Thursday, January 28, 2010

Memphis and upcoming events

First, a report from Memphis, from Lua Wells: Our own Lowcountry Blues Club had two groups, plus fans, who went to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis this past weekend, and it was a blast! Dan Wright and the New Beat played in the Band category, and The Sarah Cole band was in the Youth Showcase. In the band category, there were more than 100 bands from the U.S., Canada, and all over the world! What an amazing event! There were about a dozen clubs and theaters on Beale Street hosting the bands for the semifinals on Thursday and Friday nights, and the music was outstanding. Dan and the band (including Landon Moore on bass guitar, Quentin Ravenel on drums, and a friend of Landon's on keys) put on two amazing performances and the crowd loved them!! The fans who came from Charleston were whooping and hollering, proud to call them our own. Though they didn't get a chance to play in the finals this year, the band that won in their venue went on to achieve third place status (and that's out of 100-plus pretty awesome bands) -- so not too shabby, I'd say. . .

Then there was the Sarah Cole Band, which played in the Youth Showcase, and also wowed the crowd (including Wyatt Garey on guitar, Chris Cool on bass, and Quentin on drums again). They too made us proud!! Everyone who went had a great time, and made lots of new friends. I hope to go again next year, and hope we'll have an even bigger crowd of LBC friends going, too.

Now back to your regular blog, this week from SAM:

Hey Blues Babes!

As the Lowcountry gears up for the Blues Bash, I thought the local scene would slow down so that we can be well -rested when the Big bash Blues comes callin' next week. Silly MOI!! We have some good shows coming up that will likely mean you are hoarse by the time the Bash starts, and your voice won't recover from the singin' and cheerin' until some time this summer... maybe May??

Okay, now the upcoming weekend's activities -- Every Friday, don't forget to check out the jam with Smoky Weiner at Bowens Island, 6:30-10 pm.

From Jojo Wall: This Saturday January 30th, we announce the return of Momma to the Lowcountry. She and the newly formed Redemption Band will be playing at Centre Point Bar and Grill (in the Tanger outlet area, across from the N. Charleston Coliseum) from 8-12. There will be no cover charge at one of N. Charleston's finest venues. Come see your Momma!

On Sunday night at Home Team BBQ in West Ashley, come support our own Dan Wright and the New Beat as they put on an early show, 7pm, featuring their hard-driving funk and soul sounds, for only $5. If you missed them in Memphis, come see them here!

Another option on Sunday is the Pour House which announced a big local band showcase aimed at raising money for Haitian earthquake victims. Your $10 gets you performances by Gaslight Street, Stratton & Moore (members of Po'Ridge, featuring City Paper contributor Stratton Lawrence), Classic Woodies, Skye Paige, and more. The Passionistas perform early in the adjacent El Bohio space at 6 p.m.

And far too exciting for us, not only can we hit the Tuesday Jams at the Dough, but if you miss it (or want to walk down memory lane) you can catch some videos on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LowCountryBluesClub

And see if you can guess what upcoming event has me dancing on the tables and swinging from the chandeliers...???? You got it, the 20th annual LOWCOUNTRY BLUES BASH IS (almost) HERE!!! Our Shimp City Slim has worked long and hard to bring together the best bunch of blues beaters the world has ever known - or at least, the best bunch *I* have ever encountered! Go here: http://www.bluesbash.com/ to get more information and to find the schedule. Last years Blues Bash was my baptism into the blues brotherhood, and I have enjoyed every bit of it.

Drink Small will be celebrating his elventy-hundredth birthday this weekend. His actual age depends on who you ask - we will just call him 21 and leave it at that. His birthday is a city holiday in Columbia. Being that Charleston is far cooler and altogether a better place to be than Cola, mayhap we shall petition to make it a COUNTY-WIDE holiday? Naturally, official approval isn't necessary - or forthcoming. Have your own celebration and drink a toast to the "Blues Doctor"!

Back to news from Memphis:

Band winner: Grady Champion of the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola.

Second place: Karen Lovely Band, Cascade Blues Association.

Third place: Cheryl Renee with Them Bones, Cincy Blues Society

Top Guitarist: Matt Kelly of the Big Boy Little Band, of the Washington D.C. Blues
Society

Major Congrats to Canadian Blues-boy Matt Anderson who won top honors in the Solo/duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis last week! Wonderful job, wonderfully done. Other winners are as follows:

Second Place: Alphonso Sanders and Bill “Howl-n-Madd” Perry from Mississippi’s Crossroads Blues Society

Best Self-Produced CD: Fire It Up! by the Laurie Morvan Band, and Crime Scene Queen by The Informants.

