Seasons greetings!

Seasons greetings and welcome! This weekend, being Christmas, is a quiet one for live music around town. This time of year, I like to reflect on the past year and look forward to the coming year. 2010 has been, arguably, the best year ever for Lowcountry Blues Club. The past year has seen our introduction to the Blues Foundation as we sent our first nominees Dan Wright and Sarah Cole to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. We successfully moved our jam venue to our new home at Home Team BBQ in West Ashley. We were able to keep a lot of our old friends after the move, and make tons of new friends. The Wednesday blues jam events continue to go as strong as ever, and I look forward to next year, when we are proud to send nominees Dan Wright, Jeff Norwood, and Wyatt Garey to Memphis, and who knows what else will come.

For my recurring entries, I’d like to offer a couple of thoughts on some basics of music theory and gear. This first entry was inspired by a conversation at last week’s blues jam between me and a young jammer. Hopefully others can benefit from the discussion.

BLUES YOU CAN USE – Distortion vs Overdrive

One of the main staples of a guitar player’s tone is his pedal rig. Many pedals offer ‘overdrive’ or ‘distortion’ effects, and it may be difficult for the novice player to know the difference. When explaining it to people, I often refer to the genre or the player rather than the technical details. In practical terms, an overdrive pedal is designed to affect the amplifier itself and the effect will vary with volume. A distortion pedal is designed to give distorted tone no matter what volume. Characteristics of ‘overdrive’ include a hollow, bluesy tone…a smooth, natural sounding tone that most blues and classic rock players favor. ‘Distortion’ is a harsher, fatter, grittier tone with tons of sustain…this gives the ‘crunch’ favored by hard rock and metal guitarists. Pedals aren’t cheap, and it is easy to be seduced by catchy names. My advice, if you’re just starting out, stick with the old school classics. Take a look at the pedals on stage at the blues jam and ask questions. Who knows, maybe you’ll even get a good deal on a used pedal from a big guy with a white beard, and I’m not talking about Santa Claus!

Cheers, and keep bluesin’!

jpd

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 December are Big Mama Thornton, Bo Diddley, Gregg Allman, and George Thorogood. In January, the featured artists will be 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, December 23, 2010

“So this is Xmas. And what have you done?”

Yes, that time of year is upon us. This year, make it a point to give the gift of music. If you’re so inclined, think about the possibility of sharing your talent with those who will be spending the holiday in a hospital, nursing home or retirement community. “Mix Tapes” are a great way to share a moment with friends or loved ones. You can even keep it simple by heading to Monster and picking out some tasty tunes for those on your list and don’t forget the Local Artists like Skye Paige, Cary Ann Hearst, Leslie… or the box set that hasn’t found its way into Little Martha’s budget. Think back, if you’re like me, many of your favorite gifts from under a tree were 12 inches in diameter and shrink wrapped. For those of you blessed with youth, that’s how we used to buy music!

“And so this is Xmas, I hope you have fun. The near and the dear one, the old and the young”

For the musician on your list, there is no better time to upgrade equipment. I’m sure that you could find SOMETHING at your favorite (Ye) Olde Music Shop – even if it’s just stocking stuffers like strings or sticks!

“A very Merry Xmas, and a happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one…”

This coming weekend, look for Lowcountry Blues Club members around town: On Friday, The Louie D. Project (with Louie D and J.R. Getches) at Bucca’s Bar & Grill in Hanahan, and Sarah Cole with the Hawkes at Lazo's. Then on Saturday night, Castle In the Air (with Sammy Derrick and Nick Mullane), and Heyrocco (with Tanner Cooper, Nate Merli, and Chris Cool) play at the Music Farm, an early show, 8pm, only $5. Also on Saturday, Sarah Cole and The Hawkes will be at Coot’s Lounge on Edisto Island, and Jojo Wall plays at Home Team (West Ashley), with Mama and Redemption. On Sunday the 19th there's the Cord and Pedal Christmas show at the Pour House with lots of local artists like Rachel Kate Gillon, Whisky ‘n’ Ramblin’ and Sarah Cole and The Hawkes... Next Tuesday, look for Skye Paige downtown at the Tattooed Moose.

Don’t forget, Drivin’ N Cryin’ w/ Leslie this Friday at the Pour House.

Happy Xmas!

Scott Bucholtz, December 15, 2010
Lowcountry Blues Club

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 December are Big Mama Thornton, Bo Diddley, Gregg Allman, and George Thorogood.

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

Hello Blues Fans

Hello Blues Fans,


There's a lot of great shows out there this week. On Friday night at the Windjammer on IOP The Holy City Heartbreakers will be performing the music of Tom Petty. This tribute band features one of the blues club's favorite sound guys Mr. Jon Hager on keys along with other great local musicians such as Sadler Vaden of Leslie and Michael Trent of Shovels and Rope. There is a $10 cover charge at the door and proceeds go to help Leslie replace their stolen gear.

Before you head on over to IOP though make sure to stop by the Home Team BBQ on Sullivans Island to check out another great artist: Rev. Dr. Johnny Mac will be playing at 10:00 and there is a $5 cover charge at the door.

On Saturday night there's HeyRocco and Castle In the Air performing at the Village Tavern. Both HeyRocco and Castle In the Air feature great young blues club members and a good time and great music is guaranteed for all. For more information check out http://www.myspace.com/heyroccomusic or check facebook for Castle In the Air.

Additionally on Saturday night is the one and only Tommy Thunderfoot performing some great blues at the Home Team BBQ in West Ashley. The show starts at 9:00 and there is a $5 cover charge at the door.

As always make sure to get out to Home Team BBQ in West Ashley every Wednesday night to check out our amazing blues jam, a great time is guaranteed for all.

KMF

Reminders:

Featured artists with birthdays in December are Big Mama Thornton, Bo Diddley, Gregg Allman, and George Thorogood.

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.

LMW, Dec 9, 2010

Awendaw Green Music Festival this weekend!

I tell people,natives and newcomers to the Lowcountry alike, that the weekly Lowcountry Blues Jam is the most exciting and entertaining event in the Charleston area. The music and dancing are world-class. The energy and sense of community are spectacular.

As it has become more and more successful, the jam has created its own special set of problems. Unless one arrives early, it is now difficult to find parking or to get on stage before the cows come home. More musicians are fighting to have their voices heard and the inevitable questions are debated such as “what really is blues?” and “does everybody get a solo?”

I would like to take this opportunity to remind all that as we draw in more blues music lovers of all kinds, we each need to be more tolerant and patient. It is easy to see the things that could be tweaked but I see how vastly the event has improved since I began attending three years ago. I have taken thousands (certainly no exaggeration) of photos of these LCBC jams. I look at the faces in these shots and I see people literally growing up before my eyes. They are metaphors for the development of the jam and the club itself.

One of the many things of which I was consciously thankful this past Thursday was the Lowcountry Blues Club. The people I have met and the music we have made has made my life richer. Thank you all.

And speaking of riches, the Awendaw Green Music Festival this December 4th & 5th looks to be a stellar lineup of great local music. Many of our blues club members and friends will be performing including Allyson Taylor, Highway 17 Blues Band, Dan Wright, Skye Paige, Jeff Norwood, My Buddy Todd, Castle In the Air (with Sammy Derrick and Nick Mullane), and HeyRocco (with Tanner Cooper, Nate Merli, and Chris Cool. I hope to see you there.

--J.R. Getches

And one more event to consider for your weekend is Saturday night Dec. 4th at Home Team BBQ / West Ashley -- this will be the last gig for our friend Robert Paige with his band the Holy City Sinners. It's at 10pm, and only $5, so you can go after the Awendaw fest, if you've still got enough energy!

Reminders:

Featured artists with birthdays in December are Big Mama Thornton, Bo Diddley, Gregg Allman, and George Thorogood.

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

LMW, Dec 2, 2010

Send the Band to Memphis Benefit

Hello Lowcountry Blues Fans,

The Lowcountry Blues Club needs your help. On Sunday November 28th beginning at 2pm we will have a show to raise money to send our nominees to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN.

