Doyle Bramhall Sr. Passes

by B.J. Huchtemann

As I sit down to write I have just read sad news. The Austin Blues Society reported that Doyle Bramhall Sr. has passed away. The houstonpress.com  confirmed the details, writing that Bramhall, 62, died Nov. 13 in his home in Alpine, TX, of complications from pneumonia. Bramhall was a drummer, vocalist and songwriter who was a friend and collaborator with the Vaughan brothers. He co-wrote songs Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded including “Dirty Pool,” “Change It” and “Life by The Drop.” Bramhall came out of the Dallas scene with the Vaughan brothers, working with Jimmie Vaughan in popular 1960s band The Chessmen. Bramhall was also a key player in the 1970s Austin blues resurgence. 

 Here's Doyle singing "Change It" in one of the better videos I was able to find on youtube.

Doyle Sr. appeared in Omaha at one of the Indigenous Jams held at the old McCormack’s.
Bramhall was the father of Doyle Bramhall II, who was part of the Arc Angels and has gone on to an acclaimed solo career with work as a sideman for artists like Eric Clapton. Doyle Sr. was also a sought-after producer. He had most recently recorded for Yep Roc Records. Find details on his work for Yep Roc here http://yeproc.com/Doyle Bramhall. 

Thanksgrooving
The holiday season provides opportunities to come together, enjoy music and benefit the community. Thanksgrooving takes center stage Saturday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. at Slowdown. It’s an all-ages show to benefit the Food Bank for the Heartland. Performers include Polydypsia, Satchel Grande, Funk Trek, Kris Lager Band, Groove Gov’nors, Lymphnode Maniacs and more. Admission is $10. Donations of non-perishable food items are also encouraged.

Canned in Benson
Matt Cox hosts the second annual Canned in Benson concert for the Omaha Food Bank Wednesday, Nov. 23, at Barley Street Tavern. It’s a night of warm music community camaraderie and heartfelt solo acoustic performances. Enjoy music from Cox, Cass Brostad, Brad Hoshaw, Kyle Harvey, Rebecca Lowry, Justin Lamoureux, Sarah Benck, Andrew Bailie, Matt Whipkey, Ashley Rayne Boe, Lash LaRue, Dylan Davis, Brett Vovk and Reagan Roeder. Admission is a non-perishable food donation.

Hot Notes
Remember you can visit omahablues.com for detailed roots show listings.
Chicago’s Americana roots-rockers Sarah & The Tall Boys play The 21st Saloon Thursday, Nov. 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Elwin James & The Way Outs perform at Gator O’Malley’s Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 18, options included a solo acoustic 7 p.m. early show by Little Joe McCarthy at McKenna’s. Blue House plays The Loose Moose at 4915 N. 120th (120th and Fort) Friday, Nov. 18. Down in Lincoln, Magic Slim is on stage at the Zoo Bar Friday, Nov. 18, after 9 p.m.
Upcoming shows of note include a Darlings reunion at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Nov. 23, after 9 p.m. Toasted Ponies play 6-9 p.m. Thanksgiving night catch the Lil’ Slim Blues Band at the Zoo.

Live, Touring and Local

by B.J. Huchtemann

Damon Fowler makes his 21st Saloon debut on Thursday, Nov. 10, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Living Blues magazine calls Fowler “a roots guitar guru in the making.” The Chicago Sun-Times writes “Make way for the next big-time guitar slinger.”
 
Critics compare his guitar riffs to Johnny Winter and Jeff Beck with slide playing influenced by Duane Allman. Fowler also has lap-steel and dobro playing in his arsenal. The Tampa, Fla., native’s new disc is Devil Got His Way (Blind Pig).
 
Marbin
From Chicago by way of Israel, Marbin plays Gator O’Malley’s for the 9 p.m. show on Thursday, Nov. 10. Their music is centered around guitar and saxophone and has been called “a marvel of musicianship and imagination” merging “jazz, rock, ambient and world music.” See marbinmusic.com.
 
1200 Club
The Holland Performing Arts Center’s 1200 Club presents jazz-bluegrass ensemble Alison Brown Quartet on Friday, Nov. 11, and the harmonica-guitar-driven blues of Miller on Saturday, Nov. 12. See omahaperformingarts.org.
 
