May Day, Zoo Bar, JD McPherson

Well, I am sorry for the sporadic way that I update this blog space, or don't -- however I did think that the Gurf Morlix review was a cool thing to leave up as the latest post for a while. Gurf will be in Omaha for a Sunday Roadhouse show on Tuesday (yes, yes, I know) May 14 show at the Side Door Lounge, doors at 6:30, show at 7:30. Gurf's latest disc FINDS THE PRESENT TENSE is haunting, good stuff. Come see his live show. See sundayroadhouse.com.

Meanwhile, the Zoo Bar has announced their 40th Anniversary schedule for the outdoor stage July 4, 5 and 6. Four words. Dave Alvin. The Paladins.
Yes!
Here's the whole schedule for the outdoor stage.
Thursday July 4th
1:00 PM: Lloyd McCarter and The Honky Tonk Revival
3:00 PM: Tijuana Gigolos
5:00 PM: John Primer
7:00 PM: Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
9:00 PM: Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers
11:00 PM: Universe Contest

Friday July 5th
3:00 PM: The Mezcal Brothers
5:00 PM: Tinsely Ellis
7:00 PM: Junior Brown
9:00 PM The Paladins
11:00 PM: The Self-Righteous Brothers

Saturday July 6th
3:00 PM: Freakabout!
5:00 PM: Walter Trout
7:00 PM: DaveAlvin & The Guilty Ones
9:00 PM: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
11:00 PM: Sidewalk Chalk
See zoobarfestival.com for more details. Ruthie Foster was just announced to be playing in the club on Monday, July 1. There will be multiple bands indoors July 1, 2 and 3. 

J.D. McPherson with Jimmy Sutton who produced his most recent disc.

Friends who know highly recommend J.D. McPherson at the Bourbon Theatre on Friday night, May 3. Mezcal Brothers and The Black Lilies open. 
Check bourbontheatre.com/2013/04/03/jd-mcpherson

 more J.D. McPherson

I've had some musical experiences lately that have reminded me of all the great times I've seen great bands in great clubs and danced all night...the happiest of happy....through the years.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to still search out the music that moves me... and to share it with others.
Speaking of music fans, MarQ Manner throws himself a 40th Birthday Party at Waiting Room on Friday, July 3 -- gonna be a great night of music. Find the details on Facebook at  MarQ is finally 40

Here's this week's READER column... 
remember what matters to you and don't ever let go of that.
 www.thereader.com/index.php/comments/zoo_bar_turns_40/ 

Zoo Bar Turns 40

by B.J. Huchtemann

Lincoln’s Zoo Bar celebrates 40 years as a live roots music mecca this year. The official 40th Anniversary events are July 1-6, with three nights of multi-band shows inside the club Monday through Wednesday, July 1-3. Grammy nominee Ruthie Foster plays the club Monday, July 1, to kick things off. Other indoor performances include Bernie Worrell Orchestra (July 2), the Bel Airs and John Nemeth Band (July 3).
The music takes to the streets July 4, 5 and 6. Highlights include John Primer and Terrance Simien (Thursday, July 4), Tinsley Ellis, Junior Brown and The Paladins (Friday, July 5), and Walter Trout, Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Sidewalk Chalk (Saturday, July 6). A number of local bands that are audience favorites will also perform. See zoobarfestival.com for the current schedule and breaking additions.

J.D. McPherson
Rockabilly, roots and R&B fans need to check out J.D. McPherson at Lincoln’s Bourbon Theatre Friday, May 3. Opening are The Black Lilies and Mezcal Brothers. McPherson’s most recent disc, Signs and Signifiers (Rounder), was produced by Chicago’s Jimmy Sutton in his all-analog Hi-Style home studio. The sound is old-school, primal, slammin’  rock. See jdmcpherson.com and bourbontheatre.com.

In press materials McPherson prefers not to be pigeonholed: “What is retro?...With the recurring interest in soul or even R&B, there seems to be a line most artists won’t cross—that line into the world of the swinging, visceral abandon of real rock ‘n’ roll.”