The location is Hometeam BBQ, 1205 Ashley River Rd. Charleston SC, 29407.
Preforming are:

Starling at 2pm
Highway 17 Blues Band at 3pm
Johnny Mac and the Booty Ranch with special guest Jeff Bateman at 4pm
Jeff Norwood at 5pm
Wyatt Garey Band at 6pm
The Dan Wright Band at 7pm

There is no cover for this show but we are asking for at $5 donation.

Hometeam BBQ may have specials for the show and there is a rumor that there may be Oysters!

Also if you have not renewed your dues to the club please do so. They are only $10 for the year and will go for a good cause. If you can't make it out to the jam please send in your dues to:

Tim Shaw
PO Box 40902
Charleston SC 29423-0902

See you Sunday,

The Big Guy
Prez
Lowcountry Blues Club

I've got my soap box and everything!!

Change up!!
Hi guys, doing something a little different this week. I must climb the mighty soap box to say what must be said! It regards the back line, the rhythm section and our importance in the songs that get played every week.

As you know I am a drummer, and the drums are an accompaniment to the music, not the star. I am there to create a metaphysical grid for the music to hang on, creating a frame work for the music to fit into in tempo in time. I consider what I do a service to the music and the foundation of any good music is the bass, drums, rhythm guitar ect. My message this week is aimed at the leads that use us to play the songs they want to play.

Don’t take for granted what a great rhythm section can do for your song selection. I love the lead guitar and vocals, however I get bent out of shape when the lead takes two or three solos and doesn’t even give a nod to all the other players on stage. Also, give other players an opportunity to give song suggestions. You may not know the song, but it is democratic and that always feels better to me.

As a developing musician and percussionist, an opportunity to solo is a great exercise and avenue for development and growth musically. If I have a night when I don’t even get an opportunity to solo, I feel I am being robbed of a great part of my musical development. Sometimes I can’t wait to solo, other times I am not feeling it and throw the solo away or deflect the opportunity; however I feel equally respected if I get the opportunity at all. And this isn’t aimed at any one person directly, this is something I have observed from my two years playing at the jams, so relax, this is in general, the names have been changed to protect the innocent! And if I have had a conflict with you, it is between you and me, and most likely no one knows about it any way as I never name names of people that I have had a conflict with, it’s between us and I do the best I can to keep these issues private.

Long story short, I good rule of thumb is if you are leading a song and are planning on taking one or two extended solos, give other players an opportunity to make a musical statement as well. Then the music has more to say from different musical perspectives, where every instrument is a story teller contributing to the song being performed. People will like playing with you and the song will be a richer experience for the listener as well as the players involved (if the solos are good!!)

Before I started playing music at the blues club jams, I was never given an opportunity to solo in my previous experience, and I have to say, my first solos where terrible! But if not for those opportunities to work through and grow through, I wouldn’t be as competent as I am now and as I will be a year from now!! Are you following me here? It is all about development and growth, and the blues club jams is letting people hone their craft into something note worth and interesting. The one thing I find amazing about the jams is the spontaneity. You never know what is going to happen, what songs will be selected and who you will be playing with! Long live Wednesday Night at Home Team BBQ West Ashley!!

In closing, I love the blues club because it has created an environment for me to experiment, solo, improvise and give impromptu performances with sometimes absolute musical strangers. We are all on that long and winding path towards musical greatness, and we are doing it together! I love to hear all the different musical perspectives from week to week, and hear how (for me) other musicians approach the drum set. It has been a grand ole two years for me and I have rarely missed an outing. I have seen myself grow and get better at these three song set experiments. I would have to say the strong point of my week is playing music at the jam with all the usual suspects. These people have enriched my musical life and I have shared moments with them that I could never share with my own family, as they are not players. My anticipation every Wednesday morning when I wake up is, “Wonder what the blues jam is going to be like tonight?” It sometimes is great, and I can’t believe how much fun it is, and sometimes I leave disappointed. Never the less, it’s all good as they say.

As a lead artist, please just do one thing for me in reading this blog, think about what I have said. I love being a supporting character to the music, but sometimes I need a little time to vent musically, as does the bass player and everyone else. Please if you don’t take away anything else, realize all the great musicians you are surrounded by as you play, and give them an opportunity to contribute to the music in a greater role than the status quo. I love playing with all of you and am grateful to have the blues club in my life. I enjoy it all very much and will see you again soon at another jam! Thank you for bearing with me and I hope you all have a killer Thanksgiving!! See you at the blues jam!!!!

PS, Many of the leads are very good about these issues, this is def. not in regards to every lead that plays at the jams. This is in regards to the jams that I didn't have as much fun as I could have had. This is not aimed at taking a cheap shot at leads or anything like that, I am just trying to find a way to have more fun at the jams. I love all of you guys and have a lot of respect for all the players that have the courage to participate at the jams!!

Your buddy,
JP Jones Jr

Or there's another option for Sunday night as well. Tyler Boone's Singer/Songwriter Night is happening at the Oasis. It's 8-11:30, 778 Folly Road, with Tyler Boone, Gregory Scott, Kara Hesse, and more -- lots of great music, $6 over 21, $8 under 21.

On the following Sunday, November 28, at Fiery Ron's Hometeam BBQ 1205 West Ashley River Rd....Let's send them to Memphis benefit show including the Rev. Dr. Johnny Mac and the Booty Ranch featuring Jeff Bateman, The Dan Wright Band, Jeff Norwood, Wyatt Garey Band, Highway 17 Blues Band, with Starling to perform beginning at 2pm. We are raising money to send the winners of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge to the International Blues Challenge 2011. Come out and enjoy the music and make a donation to the event!
Featured artists with birthdays in November are Dr. John, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt, and Susan Tedeschi.

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

best jam ever!

Hi All -

Dan Wright declared last night's jam to be the single best jam we've EVER had!! Thank you to all the musicians who came out and contributed to this amazing night! Those who were there had an unexpected treat in seeing an amazing new band give us a preview of what they do -- they're called Carbon Copy, and are inspired by Robert Randolph -- keep an eye out for them.

There's lots of great music this coming weekend. The Village Tavern in Mt. Pleasant is having its grand re-opening on Thurs, Fri and Sat nights. They're under new ownership and have re-done the interior, designing it to be a premier music venue with lots of live local music, as well as out of town acts. You can check them out on facebook or in one of the papers, and get the full schedule for this weekend's music.

Also on Friday, Scott Bucholtz tells us that his band called Mason Dixon is playing at New Moon Pizzeria and Pub on Johns Island, 9pm, and he would love to see some of his blues club friends if you'd care to come check out this country band.

On Sunday night, Dan Wright is hosting a benefit at the Pour House that will go on from around 6pm to midnight. There will be several bands, including The Tips, Mac Leaphart and My Ragged Company, and Dan Wright and the New Beat. The $15 cover will go to help with cancer research. Come out if you can - it will be a great time!

Or there's another option for Sunday night as well. Tyler Boone's Singer/Songwriter Night is happening at the Oasis. It's 8-11:30, 778 Folly Road, with Tyler Boone, Gregory Scott, Kara Hesse, and more -- lots of great music, $6 over 21, $8 under 21.

On the following Sunday, November 28, at Fiery Ron's Hometeam BBQ 1205 West Ashley River Rd....Let's send them to Memphis benefit show including the Rev. Dr. Johnny Mac and the Booty Ranch featuring Jeff Bateman, The Dan Wright Band, Jeff Norwood, Wyatt Garey Band, Highway 17 Blues Band, with Starling to perform beginning at 2pm. We are raising money to send the winners of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge to the International Blues Challenge 2011. Come out and enjoy the music and make a donation to the event!

