Monday, two long-missing Key West classic, stand-alone entertainers return to the Hog’s Breath Saloon’s outdoor stage after more than two year’s absences. The local-pleasing singer-songwriters perform at different times but, because they are also close friends, it is expected they will jam at each other’s shows.

Scott Kirby, a mainstay at local clubs since 1988, played at last year’s Parrot Head Meeting of the Mind gathering and then returned to his native New Hampshire, where he has been the Assistant Secretary of State since 2002.

“I had fulltime gigs in Key West for 14 years,” Kirby recalled last week during a phone interview, “and when this job in New Hampshire was offered I knew it was the right time for me to take a break.”

Kirby said the position is the state’s version of the security and exchange commission and with all the corporate fraud going on the position is interesting and challenging.

“The job does allow me an amount of time off,” he said. “So I still get to play weekend and one-night gigs in the Northeast.”
He has also found time to write and record a new CD – “4 Good Dogs” –released last October. Kirby said he expects to be back in Key West entertaining fulltime again within two years.

“I am learning new things on this job and that’s always a good thing,” he said. “But I expect to die an old singer-songwriter.”

Kirby will be performing the 5:30-9:30 p.m. gig through June 20.

Legendary blues guitarist Bill Blue also returns to the Hog’s outdoor stage Monday at 10:30 p.m. Blue last played a regular gig at the Hog three years ago, but he came back two years ago for a one-night show at Cayo Carnival. Blue’s following among locals is infamous and when he left town three years ago – after more than 20 years of playing locally - he left a list of fans and admirers as long as Duval Street.

Blue is excited about the handpicked band he has put together for his Key West gig.
“I am playing with old friends I haven’t seen in years,” he said. “These guys have played with everyone from Bob Dylan to Garth Brooks and just about everybody in-between.”

Even though the musicians and Blue hadn’t work together for years they had stayed in touch and after some recent talk about how they missed the old days of playing together Blue got the itch.

“I called Charlie Bauer at the Hog and ran my idea of putting everyone together for a week’s gig and he was in total support,” Blue recalled. “I called the band members and came up with dates we were all available and worked out next week with Charlie.”

Blue’s old friends bill themselves as “The Humoroids.” The band is made up of Michael McAdams, guitar; Gregg Wetzel, keyboard; Abe White, bass, and Rico Antonelli, drums. The musicians are taking time from their busy schedule to jam with their old pal Bill Blue and after a week they will return to Nashville or back on the road.

“Bill is an icon,” said Antonelli. “The whole band goes way back and between us we have to have more than 100 years experience playing and it’s all going to come out next week at the Hog.”

“This is my dream band,” Blue said last week. “I couldn’t ask for better musicians because there ain’t none.”