Summertime Blues Concerts, Festivals & More

BY B.J. HUCHTEMANN

Be sure to visit last week’s blog post (Friday, May 20, below) for a preview of Texas-born blues-rocker Hadden Sayers’ new CD Hard Dollar (Blue Corn Music) due out June 21. It’s Sayers’ best work and you can hear some of the tunes and check out two new videos at HaddenSayers.com. 

I promised readers of the print version of this week's Hoodoo some thoughts on the Red Sky Music Festival. With a rather ironic countdown clock running at the top of their web page, the Red Sky Music Festival is running behind the curve in terms of satisfying most local serious music fans. The inaugural event takes place July 18-23 in TD Ameritrade Park. 

Expectations were high among avid music aficionados that Live Nation, which puts on a stellar music event called Summerfest in Milwaukee, would follow the same approach in booking varied, interesting and even high-profile acts for Omaha’s Red Sky Music Festival. Live Nation said as much in the original announcements about the festival. With less than two months left until the event at T.D. Ameritrade Park, the headlining bookings offer no one really new or previously unseen in our
area. 

In the blues, R&B and roots genres, artists like Buddy Guy and George Clinton have already played the metro several times. Even for these announcements, the performance dates are still “TBA” on the RedSkyFestival.com site. Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers might be one of the few acts that have seldom played Omaha. His date is also “TBA” on the site. Other acts appearing include Kid Rock, Omaha homeboys 311, Sublime, Journey, Night Ranger and Jason Aldean. Rumors abounded this week that the Zac Brown Band, a country rock act, were also added, but they weren't on the official website until today, May 26.  It’s not clear if the festival is just taking a break from annoouncements or has made all their major ones. As some folks have pointed out in other places, anyone who is going to make plans to take off work or even travel for a festival is getting to the point where the Red Sky Music Festival won't even be on those fans radar.  

In addition the event is currently conducting “showcases” to select three to four local bands per day to appear on its stages. They’re calling it the Battle of the Local Bands, overlooking the fact that
some of the best local bands don’t think music is about competition. I really was excited about the prospects of this festival but, so far, haven’t seen a booking thatwill get me to fight the potential crowds and likely parking nightmares for the event. You can follow the latest news and see if anything strikes your fancy at RedSkyFestival.com.

Playing With Fire
Meanwhile, many outdoor events bring blues and roots music to our area this summer. There is only one Playing With Fire concert on Omaha’s riverfront this summer, but it’s a big show. The event Saturday, July 16, features a band that’s crossed over to indie and rock popularity and been on “Austin City Limits.” The high-powered soul and funk of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings headlines the event. Austin powerhouse soul-blues vocalist Malford Milligan is the second national act on the bill. Omaha’s Brad Cordle Band opens the night. See PlayingWithFireOmaha.net for details.

Wine & Roots Music
The picturesque Soaring Wings Vineyard south of Springfield hosts their annual Wine & Blues Festival June 4, 5-9:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for those 21 and up, $10 for ages 12-20 and free for those under 12. The event will feature Elwin James & The Way Outs (5:30 p.m.), Kansas City’s Shannon & The Rhythm Kings (7 p.m.), and Iowa band The Candymakers (8:30 p.m.) They also offer live music on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. See SoaringWingsWine.com for all the details.

Sugar Clay Winery in Thurman, Iowa, presents Winestock 2011 on Sunday, May 29. The Matt Cox Band headlines a day of music. Admission is $10. See SugarClayWinery.com.

Davies Amphitheater Fundraiser Concerts
Playing With Fire founder Jeff Davis is working with the Davies Amphitheater in Glenwood, Iowa, to raise monies for further improvements on the facility. There will be three concerts this summer. Saturday, June 25, Carolyn Wonderland performs. Saturday, July 9, the featured artists are Dawn Tyler Watson, Paul Deslauriers and Trevor Finlay. (All seen previously in Playing With Fire concerts.) On Saturday, Aug. 13, Grammy-nominee Ruthie Foster takes the stage. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at ETix.com. For more information select the Glenwood header at PlayingWithFireOmaha.net.

Road Trips
Sites such as BluesMusicFestivals.com can get you started on summer music road trips. The 15th annual Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest in north Kansas City at 76th & N. Troost June 10 and 11 offers a great line-up for nearly free. Parking is $5. Friday night’s acts are excellent with the Lionel Young Band opening for guitarists Stacy Mitchhart and Tab Benoit. 
See GladstoneChamber.com/events.aspx for details and the Saturday schedule.

