June 2012 - Charlotte Blues Society

JUNE 2012
Vol. 19.6
JUNE 2012
$1.001
Charlotte Blues Society
PO Box 32752
Charlotte, NC28232-2752
www.CharlotteBluesSociety.org
BLUE Sunday ~ June 3, 2012
The RED DIRT REVELATORS are a dirty blues roots band, and not in the manner of lyrics or
distortion. The dirt is in the grooves -- Red Dirt grooves -- with lyrics that reveal a story, a truth,
and sometimes even an emotional Revelation.
The Red Dirt Revelators are powered by the irresistible "Big Deluxe" dirt engine of
Jason Gardner on drums, and Clay Ford on bass. The band gets their
supercharger cut from the incredible guitar work of Tony Rogers and the voice of
Willie Shane Johnston. When he gets to revelatin' on harp and stormin’ the room
with that “nasty” voice, he couldn't hold back the gasoline even if he wanted to.
Willie Shane Johnston was raised in Grenada, MS. He graduated from the RIM
program of MTSU in Murfreesboro, TN. In Blacksburg, VA, Willie had the opportunity
to build and operate Real2Reel recording studios now operated by Virginia Tech. He
now enjoys songwriting and performing in NC. Willie has performed in WSNB,
Skokat, Contagious Blues Band, and Electric Woodshed
After growing up in Burton, Michigan, Tony Rogers left the Navy after performing
actions that remain classified, and ventured his way to the Hardin Village of North
Carolina. Tony was songwriter and guitarist for his wife, the award winning legend
Robin Rogers. In addition to backing up the amazing entertainer and guitarist
Debbie Davies, Tony has also spent time cultivating music as a solo artist.
Jason Gardner has played drums for WSNB, Uncle Jam Band, Blues Kravin, and The
Blue Flames. As a baby, Jason was mysteriously found in a basket after a lightning
storm, and raised in a pool hall in Marion, North Carolina, filling in on drums at his
grandfather’s juke joint when the adult players had consumed too much “listening
fluid” to continue to play.
Clay Ford has played bass for WSNB, Uncle Jam Band, and The Terry Eckerd Band.
Hailing from Hudson, NC, Clay was reportedly to have hit the ground as a baby,
walking and talking, and with a knowledge of beef cattle and masonry. The family
says he grew to full size in just eight weeks. With his giant hands and natural
rhythm, his mama said he was a natural born bass man.
Old Friends with a New Sound … come check out the
Red Dirt Revelators ~ BLUESunday ~ June 3
The Double
Doors open at 7:00
Music starts 8:00
Door Inn
1218 Charlottetown Ave.
704-376-1446
CBS Members – FREE
Non-members – $5:00
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Bluesletter
Reminder: We are looking for incentives for members so if your company or
business offers discounts for non-profits and their members or if you work for
a matching contributions company, let us know!!!
See ya Sunday!!
Diva
CBS TEES
BLUESunday ~ June 3
featuring
Red Dirt Revelators
Long-sleeve & Short-sleeve
White on Blue
Blue on White
Prices range from $15 to $25
Pick up yours at BLUESunday
or order from our website at
www.CharlotteBluesSociety.org
JUNE 2 @ THE DOUBLE DOOR INN
TOM PRINCIPATO’S 60th BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Tom Principato has spent the last 40+ years as a guitarist and singer
based in his hometown of Washington, D.C. He has been setting the
telecaster on fire all across the globe with some of the finest
performers for over 25 years. He has performed on dozens of blues
recordings and is still making ground breaking American music
enjoyed by fans across the world.
Tom Principato is one of the most unique guitarists around,
combining his rich blues background with high-energy rock, and
a highly charged, emotionally expressive delivery.
Help him celebrate his 60th birthday on June 2
at The Double Door Inn. Advance Tickets on Sale Now.
JUNE 2012
Another great jam last month.
Com’on to BLUESunday and join in the fun.
We’ll be jammin’ after our featured guest!
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Bluesletter
33rd BLUES MUSIC AWARDS WERE HELD MAY 10
Each year, The Blues Foundation presents the Blues Music Awards to the artists selected by
its members. They are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists.
Category winners are listed below. To review all the nominees, go to www.blues.org
Acoustic Album of the Year
David Maxwell & Otis Spann - Conversations In Blue
Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica
Charlie Musselwhite
Acoustic Artist of the Year
Eric Bibb
Best Instrumentalist – Horn
Terry Hanck
Album of the Year
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator
Best Instrumentalist – Other
Sonny Rhodes (lap steel guitar)
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Tab Benoit
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year
Marcia Ball
Band of the Year
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Rock Blues Album
Joe Bonamassa - Dust Bowl
Best New Artist Debut
Samantha Fish – Runaway
Song of the Year
"The Lord Is Waiting The Devil Is Too" - Johnny Sansone
Contemporary Blues Album
Tab Benoit - Medicine
Soul Blues Album
Bobby Rush - Show You A Good Time
Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Susan Tedeschi
Soul Blues Female Artist
Denise LaSalle
Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Tab Benoit
Soul Blues Male Artist
Curtis Salgado
DVD of the Year
Ruthie Foster - Live At Antone's (Blue Corn)
Traditional Blues Album
Various Artists - Chicago Blues: A Living History The (R)evolution Continues
Gibson Guitar Award
Derek Trucks
Historical Album
Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning (Chess Records)
Best Instrumentalist – Bass
Biscuit Miller
Traditional Blues Male Artist
Charlie Musselwhite
Koko Taylor Award
(Traditional Blues Female Artist)
Ruthie Foster
Best Instrumentalist – Drums
Chris Layton
CBS Member Rick Kausch is downsizing … he has a variety of guitars for
sale that are valued from $300 to $3,000. And it’s a WIN-WIN-WIN
situation: You could gain a new guitar, Rick gets paid for making room at
home, and the Charlotte Blues Society gets a percentage of his sales!
