Rod Peterson and Greg Spreer, members of the Back Porch Blues Band, also play as a duo under the name The Blue Devils.  Peterson does harmonica and vocals, Spreer on guitar and vocals.  They’ll be bringing the blues to the Topeka Farmers’ Market May 1.

Q:  Which of you works harder?

Rod:  On stage?  Well, I do, ‘cause its easier for him.  I have to, to keep up!  It’s not a matter of working harder.  I couldn’t do what he does, and he couldn’t do what I do.  We respect what each other can do.

Q:  You’re going to play at the Farmers’ Market.  Are you morning people?

Greg:  Absolutely, ‘cause I am up at the break of dawn.

Rod:  I’m up at five every day.

Greg:  Oh.  Well, I’m a business owner, so I’m up early…

Rod:  You’re just laying there worried!

Greg:  Why, is the Farmers’ Market morning or something?

Rod:  Yeah, it’s like nine to…

Greg:  Oh God, that’s nothing!  We’re not sleep to noon guys.  …Not anymore.

Q:  Are you going to play your usual style, or are you going to change anything about the tone for the morning outdoor Farmers’ Market scene?

Greg:  I really don’t see it.  All the traditional stuff.  Absolutely the same.

 Q:  What’s your favorite thing to eat?

Rod:  Barbecue, without a doubt. 

Greg:  I dig it, too.  And I like fish, that kind of thing.

Rod:  Right now, I’m smoking a bacon explosion, which is five pounds of sausage, bacon and cheese all rolled into one, and it’s sitting in my smoker!

Greg:  (salivating)

Q:  What happens if you get up in the morning and you don’t have the blues?

Rod:  I don’t have the blues, I’m a pretty happy guy!

Greg:  Yeah, I’m pretty happy, too, but I’ve experienced stuff like that, and we all have.  It’s an American form of music.  We all have stories, and we all have struggles, and they named it the blues.

Rod:  Blues can be happy music.  So many people think of the blues and they think of Robert Johnson on that old guitar, screeching and cracking.  Blues is a huge variety of styles.  Everybody has problems, and they can be fodder for song.  But the good times can be, too.

[Cale Herreman | Photo by EJ Drake]