The prestigious Chicago Blues Festival takes place June 10-12. This year the event commemorates Robert Johnson’s centennial. Main stage events include a celebration of Alligator Records 40th Anniversary. Visit ChicagoBluesFestival.org for details.

Lincoln BBQ & Blues Fest
Closer to home there’s a lot going on including a special June 4 event in Lincoln. The second annual Lincoln BBQ & Blues Fest happens in the parking lot east of Famous Dave’s in Southpointe Pavillions at 27th Street and Pine Lake Road. Headlining the event is one of my favorite new bands, Davina & The Vagabonds from Minneapolis. Their jump-blues, swing and New Orleans-influenced jazz is old school and fresh at the same time. (Davina and her great band also play The 21st Saloon on Thursday, June 9!) Also performing at the Lincoln BBQ & Blues Fest are the Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings and The Blues Orchestra featuring Honeyboy Turner. See SouthPointeShopping.com.

In The Clubs
The Zoo Bar hosts a special early show Tuesday, May 31, 6-9 p.m. with Vagabond Swing from Lafayette, La. The band mixes swing, gypsy jazz and Afro-beat sounds. See ZooBar.com for the complete schedule. Remember the Zoo celebrates its 38th Anniversary July 5-9. The weekend outdoor stage will feature Dave Alvin on July 8 and Kelley Hunt on July 9.

The 21st Saloon presents the wildly popular Bel Airs on Thursday, May 26, at 5:30 p.m. Get ready to hit the dance floor for vintage R&B, New Orleans sounds, Delta blues and early rock ‘n’ roll from one of the great trios on the touring circuit. Kansas City’s Trampled Under Foot brings their family band blues to the 21st Thursday, June 2. They were recently featured on the cover of Blues Revue magazine and have a new CD out. See tufkc.com/music/wrong-side-of-the-blues. Trampled Under Foot also performs at the Zoo Bar on Wednesday, June 1, at 6 p.m.

Rockabilly Night takes over Gator O’Malley’s Thursday, May 26 with The Reckless Ones from Minneapolis headlining the free event. Music starts at 9 p.m. 

Hot Notes
Be sure to see last week’s blog at HoodooRootsBlues.blogspot.com (below) for the details on the Nebraska Blues Challenge finals. The Lil’ Slim Blues Band received the most votes from the judges and will represent the Blues Society of Omaha in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February 2011. Judges for the final round were Dan Cerveny (President of the Omaha Musicians Association), Joe Sherrick (President of the KC Blues Society) and Frank Hicks (owner of Knuckleheads Saloon in KC).

KIOS 91.5 FM will present an encore of the radio documentary “The Robert Johnson Centennial Celebration” Monday, May 30, at 2 p.m. The program airs as part of Mike Jacob’s “Blues In The Afternoon” program that is broadcast Mondays from 1-3 p.m.

Remember, when you can’t find the Hoodoo column in print, please look for me at HoodooRootsBlues.blogspot.com.

all material copyright B.J. Huchtemann 2011

(Is It) The End of the World As We Know It? 

or Let's Feel Fine!

by B.J. Huchtemann

Lots of music going on this weekend. All Young Girls Are Machine Guns has a CD release party on Friday night at The Waiting Room. Honey & Darling and The Betties also play. It's a celebration of rock'n'roots with a feminine touch.

Saturday night, well if the world is gonna end I wanna be among friends and good music. Kris Lager Band, Funk Trek & Mitch Gettman play The Waiting Room on May 21. 

Meanwhile Kyle Harvey hosts one of his inimitable theme music parties at the Barley Street. The Facebook page for the event contains the following description: "Kyle Harvey's End of the World Show (May 21st is Judgement Day) & CD Release Spectacle with The Lepers and Zombie vs. Shark, $5 or free if you dress up as a zombie, religious cult member, religious figure (nun, priest, etc)... use your imagination... it is the apocolypse!" Kyle's winter "Merry Christmas from Outer Space" EP Release was a blast, with lots of creative costumes and a fun vibe. If the world's gonna end, Benson seems like the best in-town place to be!

Saturday night there's also the Dundee Spring Fling after 6:30 p.m. with live music.

The Omaha Beer Fest is going on down at the Lewis & Clark Landing on the Riverfront today and tomorrow. Full admission is $35 at the gate with "unlimited two-ounce tastings." There's also the "Designated Driver" tickets (meaning you won't get to drink the beers) that are only $10 at the gate. Music includes Funk Trek at 4 p.m. and  Chris Saub & The Feel Good Groove Junkies(6-8 p.m.) tonight (Friday, May 20). Sons of 76 (2-3:45 p.m.) and Lucas Kellison and the Assembled Soul (4-6 p.m.) take the stage on Saturday afternoon, May 21. See omahabeerfest.com

On Sunday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m., The Brad Cordle Band will be playing at The Anchor Inn. It's supposed to be back to summer-like 90 degree temps, so head out to the Anchor Inn for those tasty watermelon drinks and get your groove on.