--------------------------------------------------------

In the news -- Recently, local musicians Leslie had their gear stolen while on tour. (Check out the Charleston City Paper for more info on this theft, and find out how to help out if you care to.) Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence, and many musicians lack the means necessary to replace the missing equipment and the lost income from canceled shows. However, with proper insurance, the working musician has the ability to continue to earn a living after a devastating loss of equipment. So we asked our resident insurance guru, Greg Hutson, to put together a brief article on insurance basics for musicians. His article, below, is both informative and thought-provoking. Please don't let the lack of insurance keep you from doing what you love. -- Dereck

We all need insurance…….right? Well as long as there are lawyers,courts and thieves the answer is yes. Some coverages such as Homeowners and Auto are so easy to find a cave man could do it :). But when it comes to certain specialized coverages and when you are dealing with the public it may not be as easy. The particular coverag ewe are seeking is Musicians Insurance or Band Insurance. Musicians Insurance or Band Insurance is specialized and should be tailored to your needs. This isn’t coverage that can be thrown into a General Liability policy and cover the perils of a musician. We will use the recent event where a fellow musician’s trailer attached to his vehicle was broken into and the contents removed. Such a policy would have covered up to the limit requested in the theft of those items and also could have included money to be used in renting equipment to be able to meet scheduled performances until the equipment could be replaced. It could have also covered liabilities if a performance had to be cancelled. Your lead guitarist drops his guitar and it is damaged - coverage for that can also be added. Suppose that guitar bounced off stage and hit somebody, what if the mic fell and hurt something or somebody? A person was just awarded a settlement of $650,000 because he was in a strip club and a lap dancer hit him in the eye with her shoe. Sure it will be appealed but something will be paid out and it may be that much. Wonder how much if a mic or guitar had hit him? You have a roadie that unloads, sets everything up and then the reverse at the end of the night. He pulls his back and can’t work, can you afford to pay him to recover and pay his medical bills or will he take you to court for lost wages? All of these things are potentially a threat to your pocket-book. Musicians Insurance or Band Insurance can cover all of these things. If you have it and never use it that is a good thing. The peace of mind and the business deduction is worth it. If you don’t have it and need it you may find that it will alter your life more dramatically than you ever thought. So if you are interested in coverage, seek Musicians Insurance or Band Insurance -- no other policy will cover you better than something designed specifically for your profession. A great place to start is the internet and I’m sure The Blues Foundation has some references. Most local agents will not have the knowledge or access to properly help you with this coverage. This is specialized coverage so find somebody that specializes in it.

Reminders:

Featured artists with birthdays in November are Dr. John, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt, and Susan Tedeschi.

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

LMW, Nov 18, 2010

Hi Blues Club People!

Here's an important notice: Our dancer friends (from the Weds night jams) are looking for some musicians to help them throw a blues jam/dance party on a Saturday afternoon soon: Saturday, Nov 13, 1-5 pm, at Bowens Island. So far some of the interested jammers are: Dan Wright, Quentin Ravenel, Charlie Kendall, Jon Hager, and Brooks Davis. Who else wants to be a part of this?? You can contact dancer Alex Byham by facebook or at byhamsa@gmail.com -- thanks!

And here's some info from Shrimp City Slim about this 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 this 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 Lucy's Red Sky Grill, at the entrance to Seabrook Island, SC. No cover, reservations 843 768 8118

And from our friend Tyler Boone: I am putting on a benefit concert at The Music Farm on Dec 18th. The event is going to be for a local man named James Smyly who was just diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the pancreas, one of the most aggressive cancers there is. If we were to do this benefit, he would want the proceed...s to go to cancer research. We need to raise $1,000 to rent the Music Farm . The link to donate is:
http://www.feedthemuse.net/tylerboone

Feedthemuse.net
www.feedthemuse.net

And now, some info from J.R.: Here in the south, we blues lovers have many home grown heroes. And one of those southern blues giants is Howard Duane Allman born November 20, 1946. As well as the blues he created on his own, he was a sought after session musician who performed with such established stars as King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Herbie Mann. And, of course, he contributed heavily to one of my favorite records of all time - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos.

In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Allman at #2 in their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, second only to Jimi Hendrix.

Appropriately, Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee. When he was three years old his father, Willis Allman, a career United States Army sergeant, was murdered by a hitchhiker he picked up a day after returning from a long tour of duty.

Around 1960, Duane and his brother Greg (another fairly well-known blues musician) were in Nashville visiting relatives. They got tickets to a concert at which blues legend B. B. King performed. Both brothers promptly fell under the spell of his music. After the show, Duane, immediately started stringing together his own blues riffs and by the end of the night rolled his own solos, and discovered his full potential as a blues guitarist.

After that, Duane's love for the guitar grew even more and he was hardly ever seen out of his room not jamming on the guitar. "His improvisational skills were through the dam" Gregg stated in an interview "He was never not in his room, soloing for hours on end". Duane first learned the acoustic blues, and over the years crafted his guitar style to create his own custom sound that he is still known for today.

While back in Macon, Georgia on October 29, 1971 during a break from touring and recording, Allman was riding his motorcycle toward an oncoming truck that suddenly stopped in mid-intersection. Allman lost control of his Harley-Davidson and was thrown from his motorcycle. Although he was rushed to the hospital he died several hours later, just weeks before his 25th birthday.

After Duane's death, Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd dedicated the song "Free Bird", to his memory. This month. as we jam and pursue our love of blues, let’s remember Duane Allman and give thanks for his many contributions to the music we crave.

J.R Getches
JRGetches.com

Reminders:

Featured artists with birthdays in November are Dr. John, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Raitt, and Susan Tedeschi.

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

LMW, November 4, 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

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

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

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

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

It’s the super kick ass Charlie Kendall!!

Charlie Kendall is from Charleston and was born 1/2/93. His primary instrument is guitar and vocals and his secondary instrument is the saxophone. Charlie has been playing for five years and has formal training. He has taken lessons for five years, attended UNCW Jazz camp, and has also attended Berklee’s five week program.

Charlie comes from a musical family and would love to learn the drums time permitting. The Texas Blues are favorite blues sub genre and other genres of interest are Jazz and funk. John Mayer is Charlie’s favorite blues musician and The Beatles are his favorite all time band ever! “Superstition” is a favorite tune to play at the weekly jam and songs that should be played are “I don’t need no doctor” John Mayer version and “the chicken” Jaco Pastoius.

When asked about the most satisfying musical experience in life Charlie said “I’m able to express my feelings through my guitar to the audience and we’re all into the groove.” Worst musical experience is as follows: “I hate playing with cocky musicians who think that they’re the best in the world and try to bring me down.”

Charlie has been in his fare share of garage bands but finds work mostly from pick up gigs around town and is currently starting a band with Mr. Quentin Ravenel. Quentin Ravenel is Charlie’s favorite blues club jammer, for good reason of course!! Also, Charlie and Quentin are working together on a project that everyone will be able to hear soon. We will be a waiting with bated breath!!

Charlie’s decision to play music went something like this: “My dad played violin in a bluegrass band for 30 years, my grandmother played organ at the church for 20 years, and everybody in my family really appreciates music and I am lucky enough that their good tastes and sheer love were able to influence me.” Sounds like a winner my friend!!

Ok down through the rest quickly now. Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles are some of Charlie’s influences and is currently listening to John Mayer, John Scofield (he does a great “Cissy Strut” by the way, one of my favorite versions!), Jimmy Herring, Jamie Cullum, Wilco, SRV, Medeski Martin & Wood, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Band of Horses.

Charlie’s advice is to “stick with it and don’t give up no matter what people say. Always keep your mind open to different genres and be willing to learn. Also, having a good attitude and confidence is key to being successful.”
Favorite City: Boston
Favorite Book: Catcher in the Rye (I wonder if Charlie has a middle name, like Charlie “Assassinator” Kendall?!?!)
Favorite Eatery: Papa Zuzu’s
Favorite Movie: Across the Universe

Thanks again for reading and kudos to Charlie Kendall for the blog, buy him a red bull at the jam this week!! Thanks to all of you for your support of the Lowcountry blues club, a club is only as strong as its members, and you all make us a very strong club indeed!! Please send blog feedback to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We anticipate your feedback, thanks in advance!! Onto local blues news!!

It’s the 5th Annual AMERICAN MUSIC CELEBRATION

Sunday, October 10, 2010 2-7 pm Freshfields Village Green Kiawah Island, SC

venue site: www.freshfields.com

...a FREE event for the entire family, brought to you by the Kiawah Island Accommodations Tax Committee, Bill & Marilyn Blizard (Kiawah's Friends of the Blues), and the Lowcountry Blues Bash.
Featured artists this year

SUGAR BLUE
www.sugar-blue.com
One of the world's top harmonica players known for his recordings with The Rolling Stones, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Louisiana Red, and more...soaring, pulse-racing upper register jazz-inflected runs, great storytelling in the original material, and a space-age progressive blues band behind him. Sensational!

