I just wanted to make sure that everybody here got the word first: Satan and Adam have ceased our occasional road-gigs, effectively immediately. The two gigs that we had scheduled--Knoxville on 3/12 and Atlanta on 3/13--have been canceled. Satan and Adam will not be a part of Hill Country Harmonica, although I definitely will.
Over the past week I got the news from Sterling Magee's sister Janet that she had met with the Director of Nursing at the Boca Ciega Center, where Sterling has been living since 2000, and that the DON had strongly recommended that Sterling not tour. Apparently his physical condition has slipped a bit since we came off the road after our brief tour back in August. I haven't seen him since; Kevin and Dave, who have seen him--heck, Dave plays with him every week--haven't noticed much change, but there you go.
In any case, I protested but there's a limit to what I can do, or know, given the fact that I live in Mississippi and he lives in Florida.
Sterling will continue his weekly Tuesday evening gig at the Peninsula Inn and Spa in Gulfport, and I'll occasionally (2-3 x a year) drive down and play with him. We've got a Satan and Adam gig on March 16th. So we haven't given up the ghost.
And we're recording a new album on March 18-19th.
But we will no longer make even brief trips out on the road. I'm really glad we made it all the way up the East Coast last summer: one good bit of the road to finish it off. The YouTube videos are there and they show that we managed to become a legit act (rather than a sympathy act) once again. If you'd told me back in 2002 that we'd do that, I'd have laughed "No way!" And if you take a look at the several videos I posted from our gig at Terra Blues in 2007, which was our first foray onto the road, you'll see that I was accused by one YT commentee (a young German man, I believe) of parading an incompetent old bluesman in an unseemly fashion.
But he was wrong. Sterling was just getting his sea-legs back, and Dave and I were figuring out how to back him up. We finally got it figured out. That's satisfying. We got more than we thought we'd get.
And heck: never say never. Sterling has surprised us before.
Last Edited by on Feb 06, 2010 11:02 AM
I'm sorry to hear the news Adam. The end of an era, the closing of another chapter in the History of the Blues.
I'm now wondering what you'll do. I know you have been working on your one-man-band project but do you have any leanings towards creating another partnership with any other blues players? ----------
Sorry to hear that you and Sterling may not be touring (together) again... As you may recall Adam, I had the fortune of playing two sets with Satan when I lived in Gulfport. I treasure that memory and truly admire the work that you two have done.
Sterling does enjoy his weekly gig at the Peninsula and, it's obvious being around them that Kevin & Dave do take good care of him.
Still looking forward to Hill Country, regardless...
Last Edited by on Feb 06, 2010 12:02 PM
I echo Jon. I am so very glad that I was able to S&A over the summer on their retirement tour. I am very excited about the new album. ---------- The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
I echo Jon. I am so very glad that I was able to S&A over the summer on their retirement tour. I am very excited about the new album. ---------- The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
This is very sad. I enjoyed my time with Mr. Satan. I remember seeing him walk into the restaurant and I went up to him to shake his hand and he said in such a proud manner, "Hello, I'm Mr. Satan!" My time chatting with him was great, and chatting with Adam was awesome, too. I hope he gets better. I look forward to the new album, any way to get a signed copy?
Of all the clips I managed to snag and upload during the last two years of what I'd call our "legit" comeback, this one from Red's Lounge in Clarksdale is my favorite. Possibly this is because I played about 30 choruses of solo. But really it's because there was something about the Satan and Adam spirit that just took me over. We were REALLY grooving here. It's as though Dave (the drummer) and I locked horns and Sterling got carried along and time dissolved and it was the old Satan & Adam all over again. Give our rocky mini-set between Jason's sets at the Ringside back in 2004 and our somewhat halting gigs over the next several years, including 2007, there's no way we should have been able to produce music like this. Everybody, every single person, thought Sterling was too broken-down to do it. But somehow it happened. And while I'm driving things and Dave is driving things, Sterling is right in there. Music is contagious like that.
I urge you to find a moment--and a big strong drink--and listen to this from start to finish. I think you'll catch the feeling after a while: the feeling that the song is just going to keep going forever. I'm sad to lose that. Maybe Dave and I will put something together somewhere down the road.
wow- that was some serious git down! i don't know if i could stay that steady on harp for that long at a stretch, having never done it. the usual is some accents and a couple of turnarounds typically for me.
a tip of the black fedora to yoiu, satan, and dave!
I'm really quite sorry to hear about this. I'm sure I speak for a lot of the west coasters in that I was still secretly holding out for the possibility of some West Coast Satan and Adam tour dates one of these days. It's really the end of an era! The most important thing is Mr. Satan's health, though, and there is always the possibility of catching a Florida gig one day! ---------- ------------------ The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
I'm heading back to Gulfport in the next 10 days to gather my son back to Virginia. Hoping to catch Satan and the boys at the Peninsula while I'm there. If so, I'll get some video to share...
Jaaaaysus that video swings. I think I might prefer it to the album version (WORD ON THE STREET). Maybe you stepped up your game in the 20 years intervening. Not that it was a shabby game, y'understand.
Adam, let us know when it's for sure on the 16th. I think Deedie and I will come back over to see you guys. I gotta have one of those cheeseburgers this time.
Wow. That really, really sucks. I'm glad there will be a new Satan and Adam album. Too bad I couldn't catch one. Just means I will have to save a little more money for these things.
Just keep us posted so we know when we can come out to Florida to hear S+A playing. We can't miss any more.
Sorry to hear the news about Mr Satan, but will definetly have to check out the new album when it's available. ( and i really should make a start in getting the old ones )
Listening to the vid while typing this ... excellent foot-tapping stuff.
Adam: very sorry to hear this! But since I've just read "Mr.Satans apprentice" I know that it's to early to write him off and I'll cross my fingers that he bounces back! And I'm really looking forward to the new album!
