Bob Dorr And The Blue Band New Year Extravaganza

NEW YEAR'S EVE 2011

with Bob Dorr & The Blue Band also Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts Joe and Vicki Price Six Ways To Sunday The Erick Hovey Band Tony Brown Tom Gary Comedy by Pinkstuff December 31, 2011 Hilton Garden Inn Des Moines/Urbandale, 8600 Northpark Drive, Johnston, IA for tickets/hotel reservations call: 515-270-8890 Make a weekend of it Join us for the pre-party! Friday, Dec. 30-Rob Lumbard & Friends NEW YEAR'S EVE ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE Hotel Lobby Tom Gary, blues piano 4:15-5:00 p.m. and 5:15-6:00pm Garden Room stage 7:00-7:50 p.m. Iowa Blues Hall of Famer Joe Price & Vickie Price (from Decorah) 8:05-8:55 p.m. Iowa Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famer Tony Brown (from Iowa City) 9:10-10:00 p.m. Back by Popular Demand! Six Ways To Sunday (from Des Moines) 10:10-11:00 p.m. The slide guitar playing farmer from Fort Dodge- The Erick Hovey Band 11:10-midnight Two time Iowa Blues Challenge winners Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts (from Des Moines) 12:25-1:15 a.m. Two time Iowa Blues Challenge winners Matt Woods & The Thunderbolts (from Des Moines) Ballroom stage 6:00-6:50 p.m. Iowa Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famer Tony Brown (from Iowa City) 6:50-6:55 p.m. Pinkstuff 7:00-7:50 p.m. The slide guitar playing farmer from Fort Dodge- The Erick Hovey Band 8:05-8:50 p.m. Iowa Blues Hall of Famer Joe Price & Vickie Price (from Decorah) 8:50-8:55 p.m. Pinkstuff 9:00-10:15 p.m. Iowa Rock'n'Roll and Iowa Blues Hall of Famers Bob Dorr & The Blue Band   (Tony Brown w/The Blue Band 9:15-9:20, Erick Hovey w/The Blue Band 9:35-9:40, Joe Price w/The Blue Band 10:00-10:05) 10:25-11:15 p.m. Back by Popular Demand! Six Ways To Sunday (from Des Moines) 11:30-12:45 p.m. Iowa Rock'n'Roll and Iowa Blues Hall of Famers Bob Dorr & The Blue Band   (Paul Rottenberg of 6 Ways To Sunday w/The Blue Band 11:45-11:50 p.m. and Matt Woods w/The Blue Band 12:10-12:15 a.m.)

Blues Historian Review: Erick Hovey, Recylced Souls, Blues Farm

Erick Hovey is not your typical farmer, nor is he your typical blues guitar player, yet if you met him on the street you would think you are meeting Joe Average. However, the 5th generation gentleman farmer from Badger is one of Iowa's best guitar slingers in the state. As typical with Erick, he doesn't do things like the rest of us. Instead of releasing one CD, he puts out two. Recycled Souls, and Blues Farm, are two great discs of blues, jazz, and blues rock. Both these discs are similar. You really can't put Erick into a box. In one track he sounds like Eric Clapton, then the next song he is David Gilmore, or chunking along like a train in a jump blues style. Hovey's guitar just soars through out this disk. It isn't that over the top, wish I was Stevie Ray Vaughn style of guitar, but the playing of a guy who knows what he is doing and making great music.


Furthermore, his writing style is incredibly eclectic.
Erick kind of takes words from out of the ether, and sometimes an almost zen like quality of word play. Then at other times it is just down and dirty blues.

Throughout the disk Erick is supported by Dan Lodden on bass, Jeff Forman on drums, and the breathy ethereal vocals of Heather Kelly of H And K. A few friends drop by to help Erick out, Andy Schinder plays bass on Sweet Fire Rain, from Recycled Soul. While harp maestro Andy Blumenthal blows on harp on Blues Farm. Then there is also some piano player I have never heard of named Tom Gary, that sort of plays piano and organ on a few tunes:-)

This is a great CD to pick up. I can't recommend one over the other, just buy BOTH!! CD Baby has both discs For Recycled Soul Click HERE, for Blues Farm Click HERE.

Erick Hovey: Jamming

I found a nice clip of my buddy Erick Hovey playing for the small, but mighty Lizard Creek Blues Society in Fort Dodge Iowa.

Rob Lumbard July 3rd Erick Hovey July 4th Storm Lake Iowa

The Star Spangled Spectacular in Storm Lake is having the blues again this year. On July 3rd, acoustic bluesman Rob Lumbard will be performing from the bandshell in Sunset Park. Rob is the final act of the day.

