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Friday, September 11, 2009

At Last

Enjoy, and compare and contrast Beyonce, Christina, and Etta!





Cadillac Records Tops The Blue Charts

According to Reuters news service, the soundtrack for Cadillac Records has topped the Billboard blues charts for 27 weeks, and has been in the top ten for 37 weeks. (Click Here) At first it is a bit shocking that the leading blues release is a bunch of re-recordings of classic Chicago blues, yet, I put more value in the blues critic media top 50 than I do Billboard.

However, it is good news. Most of the people buying the CD are most likely new to the blues. Hopefully if these people like what they hear, they will buy the real recordings of Muddy, Wolf, and Etta James.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

John Dee Holman

Cool video of the amazing John Dee Holman from North Carolina. Corey Harris indroduces him.

Another Andy Coats Update


I got another email from Andy, Free Download!!!!!!!

Hey everyone,

I’ve got some big news I’d like to share, plus a new FREE recording for you all.

In preparation for my next CD, I’ve recorded a great old tune by Blind Boy Fuller – “Step It Up and Go”. And, to get your copy, all you have to do is click here and download the recording:

http://andycoats.com/stepIt.html

(To play the song, do a left “mouse-click”;

to save a copy/add to your MP3 library, do a right mouse-click and choose “Save” ….)

I hope y’all enjoy it, and let me know if you’d like to hear more!

Now for the news -- I’ve got some very cool festival shows I’d like you to know about:

--First, a great festival, with my buddy John Dee, down in South Carolina:

Oct. 1 and 2, 7-10 pm
With John Dee Holeman
Carolina Downhome Blues Festival

Camden, SC
http://www.bluesbash.com/camden

(Oct. 1 is at San Kendall’s, Oct. 2 is at Indigo Jones.)

--Second, this is one of the “granddaddies” (or ‘mamas, if you prefer) of all blues festivals – the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, aka “King Biscuit”.

Oct 9, Lockwood-Stackhouse Stage, 4 pm
Andy Coats, solo
24th Annual Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (aka "King Biscuit Blues Festival")

Helena, AR
www.bluesandheritagefest.com

I am extremely proud and humbled to be playing at this event, on the stage named after Delta bluesmen, Robert Lockwood Jr. and Houston Stackhouse.

And it’s a great privilege to be sharing the bill with legends like Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Billy Boy Arnold, Bobby Rush, John Hammond, Bob Margolin, and many more. (Full lineup at: http://www.bluesandheritagefest.com/schedule/ .)

As you may remember, I played at this event a few years back, and I’ve been itching to go back down to the Delta ever since!

For those of you within range of these great events, I’d encourage you to come out and enjoy some world-class blues.

I know I will!

All the best,

Andy

www.andycoats.com
www.myspace.com/andycoats
www.myspace.com/andycoatsandthebankwalkers

Andy Coats: Hesitation Blues

Here is my good buddy Andy Coats performing at a house party.

Andy Coats Update


Hey everyone,

I’ve got some big news I’d like to share, plus a new FREE recording for you all.

In preparation for my next CD, I’ve recorded a great old tune by Blind Boy Fuller – “Step It Up and Go”. And, to get your copy, all you have to do is click here and download the recording:

http://andycoats.com/stepIt.html

(To play the song, do a left “mouse-click”;

to save a copy/add to your MP3 library, do a right mouse-click and choose “Save” ….)

I hope y’all enjoy it, and let me know if you’d like to hear more!

Now for the news -- I’ve got some very cool festival shows I’d like you to know about:

--First, a great festival, with my buddy John Dee, down in South Carolina:

Oct. 1 and 2, 7-10 pm
With John Dee Holeman
Carolina Downhome Blues Festival

Camden, SC
http://www.bluesbash.com/camden

(Oct. 1 is at San Kendall’s, Oct. 2 is at Indigo Jones.)

--Second, this is one of the “granddaddies” (or ‘mamas, if you prefer) of all blues festivals – the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, aka “King Biscuit”.

Oct 9, Lockwood-Stackhouse Stage, 4 pm
Andy Coats, solo
24th Annual Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (aka "King Biscuit Blues Festival")

Helena, AR
www.bluesandheritagefest.com

I am extremely proud and humbled to be playing at this event, on the stage named after Delta bluesmen, Robert Lockwood Jr. and Houston Stackhouse.

And it’s a great privilege to be sharing the bill with legends like Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Billy Boy Arnold, Bobby Rush, John Hammond, Bob Margolin, and many more. (Full lineup at: http://www.bluesandheritagefest.com/schedule/ .)

As you may remember, I played at this event a few years back, and I’ve been itching to go back down to the Delta ever since!

For those of you within range of these great events, I’d encourage you to come out and enjoy some world-class blues.

I know I will!

All the best,

Andy

www.andycoats.com
www.myspace.com/andycoats
www.myspace.com/andycoatsandthebankwalkers

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Beatles: Revolution

In honor of the release of the Beatles Rockband game I am posting some Beatles videos. This is a cool clip of the Beatles playing John's call for NON VIOLENT revolution. It is also cool because it is subtitled in Spanish for all of my readers in Central and South America.