MarQ’s 40th Birthday
Local music scene mainstay MarQ Manner celebrates his 40th birthday with a special show at Waiting Room Friday, May 3, 8 p.m. Proceeds go to Angels Among Us, a cancer charity, in memory of his father who died of cancer last year. Performing are Matt Banta, Pat Gehrman and Michael Campbell in an acoustic song swap followed by Witness Tree, The 9’s, Whipkey Three, The Seen and Bennie & the Gents.

Hot Notes
KIOS 91.5 FM airs a two-hour documentary on Jim Hendrix “The Jimi You Never Knew” Sunday, May 5, 7 p.m. See kios.org for details.
Chicago’s Steepwater Band plays The 21st Saloon Thursday, May 2, 5:30-8:30 p.m. They gig Saturday, May 4, 6-9 p.m. at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar. Lil’ Slim plays the Zoo Wednesday, May 8, 6 p.m.
12-year-old classical-turned-rock female guitarist and songwriter Jaden Carlson sits in with the Zoo Bar House Band Monday, May 6, and gigs at Barley Street Tavern Tuesday, May 7. See jadensound.com.

  
 

Gurf Morlix's New CD & Gurf in Omaha in May

CD Review: 

Gurf Morlix Finds The Present Tense

note: there are some formatting issues going on here that I haven't figured out...and the videos are not showing up in every browser.

by B.J. Huchtemann    

There’s blood in the water and he’s put gasoline on the fire. Gurf Morlix serves up a moody, evocative collection of songs with the March release of Gurf Morlix Finds The Present Tense. 

“I’m tryin’ to find the pattern / Tryin’ to make some sense / Feelin’ heavy vibrations / I find the present tense.”

Austin-based Morlix is introspective and aching, restless and somehow hopeful in these songs. The tone of the disc is often dark and mournful, despairing and confessional, but Morlix makes serious beauty from the mess and finds some glimmers of hope, as he sings on “Small Window:"

“I have thoughts I gotta rise above

but everything I did I did for love

It’s a small window I’m lookin’ through

It ain’t much of view 

I don’t belong here

I believe that’s true

It’s a small window I’m lookin’ through

but sometimes I think I can see you.”

The opening track sets up a story of a man in prison and the dead man walking: “I ain’t got no life / It’s already been taken.” The character might be real, might be a metaphor for the plight of the protagonist in these songs: the man looking through the small window, but the man who might yet find a way out.

Despite the word present in the title, the songs seem to shift between reality and dreams or even nightmares, between yesterday and what might be today. Morlix seems to be exploring the shifting perceptions of reality and what we do and do not know about ourselves and our lovers. Check out “Series of Closin’ Doors.” 

Likewise “Lookin’ for You” has lyrics that leave the listener to decide if the person at the center of the song is looking back, looking for someone he’s lost, or looking forward, looking for someone he hopes exists. The sexy, edgy sound of the track is as darkly seductive as the lyrics and to add to the ambiguity, it’s never quite clear if the lyric is “There’s nothing I CAN do” or “nothing I can’t do...” Either way, the person is driven by forces that seem beyond his control.

“Everything seems normal

Til you scratch away the film

First layer goes

And the blood begins to spill

Red stain spreadin’

Like a wild fire 

My world’s crumblin’

With burnin’ desire

You know I like it

Dark and hot,

Torn and twisted

Tied in a knot

You’ve got the slant

You’ve got the skew

You know I want it

There’s nothing I can’t do

‘Keep looking for you.” 

Gurf Morlix sings "Lookin' for You"

The arrangements are spare and shadowy, some with a late-night vibe like “These Are My Blues.” A personal favorite, this tune shimmers with echoing harmonica moans and wails, edgy percussion riffs, and is laced with deft B3 organ work and occasional fiddle. 

Musical guests on the CD include three different B3 organ players, notably Ian McLagen, and the wonderful Eliza Gilkyson on harmonies.

Morlix’s literate, intelligent and perceptive lyrics, excellent guitar work and rugged, soulful vocals all make his work well worth seeking out. See gurfmorlix.com or iTunes for Gurf Morlix Finds the Present Tense (Rootball Records). 