Matt Cox Band and Charlie (Mezcal Brothers) Johnson's new Fuse Recordings studio were featured in a nice write-up by Lincoln Journal Star music journalist L. Kent Wolgamott. It's nice to see Matt getting some recognition from another music writer in the market. I've been saying for a couple years that Matt is one of the most talented singer-songwriter-band leaders in town. Matt and his band have been working on their next CD at the new Fuse Recordings with Charlie. Check out Wolgamott's piece here: 

journalstar.com/entertainment/music/article_2d8b6df0-7150-52ea-addd-cb6045fb3afd.html

Award-winning Canadian roots artist Suzie Vinnick has a last-minute show booked for The Side Door Lounge on Wednesday, May 25, 8 p.m. Vinnick is “a perennial nominee” and six-time winner of the Canadian Maple Blues awards. She is touring behind her latest and fourth solo effort Me ‘n’ Mabel and  has won a Juno award nomination for her previous folk-blues work. There is no admission charge for the show but donations are encouraged to help Vinnick with her road travel expenses. Vinnick has appeared in Omaha previously with Les Grandes Dames duBlues featuring Dawn Tyler Watson. See SuzieVinnick.com.

The first annual Nebraska Blues Challenge concluded on Sunday, May 15, at The 21^st Saloon. The Lil’ Slim Blues Band received the most points from the judges in all categories. They will be representing the Blues Society of Omaha in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2012. The Brad Cordle Band finished a close second in the scoring. Elwin James & the Way Outs took third place.  Congrats to the Blues Society of Omaha folks who took on the first-ever Nebraska effort to send a band to the prestige-building International Blues Challenge in Memphis. For a first-time series of events, things went pretty smoothly over all and the fan support  for the shows was tremendous!

The two big shows from last weekend delivered big time! The Curtis Salgado band tore it up at the Bourbon Theatre on Saturday night. Salgado is about the baddest soul-blues cat out there and he treated the audience to a mix of old and new material. Salgado has a new CD planned for release later this summer. Salgado got Brad Cordle, Dave Steen and Johnny Gomez Jr. from Cordle's band up to jam at the end. The Salgado and Cordle band members steamed through some funky James Brown. Whew. A fine night of music.

Likewise, the Lucinda  Williams show on Monday night at the Slowdown delivered a solid two hours and five minutes worth of music from Lucinda and her band. Amazing musicians all, the show was radiant from first note to  last. I bought  the "display" copy of the guitar player, Blake Mills', solo CD. I will let you know what it sounds like.  This show was a partnership between Dean & Gary's Sunday Roadhouse concert series and One Percent Productions.

And speaking of CDs, longtime favorite Hadden Sayers has released a new CD, Hard Dollar, and is putting a big push behind it. It's great stuff from start to finish. The sounds range from rockin' blues to some Texas roadhouse sounds that recall Texas roots bands like the vintage Fabulous Thunderbirds. It's all Sayers' original material. He's a fine songwriter and his soulful vocals and songs are given equal weight with his serious guitar chops. Sayers has been working as Ruthie Foster's guitarist for the last few years and Foster appears as a guest on the duet "Back to the Blues." This song should be among the contenders for the Blues Music Award for Song of the Year next year, if there's any justice at all. Check out the live-from-SXSW-showcase version of the tune here at haddensayers.com along with another new video and a live stream of several tracks from the CD. I hope we see Sayers back in town soon for a proper CD release show.

all content and images 

copyright B.J. Huchtemann, 2011

 Lucinda Williams and her stellar band at Slowdown, Monday, May 16.

Outdoor Fests, Salgado, Lucinda and more
by B.J. Huchtemann


Two big indoor shows are on the do-not-miss-list this weekend. Soul-blues vocalist Curtis Salgado plays the Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln Saturday, May 14. And Americana icon Lucinda Williams is set to perform an early show at Slowdown Monday, May 16.

