All right - the Lowcountry Blues Challenge is coming! Every other Sunday, starting 9/25, we will be conducting our annual Blues Battle of the Bands - the Challenge. The winner will have the opportunity to go to Memphis (in late January 2012) to represent the Lowcountry at the International Blues Challenge - an amazing event! If your band would like to be considered, please email RobLoweSC@gmail.com for information. We need 3 songs, a bio, a hi-res jpg and an entry fee of $25. Bands will be judged by the same standards as those used at the IBC, and you can find out lots of details about the IBC and judging standards at their website at blues.org.
What's going on this weekend, you ask? Well, The Jonathan Robinson Trio (with Scott Bucholtz) told us that they will be at Bushido Japanese Restaurant Friday night, July 29th, for SUSHI MIDNIGHT MADNESS. I'm sure there's lots more options as well, but I don't know what they are, so check your favorite local paper, or facebook! And of course, we want to see you for the weekly LBC jam at Home Team BBQ/ WA, every Wednesday night...
Also coming soon: the Trident United Way Battle of the Bands - This event starts at 5:30 pm on Aug 4, 2011 at The Music Farm. There will be 12 bands ( many of which have Lowcountry Blues Club members). There is a $10 cover charge and you get music, food, and an adult drink included. Yes, included!
---------------------------------------------------------
Reminders:
If you want to see your band's gigs in this newsletter, send all the details to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We usually send out the newsletter on Thursday or Friday, so get the info in before Wednesday, please. Or just post to facebook directly!
August's featured artists are John Lee Hooker and Robert Cray (born in August).
Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub
It's time to pay your dues for 2011 if you haven't already done so. Just come out to a jam, and give us $10 for an individual, $25 for a band or family, or $100 for a corporate membership. Or you can mail dues to The Lowcountry Blues Club, P.O. Box 814, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.
LMW, July 27, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Blues Challenge ahead!
Lots of news this week! But we'll start with a note sent from Dereck Curry:
Hi, my name is Dereck Curry. Some of you know me, some of you don't. But in August of 2007 I was one of the cofounders of the Lowcountry Blues Club and for the first year of the club I was pretty much the de facto President of the organization. I had a vision for the blues society that we were creating, one where the society was really a member driven organization, and made it a condition that after each year the club would elect a board of directors and a set of officers from the board. It was never the intent of this club to be run by the same people year after year, like many community organizations we have all encountered. This club was not an ego trip or a power trip for those involved, but an organization for blues music lovers run by music lovers. The idea was simple: if new people weren't willing to step up and lead after a year, the club would simply be disbanded. I shared this vision with the other founders (Tommy Thunderfoot, Stuart Johnson, and Kathleen Wehle) and they agreed that this was the best way to establish the foundation of an organization we hoped would exist for decades to come.
Luckily many others also shared this vision. And on our first anniversary we brought in all the club members and did a proper election of board and officers. Many of the folks who were involved in those early days are still actively involved in the Lowcountry Blues Club today. That's a testament to our organization. Our first elected President was Chip Hall. Following Chip was Greg Cooper. And following Greg was Tim Shaw. Each of these Presidents brought a great deal to the organization and really helped it thrive over the years. Over the past few months, I've been serving as the interim President after Tim needed to step aside. And truthfully, I did a bad job. I had the best of intentions when agreeing to serve until our normal election cycle, but I just didn't have the time to dedicate to the club that it deserves. So I requested a special election be called to elect a new board and officers a few months early.
I'm happy to report that last Wednesday we elected a new board and officers, and I'm very excited about this new leadership group. There are many new faces and a mix of seasoned board veterans. Our new President is Billy Gadol. Billy is a well known figure in the Lowcountry Blues Club and has been an ardent supporter of our organization. I look forward to seeing where Billy and the new board take the club over the coming year. Please give them all the support they need in making this the best blues society in the country and a musical force in our communities.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved over the past four years. And I would like to give a special thanks to the board members and officers. You really have been unbelievable. So many people have worked astoundingly hard to make my vision a reality that I am truly humbled and appreciative of all of you. I've made many great friends over the past four years, and expect to make many more in the years to come. We are an amazing organization, and it's because of all of you.
Thank you.
Dereck
We also received this note from Tim "The Big Guy" Shaw: "As past president of the Lowcountry Blues Club I would like to wish continuing success for the club and new board. I am excited about the new board members as I have a great deal of respect for each of them and I know they will bring a renewed excitement to the club. Personally I have had the pleasure of meeting and making many new friends and growing as a musician. There is one person from the club I would like to thank and that is Dereck Curry for his vision to start the club. From the early days at A Dough Re Mi and now at Hometeam BBQ the club continues to be exciting and entertaining for fans and musicians alike. I look forward to seeing you at future jams as I too will enjoy the future of the club."
