May-June 2010
ON THE ROAD WITH BIG CITY RHYTHM & BLUES MAGAZINE 2010
NEW ORLEANS-MISSISSIPPI-SHACK UP INN-BMA'S-DELTA BLUES MUSEUM'S TRAIN DAY! BIG CITY RHYTHM & BLUES MAGAZINE'S 1970 AIRSTREAM--"JR'S SILVER DREAM-4169" SADLY WRAPPED UP & LEFT NEW ORLEANS, GOODBYE TO THE MUSIC SEEPING UP FROM THE SIDEWALKS, GOODBYE TO ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY BEST EVER JAZZ & HERITAGE FEST, CARPET BAGGER STEAK (YEAH U RIGHT JACQUE IMO!), THEY LOOKED BEHIND IN THEIR REAR MIRROR THE BAYOU SEGNETTE--THEIR HOME FOR A DOZEN DAYS, THE HOME OF LITTLE FREDDIE KING--THE BYWATER=BJ'S, VAUGHAN'S, THE JOINT (K.C.'S SHIRLEY MAE AKA SUGAR SEZ "THE BEST FUCKIN' RIBS I HAVE EVAH TASTED!"). BIG CITY'S PUBLISHER ROBERT JR. DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE, "JUST WHEN THE SAINTS WON, MARDI GRAS HAPPENED, PEOPLE WERE HAPPY, TREME, JAZZ FEST & MITCH, THINGS WERE COMIN' BACK SINCE KATRINA." WE WILL BE BACK SOON. WE DON'T LIKE IT WE LOVE IT AS HONEYBOY WOULD SAY!Big City Blues Publishers' Robert Jr. & Sugar enjoyed another taste of the delicious country-wise ribs that Joni & Rob drove special delivery from "The Joint" begining Big City Blues 2nd Annual BMA Tailgate Party! Being with our "family of twenty odd years it was good to be home and greeted with open arms. What a blast! Curtis Salgado, Jason Ricci, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy were many of the highlights on stage. It was an amazing turnout so many blues stars everywhere such as Robert Jr. & Shirley Mae greeting Lonnie Brooks and his sons--Ronnie & Wayne. It was difficult to stay in one place. Thanks to Nick & Kate Moss our next door table mates and hard-working Tony Braunagel finally getting a night off to sit next to Bonnie Raitt. What a night. Driving back to the Shack Up and waking at 9 am to not miss "Train Day" at The Delta Blues Museum with Muddy Waters' sons-Mud & Bill. They were preparing to hop a train to Memphis like their Daddy did.
Back to California for Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine's dream of being on the beach at the Doheny Blues Festival. They flew west from Detroit to LA and set up camp a the Elmtree Blues Society's headquarters in Pasadena. Thank-you Dave & Louisa Fertig for your warm and sunny hospitality! Only two hours south of LA, The Doheny Blues Festival sets up on the historic beach "Dana Killer." Robert Jr. sez, "The best blues festival site in the country--blues, music, surfin', sunsets, CSN!" It was more than sold out with a stellar line-up: Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Robert Cray, Bettye Lavette, Big Sam's Funky Nation, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Eric Lindell, Lynwood Slim, John Nemeth, Duke Robillard, Otis Taylor, Jackie Greene & Black Joe Lewis--outstanding! WOW! Thanks to our hosts Omega Events-Rich Sherman, Lex & Ryan.
After a mellow week in LA working on "Texas Blues - Part I" & CD Sampler #8-"Spy In The House of Love," we drove to Simi Valley, famous for the resting spot of President Ronald Reagan and enjoyed the rich ranching valley and got a taste of the Santa Ana Winds. The first day, Saturday from 10 am - 3 pm, we attempted to hold down our booth/tent. Luckily we had a back-up plan always! The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Land Yacht arrived just in time to help. And of course also to our rescue was Delta Groove Productions' muscle the genius behind it all. What a stellar two day nonstop line-up! Can it get any better than this? Looks like plans are in the works for 20100. Subscribe today at www.bigcitybluesmag.com for festival updates.
The 21nd Annual Cajun Creole Music Festival at the Delta Groove Blues Stage: Friday, The Insomniacs, Los Fabulocos, Arthur Adams, The Hollywood Blues Flames, Jackie Payne & Steve Edmondson and The Soul of John Black. It rocked so hard, the dance floor was always full and that dulled those winds. On saturday it was another beautiful California day along with Kirk Fletcher, Lynwood Slim, Mike Zito, Candye Kane, Bob Corritore, Elvin Bishop and The Mannish Boys who stopped the show. Non-stop excitement and great traditional rhythm & blues. And what about that sunset at Malibu? Where are you Solomon Burke? We missed you.Thank you Rand, Kelly, Frank & Josh! And CajunCreoleFestival's Gary Stewart.
Sweet Home Chicago Blues Fesitval had beautiful weather along Lake Michigan's Grant Park's perfectly groomed arbors behind the Chicago Art Museum. Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine helped sponsor the "Windy City Blues Society's Street Stage" that had a wide variety of excellent blues hunkered under a small tent with no stage on the pavement reminiscent of Maxwell Street.It was great to see Matt "Guitar" Murphy looking good!, talking to Henry Gray and Andy Cornett from Louisiana and seeing Bobby Rush, Charlie Musselwhite and Nick Gravenites. Hubert Sumlin, David Honeyboy Edward,Larry McCray & Guitar Shorty were highlights. The Best was Sunday night in Evanston, IL at Space for Earwig Record's swinging celebration of three generations of the blues from Mississippi to Chicago: Grady Champion (of 2010 IBC's), John Primer and a celebration for Honeyboy--his 95th blues birthday partee! In tow with Big City Rhythm & Blues we surprised Honeyboy by bringing Sugar Blue & Charlie Musselwhite & Jon McDonald to his party to pay tribute.
New Buddy Guy's Legends is wonderful! Thank-you to Buddy Guy for your vision - continuing to keep the blues alive! It is so beautiful! Live blues, a museum with all the photos, trophies and blues merchandise. Guy King, Magic Slim & Lil Ed were nonstop. Congratulations Buddy! (Complimentary Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine at the door).
Blues On The Fox - Aurora, IllinoisFriday night was stormy and windy as Tinsley Ellis got in a full set as Trombone Shorty's was shortened with at 9:10 pm blow. Saturday it was the Guy King Big Band that got us jumpin' followed by Ronnie Baker Brooks Band that fest fans could not get enough. "Joined At The Hip" was next celebrating Pinetop's 97th birth with Steady Rollin', Big Eyes, Hubert Sumlin, Little Frank & Bob Stroger. This wonderful set was followed by a huge surprise, The Jimmy Vaughan Band wsg Lou Ann Barton! Plus on horns--Greg Piccolo & Doug James! Great set! They really tore it up...Jimmy Vaughan is back!
Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine's "Texas Blues Guitar - Part 1" is here. Subscribe today - wwwlbigcitybluesmag.com and get the new CD Sampler #8 - "Spy In The House Of Love."
Two year sub will get an island shirt premium for limited time. All subscribers will be entered in raffle for bluesy guitar. Subscribe today @www.bigcitybluesmag.com or call 248-582-1544.Find upcoming Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine Social & Pleasure Club Events, Festivals, On The Road Travels: www.bigcitybluesmag.com
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