Talk to Rick at BLUESunday to learn more about his offer.
Hurry! Before Michael (below) decides on the one he wants!
JUNE 2012
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Bluesletter
The Nighthawks are having a “Damn Good Time”
The Nighthawks are a roll-up-your-sleeves/drive to the next gig overnight/carry your own gear up the
steps and night after night make people happy kind of band. As they roll into their 40th year, they’ve
released a new CD titled DAMN GOOD TIME (Severn Records). “This one’s a roots rocker with that
blues driven sound that drove the ‘50s into the history books and gave birth to rock & roll as we know it,”
wrote Robert Carraher of The Dirty Lowdown.
The Nighthawks sought not so much to reinvent rock and roll, but simply to have it reinvent itself by
taking the original ingredients and following—if somewhat loosely—the original recipe. And like good
cooks, the individual personalities involved ultimately affected the outcome. The band was over 10 years old and had baffled the
mainstream industry before the term “roots rock” was coined to explain the likes of West Coasters like Los Lobos and The
Blasters. By then, the affiliation with many of the living blues greats seemed to brand The Nighthawks a “blues band,” despite
the fact that they played with Carl Perkins as well as Muddy Waters. (—Blues Festival Guide)
Wendy DeWitt & Kirk Harwood release their creative energy.
I have not heard much boogie-woogie music lately, and that is a shame because it always puts me in a
good mood when I hear piano with a deft left hand hammering out those dancing rhythms. Fortunately,
I just got turned on to INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, the latest release from Wendy DeWitt and Kirk
Harwood (and a few of their friends), which is full of Texas/Chicago boogie-woogie at its best.
Wendy DeWitt supplies the piano expertise and vocals for this project. She has been in the business
since the 1980s, and her piano has plenty of Otis Spann and Tommy Thomsen influence. Kirk Harwood
performs the drumming chores as well as a few vocals
Industrial Strength not only shows off Wendy’s piano prowess and vocal chops but also her creativity, as she has provided nine
original tracks for this album. The album kicks off with “Nervous,” a good example of her mad piano skills and the perfect
interplay between her and Kirk Harwood. Though boogie-woogie may seem like a niche of the blues that not everybody will be
able to get into, a lot of creativity and energy has gone into making all of the songs on Industrial Strength unique. It is very
accessible, and I think it will appeal to a diverse cross-section of blues and/or piano enthusiasts.
(Source: Rex Bartholomew for Blues Blast Magazine)
Blues basics from Big Pete and The Gamblers
Born in Jamaica and raised in Austin, Texas, Big Pete Pearson eventually established himself as
Arizona’s King Of The Blues. He played his first gig at the age of nine at The Triple J, an Austin juke
joint, unbeknownst to his grandparents who thought he was playing guitar and singing with a spiritual
group at the church. He’s been playing the blues with various bands since then for sixty-seven years.
Blues seems to run in the family, as he was a mentor to his cousin W.C. Clark. Big Pete’s large and
gruff voice sounds like the blues.
CHOOSE is a CD from Modesto Blues Records … it was all done with guitar, bass, drums, and piano – no additional musicians
were used, resulting in a stripped down (and refreshing) approach. Big Pete’s warm and booming voice backed up by a band
that knows its way around the blues makes for a soothing musical experience. Their no-frills sound must approximate the live
experience. A sound that is rooted in the blues basics like this should have the blues Gods smiling in that juke joint in the sky.
(Source: Greg “Bluesdog” Szalony for Blues Blast Magazine)
Zoe Schwarz sees good times ahead with GOOD TIMES
Blue Commotion is a new U.K. band, and Zoe Schwarz has found the ultimate lineup which can
fully realize her considerable talent and ambition. The other key personnel include Rob Koral, a
guitar maestro who co-writes the beautifully arranged original material with Zoe; harmonica genius
Si Genaro; and, Pete Whittaker, who is a superb soloist and accompanist on Hammond organ.
It is impossible to compare Zoe Schwarz’s voice with anyone else on the blues and jazz scene, past
and present, because it is quite simply unique in terms of range, pitch, and timing. She also sings
with honesty, emotion, and intensity, which is a tour de force amongst the varied selection of tracks.
These include “Fine and Mellow” by Billie Holiday, Koko Taylor’s “Voodoo Woman,” and Willie Dixon’s “You Shook Me Baby,”
which is underpinned by Genaro’s haunting and mellow harp. GOOD TIMES is overall a highly uplifting and joyous album, full of
energy, fun, and love, and a signpost to the good times ahead for Blue Commotion.