So, the new officers and board are working now to plan the Lowcountry Blues Club Challenge - a battle-of-the-bands style competition, the winner of which is then nominated by our club to go to Memphis to perform at the IBC (the International Blues Challenge), a truly awesome event which is held over a long weekend, starting January 31, 2012. We'll be giving you lots of details about the Challenge very soon. But start thinking now about whether you want to compete. Bands will be judged by the same standards as those used at the IBC, and you can find out lots of details about the IBC and judging standards at their website at blues.org.
What's going on this weekend, you ask? Well, we'll be brief, because this is a long newsletter already. On Friday and Saturday nights, you could see Johnny Mac and band at the Sand Dollar, 10 pm. Louie D is at the King St Grill/WA on Friday night at 10, and Rooftop Bar downtown on Sat night, 6-9. Friday 6-9 there's Shrimp City Slim at Freshfields Village, Kiawah, as well. And if you want to post your band's gigs, please go to our facebook page, and let us know where you're playing, please! And of course, we want to see you for the weekly LBC jam at Home Team BBQ/ WA, every Wednesday night!
Also coming soon: the Trident United Way Battle of the Bands - This event starts at 5:30 pm on Aug 4, 2011 at The Music Farm. There will be 12 bands ( many of which have Lowcountry Blues Club members). There is a $10 cover charge and you get music, food, and an adult drink included. Yes, included! You can go to Trident United Way Battle of the Bands on Facebook for a list of bands and sponsors!
---------------------------------------------------------
Reminders:
Check your favorite local paper for more shows happening this weekend.
If you want to see your band's gigs in this newsletter, send all the details to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We usually send out the newsletter on Thursday or Friday, so get the info in before Wednesday, please. Or just post to our facebook page directly!
July's featured artists are Willie Dixon (1915), Junior Kimbrough (1930), and Buddy Guy (1936), born in July.
Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub
It's time to pay your dues for 2011 if you haven't already done so. Just come out to a jam, and give us $10 for an individual, $25 for a band or family, or $100 for a corporate membership. Or you can mail dues to The Lowcountry Blues Club, P.O. Box 814, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.
LMW, July 21, 2011
Hi, my name is Dereck Curry. Some of you know me, some of you don't. But in August of 2007 I was one of the cofounders of the Lowcountry Blues Club and for the first year of the club I was pretty much the de facto President of the organization. I had a vision for the blues society that we were creating, one where the society was really a member driven organization, and made it a condition that after each year the club would elect a board of directors and a set of officers from the board. It was never the intent of this club to be run by the same people year after year, like many community organizations we have all encountered. This club was not an ego trip or a power trip for those involved, but an organization for blues music lovers run by music lovers. The idea was simple: if new people weren't willing to step up and lead after a year, the club would simply be disbanded. I shared this vision with the other founders (Tommy Thunderfoot, Stuart Johnson, and Kathleen Wehle) and they agreed that this was the best way to establish the foundation of an organization we hoped would exist for decades to come.
Luckily many others also shared this vision. And on our first anniversary we brought in all the club members and did a proper election of board and officers. Many of the folks who were involved in those early days are still actively involved in the Lowcountry Blues Club today. That's a testament to our organization. Our first elected President was Chip Hall. Following Chip was Greg Cooper. And following Greg was Tim Shaw. Each of these Presidents brought a great deal to the organization and really helped it thrive over the years. Over the past few months, I've been serving as the interim President after Tim needed to step aside. And truthfully, I did a bad job. I had the best of intentions when agreeing to serve until our normal election cycle, but I just didn't have the time to dedicate to the club that it deserves. So I requested a special election be called to elect a new board and officers a few months early.
I'm happy to report that last Wednesday we elected a new board and officers, and I'm very excited about this new leadership group. There are many new faces and a mix of seasoned board veterans. Our new President is Billy Gadol. Billy is a well known figure in the Lowcountry Blues Club and has been an ardent supporter of our organization. I look forward to seeing where Billy and the new board take the club over the coming year. Please give them all the support they need in making this the best blues society in the country and a musical force in our communities.
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved over the past four years. And I would like to give a special thanks to the board members and officers. You really have been unbelievable. So many people have worked astoundingly hard to make my vision a reality that I am truly humbled and appreciative of all of you. I've made many great friends over the past four years, and expect to make many more in the years to come. We are an amazing organization, and it's because of all of you.
Thank you.
