Thursday, October 28, 2010

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all!

Last night the blues club had another great jam at Home Team BBQ, thanks to all the marvelous musicians and dancers who showed up at our party! We even celebrated Halloween early with a set which included the songs "Spooky" and "Werewolves of London".

There are lots of parties for Halloween this weekend, all over town, so check out the City Paper, the Charleston Scene in the Post & Courier, and your favorite websites for all your options. I'll just mention one good option at the Tin Roof, where they're having an amazing band from Greensboro, NC called Holy Ghost Tent Revival that put on a wild and raucous show. Their music is a crazy mix of bluegrass, folk, and punk rock with a twist of New Orleans dirty jazz/blues -- so if that appeals to you, check 'em out! Local band Megan Jean and the KFB will also play, as will Dirty Bourbon. The Tin Roof says the cover will be $5, which is surely a steal for that much music! That's on Halloween night, Sunday, so wear your costumes...

On Tuesday night Nov 2nd, the Hawkes are scheduled to play at Home Team/West Ashley, and there's a very good chance that our friend Miss Sarah Cole will be singing with them, so check that out.

And here's some info from Shrimp City Slim about the following weekend: Coming up in Florence, SC is the 3rd annual PEE DEE BLUES BASH, Fri-Sat, November 5-6 with 2 outdoor stages and 3 intimate indoor venues, FREE!! Great blues musicians including Miss Wanda Johnson, Reverend Marv Ward, the Shane Pruitt Band, and many more. Go to www.peedeebluesbash.com (you can print your own brochure)

PS: Also that weekend: DRINK SMALL & The Ass Shakers at Home Team BBQ, Sullivans Island, SC on Saturday November 6, 10 pm, cover, www.hometeambbq.com

And Sunday, November 7, 6-9 pm:
SHRIMP CITY SLIM & CHUCK "THE CAT" MORRIS (piano/harmonica duo) at our new fave Charleston-area restaurant Lucy's Red Sky Grill, at the entrance to Seabrook Island, SC. No cover, reservations 843 768 8118 (check out their amazing specials...last time we had the braised elk medallions!)

We're also hoping to help our dancing friends, The Holy City Blues Exchange, to put on a dance party at Bowens Island on Saturday afternoon, Nov 13th, from 1-5 pm. We're looking for musicians who will come and play. If you are interested in being involved, please contact Alex Byham by email: byhamsa@gmail.com or by facebook.

Reminders:

Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub, and join us on facebook and twitter.

To get info in this blog, send all details of your event to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com, and put "Attention blog-writers" as the subject heading, please.

And we hope to see you at the blues jam next Wednesday night at Home Team BBQ West Ashley!!

LMW, October 28, 2010

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Quentin Ravenel!!

It’s that time again. It’s the fourth weekend of the month. This week we will be shifting focus to an amazing drummer many have come to know and love, Mr. Quentin Ravenel!

Quentin was born 9/7/1990 and is a local Charlestonian, born and raised.

He is a drummer and plays the triangle for a second instrument and has been playing for seven years. I would actually like to see a triangle solo from Quentin some time very soon. Forget the cowbell, more triangle!!!

Mr. Ravenel comes from a musical family and says he has no formal training. If he could play another instrument it would be the guitar! Shocker, I would have guessed the vibraphone, but what do I know!!

Favorite blues sub genre is Texas blues and other genres of interest included but are not limited to Jazz and funk. The Godfather of soul, Mr. James Brown band is Quentin’s all time favorite band ever and a song he loves to play at the blues jams is “Come together” by the Beatles. “The Chicken” by Jaco Pastorius is a song Quentin would like to play.

The most satisfying thing Quentin does musically is “teaching drums so that drums can live on forever.” His most embarrassing event encountered to date is “being in a drum competition and losing both my sticks. Wow . . . was I EMBARRASSED!!”

Quentin has played in so many bands it would be impossible to include them all in any document so we will skip the infinite number of bands for this section. Dan Wright and the New Beat is Quentin’s current band and his favorite blues club jammers are Dan Wright and Charlie Kendall.

When asked what influenced Mr. Ravenel’s decision to play music, he responded with the following comment: “My family is really musical but I would have to say growing up in church there were a whole lot of great drummers and I would have to say that’s what made me want to learn the drums!”

To wrap up, Rhythm and Blues is Quentin’s bread and butter and finds he listens to loads and loads of it all the time!! Advice for other musicians or anyone interested in learning to play is “practice makes perfect!”
Favorite city: Detroit
Favorite book: The Bible
Favorite eatery: Seafood, AW Shucks
Favorite Movie: Good burger

Thanks to Quentin for taking the time to participate in this bio and God speed to him as he continues to wow audiences and develop as one of the most revered drummers in the local Charleston Scene. And thank you for your continued participation in the Lowcountry Blues Club. We have been picking back up at the Wednesday night blues jam and look forward to seeing everybody this evening at the jam. Thanks again for making our club great!!

