Blues Historian On The Air!!!

I finally gave up and bought me an internet radio station. (Click Here to listen) I know that the possiblities of internet radio going bye, bye, are still pretty good, so I thought I would get online on a monthly basis, and if things go south with Sound Exchange, then I would bail out. Please give the station a listen too. I think you will be surprised at the talent in Iowa!!! I plan on doing some live broadcasts in the future. If I do a livecast I will probably play everyone. So stop on by and enjoy the blues:-)

Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton And A Cast Of Thousands:-) Wee Wee Hours

Chuck Berry was a bluesman before he became better known as one of the originators of rock and roll. Here is a clip from Hail, Hail, Rock And Roll, back in 1986! So if my math is correct Chuck should be 81 today!! Wow! It is amazing how long some of these guys keep on playing the blues. That is the beauty of the blues is there is no age limit. As long as you can sing, you can still play the blues:-)

Tab Benoit Interveiw

Florida Emerald Coast, has an interview with Louisiana bluesman Tab Benoit. He talks about writing music, Katrina, and about his new CD. Read more HERE.

Mississippi Tourism

So did you wonder who won the contest to the delta, and how did their trip go? Wonder no more! Our good friends down at Visit The Delta have a some blog posts from the winner as she took her trip down through the Mississippi Delta. You can check out her adventures on the Mississippi Delta myspace page HERE.

KUNI Blues Bash Eddy Clearwater

A press release from KUNI about the upcoming Blues Bash in Waterloo

For immediate release: October 5, 2007

Contact: Scott Vezdos, 319-273-3497

The KUNI Blues Blowout returns to the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo on Saturday, November 17, 2007 featuring versatile, flamboyant Chicago blues rocker, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater touring in support of a brand new release.

With his distinctive blend of Chuck Berry-style rock (and the occasional duck walk) and Magic Sam-influenced West Side blues, combined with his left-handed/upside-down guitar playing and dramatic stage performances, Eddy Clearwater quickly developed a reputation as a great showman with a diverse repertoire. He recorded several singles (for Atomic-H, LaSalle and Federal) and worked steadily in Chicago-area nightclubs for the next 20 years, remaining one of Chicago's hidden treasures until recognition of his talents began to come from abroad in the late '70s.

His 1980 U.S. debut album, The Chief (named after Clearwater's affinity for wearing the full Indian headdress given to him as a good luck charm), was the first release on Chicago's fledgling Rooster Blues label. His next album, recorded for England's Red Lightnin' label, won a W.C. Handy Award for "Best Import Blues Album."

Clearwater continues to tour across the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Asia, and South America, performing 200+ concerts a year. With his powerful left-handed guitar playing, unique hybrid of West Side blues and relentless rockabilly, stage costumes, and high energy performances, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater lives up to his reputation as one of the most versatile and colorful entertainers to have emerged from Chicago's blues scene. The Chicago Tribune proudly declares him "Chicago's premier blues showman."

A half century after his arrival in Chicago, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater is still making history.

Opening the show is the 2007 Iowa Blues Challenge winners, Matt Woods & the Thunderbolts, from Des Moines. From the delta to the hills, the Thunderbolts thumping rhythm and stomping slide workouts will remind you what real party music is meant to be.

Showtime is 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door). Advance tickets can be ordered online at www.kuniradio.org (in the STORE section) or by calling KUNI weekdays at 319-273-6400 or 800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also available at Bob's Guitars in Cedar Falls. All proceeds benefit KUNI Public Radio.

Financial support is made possible by The Warner Group, Inc. (Waterloo); Veridian Credit Union (Waterloo); Dyton Creative (Cedar Falls); Impact Marketing Technologies (Waterloo); and The Blackhawk Hotel (Cedar Falls).