Dereck
We also received this note from Tim "The Big Guy" Shaw: "As past president of the Lowcountry Blues Club I would like to wish continuing success for the club and new board. I am excited about the new board members as I have a great deal of respect for each of them and I know they will bring a renewed excitement to the club. Personally I have had the pleasure of meeting and making many new friends and growing as a musician. There is one person from the club I would like to thank and that is Dereck Curry for his vision to start the club. From the early days at A Dough Re Mi and now at Hometeam BBQ the club continues to be exciting and entertaining for fans and musicians alike. I look forward to seeing you at future jams as I too will enjoy the future of the club."
So, the new officers and board are working now to plan the Lowcountry Blues Club Challenge - a battle-of-the-bands style competition, the winner of which is then nominated by our club to go to Memphis to perform at the IBC (the International Blues Challenge), a truly awesome event which is held over a long weekend, starting January 31, 2012. We'll be giving you lots of details about the Challenge very soon. But start thinking now about whether you want to compete. Bands will be judged by the same standards as those used at the IBC, and you can find out lots of details about the IBC and judging standards at their website at blues.org.
What's going on this weekend, you ask? Well, we'll be brief, because this is a long newsletter already. On Friday and Saturday nights, you could see Johnny Mac and band at the Sand Dollar, 10 pm. Louie D is at the King St Grill/WA on Friday night at 10, and Rooftop Bar downtown on Sat night, 6-9. Friday 6-9 there's Shrimp City Slim at Freshfields Village, Kiawah, as well. And if you want to post your band's gigs, please go to our facebook page, and let us know where you're playing, please! And of course, we want to see you for the weekly LBC jam at Home Team BBQ/ WA, every Wednesday night!
Also coming soon: the Trident United Way Battle of the Bands - This event starts at 5:30 pm on Aug 4, 2011 at The Music Farm. There will be 12 bands ( many of which have Lowcountry Blues Club members). There is a $10 cover charge and you get music, food, and an adult drink included. Yes, included! You can go to Trident United Way Battle of the Bands on Facebook for a list of bands and sponsors!
---------------------------------------------------------
Reminders:
Check your favorite local paper for more shows happening this weekend.
If you want to see your band's gigs in this newsletter, send all the details to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We usually send out the newsletter on Thursday or Friday, so get the info in before Wednesday, please. Or just post to our facebook page directly!
July's featured artists are Willie Dixon (1915), Junior Kimbrough (1930), and Buddy Guy (1936), born in July.
Check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub
It's time to pay your dues for 2011 if you haven't already done so. Just come out to a jam, and give us $10 for an individual, $25 for a band or family, or $100 for a corporate membership. Or you can mail dues to The Lowcountry Blues Club, P.O. Box 814, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.
LMW, July 21, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Focus on: Melissa Martin/Answers to Quiz
Answers to last week's quiz are at the end of this newsletter.
Melissa Martin: The Voice That Set The Club On Fire!
-By: Scott Bucholtz
~The enormous amount of talent that participates in Jam Night has repeatedly been referenced here. However, if you’ve noticed, there is one instrument that doesn’t get much mention. Take a moment and list all of the great vocalists… while a few quickly come to mind, Jam Night often leave those short of breath. That is certainly why Melissa Martin has made such an instant splash with The Lowcountry Blues Club. Simply put, she’s got an amazing voice. For weeks, I kept hearing about her until I witnessed it myself. She definitely created a buzz. Once again, I don’t know of any other avenue outside of our Blues Club where this happens at that level.
Born “and pretty much raised” in Camden, SC. Her grandmother was a concert pianist and her Dad plays lead guitar. Her Dad, Greg Martin, has jammed on the drums with Archie Bell, opened for David Allan Coe and Charly McClain, did some studio work for Confederate Railroad and was even offered a job playing lead guitar with the Georgia Satellites in 1999. He taught himself how to play as a teenager. “He’d put records on and play them over and over again until he got it down. Music comes naturally to him - he can play pretty much any instrument he puts his mind to but guitar is his obsession. He lived and breathed it for as long as I can remember.” His first Telecaster, “Miss Marie” (named after her), was “a member of the family.”
She moved here in March looking for a fresh start. “Why not the beautiful city of Charleston!” She’s looking to expand her musical horizons a little and I feels like “Chucktown is a good place to kick up some dust.” She had a band back home, but is ready to do something different and a little bigger. She fronted Exit 98 and then worked with Blue Haze and Eminence Front for a few shows. She also appeared on their debut album - Google it! Her first gig was October of 2006 and she has performed pretty much every weekend since. In the rare weekends she had off, “I was either singing with friends, one of the other bands, or sliding out of town to go hear other bands.” She says that she loves performing, “especially with new people - always something different and unexpected.” It’s no wonder she made such a splash with the Blues Club!
