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Blues Letter #78 All The Blues That's Fit to Hear
#26!!! Before I get to anything else, (MY TOMMY!!!!), I'm going to unleash Sr. Guitar Corespondent, Chick Cavallero; he's still reeling from Trampled Under Foot last night. We all are. Wow! What a show! I had seen them twice just 3 weeks ago, and they still just blew me away! One family having three super talented musicians like that seems really unfair. Nick, Kris and Danielle Schnebelen put on as good a show as it gets last night. They won the IBC in 2008 and seeing them Thursday night at the Outlook you can sure understand why. The thing is, I think they could have won the IBC on Nick’s guitar and singing alone with Danielle just played bass. AND I think they could have won the IBC on Danielle’s singing alone with just a steady lead guitarist filling in and not a powerhouse like Nick. But when you combine them BOTH along with steady brother Kris’ perfect drumming and back-up vocals, you have a band that should dominate the Blues scene for the next 30 plus years. Nick and Danielle are absolutely insane onstage and Kris is the rock that brings them back to sanity…when he can. Rarely do you see such passion and fire as Danielle has when she is belting out the most powerful blues I have heard from any woman. Shaking her fist as she sings, her face contorted so you can feel every word. I had heard that she blew the IBCs away last year, wasn't a dry eye in the house during the finals when she sang “May I Be Excused’ and she repeated that last night. What a voice. I mean, OMG WHAT A VOICE! And then you throw in Nick. Jeezus, what a freaking guitar MONSTER he is! This kid can do everything…and then some. Johnny Winter would have been proud of Nick’s take on “Meantown Blues” accompanying himself on drums yet, as he scorched his way through it with awe-inspiring Winter-like slide licks. When Nick gets in a ‘zone’ he is flat-out amazing…and he was in the zone last night: playing behind his head, in the audience, on tabletops, spinning on the floor on his back…it was insane….and just sooooooo damn amazingly, incredibly freaking GOOD!!!!! (Anything this good surely must be illegal, isn't it?) The show was all originals except for two songs and the spin, they put on “Mojo Working” made it a song all their own. the first time I heard it, I didn’t realize it was ”I Got My Mojo Working” until halfway into the song...and Kris’ drum solo in ‘Mojo’ was killer stuff. Throughout the show they never overplayed any one element, they just kept you wanting more of each. Craving more of Danielle singing..but then wait, I want more of Nick singing too…and hey, more Nick playing guitar. Back and forth it went until finally their last encore of “Johnny Cheat” which Patti & I personally will take credit for convincing Nick that HE HAD to DO IT! Jeezus what a killer song that is.These kids are the real deal, this is REAL blues with the best of everything you can imagine in them. Wow! I pity the poor fools who missed last night’s show. June just can’t get here fast enough when they will return to Colorado for Grand County's Blues From the Top in Winter Park (June 27-28). I am also hoping the Outlook can maybe get them in here that Thursday before and do another sizzling show like last night’s performance. Honey, these guys need to be on a regular schedule with the Outlook. ~Chick Cavallero~ I'm on it, Chick! You did forget to mention one aspect of the evening: I have a new Fiancée! Unfortunately, Ms. Watkins was home with the flu, and as such couldn't sanction the betrothement, but Gretchen Troop jumped in as Jill's proxy (one of the Fiancée Rules is that it must be sanctioned by a female singer; thanks, Gretchen!). Danielle is Fiancée #26! We had a special moment on stage for the announcement. I think she had tears in her eyes. It was lovely. We can't wait to have her and her adorable brothers back. They are as good as anyone. Really. I mean it. Gretchen and I are both still pretty speechless. Ok, well, Gretchen is...Great show! And Lionel's opening solo set was tremendous. He reminded all of us why he took 2008. John Catt and the Grand County Blues Society Board all came to the show, and at the break, John had a sweet surprise for both Dan and myself: He presented each of us with a framed Certificate of Thanks from the Society and Blue Star Connection, the wonderful 501(c)(3) that puts musical instruments in the hands of seriously ill kids. John sends me updates on some of the Blue Star kids, and I can attest that they are making an enormous difference in the lives of these young musicians. Thank you, again, John. And the Annual December Birthday Fund-Raiser is already on the calendar for 12/26, again a jam, with, for the third consecutive year, My Beloved Delta Sonics at the helm. We're going to keep this an annual event for CBS' Blues in the Schools, and Blue Star Connection. So, what else has been going on? Oh yeah. Last Thursday. MY TOMMY CASTRO! Fiancée #5 brought a show to Blues & Greens, the likes of which still has us in perma-grin mode. There isn't much I can say that we don't already know about My Tommy musically speaking, but I will mention that he has just about all of the world's charm wrapped up in his cute self. Castro became #5 and My Tommy back in September at the Little Bear when he backed me against a table and played a solo for me. Instant engagement! He did it again Thursday. We're hoping to get him back in August (ok, I'm hoping to get him back weekly, but thus far his agent isn't cooperating with me. Will someone please warn him about the consequences associated with displeasing me...), but My Tommy liked our humble room so much, that he told me the next morning at breakfast (yes that's right; infer whatever you want!) that