Scott Vezdos

Marketing Manager/Special Events Coordinator

KUNI/KHKE Public Radio

University of Northern Iowa

3rd Floor, CAC

Cedar Falls, IA 50614

p: (319) 273-3497

www.kuniradio.org

www.myspace.com/kuniradio

www.khke.org

www.iowapublicradio.org

Eric Clapton: Groaning The Blues

Old Slowhand, playing a cool cover of Otis Rush's Groaning The Blues. I think the thing about Eric is that he plays the blues better now then he ever did in his glory days of Cream. I think he learned, and a lot of us learn as we get older, that it is not the number of notes you play, but the quality of the notes you use:-)

Joe Bonamassa: You Upset Me Baby

Might Joe Bonamassa playing some hot guitar.

Blouboss: Mister Cash

Here is a video from my friend Blouboss. It is a tribute song to Johnny Cash. It is in French, so I hope all my visitors from France get a chance to listen to this!

Joe Bonamassa BITS

Another cool article about Blues in the Schools. This time it is an interview with Bluesman Joe Bonamassa, who was a child prodigy himself. For the complete article from the Round Up, a student publication of New Mexico State Click HERE.

More On Blues And Boogie In Detroit.

An interesting interview with the founder of the Motor City Blues and Boogie Woogie Festival. American Music Research Foundation president Ron Harwood talks about Boogie Woogie. Its difference from the blues, and the rise and fall of the art form. It is interesting to read, and I realize that I need to study the topic a little more, since I assumed that Boogie Woogie was part of blues. Harwood, an ethnomusicologist, states that:

Boogie-woogie, first recorded in the 1920s, was a progenitor of rock 'n' roll and eventually was surpassed by the popular musical form. "People stopped calling it boogie-woogie in the late '40s and early '50s because it sort of had gone past its prime, and the eight-to-the-bar rhythm was changing from a piano left hand to an electric bass," says Harwood. "In the mid-'40s after the war, blacks came back from the war, and some of the newer forms of jazz were beginning, and jazz became a black intellectual music. And when that happened it became taboo for black artists to play boogie-woogie. It died very quickly.

"Boogie is meaningful to me because we needed to get guys like Sugar Chile Robinson interviewed. Because it became such a taboo music, a lot of these boogie players just retired, or went to playing lounge music. A lot of them toured in vaudeville. They backed up blues musicians like Muddy Waters. Pinetop Perkins was Muddy's piano player and he was essentially a boogie player.

"So we're just trying to catch these boogie guys, pay justice to that music, understand that it was the foundation of rock 'n' roll."

To read the article in total from the Detroit Free Press, Click HERE.

Update Gary Smith Memorial

Here is updated information from the Des Moines Register.

GARY LEE SMITH

DES MOINES

published in The Des Moines Register on October 04, 2007

Gary Lee Smith, 55, passed away at Kavanagh Hospice House, Des Moines, on Monday, October 1, 2007.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 6, 2007 at Caldwell- Raddatz Funeral Home, 8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale, IA.

A visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 5, 2007.

Gary was born in Des Moines on July 9, 1952 to Chester Smith and Mary Louise Swinehart.

He attended William Jewell College in Liberty, MO.

Gary worked as a warehouse man at Emco Enterprises.

Gary enjoyed music, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs.

He was the lead singer in the band "Land Sharks" and also a member of UAW.

Survivors include his sisters, Judy (Ronald) Noyes, Peggy Higday;

brothers, Randy (Alice) Smith, Greg Higday, Jeff Higday;

cousin, Crystal (Alan) Farnsworth; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, "Clover Buckingham"

A Celebration of Gary's life will be at Orlando's,

4337 Park Ave. in Des Moines, starting at 1 pm Saturday Oct 6, 2007.

The family would like to thank all Gary's musician friends for their time and talents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Iowa.

The Curse Lives!

Here is an interesting article about possible curses that could effect the Cubs. As of press time the Cubbies are losing! Perhaps a bonehead decision to pull out Zambrano, but I think it is the goat!

Anyway this article comes from Yahoo Sports.