She had heard about the Blues Club before she even moved down. She said, “It’s the word on the street to hit the blues jams to make some great connections, meet new friends and to just have a good time with good people.” Currently, she is remaining open minded while exploring her options. She is interested in pursuing something in the area of Soul/Funk/Blues/R&B. What does that mean? It means that a couple local musicians may soon win the lead vocalist lottery!
She’s been singing her whole life, mainly for family and friends as a hobby. Did a few plays and talent shows. It was just a few years ago when she called up her dad and told him she wanted to start a band. With obvious affection, she states; “It was our ‘thing’. Hands down one of the coolest things is to play music with your dad! So, we started Exit 98. We practiced for about a year and went through a few players before we got the project off of the ground. But then we hit the local scene running. We played festivals, charity events, bars, clubs, parties, grand openings, you name it. We did very well for ourselves and had a blast doing so. I still think back to that first gig we booked and the massive panic attack I had that morning (it was a big outdoor festival). Ol’ Greg had to give me one helluva pep talk that day. But as soon as I walked on stage and had that mic in my hand, it just felt right.” She adds that whenever she hears the tuning of a guitar, she thinks of him. She mentioned that she is also trying to learn guitar and says, “I’ve got three, but I’m impatient!”
Now, her friends tease her when they go out because she’s is certain to end up on stage. She says that in her short career, she’s “had the good fortune of singing with many different musicians and bands and met so many awesome people.”
At a recent gig with The Mason Dixon Band, I had the pleasure of experiencing this first hand. She showed up at the gig with the members of Homemade Wine from Knoxville (who amazingly are Mason Dixon Band fans). We called Melissa up during our first set and she truly knocked it out of the park! She absolutely smoked covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rolling Stones songs! It was the beginning of one of the best and most memorable gigs that I’ve ever had!
As for career highlights, she mentions that every year Camden has a Blues Festival downtown. “We weren’t straight blues, but we did a few.” Some friends of theirs owned a great little bar downtown and would book them every year for the weekend. Even though they weren’t participating in the festival, they got tons of traffic. She remembers looking around one time and the entire bar was elbow to elbow with people. “We played in this little nook with a huge plate glass window looking out at the main drag in Camden and the entire sidewalk was chock full of people that stopped to hear us. We had the biggest crowd out of any venue at the festival. That was an awesome show.”
She adds, “I had the opportunity this year to sing with some friends of mine, Homemade Wine, at the St. Patty’s festival in Savannah in front of a crowd of about 8000 people. THAT was pretty gnarly.”
I suppose most vocalists have dreamt of singing the National Anthem at one time or another. Melissa is no different, in fact “as simple as it sounds, I always wanted to sing the National Anthem at a high school football or baseball game.” She says. A friend of hers is a baseball coach and granted her wish this past spring. She said that “for some reason, I was more nervous singing to that crowd of 150!” Perhaps the significance and history of the subject matter had something to do with the butterflies…
When I asked Melissa who her biggest influences/inspirations are, she says “Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin have always been my top 3 favorite female singers. They have really helped to shape my sound I think. I love their soulful, deep, bluesy tones.” She continues, “I’ve always been a big fan of blues and R & B. I’ve always had an appetite for a wide palate of music and grew up listening to all types. I was stealing dad’s Johnny Rivers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and Lynyrd Skynyrd ‘tapes’ by the age of 12.” She adds, “Billie Holliday, Etta James, Grace Potter and Mary J. Blige are some more top ladies in my book.”
Other favorites on her list include: The Black Crowes, Drive-By Truckers, Tab Benoit, Allman Brothers, Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne, Charlie Daniels Band, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Journey, JJ Grey & Mofro, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, The Judds, James Taylor, Derek Trucks, City of Colour, Iron & Wine, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Frankie Beverly & Maze, The Commodores, Earth Wind & Fire, The Osborne Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nina Simone, Gov’t Mule, Koko Taylor, Black Keys, Red House Painters. “Man, I could go on and on…” Obviously, this is a girl with a healthy appreciation!
Her Jam Night favorites include Susan Tedeschi’s “It Hurt So Bad” and Rod Stewart’s “Stay With Me”. She also loves doing “Proud Mary” Ike and Tina style. When asked who her favorite jammers are, she states: “Now you know there is no way to choose! I dig all of my jam friends: Greg, Billy G, British Charlie, Big Guy, The Captain, Dan the Man, Tony, Quentin, Jojo, Bill, John, Jerry, Louis D, Scott, Charlie K.”
Obviously, she’s quickly ascended to the top of all of our lists as well!
This weekends’ highlights include:
Thursday the 14th:
Futurebirds with Old You opening at The Charleston Pour House
Plane Jane (w/ Wayne Mitchum) at Wild Wing Mt. P.