(Source: Dave Scott for BluesWax)
JUNE 2012
7
SEVERN
Blues Guitarist/Singer Albert Castiglia is Living the Dream
Electric guitar riffs kick off the opening track of his new CD, LIVING THE DREAM (Blues Leaf
Records), which is due out June 12. Castiglia announces that this release is something special. And
throughout the rest of this impressive new album from the guitar master and former band leader for
the legendary Junior Wells, Albert Castiglia delivers big time on the promising steps he’s taken on his
previous CDs.
Living the Dream sports an even-dozen tracks dripping with soulful, searing blues, the product of his
energetic guitar work - alternatively pensive and reflective, then filled with sparks and fire – melding
with a vocal style that pays tribute to the masters, but clearly stamped with Castiglia’s own, inimitable
sound. “I'm extremely proud of the work the band and I did on Living the Dream … I was able to
churn out some quality original material and the band’s performance on the project was powerful. I'm ready for this CD to hit
the shelves and the airwaves so that folks can determine if I’m full of crap or not.”
(Source: Blues Festival Guide)
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials are celebrating 24 rip-roaring years together!
From working at Chicago's Red Carpet Car Wash to appearing on national television, from gigging at
the smallest ghetto blues bars to performing on the biggest international concert stages, master
bluesmen Lil' Ed Williams has come a long way. They have electrified audiences around the world for
nearly a quarter century with their infectious blend of razor-sharp, foot-stomping and soulfully
houserockin' Chicago blues.
JUMP START is their most hard-hitting album yet. Mixing smoking slide guitar boogies and rawboned Chicago shuffles with the deepest slow-burners, Lil' Ed and his blistering Blues Imperials
deliver the blues, from gloriously riotous and rollicking to intensely emotional and moving. The band's
wildly energetic and seriously soulful new CD is jam-packed with Lil' Ed's incendiary slide playing and
rough, passionate singing, as the ragged-but-right Blues Imperials cook like mad alongside him.
You can pre-order Jump Start before the June 5th release date at www.alligator.com — early orders will receive an
autographed copy.
Nathan James & the Rhythm Scratchers release WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT
Viewing the cover photograph of this release, one might wonder: “Is that a guitar or a washboard?”
Remarkably, it’s both – a homemade instrument dubbed the “Washtar Gitboard”! Nathan James
(2007 International Blues Challenge winner in the Solo/Duo category with Ben Hernandez) has
never been one to follow convention. As Nathan says in the liner notes to WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT,
“[we recorded this album] setting up very few microphones and playing together in the same room
without any isolation, or even headphones, to capture as much of our live sound as possible.”
Nathan James became a member of James Harman’s band at the age of 19. Over the years, he has
played alongside such other legends as Kim Wilson, Pinetop Perkins, and Billy Boy Arnold. In 2007,
he and harp-er Ben Hernandez conquered the Memphis crowd at the International Blues Challenge,
winning first place. Five years later, they’re still going strong.
Delta Groove Music defines this CD as “1920s acoustic blues, amplified juke joint hill country, 1950s uptown blues w/ 1960s
soulful R&B.” For Nathan James, it works … because modern blues music is “What You Make of It!”
(Source: Rainey Wetnight for Blues Blast)
N
E
W
S
Taj Mahal just turned 70! For 50 years, this multi-talented musician has been bringing us the
music of the world, re-shaping and re-defining it with the force of his own personality. Legacy
Recordings will celebrate by compiling a two-disc collection of previously unreleased studio and live
performances entitled The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969-1973. (Scheduled for release
this Fall.)
Mahal has created an inimitable and enduring body of work, a bedrock blues flavored with strains of
West Indian, Caribbean and African music with elements of jazz, rock and reggae flowing effortlessly
through the mix. A two-time Grammy winner, Taj Mahal opened the untapped potential of the Delta
Blues, felt the connection to African soul and island rhythms, and became one of world music’s first
proponents and champions.
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Bluesletter
NC Folk Icon “Doc” Watson
March 3, 1923 ~ May 29, 2012
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson died Tuesday, May 29, after a fall at his home in Deep Gap, NC, and
subsequent abdominal surgery at Wake Forest Baptist medical Center in Winston-Salem. He was 89.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Rosa Lee Carlton Watson, and their daughter Nancy
Ellen, as well as his two grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and his brother David Watson,
not to mention thousands of guitarists worldwide who fell under his spell.
Doc Watson was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, a National Heritage Fellowship, and eight
Grammy Awards including Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. As President Bill Clinton
said when awarding the 1977 National Medal of Arts, "There may not be a serious, committed baby
boomer alive who didn't at some point in his or her youth try to spend a few minutes at least trying to
learn to pick a guitar like Doc Watson."
"He is single-handedly responsible for the extraordinary increase in acoustic flat-picking and finger-picking performance,"
folklorist and musician Ralph Rinzler once wrote. "His flat-picking style has no precedent in early country music history." Doc
Watson played the acoustic guitar with such pure precision that Bob Dylan once compared his picking to “water running.”
For many years, Watson toured with his son, Merle Watson, who died in a 1985 tractor accident. Merle's memory is honored by
MerleFest, an annual North Carolina roots-music festival that the elder Watson hosted. Held on the last weekend in April since
1988, MerleFest draws more than 75,000 annually to Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C.