Cubs curse talk of a hex

By Steve Henson

Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007 7:45 pm EDT

PHOENIX – The temptation to root for the forever forlorn Chicago Cubs is strong. After all, the team hasn't won a World Series since 1908, and a 99-year underdog is tough to resist. But here are three reasons to spare yourself the heartache.

The Curse of the Billy Goat, the Black Cat and Steve Bartman.

The Curse of the Billy Goat befell the Cubs during Game 4 of the 1945 World Series, and the team hasn't returned to the Fall Classic since. William Sianis brought his pet goat to the game – he had two tickets – but was escorted out of the stadium because of the goat's foul odor. Sianis, who owned the legendary Billy Goat Tavern, supposedly placed a curse on the team, and when the Cubs lost Game 7 to the Detroit Tigers, he sent a telegram to owner P.K. Wrigley that read, "Who smells now?"

The (forever capitalized) Black Cat walked in front of Cubs third baseman Ron Santo at Shea Stadium late in the 1969 season, the Cubs choked away an eight-game lead and the Mets became Amazin'. These days, Santo signs Black Cat memorabilia and it sells for $76.99 on Amazon.com.

Bartman, of course, was the Walkman-wearing Cubs fan who deflected a foul ball during Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were five outs from the World Series when Bartman's gaffe set off a chain of events that resulted in the Florida Marlins winning the game and advancing to the World Series a day later. Reporters have tried to locate Bartman this week without success. Friends (apparently, he has a few) say he's doing OK, but don't expect him to be throwing out the first pitch before Game 3 at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

There is much hand-wringing on the North Side these days over what calamity could befall the franchise next. Manager Lou Piniella will have none of it, though.

"There are no curses here," he said. "There never have been. It's a figment, it's good copy. But games are won or lost on the baseball field."

The Arizona Diamondbacks, of course, don't mind all the negativity surrounding their opponent. Said impish outfielder Eric Byrnes: "Bartman and the Billy Goat, I consider them teammates."

UPDATE

Ok, I turned off the TV tonight for game two. I swear I saw a goat in the outfield. Yup, It was a goat in a cubs uniform. Oh-well it was fun while it lasted:-)

Georgi And The Rough Week

I got an email tip about a great band in the California area that is doing some neat things. They appeared on Extreme Home Makeover, which is a pretty cool show that helps out people. In this case is was a show where both parents had died and that left 8 kids on their own. Georgi and The Rough Week performed for the show and here is a video of the performance.

Check out this video: ABCs Extreme Makeover - Home Edition - Cadigan-Scott Family



You can also check out their myspace page HERE, which has some great tunes on it. As always feel free to send anything blues my way. I am more than happy to help keep the blues alive by promoting local, regional, or national blues acts.

Beatles: Dont Let Me Down

I am feeling nostalgic tonight. The moment I first saw Let It Be, I wanted to play a concert on a roof top. The movie itself is pretty painful to watch. It is almost like watching a train wreck. It is really about the break up of the Beatles. As a fan of the band, and of all four of the guys in the band it is almost a sicking feeling watching them fight and bicker. But, when they get up on the rooftop and put aside all their differences the magic happens once again! It makes it worth while to sit through all of that angst just to see them making great music again. I suppose in away this is typical of almost every band. I think as musicians we fail to realize the happiness we bring to our fans, and when one band breaks up and another forms, it truly is like starting over. When we do that we disappoint those who followed the previous bands. Of course, as a fan we need to realize that a band is like a moment in time. It is there, it is beautiful, and then it is gone. Lucky for us we live in a time of audio and video recording so we can at least relive those moments. So enjoy the Beatles on the roof top one more time.




Ryan sent me this video of Taylor Hicks covering Don't Let Me Down. Enjoy!

Carolyn Wonderland Group: Come Together

Not the Beatles Come Together, but an original blues song by a Woman who can sing, and play guitar!! Hey Marcus, Check her out!! Someone on Youtube commented that Janis Joplin has returned, and now plays guitar:-)

Marcia Ball: Play With Your Poodle

Marcia Ball can really boogie woogie! This is a jumping song!!

