toddlgreene
3613 posts
Apr 25, 2012
3:21 PM
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Time for me to mess with Texas!
I've grown up and lived in New Orleans and cut my teeth on the N'awlins music and culture scene, but time has come for me to move on to greener pastures(better pay, much better schools, etc). I will start work on the west side of Houston at the end of next month.
Although I'm excited about the future for me and my family, it's bittersweet, as New Orleans is my home. This culture will be forever embedded in my soul, and I'll be leaving many friends and family members behind(only 6 hours by car or 1 hour by plane, so not TOO far behind).
I'll be living in Katy and although I don't have any interest in joining a band at this point, I do like to get out and jam and/or occasionally do hired-gun stuff. I'm anxious to meet the locals. I've had the pleasure of meeting a few at Hill Country '11 or visiting here in NOLA, but I'm sure there are more that I haven't met.
I was a co-founder of the Crescent City Harmonica Club and an active member-I will miss that, and I'll be going to the May 9th meeting, which will be my last.
So, H-Towners, where's the good jams, blues haunts, any HOOT meetings, etc. that I need to learn about? Any info is greatly appreciated.
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Todd L. Greene
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toddlgreene
3616 posts
Apr 26, 2012
8:54 AM
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bumples
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Todd L. Greene
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toddlgreene
3618 posts
Apr 26, 2012
9:48 AM
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Haha, no, no sympathy needed-I'm moving to the Concrete Jungle on purpose. It's a no-brainer on my reasons for moving;just trying to meet up with the locals and find out what to do and what to avoid. The first month i am there, I will have plenty time to myself, i.e., time to roam about and hit jams, see bands, etc.
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Todd L. Greene
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harmonicanick
1559 posts
Apr 26, 2012
9:53 AM
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Good luck todd, I love going to jams etc in a new place, all the very best to ya!
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waltertore
2207 posts
Apr 26, 2012
9:53 AM
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Hi Todd: I wish I could point out something. My trail is 16 years old and in entertainment that is like 2,000 years :-) Jerry Lightfoot was very active on the scene when I was there. We often jammed together when I played houston. I found houston to be not so nice. Lightning Hopkins always talked about it and I was excited to get there but only lasted a few weeks. A day trip to austin blew me away and I moved there. The catholic churches had some cool dances with zydeco and I got to play a few of them. Marty Racine was the music writer for the houston post(or chronicle- can't remember which). He did several feature articles on me. If they are still around look them up and tell them I sent you. Fitzgeralds and rockefellers were the 2 clubs I played regularly. If they are still in business check them out. I have no idea if my info will do you any good. Houston is a cool town in many ways and I am sure you will find your way. I broke down in Katy one time. I remember it as part of the endless sprawl around Houston?? You will get great Mexican, Tex Mex, and BBQ! NO is a 1 of a kind place. How could anyone not miss that place espically since you grew up there. Walter
PS: I remember the dont mess with texas campaign when it started. The stars of the lone star state were lined up to do commericals. I always said only in TEXAS could such a campaign be taken seriously by the people and get such great musicians dying to do a commercial for it. Imagine- DON'T MESS WITH NEW JERSEY !! People would laugh at it.
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
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Last Edited by on Apr 26, 2012 10:00 AM
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atty1chgo
321 posts
Apr 26, 2012
6:03 PM
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You should talk to Sonny Boy Terry, who is out of Houston, and if you remember was at HCH 2011.
http://www.sonnyboyterry.com/fr_home.cfm
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toddlgreene
3622 posts
Apr 27, 2012
4:42 AM
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Yeah, I shot the breeze with SBT for a while at HCH-I'll go check him out first.
Walter-thanks for the heads-up. If it were a choice of funkiness/coolness and aesthetics, trust me-Austin would win over Houston hands-down. I love Austin! My sister and her husband live there, and it looks like my mom and stepdad will be selling their business in marin County to move there and retire, too, so I will be making that 3-hour drive from Htown to Atown often!
Thanks Nick-I'm actually sort of shy when it comes to meeting new folks, but once the ice is broken or we find we have a common thread, I get comfy quick, so yes, I too am looking forward to finding some new haunts and friends to jam with.
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Todd L. Greene
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Michael Rubin
505 posts
Apr 27, 2012
5:49 AM
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Assuming it still goes on, Sonny BT has invited me to teach at an all day harp summit on July 28th. Hope to meet you!