Blues News from Shrimp City Slim
BEVERLY GUITAR WATKINS on tour in South Carolina
www.beverlyguitarwatkinsblues.com
Many choice pieces on YouTube
The 71 years-young rockin' blues mama is igniting her tough little Fender Squier and is going to tip you over:
Fri Oct 22: Charleston, SC (as SPECIAL ARTIST on Blues/BBQ Cruise)
www.charlestonharbortours.com
Boards 630 pm, sailes 7-9 pm
Tix 843 722 1112
this will be a sell-out; don't delay

SPECIAL SPECIAL SPECIAL SPECIAL

Sat Oct 23: Denmark, SC (Julius Daniels Memorial Blues Festival)
In the old Dane Theater, intersection Hwy 78 & 321
Also appearing: DRINK SMALL, SHRIMP CITY SLIM, HITMAN, and introducing THE MEETING STREET SHEIKS.
www.bambergcountychamber.org
A great new event!
Tickets: 803 245 1000
A tribute to the legendary Julius Daniels, first SC blues artists to record (1927, Atlanta, GA...his songs have been covered by Hot Tuna, Jim Kweskin Jug Band, Johnny Winter, more!)

and then back to Charleston for one more show...

Sun Oct 24, 4-7 pm: Charleston, SC (Mad River Bar & Grille)
The old church now a pub/restaurant.
$10 cash at the door
www.madrivercharleston.com
Venue phone 843 723 0032

Shrimp City Slim band accompanies for all shows.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And get ready for another great FREE blues festival:

3rd annual
PEE DEE BLUES BASH
Fri-Sat Nov 5-6
Florence, SC
2 outdoor stages and 3 quality indoor venues
Print your own brochure at www.peedeebluesbash.com
Blues day & night

Artists: FRANKIE'S BLUES MISSION, SHANE PRUITT BAND, HITMAN, SHRIMP CITY SLIM, FREDDIE VANDERFORD & BRANDON TURNER, REV. MARV WARD & CONGAREE, WANDA JOHNSON, NORMAN TAYLOR, DRINK SMALL, MY BUDDY TODD.

NOTE: Later that evening Saturday November 6: DRINK SMALL live at Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ, 10 pm, Sullivans Island, SC (electric show)
www.hometeambbq.com
www.myspace.com/drinksmallblues

Also, on Thurs, Oct 21, check out the blues/rock of Grace Potter at the Music Farm, with opener Mac Leaphart. And on Sat night the 23rd, there's Tyler Boone's Singer/Songwriter acoustic night at the Oasis, Doors 7 pm, Show 8 pm Tix: $6 over 21, Tix $8 under 21. From opener to headliner: John Coffey, Phillip Scott, Kayla Thorpe, Hope and Union, Tyler Boone. Also on Sat night Momma and JoJo and the gang are at Home Team/West Ashley, 10pm, for $5 -- okay, we're worn out just thinking about all the great music outings coming up...

Reminders:

Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub

Join us on facebook and twitter.

To get info in this blog, send all details of your event to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com, and put "Attention blog-writers" as the subject heading, please.

Thanks for another week, and we will see you at the blues jam tonight at Home Team BBQ West Ashley!!

Your buddy,

JP Jones Jr

Monday, October 11, 2010

Blues and more

Hi All -

Last week the Lowcountry Blues Club had a meeting and elected officers: Tim Shaw will continue as our President, Dereck Curry will serve as VP/Secretary, and Kelly Homan will continue as Treasurer -- thank you all for serving!! And thanks to our past VP Jack Downey, and past secretaries Stuart Johnson and Lua Wells.

This coming weekend we recommend to you two acts at Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ/West Ashley. On Friday night Oct 15, you might like to check out Jason & the Juggernauts, a surf rock group, who may remind you of Booker T and the MGs at times. And for blues, try the Christopher Dean Band on Saturday night. The Juggernauts show starts at 10pm for $5, and Dean is at 10:30, also $5.

Of course there are many more choices out there. Check out the Charleston City Paper, the Post & Courier's Charleston Scene, and your favorite musicians' websites. Get out there, have fun, and support live music!

And of course, we want to see you out at Home Team/West Ashley for the Wednesday night Blues Club jams, 8pm till midnight or so...Artists featured in October: Steve Miller and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Also, on Thurs, Oct 21, check out the blues/rock of Grace Potter at the Music Farm, with opener Mac Leaphart -- sure to be a fabulous time! On Fri, Oct 22, the Blues Cruise features the always awesome Beverly Guitar Watkins (843-722-1112). And on Sat night the 23rd, there's Tyler Boone's Singer/Songwriter acoustic night at the Oasis, Doors 7 pm, Show 8 pm Tix: $6 over 21, Tix $8 under 21. From opener to headliner: John Coffey, Phillip Scott, Kayla Thorpe, Hope and Union, Tyler Boone. Also on Sat night Momma and JoJo and the gang are at Home Team/West Ashley, 10pm, for $5 -- okay, we're worn out just thinking about all the great music outings coming up...

Reminders:

Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub

Join us on facebook and twitter.

To get info in this blog, send all details of your event to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com, and put "Attention blog-writers" as the subject heading, please.

