Happy New Year

by B.J. Huchtemann

New Year’s Eve offers plenty of holiday music options. Brad Cordle Band plays a special show at the Bel Air Banquet Room, 12100 West Center Road. Details and advance ticket reservations are available by calling 402-333-5505.
In Lincoln, the Zoo Bar presents a double header with Tijuana Gigolos 5-8 p.m. followed by the outrageous Self Righteous Brothers after 9 p.m.  Kris Lager Band plays Dec. 31 at Playmaker’s in Lincoln. Swampboy Blues Band gigs at the OBar, The Confidentials at the Hilton and Hector Anchondo’s band at The Edge in Missouri Valley. Hotel packages and a shuttle are available for that show, call The Edge at 712-642-2229 for details.
Check omahablues.com for the Blues Society of Omaha’s listing of other live music options in the area.  

Samantha Fish
Nominated in the Best New Artist category in the recently announced Blues Music Awards, Samantha Fish has two local shows. The 22-year-old guitarist appears at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Dec. 28, 6-9 p.m. and at The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 29, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Premier Guitar magazine writes that “by all signs, she seems poised to become a key figure in modern blues.” Fish made a guest appearance when Mike Zito played The 21st a couple months back and she definitely showed she’s got guitar skills and a fine voice. She is from nearby Kansas City but has already made a national impression as part of Ruf Records’ Girls with Guitars compilation CD. She’s touring in support of her debut CD Runaway, produced by Zito. See samanthafish.com.

Hadden Sayers
Hoodoo favorite Hadden Sayers returns for two local shows. Sayers has been touring hard behind his disc Hard Dollar, a track on the excellent disc was just recognized with a Blues Music Award Nomination for Song of the Year. Sayers plugs in at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Jan. 4, and plays The 21st Saloon Thursday, Jan. 5. See haddensayers.com and 8 Days.
 
Hot Notes
Dynamic Kansas City blues singer and keyboard player Kelley Hunt hits the Zoo Bar Thursday, Dec. 29, 6-9 p.m. Sons of 76 and Cornerstone Dub play the late show on Thursday. Friday, Dec. 30, Lil’ Slim Blues Band plugs in 5-7 p.m.
If you missed the book release events for Gary Grobeck’s Peckerwood Bar-B-Q: Cuisine of the Sunday Roadhouse, copies are available for sale at the downtown Homer’s.

Louisiana Heat

by B.J. Huchtemann

The Blues Society of Omaha presents charismatic bluesman Tab Benoit at Slowdown Tuesday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. Benoit is a Grammy nominee and winner of Blues Music Awards honors both as the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and as Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year. Benoit’s music is an exciting mix of blues, rock and traditional Cajun music. His latest disc is Medicine (Telarc) featuring Ivan Neville and Anders Osborne. See tabbenoit.com. Kris Lager Band opens.

This is a membership recruitment event for the Blues Society of Omaha. Those paying the $20 admission will also receive a one-year Blues Society membership that includes an electronic version of the monthly Blues Society of Omaha newsletter. Current members get in for $10. See omahablues.com.
 
Josh Garrett at The Zoo
The Zoo Bar hosts more Louisiana music with Josh Garrett on Saturday, Dec. 10, 9 p.m. Now going by the Josh Garrett Band, this high-energy group celebrates the Louisiana sound of Cajun, zydeco and New Orleans music along with plenty of rockin’ blues. The band’s new CD String of Problems hit the blues Top Five charts for two weeks in a row after its November release. Check joshgarrettmusic.com.

Sunday Roadhouse
Austin singer-songwriters Shelley King and Jess Klein showcase their music Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Sunday Roadhouse at Side Door Lounge, 35th Ave. & Leavenworth, 5 p.m. The soulful King has been seen in Omaha before with Carolyn Wonderland. Mojo magazine calls Klein “moving and intense” and gave Five Stars to her CD City Garden. See sundayroadhouse.com.
 
Toy Drive on the Radio
Lash LaRue’s eighth annual Toy Drive takes over KIWR, 89.7 The River, Sunday, Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to noon. I’ll be joining Lash and special guests on the air with Rick Galusha who donates his Pacific Street Blues time to help LaRue raise funds. The Toy Drive brings some holiday hope and cheer to the very impoverished families on the Pine Ridge reservation.
 
Hot Notes
Chicago blues guitarist John Primer gigs at The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 8, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Brad Cordle Band plays Glo Lounge at Midtown Crossing Friday, Dec. 9, 8 p.m. Travelling Mercies and Snake Island join Dan Tedesco at Barley Street Tavern Friday, Dec. 9. Kris Lager Band and Funk Trek rock The Waiting Room Saturday, Dec. 10. Popa Chubby  plugs in at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Sunday, Dec. 11, 6-9 p.m.