Long John Baldry

Interesting Video of Long John Baldry. It is suppose to be the last recorded appearance of Baldry before he died. You have to listen to the beginning the bit about the box set is priceless:-)

9th Annual Motor City Blues And Boogie Woogie Festival

A big and important blue fest/fundraiser is coming up this weekend in Michigan. The American Music Research Foundation is putting on the 9th Annual Motor City Blues And Boogie Woogie Festival on Friday October 5th and 6th. Here is blurb from the website:

THE 9TH ANNUAL MOTOR CITY BLUES & BOOGIE WOOGIE FESTIVAL
DETROIT MUSIC HALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5:

Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine

The Tommy Castro Band, Ruthie Foster, Ana Popovic

SATURDAY OCTOBER 6:

Marcia Ball

The Deanna Bogart Band, Leon Blue, Frank "Sugar Chile'" Robinson, Matt Wigler

Tickets available at the Music Hall Box Office (313 877-8501)and Ticketmaster!
Doors at 7:00pm, shows at 8:00pm.

You can also read an article about the festival HERE, from the C and G News website.

Long John Baldry Biography

Paul Myers brother of actor/comedian Mike Myers has written a biography of Long John Baldry. The Canadian Press, (Click here)has a brief interview/review of the book. Myers has put a great effort into the book, and it looks like it should be a good buy. However, the article fails to mention if, or where it is for sale. I found it on Amazon.com HERE. At press time they had 7 copies new and used available, so HURRY!!:-)

Corey Harris Interview

The Daily Press in New Port Virginia has a short interview with Corey Harris, and some more info about his MacArthur Award. Click Here for more details.

Albert King: As The Years Go Passing By

A nice short interview with Albert King, and a great live recording of Albert King singing As The Years Go Passing By. You certainly can not underestimate the influence of Albert King on a lot of guitar players. Much like BB, he had a very distinctive style, that many blues guitarists, (especially Stevie Ray) picked up and have carried on his style now that Albert is gone. BTW, check out that he calls his guitar Lucy! Hmmmmmmm, perhaps a bit of a dig at his better known rival who also went by King:-)

Larry Garner: Cold Chills

Here is a very nice slow blues from Larry Garner. Get Well Soon Larry!!!!!!!

Larry Garner Hospitalized

Larry Garner, one of those great Louisianna bluesmen was suffering some chest discomfort, and went to the hospital where it was discovered that he had a blockage in some of his veins. He DID NOT suffer a heart attack, and they performed a bypass. Serena of CIBS, forwarded this email from the Baton Rouge Blues Society on the latest condition of Larry:

Hello BRBS members
I went to OLOL Hospital and sat with Sandra Garner while Larry was in
Surgery yesterday afternoon. He came through triple bypass fine.I had
lunch with Sandra and a very nice visit. I asked her what thier needs
would be while Larry is out of work. She told me he had to cancel some
shows and anything would be appreciated. His doctor says no work for 6
weeks---but Sandra says--FAT CHANCE---YOU KNOW LARRY!!!!! All joking
aside--if you want to message him on My Space he'll love it.
http://www.myspace.com/larrygarnerbluesband BRBS will be making a
donation to the family.

Do check out his myspace page and give him a get well soon message.

Cool Blues Fests and Shows Alerts from Illinois Blues

Recieved a ton of great blues news from the Illinois Blues email. Here are some of the highlights.

Blues Fests this weekend:

This Weekends LIVE Blues Festivals

This weekend brings the Carolina Downhome Blues Festival in Camden, South Carolina, the Downtown Blues Festival in Rock Hill, South Carolina and the Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival in Detroit, Michigan.

Also this weekend the Mother of all Blues Fests, the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival is in Helena, Arkansas. This Fest was formerly called the King Biscuit Festival and is a FREE fest in the heart of the Mississippi Delta country. Upwards of 80,000 have been known to attend this 3 day fest that features a wealth of real Delta Blues performers. See their Festival listing below (SCROLL DOWN).