BILL HEID with RJ SPANGLER'S BLUE FOUR
www.myspace.com/billheidmusic
www.eastlawnrecords.com
Keyboard genius Bill Heid, as noted for his jazz organ work as his blues piano prowess, has just returned from eight months working in a club in Shanghai, China. He reunites with superb shuffle drummer RJ Spangler and his crew from Detroit to slam-dunk some groovy swing and after-hours R&B. Cool stuff. Sax, bass, keys, drums.

FREDDIE VANDERFORD & BRANDON TURNER
www.myspace.com/freddievanderford
www.myspace.com/theguitarofbrandonturner
One of South Carolina's paramount backroads acoustic duos - Freddie learned harmonica from legendary minstrel showman Peg Leg Sam and has just received the SC Folk Heritage Award. Brandon is a bad-ass guitar spanker who whips up a wall of sound on his six-string. Grrrrreat!

Bring your own lawn chair and/or blanket. Coolers OK but fabulous food & drink for sale also at reasonable prices. Thanks Shrimp City Slim!!

The Lowcountry Blues Challenge Finals will be held at Fiery Ron's Hometeam BBQ on Sunday,September 26 beginning around 3pm. On the bill will be Groove Therapy, Hollywood and the Willies, Wyatt Garey Band and Dan Wright. This will be a show you do not want to miss, so mark your calendar. The winners of the Solo/Duo will be announced as well as the winner of this competition at the end of the show. We are also working on an oyster roast so stay tuned.

It is also time to elect officers so if anyone is interested in helping with the Lowcountry Blues Club, let us know. The positions up are President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Our next organizational meeting will be Monday, October 4th, 7pm, at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley.

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, JoJo Wall, Tim Shaw 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.

Artists featured in September are B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles, Freddie King and Koko Taylor. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists. In October, we will feature Steve Miller and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

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.

That does it for this week!! See at the jam this Wednesday!!

Your Buddy,
JP Jones Jr.

Hello Blues Club Friends --

The third round of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge was this past Sunday, and attendees got to hear some great music from My Buddy Todd, Super Kush, Skye Paige and the Original Recipe, and The Wyatt Garey Band. I love the Challenge because we get a chance to see lots of our favorite musicians play, sometimes in new bands formed just to have a chance to be a part of this event... Each band is unique, with its own style and approach, and has something to offer. So, what I don't like about the Challenge, or any battle of the bands, is the whole judging thing. Because in the end, there are only four bands chosen to compete in the Finals of the Blues Club Challenge, but that doesn't mean that there were only four great bands, of course. Every one of the bands has its fans, and should be proud of the music they give to the world -- So we thank you all!!

That said, I do want to thank our judges, who've done what had to be done -- scoring the contestants using a specific set of criteria invented by the International Blues Challenge. Using that criteria, which included vocal skills, instrumental skills, and blues content, among other things -- we have four finalists to announce.

The Lowcountry Blues Challenge Finals will be held at Fiery Ron's Hometeam BBQ on Sunday,September 26 beginning around 3pm. On the bill will be Groove Therapy, Hollywood and the Willies, Wyatt Garey Band and Dan Wright. This will be a show you do not want to miss, so mark your calendar. The winners of the Solo/Duo will be announced as well as the winner of this competition at the end of the show. We are also working on an oyster roast so stay tuned.

It is also time to elect officers so if anyone is interested in helping with the Lowcountry Blues Club, let us know. The positions up are President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Our next organizational meeting will be Monday, October 4th, 7pm, at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley.

Now, you may be wondering where to go for good music this weekend... On Friday night, Sept 17, there are two great choices: Scott Holt is at Home Team/Sullivans Island, 10 pm, only $5! Scott used to be a guitarist for Buddy Guy, so you know he's good! Same night, local band Steel Petals plays at Home Team/West Ashley, 10pm, $5 -- They play a mix of blues and rock, really good too. On Saturday, Sept 18, you may want to see Highway 17 Band at the VFW Ladson, Bikers Helping Bikers 4th Annual Bike Rally & Car Show, 11 and 4:00 -- check it out!

And of course, we want to see you out at Home Team/West Ashley for the Wednesday night Blues Club jam, 8pm till midnight or so...

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, JoJo Wall, Tim Shaw 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.

Artists featured in September are B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles, Freddie King and Koko Taylor. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists. In October, we will feature Steve Miller and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

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, Sept 16, 2010

Greetins Blues Fans

This Sunday at Hometeam BBQ in West Ashely is the final round of the Lowcountry Blues Club Blues Challenge featuring My Buddy Todd, Charlie Kendall, The Wyatt Garey Band, and Skye Paige and the original Recipe. So come on out and listen to the blues. There is a $5 donation (not a cover charge) at the door.

Also if you haven't been able to come out to the jams but still wanna hear local artists play the blues check us out at http://www.reverbnation.com/#/bluesjamsongs.

And as always every Wednesday night at Hometeam BBQ in West Ashely is the Lowcountry Blues Club jam so come on out and play some blues.

KMF

Blues and more

Those of you who attended the Blues Challenge this past weekend were treated to serious musicianship, showmanship, and a blast of blues humor. Now, blues humor is an interesting and strange genre of comedy somewhat akin to gallows humor.

Yet, blues humor has a rich tradition and a bunch of fine examples spring to mind. Think “I Can’t Stop My Leg” by Robert Klein. There is a blues name calculator http://www.outliermusic.com/jokes_bluesname.htm. And of course, the ever popular “How to Sing the Blues in 20 easy lessons” http://www.theblackriver.net/attic/singingtheblues.html

Hollywood and the Willies and the gang reminded me to not take all of this too seriously. I mean for some, the blues is more than a musical genre and has become a sort of religion. And the Wednesday blues jams are our church.

I read a piece of prose from Scott Bucholtz.who said “After years of reading LP liner notes, I researched people like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Hubert Sumlin. But, I must admit that I prefer their disciples: Led Zeppelin, SRV, and most notably and most importantly, the unparalleled Allman Brothers Band. Though, Lynyrd Skynyrd would still qualify as my favorite, I would say that Gov’t Mule and Derek Trucks are the current flag bearers. Along with Stevie Wonder, War and Sly Stone, you have all of my major influences.”

To me this reminds me of the genealogical parts of the bible where who begat who fills pages.

Scott grew up in an Elvis household. Born in St. Joseph, MI. His father loved early Elvis, and his mother the later stuff.

Scott wrote “I actually saw Elvis “Live” on the Notre Dame campus in both 1973 and 1976. I have an older brother who turned me onto The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Jethro Tull and Lynyrd Skynyrd. By the time I was 8 or 9 I just wanted to play guitar. I got an SG copy for Christmas and started taking lessons but I just could not do it. My left hand is not made for chords. I am SO envious of guitar players.”

Well, really you only need a guitar to play the blues or even just a blues harp.

“As a consolation, I got my first drum kit at 12. Two years later I upgraded to the kit that I still play today. I got married in 1989 and we had our first of 3 children in 1991. Obviously, my focus and priority is my family. But, while so many people my age tell me that they sold their instruments when they got married or when they had kids, I always knew that my desire to listen and play music was too great to think about selling my stuff.”

This speaks to me as I feel there are two kinds of musicians: those who want and like to play and those that MUST play because it is an essential part of who they are.

“For those who haven’t experienced it, nothing beats a “game of catch” with one of your kids whether it’s with a baseball or on a stage. Even though New Years 2000 was my last gig before this past winter, my addiction to music only grew. Then, faced with being out of work last summer, I immediately thought of picking up some gigs.”

I think there are many of us that are thankful to have music to fall back on in this economy.

Scott continues “This March, an opportunity at Force Protection bought me down to the Charleston area. Due to work commitments and my kids' school, my wife had to stay back in Michigan for a few months. As luck would have it, I stopped in to Ye Olde Music Shop the day after I unloaded my moving truck. Mike Davis told me about a blues jam at A Dough Re Mi. He told me to go ask for Greg Levkus. A couple days later I got to play with Dan Wright and John Scott. I’ve been on a musical high ever since. A week or two later, the sterling Captain Kirk invited me to play out at Bowens Island. All of a sudden I’m playing more than I have since the 1990’s. For that, I am sincerely grateful to the entire Lowcountry Blues Club. While ‘alone’, I’ve spent many nights watching ( and when lucky) sitting in with Dan Wright, Tim Hodson, Louie D, Starling, Highway 17, Fowler’s Mustache, Gaslight Street, Leslie… Who else, when forced to be away from his family, hung out with musicians (at bars) as a means of something constructive! I truly want to send a “Thank You” to all.”

