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Cool Issue 181 August 2009

Bluesmore August 1 at Brucemore Mansion!Lil’ Dave Thompson at Checkers Tavern & EateryMerrill Miller brings Alaska blues to Pour SportsBig Mo’s CD reviewBicycle, Blues & BBQLocal LIVE music schedules

In this August issue —

The Publication of the Linn County Blues Society- lcbs.org

2 / Linn County Blues Society ©2009

The Linn County Blues Society is a way cool, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Blues music in Eastern Iowa as well as to provide charitable contributions to other commu-nity organizations. LCBS is an Affiliated Organization in the Blues Foundation’s international network. The BLUESPAPER is a monthly publication of the LCBS.

Website: lcbs.org

LCBS OfficersPresident - Andy DergoVice President - Evan VulichSecretary - Steve SpringerTreasurer - Sue Dergo

Directors at LargeBob De Forest, Bill Meeks, Frank Wilson

ChairsPR Chair: Stephanie HeckEntertainment - Greg WestMembership - Kevin CutsforthMerchandise - David Andrews

The Bluespaper & LCBS folksEditor - Evan Vulich Photographers - Bill Ray, see bylinesStaff Writers - Bill Ray, see bylinesDistribution - Andy Dergo, Bill MeeksParliamentarian - Bill MeeksProgram - Bob De ForestP R - Julie Anderson and Lori BlattnerWeb Admin: Evan Vulich

MembershipTo learn more about the Linn County

Blues Society or to join, see the member-ship form in this Bluespaper or the LCBS website. Your membership includes;

• Discount admissions to many local Blues activities.• Monthly LCBS Bluespaper.• Voting rights in the LCBS elections.• Being a apart of the groove!

Bluespaper Contact informationSend news, band or club live entertain

-ment listings or advertising to:Evan Vulich at: evulich@mchsi.com.

Bluespaper Ad Rates$15.00 - Business card size - 2” x 3.5”$25.00 - Quarter page ad - 3.5” x 4.75”$50.00 - Half page ad - 4.75” x 7.25”$100.00 - Full page - 7.5” x 10”

Submission Requirements- All ads, photos or scanned images, either color or black/white, need to be 300ppi. Native Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, JPG, TIFF, EPS, PDF, BMP accepted. Ads created in Word may cause dimentia, severe cramp-ing and diarrhea. Deadline for submis-sions is the 19th of the month.

Moving? Send your new address to; LCBS, PO Box 2672, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2672 so you won’t miss a single issue of your Bluespaper.

Lil’ Dave ThompsonTakes his blues on the road to Checkers

Article and photo by Bill Ray

Lil’ Dave Thompson

Al Hite on bass

Ronnie Dudley on drums

Lil’ Dave Thomp-son and his band drove some 540 miles in one day after

playing in a small town blues festival in western Nebraska so that we could hear them perform at Checkers on Sunday, July 12.Thompson, age 40, is one of those blues

road warriors who makes a living playing the music he loves by touring to all parts of the U.S.

The band sometimes plays in Canada, and in February did a week-long overseas tour in Romania, of all places. Lil’ Dave garnered two W. C. Handy (Blues Music Awards) nominations in 1996.Born David Lonzo Thompson in Missis-

sippi, Lil’ Dave was raised around blues musicians as a youth. As a teenager, he formed his own band, which included bassist Al Hite. Remarkably, Hite is still with Lil’ Dave as bass player after all these years. The band is based in Green-ville, Mississippi.Even though the trio was a little weary,

the band started promptly on time with a briskness and clarity that made you pay attention. These guys were all business and played some straight-forward south-ern blues. Lil’ Dave played his Gibson electric

with sharpness and the fast precision of a seasoned pro. Standing sideways all

night, Al Hite played masterful bass. The youngster of the group, Ronnie Dudley, was very good on drums. Lil Dave sang all the vocals.The band played a mixture of original

songs and covers of blues classics. By the second and third sets, many dancers were up front enjoying the swinging blues--southern style.

The guys in the band admitted they were looking forward to the drive back home af-ter their Cedar Rapids gig - for a few days off before resuming their tour in Texas and then Michigan. Lil’ Dave and his band will be performing at Blues On Grand in Des Moines on August 8. Great music from a true traveling blues band!

©2009 Linn County Blues Society / 3

Big James & the Chicago PlayboysRight Here Right Now

Blind PigRelease Date: June 2, 2009

Just That One Little Thing

I could tell you how Big James lays down some great Chicago grooves and smoky ballads with the big horn sound and that he sings pretty well and plays trom-bone, too (kinda) with great horn arrangements and production and that Big James writes great music. But that’s where it stops. I really like this CD except I just can’t get past the elementary school lyrics. He rarely uses stan-dard blues forms so there is more room for wasted words and he just doesn’t tell very good stories. I know that “Da Blues is from da heart”, but it’s from the brain, too and lyric content is just too ob-vious to ignore for an artist writ-ing his own material and I hope he gets it figured out. Anyway, it drives me nuts that the music, ar-rangements, kicks, grooves, etc. are so good and the lyrics are so average (at best).