he'd like two consecutive nights next time. Done. Now, I just need to get some dirt on his agent so I have something to hold over his head. If anyone has anything, let me know. You'll be rewarded. And we'll have My Tommy Tuesdays. Now I need to talk about another of my Fiancées, and an all-time favorite. Ron Thompson first played our room last Summer, and he brought along his Manager/Sidekick, Jackie McCort. She and I bonded. Seriously bonded. Like the best friend kind of bonding. Since then, I thank the Heavens for email. Jackie and I have remained in closed contact, and share many commonalities, not the least of which is humor. She sent me one of the most insulting birthday greetings (online) I've ever received. And all I have to do is think about it, and I fall on floor again. Damn, that was funny! Where was I? Oh, I received an email of the not-so-funny variety this past Sunday. It read, in part: But those events were eclipsed by Thursday morning, when we got Ron to the ER almost dead with pneumonia! They classified him as critical and he spent a day and a half in ICU. Yesterday, he was much better and went to a regular hospital room. He is hoping to be released tomorrow. These have been terrifying days! But it's going to be ok...However, Ron canceled all five gigs this week and is canceling next week at least. Don't worry, he'll be fat and sassy for Colorado! At any rate, like most musicians, Ron has no health care. I called Lionel, and within five minutes, we had the beginnings of a fund-raising jam for Sunday, March 22nd. And Ron will be there. As to who else is going to be there, well we don't know yet. Blues Wax Radio is going to be promoting it (as soon as I finish this and get to the press release...), so it could get out of hand. Jackie has sent out an email blast with information on this and other events for Ron, and we will be sending it out early next week under its own cover with new developments, auction items, etc. Ron is home and recuperating. If anyone would like to send him well wishes, snail mail is best: Ron Thompson, PO Box 354, Hayward CA 94543. To add insult to injury (actually, the other way around), Ron cracked molar and had to go to the dentist! Ron, we are soooooo going to spoil you next month! This month, however, we're raising money. Tomorrow night, John Lee Hooker, Jr. will pass his tip jar for Ron. He played in John Lee Hooker's band for seven years, and now his son is stepping up for Ron. I'm a little weapy. Then, I get and email from Al Chesis, and My Beloved Delta Sonics are also passing their tip jar for Ron this Saturday night. Hang on; hear come the tears. Since my first Blues-related fund-raiser (the phenomenal jam last July for the late Craig Lawler), I've witnessed our local Blues community come forward to the tune of approximately $120,000. And that's just from the one's in which I have been involved, most recently for medical bills of BIG live music supporter, Karen McMeans (damn nice turnout!). Now, it's Ron's turn, and we are pulling out all of the stops! My mother has even donated her house in Venice, Italy for one week to the highest bidder! Don't worry, Ron; we'll get this taken care of. I'm on it. Now, this from Mad Dog: Papa Juke is excited about being back at the Boulder Outlook Hotel this Thursday Night for the first time since the great benefit show where we played with John Magne, Erica Brown, Lionel Young, Jenn Cleary & Teresa Lynn. (Click to see the concert videos.) We are also very excited to say that Susan (the Catalyst student that was severely injured in the apartment fire) will be there! It is nothing short of a miracle and a testament to her strength of character that she has been back at school since January and now feels well enough to want come and meet and thank each of you that have stepped up to help her in her time of great need. Please come see how well she is doing and what a fine young woman she is. That's tonight, and it's such great news that Susan will there. Thanks, Mad Dog! (Continues Next Column)
|  Wed 2/25 - Trampled Under Foot ($10) Thu 2/26 - Papa Juke Fri 2/27 - John Lee Hooker Jr ($15) Sat 2/28 - Delta Sonics Tue 3/3 - Blues Jam w/ Dan Treanor Wed 3/4 - Songwriter's Night hosted by Jenn Cleary W/ Guest Sally Morgan Thu 3/5 - Jason Ricci & New Blood ($10) Fri 3/6 - Jason Ricci& New Blood($10) Sat 3/7 - Blueszhouse w/ Paul Soderman 
    This is from Ronnie Shellist: HARMONICA WORKSHOP with Ronnie Shellist February 28th 1pm-4:30. There will be three 10 min breaks throughout. The cost is $35. Please email Ronnie at RonnieShellist@gmail.com for questions or to reserve a spot. Space is limited. The topics covered will be: Proper breathing/airflow and how it affects one's ability to execute technique Implementing technique/concepts into higher level playing (we will be jamming) Building solos and improvising Visualizing playing and memory techniques Discovering nuances that make your playing come to life What to do when you hit a wall in your playing. When to use 1st and 3rd position playing in blues How to practice with the most efficiency and effectiveness Amplified harmonica technique (if there is time) Questions from the group MEMO TO DAN Dear Dan: Now that My Tommy Castro has played (and likes) our humble room, I think we should just have a My Tommy Castro Night on a monthly basis. Better yet, let's see if he'll take on a weekly Jam. That would be fun! Your thoughts? Inquisitively yours, Honeybee Dear Honey: Why don’t we just buy a bar in San Fran and name it Tommy & Ron’s? Dan   Next week we are going to introduce you to a new feature for Boulder's Home Of The Blues website. This jukebox will give you a hint. All the readers of the Blues Letter will participate. Stay tuned. |
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