Our second Father’s Day at Tuggers in Port Byron looked pretty different from the first one. Last year it was all sunshine on the patio and people hanging out by the river. This year: nonstop rain, temps in the upper 50s, and us hauling gear inside instead of out to the deck. Still, by the time we finished playing, it felt like exactly the kind of Father’s Day we both needed.
From riverfront patio to rainy-day living room
We’d been watching the forecast all week, so the change of plans wasn’t a shock. When we rolled in around 10:30am to set up for the noon–3pm slot, the Mississippi was hiding behind sheets of rain, and the patio was a no-go.
Inside, Derek already had a bottle of cabernet and two glasses waiting for us in the corner where we were playing. That’s pretty much the definition of hospitality. We set up the piano, guitar, and PA, did a quick soundcheck, and then went straight for food.
Greg went for the new Tuggers Hot Sauce Burger and wouldn’t shut up about it. It was one of the best burgers he’d ever had, he kept saying between bites. Tom grabbed a bowl of Pork & Black Bean Chili, which hit the spot on a wet, chilly June day.
A quiet crowd, low volume, and whispered greetings
Once we started our live acoustic duo performance, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a rowdy bar afternoon. The rain kept a lot of folks home, so the room stayed pretty small and mellow. We pulled the volume way down—almost living-room level.
At one point before the show, Tom’s wife, Malissa, came in with the family. She walked right up to us to say hi and instinctively started whispering like she’d just stepped into a library. Greg had to laugh and tell her, “You don’t have to whisper—we’re just playing, not holding a church service.”
Once people realized they didn’t need to tiptoe around us, the room loosened up. Families settled in at tables, conversations picked up, and we leaned into being the background soundtrack instead of the main event. I’ll be honest: sometimes I wonder if we set the volume too low, but for this kind of afternoon, it felt right.
Father’s Day gifts and a cello detour
This show had an extra layer for Tom: his whole family was there—parents, kids, significant others, Malissa—taking over a couple of tables and making it very clearly a Father’s Day thing. Somewhere in the middle of the set, Tom took a short break to open his gifts. From Greg’s vantage point, it looked like a mini living room scene right there in the bar, which fit the mood of the day perfectly.
While Tom was unwrapping presents, Greg switched gears and did a short cello feature. He pulled out “New York State of Mind,” the theme from Dukes of Hazzard, “If I Only Had a Brain” (the Harry Connick Jr. version), and “Danny’s Song,” where Tom hopped back in partway through.
Old favorites, new tunes, and a comfortable groove
Noon-to-three gigs have a different feel than our usual evening shows. There’s more daylight, more coffee, and fewer people trying to shout over each other. We leaned into the laid-back pace and worked in some of the newer songs we’ve added this year, which felt good and solid.
It was a treat to bring back “This Guy’s in Love With You” after not playing it for a while. It fit the slower, rainy vibe, and you could see a couple of tables perk up when they recognized it. We wrapped the afternoon with “American Girl,” which is about as energetic as we got all day, then spent some time just hanging out with family and a few folks who came up to chat about the music.
Little things that made the day
This was Tom’s first gig since turning fifty the week before, and that milestone was definitely in the back of his mind, as he reflected on his appreciation for family, life, and music.
Instead of a packed patio and sunshine, we got:
- Rain tapping on the windows all afternoon
- Great food (Greg is still talking about that hot sauce burger)
- A bottle of wine waiting for us when we walked in
- A small but genuinely appreciative crowd
- Tom’s whole family there to celebrate Father’s Day
At the end of the show, Greg went to pay for our tab and Derek waved him off—our food was on the house for Father’s Day, and the wine had been a gift too. That kind of generosity is a big part of why we love doing live music in Port Byron and why Tuggers is such an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’ whenever we’re able to book additional shows there.
Wrapping up
Would it have been nice to be out on the deck with the sun shining on the river? Of course. But what we got instead was a slow, relaxed Father’s Day afternoon with good food, a thoughtful host, family in the room, and a chance to play songs we love at a volume where people could actually talk to each other. For us, that’s a pretty solid way to spend a rainy Sunday.
If you’re putting together your own gathering and want a live acoustic duo performance that can sit comfortably in the background or step forward when it’s time, you can reach us here: https://www.bellandfieldmusic.com/book-acoustic-duo/.
About Bell & Field:
Bell & Field have a knack for blending smooth harmonies with classic hits from the ’60s through the ’90s. Their acoustic set is crafted to provide a warm, intimate experience—an ideal backdrop for celebrating Father’s Day alongside the impressive views of the Mississippi River.