Friday the 15th:
Old You on the Vendue Rooftop early, then…
The Louie D Project (w/ J.R. Getches) at The Rehab Bar & Grill
Starling (w/ Captain Kirk) at Fat Boys in Moncks Corner
Fowler’s Mustache at The Brick Downtown
DownWright Scoundrels (w/ Jack Downey) @ Toast!
Homemade Wine at Wild Wing Mt. P.
Johnny Mac at Jimbo's
Saturday the 16th:
The Jonathan Robinson Trio (with yours truly) at The Dog & Duck West Ashley
Old You at the Kickin’ Chicken Downtown
Gaslight Street at The Charleston Pour House
Jimmy Thackery at The Music Farm
Don’t forget, Monday’s feature Sarah Cole & The Hawkes at the Drop In Gourmet Deli & Bar on Folly Beach. Wednesday’s look for Sarah Cole & The Hawkes at Art’s Bar & Grill in Mount Pleasant or join The Jonathan Robinson Trio at KC Mulligans in N. Charleston. After you stop at the Blues Jam, of course!
If your band's gig isn't listed here, just go to our facebook page and post it there, so your friends and fans can add it to their calendars - Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------
Reminders:
Check your favorite local paper for more shows happening this weekend, and join the facebook site "Charleston Live Music" for highlights...
If you want to see your band's gigs in this newsletter, send all the details to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We usually send out the newsletter on Thursday or Friday, so get the info in before Wednesday, please.
July's featured artists are Willie Dixon (1915), Junior Kimbrough (1930), and Buddy Guy (1936), born in July.
Join us on facebook (Lowcountry Blues Club) and twitter, and check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub
It's time to pay your dues for 2011 if you haven't already done so. Just come out to a jam, and give us $10 for an individual, $25 for a band or family, or $100 for a corporate membership. Or you can mail dues to The Lowcountry Blues Club, P.O. Box 814, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.
Answers to the Quiz:
1. Dan the Man
2. Motor
3. The Big Guy
4. The Captain
5. English Charlie
6. Young Charlie
7. Tan the Man
8. Billy G Is Not My Lover
9 & 10. The Horny Horns
----------------------
1. Dan Wright, of course!
2. Greg Levkus, drummer extraordinaire
3. The correct answer is Tim Shaw, but you can have the points if you said Big Mike or Mike Llewellyn as well...
4. James Kirk, our new Vice-President of Membership
5. Charles Wyche-Smythe
6. Charlie Kendall
7. Tanner Cooper - this was a hard one, as he doesn't come often these days, now drummer for Heyrocco
8. Billy Gadol, our new President of the Blues Club
9 & 10. Louis D and Will Elder
Scoring: You get 5 points for each correct first and last name, for a total of 100 points. Did anyone have a perfect score? If you got 90-100 points, we'll call you a Blues Jam All-Star! 75-85 is a Blues Club friend in good standing. If your score is 70 or under, we hope you'll come out more often, pay attention, talk to everybody, and become a part of the family!
LMW, July 14, 2011
Melissa Martin: The Voice That Set The Club On Fire!
-By: Scott Bucholtz
~The enormous amount of talent that participates in Jam Night has repeatedly been referenced here. However, if you’ve noticed, there is one instrument that doesn’t get much mention. Take a moment and list all of the great vocalists… while a few quickly come to mind, Jam Night often leave those short of breath. That is certainly why Melissa Martin has made such an instant splash with The Lowcountry Blues Club. Simply put, she’s got an amazing voice. For weeks, I kept hearing about her until I witnessed it myself. She definitely created a buzz. Once again, I don’t know of any other avenue outside of our Blues Club where this happens at that level.
Born “and pretty much raised” in Camden, SC. Her grandmother was a concert pianist and her Dad plays lead guitar. Her Dad, Greg Martin, has jammed on the drums with Archie Bell, opened for David Allan Coe and Charly McClain, did some studio work for Confederate Railroad and was even offered a job playing lead guitar with the Georgia Satellites in 1999. He taught himself how to play as a teenager. “He’d put records on and play them over and over again until he got it down. Music comes naturally to him - he can play pretty much any instrument he puts his mind to but guitar is his obsession. He lived and breathed it for as long as I can remember.” His first Telecaster, “Miss Marie” (named after her), was “a member of the family.”
She moved here in March looking for a fresh start. “Why not the beautiful city of Charleston!” She’s looking to expand her musical horizons a little and I feels like “Chucktown is a good place to kick up some dust.” She had a band back home, but is ready to do something different and a little bigger. She fronted Exit 98 and then worked with Blue Haze and Eminence Front for a few shows. She also appeared on their debut album - Google it! Her first gig was October of 2006 and she has performed pretty much every weekend since. In the rare weekends she had off, “I was either singing with friends, one of the other bands, or sliding out of town to go hear other bands.” She says that she loves performing, “especially with new people - always something different and unexpected.” It’s no wonder she made such a splash with the Blues Club!