Morlix is set to apper in Omaha at Dean Dobmeier’s and Gary Grobeck’s Sunday Roadhouse on Tuesday, May 14, 7:30 p.m. See "Upcoming Shows" at sundayroadhouse.com.

The disc closes with “Empty Cup,” a co-write with Grant Peeples. The track is another personal favorite. Though not exactly hopeful, it is a commanding, haunting portrait of being caught inside the throes of unrequited love. Florida songwriter Peeples is one of my own personal discoveries of 2012. His version of the song appears on his 2011 Morlix-produced disc Okra & Ecclesiastes. 

Here's Grant Peeples performing "Empty Cup" 

Morlix also produced Peeples’ 2012 CD Prior Convictions. The two are scheduled to work on their third project for Peeples this fall. A Peeples’ sidebar, Grant has a brand new book of poetry and  companion CD now available, “Grant’s Little Read Book of Poetry.” See grantpeeples.com to get this new release or any of Peeples’ fine work. (grantpeeples.com/shop/)

Morlix and Peeples are both highly recommended!

Gurf’s last personal project was Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet Dream, a recording of his late friend Blaze Foley’s tunes, followed by a tour with filmmaker Kevin Triplett. The tour, which stopped in Omaha as part of Dean Dobmeier’s and Gary Grobeck’s Sunday Roadhouse series, included a screening of an abbreviated version of Triplett’s funny and touching film Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah (2011). See blazefoleymovie.com. 

movie trailer: Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah

Foley’s romantic and inspiring song “If I Could Only Fly” was made famous by Merle Haggard and has been recorded by many artists, and his songs have been recorded by other notable musicians including Lyle Lovett, John Prine and Willie Nelson. You can find a good variety of videos from Morlix on this tour covering Foley’s songs on Youtube. Here are a couple of links:

Gurf Morlix sings Blaze Foley's songs

Bang, Bang, Bang on Present Tense reprises Foley’s tragic story, shot by a neighbor, while commenting on our current “gun carrying fools” culture. 

Gurf sings Bang, Bang, Bang

Morlix’s career includes 11 years as Lucinda Williams’ guitarist and bandleader. Morlix was the producer for her self-titled Lucinda Williams and 1992’s Sweet Old World. He’s since produced a number of other artists including four albums for Ray Wylie Hubbard as well as working with Tom Russell, Butch Hancock and Hot Club of Cowtown. 

Magic Slim Remembered

The Lincoln music community & Zoo Bar family laid to rest another patriarch on Saturday, March 2, with funeral services in Lincoln.

My new column is online here -Remembering Magic Slim http://www.thereader.com/index.php/site/comments/world_remembers_ magic_slim

Plus Joshua R Hoyer did a lovely remembrance of Magic Slim and his significance to the Zoo Bar family and the world-wide blues family that is this week's READER cover story!
http://www.thereader.com/comments/remembering_magic_slim/
The Reader | Omaha, Nebraska | World Remembers Magic Slim

From the Zoo Bar's Facebook events: Mark your calendars for this celebration event at The Zoo Bar (Lincoln NE) MAGIC SLIM CELEBRATION OF LIFE! Sunday, March 31. 3pm til who knows?! https://m.facebook.com/events/276314772499047/?context=create
MAGIC SLIM CELEBRATION OF LIFE! Sunday, March 31! Details Join Lil' Slim Blues Band, Bel Airs, Tijuana Gigolos, The ZOO Bar House Band and more in celebrating the life of our dear friend, Morris Holt aka MAGIC SLIM! All proceeds will go to the Holt family!

There will also be a Celebration for Magic in Chicago the night of March 28 at The Main Stage. Start time and artists TBA-but there is talk of headliners to include Billy Branch, Eddie Clearwater, Lonnie Brooks and Lil Slim with The Teardrops. These events are coordinated as such so people can attend both!

