Blues Club friends -- Don't forget: This Sunday, January 16, starting at 2:00 at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley, is the Lowcountry Blues Club's "Send the Bands to Memphis" benefit show. You'll want to get there early to have a good seat because it's bound to get crowded. Jeff Norwood plays at 2:00, Wyatt Garey with Heyrocco at 3, OE3 at 4pm, and The Dan Wright Band at 5:00. It's a free show, but a donation of $5 is encouraged, with the money going to send our good friends to Memphis to perform in the International Blues Challenge in February.
Now on to the blog, written this week by Scott Bucholtz:
This Week's Feature is “Captain” James Kirk
While it would be easy to start off a BIO of Captain Kirk with a Star Trek reference, I think that would short-change the man. “Captain” is a real Southern Gentlemen. As a transplanted Michigander, I am very aware of the Southern Stereotypes but with him, it’s the truth.
After 42 years of playing drums, his resume is quite impressive. But, with everyone that I meet, the first comment is always something like “he’d give you the shirt off his back” or “he’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet”.
A Navy veteran, he purchased his first set of drums for $300 back in 1969 upon his return from Vietnam. He saw it as something constructive to do and he still remembers the first song that he performed: “Buckaroo” by Buck Owens. His first serious band was “Carolina Charlie and the Hairy Cowboys” in Norfolk, VA. This led to a 10 month gig in the Mel Street Show Band that lasted until Mel’s untimely death in Oct ’78. Mel had a string of Top 40 Country Albums and Top 20 hits back in the 70’s (Google him). While with Mel, he had the opportunity to back many of the days’ big Country stars like Emmylou Harris. After several other local bands in WV, he signed up with a local Southern Rock band by the name of “Little Skynyrd” which opened for the likes of The Righteous Brothers and Link Wray among others of note.
In 1986, he moved to Charleston. Following a few more local bands he formed “The Joint Effort Band” that featured Linda Johnson and lasted nearly 15 years. After that he signed on with The Mason Dixon Band and kept them in time for two years. Currently, he is playing with “Starling” and can be seen throughout the Lowcountry on weekends. He continues to study the blues and is a regular fixture at the Wednesday night Jams as a valued member of the Lowcountry Blues Club.
He considers himself a “groove” drummer and loves to play anything with a good groove. We all know that he is rock-solid as a drummer, I’m certainly envious of his timekeeping abilities. What many don’t get to see often enough is his ability as a vocalist. (Note to Blues Club members: bring him up with you to sing!)
He started singing in garage bands back in High School and has come to the realization that a teacher was a large influence on him. He grew up loving early Country music but after the death of Mel Street, he dove into Lynyrd Skynyrd and caught the Southern Rock bug. In fact, he notes that Hall of Fame Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle is a major influence. Another noted influence is Bob Seger.
He is definitely a kindred spirit!
Being the gentleman that he is, I can’t get him to name any of his favorite jammers for the record. He’ll say that they are all favorites. But, when you get to know him, you find that what he truly appreciates the most is the camaraderie of jam night, the Human element. Isn’t that the true essence of music anyway?
Another little know fact about James Kirk: he plays bass. Why? Many years ago, he was playing drums in a gospel group when he found out that another guy wanted to play drums. What did he do? He taught himself bass so that other guy could play drums!
Didn’t I say he was a “gentlemen”?
This coming weekend, look for Lowcountry Blues Club members around town: The Wyatt Garey Band will be at Iacofano’s Italian Bar & Grill Fri., Jan. 14. The Jeff Bateman Trio will be at Art’s Bar & Grill Saturday. Sunday night look for Plane Jane at Wild Wing on N. Market. Both Friday and Saturday, yours truly will be playing with The Mason Dixon Band at Birdie & Sharon’s in Walterboro. Sarah Cole and the Hawkes will be at The Pour House next Tuesday. Next Wednesday look for J.R. Getches at the College Of Charleston Veg Fest from 6 – 7:30. You can catch J.R. with the Louie D Project later that night at the Red Drum Gastropub in Mount Pleasant.
Other appearances of note this week include Cary Ann Hearst w/ Jamie Resch, Shrimp Records Family Band @ The Pour House Fri., Jan. 14. The Shaniqua Brown w/ Megan Jean & the KFB @ The Pour House Sat., Jan. 15. Also on Saturday, friends of mine, Fowler’s Mustache will be at Wet Willie’s downtown. Also Saturday night, Heyrocco plays at the Music Farm with The Makeshift, doors at 8, show at 9.
Enjoy as much ear candy as you can!
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Reminders:
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. Also, let us know if you would like to be one of our blog-writers!
Featured artists with birthdays in January are Leadbelly, Etta James, and Jonny Lang.
Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub, and join us on facebook and twitter.
And of course, we hope to see you at the blues jam next Wednesday night at Home Team BBQ West Ashley!!
LMW, January 13, 2011
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