Albert King And Stevie Ray Vaugn: Stormy Monday

Here is a video clip of the In Session show featuring Albert And Stevie. This has also been re-released as a CD by Stax Click here to buy it.

Luther Allison: blues medley

classic Chicago blues by Luther Allison. This is an old film that has clipped together several songs.

Ray Charles: America The Beautiful

Should be the Unitied States official Blues song:-)

Heart Of America Living History Blues Fest. Urbandale Iowa

The Central Iowa Blues Society, and Living History Farms present a huge blues festival September 5-6th in Urbandale Iowa. Urbandale is a western suburb of Des Moines. The Living History Farms is right off of the Hickman Avenue exit on I35/80. I have been to some large shows at the Living History Farm. They had a Chautauqua there in the 80s, with multiple stages, very cool show, and I met Pete Seeger there. Also Pope John Paul II said mass to 300,000 people back in the early 80s. So they can handle large crowds! This promises to be a great show so be sure to get your face in the place.

Sooooooooo, I wonder if they got a waver to allow dancing in Urbandale:-) Click HERE to read about Iowa's own Footloose.

Bob Dorr And The Blue Band Update

Holy (butter) Cow! It's time for Blue Band on-a-stick! We have gotten to play many really fun festivals and celebrations over the years, but my favorite for a quarter century (give or take a year) is The Iowa State Fair. Perhaps you saw the article in this week's Des Moines Register Datebook: http://beta.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090820/ENT04/908200322/-1/Datebook I'm embarrassed to admit that none of us have kept any appearance records from the mid 80s, so we're not "exactly" sure if our first Fair show was 1984 or '85. (do you know?) Jeff and I and original drummer Bryce Loshman all think it was 1984, but all of us admit to faultering memory these days. (what were we talking about?...) So, it's "about" 25 years this weekend! Friday and Saturday, two shows nightly, 7 & 9pm on the same stage we've played all these years. Before the advent of "naming rights" it was The Fairview stage. then The Coors stage, then the Pabst stage, and now AE Dairy/TV8 stage. Speaking of TV8, they broadcast their 5 o'clock news from the stage we play, right before we set up, so they've asked Heath (playing guitar!) and me to play a short rendition of He's Back In Town sometime during that half-hour. So set your VCR (or whatever you digital geeks use to record) and tune in channel 8 in Des Moines at 5pm. Then get yer butt out to the Fairgrounds for that 7pm show...

The Fair has really become kind of a 5 generation reunion for us with people from all over the state and country coming in to relive the Goodle Days and create new Goodle Days. And, as an added treat, Sam Salomone will get out that GIANT organ (you KNEW I had to make some BIG organ reference when I mentioned Sam) and play with us both nights. A SEVEN piece band!! And Bryce Loshman said he'd stop out Friday to play drums on a couple of songs that he played with us during his 15+ year tenure in the group. Ya never know who might show up (someone even posted on the chat page that they thought they saw Molly Nova at the Fair!) (Was she walking the midway with Elvis?) This is gonna be FUN!!...

Next week, Saturday (8/29) is another cool little festival that we'll be playing for our 3rd year in a row, The Brew-B-Q Fest in Independence IA. Beers from around the world, Bar-B-Que from around the nation, and the Blue Band on a bandshell (as opposed to half-shell) in a park with a view of the Wild Wapsipinicon River. What's not to like? We play 5-9pm...

I've got 18 weeks of employment at UNI before I take advantage of that "early retirement option". I'd feel a little more at ease with that decision if The Blue Band had some more work in the coming months and into early 2010. (OK, it's bleak now, but SOMETHING will turn up, won't it?) Please keep telling folks about us, we'd love to play that holiday party on that heated deck with sauna, hot tub, and heated pool on your acreage on the outskirts of town, but we'd probably play in your basement, if you didn't have the acreage...

Carolyn and I spent most of the first 3 days at The Fair hunting for all 50 food items on a stick. We still have about 5 to find. What's a Carmello? (on-a-stick) But I'm happy to report that there is cheeseCAKE, dipped in chocolate, on a stick. And, of course, funnelCAKES!...

See yas on the Blue (midway) Highway. We still have as a goal, 50 people bringing their zydeco tie to the Fair and playing with us on New Orleans (could this be a Guinness Book Of World Records opportunity?) (world's largest zydeco-washboard tie orchestra?) celebrate our 25 years (we think) of playing the Fair by bringing CAKE on a stick, and always remember we love you... Bob Dorr & The Blue Band

Ana Popovic: My Man

Here is Ana doing her best Stevie Ray Vaughn. I tell ya, she can play blues guitar like crazy! I hope she forgives me for the lukewarm review:-)

O'Jays: Love Train

A cool unplugged version of Love Train by the O'Jays from their television appearance on the view.

Cathy Ponton King

I miss diggin around the internet looking for new musicians, or at least new to me. Over the last year or so, I have been very lazy, or should I say a typical blogger:-) So I am crusing around on google looking for some blues and I found a cool article on the Fredrick News-Post online. Cathy Ponton King came to the blues after starting her career playing Irish music. The article (Click HERE) makes some interesting comparisons between the Irish and the blues. Certainly the Irish know something about the blues. Hundreds of years of living under British rule, in desperate poverty, and near slavery can have an effect on a people.