Zoo Bar Music
Lincoln’s Zoo Bar is rockin’ with The Bel Airs playing after 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12. Rockabilly from the Mezcal Brothers heats things up at 5 p.m. on Friday. Acclaimed West Coast singer and harmonica player John Nemeth plays a special 6-9 p.m. show on Saturday, Nov. 12.
 
Holiday Giving
The holiday season brings out lots of giving events. Mark your calendar now for the second annual Canned in Benson effort to benefit the Omaha Food Bank. The multi-artist show is at Barley Street Tavern on Thursday, Nov. 23. It’s organized by Matt Cox. See details at mattcoxmusic.net.
Lash LaRue’s toy drive shows for the children on the Pine Ridge reservation are also on the horizon, including a show on Friday, Dec. 2, at The Waiting Room and Sunday, Dec. 4, at the 21st Saloon.
 
Hot Notes
Travelling Mercies, Orion Walsh and Mint Wad Willy play Barley Street Tavern on Thursday, Nov. 10, after 9 p.m.
The OEAA Showcase takes place on Friday, Nov. 11, in Benson. Check out over 30 bands at The Waiting Room, Barley Street Tavern, PS Collective, Burke’s Pub and Benson Grind for one $10 cover charge. See the schedule at oea-awards.com.
Also on Friday night, Nov. 11, there’s rockabilly from Devil Makes ThreeRagged Company has their CD release party at the Side Door on Friday night too.
The North Mississippi Allstars plug in at Slowdown on Tuesday, Nov. 15. at Slowdown.

originally posted Nov. 9, 2011

Flying

by B.J. Huchtemann

If you missed the Sunday night, Oct. 30, screening of Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah, you missed something extraordinary. Presented as part of Dean Dobmeier’s and Gary Grobeck’s ongoing, moveable Sunday Roadhouse concert series, this exclusive screening was at The Waiting Room. The duo has brought a number of amazing Americana artists to Omaha, including the debuts of artists like Hacienda Brothers, Jon Dee Graham and James McMurtry to name a few.

If you like Americana music you need to go to blazefoleymovie.com and read up on this documentary. You can also go to youtube and look up “If I Could Only Fly.” Foley's heart-stopping song of love and longing has been recorded by no less than Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (as a duet) and again by Merle Haggard, who called it the best country song he’d heard in 25 years.

Why the late Blaze Foley is the best songwriter you’ve probably never heard of is the subject of Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah by Kevin Triplett. The filmmaker spent 13 years on this documentary and he was in Omaha to talk about the journey behind its creation. The film is funny, heartbreaking and told with lots of inventive techniques. The documentary can only be seen on the road in these special screenings. The tour also includes performances by Austin icon Gurf Morlix, Foley’s longtime friend. Morlix has released a CD tribute of Foley’s music named after one of the writer’s songs called Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet Dream (Rootball Records). His in-person tales of his time with Foley and his renditions of Foley’s tunes are remarkable. Both the film and Morlix’s performance are heart-felt tributes to an amazing artist whose work has largely fallen through the cracks. See GurfMorlix.com for more on Morlix and sundayroadhouse.com for the next event in the always-rewarding Sunday Roadhouse series. 
Check the blog post from Oct. 31 for a couple of video links related to Morlix and the movie trailer.

Hot Notes
Earl & Them featuring Earl Cate and “Baby” Jason Davis plays Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Nov. 4-5. Roots-rock cult favorite Webb Wilder plays the Zoo on Sunday, Nov. 6, 6 p.m. The late show at the Zoo on Nov. 6 is a multi-artist show that includes Omaha’s Matt Cox. Acclaimed bluesman Sonny Rhodes plays the Zoo on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6-9 p.m.
The 21st Saloon has celebrated West Coast soul-blues vocalist Terry Evans on Thursday, Nov. 3, 5:30-8:30 p.m. See terryevansmusic.com. Lil’ Slim Blues Band plays Gator O’Malley’s Nov. 3 after 9 p.m.
And on Saturday night at McKenna's, catch three of the area's best local roots-blues songwriters. Matt Cox, Sarah Benck and Josh Hoyer will be performing a songwriter's in the round show at McKenna's after 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5. Should be cool.