Davina Dazzles & Lash’s Toy Drive

by B.J. Huchtemann

“A modern day, female version, of Louis Armstrong,” that’s what Elmore magazine says of  Davina Sowers of Davina & The Vagabonds. Since the release of their latest disc, Black Cloud, the Minneapolis band has been racking up rave reviews. A track from the new disc was chosen for an NPR Song of the Day feature. Downbeat magazine applauds “They dare to be different.” Blues in Britain magazine says “Think of a meld of Bessie Smith, Etta James, Alberta Adams and Amy Winehouse, and you come close to understanding what Davina Sowers is all about.”


Classically trained pianist  Sowers creates an amazing fusion of blues, swing and old-school New Orleans jazz with her horn-driven band. They are one of my new favorites. Check out davinaandthevagabonds.com. Hear them at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Nov. 30, 6-9 p.m. and at The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Toy Drive Giving
Lash LaRue’s annual Toy Drive to bring joy to the children of the Pine Ridge reservation is this weekend. Toys are collected for the youth in the poverty-stricken area, who otherwise may receive nothing for Christmas. At The Waiting Room Friday, Dec. 2, at 9 p.m. catch Filter Kings, The Mercurys and Blacktop Ramblers. Admission is $10 or a new, unwrapped toy.
The Blues Society of Omaha hosts a holiday party and benefit show Sunday, Dec. 4. Performing are Christy Rossiter & 112 North DuckBrad Cordle Band (3:45 p.m.) and Alligator Records guitar great Michael Burks (5 p.m.) Admission is $10. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are also encouraged. There will be a BSO potluck holiday dinner, to participate please bring a covered dish to share. (2:30 p.m.),

Hot Notes 
Chicago blues-rock guitarist Scott Holt plays Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. On Friday, Dec. 2, at the Zoo, Kansas City’s The Good Foot shares a double bill of funk with Sons of 76. Nick Semrad will be back in town rejoining Sons of 76 on keys.

Chicago blues guitarist John Primer takes the stage at the Zoo Bar Wednesday, Dec. 7, 6-9 p.m. and at The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 8, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Upcoming shows of note at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar include Josh Garrett & the Bottomline Saturday, Dec. 10, and Popa Chubby Sunday, Dec. 11. The Blues Society of Omaha presents Tab Benoit at Slowdown Tuesday, Dec. 13. Kris Lager Band opens the 7 p.m. show. See omahablues.com.
 

Thankful for Music

by B.J. Huchtemann

If you’re heading out on Thanksgiving Eve, be sure to stop in at the Barley Street Tavern after 9 p.m. for Matt Cox’s second annual Canned in Benson event to benefit the Omaha Food Bank. A cornucopia of local songwriters perform including 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 item or a cash donation. No glass containers please.
 
Vince Guaraldi Holiday Music
Last year Donovan Johnson hosted an extremely popular show celebrating the music of The Peanuts’ cartoons composer Vince Guaraldi. This year Johnson offers three performances: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. See donovanjohnson.net for advance tickets. Performing with Johnson are George Laughery, John Rosseter and special guests Steve Raybine, Lyle Yates, Merritt Smith and Willie Karpf.
 
Brostad Visits
Singer-songwriter Cass Brostad is back for a Thanksgiving family visit and a show Friday, Nov. 25, at O’Leaver’s, 9 p.m. Other performers include The Travelling Mercies, who tear it up extra fine with Brostad on harmonies and tambourine, plus Mike Clark (Haunted Windchimes) and Bret Vovk (Underwater Dream Machine).
 
Zoo Bar Music
The Darlings reunion show fires up the Zoo stage with their wild psychobilly Wednesday, Nov. 23, 9 p.m. Thanksgiving night, Nov. 24, 9 p.m., the Lil’ Slim Blues Band takes the stage. Kris Lager Band plays after 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26.
 
Divine Davina
The ultra-fabulous swing, jazz and jump-blues music of Davina & The Vagabonds is back at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar for a show Wednesday, Nov. 30, 6-9 p.m. The band’s sparkling and passionate sound hits the The 21st Saloon Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Get hip to Davina at davinaandthevagabonds.com.
 
Hot Notes
Wednesday, Nov. 23, you can also check out The Jazzwholes reunion show at the House of Loom.
Lash LaRue Toy Drive shows to benefit the children of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are set. Friday, Dec. 2, at The Waiting Room features the Filter Kings, The Mercurys and The Blacktop Ramblers. Admission is $10 or one new, unwrapped toy. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the 21st Saloon, doors open at 2 pm with Christy Rossitter & 112 North Duck, Brad Cordle Band and guitar star Michael Burks performing. Admission is $10, in addition toy donations are encouraged.

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.