On July 4th Eric Hovey will open for the Freedom Rock Band, or FRB at the great lawn near the resort. All shows and events in Storm Lake are free to the public. Make sure to get there early because the size of the town doubles for 2 days so it gets crowded fast!!!!!!


2009 Star Spangled Spectacular
Schedule of Events
July 3 & 4
Friday, July 3, 2009
5:00 p.m.: Classic Car Parade Line-up at Merrill Manufacturing (North)
Food Vendors Open and Methodist Church-
Homemade Ice Cream Social
5:45 p.m.: Classic Car Parade starts
Kiddie Parade Line-up at Sunset Park
6:00 p.m.: Kiddie Parade starts
6:45 p.m.: Classic Car Show in Sunset Park
5:00 - 9:00 p.m. Poppin Penelope (strolling making balloon animals)
7:00 - 7:30 pm: Storm Lake Jazz Band
7:00 - 11:00 p.m. Rob Lumbard Band
Saturday, July 4, 2009
7:30 a.m.: Ride/Run
10:00 a.m.: Artists Alley/Vendors Row
10:30 a.m.: Big Parade Starts
12:00 p.m.: Patriotic Ceremony- Buddy Monument (following parade)

Sunset Park
10:00 – 5:30 p.m.: Artists Alley/Vendors Row
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Inflatables (jousting & first-n-goal)
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Stilt walker (strolling)
Tubador
Bandshell
12:00 - 12:45 p.m.: Storm Lake Municipal Band
1:30-4:00 p.m.: Celebration Iowa Singers
4:30-5:00 p.m.: Hawaiian Dancers (NOT CONFIRMED)
5:00-5:30 p.m.: Lao Dancers (NOT CONFIRMED
In between Parks
Sail boaters (Weather permitting)

Chautauqua Park Tennis Courts
12:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Inflatables (screamer slide, chuggy choo-choo & 2 jump houses)
1:00 p.m.: Cuna de Jalisco
1:30 p.m.: Brazilian Samba
2:00 p.m.: El Salvador Folk dance
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.: Rogelio Diaz

Chautauqua Park Shelter House
1:00 -3:00 p.m.: Children’s Art Fair

Chautauqua Park (East end)
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Dragon Boat Demonstrations (NOT CONFIRMED)
3:30 p.m.: Cardboard Boat Races

Sleepy Hollow
Poppin’ Penelope
1:00 p.m.: Stilt walk &Poppin’ Penelope: hula hoop contest – meet & greet
2:00 p.m.: Magic Show
3:00 p.m.: Balloon Show
4:00 p.m. Magic Show
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Robert Johnson – Saw & dulcimer

King’s Pointe Great Lawn
2:00 – 3:00 pm: Adelynne
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Ancient Elm
4:00 – 5:00 pm: (KBVU Band)
5:00 – 8:00 pm: Eric Hovey Band
8:30 – 10:00 pm: FRB
10:30 – 11:30 pm: FRB
10:00 p.m.- Fireworks

Big Gigs In Storm Lake Iowa

Some cool blues shows are coming to Storm Lake the next few weeks. First it is the return of the Blues history concert series. Once again I am teaching Blues history at Buena Vista University, located on the frozen shores of Storm lake! This year we have on January 9th, The Eric Hovey Band, on January 13th Bob Dorr, and Jeff Peterson of the Blue Band, and on January 15th The Tom Gary Blues Band with special guest Ronn Hill. Ronn is suppose to play with us on the 15th, and this will be the first time he has played in over a year! So this should be a great show! Ronn now lives in Chicago, but he has also been blues and soul legend in every town he has lived in. Born in Des Moines, he has also established himself in not only Chicago, but also in Albuquerque New Mexico, and Las Vegas Nevada.

Also a couple more cool shows coming up. On January 9th Eric Hovey is playing at the Lake Ave Lounge. This is a cool retro bar located on Lake Ave in downtown Storm Lake. It is in the old Masons building, and has been refurbished to its classic 1950s look! Eric is performing from 9-1 on Friday January 9th, and on January 10th The Tom Gary Blues Band will have its CD release party from 8-12! These are some great shows so all of my Iowa readers head on down to Storm Lake and see some legends in blues!!!!!!

