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MIDWEST BLUES BEAT |
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MIDWEST BLUES BEAT
by Eric Steiner
CONTINUING BLUES EDUCATION
Last month, I celebrated another birthday and recapped the 2005 Chicago Blues Festival in my column and in a short article that featured some of my favorite pictures of some of my favorite bluesmen (and women).
This month, I’m going to introduce a handful of web sites that I’ve discovered since returning home to the Pacific Northwest after the blues festival and hope you’ll join me in continuing your blues education online.
Each of these sites will reward repeat visits for many, many reasons.
Each time I visit these web sites, I learn something new, discover a new song, or just plain kick back and have a virtual good blues time. So, in the spirit of continuing your blues education, let’s return to my virtual blues classroom and click on, my brothers and sisters in the blues, to a handful of information-packed online resources for blues musicians and fans alike.
Guitarist and guitar teacher Adam St. James’ web site is one of my favorite new blues discoveries. I’ve dreamt about playing “Dust My Broom” on my Squier Strat, and if I spend enough time practicing, I know that Adam will get me closer to that dream through his series of online guitar lessons. I like his “Rumors and Reports” columns, but what keeps me coming back to his site are his first-class interviews with artists like Nick Moss and the Flip Tops, Tinsley Ellis, and Lurrie Bell, just to name a few.
www.wbez.org/programs/cominhome/cominhome.asp
I had the good fortune to meet Niles Frantz at this year’s Chicago Blues Festival and learned more about the diverse menu of news and entertainment available at the Chicago Public Radio exhibit booth.
Join Niles as he hosts “Comin’ Home” every Saturday night, but in the meantime, check out some outstanding playlists and archived interviews online. “Comin’ Home” complements Steve Cushing’s “Blues Before Sunrise” program nicely, and after just spending one evening with Niles and Steve at the controls, you’ll see why Chicago Public Radio is the home of the blues on Saturday nights!
Steve Cushing’s “Blues Before Sunrise” is a nationally-syndicated radio program that focuses on the first 50 years of recorded blues music.
This year, Steve’s celebrating his 25th anniversary at the helm of “Blues Before Sunrise,” and his blues career includes stints as a drummer for Junior Wells, Sunnyland Slim, and Son Seals, and as a producer of Magic Slim, Smokey Smothers, Big Wheeler, and Jimmy Lee Robinson. Look for the “Blues Before Sunrise” compilation online at Delmark Records’ www.jazzmart.com and you won’t be disappointed.
Better yet, tune in to Steve Cushing to get your Saturdays off to a good start!
The Chicago Blues Harmonica Project’s Diamonds in the Rough is just one of the latest releases from this Severn, Maryland-based label.
I’m shouting about this CD again in these pages, because it’s worth buying. It’s one of my favorite releases so far of 2005.
Sample this outstanding new release online, and check out Severn Records’ back catalogue that includes Midwestern artists like Nora Jean Bruso, Tad Robinson, and an all-star blues band called the Jelly Roll All-Stars featuring Calvin “Fuzz” Jones on bass, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Sam Carr on drums, and Arthur Williams on harp.
SOME UPDATED LINKS
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share Little Johnny Moore’s updated web site, www.littlejohnny1.com, as well as a newly-revamped web presence of the After Midnight Blues Band, www.aftermidnightblues.com
Don’t forget to visit www.midwestbeat.com regularly for web-only features, updated concert links, and your Beat Boss’ snazzy online store with Midwest Beat merchandise.
I’ve heard that Marilynn Claire’s getting ready to expand her presence on the web, and as soon as I get her new URL, you’ll read it here first.
HOT AUGUST BLUES
The last full month of summer features a great line-up of live blues.
On August 2, “that little ol’ band from Texas,” ZZ Top to the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville. Ugly’s in LaPorte features European blues import Ana Popovic on the 17th followed by Blind Pig recording artist Albert Cummings on the 24th.
Chicago’s drum king, Patrick Doody is working with Voices and you can check out Pat playing with Paul Wenzel, Guy Dominick, and “Fingerz” Stahmer at Sam McGuires on the 12th in Orland Park and the next night at Chicago City Limits in Schaumburg.
Johnny Winter has cancelled his concert at Chicago’s House of Blues on the 18th due to reported health issues.
On the 19th, Jimmy Thackery will bring music from his new Telarc CD, Healing Ground, to Chord on Blues in St. Charles. Lonnie Brooks plays Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn on the 27th.
Lucky blues/rock fans in Spain can catch Steepwater Band while they touring overseas there early this month.
Until next month, let’s play the blues.
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