About 10 years ago, I spent 3 months in Houston. It was a great time.
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toddlgreene
3625 posts
Apr 27, 2012
6:13 AM
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Michael, I think I may have just missed meeting you a while back when you came to NOLA and met up with Harvey. July 28th...I will try to make that. Do you have any links or more info about it? Yes, it will be nice to meet you!
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Todd L. Greene
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HarveyHarp
354 posts
Apr 27, 2012
7:51 AM
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Todd, Make sure you look up Little Terry Rogers. I think he hosts the Jam at Shakespears every Monday night. He is a friend of Juke Box Jack.
Call me.
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HarveyHarp
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HawkeyeKane
906 posts
Apr 27, 2012
7:56 AM
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Todd, I know I've asked you about Smoky before. Do you happen to know this cat?
Harmonica Red and The New Heard
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Apr 27, 2012 7:59 AM
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toddlgreene
3629 posts
Apr 27, 2012
12:37 PM
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Hawkeye-who dat? Never heard of 'em.
I'll call you, Harvey.
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Todd L. Greene
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shanester
529 posts
Apr 27, 2012
7:49 PM
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Hey Todd, I may be in Houston the month of June!
Definitely go to The Big Easy wednesday night jam with Jonn Del Toro Richardson and Jackie Grey and the gang. That one's like church to me. Little Terry often shows up there sometimes Sonny Terry and old masters often pop in.
You'll run into Steve Schneider there, great player and interesting
guy.
I've also done Terry Greene's jam at Danelectro's in the Heights which has been fun.
Two Ive wanted to checkout are Rick Lee's at the Hideaway and Little Terry's at Shakespeare's.
I love Houston's Blues community!
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
Shane's Cloud
1shanester
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HawkeyeKane
908 posts
Apr 27, 2012
10:44 PM
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No, I know Greenwell. I was just asking Todd if he knew Red since he's from that neck of the woods too.
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Hawkeye Kane
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shanester
530 posts
Apr 27, 2012
11:03 PM
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PS I've gotten quite used to the Houston to Austin "jump" and from Katy to South Austin is less than 2 1/2 hours of pretty clear driving. Good harp or singing time!
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
Shane's Cloud
1shanester
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jbone
881 posts
Apr 28, 2012
4:28 PM
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Todd, i have not been in Houston for many years and back then i didn't get a chance to check out the scene at all. but i will say this, i think you will add to the blues scene anyplace you go!
hope the move is smooth and you slip right in.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
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toddlgreene
3631 posts
Apr 30, 2012
5:41 AM
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Hawk-Never heard of him...looks interesting, though.
Jbone, thanks, I appreciate that. I've kinda reprioritized, though-and I won't play much, but I still love to perform live, and hit that magical groove with good players when it happens.
Shane-Thanks for the info-that hit the jackpot. My phone went kaphlooey a while back, and I no longer have your phone number. Drop me an email, and I will call you when I get set up-I'll be bachelor-style the month of June until I get a permanent place and bring la familia over.
Oh, and I remain a little perplexed that I am moving from the Big Easy to Houston so I can go to a place called the Big Easy? ;-)
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Todd L. Greene
Last Edited by on Apr 30, 2012 7:36 AM
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scojo
289 posts
Apr 30, 2012
6:58 AM
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I met Stephen Schneider when I was in Houston about ten years ago. Very good player, and you won't meet a more knowledgeable person about gear stuff.
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shanester
531 posts
Apr 30, 2012
5:14 PM
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Yeah, Todd, isn't it ironic? I'll send you an email with my #.
Scojo you are definitely right about Stephen's gear knowledge, he seems to be very savvy to that stuff!
He also gave me a lot of history of Houston and her rich blues legacy.
Jackie Gray, the drummer for the house band at the Wednesday jam, has backed up blues and rnb greats that came to Houston since the sixties. He has a drumstick pouch made out of an armadillo, he's quite a character!
Jonn del Toro Richardson is the guitar and singer of the jam and has won some bit of acclaim.
And of course Leisure Suit Larry (my own nickname for him), thumpin' that base in symbiosis with Jackie's drums.
Can't wait to see you there!
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
Shane's Cloud
1shanester
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