Thanks Gretchen, and it's going to be an exceptional evening for an exceptional man we all love. 

Speaking of exceptional men.  Our own Johnny O Band returns from Memphis!  Not only that, but we get them for Valentine's Day!  We are all so proud of this trio, that I suspect it's going to be SRO Saturday night.  They've earned it, and they deserve it.  I heard the set they were taking to Memphis the week before, and it was Memphis-worthy!  I wasn't in Memphis, a circumstance I am still cursing, but I'm sure they brought it.  Can't wait to hear about your adventures, guys.  See you Saturday.  And, here's what our Senior Guitar Correspondent has to say about the IBC and the Colorado musicians who participated: 

If you have never been to the IBC Finals in Memphis, you don't know what you have been missing. This was my first year and it exceeded my expectations. The talent there was staggering. I saw more than 55 performances by 50 different bands or performers, and can say I was never bored by anyone's playing. I'd like to give out some big "Thank You's" to the Johnny O Band and the Dan Treanor Afrosippi Band. We caught both  bands each night in the semi-finals, and they were outstanding! Thanks Johnny, Ian, and Marion for representing CBS; you played your asses off and did us all proud. It was a pleasure hanging with you guys and getting to know you more. You are some of the nicest and most talented people we've met and I hope you get back there next year. And thank you Dan, Randall, Jody, and Peter for some of the finest sets of the weekend. Afrosippi made a bunch of new fans this past week, converting a lot of folks over to a style of blues they hadn't heard before. All of you should be holding your heads high, as you ALL did a fantastic job of representing Colorado Blues. Your talent, music, and effort were definitely worthy of the Finals. Sometimes it's just a roll of the dice to get the right venue and the right judges at the right time. I don't know if you noticed, but many of those Finalists were there for their second,  third or even more times.  Patti and I were honored to be a part of the 25th IBC with you guys. It sent chills down my spineevery time I looked around and realized I was in Memphis at the IBC Finals, and that I actually knew these guys on stage!  Goosebumps, baby! Only about 100 bands in the world get into this event, and that alone makes this pretty special. One benefit we had in the crowd was that we could hear the comments of strangers who had come to support their own bands. These were folks who had never heard any of you play before and they were genuinely impressed, at times in awe, and repeatedly we heard things like, " uh oh, jeezus, these guys are freaking GOOD!" Appreciate the new friends and contacts you made, and revel in being part of this huge blues experience. I envy you for having the talent to 'feel' this experience first hand while I can only do it as a spectator...and Hell it was still a powerful feeling to me, just as a fan!

I don't know about all of you, but we're already planning to make this a yearly trip, and I hope I get to see you performing on Beale Street again in the near future. Great Job!!!!!!  And I'd like to add one more "thank you" to Michaela Ray. I don't think I ever heard her any better than she was Friday afternoon in the Blues City Café. She was even called for an encore! ~Chick Cavallero~

Thanks Chick.  Next year, I'm going with you!  And congratulations to all of our fine musicians who represented Colorado with panache, grace, and, of course, enormous talent.  As Chick says, you do us proud.

Back to February again.  This Sunday afternoon.  Let me back up.  A few weeks ago, I was talking with Andrea and Joann, great music lovers, regulars, and girlfriends.  Anywho, one of them said, "You know Karen McMeans, don't you?"  To which I replied, "Yes, and I was just thinking about her this morning, because I realize I haven't seen her in a long time."  Joann then said, well, wait, just read below: 

Time: February 15, 2009 from 1pm to 5pm
Location: Dicken's Opera House, upstairs above Shorty's
Street: corner of 3rd and Main
City/Town: longmont
Contact Info: 303-652-4144
A familiar face in Longmont, Karen McMeans, AKA the Foot Lady, has been supporting live music in the area for years. She is such a fan for so many bands, that she has become close friends to many. Now they are paying her back for her support by coming together to play music together and raise money for Karen's recent hospital bills. She had to have emergency surgery in December and has no insurance.  Bands and Musicians who will be performing include:
Erica Brown
Lionel Young
Girls on Top!
Glass Ceiling
Rhythm All Stars
Dave Davis Band
Peaches and the Groove Drs.
Rockin' Robin
Deborah Stafford
Genoa Dodd
Modern Rhythm Project