45 YEARS AND COUNTING!

AND

ONE YEAR AND COUNTING!

Happy Anniversary to the Outlook's own Jean Craig and her husband, Ron, for reaching 45 years of wedded bliss this past Sunday.  As we all know, Jean is the sweetheart of the Outlook, always smiling, always happy.  She takes good care of not only the customers, but the musicians as well, seeing to their every need.  Ok, maybe not every need, but you get the picture.  That said, I'd like to congratulate Ron for lasting 45 years with a woman who is so thoughtful, so sweet, so warm, so loving, and so compassionate, that sometimes I just want to smack her!  She can't be real!  Congrats, again you two, and stop making out in the hallways.  You think we don't see you, but we do. 

Nick Moss and the Flip Tops.  I like typing that.  I like saying it more.  I like hearing them even more than that.  If you missed them Thursday night, go cry.  They are wonderful!  Nick is not petite, but his stage presence is larger than life when he picks up that guitar.  Because I had an early morning last Friday, I planned to stay for just the first set.  Had it not been for the fact the I was leaving for the Trinidaddio Blues Fest the next day, and knew that Nick the boys would be there, I would have stayed for both sets.  As it was, I had to force myself out the door.  They killed at the Outlook and did the same in Trinidad. 

Tonight.  Duke Robillard.  Can't wait.  If you missed last week's Blues Letter, hit the link to read about Duke and tomorrow night's sensations, Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King.  I could never do justice to them the way Chick does. 

http://www.bouldershomeoftheblues.com/News51.html

 
Between the two of these back-to-back acts, the awards and nominations are too numerous to list.  I dare say Dan has and is building one hell of a national blues club.  If you've been paying attention during the course of the past year or so, you can't help but notice the increased percentage of touring bands who are requesting the Outlook.  So, as this is the 52^nd Blues Letter, officially making it one year old (the first was sent a little more than a year ago, but throughout the year, I was forced by circumstances—raccoons, a flood, and a pinched nerve—to miss three weeks), and as such I would like you to indulge me for a change (stop laughing!), so I may take a moment to thank Dan for bringing me along for the ride.  It has been an astounding ride, and one that keeps going faster and higher, and even more fun than should be legal in most states. 

Now, just a little more self-indulgence this week as I summarize this past year.  But first, how this all happened.  I went to the Outlook to see my old friend, Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin, in March of 2006.  It was my first time there, and I believe his too.  Bob was with Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and it was a fantastic, sell-out of a night. 

The following September, the last weekend of the month, Bob was in town for two nights, Friday and Saturday.  I met Jill Watkins that Friday night, so we have a two-year anniversary coming up (GIFTS!!!).  Dan also held a b-b-q in the back parking lot with Kate Keiser and her band entertaining us that Saturday afternoon.  That was the day Bob introduced me to Dan.   And to George and Amy Whitesell (with whom, along with Jill and her boyfriend, Joshua, I just shared a lovely weekend in Trinidad).

Jumping ahead to April of 2007:  My Beloved Delta Sonics were playing (also introduced to me by Bob), so I came early to get a chance to chat with my friends.  Willie Panker, (who has since moved back to New Orleans) was their drummer then, and I'd met him through Bob during that September weekend, and we'd hit it off (and continue to do so).  We were chatting and, well, if memory serves, it went like this:

WILLIE:  You have a PR background, don't you?

HONEY:  Yes, why?

WILLIE:  This is a great venue, but it needs more promotion.  People aren't aware it's here.  Why don't you offer to help Dan?

HONEY:  I can't just walk up to the man and tell him his marketing sucks?

WILLIE:  Why not?

Well, as it turns out, after couple glasses of wine, I CAN approach a businessman and inform him he is in dire need of my genius.  He agreed, and I started a small, grassroots marketing plan all on my own. 

Three weeks later, on May 5, 2007 (my real anniversary with the Outlook), I went to the Outlook to review Jason Ricci and New Blood for the first time.  As our readers know (and anyone else who ever speaks with me for more than 45 seconds), I became an instant fan, follower, and stalker (no restraining orders have been served on me yet, but I avoid strangers carrying envelopes).  What readers don't know is that Dan called me into his office shortly before the show to officially include me in the promotion of the club, so it's a special date for me.  Working with the blues and hearing JR&NB for the first time makes for a double anniversary.  I didn't get any gifts or flowers this year, but I'm sure it was simply an oversight on everyone's part.  Make sure it doesn't happen again.  Honeybees have stingers.  Or at least this one does.

A few weeks after that, I attended the Greeley Blues Fest for the first time.  To sweeten that even further, JR&NB were on the line up, as was…wait for it…Steady Rollin'.  Yeah, perfect maiden voyage!

Towards the end of the summer, right around the time of the first Blues Letter, I met a woman who was to become a tremendous friend and my favorite political conversation partner.  Her name is Kelly Richey, and she is one of the finest guitarists alive.  She came back through Colorado a few weeks later, and that time we got together for a coffee.  That was a four-hour coffee as we discovered a matching love of politics and political discourse.  As a mater of fact, this Monday night, right after Michelle Obama's speech, Kelly called me from Cincinnati, very excited (she was a BIG Hilary supporter, so I was happy to hear her excitement was back), wanting to know what I thought.  I reminded her I haven't owned a television in years, but would watch it on line (it was sensational, Kelly. You're right!).   So, last year, I not only inherited a new guitar "shero," but a great, and fascinating friend, and we continue to get together for meals and politics every time she's in town.  Plus, all of our other friends are beyond relieved not to have to listen to us as often; they know we have each other to talk politics, and encourage us to make use of our cell phones. 

Since my first Greeley Blues Fest, I've attended three additional fests; Greeley again, Blues From the Top, and Trinidaddio, and had VIP and/or back stage access to all of them.  I've  hung out with Tommy Shannon, George Rains, and Albert Cummings in a small office in the back of Smokin' Moe's in Winter Park; was able finally to manage a 30-second conversation with Alvin Youngblood Hart without trembling; same can be said of Otis Taylor; spent a couple of weeks hanging with My New Best Friend, Delores Scott, from Chicago (who will be back on 9/24); had a brief chat with Tab Benoit; and, most sentimentally, I was bestowed a blues name by my biggest blues hero of all time.  Not a bad year. 

I've made a lot of friends, heard more than my share of great music, gained a new style of writing, and now create and produce a television show with my partner, Jill Watkins.  All in all, it's been an exceptional year, and as I peruse the master calendar (that's right; I know things you don't know yet!), and can see yet another grand year headed my way.  And yours.
Honey Bee Sepeda

MEMO TO DAN

Dear Dan,

As this is Blues Letter #52, I would like to thank you for all of your support and encouragement.  I would also like to thank you for pretty much letting me do whatever I want.  I'm so very agreeable when things go my way, in case you hadn't noticed.   Thank you for everything.
Love,
Honeybee