===================================================
Michael “Iron Man” Burks
July 30, 1957 ~ May 6, 2012
Michael Burks died in Atlanta on Sunday, May 6, 2012, at the age of 54. He was returning from a tour
of Europe and collapsed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and could not be revived.
Burks earned his “Iron Man” moniker by his hours-long, intensely physical performances, fearsome
guitar attack, and tough, smoky vocals. He also earned it by the thousands of miles he personally
logged behind the wheel of his touring van. Burks was a true modern blues hero whose music was
driven by an intense, blue collar work ethic that had won him well-deserved national and international
recognition. His instantly identifiable guitar sound and his live charisma earned him four Blues Music
Award nominations. He won the 2004 Living Blues magazine Critics' Award for Best Guitarist.
Born in Milwaukee in 1957, Burks grew up immersed in the blues, and learned to play guitar at an early age. His family moved
to Camden, Arkansas in the early 1970s. There, Burks and his siblings helped their father build the Bradley Ferry Country Club,
a 300-seat juke joint. By this time Michael was fronting his own band as well as backing several of the blues and R&B greats
that passed through town. Burks left music to raise a family and returned to performing blues in the 1990s.
After self-releasing his first CD in 1997, Burks signed with Chicago's Alligator Records in 2001 and released three critically
acclaimed albums. GuitarOne named his debut album, Make It Rain, one of the Top 200 greatest guitar recordings of all time.
He toured the world, headlining blues festivals, concert halls and clubs. His status as an Arkansas musical hero was confirmed
by his receipt of the prestigious Sonny Payne Award for Blues Excellence in 2006, presented by the Delta Cultural Center, and
by his multiple headlining appearances at The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival. Burks had just finished recording his fourth
Alligator CD, which is due for release at the end of July 2012.
A memorial and musical celebration was held on May 20 in Burks’ hometown of Camden, Ark. In lieu of flowers, the family
has asked that donations in Burks' name be made to the HART Fund of The Blues Foundation, which aids musicians
with health care needs: http://www.blues.org/#ref=hart_donate.
Michael Burks was one of those cats that I have heard bits and pieces from off of some
studio tracks over the years. The obvious was that he sounded quite a bit vocally like
Albert King, so of course he would throw a couple of Albert King guitar licks out there to
garnish. Well, never assume that one’s power in the studio is what it will be live and in the
moment. I had only been able to attend two of his shows at The Double Door in the last 10
years, and made it a point to catch the last one earlier this year. WOW! …… Some things
a lot of guitar players don’t get is how to do so much with a little, then save the fire in your
playing for when the song needs it, and only when the songs needs it. Don’t over do, take
it to a climax, and repeat throughout the night. That, I believe, Burks did effortlessly. It
was simply how it was with him. Never a dull moment and always the anticipation for what
is to come. He was able to have shows to remember and a talent to be missed.
— Michael James Simonetti, CBS Board Member
JUNE 2012
9
How Sears, Roebuck & Co. Midwifed the Birth of the Blues
Delta blues is as much legend as it is music. In the
popular telling, blues articulated the hopelessness and
poverty of an isolated, oppressed people through
music that was disconnected from popular trends and
technological advances. Delta blues giants like Robert
Johnson were victims, buffeted by the winds of
racism, singing out mostly for personal solace. The
story is undoubtedly romantic, but it just isn’t true. “It
angers me how scholars associate the blues strictly
with tragedy,” B.B. King complained in his 1999
autobiography Blues All Around Me. “As a little kid,
blues meant hope, excitement, pure emotion.”
The tragic image of the blues that originated in the
Mississippi Delta ignores the competitive and
entrepreneurial spirit of the bluesman himself. While it
is certainly true that the music was forged in part by
the legacy of slavery and the insults of Jim Crow, the
iconic image of the lone bluesman traveling the road
with a guitar strapped to his back is also a story about
innovators seizing on expanded opportunities brought
about by the commercial and technological advances
of the early 1900s. There was no Delta blues before
there were cheap, readily available steel-string
guitars. And those guitars, which transformed
American culture, were brought to the boondocks by
Sears, Roebuck & Co.
The first Sears, Roebuck catalog was
published in 1888. It would go on to
transform America. Farmers were no
longer subject to the variable quality
and arbitrary pricing of local general
stores. The catalog brought things
like washing machines and the latest
fashions to the most far-flung
outposts. Guitars first appeared in
the catalog in 1894 for $4.50
(around $112 in today’s money).
By 1908 Sears was offering a guitar,
outfitted for steel strings, for $1.89 ($45 today),
making
it
the
cheapest
harmony-generating
instrument available.
Article was posted in the Blues Festival Guide Ezine.
Originated from reason.com’s archives entitled “Delta Dawn”
http://reason.com/archives/2012/04/19/delta-dawn
Throughout the 1910s Delta blacks routinely ordered
a wide assortment of goods from Sears, Roebuck,
including the instrument that would define them. In
an interview with Alan Lomax, Gospel songwriter
Charles Haffner recalled the switch from the reels of
the past to the new blues sound: “Back around that
time the guitar came into style, and the first blues I
remember originated.…Yessir, we were entering into
a jazz age, and the old world was being
transformed.”
