Last night's Sunday Roadhouse show with a performance by Gurf Morlix and a screening of the documentary BLAZE FOLEY: DUCT TAPE MESSIAH turned out to be even more extraordinary than I had expected.
Catch a preview of the film at the link below and support it. Filmmaker Kevin Triplett, who is on the road with the film and Foley's old friend Morlix, is still trying to get distribution or other support to bring this story to a wider audience. Triplett spent 13 years on the film which is entertaining, funny, sweet, sad and inspiring in its story of Foley an eccentric artist who lived and died by his own code.
See BlazeFoleyMovie.com
Here's the trailer.
And here's a snippet from a similar show of Gurf Morlix performing his friend Blaze Foley's songs.
Check out GurfMorlix.com for more on Morlix's CD of Gurf's material. It takes its title from one of Foley's songs: Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream. The music is beautiful, heartfelt stuff. Funny and sad, moving and inspiring. Foley's songs have been covered by Waylon & Merle, Lyle Lovett and John Prine, to name a few.
And sign yourself up at SundayRoadhouse.com so that you know about the next Sunday Roadhouse event in town...they are always excellent and often amazing!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Gurf Morlix, 112 North Duck
Dean Dobmeier’s and Gary Grobeck’s Sunday Roadhouse presents a remarkable night for Americana music fans on Sunday, Oct. 30, at The Waiting Room, 5 p.m. They’ll showcase an acclaimed new Americana documentary and music from Austin singer-songwriter Gurf Morlix. Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah tells the story of Foley, whose songs have been covered by Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett, John Prine and Willie Nelson. Lucinda Williams wrote her song “Drunken Angel” for Foley and his friend Townes Van Zandt created “Blaze’s Blue” for him.
Foley was killed in 1989 in a tragic incident that was either self-defense or part of an ongoing dispute. Filmmaker Kevin Triplett will be present to talk about the creative process behind the documentary. See blazefoleymovie.com. Foley’s friend Gurf Morlix will play songs from his tribute to his Foley’s music, a collection called Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream. The CD received lots of recognition including 16 weeks in the Top 20 of the Americana Music Chart. Morlix was Lucinda Williams’ bandleader for many years and produced her acclaimed "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road." Visit sundayroadhouse.com for more.
Duck’s Gone Fishin’
112 North Duck celebrates the release of Gone Fishin' on Friday, Oct. 28, with a free show at McKenna’s after 9 p.m.
Lead singer Christy Rossiter’s big, soulful voice is featured on her second disc with the band performing their all-original material. Rossiter said via email, “Audiences seem to really be enjoying “Life with You” and ”Walking Hand in Hand,” our two ballads. We feel that the recording is very raw and captures our sound better than any other recording we've done. We were very fortunate to be able to perform them [the songs] quite a bit before recording them, music always seems to take on a life of its own once there is an audience to hear it.”
Hot Notes
The 21st Saloon presents two fine local bands this Thursday, Oct. 27. At 5 p.m. catch traditional Chicago blues from Lincoln’s Lil’ Slim Blues Band followed at 7 p.m. by the Brad Cordle Band.
Kris Lager Band celebrates Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 29, with a show at the Studio Gallery, 49th & Dodge, 9 p.m. This is a BYOB space. Costumes are encouraged.
Halloween night, Oct. 31, at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar after 9 p.m., Potboiler Burlesque heats up the stage with music from Snake Island!, Digital Leather and Josh Hoyer’s new combo The Shadows.
Dean Dobmeier’s and Gary Grobeck’s Sunday Roadhouse presents a remarkable night for Americana music fans on Sunday, Oct. 30, at The Waiting Room, 5 p.m. They’ll showcase an acclaimed new Americana documentary and music from Austin singer-songwriter Gurf Morlix. Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah tells the story of Foley, whose songs have been covered by Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett, John Prine and Willie Nelson. Lucinda Williams wrote her song “Drunken Angel” for Foley and his friend Townes Van Zandt created “Blaze’s Blue” for him.
Foley was killed in 1989 in a tragic incident that was either self-defense or part of an ongoing dispute. Filmmaker Kevin Triplett will be present to talk about the creative process behind the documentary. See blazefoleymovie.com. Foley’s friend Gurf Morlix will play songs from his tribute to his Foley’s music, a collection called Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream. The CD received lots of recognition including 16 weeks in the Top 20 of the Americana Music Chart. Morlix was Lucinda Williams’ bandleader for many years and produced her acclaimed "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road." Visit sundayroadhouse.com for more.
