©2008-Linn County Blues Society

Issue 167 The Publication of the Linn County Blues Society- lcbs.org June 2008

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Cover: Bluesmore 2008 line up sneak preview!Friends of KUNI present Blues Cruise with Bob Dorr & the Blue BandChicago Blues Fest lineup!Big Mo’s CD ReviewBuddy Guy at Riverside Casino-story & pixMatt Woods & The Thunderbolts open Bluesmore 2008Bryan Lee at Checkers Tavern & EateryRon DeWitte leads Iowa Blues Hall of Famers at Liars TheatreBlues & BBQ in AtkinsLocal LIVE Music Schedules

In this stuffed issue of the Bluespaper —

BLUESMORE2008

Bern

ard

Allis

on

NICK MOSS& The Fliptops

Matt Woods& The Thunderbolts

2 / Linn County Blues Society ©2008

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 Large-Bob DeForest, Bill Meeks, Bob Dorr

ChairsEducation - OpenEntertainment - Greg WestMembership - Kevin CutsforthMerchandise - David Andrews

The Bluespaper & LCBS folksEditor - Evan Vulich Photographers - See bylines each issueStaff Writers - See bylines each issueDistribution - Andy Dergo, Bill MeeksParliamentarian - Bill MeeksProgram - Bob DeForestPublic Relations - OpenWeb Administrator - 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.• Simply being way cool.

Bluespaper Contact informationSend news, band or club live entertain-

ment listing or advertising to: Evan Vulich, 1116 Daniels St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 or preferrably e-mail 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 constipation. Deadline for submissions 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.

Blues CruiseJoin the Blue Band on the Mississippi

Friends of KUNI present Blues Cruise with Bob Dorr & the

Blue Band on June 6!

Set sail with Iowa Public Radio on Friday, June 6 on the mighty Mississippi River for the 2008 Blues Cruise. Join the Friends of KUNI and the Spirit of Dubuque for a three-hour tour with Bob Dorr & the Blue Band.

The Blue Band is celebrating their re-cent induction into the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Led by Iowa Public Radio’s very own Bob Dorr, the Blue Band has acquired a dedicated fan base of all ages and has become one of Iowa’s most revered and requested band. The Spirit of Dubuque is a rep-lica of a century-old Mississippi River steamboat with decorative smoke-stacks, a scalloped canopy over its open-air deck, and Victorian red and gold décor throughout the enclosed dining salon. The gangway and dining area are handicapped accessible for standard wheelchairs.

kuniradio.org

Boarding begins at 7 p.m. at the 3rd Street Ice Harbor in Dubuque. The Blues Cruise departs at 7:30 p.m. and returns at 10:30 p.m. Drinks and con-cessions are available and sold separate-ly. Attendance at the event is limited to 300 guests and tickets are available in advance for $15 per person. Tickets are available for purchase online at kunira-dio.org or by phone at 1-800-772-2440, ext. 0. Advance tickets are also avail-

able at Bob’s Guitars in Cedar Falls and Moondog Music in Dubuque. Tickets purchased at the event are $20 per per-son.

Iowa Public Radio informs, enrich-es and engages Iowans through ra-dio programming and other media. Iowa Public Radio includes the WOI Radio Group (Iowa State Universi-ty, Ames), KUNI-KHKE (University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls), and KSUI-WSUI (University of Iowa, Iowa City).

©2008 Linn County Blues Society / �

Eden Brent Mississippi Number One Yellow Dog RecordsRelease Date – April 15, 2008

Big Ol’ Sound

Greenville Mississippi native Eden Brent breaks loose from the crowd with her new release “Mississippi Number One”. With her clean barrelhouse pi-ano and big voice she’s broken the string of female bluesers that sound like Marcia Ball and Bonnie Raitt. Her voice taps into the Bessie Smith and Janis Joplin vein with a big throaty tone and an old time feel that gives her a sound all her own. Listen to her laugh at the end of “Fried Chicken. She sounds like the waitress who brought me my lunch special last week (but better). A university trained musician and student of the late Delta Blues piano player Boogaloo Ames, she carries on the legacy of levee and lumber camps with a few old songs and lots of fresh material. And if it’s on Yellow Dog, it’s good. I give it all 88 keys with an OH Yeah to boot.