Traveling bluesmen took to the back roads of the
American South. Whether through showmanship,
technical wizardry, or lyrical wordplay, bluesmen
were engaged in a constant battle for supremacy.
Musicians would travel north to absorb new sounds
in hopes of getting ahead of the competition, all the
while pushing the new music in fresh, more creative
directions.
Guitar quality kept improving while the price kept
going down. Soon sharecroppers throughout the
Delta were ordering guitars from Sears in hopes of
supplementing their income on weekends. The
catalog is frequently mentioned in the biographies of
Delta bluesmen. In 1930 Muddy Waters purchased a
used Stella, most likely originally purchased from the
catalog, and began playing gigs. He quickly earned
enough money to order a brand new guitar from
Sears. B.B. King learned the rudiments of the
instrument through an instructional book he ordered
from the catalog. And of course, blues musicians
weren’t the only ones to profit from the availability
of cheap guitars: White country artists such as Roy
Clark would get their first instrument from the same
catalog that black bluesmen like Son Thomas would.
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Bluesletter
WHO’S PLAYIING WHERE?
BILL MILLER BAND
Fri, 6/8
Stadium Sports Tavern—Charlotte, NC
Fri, 6/22
Finz Raw Bar & Grill—Matthews, NC
BLUES PROVIDERS
Sat, 6/16
The Speakeasy Alehouse—Concord, NC (9PM)
SATURDAY JUNE 23
Noon—8:00 PM
Independence Park
300 Hawthorne Lane
1st Annual Charlotte Bayou Fest
with All-You-Can-Eat Cajun Seafood,
Arts & Crafts, Vendors, & Music
www.charlottebayoufestival.com
Experience the heart and soul of
Louisiana in true Cajun style from
special Louisiana spirit, unique Bayou
culture, and Cajun food.
The Charlotte Bayou Festival is a
family-friendly event with a lot of
interactive activities such as the
kid’s zone, cooking demonstrations,
hot pepper eating contest,
caricature artist and sketches,
roaming jugglers, mask making,
face painting, games, and
so much more!
The Charlotte Bayou Festival is a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
dedicated to providing both a
community-building experience and
raising funds for Charlotte's
emerging arts scene.
DONNA DUNCAN BAND
Sat, 6/23
The Double Door Inn—Charlotte, NC
ELLIOTT & THE UNTOUCHABLES
Sat, 6/2
Blues-n-Brews Festival—Fayetteville, NC
Fri, 6/29
Antler Hill Village, Biltmore—Asheville, NC (4PM)
GENE GENE & THE BLUES MACHINE
Sat, 6/23
The Cellar Club—Spartanburg, SC
HORSEFLY
Thu, 5/31
Sat, 6/9
Sat, 6/30
The Speakeasy Alehouse—Concord, NC
“June Tunes” —Mint Hill, NC (7:30PM)
(On the lawn at the Mint Hill Tower)
Finz Raw Bar—Matthews, NC
JILL DINEEN BAND
Sat, 6/2
Z Pi—Albemarle, NC (7PM)
Sat, 6/9
Charlotte Roller Girls—Charlotte, NC (6PM)
Sat, 6/23
PJ O’reilly’s Irish Pub—Charlotte, NC (8PM)
Sat, 6/30
Kickstand Burgers’n’Bar—Charlotte, NC (8PM)
LENNY FEDERAL BAND
Every Fri
The Comet Grill – Charlotte, NC
MAC ARNOLD & PLATE FULL O’ BLUES
Sat, 6/2
Blues at the Vineyard—Russellville, TN
Sat, 6/9
Pop Ferguson Blues Fest—Lenoir, NC
June 14-July5—European Tour
MATTER OF
Thu, 6/7
Sat, 6/9
Thu, 6/14
Fri, 6/15
Wed, 6/20
Thu, 6/21
FACT
Summit Coffee House*—Davidson, NC (8PM)
Conover Tavern*—Conover, NC (8:30PM)
Mac’s Speed Shop*—Cornelius, NC (6PM)
McHale’s Irish Pub—Rock Hill, SC
Lancaster’s BBQ&Wings*—Mooresville, NC (6:30PM)
MantraBash—Ferguson, NC
*A Free “Covering Carolina” event featuring members of MOF)
MICHAEL WOLF & D.B.A.
Sat, 6/9
The Speakeasy Alehouse—Concord, NC
Sat, 6/16
The Cellar Club—Spartanburg, SC
Sat, 6/23
Miciah’s Speakeasy Club—Mooresville, NC
* Gumbo Motion (Michael Wolf & Donn Livingston)
Fri, 6/1
20 Years & Growing!
Next date: Sept. 8
SkinnyZ—Matthews, NC (8:30PM)
* Wolf, Donn Livingston, & Tara Tucker
Be sure to check bands’ websites,
Facebook, ReverbNation, MySpace, or
“Google Search” for more bookings & updates.
JUNE 2012
11
WHO’S PLAYIING WHERE?