An attitude of gratitude is becoming. Scott’s early bands include “The Only”, “Ferris Wheel”, “Blues Central”, “Vandal”, “The Urge” and “The
Holokatz”. But, he says “all of the experiences that I had before doesn’t really compare to the musical joy that I get playing with all of the Charleston talent.”

“My favorite jammers are plenty. Guitarists Dan Wright and J.R. Getches are the two that the majority of my favorite performances have been with, and Jonathon Robinson always gives me visions of my all time favorite axemen. I must say that all of the bass players that I’ve shared a stage with here have been incredible. Mark Schleis has challenged me in a positive way and I feel that Tony Cobin and I have really locked in to name a couple. Backing Sarah Cole is always an exciting highlight for me. With her everyone seems to step it up instead of stepping all over one another! Of course, I must also include the guy I’ve heard called “sweety pie on the keys” – Jon Hager. Obviously, I can’t name just one. Nor would I want to. It’s all of the jammers that made me instantly love the Lowcountry!“

I must admit that this is the same experience I had upon moving here from Los Angeles. I don’t always believe the hype about southern hospitality but the Lowcountry Blues Club seems to bring out the best in people.

JR Getches, Sept 2, 2010

It's time to elect new officers for the Lowcountry Blues Club.....If anyone would like to get involved with the Lowcountry Blues Club and help make it even better please step up and help. See Tim Shaw at the jam.

Reminders: Join us on facebook and twitter. Also, artists featured in September are B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles, Freddie King, and Koko Taylor. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists.

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.

Matt Foster Bio

Hello again, It’s JP and it is my week for the blog. This week we will be spending time with the amazing Matt Foster! Matt was born September 5th, 1993 and hails from Minerva Ohio. His main instrument is the guitar and second instrument is the ukulele. As far as what brought him to Charleston, he informs me it was his parents! Matt has been diligently putting his guitar through its paces for a year now and learned the craft from our own Wyatt Garey. When asked what other instrument Matt would like to play other than guitar, he says “The drums, because I think it’d be cool to make new beats.” I concur, that is a great part of being a drummer among many other things!

Matt’s favorite blues genre is classic blues artist like Robert Johnson, however Jack White is Matt’s favorite musician, and Led Zeppelin is Matt’s favorite all time band ever!! “Cortez the killer” by Neil Young is Matt’s favorite song to play at any given blues jam and wishes he could play more Zep at the blues jams.
Matt’s most fulfilling musical experience in life is jamming with the band Leslie at the Terrace Theater, and his worst musical experience is his first blues jam. Yeah, the first one is the toughest I think.

Bands Matt has played in are “Were just friends” and “Directions for Use” and he is not currently in a band. Dan “the man” Wright is Matt’s favorite blues club aficionado extraordinaire, and Matt’s motivation for playing music is his “Extreme
love of it!!!” Passion is pivotal!!

Matt growing up was into heavy stuff like Black Sabbath and Ac/Dc but has mellowed with age. Yes I was a little metal head also up until about age 15. It never leaves you though does it Matt? They wouldn’t understand, but we have mercury for blood!! “Long live Rock and Roll, Long live Rock and Roll Yeah” Rainbow, “Long live Rock and Roll.” Thank the maker for Ronnie James Dio, that little Italian pip squeak bastard, with the vocal chords of Zeus!!! Wild Tangent complete! Moving along, moving along!!

Now a days, Matt is listening to the oldies but goodies, Zeppelin, Steve Miller band, ECT as well as the black keys and the Raconteurs.

Matt’s ethics are simply put but always effective, “Work hard and work some more.” IN the words of some crusty old white dude, “Hard work is the reward of . . . HARD WORK!!!”

And the cleanup is as follows: Favorite City: Honolulu Hawaii, Favorite Book: Good Omen, Favorite Eatery: Yamato, and Favorite Movie: Almost Famous.
“I dig Music!!!!” Matt Foster.

That wraps up another bio! Who do you want to know more about? Who haven’t you heard from that you would like to?! You are who we work to please and without the fans of the blues club, we wouldn’t’ be whole! We love you guys and are grateful for all of you. The jams wouldn’t be the same without you. Please let your opinion be heard, drop us a line at lowecontrybluesclub@gmail.com and let your thoughts be known.

It's been a great week for music -- last weeks Wednesday jam was awesome, as usual! Many thanks to all the musicians who played as well as all the killer dancing!! And Sunday after last we had the first round of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge, with four bands competing. Thanks to Tim Shaw for much organizing, and thanks to our judges: Johnny Mac, Steve Simon, and Jeff Bateman, for being there start to finish, and helping us to determine who should be in the finals. Thanks too to all who participated, and helped in any way...

The next round will be Sunday, Aug 29th from 2-6pm at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley. Some of the competitors are Jeff Liberty, Dan Wright, Hollywood and the Willies, and Jon Hager -- so this should be a really great afternoon of music for just a $5 donation. Don't miss it!!

The third round will be Sep 12th, and the finals are Sep 26 -- all the Blues Challenge events are at Home Team/West Ashley -- so mark your calendars accordingly. The winners of the Challenge will receive our club's nomination to go to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Now for some more blues news with Shrimp City Slim!!

BLUES & BBQ CRUISES...Don't miss the boat!
Only a few bodacious "Blues & BBQ Sunset Harbor Cruises" left this year. Summer is running down (Christmas can't be too far behind!), so come on out and listen to live blues from SHRIMP CITY SLIM, eat some killer BBQ courtesy of Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ, and sail your blues away on "Carolina Belle", leaving every Thursday, 6:30 pm from the Charleston (SC) Maritime Center".
Tickets & info at www.charlestonharbortours.com or call 843 722 1112
Reasonably priced and one of the best things happening in Charleston.
The last cruises of this year are (all Thursdays):

August 26, September 2,16,30 and October 14,28.

Remember: This is a perfect party plan for your next "do"...one price gets you the venue, the food, the band, and cash bar. Ask the office folks when you call and book ahead for that wedding reception, anniversary, birthday, company party, you name it.

You will be very glad you did.

Also,

Momma and Redemption band featuring Poppa DuPree, JoJo, Lovely Lisa Coopersmith and Big Jim Mathews will once again "ROCK the Dock "at Bowen's Island in a reprise of their record breaking Spoleto performance. Momma has invited the phenomenal Susie Summers and Al Pugliese to join her and the band for one last summer fling on Sunday, September 5, 2010 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. MiMi and the good folks at Bowen's Island will provide great food and cold beverages.
We eagerly anticipate a great party with our many friends. Hope to see you there!!!
Peace,
Poppa DuPree “James Wall”

That wraps up this week’s Blues news!! Thanks for your partnership with the Lowcountry Blues Club and we will see you at the jam this Wednesday!!! Have a great week and week end. See you Wednesday!!
Your buddy,
JP Jones Jr.

Lowcountry Blues Club News

Hi Blues Club Friends --

It's been a great week for music -- last night's Wednesday jam was awesome, as usual! Many thanks to all the musicians who played!! And Sunday we had the first round of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge, with four bands competing. Thanks to Tim Shaw for much organizing, and thanks to our judges: Johnny Mac, Steve Simon, and Jeff Bateman, for being there start to finish, and helping us to determine who should be in the finals. Thanks too to all who participated, and helped in any way...

The next round will be Sunday, Aug 29th from 2-6pm at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley. Some of the competitors are Jeff Liberty, Dan Wright, Hollywood and the Willies, and Jon Hager -- so this should be a really great afternoon of music for just a $5 donation. Don't miss it!!