Duck’s Gone Fishin’
112 North Duck celebrates the release of Gone Fishin' on Friday, Oct. 28, with a free show at McKenna’s after 9 p.m.
Lead singer Christy Rossiter’s big, soulful voice is featured on her second disc with the band performing their all-original material. Rossiter said via email, “Audiences seem to really be enjoying “Life with You” and ”Walking Hand in Hand,” our two ballads. We feel that the recording is very raw and captures our sound better than any other recording we've done. We were very fortunate to be able to perform them [the songs] quite a bit before recording them, music always seems to take on a life of its own once there is an audience to hear it.”
Hot Notes
The 21st Saloon presents two fine local bands this Thursday, Oct. 27. At 5 p.m. catch traditional Chicago blues from Lincoln’s Lil’ Slim Blues Band followed at 7 p.m. by the Brad Cordle Band.
Kris Lager Band celebrates Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 29, with a show at the Studio Gallery, 49th & Dodge, 9 p.m. This is a BYOB space. Costumes are encouraged.
Halloween night, Oct. 31, at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar after 9 p.m., Potboiler Burlesque heats up the stage with music from Snake Island!, Digital Leather and Josh Hoyer’s new combo The Shadows.
Salgado, Scott & Katz
Music Thursday, Oct. 20
In Omaha, California soul-blues vocalist E.C. Scott heats up The 21st Saloon, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Soul-blues-funk-jazz keyboard player Bruce Katz and his band hit Gator O’Malley’s after 9 p.m. Katz is a phenomenal Boston-based keyboard virtuoso who recently worked with Delbert McClinton and toured last year with Gregg Allman. Gator O’Malley’s is taking a try at booking more national acts, please come out and show your support.
Meanwhile, catch killer guitarist and vocalist Coco Montoya at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar, 6-9 p.m. Hector Anchondo plays late with My Brother.
Downtown, Slowdown hosts another installment of the Take Cover project after 8 p.m. with local artists covering other local artists’ songs. It’s a benefit for HearNebraska.org.
Get Out
Weekend music choices include Tijuana Gigolos at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar on Friday, Oct. 21, 5-7 p.m., followed by the danceable blues and roots sounds of K.C.’s Levee Town after 9 p.m.
Music at the Heartland Cafe in old downtown Elkhorn continues with shows including the Brad Cordle Band this Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. See heartlandcafe.net for details.
Hot Notes
National roots band Drive By Truckers plays Slowdown on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The punk-edged pop-rock of Those Darlins, fronted by three sassy female musicians, opens the show at 9 p.m.
At the Zoo Bar, Kris Lager has a solo acoustic gig after 9 p.m. on Oct. 26.
At The 21st Saloon next Thursday, Oct. 27, catch Lil’ Slim Blues Band (5 p.m.) followed by the Brad Cordle Band (7 p.m.).
Friday, October 14, 2011
Memories & Music
Tributes poured in on Facebook. Former Howard Street Tavern manager Rick Renn wrote, "One of the best people I have ever run across. I already miss ya, buddy." Lash LaRue, veteran of many Omaha roots bands including The Mercurys, recalled, "Dave was amazing. Throughout his illness, he still always had a positive attitude and never failed to have a kind word and encouragement for others. I learned something every time I interacted with him, about music and about heart."
The always magical Gillian Welch and David Rawlings played Lincoln's Rococo Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. Welch's first studio release in eight years is the beautiful The Harrow & The Harvest (Acony). Check it out at gillianwelch.com. If you missed that show, here's a lovely video of one of my all-time favorites from the duo, "Elvis Presley Blues."
Robbie Fulks
The New York Times observes "He's one of our most consistent and clever songwriters." Dean Dobmeier, co-promoter for The Sunday Roadhouse series, writes that Fulks is "a little too country for the Alt crowd and a little too country for Nashville ... gleefully irreverent ... literate without being pretentious."
Fulks played the Sunday Roadhouse series in a special Thursday show at the Side Door Lounge on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The Side Door makes a great listening room for these intimate, acoustic shows. Fulks is a highly entertaining performer who punctuates his well-crafted songs with very entertaining banter. Check out his work at robbiefulks.com.
For more on the Sunday Roadhouse series including the next show coming up with Austin icon Gurf Morlix and the Blaze Foley documentary, see sundayroadhouse.com.
21st Saloon Music
The 21st Saloon presented the twangin' roots music of Oregon's Too Slim & The Taildraggers on Thursday, Oct. 13, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Next Thursday, Oct. 20, catch soul-blues entertainer E.C. Scott.
Zoo Bar Blues
E.C. Scott also plays Lincoln's Zoo Bar next Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Boston keyboard wizard Bruce Katz performs Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. He mixes soulful funk, New Orleans jazz and blues. He is on a solo tour after performing for the last year with Gregg Allman and playing with Delbert McClinton's band. Stick around for the late-night show with the Lil' Slim Blues Band. Here's a little youtube video of Bruce throwin' down some jazzy grooves with his trio.