— John Heim (A.K.A. “Big Mo”)

Alaska blues comes back homeMerrill J. Miller returns

photo and story by Bill Ray

“Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration, don’t fail us now!” — Elwood Blues

Do they sing the blues in Alas-ka? You betcha! Merrill Miller moved from Cedar Rapids to Anchorage, Alaska a few years ago. He returns to Iowa every summer for a cou-ple of weeks to visit friends, relatives and to play music Miller’s brand of blues and folk-blues was on exhibit Sunday evening, July 12, when he played at Pour Sports in Hiawatha.

Merrill’s singing voice is better than ever. His guitar playing was excellent, and he can blow a mean harp when he gets the notion. Joining Miller on stage was Dan Johnson on bass and Steve Hayes on drums. They played some of Merrill’s original songs and some classic

blues covers. Noteworthy was the band’s version of the Merle Travis song “Sixteen Tons.” You know: “You load sixteen tons, and what do you

get? Another day older and deeper in debt....”

Seems the national recession is on ev-eryone’s mind nowadays - even in Alaska. During a break, Miller lamented that it was very difficult to break into the local mu-sic scene in Anchorage. He has a regular two-night-a-week gig at one club, but find-ing other venues has been more difficult. It seems that during these hard times, the local musicians jealously guard their turf and venues from the likes of newcomers. Fortunately, Miller’s wife, Becky, is a law-yer with a secure job.The couple has a one-year-old daughter

and they are happy and living well enough in Anchorage. It’s just that Merrill would like to have more opportunities to display his musical talents. One could easily make the same lament for musicians in the Cedar Rapids area. Enough said. It was great to hear Merrill play and sing

again. Having veteran musicians like Steve Hayes and Danny Johnson as your band mates certainly adds to the experience. Miller will have played several other local venues here in town before he returns to Alaska. Maybe he should run for governor (say, what?)

“ When all the original blues guys are gone, you start to realize that someone has to tend to the tradition. I recognize that I have some

responsibility to keep the music alive and it̀ s a pretty honorable position to be in. “

— Eric Clapton

Dan Johnson

Steve Hayes

Merrill Miller

4 / Linn County Blues Society ©2009

Hot blues in Clearlake , Iowa!Bicycle, Blues & BBQ Festival

Kyle Chisten

The annual Bicycle, Blues & BBQ Festival in Clear Lake opened on Friday evening July 10th in City Park with the gor-geous lake as the background to the shell stage. Severe thunderstorms ear-lier gave way to sunny blues skies and humid temps, as the crowd was treated to Brandon Scott Sellner, kicking off

the activities at 6 PM. Tearing through a 90 minute set, we were treated to several originals off his two excellent CD’s, “Wrongs To Rights” (2008), and “Things Are Gonna Be Good” (2009), including both title tunes, plus “Come On, Come In”, and “Baby Blue Eyed Girl”, featuring terrific echo ef-fects from his guitar. What struck me was the quality of the originals. As good as anything out there today, cou-pled with his own spin on covers such as “Knockin’ On Heavens’ Door”, Feelin’ Alright”, Soulshine”, and even

the Stones’ “Miss You”. He delivered great bluesy-style rough edged vocals, and searing guitar with help from the band which includes the very fluid Rick Montpetit on bass, Brad Wynveen on keyboards, who perfectly compliments the guitar, and the entertaining drum style of Chance Jean, keeping better time than the National Atomic Clock (located in Boulder, Colorado for those of you that don’t remember that com-mercial). As the crowd grew, I don’t think they expected a runaway blues/rock boat running ashore still at full throttle!At his young age (25), Brandon is

quickly getting even par with the likes of Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. This guy is on fire! I think Iowans need to experience him a little more, so jump on board right now! He has numerous gigs scheduled through-out Minnesota & Wisconsin for the rest of the summer, so check out his MySpace for dates and go, plus pick up a disc or two! The MC for the night put it to the crowd this way, “Some day, you’ll be able to say I saw Brandon Scott Sellner in a park in Clear Lake, Iowa, for free!” Truer words were never spoken!Headling at 8 PM was the best band

ever to come out of Minnesota, Lamont Cranston! Around 35 years since their inception, and strong as ever. I’ve seen them several times, since the late 70’s, but hadn’t seen the current lineup that’s been in place for about two years. The one constant for that time has been the harmonica, lead vocals, and guitar of Pat Hayes. To his credit, through per-sonell changes over time, the Cranstons have never slipped. Their 2001 double disc “Lamont Live” still kicks butt to this day, and I highly recommend it! That was, I thought, The Lineup, but this version does the same. Rod Smith