—John Heim (A.K.A. “Big Mo”)

Lineup announced! June 5-8Chicago Blue Festival

illinoisblues.com

Tell them you heard it here first because we have BIG news for you this week. We are pleased to be the first to release the entire line-up for the Chicago Blues Festival.For their 25th year, they have went

ALL OUT to bring you so much Blues talent it boggles the mind. We have the complete schedule on

our website at: illinoisblues.com/chi-cago2008.htm.

The lineup includes Katherine Davis, Erwin Helfer, Eric Noden, the Stone Academy Blues All Stars, Fernando Jones Columbia College Blues Ensem-ble, David “Honey Boy” Edwards, Billy Branch, Louisiana Red, Paul Kaye, Aron Burton, Johnny Yard Dog Jones, Pinetop Perkins, Willie Smith, Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, Kenny Smith, Inetta Visor, Nuwki Nu, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, Little Willie Littlefield, Pa-tricia Scott w/J.W. Williams, Big Ray and Chicago’s Most Wanted, Sharon Lewis and Texas Fire, L.C. Ulmer, Jimmy Burns Blues Band, Piano C. Red, Charles ‘Wsir’ Johnson, Jim O’Neal , Louis Jordan, Tommy McClennan, Hammie Nixon, Big Time Sarah, Duke Robillard, Plas Johnson, Red Holloway, Johnny Winter, James Cotton, Jo Jo Murray and Joy Hills, Peaches and the Groove Shakers, Tear Drop Sessions, Little Arthur Duncan, Les Getrex and Creole Cookin’, Omar Shariff , Bryan Lee & the Blues Power Band, Joe B Band, Larry Taylor’s West Side Blues & Soul Band, The Taylor’s Family Band, Rising Star Fife and Drum featuring the Thomas Family, Afrissisppi, Harmonica Hinds, Jimmy Johnson, Howard Man-del, Bill Milkowski, Lonnie Brooks, Bob Porter, Ernest Dawkins, Bill Gilmore and Bill Dahl, Ruby Andrews, Cicero Blake, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Willie Henderson, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Otis Clay, Koko Taylor and Her Blues Machine, Shorty Mack and the Magnificent R&B Blues Band, Liz Mand-

ville and the Blue Points, Charles Hayes and the Hayes Family Band, Otis Taylor, Don Vappie, Guy Davis, John Hammond, Milwaukee Blues All Stars, Stokes and Milwaukee Slim, Bumble Bee Bob, Chick Rogers, PG Man, Theodis Ealey (Brothers Reunion), Cedric Burnside, Little Mal-colm, T-Model Ford, Rosa’s All Star Jam Band Featuring James Wheeler, Steve Ar-vey, Quintus McCormick, Guitar Red, Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials, Barbara Lynn with Lil’ Buck and the Buckaroos, Buck-wheat Zydeco, Victory Travelers, Marie Knight, Tony Joe White, Davell Crawford, LaVelle White, Geraldine and Donald Gay, Davell Crawford, Paul Geremia, John Boutte, Rodney Brown, Big James Mont-gomery and the Playboys, Charles Wil-son, Kenny Smith, Dancin’ Perkins, Larry Hoffman, Nate Lawrence, Karen Carroll, Charlie Love, Lurrie Bell, Bobby Parker and B.B. King.

Tomaso’s Pizza

3234 Center Point Rd.

Official Pizzaof Bluesmore!

364-4313

The one thing the blues don’t get is the backing and pushing of TV and radio like a lot of this garbage you hears. They choke stuff down people’s throat so they got no

choice but to listen to it. —John Lee Hooker

I’ve said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed

on both counts, but I never noticed. —B. B. King

� / Linn County Blues Society ©2008

IllinoisBlues.com

Riverside Casino hosts Blues legend!Buddy Guy at Riverside!

The show cut loose right at 8:00 with a great rendition of one of my all time favor-ite blues songs, “Little By Little”. Buddy and the band then broke into “Hoochie Coochie Man” im-mediately after and got everyone in the crowd moving to the sounds of the legendary Blues mans’ Chicago style of making the house rock.