Guitar star Coco Montoya takes the stage Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The late show includes Hector Anchondo with My Brother. See zoobar.com.
Hot Notes
Bruce Katz also plays Gator O'Malley's on Thursday, Oct. 20, after 9 p.m. I really love Bruce's soulful and versatile playing style and hope you'll come out and support this show. Check out samples of Bruce's music at www.brucekatzband.com/music.html.
Robert Randolph & The Family Band plug in at Slowdown on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Surf, Roots & Rock
Zoo Bar Music
Lincoln’s Zoo Bar highlights include the return of Billy Bacon this week plus several cool early shows coming up. It’s a Billy Bacon & The Forbidden Pigs reunion weekend with Justin G. Jones and Jerry “Hot Rod” DeMink joining Billy again. The band plays 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, and plays after 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7 and 8.
On Monday, Oct. 10, catch acclaimed roots multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The Zoo’s Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. show spotlights the twangy, swampy roots-rock of Oregon’s Too Slim and the Taildraggers. The Zoo is one of the hosts of the annual Lincoln Calling multi-band, multi-venue event that kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 12. See zoobar.com for the schedule that includes both happy hour and late shows.
Sunday Roadhouse News
Acclaimed roots musician Robbie Fulks plays the next Sunday Roadhouse concert, which is actually Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at The Side Door Lounge. Dean and Gary also have a very cool show coming Sunday, Oct. 30, when Austin’s Gurf Morlix brings The Blaze Foley documentary to town. See sundayroadhouse.com for details.
Bruce Katz Returning Soon
Boston-based keyboard virtuoso Bruce Katz plays the Zoo Bar on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Omaha folks make note that Katz gigs at Gator O’Malley’s coming Thursday, Oct. 20, after 9 p.m. Katz has been splitting his time between solo work and touring with Gregg Allman. He hits the road to Nebraska after completing a short tour run with Delbert McClinton. Katz’s soulful style cooks on everything from soul and funk to New Orleans-style jazz.
Hot Notes
The always magical Gillian Welch and David Rawlings play a special show at Lincoln’s Rococo Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m. A notable early warning includes Robert Randolph at Slowdown on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
The Nace Brothers bring their entertaining roots-rock and blues to The 21st Saloon on Thursday, Oct. 6, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Too Slim & The Taildraggers are on tap at The 21st on Thursday, Oct. 13, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Soul-blues singer E.C. Scott is set for The 21st on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m.
Lincoln photographer Keri Hess (sheswiththeband.com) took a great set of photos of the Jon Dee Graham show at the Zoo that included Graham playing some of his music with the Sons of 76. It was such a fun night. Here is the link to the Facebook photo album...hopefully you can connect with it. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.282044481824192.82154.100000559261249&type=3
Alberta’s Joyous Blues
In her first career the teenage Hunter started singing in brothels and bawdy houses, like many blues and jazz artists of the day. She became the toast of Chicago while still a teen, performing with King Oliver & his Creole Jazz Band featuring Louis Armstrong. She lived in New York during the Roaring ‘20s and performed in France during the historic Jazz Age. She recorded for many jazz labels, had a radio show in the 1930s and performed on Broadway. She was also a songwriter. Her “Downhearted Blues” was a giant hit for acclaimed blues singer Bessie Smith.
In the 1950s Hunter retired from music, trained to become a nurse and, at age 62, went to work at a New York hospital. She lived in relative obscurity until the late 1970s after she’d been forced to retire at the age of 81 from nursing. Then Hunter launched a second career, performing at famed New York jazz venue The Cookery.
Downhearted Blues: Live at the Cookery is a reissue of a recording made of one of Hunter’s marvelous performances. Check it out at rockbeatrecords.com and discover or rediscover one of the great women of the blues. Hunter died in 1984. I still treasure memories of her live performances and the joy she brought to her audience.
Hot Notes
The Iguanas have several shows in the area including Thursday, Sept. 29, at The 21st Saloon at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 1, at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar. (See 8 Days.) On Thursday, Sept. 29, Alligator Records’ Guitar Shorty plays the Zoo 6 p.m.-9 p.m., followed by the Blues Orchestra featuring Honeyboy Turner and the Lil’ Slim Blues Band after 9 p.m.
Matt Cox and Travelling Mercies gig at Harrah’s Stir bar on Friday, Sept. 30, at 9 p.m.
Robert Cray is scheduled for the Horseshoe Casino’s Whiskey Roadhouse on Wednesday, Oct. 5.
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