The third round will be Sep 12th, and the finals are Sep 26 -- all the Blues Challenge events are at Home Team/West Ashley -- so mark your calendars accordingly. The winners of the Challenge will receive our club's nomination to go to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

Now, some weekend events for you: Shrimp City Slim plays on Friday night Aug 20, 6pm, at FreshFields on Kiawah. And Rob Lowe plays at Bambu. On Saturday night Aug 21 Josh Roberts and the Hinges, from Columbia, play at Home Team/Sullivans Island, 10:30, for just $5. Their newest cd is called My War Cry is Amor, and there are some great songs on it. They're not blues, but if you like some rock/Americana from time to time, check 'em out. On Sunday our friend Skye Paige and her band play their version of rockabilly blues at Home Team/West Ashley at 6pm, and that's always a fun time, only $5.

Of course we want you to come out for the next Wednesday Blues Club jam, on Wednesday night at Home Team/West Ashley, 8pm -- an unbelievable amount of fun, for no cover! We love to watch the Charleston Swing Dancers who come out in force, and they seem to love us too...

And mark your calendars for the United Way Battle of the Bands at the Music Farm on Thursday, Aug 26, starting 6pm, $10, with our own Highway 17 as one of the bands competing. They'd love to have lots of Blues Club fans come out to cheer them on!

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, JoJo Wall, Tim Shaw 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.

Reminders: Join us on facebook and twitter.

Artists featured in August are John Lee Hooker and Robert Cray. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists.

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, August 19, 2010

August 9-14

Hello Blues fans
Just because it's Friday the 13th don't let that stop you from coming out and seeing the Highway 17 Bluesband tonight at Smokey’s Place Sports Bar and Grill, 1213 Remount Rd, in N. Charleston. They are Charleston’s premier power blues sextet featuring Lowcountry Blues Club members Tim “The Big Guy” Shaw, Jack “The Man In The Black Hat” Downey, the one and only mighty Dr. Rev. Jerry “Triple Threat” Newman (aka “Mr. Personality”), and your favorite blues harp jammer, Gary “Dream Weaver” Wright! If you like your blues served smokin’ HOT like smoldering asphalt, join in the fun and enjoy an evening of music and entertainment. Full schedule, photos, streaming music, and band merchandise can be found at Highway 17 Blues Band . Check out band info on facebook, myspace, reverbnation, and twitter! Contact the band at highway17blues@yahoo.com . Other dates for Highway 17 are:

The first battle of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge will be Sunday, Aug 15 at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley, 2-6pm, featuring Jeff Norwood, Hwy 17 Blues Band, Starling, and more, for only a $5 donation -- be sure to come out if you can! We still need volunteers during the Challenge to help with memberships and working the door, so email us at lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com if you wanna help.

And FYI, Shrimp City Slim plays on Sat Aug 14, 10 pm: Sullivans Is, SC (Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ)

It is time to elect officers for the Lowcountry Blues Club.......Positions are President, Visa President, Secretary and Treasurer....Being a non profit C504 it is required to maintain our tax status. Our club continues to grow so if you have any one who is interested in getting involved as an officer or to serve on the board it would be helpful.

Reminders: Artists featured in August will be John Lee Hooker and Robert Cray. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists.

Join us on facebook and twitter.

Don't forget the Blues & BBQ Harbor Cruises in Charleston harbor run every Thursday July-August and then back to every OTHER Thursday all the way until October 28. This is a blast. Get more info and tickets at www.charlestonharbortours.com or phone 843 722 1112.

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 if you've been out to the jams and wondering how it sounds or perhaps have been hesitant to come out because of music quality then check out some of our recordings at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub featuring artists such as Wyatt Garey Dan Wright JoJo Wall Tim Shaw and many other local players

Also local rock trio and friends of the Lowcountry Blues Club Leslie have just released a new single from their new album and you can download it for FREE at http://lesliemusic.bandcamp.com/ and hurry now and get it while you can.

have a great weekend!
KMF

Blues Club musings and news

Hi, lowcountry blues club members. I don’t know if my brain has been fried by the torrid Charleston summer heat or if the crashing economy has crushed my sunny disposition but I have begun to ponder the big questions. What is the meaning of life? When will extraterrestrial blues musicians show up for the weekly jam? Will they play too loud? What really is blues music?

So, being the geek I am, I visited Wikipedia, which is clearly a blues authority. It says “Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre created primarily within the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads. The blues form ubiquitous in jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll is characterized by specific chord progressions—the twelve-bar blues chord progressions being the most common—and the blue notes, notes that for expressive purposes are sung or played flattened or gradually bent (minor 3rd to major 3rd) in relation to the pitch of the major scale.”

I think there is some wisdom in that pithy paragraph. Personally, I hear the blues in a very wide range of music. The music that I love connects people together through our shared pain - loneliness, disappointment, disillusionment, and bad TV. It’s that connection that brings me to the blues club.

But, I hear people say “that’s not blues” when certain songs come up at the weekly jams. When I starting playing the guitar, the blues meant the soulful music of B.B. King, Freddie King, and Muddy Waters. But to most of my peers, the blues came second-hand from Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, and Peter Green. As I went out into the world I heard the blues scale and the blue notes come roaring out in reggae, funk, and the Latin flavored solos of Carlos Santana.

I met B.B. King a few years ago and spent some time talking with him backstage after a show. I actually asked him about all of this muddy water and he said simply “Blues is a language spoken with many accents.” This made sense to me. I have heard people speak English all over the world yet often I have had no idea what they were saying. I have been in Britain, Ireland, and parts of the United States where the English spoken by the natives might as well have been the language spoken by fish deep in the sea. I fathomed not a word.

So, let’s all open our minds, ears, and hearts to experience those bent blues notes that bring us together to express the pain of being human in a flawed world.

J.R.

Here's an event you may be interested in this weekend: This Saturday night, August 7, there's a cd release party at the Pour House for the Charleston Sound compilation cd #2, with several local bands performing, including our own jam-master Dan Wright and our friend Skye Paige -- should be lots of fun!

Also the first battle of the Lowcountry Blues Challenge will be Sunday, Aug 15 at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley, 2-6pm, featuring Jeff Norwood, Super Kush, Hwy 17 Blues Band, and Starling, $5 donation -- be sure to come out if you can!

Also, it is time to elect officers for the Lowcountry Blues Club.......Positions are President, Visa President, Secretary and Treasurer....Being a non profit C504 it is required to maintain our tax status. Our club continues to grow so if you have any one who is interested in getting involved as an officer or to serve on the board it would be helpful.

Reminders: Artists featured in August will be John Lee Hooker and Robert Cray. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists.

Join us on facebook and twitter.

Don't forget the Blues & BBQ Harbor Cruises in Charleston harbor run every Thursday July-August and then back to every OTHER Thursday all the way until October 28. This is a blast. Get more info and tickets at www.charlestonharbortours.com or phone 843 722 1112.

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.

recording of the jams on facebook

This is not a regular blog post. I just wanted to let everyone know I have been recording the jams for the past couple of weeks and if you want to download the recordings you can find them at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lowcountry-Blues-Club/124403562362?v=app_2405167945&ref=ts

You can find the recordings by going to the Lowcountry Blues Club Facebook page and clicking on the "My Band" tab. That will take you to the recordings where you can listen to or download the songs. The club is not making a single penny by having the recordings either. It is just an added bonus to the members by tracking progress and recording great jams. The recordings are a tool to help you and it is included in you membership. We are trying this to see how it works, so please give us your feedback at lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. Have a great weekend and thanks for your time!

Take it light,
JP Jones Jr.

Blues Club news

Hi All -

We had another great jam last night -- thank you to EVERYONE who came out to play or watch or dance!! Be sure you come out next Wednesday night to Home Team BBQ/West Ashley for more great music and fun...

This Friday night, July 30th, I recommend you come out to the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms to see our own John Hager, keyboard player, play a Tom Petty tribute show. The cover is only $8, and I can assure you that the show will be wonderful! I saw them do this at the Pour House just a few weeks ago, and it was awesome -- Sadler Vaden IS Tom Petty!

On Saturday night I recommend a show at Jimbo's Rock Lounge, 1662 Savannah Hwy in West Ashley, with Johnny Mac and the Booty Ranch, 8pm. Special guest will be our own Sarah Cole. You can pay $5 at the door, or get a free advance ticket at 52.5 Records downtown or Monster Music in West Ashley -- what a deal!