solidified with rhythm guitar, Jason Kotecki held down the beat on drums, Brian Rislinger added his impressive sax work, and I loved the bass of Brad Pelkey. Pat is the master, however, as evidenced by the praise he’s received from Jim Belushi, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. When he gets his knee stompin’ from start to finish, if you don’t move as well, you ain’t breathing! And isn’t that what it’s all about? Whether he’s blowin’ har-monica, or pickin’ lead, his enthusi-asm spills over every time. Their set included both covers and originals, climaxing the night with the encore, what else, but “Upper Mississippi Shakedown”. And the crowd was doing just that! Dance floor.....Full! If they’re near, why would you even stay home?

Pat Hayes of the Lamont Cranston band.

Brandon Scott Sellner

You gotta have heart in you want to make it in this business. — Dexter Gordon

©2009 Linn County Blues Society / 5

music, food and fun under the sun!Iowa City Jazz Festival

The Tornadoes (above) and Diplomats of Solid Sound (right).

Johnny Kilowatt and his band (below)and Trombone Shorty and New Orleans

Avenue (bottom right), who later “took the music to the streets” in a New Orleans style

march. Photos by Bill Ray

kar•a•o•kenoun, a form of entertainment, offered typically by bars and

clubs in which people take turns singing popular songs into a microphone over prerecorded backing tracks.

Origin 1970s: from Japanese, literally ‘empty orchestra.’In other words, no band getting paid!

photo and story by Bill Ray

6 / Linn County Blues Society ©2009

Local Music

Sat. - The Firehouse- Jam with various players 4-8PMSun.- Checkers Tavern-Blue Sunday-6PMSun.- Mahoney’s - Various artists-Never a Cover, 6pmSun.- Charlie’s, Coralville-Blues JamWed.- Checkers Tavern-Kevin BF Burt solo 6-9Thurs.-J.M.O’Malley’s-T-Bone Giblin Jam FestEV

ERY

Specializing inRIBS, STEAK, PRIME RIB, LOBSTER & CRAB

Featuring our award winningBBQ Pork Ribs!

Seafood • 30 item salad barKids menus • Specialty desserts

The LCBS meets the 1st Monday of each month.See you at the Longbranch on August 3,

6:30PM for the LCBS Board & Member meeting. Guests are welcome!

90 Twixt Town Rd., Marion • 377-6386

August Blues CalendarSat.1 BLUESMORE!

Art & Music FairFirehouse- JAMIce House, RiversideChappy’s SafariThe Yacht Club, ICChrome Horse Saloon

BRUCEMORE, 4-10PMThe Blue Band, Washington, IA, 9PM-12Various players, 4-8PMElectric Mule, 9-1Street RadThe Demolition Band, 10P MGibbs Brothers

Sun. 2 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Craig Erickson & Planet Pluto, 6-10PM

Thur. 6 J.M. O’Malley’sMulligans

Flying Carp, 9-1McMurrin & Johnson, 9-12

Fri. 7 Old Settler’s DaysScreaming Eagle. Waterloo

The Blue Band, Corydon, IA. 7:30PM4Box O Rocks, 9:30PM

Sat. 8 Firehouse- JAMGateway ParkChappy’s SafariWilliamsburg, IA

Various players, 4-8PMTHe Blue Band, Cedar Falls, 7-9PMCoppermoon4 Box O Rocks, 9PM

Sun. 9 Mahoney’s Irish Pub New Beat Society, 6-10PM

Thur. 13 J.M. O’Malley’sMulligansShuey’s, Shueyville

Gibby & friendsMike & Rob Show, 9-1McMurrin & Johnson, 6-9PM

Fri. 14 Chrome Horse Saloon Jeff Bruner (out 6:30) Billy Lee Trio (inside) 9PM

Sat. 15 Firehouse- JAMShuey’s, ShueyvilleBill’s Boat LandingMulligans

Various players, 4-8PMElectric Mule, 9-1Charlie Morgan & Bone Crushers, ClaytonBilly Janey Trio w/ Dan Johnson, 9-1

Sun. 16 Mahoney’s Irish PubPour Sports

Daddy-O’s Funky Posse w/ Skeeter 6-10Pawned Scum, 6-9PM

Thur. 20 J.M. O’Malley’sFirehouseCR Landing

Gibby & friends, 9-1Mike & Rob Show, 9-1McMurrin & Johnson, 8-11PM

Fri. 21 Iowa State FairErnie’sCheckers Tavern & Eatery

The Blue Band, 7-9PM - AE/TV 8 StageMcMurrin & Johnson, 6-8:30PM4Box O Rocks, 9-1