LMW, October 11, 2010

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Greetings Blues Fans,

Today through the 10th the Carolina DownHome Blues Festival takes place in Camden for more information about the venues and tickets visit www.bluesbash.com/camden.
Also the 5th annual American Music Celebration takes place on Kiawah Island on October 10th from 2 to 7. It is a free event and for more info visit www.bluesbash.com./amc. Also on the 10th Eleanor Ellis will be preforming at Circular church on Meeting St. in Downtown Charleston. There is no cover but donations are welcomed.


And last but not least on the 23rd of October the Oasis hosts another acoustic night featuring artists such as Tyler Boone and Greg Scott. Tickets are 6$ 21 and over and $8 21 and under. Look forward to seeing you there.

And just as a side note congratulations to all those who participated in this years Lowcountry Blues Battle and we look forward to seeing you all in Memphis.

KMF

Friday, October 1, 2010

Guitars and Blues

Hi, Music Lovers!

I want to jump into the blues birthday part of the blog. Stevie Ray Vaughan was born on October 3rd. I think we can all agree that Stevie Ray Vaughan brought the blues to a much wider audience when he appeared on the scene in the eighties. The eighties were a bleak landscape for blues lovers until Stevie broke it open. His bluesy, tasteful solos on David Bowies’ Let’s Dance stood out against a landscape dominated by Eddie Van Halen. Stevie’s legacy lives on as his admirers regularly pay tribute to him at the weekly Lowcountry Blues Club jams

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar leads me to my next topic. His main axe was a beat-up 1963 Fender Stratocaster ("the most famous battered Strat in rock history"). All of his other main guitars were vintage Strats or Strat-style guitars. Many of my favorite players are known for using the Strat as their main guitars such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and David Gilmour.

As I look around the room at the weekly jams, I enjoy the variety of guitars that jammers bring. A few weeks ago, we had an impressive pile of guitar cases waist high and ten feet across crowding the stage. Those cases harbored Fender Telecasters, Gibson Les Pauls, SGs, ES-335s, and some brands more known in the metal music world .

Anyone would admit, however, the preponderance of Fender Stratocasters. Dan Wright is primarily a Strat guy, Johnny Mac is a Strat guy, and Tim Shaw sports several beautiful Strats.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was born the same year the first Stratocaster was made. How cool is that? And Stratocasters are among the most valued electric guitars ever made. Eric Clapton's Brownie guitar (a 1956 Fender Stratocaster used on the famous Layla album) went for $497,500 in 1999 breaking a guitar-auction record Microsoft founder Paul Allen had set in 1991 by paying $325,000 for Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock Stratocaster.

The highest price at auction for an electic guitar is $959,000, paid in 2004 at Christie's for another Eric Clapton guitar, a 1956 Fender Stratocatser model used as his sole stage and studio guitar for 15 years. The design of the Stratocaster has transcended the field of music to rank among the classic industrial designs of all time; examples have been exhibited at major museums around the world.

And now, a note from the Big Guy:
“Well we closed out another Lowcountry Blues Challenge and I believe it went very well. I would like to thank those that helped out and made it a success.

On Monday, Oct 4 at 6:30 pm we will have a general meeting at Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ/ West Ashley. Everyone who is interested in the future of the Lowcountry Blues Club is invited, and encouraged to attend. We will discuss the future of the club and hopefully elect officers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Also on the bill is allotting funds to help send the winners to Memphis, and planning
benefit shows to raise more money for the bands' trip. The benefits would take place in the November and January time frame."

Now, some upcoming music options:

Friday, October 1, 5-7 pm
DR. PICKUP BLUES DUO
The good docteur from Paris, France is back with his guitar & his blues!
www.drpickup.com
Mad River Bar & Grille, downtown
Part of MOJA Festival, www.mojafestival.com

Saturday, October 2, 10 pm
DR. PICKUP BLUES BAND
Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ Middle Street, Sullivans Island The full treatment with Dr. P originals AND hyperventilated renditions of the Three Kings (BB, Albert, Freddy), Texas roadhouse blues (via le Tour Eiffel!) and much more. www.hometeambbq.com Cover

Tuesday, October 5, 5:30-6:45 pm
DR. PICKUP & SHRIMP CITY SLIM at Magnolias Restaurant, 185 East Bay St., downtown Charleston, SC, upstairs: Our friend Brian Caneda needs a heart transplant...come on out and enjoy some great food, wine, and music to help with his medical expenses!
Further info: Please Facebook 'Brian Caneda'. And later that night at The Mill, East Montague, N. Charleston, SC, Metro Charleston's premier urban honkytonk 8-11 pm, no cover www.myspace.com/themilllounge

And of course, we want to see you out at Home Team/West Ashley for the Wednesday night Blues Club jams, 8pm till midnight or so...Artists featured in October: Steve Miller and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Reminders:

Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub featuring artists such as Jon Hager, Wyatt Garey, Dan Wright, and many other local players. The recordings are also on our facebook page under the My Band tab. And thank you to JP Jones for posting these.

Join us on facebook and twitter.

To get info in this blog, send all details of your event to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com, and put "Attention blog-writers" as the subject heading, please.

JR and LMW, Oct 1, 2010