I don't know where to begin.  A week and a half later, and I'm still overwhelmed at the evening honoring Craig Lawler.  Genuinely overwhelmed.

I didn't send a Blues Letter last week as I was in the process of moving (curses and bruises!), so I've had more time than usual to digest the extraordinary essence of the evening.  But it's still a magical blur. 

Because Craig had been admitted to the hospital that morning, his sisters took advantage of our technological age and live-streamed to his room so he wouldn't have to miss the evening.  They also filmed it, and for four and one half hours, the sisters took turns holding the video camera, keeping it focused on the very busy stage of very talented people, all in attendance to honor Craig.  It was a long, lovely, and loving evening.  

Lionel Young (like we need a last name) opened the jam with Jay Forrest and a borrowed bass player (Mark Diamond doesn't love us anymore, and Bryan Gordon was under the weather) whose name currently escapes me (and no, there is no point in asking Lionel, as it takes him too long to get back to me, and I need to put this puppy to bed).  They played a couple of songs and then…well that's where the blur begins. 

By way of explanation, about fifteen minutes before jam time, I went on stage to hand Lionel the list, the long list, of musicians I had secured for the evening.  He stared at me blankly for a moment, as only a man can do, and then said, "I'm not doing this, you are."  To which I replied, succinctly and with measured concision, "Uh uh."  I believe, "Uh huh" was his reply, and I recall it went back and forth as such momentarily.  Having never run a jam before, I simply didn't think I knew what I was doing.  It was one of those truly rare occasions in which I was actually incorrect about something.  That's right, I was, ahem, wrong.  Turns out, I CAN RUN A JAM, PEOPLE!!!

And it's a good thing, because the talent that came out last Sunday to step up for one our own was fabulous, tremendous, illustrious, generous, (come on, I'm a wordsmith; I can spend all day coming up with superlatives that end in "ous"), etc.  In case you think me prone to hyperbole, here's the list of those who came out, and although not all made it to the stage for various and sundry reasons (like I couldn't find Ronnie Shellist to save my life, but only when I was looking for him; otherwise, he was all over the place), but they came out to support Craig and his wonderful family (my deepest apologies if I've forgotten anyone; there were just so many  of you!) :  JASON RICCI, SHAWN STARSKI,  TODD "BUCK WEED" EDMUNDS, ED MICHAELS, AL CHESSIS, ERIK BOA, AWESOME AIDEN BOA (OBERLIN), RANDALL DUBIS, GRETCHEN TROOP, JACK HADLEY, RONNIE SHELLIST, JILL WATKINS, LIONEL YOUNG, LIONEL'S BASS PLAYER, JAY FORREST, MICHAELA RAE, JASCO, BRUCE ON KEYBOARDS, JERRY DEALL, OTIS TAYLOR, DAN TREANOR, VICTOR CREAZI, BOB TIGER, RUSS MUSILEK, and Jerry just informed me the "borrowed" bass player was JAMIE POLISHER. 

See, I told you! Twenty-five musicians!  The jam started right at 6:30, and although I must say that at first it felt a little weird ordering people around, by 6:33 I had that shit down! I not only told Gretchen what to sing, I gave her the order in which I wanted them sung.  She defied my orders on the, well "order" of things, but she was right to do so.  She opened her set with a beautiful cover of "Dock of the Bay," dedicated to Craig. 

Because I was all over the place trying to locate unruly, recalcitrant musicians who wouldn't stay put when I ordered them to, I can't recall the sequence of the evening, but I can most certainly recall for you the highlights.  The Kids:

Michaela Rae and Awesome Aiden Oberlin.  Most of us are happily familiar with Michaela Rae, seeing as we were fortunate to hear her perform at both the Greeley and Blues From the Top festivals, as well as when she sits in with Mojambus, joining her teacher, Jasco (who was smokin' hot at the jam).  Aiden, however, is a bit newer to the scene.  Given that he's only just turned six, he's pretty much new to all scenes.  He's the son of Delta Sonics' guitarist, Erik Boa and his beautiful wife, Stacie, and has been blowing a harp since diapers.  I've heard him a number of times (a five dollar bill can easily coerce an impressionable child onto a stage), and the kid has talent!  Boa, Jasco, and Michaela showed us all how a guitar should be played, while Aiden blew with the conviction of a seasoned performer.  Truly one of the evening's highlights.