Some New Pics Of Erick Hovey's Silvertone Amps

One of the more interesting things about blogging is learning what is popular. Google has some great tools that help me monitor the site, and I always enjoy finding out what my most popular posts are on Google. One that has surprised me for popularity and longevity is a photo I posted of Erick Hovey's Silvertone Amplifier! (Click HERE) It actually makes sense since I know a lot of blues musicians who love anything Silvertone:-) For those who don't know Silvertone was the name of musical instruments sold by Sears. Most people know Sears for their guitars, but they also made all sorts of instruments and equipment to go with it. I have a Silvertone Clarinet and I played it in high school instead of my LeBlance, because it played a lot better. What most people don't know is Sears didn't build any instruments but they were built for Sears by other companies. I do know that my Clarinet was actually built by Selmer, which explains why it was so good.

That said, here are some more pics of Erick's amps because people just can't get enough of it:-) Erick is the typical American farmer, who over years of hard work and ingenuity has created his own cool amplification set up. He has taken several Silvertone guitar case amps, and built himself his own interesting guitar amp. I really can't explain all the bells and whistles to it, but it gets the job done and sounds great!

Click on the photos to enlarge!!!

Erick Hovey At Blues Before Sunset

My buddy Erick and his dangerous blues band will be performing Friday in downtown Des Moines at the State Historical Society of Iowa. I actually might make it to this one! Trust me you don't want to miss this show!

Erick Hovey Band & East Village Bike Night July 25

East Village is the place to be this Friday night with two great events back-to-back.

First, start your weekend at Blues Before Sunset at the Historical Building. This week, newcomer Erick Hovey takes the spotlight. Hovey is a fifth generation farmer from smack dab in the middle of Iowa where he has absorbed musical styles from coast to coast. Hovey and his band play with genuine heart and engaging personality, producing an unstrained delivery and easy grace that makes the material seem utterly uncontrived. At times smooth and wistful, at times rockin’, but always-cloaked in cool, cool blues. This music offers enough stylistic variety to appeal to dyed-in-the-wool blues fans, three chord rockers, and even denizens of Bob’s Country Bunker.

Blues Before Sunset is family friendly, free and open to the public. Beer, wine and bottled water available for sale and an assortment of food vendors will be selling hot foods. People attending the event should plan to bring their own seating.

Blues Before Sunset is sponsored by the State Historical Society of Iowa and Central Iowa Blues Society with promotional support proudly driven by 100.3 The BUS and Capital 106.3, “quality music from then and now” and additional support by Baratta’s restaurant.

Stick around after Blues for the 4^th Annual East Village Bike Night. More music, food vendors, beer gardens and some of the coolest motorcycles will be in the heart of the East Village – the E. 5^th Street and E. Locust Street vicinity. Bike night is an opportunity for motorcycle enthusiasts from across central Iowa to show off their bikes and admire others! This is the only Bike Night held in downtown Des Moines and has become one of East Village’s most popular events.

Motorcyclists are asked to enter the event at E. 5^th Street and Walnut, where they will be directed to designated street parking. No vehicles will be allowed into the event.

The band TOASTER will play on the outdoor stage located on East 5^th Street near Grand Avenue from 7-11 p.m.

The 4th Annual East Village Bike Night is sponsored by Historic East Village, Inc., Sayles Graphic Design, The Blazing Saddle and Big Barn Harley Davidson.

For more information, call (515) 281-4011. Historic East Village, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to lead the preservation, support and development of the East Village community.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR July 25, 2008:

Mostly cloudy; high of 87. Wind N @ 8 mph. Maximum humidity: 71%. Sunset at 8:39 p.m. CST.

H And K: A Better Day

Not a blues video, but it features on lead guitar one of Iowa's best blues guitarist Erik Hovey! Plus I really like this band! It features Heather Kelly on Vocals, the ageless Kirk Kaufman on bass (and several other instruments, as well as studio engineer! ) Also in the video is Ky Haub on the drums. Ky was the drummer on my only studio album Iowa Corn Fed Blues!

Check out this video: Better Day



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Photo Of The Week: A Silvertone Amp

Yup, here is Erick Hovey's amazing Silvertone Amplifier!!! Sears for years made, or actually hired other companies to make musical instruments that they could sell to the public. These instruments were cheaper than what you could buy in music stores, but they didn't sound cheap. Most people are aware of the Silvertone guitar, but that was not the only thing made by or for Sears. Incredibly they made a guitar case that doubled as an amplifier. Erick loves these guitar case amps so much he has two, and uses both of them at live gigs. They are not loud so he has to mike them up to the PA, but they have a great sound.


UPDATE

Since this post is so popular I have added some more pics of Erick's amplifier HERE. Enjoy!