bowie. He will be missed.  If you can play and are interested, contact  Alyce Bowie through one of the links provided at the end of this article.

Alyce Bowie will be back to the Tack Room on February 6, 2010 at 9pm.  Make it a date!

To see a photo slideshow by Renee Vargas, click here.

Alyce Bowie on MySpace, click here.
Alyce Bowie on MFaceBook, click here.
The Tackroom, click here.