IllinoisBlues.com is a sponsor of the fest and we will be there capturing all the fun for YOU. Come join us if you can!

Support Live Blues near you by attending one of these events!

New to the Blues Blast and IllinoisBlues.com?

CLICK HERE to go directly to the IllinoisBlues.com list of Live Blues Music. Click a link for more Blues content. Reviews Links Audio Interviews Photos Videos Blues Radio To advertise your blues shows or event for FREE Click HERE! To see The Blues Blast Archives Click HERE

Here is the lineup for the Arkansas Blues And Heritage Festival:

ARKANSAS BLUES & HERITAGE FESTIVAL • HELENA, ARKANSAS • OCTOBER 4,5 & 6
2007 Lineup & Festival Schedule

Main Stage - Thursday 10/04
12:00/12:25 - 2007 Emerging Artists
12:30/12:55 - 2007 Emerging Artists
1:00/1:25 - 2007 Emerging Artists
1:30/1:55 - 2007 Emerging Artists
2:00/2:30 - 2006 EA Winner - The Eric Hughes Band
2:40/3:15 - SBBS Winner - Big Red & The Soulbenders
3:25/4:10 - IBC Winner - Sean Carney Band
4:25/5:25 - Sterling Billingsley
5:45/6:55 - Diunna Greenleaf
7:15/8:30 - Wayne Baker Brooks
8:50/10:05 - Blinddog Smokin’ w/Special Guest Bobby Rush
10:30/11:45 - The Lee Boys

Main Stage - Friday 10/05
12:00/1:00 - RJ Mischo & His Red Hot Blues Band
1:15/2:20 - Lil’ Dave Thompson
2:35/3:45 - Sam Carr & The Delta Jukes w/Dave Riley
4:00/5:10 - Smokin’ Joe Kubek Band & Bnois King
5:30/6:40 - Pinetop Perkins & Bob Margolin
7:00/8:15 - Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials
8:45/10:00 - Sherman Robertson
10:30/11:45 - Michael Burks, Larry McCray, Carl Weathersby
Main Stage - Saturday 10/06
12:00/1:00 - Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges
1:15/2:20 - Willie King
2:35/3:45 - Terry Evans
4:00/5:20 - Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets
5:40/6:55 - The Robert Lockwood, Jr. Band w/ Wallace Coleman & Cleveland Fats
7:10/8:25 - Hubert Sumlin & The Willie “Big Eyes” Smith Band
8:45/10:00 - Kenny Neal
10:30/11:45 - The Mannish Boys

Houston Stackhouse Acoustic Stage - Friday 10/05
12:00/1:00 - Jason Freeman
1:20/2:20 - Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges
2:40/3:40 - Bill Abel
4:00/5:00 - Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
Robert Lockwood, Jr. Heritage Stage - Friday 10/05
5:30/6:40 - Dorothy “Miss Blues” Ellis
7:00/8:10 - Wallace Coleman
8:30/9:40 - Brad Webb
10:00/11:15 - Cleveland Fats

Houston Stackhouse Acoustic Stage - Saturday 10/06
12:00/1:00 - Mississippi Spoonman & Carla Robinson
1:20/2:20 - John-Alex Mason
2:40/3:40 - Moreland & Arbuckle
4:00/5:00 - Roy Book Binder
Robert Lockwood, Jr. Heritage Stage - Saturday 10/06
5:30/6:40 - Rev Payton & Big Damn Band
7:00/8:10 - Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames
8:30/9:40 - Blind Mississippi Morris
10:00/11:15 - Big Al & The Heavyweights

Emerging Artist Stage - Friday 10/05
1:00/2:00 - En Gedi
2:00/3:00 - Ken Tucker Band
3:00/4:00 - The Memphis Snake Doctors
4:00/5:00 - TBA
5:00/6:00 - The Brethren
6:00/7:00 - The Corey Osborn Band
7:00/8:00 - David Pinsky & The Rhythm Kings
8:00/9:00 - Scott Simpson & Company
9:00/10:00 - The Electric Mudd

