I saw the Phil and Dave Alvin with the Guilty Ones at City Winery the other night for an evening of "American Music." A real tour de force. Highlights included material from their new record featuring the tunes of Big Bill Broonzy and a couple Blasters tunes. The brothers were outstanding and their drummer Lisa Prankratz was amazing.
I just edited my post to included a video of their performance last year, that was pretty much what my evening was like. Phil Alvin played a lot of harp, no bullet mic/amp, just the PA mic. He never blew one bad note and there was never an issue with hearing him thru the mix considering there were 2 guitarist. And the drummer was completely off the hook, in the pocket and was so good and so beautiful, in a 1950" ingenue way, that you thought she was from another planet! They have three more dates in New England this weekend, check them out.
In December last year, a benefit for long time Austinite bass player Appa Perry at the Skylark Lounge. The Skylark is a great dive bar with a wonderful mixed clientele. On the bill was Greg Izor and the Peacemakers who include Mike Keller and Willie Pipkin in their number. Carolyn Wonderland who was joined by Guy Forsyth. They kicked off their set with a great duet of Winter Wonderland.
The icing on the cake was Gary Clark Jr with Eve Monsees, Appa on bass and Mike Buck, early Fabulous Thunderbirds and most excellent blues radio DJ, on drums.
I'd seen Eve Monsees name around for years but never caught her. Man is she good. Gorgeous woman to boot. She and Gary grew up together learning to play guitar in the garage.
It was fantastic to sit literally five feet away from Gary and hear him play in a down home environment with a great crowd. Real Deal blues from the young blood.
All this for a $5 donation on the door. A very special night indeed all put together by Erin James, a well known local with serious bass and vocal chops.
---------- LSC
Last Edited by LSC on Mar 21, 2015 8:29 PM
Cause it's still echoing in my head. I've been working on the guitar solos in Sympathy for the Devil and Purple Rain and both work great in third. I got to launch into both of them last night. Yes.
My last really good gig was for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I was in the house band for their production on "Big River". The band was all ringers no students. The bass player played with Pat Martino and Jimmy Bruno. ----------
I got to see Moreland and Arbuckle here in the uk a few months back.Had to travel down south from Scotland.It was well worth the trip though.Heres a video I shot that night.
Last week I saw Samantha Fish and Mike Zito open for Tab Benoit. A local band, that I have sat in with a a jam they used to host, The Out of Favor Boys opened the whole thing.
The OFB did a solid job as they always do, Samantha Fish and Mike Zito were absolutely ON FIRE, yes ON FIRE.
Tab Beniot was great as usual and played a very long set. He also brought Samantha and Mike out to play the last song with him and to join him for the encore.
Did mention that Samantha Fish and Mike Zito were ON FIRE????
Of course there was not a harmonica in sight all night, but I got my $38.50's worth anyway.
Saw Steve Guyger and guitarman "Filthy Rich" at Terra Blues in NYC last fall. Great show, excellent venue although it felt a little bit like I was at Passim's in Cambridge and not a "club" shooting down $10 Michter's. Got "shussed" halfway through the show even though the guy at the table next to me had been stomping his foot all night long
March Hummel's Harp Blowout in Seattle a couple of months ago - Mummel, Steve Guyger, Rick Estrin, Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Baty, Bob Walsh (sp. ?), June Core and RW Grigsby. Just sensational! Last year he brought Estrin, Curtis Salgado, James Harman and John Mayall along with Core, Baty and Grigsby. Also, recently saw Portland legend Lloyd Jones - great show as well.
Buddy Guy in Milwaukee last Thursday. Buddy can still play guitar with the best of them.
My summer schedule (not including Blues Cruises, the 2015 Chicago Blues Festival, and regular excursions to Chicago's Blues clubs):
Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, Illinois
Sun 6/21/15 Tedeschi Trucks Band Fri 6/26/15 Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga Tue 7/21/15 Emerson String Quartet Fri 7/24/15 Steely Dan Wed 8/12/15 Buena Vista Social Club Sat 9/5/15 Jackson Browne
United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Fri 6-12-15 Rush
Last Edited by atty1chgo on Mar 23, 2015 10:30 AM
Best because it actually paid $$-otherwise not so much fun
Subbed on drums for a "classic" rock gig in a bar Friday night- my ears rung for the next day and clothes stunk like stale smoke.
Isnt classic rock an oxymoron ?
Closest things to blues we played was Red House and Pride and Joy- sad huh ?
Lead guitar kept trying to straighten out my shuffle. BOO
Bass player asked me to join him for a Latin Jazz gig--Yay
@ Diggs What is Univ school of Arts ?
Is that what Phila College of Art became. I went to PCA in the 70's and taught at Moore College of Art across from Franklin Institute ( if that still exists)
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Mar 23, 2015 11:17 AM
Paul Osher...Bugle Boy in LaGrange, Tx...oww, oww, oww, oww. ---------- Ricky B http://www.bushdogblues.blogspot.com RIVER BOTTOM BLUES--crime novel for blues fans available at Amazon/B&N, iTunes, iBook THE DEVIL'S BLUES--ditto HOWLING MOUNTAIN BLUES--Ditto too, now available