National Blues Museum in St. Louis critical fundraising campaign

I had a brief conversation with Devon Allman last night at the Royal Southern Brotherhood show about fundraising / donations needed for the proposed National Blues Museum in St Louis (a separate entity from the Blues Hall of Fame that the Blues Foundation is working on)...the National Blues Museum needs to gather significant donations by April 1st in order to qualify for a significant multi-million dollar donation. This is a really critical thing for the future of the museum. Spread the word. Donate if you can. Devon is on the board and trying to help get the word out, asking folks to share & reshare the info & the critical timeline. For details, drawings, photos & plans for the museum see www.nationalbluesmuseum.org/

This week's Reader column is online here with shows including Will Sexton & Shannon McNally at the Side Door Lounge Feb 17, 5 pm (see www.sundayroadhouse.com)...OEA Awards ceremony at the Omaha Hilton Sunday Feb 17 at 7 pm...North Mississippi Allstars at Waiting Room on Wednesday...Runny Nose Pete at Gator O'Malley's Thursday and the great, one-and-only, musical-spiritual force of nature Mavis Staples at Lincoln's Bourbon Theatre Friday Feb 22 with special guest Pieta Brown.

www.thereader.com/index.php/site/comments/love_live_music/

Remembering Gary Flanagan

LEFT: Gary Flanagan and Sarah Benck. Photo by Brian Nelson from Gary's Facebook page.

TOP RIGHT: Hadden Sayers, photographed by Gary Flanagan.

I haven't had time to sort out my thoughts further but wanted to post something here on the blog about the passing of my friend Gary Flanagan.

Gary was an amazing supporter of the Omaha Music Scene. Gary passed away a week ago of an apparent heart attack. In a wonderful gesture that continues Gary's support of the Omaha Music Scene, the family has requested Memorials for Gary are suggested to HEAR Nebraska and Omaha Girls Rock.

I remember first seeing him at Sarah Benck shows, and asking Sarah if he was a relative, as he was always there, always knew all the words, always got up close to the stage. At the reception and musical celebration of his life, easily attended by 25 to 30 of Omaha's finest singer-songwriters, everyone said the same thing. "Gary came to all my shows, knew all the words, sat in the front...Gary came to more shows than my parents did...Gary encouraged me to learn something new, to push myself..."

I used to joke that Gary saw more shows than I did, as he was always out, hitting several shows a week and a huge friend to and supporter of our fine local musicians. I used to often sit with him and Mark Sebring at shows, I regret I will never get to share a show with Gary again. The last time I saw him was at the Hadden Sayers show at The 21st Saloon, where he was taking pics with the camera he had inherited from his sister. He had a hard time with the passing of both his sister and his dad in recent years, but he loved taking his sister's camera to shows and on trips. We talked that night about all the hundreds of pictures he still had to pull off the camera, recent family trips, more music pictures.

Two weeks later he was gone. I'm still stunned. The Omaha music scene and Omaha's musicians have lost a dedicated, discerning & kind music enthusiast & friend.....and I know I have lost a good friend too.

Please keep Gary's wife and family in your prayers. As much as all his music family miss him, I know they are hurting so much more. 

Cass Brostad was one local artist Gary loved who summed his impact up really well "Gary Flanagan. You've seen every one of my bands play. You sat in the front row of shows. You came to shows when no one else would. You remembered the names of songs. And requested them. You let me call you Flash Flanagan. For years You were always smiling. You were always the nicest guy in a room full of hooligans. And we all love you. You are absolutely irreplaceable in every way. And I'm going to miss your face. Very very much. - Fidel Casstro. (Cass Brostad)."

Hear Nebraska has also posted a few remembrances of Gary, including my Facebook post and a note from our mutual friend Mark Sebring, the three of us often sat together at shows by our favorite artists. I know we both will miss him, his company, his enthusiasm for music and his friendship.
http://hearnebraska.org/content/gary-flanagan-1957-to-2013-final-thoughts

Very nice interview with Hadden Sayers from a Sioux Falls radio station at the end of their Midwest run a couple weeks ago....about his return to the Blues scene & his recent disc Hard Dollar...which produced the beautiful Blues Music Award nominated song Back to the Blues. That's all in the first video. The second video previews a new song from Sayers' Feb 2013 release Rolling Soul. Check www.haddensayers.com for more info!

Hadden Sayers Band Live [VIDEOS]

Hadden on the road again with an outstanding new disc, Rolling Soul, & a big weekend of music options!