Then there was the Guitarski, Jason, and Lionel thing.  I don't even know what to call what they did.  Which is why the Joyous Jill Watkins (still not done with those "ous" endings), my co-host on "Broads on Blues," and I will be bringing that footage to our September 7^th show (if the technology Gods are on our side), as well as the kids, and a special opening from Jason to Craig.  The entire evening was filmed, so sometime in the coming weeks (like when Vanessa gets back from vacation; lazy pig!), we will have the footage available on this site as well as our "Broads on Blues" site.  I will send out a separate bulletin when those links are ready.  In the meantime, please visit the Lawler family site (and help if you can) at:   http://thelawlerfamily.org; more specifically however, read Craig's sister, Jill Lawler's account of the evening.  It is beautifully overpowering.  Thank you for your kind words, Jill.  And you and your sisters have joined the Outlook family.   http://thelawlerfamily.org/archives/295

Speaking of Vanessa, here's a little something from her on last Thursday night, as I had been moving all that day and too exhausted to see Lipbone Redding, even though it has been on my calendar for a couple of months (curses!), but I'm not bitter:

Thursday nights at the Outlook are looking very promising, with two rockin' Thursdays in a row: first, last week's Lipbone Redding show, and next, this week's Shawn Kellerman show. I had heard Lipbone's CD before he played at the Outlook, and I was curious to see how he would sound live. For those who are unfamiliar with his work, Mr. Redding sings (angelically), plays guitar (led me like the Pied Piper), and plays his "LipBone" (he makes a noise like a trumpet, among other things, with his voice and a glass).

Along with his Lipbone Orchestra (Jeff Eyrich on bass and Rich Zukor on drums), he gave an incredible performance. Lipbone charmed the audience with his slick lyrics and enchanting delivery, and had everyone bouncing to great dance tunes. It was fascinating watching him go into solo after solo with his "LipBone," as expressive and vibrant as any trombone musician could play it. I have both his CD's now, and they are making a fast upward climb into my daily rotation. I can't WAIT to see him again next time he comes (hint, hint, Dan). Everyone I talked to after the show was raving about the performance! Make sure you're all there for the next one.

Also, just plan on coming for all of this coming weekend. Shawn Kellerman on Thursday, John Alex Mason (yay!) on Friday, and Mojambus on Saturday. I'm pretty sure that Dan booked this weekend just to spite me, knowing I would be on vacation. Enjoy the fabulous weekend, everyone! Nessa Combs

 

(Continued from 1st column)

We have twice in the last year come very close to booking Kellerman, and finally my patience is being rewarded as his reputation is extraordinary.  Don't believe me?  Well, this is from our always-informed on all things blues, Chick Cavallero, in an email to me (and this is the last time I'm going to use his last name; he's becoming a BL regular!):

Hey, I just wanted to give you a tip on Shawn Kellerman in case you hadn't seen him before. The guy is awesome. I caught him for a while at Jake's Roadhouse yesterday, and he is one smoking guitar player. Nice guy too, I talked with him a little and I learned he is a buddy of Jason Ricci's (which I didn't know). Anyway, you should get a news flash out that anybody looking to see a killer guitar player should get out to the Outlook Thursday night.  We'll see you there.  Chick

Dan is on vacation, so we will be suspending our weekly memo exchange for a couple of weeks.  Don't worry, I'm saving them up.

In lieu of a memo, I would like to detail a conversation from the Loving Lawler Jam.  It began when Jason Ricci stuck his fuchsia head in the back door about 8:00:

JASON:  Honey, can I talk to you?

HONEY:  Of course. [We head outside to talk.]

JASON:  Listen, Otis Taylor is here, and he has to leave in a half hour, but he wants to jam with me for a couple songs.  Can you pull some strings:

HONEY:  It's my jam!

And off I stomped to inform the musicians on stage of the "schedule" change (the only "schedule" was my whim).  Now, personally I find the recall of that conversation tears-rolling funny on several levels:  First, that Jason Ricci, inarguably the one of the world's greatest harmonica players, if not the greatest (per Chip Eagle) would think that "strings" would need to be pulled to get him on stage…wait; hang on, here come the tears…Ok, I'm back.  Secondly, at that point I'd been ordering people around for an hour and half; I was knee-walking drunk with power!  As a matter of fact, I do believe I heard the word "fascist" hissed at me a few times.  Oh well.  Jason and Otis didn't disappoint.

Again, our immense thanks to all of the musicians who came out to show Craig the love.  And our love, thoughts, and prayers to the Lawler Family. 

Here's the link to the third episode of "Broads on Blues," which aired live this past Sunday.  

myspace.com/broadsonblues

or

http://blip.tv/file/1143215

Honey Bee Sepeda

 

 

 

 

 

           

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