Though Buddy told us he was suffering from a cold and throat problem, he also told us that he has never cancelled any gigs. He and the band played on, through some of the great Blues standards like; “Boom Boom” and “Damn Right I Got the Blues”. Though he wasn’t cookin’ at 100%, the crowd was treated to some truly great Blues music played by one of the masters of Blues music and showmanship ever to pick up a guitar. Midway through the set Buddy joined the audience for some up close and personal Blues music. There were some real great high-

lights with Buddy playing off his

Story by David Andrews and photos by Kim Brostad

sideman, Ric Hall for some harmo-nious guitar jams that carried the crowd to their feet.The guy on key-board did a stellar job of carrying the show when Buddy’s voice croaked and finally died about half through the set.He pounded out some fantas-tic Blues on the keyboard that even left Buddy staring in disbelief. It seemed to me that the show

ended abruptly, when at 9:15 Bud-dy said good night and walked off stage. Most everyone in the crowd was begging for more. But, Buddy, voiceless, was not to be persuaded. He did not come back out and I left the building feeling like there was still a lot more of Buddy that I could have enjoyed seeing and hearing. Ah…maybe next time.

Matt Woods is both a na-tive of Des Moines, Iowa and a purveyor of its local blues scene. As a seasoned performer of many local, regional and national clubs and venues, Matt has developed a distinct style while still staying loyal to his blues roots. Versed in traditional delta, hill country and urban electric blues, his biggest influences include the likes of: Son House, Fred McDow-ell, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and R.L. Burnside, among others.

Whether as a solo act or with a band, Matt brings a firm understanding of the styles of these great masters to each performance. Matt is experi-enced in both electric and acoustic guitar, as well as slide guitar, lap steel and vocal performance.Matt’s music has been featured on

KUNI Public Radio, and also can be heard on FM95 KGGO’s “The Road-house”, Des Moines.Matt has opened for several national

acts including: Dr. John, Kelly Hunt, Joe Price and Grinderswitch.Often a “guitar for hire”, Matt is

available for studio and performance work as either a solo acoustic act or with his trio, “The Thunderbolts”.

Matt WoodsOpens Bluesmore 08

The Blues are the true facts of life expressed in words and song, inspiration,

feeling, and understanding. —Willie Dixon

This land is your land and this land is my land, sure, but the world is run by those

that never listen to music anyway. —Bob Dylan

©2008 Linn County Blues Society / �

Powerful Blues at Checkers! Bryan Lee & Blues Power Band

Story and photos by Bill Ray

Bryan Lee and the Blues Pow-er Band played at Check-ers here in Cedar Rapids on Sunday night, April 20th. The New Orleans based blues group gave a versatile and pleasing show. I’m con-vinced that many national touring groups give some of their best perfor-mances at smaller venues, where they have a chance to kick back and relax while interacting with the audience without the pressures of big stage ex-pectations. A bonus is that listeners have a real chance to talk with band members if they choose to do so---and learn about life on the road. Bryan Lee is always interesting to

watch: with his dark glasses, black hat, white chin whiskers, and strik-ing deep-blue Fender guitar. The man can really play and sing the blues with soulful authenticity. His backup band was even more interesting and just as talented. Drummer John Perkins was terrific with his loose-jointed arms flailing with rhythm all over his drum set. And Jeff Beninato was steady as a rock on bass. It was young Brent Johnson on second guitar that really caught your attention. A tall, lanky youth with an oversize, purplish-blue Gretsch guitar slung below his hip, he looked like Carl Perkins’ little brother right out of a 1950’s rockabilly band. But the kid could really play! Johnson performed as rhythm guitarist for the first set behind Bryan Lee’s powerful vocals and playing. For the second set, Lee generously turned over the lead guitar parts for many songs to the kid whose slide work was amaz-ing. Often they interchanged lead parts during a tune in an exhibition of perfect blues teamwork. Talking with veteran bass player

Beninato during a break, he said he had just joined the group a few weeks

before for this tour which in early April reached northward to a week-long gig at a blues club in Edmonton, Alberta. They returned south through Minne-sota and Wisconsin before reaching Cedar Rapids. At the end of April, they were traveling to Europe to play a few dates in Germany. Then it was back to the states where Bryan Lee and his band performed May 8th at the Blues Music Awards annual show held this year in Tunica, Mississippi. Lee was a nominee this year in the Best Contem-porary Blues Album category for his CD “Katrina Was Her Name.” In an interesting side note, bassist

Jeff Beninato is the chairman of the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund (NOMRF.org) and talked with me about the devastation caused by hurri-cane Katrina and the continuing needs of New Orleans musicians to restore their lives and livelihoods. A music fan can learn a lot just by hanging out at Checkers on a Sunday evening.

