I just searched for TANK the Band on line, and guess what?  I found this link to the band, Neutral Ground's Facebook page, and not only are there some retro pictures of the TANK band, there were some posts from some of the fans I remember back in the day (or more correctly, night).  Fred and I will be there on Friday, at the Moose Club in St. Johnsbury, 8 p.m. to reunite with some of the guys - Rob, Gordy, Buzzy, Al, Romeo, Pete and of course, middle son, Bob will be front and center.  They are playing a benefit for the Relay for Life Cancer Fund, and Neutral Ground will be opening for them. I don't know exactly who will be there - there were others who were with the band at different times, in various capacities.  There were some who were with the band for only a short time, then the guys who did lights and sound, for instance - and a manager or two, plus fans who never missed a local performance and followed them around the state for gigs.  

I guess most of those guys, now married with children, have never given up their music entirely, even though they have day jobs.  There's a new group forming, The Hit Men, a result of the BelAires retiring recently, but it isn't easy putting together a new group, it means lots of hours practicing and late nights and hauling equipment, setting it up - all very demanding, especially as one gets older and has a family.  

I remember - there was first the Peacham School Band, then Tressel (both pretty much "garage bands") when Bob was a teenager; but they played some pretty good gigs but had to have an adult with them when they played where liquor was served. The group eventually evolved into TANK, which was a big hit in the late 70's, early 80's.  I think TANK formed in about 1977, and for nearly a decade they played all over Vermont, New Hampshire, eastern New York, Massachusetts, and Canada.  Their competition was Fox, Stonecross, Davis Brothers, Shoppers, Little Wing, and Express - some of you may remember those bands.

There was a TANK reunion at Joe's Pond in July, 1994 - but they didn't play any music; they just got together and brought wives and kids and caught up on their respective lives with or without music as their livelihood.  Then a few years ago they got together and  played a benefit gig at the Packing House in Lyndonville - that was a fun event for Fred and me. 

Surprisingly, they sounded just as we remembered.  

I went to my picture file and found a bunch of not very clear pictures of the Packing House gig that was the last time they played together - April 28, 2007.  There was a good crowd that night - everyone was rockin' to favorite tunes. (Click to make larger.)  We'll try to get better pictures this time.

Looking forward to hearing the TANK band again!