Outdoor music festivals ramp up with two multi-day shows. Love Fest In The Midwest marks its second year as an eclectic music and camping festival at the Bellevue Berry Farm. See LoveFestInTheMidwest.com for the line-up, which focuses on local indie and roots bands, along with info on tickets for the May 12-14 event. Meanwhile, next weekend the Omaha Beer Fest takes over the Lewis & Clark Landing, bringing craft brewing classes and beer tastings along with local live R&B music to the riverfront May 19-21. See OmahaBeerFest.com for details on the schedule.

Salgado at Bourbon Theatre
A Curtis Salgado show always leaves folks dancing in the aisles. Salgado has a big, bold voice. It’s a voice rooted in traditional blues, R&B, gospel and soul-blues. Salgado has a technical range that’s remarkable, but it’s his technique combined with his radiant, emotive depth that makes his music powerful and unforgettable. His band members are consummate performers who keep pace with Salgado’s changing styles and soulfulness.

The percolating grooves and rockin’ rhythms are irresistible. Salgado’s finesse as a showman is balanced with an intuitive spirit that always keeps the music real and heartfelt. The music will move your spirit and your feet.

Salgado has been on the blues scene for some 35 years. He played with Robert Cray from 1976 to 1982. Salgado’s late ’70s Pacific northwest band The Nighthawks inspired John Belushi in the creation of his famous Blues Brothers character.

Salgado also has deep ties to the Omaha metro. He received a life-saving liver transplant at the UNMC Lied Transplant Center in 2006 and spent the first three months of his recovery here.

Salgado is a multiple award winner on the Pacific Northwest scene. The Portland, Ore., artist is the 2010 Blues Music Award winner for Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year.

Lincoln band The Blues Project opens the show with a 7 p.m. set. The Brad Cordle Band is also on the bill. The Curtis Salgado band headlines. This is Salgado’s only Midwest appearance and an awareness event for The Mental Health Association of Nebraska. The show is Saturday, May 14, at Lincoln’s Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St. Tickets are on sale at ETix.com.

Sunday Roadhouse Hosts Lucinda Williams
The Sunday Roadhouse Concert Series teams with One Percent Productions to present Americana icon Lucinda Williams Monday, May 16. The singer-songwriter’s haunted, honky-tonk vocals and emotionally-charged songs have made her one of the biggest female artists in Americana and roots-rock. Williams is doing a series of club shows in conjunction with her recently released CD, Blessed (Lost Highway) produced by Don Was. NoDepression.com calls the disc “the first great release of Lucinda Williams’ personal and artistic maturity ... Blessed, as the title suggests, is a celebration of survival and rebirth and an acknowledgment that it’s never too late to change.” The LA Times says the recording is “a dynamic, human album. One that is easy to fall in love with.” Find out more or get advance tickets at SundayRoadhouse.com or OnePercentProductions.com.

Nebraska Blues Challenge Finals
The Blues Society of Omaha presents the finals of the Nebraska Blues Challenge Sunday, May 15, at 5 p.m. at The 21st Saloon. Elwin James & The Way Outs, The Lil’ Slim Blues Band and Brad Cordle Band will perform. The winner of the finals will represent The Blues Society of Omaha in the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February 2012. See Blues.org and OmahaBlues.com for details. 

21st Saloon Blues
The Thursday 5:30 p.m. blues series at The 21st Saloon features the rockin’ electric blues of the soulful Michael Burks Thursday, May 12. Burks is a high-octane guitarist on the Alligator label. Anthony GomesThe Bel Airs take the stage Thursday, May 26, with their extremely popular and danceable mix of vintage R&B, rock and Delta blues. and his band are on tap for Thursday, May 19.

Hot Notes
If you’re looking for a road trip, Knuckleheads in nearby K.C. has a lot of cool shows coming, including a double bill of Mike Zito and Hadden Sayers Thursday, May 19, and great vocalist Delbert McClinton. See KnuckleheadsKC.com for the club’s schedule and details. Saturday, May 21.  

The “reggae funk dance experience” of hard-touring band Spiritual Rez is featured at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, May 18, 6-9 p.m. See ZooBar.com for all the Zoo shows.

Lil’ Slim Blues Band plays Gator O’Malley’s Thursday, May 12, after 9 p.m. Kris Lager Band rocks The Waiting Room Saturday, May 21. See OmahaBlues.com for more metro show listings.

Remember, when you can’t find the Hoodoo column in print, please look for me at HoodooRootsBlues.blogspot.com.

Original Blues Brother Curtis Salgado Coming to Lincoln

by B.J. Huchtemann

One of the biggest shows of the month is Curtis Salgado’s return to play Lincoln’s Bourbon Theatre on Saturday, May 14. Salgado took home the Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year in the 2011 Blues Music Awards. He’s nominated in the same category this year. Winners of the 32nd Annual Blues Music Awards will be announced in a ceremony Thursday, May 5, in Memphis.