I must admit that I don't plan on buying the game, but the animations of the band are amazing! I watched a guy play George's Here Comes The Sun. The animation had the Beatles from 1969 playing in a golden field with all sorts of colorful birds and butterflies flying around. It looked great.

The Beatles: Long Tall Sally

Live film of the Beatles playing in Australia doing a classic R&B song by Little Richard. A couple of interesting notes, first watch Ringo, Dude is really slamming on the drums. It is really hard to tell from recordings, or from film clips the importance of Ringo, but he really pounded on those skins. Trust me it makes a difference when the drummer is pounding out a backbeat like that, plus he had no amplification for those drums so just to hear him amid all the screaming is amazing.

Second there is a scary part near the end of the song, where some guy comes running on the stage. He shakes Lennon's hand, but you could see John was startled at the guy running towards him. considering what happeneed to John it is very eerie.

Taylor Hicks: Don't Let Me Down

Taylor Hicks doing John Lennon's Don't Let Me Down. Back when John was with a little band from Liverpool.

Taylor Hicks @ Smiths Olde Bar "Don't Let Me Down" from bonnie cheung on Vimeo.

Bob Dorr And The Blue Band Update


Well, I haven't gotten this many comments on a Blue Note since I said something about Sarah Palin last Fall! The saga continues, but first a word from our sponsor...

So, I can already hear you sayin' PLEASE GOD, DON'T LET HIM START IN ON FACEBOOK AND LIFE AND LOVE ISSUES AGAIN, cuz I just want to know where I can dance a couple songs, eat some chicken wings, pizza, and ice cream, have a couple beers, get some laughs with long-time friends, and leave all this other "stuff" behind! Well, have I got the thing for you! Thursday (tomorrow) (9/11) it's the annual Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce WING DING THING!! You can get all of the above (except for the beers) for only $5 in advance or $10 at the gate. (which is still an incredible bargain) This is always one of the coolest events we play every year, we play 5-8pm, Bunky will join Al in the horn section. Just to hear the band at the Overman Park Bandshell (3rd & Clay/Franklin) is a treat, let alone all the other treats you get for the $5 admission. For more information or to get those advance tickets, try 319-266-3593 or visit www.greatercedarvalleychambers.com. This is worth the drive to Cedar Falls, see yas there...

You probably heard from someone that we've got lots of open dates for the remaining part of the year! That's proven out by the fact that we don't have any work for the next two weekends (unless you're interested in having us play your deck party while Iowa/Iowa St. plays football this Saturday) (My Panthers deserved to win that game last week) Then we have a private wedding dance on Sept. 26th and that's it for this month, so there probably won't be another Blue Note for quite some time. Be sure and check the Post-A-Blue Note page for any breaking Blue News. Or maybe I'll use Facebook...

Many folks have emailed or phoned saying that there was some confusion at the Hilton Gardens Hotel about New Year's Eve reservations. I had a meeting with Kori, the hotel site manager last Wednesday and I'm confident that we're ready to take those reservations at 515-270-8890 or http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=DSMUHGI Remember, this is a much smaller venue than The Hotel Fort Des Moines (which is closing for renovations). Where we used to be able to sell 600 + tickets for the event, it will be limited to 400 tickets this year. Plus, Dec. 31 is a BLUE MOON! For a complete list of entertainment go to www.theblueband.com/newyear.htm Let's make it another Happy Blue Year in 2009!...

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Anothony Gomes Goes Country


An interesting article from Vindy.com states that blues guitar player extordinarie Anothony Gomes is going country. Of course, that's not really what it says, or what he is really doing but a few blues purists are bent out of shape that Gomes is bringing the good news of the blues to the country and western set, by twanging his sound.

What makes the Blues Historian laugh is that contemporary country music has it root very deeply stuck in the blues. Jimmie Rogers the father of country music was singing blues songs, and then adding yodels to them.

What is great is the reaction of the folks who listen to country music. THEY LOVE IT! In the article they compare Gomes to Stevie Ray Vaungh and Lynyrd Skynyrd! You know that the country music fan (especially those up here in God's country) may not know much about the blues, but they know what they like, and they like Gomes. So what, if he is twanging things a bit to make it more acceptable to their ears. Bottom line is that if they love Gomes, they will check out more blues, and that is a good thing!

Read the Vindy.com article about Gomes HERE.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Texas Flood: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert Collins, and BB King

Stevie, Albert(Collins) and BB!!! I am sure somewhere in the archive this video is lurking, but it is worth posting it again.

Flu Blues

I wish I could find Albert Collins singing his classic Flu Blues! Unfortunately I have had no luck, and I can certainly relate to what Albert was feeling. I starting getting sick on Tuesday night, and then by Thursday I was stuck on the couch or in bed until Sunday morning! I am not sure if I had the flu, or if it was a bad cold. The doctors around here never tell you what you have, which is probably ok. After all who wants to worry about H1N1! It might be best not to know! All I do know is that I am better tonight, and I am looking forward to getting back to work, and blogging.

Tom Gary
Blues Historian