And if you have time on your hands, you might want to check out this website:

http://www.mary4music.com/ClubsSC.html

It features a Blues Club Index that ensures no matter where you roam, the blues will make you feel at home.

SAM, January 28, 2010

Thursday, January 21, 2010

January 21, 2010

Greetings Blues Fans

Well the 26th annual Low Country Blues Bash is almost here. Starting on February 5th the Low Country Blues Bash will last until the 16th and will have some of the best performers around, like Charlie Sayles and the Blues Disciples and Dan Wright and the New Beat. For the full brochure which will list all the venues acts and times go to www.bluesbash.com

Today Dan Wright and the New Beat, along with Sarah Cole, Wyatt Garey, and some other blues fans left for Memphis, Tennessee to compete in the 26th annual International Blues Challenge. Let's all wish them luck and a safe trip there.

As always there will be a Blues Jam this Tuesday at A Dough Re Mi, and videos from previous jams are now available on youtube.com to see some of these videos go to http://www.youtube.com/user/LowCountryBluesClub.

kmf.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Weekend of January 15th - 17th

Hello Blues People,
I have encountered some kind of Virus while trying to check out Fiery Ron's and/or the Pour House sites. Everything went wild after that, but Norton seems top have fixed it. Beware when visiting these sites. Fiery Ron's in Sullivan's Isle has Sho Nuff, a funk band on Saturday night. On Saturday there is a benefit at the Sewee Outpost featuring The Blue Dogs, The Occasional Milkshake(Mark Bryan, Danielle Howle, Ed Hunnicutt, Doug Jones & Craven Melon, Triple Lindy, The Whisperjets and more. It's from 2-6 and benefits the Seee Association which does not mention its purpose in the promotion for some reason, but a good show to be sure.
Morgan Creek has Pamela Dale and Brodie Porterfield but I can't seem to find out what style of music they play except that it is original. They don't look beat up enough for the blues but hey look at Dan! There's a well kept blues dude although I think he's going to have some plastic surgery to add a few bumps and scars. Speaking of Dan let us all wish him luck in the Memphis Blues Challenge. I believe he can take the prize! Ted McKee who is very, very good if you haven't heard him, along with bassist Gary HEwitt is playing Famous Joe's on Savannah Highway on Saturday night the 16th. It is near JB Pivots and Wally Gator's OLD JOINT. Lord I could use an old joint right now myself. Speaking of myself, I will be at Bowens Island on Friday night with Steve Padgett and we welcome all who wish to jam with us, especially we could use a drummer! Bowens is going to open the new restaurant in mid February, during the Blues Bash although there won't be any official Blues Bash shows there, there may be some un-official ones! I have just booked Momma and the Blues Palace Band folks including Tommy Thunderfoot (who I wish was back among the Blues Club. Their gig will be at Bowens on May 30th during Piccolo Spoleto.
I wish I had more to add but it will be really thick next week with Blues Bash stuff and that schedule can be found and downloaded by going to or searching bluesbash.com
Drink Small's birthday (and Juke Joint Johnny's too!) is January 28th. Drink Small will be having some parties up in Columbia where his birthday has been declared an official City Holiday. In keeping with the blues tradition this holiday will not get you any time off work or overtime. But there is a plaque somewhere.... My birthday is Feb. 3rd so you may want to start planning parties and saving up for lavish gifts. Or not. Stay warm....

Thursday, January 7, 2010

January 7 2010

Greetings blues fans, and welcome to a new year for the blues. Dan Wright and the New Beat along with Sarah Cole, and Wyatt Garey will be preforming at the international blues challenge in Memphis Tennessee.

Nothing much going on this weekend, except for Obscene machine with Charlie Kendall, Nick Mullane, and Tanner Cooper filling in for Quinten Ravanel on drums this friday at The Oasis, the cost to get in is $7 dollars and it starts at 9:00 pm.

Don't forget the Lowcountry Blues Club Jam every Tuesday night starting at 8:00 at A Dough Re Mi, and Smokey Weiner's Jam Friday night starting at 6 on Bowens Island.

The February Blues Bash brochure is now available at www.bluesbash.com.