It's About Time...

Yea, I know...it's been a long time since my last entry, but I've been busy, busy, busy. So what's new, you ask? Well, first of all, we have a new C.D. coming out in February, so that recording thing has been going on in between shows since July. Since we made the record at Long Hill Recording in Ct. we were able to continue our road schedule.

And as always, our road highlights seem to center around the festivals. Aug. 11th found us in Pottstown Penn. at the Sunnybrook Ballroom, sharing the bill with one of our all time favorite touring bands, the Nighthawks.

By Aug 17th we were up in Michigan playing a festival at which Bobby Rush was the headliner. With his big band, costume changes, background singers, and sexual innuendoes, Bobby puts on a classic old time blues show: this is a man who truly understands the meaning of show-biz!!!

On Aug. 23 we shared the bill with Big Bill Morganfield at a theater in Falls Church, Va., and celebrated the memory and music of Muddy Waters.

The other notable project I took on in August, was working in another band member, Arne Englund, on second guitar. The power trio has truly been a ball but lately I've been feeling the need for a bigger sound, and there's nothin' like that tough , two-guitar thing! Arne will be playing a lot of slide, too, to add to the sounds coming off the stage.

In September I needed to put the projects aside for a bit and take the trio to Denmark for a few weeks. We had a great tour, and were lucky to hit great weather, and for me there was the luxury of having a tour manager!! Thanks Bjarne for being a great guy, and a Danish blues man who understands my need for cool amps!

Upon our return it was back in the studio to complete my guitar solos and vocals on the record in time to jump out on the road with my now "4-piece band", on a five week tour across the USA. and up into Canada. Half way across we parked the van at Don's brothers house in St. Louis, and flew to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands for a three day blues festival! This absolutely has to be the highlight of the tour, though there were many others.

The Reverend Billy C. Wirtz opened the festival all three nights and had the crowd in the palm of his hands, preachin' his twisted wisdom and humor to the tune of his boogie-woogie and blues piano. I am most impressed by someone who can combine top-notch blues playing with comedy...Hallelujiah!! If you're not hip to this dude, check him out on his website.

The headliner the first night was Michael Burkes who became a good blues buddy by the end of our stay. We headlined Friday night and then Elvin Bishop was Sat. Having spent 10 years of my musical development in northern California, Elvin's music brought back a lot of memories for me and reminded me of what an incredible songwriter he is. His band was really kickin' and they hosted quite a pool-side blues party...exotic drinks were flowing, the tiki torches were torching, gentle island breezes blowing, and the patio was packed with blues fans, stompin' under the stars!! For a big finish, Elvin invited Michael and I up on stage to jam out the night (more guitars...more guitars!!)

Next stop, Vegas, where we debuted a new song from our up-coming release..."Takin' it All To Vegas." Then on to California, where we covered the coast from south to north. I got a real soul-fix at Cafe-Boogaloo in Hermosa Beach, when I was joined on stage by power-house vocalist Janiva Magness, Jeff Turmess on sax, and Dave Melton on guitar!! Janiva creates quite the stir when she performs...between her voice, her stage presence and her attitude,...phew!! A hard act to follow...she's got that black thing, ya know!!!

And Jeff Turmess turned us on to his latest release; "Everyday's My Lucky Day." We've been diggin' on it heavily as we drive to survive.

The second soul fix came in Petaluma when we were joined on stage by Joe Louis Walker. My band and I backed him on several cuts from his new release, "In The Morning." And of course Joe and I had several very spirited guitar exchanges. I love this man so much, and on this new c.d. he just oozes raw soul. So, next I write I will tell ya all about our new record and meanwhile, Happy Holidays, and don't stop supporting live music!!