She had heard about the Blues Club before she even moved down. She said, “It’s the word on the street to hit the blues jams to make some great connections, meet new friends and to just have a good time with good people.” Currently, she is remaining open minded while exploring her options. She is interested in pursuing something in the area of Soul/Funk/Blues/R&B. What does that mean? It means that a couple local musicians may soon win the lead vocalist lottery!
She’s been singing her whole life, mainly for family and friends as a hobby. Did a few plays and talent shows. It was just a few years ago when she called up her dad and told him she wanted to start a band. With obvious affection, she states; “It was our ‘thing’. Hands down one of the coolest things is to play music with your dad! So, we started Exit 98. We practiced for about a year and went through a few players before we got the project off of the ground. But then we hit the local scene running. We played festivals, charity events, bars, clubs, parties, grand openings, you name it. We did very well for ourselves and had a blast doing so. I still think back to that first gig we booked and the massive panic attack I had that morning (it was a big outdoor festival). Ol’ Greg had to give me one helluva pep talk that day. But as soon as I walked on stage and had that mic in my hand, it just felt right.” She adds that whenever she hears the tuning of a guitar, she thinks of him. She mentioned that she is also trying to learn guitar and says, “I’ve got three, but I’m impatient!”
Now, her friends tease her when they go out because she’s is certain to end up on stage. She says that in her short career, she’s “had the good fortune of singing with many different musicians and bands and met so many awesome people.”
At a recent gig with The Mason Dixon Band, I had the pleasure of experiencing this first hand. She showed up at the gig with the members of Homemade Wine from Knoxville (who amazingly are Mason Dixon Band fans). We called Melissa up during our first set and she truly knocked it out of the park! She absolutely smoked covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Rolling Stones songs! It was the beginning of one of the best and most memorable gigs that I’ve ever had!
As for career highlights, she mentions that every year Camden has a Blues Festival downtown. “We weren’t straight blues, but we did a few.” Some friends of theirs owned a great little bar downtown and would book them every year for the weekend. Even though they weren’t participating in the festival, they got tons of traffic. She remembers looking around one time and the entire bar was elbow to elbow with people. “We played in this little nook with a huge plate glass window looking out at the main drag in Camden and the entire sidewalk was chock full of people that stopped to hear us. We had the biggest crowd out of any venue at the festival. That was an awesome show.”
She adds, “I had the opportunity this year to sing with some friends of mine, Homemade Wine, at the St. Patty’s festival in Savannah in front of a crowd of about 8000 people. THAT was pretty gnarly.”
I suppose most vocalists have dreamt of singing the National Anthem at one time or another. Melissa is no different, in fact “as simple as it sounds, I always wanted to sing the National Anthem at a high school football or baseball game.” She says. A friend of hers is a baseball coach and granted her wish this past spring. She said that “for some reason, I was more nervous singing to that crowd of 150!” Perhaps the significance and history of the subject matter had something to do with the butterflies…
When I asked Melissa who her biggest influences/inspirations are, she says “Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin have always been my top 3 favorite female singers. They have really helped to shape my sound I think. I love their soulful, deep, bluesy tones.” She continues, “I’ve always been a big fan of blues and R & B. I’ve always had an appetite for a wide palate of music and grew up listening to all types. I was stealing dad’s Johnny Rivers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and Lynyrd Skynyrd ‘tapes’ by the age of 12.” She adds, “Billie Holliday, Etta James, Grace Potter and Mary J. Blige are some more top ladies in my book.”
Other favorites on her list include: The Black Crowes, Drive-By Truckers, Tab Benoit, Allman Brothers, Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne, Charlie Daniels Band, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Journey, JJ Grey & Mofro, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, The Judds, James Taylor, Derek Trucks, City of Colour, Iron & Wine, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Frankie Beverly & Maze, The Commodores, Earth Wind & Fire, The Osborne Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nina Simone, Gov’t Mule, Koko Taylor, Black Keys, Red House Painters. “Man, I could go on and on…” Obviously, this is a girl with a healthy appreciation!
Her Jam Night favorites include Susan Tedeschi’s “It Hurt So Bad” and Rod Stewart’s “Stay With Me”. She also loves doing “Proud Mary” Ike and Tina style. When asked who her favorite jammers are, she states: “Now you know there is no way to choose! I dig all of my jam friends: Greg, Billy G, British Charlie, Big Guy, The Captain, Dan the Man, Tony, Quentin, Jojo, Bill, John, Jerry, Louis D, Scott, Charlie K.”