Sat. 22 Iowa State FairFirehouse- JAMChrome HorseChappy’s SafariShuey’s Blues BlowoutChappy’s Safari Lounge

The Blue Band, 7-9PM - AE/TV 8 StageVarious players, 4-8PMElectric Mule, 9-1D Dog & The B BitsBilly Janey & Dan Johnson, 12-2:30PMDDog & The BBits, 9-1

Sun. 23 Mahoney’s Irish PubParlor City Pub

The Hue, 6-10PMDaddy- O & The Demolition Band, 6-10PM

Mon. 24 George’s, Iowa City CannonSaul, Kilowatt & The Count, 8-12

Thur. 27 J.M. O’Malley’s Gibby & friends, 9-1

Fri.28 Beaver Creek McMurrin & Johnson, 9-12

Sat. 29 Firehouse- JAMBrew-B-Q. Riverwalk ParkChappy’s Safri LoungeMillstrean Brewery, Amana

Various players, 4-8PMThe Blue Band, Independence, IAElectric Mule, 9-1Charlie Morgan & Bone Crushers, 4-8PM

Sun. 30 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Nikki Lunden & The Trollies, 6-10PM

This publication of the Linn County Blues Society is dedi-cated to the sole support of LIVE music. Karaoke has been known to cause constipation in laboratory rats. Prolonged exposure to this type of music can also lead to severe musi-cal dementia and social dislxeia [sic].

“I got my Bluesmore tickets early! “

— Smilin’ Bob

I been in the blues all my life. I’m still delivering ‘cause I got a long memory. — Muddy Waters

John Resch and the Detroit Blues” will be playing for the Rock Island Brewing Company’s (RIBCO) 30th anniversary on Fri-day, July 31 from 10:30-11:30. Also, other great performances!

Why is Bob Smiling? He already has

his tickets to Bluesmore!

They’re $13 in advance or $15

at the gate. Like Bob, you

can smile, too, if you get your

Bluesmore tickets now!

Shuey’s Presents1st Annual Shuey’s Blues BlowOUT!

August 22, 12 Noon - 10 pm Bring your lawnchairs and bring your love & support

of Live Music! (No coolers please)

Featuring:, Dan Johnson, Billy Janey, Craig Erickson, Tom Daugherty, Jon Harnish, David Zollo and more!

This is a full day for the true music lover - $10.00 per person Please let me know if you need any additional information.

1158 Club Road NE

Shueyville, Iowa 15 minutes in between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City

©2009 Linn County Blues Society / 7

De ForestPainting

All types of paints,stains etc.

319-362-6523ReferencesBob De Forest

Interior & Exterior

PATRICK HAZELL will perform on harmonica with Reggae/R&B singer, guitarist

TONY BROWN.Saturday, August 1.

Burlington, Iowaat

The Washington - 8PM. They will play an opening set for

headliner will be international tour-ing world music singer/songwriter,

DAVID LINDLEY.Tickets are $17 at the door

$15 advance tickets at Weird Harold’s Records 319-753-5353, 411 Jefferson,

Burlington or contact: The Washington 319-758-9553,

306 Washington St., Burlington, Iowa (downtown, 2 1/2 blocks up

from the Mississippi River)

Tomaso’s Pizza

3234 Center Point Rd.

Official Pizzaof Bluesmore!

364-4313

4651 1st Ave SECedar Rapids, IA 52402319.378.1720guitarcenter.com

Helping people make great music and pursue their dreams for over 43 years.

What are the rules of the blues drummer? Oh! Man it ain’t easy to say. For me the basic rules are two: First, when you play the blues, you don’t play for yours but some other’s feelings. The only thing that you’ve got is to acompany him or her steady and right. Help them rhythmically to express better their feelings. The second and most important rule when you playin’ the blues on the drumset is to playin’ not to hear you but to

feel you!!!”

— Mr. Fred Below - Chess Records staff drummer

Vendors

©2009 August-Linn County Blues Society

Linn County Blues SocietyPO Box 2672Cedar Rapids, IA52406-2672

Friday Blues-• 6-10 PM - Da Friday Blues• 10-11 PM - Backstage Blues• 11 PM to midnight - KCCK Jams• Midnight Blues CDSaturday Blues -• 6-10 PM - Da Blues with Bobby D• 10-11 PM - The Crawfish Circuit• 11 PM -midnight - The Melting Pot• Midnight Blues CD

kcck

.org

3535 1st Ave SE319-286-1111Ask for Chris

2160 Edgewood RD SW319-654-8405Ask for Darin

$5.00 OFFoil changes!

10% OFF all other servicesfor all LCBS members and family!