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by Eric Steiner
Da BLUES is Blooming!
Last month, I talked about the time I had in Memphis at the
International Blues Challenge, and recognized several Midwestern bands
that played Beale Street.
I left out two Keeping the Blues Alive winners, so I’d like to atone for
that mistake this month.
As we sprint to the deadline, I’ll also offer recommendations for
regional and local shows for April, and if you have any suggestions or
virtual tomatoes to throw my way, e-mail me at: ericrichd@aol.com .
If you’d like me to recommend a specific blues artist, band, or local
venue that keeps the blues alive in the region, please let me know.
Two Who Keep The Blues Alive…
Two KBA winners deserve special mention as they’ve been stalwart sources
of support for the blues scene. They’ve offered encouragement, and
professionalism in their work behind the pen, computer screen, or
camera.
I’m talking about publicist Cary Baker and photographer Paul Natkin.
Cary Baker cut his musical teeth at Northern Illinois University, worked
his way up the star-making machinery to positions as Vice President of
Publicity at Capitol Records, I.R.S. Records, Discovery Records, and
Morgan Creek Records.
Baker started publishing a fanzine in the 1970’s and roomed with Wazmo
Nariz (remember “Checking Out the Checkout Girl?”), one of the quirkiest
records released in the 1970’s. Cary edited the Triad Radio magazine,
one of the nation’s most innovative radio programs in that era.
Our Beatboss – Tom Lounges – learned many of his editorial chops as a
young lad by “borrowing” from Baker’s work in that publication.
Baker was such a huge influence on Lounges, that to this day, our
publisher still cites securing Baker for a short time as a writer for
Night Rock News (the forerunner to Midwest BEAT) remains one of his
greatest personal accomplishments in his journalistic career.
Last year, Cary founded conjuroo recordings and a publicity firm called,
conqueroo.
In our February issue, I shouted about his debut conjuroo CD release
from Blind Arvella Gray, The Singing Drifter, and last month in the CD
Spins section, I reviewed, Bloom, Red & the Ordinary Girl (Yep Roc) from
Tres Chicas. Baker is pushing this CD, the second from Tres Chicas,
which will likely land on many 2006 “best-of” alt-country lists.
If you’ve seen Luther Allison’s dynamic Blue Streak CD cover (Alligator
Records), the regal A Million of You from Big Time Sarah (Delmark), or
Sean Costello’s pensive portrait on his self-titled CD (Tone Cool),
you’ve seen Paul Natkin’s exceptional eye at work.
When I visited www.natkin.net, I marveled in Paul’s images.
While he’s got a notable portfolio, the photo that does it for me is of
a cleanshaven Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, and Johnny Winter as they
share the stage in 1979. I was fortunate to be in the audience to see
Muddy beam like a proud papa when Eric and Johnny traded leads.
A veteran of the Chicago music whose lens work on a few rare occasions
in the 1970s and 1980s appeared in both Night Rock News and very early
incarnations of Midwest BEAT –– Paul Natkin is a legend of not only the
local scene, but the national one as well.
NO APRIL FOOLIN’!
The Reverend Al Green will bring his sweet soul music to the House of
Blues. Lonnie Brooks will return to Buddy Guy’s Legends on the 8th and
that same night, one of the best blues bands from the Eastern Seaboard,
The Nighthawks, plays the Double Door.
Two of my favorite Muddy Waters alumni return to Buddy Guy’s on the
14th, Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.
On April 15th, flash back to the 1960’s with The Buckinghams, The Cryan’
Shames and The Ides of March (featuring Jim Peterik) at the Star Plaza
Theatre.
Tax Day also features The 19th annual Easter Blues Revue produced by
Sopro Productions, and this year’s line up at Tommy’s Place in Blue(s)
Island includes –– Steve Ditzell and the Blue Lightning Band, The
Chicago Horns, and a who’s who of regional artists. This year’s Revue
honors the memory of the late harpman Jody Noa, as it is being billed –
The 2nd Annual Jody Noa Memorial Blues Revue.
I was there for the 1st (which was the 18th Easter Blues Revue) last
year at Tommy’s, and it was a memorable night “’til blue in the
morning.”
Soul blues singer Pat Smillie returns to River North’s Red Fish on the
6th and 27th, and I’m glad to see he’s working more than ever. The
Siegel-Schwall Band play Harper College in Palatine on the 22nd, and I
hope that they pick up the hardware at the Blues Awards (formerly the
W.C. Handys) in May for the outstanding Flash Forward CD they released
in 2005 on Alligator Records.
The Steepwater Band play the Harlem Avenue Lounge on the 21st, and Tab
Benoit brings the bayou to FitzGeralds in Berwyn on the 22nd. Those
Steepwater boys also play Mugshots in Michigan City on the 22nd and the
Quest in Schererville on the 29th.
Mem Shannon and the Membership will take you to Phunkville at Kingston
Mines on the 28th and 29th.
April ends with Richie Havens at Old Town School of Folk Music on the
30th. Havens is an American legend who has consistently, courageously,
and directly spoke truth to power since the first Woodstock Music and
Art Fair in 1969.
In closing, it was a real pleasure meeting and chatting with the guys in
The Highway Band (voted “Favorite Blues Group”) while I down in
Northwest Indiana last month to attend the Midwest BEAT Regional Music
Awards night.
Make a point to check out The Highway Band and see just WHY so many
people love their music and their new CD, Nine Fine Wines.
Until May…Let’s play the blues!
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