Well, let's see...Runny Nose Pete (aka Steve Byam and his band of hooligans) playing gut-bucket blues at Sullivan's 40th & Farnam tonight about 9:30 p.m. (Free show)...Jeremy Mercy & Vern Fergesen playing a free duo Mercies show over at Horseshoe's Whiskey Roadhouse Casino...Josh Hoyer playing a solo show at Lincoln's Wilderness Ridge tonight 7:30-11ish...Sh*%hook has replaced Brad Cordle Band at the Zoo Bar's 5-7 p.m. show, due to illness...touring company for the musical MEMPHIS is happening at the Orphuem in Omaha, Lucky Peterson is at the Holland Performing Arts 1200 Club Saturday Night....and if you missed Hadden Sayers last night at the 21st Saloon (And Wednesday at the Zoo Bar) you missed out...my Sioux City friends can catch them tonight at the Chesterfield...you can pre-order Hadden's brand new disc ROLLING SOUL at www.haddensayers.com

Here's an extended, jazzy version of "Insomniac Blues" that is on the new disc, ROLLING SOUL, recorded at the historic Kessler Theater in Dallas, Texas!

And speaking of Texas, here's Hadden's tribute to all those sweet Texas girls from HARD DOLLAR.

Hadden's song Back to the Blues from HARD DOLLAR STILL gives me goose bumps when I hear it...and it seems that the tune's deserved recognition with a Blues Music Award nomination for Song of the Year last year helped turn more people on to his music. As a long-time fan, I'm hoping that 2013 continues to bring Hadden Sayers more listeners. He's the real deal!

New READER column is online here....now for gosh sake, go hear some live music!

http://www.thereader.com/index.php/site/comments/sayers_rolling_soul/

Sayers’ Rolling Soul

by B.J. Huchtemann

Hadden Sayers hits the metro for two shows this week. His new CD, Rolling Soul, drops in February. I first discovered Sayers in the mid-1990s and have been enthusiastically following his music ever since. This is Sayers’ follow up to Hard Dollar, which produced a 2012 Blues Music Award nomination for Song of the Year for "Back to the Blues." Rolling Soul is remarkably an even stronger disc than the excellent Hard Dollar, with a sound that is visceral and in the pocket. The tracks have a muscular intensity and fluid ease. There are a variety of sounds from the slow, simmering “Alone With The Blues” to the sexy “Insomniac Blues” plus plenty of rockin’ riffs. The disc also expands into some soul and R&B that allow Sayers to demonstrate his rich vocal versatility. Check out "That's What You Do." Ruthie Foster also guests on a track. Texas native Sayers is a triple-threat as a skilled guitarist, singer and songwriter. Rolling Soul continues his evolution as a must-see artist. See haddensayers.com. Catch the Hadden Sayers Band Wednesday, Jan. 16, 6-9 p.m. at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar and Thursday, Jan. 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The 21st Saloon.
Playing With Fire Fundraiser
Playing With Fire series founder Jeff Davis reports the headliner for his Feb. 9 fundraiser, England's Ben Poole, was not able to get his visa cleared in time to guarantee he could enter the U.S. for the event. “We have moved the show to the 21 Saloon where we will play only Cassie Taylor,” Davis says. See cassietaylorband.com. The show will go on Feb. 9, 7-10 p.m. at The 21st Saloon, $10 admission.
Hot Notes
Lincoln’s Zoo Bar has blues from Omaha’s fiery Hector Anchondo Band Thursday, Jan. 17, 9 p.m. The Bel Airs boogie down at the Zoo next Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6-9 p.m. The Bel Airs also hit The 21st Saloon next Thursday, Jan. 23, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The Blues Society of Omaha holds an open general meeting at The 21st Sunday, Jan. 20, 3 p.m. A special show with Murali Coryell 6-9 p.m. will follow. Coryell was last seen in Omaha in October at the Playing with Fire fundraiser as part of Joe Louis Walker’s band.
Runny Nose Pete plugs in at Sullivan’s Bar, 40th & Farnam, Friday, Jan. 18, 9 p.m. Blues great Lucky Peterson plays the Holland’s 1200 Club Saturday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m. Kris Lager Band rocks The Waiting Room Wednesday, Jan. 23, 9 p.m.