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MIDWEST BLUES BEAT |
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by Eric Steiner MARCH MADNESS BLUES...
This month, I’d like to shout about new releases from Tommy Castro, Sonny Landreth and John Hammond, tell you about my pilgrimage to Bob Koester’s Jazz Record Mart, and recommend a few blues shows. Tommy Castro’s return to Blind Pig Records offers a heaping helping of rocking blues that doesn’t stop. Soul Shaker landed at the number two spot on the Billboard Blues chart for good reason. There are a few slow, soulful numbers on this CD, but I keep turning up “Let’s Give Love a Try” and “What You Gonna Do Now?” for the way they showcase some of Tommy’s best songwriting and forceful playing yet. This month, Tommy’s Midwestern gigs include the High Dive in Champaign on the 18th, followed by FitzGerald’s in Berwyn on the 19th, and then back to West Dundee at the Clearwater Theatre on the 26th. Sonny Landreth’s newest Sugar Hill CD, Grant Street, captures the slide guitar wizard in concert at that historic venue. Listen to Sonny sizzle on “Congo Square,” “Blues Attack,” and “USS Zydecoldsmobile” and discover a slide guitar genius at work. Whether you see Sonny live or pick up Grant Street, this disc will be on many “best of” lists in 2005. John Hammond’s second release on Backporch, In Your Arms Again, features a dozen songs that remind me why I enjoy acoustic blues, particularly his interpretation of “I Got A Woman,” “Evil” or the original title tune. This month, you’ll need to get to Iowa State University on the 4th to see him.
DISCOVERIES ON DELMARK... If you haven’t been to the Jazz Record Mart at 25 East Illinois in Chicago, you are in for a real treat. I made the pilgrimage to Bob Koester’s record store in February and went broke saving money on some choice CDs on his Delmark Records label. Next month, I’ll shout about the 50th Anniversary Jazz & Blues boxed set and some gems from Willie Kent and Francine Griffin.
HOT TICKETS... March is filled with a great blues menu from start to finish. On the 4th and 5th, John Primer will play Blue Chicago, and on the 13th, he’ll be at Buddy Guy’s Legends. The Chicago Blues Angels play Down from the Tracks at Union Station in Joliet on the 5th, and word on the street is that there’s a new CD in the works. Guitarist Frank Anastos joins Debbie Seitz at the Old Barn in Burbank on the 12th while her Swank Daddys back Wayne Brooks at Buddy Guy’s Legends, but look for Debbie and the band back together at the Riverdale Marina on the 19th. Earwig Recording artist Liz Mandville-Greeson brings her Blue Points to Simons on North Clark Street on the 13th. Roots rockers extraordinaire, The Subdudes, will play the House of Blues on the 18th – check out their excellent Miracle Mule (Backporch) CD, one of my favorite roots releases of 2004. Mem Shannon and the Membership return to Chicago on the 18th and 19th at Kingston Mines. Mem’s signed with Canadian label Northern Blues, and I look forward to his new record, I’m From Phunkville, due out April 19th. Local guitar and harp man Little Johnny Moore holds court Sunday nights at Widow McClearys in Thornton, but he’ll also be at Blues Etc in Joliet on the 5th and at Frank’s in Oaklawn on the 12th. I don’t think I’ve seen a more blues-packed weekend than the last weekend of March. You’ve got Lonnie Brooks at Buddy Guy’s Legends on the 25th for starters. Then, B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland and Koko Taylor reunite at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville on the 25th and 26th. That same night, the Alligator Records crew will capture Southern bluesman Tinsley Ellis live for an upcoming CD at Chord On Blues in St. Charles. I hope your blues to-do list also includes Sopro’s 18th Annual Easter Parade All-Star Blues Review on the 26th at Tommy’s Place in Blue(s) Island. Promoter Bud Monaco has again recruited a great line-up of local blues luminaries, including: Hollywood Johnny Cosgrove, John Fahlstrom, Ray “The Flame” Sucash and Patrick Doody, plus The Chicago Horns (Bill McFarland, Hank Ford, Kenny Anderson, and Tony Ferraro) and Chicago’s Leading Ladies of the Blues, featuring Peaches Staten, Marilynn Claire, Arelene Mora and Debbie Seitz. For a more complete line-up: www.sopromusic.com . On April 2nd...don’t miss the fabulous b, as they take part in The 8th Annual Midwest BEAT Music Awards show on April 2nd at 2nd Dimension on Route 30 in Schererville, Indiana. They will perform along with roots rocker Pete Berwick and the pop cover bands – History’s End and X-Girlfriend. Until the blues bloom in April, go see some live, local blues. |
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