Monday night, check out the first in a series of Singer/Songwriter nights at the Pour House. Our friend Skye Paige is one of the eight musicians featured, as is Mac Leaphart, who plays with John Hager and others in the band Guilt Ridden Troubadour. Music on the deck starts around 5 or 6 (free) and the main stage is at 8pm (only $5!). Others featured are: Lindsay Holler, Danielle Howle, Graham Whorley, James Justin Burke, Gregory Scott, and Steven Hurst.

Upcoming excitement includes the Lowcountry Blues Challenge, battle of the bands. We have 4 spots open for the challenge on Aug 15 and Aug 29. Please contact Tim Shaw at thebigguyblues@gmail.com or (843)214-0555. We also need sponsors for the event. They get advertising on the poster and they get to place up a banner during the challenge. We will need volunteers during the Challenge to help with memberships and working the door.

Also, it is time to elect officers for the Lowcountry Blues Club.......Positions are President, Visa President, Secretary and Treasurer....Being a non profit C504 it is required to maintain our tax status. Our club continues to grow so if you have any one who is interested in getting involved as an officer or to serve on the board it would be helpful.

Reminders: Artists featured in August will be John Lee Hooker and Robert Cray. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists.

Join us on facebook and twitter.

Don't forget the Blues & BBQ Harbor Cruises in Charleston harbor run every Thursday July-August and then back to every OTHER Thursday all the way until October 28. This is a blast. Get more info and tickets at www.charlestonharbortours.com or phone 843 722 1112.

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, July 29, 2010

Blues news

Hi All -

For some fun this weekend, head over to Iacofano's in Mt P at 9pm to see our friends the Wyatt Garey band play on Friday night. Or head to the Pour House for Blues Night, featuring Mac Arnold and other great players, or to Home Team/Sullivans Island for Mississippi John Doude -- great choices all! On Saturday you might like to try the BBQ Bros at Home Team/SI if you like some rocking Americana/country.

Also plan to be at Home Team/West Ashley on August 15 and 29, for the first two rounds of the Lowcountry Blues Club Challenge, a battle of the bands with the winner receiving our nomination to go to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge. More info on this coming soon. See Tim Shaw for more details.

This week's Featured Lowcountry Blues Club Artist: Sarah Cole

This week we're interviewing Miss Sarah Cole, who is an amazing guitarist and singer. Just 17 years old, she's been playing for about 5 years now. "When I was 11, my dad took me to see Kenny Wayne Shepherd", says Sarah. "It was my first concert, and I loved it. After that I started getting into blues, then my dad bought me a guitar. My dad started playing at the same time as me."

She had a few months of lessons, but is mostly self-taught. She has played in several bands: Tommy Thunderfoot and the Accelerators, Cole Train, and Sarah Cole and the Mojo Men. At the moment she's been playing around town with various combinations of musician/friends at a variety of venues.

Her favorite blues genres are Texas blues and blues-rock.
Favorite blues musician: Stevie Ray Vaughan
Favorite bands ever: Led Zeppelin and The Doors
Favorite song to play at the jam: Little by Little by Junior Wells
Would like to play at the jam: some Aretha Franklin songs
Favorite LBC jammer: John Hager
Musical influences: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joe Bonamassa, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Susan Tedeschi, Jimi Hendrix, Scott Holt, Buddy Guy...
Listening to now: Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Allison Krauss, Robert Plant, Muddy Waters, Joss Stone, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, Dereck Trucks, Widespread Panic, and more...
Favorite city: Venice Beach, California
Favorite book: 1984
Favorite food: Japanese
Favorite movies: Oliver Stone's The Doors, Across the Universe, Dazed & Confused
Advice for others: "Practice, practice, practice. You can always learn new things. Stick to playing music that you can feel. Write as much as you can."
Most satisfying musical experience to date: "Probably when I got to play for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. I got to play with a lot of great players my age."

Sarah wants people to know that she's a very laid back person, and music is her only passion in life. She says she'll never stop playing. And those of us who come to the jams hope that she'll keep coming out to Home Team on Wednesdays, because we love to see her play and sing!

------------------------------------

Artists featured in July are Willie Dixon, Junior Kimbrough, and Buddy Guy. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists... August will feature John Lee Hooker and Robert Cray.

Reminders: Join us on facebook and twitter, and come out to the jams every Wednesday night at Home Team BBQ/West Ashley for a great time!

Don't forget the Blues & BBQ Harbor Cruises in Charleston harbor run every Thursday July-August and then back to every OTHER Thursday all the way until October 28. This is a blast. Get more info and tickets at www.charlestonharbortours.com or phone 843 722 1112.

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, July 21, 2010

Grand Opening Celebration A Dough Re Mi this Saturday begining at 2pm

Hey Lowcountry Blues Club Friends

There is a lot going on this week but I wanted to send out a couple reminders for our members for this weekend. If you haven had time to read the Blog for this week take a little as JP did a great job!

On Saturday July 17 from 2pm until 6pm we are having an open jam to celebrate and toast our friends,Dave and Beth Clark on their new location:

A Dough Re Mi
The Shoppes At Brickyard
#100 - 2700 Hwy. 17N - Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
http://www.adoughremi.com/

The backline will be supplied so it's plug and play. The Dough is where we started so let's show our support!

July 18 is the deadline to have your applications in for the Blue Challenge this we. If you have not please email me at lowcountryblueschallenge@gmail.com or thebigguyblues@gmail.com that you wish to be in the shows.

We also need your help with dues, if you have not please renew your dues or spread the work about our club!

See all of you on Saturday!

The Big Guy

Give it up for. . . Jojo Wall!

Hello everyone! It’s JP Jones here and I am filling in for Lua this week. As promised, I will be doing another local bio of a Lowcountry Blues Club Jammer. This week it’s . . . the undeniable Jojo Wall!!

Jojo was born November 3, 1975 and is from Cross, Sc. He is a vocalist, harmonica, bass, and rhythm guitar player. The undeniable hand of fate brought Mr. Walls to Charleston and he has been hard at work on his many instruments for seventeen years to date. Jojo is a self taught musician that comes from a big ole musical family with deep blues pockets to boot! If Jojo could play any other instrument it would be the viola. His favorite blues sub genre is the Mississippi Delta blues and his other favorite music genres include but not limited to Celtic, Classical, Heavy Metal, and of course meditation music for the deep thought of life, like “Would I rather take part in a Star Wars Trek, or a Star Trek War??!!” Favorite blues musician would have to be Robert Johnson and all time favorite band is defiantly Pink Floyd. Jojo rather enjoys playing “Superstition” at the Wednesday night jams, and never gets to play “Born under a Bad Sign” in which case, he would love to! Any takers, “Born under a Bad Sign” for Jojo Walls? I am sure somebody will make this happen for sure.

Back to business, when Jojo was asked what his most satisfying musical experience in life has been he responded with the following tale: “I opened for Little Milton and Denise LaSalle at the Gaillard Auditorium. I made the mistake of using another bass player’s amp which of course malfunctioned in front of 5,000 people! I braced my leg against the input jack and by the grace of God, it worked! We proceeded to burn that f@#$#n place down! (Figuratively, as of late Jojo has kept his closet Pyromania hush, hush!)”

Jojo’s worst musical experience is when the G. D. input jack malfunctioned!!
The bands Jojo have played in are as follows: Easy Street Blues Band, Mamma and the Misfitz, Momma and the Redemption Band, Tommy Thunderfoot and the Accelerators, Drink Small, Jojo and the Voodoo Junkies.

JR Getches is Jojo’s favorite blues club jammer, no offense to any other players, he is just saying . . .

When I asked Jojo why he decided to play music, he gave the following response: “I’m not good at sports… But seriously! It was a divine flash of lightning when I was 16. I accidently hit a good note and my family thanked God I had musical talent. Then they put me to work!”

Growing up, Jojo listened to Freddie King, Albert Collins, and Santana. Now a days, he is listening to Tool, BB King, Metallica, Sleep, Big Bill Broonzy, Sun House, Tommy Emanuel, and Jerry Reed among many others.