Obviously, she’s quickly ascended to the top of all of our lists as well!
This weekends’ highlights include:
Thursday the 14th:
Futurebirds with Old You opening at The Charleston Pour House
Plane Jane (w/ Wayne Mitchum) at Wild Wing Mt. P.
Friday the 15th:
Old You on the Vendue Rooftop early, then…
The Louie D Project (w/ J.R. Getches) at The Rehab Bar & Grill
Starling (w/ Captain Kirk) at Fat Boys in Moncks Corner
Fowler’s Mustache at The Brick Downtown
DownWright Scoundrels (w/ Jack Downey) @ Toast!
Homemade Wine at Wild Wing Mt. P.
Johnny Mac at Jimbo's
Saturday the 16th:
The Jonathan Robinson Trio (with yours truly) at The Dog & Duck West Ashley
Old You at the Kickin’ Chicken Downtown
Gaslight Street at The Charleston Pour House
Jimmy Thackery at The Music Farm
Don’t forget, Monday’s feature Sarah Cole & The Hawkes at the Drop In Gourmet Deli & Bar on Folly Beach. Wednesday’s look for Sarah Cole & The Hawkes at Art’s Bar & Grill in Mount Pleasant or join The Jonathan Robinson Trio at KC Mulligans in N. Charleston. After you stop at the Blues Jam, of course!
If your band's gig isn't listed here, just go to our facebook page and post it there, so your friends and fans can add it to their calendars - Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------
Reminders:
Check your favorite local paper for more shows happening this weekend, and join the facebook site "Charleston Live Music" for highlights...
If you want to see your band's gigs in this newsletter, send all the details to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We usually send out the newsletter on Thursday or Friday, so get the info in before Wednesday, please.
July's featured artists are Willie Dixon (1915), Junior Kimbrough (1930), and Buddy Guy (1936), born in July.
Join us on facebook (Lowcountry Blues Club) and twitter, and check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub
It's time to pay your dues for 2011 if you haven't already done so. Just come out to a jam, and give us $10 for an individual, $25 for a band or family, or $100 for a corporate membership. Or you can mail dues to The Lowcountry Blues Club, P.O. Box 814, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.
Answers to the Quiz:
1. Dan the Man
2. Motor
3. The Big Guy
4. The Captain
5. English Charlie
6. Young Charlie
7. Tan the Man
8. Billy G Is Not My Lover
9 & 10. The Horny Horns
----------------------
1. Dan Wright, of course!
2. Greg Levkus, drummer extraordinaire
3. The correct answer is Tim Shaw, but you can have the points if you said Big Mike or Mike Llewellyn as well...
4. James Kirk, our new Vice-President of Membership
5. Charles Wyche-Smythe
6. Charlie Kendall
7. Tanner Cooper - this was a hard one, as he doesn't come often these days, now drummer for Heyrocco
8. Billy Gadol, our new President of the Blues Club
9 & 10. Louis D and Will Elder
Scoring: You get 5 points for each correct first and last name, for a total of 100 points. Did anyone have a perfect score? If you got 90-100 points, we'll call you a Blues Jam All-Star! 75-85 is a Blues Club friend in good standing. If your score is 70 or under, we hope you'll come out more often, pay attention, talk to everybody, and become a part of the family!
LMW, July 14, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Fun, and a meeting too...
Tuesday night, July 12th, Dan Wright will be at Home Team West Ashley for a special Tuesday night session featuring Wayne Mitchum from Plane Jane on bass, Bill Nance on keys, and THE Quentin Ravenel on drums. 9 pm, NO cover - Come out and have some fun!
And Wednesday night at 6:30 there's a special meeting before the jam, 6:30, at Home Team/WA, for everyone interested in the future of the Blues Club. We will be electing officers and making plans - be there!
And Wednesday night at 6:30 there's a special meeting before the jam, 6:30, at Home Team/WA, for everyone interested in the future of the Blues Club. We will be electing officers and making plans - be there!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Quiz For You
Hi Blues Club Friends -
This week we bring you a quiz to test your knowledge of some of our blues club jammers. I will give you a nickname, and you have to provide the jammer's real name, first and last...We'll give you the answers next week, and the scoring chart. Find out if you qualify as an Expert, or as Pitiful, or somewhere In between... Okay, here we go:
1. Dan the Man
2. Motor
3. The Big Guy
4. The Captain
5. English Charlie
6. Young Charlie
7. Tan the Man
8. Billy G Is Not My Lover
9 & 10. The Horny Horns
Now, what's going on this weekend?