The Venue: Tuggers & Port Byron Charm
Nestled on the striking Mississippi riverfront, Tuggers provides an inviting space where good music, great food, and stunning views come together. Known for its cozy hometown appeal and lively atmosphere, Tuggers is a venue where every visit feels like a celebration. With its welcoming outdoor patio and a menu that features local craft beers and delicious bites, it’s the perfect setting for honoring Father’s Day with your loved ones.
Celebrate Father’s Day with Us
Invite the whole family and join us for an unforgettable celebration where live music meets riverside charm. Whether you’re a fan of Bell & Field or looking for a special way to spend Father’s Day, this event promises joy, music, and memorable moments. What song would make your Father’s Day truly special? Share your favorite in the comments below!
Cheers to a day filled with live music, family fun, and cherished memories at Tuggers!
We’ll be at Coal Creek Brewing Company in Princeton on Tuesday, July 21, from 5–7 PM.
Rams Riverhouse is starting to feel like our own little experiment in how many tiny things can go sideways before a show and still add up to a really good night.
Kewanee has one of those downtowns where you can still picture what it looked like a few decades ago just by walking a block or two. The Historical Society sits right in the middle of that, with the murals and old storefronts close by and the museum quietly holding all the details the sidewalks don’t show anymore.
Some Saturday nights are for squeezing into a crowded room and shouting over the music. This one at Tiny Acres is the opposite. It’s a work thing, a corporate night out, where people will probably be trying to finish a conversation they started in a meeting three months ago.
The drive over set the tone. The forecast was calling for heavy rain and possible storms, so we were half-joking, half-serious about whether this was going to turn into an “adventure gig.” Somewhere along I-80, we passed a red pickup that Tom thought might be his parents. They took an off-ramp, we kept going, and we didn’t think much of it.
About half an hour in, the skies just opened up. It poured for what felt like an hour. You could see sheets of rain pounding the patio and, in a few spots, water started sneaking into the room. The Cedar Ridge staff hustled with squeegees and towels, pushing water back out the doors and toward the drains while we kept playing.
Tom’s parents made it to the show, along with his mom’s cousin and cousin’s husband from Cedar Rapids. It had been a long time since Tom had seen them, so having them in the crowd added another layer to the day. After the set, we caught up, and that’s when the full “red pickup / side-of-the-road pee / mystery honk” story came out. That spiraled into Greg telling the story about making his wife, Noriko, stop at every floor in a Japanese elevator years ago when she really needed a bathroom. “She did not think it was funny then,” Greg said, “but 20 years later it’s… kind of funny. Maybe.”
Paul and the crew had us dialed in before we even opened a case. They’d set up a big canopy over the patio “stage” area, plus the camera feed that sends our set inside the bar. From a musician’s point of view, that setup is gold — you feel like you’re playing to two rooms at once.
One of our favorite parts of the afternoon was a couple who drifted over to this little corner lounge area just off to our side and a bit behind us. From the stage, that spot almost feels like backstage seating. They were grooving, hanging out, and applauding between songs.
Edison’s was packed on the patio from the first song, and it looked just as busy through the windows inside. A lot of folks stayed with us the whole three hours, which we don’t take for granted. Between sets and song changes we had a steady stream of conversations, requests, and people just coming up to say hi.
We’d been talking about this one for a while. The Kewanee Farmers Market decided to gamble on an evening version of their Wednesday market, and we got to help kick off the season. No fee, just us under a big shade tree, some lights, food trucks, and a whole lot of “let’s see if this actually works.”
Earlier in the week, we’d asked on social media if anyone had song requests. You all delivered. We had people specifically come up and ask, “Did you play ‘Garden Party’ yet?” Ricky Nelson’s “Garden Party” and Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” both landed right where we hoped they would—recognizable from halfway across the street, but still quiet enough that you could hear someone next to you talk about which tomatoes looked best.
One of the best parts of nights like this is who you bump into. We got to talk with friends we’ve known for years and meet new folks who just happened to be walking through the market. Greg met Steve for the first time—a committee member for Hog Days—who had already hired us to play later this year. It was good to finally put a face to the emails and meet his wife as well.
Tuggers has snuck up on us and turned into one of our favorite places to play. Kicking off their Pon-Tunes series on the patio, with the Mississippi right there and that late-May weather in the sweet spot (warm, but not swampy) felt like exactly where a piano-guitar duo should be on a Saturday night.
Some shows feel like gigs, and some feel like you just plugged in the PA at a family reunion. Tom’s parents’ 52nd anniversary at Cerno’s definitely landed in that second category.