Emerging Artist Stage - Saturday 10/06
1:00/2:00 -The Corey Osborn Band
2:00/3:00 - AJ & The Two Tone Blues Band
3:00/4:00 - KM Williams
4:00/5:00 - The Outhouse Ramblers
5:00/6:00 - Arsen Shomakhov
6:00/7:00 - The National Debonaires
7:00/8:00 - Memphis P. Tails
8:00/9:00 - TBA
9:00/10:00 - Allison Thrash
10:00/11:00 - Michael Juan Nunez

Finally, here is some upper midwest blues society news:

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society

Free Blues in the Schools Workshop for Musicians and Educators

Attention Musicians! Internationally-renowned Blues Educator Hawkeye Herman and the MVBS present a FREE workshop: "How to Get Involved in Blues in the Schools" Saturday 6 October from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. (one hour break for lunch on your own). Walk-ins welcome, but early registration is encouraged by calling 563-32-BLUES

The Blues Blowtorch Society

Fall Ball October 7, 2007

The annual FALL BALL will be held October 7, 2007at the Mackinaw Valley Vineyard 33633 Illinois 9, Mackinaw, IL from Noon to 7:00 P.M. The event features Guitar wizard Shawn Kellerman and Guitarist, singer and songwriter James Armstrong

There will be a Harmonica Workshop, Raffles, and A Classic Car show. Beer and wines will be available at Mackinaw Valley as well as food from several food vendors. For information call (309) 359-9463

Illinois Central Blues Club

Solo/Duo Blues Challenge

The Illinois Central Blues Club will be conducting its first Solo/Duo Blues Challenge on November 3, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Alamo, located at 115 N. 5th St., Springfield, IL. The winner will receive $200 in travel monies to represent the Club at the Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN during February 2008. Entries must be received by Monday, October 15, 2007 Complete challenge rules and info available at: http://www.icbluesclub.org. Questions? Contact Mark Edmiston, at 217 622-0340 e-mail markredmiston@msn.com , or Charlotte A. Montgomery 217 899-9840

Blue Mondays for October (sponsored by Illinois Central Blues Club )

The Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 8:30pm $2 cover

October 8 - Shawn Kellerman October 15 - Kilborn Alley

October 22 - Bill Lupkin October 29 - Springfield Shakey

Send your Society's BIG news or Press Release to:

Please join the Illinois Blues email list. They have a tremendous amount of information every week. Plus, they update when important information comes around. Just click on any of the above links to join up!!!!

Gary Smith Rest In Peace

I received an email this morning from Randy Smith in regards to the death last night of his brother Gary. Gary will be sorely missed on the local blues scene. He was a nice guy who helped out all musicians, and always ran jams that were fair to everyone. He played in a lot of bands over the years, including the third installment of the Tom Gary Blues Band. He played with us at Spaghetti Works one night during one of blues fests. He played Gary Moore's Still Got The Blues For You. He smoked that song that night, and the audience went wild. Gary was a good friend, and one that you could always count on. I was glad that he carried on the tradition that Jimmy and me started at Hull Ave. The Sunday night jam session was a great gig, and Gary keep it going on. I will miss him a lot. Rest in peace Gary

I received this photo and words from Randy as a memorial to his brother:

Gary Smith
MAY HE REST IN PEACE -
BELOVED BROTHER,
MUSICIAN, AND FRIEND
July 9, 1952 –
October 01, 2007

Randy also sent along a link to Larry Berenguel site that has pictures taken during a jam session at the Kavanaugh House held for Gary. CLICK HERE Randy also was nice enough to send some MP3s of his brother. I don't have any way of posting them here, but I am going to look into putting up a podcast of some local music in the future, and I promise to put those songs in it.