Closing advice Jojo has for other players and people interested in learning to play music is this: “Stay in tune, Develop a sense of time, listen to advice, and be humble!” Well spoken!

Charleston is Jojo’s favorite city, and “Lasher” is his favorite book. Favorite local eatery is Teppanak Grill and his favorite movie is “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
That wraps up this week’s interview with the lovable Jojo Wall. What a great guy and if you enjoyed getting to know him, tell him so at the weekly jam! Let us know how we are doing with the Blog! Send your feedback to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. Thank you Jojo for your time and your involvement in the Lowcountry Blues club! See you at the Wednesday night jam at Home Team BBQ West Ashley at the highway 61 split.

Something very special has been happening at the Wednesday night jams. More people are coming to listen and take part in the festivities and for the last several jams; it has been standing room only so come early to grab a seat! Also, more and more musicians are coming out of the woodwork to take a stab at a three song set, sometimes with perfect strangers! Please keep in mind, that many people have never played together and what you experience at the jams is a collaborative sandbox of different musical mindsets and skill levels jumping into the moment and working very hard to play something entertaining and memorable. Musicians (except drummers) bring your own instruments. And bring money to pay your dues if you haven't yet joined for 2010 -- $10 for individuals, $25 for a family or band, $100 corporate, under 21 is free! This is the perfect musical laboratory to perfect your sound and impromptu performance ability!

Also, join us on face book if you haven't already done so: Low country Blues Club nonprofit). Many of our jam musicians are on face book too, so be sure to become a friend or fan of your favorites, and go see them when they play elsewhere during the week or on the weekend. We're on twitter, too.

Featured artists in July (because their birthdays are in July) are Willie Dixon, Junior Kimbrough, and Buddy Guy. When you come to the jam, let our jam-master know if you want to play a song by one of the featured artists...

If you've enjoyed the amazing dancing at the Home Team Wednesday jams, you might want to consider taking dance lessons from Aaron "Rat" Barse -- you can contact him at mcratsmith@gmail.com or at 607-651-3329. Thanks for the great dancing, Rat!!

Saturday July 17 - 2pm - 6pm there will be an Open Jam for A Dough Re Mi's Grand Opening.....A Dough Re Mi is located at The Shoppes At Brickyard #100 - 2700 Hwy. 17N - Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466. 843.881.6989. If you don’t know, A Do Re Mi hosted the Lowcountry Blues jam for years before they moved to their new location, so this jam is special as it will be a reunion of sorts. Come on out and support the people who have never failed to support the Lowcountry Blues Club and all the great jammers!! This should be a lot of fun as we will be playing outside and there will be events for the kids and everyone!

JJ CAILLIER & THE ZYDECO KNOCKOUTS roar back into the state today to do the opening honors, 5:30-8 pm at the tent stage on Main Street.
And blues into the weekend: CHARLIE SAYLES & THE BLUES DISCIPLES, MATTIE PHIFER BAND, DADDY MACK BLUES BAND, VERONIKA JACKSON, WARNER WILLIAMS & JAY SUMMEROUR, SHRIMP CITY SLIM, SC FOLK HERITAGE DUO, WANDA JOHNSON, many more.
Full info & schedule: www.greenwoodbluescruise.com
See you this weekend in Greenwood!
CAMDEN UPDATE!! CAMDEN UPDATE!! CAMDEN UPDATE!!
*********************************************
14th annual
CAROLINA DOWNHOME BLUES FESTIVAL
Thursday-Saturday, October 7-9
Camden, SC
Another great production...all small venues in downtown.
www.bluesbash.com/camden (to be updated with 2010 info)
It is our distinct pleasure to announce some of the headliners...
SUGAR BLUE - the world-travelled genius, "Miss You" by the Rolling Stones -
the original blues harp pyrotechnician
www.sugar-blue.com
LIL ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS
Slide guitar wildman, nephew of legendary SC bluesman JB HUTTO
www.liledandthebluesimperials.com
BRYAN LEE & THE BLUES POWER BAND
Great and gritty Bourbon Street bluesman & his hot band
www.myspace.com/bryanleeandthebluespowerband
RJ SPANGLER BLUE 4, featuring BILL HEID
Ridiculously hip & groovy swinging keyboard-led blues quartet
www.eastlawnrecords.com
and an avalanche of acoustic blues, rockin' blues, from all across the genre...final line-up t.b.a. very soon.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
More updates soon. FYI the DRINK SMALL BLUES FESTIVAL in Bishopville, SC will be held January 28, 2011 (Drink's birthday) NOT November 19 as originally announced.
And also on the radar: 21st annual LOWCOUNTRY BLUES BASH,
February 4-13, 2011, 20+ venues, 50+ acts, Charleston, SC
www.bluesbash.com

We're starting to look forward to the second annual Low country Blues Club Challenge, a battle of the bands that ends with the winning band and solo/duo act receiving our club's invitation to represent us in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge, in February. Dan Wright represented our club last year, with Landon Moore on bass and Quentin Ravenel on drums -- and Sarah Cole represented us in the Youth Category, with Quentin on drums, Wyatt Garey on guitar, and Chris Cool on bass. Those of us who went to Memphis had a blast -- I recommend that you start saving your pennies now, and plan to go to Memphis for the weekend, whether you're in the winning band or not -- it's a party with great blues bands from all over the world! The challenge begins in August, at Home Team BBQ. More details on the competition are at the end of this email, including some date changes, for those who are interested.

To get info in this weekly email/blog: please submit all the details to Lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com by Monday of each week. Please put "Attention blog-writers" as the subject line. The blog is posted on either Tues, Weds, or Thursday, most weeks, depending on the blog-writer's schedule. If you'd like to be a blog-writer too, or just submit an article, let us know -- just email us at Lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com.

Info on the Low country Blues Club Challenge:

The Low country Blues Club’s local competitions for the 2011 International Blues Challenge in Memphis have been set! It’s time for bands and solo/duo acts to make their plans to compete. One band and one solo/duo act will represent the Low country Blues Club in Memphis at the world’s largest gathering of blues musicians from February 2nd through February 5th, 2011.

The preliminary band competitions will be held on Sunday, August 15; Sunday, August 29, and Sunday Sept 12 at the award-winning Fiery Ron’s Hometeam BBQ, 1205 Ashley River Rd, Charleston SC 29406. Depending on the number of entries received, we may have to alter the preliminary dates.

Each competition will follow the rules of the Blues Foundation. Each set will be limited to 45 minutes, and each competitor will be allowed one 15-minute set change. Any South Carolina act may enter, however at least one member should be a Low country Blues Club member. Membership can be established at IBC entry, using the membership form. There is a non refundable $25 application fee due at the time your application is submitted for bands. There is a $15 application fee for solo/duo acts. You can obtain an application by emailing: lowcountryblueschallenge@gmail.com or call (843)214-0555. The application fee will be used to fund this event. A $5 cover will be charged at each event to aid in expenses. Any excess funds will be used to defray expenses of the winning solo/duo act and band to participate in the 2011 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Entry deadline is July 16, 2010. Please mail applications with the entry fee to:

Tim Shaw
LBCC
PO Box 40902
Charleston SC 29423

The Low country Blues Club’s Blues Challenge finals will be held on Sunday, September26 at Fiery Ron’s Home team BBQ, 1205 Ashley River Rd, Charleston SC 29407. Winners of the band contest and the solo/duo act will receive the Low country Blues Club’s nomination to the 2011 International Blues Challenge to be held in Memphis TN. Excess funds from the events will be placed with the Low country Blues Club funds for assistance for the winners in their trip to Memphis. Each winner may be required to perform at two fundraisers in 2010 and one fundraiser in 2011 at no charge. All fundraiser proceeds will help with expenses for Memphis. The LBC will help winners in fundraising, but cannot guarantee that all or any expenses for Memphis will be covered.

Judges will evaluate each act using the Blues Foundation scoring criteria (www.blues.org/ibc/scoring.php) and rules (www.blues.org/ibc/rules.php). Application is an initial statement of interest and not a binding agreement between applicant and LBC.

Make your plans to enter now! Applications and entry fees must be received no later than July 16, 2010.

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you at the Low country Blues Club Jam every Wednesday at Home Team BBQ West Ashley!!!

Take it light,
JP Jones Jr.