One stellar event is the 11th annual GREENWOOD BLUES CRUISE Thursday-Saturday, July 7-9 in Greenwood, SC - www.greenwoodbluescruise.com. It's a FREE blues club crawl, part of the South Carolina Festival of Discovery. Greenwood is located about 1 hour from Columbia, SC; three hours from Charleston. Star-studded line-up: CHICK "STOOP DOWN" WILLIS, BUDDY WHITTINGTON with RANDY MCALLISTER, FRANKIE'S BLUES MISSION, DRINK SMALL, BACK PORCH BLUES (Eleanor Ellis, Jay Summerour, Eric Selby), WANDA JOHNSON, and a whole lot more. Check the website!
Friday night, The Louie D Project is at Johnson's Pub (10:30pm til 2am), and Saturday night 6pm to 9pm @The Vendue Rooftop. Come get some funk, says Louie! Also on Friday night there's Jeff Liberty at Morgan Creek Grill 6:30-10:30, and ,Dash Rip Rock at Home Team/Sullivans Island, 10pm. Saturday, there's Jimbo Mathus w/ Guilt Ridden Troubadour at the Charleston Pour House, 9pm.
If your band's gig isn't listed here, just go to our facebook page and post it there, so your friends and fans can add it to their calendars - Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------
Reminders:
Check your favorite local paper for more shows happening this weekend, and join the facebook site "Charleston Live Music" for highlights...
If you want to see your band's gigs in this newsletter, send all the details to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We usually send out the newsletter on Thursday or Friday, so get the info in before Wednesday, please.
July's featured artists are Willie Dixon (1915), Junior Kimbrough (1930), and Buddy Guy (1936), born in July.
Join us on facebook (Lowcountry Blues Club) and twitter, and check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub
It's time to pay your dues for 2011 if you haven't already done so. Just come out to a jam, and give us $10 for an individual, $25 for a band or family, or $100 for a corporate membership. Or you can mail dues to The Lowcountry Blues Club, P.O. Box 814, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.
LMW, July 7, 2011
This week we bring you a quiz to test your knowledge of some of our blues club jammers. I will give you a nickname, and you have to provide the jammer's real name, first and last...We'll give you the answers next week, and the scoring chart. Find out if you qualify as an Expert, or as Pitiful, or somewhere In between... Okay, here we go:
1. Dan the Man
2. Motor
3. The Big Guy
4. The Captain
5. English Charlie
6. Young Charlie
7. Tan the Man
8. Billy G Is Not My Lover
9 & 10. The Horny Horns
Now, what's going on this weekend?
One stellar event is the 11th annual GREENWOOD BLUES CRUISE Thursday-Saturday, July 7-9 in Greenwood, SC - www.greenwoodbluescruise.com. It's a FREE blues club crawl, part of the South Carolina Festival of Discovery. Greenwood is located about 1 hour from Columbia, SC; three hours from Charleston. Star-studded line-up: CHICK "STOOP DOWN" WILLIS, BUDDY WHITTINGTON with RANDY MCALLISTER, FRANKIE'S BLUES MISSION, DRINK SMALL, BACK PORCH BLUES (Eleanor Ellis, Jay Summerour, Eric Selby), WANDA JOHNSON, and a whole lot more. Check the website!
Friday night, The Louie D Project is at Johnson's Pub (10:30pm til 2am), and Saturday night 6pm to 9pm @The Vendue Rooftop. Come get some funk, says Louie! Also on Friday night there's Jeff Liberty at Morgan Creek Grill 6:30-10:30, and ,Dash Rip Rock at Home Team/Sullivans Island, 10pm. Saturday, there's Jimbo Mathus w/ Guilt Ridden Troubadour at the Charleston Pour House, 9pm.
If your band's gig isn't listed here, just go to our facebook page and post it there, so your friends and fans can add it to their calendars - Thanks!
---------------------------------------------------------
Reminders:
Check your favorite local paper for more shows happening this weekend, and join the facebook site "Charleston Live Music" for highlights...
If you want to see your band's gigs in this newsletter, send all the details to lowcountrybluesclub@gmail.com. We usually send out the newsletter on Thursday or Friday, so get the info in before Wednesday, please.
July's featured artists are Willie Dixon (1915), Junior Kimbrough (1930), and Buddy Guy (1936), born in July.
Join us on facebook (Lowcountry Blues Club) and twitter, and check out some of our recordings from the Wednesday jams at http://www.reverbnation.com/lowcountrybluesclub
It's time to pay your dues for 2011 if you haven't already done so. Just come out to a jam, and give us $10 for an individual, $25 for a band or family, or $100 for a corporate membership. Or you can mail dues to The Lowcountry Blues Club, P.O. Box 814, Isle of Palms, SC 29451.
LMW, July 7, 2011
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