NITA B & THE SWINGIN’ SOIREE
Sat, 6/2
Blues-n-Brews Festival—Fayetteville, NC
Thu, 6/14
McHale’s Irish Pub—Ft. Mill, SC
Sat, 6/16
Swing Dance at Chantilly Hall
2101 Shenandoah Ave., Charlotte, NC
Fri, 6/22
Mingling on The Green—Huntersville, NC
Sat, 6/23
Common Market, Midwood—Charlotte, NC
Fri, 6/29
The Kickstand—Charlotte, NC
Thur, 5/10
McHale’s—Ft. Mill, SC
Sat, 5/19
D’vine Wine—Charlotte, NC
* Nita B & Bill Buck Duo
Fri, 6/15
Sun, 6/17
Sun, 6/24
Sat, 6/30
Café Monté (Phillips Place)—Charlotte,
Dean & Deluca (Phillips Pl)—Charlotte,
Dean & Deluca (Phillips Pl)—Charlotte,
Café Monté (Phillips Place)—Charlotte,
NC
NC
NC
NC
* Nita B Trio
Mon, 6/18
Thur, 6/28
Amelie’s French Bakery—Charlotte, NC
NoDa Arts District (8PM)
The Comet Grill—Charlotte, NC (8:30PM)
PAMELA TAYLOR BAND
Fri, 6/1
Blues Blvd—Spartanburg, SC
Sat, 6/2
Good Time Charlie’s—Lancaster, SC
Fri, 6/8
Rossy’s liquid Lounge—Spindale, NC
Sat, 6/16
The Back Porch—Chester, SC
Thu, 6/21
World of Beer (Southend)—Charlotte, NC
(8PM)
Sat, 6/23
The Comet Bar & Grill—Charlotte, NC
Fri, 6/29
OneMor Bar & Grill—Concord, NC
Sat, 6/30
Sparetime Lounge—Albemarle, NC
PART-TIME BLUES BAND
Fri, 6/1
River City Bar & Grilll—Mooresville, NC
Sat, 6/23
Queens Landing—Mooresville, NC
* Rusty, Mike, Dennis - Acoustic
Every Tues
Every Wed
Sports Page Deli – Mooresville, NC
Sports Page Deli – Denver, NC
RED DIRT REVELATORS
Sat, 6/2
Freeman’s Pub—Gastonia, NC (9PM)
Sun, 6/3
The Double Door Inn—Charlotte, NC (8PM)
(BLUESunday - Charlotte Blues Society)
Sat, 6/16
The Bootlegger’s Cabin—Mill Springs, NC
SONNY SKYYZ & THE RAINMAKERS
Fri, 6/1
Hojo & CC’s Wing Shack—Mt. Holly, NC
Fri, 6/8
the Blue Vine—Salisbury, NC (9PM)
Sat, 6/9
Miciah’s Speakeasy—Mooresville, NC
Fri, 6/15
Jeffrey’s—Mooresville, NC (7PM)
w/ Mother Blues Cohen & Selwyn Cooper
Fri, 6/15
Big Al’s Pub & Grubberia—Mooresville, NC
*Rainmakers One-Year Anniversary Party!
Sat, 6/16
The County Line—Kernersville, NC
Fri, 6/22
The Tavern—Durham, NC
Sat, 6/23
Big Harry’s—Fayetteville, NC
SPEAKEASY BLUES COMBO
Tue, 6/5
Hosting the Open Mic Blues Jam (7PM)
(1st Tues.) Concord Blues Preservation Club
The Speakeasy Alehouse—Concord, NC
Bringing the Best in Live Music
to the Charlotte Area!
For upcoming events,
log on to www.maxxmusic.com
CLUBS THAT HAVE THE BLUES!
Finz Raw Bar & Grill
704-814-9114
142 E. John St, Matthews, NC
Forty Rod Roadhouse
704-573-1773
9229-15 Lawyers Rd, Mint Hill, NC
Hojo & CC’s Wing Shack 704-827-8867
130 W. Charlotte Ave, Mt. Holly, NC
McHale’s Irish Pub 803-548-2151
1820 Goldhill Rd, Fort Mill, SC
Miciah’s Speakeasy
704-799-0095
229 Medical Park Rd, Mooresville, NC
Skinnyz Bar & Grill 704-893-2157
15060 Idlewild Rd, Charlotte, NC
Smoky Joe’s Café
704-338-9380
510 Briar Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC
>> Open Jam Every Tues. Night <<
Speakeasy Alehouse 704-784-0107
9 Union St. N, Concord, NC
>> Open Jam 1st Tuesdays <<
Thirsty Beaver Saloon 704-332-3612
1225 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC
Tropical Escape Café 803-366-38888
564 N. Anderson Rd, Rock Hill, SC
The Comet Grill 704-371-4300
2224 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC
Wet Willie’s 704-716-5650
900 Seaboard St, Charlotte, NC
>> Blues Every Monday <<
~~~~
We think there are more …
Let us know !!
(12)
Bluesletter
JUNE 5
JUNE 8
Open
Mic
Blues
Jam
VIVA KLEZMER
Since the late 1700s, Charlotte's Jewish citizens
have figured prominently in the city's history.
We honor that history with a concert by
Viva Klezmer!
Klezmer has been described as "Jewish jazz."