Salgado is a powerhouse soul-blues vocalist who’s spent a lifetime perfecting his craft. His voice drips with emotion and he fills his songs with heart and soul. He can also rock the house with funk and R&B. His most recent disc, Clean Getaway (2008), was called “one of the best records you’ll hear this year” by Blues Revue magazine. “If you pine for the glory days of Stax soul, Al Green ballads and blues-soaked R&B — music that hits hard and makes you want to move — Salgado delivers,” Blues Revue raved.

Salgado also has deep ties to the Omaha area. In 2006, he received a life-saving liver transplant at UNMC’s Lied Transplant Center and spent the first three months of his recuperation here in the metro.

His resume includes an early claim to fame that current fans may not know about. Salgado was the inspiration for John Belushi’s character in The Blues Brothers sketches and movies. Next time you watch the film, pay attention. Cab Calloway’s character is named Curtis in honor of Salgado’s contribution to Belushi’s love of the blues. The original Blues Brothers album is also dedicated to Salgado.

Salgado was living in Eugene, Ore., and playing in a highly popular band called The Nighthawks, not to be confused with the popular Washington, D.C., band that uses the name. John Belushi was in Eugene to shoot Animal House and soon Salgado and Belushi became friends.

In a 2001 interview with Salgado that I conducted for Blues Access magazine, Salgado talked about those days. "I was bringing my material over to his house ... blues records. He was not listening to the blues. He was listening to Blue Oyster Cult, and Ozzie, Black Sabbath. I brought him over Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, Sunnyland Slim, Little Walter ... and when he came to see The Nighthawks, guess what? It was us that was doing "Groove Me" by King Floyd, it was us that was doing "Soul Man." And it was us that was doing "I Don’t Know" and "Messin’ with the Kid." We were also playing, and I taught him, by Floyd Dixon, "Hey Bartender," because he wanted to jam with The Nighthawks.”

It was also Salgado, circa 1977, who was sporting Ray Ban sunglasses, a dark suit and a soul patch. All these details went into Belushi’s formation of his “Joliet” Jake Blues character.

"The bands they used was Curtis Salgado and The Nighthawks, Roomful of Blues and a band in Canada called the Downchild Blues Band. Then they made it a hybrid and put their characters together with the brilliance of Dan Aykroyd and the brilliance of John. Make no mistake, they are The Blues Brothers, this whole thing is them.

"It actually relaunched and reintroduced to a whole new generation and maybe some people who had forgot: blues guys. I am an essential part of that, because it started with me. It was a good thing.”

For the full interview see BluesAccess.com/No_44/salgado.html. For more on Salgado including an archival interview where Belushi talks about their friendship, visit CurtisSalgado.com.

The May 14 show at Lincoln’s Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., is Salgado’s only gig in the area. It’s an awareness event for the Mental Health Association of Nebraska. The Brad Cordle Band and The Blues Project open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at ETix.com.

Nebraska Blues Challenge

The third Nebraska Blues Challenge preliminary was held on Sunday, May 1. Performing were the Luther James Band, the Paul Scott Hoagbin Trio, 112 North Duck and Elwin James & The Way Outs. Judging this round were local blues radio personalities Rick Galusha of KIWR, Mike Jacobs of KIOS and Phil Steele of Lincoln’s KZUM. Third round winners Elwin James & The Way Outs will perform in the finals with the Lil’ Slim Blues Band and Brad Cordle Band. The Nebraska Blues Challenge finals are Sunday, May 15, 5 p.m. at The 21st Saloon. See OmahaBlues.com for details.

Robert Johnson’s 100th Birthday

KIOS 91.5 FM presents a special documentary tribute to Robert Johnson on May 8, at 7 p.m. The program Last Fair Deal Gone Down celebrates the centennial of Johnson’s birthday. The seminal bluesman was born May 8, 1911. Though he died at the age of 26 under mysterious circumstances, Johnson continues to have an impact on the blues. KIOS can be heard online at  kios.org.

Hot Notes

Sunday Roadhouse presents Chuck Mead of BR549 at The Waiting Room on Sunday, May 8, at 5 p.m. The Sunday Roadhouse teams with One Percent Productions to present Lucinda Williams at Slowdown on Monday, May 16. See SundayRoadhouse.com.

Oregon’s Too Slim & The Taildraggers are at The 21st Saloon on May 5, 5:30 p.m.

Visit HoodooRootsBlues.blogspot.com for Hoodoo updates.