At this point there is a planned celebration of life for Gary to be held at Orlando's in Des Moines sometime this weekend. As soon as I hear more details I will let you know.

BB King And Miles Davis!!!!!!!!!

I would have never expected this, but I stumbled upon it on Daily Motion! A very cool jam between Jazz giant Miles Davis, and the king of the Blues, BB King!!! Very cool!!!

Bb King & Miles Davis
Uploaded by madafonka2

Marvin Gaye: Medley Of Songs

A nice medley of songs by Marvin Gaye. I assume by the screaming that it is probably sometime in the mid 60s:-) Nice stuff.

Taylor Hicks: Somehow

Just got this hot tip from email about a new Taylor Hicks video. I wish the sound quality was a little better, because this is a great melodic blues tune, with a touch of the 50s, and soul. There is also a funky jazz break in the middle.





UPDATE
Here is another version that has a better audio track

Chamber Brothers Reissues

Modern Guitar Magazine has a press release of the latests Vault Label release. The Chamber Brothers first four LPs, are now available on CD. The Chamber brothers mixed blues, soul, and folk to create their own distinctive sound. The discs available are: People Get Ready For The Chamber Brothers, Now, Shout! and, Feeling The Blues. For more info on the release, check out the review HERE.

Houston A Blues Capitol????

The Houston Chronicle has an interesting article explaining why Houston is the capitol of the blues. While most of you may chuckle at that thought, I think taking the time to read the article might give you some new ideas. Personally to think that anyone one city is home to the blues, or is more important to the blues then another one is selfish thinking. What makes the blues interesting is how each city developed its own style of blues. However, it is still a good read. Click here for more.

CUBS WIN!!!! CUBS WIN!!!!!

I have been very reluctant to post anything about the Cubs. After all, with the goat, and a boat load of other curses (think Bartman!!) I didn't want to jinx them!!!! yet, they amazingly have overcome and are in the playoffs. However, I fear a first round trouncing by Arizona. The Cubs have been a perplexing team all year. They win a ton of games, and then turn around and lose a bunch of games. Arizona is a great team, so I think the Cubs playoff run maybe short, but at least it is finally next year:-)

Another Wild Weekend

I went to Des Moines in search of blues, and instead I ended up playing them!! The weekend started off with a windy football game down in Pella Iowa, as the Buena Vista Beavers got spanked by Central College 31 to 14. BVU has struggled after winning the first game of the season. Three straight losses has certainly given me the blues! (although the Cubs are in the playoff!!) However, all was not lost. I picked up a gig that night playing for a night disc golf tournament put on by the Des Moines Disc Golf Club. Years ago I played disc golf, I even had a pro number, 3266!! I retired years ago, so I really didn't know many of the people there, but it was fun to play the blues outside on a hilltop to a bunch of disc golfers who were throwing their Frisbees in the dark! Finally, I made it to blues on grand to see my good friends The Soul Searchers who were having a release party for their latest cd called The Soul Searchers. A pretty good Saturday. Tonight has been fun watching severe weather cross the state. No tornado up here, but south and east of me were some twisters, but no damage. Just rain, rain, rain, and a little hail.

Artist Of The Week: Gary Primich

Artist of the week, is the late Gary Primich. The photo above shows Gary with the great Hubert Sumlin. Some of the videos that may pop up in the Google Video box, are probably the same ones I posted earlier, but this way they will stay on the front page for the rest of the week. As always you can find the videos on the left side of the blog.

Photo Of The Week: The Soul Searchers

This weeks photo of the week, is one of Des Moines top blues bands, The Soul Searchers. The Soul Searchers started sometime in the early 90s with Scott Eggleston, and John East. When East was in the band they were a hard edge jump blues band. However, once East left, and Eggleston took the reigns, the band became the ultimate in cool blues, and have been ever since. These guys sound like they were trapped in the late 40s, or early 50s, and that is a good thing!!! They have a new release out called The Soul Searchers, which I will have a review for sometime in the next two weeks.