We promise your toes will be tapping to music by
Gene Kavadlo (clarinet), Ali Kavadlo (violin/percussion),
Mike Mosely (guitar), and Ron Brendle (bass)!
Great Aunt Stella Center
926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC
Show starts at 7:00 ~ Gatherings are Free to the Public
Mark your calendars for the 1st Tuesday of each
month! Head out to the Speakeasy Alehouse for the
Concord Blues Preservation Club’s Blues Jam.
Hosted by the Speakeasy Blues Combo
Speakeasy Alehouse
9 Union Street North
704-796-4560
Concord, NC
JUNE 2012
13
The Double Door Inn
Early shows 9:00 most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. Check website for mid-week discounts!
EVERY MONDAY
MONDAY NITE ALL STARS
EVERY TUESDAY
JAZZ JAM NIGHT
The awesome Monday Nite All-Stars
will be playing some of your favorite
Soul / Funk ... easy to listen to and
great to dance to!!
Bill Hanna's Jazz Quartet has been hosting this jam session at the club for
years. Whether you are an up-and-coming jazz musician, or someone
shaking the dust off the old instrument, either way this is the place
where you can come out and jam with one of the best.
GOT SOME BLUES & FUN IN JUNE!!
Adv. Tix purchased at www.doubledoorinn.com
6/2
TOM PRINCIPATO—60th Birthday Bash!
(10PM)
Blues/Rock
$12 Adv. Tix
6/3
BLUESunday w/ RED DIRT REVELATORS
(8PM)
Blues
$5 / Mbrs Free
6/6
ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART
(9PM)
Blues/Folk/Rock
$10
6/8
THE LEE BOYS
(10PM)
Blues/Gospel/Jazz/Rock
$10
6/9
KRISTIN DIABLE & THE CITY
(10PM)
Roots/Folk
$10
6/14
DAMON FOWLER
(9PM)
Blues/Roots/Rock
$10
6/21
COPPER INTO STEEL w/ CHRIS COOK
(9PM)
Americana/Blues/Roots
$7
6/23
DONNA DUNCAN BAND (w/ Opening Act)
(9PM)
Blues
(TBD)
6/24
TOMMY CASTRO
(9PM)
Blues/Rock/Soul
$15 Adv. Tix
6/29
CHRIS SANCHEZ w/ CHUCK JOHNSON
& THE CHARLEYHORSE ALL-STARS
(9PM)
Americana/Blues/Country
$8 Adv. Tix
Check out The Double Door’s Website for other bands playing this month,
updates and future bookings, show times, admission, nightly drink specials, & more!
Sign up for weekly updates.
Purchase Advance Tickets for selected shows.
www.doubledoorinn.com
1218 Charlottetown Ave. 704-376-1446
Join the DDI Fan club at www.facebook.com
(14)
Bluesletter
The Bluesletter is published monthly by the
www.charlottebluessociety.org
Charlotte Blues Society
PO Box 32752
Charlotte, NC28232-2752
The Charlotte Blues Society (CBS) is dedicated to the promotion
and preservation of the American Blues tradition through the presentation
of concerts, forums, workshops, and educational programs in Charlotte and
surrounding areas. Founded in the Spring of 1993, CBS has steadily
grown in membership and popularity in support of this musical art form.
CBS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a Board of
Directors and is an affiliated member of The Blues Foundation the
umbrella organization for a worldwide network of 165 affiliated Blues
societies and has individual memberships around the globe. The Blues
Foundation produces the Blues Music Awards, Keeping the Blues Alive
Awards, Blues Hall of Fame Induction, and the International Blues
Challenge.
CBS members gather on “BLUESunday,” the 1st Sunday of each
month, 8:00 PM, at The Double Door Inn.
Meetings include
announcements and updates, special guests, and an Open Mic Blues Jam.
BLUESunday is free to CBS members and only $5.00 for non-members.
The Board of Directors also meets every 1st Sunday. Meetings are open to
the membership.
Members receive a monthly newsletter and free admission to monthly
meeting entertainment (unless otherwise posted). In addition, members
receive discounts and co-sponsored or CBS-advertised events. Annual
dues (12-month period) are $20~ Individual, $35 ~ Family, and
$75 ~ Sponsor Membership. Corporate sponsorships and individual
contributions are welcome and are tax deductible (excluding dues).
The CBS Bluesletter is published monthly and distributed to
approximately 600 readers. It includes information on Society activities, a
local blues calendar, and a variety of blues-related items of interest.
CBS is proud to call The Double Door Inn home. The Double Door
Inn, winner of the 1994 Keeping the Blues Alive award from The Blues
Foundation, is located at 1218 Charlottetowne Ave., Charlotte, NC (704376-1446) Over the past 38 years, the DDI’s stage lights have shined on
Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials, Marcia Ball,
Saffire ~ The Uppity Blues Women, Lonnie Brooks, Eddy “the Chief”
Clearwater, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Luther Allison, just to name a few.
(And that doesn’t even include the countless local and regional performers
who otherwise would not have had a stage to stand on.) Thank you,
Double Door, for all your support for live blues, zydeco, reggae, Americana,
and most of all, your support of the Charlotte Blues Society!