To check out King's website Click HERE.

Blues Historian Review: Ana Popovic, Blind For Love

This is one of the hardest reviews that I have had to do at Blues Historian. Ana Popovic is a blues guitarist, and a damn good one, but her latest disc is not a blues disc. Blind For Love is an eclectic collection of rock, funk, soul, and melodic jazz. The last song on the disc, Blues For M is blues, but that is about it. Yet, her amazing guitar playing certainly is blues through and through.

I think I can understand the need for Ana to move into other genres of music. I have certainly felt that myself. Playing, living, dreaming, and eating the blues can get old. Sometimes you want to stretch out and play or create something else. I went through a Billy Joel stage myself. Go figure!

I am not sure what the blues fanatics are going to think about Blind For Love, but I am sure that Ana's legions of fans will be happy with this CD. After all, her guitar playing is first rate, and her sultry raspy vocals are nice. Her band is tight throughout the disc, and it is a nice mix of styles. I suppose the only real problem is finding a market for this CD. I have read a couple of scathing reviews from the blues sites. However, I can only imagine that a follow up live disc, or her next release will get the blues purists back.

Nat King Cole: When I Fall In Love

I know, I know, its not blues, but I have a soft spot for Nat King Cole. How can you not love Nat!

Garland Jeffrays: Washington DC Hospital Blues

Garland Jeffrays does a loving rendition of Skip James Washington DC Hospital Blues. The song was a true story written by Skip James about his stay in the hospital back in the early 60s. James had become the legendary forgotton bluesman. Perhaps even a phantom in the mists of time. Yet, James amazingly shows up at the Newport Jazz festival in 1964 and is rediscovered. James eventually died of Cancer in 1969.

Chris Thomas King: Come On In My Kitchen

Chris Thomas King performing a classic Robert Johnson tune in Clear Lake Iowa, and unfortunately to an uneducated crowd who had no idea who he was. I am ashamed to be an Iowan right now:-(

Chris Thomas King

New Orleans.com has a nice history of bluesman Chris Thomas King. Some of you may remember him from the George Clooney movie O Brother Where Art Thou. King played Tommy Johnson who's legend of selling his soul to the devil was mixed up with the more famous Robert Johnson. In fact the King shows up first on the movie standing on the crossroads just after he sold his soul to the devil.

However, King is much more than a delta bluesman and actor. King has also gained fame as a musican who has combined Hip Hop and blues. The article found HERE is very detailed and covers his career back into the early 90s.

Blues Historian Review: George Thorogood And The Destroyers, The Dirty Dozen

The classic blues rocker George Thorogood has a new CD out called The Dirty Dozen. The 12 songs are listed on the disc much like a classic LP. In fact the CD comes in a nice cardboard sleeve just like the old days!

If you are a Thorogood fan this disk will be a treasure. George blazes through the CD with his classic blues rock slide guitar. Nobody plays slide like Thorogood. He rips it up like the good old days plus the band does a great job keeping up with the old master. Thorogood's whiskey soaked vocals are still strong and mighty. The man hasn't skipped a beat since his early days in Delaware.

The disc is a nice combination of older and new songs. They are seamless, and there is no drop off in quality between the six new songs and the older fan favorites. Thorogood also covers some classic blues songs like, Howling For My Baby, Highway 49, Treat Her Right, Blue Highway, and Hello Little Girl. I have never been a big fan of covers, but in Thorogood's hands, and in his own style, it makes the songs his own.

This disc is for the Thorogood fan, and fans of loud rip roaring slide guitar. It is a good addition to your Thorogood collection.

Jeff Healey Band: Hideaway

Jeff Healey playing one of those classic guitar solos. Healey had a unique style of playing guitar on his lap almost like a piano. Healey died of cancer last year.

Lucky Peterson: Tin Pan Alley

This guy is the most under-rated blues performer playing today. Lucky is great at both guitar and keyboards. He has paid his dues more than once. Make sure you click on the Lucky Peterson tag below to see more of his videos.

Otis Spann: St. Louis Blues

Here is a video of Otis Spann at Newport in 1960. He is performing WC Handy's St. Louis Blues. Spann was an amazing piano player who was Muddy Water's right hand man for many years. I found Spann by accident. When I was in high school and trying to steal every lick Billy Powell played, I stumbled upon an old cassette tape that featured heroes of rock and roll. On the backside was Otis Spann. The first time I heard it I was blown away. All those licks of Billy Powell, were right there, and a ton more! Needless to say it was a life changing experience!

Blues Historian Changes

I have noticed that the blog is looking pretty ragged, and to be honest I have been lazy. So I am going to go back to looking for interesting blues links and articles about the blues. I am also going to try to post more videos. While I like the info that Bob Corritore, Illinois Blues, The voice, and John Hammer, provided, the graphics on some of their posts were overwhelming the blog. Bands interested in having their gigs listed please feel free to send me your updates to my email: bluesman2001@hotmail.com

Just remember if you are not blues, or you send emails with tons of graphics I wont post it.


Later

Tom Gary
Blues Historian