What makes my approach special is thatI do different things. I do jazz, blues,

country music and so forth. I do them all, like a good utility man.

—Ray Charles

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

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

� / Linn County Blues Society ©2008

• LCBS Members SAVE 10% off meals atLeo’s Italian Restaurant!

29 South Frederick Avenue, Oelwein.

• SAVE at - Tic Toc RestaurantBuy one, get one ½ price

on any regular breakfast entrée or sand-wich!

• SAVE at - Genghis Grill10% off entire ticket ANYTIME!

SAVE at Hamilton Mortgage$2�0 off closing costs (ask for Jessica)

Local MusicSupport LIVE Music- It’s a Spectator Sport!

Sun.- Checkers Tavern-Blue Sunday-6PMSun.- Mahoney’s - Various artists-Never a Cover, 6pmSun.- Charlie’s, Coralville-Blues JamWed.- Checkers Tavern-Kevin BF Burt solo 6-9Wed.- Mahoney’s-D-Licious Vinyl w/ Bobby D 8-12Thurs.-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 June 2, 6:30PM for

the LCBS Board & Member meeting. Guests are welcome!

90 Twixt Town Rd., Marion • 377-6386

June Blues CalendarSun. 1 Mt. Horeb Summer Frolic

Mahoney’s Irish PubCheckers Tavern

Blue Band 5-8PM - Mt. Horeb, WIKris Lager Band - 6PMGov. of Funk Stew, 6-10PM

Thur. 5 J.M. O’Malley’sRiverside Casino

Ernie Peniston, 9PMThe Tornadoes

Fri. 6 IPR-KUNI Blues CrusieC + D - North LibertyChrome HorseErnie’sTeeghans

Blue Band, Dubuque, IA 7-10PMMike & Rob Show, 9-1Inch 75, 6-10 (outside) • Super Size 7 9P (inside)McMurrin & Johnson, 6-8:45PMBilly Janey Trio, 9-1

Sat. 7 Chappy’s SafariRiverside Casino LoungeScreaming EagleDam Bar, Troy MillsChrome Horse

Sarah Cram 9-1Blue Band, 8:30-Midnight, Riverside, IABilly Janey Trio, 9-1 WaterlooMike & Rob Show, 9-1Large Midgets, 6-10 (out) Well Lit, 9PM (inside)

Sun. 8 Mahoney’s Pub Prism - 6PM

Wed. 11 Next Door McMurrin & Johnson, 7-10PM

Thur. 12 J.M. O’Malley’sSturgis on the RiverFirehouse

Charlie MorganBlues Band, 9:30-11:30, Davenport, IAMike & Rob Show, 8:30-12:30

Fri. 13 Fridayloo CelebrationCheckers TavernErnie’sNext DoorFirehouseChrome Horse

Blue Band, 5-9PM Lincoln Park, WaterlooJohnny Kilowatt, 9-1Billy Janey w/ DJ Johnson 6-8:45PMBilly Janey Trio, 9-1Mike & Rob Show, 8:30-12:30O’Connell Bro. 6-10 (out) Lonesome Rd. 9P (in)

Sat. 14 Chappy’s SafariGus’, North LibertyChrome Horse

Harvey Headbanger 9-1Mike & Rob Show, 9-1TBA

Sun. 15 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Daddy O’s Funky Posse, 6-10PM

Wed. 18 Sammy’s Merrill J. Miller & Dan Johnson, 9-1

Thur. 19 J.M. O’Malley’s Merrill J. Miller - Home from Alaska! 9-1 w/ DJ

Fri. 20 Little ChicagoErnie’sNext Door5th GearChrome Horse

Johnny Kilowatt, 9-1 WilliamsburgMcMurrin & Johnson, 6-8:45PM4 Box O Rocks, 9-1Electric Mule, 9-18 Seconds, 6-10 (outside) Lockren 9PM (inside)