SMF PBN: 1938390
OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeri Thompson, President
Rick Ballew, Vice-President
(tbd), Secretary
(tbd), Treasurer
Phil Beam
Jill Dineen
Dick Gilland
704-488-9608
Jan Jenson
Larry Pace
Betsy Norton-Stowe
Nick Polyzos
Michael Simonetti
Advisors: Beth Pollhammer, Bill Buck,
Rita Miller, Michael Simonetti
BLUESLETTER STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS
Bluesletter Staff— Jill Dineen, Rita Miller, Michael Simonetti
Contributing Articles/Photos– Michael Simonetti, Rita Miller,
Artists, Media, & Websites
Memberships / Address Changes - www.charlottebluessociety.org
Printing Services - International Minute Press, South Blvd, Charlotte
Submissions Welcome!
Blues Articles, CD Reviews, Concert Reviews, Interviews,
Calendar Events, Advertising, News Releases

Items due no later than the 15th of the month for the following
month’s issue.

Items received beyond deadline will be used the following month,
if still timely.
Scanned or digital photos should be e-mailed to the editor; other
photos are also accepted and will be returned.
(Note: Photos with matte finish or screen print may not reproduce
as sharp as glossy prints.)
Articles may be edited for brevity or clarity, unless otherwise
requested by the writer. (Please do not exceed 500 words for
articles or 300 words for reviews.)


Views expressed by the writers do not necessarily reflect
You can help increase revenue by selling (or buying) advertising in the
Bluesletter.
Our rates are very inexpensive compared to other local
newsletters … and now that previous issues are posted on our website, your ad
can be viewed by more readers for a longer period of time.
Ads are due by the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue.
Ads must be pre-paid unless billing arrangements have been approved.
(Federal Tax ID available upon request)
Contacts for questions are:
- Betsy at [email protected] (704-351-3848)
- Rita at [email protected] (980-226-0917)
(Print this page as a handout for ad sales!)
MONTHLY RATES
$ 15 .............. Business Card
$ 40 .............. Quarter Page
$ 75 .............. Half Page
$125 ............. Full Page
Package Rates Available
10% discount to CBS members
(excluding business card)
Due to e-mail distribution, we can
now accept ads related to finance,
insurance, or credit cards.
JUNE 2012
15
The Bluesletter is published monthly by the
www.charlottebluessociety.org
Charlotte Blues Society
PO Box 32752
Charlotte, NC28232-2752
Something New for 2011!
You can now renew your membership online at
www.CharlotteBluesSociety.org.
We have a new email-able form and PayPal Button.
Just go to the Membership page and click!
Membership Application
PLEASE PRINT
Name:
Address:
_________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Phone (Day):__________________
(Night): __________________
E-mail: _________________________________________________
(Not shared – Used only for Blues updates and late-breaking news!)
Please list members’ names for Membership Cards:
________________________
_________________________
________________________
_________________________
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT CBS?
[
[
[
[
] Web Search
[ ] The Double Door Inn
[ ] News Media
] Concert / Festival
________________________________
] Other __________________________________________
] Referred by: _____________________________________
SMF PBN: 1938390
Today’s Date: _________________
[ ] New Member
[ ] Renewal
MEMBER CATEGORY:
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
e-mail / postal
Individual ........... $20 / $25
Family (2-4) ....... $35 / $40
Sponsor ............. $75 / $80
(includes Qtr page ad
or T-shirt) Size: __________
VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED:
[
[
[
[
[
[
[
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
Merchandise Sales
Membership Development
Fundraising / Sponsorships
Educational Programs
Promotion / Publicity
Festivals / Event Booths
Bluesletter / Writing / Photos
ARE YOU A MUSICIAN?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] vocalist
[ ] Instrument(s)
____________________________
If you are a CBS member who still gets your Bluesletter by “Snail Mail,”please send us your e-mail address
for faster delivery … and it’s in COLOR!
(On-line delivery saves postage and helps the environment.)
Turn Your Radio On!
Mondays, 6:00-9:00 PM .................... WSGE 91.7 FM
“Hwy 321 Blues”
Mondays, 11:00 PM-12:00 AM ............ WGWG 88.3 FM
“Blues & Roots”
Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 PM ................... WSGE 91.7 FM
“Hwy 321 Blues”
Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00 PM ............... WSGE 91.7 FM
“Hwy 321 Blues”
Fridays, 11:00 PM-12:00 AM ............... WGWG 88.3 FM
“Blues & Roots”
Saturdays, 7:00-11:00 PM ................. WNCW 88.7 FM
“Saturday Night House Party”
Saturdays, 9:00-12:00 PM ................. WFAE 90.7 FM
“Blues Central”
Please help us stay current – send radio updates to [email protected]
(16)
Charlotte Blues Society
Bluesletter
PO Box 32752
Charlotte, NC28232-2752
www.CharlotteBluesSociety.org
The Charlotte Blues Society is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization
governed by a Board of Directors,
and is an affiliated member of
The Blues Foundation
featuring
RED DIRT
REVELATORS
Willie Shane, Tony, Jason, & Clay — Old Friends with a New Sound!
The Double
Doors open at 7:00
Music starts 8:00
Door Inn
1218 Charlottetown Ave.
704-376-1446
CBS Members – FREE
Non-members – $5:00