Sat. 21 3 Street LIVE!Chappy’s SafariChrome Horse

Mustang Sally from Nashville, TN 9PMConcrete Moon 9-1Gibbs Brothers

Sun. 22 Mahoney’s Irsih Pub Hunab - 6PM

Mon. 23 George’s- Iowa City CannonSaul, Kilowatt & Friends

Tues. 24 Riverside Casino The Tornadoes

Thur.26 J.M. O’Malley’sFirehouse

DDog & The BBits, 9-1Mike & Rob Show, 8:30-12:30

Fri. 27 Drinks, North LibertyChrome HorseCity Beat

Mike & Rob Show, 9-1Jeff Bruner, 6-10P outside. Inside - TBAMcMurrin & Johnson, 7-10PM

Sat. 28 Chappy’s SafariOdies, ElyChrome Horse

Hyper Fuzz 9-1Mike & Rob Show, 8-124 Box O Rocks, 9-1

Sun. 29 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Bill Smith 6PM

This publication of the LCBS is dedicated to the support of LIVE music and is guaranteed to be heart-healthy, low in fat, low in sodium and completely Karaoke FREE!

A very special THANK YOU to these business-es who have signed up to help us

Keep the Blues Alive!

• C.R. Bank & Trust• Chappy’s Safari• Chrome Horse• Longbranch• Dudley Bros. Co.• Cocktails & Co.• Ron Schantz Const.• J.M. O’Malley’s

• The Fifth Gear• 1�th Avenue Prod.• KCCK 88.�• Checkers Tavern• Home Town Restyling• Next Door• Tomaso’s Pizza• Mahoney’s Irish Pub

Ron DeWitte and Janelle Lauer

©2008 Linn County Blues Society / �

Blues N BBQ at Bloomsbury Farm, Atkins, IASaturday, June 7, 2008

Gates open at 3pm

4pm-6pm - Scarlet Runner Band - Waterloo6:30 pm- 8:30pm - The Larry Garner Band - Baton Rouge, LA

Little Bobby & The Storm Band - 9pm - 11pm - Minneapolis, MN

Hot Air Balloon Rides • Silent Auction • Lots of kids Activities

Sponsored by Flecks Sales, Miller Lite, Fat Tire Beer, and Hy-Vee Food Stores

Tickets may be purchased at all Cedar Rapids/Marion Hy-Vee

Food Stores beginning May 1.

Tickets are $10.00 Adults, Children 5 & under are FREE!

Special Pricing is available to all Linn County Blues Memebers;Buy one Ticket and get the next Ticket FREE.

Must Call Dave Miller at Hy-Vee on Edgewood Road to get this package - 378-0762. This is a fundraiser for the

Juvenile Diebetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

Iowa Blues Hall of Famers at LiarsRon DeWitte, Sam Salomone, Dartanyan Brown and Steve Hayes!

Liars Theatre will present four stars from the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame playing together on June 27 and 28 at the Campbell Steele Gallery in Marion. The group will be Ron DeWitte on guitar, Sam Salomone on B3, Dartan-yan Brown on bass and Steve Hayes on drums. This is a fabulous line-up of guys who have spent many years in the blues business, defining the scene in the Midwest! They don’t often get to play together, but Liars favorite Ron DeWitte got them together for this gig.DeWitte, Brown and Salomone will all perform break-

out solo features. Two nights only, in the intimate set-ting of the Campbell Steele Gallery - a chance to see these musicians work together and see them up-close. No smoking -- wine, beer and snacks will be served. Tickets are $25, available beginning May 1st by calling the Gallery: (319) 373-9211. Both shows begin at 8 pm, doors will open at 7:15. Open seating.

The Gallery is located at 1064 7th Avenue on the downtown square in Marion.

HEY ALL!Checkers Tavern & Eater

has its KITCHEN OPEN daily at 11am!!

Broasted Chicken, fresh thick burgers, sandwiches & salads to start us out. We’ll be adding things to our menu as well. We will have a menu online soon.I can mail you a menu if you’d like or drop one off to you or you can pop in and grab one

as well.Maybe have a beer or two.

Just let me know.

THANK YOU!!!P.J. Harrington

Checkers Tavern & Eatery3120 6th St SW

Cedar Rapids IA 52404319 364 9927

checkerstavern.com

©2008-Linn County Blues Society

Linn County Blues SocietyPO Box 2��2Cedar Rapids, IA�2�0�-2��2

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